Chapter 12
Erik
I would have been somewhat disappointed if Avery passed my test.
According to our legends, a true mate has to be tamed. They resist, even when they feel the pain that comes when they deny what their body is telling them. Sometimes they fight, even when they’re being claimed. It’s just part of the bonding process.
But the scent gives it away. That sweet honey that drips down Avery’s thighs, no matter how much she protests.
She’s awakening something inside all three of us, too.
Something we thought was simply legend, misinterpreted by others through the generations.
We believed that finding a true mate was impossible, because the gods no longer walked amongst us.
“It’s a shame we won’t be able to prove to our people how wrong they were,” I say softly, getting some ale from the Provider after I finish my breakfast. “About mates, I mean.”
“We believed in the legends because we have Fenrir’s Mark. They didn’t, so it made it more difficult for them,” Ivar says, leaning back. “But if they could feel what we feel, they’d know. They just never had a wolf to show them what they were too blind to see.”
“We were all blind,” Sigurd grumbles, downing his first ale in a single gulp before grabbing another. “Or maybe that’s why I never took a wife. It never felt right. Not like it does now.”
“Lots of history to correct,” I sigh, shaking my head. “Lots of old traditions that we will never pass on to the next generation now that we know how wrong they were. I wish we’d never stopped following the legends. They used to practically be law.”
“Long before our time, brother. We can’t fault those who never knew the joy of finding their true mate,” Ivar says. “But our mission won’t end when we get home. We’ll still need to find mates for the other royal bloodlines.”
“What if bringing one back for them isn’t the way?” I question. “Something led us to Avery. She was the first woman we found. I refuse to believe that was chance.”
“You could be right. Perhaps every royal bloodline has to seek out their mate, like we did,” Ivar acknowledges. “They may not feel a connection if we simply bring a human woman home for them. It could be no different from bedding one of our women.”
“At this point, I don’t think they’ll complain, if humans are viable mates. We need children if we’re going to survive. Doesn’t matter if they find their true mate, like we did,” Sigurd says, drinking some ale. “They just need to breed.”
“While that is true, we’ve found something truly life-changing,” Ivar says.
“I wouldn’t deny anyone this feeling. If every royal bloodline finds their mate, then it could solve everything.
Our children could grow up, already knowing that they will find their mate.
Find them without searching the universe for them. ”
“That’s fucking useless,” Sigurd growls. “We’ve pillaged and plundered most of the nearby planets. Not once did we find a mate. None of us, even our fathers and grandfathers.”
“Didn’t stop them from bringing women home and forcing them to marry Viking warriors,” I say regretfully.
“I never agreed with that, but it was our way. Now I wonder if that’s why we could no longer find mates.
Some of those women couldn’t even bear children for our kind, much less children with Fenrir’s Mark. ”
“Generations of it certainly weakened our connection with the gods,” Ivar agrees. “Other bloodlines bled into our own. Blood that was neither Viking nor wolf. But that doesn’t explain why Avery is different. She’s no Viking. Certainly no wolf.”
“No, but something makes humans different. It has to. Biologically, they are similar to most others that resemble us,” I say.
“It’s how I was able to determine they were viable mates.
They have the same genetic markers. We’ve learned how rare that is, or at least I have, as I sorted through the Intergalactic Alliance’s database. ”
“Maybe some marks aren’t visible like the one we have,” Ivar says. “It’s a mystery, but one I will not question.”
“The two of you can go on about mysteries if you want.” Sigurd shrugs, pushing himself up. “But we’ve got a mate in the stocks, and she’s ours to do with as we please today… and I’m not going to waste an opportunity.”
Sigurd strips off his loincloth and walks over to Avery.
I hear her groan, then Sigurd slaps her ass and mounts her.
The smell scent of sweet honey fills the air and I struggle when I catch the scent.
It’s overwhelming and makes me wish I had been faster to my feet than Sigurd was.
But he’s going to rut her, and all I get to do is listen to her scream.
Avery upends everything we know, except for the legends most people on our planet turned into stories instead of facts. She’s not just a viable mate, she’s our mate. A gift from the gods and then some. But we can’t enjoy the rest of our lives with her until we escape this refugee center.
“Let me do another scan. See what kind of activity we’re dealing with. If things are settled, we might be able to escape tomorrow,” I say, standing up and walking to the panel on the wall.
It’s easy enough to hack it, now that I already opened a backdoor into the Intergalactic Alliance’s servers.
They’re such a force they don’t have the best security in the universe.
Probably because they don’t really have any real enemies left.
They wiped out the alliances that stood against them ages ago.
“Love the way you grip my cock when I spank you,” Sigurd chuckles, slapping Avery’s ass again.
“Ow! It still hurts!” she squeals.
“Yeah, you deserve it,” Sigurd snarls. “You were a bad girl.”
The sound of rutting and spanking echoes in the room while I focus on the mission. There hasn’t been much communication between the refugee center and the rest of the Intergalactic Alliance since the warship turned around. It’s business as usual.
“Any concerns, brother?” Ivar asks.
“No, they’ve put it behind them. There’s a casualty report. A request for more soldiers, scientists, and social workers. Didn’t realize we killed any social workers,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders. “Maybe there were some in the cargo bay.”
“Must have been.” Ivar glances over as Sigurd makes Avery come and the sound makes all our wolves whine beneath the surface. “How long until the soldiers show up?”
