Bitch

Alice’s breath came in ragged gasps as the countdown bled away.

00:03… 00:02… 00:01

She jabbed desperately at the Beta option, pulse hammering in her throat.

Too late.

The world convulsed around her, light searing through every nerve like she’d been dropped into a forge. A guttural scream tore free as her body began to fold in on itself.

[Dice Commentary]

“Oh, sweet sticky disaster. You missed the timer. Never let the system autofill for you unless you really wanted the ‘mystery meat’ option.”

Her ears stretched, cartilage bending, curling into sharp lynx-like points tipped with soft tufts of black fur. The sensation was agonizing and intoxicating all at once like scratching an itch buried in the marrow of her bones.

Then came the tearing pulse at the base of her spine. Alice’s fingers clawed at her back just in time to feel something small, fluffy, and horribly alive burst through her skin. A red bunny tail flicked against her palm, silky-soft, hypersensitive enough to make her whole body jolt.

But the changes didn’t stop. They got worse.

Her arms and legs rippled like molten wax, bones snapping, reforming. Her hips buckled and cracked; her shoulders caved inward. Alice toppled, shrieking, as her skeleton rebuilt itself into something not meant for upright posture. Her fingers shortened, curled into padded claws, her precious thumbs reduced to useless dewclaws.

[Dice Commentary]

“Congratulations! You’ve unlocked ‘dog mode.’ No take-backs. No refunds. Hope you like walkies.”

When it ended, she was panting on all fours because she couldn’t not be. Her body refused to stand upright. Her muscles locked, her balance broken, her spine reshaped into something feral. Alice whimpered, trembling, realizing with dawning horror that she was never walking tall again.

Her stat sheet blinked up, cruel and clinical.

[Race Change Complete!]

New Race: Chimeran (Quadruped Subtype “Breeding Bitch”)

Standing upright: [ERROR incompatible with skeletal structure]

Trait Acquired: Kennel-Bound

Quadrupedal. Permanently.

Upright stance possible only for a few seconds before collapse.

Dexterity with hands drastically reduced (enjoy your dewclaws).

Trait Acquired: Fertile Heat

Base fertility multiplied x5.

Pregnancies drastically accelerated.

Constant instinctive ache in lower abdomen.

Trait Acquired: Pack Meat

Charisma halved against unbonded humans.

Charisma quadrupled toward quadrupedal monsters.

Doubled against bonded beasts.

Attracts unwanted “alpha” attention.

New Trait Acquired: Living Collar

Humans instinctively register you as a pet, not a peer.

Speech, intelligence, and status screens won’t help; to them you’re just an “unusually clever dog.”

Social penalties when dealing with strangers. Massive bonuses to evoking protective instincts or sneaking as “non-threat.”

[Dice Commentary]

“You’re adorable. Like, literally adorable. The system now tags you as ‘asset: non-human pet.’ Try explaining that at customs. Or to your future lovers. Oh, and collars are now 30% more effective on you. Don’t say I never give you anything.”

Alice’s tears blurred the screen, cheeks wet beneath her new fur.

“Oh gods,” she choked out, voice breaking, “what have you done to me?”

[Neurological Reallocation Detected!]

Race Evolution + Mated Synergy + Kennel-Bound conflict = cortical resources reassigned to instinct/sensory pathways.

(Translation: less chess, more chase.)

[Mind Stat Update]

Intelligence: 38 → 10 (permanent until countered by rare trait/item)

Processing style shifted from analytical → instinctive. Long-horizon planning impaired; short-horizon cunning enhanced.

[New Trait Acquired: Primal Rewrite (Major)]

Forebrain downshifted; hindbrain/limbic systems upregulated.

Complex reasoning tests auto-fail if they require Int ≥ 20.

Tactical & ritual-casting skills tagged [Scholarly] cost +200% time or are locked.

Instinct skills (track, pounce, scent-map, read-body-language) cost −25% stamina and gain +15% success rate.

