Filed to story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
Another wave of astonished gasps ripped through the room as Fenrir felt warmth spreading over his chest. She was fighting for him just as he fought for her minutes ago, alone against everyone.
“Astraea!” Selene took her daughter’s hand. “But you already have a fated mate! My gift-“
“It would have been nice if you asked me first, Mother, the starry goddess sighed. “We could have avoided all this mess.”
“Niece,” Helios tried to interfere but Astraea shook her head.
“It should be my decision and-“
“Very well!” Odin stood up from his throne. “We want a happy union, don’t we?”
This was probably the one and only thing everyone agreed ??.
“So be it, Astraea,” the Allfather nodded, the golden eye patch in his eye reflecting her glow. “Any Asgardian would be honoured to have you as his wife. And in three days, we will have a feast in your honour. You will be free to choose any eligible god.”
“Even Fenrir?” She asked, ensuring that there were no tricks.
“Yes,” Odin confirmed. “Whoever you see fit for yourself on that day. The choice is yours.”
“That’s- Thank you.” A smile curled her lips.
“Forgive my niece for being so… difficult,” Helios also produced a charming smile despite his ugly words.
Fenrir wanted to get to her, but Tyr stepped in his way.
“Not now.” He whispered, offering his friend a new cup of wine.
“Too many witnesses, and Vidar is still here.”
Fenrir caught another gaze from Astraea, and she didn’t walk to him either, realising that keeping her distance for three days wasn’t such a bad idea. They have offended enough people today to display their affections publicly.
All they had to do was just wait three days.
“Can I speak with you in private?” Selene asked Odin and the latter nodded in response.
“Everyone dismissed!” The ruler waved them off, and although Fenir didn’t like that those two wanted to speak without anyone present, he could also understand why they had to.
On top of that, he wanted to see Astraea, and he knew there would be only one way to do it.
***
Fenrir used every hidden path he knew to avoid being seen as he went straight to the Starry Garden.
It stood empty, and he waited for quite some time in their usual spot before he realised she probably couldn’t get out.
Although disappointing, the day ended very well, and he couldn’t complain.
The desire to see Astraea and claim her again was clouding his mind, but he knew that after years he spent here alone, three days were nothing.
He was about to leave when her voice stopped him.
“Fenrir!” Astraea appeared with her elegant skirt in her hands, ankles visible to his sight, evoking all kinds of sinful thoughts in his head. He knew she was running here by the way her chest rose and fell, and he opened his arms for her as she closed the distance between them, pulling her as close as he could without hurting her.
“What do you do with me, my little star?” He kissed the tip of her head while she tucked her face in his chest.
“Tell me it’s going to be alright,” she whispered.
“Astraea,” he cupped her chin and made her look at him, “I will die before I let them separate us.”
“You aren’t exactly helping the case!” She shook her head.
“Forgive me, my love.” He leaned down to claim her lips in a gentle kiss, feeling how agitated she was. He wanted to reassure her and give her strength. After all, didn’t he promise to protect her?
“Give me your hand,” the wolf signed, watching her eyes widen.
“What are you doing?” The little goddess gasped when she saw him slide his bracelet onto her. Both rows of precious beads were given to him by his father and collected personally when opportunities presented themselves. ” Fenrir, no,” she tried to protest. “These mean so much to you.”
“And you mean everything to me!” he countered. “I want you to have it. In that way, you always have a piece of me with you.”
She brightened a bit and he knew he did the right thing.
“Fenrir’ Astraea whispered so that he could barely hear her.
*1 love you.”
*I love you too.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“I can’t say I trust any of them,” she confessed, unwilling to distance herself from him.
“Out of everyone here, I only trust Tyr,” Fenrir admitted. “He is the only one who I can call a friend.”
“Do you think he would help us if the worst happened?”
He didn’t know what to answer, because deep inside, he wasn’t so sure.
“I can speak to him about it first,” Fenrir suggested, and his beloved nodded.
“Try that. We need any help we can get.”
***
“That’s quite a mess you’ve caused,” Tyr leaned over the doorframe to his study.
“That’s one way of looking at it,” Fenrir replied with a chuckle, putting aside the book he was reading. It didn’t help to distract him anyway. “How can I help you?”
“I am afraid I am the one who has to help you,” Tyr smirked, waving for Fenrir to join him. “It’s best if no one sees you these three days. Everyone is fuming, and anything can happen.”
“What are you offering exactly?” The wolf arched his brow lazily.
“Help me test my new invention,” Tyr smiled, but for some reason, that smile didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s in a nearby cave, and no one can see it until it’s done.”
“Another one?” Fenrir rolled his eyes, but deep inside, he was happy that the god of war needed his assistance. It was a perfect opportunity for that conversation, away from this place where even the walls had ears.
“If I am correct, this chain will be enough to subdue Odin himself,” Tyr shrugged. “But I need someone like you to tell me for sure before I present it to him. Maybe such a gift would lift his mood up.”
“One can hope,” Fenrir snorted, standing up. “Show me the way!”
***
They walked deep into the mountains, and the further they went, the less Fenrir liked the idea.
“How far away is this exactly?” he asked his friend.
“We are almost there,” Tyr replied without looking into his eyes. He tried not to read too much into this. They are always doing things like this, yet something felt off today.
“Is everything fine?” He wanted to hear the confirmation. He needed it.
“Yeah, sure,” Tyr insisted, letting out a laugh just like usual.
“If anything is wrong, you can take my arm off.”
“What would I do with your arm?” Fenir burst out laughing
“Only scratch my ass, but it’s too good for your hands.” They joked some more on their way to the caves entrance, and Fenrir was relieved that all his worry was just in his imagination.
Until something heavy bound his feet without any forewarning, and then his thighs, getting his hands too before he could do anything about it.