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