“The prince,” Her voice was barely audible as she closed her eyes.
“He’s the reason you’re so uncomfortable?” There was a hint of a snarl in his tone as he questioned Freya. Cain could see the way the golden bird had leered at Freya during their visit to the camp and he’d had the instinct to threaten him the entire them.
“He saved my life once,” She breathed and looked into Cain’s blazing red eyes. His brows shot up in surprise at what she said before contorting into one of confusion.
“He saved my life one day when I had fallen from a tree. At the time, he’d offered friendship, saying he wanted to get to know me. I was naïve enough to believe him,” Her blue eyes looked into the darkening sky in the direction the Adaryn had left. Her tone was wistful yet sad as she recalled what was still a recent memory.
“Aurik Aurelian. The Prince of the Adaryn and heir to their throne. I was naïve enough to believe that he wanted to be my friend when everyone else looked at me with disgust because I lack the prominent feature of our kind,” Freya rolled her shoulders as if she could still feel the wings on her back that had been lost to her as a child. “However, the night it was announced I was going to be brought to the Vargar he confessed he’d rather have me himself.”
As those last words left her lips Cain erupted into a low growl and she could see his inner beast’s turmoil in his darkening eyes. Freya gave him a gentle pat on the hand before she continued.
“As you can see now that I’m here, things didn’t go as the Prince would have liked. I realized that he didn’t truly see me as a friend, but as someone he could use for his own needs. Not only was it now my duty to aid in forging this alliance, but I wanted no part in what he had to offer.”
“I should have ripped his feathers out when I had the chance,” Cain snarled and grasped Freya’s hand that had been holding onto him. He pulled Freya from her chair and into his lap and she gasped before Cain wrapped an arm around her waist. “You’re mine now. I won’t stand for some pompous bird making you feel uncomfortable anymore. You’re a part of this pack and I will protect you from that vulture, just as any of us would.”
“He won’t harm me. Aurik just feels entitled to anything he takes interest in. I just happened to be the young woman he saved in the woods, an easy target for him. His friendship helped me get through my sister’s death, so I can’t bring myself to fully regret the time spent together. As of now, I am glad to be going in a different direction.”
“I can be glad he saved your life but still hate him, right?” Cain nuzzled into Freya’s neck causing a blush to spread across her cheeks.
“Of course, that’s my sentiment now as well. He needs to do some maturing before he’s fit to take over the Adaryn throne.”
“I’ll put him in his place when I’m the Alpha,” Cain promised. His fury was still rolling off of him in waves as he thought about the way Aurik had stared at Freya like a child having to share his prized possession.
“We still need to be on good terms for the alliance to last, Cain. Our union doesn’t entirely keep another war from starting. There are those like Ivar with too much hate in their hearts to see past anything else. We are merely a symbol of the alliance,” Freya surmised. Although she was finding it increasingly hard to focus as Cain began kissing along her jaw and neck while she spoke.
“You’re right, little bird. Just promise me that you will let me know when you are faced with someone as unbearable as him in the future.”
“I will. It does feel good to have talked about what happened. Now it feels as though it was so long ago.” She was pleasantly surprised at how much lighter she felt now that her experience with Aurik was out in the open. Freya had never talked about it with anyone and it seemed important that Cain knew of her past relationship with Aurik.
“Don’t agonize over the past anymore, please. I want you to be happy with us… With me,” Cain’s voice was husky as he spoke lowly to Freya. She turned her head from watching the camp to look over into his hooded eyes. There was an unspoken connection between them at the moment. Something that had started fast as they fell hard into each other and was growing at an alarmingly quick rate. However, they both wanted what was developing in this connection.
“I might be able to find happiness with you, Cain,” Freya teased as she gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. “I just might.” Yet she already knew she was.
Chapter 13
Only a few days had passed since the Adaryn had come to check on the status of what they assumed was still an uneasy peace. They were still afraid of the Vargar and what might happen. No one wanted war.
After Ivar’s rebellion that had led to Raga’s death the Adaryn were more on edge than they had been in years. After all the lives lost that day Freya understood. Even now she hated Ivar with every fiber of her being. She couldn’t understand how Ivar and Vistra could be siblings and yet were so different.
Vistra, the Wolfmother to the Vargar, their unwavering Alpha. All she wanted was peace. It was her dream for her people to not have to look over their shoulders for their entire lives awaiting an attack from above. She would rather settle down and live out the rest of her days surrounded by a litter of grandchildren.
And Ivar was the exact opposite. Vistra told Freya of how he was born the runt of the pack the Spring he was born. He’d spent his entire life fighting to become a warrior the pack could respect. Their sibling relationship was never an uneasy one. That is until Vistra’s mate died, and all she wanted after his death was peace. To never lose a loved one again.
But Ivar wanted to spill more blood. All he wanted to avenge the life lost of every wolf at the hand of an Adaryn. He’d built a small following of wolves who went with him, against Vistra’s orders. This led to where they were now.
