Chapter Twenty-Six Thor

W hen I heard Flynn in my head the first time early that afternoon, I pushed it away. He was just testing the bond I told myself. But I couldn't deal with it at that moment. I had to focus on getting the will finished before I had to go meet Tyr in the valley. I'd already sent a challenge ahead of time, directing Tyr to the exact time and place where we would fight to the death. In fact, I'd already gotten confirmation that he would be there.

I brushed the feeling away and redoubled my focus with Baldr at my side. We'd gone through everything I could think of. He was to inherit my title and take over the pack, any money would be split equally between him and Loki, and Loki was going to remain Beta of the pack as well. He'd be pissed about it of course, but that's the way I knew it needed to be done. Baldr would keep the pack safe while Loki would lead them directly into battle. Even if I couldn't stop them from attacking the Skoll pack themselves, I wouldn't leave them in the hands of a leader that would use that anger for his own vengeance.

I did my best not to get too bogged down by my own feelings as we worked. Obviously, I was going to do everything I could to come back home after my altercation. I wanted Tyr dead just as badly as everyone else and I was happy to take him down. But I also knew that he and the rest of the Skoll pack, while small, were much more rugged and feral than anyone in the Hati pack, including myself. We were the equivalent of wolves raised in captivity compared to them. They'd scrimped and scrounged to stay alive on the outskirts of society while we spent our days in relative luxury and swimming in hot springs.

Tyr would have the upper hand. But I wasn't about to give up just yet. Not when I had so much to live for now.

Three months ago, I might've walked into battle with no intention of coming back. But with Flynn now mated to me, I would do anything to walk back through the doors of the lobby and scoop him up into my arms. I didn't care what the pack thought. I didn't even give a fuck about werewolf laws. All that mattered was him and those beautiful green eyes of his. I wanted to get lost in him for the rest of my life and that gave me more will to fight than I'd ever had.

"That should just about do it," Baldr said, drawing me from my thoughts. "All you have to do is sign."

I pulled the paper across the desk and grabbed a pen. With a heavy sigh, I put it to the paper and began to draw my name. I only made it about halfway before the pen suddenly fell to the floor.

HELP!

It was Flynn's voice, clear as day inside my head.

HELP!

It repeated twice more before I felt Baldr shaking my shoulders. My heart was racing.

"What's wrong?" he asked, searching my eyes. "What's going on?"

"I… I heard Flynn," I said, shaking my head. "In my mind."

Baldr lifted an eyebrow. "Is he a witch?"

"No." I looked up at him, feeling slightly ashamed for not telling him. "But we completed the bond last night." I paused. "Is it normal to hear the other person's voice? I thought it was just feelings."

"It usually is."

"Could it be a trick?" I asked. "Is Tyr trying to mess with me?"

Baldr paused, thinking it over. "As far as I know, there's no way he could do that. Especially not in Flynn's voice. They've never met." He cocked his head to the side. "What did he say?"

"Help," I repeated. "Just that."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Baldr snapped, tearing me up and out of the chair. "GO!"

"I don't know where he is–"

"You're a wolf! Use your fucking nose you idiot!" Baldr gave me a shove. "I'll get the others and be right behind you!"

I nodded, my heart still pounding a mile a minute. My doubts were suddenly gone, and a cold fear filled the pit of my stomach. My mate was in trouble, I just didn't know what he'd gotten himself into.

"Oh no," I said, looking back at Baldr, my eyes suddenly growing wide. "It is Tyr… he… he smelled Flynn on me the other night. When he attacked you."

"THEN GO!" Baldr shouted. "For fuck's sake! Run like Fenrir himself is on your heels!"

There was no more hesitation as I leaped into action. I sped out of the suite, down the hall, sprang down the stairs to the bottom floor, and tore my clothes off in the process. By the time I burst out of the stairwell doors, I was already a giant white wolf, claws clicking on the hard stone floor as I dashed toward the exit. Several guests screamed, but I paid them no mind as I took a flying leap and crashed through the entrance window, glass shattering all around me.

Glass cut through my fur and down to my skin, drawing blood all across my body. But I didn't care. I just ran, knowing the wounds would close themselves before I reached my destination. I didn't have to stop to sniff Flynn out either. Now that we were mated, I had an internal compass pointing me in his direction. I caught his scent on the wind anyway, proving to me that the wolf knew exactly where he was going.

I dug my claws into the soil, racing down the mountain in a blur.

Hold on, Red. I'm coming for you!

