Liam had watched his Alpha coming apart for months now. Rather than humbling him when they were forced off their lands by the bear shifters, he became more and more bold and dictatorial. Now he was simply unhinged. Liam had never trusted Brand. The shifter had a huge chip on his shoulder where his brother was concerned and it was never smart to get involved in a family fight. They had all heard of Brodi's strength and the strength and loyalty of his pack for years. How Killian thought taking the Alpha's mate would be in any way a positive for them, he didn't know. All he knew was that it was up to him to save his pack from Killian's horrible decisions.Moving quickly down the path, it wasn't long before Liam was confronted with a huge white wolf with ice blue eyes. It could only be Brodi Sköll. Liam quickly fell to one knee and dropped his head. He could only hope it was enough to keep the Alpha from tearing him apart just for being part of the Blackfoot Pack."Please have mercy and
Brodi tried to quickly assess the situation as they rushed into the cave. Killian was dead on the ground with blood pooling around his body. A large, red wolf stood over him, obviously the conqueror in the fight. A female, she was covered in the dead wolf's blood. Apparently, Liam wasn't the only disgruntled wolf of the Blackfoot Pack. But then under the metallic scent of the blood, he smelled something else. His blue eyes widened in shock. What was this? This wolf had the unique, intoxicating scent of his mate. Could it be?As Gunnar, Finn, and Eric watched in horror, Brodi shifted and started walking toward the bloodied female wolf. Finn started to block his Alpha with his body but then experienced a strong sense of déjà vu. Last time Brodi had done this, it had been because he had scented Liv. He froze at the thought. "What is he doing?" Gunnar asked Finn in Rhuhi and started toward his brother."Stop. Let him go." Finn replied, watching the scene in front of him with wonder."Ar
After finally finishing up with what was left of the Blackfoot Pack, Liv released a deep sigh as she curled up in the safety of Brodi's massive arms. They lay on top of the covers of the big, four-poster bed in his room, completely clothed but deeply content after the incredible challenges of the day."I'm glad most of Killian's pack decided to take you up on your offer," Liv said, rubbing the side of her face on his chest like a kitten. "He was a horrible man. His people looked so lost while you were talking to them."Brodi snugged her even tighter to his chest and kissed the top of her head. He never wanted her out of his arms again. "They've been very mistreated. Some of them don't know any other way of life. It will take time to have them truly trust us and become part of the pack. We'll have to have patience.""Where are they all going to stay?" Liv threw a leg over his thigh, trying to get closer."Gunnar is going to assign crews to start clearing a bit of land and building new
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