Raga was dead. Freya was given away. Some form of peace was being made as each day went on. Cain was doing his part to bring them together and share his views on what he imagined would be a beautiful future.
The day Freya had been given over to the Vargar was the day Ivar had disappeared. Vistra and Cain had told Freya that he was intended to be given over to the Adaryn. Part of the peace agreement was that they would take the one who had instigated the battle. But Ivar had escaped.
Cain told Freya that his uncle was dangerous. He went on patrols with his fellow warriors for hours every day. Guarding the camp site and searching for any sign of Ivar in the Adaryn territory.
At first, they didn’t want to tell Freya. Keep her ignorant of the potential danger he posed. But that was before they knew she could handle the news. Knowing helped. It made more sense now as why she was never allowed to wander far off from the camp when looking for herbs and taking strolls through the surrounding woods. If Cain wasn’t at her side, she could always feel the presence of a wolf keeping an eye on her.
When Aurik and Alvyna had visited only days ago they told Vistra that Ivar had to be found. At any cost. He was a risk to the peace they were trying to build and if he wasn’t found and contained, he could spark another rebellion. They were sure he would.
The days got colder, and as they did Cain got warmer. The immediate attraction between them was quickly turning into more than just the physical. Freya could feel the heat of him sneaking his way into her heart. Every time he emerged from the woods or joined her in their tent a new heat bloomed inside of her entire being. If he wasn’t patrolling or training Cain was at Freya’s side.
He began looping her into the plans of the pack with his mother. What they were doing that day. Who was going with who and where to hunt or search for Ivar? What they were doing to plan for the Adaryn ceremony or their seasonal hunt.
Each day Vistra took steps to groom and train Freya on what it meant to lead the pack, and what would be required. Vistra had grand plans of extending Freya’s knowledge of Vargar culture once they returned to the mountains. There was too much planning to be done now.
But now that Freya knew Ivar was a threat it made it all the harder to
sleep at night. Even with Cain keeping her near exhaustion in bed and keeping her warm when the air at night was frigid. Sleep didn’t come easily.
Knowing Ivar was lurking out there somewhere made the dreams come back. A beast with bloodied claws tearing her back to shreds. Feathers and flesh flying through the air. Spatters of blood hitting the ground followed by soundless screams. A call for help that would never be answered.
Every morning Cain was there. Holding her tight as they both said nothing. Just loving each other and understanding their need to have one another. Though he seemed like a man who would be rough, he was undeniably gentle. Each feather light touch and kiss sending Freya deeper into a feeling she was beginning to believe was love.
Who in all the history of Vargar and Adaryn wars could have imagined this union?
A powerful Vargar warrior, heir to the Alpha, and he was taking an Adaryn without wings to be his bride. The massive and brute looking man was nothing like Freya could have ever imagined. Gentle, caring, and genuinely interested in everything his little bird had to say.
Opposites were colliding, and they were making waves in the world.
Cain was crouched down behind Freya, picking at the overgrown grass and weeds in the woods. Freya had her back turned to Cain and she was comfortably picking mushroom and herbs for the day. It brought a smile to her lips to have him with her even though she was doing something so simple and mundane.
It was a cold day and they both wore thick fur coats. Even though she was covered fully Cain couldn’t help but to admire his little bird from behind. The way she had a look of complete concentration while picking out the best she could from the patches of fungus was adorable. Although Cain had disliked them, he understood it was important for his small wife to get sustenance from things that grew from the ground. She was relaxed and seemed so at ease even though there was a looming threat over their heads.
Ivar was lurking out there. He had to be plotting something worse than the battle he was responsible for those months ago.
His scent was picked up every so often in the woods. No matter how far they went to find him the trail went cold and they had to stop dead in their tracks. He was clever, as was to be expected from the brother of the Alpha. That made Cain worry.
Freya turned to him and smiled. A cold breeze rustled some of her pale hair loose from her braid and she giggled while pushing it out of her eyes. That smile, and little laughter made Cain feel things he never thought he would. Least of all feelings for an Adaryn.
The moment he’d stepped into the clearing with the dead creature slung over his shoulders his eyes had immediately found her. She was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen, and nothing could have prepared him for what was to come next. He actually wanted her.
At first, he wanted to fight his mother on the peace treaty when it was mentioned Cain would be the one to take a bride from the Adaryn colony. Although it was the fault of the Vargar, at Ivar’s hands, that they had gone to battle leading to this treaty. He didn’t want to be the one responsible for giving up his future tied to someone he would never hold any affection for.
But he knew that as the next leader of the pack he had a duty to show his people that there could be peace, and there would be peace. Cain was willing to sacrifice his happiness for the future of his kind. And all too happy to hand over his uncle to the birds as punishment for the war he’d tried to start.
No one could have told Cain that when a bird with no wings would be brought to be his mate, he’d lose the ability to breathe. Her blue eyes had pierced right through him and struck a chord in his entire being. There was no second thought to giving her the offering. And although she had been trembling, on the verge of tears while surrounded by the enemy she grew up afraid of, she knelt down and accepted him.
