Chapter 14 - Freya
Freya
On my way to where my adoptive mother Kaydence now resided, I waved and said my hellos and thanked everyone for their well wishes after the pack bonding ceremony.
The air buzzed with activity. Pack members who’d been on edge for days moved with lighter steps, and I caught snatches of conversation about food preparation and holiday traditions.
The scents of roasting meat and burning wood showed preparations for the second night of our holiday celebrations were well under way.
Moonblessed wolves mingled with Frost Fang refugees. Ironwood shifters mingled into our camp, too, helping clean up after last night and prepare for more fun tonight. Soon, Midnight Path would arrive with their diverse collection of shifters, adding even more complexity to our growing alliance.
Along my path, I noticed two littermates from Frost Fang working together to decorate their tent to make this temporary camp a home. The sight of them together brought an unexpected pang to my chest.
Ever since I’d learned my sister might still be alive, I’d yearned to meet her, to build a more normal life together. Yet it also sharpened the ache for the family I’d never known.
My birth parents… how had they celebrated the winter holidays? Had my mother, an Odinswolf like me, felt this same electric anticipation I now felt? Along with her wolf shifter mates, had my father made her holiday magical in ways I couldn’t even imagine?
And Valkyrie. My sister, trapped in Denraider territory, spending tonight as a captive while I celebrated surrounded by love and relative safety, even if it was only temporary safety. Fueled by the thought of her lacking even this fragile peace, I made her a silent promise.
Soon, you’ll be free.
With nothing but hope to keep me going, I made my way through the bustling temporary camp.
At the Moonblessed gates, the guards recognized me and let me through.
My steps slowed as I approached my adoptive mother’s neighborhood.
Kaydence lived in a two-story house with several other women who’d fled various pack conflicts.
The thought of facing her made my stomach flutter with unexpected nerves.
My adoptive mother had been supportive lately, but she’d been afraid of my magic before — afraid of what I might become, what I might do.
Even though our recent conversations had been warm, I couldn’t shake the memory of her stepping away from me in fear after our battle with the Ironwood pack, where my magic had ravaged Willow and helped defeat Luka.
Now, I’d used my magic to strip Dryden’s wolf from him in front of dozens upon dozens of witnesses. What would she think of my new ability to sever shifters from their wolves? I needed to see for myself.
I paused outside the modest wooden door and took a deep breath. What if she’d heard what I’d done to Dryden and feared me all over again?
Before I could lose my nerve completely, I knocked heavily at the door.
“Freya!” Kaydence’s face lit up with genuine joy when she opened the door, and before I could say a word, she pulled me into a fierce embrace.
The tension I’d been carrying melted away as her familiar scent surrounded me — warm bread and lavender soap, the same combination that had comforted me through countless childhood hurts.
When she pulled back to look at me, her dark eyes pierced me.
She’d always been able to tell when I was up to no good as a child.
“Come in, come in,” she said, ushering me inside. “The other ladies went to help with feast preparations.”
“As if everything isn’t already decorated from yesterday,” I observed.
Kaydence smiled. “They wanted to give us privacy. Any excuse would do.”
That made me nervous all over again, leaving me feeling out of place in her home. The small house was warm and welcoming, with handmade quilts draped over simple furniture and the lingering scents of shared meals.
“I heard you gained two new packmates today,” Kaydence said without preamble, settling onto the small couch and patting the cushion beside her.
I perched on the edge of the couch, still uncertain. “What else did you hear?”
“Well, I heard what you did, saving all these people with your magic after that alpha made them submit. Fighting off those terrible witches.” She regarded me with narrowed eyes, as if trying to figure out what I was asking. “I heard you broke an alpha’s power. That you killed his wolf.”
I recalled the way his wolf spirit had seemed all too ready to leave his body. But saying so would only make me more of a witch in my mother’s eyes. In the silence that followed, I didn’t deny what she’d heard.
“He’ll never shift again,” I confirmed after a moment. “He’ll never use his alpha bark on anyone or force anyone to submit ever again. And…” I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry if that scares you.”
“I’ve been a fool, Freya.” Her voice carried a mix of pride and regret. “You always did have a strong moral compass. I was so scared of your power that I forgot you were still my little troublemaker — just more powerful than I ever imagined.”
