I Accidentally Adopted a Silver-Eyed Direwolf

I had some cash to burn recently, so I decided to buy myself an Anthro girlfriend.

After shopping around, I picked one that was a real knockout, but her temper was atrocious. She didn't treat me like her master at all; I felt like I'd been scammed.

The other day, I tried to sneak a kiss. She pawed me so hard I went flying. That was the last straw.

I snapped a picture of her looking feral and sent it to the seller, demanding a refund.

The sellers reply left me speechless. "Bro, are you kidding me?"

He insisted they were a legitimate business that only sold domesticated, artificially bred Anthros. Then he told me what I had was a wild-caught, pure-blooded, hyper-aggressive, endangered Silver-Eyed Direwolf. He said if she was missing so much as a single hair, I could get ten years in prison. He even asked if my picture was AI-generated.

Panicked, I immediately withdrew my refund request. When I looked back, Lyra, having just finished her "kneel in the corner" punishment, was dabbing at a scrape with a cotton swab.

"So, uh, are you free this weekend?" "I was thinking we could go to the lake out on the plains, see the migratory birds return..."

Lyra was a handful.

Id been patiently following online training guides for three months, and she hadn't shown a lick of progress. She couldn't master the basicshandshakes, hugs, kissesand she was prone to explosive mood swings, constantly yelling at me.

"You're using three carrots as positive reinforcement?" she'd snarled one day. "What kind of Anthro do you think I am? You might as well use chocolate, you cheapskate!"

Well, chocolate is expensive! I barely even buy it for myself!

But seeing her fur practically stand on end, I gritted my teeth and unwrapped a piece for her.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tossed it straight into the trash.

This little monster.

When I bought her, I'd been so careful. I grilled the salesperson, confirming my order was for a tall, stable-tempered, vegetarian Canine-type Anthro with strong protective instincts and an aptitude for "intimate services."

The only thing they got right was "tall." The rest was a catastrophic failure of product description.

This was my first time adopting an Anthro, and I was at my wit's end. I decided to ask my friend, Ryan, who had more experience.

Ryan was my biological parents' adopted son. When they finally found me and brought me home, they insisted we get along. He was surprisingly enthusiastic when I told him my problem.

"Canine-types are usually super loyal and clingy," he'd said over the phone. "They have a high need for intimacy. Aversion to touch like you're describing is really rare. I'll have to come over and see for myself to give you proper advice."

Ryan arrived just after Lyra and I had another massive fight.

According to Anthro regulations, her breed was classified as high-risk, meaning she had to wear a collar and muzzle whenever she went outside. But she fought me tooth and nail over them, so much so that she hadn't set foot outside the house since she arrived.

This time, she'd thrown a tantrum because I wouldn't let her out, chewing up the sofa and my slippers. After trashing the living room, she'd stormed off to her room to sulk.

I was still cleaning up the mess when Ryan arrived, looking grimy and disheveled next to his immaculate, designer-clad form. The air seemed to smell better just from him walking through it.

"Why do you have so many vegetables and carrots lying around?" he asked, wrinkling his nose. "Canine-types don't eat this stuff. No wonder she's so irritable. She's starving."

With a look of profound pity, Ryan went and coaxed Lyra out of her room. "I brought you some bluefin tuna and black truffle foie gras. Come on out and eat!"

I rushed to stop him. "No, she's a vegetarian model! The brochure said she's a specially bred variety, more eco-friendly and low-maintenance."

But my words were lost as Lyra started gobbling down the gourmet food. Usually, getting her to eat was like trying to move a mountain.

"That's just marketing talk," Ryan said, shaking his head. "They tell you the upkeep is low so you'll buy faster. But an Anthro is part of the family. If you're going to get one, you have to treat them right. If you're afraid of spending money, you shouldn't have gotten one in the first place."

I stayed silent. He was right. I'd bought her because the salesperson promised she was "easy to care for." After the initial purchase, I barely had any savings left.

Ryan then proceeded to lecture me about leaving chocolate out, restricting her freedom, and neglecting her "high-end grooming needs"all things the brochure had explicitly said weren't necessary.

Lyra, however, seemed to hang on his every word. When Ryan casually patted her head, she didn't even flinch.

As he was leaving, Ryan saw my dejected look and offered one last piece of advice. "If you want an Anthro to accept you as their master, you need to build an emotional bond. It's not just about spending money on them. Your own charm is important, too. You have to make her like you. Only then will she want to be close to you."

I decided to give his advice a shot. I made extensive preparations.

After work today, I didn't go straight home. I went to a spa. I got a full-body skin treatment, had my hair professionally styled, and even paid for a complete wardrobe makeover.

