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Chapter Twenty-Five
Last Updated:
2024-11-12 21:33:19
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Berserker Chapter Twenty-Six
When Brodi saw Liv descending the stairs, his mouth went dry and he had to lock his knees to keep from falling to the floor. Always beautiful to him even in her favored cargo pants and t-shirts, now she was a vision. Ursula had tamed her flaming red hair with intricate braids studded with gold bands and crystal beads the color of rainbows. They had dressed her in a flowing, green gown with traditional Nordic embroidery on the chest and hem. If she had been transported back to his ancient Northman village, she wouldn't have been out of place. Though she would be the most striking woman there. Liv felt a little like she was playing dress up for Halloween, but the dress and the way Ursula had done her hair were really works of art. "Do you like it?" Liv looked down at herself and back up to Brodi as she came to the bottom of the stairs. For a moment, Brodi's mouth simply opened and closed like a fish. Finally, he gathered his wits to speak. "Fantastisk. You take my breath away, my lov
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Twenty-Seven
Over the next week, Asta turned Liv into a personal project. She drew Liv into their daily lives and soon she felt like she had known them all her life. She especially enjoyed being drawn into the circle of women that made up the pack. Liv was impressed with all of them. They all had strong opinions and all seemed to have some sort of battle experience – shield maidens, Asta had called them. They continued the practice with their weapons even though it had been hundreds of years since they'd had to participate in a real battle. They dissolved in peals of laughter watching Liv try to master the ax and bow, but Liv didn't mind. "Why do you continue to do all this anyway?" Liv asked, after yet another failed attempt to hit the target with her throwing ax."Who knows what may happen?" a tall, black-haired beauty named Brigit told her. "We must be able to help protect our pack and our Alpha. Strength in body and mind is necessary. Many packs do not work like this, of course, but we are no
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Twenty-Eight
Liv walked toward the pool and Brodi's outstretched hand as if in a trance. She sucked in a breath when her foot dipped into the water onto the first step carved into the rock. It was hotter than she expected, but not uncomfortably so. Holding tightly to the hand she was given, she descended into the water up to her chest. Brodi wrapped an arm around her and towed her off the steps. She could still stand, but she let him hold her with her feet off the ground. Brodi leaned down to her and brushed his mouth against hers so softly, she thought she might have imagined the caress. Her hands wrapped around his nape and pulled herself toward him, burying her nose in his neck. She loved the way he smelled – all pine and sky mixed with something dark and musky that her body craved. His hands traveled up and down her back, along her sides, and down to cup her ass in his hands. Every cell in her body tingled and she forgot all about being embarrassed to be naked in front of him. "Lean back, E
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Twenty-Nine
Gunnar slouched comfortably in an Adirondack chair on his porch mapping out the constellations in the sparkling stars above his head. This was one of his favorite times of day. He enjoyed his solitude, unlike most of his pack who preferred to be in the company of others. He knew most of his family didn't really understand him, but that was okay. He was content with himself and his role in the pack. As he sipped his beer, a sound caught his ear - a barely perceptible crunch of the leaves in the woods to the right of his cabin. His eyes moved to study the dark woods when he heard the sound again. He fought the urge to turn his head toward the noise. He didn't want to give away the fact that he had heard whoever or whatever was creeping around his cabin, but he rested his right hand on the shotgun next to him. He kept it close when he was outside near the cabin to dissuade stubborn bears against roaming in his territory. He caught the movement again in his peripheral vision. There it wa
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Thirty
Returning to the house after their visit to the hot springs, Liv found herself ensconced in Brodi's giant bed. She woke slowly when the pale, watery light of morning peeked through the corner of the heavy draperies. Her mouth drew into a lazy smile as she felt Brodi's giant body surrounding her. He'd wrapped himself around her like an octopus and she loved it. She closed her eyes again and let the one hand that was not trapped under her Viking's heavily muscled extremities roam. Her fingers traced the mysterious patterns of the tattoos that were etched onto the arm that snaked around her waist. Her light touch roused him and Brodi's arm tightened around her while his large palm moved to caress her breast.A satisfied rumbling vibrated in his chest before he spoke, his voice huskier than normal with sleep. "Good morning, Elskling. Did you sleep well?"Liv turned in his arms and placed a kiss on the exposed stretch of warm skin under his beard. "Mmmmm, better than I have in a very long
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Thirty-One
