Mastered by the Berserkers (Berserker Brides #8) - Lee Savino Page 0,7

did not hesitate to claim her.”

“It’s not the Alphas I’m concerned about. Their mates are protective of the unmated spaewives, especially the younger ones.”

“Juliet is not young. She is old enough to feel her desires.”

“And reject them.”

Jarl glanced at the sky. “In four night’s time, at the feast. There will be a full moon, and she will be in heat. We can make our desires known.”

I let the broken petals filter through my fingers and fall to the ground. “Juliet is smart. She knows what we desire. She desires the same. The question is, will she accept it?”

3

Juliet

Four nights later, we all gathered on the other side of the mountain for the feast. As night crept over the fields, the full moon hung low in the sky, big and round and golden.

“Harvest moon,” Sage said, traipsing from Laurel’s large hearth to the great bonfire nestled down the hill.

“Hunter’s moon,” Hazel corrected and set a platter of shiny braided bread down on a rough hewn plank that acted as a table.

“Honey Moon,” Laurel said without thinking and flushed when her friends giggled. Her figure was as lush as ever, her belly starting to curve under her full breasts.

I smiled at her and the others. I was older than these four, but we’d grown up together in the orphanage. They were the only sisters I’d known. “I hear that we will expect more than one babe after winter. Laurel’s is one, but who is the other?”

As one, Sage, Hazel, and Willow put hands over their flat bellies. Then their eyes grew wide as they looked around at each other.

“You, Hazel?” Willow cried, at the same time Sage said, “You two, Willow?”

“And Sage also,” Hazel announced. The three young women burst into squeals and started hugging one another.

“Oh. Oh my.” Fat tears rolled down Laurel’s face, even though her cheeks curved into a smile. “I’m happy, truly,” she waved us off when we’d comfort her.

My breath was sharp enough to cut my chest. “Congratulations.” I busied myself organizing the platters to make room for the meat. The Berserkers preferred to eat outside by the fires. Indeed, their main source of fun was building the bonfire as high as possible. Twice I’d had to warn the young girls back from the blaze. I’d brought a few blankets and spread them over the grass for us all to sit. Meadow, Angelica, and Fern were there now, keeping the little ones from running and getting underfoot.

Laurel was still crying. A huge warrior whose face was a mass of scars came up behind her. He bent and whispered in her ear, and pulled her close. She sighed and reached up to cup his neck as she leaned back on him. They made a lovely picture, the huge warrior cradling his curvy, pregnant bride.

I’ll never have that, I thought. When I made my vows, they came easily. I did not want to leave the abbey and marry a man of the friar’s choosing. I would be a nun. I would live my whole life in the shelter of the stone walls. I would be safe. I would live a life of my choosing. I loved children, but I could help in the orphanage and be surrounded by them without having them on my own.

The only thing I really had to give up was a future husband, and that was easy. What use did I have for a man? And if some nights I went to bed aching with loneliness, well, at least I would not have to submit to any man. Only God. I could conquer my own desires.

But that was before I met the Berserkers.

I finished with the food and trekked back to my own group. The unmated spaewives, as the Berserkers called us. But even among them, I didn’t belong.

“Juliet,” Meadow waved at me and made room on the blanket for me to sit. The sun was sinking, but there was still enough light for games. A group of warriors played a violent game of some sort, dashing and darting, trying to catch a leather bound ball. Of course, the Berserkers played half naked. Only a scrap of leather covered their nethers.

Some of the men didn’t even have that.

Meadow’s eyes were huge. I resisted the urge to put my hands over her eyes, and scrubbed my own instead. Sleepless nights and smoke from the massive bonfire made my head ache.

But it was more than that. Deep in my belly, I felt it brewing. The heat, rising