I never had the opportunity or pleasure of living in a safe place with a steady family life. I suppose that is why I didn't react strongly when someone broke into the home since I was used to it growing up. People from other species have often entered my former pack territory merely to spray-paint my old house. I used to spend the night in run-down, shoddy hotels and abandoned buildings, and they were always full of unpleasant strangers. Simply locking myself in a room till they departed or giving myself enough time to flee would suffice.

It was different this time. It disturbed me this time. It scratched under...