Chapter 79

Aurora’s POV

I look up at Thorne, who is also staring at my phone.

“Do you need to take that?”

I jump and answer the call, “Mrs. Ashford. I’m so sorry for the wait, I’ve had a crazy day.”

“That’s quite alright, young lady,” her fine voice says, making me feel like I need to stand up straighter. “Do you have a moment to talk?”

I climb into the car, glancing at Thorne as he sits in the driver’s seat. I haven’t told him anything about Mrs. Ashford or about the things I’ve learned about not being my mother’s daughter.

“I do,” I tell her, settling back in the seat. “Did you find something in my blood?”

“Actually, that’s why I’m calling,” she says on a sigh. “The blood test came back inconclusive in the labs. There was something in your blood that prevented us from testing it correctly.”

Thorne glances at me, his brows pulling together in concern. I shake my head, mouthing I’ll tell you soon.

“Since the test was inconclusive, I have found another avenue to try.”

“Oh, what would that be? Is it difficult?” I ask, biting my bottom lip.

“I have contacted a witch who has agreed to meet us at a banquet my pack is hosting,” Mrs. Ashford says. “I would like to invite you to this banquet so you can meet with her to let her read your blood.”

Read my blood.

A witch.

Witches are real?

So many questions rush through my mind all at once, and I have to shake myself to focus.

“Is it necessary?” I ask, feeling a bit strange about meeting someone who is going to use magic on me. “I’ve never… I don’t know about…”

“Aurora, it would be no different than sending your blood into a lab. It’ll just be a bit more magic oriented, and it could be much faster and more accurate,” she explains. Just like Mrs. Ashford, I want to know if I have a connection with her family.

I want to know if we’re family, but I can’t find out if that connection exists unless I agree. Though, I don’t really know this woman, and I obviously don’t know this witch. What if something goes wrong? Or what if it’s dangerous?

Again, I find my eyes wandering to Thorne.

He would protect me if he were there.

“If I agree, I have a condition,” I say as sternly as I can without being disrespectful. “Could I bring someone with me?”

There’s a pause before Mrs. Ashford speaks again, “And who would that be?”

“My… boyfriend.”

Thorne’s head whips up, his full attention on me instead of the road, and I cry out. “Watch the road!”

“Aurora? Is everything alright?”

“Yes, just a second, please.”

I smack Thorne on the arm as he turns back to the road, not missing the massive grin on his face. He winks and I shake my head. I don’t know what else to call him because boss doesn’t seem like the right term to use for this situation and neither does lover.

“Sorry. Would I be able to bring my boyfriend?” I ask again.

“Of course. If that would make you feel better,” she says, and I smile. It would make me feel better, honestly. I don’t think I could go without him after what happened today. In fact, I might just stick to Thorne’s side for a while.

Just to be safe.

We wrap up the call with Mrs. Ashford letting me know she’ll send the banquet information soon.

“And what was all that about?” Thorne asks, parking the car in the vacation house’s driveway. “Where is this boyfriend of yours taking you, and why were you talking to an Ashford?”

“It’s a long story, but I’ve been wanting to tell you about it,” I say, turning to him. Before I can say anything else, Thorne reaches over the center consol and grabs me by the waist. He pulls me into his lap and brushes a few stray pieces of hair out of my face.

“Then, I’m all ears,” he says, wrapping an arm gently around me while softly stroking my thigh on top of my pants.

It sends a little wave of warm through me, letting me relax a bit more.

“Well, recently, I found out that I am not biologically related to my mother,” I start, leaning into his touch. “She found me on her porch when I was just a baby, and she never saw who left me there. Apparently, whoever left me on her stoop also left me a ring.”

“A ring?”

I nod, “However, she sold it to pay for something when I was young. Once my mother told me about the ring, I began searching and eventually found the pawn shop it was sold to. However, they didn’t have it anymore, so I kept looking. A jewelry shop bought the ring, and when I visited this shop, a young lady gave me the information about the buyer. The buyer turned out to be Leah Ashford.”

“Do you know who Leah Ashford is? She’s one of the highest ranked Lycans in the world—” I put my hand over his mouth so he’ll stop interrupting me.

“I know. I met her and we talked about the ring,” I tell him. “Actually, she thinks I might be related to someone in her family and asked if she could have my blood tested. That’s why she called me today.”

“Whmm dmm fee fay?”

I giggle at the muffled words and drop my hand.

“She told me that the blood results were inconclusive and she wants to invite me to meet a witch who could read my blood better than any lab,” I say. “There’s going to be a banquet that we can meet at, which is what I asked if you could come to.”

“The Ashford family isn’t one to be messed with, Aurora,” Thorne warns, his hands tightening on my hips. “They’re a family full of powerful Lycans who won’t tolerate being disrespected.”

I nod, knowing he’s right. Mrs. Ashford might be nice, but there’s no telling what will happen if I go to a party full of unknown and possibly dangerous people.

“Well, I’m not messing with them,” I say, looking into his eyes. “I’m trying to find my family.”

Thorne smiles and leans in, kissing my forehead softly, “I know, and that’s why I will be going to that banquet with you.”

I pull back, taking his face in my hands.

“You’ll come with me?”

He nods, smiling softly.

“You don’t mind going?”

His expression softens as he shakes his head and pulls me a little closer. Our chests come together, and I search Thorne’s eyes.

“Will it hurt your pack if you go?”

This time, he pauses for a moment before shrugging, “I’ll make sure it doesn’t. There is no animosity between my pack and the Lycan elite. Besides, I wouldn’t let you walk into a wolf’s den with no protection.”

I giggle at the analogy and lean in, pressing my lips to his as happiness surges in me.

“Thank you, Thorne. This means a lot to me,” I whisper, letting my forehead fall to his.

He smiles again, and my heart flutters.

“Anything for you, love.”