Our bed

Tara watched from the side, her arms folded beneath her chest as her sister sang into the mic, her cheeks flushed pink from laughter and drink. Taylor’s head leaned into Geri’s as they both swayed side to side, singing a familiar old love song. Their voices were off-key, but neither seemed to care.

The karaoke machine had been brought out not long after the firewood was piled high, crackling in the cool night air. One by one, everyone had taken their turn singing, some boldly, some slurring the words through drunken hiccups.

Now the night had ripened into midnight, soft embers glowing across the sand, bodies scattered—some asleep, some passed out beside mugs and bottles. The energy had shifted. Slower. Warmer.

The Frost pack, like always, was more men than women. The only females who’d come along for the festival weren’t warriors, weren’t fighters—just kitchen hands and servants who barely mingled.

That was why so many of the males had found their mates here. Most of girls were unmarked, unclaimed. The perfect match. The perfect bond.

“Tara.”

She turned at the sound of her name. Amarok stood behind her, his dark eyes soft and searching.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I’m okay,” she replied, gaze shifting back to Taylor and Geri. “Just watching my sister embarrass herself.”

Amarok chuckled and handed her a glass of something pink and sparkling. She raised a brow at him.

“You know I don’t drink.”

“I know,” he teased. “But this is only the second glass I’ve given you. Your sister’s already on her ninth. At this rate, she might start singing to the moon.”

Tara scoffed but took the drink. “You’re trying to get me drunk.”

He gave a small shrug, grin playing on his lips. “I won’t deny it.”

“Come, Tara!” Taylor’s voice rang out, hands waving from the make-shift stage. Vera had taken Geri’s place now, both girls holding mics like they were born performers. “Come sing with us!”

She hesitated.

Amarok leaned close to her ear. “I won’t stop you. But if you sing off key like your sister, I might pretend not to know you.”

She rolled her eyes at him and walked off toward her sisters.

He groaned low in his throat. That eye-roll. That sass. She was toying with him and didn’t even know it.

The innocence was driving him crazy.

His wolf shifted just beneath his skin, restless. Desperate to claim her. To mark and take and keep. But he held himself still, hands fisting in his pockets as he watched all three girls on the stage.

They laughed. Sang. Twirled.

Tara’s laughter drifted across the flames and into his chest.

Nothing else in the world existed in that moment except those girls and the way they danced like life was simple.

“She’s something, huh?” Geri said as he slid next to Amarok.

Amarok didn’t take his eyes off her. “They all are.”

Geri followed his brother’s gaze, letting out a breath. “Sometimes I wonder what the goddess was thinking… binding them to us. Do you ever wonder that?”

“All the time.”

“They’re… so innocent. So bright.” Geri looked down at his drink. “And this destiny, this war ahead, the prophecy… it’s all too much for girls like them.”

“I think that’s the point,” Amarok said quietly. “They’re the light in all this darkness.”

They sat in silence for a beat, the crackle of fire filling the air.

“Do you think we’ll ever go after them?” Geri asked suddenly. “Salem. Orson. Do we ever go looking?”

Amarok’s jaw tightened. “They left. Without a word. Without a fight. If they want back in, they know where to find us.”

“But what if—”

“No,” Amarok growled. “There’s no what if. They made their choice. We protect our bond now.”

Before Geri could reply, Gary approached in haste. He leaned into Amarok’s ear and whispered something low.

The brothers immediately stood and followed him.

Tara watched the scene play out from the corner of her eye. She didn’t miss the way the brothers exchanged glances, the urgency in their steps, the way Gary looked unusually serious.

Something wasn’t right.

Gary led them down the path, past the final ring of fires, until they reached a clearing where the scent of blood clung to the air.

Amarok’s eyes sharpened.

Frost warriors stood around, some bruised, some shirtless, clearly just from a brawl. Mixed among them were men from the Star pack—the same group that brought the tattooed woman who’d fought Tara earlier. The same ones Amarok had crossed in the arena.

“What the hell happened here?” Geri demanded.

Gary stepped forward. “Some of our men met their mates among the Star pack girls. They went to spend time with them… but the Star pack men were angry that their females were claimed by Frost wolves. That’s when the fight started.”

Amarok’s eyes narrowed on the man with a healing scar across his face. The same bastard he’d knocked out in the tournament.

The man stepped forward now, sneering.

“You Frost fucks aren’t welcome here,” he spat. “Take your frozen asses back to that cursed mountain city.”

“We came for peace,” Amarok growled. “Your pack drew blood first.”

“Our females don’t belong to your kind,” the man barked. “They won’t be mates to beasts like you.”

That was it.

Before another word left his mouth, Geri’s fist slammed into the man’s jaw, sending him crashing backward.

Chaos broke out.

Frost men surged forward, and another fight ignited—brutal and fast. But It didn’t last long.

The Frost warriors were too strong. Too fast. The Star pack was outnumbered and retreating before the first minute passed.

“Bastards,” Amarok growled, watching them scramble back into the trees.

The brothers returned to the camp with fury still in their eyes. The music was still loud, some drunk fools still singing. But Tara noticed instantly. Something had shifted.

She left the card game that she and the girls were playing and walked straight to them.

Gary and the men scattered, leaving the brothers alone.

“Is everything alright?” she asked softly.

“No,” Geri said flatly.

“Yes,” Amarok said at the same time.

They glared at each other.

“I need a fucking drink,” Geri muttered and walked off.

Tara frowned. “What happened?”

Amarok didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled her into his chest, his arms tightening around her like he was afraid she’d vanish.

“Amarok…” she whispered.

He cursed under his breath, then met her gaze. “It was just some disturbance. But it’s been taken care of.”

She didn’t believe him. He knew she didn’t. But she let it go.

“How are you?”

“I’m okay,” she said. “Father sent some men to walk us back.”

His expression darkened. “Curtis takes me for a weakling now? Thinks I can’t protect my own mates?”

“Don’t twist it,” she said. “It’s late. He meant well.”

“Pass your bedtime?” Amarok echoed, eyes narrowing. “You’re not children.”

“I know that. But those rules kept us safe all our lives. You don’t throw that away overnight.”

He didn’t reply. Just stared.

Then he grabbed her hand and walked over to where Geri now held Taylor in his lap.

The guards from Curtis’ camp stepped forward.

“You can leave,” Amarok said. “Tell Curtis our mates are spending the night in our bed.”

The men froze.

“Go Now!” Amarok growled.

They left without a word.

Tara turned, eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

“Breaking rules,” he smirked.

Taylor giggled, “Wait… are we really going to do it?”

“Taylor!” Tara gasped, face flaming.

Geri laughed. “Relax, baby. It’s not like we’re going to hurt you. And honestly, you’re all too drunk to walk.”

“I’m not drunk,” Tara mumbled. “I can take care of my sisters.”

“Just for tonight,” Geri pleaded. “Vera’s staying too. So you all feel safe. Tara, I swear—we won’t do anything stupid, unless you ask.”

He gave her a slow, knowing smile.

“And if you do ask,” Amarok added with a wink, “we promise you’ll enjoy every second.”

“Oh, goodness, you both!” Tara cried and fled, her face buried in her hands.

“Don’t run, mate!” Geri called after her, laughing. “You’re gonna love it!”