As Liv returned to consciousness, she tried to take in her surroundings. Cold, hard stone beneath her cheek. A faint smell of woodsmoke. When she cracked her eyes open, all she could see were wavering, indistinct lights against a black backdrop. She blinked and tried again. The lights turned into torches hung on a stone wall like some kind of medieval castle. Where was she? She tried to push up on her hands but dropped down again with a groan of pain. Her head was throbbing, and stars burst in front of her eyes."Well, sleeping beauty has finally awakened." The sneering voice was familiar. Liv lay still and tried to think. Who would do this? The only people she knew were her boss and Brodi's family. No one would…her eyes flew open as the answer came to her. Brand, Brodi's brother. That was the voice. Nausea roiled in her gut as the truth hit her. Brand had hurt her; taken her somewhere. But why would he want to hurt her?A boot toed her side. "Get up! I know you're awake."Liv tried
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Thirty-Two
Brodi wiped a tired arm across his soot-stained face. The fire had taken the entire morning to put out, but it hadn't reached any of the cabins and they had stopped it spreading any farther into the woods. His brow furrowed as he saw Gunnar running toward him with something in his hand."Brother! We found this in the woods about half a mile from the beginning fire line." He held up a red, plastic gas can. "I knew this was no freak accident," Brodi growled. He tried to think of who might want them out of the forest. They'd been here for years. Old logging companies did things like this back in the day, trying to scare settlers off the land, but that was centuries ago. The forest was protected land now. There would be no reason to try to burn them out. He wracked his brain trying to come up with a solution but continued to come up blank.He clapped his brother on the shoulder. "Have everyone clean up and grab something to eat. Gather the security team and Finn and meet me in the den in
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Thirty-Three
Though it didn't seem to slow him down a bit, Liv continued to kick and fight as she was dragged through a rabbit warren of roughly hewn tunnels by Sean, the giant redheaded shifter. "Oww! Stop that! One of your damn beads hit me in the eye!" Sean complained as she whipped her head back and forth."You're lucky that's all that's happened to you! Just wait until Brodi finds me. You'll be begging to die before he's done with you!" Liv kicked the giant in the shins, but she'd lost her shoes at some point and she doubted she was even bruising him with her bare feet. She couldn't give up, though. She had to keep fighting until Brodi showed up. No part of her doubted he would come to her rescue at any moment.Finally, Sean stopped in front of a small opening in the side of the rock wall that looked just big enough for an adult to crawl into. Liv's heartrate spiked and she fought to find the air to fill her lungs. Her eyes rolled in her head like a panicked horse, and she broke out in a col
Last Updated : 2024-11-12
Latest chapter
Berserker Epilogue
The clearing glowed with the twinkling fairy lights that adorned every tree, and the torches that had been lit along the path to illuminate the participants' way. Brand stood in front of the Yggdrasil feeling like his throat was being constricted by a stiff collar rather than a soft tunic. He wore a bearskin over one shoulder to symbolize strength and protection. He was also glad of its warmth as the first snows had started to fall just in the last week. He huffed as Brodi clapped him on the shoulder. "Nervous yet?" he asked with a smile, adjusting the leather hauberk that held his broadsword across his back and the belt at his waist where the sheath for his ceremonial dagger rested. "No, just cold," Brand lied through gritted teeth. His brother just laughed at him. "Don't worry, Brother. It will all be over soon, then we can get to the feasting," Brodi told him jovially.Brand frowned at him. "Easy for you to say," he muttered."Really, Brother. I know you missed our ceremony, but
Berserker Chapter Forty-Seven
Brand's brother turned to him, seeking guidance, just as Brand became aware of the stickiness on his hand. He at first ignored it. He had been in too many bloody brawls in his lifetime for blood to bother him overmuch. But when his mate gasped and tensed in his arms, a wave of dread washed over him. He realized that the stickiness was not merely the expected aftermath of the fight but something far more sinister. His elskede, his alt, Ulfhild, was wounded."Min elskede! Where are you hurt?" he demanded, his hands roaming frantically over her body.Ulfhild slapped at him ineffectually. "It is nothing, min ulv, only a scratch. Go with your brother. There is no time to spare."Brand ignored her and instead shouted to Astrid who had been standing on the edge of the crowd, clearly overwhelmed by her ordeal and its brutal end. Broken out of her reverie, Astrid came forward quickly and fell into healer mode. "Lie her down. Let me look," she instructed, ignoring her daughter's continued prote
Berserker Chapter Forty-Six
In the meadow, the winds seemed to take on a malevolent life of their own, their force intensifying with each passing moment. They twisted and spiraled, whipping through the grass and causing mini-tornadoes to erupt from the churned ground. The very earth under his feet seemed to groan in protest, and the acrid scent of freshly turned dirt mingled with the sharp tang of ozone, assaulting Brodi's senses as he ducked his head against the maelstrom and continued to silently advance.Above, the heavens were entirely shrouded by roiling, malignant clouds that seemed to devour any trace of starlight or moonshine. Leif and Astrid appeared to him only in the stark, searing flashes of the lightning overhead. The thunder that followed was a deafening roar, so powerful that it resonated deep within his chest, but still he stalked toward his prey. Squinting against the flying debris, he finally saw his brothers and the warriors in position against the backdrop of the ancient tree, whose gnarled b
Berserker Chapter Forty-Five
