Chapter 38: They Need to See Us

FREYA

Voices outside the tent woke Freya. Although her body still ached, she knew it was time to rise. Cain was still in bed, but he was moving to get up.

With the commotion outside, there was no way either of them were getting any more sleep.

“I’ll go out there and tell all of them to shut their mouths, and you can stay here and rest,” Cain rasped. His husky voice whispered across her ear, and she shivered at the contact.

“I can’t stay in bed much longer, Cain. Although I did need to rest, what I need now is to stretch my legs.” She looked up into his crimson eyes and gave him a gentle smile. “My stomach also demands I go eat. It’s about time I see the others. They need to see us.”

Cain’s fingers ran through Freya’s hair as he caressed and comforted her, which also served to assist in waking her up. Her stomach growled, serving as a reminder that she did indeed need to get up for food.

“There is more than just the pack out there. Although they are eager to see you. I’m afraid to say we do have some visitors in the camp.” Cain turned his head to the entrance of the large tent where shadows could be seen hovering around outside. “The birds who found you spread word of what happened.”

“So, no time to rest then?” Freya asked Cain who was already shaking his head. Freya sighed. “Who was it who found me? I feel like all I’ve done is sleep.”

“The yellow bird that always looks like she wants to fight me.” Cain continued to run his fingers through Freya’s hair and across her cheeks.

“Alvyna? She found me?” Freya’s eyes widened, and her mouth gaped open as she stared at Cain leaning over her.

“Indeed. They were sent for as soon as the fire was started, and once my mother…” Cain paused with his eyes closed. He swallowed and grimaced before he could continue.

Freya waited patiently for him to go on.

“Once my mother was found and you were gone, we all knew it was Ivar. We came after you. Their vantage point in the sky helped them spot you in the canyon.”

Cain’s face wrinkled. No doubt, he still felt responsible for what had happened that night, not only to Freya but to his mother as well. That darkness would haunt him, and Freya could only do her part to help relieve the pain of his regrets.

“All the more reason we go out there. Feed me, and then we can talk to the crowd out there waiting for us.”

“Or I could have a meal brought to you in here while I go deal with the birds.” Cain turned his head to look at the entrance of the tent where the voice outside was still talking persistently. He scowled in their direction.

“No, we will go together and get this over with.” She held Cain there in her sight, standing her ground on the decision she had made.

Cain fell back into the bed with a groan. “Fine, but I will not be happy about it. The Aurelian is out there, and I don’t look forward to speaking to him.” Cain swiped his hand over his face in annoyance.

“I’m sure, but you are the alpha now, and that responsibility falls on you.”

“Indeed.” Cain scowled at the roof of the tent overhead.

Despite Freya’s protests, Cain still had someone bring them something to eat inside the tent while giving her time to get ready. A bath had been brought into the tent by a few wolves who were relieved to see Freya was well.

As she took a quick wash in the steaming water, Cain sat in the tub behind her. He washed her hair and gently scrubbed her skin, being extra careful with the bruises littering her skin. The new alpha ran his fingers over the silky feathers across Freya’s shoulders.

“Your feathers are so beautiful,” he said.

But their time was cut short as the voice outside only increased in intensity and grew louder. The Adaryn were growing restless as they waited for the new alpha to come out and speak to them on what had transpired.

***

Freya was bundled under a thick fur cloak and Cain had helped her to braid her hair to the side. Although she was still exhausted, it was good to get up and move around.

However, as they left the tent, the harsh freezing winds that followed the storm were already there to berate them. Freya was almost regretting the decision to leave the tent’s warmth as the cold assaulted her. What was worse was seeing not just one but two sets of golden wings standing near the bonfire at the center of the camp.

Freya’s heart almost stopped beating when she saw Aurik was there with the king and her father. It would have been easier if they had never seen each other again.

Lonan turned first from the fire to see his daughter as she approached with Cain helping to keep her upright. At first the older Adaryn’s eyes squinted at the wolf who had his paws on his daughter, but his suspicion was washed away when he saw the state she was in.

She was battered and bruised, but she was alive.

“Freya, my daughter.” Lonan took a step toward her to meet his daughter as she neared the group waiting for them. Although he was beat by Hawke Aurelian who turned in an instant to scowl at the couple.

“What in the Sky’s good graces happened here?” The Adaryn king was wearing the same simple crown as he had during the ceremony.

Freya frowned to see Aurik wearing a matching version. She’d never seen him wear it before and the sight only made her roll her eyes.

But as she was staring Aurik down, he was glaring at Cain.

“Ivar happened,” Cain spoke calmly despite the waves of frustration almost steaming off of him. He kept his arm wrapped protectively around his little bird. “I’m sure your Valkyrie told you what they knew.”

“Then it’s true that the mutt is dead?” Hawke scoffed as he asked.

“It is true. Freya killed him.” Cain nodded.

At that moment all the sharp Adaryn eyes turned on her as if they were seeing her for the first time. Lonan gaped like an open-mouthed fish at his daughter.

The Adaryn king, however, looked impressed as he glanced down at the petite woman with his golden eyes sparkling. It didn’t pass Freya’s notice that Aurik was standing at his father’s side, opening and clenching his fists.

“And the she-wolf?” Hawke asked, waving his hand dismissively as he couldn’t be bothered to remember Vistra’s name.

“My mother?” Cain growled, and the sound was more beast than man. It caused the Adaryn to flinch and almost take a step back. “She’s dead as well.” His face was contorted with barely contained rage at Hawke’s disrespect.

“Of course, apologies. We are saddened to hear such. But let us rejoice that the one responsible for the rebellion is now taken care of. This is cause to celebrate.” Hawke opened his arms and gave an empty smile.