The childhood nickname made my throat tight with emotion. She’d called me that whenever I’d gotten into mischief in Ironwood, usually while trying to defend Willow or some other wolf who couldn’t defend themselves.
“I was afraid you might still be scared,” I admitted quietly.
Kaydence reached out to cup my face, her thumb brushing away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen.
“Oh, sweetheart. I’m not scared of you. I’m scared for you. With all this power, all these enemies hunting you…” Her voice wavered. “I need you to survive this. Will you be safe?”
The question struck deeper than I’d expected.
“All I can do is try,” I said honestly. “I don’t always know what to do, and I’m terrified of making the wrong choice and getting people killed.”
“You won’t always know the right choice,” Kaydence nodded. “But look around — you’re surrounded by brilliant wolves who love you. Shante, Willow, your mates, all these allies. That’s why you gather a pack around you, isn’t it? So you don’t have to carry everything alone.”
She tucked a strand of my white hair behind my ear. The simple touch broke something loose in my chest, and suddenly I was crying — not from sadness, but from relief so profound it felt like coming home.
“I missed you,” I whispered against her shoulder as she pulled me close again.
“I missed you too. And I’m so proud of who you’ve become.”
A soft knock at the door interrupted our reunion.
“Can I come in?” Willow’s familiar voice called.
“Of course,” Kaydence called back, not loosening her hold on me.
Willow slipped inside, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her.
She’d dressed for the celebration in a beautiful deep green sweater that brought out her eyes, paired with warm woolen leggings and boots that looked both practical and festive.
Her hair was braided with small silver ribbons that caught the lamplight.
“You look amazing,” I said as she settled on Kaydence’s other side.
“Shante helped,” Willow admitted with a grin. “We both missed you last night, Frey.”
It felt so good to hear her use her old nickname for me again.
“Yes,” Kaydence raised an eyebrow. “You missed quite the Christmas party, my little troublemaker.”
I blushed, not wanting to admit to my mother figure what exactly I’d been doing instead.
“So today you have to at least show your face,” Willow demanded.
I grinned. “Will do. Did you both dance?”
Kaydence laughed. “I left it to the younger ladies.”
“Remember that Christmas when we snuck extra food to the omega?” Willow said with a mischievous grin. “Pack Alpha Jameson was furious when he found out, but he could never figure out who did it.”
It felt good being with the two women who’d been my family long before I’d known who and what I was. Even better to know no one would be treated that way ever again, if I had anything to say about it.
Kaydence smiled at the memory. “Freya convinced half the other children to create a distraction while you two played food fairy.”
“It worked, didn’t it?” I protested, feeling lighter than I had in days. “The low-ranking adults got fed, and we didn’t get caught.”
“That’s when I knew you were going to be trouble,” Kaydence said fondly. “Good trouble, but trouble nonetheless.”
We sat together in comfortable warmth, sharing other memories that proved not everything about Ironwood had been terrible.
There had been moments of joy, acts of rebellion, small victories that had kept our spirits alive even in the darkest times.
Ironwood had never treated any of us well, and it relieved me to know they both had a new home here among Moonblessed.
Outside, the sounds of preparation grew louder as the camp organized itself for yet more celebration. Through the windows, I could see pack members working together, children from different packs playing together, Christmas decorations up after so many days of battle and waiting for battle.
“We should go help,” I said eventually, though I was reluctant to leave this peaceful bubble.
Kaydence said, squeezing my hand. “My daughter, who’s become a leader.”
The pride in her voice made my chest warm with emotion. Whatever fears she’d harbored about my magic, they were gone now, replaced by the unconditional love I’d always craved.
I moved toward the door, but Willow put a hand on my forearm. “After everything you’ve done for all of us, you’re allowed to rest, you know.”
“And besides,” my mother rose as well. “I haven’t given you your gift yet.”
She disappeared into the small bedroom and returned with a bundle of deep blue fabric. “The ladies and I have been working on this. We thought… well, we hoped you’d want something special for tonight.”
I unfolded the bundle to reveal a beautiful tunic sweater in midnight blue, softly woven but clearly made for warmth. Delicate silver embroidery traced the neckline and cuffs — not quite Nordic knotwork, but it honored my heritage.