There was that wobbling feeling again. Bouncing from side to side, I groaned. My body ached, and I struggled to find my balance. Opening my eyes, it was dark, but after blinking a couple of times, I saw the sun forcing through the walls in small creaks.
Pushing myself against the wall behind me, I managed to sit up to discover my hands were tied behind me. Trying to move my feet, I only uncovered that they were tied up. Great! Back to square 1.
“Don’t look so disappointed, little one.”My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly looked around. I saw nobody, but I swear I could recognize the voice. That deep, hoarse voice. In my memory, yellow eyes and growing canines appeared.
“You again?”
I grunted, of course. Luca betrayed me; he didn’t have a plan. He led them straight to me. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back as he laughed.
I pretended I dozed off, I didn’t even bother answering him, and after a while, he stopped talking. My heart was racing in my chest, and a thousand thoughts were spinning around in my head. Everything Luca told me.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and two doors were opened wide. I squinted my eyes as the bright light burned in my eyes. Before I could adjust, I was lifted up and thrown over his shoulder, and he jumped straight out of the carrier.
A squeal forced its way through my lips, and it was met by cheering, whistling, and howls. Howls? I struggled to adjust to the bright sunlight, but I saw people. Many people. Tiny houses and they all had that strange look. Leather clothes or thick, rough fabrics. Tattoos, braids, and shaved parts of their heads. They were all different, but at the same time, they all belonged to the same category somehow, like well-groomed barbarians.
I felt like he was parading me through the place, and I had no choice but to hang there like prey over his shoulder. People stopped and stared. Men, men stopped and stared. I heard a couple of kids but didn’t see them, and I got a glimpse of a young woman sitting outside a house by a little fireplace. But that was the only female I saw. Unlike the men, she didn’t seem excited and smiled, and a lump formed in my stomach as I met her eyes. Sad, she looked like she was sorry for me, and that vague smile that didn’t reach her eyes made me feel like she knew something I did not. What have I gotten myself into?
I straightened my back as a firm hand grabbed my ass before I was hoisted down, I glared at him, and he had the audacity to wink back before he bent down in front of me and untied my feet. I turned around, expecting him to untie my hands. Instead, I almost fell forward because he smacked my ass so hard it burned! I gasped for air at the sudden sting, and a burning sensation spread out on my cheek; these pants don’t do me any favors by the impact, that’s for sure!I say nothing as he grabs my wrists and guides me in front of him. I am grateful I don’t need to see his face right now, as I can feel the blush blooming on my face. Was it wrong to enjoy the fact that my ass felt so tiny in his massive palm? Yes.. yes, god! Get your head straight!He pushed me through a door, and it closed behind us. We entered a dark but well-lit room: no windows but a big fireplace and several burning candles. Walking further in, we ended up in front of two big chairs next to each other. I rolled my eyes a little; they looked like thrones for medieval kings. We stop. The room is open before the thrones, and a man is slumped down there, polishing a dagger with a thick leather cloth. Before I could study him, bulky McBraid beside me here, he let his hand slide up my back to my neck and pushed my head down forward, so I nearly bowed. And I kept my head there. I struggled against him, but his hand dug into my hair, and the grip tightened.
“Alpha, I found the runaway.”
He was looking down, not meeting the other man. I studied him from the corner of my eye; he didn’t even try to look up. Respect and submission, damned. These guys really take their role-playing to the next level.“Good Bo, hand her over to the girls and get her ready.”The man answering had a deep voice, but it was so calm and confident it made me want to shake him. He can’t just sit there and act like this Is normal!“Yes, Alpha. Not to step out of line, but she missed the..”He paused a little, like he was searching for the right word.
“Introduction. This is a little wild cat; I think she needs the encouragement.”
I furrowed and shook my head. I saw him grin beside me, but his grip on my hair remained firm. I couldn’t even stand up. I swallowed as the room got quiet, the metal clanged against the compact wood of the thrown, and I more felt than heard him walking towards us.“Rise!”
