Chapter Twenty-Nine Baldr

T he first thing I noticed was the cold. My feet, that had been bare for the past two days, stepped from cool damp stone onto fresh, powdery snow, sinking in a few inches. Mist stepped up beside me, his hand still clasped in mine. I felt the shock of the sudden temperature swing through our bond, both of us beginning to shiver instantly. We’d either lost or left behind the spare clothing we’d had and now we were both terribly underdressed for the winter that was obviously in full swing back home.

But were we home? I wasn’t sure just yet. I glanced around, finding us both standing at the mouth of a cave. Snow had blown in, drifting against the back wall where we’d appeared. Outside it was light, but that’s all I could really tell. And when I turned around to see if the portal was still behind us, all I saw was a dark stone wall glazed with ice and snow.

“Come on,” I said, pulling Mist forward. “Even if this isn’t home, we can’t go back now.”

Mist just nodded, squeezing my hand tighter as I pulled him along. It only took a few steps before we stepped out into the sunshine, the brightness nearly blinding us both. I pulled an arm up to shield my eyes, trying to find any hint of where the portal had taken us. But when my eyes finally began to adjust, I felt a sudden surge of warmth and familiarity in my chest.

We were standing at the top of a mountain, overlooking several others. They were my mountains, the ones I’d grown up running all over. From our lookout point I could see the Skoll and Hati mountains some miles away, leaning toward one another like wolves about to tear into one another. It was a fitting image considering what I knew was going on down in Fenris.

“We’re home,” I sighed, letting a smile come over my face at last. “The portal really did work.”

“I was worried that spirit had lied to us.”

“I told you,” I grinned. “They can’t. The spell doesn’t allow it.” I pointed to the south where I knew the resort lay just out of sight. “Home is that way. But it’s a few miles off.” I glanced down at my feet. “I don’t think I can make it there in this form.” My gaze turned to Mist, another smile creeping over my face. “Do you want to ride me?”

His eyes grew wide. “R-Ride you?”

“Yeah. My Alpha form can run on all fours. But you’ll have to hold on tightly. It can be a little rough.”

He gave me a small grin. “I’ve survived a couple rides with you already. I think I’ll be fine.”

I laughed, feeling joyful despite what was soon to come. Just being home in familiar territory filled me with warmth. “Over the hills and through the woods to Nana’s house we go!”

Mist just stared at me. “Nana? Who’s Nana?”

My little joke was completely lost on him. Dammit, and it was so clever too. I never read that fairy tale to him. “She’s Flynn’s grandmother. Thor and Flynn are staying with her.”

“Alright,” he nodded. “Let’s go then.”

I leaned in, giving him a quick kiss before I stripped the makeshift clothing off my body. Then, leaning into the wolf completely, I let the Alpha form consume me. When we were mating, usually I only changed partway. But this time I let it go until I was completely covered in fur, my body had nearly doubled in size, and a long muzzle sprouted from my face. If I had a mirror, I would’ve seen a massive movie-style werewolf staring back at me with bright gold eyes and bright silver fur. It was a sight to behold and Mist’s eyes widened as he stared at me.

Giving him a grunt and a nod, I kneeled down in the snow, gesturing for him to climb onto my back. He did so hesitantly, probably remembering the last time I was in this form and I tried to kill him. I didn’t blame him for that. It wasn’t my best moment. But this was different. We weren’t being chased by giant venomous serpents. I still maintained control over myself.

As Mist settled onto my back, I felt his arms wrap tightly around my neck, his fingers digging into my thick silver fur. His body pressed against mine, warm despite the frigid air. I could sense his nervousness through our bond, but also his trust. He knew I wouldn't let him fall. He was my most precious cargo.

With a low growl, I launched forward, powerful legs propelling us through the snow. The wind whipped past, carrying the scent of pine and ice. Mist clung tighter as we bounded down the mountainside, weaving between trees and leaping over fallen logs. His heart raced, a mix of exhilaration and fear pulsing through our connection. More than once I thought I heard him laugh.

We covered ground quickly, my paws barely touching the snow as we flew across the landscape. The familiar terrain blurred past - rocky outcroppings, frozen streams, dense thickets of evergreens. Home. After everything we’d been through in Asgard, it was nice to lay eyes on a familiar place at last. Here I knew every rock and tree and creature. Despite the danger that lay ahead, I felt more comfortable than I had in days.