“Days. We’ll be long gone by then,” I laugh. “This refugee center isn’t exactly a priority, especially since they think the threat has already been dealt with.”
“Tomorrow, then,” Ivar says. “We’ll make our escape and return home. I hope it’s not too terrible for our mate. I’m sure she was used to better accommodations on Earth.”
“We’ll rebuild, like we’ve discussed,” I say. “The royal palace didn’t fare so well during the plague, but we’ll restore it to its former glory. It’ll be a beacon again, like it was before we lost everything.”
“Eventually,” Ivar adds.
We continue talking and drinking ale. Despite what has happened to Midgard since the plague, it’s still our home. Still the place we’ll raise our children, now that we have a future again.
Sigurd finishes with our mate and walks back over, her nectar and his release still dripping from his cock.
“Who’s next?” Sigurd asks, demanding an ale from the Provider. “I fucked the hell out of her, but she’s still wet and whimpering.”
“From pain or pleasure?” I chuckle, glancing at our mate.
“A little of both, I guess,” Sigurd grunts, downing half his ale before he sits.
“I’ll make sure you didn’t hurt her too much,” I say, pushing myself to my feet.
“She’s fine,” Sigurd snaps. “And you better hurry up, because it won’t be long until I’m ready to go again. Can’t seem to get enough of her.”
“You’ll wait your turn,” Ivar says. “After Erik’s done, I’m going to have her before you get to make her scream again.”
“Good thing this fucking Provider never runs out of ale,” Sigurd grouses.
I walk over to Avery. There are tears in her eyes and some already dried on her face.
Her ass is redder now. It was an even shade, but Sigurd left some darker handprints on it.
Avery looks up at me, and I move to comfort her, but then I realize there’s no agony in her eyes.
No resistance at all. She actually looks hungry for more.
“Are you okay, mate?” I ask gently.
“It didn’t hurt as much this time, even when he spanked me,” she says, nibbling the inside of her mouth. “I think I’m getting used to how rough he is.”
“Is that so,” I smirk. “Then I guess I can be a little rougher with you this time, too.”
“Promise?” she asks, a grin teasing the edge of her lips.
“This is supposed to be punishment,” I say as I strip off my loincloth and climb on the bed.
I find a spot that isn’t as red below Sigurd’s massive handprint and give her ass a relatively gentle slap.
“But our warrior women never minded being put in the stocks. Some of them would get feisty because they hoped they’d end up in this position. ”
“What was it you said? A feisty mate is a gift from the gods?” she asks, wiggling her ass as I move behind her.
“You certainly are,” I breathe out, lining my engorged cock up with her entrance. “A blessing. A gift. You’re fucking everything.”
I push into Avery and gasp when I feel her grip my cock. I loved feeling her suck on me, but nothing compares to this. This is too incredible. Too right. It feels like the bond grows stronger, just being inside her.
I watch Avery’s body language as I begin to thrust. There’s no fight. No resistance. She may have tried to run, but her body knows she belongs to us. There’s no doubt about that. Her whimpers, moans, and gasps prove it, especially once I get a rhythm going.
“You’re going to make me come,” Avery mewls, her hips moving in unison with mine.
“Yes, and it won’t just be once,” I mutter, feeling her start to shake.
I speed up my thrusts, hammering into her roughly while she climaxes on my cock.
She’s getting used to our roughness. Hard not to when a beast like Sigurd has had his way with her multiple times.
But the way she reacts tells me she more than just used to it.
She’s starting to love it. Maybe even crave it.
“Oh, god, it’s happening again,” she squeals, the stocks vibrating as another orgasm tears through her.
“You still want more, don’t you?” I ask, my hips moving fast, enjoying the way it feels every time she comes.
“Yes!” she cries out.
“Then tell me what you want, mate,” I command. “I want to hear it.”
“I want… I want you to fill me!” she screams.
Sigurd mutters something about her not saying that to him, but I’m too lost in ecstasy to listen to his nonsense.
I pound my cock into her sweet honey while she comes over and over on my length.
It feels so good I don’t even want to ejaculate, just so I can keep feeling it, but the pressure builds in my balls until I can’t hold back any longer.
“I’m never going to be able to get enough of you!” I roar, my wolf trying to claw its way to the surface as I spill my seed. “No matter what.”
It takes some effort to keep my wolf at bay, but I manage. I give my mate exactly what she needs, and she comes again while I do. After I’m spent, she still flutters on my length, like she’s already ready for another climax.
“Ivar,” I gasp, glancing at my brother. “She’s ready for you.”
“Are you sure about that?” Ivar asks as he stands up. “She doesn’t need a break?”
“Do you need a break, mate?” I ask sarcastically, knowing she doesn’t.
“No,” she whimpers.
“Good,” I say, slapping her ass, right on the reddest handprint before slowly pulling out of her. “Then tell Ivar what you need.”
“I need… ow, I need to be fucked,” she mewls.
“If that’s what she needs, I’m ready to go again,” Sigurd protests. “Guarantee she won’t have enough left to say she needs to be fucked after I’m done.”
“You had your turn,” Ivar says, moving closer to the bed. “You can have her again after I’m done, unless I wear her out.”
I walk over and join Sigurd, retrieving a cup of ale before I take a seat.
I don’t even have time to take a sip before I hear our mate screaming Ivar’s name.