by Lee Savino
“Siebold has a right to challenge you for her. Even if Wulfgar has won her hand, you have not. But the fact that you have not formed a bond is unsettling.”
“It’s my fault,” I whispered, almost too low to hear, but in the stillness of the clearing, every wolf pricked up their ears. “I do not have the powers my sisters have. I am unable to bond.”
“Muriel,” Fergus murmured.
Tugging on his hand, I faced him and raised my voice louder. “But I love them. I choose them.” I touched his face, tracing the freckles on his cheek, the stubble roughened line of his jaw. Tears tracked down my cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, lass,” he pulled me into his arms, where I sobbed.
“How long will you allow this infidelity to occur?”
“Shut up,” Daegan said, even as Samuel gave the order. “Separate them. Her distress is affecting the pack. They want to go to war for you, Muriel, and they know not who to fight.” He had no censor in his town, but my gut twisted with it all the same.
Firm hands grabbed my arms, pulling me from Fergus.
“No,” I tried to struggle against the guards, but they were too strong.
“Do not touch her,” Fergus came alive, snapping an elbow back into one warrior’s face. More Berserkers rushed to subdue him and I screamed as Fergus disappeared under a tangle of bodies.
“Stop!” Samuel’s voice rang out. “Stop fighting or I cannot protect you.”
“Enough,” a familiar voice roared. Wulfgar limped into the clearing.
I stomped on the surprised guard’s foot, and broke free to run to him.
The giant warrior was covered in dirt and blood. One eye was swollen and his whole head looked bruised. His right arm hung crookedly, but he reached out his other and brought me close to his side. I clutched at his torn jerkin as the Alphas questioned him.
“Wulfgar? What has happened to you?”
“Ambush. Wolves attacked me and threw me in the quarry while I was on my way back to my brother and my mate.” He touched his head with a wince. “I woke and got halfway up the mountain before the ringing in my head stopped long enough for me to hear the pack bonds.” He frowned, running a hand down my back. “What wolves have been touching my mate?” When he raised his head to glare at the pack, a few warriors shuffled backwards.
“Who attacked you?” Daegan asked. He stood between Siebold and Fergus. The latter had two wolves holding his arms, and a third with a blade at his neck.
“I did not see. They covered my head with a sack first. No doubt someone who wants to take my mate from me and my warrior brother.” He gave Fergus a grim nod and a sigh seemed to go through the pack.
“Release him,” Samuel ordered the wolves holding Fergus.
Wulfgar turned me to face him. “Little one, why were you crying?”
“I am not worthy to be your mate. Forgive me.”
He sighed. “There is nothing to forgive.” With a crack of newly grown bone, he settled his formerly hurt arm around my shoulders. Already his eye looked better.
“This doesn’t settle my challenge, Alphas,” Siebold was shouting. “I demand a new contest. Wulfgar won Muriel, but not Fergus. The runt must prove his strength if he is to claim her.”
“Come fight me then,” Fergus threw out his hands in challenge, but Samuel growled for silence.
“Peace. Wulfgar, do you accept Muriel as your given mate?”
“I do,” Wulfgar rumbled.
“Wulfgar,” I clutched at him. “You should not keep me. You can take my sister or another who can bond--”
“Hush, little one. There was never any question whether I would keep you.’ He caught my chin. “I would fight in the Games all day, sleep and rise to do it all over again, if only to spend the nights with you.”
I rested my head against him. He kept his hand on my hair as he announced, “Muriel is mine by right. Fergus and I share a brother bond, and we both claim her.”
“I’ll fight to defend my right to her,” Fergus added.
I stiffened. “Wulfgar, no, you must stop it--”
“Hush, Muriel. Trust your mates.”
Siebold was stalking around the bonfire, swinging his axe. “Are you sure, runt? I am one of the greatest warriors in the pack and you are the least.”
“I’m sure,” Fergus said, and spat on the ground. “Ye were never the greatest, Siebold. Ye only think ye are.”