Gunnar stopped on the edge of the clearing where the giant Yggdrasil grew. He shifted, holding up a hand to forestall the warriors behind him. "He and Astrid are in the clearing," he whispered to the men.Birger squinted, trying to see them through the screen of skinny pines that blocked their view of the meadow. "Where? I can't see a thing through all these-" he stopped and hit his forehead with his palm. "Right. Wolf. You smell them."With a crooked smile on his face, Gunnar nodded to the man. "Yes. Their scent is very strong. The boy is fearful." He sniffed the air again. "And the woman is angry. More angry than fearful."Erik tipped his chin up in agreement. "That would be Astrid. She may not be a warrior like her daughter, but she is stronger than most men I know. She would never have gone with him if it had been only her own life that was threatened."Vidar's face showed his worry. Again, he was in the middle of a disaster. At least this time, it was a disaster not of his own ma
Berserker Chapter Forty-Four
Liv rested her forehead against Brodi's chest, fear almost taking her breath. His arms tightened around her as she shook with silent tears. Brodi had brought her back to the house, forbidding her to continue with the hunt. Overwhelmed by concern for her baby, she'd teetered on the edge of hysteria, her emotions running wild. She had to calm down, especially considering the news she had discovered just this morning."Min elskling, you must try to remain calm. We will find him," Brodi had assured her, holding her close to his broad chest and rocking her in his arms like a child. Her sobs finally quieted, taking strength from within his strong embrace and the firm certainty of his voice. He flattened a large palm on her belly. "This child will have a big brother that is healthy and hale. I swear to you."Looking up into the blue eyes she loved so much, she could see his absolute conviction that what he was telling her was true. They knew every inch of their pack lands. Surely, they would
Berserker Chapter Forty-Three
"Quit mumbling, witch!" Leif ordered as he continued to pull her along with the leather cord that bound her wrists. "I won't have you spelling me! Keep it up and I will stick a gag in your mouth. Do you understand.""Yes," Astrid said shortly. A bit of her usual calm composure returning to her after completing her frantic prayers. "I understand perfectly." She paused for effect. "But, young Leif, I do not think you understand your situation very well."Leif twisted his neck around to fix her with a venomous glare, his eyes blazing with an insanity that sent a shiver down her spine, but she maintained her dispassionate look. "What are you talking about, Witch? I'm the only one who understands exactly my situation. I've been stuck in this place for over a week, alone. How to get myself back to my proper time is all I've been thinking of.""What you have not thought through," Astrid continued calmly, "is what will happen to you once the Alpha finds you. Cubs are rare here, I understand."
Berserker Chapter Forty-Two
Leif panted as he leaned against a tree to catch his breath. The child was heavier than he'd expected, and the air here was thin. Placing the baby at his feet, he looked around, trying to get his bearings. He estimated he'd run several miles from the women and the clearing already. Suddenly, howling rent the silence of the forest. The baby inexplicably smiled and clapped his chubby hands, but the fine hair on the back of Leif's neck and arms stood straight up in atavistic fear. Were the creatures close? Dusk was approaching but he didn't dare light a fire. Where could he hide with the krakki?The wolf song died out and the baby began to fuss. Leif glared down at him. This was going to be more complicated than he thought. If the baby started wailing, the sound would bring people and wild things alike. Was he even old enough for solid food? He should have grabbed that big bag with the silly looking animals all over it that was sitting next to him. He bet that housed some baby things. B
Berserker Chapter Forty-One
Ulfhild felt more like herself than she had since coming to this new place. Asta had beat her soundly at axe throwing, Ulfhild not having much practice at that particular skill, but she was sure she could compete in archery. Though she missed a lot of what they were saying, it was good to laugh with the women and experience the comradery. She'd always been set apart by the women in her village who would never have thought of throwing axes. Maybe this time wouldn't be so bad.Suddenly, she heard terror in Liv's voice. "Brand? Brand?" she called in a panic, searching frantically around the boulder.Ulfhild realized the baby was no longer on the blanket playing with his toys. Fear clutched at her heart. She thought he could not crawl or walk? With all the wolves around, there were no other large animals around for miles. She'd heard the men discussing the lack."He can't have gone far," Asta said soothingly, trying to calm her sister-in-law's panic. She started to search around the nearb
Berserker Chapter Forty
Liv had not been kidding when she had said they'd have to tromp through some woods. The training field was much farther from the area where they had their homes than she had expected. The distance and rough terrain didn't seem to bother the women. Baby Brand was strapped onto Liv's chest with some complicated looking knots of fabric that created a comfortable carrying sack for the large infant. It was obvious by her easy stride that carrying the boy this way was commonplace to her. On the way, Liv pointed out landmarks and told her things about the area. Asta tried to keep up with all the words, but Ulfhild felt she missed quite a few. It didn't matter. Simply being in nature and stretching her unused muscles was a relief to her. And they were going to train. Her heart leapt at the thought. This was exactly what she needed to dispel her melancholy and feel more like herself.Finally, they rounded a large boulder and came into a meadow that reminded Ulfhild of the meadow in her woods
