Chapter 169: Between woods and rage
[ Back to Skarthheim Territories ]
Kieran didn’t remember reaching the forest.
He didn’t remember tearing past the corridor, past the startled servants and stiff guards, nor the way the halls narrowed and curved until all he could see was green. Mossy earth. Bark lined endlessly in front of him.
He only remembered the ’snap’.
The moment inside him...when something turned upside down!
His fists slammed right into the middle of a thick, very old looking tree with enough force to rattle the roots.
CRACK!!!
The trunk split straight down the centre with a vicious, ringing echo. A flurry of birds exploded out of the treetops, flapping into the morning fog like scattered thoughts.
And Kieran stood there, chest heaving, head bowed, splinters of bark embedded in his knuckles.
Behind him came crashing footsteps. Leaves rustled. A curse rang out.
"Dammit, Kieran!" Velor burst through the thicket, nearly tripping over a gnarled root. "Are you trying to announce to the whole of Skarthheim that we are here? What the fuck was that?!"
He looked around...eyes wild, then hissed, "We are still in the Old Lands, you idiot!"
Kieran turned slowly. His eyes glowed...too faint...not a trace of power...but of heartbreak. His voice was raw. "She doesn’t remember me."
Velor paused.
Kieran’s fists were still clenched. His chest heaved like a dragon barely holding its flame. "She looked at me... like I was nothing...I died every day, every night inside...yet she looked right through me...and asked who I was? She doesn’t know me anymore!!!"
Velor blinked. "...Don’t you think that’s for the better?"
Kieran recoiled as if slapped tight. "For better?! She is my mate, Velor. The mother of my children.The other half of my existence.She makes me whole! What the fuck are you even talking about?"
Velor raised a brow. "Because I have a functional brain that I am putting to use."
He took a breath, then stepped closer.
"Maybe it’s her body’s way of coping. Trauma does that, you know. Memory loss is the brain’s way of saying, ’No more, thank you, I have seen enough.’ It’s a blessing in disguise,Kieran.And this might well be a case of temporary amnesia...it’s not uncommon."
"Blessing?" Kieran snapped, taking a step forward. He clearly hadn’t heard the rest of the explanation."Would you call it a blessing if you came home and your own soul didn’t recognize you?"
Velor’s voice rose with his hands. "Oh, boo hoo!Surprise, surprise...this isn’t your home Blackmoon...things are a lot more complicated,if you have forgotten! You, tell me, what would you have done if she did recognize you, huh? Fought the entire Skarthheim in broad daylight? Taken on Thorgar, his warriors, and their ghost wolves?"
Kieran said nothing, breathing through flared nostrils.
"Say you did win...but then what next?" Velor pressed. "Walk her out the front gate with a daisy in her hair and a white flag in your hand? Start a family at the borderlands? Because you couldn’t even claim her when you had the chance in your own pack. You married her sister, remember?Are you going to take her back as your mistress?Would she want that? Would that make you happy? Na! Would that make her happy? Go on! Tell me! You got your pregnant wife back home. You really want Autumn and Lyla to live together?Both carrying your babies?"
Kieran stiffened.
"Or has your noble brain conveniently forgotten that Chapter, Alpha?"
Velor got right up in Kieran’s face. "If you had any option...any way...you wouldn’t have let her go the first time. Tell me I am wrong.Go ahead, I am waiting!"
But Kieran had no words.
Only a growl that built in his throat and died before it left his lips.
Velor shoved him back lightly by the shoulders. "You can break all the trees you want, but it won’t grow you a miracle ticket out of this mess, buddy. Now get it together."
Kieran turned away, pacing. "You don’t get it."
"Actually,I do," Velor said calmly, brushing some bark from his sleeve. "Which is why we have to be smart now. You want to help her? Then let’s focus on that. We keep her safe, keep her smiling, and when the time’s right, we sneak her the hell out of here. Quietly. Without dragging all nine hells into our wake...I am sure we both agree on avoiding any possible conflict between both worlds for as long as is possible..."
Kieran exhaled slowly. His shoulders sagged a fraction. "...Hhhmmm."
They turned, both silent now, the kind of silence that only old friends can share without needing to fill it.
But as they neared the edge of the woods...
"Halt!"
A guard stepped out from behind a low thicket, axe in hand. His uniform bore Thorgar’s crest. "What the hell were you two doing in the forest?"
Before Kieran could speak (rather snap his neck), Velor stepped forward with his best sheepish grin.
"Oh, nothing, nothing! Just answering nature’s call, mate," he said breezily. "You see, we are not exactly palace trained. Nature’s been our loo since childhood. Nothing beats the... uh... fresh breeze between the cheeks. Right, cousin?"
Kieran looked at him with slow, murderous disbelief.
The guard blinked. Then he barked a laugh, slapping Velor’s shoulder. "Ahhh! You freaks really are something. Aye, I get it. Nature’s the best toilet."
"Glad someone understands," Velor grinned, barely holding his act together.
The guard’s expression shifted. "Right, enough fooling around. The Alpha wants you both to join the Hunting party tomorrow. Be ready before dawn."
Velor’s smile vanished. "...Hunting party?"
"Aye." The guard looked pleased with himself, clearly enjoying delivering bad news. "Says it will be good for Princess Autumn. Fresh air, sunshine, a little wilderness to stretch the legs. You two are to go with her. Keep her entertained, you know...if she gets bored during the hunt."
Kieran’s jaw twitched. Velor’s mouth fell open.
" Princess Autumn? " Kieran thought. " That motherfucker Thorgar... "
"Entertain her?" Velor’s voice slipped a little. "Ah! Ok! So we will be going with a pack of Skarthheim hunters? "
"Yep! And the Alpha himself...along with his favourite men, " The guard beamed. "Do a good job and you might even get a reward! Alpha is in a good mood of late!" He blinked and added. "Oh! And don’t forget you need to put on a show tonight as well! The other freaks are already rehearsing...Go! Get your ass moving! "
Velor turned to Kieran...slowly.