Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Alfred

T he ride back to my clan is uneventful, and the mood is buoyant. Lor, Aston, and their mate Freya are reunited. We have several carts laden with supplies and have put the Pershore king in his place.

Not only that, but I have their princess, who is soon to become my... mate.

Louie's proposed wedding is still a sore point, but I sense matters are progressing, whether I desire them or not.

I elect to mate her as soon as possible, and whether or not the damn wedding has happened.

There's a lot of fucking compromises going on. But I guess this is what happens when you seek to claim a foreign lass.

She rides with me despite her protests that she is a capable horsewoman. My alpha side does not like her being separated from me for more than I must, especially given I have not yet mated her. Still, I liked the little show of jealousy when she demanded that she accompany me. I want her to be possessive of me because, the gods know, I am equally possessive of her. How the fuck am I going to get through the rest of my life if she walks around in these leathers all the time? I will be thumping every man in her castle.

That is a bridge I will cross when I must. For now, the forest opens out to reveal the Baxter clan.

I feel a tightening in my chest—this will no longer be my home, although a part of my heart will always be here. It will be harder than I thought to give it up. Yet, it is also the easiest thing in the world when I cannot keep Penelope here.

I shall forever miss this place, tell myself it is not so far, and when the whelps come along, I will bring them here to ensure they do not forget their roots.

"Oh, it is so charming," she says, surprising me with her enthusiasm for a place that must seem rough compared to the grandeur of a city.

I look at the village through new eyes, see the fine craftsmanship of the many cottages, the neat lanes between, and fields used for crops and grazing during summer. Pride settles over me. It is not a mighty city but a clan village, one that has survived wars and orc attacks. I shall miss the forest and the quietness found within its leafy facade and, more, the friends and family I have here. Likely, I shall forever compare and contrast, but I also hope to find new things to love.

The hails go up as we approach. My sister stands on the hall steps with Espen at her side. My brother's hands are planted on his hips, and he has a broad grin as he eyes the lass in front of me.

Yet more cheers go up as the villagers hasten to greet us, welcoming Aston, Lor, and Freya home.

I pull my horse up before the hall and climb down. But before I can help Penelope, she has already dismounted. I scowl, sensing her stubborn, independent streak, which, while I admire, also rubs me up the wrong way when my alpha instincts only want to care for her.

My sister is already over, hugging Freya and sharing a smile with Aston and Lor.

"You brought them back, then, I see. And were successful in more ways than that," Espen says, his approving gaze shifting from the cart to the woman standing surprisingly quietly beside me. "…And who is this?"

"This is my mate," I say. I am getting a little ahead of myself, but she is all but a mate. "Penelope, the princess of Pershore."

"Fuck," Espen mutters, his gaze now rolling down the length of my woman.

I thump him on the shoulder.

"What was that for?" he mutters, grinning and knowing exactly what it was for.

"This is your brother, I presume," Penelope says.

"Aye. Do not get any fucking ideas. If he looks at you like that again, I am going to strangle the bastard."

"A fine mate, you have," Espen continues, unbothered by my glare. He takes men to his furs as often as women. I'm confident that when he finally settles, it will not be with one of his brothers in the mix, but my mind is not rational at present. "The clan's lasses will not be happy… unless you are going to take a second mate."

"He will not take a second mate," Penelope hisses, her eyes flashing with a fire that I have already come to love.

Espen chuckles.

My sister approaches and introduces herself to Penelope.

"Why don't I take care of Penelope," my sister says. "I hear you have matters to discuss with Espen."

I see the confusion in my brother's eyes before he stands a little straighter. With my announcement of a mate, he will know change is coming, but perhaps he doesn't realize how significant the change is.

"Thank you, Etta," I say.

Penelope appears worryingly eager to go with my sister and waves me off when I turn to check on her.

"The clan village is stunning, and I would be delighted to look around," she says to my sister. "When are you due?"

They fall into a conversation as they move away.

"You are leaving," my brother says bluntly.

"Aye. Matters progressed fast."

"Fuck," he mutters for the second time. "I know I said none of us were going to look in, but you didn't need to do something so rash."

I grin and clap him on the shoulder. "The Goddess is ever mysterious. You will make a fine clan king."

Penelope

I am utterly charmed by his village. It is the quaintest, most beautiful place I have ever seen. The people are warm and friendly. I recognize Etta as his sister straight away—an imposing woman, head and shoulders above me, sharing eyes and hair color with Alfred and their younger brother, Espen.

She is both curious and kind… and also at the late stage of pregnancy.

Her young son eyes me warily as I am shown into the hall. "You do not look like a princess," he announces. "Is that a dagger at your waist?"

"It is," I say. "I do not dress like this all the time. But gowns are not very practical for riding horses or for sneaking around."

"Are you going to mate Uncle Alfred?"

His forthright questions bring a smile to my lips. "I am." Not knowing the clan's customs, I decide it is easier to say as much as to confuse the boy with talk of marriage.

Etta guides me deeper into the great hall, where fires blaze on either side of a long wooden table, stools to either side, and a more imposing chair at the head. Outside, it is cold with the onset of winter, but inside, it is cheery and warm, with brightly woven tapestries adorning the walls. A gaggle of women follows us in, eager to listen under the guise of bringing tea and a cake—I was not expecting tea and cake.

