The words landed hard. No dogs. No exceptions. He had been seconds away from something solid—something that could shift the direction of his life. And now, it slipped right through, because the one being who had never left his side wasn’t welcome. The rules weren’t up for discussion, and Joshua knew it.
He looked down at Lucky, who was resting at his feet, eyes half-closed, trusting. Joshua stood still, unsure of what to do. The answer was clear, but it didn’t feel fair. He left the shelter quietly. If Lucky wasn’t welcome, then neither was he. That much hadn’t changed.