Cassian paused, his voice steady. "It's possible she came near. But she never got close enough. So she left." Natalie's face broke into a smile. "I almost forgot. We don't need to sit here watching all night. We've got experts in the house." She whistled sharp. The sound of paws pounded against the floor. Lucky charged out from the pet room, her body broad and powerful, and behind her came her two sidekicks. Ever since they moved into Villa 1, Cassian had given their pets a room of their own on the first floor. Eight hundred square feet filled with slides, swings, and toys. The three spent their days there, eating, playing, and dozing in comfort. Lucky bounded into the hall and lunged at Natalie, tail whipping with joy. She darted aside, her voice sharp with disgust. "Ugh, grease! You're dripping! Get that face away from me!" Lucky slid to a stop, chest heaving. Her chin was slick with oil from dinner. She hadn't cleaned herself before being called. Natalie's eyes narrowed. She turned to Cassian. "What did you feed her? That doesn't look like anything we eat." Their own meals never swam with that much fat. Cassian chuckled, almost smug. "Honey glazed ham." Natalie lifted a brow. "So you cooked Lucky a private meal again?" Cassian smiled as he nodded. "Yeah. I had to. I made her give up your bed. She deserved something back." Lucky threw her head up and barked, tail wagging furiously.Yes! Exactly! Natalie shook her head, half laughing. A month ago, when they first moved in, this man and this dog had been at each other's throats. Lucky had slept beside her since she was a pup. Moving into Villa 1 meant exile to a separate room. She hated it. But sharing a bedroom with a full-grown dog was never going to work. Lucky wasn't an ordinary dog. She was clever, sharp, and more aware than most children. Some lines of privacy could not be crossed. Cassian had worked hard to win her over. He declared Lucky the leader of the household pets. He even helped her tame her rival Cash, turning the troublemaker into a loyal companion. Treats sealed the deal. The ham sweetened it further. Natalie flicked Lucky's forehead. "So a few good meals were enough to keep you away from me?" Lucky tilted her head, nose wrinkling, a low whine rumbling from her chest. So what? Do I move back in? Natalie understood her. She ignored her. Lucky stiffened, glaring with wide eyes. Woman, look me in the eye if you dare. Cassian held back his laughter. He grabbed a wet wipe and scrubbed the grease from Lucky's jaw. "She's teasing you, girl. She called you here on duty." At that word, Lucky shot upright. Her chest swelled. Her eyes gleamed. He loved work. Training had taught her to crave it. Every mission filled her with pride.Natalie smiled, pride warming her voice. "We raised you for a reason. Now it's your time." Lucky barked loud, her whole body shaking with excitement. Natalie leaned close, her tone commanding. "Your task is simple. Guard the gate. If anyone sneaks into this yard, you bark. You wake us up." Lucky slumped, almost sulking. That's it? It felt far too easy. Her nose caught strangers in an instant, even while she slept. It was instinct. This wasn't even a job at all. Natalie chuckled at his look. She patted her head. "Good dog. Protecting this home is your job now." She gestured toward the screens. "I'm done staring at these. My eyes are raw." Lucky barked again, her tail thumping. She accepted the mission. Then she tapped Cash and Baron with her paw and barked orders. Baron stiffened, his muscles straining tight. Cash lifted his head high and screeched. His feathers had grown back, ragged but no longer burned. Natalie studied them, curiosity clear on her face. She turned to Cassian. "What are they doing? Can you read it?" Cassian tilted his head. "Looks like Lucky's handing out orders." Natalie frowned. "Orders? What kind of orders?" Cassian shook his head. "I have no clue."Natalie's gaze dropped to Lucky. Her tone was sharp. "I gave the job to you. Did you just dump it on them instead?"