[New Trait Acquired: Pack Mimicry]

Learn by watching: performing a skill after observing a bonded ally auto-grants a temporary Rank F version for 24h (cooldown 12h).

Converting temporary → permanent requires repetition or a mentor. No books needed. (Books were never your thing anyway.)

[Speech & UI Adjustments]

Complex speech drains stamina/mana over time; short phrases free.

Pictographic prompts enabled. Quest text now supports icons/alerts; tooltips simplified.

(You’re welcome.)

[Skill Gate Applied]

Locked while Int < 20: Formulaic Spellcasting, Advanced Tactics, Scholarly Research.

Unlocked/Boosted: Scent Tracking, Threat Read, Pack Rally, Beast Bond (instinct-cast variant).

[Social & Consent Safeguards]

Bond Guard: While Int ≤ 10, hostile Dominate/Mesmerize effects vs. you suffer −30% potency if not from a bonded ally.

(Even Dice has standards. Barely.)

Charisma: 31 (unchanged)

Intelligence: 10 (↓ 28)

Willpower: 50 (unchanged; stubborn puppy energy)

Perception: 52 (unchanged; you notice everything)

[Dice Commentary]

“Oh, sweetheart. Brains are overrated when you’ve got ears, nose, and vibes. Think of it as… streamlining. Fewer thoughts, faster pounces. You weren’t going to write a thesis anyway.”

[Class Lost!]

Beastmaster revoked. Sorry, sweetheart upright bipeds only.

[New Class: Kennelbound]

Role: Companion, pet, plaything.

You are no longer a hunter of beasts, but a beast kept. Your growth and survival are tied to your bond holders.

Passive Effects:

Obedience Scaling The stronger your bond, the stronger they get. You? You’re just along for the ride.

Pet Perception Your senses are sharp (+20 Perception), but you’ll only ever be taken seriously on all fours.

Heat Aura Constantly radiates pheromones that destabilize Charisma rolls with humans (-50%) but make monsters and bonded partners see you as irresistibly desirable (+200%).

[New Trait: Kennel Bound]

Quadrupedal. Permanently.

Standing upright for more than a few seconds? [ERROR].

Congratulations, you’re a very expensive pet now.

[New Trait: Pack Meat]

Charisma halved when dealing with humans (they see a cute, dumb animal).

Charisma Quadrupled when dealing with beasts.

Attracts unwanted “Alpha” attention whether you’re ready or not.

[New Trait: Breeding Bitch]

Fertility x5 baseline.

Pregnancy acceleration x5.

Instinctive, painful heats. (Hope you like timing your battles around ovulation!)

[Dice Commentary]

“Ohhh, chef’s kiss. You had one job, Alice. One. Job. And now? You’re a kennel-pet with a class name that sounds like a cheap doujinshi. Think of it this way no more decisions! You don’t have to worry about leadership or strategy. Just roll over, beg, and maybe learn a trick or two. I can’t wait to see you fetch.”

Duplicate trait detected upgrading.

[Trait Evolved: Pack Meat →Prize Bitch]

You’re not just “meat” anymore. You are the magnet, the challenge, the prize.

Humans see you as harmless, a pet, a animal (70% Charisma when interacting with unbonded humans).

Monsters and bonded beasts? They smell you before they see you. Their instincts scream mate, claim, fight over. (+300% Charisma vs beasts, doubled attraction range.)

Always treated as “in heat” when in the presence of dominant monsters. (Enjoy the attention.)

(Dice Note: Congratulations, you’re now basically Tinder on four legs. Swipe right? They already did. With their claws.)

[Trait Evolved: Breeding Bitch → Brood-Bound]

Fertility wasn’t enough. Now the system has made you a walking genetic vault.

Base fertility x10. Every cycle is an opportunity.

Pregnancy acceleration x10. What takes others 9 months, your body finishes in weeks.

