Liv's hand reached up to massage her temple. Had she drunk too much? She didn't remember going out. She groaned as she tried to rub away the pounding in her head. Her nostrils flared as she caught something that smelled wonderful. Wait. She recognized that scent."She's waking up!" Liv heard a deep, rumbling voice announce. Her eyes popped open. At first, all she could focus on was the high-beamed ceiling above her. Where was she? Then a face came into her field of vision. Brodi. She tried to hop up but a large hand on her shoulder kept her lying on the bed. The warmth of his hand on her shoulder started to spread throughout her body and she relaxed. "Don't try to get up, yet." Brodi's hand left her shoulder and caressed the side of her face. "You've fallen and hit your head.""Hit my head?" Liv searched her memory trying to remember what happened while she attempted not to rub her cheek against his palm like a kitten. Brodi sat back in the chair where he had been keeping vigil ove
They were so caught up in each other, neither Brodi nor Liv noticed Kelda leave them. When Liv dug her fingers into Brodi's white ruff, she felt her anxiety and fear melt completely away. She didn't understand it but she wanted more of it all the same. Compelled to do so, she bent down and kissed the side of the wolf's enormous head and lay her head on top of his. She could feel his hot breath on the space between her neck and shoulder and the sensation set off a wash of longing through her body. A long shuddering sigh blew over Brodi's ear and had him closing his eyes against the desire to change and take her right here on this bed whether she wanted him or not. His heart had hope that she did based on her current reaction to him. The closer they were to each other, the stronger the bond felt. At this point, he'd already tear anyone apart that even looked at her sideways. He couldn't imagine what it would be like once the bond was completed. Was Liv feeling this thing between them a
The door creaked open and Liv sat up to watch Brodi come through the door balancing a tray in his big hands. A crystal decanter holding brown liquid, two glasses, and a plate of cheese and a variety of meats was placed in front of her on the bed like an offering to a goddess. He motioned to the decanter, "May I pour you a glass?""Yes, please." Liv took the glass of amber liquid Brodi poured for her and knocked it back. She sputtered and choked as the whisky ran down her throat.Brodi patted her back and tried to suppress a grin. "Go slow with that, min lille ylgr. It's made for sipping, not gulping."I'm okay." Liv coughed and wiped at her watering eyes. "Sipping is probably a good idea."Liv could feel her face heating but wasn't sure whether it was from the whisky or embarrassment. Probably both. "I'm fine," she croaked. Despite the burning in her throat, Liv started to enjoy the warmth spreading in her chest and flowing down into her belly. She brought the glass to her lips agai
Liv massaged her throbbing temples. What kind of freaking rabbit hole had she fallen into? Shifters? Time travel? Cursed by gods? Her mind reeled at all the revelations. What else could there possibly be?She sighed heavily before she met Brodi's eyes again and asked the question out loud. "What else can there possibly be?""Only one more thing." Brodi abandoned the chair and started pacing again, desperately trying to figure out how to tell her the last of it. He and Kelda really should have had a discussion about what they should tell her while she was still unconscious. Liv watched him pace until she couldn't take the waiting anymore. "Brodi! What is it? Get it over with already."His pacing stopped at her words and turned to face her once more. "It is about the fated mate part."Liv's brows scrunched together when he didn't continue. "And what is that exactly?"Brodi drew in a deep breath for strength and sat back down. "A fated mate is the only true mate a shifter will ever have
Brodi trailed a few steps behind her as she made her way to the glass sliders on the deck. Asta was already waiting in the truck for her, motor running. "I'm sorry to have dumped all of this on you at one time, mille…uh, Liv. But I hope you will think about all I've said." Brodi held Kelda's book out towards her. "Kelda would like you to have this. It is very old, a history of our people. We hope it will help."Liv didn't move for several breaths, but finally stepped forward and took the book from Brodi's outstretched hand, careful not to touch him. The book itself tingled in her fingers and she almost dropped it in surprise. The book clutched tightly to her chest, she stepped back."We are here…I am here for whatever you need," Brodi told her, holding his arms out to his sides. Liv bit her lip as she regarded him – like some kind of Viking warrior presenting himself to her as tribute. Her insides quivered, but she refused to submit to this insane pull she felt for him. It's not rea
Brodi sat on the ridge above the compound. He couldn't quite see the human camp from here, but he could see a thin plume of smoke coming from that direction. He liked to imagine Liv sitting there, enjoying the fire. His patrols had extended their circuit to include Liv's camp and the outcropping where Asta had fallen into the poacher's trap. So far, everything had been quiet, but it didn't make Brodi any less anxious. He'd promised he'd stay away but in the last 48 hours he had practically worn a hole in the rug in his bedroom from all the pacing he had done. He'd run through the woods for miles hoping to exhaust himself, only coming home when the dawn was breaking, but still, he couldn't relax. Even with updates every four hours from his patrol, his chest still ached, and his wolf was constantly fighting him to go and claim their mate. Brodi knew his family was avoiding him as much as possible as his temper was at its breaking point. They knew why he was acting this way, but they co
Brodi's heart soared as he carried Liv toward her tent. They wouldn't complete the bond tonight. He had too many things to explain to her, but the fact that she felt the depth of the love and sadness that his family had gone through over the centuries, and her willingness to learn about their connection was enough for now. For tonight, he would worship her body and erase the grief she had been experiencing when he had come upon her. "I'm very thankful you have this nice, large tent," Brodi said as he lowered her to her feet in front of the tent's zippered opening. "It will be much more comfortable."Liv glanced at the four-person tent and back at Brodi's massive frame. As much as she was out in the wilderness, she splurged on the larger tent with more amenities even though it was just her. Usually. She was even happier about her decision now."Yes, it's very comfortable." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly nervous. Her shoes suddenly became very interesting.Brodi s
As Liv came back to her senses, she breathed in Brodi's intoxicating scent. Her nose played at his neck wanting more. They were face to face and she realized Brodi had her body so tightly tucked into his, not a breath of air could have passed between them. She also realized he was hard as stone against her stomach. "Brodi, what about…" She tried to slip her hand between them to touch his iron length but he caught her hand and raised it to his lips. He brushed a kiss across her knuckles."No, Elksling, not tonight. I want you to understand the bond completely before we go further. If I lose myself in your body, another part of the bond will solidify." He looked down into her confused eyes. "I will not do that yet, as much as I want all of you." "Tell me more then. Tell me what I need to know." Liv settled back into his embrace, placing a tender kiss on his shoulder on the edge of his wolf tattoo.Brodi draped a powerful leg across hers to bring her even closer to him. "No more tonigh