Chapter 18

Sten grabbed a plate of food and joined me in the living area. Erik had joined me on the couch as Frode and Rune went outside to train. Rumors had been spreading about another possible rogue that they would need to handle further north.

As Sten explained about my magic he ate quickly. He talked fast between bites. Clearly, research was his passion, learning more about anything he could magic related. I smiled and did my best to pay attention.

Erik made that extremely difficult. I was sitting on the couch, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. The position left a space behind my back, where Erik’s arm had taken residence. This left his hand to wrap around my hips where his fingers had begun to draw abstract patterns. The warmth of his body combined with the tingles of his touch through the material of my leggings pulled on my attention.

“Are you listening, Astrid?” Sten snapped, noticing that once again my attention was not on his words.

“I’m trying.” I said, elbowing Erik in the side.

Sten’s gaze shot his brother as a growl echoed through the room.

“I don’t interrupt your trainings.” He snapped at Erik.

Erik held his hands up and moved over so he wasn’t touching me.

“I apologize, Sten.” Erik said with a grin that was less than apologetic.

With a final glare, Sten brought his attention back to me. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, his shoulders slumping. After a moment he raised his face back to me.

“Okay, Astrid. I’ll summarize for now, and you look over what material I found later. You’re a Seer, an old magic of prophecy. It’s like Empath magic, which why you’re more sensitive to emotions than a regular shifter. The difference between you and me is that while I can manipulate emotions you can sense more of an intension or happening. Strong Seers can even see past events from a scene. Does that make sense?” He asks.

“Yep. So, what do I do? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve never purposely used my magic. It just happens.” I say, meeting his gaze.

“We’ll start with learning to clear your mind. Then slowly we can try to access your power. Control is essential, both for magic and shifting. Your back isn’t ready for shifting yet, but we can work on focus and meditation. A lot of magic can be used with imagery.” Sten said with a shrug.

“So, meditation? That’s the magical training?” I ask with an eyebrow raised.

“It’s harder than it sounds, princess.” Sten replied.

“Alright, show me.” I said, not realizing just what I was asking for.

We spent the next half an hour trying to clear our minds. Erik and Sten made it look easy. I sat there, unable to focus, distracted by every little sound, every shift that one of my mates made.

“It’s not that hard, Astrid.” Erik mumbled.

“I’m just restless.” I huffed quietly.

“Whispering is still talking, princess.” Sten said.

“This clearly isn’t working. I’m suggesting a break.” Erik said, standing and pulling me along with him.

Sten looked at me with a scowl, but I only had time to give him a small smile before Erik hauled me up the stairs. He led me to the bedroom and shut the door before caging me in against it.

“Your restlessness maybe my fault.” Erik said as he nuzzled my neck with his nose.

“Oh?” I asked, unable to focus enough to say anything more.

“I focused my thoughts on you.” He said as he kissed neck below my ear.

“Mhmm.” I struggled to form sentences with him so close and his lips pressing kisses up my neck.

“In this room, in the bed.” His breath was warm in my ear.

His lips closed around my earlobe before he gently nipped it with his teeth.

“Do you want to guess at what we were doing?” He released my earlobe to press kisses along my jaw.

“N-No.” I stammered, my face heat as my core clenched.

“Let me give you a hint. It started like the dream from the car, just minus Rune.” He murmured against my lips.

My mind wandered as his hand moved from the door to my shoulder down to my waist. The dream from the car involved him and Rune in the bed. Their hands explored my body, as I explored theirs. We hadn’t gotten very far before I was woken up in the backseat. I wondered how far we had gone in his daydream. A sharp in my bottom lip pulled my mind back to the present.

“As much as I’d love to know where your pretty little mind just went, I’d rather it was here with me and what I’m doing.” He growled against my lips.

He pressed closer careful to keep his weight off me and my still tender back. His lips claimed mine in a bruising kiss. I groaned and pressed just as hard into him. He pulled back and grinned, his hand finding mine as he moved backwards to the bed.

Sitting on the edge of the bed he pulled me between his legs. He kissed me again, before he leaned back and pulled me gently back with him, so I was pressed against his stomach. He grinned, and laid there, letting me decide what was to come next.

My nerves flared, kicking up a fluttering in my stomach. I opened and shut my mouth. I’d never been in charge before and felt like a fish out of water.

A warm hand settled on my cheek, and I lifted my gaze to Erik’s. He smiled softly and lifted his head to meet me in a gentle kiss. His lips matched mine, and he slowly laid his back down, bringing my own with him.

I moved my lips over his one last time before moving to his jaw and following the curve to his ear. I nipped at his lobe before FI moved down his neck. I scrapped me teeth over the spot I’d seen other wolves’ marks, before I pulled the skin into my mouth.

Erik’s hands tightened on my waist, and he groaned. I smiled against his skin and ran my tongue over the spot before kissing it one last time. My hand slid down his chest to where his shirt met his pants on his stomach. I moved my gaze to his and he smiled, I took it as approval and start lifting his shirt.

He leaned forward, making sure I was secure on his lap before reaching behind his head to pull his shirt up and over his head. We grinned at each other before my eyes moved over his face, down his neck to his chest, where I froze.

Three pink, shiny lines were on his chest. Scars from me, from my lack of control. Pain and confusion filled me. It’s rare that shifters are wounded badly enough to scar. I scrambled off his lap and took a step back, but his hand caught mine. My eyes burned with unshed tears.

“Don’t. Astrid. Stop.” He pleaded as I pulled my hand from his.

Turning to leave the room I stopped quick seeing Sten in the doorway, his arms crossed. He wasn’t going to let me through. I stopped and stared at the floor. F

“I’m not mad, Astrid, I hold no bad feelings, anger, or resentment against you. I’ve forgiven you; you need to it within you forgive yourself. I’m fine, I’m whole.” He said, taking my hand and pressing it against his warm skin.

His eyes searched mine, I’m sure he didn’t find what he wanted. I nodded and he pressed his lips to my forehead. I gently kissed his chest and stepped away. Sten stepped back but looked at me with his eyebrows raised.

“We won’t let you lock yourself away again.” He warned as I walked to the room I’d first claimed as mine.

I shut the door and felt the first tears I’d been holding back fall. I collapsed in the chair, ignoring the burn of my back. A sob escaped from me before I was able muffle it. I dropped my forehead to my knees and cried.

The bedroom door flung open, and I caught the scent of pine and soap. Frode. I ignored him, but heard the door shut and his heavy, but sure footsteps make their way to me. He scooped me up, carefully to avoid my healing skin.

Stepping to the bed, he sat down and leaned back against the headboard. He settled me on his lap and pressed my head to his chest. He held me as I cried into his chest, running his hands over me in a soothing manner, but staying quiet as I cried.