I fiddle with the ring on my finger. Gunnar’s ring. A lump thickens my throat. “He lost his mate and child. He’s refused to take another all these years and without a mate, he’ll go berserk.”
Dad nods slowly, running a hand down his jaw. “So he needed that potion, too.”
“How could you lie to us?” The betrayal in Mum’s voice makes me hang my head in shame. Mum throws up her hands and paces across the lawn. “We were so happy for you! Shocked, yes, but happy! I invited the whole family! What in the goddess’s name are we going to tell them?”
Dad laughs, and she scowls at him. “Well, if they’re liars, they’re bloody good ones.”
“This isn’t funny, Bill!”
Dad sets his hands on his hips. “You expect us to believe all that was a lie? Come on now, we aren’t stupid.”
There’s a smile on his face that threatens to fill me with hope. “We did lie about some things. How we met, our engagement story, little details. But the rest of it…” I swallow hard. “I love him so much, Dad.”
Mum slumps with a quiet sob. “Thank the goddess…”
Nan smiles, a hand to her heart.
“And he loves you, too,” Dad says.
Tears sting my eyes. Goddess, I’d do anything for him to be right. “I don’t know…”
Dad scoffs. “Oh, cut the bullshit, Lo. That man didn’t leave your side after you were injured. Now, dry your eyes and let’s go find him.”
“You’ll help?”
Mum sighs exasperatedly. “Of course we will! Bill, our son is in love!” She throws her arms around Dad, who smiles softly at her.
Nan rubs my shoulder. “Leave the potion to me, dear. You go and find your wolf. Bring him back soon, you hear?”
“I will,” I say, the promise filling me with determination.
I love Gunnar Erikson. All I want is to be with him, to make him happy every single day.
If he’ll have me, and goddess, I pray he will, then I will be the luckiest, happiest man alive.
But first, I’ve got to find him, and I won’t rest until I do.
Chapter 21
Gunnar
My stomach lurches asthe world blurs around me. One moment I’m in the English countryside and the next I’m in the sea near the shore of my pack’s island. I shove the branch of Yggdrasil into my pocket and row fast. The sick feeling in my stomach remains, leaving me doubled over, taking in deep breaths so I don’t get sick all over my boots.
Gods, I have ruined everything.
The taste of the witch’s blood lingers in my mouth, a constant reminder of my savagery as I run to the only place I know I can be safe. My brothers will know what to do. They can help.Please, gods, help them to help me.
I lost control. It was only for a few fleeting seconds, but that was all it took. Humans saw me transform. The witch I attacked was a TTA agent, of all people! If I ever see Arlo again, it will be by the grace of the gods.
The cold air stings my damp eyes and burns my lungs. As my feet pound the worn, muddy road, I reach for the bonds of my pack within my heart.
“Brothers. Help me. Please!”
They light up like fires in the night.
“Are you hurt? What’s happened?”Lyall.
“Come to the longhouse!”Wulfric.
