Way of the Wolf: Redemption

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KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR WAY OF THE WOLF: EQUILIBRIUM COMING OUT SOON

The female was blushing under the attention she was getting. Something I could relate to, I'd felt the same way at first. She fidgeted as Katrin taught her how to tie the laces of her new shoes, a soft leather that would be easy to get used to. I did my best to tame her hair but this was one thing she didn't have my luck in. Having never been properly brushed before, it was a matted, knotted mess that I knew would have to be cut out. Something I wasn't being brave enough to tell her.

It wasn't within my skills to cut hair anyway. It could wait.

"Isn't that a lot warmer?" I asked, brushing my fingers along her shoulder, and the fabric of her new dress, trying to get her used to touch.

"It itches," she murmured back, her gaze on the ground.

I couldn't help but laugh at that. She really did remind me of myself. "You'll get used to it."

She didn't look so sure about my words but kept her silence. Aljana and I were right, she was a timid and submissive little thing. No longer feeling the need to fight for her life, she acted much like she did in fur; head down, shoulder hunched, making herself as small as possible. Unthreateneing.

"You just need a name now." Katrin smiled up at her, nudging the trembling female's chin to lift her head a little. "You haven't liked any of our ideas."

She shrugged helplessly, her gaze flicking up to Aljana who had been stubbornly standing guard. The tough female had managed to gain the trust of both twins after her help, protecting them, giving them food and a place to sleep. But she wasn't sure how to behave with them.

With a little teasing smile, I nudged my shoulder against my stern faced friend. "Yes, Aljana. You haven't given any ideas yet, you suggest something."

Blue eyes narrowed on me but I kept my smile in place, happily playing innocent. She needed to get used to being around these younger wolves because I had the feeling, like newborn pups, they'd imprinted on her. A begrudging mother-wolf.

She was going to say something snarky, I could feel that, until her gaze cut down to the female's big dark browns and something melted in her stance. Still, she shifted uncomfortably, clearing her throat before saying gruffly, "My mother's name was Gisli."

The females face lit up in a grin that seemed to warm up the entire hall. I chuckled, wondering if she'd have loved whatever name Aljana could have suggested simply because it was Aljana that had suggested it.

Gisli it was then.

If only her brother was quite as docile. His name had been picked quickly, a yelled word my father had tossed at him in frustration: Ebbe. Wild.

He was struggling to let his sister out of his sight after spending his entire life being her protector. Bjarke and Dirk had taken him hunting with them yesterday in an attempt to wear him out in the hopes he'd be less. . .feral. He was walking a finer line than I had. Searching for the matebond, I could feel that Bjarke had now returned and relaxed just a little. Gisli relaxed too, the tense lines of her shoulder finally softening. Her brother was back too.

Two small bundles of fur rolling across the floor in a flurry of grey drew another smile from Gisli. She loved the pups, perhaps because she was certain of her dominance and strength over them at least. With a guiding nudge from Katrin, she slipped from the stool to chase after Basjan and Ásdís.

Aljana moved so Gisli never left her line of sight, while I did the same. Katrin was the most relaxed of the three of us, and she linked her arm through mine. The three pups ran out of the hall and both Aljana and I quickly made to follow but Katrin held us both back.

"Let her play for a little while, she's sat so still for us, she deserves a break, then I'll cut her hair," she said, a sad note to her tone. Aljana frowned.

"I don't think she'll mind," I assured her. "And if she does, it'll grow back. It won't have to be too short."

Aljana nodded, her gaze cutting to me. "She's nearly completely healed."

I sighed, clutching my hands in front of me. "I know."

Katrin shifted to take one of my hands, and one of Aljana's. Soon, Gisli would be well enough to go back to the wild if that's what she and her brother chose to do. I'd be sad, heartbroken even, to see them go. Gisli had grown in the few weeks she'd been here. Still so shy but she spoke with more confidence and was slowly beginning to interact with those outside my circle. She was good with the pups and parents trusted her to watch them. It was Ebbe that might swing her towards leaving.

"Whatever happens, we've done some good for them."

Snarling and growling filled the air, alongside sounds of fighting and whimpering. I was on my feet and darting outside with Aljana, stopping short outside the hall. I recognised Orin's wolf, grey and blond fur pinning down another, smaller wolf beneath him. Gisli was sobbing, held tight by Bjarke and it was then I realised the pinned wolf was Ebbe. Rushing over, I tugged Gisli from my mate and into my arms and she clung onto me so tight that it hurt.

Ebbe was putting up a good fight despite the fact my brother had his throat in his jaws. He gave a shake, trying to make the young male submit but he refused.

"What happened?" I asked, stroking Gisli's tangled hair in an attempt to settle her down. She shook so hard I was afraid she'd collapse.

"She was playing with the pups and Orin bumped into her. Ebbe snapped," my Beta explained, his hand going to my back as he rumbled for the startled female who trembled in my arms.

