Evan's heart surged with shock and helplessness. He tried to stand up, wanting to move as he normally would, but his body felt so much lighter than usual, only able to hop and bounce forward with a fluffy tail that refused to stay still, wagging on its own. This familiar yet strange cat body left him at a complete loss. Even something as simple as a stretch felt clumsy and awkward, every movement cautious and unfamiliar.
Glancing around, he noticed the other cats watching him, their bright eyes all focused on him as if they sensed something unusual. Evan felt a sudden pang of nervousness; he wanted to avoid those curious gazes but didn't know how to act. Trying to stay composed, he planned to retreat to his cozy little bed, pretending to be just an innocent cat, as if nothing had happened.
But just as he was about to turn, he heard the faint sound of footsteps outside! Evan held his breath, his heart pounding as curiosity and panic mingled within him. Normally, he would've darted back to his bed, playing the part of a calm Leo. But, inexplicably, the footsteps seemed to have a pull over him, drawing him to stay still, ears perked, focusing intently on the faint sounds outside. His heartbeat quickened with the growing tension…
Soon, he saw a familiar figure—golden fur glowing faintly in the dim light. It was none other than that Golden Retriever, Max! Silently, Max crossed through the cat area, padding steadily toward the door. Just as Max was about to leave, an idea flashed through Evan's mind: maybe, being Leo wasn't such a bad thing. Now he had the perfect opportunity to quietly observe Max's behavior; he might even discover something that could explain Max's recent discomfort.
With his mind made up, he carefully took a few steps forward, moving his tiny cat paws as silently as he could. Each step had to be precise, avoiding any sound that might give him away. As he continued, Evan slowly got the hang of the cat's light-footed movements. Each silent step made him feel like a natural-born stealth expert, and he couldn't help but marvel at the surprising thrill of sneaking around…
Evan—or rather, Leo—stealthily followed Max all the way to the dogs' resting area. The surroundings were quiet; most of the other dogs were already asleep, their soft snores breaking the stillness now and then. Just as Leo was starting to feel relieved, Max suddenly halted, glancing around cautiously. Leo's heart nearly leapt out of his chest as he quickly ducked behind Damian's Samoyed, hiding himself carefully and peeking out just enough to watch.
After what felt like an eternity, Max seemed satisfied that nothing was out of place and trotted over to his own bed. Just when Evan thought the tension was over, the scene before him made him freeze—Max didn't curl up into his bed as he usually did. Instead, he gently nudged it aside with his shoulder, revealing a hidden door underneath!
Then, without a hint of hesitation, Max took hold of the door handle with his mouth, skillfully pulling it open before slipping inside as though he'd done it a hundred times. Leo stared, utterly dumbfounded, his fur practically standing on end. He knew Max was intelligent, but this…this was beyond anything he could have imagined. Could it be that Max wasn't just any ordinary Golden Retriever? Did he have his own secret lair—perhaps even hiding some kind of mysterious truth?
Evan's mind was torn with indecision. On one hand, he had an overwhelming urge to follow Max—there might be clues down there to help him understand what was going on with Max's health. On the other hand, everything about this was unsettling; Max's strange behavior carried an air of secrecy, leaving Evan anxious about what he might discover. Who knew what awaited him beyond that hidden door?
But after a few moments of hesitation, Evan finally steeled himself. As a veterinarian, it was his duty to understand his "patient's" condition, even if he was currently in the form of Leo. And besides, during the days he'd spent with Max, he had never sensed any malice from him—only a warm, gentle presence. With a deep breath, he silently raised a tiny paw, inching toward the secret door.
So, Evan—or rather, Leo—carefully trailed behind Max, quietly slipping through the mysterious door. Behind it was a narrow staircase. Darkness enveloped the passage, save for the faint echo of Max's footsteps ahead, creating an air of mystery around them.
He padded down the stairs, soon spotting a faint beam of moonlight in the distance, like a beacon guiding them forward. Leo lifted his head, following Max's lead, and moved with light, quiet steps along a shadowed corridor, feeling a mix of trepidation and curiosity with each step.
At the end of the hall, the moonlight grew stronger. Leo braced himself, poking his head forward just enough to glimpse what lay beyond—and froze, surprised by what he saw. This room, bathed in soft moonlight, was one he knew well. After a closer look, he realized he was standing in none other than Damian's study, where he'd been just earlier that day. The orderly bookshelves, the warm fireplace, and the familiar leather sofa—all were here, only now they appeared almost otherworldly under the moon's glow.
In that moment, Leo felt a flicker of disbelief. He'd never imagined that a secret path could lead directly to Damian's study. And as he took it all in, one question filled his mind: just how many secrets was Damian hiding?
As Evan's mind raced with this thought, his gaze fell upon Max once more. But something was changing—Max's familiar dog form was slowly beginning to shift! His once solid frame became blurry, contorting as if reshaping itself. The golden fur started to recede, replaced by pale human skin, and a look of intense pain crossed his face, as though this transformation was an ordeal.
Evan's eyes went wide, his breath catching in his throat as he watched, unable to believe what he was seeing. Before him, Max was turning into a tall, lean man, his face unmistakably familiar.
It was Damian.