Chapter 114

Aurora’s POV

“Just breathe, Aurora,” Thorne says, resting his hands on my hips. The touch is soft yet firm and again, incredibly distracting. “She’s there. I can feel her just beneath the surface.”

“I can too, but…” I try to reach within like he told me, but I can’t quite connect with my wolf. “What if she still doesn’t come out? What do we do?”

He doesn’t give up, though, which is so normal for him. I don’t know how he’s so strong and positive after my wolf refuses to respond. Thorne peers down at me with those confident eyes of his, the ones that always make me think he can see into my soul.

“Then we call her,” he says, squeezing my waist slightly. “Together.”

Nodding, I close my eyes and call for my wolf. I reach for her, wanting and needing to make a connection. A thrum of something pulses faintly, and I know it’s her. My wolf. She’s there, just beneath the surface in the darkness that she was trapped in for so long.

She doesn’t respond, just stays there, curled up like a wounded animal.

“She’s hiding,” I whisper to Thorne. He hums, the sound soft and comforting.

“Come on,” I call softly, not even sure who I’m talking to. I don’t know if she’ll listen, but I can’t do nothing. So I stay calm, breathe slowly, and wait.

Thorne steps closer, his chest brushing against my back. “Aurora.”

The way he says my name, in that low and soft, yet demanding tone sends a shiver down my spine.

She stirs within me. Just slightly, and not more than a flicker of movement, but still, she doesn’t come forward. I try again, focusing harder this time and pouring everything I have into coaxing her to the surface.

Still nothing.

“I can’t do it,” I whimper, biting back the tears that threaten to fall. “She won’t come.”

“She will. She’s just scared,” Thorne says. “When a wolf is forcefully suppressed, it takes a toll on them, and on you. The connection that should come naturally was cut off so early that she doesn’t know how to trust it yet.”

“But she spoke to me before,” I say, rubbing at my stinging eyes.

Thorne nods and pulls me into his arms, kissing my forehead, “I know, but you were in danger. Maybe she was trying to help.”

She did, honestly. My wolf didn’t talk much, but she told me not to give up and reminded me that Thorne would find us. Her words helped me keep going.

“I just hate that I can’t help her. I don’t know what to do,” I say, looking up at Thorne. “I want to help her like she helped me.”

“Then we’ll figure out how to help her. Together.”

The steady confidence in his voice is like a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. I need his reassurance more than I can explain, and I love that he offers it without question or hesitation.

Sighing, I pull out my phone. “I should call Grayson. He might have some ideas.”

Thorne nods in agreement and watches as I walk over to a boulder and sit down. I click Grayson’s number and listen to the phone ring.

“Aurora? Is everything alright?” His tone is concerned, and my heart squeezes. I haven’t known him for long, but it’s nice to have another person who cares.

“Sort of,” I answer, picking at the hem of my shorts. “I need to ask you something about my wolf.”

There’s a pause before he asks, “Is she still not coming out?”

A sharp pain tugs at my heart. “My wolf isn’t coming out. Is she broken?”

“No,” he almost barks. “She’s not broken. She’s just weak right now. When wolves are kept down for too long, they become submissive or afraid. They don’t remember how to rise forth, but don’t worry. If you can feel her, then she’s still there, which means she can be coaxed out. Reawakened.”

“We’ve been trying for two hours,” I mutter, dropping my chin into my hand.

“It takes time, patience, and connection. You need to show her she’s safe now and that she’s wanted. Imagine being kept locked up for twenty years. Would you know what to do?”

“No,” I mumble.

“Right, so she needs to know you want her,” he explains. “Sometimes a bond can help. Especially if it’s a strong one…”

I glance at Thorne. He’s still watching from where I left him in the middle of the clearing.

A strong bond.

“We’re working on that,” I murmur.

There’s a pause on the other side of the phone before Grayson speaks, “You could try running in the forest. Wolves love to run and the freedom it brings. If Thorne shifts, his wolf might help draw your wolf out.”

“Okay. We’ll try that. Thanks.”

Ending the call, I make my way back to Thorne, and he watches me closely. Like he’s been doing a lot lately especially after the proposal disaster and misunderstanding—that I still feel bad for.

“What did Alpha Grayson suggest?”

“He said that wolves remember the freedom of running.”

I’m not sure how my wolf will remember it, since I’ve never run with her. Maybe he means she’ll instinctually remember?

Thorne smiles, takes my hand, and kisses the back of it, “Then let’s give her something to remember.”

He leads me deeper into the forest until we’re surrounded by trees and shadows. I watch as he moves a few feet away from me and crouches, his body moving and changing. In the blink of an eye, Thorne’s large body is replaced by an even larger wolf.

His dark fur gleams in the little bit of sunlight that reaches us, and his bright gold eyes find mine. I’ve seen his wolf before, but somehow, it still affects me.

Heat fills my cheeks, and I raise my hands to cover them.

A low, almost playful growl comes from Thorne as he nudges my side with his cold nose.

“Okay,” I laugh then take a deep breath. “My turn.”

My heart pounds in my chest, but nothing happens.

Thorne moves closer, and something happens. A slight movement. She’s watching him. Thorne stretches his neck out again and nudges my hip with his snout before barking and taking off into the trees.

I know he wants me to follow, so I run.

Thorne is ahead of me, zipping through trees, and I do my best to follow. I jump over a log with surprising ease, loving how the wind whips through my hair. I focus on keeping Thorne in my sights, but for the first time, I give myself over to the instinct.

And my wolf likes it.

She stretches inside me, like she’s waking up after a long nap. Her energy pulses to life slowly, spreading throughout my body and giving me a boost.

Thorne disappears from my sight, and I slow down to look around.

“There. He’s coming,” she says, and I look to the right.

She’s right. Thorne is circling back and slowing down to match my pace. When he reaches my side, he brushes against me, his soft fur tickling my leg. The heat of his body seeps into me, and my wolf preens.

She wants to see him. Not just feel him… she wants to be with him.

“Then come out,” I call, breathless. “Run with him.”

Another flicker.

I stumble and fall to my knees, gasping as she surges forward. Just as quickly, she retreats, hesitating.

Thorne circles me, sniffing and nudging me with his nose again as he whines. I reach out, needing contact, and touch his side. His presence instantly makes me feel better.

“She’s trying, Thorne. She really is.”

His only response is to lean into my body, rub against me, and look into my eyes. I can tell he wants to try again, so I let him help me up.

My wolf is waking up, so she just needs another push.

“Let’s try again.”