by Lee Savino
An image flashed in my head and I spoke before I knew I’d opened my mouth, “You killed her, Siebold. Snapped her neck while Wulfgar slept, at peace. But you will never know peace. Your beast never sleeps. It stirs you to violence again and again. You live and will die by its rage.”
A murmur rippled around the pack. “Volva,” I heard one Berserker whisper.
What is ‘Volva’? I asked my men silently.
A witch, a prophetess, they answered.
My prophecy seemed to anger Siebold all the more. He pointed at Wulfgar.
“Watch your back, Enforcer.”
“He doesn’t have to. I watch it for him,” Fergus spoke.
Siebold whirled to answer, and his face met Fergus’ fist. The bully’s head snapped back, but he quickly regained his feet, pushing forward with a roar. The pack came alive, men whooping and shouting, wolves snarling. The two fighters danced around each other. Fergus was a head shorter than the blond, but fast. He whipped around the larger warrior, only to stagger when Siebold caught him with his fist. The smaller warrior rolled with the punch and grabbed his shield and sword while he was down.
One of Siebold’s cronies tossed him his axe.
“I made him angry,” I whispered to Wulfgar, pressing against his great chest.
“It is good, little one. Angry wolves do not think clearly. Siebold will make mistakes.”
But as the fight went on, it became clear why Siebold was one of the most dominant wolves in the pack. He drove forward, and his blows rang out on Fergus’ shield, hard enough to vibrate in my bones.
I could only imagine how they jarred Fergus’ shield arm. Again and again, Siebold struck, driving Fergus to the ground under his superior weight.
Finally, Fergus threw the shield and weapon away.
“No,” I cried out, but Wulfgar’s arms around me tightened.
I could not stay and do nothing, but I could not go. I could not hide my face. There was nothing I could do.
“Ready to meet your end sooner?”
“I should’ve done this a long time ago. I will not face ye as all the others have.”
“You will not match me, strength to strength?”
“Strength comes in many forms. I choose to beat ye—by my wits.”
The last word rang out as a bark as Fergus Changed into the red wolf.
“What is happening?” I clutched at Wulfgar.
“He’s in wolf form. It’s a lesser form, it is allowed.”
Lithe and quick, teeth flashing, the red wolf danced around the warrior. The axe came down but the wolf was never there.
“He wears him out,” Wulfgar told me.
At one pass, the wolf darted close to Siebold’s legs. The blond cried out and staggered.
“First blood, Fergus.”
The wolf dodged the axe and its teeth caught Siebold’s arm.
He kept coming and darting, driving the larger warrior across the clearing.
“You can cut me a thousand times, runt. I will not die. I heal.”
Fergus rushed, tripping him and twisting to clamp on his leg. The wolf dragged the warrior across the fighting area.
“Good move. Our Red bites his heel. The wound bleeds much and will not heal quickly. See? He is limping.”
With a wind that prickled my skin, Fergus transformed back into a man. He raced to the edge of the circle where he’d left his weapons, and leaped at Siebold with sword in hand. The blond managed to get his axe up in time to block the blow. Next, the sword and shield fell to the ground and he faced a raging red wolf.
“How did Fergus Change so quickly?”
Wulfgar’s arms loosened around me, his chest rising and falling faster.
He drew on your strength? I asked merging my mind to his, all at once I heard them speaking to one another, echoes sounding like the instructions Fergus gave me when we were sparring. This time the orders were in Wulfgar’s voice.
Watch his left arm. He raises it when he is going to faint.
Siebold trudged forward, swiping his axe at the swift wolf.
Why doesn’t Siebold also Change into the wolf?
He is not so quick. He saves his strength for the fight at the end, when the Alpha’s allow them to take beast form.
I bit my lip. The red wolf was quick, but Siebold was so much larger. How did Fergus stand a chance?
“Have faith in him, Muriel,” Wulfgar said. He had caught the echo of my thought. As grunts and the clang of weapons rang out across the clearing, I closed my eyes. Fergus’ face, split with a grin, waited for me. Fergus laughing. Fergus looking through the bars of the cage. Teaching me to fight. Promising in front of the whole pack to see to me tonight.
The pack had fallen eerily quiet.
“Last quarter,” Samuel called. “Beast form.”
Win for me, Fergus. I am waiting.
Slowly the Change took the red wolf, rolling up through his hind paws and ending at the tip of his monstrous muzzle, pointed high in the sky.
I gasped. Fergus’ beast was ten feet tall, at least a head and half taller than Siebold. Above me, Wulfgar grinned.
See, little one? I told you.
“Why--?” I opened and closed my mouth.
“Why didn’t he win the Games? He didn’t have to. We agreed he’d lend his strength to me. Besides, my guess is his new power is a surprise to him as much as it is to everyone else.”
Fergus looked down at his giant, razor tipped paws, then at Siebold’s smaller monster with dirty blond fur. The red beast grinned.
Siebold rushed forward, trailing blood from his ankle. Fergus dodged, and dodged again when Siebold came a second time.
Wulfgar chuckled. “He still fights like the little wolf.”
Siebold rushed forward, and feinted, but he was too slow. Fergus caught his side with a blow and the blond staggered.
Another blow, and Siebold fell. The fourth strongest warrior in the pack slammed onto his back in the dust. Fergus drove the sword through his shoulder, pinning him to the ground.
