In a move that stunned everyone, Ranger sat down, his tail giving a hesitant wag. A collective sigh of relief swept through the hallway, tension melting away like snow in the sun.

Lily beamed, her smile infectious. “See, he just needed someone to believe in him,” she said, reaching further to scratch behind Ranger’s ear, a spot that had never before experienced gentle touch.

The transformation was astonishing. Ranger leaned into Lily’s hand, eyes half-closing in contentment. The once ferocious growl was replaced by a sound no one had ever heard from him before – a soft, almost inaudible whine of happiness.