In the morning, I said nothing about the events of yesterday. As for the frame, I didn’t even look at it. I worked extra hard on chores as a way to absolve myself, grateful when Ulf allowed me a shift.

Ulf said nothing to me. Midday, he returned from the hunt. We ate quail, and when I’d finish he beckoned to me, drew me over his lap and bared my bottom to his hand.

“How many times am I to be punished?”

“Again and again,” he squeezed my bottom. “As many times as we see fit. Unless you've decided not to run from us again. Have you?”

I shut my mouth. I could not stay, and I could not lie.

Ulf spanked me until I was limp. When his hand went between my legs, checking my wetness, I didn't even whimper.

“How is she?” Haakon asked.

“Soaked,” Ulf said, and went back to swatting my bum, “You belong with us,” his voice murmured in time to the rhythm of his swats. A pressure built in me. I writhed to relive it but it would not go away.

He smacked my bottom again and again. When he went back to touching me, I protested, pushing up. He caught my wrists and held them at the small of my back, and wrapped his heavy leg around mine. I could not escape the beautiful longing in my body. The spanking went on until I felt a rush of pleasure, a release.

“Oh God,” I sobbed. “Oh God.”

“Hush.” Ulf held me as my climax died away. “You did nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with you.”

My bottom throbbed for the rest of the day. After dinner, Ulf threw his bones into the woods and held out his hand once more.

“Again, Laurel.”

“No,” I said, but didn’t fight when he pulled me over his knee.

“You like it.”

“I do not,” I whispered and shut my eyes as he laid the lightest slaps on my bare backside, just enough to tempt my ardor, stoke the fire into a roaring blaze.

“Do not lie to me. You do.”

“I should not then,” I cried, kicking my feet. “I don’t know why I feel such things.”

“And yet you do.”

“Good girls do not do such things.”

“And yet here you are, a good girl, allowing me to do these things, and enjoying it.”

“I do not enjoy it!”

“Oh yes, you do…” The swats grew in strength until I was gasping. My backside burned, but not as much as my cunny. One more blow, and the dam broke, pleasure flooded through me.

It wasn’t until Ulf sat me up and wiped my tears away that I realized I’d been crying.

“Good girl,” he held me and I cuddled back, feeling strong and safe with this man who would not let me run from myself, or him.

Gently, he set me on my feet. “Go now. Lie next to Haakon and keep him company.”

Haakon held open his arms to me. I folded my body next to his, taking care not to disturb him. He seemed stronger every day, but moving him had delayed the healing.

* * *

I lay beside Haakon, my whole body flushed as if I’d stayed too close to the fire. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

“’Tis natural. ‘Tis your heat.”

“Why am I like this? Why do you want me?”

“Shhh, you’re perfect. The beast requires an anchor. Someone to love. Someone to master. Someone to control. A mate.”

I licked my lips so I could speak. “You think I’m your mate.”

“I know you are. Soon we will bond. You will join with me and Ulf, and our minds will link. We will be as one.”

I almost cried out. The emptiness in my body, the longing—I knew now what would sate it.

“Haakon, I cannot. I have nothing. I am nothing. How can I be your mate?”

“When we came to the abbey, we scented you from afar. As soon as we found you, we knew. From the first pot you threw.”

“I am afraid.”

“You’re not afraid of us. You spent so many years squashing who you are. Hiding from the world. Your fighting spirit. Your laughter. Your beauty.” He squeezed a handful of my hair, tugged it lightly. “But you can’t hide from us. I think that scares you most of all.”

“It’s the only way I’ll be safe.”

“We will keep you safe.”

I had no answer to that. I wasn’t afraid of danger. I was afraid of how these men made me feel. The powerful arousal overwhelmed me until I was lost. When the heat consumed me, would there be anything of me left?

“I don’t know,” I whispered.

“You don’t need to know. You don’t need to think any more. You just need to trust us. Trust me.”

I craned my neck to see his face. The laughing warrior. He’d leapt off a cliff—for me.

“All right.”

He squeezed me, seeming to hold his breath for my answer.

“I trust you.”

