Written on May 28th 2024

C H A P T E R  13

Tara lies curled up into a small ball on the floor of her enclosure. Shivering, she has put her head between her arms and covered her ears with her hands. She tries to shut out all the thoughts that go through her head. She doesn't want to feel or think anything. All she wants is emptiness. Dark, deep emptiness.

Days fly by for Tara this way. As it took her quite a while to get used to the rhythm of the Pugna Vincula, this has become so ingrained in her. Every morning she is woken up by Sigrid. She takes Tara to Alpha Vidar's house to clean and do other household chores. In the afternoon Vidar often makes himself known and is followed by a visit to the dungeons together.

'Get up girl,' Tara hears Sigrid's voice. 'We are already running late and the Alpha is not in a good mood.' Sigrid's words reach Tara. She understands them loud and clear. She understands what they mean and what is expected of her. She wants to stand up, she wants to do what is expected of her. But she can't. She can't do it anymore.

Sigrid walks towards Tara and kneels down next to her. She places her hand on Tara's arm. 'Come on,' she says. 'We don't have time for this.' Although her words sound urgent, Tara seems to detect a hint of pity in Sigrid's voice. Sigrid carefully shakes Tara's arm. 'I can't leave without you,' she tries one last time. 'If I don't get you with me now, I don't know what state the Alpha will be in.'

Once again, Tara hears what Sigrid says. The words come through loud and clear in her eardrums. Her brain is still making the connection between what they mean, and also what consequences this could have. Tara tries to push herself up with the help of her hands. When she places herself, her arms start to shake violently and she sinks through her wrists. Where Tara had previously been able to hold back her tears, they now manage to escape.

With rolling tears, Tara makes eye contact with Sigrid. 'I-I c-can't do it anymore,' she manages to say. Her voice is just softer than a whisper. Sigrid swallows and remains silent for a few seconds. Then she frowns and looks at Tara doubtfully. 'Okay then,' she says. Sigrid comes out of her crouched position next to Tara and stands normally again. She nods to Tara. Then she turns around and leaves the room.

Due to the exhaustion, both mentally and physically, Tara does not have the energy to think about what will happen when Sigrid arrives at the Alpha without her. Where Tara had hoped that darkness would take possession of her again, she hears a loud bang from the distance. Heavy footsteps follow and become increasingly audible.

'No, you can't - like that,' Sigrid's voice seems to sound. A loud, deep, low growl interrupts the words that still had to be spoken by the servant. Goosebumps form on Tara's skin and she closes her eyes in fear. She wouldn't mind if her heart decided to stop beating at this moment.

The door to Tara's quarters flies open and Tara doesn't dare to look. Afraid to make eye contact with probably a very fierce Alpha Vidar. 'How,' a low voice begins, but fades away. A little surprise goes through Tara: This doesn't sound like Alpha Vidar. 'I'm taking her with me,' the voice then says, probably to Sigrid who had walked back in after the man.

Two large arms place themselves under Tara and before she has a chance to say anything or try to resist, she is lifted up. She opens her eyes and looks straight into two light blue eyes. Eyes that look exactly like those of Alpha Vidar Thorvald. Only these eyes radiate a gloom that she has not seen in Vidar.

'I won't hurt you,' Ymir whispers to Tara. He says it so softly that no one but her can hear it. 'I won't hurt you.' The words sound sincere, almost trustworthy. But still, an uneasy feeling continues to course through Tara's body. What sick game are these two brothers playing with her?

With Tara in his arms, Ymir walks past Sigrid. She continues to stare at them with wide eyes, which Ymir doesn't care about. He walks through the corridors and holds Tara tightly, as if he is afraid that she could be torn from his arms at any moment. Despite his firm grip on her, he doesn't hurt Tara.

