Still, Rex never got distracted by trivial things. That unsettling realization lingered heavy in Emma’s chest long after the wedding music played on. At the altar, Vincent noticed the dog’s obvious hesitation. His smile tightened slightly as his eyes flicked quickly to Rex, then back to Lucy. Everyone in the church was hyper-aware of the tension; every little movement felt heightened and intense.
Rex tensed again. This time, his head turned sharply toward the main church entrance, his body angling away from the aisle as if something near the doors was drawing him in. Lucy stopped walking completely, her hand squeezing tight on the leash. “What is it, boy?” she whispered quietly.
Rex’s tail went rigid and still—neither raised in alert nor tucked in fear, just frozen in place. Lucy knelt down beside him, resting a calming hand on his shoulder. His fur felt tight and bristly under her fingers, his breathing shallow and controlled. He wasn’t panicked or scared; he was focused, locked onto a threat no one else could see or sense.
