Chapter 5

5

T hor had to get away from Nicola before his irrational temper unleashed itself. He didn't want to frighten her, but the story of her treatment made him want to roar and shatter every piece of furniture in the room.

They dared treat his mate in such a manner? He was beyond caring what 'plans' Kaleb and his pack had for attacking him. Thor was going to fucking end them for what they had done to Nicola. His mate, who had broken her own body just to escape.

She said she hadn't been raped, but Thor had known males like Kaleb before. He wouldn't have held out much longer, and his Nicola still wouldn't have given the other wolf what he wanted.

Not your anything ye t, a voice inside tried to reason with him. The fuck she wasn't his. He had been too concerned about her wounds when she collapsed at his feet to register her beauty. Talking to her wrapped in only a blanket had made him notice it like a punch in the guts and his dick.

She had wavy, silky dark hair and golden-brown skin, a human version of the gorgeous coloring of her wolf. She had a small mole near her right eye that he had the overwhelming urge to kiss. She was the golden sun to his silver moon, and he wanted to claim her so badly, his mouth watered. It was hard to be so enraged and so horny at the same time. He had to get out of there before he said or did anything stupid.

"Are you okay, old friend?" Bjorn asked, coming through the door at the back of the hall. "Your eyes are red as spilled blood."

"She needs more meat. Her wolf is ravenous," Thor said, trying to pull the blood lust back. He gestured at Bjorn, and they both went back into the main hall.

Astrid was already heading their way with another platter. "Jah, I know, she's still hungry. She's healed but underfed. Don't worry, my grumpy jarl . I'll fix it."

Sometimes, it was uncanny how fast her precognition worked. Thor gave her a nod, letting her pass. It was better if a woman was around Nicola than any of his other wargs. He wasn't in his right mind and didn't want to get into a brawl because some other male looked at her too long. It was a good thing only the three wargs and Nicola were in residence.

Bjorn had been in the city, finding information on what the wolves were doing. Thor sat down on a bench beside the hearth fire at the center of the hall, and Bjorn pushed a mug of ale in his hands.

"Drink this. You will feel better," the bear said and sat down on the bench beside him. " Sk?l ."

" Sk?l ," Thor replied, tapping his mug against Bjorn's and taking a long drink of the blood-laced mead. "Tell me what you found out."

"She is Nicola Markides. The old alpha's daughter."

"She told me. What else?"

"Rumor has always been that the princess was all but promised by her father to a wolf called Kaleb. When the old wolf died about six months ago, Kaleb fought to be alpha. He won the fights, and the Markides Pack became the Pateras Pack, but he wanted to legitimize it more by getting Nicola to marry and mate him," Bjorn replied, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "She rejected him, and then she just disappeared about eight weeks ago. No one outside of the pack knew about it. They have been keeping it quiet."

"It's because they are the ones that locked her up," Thor growled.

Bjorn studied him carefully. "You know that she's forbidden, and keeping her here will mean you not only piss off the Blood Lords, but the wolves will make war to get her back."

"I don't give a fuck about vampire politics or that the wolves think we are all abominations." Thor rubbed a hand over his face and forced the words out. "She's my fucking mate."

Bjorn choked on his mead. "Are you sure? I know you gave her some of your blood, but..."

"I know , Bjorn. I can feel the bond. It's why her scent drives me fucking crazy. It's why her wolf brought her here." Thor stared at the fire. "It's why I'll burn down all Inferno to keep her."

"Let's hope it doesn't get that bad. I know we can fight just about anything, but I have my doubts about going against the dragons."

Thor grunted. He didn't want to piss them off either. If it got bad enough, he would throw her over one shoulder and take her to a remote place in Norway. He liked that idea a lot.

Thor had another drink. "Kaleb is also up to something, and Nicola knows what. I think her discovering the full plan would jeopardize whatever Kaleb is planning with his pack, and it's one of the reasons he locked her up. If she mated with him, it would be a promise to keep his secrets. The pack must be divided because a threat like that, you kill. You don't imprison."

"You're right. They must have a division in the ranks. It doesn't matter that old Markides is dead. Nicola is still their princess," Bjorn mused. "We might be able to use that against them when the time comes. Should I summon the family from the North?"

Thor shook his head. "Not yet. Not until I know what I'm up against."

"If it comes to a fight, and it will, they will be grumpy to miss it," Bjorn chuckled. "How long do you think it will take before the wolves start sending emissaries?"

Thor lifted his mug to his lips. "Unless he's a complete idiot, the pup will send someone in the next few days. He will look like a coward if he leaves it any longer."

"He's a good fighter from what I hear," Bjorn mused.

"Doesn't matter. He's still a dead man." Thor drained his ale. "He just doesn't know it yet."