The operatives stopped several feet away.The roar of New Avalon’s midtown traffic, the whirring of delivery drones, and the distant drone of pedestrian chatter faded into an uncomfortable, suffocating stillness.The homeless man looked up at them once. His gray eyes were unreadable—cool, measured, and entirely devoid of panic—before he casually returned his attention to scratching behind the stray dog's ear.The dog, however, wasn't nearly as relaxed. Its ears flattened tightly against its scarred head. Its body stiffened, muscles coiling beneath dirty, matted fur. A low, guttural growl began to vibrate deep in its chest—a harsh, primal warning meant for these men in tailor-made tactical suits who clearly didn't belong on this corner of 4th Street."Grrrrr... rrrr..."Without looking down, the man rested a broad, calloused hand on the nape of the animal's neck. His touch was steady, rooted, and instantly reassuring."Easy, tiger," he murmured. "They're just noise. Don't waste your b
Last Updated : 2026-08-13 Read more