— Rex! Stop! — Thomas planted his feet, already annoyed, assuming the dog had picked up the scent of another cat or discarded chicken bones. — Calm down, do you hear me?

But Rex didn’t listen. He growled, barked, and pulled with such force that the leash was stretched to its limit. His eyes were unnaturally wide, his ears pinned back, his tail raised — his entire posture screamed danger. In all his years of service, Thomas had never seen his dog like this.