Page 53 of Baldr's Secret Mate

“Shh,” I soothed, running a hand through his damp hair. “You're okay. We're okay. And you will be fine without me. I promise.”

“You don’t know that…”

“I may not be able to see that future,” I said, kissing his forehead. “But I know how strong and powerful you are. You’re going to be just fine and you’ll find happiness. And I’ll be right there, watching over you, and cheering you on the entire way.” I kissed him again. “I can promise you that.”

He was silent, unable to speak through the sobs that wracked his body. But, after a few more moments, Mist's breathing steadied, and he pulled back slightly to look up at me. His eyes were still red and his cheeks stained with tears, but there was determination there too.

“We need to keep going,” he said, his voice stronger now. “We can't stay here.”

He seemed like he’d decided something, although what, I had no clue. Instead of questioning him about it, I decided to take this burst of confidence as a blessing. Mist would need it to reach the ledge and the cavern above.

I nodded, relief washing over me. “That's right. We're almost there. Just a little further and we'll be inside the mountain. Then we can go home.”

Slowly, we started moving again. The path grew even narrower as we neared the cavern entrance, forcing us to press our backs against the slick rock face and inch our way forward. The wind howled louder, as if trying to push us back, but we pressed on. Water poured down around us, chilling my fingers tothe bone. But I knew we couldn’t stop. Not now when we were so close.

Mist's face was set in grim determination behind me, his eyes fixed on the cavern ahead. I could feel his fear through our bond, but it was overshadowed by a fierce resolve. Whatever decision he'd made down on that ledge, it was driving him forward now with a strength I hadn't seen before. There was nothing he couldn’t do, and I pitied anything or anyone that stood in his way.

As we approached the final stretch, the path disappeared entirely, leaving us with a sheer rock face to climb. I went first, testing each handhold carefully before pulling myself up. Eventually, with no small amount of effort, I pulled myself up and over the ledge, panting. Turning over on my belly, I hung my upper half over the ledge, beckoning for him to follow.

“Just follow my path,” I called. “You can do it!”

Mist nodded, his jaw set with determination. He reached up, grasping the first handhold I had used. His muscles strained as he pulled himself up, searching for the next grip with his foot. I watched intently, ready to grab him if he slipped. But at the moment, he was too far out of reach. I just needed him to be a few feet closer.

Inch by inch, Mist made his way up the rock face. His progress was slow but steady, each movement carefully calculated. I could see the concentration etched on his face, sweat beading on his brow despite the chilly mist surrounding us. He struggled to find his footing more than once, but he never stopped progressing steadily upward.

As he neared the top, I reached out my hand. “You're almost there,” I encouraged. “Just a little further.”

I leaned out as far as I dared as Mist closed in, my hand outstretched. Our fingertips brushed, then clasped, a burst of electricity shooting through my body. With a final burst ofstrength, I hauled him up and over the edge. We collapsed together on the ledge, our chests heaving with exertion and relief.

For a moment, we simply lay there, catching our breath. The roar of the waterfall seemed distant now, muffled by the cavern walls. Mist’s face was resting on my chest, rising and falling with each heaving breath I took. He wrapped his arms around me as if he were worried that I’d suddenly disappear. I returned the gesture, knowing he needed the support right now. Of course, it was me that was marching toward death, but once I was dead, there was nothing to worry about. Mist was the one staring down a brand new life that would now be full of grief. And for that, I pitied him more than anyone I’d ever met.

As we lay there, I couldn't help but feel a deep stabbing guilt. This was the exact reason I’d tried so hard not to become his mate. I had tried so hard to protect Mist from this pain, but in the end, I had only made it worse. The bond between us was now unbreakable, and I knew that my impending death would leave a void in his life that nothing could fill. I’d given him freedom and then enslaved him with guilt for the rest of his life. It made me feel like I was no better than Tyr.

Slowly, I sat up, pulling Mist with me. His eyes met mine, and I saw a mixture of love, fear, and determination in them. I cupped his face in my hands, my thumbs gently wiping away the tears that had begun to fall.

“I'm so sorry,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I never wanted to hurt you like this.”

Mist shook his head, his hand coming up to cover mine. “Don't apologize,” he said firmly. “I wouldn't trade this for anything. The time I’ve spent with you was better than anything I could’ve ever dreamed of.” He wrapped his arms around me, sobs quaking his body. “I’m gonna miss you so much, Baldr.”

“I know, baby.” It was all I could say because no words would ever make it better. “I know.”

Eventually I had to get to my feet, gently pulling Mist with me. His arms remained locked around my waist, his face buried in my abdomen as he sat there on his knees. I could feel his tears soaking through my shirt, mingling with the mist and sweat that already clung to the fabric.

“Mist,” I said softly, running my fingers through his damp hair as the air buzzed around us. “We need to keep moving. The portal... it's close. I can feel it.”

He didn’t reply, but he allowed me to pull him to his feet. We stood there on the ledge, the cavern entrance looming before us, dark and foreboding. The jagged stone teeth framing the opening seemed to gnash at us, as if warning us away. But we had come too far to turn back now. Besides, I wasn’t afraid of another wolf. Even if Fenrir was real, we were kin and that meant I was welcome here. Mist, as my mate, would be too according to the spirits. It was enough to drive me forward toward my destiny.

I took Mist's hand in mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Together,” I said softly.

He nodded, his eyes still red-rimmed but determined. “Together.”

We stepped into the cavern, leaving the roar of the waterfall behind us. The sudden silence was almost deafening. Our footsteps echoed off the damp stone walls as we made our way deeper into the mountain's belly. A swift river flowed not ten feet to our left, the same one we’d been following since the moment we arrived in Asgard. It seemed it had been our guide all along.

The air grew colder and staler the further we went. I could feel Mist shivering beside me, his hand tightening around mine. I pulled him closer, trying to share what little warmth Ihad left. Darkness seemed to press in around us and before long I had to shift into my wolf form just to see anything. Mist kept his hand firmly in my fur as I led him into the void.

The darkness seemed to stretch on endlessly, our steps echoing in the vast emptiness. I relied on my enhanced wolf senses to guide us, the faint scent of water and stone our only markers. Mist's grip on my fur tightened with each step, his breath coming in short, nervous gasps. The only thing I could see was the golden thread in front of me, leading me forward toward whatever end it had determined.

Suddenly, a faint glow appeared in the distance. At first, I thought it might be a trick of the light, a reflection off the damp cave walls. But as we drew closer, the glow intensified, pulsing with an otherworldly energy that made my fur stand on end.

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