Chapter 37: Too Weak to Speak

FREYA

Freya felt like a fog had drifted into her mind.

The few times her lids fluttered open, she was under the impression that wind was whipping at her hair, and she was being carried. Yet, all she saw was dark.

Consciousness was still out of reach, and her mind was too clouded and her body too weak to grasp her surroundings. Freya didn’t know how much time had passed.

She felt her body jolt. The one carrying her landed a little too roughly on the ground, as if they were in a hurry.

“Give her to me!” someone said.

“Why should we give her to you? This alliance was supposed to ensure things like this didn’t happen. And yet, here we are. The one Adaryn you were personally responsible for is near death. She’d be dead already had we not found her!”

Freya recognized the commanding voice of the warrior who held her. It had to be Alvyna. But she was too weak to speak up.

“She is mine! Your people don’t get a say in what happens to her anymore.”

“Would you have let her die, then?”

“Of course not! I was out looking for her. I’m the one who sent a messenger to your outpost!” He growled again.

“This incident could have started a new war, mutt.”

“I’ll start one right now if you do not hand me my wife.” The threat was followed by a menacing snarl, sounding more like beast than man.

ALVYNA

Alvyna tensed with Freya in her arms. She looked down at the too small and frail Adaryn in her arms and back up at the new Vargar alpha, grimacing with monstrous fangs bared in threat.

It felt like it took her forever to come to a decision, even though only seconds passed. The one now dying in her arms looked all too familiar, reminding her of her failing to protect the last person dying in her arms. It was almost like she was being given a second chance.

If this wolf did love the girl, then she had no choice but to hand Freya over. They were at the Vargar camp, and she had a handful of her soldiers standing with her. Freya needed medical attention now. She might not make it if they went back to the Valkyrie outpost.

With her jaw set tight, Alvyna stepped forward and passed Freya into the arms of Cain. She observed how eagerly he jumped to take Freya. His mouth was parted, and his brows furrowed as he examined her. Alvyna could hear his breath leave him as he realized just how beaten Freya was and just how blue she was turning from the cold.

“Get blankets and water. Bring the healer to my tent,” Cain barked orders to the wolves around him.

Alvyna could hear the slight tremor in his voice. One last time, his red eyes looked up at her, and he nodded in gratitude before turning to walk away.

Alvyna thought of the way he handled Freya. Cain held her as though she was the most precious thing in the world that was moments away from breaking. He almost looked a broken man himself. All this after only a short time together. But she knew that love could come quickly.

She thought she’d made the right choice. When the lone wolf had made its way to the Valkyrie outpost howling for their attention, Alvyna had been the first one to jump out the door. That howl had held so much raw emotion in it. Anger, grief, and desperation.

A she-wolf had relayed the news that a fire was blazing just outside the campsite. In the chaos that followed, their alpha had been murdered, and Freya had been taken. With all the rain, they couldn’t track her. The Vargar needed the help of Valkyries.

Ten Valkyries had been offered to aid with putting out the forest fire. Fifteen had flocked to Alvyna’s side to patrol the sky and look for any signs of Freya and Ivar. It was easy enough to fly overhead and follow the direction of the trail that the Vargar had been able to track before the scent was washed away.

From there, Alvyna had the flock split up into teams of three and take off into five different directions. They flew as quickly as they could. Luckily, the Valkyrie knew how to work in bad weather.

When the commander had spotted the pale girl, she had stood out against the dark stone, lying in a heap on a portion of rock jutting out from the steep canyon walls.

Flashbacks of Raga’s last moments had spurred her on. Alvyna had spiraled down to Freya as quick as the wind fighting her would allow. In those moments Freya had looked so much like Raga that an ache had started in her chest. Worry had begun to consume her.

Now the commander was responsible for sending word back to the outpost of what had transpired. King Aurelian and the Councilmen were still there, waiting for the storm to pass before they returned to the mountain.

The wolf that they were supposed to take prisoner for instigating the battle that took Raga’s life was now dead. Although it filled her with rage that they hadn’t been able to find the damn beast after his escape, she was beginning to feel relief.

Maybe there was some hope going forward.

CAIN

Cain was on the edge of the bed next to Freya. One of the older warriors that now acted as a healer was tending to her wounds. His heart skipped every other beat each time a new bruise or cut was revealed under the massacred fabric of her dress.

It had only been hours ago that she was sleeping so peacefully in his arms. Their two races had finally come together, and things were beginning to take a turn for the better. Cain of course hadn’t expected all animosity to disappear overnight, but they were taking the right steps.

Freya had started to forgive her father for letting her go. The death of her sister was no longer haunting her. She was finding her place within the pack and finding a voice that she’d never been allowed to have before.

What would her abduction change? How would their lives change now that he had to step up as the alpha in his mother’s place?

His heart beat painfully in his chest to think of his mother. His uncle had killed her in cold blood because he wanted revenge more than anything. Family didn’t kill family. It was unheard of, and yet they were now having to suffer through this loss.