Mated bond ensures offspring are always viable, regardless of species.

Instinctive compulsion: When in heat, resisting physical relief is almost impossible (Willpower saves suffer 200%).

(Dice Note: “Congratulations, you’re now the broodmother in someone else’s hentai. Don’t look at me like that, you ran out the clock.”)

Alice’s vision blurred as the system flashed another line of text across her eyes.

Her breath caught. “No, no, no, no” she stammered, words tumbling out in a panic. Her thoughts slipped through her fingers like water. Every time she tried to hold onto them, they crumbled, fuzzier, stupider.

Alice grabbed her head, nails digging into her scalp. “I… I can’t… think. Ioh gods, what’s happening?” Her tongue fumbled, lips sluggish, like language itself was escaping her.

Dice’s voice chimed, far too cheerful

(“Brains are overrated, sweetie. You weren’t using half of it anyway. Look on the bright sideyou’ll never overthink again. Or, uh, just think in general.”)

Alice whimpered. Words broke into fragments. Think. Hurts. No… words… too… big. Her new tail flicked violently against her legs, nerves firing like lightning. Her breath came out in panting whines, high and ****.

Dice again, crueler this time:

(“Aww, listen to you. Dropping syllables already. Soon it’ll just be yips and growls. Fitting, reallylook at those paws. Who needs philosophy when you’ve got fetch?”)

Alice bared her teeth, a sound tearing out of her throat halfway between a sob and a growl. She collapsed forward, arms trembling, palms already reshaped into pads and claws. She wanted to curse him, to scream fuck you!but it tangled in her mouth as nothing but a broken, breathless whimper: “F-fuhh…fuuhhh…”

Her stat sheet blinked mockingly in front of her blurred eyes.

[Trait Interaction: Kennel-Bound + Brood-Bound]

Mental function de-prioritized. Instincts elevated. Survival and mating drives take precedence.

Dice clapped in her ear, giddy.

(“Congratulations, Alice! You’ve officially downgraded from Adventurer to Pet. Next stop: chew toys and belly rubs. Don’t worry, though you’re still very, very breedable.”)

Alice’s claws scraped weakly at the glowing sheet still hovering in her vision. The words swam together, twisting, too big, too complicated.

“Sh-shaa… shar’d grr… gro… growf?” she muttered, brow furrowing. The syllables tangled on her tongue, thick and clumsy. She pawed at the screen like swiping would make it simpler. It didn’t.

She used to understand this. Just hours ago, she could read it all, dissect the details, even complain about the stupid commentary Dice scrawled between the lines. Now it was just… noise. Strange shapes that used to mean something, but didn’t anymore.

A sob wrenched out of her throat. “I… I wus smart,” she whimpered, ears flattening. Her voice cracked, words tumbling like broken blocks. “I r’memb’r… I ‘member bein’… smart girl. Now… dog. Jus’… dog.”

Dice purred, smug and merciless:

(“Oh, honey, don’t sell yourself short. You’re not just a dog. You’re a special dog. Trained, bonded, branded. Fetch with benefits. Honestly, it’s an upgrade.”)

Alice snarled weakly at the voice, but it came out more like a whine. Her tail flicked miserably. She hated that she still understood him, even as her own mouth betrayed her.

She pressed her forehead against the cold floor, tears dripping onto the tile. “I kn’… I kno’ what happ’n. I know,” she whispered. “All of it. But can’t… can’t say… right.” She thumped her paw against her chest. “Still me! Still Alice! Jus’… broken.”

The system sheet blinked again, cruelly cheerful.

[Trait Active: Kennel Bound]

Humans now perceive you primarily as a quadrupedal pet. Recognition as a peer will be difficult without overwhelming proof.

[Trait Evolved: Pack Meat → Prize Bitch]

Effect: Unbonded humans see you as low-status, easily dismissed. Bonded beasts and Alphas see you as irresistible breeding stock.

