The Winter

Chapter 12

Should you always stand your ground, or is it better to know when to bow down?

Chapter 12

"Step away," Caldar called out. "Get back to Astrid."

But I couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead of throwing Vali towards the snapping, hungry teeth of our Alpha, I yanked the slender male with surprising ease behind me. Chin jutting out, I planted my boots firmly in the snow and made it clear I would let no harm come to our guest. The scouts hesitated at my decision. Hati, however, snarled and snapped his teeth so hard together, the sound resounded around my skull.

"He came to be heard," I said, my voice stern, while my legs trembled.

Facing up to my mate was terrifying even if I knew he wouldn't hurt me. The darkness in his gaze as he stopped a breath away from me, so close his nose nearly touched my own, had me fighting not to submit. I was his mate, I reminded myself, his equal.

A puff of warm air billowed against me with his every breath, and still I stood my ground, refusing to remove my gaze from his. I tried not to waver as another growl tore from the depths of his chest, the sound vibrating into my very marrow. It both sparked exhilaration and sent a jolt of fear up my spine.

"I think you should hear him out," I said. "Find fault with anything he says or does and I will happily help you do whatever you want to him. He shouldn't have hidden from the patrols and toyed with Caldar. He knows that, don't you Vali?"

The male spluttered behind me before managing to choke out, "Yes, I know. I apologise. I'm a creature of habit, I just couldn't help myself."

Hati's blazing gaze cut to his uncle, and Vali quickly ducked back behind me again.

"Habits can be broken of course!" he offered, clutching onto my sleeve.

Another chuff from Hati. I could smell Vali's fear, but I didn't take pleasure in it like my mate did, though he did seem to be thinking on my words or I imagine he'd have attacked by now.

"This is madness, Alpha, you can't be thinking of allowing him inside our walls." Caldar came striding over with his hand gripping the hilt of the sword at his hip as if he wished to use it, rage and disbelief drawing his expression. "Darkness clings to him like a second skin. I can smell it. He'll only bring us trouble and grief. Even if he's done with Sköll, there are others he might pass on our secrets to who would seek to cause us harm."

"That may be," I agreed. "But that doesn't change the fact he deserves his chance to speak."

Something flickered across the Beta's expression. Shock perhaps. He wasn't the only one; the warriors still backing their Alpha in fur snapped and rumbled unhappily. I didn't understand myself why I was sticking my neck out for a known killer,

Brother killer.

Oighrig had warned me about his arrival but was that enough for me to cast him out?

No. I couldn't. If we didn't allow those who'd made mistakes to have a chance, we were no better than the Gods.

"Where else could he have gone after what Odin cursed with but to Sköll?" I murmured, searching my mate's gaze for some chink in his armour. "You're proving now you wouldn't have taken him in. He might have killed, but we know under what circumstances. They aren't much different to yours, Hati, a ghaoil. Let him plead his case, then make your decision, it doesn't mean we have to trust him."

My skin crawled as Vali peered over my shoulder. "I know Sköll is planning an attack. A distraction. It would be dangerous if his plan succeeded. I know about his eyes here too. I could help you find them."