Page 27

I have yet to hear of such a thing, but I suppose anything is possible. “That makes sense…” My reluctance to part from him slips into my voice before I can shore up my heart’s defenses.

“Just, you know… be safe. And come back to us. Don’t go rushing off to challenge Wulfric. Okay?” His voice wobbles.

“Oh, pet.” I pull him into my arms, my heart quivering when he practically throws himself on me. “I will. I promise.” I plant a kiss on the top of his silver locks. He shivers against me, his hands gripping me tight.

I can’t help but lean down and kiss him. As our lips meet, I realize how much I’ll miss him, even if I’ll only be gone for a few hours at most. He’s become a part of me down to the marrow of my bones. “I’ll see you soon,” I vow to him, then step into the boat.

“Yeah. See you.” Jamie tries to smile, but it doesn’t touch his eyes.

I want to climb off the damn boat and go back to him, but I steel myself and grip the oars tightly.

The necklace around my neck begins to quiver against my chest. I row toward the horizon and think of the island of Ulfheim.

I picture my brothers and my aunt. As I will it, a tear appears in the fabric of this realm.

Through the tear is an island shrouded in early morning mist. My heart soars.

Ulfheim is close. I only hope my family is all right.

I make myself row until my arms are burning. The waves toss me about as the portal sucks me in ever closer. The tip of the boat enters the portal. Almost there. I look back at Jamie. He’s watching me leave.

“Jamie,” I call out before I can stop myself, “I will—”

Then, everything is gone.

My stomach turns over as I pass from one time and into another. The waves carry me to Ulfheim’s shores. My heart races as I grow closer until finally my boat bumps over the rocky shore. I jump out, boots splashing in the frigid water, and drag the boat the rest of the way to shore.

I breathe in deep, filling my lungs with the clean ocean air. I am home. At last. Oh, how I’ve missed this place. Bending down, I scoop up a handful of stones that pile on the shore. I should take one with me, just so I have a tiny piece of the island.

Distant howls make my heart lurch. That’s my pack.

They must be going for the first morning hunt.

My brother Gunnar would be leading them.

He’s always been the best hunter out of all of us.

If I’m swift, I can catch up and observe them.

As long as I stay downwind of the pack, they shouldn’t be able to scent me.

I drop to all fours as my furs consume me.

My wolf longs to cry out to his pack, but I keep my song locked inside.

They can’t know I’m here, not yet. I take off, leaving the beach behind as I run.

As the wind whips through my fur, memories rush through my mind.

I remember running with my father and brothers.

Racing Lyall to the village. Mocking Wulfric as we walked back into the village together after a hunt.

I follow the scents of the pack to the tundra where the reindeer will be grazing at this hour. I keep to the cover of the trees as I pursue the pack. The trees clear, opening to a vast field. Leaning out from behind the cover of a tree trunk, I watch and wait.

One by one, the pack emerges from the trees below the hill, stalking toward the grazing reindeer.

A gray wolf marches beside an enormous black wolf.

The gray wolf is Gunnar. The black one is Wulfric.

My fur bristles with fury as a familiar white wolf comes to stand beside Wulfric.

Kieran. He may act like he’s one of us, but it’s a trick. I know it.

All my fury evaporates when another white wolf, larger than Kieran, comes bounding up to his side and playfully nips his ear.

Lyall. My twin. Gods, how I have missed him.

A whine pulls from my throat, and my wolf tries to reach across the bonds between us to connect with our pack.

Lyall’s bond is the only one that hasn’t been broken, but it hangs by a single thread.

Lyall’s ear twitches. He looks toward me, and I lurch back behind the tree. Heart pounding, I stay still for a few seconds. Did he see me? A secret part of me almost hopes he did. I miss talking to him, running and playing with him.

Slowly, I poke my head around the tree. A growl escapes me when Kieran pounces on Lyall, and the two try to play, only to be interrupted by Wulfric’s commanding bark. Probably telling them to cut it out and focus.

How is this possible, I wonder with dismay. Kieran is an outsider, born a human, yet they are treating him like they’ve known him all their lives! Meanwhile, they exiled me, their own flesh and blood. No. This must be a trick.

Kieran is plotting something, I know it. He’s a human. All they do is scheme and betray us. They despise our kind. At any minute while they are distracted with the hunt, he’ll put his fangs in their necks. He’s probably got a whole clan of hunters just waiting for an opportune time to strike.

Heart racing, I watch and wait to be proven right.