◆◆◆

Ten minutes later I was at the bottom of the mountain standing at the edge of the forest just outside a small farm. I hadn't been there before, but I recognized it immediately from the things Flynn had told me about it. There were goats, chickens, a little cabin and a big barn with a shed behind it. It was just the way he'd described it, cozy and welcoming with a hint of nostalgia for a life that neither of us had ever lived.

This was definitely his grandmother's farm, and he was there. I couldn't see him, but his scent was strong. He had to be close by. But his wasn't the only scent I picked up. Floating on the breeze was the scent of an older female human, Flynn's grandmother I assumed, and a male werewolf. That scent I'd come across many times. It was the one my father was drenched in when I found his body lying on the side of the mountain.

Tyr .

I should've known that he'd do something like this. There was no way Flynn came here on his own. He'd been coerced. Judging by how prolific Tyr's scent was, he'd been on the farm for a while. Maybe all day. Chances were he'd done something awful to Flynn's grandmother to get him to come down on his own. I didn't smell blood or death in the air though, so that was a good sign.

I felt a rush of guilt squeeze my chest as I watched on. Flynn had tried to reach out to me earlier and I'd pushed him away, thinking it was nothing. But he'd needed me, and I purposefully ignored him. That would never happen again. I swore it on my life. Never again would Flynn need to worry about me not hearing him because I was never going to leave his side.

My personal declarations were cut off as I heard a yell from inside the house. Without a second thought, I shot out of the woods, running full tilt toward the front porch. As I neared, I saw two figures through the large picture window. One was tall and muscular. That one had to be Tyr. And he was standing over a smaller figure on the ground. Tyr was raising a clawed hand in the air, preparing to strike.

NO!

I leaped through the air, clearing the entire porch and crashing through the glass into the main living room of the cabin. On my way through I collided with Tyr, throwing him off his feet and grinding him into the floor away from Flynn. As soon as I hit the ground, I sprang away, leaning my full weight into Tyr as I went. I heard him crunch slightly below me and I couldn't help a wolfish grin as I ran to Flynn's side.

My nose went wild as I snuffled him, checking him over to make sure he wasn't hurt. Besides a bruise or two, he looked unharmed. His grandmother lying on the floor bound to a chair however didn't look like she was in good shape. Still, I was sure I could smell the blood pumping through her veins. She was fine for the time being.

With a low growl, I placed myself in front of Flynn as I heard Tyr chuckle and get to his feet.

"So, you did come running," he said with a tone of surprise. "The bond with a human should be weak… how did you know where he was?"

The shift rolled over my body quickly and I stood up, my feet planted firmly on the ground as I growled in Tyr's direction.

"The bond isn't weak between us," I said. "He's my mate , chosen by the moon goddess herself."

"Fated mates?" Tyr laughed. "You still believe in that fairy tale bullshit?"

"I know it's real," I spat. "That's how I found him."

"Or he just told you where he was going like the meddling little piece of shit he is." Tyr snarled at Flynn, and I threw my arms wide, blocking him from sight. "It doesn't matter, anyway. He's a worthless fighter, his grandmother is on the edge of death anyway, and you… You're too much of a coward to face me."

My hackles raised at that. "I didn't go after you to protect my pack! The last thing I want are wolves dying because of a personal feud between us."

"How noble," Tyr sneered. "And fucking stupid. An Alpha is the leader of his pack. It's his duty to use pack resources to make life better for everyone."

"People aren't resources," I shot back. "And is that why the Skoll pack is so prolific and prosperous? Because you're doing such a good job leading them?"

Tyr snarled at me, his pride clearly wounded. He knew exactly what he'd done to that pack. They'd once been large, happy, and well off despite their solitude. But ever since Tyr had taken over, everything from their resources to their numbers had dwindled. The Skoll pack was nothing more than a shadow of its former self.

"You'll pay for that comment with your life!" Tyr snapped, stepping toward me.

"Better think again, Tyr," I replied with a confident grin. "Baldr, Loki, and the entire pack know where I am and they're on their way. You have only minutes to escape before all of the Hati pack is upon you." I lowered my voice, glaring at him with bright golden eyes. "And let me tell you, it's taken every ounce of power I have to keep them at bay. They want you dead more than even I do."

He paused, a twinge of fear pulling at his eyebrows. "You're bluffing."

"Stick around and find out. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Tyr seemed to hesitate for a moment. However, as he glanced down at Flynn crawling over to check his grandmother, a wicked smile split his face.

"A minute or two is more than I need to do permanent damage."

