Page 30 of Wulver’s Flame (Knotty #2)

Liùsaidh

After a life of feeling trapped by others' decisions, this was the first time I truly felt free. Vargr had given me this precious gift. I was not subservient to him in our home. I was his equal. He ensured our safety with a warrior approach, leaving me free rein over our longhouse. His men showed me an equal amount of respect. My bond told me this was Vargr’s doing.

His people and mine admired our golden-haired pup. Brìghde made the journey to tell me with great smugness that I should have trusted her foresight.

The treaty held strong.

My mate kept his oath.

My da heard the gossip about how I cursed my husband on the birthing bed and rushed to our home to ensure I was still alive. By the time he left, there was no lingering animosity, only sincere warmth.

As spring crept near, the wolf inside me grew louder. She never spoke—only nudged through the bond, through my bones. Spring was a season of rebirth, and I knew her well enough to know she was no beast.

She was mine, and it was time.

I gave birth to a vigorous son.

How difficult could this be?

?

?

?

I stood at the edge of the pool we bathed in, cursing Vargr under my breath and every one of his blood-boned Gods.

“Take a breath,” he said softly behind me, like I was a nervous colt about to bolt. But I wasn’t afraid. I was furious. Furious that this was happening now, at the end of everything, when I finally had peace.

I felt Skoll’s snicker curled through the bond like a lick of smoke.

The bond was expanding.

“Greedy son of a goat,” I muttered aloud, earning a deep rumble of amusement from Vargr.

He waited behind me, unmoving. Skoll was pressing against him so hard that I could feel the strain in my chest. They were holding back, allowing me space. Waiting for me to finish what began the moment Vargr first scented me in the woods.

I breathed deeply.

The air tasted of moss and iron and spring.

Of cool water and warm pine. The moon reflected in the rock pool like an eye watching, unblinking.

I felt her—the thing buried in my bones.

The thing I once called a curse. She had never spoken, only nudged.

Whispered through my blood. Nudged me through mating, through birth, through the bond.

But now?

She howled.

I screamed.

The pain ripped through me like fire licking along every joint, every scar, every memory.

My spine snapped backwards, and I fell, my fingers digging into the earth as my body burned itself clean.

I felt every old fear, every moment of shame, leave me.

Torn away with every crack of bone, every twist of sinew.

And then it was done.

No chains. No collar. No ink markings.

I stared into the pool. I saw her. Silver fur that shone like starlight. Eyes like fire-kissed gold. Exquisite. My paws sank into the soft moss, and my breath came out in a steaming snort.

Free.

Finally, free.

The bond lit up like lightning in my chest—no longer dull, no longer uncertain. I felt Vargr. I felt Skoll. And I felt her.

All four parts connected together.

A thrill surged through my limbs, and I leapt.

The rock pool blurred beneath me. The moon caught in my eyes as I soared past it. For a moment, I wasn’t a woman, mother, or treaty bride.

I was at one with nature.

Truly free.

Skoll howled and erupted from Vargr, his dark form breaking through the trees just as I landed. He skidded to a halt, his golden eyes wide were stunned. Then I felt the reverence.

I playfully pushed against him through our bond before turning my muzzle to him and bared my teeth in a wild grin.

His tail dropped. He submitted, for the first time in his life.

For a moment, I was shaken, but then I remembered who I was.

Liùsaidh Flamehair of Dunraith. I was no one’s prey.

We were both wolves, but I was his flame.

And our names would echo forever.