At the same time Uncle Tikaani hisses at me, like I’ve gone insane, “Tee, don’t! He’ll tear you apart.”
He has a point. Shifters in wolf form are dangerous enough. A wolf-bound were even more so, since they have even less access to their human side. This is one of the many reasons most packs sequestered themselves away in small towns, to protect nearby humans from their wolves who couldn’t be counted on to maintain control of themselves after shifting.
And wolf-bound wolves aren’t just wolves with no human in charge on full moon nights. They don’t have a human in charge year-round. In some of the more severe cases, wolf-bound shifters born into families without a lot of resources had to be permanently crated like dogs for fear of them harming other shifters in human form.
But I continue to pet Olafr in this strange hug of ours, entranced by the feel of his coat. Knowing instinctively he won’t hurt me.
As if to back me up, Alisha says, “Actually, the Viking wolves were trained from a very young age to ensure their human remained in complete control when they were in wolf form. If they hadn’t, they wouldn’t have been able to travel to other lands. They were also very tolerant of wolf-bound wolves and worked hard to integrate them into the community from early childhood.” She throws her father a disparaging look. “You would have known that if you read my book.”
Uncle Tikaani harrumphs, still looking none too comfortable with me petting a wolf. But I continue to stroke Olafr’s smooth coat, the instinct to do so more powerful than any desire I might have to put my uncle at ease.
And as I pet Olafr, my pulse rate decreases and my worries take a back seat. Like everything will be all right. I’m having a very Bob Marley moment.
It’s been so long since I’ve felt this relaxed and happy so it takes me a while to figure out what it is. But that’s exactly how I feel right now. Warm and happy, never mind I’m sitting in a pile of snow, my ass getting wetter and colder by the second.
But then a deep voice says, “Yes, you will make my brother and I a fine mate.”
Warm and happy feelings gone. Buh-bye.
My hand drops away from Olafr’s fur like a dead fish.
17
“You must talk to her.” Olafr’s wolf tells him.
They are on this village’s main thoroughfare now, headed toward the high house that sits at the end of it. This village, though different, reminds him much of his own. They seem to use nature in a similar way of defense, with a large lake blocking direct access on one side of the village and mountains on the other.
However, even this well-positioned kingdom would find itself defenseless against such as the flying serpents that set themselves upon his kingdom town.
“I know,” FJ answers his brother, grimly eyeing their she-wolf’s back.
They walk on opposite sides of her, FJ at her back, Olafr at her front. They are surrounded by worthy kings who have also positioned themselves in a similar manner. King Rafe and his father-in-law leading the group at the front, and Fenrirs Grady and Mag having positioned themselves at the back. Their she-wolf’s kin obviously gives her protection aplenty. But he and Olafr remain close on either side of her, their need to safeguard her in this manner outweighing all logic. So keen is their mate bond already, FJ feels his long subdued wolf give rise at just the thought of anything our anyone hurting her.#p#分页标题#e#
Yet does she walk between them, looking neither forward or back. As if she has already forgotten the presence of both her fated mates.
“She must be made to understand and return with us,” Olafr says over the bond, as if reading his emotions. “I barely took control of myself before…”
“I understand you well, Brother,” FJ answers, not wanting to think of that. Of the tug of his wolf when he ran after them, afeared that Olafr might hurt their mate. Two times in one night had his wolf tried to possess him. He could only shudder at the thought of what would have happened if his beloved brother had not managed to take hold of himself and return to his wolf form, so as not to hurt her.
“I don’t get it.” The one called Tu, who is walking between their mate and the sister called Janelle, says interrupting his agitated thoughts. “Which hot Viking beardie thinks he’s Tee’s mate?”
FJ watches their mate’s back stiffen as Aunt Alisha, who walks just ahead of their she-wolf, answers Tu in her stead. “Apparently they both used a fated mate spell to buy some time during a battle. And now, they both want to claim Tee.”
“So they’re like planning to fight for her, even though they’re brothers?” Tu asks.