Liv spent the next few days in a whirlwind, helping Asta with the new pack members when she wasn't in 'wolf lessons' with Brodi. Despite her misgivings, she had quickly learned to shift by herself without pain and was starting to be more comfortable in her wolf form. She still couldn't run as fast or as gracefully as the others, but she was working on it.She spent every night in Brodi's arms and while their lovemaking had been amazing as ever, he still hadn't brought up the final step in the mating bond. Liv knew he was still at risk until the bond was completed and worry had started to take root in the back of her brain about it. That night after a long shower together, Liv gathered up her courage to ask him about it."Brodi, can I ask you something?""Of course, Elskling. Anything." Brodi sat behind her on the bed, pulling a brush through her long red hair since she had taken out the braids for a bit. She closed her eyes enjoying the slight pull on her scalp from the brush and Bro
They arrived late in the dining room since after they had recovered from the claiming, Brodi had gently cleaned her wound then taken her to his double-sized shower and bathed her from head to toe. Liv had felt like a goddess as he took his time caressing every inch of her skin with a washcloth and soap. When his hands flowed through the long strands of her hair rinsing out the shampoo, she could take no more of the sensual assault. Her lips had latched onto his and she did her best to climb him like a tree. Brodi had laughed and balanced himself against the tiled wall, taking a firm grip of the generous globes of her ass and making her fly again. Walking in hand in hand, engrossed in each other, they were taken aback when the entire room broke into cheers. Liv could feel the heat climbing quickly from her chest to her hairline and she hid her face in the crook of Brodi's neck. Everyone had obviously heard them in the bedroom. She was mortified. Brodi, on the other hand, simply laughe
After finishing dinner, Brodi took Liv and Kelda to the small den at the back of the house where they could meet privately. They settled themselves in front of the fireplace, Liv and Brodi hand in hand on the loveseat and Kelda in the chair across from them. Brodi filled his lungs with air and blew it out before getting to business."According to pack law, Brand could be executed for what he has done." His hand tightened around Liv's when she gasped. "Brodi, no. You can't execute him. What he did was awful but he's your brother, after all." Brodi hung his head and rubbed the back of his neck. He should have known his mate would want to be merciful. Killing his brother would be horrific, but he didn't know what else to do and keep Liv safe. "I know, Elkskling I don't want to do it, but there have to be significant consequences.""You could banish him, Alpha," Kelda spoke up, her grass green eyes meeting his with understanding."But to where? I would always be looking over my shoulder
Brand groaned and spit sand out of his mouth. He pried his eyes open and blinked trying to focus on his surroundings. Cold damp sand. A grey sky and a glacial wind was cutting through his jeans and thin, down jacket. Where the fuck am I?Before he could gather the strength to push himself up, a weight landed in the middle of his back, pinning him to the ground. A steely feminine voice made his blood run colder than the wind on his skin. "Hvem er du? Hvor er resten av mennene dine? (Who are you? Where are the rest of your men?)"Brand tried to twist to see the woman but a heavier boot stopped his motion. "Bli der du er og svar damen! (Stay where you are and answer the lady!)," a gruff voice demanded.Breathing heavily, Brand stayed silent while he tried to figure out what was going on. The last thing he remembered was being in a clearing near the compound, the wind blowing and lightning flashing across the sky. Then he saw Kelda, arms outstretched, red hair flying about her body, and
Ulfhild gritted her teeth and straightened her back, fighting not to turn her head to look at the strange man as she led the way back to the village. He was peculiar altogether. His clothes were made of materials she couldn't identify. He spoke Norse, but his accent was strange. And then there was his claim to be of the Sköll Clan. Preposterous! He couldn't be over thirty and that clan had disappeared several generations ago, according to the elders' legends. She'd never believed they'd really existed but were simply part of a tale told to children to make them behave--a clan of magical shapeshifters who could turn into wolves on the full moon, so ferocious no one could defeat them.They led him straight to the Chieftain's longhouse, to her father, Magnus the Bold, where evening meal had started without them. The crowd parted for her as she led the way to her father at the head of the long wooden table. Magnus looked up with a large joint of mutton in his meaty hand. His blond eyebr
The woman led him to a small room with a door covered in a large animal hide. It was solid white; likely a polar bear. He wondered offhandedly who had hunted it. Polar bears were exceedingly difficult to find and kill. Brand allowed his eyes to take in the room—a stuffed pallet on the floor, a small, wooden washstand and bowl, an iron sconce for a torch on the wall. The single light barely lit the room. He was suddenly hit in the face with several pieces of cloth being tossed at him. Hva? (What the hell?) The woman was bent over a trunk in the corner and throwing clothing at him. His lips pressed into a white line as he caught the furs and woolen tunic and pants. The leather boots just missed hitting him squarely in the nose. "Put those on," she demanded, turning to face him. She crossed her arms over her chest and stood glaring at him.She wanted to play it this way, did she? Fine. He dumped the clothes on the pallet and glared back. Removing his sage green Henly, he bared his broa
Brand had not been given any opportunity to escape. After finishing his dinner, he had been escorted to a small hut situated by itself on the edge of the village by the giant warrior who had found him on the beach. Magnus had called it a guest house, but Brand knew what it really was – a cell. Guest rooms didn’t have guards posted in front of them or doors with locks on the outside. He'd spent the night contemplating his situation, having no luck in coming up with a different story than the one he had already told. After hours of pacing, he gave up and lay down on the thin mattress. The straw the pallet was stuffed with scratched his skin and he wished forlornly for his memory foam bed back in Wyoming. Disgusted with himself at the thought, he turned toward the wall and tried to sleep. His wolf would not rest, however. The creature paced and whined deep within him. It wanted the woman, Ulfhild. Now that there was quiet, he was unable to ignore his wolf's demands that they claim her.
Ulfhild sat in the shadows at a table by herself eating her morning meal. She counted herself lucky she had missed her father this morning. She was not yet ready to face him, and likely more humiliation. She simply wanted to finish her food, complete her chores, and get to the training ring. A good spar with Birger or Erik was just what she needed to rid herself of her intrusive thoughts of the stranger.As she ate, she noticed Leif come downstairs and head across the room. Her eyes narrowed when she saw who he was approaching. The man, Brandur. Thor's thunder! Could she not escape him? He seemed to pop up in front of her wherever she went. Her mood transformed from irritated to amused, however, as she watched Leif try to command Brandur to follow him. A bemused smile played at her lips as she witnessed the newcomer antagonizing the warrior. His posture was relaxed but his expression was mocking. Though he had no weapons and was in a strange place, he showed no fear of the young warr