Catching my chin, he claimed me with a kiss. The fever burned in me. I pushed into his body, desperate to feel his skin against mine.

I broke the kiss. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“My body was broken for you. Do what you will.”

“I’ll kiss the hurt I caused you.”

Undoing my braid, I let my hair stream over his skin, and pressed my lips down his hard body. My tongue explored the breadth of his muscles, my hands mapping planes and ridges. I grew lost in the terrain of him.

“Oh lass,” he sighed and let me grasp him under his loin cloth.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” I repeated. I’d caused this man enough pain.

“You won’t,” he gazed on me with such trust. “Do whatever you like, lass. I’m yours.”

Crawling down between his legs, I bared him to me. I lay my breasts on either side of his cock, rubbing him up and down with my soft flesh. Ducking my head, I tasted him.

“Oh lass,” he groaned. Smiling, I squeezed my breasts around his staff, alternately kissing and licking the tip. His thighs tensed.

“Come,” he pulled me back to lounge beside him. He kissed me as he stroked himself.

“May I?” I wrapped my small hand around him, marveling at the silky heat.

“Lovely lass. Lovely Laurel.” He let me work his cock, and ran his hand over my body. His fingers slid between my lower lips, finding the sweet spot and circling it. He teased me until my hips tightened, and I gasped.

“Say my name, little love,” his lips found my ear. “Tell me who owns your pleasure.”

“Haakon.”

“Do you want your pleasure? Tell me.”

“Yes.”

“Beg your mate.”

“Please,” I could barely think. “I need it. I need—Haakon—”

“Cum, lass.”

As my orgasm sang through me, I pumped Haakon’s cock faster. It was hot and hard in my hand.

“Laurel—” Haakon’s hips bucked as he came. I let the creamy fluid coat my hand. He trembled a little, sweat standing out on his pale forehead.

“Haakon? Does it hurt?”

“Yes. The pain is worth it.”

Fetching a cloth, I cleaned him, and snuggled into his side.

“So, when do we bond?”

“The bond can take some time to form. I think that first, Ulf must accept you as mate.”

“He hates me.”

“He does not.” Haakon kissed my hair. “Ulf does not think he is handsome enough to deserve you.”

“I do not mind his scars. I’ve come to almost like them. I should tell him.”

“You can, lass, but beyond that, you must show him.”

* * *

A rough hand woke me.

“Laurel, get up.” Ulf handed me my gown and boots. “Dress. Be quick.”

I obeyed, sparing only a glance at Ulf. As usual, I couldn’t read his expression.

The air was cool and dry, a hint of foulness in the breeze. But above our heads, grey clouds boiled in the sky. In the distance, birds cawed along with a noise like a great many rushing wings.

“Do you hear that?” Ulf asked.

“Yes,” Haakon answered.

“The Corpse King’s found us. The Grey Men are coming.”

“We knew it would come to this,” Haakon said quietly.

Ulf jerked a nod. In a swift movement, he rose and lifted his axe.

"What?" I flew up in terror. But Ulf only let the axe bite the ground near Haakon, who took it up.

"Don’t worry, Laurel. They will not easily kill me." His eyes flashed.

"What? No," I scrambled to the wounded warrior's side. "Haakon—"

Ulf caught me about my waist. "We have to go, Laurel."

"No," I cried. “I will not leave him!”

“You must,” Haakon said. “I cannot keep you safe.”

I writhed in Ulf’s arms. “At least let me say goodbye,” I begged.

He let me down and I flung myself next to the prone warrior.

“Oh lass,” he sighed as I lay my head gently on his bare chest. “You must be good. Promise me.”

“I promise.” I squeezed my eyes shut, hiding my tears. Turing my head, I pressed a kiss to his heart. He caught my chin, tipped it up and claimed my mouth. As always, my body responded, the beautiful surge of emotion. Why had I ever fought this?

“Now, you must go.”

“I don’t want to.”

”Do as Ulf says. If you don’t, I’m afraid you might lose your life.”

“I’ll obey.”

“Good mate.” He kissed my forehead.

“We must go. Now,” Ulf ordered, pulling me to my feet.