“Fergus, you’ve challenged Siebold for dominance,” Samuel said. “The fight will take place tomorrow in front of the entire pack. If you win, your reward is Muriel.”
“And if he loses?” I asked Wulfgar in a horrified whisper. “Will I go to Siebold?”
“Never. I will keep you.”
“What happens to Fergus?” Siebold still stalked around the fire, throwing taunts at the silent redhead.
“Siebold will not show mercy, as I showed him. Fergus cannot lose.”
*
We arrived back at the cabin at dusk. Wulfgar carried me, though I protested when he’d swung me into his arms.
“You are hurt.”
“I am not so weak that I cannot carry you. It does the pack good to see that I am able to care for my mate,” he’d told me, but as soon as he set me on my feet inside the door, I ran for my herbs and bandages.
“How many attacked ye?” Fergus asked in a grim tone.
“Six,” Wulfgar sucked in a breath as I pulled a broken claw from his back. “All from our pack.”
“The cowards could not challenge ye for dominance, so they jumped ye alone.”
“This is madness,” I dabbed at the wound, but it was already closing. “The Games were supposed to stop the fighting.”
“We will never stop fighting for ye, Muriel,” Fergus sat in the chair balanced on its back two legs, his arms crossed in front of him.
“You should not.” I swallowed hard. “I could go to Siebold and tell him—”
Both my warriors were on their feet, growling.
I backed away, twisting my hands. “Please, I want to help. I would do anything to save your life, my love,” I pleaded with Fergus, whose face was stone.
“Even give yourself to a warrior who will be cruel to ye? Who will mistreat ye?”
“Answer him, Muriel,” Wulfgar said.
“He will kill you,” I pleaded with Fergus.
“And so ye will agree to be his mate? Did ye not think that he would have to kill us anyway, before we would allow him to take ye?”
“Please,” I begged.
“Enough,” Wulfgar said. “Enough of this fighting between us.”
I gulped down my anguish. We had only one night to be together.
“We must work on our mate bond,” Wulfgar continued.
“There is a matter of her punishment,” Fergus said. I could tell by his look he hadn’t forgiven me for doubting his ability to fight.
Wulfgar lifted my hair from my shoulders and pressed his lips to my neck. He wrapped his arms around me and I felt his touch was the only thing holding me together.
“I’m sorry,” I said in a watery whisper. “Please whip me. I deserve it.”
“Yes, we will punish you, but not in the way you think. No whippings, no punishment in front of the pack. This is between us, and you will remember this night and who you belong to forever. Now, Muriel, no more tears.” Wulfgar wiped my face with the bandages that I would have used to bind his wounds.
I picked the cloth from his hands. “I need these for you.”
He released me and showed me his blood-streaked body. His skin was unbroken.
“They are already healed. My magic is strong. We are stronger than you know. And there is a bond between us. You must trust it, Muriel. Trust your mates, but, most of all, trust yourself. Can you do that?”
“I can try.”
“Good girl,” he said and I melted a little. He cuddled me closer and kissed my forehead. Fergus still stood with his back to us, frustration in the set of his shoulders.
<
br /> “Fergus,” Wulfgar called. “She needs to know that you forgive her.”
With a sigh, my red-headed warrior turned. “Come here, lass.”
Once I was within arm's reach, he pulled me between his legs.
“I know ye love me. I know ye would see me safe, but I'm a warrior first. The same trust that ye asked us to give ye ye must give to us.”
“I know. I'll accept any punishment you choose to give me.”
He hugged me, hard, then pulled back to thumb away my tears. “No more crying, wee one.”
“Undress her,” Wulfgar ordered. “We must prepare her.”
“Muriel, tonight will test your bond with us.”
“But…we share no bond.”
“We share a bond of love. Ye will feel it.” Fergus stripped me, and I leaned into his hands, grateful for his touch.
“You are a beautiful one.” His hand stroked my belly.
“Almost ready?” Wulfgar asked.
“Not quite,” Fergus said with a wicked smile, and bent his head to my breast. “Muriel, keep your hands where they are or I will tie them.”
