Her Viking Wolves(86)

I take a deep mental breath to calm my voice. “Trust me, if you and FJ hadn’t run into my grandfather first, there would have been no fight because my father wouldn’t have risked it. Dad simply would have taken you out—killed you both—because you’re not part of his plans for me. He still might.”

Despondent, I rest my forehead against Olafr’s wide chest. “And don’t think this is over because FJ struck some kind of deal with my grandfather. My dad is seriously the worst. Seriously…”

We stand like that for a long time. Then I feel his large hand on my back, rubbing it in circles as he says, “I believe you believe truly the words you speak.” His voice sounds resigned, weary. “Mayhap you did not mean betrayal when you departed and promised your troth to another.”

“I didn’t,” I say into his chest. Then into his mind: “I really didn’t.”

“I understand, but I do not forgive.” Olafr stops rubbing my back then. “Not until you give your vow to never leave us again. I would have this vow from you, that you will be ours ever from this day, that you will stay with us for always, no matter what comes.”

I sigh against his chest. “I don’t want to ever lie to you again, Olafr. Which is why I’m telling you now that I’m not free to make that vow. As much as I would like to.”

“Then you may as well make me dead with one of your silver bullets,” he answers, his voice fierce with anguish. “For I will not live without you!”

“Olafr, you don’t understand.”

“Nay, it is you who do not understand, Female. You are my treasure! My heart! What my mother’s God calls my soul. You carry our pup within you. I would not live without you. I cannot live without you. This is not possible for a wolf such as I. If you cannot give us this vow, then you must give me your silver bullet.”

His words crack my heart all the way open, and I find myself once again fighting to hold back hot tears. “That’s crazy. You’re being crazy.”

Olafr takes me by both cheeks, raising my head so I have to look at him. “Have you no love for us, Female?”

The answer springs into my heart, immediate as a breath. But I shake my head, insisting to him and to me. “I…I just met you.”

“Yea, not even half a full moon tide ago did we meet. This does not change my question. Have you no love for us?”

I shake my head, wanting to say no because this is dangerous. He has no idea what he’s asking me. But I can’t lie to him, so I tell the truth. “Yes, I do. But it doesn’t matter, because I’m not free. I’m not free to love. That’s not how it works in my pack—“#p#分页标题#e#

Olafr’s lips crash down on mine.

“I have love for you, too, Varra. I love you.”

He kisses me and mind talks to me at the same time.

“You must trust Fenrisson. He is your fenrir. You must trust Olafr. I am your protector. We will keep you safe from these people. I promise you this. But if you do run from us again, I cannot be responsible for the actions of my human or my wolf. Understand you this?”

No, I don’t understand. There’s no possible way to understand his confidence that he and FJ will handle whatever my father throws at them. But this is Olafr. My wolf. My fated mate. Begging me never to leave him again, even if it’s for his own good.

How can I not make him this promise?

“Okay, I won’t leave,” I say inside his head. “Even if I’m really, really scared for you. I won’t leave you two again.”

And though I’m pretty despondent about our future situation, Olafr’s entire face relaxes with relief. “That is all that matters, Varra.”

He kisses me again then, with such passion I almost forget about everything standing in the way of our perfect future. His dragons. My father. Olafr and FJ’s impending deaths at Dad’s hand.

For that short blissful moment, there’s only Olafr’s kiss. Promising miracles as he whispers inside my head. “Believe in us, Varra. Believe in us.”





38





We walk back to the kingdom house together—but not really. Olafr leads the way, as if he’s forgotten he’s in human form now. I watch his head go back and forth as he continuously scans the forest perimeters, and I recall the faint perma-glow of his eyes before he took me against the tree. His wolf is still in charge and he seems more animal than human sometimes, which leads me to wonder…is he choosing to stay this way? Or is he the father of the baby growing inside my womb and therefore unable to change back?