His firm tone sent shivers down my spine, and before I could even reach him, McBraid pulled me up with him, still with his hand dug into my hair. A tall, dark-haired man met my gaze, older and wider over the shoulders. His eyes were yellow, and he looked me up and down. But I felt more like I was being judged this time, and I squirmed under his intense stare.“Your name?”
I cleared my throat before I answered, and to my frustration, it ended as a hoarse whisper.“Elisabeth..”
He hummed, looked at my pants, and walked around me like he was assessing an animal, but for some reason. I didn’t move; my heart was racing, and my throat felt so dry.
“From now on, it is Eir. You will always refer to me as Alpha Birger, with no exceptions. Do you understand?”
He kept my gaze, and I just nodded.“Good.”
He grabbed my chin and turned my face from side to side; I felt like a mare on the market. He was looking for all imperfections, and I suddenly felt really subconscious.“She will behave, won’t you? Take her to get ready, walk past the training grounds, and let her see there.”
It was more a statement than a question, with no room or need for me to answer, so I didn’t say a word. They both stared at me, and he arched a brow, waiting. The grip on my neck and hair tightened again, so hard tears stung in my eyes.“Yes, Alpha.”
“Good enough. Go!”
Those words felt wrong in my mouth, but I didn’t get time to dwell on them before I was yanked back out. Again, he held me by my tied wrists and paraded me through the village. At least I'm not hanging over his shoulder with my ass in the air. Bo, not McBraid, Bo walked me in front of him, and we stopped by a large open field where men were fighting, training, and sweating in tiny shorts. We stopped, and I stared—at sun-kissed skin, bulging muscles, and loud grunting. I didn’t get to watch long before they all turned their attention toward us, and I just wanted to sink down into the dirt. I tried taking a few steps back but ended up walking into Bo. His massive figure felt like a warm wall behind me, and the crown of bare-chested men stalked towards us. It really felt like all eyes were on me, and for once, I didn’t like it. I was trapped like an animal, and the vibrating rumble in Bo´s chest that spread down my spine didn’t help much. Startled, I took an Involuntarily step back as B
"Eir, her name is Eir." It was the last thing I heard; I felt stupid. I was like a stunned fool, but it took me a while to realize where I was. Without stretching it too far, it took me a while to remember who I was. An old lady had led me further into the little cottage-like building, and a steaming hot wooden tub was waiting. I didn’t protest as she started undressing me; it didn’t feel like me at the moment. The water was so warm it burned by touch, but I soon adjusted, and my muscles slowly relaxed. A sweet and fresh scent filled the steaming air; it felt really lovely despite the circumstances. I leaned back and closed my eyes as the older lady started to talk. Her voice was smooth and comfortable to listen to, "First is the bath; we will clean you. There are so many smells we are not used to following you from the earth, including your hair and skin. Do you have those plastic things on your nails? What about your lashes or hair?" I just shook my head. I could never afford st
Suddenly, I felt so very aware of how light we were clothed. Feet bare, a loose white dress in thin fabric fell down to our knees. The dress had small straps over our shoulders, making us look even more naked. My heart beat so fast and hard that I could taste the thud between my lips. Eyes burned on my skin from behind, staring at us from all directions. Hungry, focused. Greedy lusting look that took in our every curve. Every inch of exposed skin. I felt naked and exposed. Clenching my jaws, I did my best to forget, to close out everyone but myself. The Man from last night, whom I had to call Alpha, stepped out on the open field between us and the dense forest. «Ladies! » His voice demanded power and attention; it felt like I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. It was like I could feel the other girl’s nerves on my skin and taste the anticipation in the air. “Today, we honor the goddess, the magical, and the female. Today, brothers, w bond between mae hunt!" I jerked as peopl