He sucked on my nipples until they were peaked and swollen, sticking up as high as they would go. I clasped my hands behind my back to keep from gripping his shoulders, and he nodded when he was done.
“Very good. Whatever happens tonight, we need ye to trust us, and to obey.“
“I will,” I promised.
The door creaked open and I grabbed for Fergus’ arm, but instead of Siebold and his gang, a blonde woman entered. The witch, Yseult.
“What is this?” I blurted before I could stop myself.
Fergus shifted my grip to his hand and squeezed it. “We asked her to come. Go to the bed and lie down now, sweetheart. This is your punishment and your test.”
Heart pounding, I obeyed.
Wulfgar had me lay on my back with my legs bent and bottom close to the edge of the bed.
Yseult and Fergus murmured quietly together.
“Do ye think it’s possible?” Fergus was asking as they approached me.
“Let me see her,” the witch replied.
“Spread your legs farther apart,” Wulfgar said to me.
With an inaudible whimper, I obeyed, planting my feet on the bed more than shoulder width apart.
“Good lass.” They were staring right at my cunny, slick and made ready from Fergus’ mouth on my breasts.
“Do not touch her,” Wulfgar said. “that is only for her mates.”
“Very well,” the witch murmured. “I think that we can place them here, here, and here.” She pointed to both of my nipples and between my legs.
Wulfgar nodded. “Make ready, then.”
“What is happening, Fergus?” I whispered as the other two stepped away.
“Are ye brave, Muriel?”
“What?”
“Wulfgar says ye do not believe ye are brave.”
“I-I—”
“When I first saw ye in the cage, what did ye do?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Ye spoke with me, and I asked if ye were afraid.”
“I was afraid.”
“Yes, but ye did not act it. Ye spoke with me, and when the other wolves might hunt me down, ye distracted them. Ye saved me, and your sister.”
I said nothing.
“Ye have always been brave, wee one,” he crooned, stroking my hair back from my face. “It is time ye realized it.”
I caught his hand. “I want to be your mate.”
“Ye are. Nothing will ever change that. Even if ye don’t bond with us, we will never let ye go.”
“Here we are,” Yseult returned to the edge of the bed, squinted down at me. “We are ready.”
I shifted my feet nervously, but Fergus and Wulfgar sat on either side of me. Wulfgar held up a slender metal bar.
“This is a needle we have washed clean. I will pierce your nipples with them, so you can wear a ring.”
Fergus bent over me. “It will please us for ye to do so, Muriel. Ye can say no, if ye truly wish. But we want this. Will ye do it for us?”
I didn’t trust my voice so I nodded.
“Wipe the area with the cloth dipped in the water of life,” Yseult ordered. “It will clean the area.”
Wulfgar washed my skin gently while I shivered and my nipple peaked further.
“It will be better to tie her down, so she does not flinch and hurt herself,” the witch added.
“I’ll hold her,” Fergus took my wrists and held them so my arms stretched above my head.
“This will pinch but not hurt for long,” Wulfgar told me.
“I’ll distract ye,” Fergus leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. It took a few licks before I opened my mouth to his clever tongue. He teased mine a moment before drawing away. “Ye ready?”
“Yes,” I breathed.
“There’s my brave girl,” Wulfgar murmured. His thick fingers were so nimble as he placed the needle against my pink flesh.
“Kiss me, Muriel,” Fergus ordered and covered my face with his.
When the needle pierced me, the sting went straight to my cunny, and I moaned into Fergus’ mouth. When the kiss ended, I was panting.
“She likes pain,” Yseult remarked. “And being overpowered.”
“Perfect for us,” Fergus said. I basked in the warmth in his voice and gaze.
“Now the the other,” Wulfgar said, and Yseult handed Fergus another needle.
Wulfgar crouched close. “Look at me, Muriel.”
Fergus had taken his hands away but I kept my arms above my head.
“The rings we will place in your nipples will remind you that you are our bride, our mate. Some days you will be naked but for them, and we will string a chain between them. Do you know what the rings represent?”
“No.”
