Page 44 of Heart of the Wolf

Brielle

“úlfr,” Brielle huffed. “You must settle. You cannot kill the boy.”

“He is a boy no more,” Leif hissed, collapsing onto a bench by the hearth. “And why can’t I kill him?”

If a Konungr could pout, it looked as though that was exactly what Leif was doing.

Brielle padded along the room, sitting beside him, running a hand through the coarse hair of his thick beard.

A vein pulsed in his temple, anger still bubbling in his chest. Brielle stayed quiet, watching the flames lick the stone before she finally broke the silence once his harsh breaths had settled.

“You cannot kill Liv’s son. I imagine Andri would be upset, although, as Liv has proven, she is to be more feared than her husband. She may steal your life from you.”

Leif chuckled a broken laugh, shaking his head before his face was in his hands. Long fingers ran through his hair, gray now sprinkled in with the silver. Brielle pressed a kiss to his biceps before leaning into his side. He gently tugged on her own silver-streaked hair.

“Why do you always have to speak such wisdom?” he said, squeezing her knee.

“Odin gifted you your wolf. He gifted me endless knowledge and patience for stubborn Konungrs,” she snickered as Leif’s body went lax beside her.

“Njáll does not cause me this much trouble.”

Brielle swatted Leif’s arm, making him feign being hurt.

She rolled her eyes. Njáll was a year younger than Astra and had already taken over what had formerly been Andri’s position, leading the raids.

Njáll was intense, strong, and a vicious warrior, everything a Konungr wished for their son, even if he softened around his mother.

The relationship between Astra and Leif was something Brielle could scarcely describe.

He loved both his children, albeit in different ways.

With Njáll, he saw a son to groom and nurture for the role Leif now held.

Njáll would be a Konungr. Leif loved his son.

It was a devotion forged in battle and blood.

But Astra, she was his little wolf, no matter how old she got.

If Brielle was half of Leif’s heart and soul, then Astra was the other half.

The moment Leif first held the too-small baby in his thick arms, they bonded.

He was gentle with her. From that day on, Leif protected and loved her with his entire being.

And yet, he blamed every white hair he had on their daughter.

“That is because you smile stupidly whenever your son kisses a woman. While your wolf becomes feral if a man so much as looks at Astra.”

Earlier, Leif stormed into their home, the walls shaking as he slammed the door behind him.

Brielle had been busy trying to understand the etchings of some runic symbols she’d found.

The wolf prowled at the surface, icy eyes glaring back at her when Brielle tried to calm him.

She bracketed his arms with her hands, running them up and down and spreading warmth.

Rage swirled in his crystalline gaze, flames melting the ice to reveal a storm raging beneath the surface.

Only after sitting with a mug of ale did Leif tell her what had him livid.

While hunting rabbits, he stumbled upon Astra, sitting outside the mouth of a cave.

Except their daughter wasn’t alone. No, she straddled the waist of Liv’s son, their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

Erik was Njáll’s age and a fearless fighter. He had his mother’s strength and his father’s fortitude.

As Leif told it, his fingers threaded into Astra’s beautiful, silvery hair, palming the back of her head as he kissed their daughter in a searing embrace before Leif caught them.

According to him, Astra sobbed, tears streaming along her flaming cheeks as her father threatened Erik. The boy tried to explain himself, muttering some nonsense about love and marriage before Leif drew his axe, making the boy flee.

Astra smacked Leif’s chest, shoving her father as she cried before sprinting into the woods.

And now, Brielle worked on picking up the pieces. They had not seen Astra, but she had her own home at the edge of the village. When Leif had attempted to check on her, Brielle yanked him forcefully back.

Not only had they not seen their daughter, but they hadn’t seen Andri or Liv either. She half expected Erik’s parents to speak with them after Leif brandished a weapon at their son.

However, being the Konungr gave Leif far too many liberties. If he truly wished to kill Erik for touching his daughter, Liv couldn’t stop him.