When I got home, Lyra's jaw dropped.

"Are you... Alex?"

I beamed. "Can't recognize me? Total transformation, right?"

She just shrugged. "I thought Ryan had a botched cosmetic procedure."

I ignored her rudeness and got busy with dinner. Tonight was all cold dishes: ice plant salad, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes. I shut the lights, lit some scented candles, and changed into a black silk robe I'd bought online.

The atmosphere was different. Lyra still had her usual scowl, but this time, she didn't flip the table.

Heartened, I picked up a cherry tomato and held it to her lips. "These are expensive. Imported from Provence."

She stared at me like I was an idiot for a full three seconds before sighing and taking a bite.

This was huge progress!

I coaxed her into eating the ice plant and cucumber. "You'll see, once you get used to it, vegetables are much better for you. More importantly," I confessed, "I'm broke. I spent the entire settlement my parents gave me. From now on, your expenses have to come out of my monthly salary. And I'm just an intern."

Lyra froze. She met my honest, sincere gaze and mumbled, "I get it."

My eyes crinkled into happy crescents. I pressed my luck and stroked her hand. "Lyra, you're a companion-type Anthro. It's your duty to serve me."

The faint blush on her cheeks vanished, replaced by an icy glare. "Serve you? What kind of service? Alex, what exactly do you think I am?"

"Family," I answered, my voice utterly serious.

Three months ago, my biological parents contacted me out of the blue. I went to meet them full of hope, dragging a suitcase packed with gifts. They weren't nearly as excited to see me. Probably because they already had an adopted son they'd raised for years.

His name was Ryan, so they named me Alex.

Ryan didn't want to live under the same roof as me, so my parents rented me a separate villa and gave me a one-time payment of five million dollars as compensation.

"Alex, we're so happy we found you," my mother had said. "But Ryan and you both need time to adjust. He came to us when he was two, he was with me through my hardest times. In my heart, he's just as much my son as you are. I hope you can understand."

I just nodded, clutching my suitcase. I had arrived alone, and I left alone.

On my way back, I passed an Anthro service center. A slogan on the billboard caught my eye: "Loyalty for Life, Companionship Forever."

Even though I suspected it was false advertising, I was sold. I just wanted someone, anyone, who would always be on my side. So I spent every last cent of the five million on their top-of-the-line model.

The next day, they delivered Lyra to my doorstep. I was so happy. Two people, that was a family. I never expected her to be so difficult, but she was a gift I'd bought for myself in a moment of desperation. I wasn't going to give up on her easily.

"Lyra, I really do see you as family," I said softly. "I've always been alone, so I don't really know how to take care of someone. I know I mess up a lot. But I really like you, and all I want is for you to be happy."

The anger seemed to drain out of her. Her pointed, furry ears popped out involuntarily, and she quickly stood up. "You're just a kid, what do you know? Stop talking nonsense!"

She started to walk away, then turned back. "You can come into my room tonight."

For three months, we had slept in separate rooms. The purchase agreement had listed a whole menu of... services. But Lyra had rejected all physical contact, so I'd never tried any of them. Now she was inviting me into her room. Did this mean she was finally starting to accept me?

I happily cleared the table, took a shower, and even put on cologne.

When I entered her room, she was already asleep, her phone resting on her chest. Asleep, her features were soft and peaceful. She looked more vulnerable, like a puppy showing its belly. She was so beautiful. I had to admit, her flawless face was a big reason I'd put up with her for so long.

The mood was perfect. I couldn't resist leaning in and placing a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth. She smelled faintly of fresh grass, a scent that made you want to taste more...

I thought things were progressing naturally.

Then I was one-pawed clear across the room, landing in a heap on the floor.

"What do you think you're doing, you creep?!" she roared, leaping off the bed. "Is this why you let me into my room? Alex, have you no shame?"

She was furious, but she shut up fast when she saw me grab the broom.

"It wasn't even that hard a hit!" she protested.

I was done talking. I swung the broom and gave her a piece of my mind. The thought of the five million dollars I'd wasted on this creature made my heart ache.

"I have had it with you!" I yelled. "I should have bought a pot roast instead! I'm done with you! Let's just end this!"

I was out of shape and ran out of breath after a few swings, so I herded her into a corner with the broom. "Kneel! And think about who's the boss in this house! I can tolerate you being disobedient, but now you're physically attacking me? Who do you think you are?"

Thankfully, she didn't fight back this time, just knelt there muttering under her breath. "It was a reflex... I thought it was an ambush..."

