Chapter 32 Thorne
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
THORNE
The liveliness of the animal shelter would have annoyed me in the past, but I was a far different man compared to who I was when I joined the ranks.
Various barks echoed off the cement walls, the dogs we’d come to see begging for an escape just like we had during our time beneath General Valens’ reign.
And that’s precisely why we’d come—to provide salvation to an animal in need of saving.
Walking behind Oren, a gentle smile caressed my lips as I watched him glance between the array of cages. His cerulean gaze darted through the space as he examined the overwhelming number of dogs awaiting their second chance in this life, a second chance we’d been granted with one another.
And God, I fucking loved him.
“I’m not sure which one to choose. They all need help,” Oren said with a pitiful whine, his lip jutting out slightly as he glanced over his shoulder. “You sure we can’t get at least two?”
Shaking my head, I leaned against the wall. “I suppose two could work. We do have a backyard that needs to be roamed, so I don’t see that taking two pups home would be an issue.”
He grinned, his eyes sparking as he jumped up in excitement. “You cave too easily.”
“Do you want me to change my mind?”
He opened his mouth, but he said nothing, opting to bite his lip instead. Shaking his head, he placed his hands on the back of his head, taking steps forward to browse through the cages.
Stopping beside the dog I least wanted, he jutted his finger to point at it. “That one. Just look how cute he is.”
Deep brown eyes glanced up at me from a foot off the ground, short, pudgy legs barely keeping the dog upright. Its orange coat gleamed beneath the overhead lighting, blending with a pop of white from its snout, chest, and belly.
“A corgi? Really?”
“Yes, a corgi!” he repeated, fitting his fingers through the loose bars to pet the overly excited dog. “He’s so cute.”
“Why, because it’s you if you had four legs?”
“I do have a great ass.”
“Oren, for fuck’s sake.” I ran a hand down my face, a laugh rolling from my chest. “This is why I can’t take you anywhere.”
“Really? But you took me in the middle of an alley—”
“Fucking grab the slip.” Gesturing toward the paper attached to the kennel, I lifted a brow. “You want him. Don’t you?”
Snatching the paper without hesitation, he nodded. “Yes, but we also need to find you a dog, too.”
With a hum, he stood, idly strolling by the rest of the dogs with that slip resting between his fingers. Even the way he walked was lighter, his shoulders stretched back, because he didn’t have to carry the weight of his father anymore. He didn’t have burdens shoving him into the ground.
“What about her?” Oren asked, pointing to the lone dog near the back.
Pushing myself off the wall, I walked toward Oren, the steady drum of my boots reverberating through the cement walkway. As I came to a stop beside him, I glanced down, and my knees practically crumbled beneath me.
One blue and one chocolate brown eye glanced up at me with an unfathomable hopefulness.
Her white coat contained a patchwork of scars, crosshatches of trauma, and a history I only wished she could tell me.
Two black dots rested on her snout, two marks I wished to believe were reminiscent of where she’d been kissed and handled with care.
As I held her gaze, she moved off the bed in the back corner, approaching the kennel door with a subtle hesitance.
With the gap between us ceasing to exist, I knelt, bringing my hand to rest against the bars.
The movement caused her to pause briefly, but once she realized my intention, she continued until her snout met my palm.
“No one has taken the time to understand you, have they?” I whispered, looping one of my fingers between the gap to trace over the two dark spots gently. “You’re misunderstood. Unheard. Unseen. And God, I understand that all too well.”
She lifted her head as if she could understand me, her attentiveness growing the more I spoke to her. Peeling my focus from her for a second, I glanced over at the paper on her cage, spotting a name.
Mercy.
Smiling softly, I turned back to her, feeling the undeniable prodding of Oren’s gaze. “Would you like to join our family, Mercy?”
Her tail wagged, mouth opening into a smile as her stare moved from me to Oren and back to me again. At the sight of her excitement, I smiled, placing my hands on my thighs and pushing myself up. Once standing, I reached forward, tearing the paper from her kennel.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“He’s really just a big softie,” Oren added, nudging my side once. “A misunderstood, selfless, softie. I think you’ll fit right in, Mercy.”