If Freya couldn’t beat the chill taking over her body now, he couldn’t imagine going on without her.

“Is she going to be all right?” Cain asked in a hoarse voice, straining not to howl curses at the moon and sky.

The healer seemed tense, moving carefully and delicately. She probably didn’t want to say anything that would further upset him.

“I believe Freya and the pup will survive as long as she is kept warm and gets rest. She went through much trauma tonight and the cold was not in their favor.” The older she-wolf continued to clean the cuts that ran up and down Freya’s legs.

“What did you say?” Cain’s heart stopped beating entirely as he thought back on what the healer had just told him. A shiver ran up his spine, and Cain rose from the bed, standing to his full height.

“I’m sure Freya will be fine, alpha. She’s just cold and exhausted—”

“No, what do you mean, ~pup~?”

“She’s carrying, alpha. Did you not smell it on her? Though the scent is not the same as a Vargar’s would be. It’s subtle, but it is still distinct.” The healer tapped her finger to the side of her nose, showing she trusted what she could smell. There was a hidden smile behind her light eyes that increased the intensity of the new wrinkles forming around her face.

“A pup. Mine.” Cain’s voice slipped out as barely a whisper on the wind. He fell to his knees beside the bed and looked down at the battered Adaryn in his bed. This little bird he’d given his heart to was going to be the new wolf-mother and give him his heir.

His hand lifted to brush back the platinum hair plastered to her forehead from the freezing rain. Every part of her that the healer wasn’t working on was covered with layers of blankets and furs as they worked to get her back to a comfortable temperature.

He looked over her pale face and lips, almost blue from the chill that seemed it wanted to take over her entire being. Even now she was so beautiful.

“Please stay strong, little bird. I need you to stay strong. Our child needs you to stay strong. I can’t lose you,” he whispered into her ear.

Even though she was asleep, he believed Freya heard him. Her head tilted just slightly in his direction as though seeking him out.

Cain placed a gentle kiss to her temple before going back to running his hands through her hair. He brushed out the tangles and picking out whatever forest debris he found.

His little bird was going to be fine. His pup was going to be fine. Cain had to carry that hope with him because he knew if anything else happened to Freya, he would never recover.

FREYA

The warmth had settled over Freya like a comforting blanket. All the chill in her bones had left, and her usual color had returned to her cheeks.

Her eyelids fluttered and the little bit of light leaking into the tent caused her to promptly shut them completely. Freya’s head was pounding, and her body was still throbbing as the aches and pains ran through her. Although they were nothing like they had been.

She felt so much better.

As her senses began to return fully, Freya was beginning to feel aware of the radiating warmth in the body next to her. One arm was behind her head and a large palm was against her stomach, holding her tight and protectively.

While she began to stir, Cain lifted his head to look at Freya. A smile was beginning to form across his lips. “You’ve been sleeping. You needed rest.”

“Cain…” She groaned when her eyes opened.

She lifted her hand meekly and placed it against Cain’s cheek, caressing the scruffy beard there.

Cain lifted his hand from her belly and gently clasped her wrist, holding it in place while he turned his head and placed a kiss against the sensitive skin on Freya’s wrist. Cain closed his eyes and his brows furrowed. He let out a deep sigh against her wrist.

Goosebumps raced up her arms. She was home safe, with Cain.

“Freya… I’m—I can’t even begin to,” he started. His voice came out shaky as he struggled to find the words he needed. “I’m so sorry.”

“Cain, please, don’t.” She pressed her fingers against Cain’s lips to keep him from speaking further. In her mind, there was no need for him to apologize for what had happened.

It wasn’t his fault that an evil being had conspired against them and taken away ones they loved.

“No, I need to do this.” Cain pulled his arm from under Freya’s head as he sat up, leaning on his arm with his opposite hand covering his face. He turned his head back to Freya with his entire face drooping low. “I wasn’t there for you when you needed me. I wasn’t the one who found you and brought you back. I should have been the one to protect you from him. And my mother, I should’ve—”

Freya once more placed her fingers against Cain’s lip to silence him. With a pained groan she sat up, moving her hand away and replacing her fingers with her lips. She gave Cain a tender kiss in an attempt to soothe the wild emotions she could see building inside of him.

She thought he was beginning to pull away. But Cain opened his mouth, falling back on Freya with a hungry kiss. Their lips meshed together in a passionate kiss. Their fears and worries melted away.

After several moments they pulled apart, out of breath. Cain leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Freya’s, keeping their eyes closed as they waited for their breathing to return to normal.

“Don’t apologize, please. There were things we all could have done differently, and I don’t want what happened weighing on your heart. I’m fine now. I’m here in your arms, aren’t I?”

Freya closed her eyes as Cain began to run his hand over her arms and up her face, as though that touch would confirm what she said was true. She was perfectly fine and alive in his arms.

Still, he grimaced at the bruises and scrapes littering her pale skin. She was also missing some of the small feathers across her shoulders.

“You are in one piece, yes. However, I cannot say you are fine when I see how battered you are. It pains me to think that this happened when I wasn’t with you. I should have done more about Ivar.” He snarled out the last part.