That first week had been torture. She slept in his tent, his bed, at night. The little bird had seemed to assimilate into the life of the temporary camp so quickly. Yet, he couldn’t get the sight of her fear that first meeting out of his head.
The Adaryn was so small, all too easily he could accidentally hurt her. And Cain didn’t want that. Even though his mother told him that the girl was not afraid. It wasn’t until she’d taken care of him with no hesitation and helped his fever pass that he knew for certain. Freya was here to stay, and she didn’t look afraid when her eyes fell upon him. No there was something else in her eyes when she looked at him. Something much deeper than he’d seen before.
Now that she was his, really his, Cain was over the moon. Each night he had Freya in his arms, under him, surrounding him. His senses were full of her and he didn’t think he would ever grow tired of his little bird. They had so much to learn about each other, and so much to teach each other. The only uncertainty he held was what Ivar could be planning.
The Adaryn believed that the Vargar were hiding Ivar from them. Not keeping up their end of the treaty. Little did they know that most of the pack wanted to see him gone as well. His scheme to start war had many lose members of their family who had decided to follow him. Great warriors who didn’t deserve to die because Ivar led them to believe it was their duty to kill the Adaryn.
Of course, their two races had a long history of war. Centuries of bloodshed that led to this moment now. But both sides had to believe there could be peace going forward. Otherwise Cain wouldn’t be sitting here now out in the grass with the little Adaryn he had the pleasure to take to bed each night.
His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Freya was talking to him about the colorful bits of fungus in her basket that was mixed up with greens she’d collected earlier. Cain couldn’t help but just smile and admire Freya while she talked excitedly about what she’d found today.
How quickly she had turned into a precious thing for Cain. If he had to destroy his uncle to keep her safe, he would do so.
Chapter 14
The clouds were floating low to ground. Dark and full of turmoil as they rolled over the land. A monstrous storm was brewing overhead with winds that rattled the trees as if they were no more than young saplings. The weather was ominous as it rushed in as though nothing could stop such a force of nature. And nothing could stop what was coming.
Now it was the day of the Adaryn Ceremony. At night the moon had gradually begun taking on a blue tint. On this day it would be a brilliant blue, and perfectly round. The Blue Winter Moon.
The weather wasn’t ideal for the day that would bring together two warring races. It was bleak and dreary. Cold was seeping into the core of everything and everyone. Freya was especially affected by the chill brought on by winter.
All of the Vargar seemed much better equipped to handling the frigid weather. Either they were happily going about the day on four legs and fur or they were clad head to toe in comfortable layers. But Freya only watched them from the entrance to the tent.
Adaryn representatives had already made their appearance early in the morning to ensure that their half of the deal was seen to. They had to have their ceremony before they could comfortably let go of their little outcast and move on with their new comfortable lives. If they weren’t so set in tradition, they might have let Freya go after she accepted Cain’s offering. Yet, as much as they wanted to get through this, they couldn’t get away without having their last touch.
Cain had left the tent in the morning before Freya has woken up. His side of the bed was still warm, and that as what had comforted her upon realizing he wasn’t there. His scent was surrounding her, and she just wished he was there at her side. With his arms around her instead of the layers of furs and quilts.
It was still early in the morning, the thought of leaving for the mountains before they could have the ceremony was swirling around in her mind. She wanted to have no part of it. Despite the fact that it was a ceremony held in high respect by the people she was raised by. It was tradition to join a couple in this ceremony under a full moon.
She would feel better if all ties were cut to the Adaryn already. Freya had n
o use for an entire colony full of hens who were more than ready to throw her to the wolves. All those years where they believed the Vargar were monsters, and they were wrong.
The actions of one miserable Vargar thirsting for blood and attempting to start a war didn’t reflect the same for their entire pack. They wanted peace just as much. Everyone that Freya had met in the camp only showed her that she had a happy life to look forward to when they returned to the mountains. There were thousands of wolves back home in the mountains anxious to know how this treaty would turn out after today. The hundreds of wolves in the camp were excited for the birds to come and go so they could celebrate through the night. In fact, most of the pack in attendance was preparing for the party after the ceremony. All the warriors were ready to return their families.
Freya couldn’t blame them for wanting to go back to their own homes. Although the camp did have a cozy and tight knit energy, it didn’t have that feeling of home that everyone was itching to get back to. A feeling that Freya was eager to rediscover.
Even with the threat of Ivar over their heads there was the new day to look forward to.
After the ceremony the Vargar were planning a hunt followed by a feast. Then in the morning they would make their way back to the mountain they called home. Freya was excited to see the see the homes the Vargar resided in. Cain described them as being made of stone and being built on the ground. That alone was enough to thrill her.
Memories of her life in the colony flashed behind her eyes all morning as she waited. Most of them of her sister, who Freya would give anything to have at her side on this day. It was hard to keep away the pain that came when thinking of Raga. And the anger that followed knowing Ivar was to blame for her death.
The Bird and The Wolf Page 14