None could, and only a foolish few would try. Only one could successfully quell the Konungr. Brielle. She was the only one who could temper Leif’s anger.

It had muted in the last ten years, except when it came to his family. He was fiercely protective of his wife and daughter, always had been, and age didn’t stop that.

Eventually, Leif looked up, staring at the flames before turning his attention to Brielle.

A hoarse breath caught in his throat as he captured her lips in a rough kiss.

His tongue swept along the seam of her mouth, smiling when she parted for him.

His lips danced along hers, swallowing the sweet sounds he pulled from deep in her throat.

Thick fingers cupped the backs of her thighs.

Before she could protest, he dragged her into his lap with a quiet squeak that made him laugh into their kiss.

He broke away, feathering wet kisses along her jaw before he pushed her dress off her shoulder, nipping and sucking the tender flesh along her clavicle.

“Sweet, kona. Beautiful, firebird,” he mumbled, sending heat to the apex of her thighs.

Brielle keened under his praise, grinding her center into his hard length.

“Are you wet for me?” he asked into the hollow of her throat, running a callused hand up her calf.

A loud knock echoed on the door as Leif gripped Brielle’s hips, anchoring her to him.

“Ignore it,” he hissed, nipping at her ear. Brielle tipped her head back, rocking her hips and whimpering before that horrible knocking sound grew louder.

“Konungr,” a tentative voice cracked. “May I speak with you, please?”

It wasn’t hard to recognize the deep, scared voice of Liv’s son on the other side of the door. Brielle pouted, collapsing her head into Leif’s chest. Erik had grown into a kind, strong, and fearless man. If Astra were to choose anyone to be her partner, Erik would be well-suited for her.

In Leif’s eyes, however, no one would ever be good enough for their daughter.

Brielle wasn’t surprised the man had come to speak with Leif. It spoke volumes about his character and strength. Leif, his Konungr, had pulled an axe on him earlier, but that didn’t stop him from coming to his home because he loved Astra.

Anyone with eyes knew they were in love.

Even if Leif fought it, he couldn’t deny it any longer.

He was not ready to give up his little wolf. But that choice was no longer his. Freyja had guided their feet; not even a Konungr could stop the will of the gods.

“You need to talk to him,” Brielle sighed, begrudgingly slipping off Leif’s lap and smoothing her dress.

“If I didn’t want to kill the boy before,” Leif said, adjusting his straining cock as he rose, “I do now.”

“úlfr,” Brielle hissed in warning.

“I won’t,” Leif huffed, opening the door. “Maybe,” he mumbled.

A head of full, thick chestnut hair bowed, braids spilling over his shoulders. “Konungr. Dróttning,” he said when Brielle offered him a warm smile.

Leif grunted by way of greeting, ushering the impressively composed young man inside. Crossing his forearms over his chest, Leif leveled a penetrating glare at Erik.

To his credit, the young warrior held his ground, keeping his chin aloft.

“Konungr. I wanted to apologize for what you saw today,” he started before Leif cut him off.

“Are you apologizing for touching my daughter, or that I found you?” Leif snapped.

A lump bobbed in his throat as sweat ran off his brow.

“Only that you found us. úlfr, please,” he insisted, the confidence in his tone cracking.

“I love Astra.” Leif growled but let him continue.

“She is all the stars, all of mine. I want to spend my life loving her, protecting her. I wish to marry Astra, with your blessing, Konungr.”

Brielle was beside Leif in three steps, threading her arm through his.

A small hand rubbed over his heart, smoothing the panicked beats that fluttered beneath his ribs.

Standing on her tiptoes, Brielle kissed the underside of his jaw, his eyes closing before opening again.

The icy shards of the wolf melted, leaving Leif’s swirling stormy gray in its place.

A rough hand covered hers, Leif cracking a smile when he found her tender warmth. His gaze connected with hers, smiling at the reassuring stare blinking back at him.

After a long pause, Leif spoke.

