in my ears, where the heartache of losing him slices into me. That feeling of loneliness, of abandonment and betrayal simmers within me, and despite it all, my wolf still pines for Martell. Maybe it’s not this world that is broken, but me...
My wolf and soul crave a monster who tried to kill me.
My body desires a Viking Alpha who sees me as a pawn.
And me… all I want is freedom, but it seems fate has no intention of playing nice with me.
Knowing time is against me, I hurry through the room to grab my knife, which I tuck into my boot, then I collect a long coat, figuring it will make a good blanket at night. Our mission will take days through the Poisonous Woods, which are enormous, and under no circumstance will the witch coven make it easy for any wolf to reach them.
These Northern Alphas don’t seem to be bothered that I am Cursed as long as they get what they want.
If Ragnar has any thoughts that somehow I will be a force on their side against the witches, he’s in for a rude awakening. I won’t risk my life to anger the witches. They loathe wolves, and I’m sure that includes half-breeds. Plus, what could I do to help Ragnar when my magic is untapped, broken, and lost in my veins?
6
Narah
I pull the coat tighter around my throat, my bag hanging across my back as we head down the dusty road out of town. Ragnar and Stone take the lead, Nikos at our rear, and Crius strolls alongside me, hands deep in the pockets of his black pants like nothing in the world can touch him.
His V-neck Henley top hangs loosely on him, but there’s no hiding his muscles. Out of the four men, he is the largest. He killed Finn with such ease, and with zero remorse too. I should feel more guilt as well, but he was going to hurt me… just as Martell had wanted. And after last night’s incident, now when I watch Crius, a strange explosion of butterflies flutters through my gut. Of course, they shouldn’t, but staring at him, all I can picture is him pressed against me, feel how my body flared to life. All I can think about is how he protected me after I’ve been looking out for myself for so long. I hate to admit it, but to have someone else stand up for me brings an unexpected relief.
Still, everything about Crius is complicated and terrifying.
I mean, the guy has a small throwing ax on his belt, and hell only knows what else tucked on his body. And this is before he even transforms into his monstrous white wolf form.
Crius glances over to me, catching me staring at him, and winks. I find myself caught in that moment under his gaze. The breeze sweeping through his deep blond hair that blows wildly over his shoulders. Stubble graces his jawline, while the longer beard at his chin has been formed into two short braids, each with a silver ring at the end. It should look ridiculous, but on him... goddess forgive me, but on him, it makes my knees tremble. He is the living epitome of what I’ve pictured Viking warriors to look like from books I read. Vikings, men who fight with berserker tendencies, who are rugged, who are scared by nothing. And the one walking beside me is drop-dead gorgeous. Muscled, tall, sharp cheekbones, healed war scars. His piercing hazel eyes crowned by thick eyebrows are still on me.
“You good?” he asks.
I force a nod while my brain struggles to find something to say. My initial instinct is to admit I changed my mind about this trip, but then what? These Alphas won’t just hand over my sister. Already I miss her. Last night was hypnotizing, just listening to her telling me about everything she went through before Ragnar found her. It also scared me to learn how close her encounters with zombies had been, the dangers she faced down in the Shadowlands Sector. We had been apart for a short period, but she seemed to have matured so much over that time. Gone is the carefree younger sister I once knew. If I ever meet the Omega from that region, Meira, who helped my sister several times, I will give her the biggest hug ever.
One night catching up with Jae isn’t enough when I’ve been missing my sisters terribly for the past two months.