Alice’s throat worked, but only a strangled “n-nooo…” slipped out. She remembered complex words, strategies, choices. She remembered mocking Lionheart’s arrogance, remembered negotiating with Jen, remembered the ache of trying to think through class perks. Now she couldn’t even read the word “synergy” without stumbling.

But worst of all, she remembered exactly how smart she used to be.

And knowing she’d never get that back broke her more than the claws, the tail, or the fur ever could.

The cheetah print door swung open with a hiss of hydraulics, neon light spilling out of the interior.

“Sweetheart?” Maria called, peeking back in. “We’re home. You’ve been sitting there forever, come on out.”

Silence. A faint whimper.

Maria’s brow furrowed and she leaned in, expecting to see her daughter fiddling with her sheet or sulking. Instead, a tufted ear flicked up at her. Four paws scrabbled at the seat leather.

For one absurd moment Maria thought, Alice has a dog now? Then the truth hit her like a punch.

Alice crouched low on all fours, fur bristling, big grey eyes staring up at her with a mix of shame and panic. She reached one clawed paw toward the door handle and missed, paw pads smearing against the chrome. She couldn’t even grip it.

Maria’s breath caught. “Oh…” she whispered. “Oh, baby.”

But the trait had already sunk its hooks in. The warm, motherly ache in her chest twisted, reframed. The longer she looked, the harder it was to see a daughter at all. The system was whispering into her hindbrain: pet, not person; animal, not equal.

Maria’s tone softened automatically, the same way it had when she used to coo at kittens behind the bar. “C’mere, girl,” she said without thinking, patting her thigh. “Come on out.”

Alice whimpered again, shame flushing her furred cheeks. “M-momma… it’s me…” she tried to say,

Behind Maria, Jen and Ignition had frozen. The effect was the same on them. Where a moment ago they’d seen a comrade, now their minds kept trying to slot her into pet instead of person. Jen’s missing arm hugged the towel tighter, eyes flicking with unease. Ignition frowned, confused, then tilted his head like someone trying to make sense of an optical illusion.

Maria crouched at the doorframe, torn between her memories and the compulsion washing over her. Her voice came out automatically sing song. “It’s okay, honey… come on out. Mama’s here.”

Alice’s claws dug into the seat. She could see it in their eyes they didn’t see her anymore. The shame burned hotter than any heat in the dungeon. She still remembered everything, still knew she was Alice, but every time she opened her mouth the words came out wrong, babyish, slurred.

“M-me Alice,” she whimpered. “N-no dog. M-me…”

Maria’s hand trembled in midair, then settled on Alice’s head without even thinking. She scratched behind the tufted ears. The trait did the rest.

“That’s a good girl,” Maria murmured, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Alice shut her eyes, tears leaking into her fur. She knew exactly what was happening. She remembered the stat sheet, the traits, the countdown she’d missed. She remembered being smart. And now she was a clever animal, trapped in a body everyone else’s minds insisted was a pet.

Ignition and Jen were the first to step out of the neon lit beast of a car, blinking at the shift from glowing cheetah print interior to the quiet street outside. For a moment, they both seemed to hesitate like they were trying to remember why they were here at all. Then it slipped away, and their eyes landed on Alice.

On all fours, tufted lynx ears twitching, bunny tail flicking, she looked up at them with watery grey eyes. fully nude, making the effort to stay modest nearly impossible.

Jen smiled weakly, her one good hand reaching down. “She’s… cute. Really cute.” She stroked Alice’s head like she’d done it a thousand times, scratching gently behind her ears.

Alice wanted to recoil, to snap that she wasn’t a dog. But the warmth of the touch sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine, and the soft coo in Jen’s voice melted something inside her. Against her will, she leaned into it.

Ignition’s big, calloused hand followed, resting heavy but careful between her ears. “Good girl,” he said absentmindedly, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. He wasn’t mocking her he just didn’t see her as anything but Maria’s pet.