That’s twice we’ve spared your life, Siebold. It will not happen a third time. Fergus’ voice echoed loudly through the pack bonds.
With a grunt, the beast whirled and pointed at me. “Mine.”
I stepped forward when light flashed in my eyes, glinting off two blades. Siebold’s two cronies closed in behind Fergus.
“Fergus,” I screamed, out loud and in my mind. My redheaded mate turned, arms up to fend off the blow. I tried to shout, but my voice was too hoarse.
I pushed my mind into my mates, rising to tiptoes as I drew on power.
No!
The word rang out into the silence, an echo in my head. My ears rang from the large boom, loud as a crack of thunder.
In the whole clearing, my mates and I were the only ones standing. Every wolf and Berserker was flat on the ground, floundering like stranded fishes.
Samuel slouched on his throne, gripping the sides as if he would have tumbled off completely. Lines of strain marred his face. He beckoned to my mates. Quickly Wulfgar led me before him, clasping my shoulders when I would’ve swayed on my feet. “Did you draw on her power to win this fight?”
Fergus was back in man form. He looked a little dazed. “I think so.”
“Either that, or she drew on ours,” Wulfgar answered for him.
Samuel thought this over, then gestured to Daegan, who raised his voice, “It has been decided. The victor is clear. Fergus has beaten off all challengers. Both he and Wulfgar have taken Muriel to mate.”
Wulfgar took Fergus’ hand and joined it with mine. “She is yours. Fairly won.”
Turning, I grabbed both my warrior’s hands.
Come, I urged, speaking directly to their minds. Let’s go home.
The ringing in my ears didn’t leave until we were halfway to the cabin.
“By the moon, what was that?” Fergus asked in an awestruck tone.
Wulfgar laughed. “The witch said Muriel had powers.”
I
shook my head to clear it. “I don’t think that’s what she meant.”
“Whatever it was, it worked,” Fergus shook his head. His ears were still ringing, but other than that he was no worse for wear. Blood marred his skin, his wounds had already healed.
A weight lifted off me, and I gave Wulfgar a sly look. “Perhaps I will call Yseult, and ask her.”
“If you do, we’ll ask her where else we might pierce your flesh and add a ring to lead you.”
I blushed.
“Perhaps her lower lips,” Fergus mused. “We could thread a thong between the rings, and knot it shut so she cannot touch. Then only take her arse and mouth, till she begs us for relief.”
“A fine idea. I think the hope of pleasure will keep her sweet. There are metal belts she can wear, an armor we can lock over her cunny until we allow it off.”
I gasped. “I will not submit to such a thing.”
“Ye have no choice, Muriel. You’re ours to see to as we please. Ye heard the Alphas.” Fergus grinned.
I swatted his arm, and Wulfgar clapped me on the bottom, hard enough to send me forward a few paces.
“Is that anyway to treat your true mate?” I pouted. Inspired, I strode ahead of them and stopped.
The men waited, curious as to what I would do.
“This walk is taking too long,” I said. “Let’s have a game.”
Fergus’ head tilted and Wulfgar’s chin raised, predators scenting prey at the start of the hunt. “What sort of game, wee one?”
I tugged my gown over my head, followed by my shift, and let both garments fall. A thrill went through me as I saw the beast leap into their eyes. “A race? Winner takes my ass,” I suggested, before I turned tail and ran.
The End
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Hey there. It’s me, Lee Savino, your fearless author of smexy, smexy romance (smart + sexy). I’m glad you read this book. If you’re like me, you’re wondering what to read next. I promise I’m hard at work writing more Berserker books, as fast as my sweet son lets me. Until I release Claimed by the Berserkers (Fleur’s story),
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Still wondering what to read next? Take this handy quiz:
● Do you like snarky heroines? If so, read Rescuing Regina OR Devil Dog.
● Do you like hot, dominant heroes? If so, READ ANYTHING I'VE EVER WRITTEN. Ahem.
● Do you like werewolves? I’m guessing you do, so make sure to read the entire Berserker Saga. Start with "Sold to the Berserkers"
● Do you NOT like werewolves? Read the Berserker Saga anyway. Paranormal romance readers and shunners like it equally. :D
● Do you like contemporary romance with some comedy and a lotta kink? Again, Rescuing Regina OR Devil Dog. And write to me at [email protected] and tell me to write more, because I have so many ideas for a rom com series.
● Do you like 19th century cowboys? If so, read the Rocky Mountain Bride Series OR Pearl's Possession
● Do you like menage? If so, read the entire Berserker Saga OR Pearl's Possession. MFM menage = the men make it all about the women.
● Do you NOT like menage? If so, why did you read this book? Anyway, read Rescuing Regina OR Devil Dog OR any Rocky Mountain book OR Innocence in the Underworld.
● Do you like Mafia Romance? If so, read Innocence in the Underworld: A Mafia Romance Trilogy
● Do you like cuddly Scottish Daddy Doms? If so, read Rocky Mountain Wild OR Sold to the Berserkers.
● Do you like tattooed heroes? If so, read Devil Dog OR Taken by the Berserkers
● Do you like hot sex? Pick a book of mine. Any book. Read it.
● Do you NOT like hot sex? Don't read my books. Take up cycling.
Still wondering what book of mine to read? Email me at [email protected].
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Copyright © 2015 Lee Savino
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