My backside was still throbbing, but my mind was clear. Family was supposed to be someone who would never hurt you, who would stay by your side willingly. It was a nice idea, but you couldn't just buy it off a shelf. Besides, I couldn't afford her upkeep anymore. It was time to cut my losses.

I went to the service center's website, uploaded the photo of Lyra in a rage, and filed a strongly-worded complaint.

"I paid five million for your top-tier model and you sent me this? You advertised a genius IQ, the emotional intelligence of a saint, and total obedience. I tried to kiss her and she nearly sent me to the ER! I want a full refund, or I'm reporting you for false advertising and fraud!"

A reply came back almost instantly.

"Bro, are you kidding me? We're a legitimate business. We only sell domesticated, artificially-bred Anthros. What you have is a wild-caught, pure-blooded, hyper-aggressive, endangered Silver-Eyed Direwolf. If she's missing so much as a single hair, you could get ten years in prison! Is this an AI-generated pic?"

My blood ran cold. I glanced over at Lyra. The fight had taken the wind out of her sails. She was quietly applying antiseptic to a small cut on her arm.

Another message came through. "All our units have a unique serial number tattooed on their lower back. If you really bought from us, send me the number and I can look up her file."

I ran over to Lyra and, without a word, yanked up her shirt.

This time, even her tail popped outa big, fluffy one. "Alex, calm down! No, really! Humans are too fragile, you can't handle me yet... If you insist, we have to take it slow!"

I wasn't listening. My eyes were glued to the pale, smooth skin of her lower back. It was completely bare. Nothing.

So, I'd accidentally adopted a Direwolf. That explained a lot.

I messaged the seller again. "How long does a custom order usually take?"

"Three to six months, depending on the price point."

...

"Right. I was just getting impatient. Checking on the delivery status."

Oh, hell. It wasn't a scam. It was my own screw-up.

Thinking back, Lyra had been lying unconscious on my doorstep. I'd just brought her inside, gave her water, and when she woke up, I insisted I was her master and refused to let her leave.

That wasn't adoption. That was illegal poaching of an endangered species.

A shiver went down my spine. I looked at Lyra, my voice barely a whisper. "So, uh, are you free this weekend?"

"For what?"

To release you back into the wild, you majestic idiot! Go back to nature and stop getting tangled up with humans!

"I was thinking we could go to the lake out on the plains, see the migratory birds return..."

Since we were driving straight into the wilderness, I didn't force her to wear the collar and muzzle. To make sure she couldn't find her way back to get revenge, I drove for three solid days, deep into the mountains, ignoring the screaming price of gas.

Maybe it was because she hadn't seen the sun in so long, but Lyra was in a great mood the whole trip. She even helped me pitch the tent and cook.

On the third night, I parked the car where I could make a quick getaway and we set up camp in a small cave. We built a campfire, and Lyra made her usual instant noodles. The firelight danced on her face, making her look warm and bright. I felt a pang of sadness.

"You haven't acted up once since we left the house."

"I only acted up because you were starving me and wouldn't let me outside."

"And you haven't bitten me, either!" I said, feeling a strange sense of pride. If she'd really wanted to leave, I couldn't have stopped her.

Lyra paused, stirring the noodles. "I was afraid you'd cry," she said quietly. "The first time I tried to leave, you started crying..."

I remembered that. Of course I cried! My five-million-dollar investment was walking out the door!

When she wasn't having a meltdown, Lyra was actually pretty great. She had an incredible sense of direction, could predict the weather, knew the terrain, and could set traps to scare off large predators. And she was strong as an ox. Having her around made me feel safe.

But she was a wild Anthro. She belonged to nature.

"Compared to being bored in a mansion with me, you prefer this, don't you? The open sky, running free."

Lyra nodded. "Without freedom, safety has no meaning."

A knot formed in my chest. I curled into a ball and rolled around on the ground, groaning dramatically. "Noodles but no barbecue! This is a tragedy! I can't bear it!"

"There's beef jerky and spicy pickles in the car."

"No! I need fresh barbecue! Roast chicken, roast rabbit, roast lamb... I even brought the cumin!" I sniffled, looking pathetic.

Lyra watched my theatrics for a moment, then sighed. "Wait in the car. Don't wander off. I'll go catch something for you."

Wow! A Direwolf hunt! How cool is that!

Then it hit me. This was my chance.

I paced anxiously for a few minutes before making up my mind. It was time to fix my mistake. She could take care of herself in the wild. Without me holding her back, she'd find her family. And I was breaking a serious law. If this ever came out, I'd be screwed.

Half an hour later, Lyra returned to the campfire carrying a leg of lamb she had already cleaned in a nearby stream.

All she found was endless darkness and a pile of cold ashes.