Page 7 of The Orc's Stolen Bride

"I thought weddings were supposed to ease the mating tension." Lothar spoke casually but he kept a watchful eye on Wulf.

"This wasn't a traditional ceremony," Egon said with a flash of the dry humor he rarely allowed to surface. He nodded to the bed roll that Lothar had laid out to one side of the fire. "It's been a long night, Wulf. Take your bride and rest. We will keep watch."

The rational part of his brain knew that he must be acting oddly for Egon to feel the need to reassure him; however, the irrational part of his brain was completely focused on the soft, warm woman in his arms and the need to protect her. Realizing that he was nearing his limits, he moved cautiously to the pallet and laid down. He curled his body tightly around Kari's, watching his brothers warily as they stood unmoving on the other side of the fire. She felt so good in his arms, so right. Burying his nose in the sweet scent of her hair, his body finally relaxed. As the tension left him, exhaustion settled in. Unable to fight it any longer, he put his trust in his brothers and drifted off to sleep.

A soft sound woke him some time later, and as consciousness fully returned, he realized the noise came from Kari, her small form trembling against him. Each quiet sobs twisted like a knife in his gut as guilt swept over him. He'd prayed for salvation, and the Old Gods had answered. But at what cost? His fragile human bride now wept in his arms.

He tightened his arms around heri, desperate to offer some form of comfort, and gentled stroked her back. She stiffened at his touch and for a moment he feared she'd pull away. Instead, she buried her face against his chest, her tears soaking through his tunic. Her small fingers clutched at the fabric as if it were a lifeline.

Egon was sitting next to the dying embers of their campfire, a massive silhouette against the night as he kept watch. Their eyes met and he saw a reflection of his own sorrow and guilt in his brother's eyes but there was no condemnation on his face. Egon raised a brow, silently offering his assistance, but Wulf shook his head. His brother nodded and looked down into the fire, giving them the small amount of privacy possible in the tiny camp.

Kari's sobs gradually subsided, her breathing evening out as exhaustion claimed her. Still, he held her close, his hand tracing a soothing path down her back. He wished he could talk to her, to speak words of comfort, to explain, to apologize. But the language barrier stood between them and all he could offer was his presence.

She eventually slipped into a fitful sleep but he remained awake for much longer. There had to be a way to make this right, to ease her fear and sorrow. He was still trying to come up with an answer when he finally joined her in sleep.

CHAPTER FIVE

Kari's eyes flew open, her heart racing as she jolted upright. Sunlight streamed through a canopy of leaves overhead, dappling the forest floor around her. The crisp mountain air bit at her skin, a stark contrast to Charleston's humid warmth, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog from her mind.

The events of the previous night came rushing back – the icy lake, the enormous green-skinned men, the realization that she was no longer on Earth. Fighting back a wave of panic, she cast a frantic look around. She sat on a makeshift bed of furs, a woven blanket covering her lap, surrounded by the towering trees. A small fire crackled nearby, wisps of smoke curling into the morning sky.

Wulf sat a short distance away, his massive frame hunched over as he sharpened an enormous knife. The sunlight slanting through the trees glinted off the blade and highlighted the sharp angles of his face and the wicked curve of his tusks. Beside him, Lothar gestured animatedly, his voice rising and falling in what sounded like an argument, but one that seemed more playful than serious. Wulf only shook his head and ignored him, a small smile twisting his lips as kept his attention on his task.

Seeing both of them so clearly, her mind finally supplied a name for them - orcs. It seemed impossible, but then everything about her situation was impossible. Part of her wanted to sneak away, to run and find somewhere to hide from these intimidating men, but instead she found herself studying Wulf. Despite their differences, the strong angles of his face were oddly attractive, and there was something reassuring about his powerful frame. Those strong arms had held her so protectively when she woke in night and been overcome by her emotions. She'd felt... safe in his arms despite her fear and confusion.

Her racing heart began to slow, her panic easing as she studied him. The connection she'd felt upon first meeting him still hummed faintly in her chest, a strange warmth that both comforted and unsettled her. She hugged her knees to her chest, wrestling with her conflicting emotions. Clearly the most important thing to do now was to find a way back to her world, but a part of her, a part she didn't quite understand, was still inexplicably drawn to him.