"I had heard you trained with the Raven Guild?" Etta asks as she pours me a tea, "Dare I consider that my brother has finally met his match?"

"I did," I say. "My late mother worked as a spy for the High King before she met my father."

One of the lasses who presumed to sit at the table makes a little harrumphing sound.

"If you cannot be polite to our guest, Cassandra," Etta says. "I suggest you find somewhere else to be."

Cassandra lifts her nose and tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder but makes no move to leave.

Etta raises a brow, clearly unimpressed.

While Alfred was busy, I casually questioned one of the young men from his clan to see if there were any women I should know about who might have had their eye on Alfred as a mate. He was young and flustered, more worried I might injure him given my brief but impressionable introduction, and only too eager to spill information. Cassandra was among the names he offered.

"My brother intends to join you in the city?" Etta asks.

"He does," I confirm.

Cassandra gasps in open shock. "Alfred is the clan king. He cannot be moving off to another country!"

Etta chuckles at this outburst. "You're going to have to redirect your sights on Espen. But good luck with that, for Espen is as likely to take a male as his mate as a lass and has yet to show you favor of any kind."

My eyes bounce between the two women, and I decide I am enjoying this little discourse very much. I'm glad I insisted I come along now and meet my competition, who I can see is no competition at all.

"He was never going to be your mate," another young woman says, who has taken a seat on the opposite side of the table. "Everyone knows Alfred preferred Lisha and me."

"He did not prefer you," Cassandra snips back. "Just because he let you suck his dick, does not mean he showed favor."

My eyebrows shoot up.

Etta takes a sip of tea to cover her amusement as the three glare at one another.

"I dare say none of you were quite what Alfred desired," Etta says mildly.

All four heads swing my way. Etta, amused, is watching on—I believe this is what my nanna used to call stirring the pot.

But the three young women glare at me with barely suppressed rage… a rage I likewise feel.

"Mention sucking my mate's cock again, and I will rip your pretty hair out," I say, feigning boredom as I lift my cup to my lips.

Foolishly, they do not heed my warning.

Alfred

I do the rounds of the village, stopping to say my goodbyes to those I will leave behind. There are well wishes and some sadness, but most are happy for me and welcome Espen into his new role. And I sense the transition for Espen will be an easy one. All things happen for a reason. I have long believed as much. But as we round back towards the great hall, which until so recently has been my home, I hear a commotion from within.

Espen utters a small, low, husky chuckle.

I take the steps two at a time.

Inside, I find my sister sitting at the table sipping a cup of tea like there's a fucking party going on. My sweet and deadly mate has Cassandra in a headlock on the floor, using a fistful of hair as a leash to ram her face into the ground.

"I warned you, bitch," Penelope says. "But you did not listen."

Two other village lasses stand to the side. One has a black eye, and the other is nursing a bloody nose.

"A fine mate, brother," Etta offers approvingly. "I considered calling for help, but she has the matter covered, I believe."

"Gods," I mutter gruffly, feeling a surge of pride and lust. The tiny Hydorian lass has put three strong clanswomen in their place for sure.

I stride over and peel my mate off…

"She caught me off-guard," Cassandra screeches, scrambling from the floor and only a little bloody from the encounter.

Lucky for her, Penelope chose not to pull one of her many toothpicks. Despite her bluster, Cassandra is not a warrior maiden and would not stand a chance.

Espen wades in between lest Cassandra do something foolish and start again.

"You got off easy, Cassandra. She injured a dozen clansmen with twice your skill and size. Lucky my mate was inclined to play with you and not kill you."

Cassandra lunges. Espen cuts her off with a grunt when he cops the blow.

Penelope smirks—damn brat.

"Out," I say. "All of you."

"I only mentioned sucking your cock!" Cassandra growls. "It is not my fault she has a bad attitude!"

Thank fuck I have a tight hold of Penelope afore she can snag one of her many daggers.

"Out," I bark again, both amused and near insensible with lust. "When I leave, the clan is yours, Espen, but happen I need a little time alone in my quarters to calm my woman down."

"No problem, brother," Espen says. Grinning, he takes Cassandra in hand and directs her down the steps, where I notice a crowd has gathered.

Barbarians are nosy bastards. They will be talking about this nonsense all winter long.

My sister puts her cup down and rises gracefully from the chair. "Come and say goodbye to your nephew before you go," she says, bowing her head to us. "It was wonderful to meet you, Penelope."

Penelope relaxes some in my arms. "Likewise, Etta. We shall come and visit, I promise."

My sister continues out, the door closing behind her and shutting the nosy clansfolk out.

"Unhand me!"

Her tussling has set a fire in her belly, it would seem. "Never," I say, lowering my lips to the crux of her neck and grinning. "Don't fool yourself, mate. You would not be happy if I did."

Her growl is adorable. "I don't know what you have planned, but we do not have time for any of your barbarian tricks."

"There has been no more snow. And we have time for whatever I say we have time for, little girl." I pull her tighter against me and grind my cock against her ass. "If you can be good for me, I will let you suck my cock."

She makes a disparaging snort at odds with her actions when she rubs her ass against my aching shaft.

My grin is all teeth.

Time to put doubts out of everyone's minds.

Time to claim my mate.