“It is her choice who she binds herself to,” Leif said in a deep, low voice. “If Astra wishes to marry you.” Erik stared at Leif, unblinking. “Then I will not stop it.”

Erik inhaled a sharp breath, a broad grin appearing on his otherwise impassive face. “Thank you, úlfr,” he said, bowing his head as he made to flee from the home.

“Erik,” Leif said, making the man freeze. “When you undoubtedly run to my daughter’s house from here, tell her I wish to speak to her. Now,” he added.

“Yes, úlfr,” Erik said, disappearing into the setting sun.

It wouldn’t take long for their daughter to arrive.

Much like the stars she was named for, she shone brightly.

The pad of Brielle’s thumb bounced along the old scar above Leif’s heart.

While waiting for Astra, she pressed quiet kisses to his chest while he stroked the length of her spine.

A few minutes later, the door groaned as Astra opened it.

Their daughter had grown into a beautiful woman who exuded grace and confidence, all the best parts of both of them. Two braids framed her porcelain face, a line of freckles skating along the bridge of her nose, dusting each cheek. Long waves of lustrous silver curls cascaded down her back.

“Father. Mother,” she said, smiling at their joined hands on Leif’s chest. “Erik said you wish to speak to me.”

Leif patted Brielle’s hand before releasing it and moving closer to Astra.

Just as he did every time, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest in a crushing embrace before kissing the top of her head.

Astra returned the hug, circling his waist with her arms. After a few moments, Leif stepped back, keeping his hands lightly clasped around her shoulders.

“Do you love him, my little wolf?”

“Yes, Father. I feel his heart beat in mine. It’s like how you’ve always described with you and Momma. We are made for each other. It is Freyja’s will.”

A lumbering sigh shook Leif’s tall frame as he ignored the wide grin spreading on Brielle’s lips.

“Erik asked for my permission to marry you.” Astra lit up, twinkling like the stars and moon. “I told him he could if you wished it.”

“I do,” she squealed, jumping into Leif’s chest and throwing her arms around his neck. “Thank you. I love you.”

“And I love you, my little wolf. All I have ever wanted is for you to be happy.”

“I am,” she beamed. “Can I go find Erik now?”

Brielle giggled behind them, trying not to interrupt their moment.

“Yes. Yes,” Leif breathed, kissing the top of her head one final time.

Before leaving, Astra hugged Brielle. She kissed her cheek. “I love you. I am so happy for you,” Brielle said, giving her daughter another squeeze.

“Thank you. I’ll come find you tomorrow, and we can talk more.”

“Of course,” Brielle smiled. “Now go,” she urged. “I’m sure Erik is excited to see you.”

In a blur of silver, their daughter sprinted from their home, closing the door behind her.

Slowly, Brielle padded across the room until Leif’s warmth enveloped her.

He palmed the back of her head, tugging gently at her hair, tipping her head back where he wanted it.

The scruff of his beard scratched along her jaw before his lips brushed against hers in a warm, familiar kiss.

A thick arm slid under her legs as Leif lifted her, making her giggle like she was young again. She wrapped an arm around his neck as Leif cradled her to his chest, walking them to their bed. The tip of his nose traced along her jaw, and he hummed a delicious, primal sound that made her back arch.

Brielle ran her fingers along his jaw before trailing them over the heat of his cheeks. Bright gray eyes welcomed her, and she smiled sweetly. Leif laid her down in their furs, crawling on top of her and caging her body beneath his.

With his knees, he pushed her legs apart, rucking her dress up high on her thighs as he did.

Heat pooled low in her belly as Brielle shimmied lower, positioning Leif perfectly at her apex.

Long fingers slid along her calves, higher and higher, until his nails bit into the skin, coaxing her open for him.

A growl rattled in his chest as he hovered over her, his mouth just above hers. Their labored breaths mixed in the space between them, crimson staining both their cheeks.

“I love you, hjartae mitt, in this life and all the ones after. Our souls will always find each other,” he said, filling her with one heady thrust.