“We will return home to mourn the previous wolf-mother. But do not fret. I know why you are here. We will keep up with our terms of the alliance.” Cain’s nostrils flared as he attempted to calm himself.

Freya squeezed his hand that was in her own, and he looked down at her with softened eyes. The little bird soothing the big bad wolf.

“Oh, previous wolf-mother? Is there a new one already?” Aurik finally spoke.

Freya’s heart quickened as she felt his gold eyes staring holes right through her. The air around them was tense. Even the wolves in the camp were making sure to stay near after what had happened with Ivar.

“Of course, the mother who carries the alpha’s heir.” Cain turned to look down at Freya and the nervous smile that she was forcing onto her face. A bright blush was increasing in color on her cheeks as the Adaryn across them stared openly at her.

“Freya.” His tone was pleading as Lonan stepped forward again and held his hand out toward his daughter.

She hesitated. It hurt to see him. He’d betrayed her. But this was her father, and she could see in his eyes that he loved her.

She leaned forward to take her father’s outstretched hand. They were only able to share a moment of connection.

“This is disappointing, Freya,” Aurik spat in her direction. He took a step toward her with a deadly scowl plastered across his face as he took a long step closer. “You could have done so much better than breeding with a fucking beast!”

His words were like a slap to the face. Freya’s aching body trembled in fear.

His face was full of rage.

At the same time Aurik stepped closer, so did Cain. The Vargar alpha was surprisingly taller than the Adaryn prince, and he smoothly set himself between the two Aurelians and where Freya stood with her father.

“You would do well to watch your tongue.” Cain snarled down at Aurik, who didn’t flinch. “I’ll have your head if you talk to her like that again.”

“Now, now, there’s no need for hostility here. My son is just passionate.” Hawke reached out his arm and placed it across Aurik’s chest with a side glance that was clearly a warning.

Aurik was still glaring.

“Freya, is it true?” Lonan whispered as he squeezed Freya’s hand, eagerly awaiting the answer. It took her a second to pull her eyes away from Cain and Aurik throwing daggers with their eyes at one another.

“Yes, Father, it is true. We are expecting.” Freya nervously smiled and rubbed her still smooth belly under the fur cloaks weighing her down.

“A grandchild.” Lonan was staring down at the ground as his brain was still working to wrap around this new development. Lonan squeezed his eyes tight and sighed as though he was holding back tears. The sight caused an ache in Freya’s chest.

“The first hybrid. I daresay this is wonderful news for the alliance,” Hawke piped in while clamping a fist around Aurik’s shoulder.

“It’s disgusting!” Aurik spat. “Freya should have spent her life in the palace being worshipped. Not defiled by the likes of—”

His words were cut off as Hawke swiftly landed a slap across Aurik’s face. Rage burned behind his eyes.

Aurik spat a spot of blood on the ground before looking over his shoulder at his father.

There was tension around them at what they had witnessed, although it had momentarily calmed Cain down from being on the verge of placing his own hands on the Adaryn prince.

“Aurik, leave.”

All eyes glanced between the king and prince. No one was willing to step in between them.

Freya was all the gladder that Aurik’s princely charms had never worked on her when he’d attempted to take advantage of her. This prince was still a boy, she could see it easily now. Although he might be close in age to Cain, he was nowhere near as advanced as her wolf.

Aurik looked over to Freya one more time, he snarled and clenched his fists one last time. His wide, golden wings spread into the air, and with one jump he was propelled into the sky.

At that moment, Freya was able to take a deep breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. And with him left any lingering thoughts that she could have been friends with such a man.

“Again, apologies for my son. He was born to fight and take what he wants.” Hawke shrugged with exaggerated disappointment.

“Keep your son in check, Aurelian. There is promise in this alliance, but I worry for your replacement.” Cain’s voice came out hushed and surprisingly calm.

Freya shivered at the underlying tone, all the same.

“Yes, yes. The boy will learn in time.” Hawke waved his hand dismissively once again. He didn’t know of Aurik’s once-professed love for Freya, and she hoped that didn’t lead him to undermine how the Adaryn prince was acting. If Aurik wasn’t pleased that she was pregnant, and he was to be the next Adaryn king… But those were dark thoughts for a future she didn’t want to dwell on.

“Our alliance stands. No more fighting, and we go our separate ways. We appreciate your Valkyrie finding one of ours. Thank you for the help,” Cain stated as he looked at the Adaryn king and away from the speck disappearing in the sky.

“May I visit?” Lonan asked.

“I don’t see why not.” Hawke shrugged as he began to stretch out his wings as a sign he was preparing to depart as well. “You can be a part of the trade committee. Whatever you like.” The king was more than eager to leave the camp of wolves.

But Lonan was only hopefully looking at Freya, wanting an answer from her.

There was still pain in her heart, but this was still the father who did his best to raise a broken daughter, despite what the rest of the colony thought.

“Will you bring Mother? That is if she continues to get better, of course,” she asked hopefully.

“Yes, Freya, anything.” He wrapped his arms around his daughter, and she returned the gesture feeling the soft feathers of her father’s wings as her hands landed against his back. In that moment she remembered being a nestling and her father flying with her in his arms.

“I wish to know my grandchild, if you’ll let me.”

“Perhaps you can take him flying, when he’s old enough,” Freya wrapped her arms tighter around him as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

“Of course.”

She nodded lightly against her father’s chest while in his embrace and felt him sigh with relief. It made her heart soar to know he still wanted to be a part of her life and in the life she would bring to the world.

A world with no more war.