Chapter 31

Kimble

The nightmares came back. Wolves with green eyes chased me into a tunnel. They closed in on me. My chest tightened with fear until the air punched out of my lungs. “Help…” I shouted, but it enraged the wolves and they snarled, baring their fangs, wanting to shred me into pieces. I back-walked further into the darkness of the tunnel, hoping to see light at the other end. Instead, I heard the faint noise of a baby crying.

The wolves went silent. I turned sharply to focus on the sound. The baby cried again. My feet carried me through the darkness toward the baby. Its cries became louder. I don’t know how far I walked, but when I reached the baby, I saw it was swaddled in a pink blanket and lying in a wicker cradle that was rocking. Dim light leaked through the cracked wall, falling on it. Shadows converged around it, hiding and merging as if they were one. Tiny hands and legs were moving up and down, thrashing against the cradle.

“Ylva…” I heard someone calling. “Ylva…”

I gasped and walked a bit more, but just as I was about to reach the baby, a wolf attacked me.

I jerked open my eyes as a scream ripped through my throat.

“Ylva!” Soft hands wrapped me and caressed me, lulling me back to sleep.

When I woke up next, it was day. The sunlight was filtering through the beautiful net curtains. Warmth filled my chest, and I knew that Talon had saved me.

Stretching my limbs, I turned to look at him. Instead I was greeted by a man with chiseled features, a strong jawline, and pale blond hair that was graying at the temple. And he was staring at me intensely with an emotion I couldn’t put my finger on.

“Ylva!” he said in a hoarse voice as if he was trying to speak over his choking emotions.

A different kind of dread filled me. I scooted away from him. “I’m Kimble, not Ylva.”

A woman rushed into the room and came to stand by my side. “You’re awake, Ylva!” she said the name with so much affection that I found it awkward. I wasn’t used to this fondness. My mother had been very rough with me. She didn’t love me and so that was the language I’d learned. Of hatred and mistrust. Of caution and doubt. That was how I dealt with Talon at every step. But now I wanted to make amends with him. Accept him. Love him.

Suddenly, last night’s events flooded my mind. “Wh—where’s Jackie?”

The room filled with five more wolves. And Vandil was with them. It was evident that they were sons of the couple in front of me, as they stared at them. I scowled at Vandil. “How dare you kidnap me?” I hissed. “Talon must already be searching for me. Return me at once, if you wish to see another day!”

The lady padded toward me slowly, carefully. “Ylva.” Her eyes filled with tears and she started crying. “I—I thought I’d never see you again. My baby…”

I was wide-eyed, my heart racing as my mind tried to comprehend what she was saying.

“Thyra…” the man standing next to her said as he placed his hand on her shoulder. But Thyra came to stand right next to my bed and picked up my hand in her frail ones. Tears rolled out of her eyes like she had been holding them back for ages.

“I’ve found you…” she muttered as she looked at me affectionately with love that I saw only on the faces of mothers. Love that never existed for me, because my mother never loved me. She cupped my cheek with another hand and I cringed.

“What do you mean?” I asked, my breath lodged in my throat.

Her lips quivered when she dropped the bomb on me. “You’re my daughter. Daughter of the Alpha of the Viking pack.”

The sheer shock of her words was overwhelming.

The man with her circled her shoulders with his arm. “I’m Alpha Frode Asgeir of the Viking pack, and your father.” He pointed at the boys behind him. “And these are your brothers, Vandil, Ivar, Sven, Gunnar and Hakon.”

My world tilted on its axis. “No…” I said under my breath as goosebumps lined my skin. “You’re mistaken. My mother’s name is Ayla. And I don’t have a father… or brothers…”

A sob came out of Thyra’s throat. “Oh, my baby. My Ylva,” she cried, her eyes going red as tears continued to fall. “Ayla was your nanny in our pack in Europe. She—” She swallowed her emotions, taking a hiccup. “She stole you one day and fled. We’ve been looking for her since then. We found out she was in America, but we didn’t know where. Your father insisted that we settle here until we find you.”

My eyes snapped to Alpha Frode Asgeir who was looking cautiously at me with love. “Ridiculous,” I blurted. “I’m a human. I don’t have a wolf. So I’m sure you’re mistaken. Please take me back to Talon. Or is this a conspiracy against him?” I pulled the collar of my shirt down. “I bear his mark! He’s my mate. Take me to him. Release me. You can’t keep me a prisoner.”

I lowered my head as sobs racked my shoulders. Then looked over my shoulder to see Alpha Frode, who stared at me with horror in his eyes. “You don’t have a wolf?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m a human.”

“That’s impossible!” he refuted. “You’re my daughter, and every Viking she-wolf has a wolf!”

“I’m not your daughter!” I shouted. “And for God’s sake, please stop imposing yourself on me.”

“Then why do you smell like me and Thyra?” he shot. “You look so much like your mother. Can’t you see the common features? Look at your brothers. We all have pale blond hair, high cheekbones and pale skin.”