Rolling my eyes, I looked down at him. “You just have to take every chance you can to remind me of such things. Don’t you?”
“Yes.” Not a single waver in his voice. “And I’ll continue to do it with every opportunity that arises so you never forget who you are at your core.”
“How kind—”
“Wow, we’ve never seen her like this with anyone.” A female jutted in, looking between Oren and me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interfere. We’ve just had Mercy for five years now, and she’s never been this responsive with anyone before. Especially men.”
“That’s because most men avoid things that are delicate and intricate.” He held out his hand to the woman. “Oren, and this is Thorne. We’d love to have her and the cutie, Prince, to join our family.”
I dipped my chin out of respect, tucking one hand in my pocket and keeping the other pressed against the kennel, a part of me screaming never to step away from Mercy. “I would love to be given the opportunity to give her another chance at life.”
The corners of her lips turned upward before she gazed down at Mercy. “I think she would love for you to be her person.” Turning, she looked at Oren. “Lucky for you both, Prince and Mercy are actually great playmates, so I don’t see any issue with them both coming home with you today.”
Oren let out a small squeal, his happiness overriding his features. “Can… Can I go get Prince now?”
She nodded. “Feel free. Megan,” motioning to another one of the kennel attendees, she held Oren’s attention, “will help you with getting him leashed.”
“Amazing. What color choices do you have? I’m thinking a blue would really suit him, you know?” he said as he walked over toward the newly-named employee, his voice growing quieter with the distance.
Flicking her gaze back to me, she gestured toward Mercy. “No one really bats an eye at her. What drew you to her, if you don’t mind me asking? She’s a favorite around here, and well, I’m quite fond of her gentle spirit.”
“I have a thing for being drawn to the fierce yet soft things in life.” Looking past her toward Oren, I couldn’t help but grin as I watched his gestures become far more animated, his excitement evident.
“Not only that, but I know her story is complex. And I, myself, have had a difficult life. I can see it in her eyes, that desire to be understood beyond the surface. To be loved even through the flaws that cover your skin or the nightmarish hell that haunts your past. I see a lot of myself in her.”
“I see,” she said, a smile forming on her lips. “No wonder she connected instantly. It’s like your souls mirror one another.”
Lifting a leash from the hooks bolted into the wall, she unlocked the cage, Mercy walking with graceful steps to her.
Latching the metallic hook to her collar, she scratched behind her ears before planting a kiss to her forehead.
“Seeing her happy is all I’ve ever wanted, and I have no doubts you’ll give her the life she should’ve been granted from the start. ”
My lips drew together in a tight line, and as I went to open my mouth, a single tear rolled down my cheek. Huffing a laugh, I swallowed, wiping it away with my thumb as I looked at the woman so willing to pass off such a gentle soul. “Thank you.”
“Thank you,” she corrected, handing off the leash to me. “Something tells me you don’t hear that often enough, but you should know that kindness you hide won her over.”
I offered her a gentle smile, curling my fingers around the rope. “It seems you’re great at reading people.”
She shrugged. “Should’ve been a psychologist, but dogs are still easier than people.
” She gestured to Oren. “That’s a good man you have, you know.
The whole time he was staring at you while you watched Mercy, and he had the dumbest grin on his face.
Safe to say, I think he picked the perfect dog for himself.
Prince is nothing but a maniac shoved into a tiny ass dog.
Good luck with him, though he is hilarious. ”
“Funny thing is,” I started, watching as Oren rubbed Prince’s belly, his head tipping back with his esteemed laugh.
“That dog is quite literally him, which is why they’re so fitting for one another.
But you’re not wrong. He is an amazing man, one I am more than honored to be able to hold in this life. ”
“I would say it’s the same for him.” She pressed her palms together, interlocking her fingers with precision as she cleared her throat.
“How about we get the paperwork started? Mercy’s looking excited for the first time in a very long time, and I’d hate to keep her waiting on her first car ride in five years. ”
Locking eyes with Oren, he dipped his chin, and my heart bloomed with the love behind such a basic action. Turning back to her, I mirrored his movement, giving her a small smile. “Let’s do it.”