49 Ava: Selene’s Secret Vice
Selene’s presence helped me sleep like the dead. Waking in the morning in a room outside of the hospital is nicer than I want to admit to yton, after trying to refuse this apartment.
Stretchingnguidly, I take a moment to bask in the luxury of the king–sized bed, reveling in the silky sheets caressing my skin. A contented sigh escapes my lips as I roll onto my side, only to find myself face–to–face with Selene’s piercing blue gaze.
“Morning,” I murmur, reaching out to scratch behind
her ears.
<i>Morning</i><i>, </i><i>pup</i>. Her tail thumps against the mattress in greeting. <i>Sleep </i>well<i>?</i>
“Like a rock.” I nce around thevish bedroom, my eyes lingering on the plush armchairs positioned near the floor–to–ceiling windows. “It’s going to take some getting used to, living in a ce like this.”
You deserve nice things<i>, </i><i>Ava</i><i>. </i>Selene nuzzles my hand. <i>Although</i><i>, </i><i>I </i><i>must </i><i>admit</i><i>, </i><i>I </i>miss the <i>simplicity </i>of <i>your </i><i>old </i><i>apartment</i>.
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49 Ava: Selene’s Secret Vice
Is it possible to feel nostalgia after only a week away? Because I do.
“Me too. We won’t be able to go back for a little while, right?”
Selene’s ears tten against her head. <i>Not </i>until the <i>alpha </i>sends <i>you </i>home<i>.</i>
Pushing aside the mncholy, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and stretch again, relishing the freedom of movement. No sore back or hips, and no tense neck after sleeping on near–t pillows. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”
Selene hops off the bed and trots toward the door. Well, <i>you </i>don’t have a <i>job </i><i>to </i><i>go </i><i>to </i><i>anymore</i>, so <i>I </i>suppose <i>you </i><i>could </i><i>be </i><i>a </i><i>couch </i><i>potato </i>for <i>once</i><i>.</i>
I can’t help butugh at the mental image. “A couch potato? Really?”
<i>Why </i><i>not</i><i>? </i>She nces back at me with a wolfish grin. There’s a new shifter romance <i>show </i>that <i>just </i><i>started</i><i>. </i><i>We </i><i>could </i><i>binge</i>–watch <i>it </i>together<i>.</i>
Raising an eyebrow, I follow her out of the bedroom and into the spacious living area. “A shifter romance
shour? Somehow I doubt <b>it’ll </b>be an <b>urato</b>
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40 <b>Ava</b>: Solono’s Secret Vice
representation of our lives.”
Selene hops onto the plush sofa, making herselffortable. <i>You’d </i><i>be </i>surprised<i>. </i>From what I’ve heard<i>,</i>
<i>it’s </i>quite <i>steamy</i><i>.</i>
Heat rises to my cheeks at her suggestive tone.
“Steamy, huh? I’m not sure I want to watch something like that with you.”
<i>Oh</i><i>, </i><ie </i><i>now</i><i>. </i>She gives me a pointed look. <i>After </i><i>everything </i><i>we’ve </i>been through <i>together</i>, a <i>little </i><i>on</i>–screen <i>romance </i><i>shouldn’t </i>faze <i>you</i><i>.</i>
Shaking my head in amusement, I join her on the couch, tucking my feet beneath me. “Alright, alright. Let’s see what all the fuss is about.”
With a few taps on the remote, therge tscreen flickers to life, and the opening credits of “Fated Mates” fill the screen. Selene’s tail thumps excitedly against the cushions, and I can’t help but chuckle at
her enthusiasm.
“Okay, let’s see what kind of steamy shifter romance
awaits us.”
<i>Just </i>wait<i>, </i>Selene promises, her eyes glued to the
screen. <i>This </i><i>show </i>is going to <i>make </i><i>you </i><i>wish </i>you had a
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49 Ava: Selene’s Secret Vice
<i>mate </i><i>of </i><i>your </i><i>own</i><i>.</i>
I roll my eyes. “I have one. He didn’t want me. I don’t
think our love affair is meant for an audience.” a
Selene scoffs at my words. <i>A </i><i>fated </i>mate <i>doesn’t </i><i>count </i><i>when </i><i>they’re </i><i>too </i><i>stupid </i><i>to </i><i>appreciate </i>what’s <i>right </i><i>in </i><i>front </i><i>of </i><i>them</i><i>.</i>
A surprisedugh escapes my lips. Trust Selene to put things so bluntly. “You’re right.”