Fergus plumped my nipple between two of his fingers before wiping it with the cloth, but I didn’t look away from Wulfgar’s intense gaze. The giant warrior’s lips were so soft and full, and his eyes kind under heavy brows. Had I ever thought him less than beautiful?
“Us, Muriel. You wear one ring for Fergus, and one for me. But you also will wear one for you. Do you know where?”
“No.”
“Here.” He cupped my dripping cunny, and I jerked once, and again as Fergus pierced my other nipple. This time, the pain melted away.
Wulfgar stroked my lower lips for a moment before brushing against the sensitive spot between them. Sighing, I lay my head back on the bed and closed my eyes to focus on the sensation. Wulfgar teased me close to climax and took his hand away.
“Look, Muriel.” Fergus had threaded little gold rings at my nipples. They glinted in the firelight. My nipples still throbbed, but not with pain.
“We’ll place a chain between them and lead ye by it.” Fergus leaned close, his face flushed and eyes fixed on my adorned breasts.
“Do you wish me to place the next piercing?” Yseult asked.
“No. I will do it,” Wulfgar said.
“Let me,” Fergus countered.
“It is a tricky piercing,” the witch warned. “Easy to make a mistake, and the flesh is very tender.”
Fergus knelt between my legs. “I can do it. Muriel trusts me, do ye not?”
“I do,” My voice quivered a little.
“Give me a fresh needle,” Fergus demanded, but when he got it, he set it against his own nipple. “For ye, Muriel,” he winked at me and pierced himself. “Tis nothing. Just a wee pinch.”
“You should tie her down,” Yseult said.
“No,” Wulfgar stripped off his shirt before coming back to the bed. “I will hold her.”
He sat behind on the bed and gathered me into his lap. As I lay back against his firm body, my bottom still right on the edge of the bed. Wrapping one muscled arm around me, he propped my legs over his knees. With my legs so wide, my cunny was on display for all to see. Fergus and the witch bent close, studying my center.
“Here.” Yseult pointed. “The needle should go through there. Do you see? You must be careful not to hit the raised bud that is the source of much of her pleasure.”
“It is very small,” Fergus frowned.
“Small things are often powerful and important,” she answered.
“Mmm,” Wulfgar’s lips came to my ear. “Like Muriel.”
I turned my head, pressing against him.
“Are you nervous?”
“A little,” I admitted.
His large hand came to cup my breast. His thumb hovered over my new piercing, but didn’t tease.
“So brave and strong.”
I shifted uneasily at the compliment, and his arm around my middle tightened.
“Give your fear to me. Let us protect you.”
“Let’s get ye ready, Muriel,” Fergus knelt on the floor so his head was level with my cunny. With a cocky grin, he kissed my inner thigh, his beard tickling the sensitive skin.
“None of that now. We need ye to be still.”
It’s not fair,” I wriggled as his mouth browsed slowly up to my sopping center. Wulfgar chuckled and secured me with both arms, while Fergus gripped my knees.
“Hush. This is your punishment,” Wulfgar reminded me.
“Your little pleasure bud needs to be standing up for me. I’ll see to that, but first I need to clean away some of your honey.”
Starting at the bottom of my weeping slit, he dragged his tongue upwards, taking care to probe into every crevice. By the time he reached the top, I was gasping and digging my heels into the bed.
“You will be still,” Wulfgar ordered. “Or we will tie you down. But first we will whip you.”
My body pulsed, reaching for pleasure, but I forced myself to relax and accept Fergus’ ministrations. He continued lapping at my cunny, each lick long and slow and torturous.
“That’s it. Do not resist.”
“Almost ready,” Fergus’ whole face was wet. He leaned in again to swirl his tongue around my most sensitive bundle of nerves.
“What are you doing?” My head lolled on Wulfgar’s chest, but the rest of me did not move.
“He will place the piercing near your pleasure bud.”
“Oh, goddess—”
“A ring will mark your most sensitive nub and rub against it all day. It will drive you mad, but you will not touch it. Only we will be allowed to play with it, though you may beg us not to. We want you desperate and needy for us.”
