Filed to story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
“That’s enough!” Fenrir raised his hand, and they heard thunder rumbling behind the window again. “I came here to inform you so that you don’t spend every day of your life drawing witch traps for me. Tell Salome that it’s not funny, by the way. And keep the trinket she gave you. It will be useful one day.”
He sensed they had one of the witch’s old amulets.
Their gazes snapped back to him, confused and frustrated.
“When the time comes, bring Callista to my cave in the mountains. I am sure you know which one.” Fenrir turned on his heels and started walking away. “She will be safe, but this is all I can promise you.”
He felt like they had enough for one day. There was nothing to speak of for now, as he needed them to process the information. Not to mention, that he desperately wanted to return to Astrea.
For now, this matter was done.
Fenrir closed his eyes and thought of his little dragonfly, transporting back to his bedroom.
However, when he opened his eyes, he was surrounded by darkness, swearing loudly because this time the trap was a bit better.
“F*cking Gleipnir!” he muttered, realising that he was now stuck in this void of a place, locked inside his own portal until he can break the chain that caught him the second he left the King and Queen of the North.
ASGARD
“How dare you, Scum?” Vidar’s roar echoed through the golden halls of the Asgardian palace. “She is mine! You took what belongs to me!”
Fenrir did not want to grace that nonsense with a response.
Astraea wasn’t a property for anyone to own.
He was worried for her, remembering how scared and startled she looked when this monster stormed into the temple where they made love, devouring her with his greedy eyes while trying to kill him. It was an ugly fight, and Fenrir would have probably killed that annoying son of Odin if other gods didn’t interfere and if the Moon Goddess didn’t appear to take Astraea away.
“What have you done?” Tyr whispered, trying to subdue and bring him back to his senses. However, that day wasn’t when Fenrir wanted to lay low. He didn’t know if a day like this would grace this world again. He was done with quiet submission.
Hearing Vidar spouting Astraea’s name made him want to wipe the damned Asgard from the face of all nine realms.
Enough was enough!
They called the Divine Council to decide what to do with all this. They would judge him, and he had no doubts that they wanted to get his apologies, including an oath never to approach Astraea again.
An oath they were not going to get.
Over his dead body
The Allfather was sitting on his throne and watching the scandal unfold with a stern expression.
“Selene gave Astraea to me! She is my bride, and now she is my fated mate. He had no right to-” Vidar’s voice faltered.
“Defile the Goddess?” Heimdall scoffed, offering the end of the sentence.
The words made Fenrir even more furious, flames filling his insides, ready to burst out any moment. It was so hard to control the hellfire coursing through his bloodstream, and the Asgardians weren’t helping.
“Do you even need her now, brother?” Heimdall continued with a sneer. “She was supposed to be a virgin goddess, after all. And now she is spoilt goods-“
“Enough!” Freyja walked inside with her entourage, passing Fenrir without sparing him a glance. She was a kind goddess, he always knew that, but for some reason, she was never kind to him and he could never understand why.
“Thank you for joining us, Freyja,” Odin welcomed her as she took her grand seat not far from him.
“I would ask everyone to choose their words!” She warned them, her eyes glowing just for a second, reminding them she wasn’t just a goddess of love and fertility. She could quickly turn into a warrior who almost won the war between the gods. Who knew if she wouldn’t be the one to sit on the throne if they didn’t agree to a peace treaty.
That finally made Heimdall close his mouth and bow in respect.
“Astraea was given to me!” Vidar stepped forward again. “
She is mine. And I don’t plan to refuse such a gift! I am only demanding what is just.”
For a silent prick, he was talkative today.
“She is not a thing to be given!” Fenrir retorted, letting them know that he had an opinion too. “She didn’t choose you!
She chose me, and I-“
“How dare you interrupt my son?” Odin’s voice rumbled through the room. He was imposing when he wanted to be, but Fenir was not going to back down.
“It’s irrelevant who he is!” The young wolf thundered, shocking everyone with his resistance. They were not used to seeing this side of him. “It’s about her and her choice!
She is a goddess too! Just like you all. She doesn’t need anyone’s permission!”
“Is that why you are speaking on her behalf?” Freyja seemed angry. “She doesn’t need our permission, but she needs your useless claim? Tell me, Fenrir, what are you going to offer her?”
That was a low blow because, unlike Vidar, Odin’s son and one of his heirs, Fenrir had nothing to boast but his strength.
“I already offered her my love and protection,” he announced, raising his head high. “And she accepted.”
“Too bad she is my mate now!” Vidar gritted his teeth. “She did not object when her mother bound us for life! Which tells me that she must have been deceived by you!”
If looks could kill, Fenrir would probably be already beheaded by now.
“That was her mother’s decision! Not hers! It doesn’t count!” He argued, clenching his fists. If Vidar wanted to fight, he was ready to give him that. “Take her mother then if you like this mate bond thing so much-“
“Shut up!” Odin bellowed the words in a fit of rage. “Is this all a joke for you?”
“On the contrary,” Fenrir growled. “This is the first time ever asked for anything! Astraea and I-“
“You ask for my bride!” Vidar charged at him, and this time, Heimdall had to hold him back from a physical confrontation.
“She doesn’t even love you! Why are you so-“
“She will never be with a dog like you!” One of the other gods spat. He didn’t even know who, but it didn’t matter much. They were all the same.,
Fenrir was about to send them all to his sister Hel when the tall doors behind him opened, filling the room with a serene glow. He could feel her with his bones, his heart racing with anticipation.
Selene and Helios entered the Golden Hall first. Astraea followed right after, the attention of every Asgardian on her.
She was as beautiful as ever, with her long glowing hair adorned with diamonds and silver threads. Their eyes locked, and he could finally breathe out because he could tell that nothing changed for her. She loved him today the same as she did yesterday.
And he would burn Asgard for her if he had to. Especially if they were asking for it.
The silence was unbearable as the three Olympians stood soaking in everyone’s attention.
“Welcome,” Odin greeted them. For once, even the Allfather didn’t know what to say. They all needed the alliance, but the situation was tricky.
“Thank you for accepting us here today once again,” Helios flashed his blinding smile, but the tension was too strong for anyone to reciprocate it.
“We want to say that-” Selene spoke, but Astraea stepped forward.
“My apologies. I am the one at fault here,” she announced loud enough for everyone to heár.
Gasps and whispers filled the Golden Hall. Everyone was astonished by the brazen little goddess.
“What are you talking about, child,” Freyja smiled. “We have all been young once. There is nothing to apologise for.
Having a lover is not a crime for a god. In your lifetime, you will have many.”
A growl escaped Fenrir’s chest, and Odin sent him a warning glare. At the same time, Vidar frowned, folding his hands over his chest. His eyes did not leave Astraea, and Fenrir wanted to gauge them.
“I only want one” the goddess of stars replied politely, and a few chuckles followed. They thought she was too young to understand what she was talking about, sure that they knew better.
“That’s good to hear, considering-” Odin spoke, but he was bluntly interrupted.
“I am happy to provide an alliance for our realms,” Astree looked the ruler of Asgard straight in the eyes. “It’s my honour. I ask only for one thing. I want to choose my future husband myself!”