Page 94 of Taming of a Wolf

“Why would you think that?” Jace sounds just as upset as I feel.

“I… I took our parents away from you. I got to spend more time with them than you did. How could you not hate me?”

Sniffling, Jace hugs me tighter. “I don’t!” His little body shakes, and I hold him to me. “I never could. I’m—I’m so, so happy you survived. That we h-have each other.”

Jace doesn’t blame me. He doesn’t hate me. My little brother’s happy I survived, and I am too, because that means I can be there for him. For the first time in so long, I feel like I can breathe. I hold my little brother tighter as we both cry like the lost, broken boys we are. “We do have each other. Always will. I promise.”

“So let’s be happy. With Anders. Please?”

Chuckling, I ruffle his hair. “When did you get smarter than your big bro, huh?”

“I’ve always been smarter, duh!” He laughs and shoves me away. “Oh, wait! Here.” He hands me Gran’s necklace. “Sorry I took it. I thought maybe he went back to the past, so I wanted to go and see if I could find him.”

I give him a look. “You shouldn’t have taken it, and you definitely shouldn’t have run off without telling me. You scared me.”

“I know. Sorry.” He huffs and hangs his head.

“But that’s a great idea you had, Jace. I’ll search there.” Hopefully, I won’t get eaten by territorial ulfhednar…

“Take some pictures of all the Vikings, okay?”

Grinning, I take the necklace. “You got it.” Gripping his shoulders, I turn him toward the car. I’ve got to get him home, but as soon as I can, I’m getting Anders back and reminding him of where he belongs.

With me for the rest of our lives.

I don’t know why I expected going through a portal to be, like… I don’t know, as simple as walking through a doorway. It’s not. My stomach lurches like I fell down a staircase as the boat soars through the portal and lands with a splash in a vast ocean. It’s way colder than in the present, and frigid waterdrops spatter my clothes.

The boat rocks violently as the waves swell beneath me. Gulls cry overhead, and a light snow is falling from the gray clouds. Ahead of me, a vast island awaits. I sure hope it’s Anders’s home and not an island full of cannibals or something. Not sure an island full of werewolves is much better, though.

Clutching the oars, I paddle until my shoulders begin to burn. Finally, rocks scrape the bottom of the boat. I jump out and drag it the rest of the way up the rocky shore. A pine forest unfurls around me. For a moment, I’m unsure where to go until I notice multiple sets of footprints leading away from the shore in the light snow on the ground.

I take in a fortifying breath and lift my head high. Here goes. Time to win back my mate.

Gathering my courage, I set off into the woods. The double set of footprints twists and turns for a bit before a road marred by wagon wheels, hoofprints, and boot prints materializes. It isn’tlong before the trees thin and the ground slopes, revealing a village below the hill. Wow. If I hadn’t already known I’d gone back in time, I would have believed it now. The houses are so rudimentary they couldn’t have come from anywhere but the past.

My eyes snag on two figures standing outside the village. One has got to be ulfhednar; he’s enormous, tall as hell with bulging muscles and black hair shaved at the sides with a long, braided beard. There are gray furs slung over his wide shoulders. He looks so similar to Anders that my heart skips, but there’s something off about him. Maybe it’s the curl of his fangs or the tapping of his claws at his sides. He seems more wolf than man.

And the guy beside him can only be Arlo, that guy who approached me in the bookshop and asked about Anders. Although his outfit is totally weird. He’s wearing a black cloak adorned with raven feathers. It’s pretty striking.

When I’m close enough, both men turn their heads. “Arlo!” My voice echoes for what seems like miles.

Arlo’s eyes widen in recognition. “Goodness! Looks like Ulfheim is open for tourists, huh?”

The man I assume is Anders’s brother glares at me. “You’re ulfhednar. I can smell it. But I don’t recognize you.”

Raising both hands placatingly, I say, “I’m Anders’s mate. Is he here? I need to speak with him.”

Arlo goes to speak, but Anders’s brother snaps, “You do not bear his mark! You will not have entry.”

“Hold on, Guthark.”

“Gunnar,” the bear of a man says.

Arlo gives him a pinched smile. “Sorry. I’m a bit distracted by your rugged good looks. ThisisAnders’s mate.”

Gunnar shoots him a narrowed look. “I don’t like this, but my brother needs helpnow. Otherwise, you’d both be thrown out on your asses for daring to trespass.”

Fear leaves a sour taste in my throat. “Is he okay?”

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