As we descended further into the valley, the snow began to thin, giving way to patches of exposed earth and scattered pine needles. The air grew slightly warmer, though still brisk enough to nip at our exposed skin and never above freezing. I slowed my pace as we approached the outskirts of town, not wanting to startle any unsuspecting humans with the sight of a massive werewolf barreling through the forest. I quickly turned to the left, following the outer edge of Fenris all the way to the northern side where Nana’s farm was located. It made the path more difficult, but I wanted to stay out of sight. However, we eventually started up the Hati mountain, crossing hiking trails here and there that had been left untouched. On the air I finally caught the familiar scent of farm animals and hay. We were close.

Mist's grip on my fur loosened slightly as we came to a stop at the edge of a small farm. I could sense his relief at being on solid ground again, though there was also a tinge of disappointment that the exhilarating ride was over. His heart was thrumming so loud in his chest that even I could hear it.

“That was... incredible,” he breathed, sliding off my back. His cheeks were flushed from the cold and excitement, eyes bright with wonder. “I've never experienced anything like that before.”

I let out a soft rumble of satisfaction, nuzzling his hand affectionately before shifting back to my human form. The change was quick and once again I found myself standing barefoot in the snow. Except this time I was completely naked with nothing to put back on. Oh well, I didn’t have time to worry about it. Such was the life of a werewolf.

“Come on,” I said, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the house on the other side of the farmyard. “They’ll probably be wondering where I’ve been.”

The scent of wood smoke carried by the wind reached us before we got to the house and saw the fire glowing brightly in the hearth through the windows. I didn’t stop to knock on the door. Instead, knowing Nana always left it unlocked, I just let myself in, pulling Mist in behind me.

“I’m home,” I called nonchalantly. “Can someone get me a blanket please?”

“BALDR!”

I winced as I heard my brother roar from the other side of the room, his hulking form standing from the couch as he puffed out his chest. His face was red with anger and I knew I was in trouble.

“Where the fuck have you been?!” he cried. “We’ve been worried sick about you! I thought you were dead!”

I raised my hands defensively, trying to calm my enraged brother. “Thor, I can explain—”

“Explain? EXPLAIN?!” Thor's voice boomed through the cozy little farmhouse. “You disappeared for days without a word! We thought Tyr had captured you, or worse!”

Before I could respond, Nana bustled into the room, her eyes widening at the sight of me standing naked in her entryway. “Oh, good lord!” she exclaimed, hurrying to grab a thick quilt from a nearby chair. She wrapped it around my shoulders, clucking disapprovingly. “Baldr, you'll catch your death like that! Your dingle is gonna fall off!” She pulled me toward the fire, grabbing another crocheted blanket and adding it over my head. Then she turned back to Mist, who’s hand was still attached to mine. “And who's this young man?”

Mist shifted uncomfortably beside me, clearly overwhelmed by the chaotic reception. He’d never been in a room with more than once person, so it had to be strange for him. I squeezed his hand reassuringly. “This is Mist. He's... he's my..” I paused, swallowing my nervousness. “He’s my mate.”

“We’ll talk about that in a minute,” Thor interrupted, grabbing me by the shoulder and turning me to face him. “Where the hell have you been?”

“Asgard.”

He just stared at me. “W-What?”

“It was an accident. We had to escape from Tyr. But we’re back now.” I glanced over at Nana. “I sure am hungry though. They didn’t exactly have a fast food place on every corner in the realm of the gods.”

“Give me ten minutes,” she nodded. “I’ve always got an emergency meal or two in the freezer for just such an occasion.” She paused, glaring up at Thor. Reaching up, she poked him in the chest threateningly. “And you keep your voice down young man. I ain’t having no hollerin’ in this house. Understood?”

Thor sighed, clearly terrified of this tiny human woman. “Yes ma’am.”

“Good.” She turned to Flynn who was still sitting on the couch, staring at all of us wide-eyed. “Get these boys some proper clothes, darlin’,” she ordered.

With that, she hustled into the kitchen followed quickly by the sound of drawers opening and closing. Flynn nodded in her direction and scurried off to find some clothes, leaving me alone with Thor and Mist. The tension in the room was palpable. Thor's eyes darted between us, his brow furrowed in confusion and concern.