Alice’s throat tightened. (Stop it. Don’t enjoy this. Don’t wag your tail like a stupid mutt) but her body betrayed her anyway. Her tail thumped softly against the seat.

“C-cute…” she stammered, trying to **** the words out. Then, fighting through the fog, she squeezed harder: “M-me… Alice. Not dog.”

Both Ignition and Jen blinked, but neither looked surprised. Maria, stepping out behind them, laughed lightly. “Oh, don’t be silly. Plenty of adventurers have pets that talk. She’s just very advanced, aren’t you, girl?” She reached over and ruffled Alice’s fur like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Alice’s heart twisted. They heard her. They just didn’t listen.

Jen knelt down, eyes soft, and pressed her forehead gently to Alice’s. “You’re adorable,” she whispered.

Alice’s tail wagged harder. Heat burned in her face, humiliated at how much she liked the attention, even as her mind screamed she shouldn’t. The world had already decided: she wasn’t Quin’s bastard daughter anymore. She was Maria’s pet.

The neon hum of Maria’s bar spilled into the street as she pushed open the door, heels clicking on the scuffed wooden floor. The music hit first a lazy, pulsing beat from the jukebox in the corner then the laughter, the clatter of glasses, the smell of **** heavy in the air. Patrons leaned at the counter or slouched in booths, their conversation buzzing until the door swung wide enough for them to see what followed her inside.

Alice.

On all fours. Nude, skin prickling under the neon lights, her face burning red with humiliation. She crept after her mother like a loyal hound, head low, trying desperately to avoid eye contact. Every shuffle of her paws against the floorboards echoed louder than the music to her own ears.

The bar went quiet. Then came the whispers.

“Is that…?”

“No way…”

Someone chuckled, another clinked their glass as if toasting the bizarre sight.

Alice wanted the floor to swallow her whole. Her mind screamed that she was still herself still smart enough to remember who she’d been but her body betrayed her, spine refusing to straighten, arms trembling whenever she even thought about rising up. She had to stay down. She was down.

Maria, meanwhile, carried on like nothing was strange about bringing a naked quadrupedal girl through a crowded bar. She gave an airy laugh, tossing her charcoal blonde hair back, and waved cheerfully to the regulars. “Evening, boys! Don’t mind us, just heading upstairs.” Her tone was breezy, practiced, like she was showing off a new purse instead of leading her daughter through a room full of staring eyes.

Alice followed, shame clawing at her throat. A man at the bar leaned forward, watching with hungry eyes, and she could feel her tail traitorously twitching. She clenched her jaw, trying not to whimper.

Maria glanced back, clapping her hands lightly. “C’mon, pup. Upstairs.”

The crowd parted with mocking grins and pitying stares. Someone whistled low, another muttered “good dog” under their breath. Alice’s cheeks burned hotter, but she couldn’t stop crawling. She couldn’t even **** the words of protest past her lips without stumbling over them.

At the foot of the stairs, Maria bent down, brushing her fingers briefly through Alice’s tangled hair as if it were the most natural gesture in the world. “Good girl,” she murmured fondly, voice warm and affectionate but not motherly. Not anymore.

The word seared through Alice’s chest like a brand. Her mother didn’t see her as a daughter. Not tonight. Maybe not ever again. Just… a pet.

And as Alice began the humiliating climb up the stairs on all fours, following the sway of Maria’s hips,

Maria pushed open the upstairs apartment door with her hip, neon light from the stairwell spilling into the dim living space. The familiar smell of perfume and fried food drifted out to meet her. She stepped inside, heels clicking, then turned to gesture for Alice to come in.

“Come on, pup,” she said lightly, the nickname sliding off her tongue before she’d even thought about it.

Alice crept over the threshold on all fours, tail low, eyes flicking nervously at the walls. This was her home. Their home. Her posters still hung there old horror movies, game cases stacked precariously beside the holo console, bags of chips crammed into a crate near the fridge. Her towel slipped a little as she shuffled inside, and she clutched it tighter, burning with shame.

