Claimed by the Berserkers

Chapter 2-1

2

As the group moved towards the forest, I rested my forehead against Arne’s muscled shoulder. His skin smelled rich and earthy, with a touch of spice. I raised my head and met glittering eyes. His Berserker rage was close to the surface, threatening to break free. Still, he was beautiful, his golden eyes gilt in the shadows of the deep woods.

“Something frightened you back there,” he said softly. “You were fine when we first arrived.”

“It was the heat,” I whispered, dropping my gaze. “The sun and all the people.”

His eyes glittered. “Don’t lie to me. You were afraid. I could smell it. You saw something at the market that spooked you.”

Before I could deny it, he called to Erik.

“Take her.” Arne handed me off to the tattooed warrior, and headed back towards the market.

“What’s he doing?”

“Just going back to find out what’s spooked ye.” Erik cradled me closer. “Dinnae be worried about him, lass. He can take care of himself.”

I gnawed my lip as Erik’s determined strides took us further into the forest. “You don’t have to carry me. I can walk.”

“I know, wee Fleur.” But he didn’t put me down.

I threaded my arm around his shoulders. This time I was careful not to look the warrior carrying me in the eye. Wolves had strict rules that dictated what place each one held in the pack. Looking a stronger wolf in the eye was considered a challenge for dominance, and would end in a fight, or a punishment in front of the whole pack. Even though my sisters and I were female and cherished, the Alphas warned us that until the Berserkers were more stable, their savage nature—what they called “the beast”—tamed, the rules still applied. The only wolves my sisters could gaze at were their mates.

After a few minutes journeying on the path between the trees, he stiffened, and left the worn trail. Behind us, Muriel and her mate had disappeared.

“Where are we going?”

“Arne saw something he didn’t like in the market. We’re changing course.”

“But—” my protest died away. The Alphas had warned my sisters and I of the dangers of being alone with one of the warriors, but I was helpless to cross this warrior. Better not to challenge him.

“Your sister will be fine with her mate. We’re splitting up.”

Erik left the path and plunged between the thick pines, ducking under the branches while I hung on.

“Do not worry,” he said, as calm as if we were on a pleasant trip and not weaving through the trees as if something was chasing us. “Whatever it is, Arne will make sure to divert it. He is the best scout in the pack. We’re often sent on missions together.”

Instead of meeting his gaze, I stared at his lips, full and perfectly formed. “You’re his warrior brother?”

“Aye. He saved my life, I saved his. The bond formed between us then, and we are closer than brothers.”

I swallowed. My sisters had explained some of the bonds— the psychic lines that tied members of the pack together. Over time, pack magic allowed two warriors to form closer, stronger bonds between each other. These ‘brother bonds’ helped keep them alive. If one warrior started to succumb to the Berserker rage, his warrior brother would be there to balance him and pull him back from the brink.

Unless the beast consumed them both, and they went mad until they died.

“Calm yourself, lass. There’s nothing to fear in these woods, except, perhaps me.” The smile he gave me came with a very white, very pointy pair of teeth.

It made my heart beat faster, but not entirely from fear.

A shadow stirred the underbrush.

I clutched at the Norseman. “Something is following us.”

“’Tis only Gunnr.”

Even as Erik spoke, the wolf darted out of the thicket and back in again, making no sound on his giant paws.

“He runs behind to guard us. You’re safe, wee Fleur.”

I said nothing. A year ago, I feared the Berserkers more than any of my visions. Today, I wasn’t so sure. My sisters told me that though they now loved their mates, at first they’d been frightened by them. Of course, from what I could tell, when Berserkers claimed their mates, the women weren’t given a choice.

Now my sisters were all mated, it was my turn.

When we reached a sun dappled fern grove, Erik’s steps slowed.

“We can stop here to rest.”

A tall figure stepped out from behind a tree, and I startled back. He stepped into the light, a feather caught behind his ear in addition to the one hanging from his earring.

“Arne,” I breathed in relief. Smiling, he came to crouch down near me. His teeth were white against his bronze skin.

“Miss me, little flower?”

Reaching up, I pulled the feather from behind his ear. I’d never seen such a mesmerizing pattern.

“Keep it,” he said.

“Where are the others?” Erik asked.

“Halfway to their home near the mountain. It was as I suspected. Whatever the evil presence was, it didn’t follow them. It wanted Fleur.”

Gunnr growled and Erik’s voice turned thick and guttural. “What was it?”

“I don’t know,” Arne said. “Ask her.”

“Did you see it?” I asked.

“No. It cloaked itself somehow from me. But I felt it linger on the edge of the path where we took you. Then it moved through the market like an evil wind. Humans avoided its path.”

“Muriel saw it. She thought it looked like an old man,” I said.

“What does it look like to you?”

I described the Grey Man, and waited for the warriors to scoff. Instead, they exchanged grim looks.

“Whatever it is, it has power,” Arne said. “I felt its malevolence.”