I hastened behind him, trying to keep up. I risked a glance behind me. Haakon sat upright, propped against a boulder. He looked nonchalant, but I knew he was helpless.

I felt like screaming. Would I ever see him again?

When I stumbled, Ulf swung me up into his arms without comment.

The forest blurred as the warrior ran. I felt a moment of shock when he slowed.

“Wait here.” He set me down and disappeared. I crouched behind a boulder. The numbness inside matched the eerie silence of the forest.

Ulf returned to my side within the minute, and picked me up before running a different direction. But within a few minutes, he skidded to a halt and cursed under his breath.

“What is it?” I clung to him, I could not help it.

“Grey Men. I scent them ahead.”

Ulf changed direction again, only to stop again. “We’re surrounded. There are too many of them to fight.”

If I craned my neck, I could see what he scented. Rank upon rank of Grey Men, moving through the trees.

“We have to go back,” I gripped his shoulders as he broke into a run again, headed back to Haakon. But that way wasn’t escape.

Ulf said nothing, only chose another direction. It was no use. Everywhere we turned, bushes crackled under hundreds of feet. The rank corpses filled the air with an overpowering stench.

I caught more and more glimpses of the Grey Men through the trees.

“Ulf,” I pointed. He paused on a woody hill. Two groups of Grey Men converged and started to climb. I watched a way out disappear.

“They’re hunting us,” Ulf said grimly.

“They want me, right? I’ll give myself up.”

“Never.” His arms tightened on me as he ran. But even I could tell we were being herded back the way we came.

“Wait,” I said. “Put me down.”

He hesitated and I hissed, “There is no time!”

Once on the ground, I tore off my gown. “Run with this,” I said. “Spread my scent as far and wide as you can. If they must divide their forces, a way will clear.”

He nodded. “Go back to Haakon.” He pointed the way. “Hide.”

When I arrived, breathless, back at camp, Haakon’s brow wrinkled. “Lass?”

“Shhh,” I crawled to his side. “We’re surrounded. Ulf is distracting them.”

“You must hide,” he said. “I cannot reach Ulf—the Corpse King is blocking our bond. I fear you both lost your chance to get away.”

“I wasn’t about to leave you.”

“You must. Go to the cliff, Laurel, find a place to hide. Ulf and I will fight as many as we can. Once their numbers are fewer—”

I shook my head “I won’t survive without you.”

“You must,” Haakon growled. “Dammit, you must get out. Hide from the Grey Men. They hate water—”

“Is that all they fear?” I asked, with a glimmering of an idea.

“Well, Berserkers when there are enough of us. I will try to get word through to the Alphas that you are coming—”

“Haakon,” I said as calmly as I could. The prickle up my spine told me the Grey Men were coming closer every moment. “I am not leaving you. You must tell me what to do. I am going to fight.”

The warrior cursed.

I looked about. A few feet away, at the base of the ravine, the ground was wet. “The stream,” I whispered.

“It’s not enough, lass. The ground is damp but it won’t be enough to keep the forces away.”

“I don’t care about the Grey Men,” I scrambled towards Ulf’s abandoned pack, praying it had what I needed. “I care about us.”

A minute later, Haakon watched me blow onto a pile of pine needles. The blaze stared quickly enough. The ground across the ravine, under the pines was dry. And Ulf had left his flint and stone.

“There,” I whispered, feeding my blaze with sticks dipped in pitch. I ran along the dry feet of the trees, setting small fires where I could. With any luck, by the time the Grey Men came, a hearty blaze would screen Haakon and my escape.

I crept back to Haakon.

“Now what?”

“Now we wait.” I winced as the fire crackled and sputtered, growing with each pitch dipped branch it devoured. The tree bark began to smoke.

“Ulf won’t be able to come for you.”

I winced, I knew the warrior feared fire. That’s what had given me the idea.

“Go, lass. Climb the cliff as far as you can and hide.”

I rose to my feet. “I won’t go without you.”

He sighed. “I can’t walk, lass.”

“I know.” I bit my lip, but he was too big to drag. “If I carry the axe, can you crawl?”