Maria’s gaze wandered across the room. For a heartbeat, her brows drew together. It was like seeing it for the first time through new eyes: the messy shelf of games, the junk food, the scattered magazines, all the little signs of a young adult’s private space.

But her trait-warped mind kept twisting the picture. A dog didn’t need horror posters. A dog didn’t need a console. A dog didn’t eat chips or drink energy drinks. It was all wrong, too human, too cluttered for what she now instinctively saw trailing behind her.

“Goodness…” she murmured, almost to herself. “This isn’t fit for a… for a pet at all.” She crouched, running a manicured hand over a discarded controller, as though checking for chew marks. “You poor thing… have I been a terrible owner?”

Alice’s heart cracked. “M-mom…” she tried, but it came out small, like a child “No pet. Me… Alice.”

Maria looked back at her with a soft smile, eyes warm but not quite seeing. “Shhh. It’s alright, girl. Mama’s here now. We’ll fix this.” She reached out and scratched gently behind Alice’s tufted ears, like she would have done to a puppy.

Alice shivered, torn between shame and the treacherous flicker of pleasure the touch sparked.

Maria set her purse down on the counter, then looked around the apartment again, this time with a sharper eye. She pressed her lips together, as though only just realizing the extent of the “problem.”

“Baby girl, this won’t do,” she murmured. “None of this is right for you.”

Alice tilted her head, ears twitching, confusion tightening her chest. “Mom… my stuff,” she managed, her voice halting,

But Maria was already moving. She grabbed the heap of folded laundry, Alice's patched shirts, her worn jeans, and stuffed them into a black trash bag. “Clothes aren’t for puppies, sweetheart. You’ll be more comfortable without all this clutter.”

Alice’s heart thudded painfully as Maria swept up her holo-console, her stack of horror movie posters, even her half finished chips. The bright covers flashed briefly in the air before vanishing into another bag.

“Games and scary movies? That’s not good for a dog’s nerves,” Maria said firmly, shaking her head. “You need calm, not nightmares.”

Alice’s throat bobbed as she crawled forward, nudging the edge of the bag with her paw. “No… mine… please.”

Maria’s smile was gentle, indulgent, as though Alice had whined for a treat. She stroked her daughter’s her pet’s hair. “Shhh, I know you don’t understand. Trust me. Junk food and soda, horror films and broken clothes, this is no life for a good girl like you.”

One by one, Maria stripped the apartment bare: Alice’s stash of chips, her ramen packets, her collection of trinkets from the streets of Ikos. Every piece of her old identity vanished into garbage bags, the weight of them slumping by the door.

Alice’s chest squeezed tight, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. She remembered each item, each snack and poster and game, each little piece of the person she’d been before. And she watched helplessly as Maria, smiling, humming, caring erased them all.

“There,” Maria said finally, dusting off her hands. She looked down at Alice with a radiant smile. “So much better. Clean, safe, simple. From now on, we’ll make this home fit for a pet.”

Alice’s tail twitched, betraying her conflicting emotions shame, anger, and a strange, **** yearning to still be loved. She lowered her head to the floor, whispering hoarsely: “Not… pet. Alice.”

But Maria only bent down, kissing her forehead like she might to a puppy. “Of course you are. My Alice. My good girl.”

Maria plopped down on the couch, still glowing with satisfaction from her “clean up,” and whipped out her sleek holo-phone. With a few swipes, she was already browsing an online storefront that glittered with neon ads.

“Let’s see…” she murmured, her gray flicking through the catalog. “Every good girl needs the basics, don’t they?”

Alice crouched by the door, ears twitching nervously as the chirps of confirmation pings filled the air.