Before I can say anything further, a sharp knock echoes through the apartment, causing us both to turn our heads toward the sound. Frowning, I rise from the couch and make my way to the door, curiosity piqued.
When I pull it open, I’m surprised to find Ivy standing on the other side, her expression unreadable.
I’m not sure how to greet her, so I just say, “Hello,” and
stand there like an idiot.
Her gaze sweeps over me, assessing my appearance with a critical eye, unimpressed by my pajamas. An impatient expression crosses her features as she arches a perfectly groomed eyebrow.
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40 <b>Ava</b>: Selene’s Secret Vice
“Well? Are you going to invite me in, or shall <b>we </b>conduct our business in the hallway?”
Her tone leaves no room for argument, and I hurry to step aside, gesturing for her to enter. “Of course, pleasee in.”
As Ivy brushes past me, Selene lets out a snort from her spot on the couch, drawing Ivy’s attention. Surprise flickers across her face when the husky
doesn’t back down from her intense stare.
“Where did you get that dog?” Ivy asks, her eyes narrowing.
I nce at Selene, who meets my gaze with a knowing look. “She’s just a stray who showed up one day. Ran away from her old home, I suppose. Huskies are like
that.”
Selene’s tail thumps against the cushion, almost as if she’s agreeing with my exnation. Ivy, however, doesn’t seem entirely convinced.
“A stray, huh?” Her lips purse as she studies Selene, who simply stares back at her, unfazed. “Well, I suppose that exins herck of manners.”
Refore I can reanand Cna leta <b>out </b>a low <b>groud </b>her
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40 Ava: Selene’s Secret Vice
hackles rising. Ivy’s eyes widen, and I quickly <b>step </b>between them, shooting a warning nce at my caninepanion.
“Selene, enough.” I turn to Ivy, offering her an
apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about that. She can be a bit protective sometimes.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
Ivy regards me for a moment, her expression
unreadable. Finally, she shakes her head and waves a dismissive hand. “No matter. I didn’te here to discuss your pet.”
“Then why are you here?” I ask, unable to hide my
curiosity.
Ivy’s gaze meets mine, and I’m struck by the intensity in her eyes. “I wanted to see for myself how you’re settling in.”
I blink, taken aback by her words. “Oh, um… well, it’s certainly a nice ce. A bit too extravagant for my tastes, but I appreciate the gesture.”
“My brother has a tendency to go overboard,” Ivy says with one of her too–warm smiles. “But he means well. He wants to ensure you’refortable and well–cared
for.”
ing. Ivy’s eyes widen, and I quickly step between them, shooting a warning nce at my caninepanion.
“Selene, enough.” I turn to Ivy, offering her an
apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about that. She can be a bit protective sometimes.”
Ivy regards me for a moment, her expression
unreadable. Finally, she shakes her head and waves a dismissive hand. “No matter. I didn’te here to discuss your pet.”
“Then why are you here?” I ask, unable to hide my curiosity.
Ivy’s gaze meets mine, and I’m struck by the intensity in her eyes. “I wanted to see for myself how you’re settling in.”
I blink, taken aback by her words. “Oh, um… well, it’s certainly a nice ce. A bit too extravagant for my tastes, but I appreciate the gesture.”
“My brother has a tendency to go overboard,” Ivy says with one of her too–warm smiles. “But he means well. He wants to ensure you’refortable and well–cared
for.”
49 Ava: Selene’s Secret Vice
There’s something in her tone that sets me on edge, but I can’t make it out. Selene’s growl echoes in my mind.
“Well, you can tell your brother that I’m doing just fine,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “I don’t need anything extravagant. Just a safe ce to stay for the time being.”
Ivy regards me for a long moment, her gaze sharp and assessing. Finally, she nods, seeming satisfied with whatever she’s gleaned from our interaction.
“I’ll be sure to pass that along,” she says, turning to leave. “Enjoy your stay, Ava. And do try to keep that mutt of yours under control.”
With those parting words, she’s gone, leaving me standing in the middle of the living room, wondering why she’d evene by in the first ce.
<i>Mutt</i>? I’m <i>papered</i><i>!</i>
Selene’s ears twitch in irritation, her tail thumping hard against the sofa. <i>Ah</i><i>, </i><i>I </i><i>missed </i>the <i>intro </i>because of <i>that </i><i>witch</i>!
When someone knocks on the door again, I assume
it’a Tu <b>hut </b>Clouton’s the one <b>at </b>the door this <b>time</b>
50 Ava: The Grey Girl