With that, he sprang into action, diving toward Flynn. The wolf inside me took over so fast I didn't know what had hit me. My white fur covered body collided with Tyr, throwing him to the floor. He snarled at me, fangs dropping down from his upper jaw. I saw fur grow and claws form, but his body remained mostly human. The form was monstrous, but being an Alpha, I knew how much power he could draw from it. I could take on a similar form too, but I'd never used it except for mating with Flynn. I didn't know how to use it for fighting. My father had never gotten the chance to teach me that before he died.

I was in trouble.

So, I did the only thing I could think of. I put myself between Tyr and Flynn and I held my ground, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. All I could hope for was the aid of my brothers and that they would arrive quickly. If not, there was a very real chance I was not going to leave the cabin alive. Digging my claws into the wooden floor and tensing my muscles, I waited.

But one thing was for certain. I would die before I ever let Tyr lay a hand on my mate.

A long silent moment stretched out as the pair of us stared one another down. Tyr took a couple steps to the right, then back to the left, trying to find a way around me. He wanted Flynn, but he wasn't going to get there without going through me first. When he finally realized that his lips peeled back, showing his fangs as a menacing growl filled his throat. That was all the warning I got before he leaped forward.

My body was ready. Releasing the tension from all my muscles at once, I soared through the air, crashing into Tyr with my fangs bared. His claws raked across my body as I sank my fangs into his shoulder. He tore at me, whipping side to side as he howled with pain. But I didn't let go. In fact, my fangs only sank in deeper, wrapping around his clavicle until the bone crunched. The taste of his stinking blood filled my mouth, and I had to fight back a gag. He continued to slash at me, but no matter how much damage he did, I wasn't going to let go. I had to protect Flynn.

However, that only lasted for a few seconds until Tyr grabbed me around the hips and ripped me from his body. A large chunk of flesh and bone came away with me, still clenched between my teeth. Tyr threw me with all his might, and I crashed into the wall, yelping loudly as I felt at least three bones in my body snap all at once.

I hit the hard wooden floor, my world spinning from the dizzying pain flashing through my body. Blinking hard, I pushed myself up on two paws, searching the room for Tyr as I braced myself for his next attack.

But he wasn't coming for me. No. He was going after Flynn.

He'd already backed him into a corner. Tyr snarled and snapped, inching closer to Flynn. A pair of golden eyes flicked my way and he smiled, blood dripping down his hands and arms. He gave me one last chuckle and raised a clawed hand, intending on spilling Flynn's entrails all over the floor.

Fire burned in my belly and despite the pain, I found myself sailing through the air. My jaws opened and in a blur of fur and pain, I felt them connect with flesh. Clamping down, I hit the floor, falling to my side as my world turned brilliant white from the sheer agony coursing through my body.

"A useless gesture," Tyr snarled, his hand firmly clamped between my jaws. "You're already half dead and this isn't going to stop me."

He tried to pull his hand away, but I remained attached. I glanced up at Flynn, my eyes apologetic. I never wanted him to see me like this and I especially never wanted him to watch me die. But I was going to. I knew it. My brothers weren't going to make it in time to save me. But I wasn't going to let Tyr touch Flynn. Not while I still drew breath.

"Let go you mangey dog !" Tyr snapped, trying to pry my jaws open.

They wouldn't budge.

"This is senseless! You've lost! Now let go !"

"Hey Tyr!" Flynn cried, suddenly at my front.

Tyr only had a split second to look.

"Fuck you," Flynn growled.

There was a streak of silver through the air, and I felt the tugging sensation between my fangs cease. Half a heartbeat passed before Tyr began to scream. I spat out the clawed hand that once belonged to him and glanced up at Flynn. He held a silver dagger in his hands now stained with hissing blood.

Then the howls rolled over the farm.

"You little shit!" Tyr cried, reaching for Flynn with his undamaged hand. "I'll kill you!"

Flynn brandished the dagger at the same time that I lunged forward, snapping at his only remaining hand.

Fear filled his eyes and he jumped back, knowing that he couldn't stand to lose both of them. The howls grew louder. My brothers were nearly on the farm. Tyr glanced between us then back out the broken window. His hand bled freely, his werewolf healing stopped by the silver blade.

Finally, after what seemed like far too long, he turned and ran to the broken window.

"This isn't over," Tyr snarled. "I'll get you Thor, if it's the last thing I do!"

He leaped out the window just as I saw the wolves burst out of the forest. The moment I saw Baldr and Loki leading the pack, I swayed on my feet and fell to the floor. Flynn dropped the dagger, wrapping his arms around my blood-soaked fur and sobbing. I felt a pang of sadness as my world went dark.

‘ I love you, Flynn', was my last thought as I slipped away.