“Dog food premium blend, organic,” Maria said brightly, adding it to the cart with a flourish. “Oh! A water bowl with a built in mana filter. Perfect. And a big soft pet bed… silk lining, because my baby deserves the best.”

Alice’s stomach sank as the glowing total climbed higher. She whined, low in her throat. “M-mom… no need…”

But Maria only laughed, scrolling faster. “Nonsense! A kennel collapsible, soundproof. Chew toys squeaky, crunchy, enchanted, yes. And of course…” She paused, smiling wide as she tapped the screen. “A collar. Red leather. With a silver tag. Can’t have my pup running around without one, can we?”

Another ping. Then another. Alice’s eyes widened as the final number flashed up several thousand credits.

Maria leaned back, smug and satisfied. “Same day delivery. Isn’t modern living wonderful?” She beamed down at Alice, reaching to scratch under her chin. “By tonight, you’ll have everything a proper pet could want. No more junk food, no more human clutter. Just comfort, structure, and love.”

Alice squeezed her eyes shut, shame flooding her chest. All her games, her clothes, her snacks, her posters gone. And now they were being replaced with kibble, kennels, and chew toys.

the next morning

Alice’s eyes fluttered open to the faint glow of morning filtering through the blinds. For a moment she didn’t recognize where she was snug, warm, cocooned in a padded softness that cradled every curve of her awkward new body. Then the bars of the kennel came into focus.

Her stomach dropped.

She shifted, claws clicking softly against the bedding. The padding molded perfectly under her, warm enough to make her toes curl. And damn it all, she hated to admit it - it was the best sleep she’d ever had. No tossing, no aching shoulders from too-small beds, no waking up with her neck kinked. Just deep, blissful rest.

(Why… why does this feel so good? It’s a kennel. I’m not… I’m not supposed to like this…)

The door was locked, of course. Her mom had latched it last night after cooing, “Good girls sleep in their own beds.” Which meant Alice was stuck until Maria decided to get up.

She pushed at the door with her paw, testing it, but it barely rattled. “M-mom…” she whispered, voice small and halting. “Up now? Let me… out?”

Silence. Just the faint hum of the fridge and the muffled noise of traffic outside the bar below.

Alice curled back onto the bedding with a frustrated huff, ears twitching. She knew she should be furious. And she was. But the shameful truth gnawed at her more than the hunger in her belly she almost didn’t want to get up. The kennel was warm, safe, comfortable in a way that made her heart ache.

Her tail twitched against the bedding, betraying her traitorous body.

“Stupid kennel,” she muttered, pressing her face into the padding. “Stupid… comfy kennel.”

And so she waited, stewing in a mix of resentment and **** contentment, until the sound of her mother’s heels clicking across the apartment floor finally reached her ears.

Maria hummed softly to herself as she moved around the kitchen, her silk robe swishing against her legs. The smell of frying eggs and buttered toast filled the apartment, rich and warm. A coffee machine hissed as it poured into her favorite oversized mug, the steam curling upward.

She plated her breakfast scrambled eggs, toast, sausage and carried it to the couch, plopping down with a sigh. The holo screen flickered on, bathing her in blue light as a morning show blared cheerful nonsense.

From the kennel, Alice’s stomach gave an audible growl.

She pressed her face into the padding, ears twitching at every clink of Maria’s fork, every sip of coffee. The savory smells hit her like a punch, saliva pooling traitorously in her mouth.

(So hungry… please… just let me out. Just a little bite. Anything…)

She pawed at the kennel door, the latch rattling faintly. “Mom… food…?” The words tumbled out in broken, halting syllables.

Maria glanced over, smiling warmly. “Shhh, patience, pup. Mama eats first.” She turned back to her breakfast, tapping her fork against the plate in rhythm with the news anchor’s voice.

Alice’s gut twisted. She could only watch from behind the bars as her mother enjoyed a leisurely meal, lounging with her legs tucked up, sipping coffee like the world was perfectly normal.