“We rest here until we are sure it is not following. Then we return home to the pack,” Erik announced.

“I’ll set up a few wards,” Arne said. Gunnr loped along with him as the bald warrior walked the perimeter.

I curled my arms around my legs, still feeling a little sick. Whatever the Grey Man was, Arne was right, it had wanted me. I would be in its clutches if the Berserkers hadn’t been guarding me. The other times I’d spotted the Grey Men, they’d lingered, watching me and my sisters, but never approached. If I had known it was going to attack, I would’ve run. If it was after me, I put everyone in danger.

My head still throbbed. I wiped at my nose with my sleeve, hoping there was no dried blood.

Erik knelt in front of me. “Let me.” He took my chin and tipped up my head to wash my face with a wet cloth. His motions were gentle for such a burly warrior.

“Thank you,” I said when he was done, hoping he’d back away. Something about having him close made my cheeks heat.

Tattoos twined over the lean, corded muscle of his bare arms. His leather jerkin stretched across the muscles of his chest. He was a Berserker, a powerful warrior centuries old. Fast, brutal and monstrously strong, yet as rugged and handsome as a human man. Since the day he’d broken into our home and carried me off, he’d been fascinated with me.

His eyes narrowed as he studied me and I studied him.

“That thing—the Grey Man—made ye sick.”

“I’m often sick. It’s nothing new.”

He studied me. “Ye try to hide your illness.”

“My sisters already know I am weak. They have their own mates now. I do not wish to worry them.” I pressed my lips together. They didn’t need to know the truth, that I had seen my own death. I would not live much longer. I was grateful that I’d lasted long enough to see all my sisters mated and happy.

“Ye do not take care of yourself,” Erik said, and pressed a bit of dried meat into my hand. “Ye need to eat.” Catching my wrist, he directed it and the strip of meat to my mouth. When I didn’t take a bite, he tsked at me.

My brows knotted together even as my pulse tripped under his firm grip. “Are you supposed to touch me?”

“Ye like it.” He grinned.

I refused to be baited. “The Alphas warned my sisters and me against showing favor to any one Berserker. It will make the others jealous, and cause problems. If the pack finds we’ve been spending time together alone, they will be upset with you.”

“Worried about me, lass?”

“I don’t want to cause fights.” I took a bite of the meat and he let go of me, but still hovered close.

“Your mere presence is enough to cause a fight. Every unmated warrior wants to be with ye. But dinnae worry, lass, my warrior brothers can hold our own in skirmishes with the rest of the pack.” He nudged my arm, a silent order for me to keep eating.

“As for us touching ye now, we’re only seeing you home safe, warm and fed. No fault to be found. ‘Tis only us three, and we are warrior brothers. We share a bond and there is no room for jealousy. If you belonged to one of us, you belonged to all of us.”

I swallowed my mouthful and frowned. “I don’t belong to any of you.”

At this he only smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. Heat lingered where his fingers brushed my cheek and temple.

He held another strip of meat to my lips. “Eat, wee flower.”

My stomach flipped at his closeness and firm tone, but I managed to get a few bites down.

“Here,” Arne squatted beside me and presented me with my favorite food. “Honey cakes.”

“You like these.” Erik said.

I nibbled on the edge of one. “You’ve been watching me.”

“You’ve noticed us watching you,” Arne smirked and ran a hand over his bald head. With his exotic coloring and eyes, he really was beautiful.

Too late I remembered to drop my gaze.

“It’s all right, lass.” Erik sounded amused. “Ye can look at us.”

“I thought it would arouse the beast. I did not want to tempt you.”

“Too late,” Arne murmured.

Erik leaned closer. “The beast enjoys your attention.”

I propped the honey cake at my mouth so my hand would hide my flushed cheeks.

“Look at me, Fleur,” Erik purred, and sent shivers up and down my spine. “I dare ye.”

Biting my lip, I did. Gazing into the golden depths, I lost myself.

“Good lass,” the bearded warrior encouraged.

When Arne’s hand brushed my shoulders, I startled and froze like a frightened rabbit.

“Easy,” he soothed.

“I still don’t think you should touch me,” I muttered. I wasn’t afraid of them, not quite. Heat curled through me as if he’d set a brushfire that started on my skin and rushed through my body, warming the core of me. My n*****s tingled.

“Why not? Do you like it when we touch you?”

They could scent whether I told them the truth.

“I don’t know.” I crumbled the honey cake with my fingers. “It is forbidden. The pack hasn’t chosen a mate for me.”

Erik lay his hand over mine.

“Haven’t ye heard? The Alphas met last full moon and decided. Ye have until midsummer’s night to meet everyone in the pack. And then you are to choose a mate.”

My last bite stuck in my throat, making me sputter. “What?”

“Did they not tell ye?” Erik glanced at Arne, who shrugged.

“Perhaps they are waiting until the day is closer, in case you become sick. At midsummer, you will be wed. The entire pack waits upon your choice.”

I lay my hand on my stomach, already feeling ill.