Tyr was out of commission for a long time. And that gave us the precious time we needed to plan. However, I forced Thor to accept a week of healing time without his Alpha duties, so planning started tomorrow.
This past week hadn’t been all happy news though.
After the Hati pack had rushed in to save us, it was only a matter of time until they learned the truth. Baldr already knew Thor and I were mated. But it took Loki by surprise. The rest of the pack was wary of this new development. However, Loki was the only one to do something about it.
The night after we were saved, Loki disappeared. Baldr claimed to have seen him wandering the nearby mountain woods, still hellbent on killing Tyr and getting revenge at last. Thor was worried and had sent several wolves, including Baldr, to talk some sense into him. But no matter how much anyone tried to talk him into coming back, it could not be done. Apparently, he gave Thor quite an earful about me and how it was not only irresponsible to share their secrets with two humans, but to mate with the blood ancestor of werewolf hunters.
I knew he and I were never going to be friends.
The loss hit Thor hard, and I knew he blamed himself. To his credit, he never blamed me even though I should’ve taken the majority of it. He was good that way and so sweet. I couldn’t have asked for a better man. He shielded me from everything. Even myself. The least I could do was take Nana up on her training offer so I could be useful. If the pack was going to respect me as the Alpha’s mate, I needed to be able to hold my own.
Thor was against it of course, but I didn’t care. It was my choice and whether he liked it or not, I needed to be able to defend myself. The Skoll pack wasn’t going to stop just because I’d mutilated their leader. In fact, I was fairly certain they’d attack again with a vengeance this time. Things were only going to get worse until they were dealt with. I had to be prepared.
“Can we go up to your room?” I asked after a while, pulling myself from my thoughts. “I… I think I’m done soaking for now.”
Thor glanced my way giving a curt nod. “Yeah. I’m getting hungry, anyway.”
“Nana wanted to eat with us if that’s okay.”
“Of course!” Thor was always enthusiastic about including her. Not having any grandparents of his own probably had something to do with that. “I like her.”
“She likes you,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “Maybe a little too much.”
Thor wiggled his shoulders, giving me a grin. “I can’t help it that I’m so attractive. It’s just animal magnetism.”
“It’s something, alright,” I groaned, elbowing him again. “Come on. Let’s go see what she’s up to.”
???
Dinner was finished and all three of us were sitting in the living room. Thor and I were on the couch, his arm wrapped around me as always while Nana was perched in the chair, leaning forward on her cane.
“That’s why I think this is a wonderful opportunity,” she said, finishing off her unexpected speech to the pair of us. “You two represent everything our two races need to learn. Love, acceptance, and compassion. I think you could be the two that heal the divide at last.”
“I wish my pack felt the same way,” Thor sighed, shaking his head.
“They will,” Nana replied. “Show them a good example and they’ll come to love you both. I know it.” She looked over the pair of us, a big smile on her face. “If an old werewolf hunter like me can love and accept you both, there’s no reason they can’t do it too.”
“Thanks, Nana,” I smiled back. “It means so much to me.”
“To both of us,” Thor added.
“Change becomes easier with time. So just keep your chin up, okay?”
I nodded. “I will.”
“And you,” Nana said, pointing a threatening finger at Thor. “You be good to my baby, alright? I may not look like much but I’m still a good shot.”
“Nana!” I barked.
She smiled mischievously. “I gotta protect my kin, don’t I? I’m not really gonna shoot him.” She glanced up at Thor. “As long as he’s good.”
“You have my solemn promise,” Thor replied before I could say anything. “Flynn will have everything he deserves and more.”
“Good. That’s the way it should be.” She looked to me. “And you take care of this big idiot too, alright? A leader is only as good as his spouse.”
My heart skipped a beat. “We’re not married.”
“Not yet,” she corrected. Before I could retort, she pulled herself to her feet, tapping her cane on the floor. “Well, it’s past my bedtime children. Sleep well.”