The minutes stretched like hours, filled with the sounds of chewing, laughter from the holoscreen, and Alice’s quiet whines.

By the time Maria set her empty plate aside, Alice was trembling, both from hunger and the slow gnaw of humiliation. She pressed her forehead against the bars, whispering hoarsely: “Good… girl. Please… let out now?”

Maria stretched, yawned, and finally rose from the couch. Her heels clicked against the tile as she strolled casually toward the kennel, as if nothing about the morning had been unusual at all.

The latch clicked. Alice’s ears perked up, heart hammering with hope as the kennel door swung open. She scrambled forward on all fours, towel slipping as she padded out onto the tile.

The kitchen still smelled of sausage. Her nose twitched. She could almost taste it, the memory of her mom’s cooking making her mouth water. She’d always loved Maria’s breakfasts, perfect in their own messy way. And sausage sausage was her favorite.

“Come on, pup,” Maria cooed, guiding her toward the kitchen counter. Alice’s tail gave an involuntary flick. (Finally. Real food. Sausage. Please, just sausage…)

Maria bent down, pulling something shiny from a shopping bag. A metal bowl. Its surface gleamed under the morning light. Alice froze as Maria set it on the floor with a casual little flourish, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

From the counter, a bag of premium dog kibble crinkled open. Brown, perfectly shaped pellets tumbled into the bowl, clinking softly against the metal. The smell was rich, meaty, even fancy… but it was still unmistakably dog food.

Alice’s mouth hung open. “…no,” she whispered hoarsely, stomach twisting. Her eyes flicked up at Maria, ****, pleading. “Food… real… please.”

Maria only smiled down at her, stroking her hair fondly. “This is real food, sweetheart. The best you can get. Premium blend, full of vitamins and mana fortifiers. Perfect for my good girl.” She gave the bowl a little push so it slid neatly in front of Alice. “Go on. Eat up.”

Alice’s stomach growled loud enough to echo in the small kitchen. The smell clawed at her instincts, tempting her. She bent lower, nose almost brushing the rim of the bowl, saliva pooling against her will.

(But it’s… it’s kibble. She made eggs. She made sausage. And she gave me… this.)

Her throat tightened, shame burning hotter than her hunger. But the ache in her belly didn’t care. The longer she stared, the more her body urged her forward.

Maria crouched beside her, petting behind her tufted ear with a proud smile. “Good girl. You’ll see. This is so much better for you than that greasy junk.”

Alice hovered over the bowl, ears twitching, stomach twisting. She took one shaky breath, then lowered her head and bit down on a single piece of kibble.

The flavor hit instantly savory, smoky, with a richness that spread across her tongue like slow melting butter. Her eyes widened. (Wait… what? This is… good?)

Another bite. Then another. Soon she was crunching piece after piece, unable to stop herself. Her embarrassment burned hot, but hunger and taste overpowered shame. The bowl clinked as her claws scraped the edges, her mouth working furiously until half the serving was gone.

Alice panted, cheeks flushed, staring into the half empty bowl. (Is it… me? Did the transformation mess with my taste buds? Or is this stuff actually… amazing?) She licked a stray crumb from her lips before she could stop herself.

Maria’s brows shot up, watching her daughter turned pet devour the food with such obvious delight. “Well, someone’s enjoying breakfast,” she said lightly, then hesitated. A flicker of curiosity crossed her face.

Before Alice could protest, Maria pinched a single kibble between her fingers, sniffed it, and popped it into her mouth. She chewed once, twice, then blinked.

“…Huh,” Maria admitted, looking faintly embarrassed. “Not too bad, actually. Kind of like… smoky jerky cereal, if you squint.” She laughed, a little too loudly, brushing the thought off as she reached down to scratch Alice behind the ears. “Guess you’ve got good taste after all.”

Alice groaned, torn between mortification and the undeniable satisfaction of her full belly. Her tail thumped once against the floor, betraying her enjoyment despite herself.