Toke`s POV. The air was filled with howls and cheers, but I slumped back and poured that thick, warm liquid down my throat, looking over at my good friend Rune. I could feel the excitement of the whole pack flush through me, but all I felt was boredom. «You don’t want a mate, do you? » Rune's words sounded lazy, and the words shuffled a bit before he busted out laughing. He was drunk, no doubt about it, so I lifted my glass in a toast, and we emptied yet another. He always spoke freely around me, even more so when mead warmed his body and fogged his brain. «I do, but I've already attended two hunts. I could have had a mate, but I don’t want a scared-to-death rabbit that twitches every time I breathe. Not even the hunt is a challenge, so the women are no longer worth it.» He frowned, thinking so hard I could practically hear his head squeak. Tilting my head back, I lay lazily over my dad’s throne. What had become of us? I grew up with my dad's and grandfather's stories about stron
Toke´s POV. The smoldering rage had calmed, and there was nothing to do but adjust and get ready. The alpha would not budge; the announcement was made, and taking it back would make him look weak. It’s not like him to take discussions like this without considering all the pros and cons, debating it with his second and third in command and the elders. So why now? All because of a little rabbit with a bit of will of her own and quick feet? Reckless if you ask me, but of course, he did not. My beast stirred under the surface, growling and pacing. He needed the title, and the excitement in the air had also infected him—nothing to do but make the best of it, so it was time to hunt down the runaway. Not only did he allow all to participate, but he also made the hunt a whole day long. Like that would be necessary, I think he read well too much into the fact that she ran away; if they had managed to use their heads, they all would have. But instead, they bow their head, cry and beg. No ma
I ran on adrenalin still with that silly smile plastered on my face, even if I knew it was a short-lived victory. As I ran deeper into the woods, the adrenalin pumping through my pulsating body began to feel like panic, and not before I ran up to one of the girls that had fallen did I stop. She was crying, so I helped her up, but speaking to her was impossible. She was so deep down in her own panic, so devoured by her own fear, I didn’t think she even knew I was there. With one hand clenching over her bleeding cut, she pushed past me with her elbow, and I fell on my back right into a thick bush. Of all the places, that’s where I ended up catching my breath. I just lay there and felt my heart pounding in my chest. Slowly, the pulsating rush in my ears faded, and my heart stopped trying to break through my rib cage, and I just listened. I watched the clear blue sky; what was I doing? I freaked out, like a deer caught in the headlights. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath; calm, I was
Elisabeth/Eir´s POV. Panic got the best of me as I crawled up the steep mountains like an animal. Small rocks and loose dirt rolled down around me. I clawed my way up, the howls echoing in my mind. The sweat trickled down my back, and I reached a small flat area before I managed to calm down. Far up the mountain, my eyes wandered, taking in the scenery. Wild was the first word that crossed my mind. Wild and untouched nature as long as the eye could see. It is a picturesque view, more breathtaking than any pictures I've ever seen. The sun colored the sky and the ocean on the horizon on its way down deep purple, light pink, warm orange, and bright yellow. Then, the backside of my little plan struck me; I saw everything from here, and there was nothing to hide behind. Scrambling to get to my feet to take in the mountain behind me, I wasn't even halfway up. But if I went around this first ridge, I could put the hill between us this first night. It was nearly pitch black before I reached
I felt the creature move behind me, and for some reason, I knew it was the wolf. Not human form, not the bear, but the wolf was stalking down the steep hill behind me. My, I clenched the little stone in my hand, franticly searching the area around me with my eyes for a way out, anything that could help. I'm not ready for this; this is not how it was supposed to be! One more day, I need one more day! Before I knew it, the hot breath of the massive predator fanned my hair and sent shivers down my spine. I threw myself to the side on instinct just as he launched forward. Big black paws slid on the loose rocks as the animal struggled to regain balance, and I stared at it with wide eyes—a big black wolf. No big would be the world's biggest understatement; it was the size of a goddamned horse! For a brief second, time I stood still. I sat a couple of meters away from a massive wolf; its fur was black, almost shining like the ocean waves at midnight when the cold moonlight hit the water ju