Page 62 of Taming of a Wolf

A growl rises in me at the thought of Jamie with someone else, someone who hurt him and the lad. Who wouldn’t cherish this little pack?

Rising, I go to him and envelop him in my arms. “I will come back to you and the boy. I swear it on my life.” Jamie throws his trembling arms around me, crushing me to him.

“You’d better.”

Jamie drives us to the piers. He’s unusually quiet. I don’t know what more I can say to ease his doubts. I will have to prove my devotion by returning to him as swiftly as I can.

Once we’re at the piers, we walk along the docks together. The sun rises over the water, and seagulls cry out as they chase the dawn. It’s hard to believe I once found this timeline so intimidating. Jamie’s present is as beautiful as my past, just in different ways.

He laughs softly. “I can’t believe I punched you in the face.”

A smile tugs at my mouth. “I can. It hurt. I knew right away how strong you were. The Norns chose well when they brought us together.”

“Here we are…” Jamie stops before the railing. A security guard unlocks a gate leading to a long stretch of dock that sways side to side. Boats are moored along it. “Looks like the marina is open. You can rent a boat,” Jamie suggests.

I make to walk away, but Jamie grips my hand tightly. Clearing his throat, he lets go. My hand still tingles from his touch as Jamie chips in for a rowboat. The dock rocks beneath us, and I seize Jamie’s hand so he doesn’t lose his balance. I don’t knowwhat to say. Jamie won’t meet my gaze. He’s clearly unhappy with me.

“Ah. Here she is.” The boat looks nothing like the one I rode in on but similar enough that I shouldn’t have any trouble. Jamie’s hand flinches in mine. “Do you want to come with me?” I ask, turning to face him.

Jamie shakes his head. “Jace needs me. I don’t want to risk, I don’t know, getting stuck in the past.”

I have yet to hear of such a thing, but I suppose anything is possible. “That makes sense…” My reluctance to part from him slips into my voice before I can shore up my heart’s defenses.

“Just, you know… be safe. And come back to us. Don’t go rushing off to challenge Wulfric. Okay?” His voice wobbles.

“Oh, pet.” I pull him into my arms, my heart quivering when he practically throws himself on me. “I will. I promise.” I plant a kiss on the top of his silver locks. He shivers against me, his hands gripping me tight.

I can’t help but lean down and kiss him. As our lips meet, I realize how much I’ll miss him, even if I’ll only be gone for a few hours at most. He’s become a part of me down to the marrow of my bones. “I’ll see you soon,” I vow to him, then step into the boat.

“Yeah. See you.” Jamie tries to smile, but it doesn’t touch his eyes.

I want to climb off the damn boat and go back to him, but I steel myself and grip the oars tightly. The necklace around my neck begins to quiver against my chest. I row toward the horizon and think of the island of Ulfheim. I picture my brothers and my aunt. As I will it, a tear appears in the fabric of this realm. Through the tear is an island shrouded in early morning mist. My heart soars. Ulfheim is close. I only hope my family is all right.

I make myself row until my arms are burning. The waves toss me about as the portal sucks me in ever closer. The tip of the boat enters the portal. Almost there. I look back at Jamie. He’s watching me leave.

“Jamie,” I call out before I can stop myself, “I will—”

Then, everything is gone.

My stomach turns over as I pass from one time and into another. The waves carry me to Ulfheim’s shores. My heart races as I grow closer until finally my boat bumps over the rocky shore. I jump out, boots splashing in the frigid water, and drag the boat the rest of the way to shore.

I breathe in deep, filling my lungs with the clean ocean air. I am home. At last. Oh, how I’ve missed this place. Bending down, I scoop up a handful of stones that pile on the shore. I should take one with me, just so I have a tiny piece of the island.

Distant howls make my heart lurch. That’s my pack. They must be going for the first morning hunt. My brother Gunnar would be leading them. He’s always been the best hunter out of all of us. If I’m swift, I can catch up and observe them. As long as I stay downwind of the pack, they shouldn’t be able to scent me.

I drop to all fours as my furs consume me. My wolf longs to cry out to his pack, but I keep my song locked inside. They can’t know I’m here, not yet. I take off, leaving the beach behind as I run. As the wind whips through my fur, memories rush through my mind. I remember running with my father and brothers. Racing Lyall to the village. Mocking Wulfric as we walked back into the village together after a hunt.

I follow the scents of the pack to the tundra where the reindeer will be grazing at this hour. I keep to the cover of the trees as I pursue the pack. The trees clear, opening to a vast field. Leaning out from behind the cover of a tree trunk, I watch and wait.

One by one, the pack emerges from the trees below the hill, stalking toward the grazing reindeer. A gray wolf marches besidean enormous black wolf. The gray wolf is Gunnar. The black one is Wulfric. My fur bristles with fury as a familiar white wolf comes to stand beside Wulfric. Kieran. He may act like he’s one of us, but it’s a trick. I know it.

All my fury evaporates when another white wolf, larger than Kieran, comes bounding up to his side and playfully nips his ear. Lyall. My twin. Gods, how I have missed him. A whine pulls from my throat, and my wolf tries to reach across the bonds between us to connect with our pack. Lyall’s bond is the only one that hasn’t been broken, but it hangs by a single thread.

Lyall’s ear twitches. He looks toward me, and I lurch back behind the tree. Heart pounding, I stay still for a few seconds. Did he see me? A secret part of me almost hopes he did. I miss talking to him, running and playing with him.

Slowly, I poke my head around the tree. A growl escapes me when Kieran pounces on Lyall, and the two try to play, only to be interrupted by Wulfric’s commanding bark. Probably telling them to cut it out and focus.

How is this possible, I wonder with dismay. Kieran is an outsider, born a human, yet they are treating him like they’ve known him all their lives! Meanwhile, they exiled me, their own flesh and blood. No. This must be a trick.

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