The hunt begins. The wolves split up and circle the herd, forcing the reindeer to form their own inner circle to protect the most vulnerable of the herd.

A chase ensues. Wulfric leads the charge when an opening appears in the herd’s defenses.

The pack rushes in, nipping at hooves, dodging the swipe of antlers, yelping as they get trampled, although their healing kicks in to repair any damage.

After some time, the pack brings down a sickly male with broken antlers. Wulfric shifts to his human form. “We are victorious, brothers and sisters!” he cries, and the pack howls their delight.

Kieran shifts and runs, leaping into Wulfric’s arms. I tense. This is it. He’ll produce a dagger made of silver and stab my brother. I know it!

But… it doesn’t happen. Instead, Wulfric captures Kieran’s lips in a kiss. When they break apart, Kieran is smiling at him in a way that sends a pang of yearning through me. His smile, the light in his eyes… it reminds me of Jamie. It’s the way he looks at me.

I always thought my fool brother Wulfric was being bewitched by Kieran.

But it seems as if the feeling is mutual .

They care for each other the way a mated pair does.

But how can this be? I thought Kieran was only using my brother to survive the pack’s mistrust of humans.

Somehow, he ended up falling for Wulfric.

Stunned, I can only watch as the pack trusses the reindeer to a horse and begins the trip back to the village.

My stomach churns, and my paws feel unsteady.

No. No, I refuse to accept that I was wrong all this time about Kieran.

Revenge has been the sole thing that has kept me going.

If I let go of that, then what purpose will I have?

The village. I must get there. I must see that it is still standing.

Keeping low, I follow the pack as they leave the tundra, which gives way to a road covered in hoof prints, wagon wheel tracks, and paw prints. I stay within the trees and always downwind. Most of the pack has shifted to human form, including Gunnar, Wulfric, and Kieran.

I don’t see Lyall among them. Where has he run off to?

“That was an impressive kill, Kieran,” Gunnar is saying.

Kieran grimaces. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be down with hunting cute animals. It’s kinda gross.”

“Even so, you make a fine wolf, little rabbit.” Wulfric drapes an arm around Kieran’s shoulders and steers him close.

Gunnar grunts. “Aye, suppose you do.” His voice has a strange, growly quality to it.

Kieran arches a brow at him. “Are you okay, Gunnar?”

Gunnar coughs, but even that sounds more like a bark. “I’m fine.”

Damn it. I know exactly what is happening.

My fool brother has refused to find his fated mate, and the berserker is trying to come out.

Gunnar had his chosen mate, a wolf named Leif.

After his death, Gunnar has had no interest in pursuing someone new.

I know I mocked him a time or two for his devotion.

Leif was only a chosen mate. Now that I’ve found Jamie, I can’t imagine ever moving on if I lost him, even if he hadn’t been the one fated for me.

Guilt churns in my stomach.

The thatched rooftops and stone chimney stacks come into view, and my heart flips.

We’re almost home. Gods, how I have missed the village.

I quicken my pace as much as I can while staying downwind of the pack.

When the village of Ulfheim appears, a lump rises in my throat.

There’s the butcher’s hut, the smells of fresh meat wafting out the door.

The bakery doors burst open, and the baker’s wife runs out to greet the pack, a basket of fresh rolls in her arms. The horses whicker from the stables, the scent of manure and fresh hay carrying on the breeze.

Children shriek as they run through the muddy roads, throwing snowballs at each other.

“Alpha-Mate!” a little girl shouts, running up to Kieran. I recognize her as the daughter of a farmer.

Kieran kneels down to hug her. “Hey, kiddo. How’s your archery?”

“Kieran,” a boy shouts. “Can you teach me to play the lyre? You’re the best in the whole village!”

“Enough, children,” Wulfric gently scolds. “Your Alpha-Mate is a very busy man.”

They all love Kieran. Somehow, this human has become a trusted, beloved member of the community. The village is whole, thriving, and happy. The sight fills me with sweet relief, and yet… something isn’t sitting right with me.

“Welcome home, lads!” A whine of yearning escapes me as Helga rushes out the door of Wulfric and Kieran’s home. She gives them hugs, then kisses Gunnar’s cheek.

Gods. I wish I could go and greet her. I can’t even remember the last time she kissed my cheek or looked at me with anything other than disappointment and frustration.

“Where’s Lyall run off to?” she asks.

There’s a twinge of something in my chest. Jealousy.