“Asgard?” he finally said, his voice quieter but still stern. “How is that even possible?”

I sighed, tightening the quilt around my shoulders. “It's a long story, but the short version is that Tyr ambushed us. We managed to escape through an emergency portal, but it took us to Asgard instead of where we intended. We've spent the last few days trying to find our way back.”

Thor grunted, clearly not satisfied with that answer but willing to wait. His gaze shifted to Mist, who was trying his best to blend into the wall behind him.

“And you said he's your... mate?” Thor asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and worry.

I nodded, pulling Mist closer to me. “He is.” I paused, glancing at Mist. “And he’s the witch that Tyr has been keeping imprisoned for nearly a decade on the Skoll mountain.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

I let out a long sigh. “I’ve uh… known about him for some time. In fact, I’ve been visiting him nearly every day since I was fourteen.”

Thor's eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find words. “You... you've been visiting him for years? And you never told me?”

I winced, guilt washing over me. “I know, I should have said something. But I was afraid of what might happen if anyone found out. Tyr was keeping him prisoner, and I didn't want to risk his safety. He was already being tortured and I just… I didn’t want it to get worse.”

Thor ran a hand through his hair, clearly trying to process this new information. “So all those times you disappeared into the mountains...”

“I was going to see Mist,” I finished for him. “He was trapped in a magical barrier on the Skoll mountain. I stumbled across him by accident when I was younger, and we became friends. Over time, it became... more. Although, until a couple days ago, I didn’t realize just how much more.”

Mist squeezed my hand, offering silent support. I could feel his nervousness through our bond, but also his excitement. He was thrilled to hear me claiming him as my own, to share him with my family for the first time. It was a complicated mix of emotions we were both going through. And yet, despite all that, I could still hear the clock ticking in the back of my head.

“But we’ll need to talk about it later,” I said. “We could’ve stayed in Asgard and been safe for a while. However, we rushed back here because I’ve been having visions.” I lifted my gaze, meeting Thor’s. “Tyr is on the way here. Right now. And he’s got half of my mother’s spellbook.”

On cue, Mist reached into his bag and held up the other half.

“Where… Where did you find that?” Thor asked, recognizing the book he’d never been allowed to open. “I thought it was lost.”

“So did I, but there’s no time to explain,” I said, rushing him forward. “Tyr will be here by sundown with his wolves and with the spellbook. I have no doubt he’s figured out how to harness its power somehow. That’s what I saw in my vision.”

“But how—”

“I don’t know Thor,” I urged. “Truly. If I knew, I’d tell you. But right now you need to gather the other wolves to fight. You also need to know that Loki and his mate are on our side.”

“Loki is a traitor!”

“No, Thor, he’s not,” I replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I didn’t tell you at first, because I needed to be sure. But Loki is on our side. He’s the one who told me how to figure this all out and get Mist free. If it hadn’t been for him, we’d be dead and rotting under the rubble of the resort. He’s been helping us this whole time.”

Thor was silently staring at me, trying to process everything I’d said.

“But right now I need to eat and regain my strength.” I glanced back at Mist. “And Mist… he needs to—”

“I’m going with you,” he said, cutting me off. His green eyes stared daggers into my soul. “And that’s final.”

I nodded, feeling over the bond that there was no way I was going to convince him otherwise. “Alright.”

“But first,” he said as Flynn stepped back into the room carrying an armful of clothing. “I want to take one of these showers I’ve heard so much about.” He reached up, stroking his tangled beard and hair. “If we’re going to war today, I want to at least know what it feels like, just once. And I think I want to shave.”

“I can help you with that,” Flynn offered, handing the clothes off to me. “Come on. I used to cut hair in college for booze money. I’m not too bad at it.”

I reached out, squeezing Mist’s hand. “I love you.”

Emotion surged through the bond, showing him that I wasn’t just telling him how much I cared for him, but that I was wishing him safety and happiness and a long life all at the same time. He knew what was coming and yet, he’d kept it all to himself for my sake. He understood I needed my brother on high alert for the battle ahead, not mired down by the future that would inevitably arrive.

“I love you too,” he replied.

And he meant it.