Page 43 of Wolf Marked

Near her father’s tent, a group of musicians sat, playing their instruments in a rhythmic and uplifting song. Children clapped their hands to the beat of the music, while couples joined hands and danced around the fire’s edge, pounding their feet and throwing their hands into the air. A crowd had already formed around the commotion, and more people began to wander over, filling in all the empty spaces.

Excitement coursed through Astrid. The amount of joy surrounding her, radiating off every pack member’s aura, made her insides hum. Celebrations this grand were rare, usually saved for the night after the Blue Moon when mates who’d survived the curse were announced and accepted. But they had another two weeks before the Blue Moon, so whyall the merriment?

Astrid strolled around the many onlookers, some already swaying from drinking too much spiced ale. Like always, a few pack members trotted around in their wolf forms, more comfortable in fur rather than skin. She spotted her father sitting on one of the logs circling the fire beside the musicians. Bec sat on his left, and Filip and Mila were on his right, with their son cradled in Mila’s arms. It made her think of Stefan, and Astrid’s gaze swept around the many familiar faces. She found Dana toward one of the tents, grinning broadly as she bounced little Stefan in perfect time with the music’s steady beat. Mother and son reunited at last. It was one of the most beautiful sights Astrid had ever seen.

When she approached her father and brother, something struck her, making her hesitate. Why was Filip here, in front of all the pack? He had told her moments ago that he was avoiding any interactions in fear of his alpha wolf being discovered and causing more confusion. Yet here he was.

Then another thought hit her just as hard.Is Filip going to challenge Father?

Her chest constricted as panic set in.Here? Now?

When Father’s gaze found her, he stood and beckoned her over with a wave of his hand. Spine stiff, she walked over. He offered her his seat by her brother and she sat down. Her nerves skidded across her skin, raising goose bumps.

Astrid watched her father march to the bonfire and turn to face his people. He held out his hands, and the musicians stopped playing. An eerie silence settled over the pack.

“What’s going on?” she whispered to her brother, but he shushed her.

Then, in front of the many curious onlookers, Boden raised his arms out to Filip, a grin lifting the wiry whiskers above his lips. “My son,” he started. Filip rose to his feet and joined his father’s side. Boden placed a meaty hand on his shoulder. “It brings me great joy that this day has finally come—the day my son takes my place.”

Astrid held her breath. Could it be? Father was stepping down? Was he handing over his alpha gift to his son? Her insides warmed. Father must have really thought Filip deserved the title to give it to him willingly. And that meant no challenge, no fight. She expelled a sigh of relief and met her brother’s gaze.

He pulled his shoulders back and smiled, proud. He didn’t need to say a word; the emotion in his face said it all.“See, I told you not to worry. It all worked out.”

Boden’s voice boomed in the stillness. “Filip is now your alpha.” He paused, peering down at his son with so much admiration, Astrid’s heart swelled with pride. “As well asmine.”

With those words, Astrid sensed the alpha aura receding from her father. She saw it, too—the golden glow around him dimmed, while Filip’s grew in size and strength. Boden had renounced his position of alpha to not only the pack, but to the sky spirits as well. The air around her brother sizzled with energy as new power gathered and encased him.

There were shouts and cheers from the crowd. The ones in wolf form pointed their noses into the air and let out a harmonious howl at the stars. Astrid clapped so hard, her palms stung. Her brother deserved this. He had wanted to be alpha for as long as she could remember.

When the familiar twitter-like whistle resounded behind her, she glanced over her shoulder to see Erec standing beside her father’s tent. He gave her one of his famous smirks, his midnight blue eyes heavy with the same hunger she’d seen before. His gaze lingered on her long enough to raise heat to her cheeks. Even knowing that there could be deadly secrets he was keeping, she couldn’t stop the burning sensation building inside her. She spun back around, terrified of the power he had over her. How was it that he could make desire pulse through her veins with just a simple look?

The question stayed with her for the rest of the night, hovering in the back of her mind despite the hours of heavy drinking, dancing, and laughing. Astrid had joined in the merriment, jumping up to her feet as soon as her brother beckoned to her. She missed the nights of music and good company like this; she had always loved to dance. It made her feel…free.

Since her mother’s death, things had changed within their pack. Celebrations like this were few and far between. But as she swayed her hips to the rhythm, she was untouchable by any of her fears, by the curse, by the painful memory of her mother’s death. Even if only for a moment. It was liberating, and she spun and twisted and rocked as the booming beat drowned out all other noise.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Even Henrick asked her to make a few turns around the fire with him. The man didn’t normally smile, but when he danced with Astrid, his grin spread ear to ear. She guessed the four pints of spiced ale had helped a little.

A warm tingle was spreading over every inch of her skin, and her head was pleasantly light. Every so often, she would glance across the flames to find Erec still there, where he’d been before, beside her father’s tent. His eyes would catch the glow of the fire as he watched her, and every time, a shiver ran down her spine.

As the night pressed on, the numbers began to dwindle as families drifted back to their tents. Even Filip and Mila had left to return to their son, and her father had turned in at midnight. The loud rumble of voices softened to whispers as the few remaining men and women enjoyed the last of the festivities. The musicians’ song changed; the steady boom of their drums, accompanied with the hypnotic drone of a horn and the chime of bells, filled the air with a sensual melody. Something inside Astrid changed, too. As she danced by the heat and the glow of the fire, her wolf stirred, wanting something more primal, more physical.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, inhaling the scents that swirled around her. The atmosphere was heavy with the rich aroma of sweat, fire, and lust, and she let it soak into her pores, a richness that promised a night of pleasure and more primal indulgences.

Maybe it was all the spiced ale she’d drunk over the last few hours—she didn’t know, but the more she swayed to the rhythm of the music, the more she hungered for a partner. The more her body craved to be touched.

Erec…

She opened her eyes, peering into the shadows beside her father’s tent where she’d seen Erec standing before, only to see the spot empty. She frowned, and her stomach sank. He must have gone to bed, like the others.

Astrid stopped dancing, contemplating whether or not she should return to her tent herself. Her head was swimming from the mixture of the drink and the heightened arousal thrumming through her. But before she could even take another step, hot breath tickled her ear, and the scents of smoke and spicy cedar filled her nose—Erec. His calloused hands slid up and down her sides, fingers gliding across the bare skin under her sweater, until they finally rested on her hips. They gripped her there and tugged her backward, until his hard length pressed against her bottom.

Her wolf whimpered in recognition, and an ache began to grow between her thighs. Erec’s fingers dug into her hips, forcing them to move with his in an all too teasing dance. Even with the fabric separating them, she could feel the size of him, large and firm, ready for her.

She swallowed roughly. It was too easy to think about how he would feel inside her, stretching her. She had only been with one other wolf shifter before—when she was young, stupid, and looking for a little fun against her father’s wishes—but she knew that quick escapade would be nothing like a night with Erec. Unlike the clumsy boy from her juvenile years, Erec’s movements were so slow, so sexual, that they made Astrid shudder.It only heightened her desire for him.

“May I join in on this dance?” he whispered against her ear. The huskiness to his tone sent shivers down her spine.

She didn’t need to answer. Her body was moving in perfect time with his, grinding against his pelvis. The steady beat of the drums vibrated through her entire being, urging her on. More. There would be no pulling away this time.

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