Tangled

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 Clayton, after trying to refuse this apartment.

Stretching languidly, 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.

Morning, pup. Her tail thumps against the mattress in greeting. Sleep well?

“Like a rock.” I glance around the lavish 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 place like this.”

You deserve nice things, Ava. Selene nuzzles my hand. Although, I must admit, I miss the simplicity of your old apartment.

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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 flatten against her head. Not until the alpha sends you home.

Pushing aside the melancholy, 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–flat pillows. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”

Selene hops off the bed and trots toward the door. Well, you don’t have a job to go to anymore, so I suppose you could be a couch potato for once.

I can’t help but laugh at the mental image. “A couch potato? Really?”

Why not? She glances back at me with a wolfish grin. There’s a new shifter romance show that just started. We could binge–watch it together.

Raising an eyebrow, I follow her out of the bedroom and into the spacious living area. “A shifter romance

shour? Somehow I doubt it’ll be an accurato

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Solono’s Secret Vice

of our lives.”

sofa, making herself comfortable. You’d be surprised. From what

it’s quite steamy.

to my cheeks at

sure I want to watch something like that

now. She gives me a pointed look. After everything we’ve been through together, a little on–screen romance shouldn’t faze you.

head in amusement, I join her on the couch, tucking my feet beneath me. “Alright, alright. Let’s see what all the fuss is

opening credits of “Fated Mates” fill the screen. Selene’s tail thumps excitedly against the

her enthusiasm.

what kind of

awaits us.”

wait, Selene promises, her eyes glued to the

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478

Ava: Selene’s Secret Vice

your own.

“I have one. He didn’t want

our love affair is meant for an

scoffs at my words. A fated mate doesn’t count when they’re too stupid to appreciate what’s right in

Trust Selene to put things so bluntly.

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,

surprised to find Ivy standing on the other side, her expression unreadable.

greet her, so I just say,

like an idiot.

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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Selene’s Secret Vice

in, or shall we conduct

and I hurry to step aside, gesturing for her

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

down from her intense stare.

dog?” Ivy asks, her eyes narrowing.

meets my gaze with a knowing look. “She’s just a stray who showed up one day. Ran away from her old home,

that.”

she’s agreeing with my explanation. Ivy,

simply stares back

can reanand Calana leta out a low

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Ivy’s eyes widen, and I quickly step between them, shooting a warning glance at my canine

I turn to Ivy,

that. She can be a

me for a moment, her expression