She could see how angry he was with himself.

“You are the bravest man I know. At the first sign of danger, you were ready to go solve the problem and face it head on. When the fire started, we had no way of knowing what would follow.” Freya went back to caressing Cain’s face. “Vistra wouldn’t want you to blame yourself for what happened, and you know that as well as I do. You’re the alpha now, my love.”

“I can only stay strong if you are by my side, little bird,” Cain squeezed his eyes shut tight, and she knew he was trying to hold back the overwhelming emotions that would come with losing a loved one. His mother had been the most amazing woman, and Freya knew they would be mourning her loss for a very long time.

Cain’s fist was clenched tight, and his body was lightly shaking as he fought with himself to remain in control. Freya just continued to touch his face and run her fingers through his dark hair. She knew that he needed to be comforted in this moment as he was hit with the realization that although Freya was alive and at his side, he had still lost his mother.

The only solace they had was each other, and the knowledge that Ivar was dead.

“I don’t plan on ever leaving your side, my alpha,” Cain’s crimson eyes shot open, and he stared into Freya’s soul.

She gave him a weak smile.

“When I said I love you, I meant it. We are together now, and we need to look forward into what the future holds.”

She nodded.

“A big family. I want a big family,” Cain was saying as he used his hand to gently push Freya back down, so she was once again laying on the bed. “We never really had the chance to talk about our future, but I know my mother envisioned us taking over the camp with little feathery wolves.”

Freya grinned. Vistra had often mentioned wanting grandchildren to play with and expected them to come once the visiting pack had returned to the mountains.

“Yes, I’d love that. In time, we can have our own family. All of this darkness will be behind us, and we’ll be free to raise our own children.” As Freya spoke, she saw the smirk on Cain’s face only grow into a wide grin.

“It will be much sooner than you think, little bird. Our family is already on the way.” Cain’s hand slipped back under the layers of furs covering Freya and gently placed his palm on her lower belly.

Her brows shot up. “Really? Cain, what are you saying?”

“When the Healer was examining you, she realized that the first hybrid between our races was already on his way.”

She could see the pride behind his eyes as he spoke.

Freya opened and closed her mouth several times like a fish gaping up at Cain. Her eyes frantically searched Cain’s face as her brain worked to understand what he was telling her.

~She was pregnant?~

At least she was older than her mother had been when her mother had given birth to her. She was told her wings might have developed better if her mother had been older.

Carefully, she brought her own hand to her stomach and placed her hand over his. Cain just nodded at Freya to answer her unspoken question.

“A nestling.” Her mouth gaped open again. “Already? Are you sure?” Her blue eyes were glistening now with unshed tears.

“Very sure. There’s no mistaking it, little bird,” Cain was smiling, but Freya could still see the sadness he was trying to hide from her. “I promise that I will protect you, Freya. From now on, nothing will come between us.” His fingers pressed slightly against her belly to let her know he was including the little one on the way in that promise.

She could tell he meant it.

Freya threw her arms out and wrapped them around Cain’s neck, pulling him down onto her. She ignored the slight ache from her tender body as she only wanted to feel Cain in that moment. All of her strength went into pulling Cain’s face for another breathless kiss as they reveled in the knowledge that the worst was now behind them.

Ivar was dead, and unfortunately, with him, so was Vistra. His anger and hatred had brought down the Vargar wolf-mother and led him to his own death. Moons ago his failed rebellion had caused the loss of lives on both sides, including Raga.

Now the threat was Ivar was gone. They would never be sad at his death, only mourning the loss of the ones who deserved to be remembered.

“You saved yourself, little bird. I need you to know that I am so proud of you for surviving and coming back to me. As much as I hate how I wasn’t there for you, I’m still so amazed by you. My mother would be so proud as well, little wolf-mother.”

Tears welled up in Freya’s eyes as she looked up at Cain. Her lower lip was trembling with the struggle of keeping the tears from spilling over. She had believed all of the tears she had to cry had left her during the fight for her life, but that wasn’t true.

“She knew,” Freya whimpered as the first tears spilled over and slipped down her cheeks.

Cain raised his eyebrows in question.

“Vistra knew. When she was telling me to run, she knew.” Freya rubbed her belly under Cain’s hand, and that was when it dawned on him. A faint smile spread across his face.

“Then mother left this world happy, knowing she had a grandchild. I’m sure happy it was with you.” Cain lifted his hand to stroke Freya’s cheek.

She closed her eyes as a silent sob left her body. She trembled uncontrollably. It was from more than the cold.

“Go back to sleep, please. You need to rest, love.” Cain settled down into the bed next to Freya, kissing her temple before pulling her back into his wide chest.

It felt so good to be near him. “Cain, I love you so much,” Freya whispered as she settled back into his warmth. Her body was still severely exhausted from her ordeal, and it was no fight to fall back into the clutches of sleep.

“I love you, little bird.”

This time, Freya had no nightmares as she slept.