Lothar threw up his arms, apparently giving up on the argument. He shot her a quick, mischevious glance, then strode away, disappearing into the dense forest. Wulf watched him go and then her heart skipped a beat as his gaze shifted to her. His eyes held hers for a long moment and that same spark of electricity washed over her. His eyes were dark but not the brown she'd expected. Instead they were a deep, mossy green that seemed to glow slightly in the shadows beneath the trees.

He finally looked away, breaking the connection, and set aside the knife he'd been sharpening. Despite her attraction, she tensed as he rose to his full height, towering over her even from a distance. He approached slowly, his movements as deliberate and careful as if he were approaching a frightened animal. When he spoke, his deep voice rumbled through the clearing, and even though she couldn't understand what he was saying, she found herself relaxing slightly, despite her lingering fear.

He knelt beside her, his massive form still dwarfing her even as he tried to make himself less intimidating, and pulled out something out of a pouch on his belt and offered it to her. It looked exactly like an apple, and ordinary Earth apple, and the sight of something so familiar amidst all this strangeness made her chest tighten.

She hesitated for a moment, eyeing the fruit warily, but then her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since... well, since before she'd been transported to this world. Cautiously, she reached out and took the apple from his hand, careful not to touch him.

As she examined the fruit, turning it over in her hands, she also found herself sneaking peeks at him from under her lashes. His fierce appearance - the green skin, the sharp tusks, the rippling muscles - was undeniably alien. Yet there was a warmth in his eyes, a concern that seemed at odds with his warrior-like exterior.

She took a small bite of the apple, and its sweet juice flooded her mouth, the familiar taste unexpectedly comforting. He smiled at her, emphasizing those intimidating tusks, but her fear had eased and she found herself returning his smile hesitantly.

As she ate, she looked around again, noticing the unbroken expanse of trees. The enormity of her situation hit her anew as she took in the towering trees, their branches swaying gently in the cool breeze. A corresponding shiver ran down her spine. It was all so strange - or was it?

As she looked closer, she noticed familiar shapes among the foliage. Was that an oak tree? And over there, something that looked suspiciously like a pine. Moss covered the ground beneath the trees, along with thick clumps of what looked like ferns, but the vine with long purple leaves climbing the closest tree was unlike anything she'd ever seen. How could some things be so familiar and others, like the vine - and Wulf - be so different?

A parallel universe, she thought, the idea both thrilling and terrifying. It explained the similarities, yet highlighted just how far from home she truly was. Her stomach churned as she realized the implications. She'd never been much of an outdoors person - her idea of roughing it was a hotel without room service. Now, she was stranded in the middle of the wilderness in a world where even the air felt different, unfamiliar scents and sounds mingling with the familiar.

Wulf had moved over to the remains of the fire, his movements smooth and efficient, as he swiftly created a small blaze. He clearly knew how to survive out here. She, on the other hand, wouldn't have the first clue how to start a fire or find food or water. The thought sent a shiver of fear down her spine. As much as part of her wanted to run, to try and find her way back home, she knew that without Wulf and his brothers, she wouldn't last a day out here.

The extent of her dependence on these strange men was sobering. She was completely at their mercy, reliant on both their knowledge and goodwill. At least Wulf had been nothing but kind to her so far, she thought as she watched him. Maybe, just maybe, she could trust him to keep her safe in this strange new world. In which case the first step was to establish a means of communication.

She studied the remains of the fruit thoughtfully, then looked up to find Wulf watching her. Ignoring that strange little thrill when their eyes met, she held up the apple core and raised her eyebrows questioningly.

He immediately nodded and returned to her side.

"Ava," he said slowly, tapping the core.

"Ava," she repeated, the unfamiliar word feeling strange on her tongue.

She said it again, trying to mimic his pronunciation, and he nodded encouragingly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Emboldened by this small success, she looked around the camp, then pointed at the small clear fire he'd built.

---