I frowned, feeling my stomach twist into knots. We all knew Ebbe was protective of Gisli but I didn't realise he was so volatile. Guiding Gisli closer to the scrapping wolves, I growled for Ebbe's attention. Blue eyes flicked to us and I stood Gilsi in front of me.

"She's alright, see? No harm done. Settle now, before you get hurt."

He stilled, eyes locked on us both. He stared hard at his sister and Orin slowly moved off of him. Ebbe rolled to his feet and sniffed at Gisli's fingers, nudging his nose against her until she stopped crying. Aljana stepped forward, wiping Gisli's face until it was dry before crouching to have stern words with Ebbe. His tail had tucked between his legs, head down until his nose about brushed the snow.

Relaxing, I looked over at my brother. Now in his skin, irritation glittered in his eyes but he'd allowed us females to take over.

"You need to be softer on him," I muttered, feeling Bjarke's hand slide into mine.

"That's maybe how it works with your female, but not Ebbe. He's testing his boundaries, we need to make sure the lines are clear." Orin's eyes flashed and I tipped my chin up in defiance.

I loved my brother, and I knew he loved me, but we often found our differing opinions on how to handle the twins... Incendiary. He sighed and reached out to ruffle my hair before motioning to the twins.

"You can deal with them then, sister. Don't come to me when it doesn't work your way," he teased, looking almost smug as he turned to go back to chasing the pack's pups in play.

Grinding my teeth, I managed to catch the growl on my throat. I leaned against my mate as he watched Basjan and Ásdís, only to realise he was actually still watching the twins.

His chest heaved and he drew me closer into his side, a crease between his brow like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. "It's odd isn't it, the way they seem to know how the other is feeling. . ."

I shrugged. Just because Orin was completely dense as a brother, didn't mean other siblings were that way. But something flickered in my head. I'd noticed only moments ago that Gisli had somehow sensed her brother was back without seeing him. Not that it mattered. They'd both been through so much, having only each other, of course they were in tune with each other.

"They've both had long days cooped up. Why don't we take them and Basjan for a run to wear them out before bed?"

Bjarke chuckled and kissed my temple. "We've been mated for only a matter of months and we somehow already have three pups."

"It's all you, my love. You're the one collecting strays."

Amusement shone in his eyes and I grinned. Then blushed when he only kept watching me. His hands captured my waist, the heat of him seeping into me and I couldn't help the reaction I had to the new look in his eyes. Heat. A catch in my breath. My heart skipped a beat.

The kiss was soft, leaving me melting as his tongue claimed my mouth. His arm slid around my waist, my breasts pressed against his chest and a low moan slipped out. The heat turned to a throbbing between my thighs and I clutched Bjarke's tunic to keep me upright.

A gentle nip to my bottom lip drew another eager sound but he pulled away and refused me more. "Tonight."

Eyes narrowed playfully, I swatted his chest. This male loved to tease and then leave me all day.

"Come then, My Beta, let's collect your strays." I winked at him before unlacing my dress and shifting into my wolf. Shaking out fur that was now thick and growing again, I relished in the warmth it gave me.

I yipped for Basjan's attention and grinned as he bolted over with the awkward gait all pups had at first. He used my leg to stop and nipped at my fur. My little bundle of energy. Bjarke shifted and herded the twins towards us, only for most of the pups to follow. Ásdís barrelled into Basjan, and I resigned myself to the fact this wasn't going to be a nice family outing.

Katrin grinned at me before pulling her dress over her head. Her skin shimmered as it was replaced by fur and she trotted over. We would need help to keep all these pups in line. Orin and Fenna joined too, and then my mother spotted us all and laughed, dragging Jakkon too. Our Alpha let out a sharp whistle until almost all of the pack were running around in fur, waiting to be led out. Excitement buzzed through me. I'd never run with a pack before.

Wolves that remained in skin chuckled and waved us off, calling for us to bring back food. With Basjan in front of me now running in circles around his grandfather, I felt at ease. The Alpha pair took off and the rest all followed but Bjarke and I were stuck at a slow trot so we could make sure no pup was left behind.

Bjarke nudged his head into my rump, giving my tail a nip that had me startling forward. My ears twitched I confusion when he did it again until I focussed in on our bond. He was urging me to catch up with the adult, to stretch my legs and join in. My gaze flicked from him to the pups and I was happy to see Katrin and Orin had hung back too. An encouraging bark, another nip. My mate wasn't giving me a choice.

With more strength than I'd ever felt before in my life, I gave into my baser self, letting the wolf take over. The tug of the wild was still there, tempting me to split off, but the call of the pack was far louder now. I raced through the trees, following their scents, jumping over logs and splashing through a smaller stream that led to the river. The wind ruffled my fur, pushing me on until I caught up with my parents and Fenna.

My brother's mate pounced at me and we rolled to the ground, ears perked up in play. Rolling back to my feet, I brushed up against my parents who nuzzled into my fur, nipping at my jaw and shoulders.

When the moon shone through a break in the clouds I howled, and I heard the pack howl back.

(Add in Ebbe taking off quickly, gisli stayed with the pups so I knew he wouldn't go far)