Chapter 652

But Luca's wolf snarls, turning to snap at her, and Luca goes tense beside me. I just shush softly to him as my own wolf snaps back, narrowing her eyes and telling him with her body language to back the hell off. Luca's wolf goes still, I think fascinated by mine, not used to being stood up to and not punished in the same breath.

My wolf trots around Luca's, then, taking in the colors of his sandy brown fur, which is lank and matted, noting the awkward way that he stands, like he hasn't run or gamboled or played in years. And then she gets back to where she started, right in front of him.

"So what have you been doing, Luca?" I whisper quietly, stroking his hair. "Just...tucking him away? Living as human a life as you can?"

"I let him out when I box," Luca murmurs, leaning into my fingers. "When I need the rage. But keeping him contained - Ariel, you've only me calm, collected, even-tempered Luca."

I pull back a bit, raising an eyebrow at him, which makes grin a little, though there's a great deal of shame in it. "Yeah," he murmurs, leaning close. “So...just imagine what I'm like when my wolf's not under control."

Luca's wolf stands stark still as mine slowly raises her snout and then, very carefully, presses the tip of her nose to his. Luca's wolf stops breathing, and then so does Luca, as my wolf takes a very deliberate step forward and presses her face against his neck, nuzzling warm against him and using her snout to knock free some of the dirt that's matted in his fur.

Luca's arms tense around me as his wolf growls at mine, not knowing what to do, not knowing how to respond except to warn her off, tell her to get away. But she ignores him, continuing her work, pressing herself cozily against his side and getting her scent all over him, knocking some of that dust loose. Even when he lowers his snout and nips at her rear, she just responds in kind and doesn't back away, letting him know that she's not afraid.

In my arms, Luca begins to cry.

And in our souls, the wolves connect. My wolf nudges Luca teasingly with her nose and then darts away, falling into a play stance with her front half low to the ground while her tail twitches in the air. His wolf huffs a laugh and takes a few gamboling steps towards her - but he stops, and hesitates, looking around, knowing it's not allowed. Waiting to be pushed back down, to be shoved away.

“Let them,” I whisper, my voice ringing softly with joy to see Luca's wolf free.

And then my wolf gives a daring yip and spins, dashing off into the darkness, bidding him follow. And Luca's wolf can't resist, letting out a shaking howl and then setting off after her into the woods that form for them, space for them to run.

I recognize the woods, almost

instantly, as those of our

dreamscape The place where our wolves should play together, and in which they never have. I press my mouth together, incredibly sorry that I neve noticed - but Luca and, we found each other first, before I ever met Jackson in our cliffside space and realized that it was as much a space for our wolves as it is for us. But of course it is - what else is a magical dream state for, except to connect in our souls?

"I'm sorry," I whisper, lifting my head and looking into Luca's face as our wolves dash through the forest, as the mud and dirt starts to shed itself from his wolf's fur. "I should have noticed sooner."

But he just shakes his head, and leans forward, bringing his mouth again to mine.

And as he kisses me, all I can feelnoveldrama

down the bond is gratitude -

et

gratitude for seeing him, for believing in a different way to treat one's soul, for not being afraid. But also his fear - that now that he's wolf's unleashed that....bad things are going to happen.

I just kiss him back, letting him feel my love, my warmth, my affection. The confidence that we can do this together.

How could I be afraid of you, I murmur to him, mind-to-mind. You're mine. You're me - us. And I'll never let you go.

Luca just sighs, and wraps his arms tighter, holding me close to his chest and tucking me beneath his chin as our wolves continue to run themselves out, nipping and playing as they go. And as we sit quietly in the woods, just holding each other – I have to admit that with this breakthrough, I've never felt closer to him.