* * *

Tara is sitting on a bed. On a very soft bed. With her back against a wall. Her legs are pulled up and she looks nervously at the man in front of her. Ymir is sitting on a stool. Opposite the bed. Three meters away from Tara. His arms hang down his body and he also maintains eye contact.

Ymir has taken her to a car. There he had placed her and started driving. Into the woods. They had been in the car for a long time and nothing had been said. The only thing Tara could see were trees and leaves. She felt like they had driven deep into the forest, to the point where they couldn't go any further with the car. Ymir had parked the car and tried to get Tara to walk by herself. That hadn't worked, so he had taken her into his arms again. They had to walk for a few minutes and then they had come to a small wooden hut.

Now they are sitting inside together. In the corner there was a wooden stove lit and a warm fire crackled. Ymir clears his throat but says nothing. Tara doesn't plan on being the first to say anything, after the years with the Pugna Vincula she has learned that. Only speak when spoken to.

'I asked Vidar if I could borrow you for a while.' Tara swallows when she hears the words from Ymir's mouth. Her heartbeat speeds up a bit and her eyes widen. 'I mean,' Ymir corrects herself, startled by Tara's reaction to his words, '-to say that Vidar knows you are here. You don't have to worry about him.'

Ymir's words were probably meant to be reassuring, but they don't have that effect on Tara. 'Do you want something to drink?' Ymir stands up and walks to the small fridge in the room. He opens the door and inside Tara sees all sorts of things lying around. Soft drinks, alcohol, bottles of water. 'Just pick something,' Ymir insists.

'Water.' Tara's voice trembles slightly because she tries not to stutter while formulating her answer. 'P-please,' she adds quickly. Afraid that Ymir will suddenly explode at her. Ymir bends over and takes a bottle of water from the fridge for Tara. For himself he takes a can of beer. 'Here,' he says to Tara as he stands in front of her and extends his arm with the water.

Tara carefully takes it from his hands. 'Thank you,' she mumbles. She holds the closed bottle of water in her hands as she continues to follow the man with her eyes. Ymir assumes the same position as before. This time not with his arms at his sides but with one slightly raised, so that he can put his can of beer to his lips.

'Do you know who I am?' Ymir asks after taking a sip. Tara shakes her head softly. 'N-no sir.' A small grin forms on the man's face and he raises his eyebrows slightly. He had not fully expected this answer. 'My dear brother has not told you anything about his family members?'

Tara looks at Ymir in shock. Brother? She cannot fully comprehend that Alpha Vidar Thorvald has another brother. An older brother who is now sitting opposite her. 'Disappointing,' Ymir continues. 'Disappointing but not shocking.' Tara does not know how to respond to this and remains silent.

'I am Ymir. Thorvald,' he introduces himself and adds his last name. 'Vidar's brother.' Ymir takes another sip of his beer. 'Don't you need to drink anything?' he asks, gesturing to the bottle of water in Tara's hands. Tara nods, immediately unscrews the cap and takes a sip.

'Your name was Tara,' Ymir says. It sounded half questioning, half informing. Tara nods. 'Yes, s-sir.' Ymir raises his eyebrows. 'So you're the reason Vidar doesn't go to the Pugna Vincula anymore.' Tara looks at Ymir, not understanding. She doesn't understand what he wants from her. What his goal is with this conversation. What he wants to achieve with these remarks. 'Not much of a talker, then,' Ymir sighs. 'Did Vidar fuck all the words out of you?'

Tara chokes on her water and starts coughing violently. Her head turns red and she tries to gasp for air in shock. Ymir has to laugh. 'Don't be so prudish,' he grins at Tara. "I've known Vidar longer than today." He wiggles his eyebrows, but when he sees the fearful look on Tara's face at his words, his attitude changes.

A serious look falls on his face and his jaw seems to tense. His eyes darken slightly and an emotion that Tara can't quite place forms in Ymir's gaze. 'Tell me, Tara,' Ymir's voice is monotone. Serious and authoritative. 'What did Vidar do to you?'