"I have changed my mind. As soon as our enemy is dead, I'm taking Freke with me to our home." I eyed the tall man that was walking beside me with ease through slopes and bush, but said nothing in return. "You were right," he continued, "our lover is weak, and frail and... different." Vidars voice broke for a split second and I was amazed by how emotional he was.

"You think it will help?" I asked eventually, not hiding the worry in my voice, because if Vidar was worried, then I knew it must be bad.

"Freke needs the help of our elders," he muttered, clearly annoyed that he hadn't managed to cure them himself.

My feet walked along a small animal trail through the thick vegetation. I carried my round shield on my arm and my short axe in my belt. I should be preparing my mind for a fight, but my head kept drifting to what Vidar had said. "Maybe I should come too," I mumbled after a moment of silence, "I could visit my parents and be close to you." The words were spoken mostly to myself, but I knew that the wolf heard me.

"To me?" he said with a snicker, "does this mean you have thought about my proposal?"

I shrugged my shoulders, what choice did I have? Parts of me hated to see Freke in someone else's arms, but I also loved to see how happy he was when Vidar was around. "He loves you, and you clearly love him too. For some reason we are destined to be together, the three of us."

Vidar's eyes burned my face as he studied me, as if he was trying to understand me. "You are a strange man, Tyr Starke," the wolf continued.

"Why? I'm not scared of the consequences. I know the people of Skal, they would accept it."

"But the rest of the world? Are they ready for a union like that?"

"Does it matter?" Suddenly I felt like a grumpy old man, annoyed by the foolish behaviour around me. "All we want is for our families to thrive and be happy. You've sacrificed so much for your pack by staying with them when Freke left to go home-"

"There are two sides of a coin my friend," he interrupted.

"Perhaps," I agreed, "but I'm tired of always doing what's expected of me."

"But the cost of this rebellion might be a great one,Tyr." The wolf said and stopped me by grabbing my arm. "Think it through, carefully, because you might lose members of your family that you love because of it."

"I know," I whispered and peered up at him, "but right now it feels like I am losing myself."

Vidar filled his lungs with forest air and let it out with a deep sigh. "Your friðr told me the exact same thing," his hand suddenly moved up to my face and he placed a caring palm on my cheek, grazing my upper lip with his thumb. "The loss you both feel, it is the loss of each other. The bond you two have is so strong and you are not used to being apart." His hand travelled down to the wolf's tooth around my neck, caressing it before he took a step forward so that our chests almost touched.

I suddenly felt my body lean it to him, an overwhelming and new feeling took over my whole being. I was tired of making decisions, I was tired of feeling afraid for my future and the future of my loved ones. For a moment I just wanted this man to tell me that everything would be alright, that I wasn't alone. And to my surprise – that was exactly what he did.

"You don't have to be strong all the time, Tyr," he said and placed his hand under my chin to lift my head and look into my eyes. "You can trust me."

I looked deep into his eyes and I knew he was speaking the truth. His spirit was connected to Freke and I knew he was a good person. I just had to open up my walls to him if he was to trust me. "I could really use your help," I started, and suddenly I felt extremely vulnerable in his presence.

The tall wolf gave me a smile, something in his eyes changed and his voice was soft when he spoke,"that's what I'm here for."

I felt my body relax into his, my forehead touching his collarbone and my trembling hands moved around his torso, "thank you," I whispered and expected his body to stiffen. But it didn't. Instead I felt his arms move around me as he returned the hug and to my great surprise he then placed a gentle kiss on my temple.

"You said it yourself, the three of us belong together, in fact that is what the spirits whisper around us."

I was just about to raise my eyes to look at him and ask what else they were saying, when two wolves ran up to us and Vidar stepped away from me.

"The house was empty, Alpha," the female told us as soon as they had both shifted to their human form. "The others are scanning the forest, but there are no signs of him, it looks like he left several days ago."

I could feel my heart hammer in my chest, we were too late. Bjarke cursed my son and ran away like the coward he was.

My feet flew over roots and stone, grass and leaves until I arrived at the small shack where the niðingr had lived. I kicked the door open and searched the only room, but the wolves were right, it was empty, and his belongings were nowhere to be seen.

In frustration, I started to kick whatever I could find laying on the floor. I grabbed the wooden table that was standing in the centre of the room and watched the cups and bowls fall to the floor as I pushed it and it tumbled over. I pulled a decorative weave off the wall and threw it on the rest of his filth, smashed vials and pots that were standing on shelves. And I kept going until I felt a calming hand around my wrist.

"We will find him, Vinr, and when we do, you will kill him. I promise."

I turned around and met Vidar's eyes. On the outside he looked calm but in his eyes I saw the same fury as I bore within. But I shook my head at his words, I felt empty and a sudden need to go home. "Send your pack on a hunt, Vidar." I took a step closer and placed my free hand on his chest, "My path ends here, but I trust you to finish what he started. End him for Freke, and for me."

"See it as done, Jarl Starke," he said with a glimmer in his eyes before he leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. "I will do this for us, and while I'm away you can decide what kind of future you want."

His warm lips were teasingly close to mine, his breath smelled of honey and herbal tea and his hair spread a scent of lavender around him. Not what I had expected at all.

He was not the man I had thought he was when I first met him. And when my lips met his I knew there was no need to decide which future I wanted. It was already in my grasp.

A/N - What's your thoughts on Vidar's intentions?