Chapter Thirty-One

After Pride Night, Ilya notes the overwhelming support for Troy and the relief it brings Troy to be openly with Harris. On the ice, Troy thanks Ilya for his support and invites him to dinner at Harris’s family farm. Ilya agrees when he learns there will be dogs, including Chiron.

At the farmhouse, Ilya meets Harris’s warm, boisterous family and multiple dogs, including a newly found stray. Hearing that abandoned dogs are sometimes dumped in the country horrifies Ilya. The affectionate stray gravitates to him, and Harris gently suggests she needs a home.

Outside, Troy urges Ilya to consider coming out, sharing how transformative openness has been. Ilya hints his situation is complicated because his secret involves someone else, which Troy interprets as Ilya being with a closeted partner. The conversation pauses as the stray returns to Ilya, and he begins to imagine adopting her.

Moved by the dog’s trust and reassured by Harris’s help, Ilya decides to adopt her and names her Anya. Two weeks later, Shane arrives for a promised surprise and meets Anya, initially wary but quickly charmed as Ilya explains her rescue and care.

They spend the day playing with Anya, walking her in booties, and discussing practicalities like a “hotel for dogs” when Ilya travels, complete with cameras. That night, Anya’s whimpering interrupts their attempt at sex, and they instead cuddle her to sleep.

As Anya dozes between them, Shane watches Ilya finally at peace. The chapter closes on a tender, domestic tableau that strengthens their shared vision of a future together.