Chapter 20

Staring out the window, I wrap my arms around me. I haven’t heard much from Frode and Rune, and I hope that only means they are busy trying to tie up any loose ends to get home tonight. Erik paces in front of the window outside, having taken a call from Frode, who stopped responding to me a few hours ago.

A glance from my mate to the house gives me the news I didn’t want. They wouldn’t be home tonight. Erik schools his expression when he sees me watching and turns so he’s facing the forest and I can’t see his face. His body is rigid, and I hope that the only bad news coming is their tardiness, but a pit settles in my stomach that argues against that.

“Watching through the window won’t speed them home any faster.” Sten says as he walks up behind me.

“They won’t be home tonight.” I murmur without taking my eyes off Erik.

“I know.” Sten presses a kiss to the back of my head as his large warm hands settle on my shoulders.

“Do you know more?” I spin around to face him.

He says nothing, but looks to the door just before Erik walks in. Erik’s eyes take us in, and he takes off his boots.

“Come, kitten. Sit with me by the fire. It’s freezing out there.” He says, holding his hand out to me.

“What did Frode say?” I ask, before we even get to the couch.

“They won’t be home tonight, but they are driving home through the night. They expect to be here for breakfast.” Erik pulls me to him and kisses the top of my head.

“There’s more. What is it?” I pull away so I can see his face.

He at least has the decency to wince as he looks to Sten.

“Just spit it out, Erik.” I growl.

“Rune was wounded. He spent the day with a healer who was able to get up there. It’ll be a long drive home, but he’s alright.” Erik said, his gaze leveling with mine.

“Is that what Frode just told you?” I asked, I’d been suspicious that he’d waiting until he was outside and out of earshot to answer his phone.

“He was updating me.” Erik dropped my gaze and stared at the fire.

“When did you know?” My voice sounded cold even to my ears.

“We didn’t want you to worry. There’s nothing you could do from here.” Erik leaned forward and rubbed his jaw, a habit I noticed he had when he was stressed.

“When did you know?” I repeated, pushing myself to my feet.

“This morning, Frode called as soon as he’d recalled the healer. It was never life threatening, but it was too much for Frode to handle before they traveled.” He sighed, hanging his head low between his shoulders.

I spun on Sten.

“And you?”

“Erik told me when he just took the call.” Sten said, meeting my eyes.

“Kitten, we’re warriors. We are going to get hurt. There’s nothing we can do from here. If it had been too serious, we’d have felt it through the bond.” Erik stood and moved to the fire, leaning against the mantle.

“If I was with them, they wouldn’t need a healer.” I said.

“You aren’t trained. I’m not allowing my untrained mate to go hunting dangerous and feral shifters.” Erik spun around and faced me, closing the distance between us.

“Then train me. Stop the running and agility bullcrap. Teach me to defend myself at least. Or put me in a hotel, or car and have someone stay with me. What’s the difference of being down a few bodies with us here or us there? The numbers don’t change.” I squared up to Erik.

His anger was so thick I could feel it settle over me.

“The difference is we know the vulnerabilities of this territory. Of this cabin. You are more vulnerable in the car, and our focus will be pulled more easily knowing that you are only in a car, or somewhere you could be taken from us too easily.” Erik growled, stepping into my space.

I moved to step back, but he stopped me. A warning flared through me. I’d challenged a higher-ranking pack member, and he wasn’t going to let me back down that easily.

“Your safety is not a risk I’m willing to take-ever, Astrid. I’ve been trained since a pup to be a warrior, to be a protector. That is what I am, this is my duty, and I take it seriously. You can ask questions, but don’t assume we don’t consider every possibility. Do you think I want to be at home, while my brothers are at risk?” He hisses.

I snap back, Erik steps forward regret on his face.

“Don’t.” I hiss and turn to the office where I assume Sten has hidden.

Storming into the room I take a seat in the chair I’ve claimed yesterday while I did some studying of the material that he’d found. I’d found peace in this room with Sten while he buried himself in research.

I’d tried to see how the visit with his dad went and the questions, but he’d waved me off and told me he didn’t have any answers yet. I knew he’d come forward when he was ready.

Sten’s head raised when I sat, and he studied me a moment before he got up and squatted in front of me.

“Don’t empath me, Sten.” I sighed, my eyes closing as I leaned into the chair.

“Emapth you?” He repeated with a curious tone.

“I can feel when you start to do your thing. Don’t. I know he’s hot headed. I know he feels bad, but those words hurt, and I’m not ready to make nice yet. Honestly, I think this is fight has been looming over us since we moved me in here.” I said, biting my lip as tears stung my eyes.

So much had changed so quickly the last few weeks. Both my mates and I were thrust into unknown water, and we haven’t been able to figure them out yet. I hoped that with the time Frode was requesting off we’d be able to sort through some of the tension that’d been building.

“We’ll figure this all out. I know that we both need to find some middle ground and work out a few bumps along the way. Erik is under a lot of pressure. When one of us gets hurt, he takes it personally. It’s part of his protector gift, or curse it seems more like sometimes. He has a keener sense of when we are in danger and is more sensitive to wounds and such.” Sten laid his hand on mine. “We’ll get there.”

“Can you just give me a book to study? Something to take my mind off everything?” I ask.

He grinned and grabbed the next one from my stack that he’d set aside for me yesterday.

“Have at it.” He stood and walked back to the desk, and we sat in silence for a few hours.

It was dark when there was a knock at the door. Erik stuck his head around the door and his gaze bounced from Sten to me.

“Dinner is done. Astrid, can I talk with you a moment?” He asked, his voice hesitant.

I nodded and set my book down on the stand that was by the chair. Walking over to him he gave me a small smile and opened the door for me. He took my hand and led me to the couch, sitting us so we were facing each other.

“I want to apologize. I didn’t think through what I was saying earlier, and I made you sound like a burden. You aren’t, and there’s not greater honor than being able to protect our mate. My temper tends to get the best of me sometimes and things don’t come out like I meant them to, or they sound harsher.” He said, holding my gaze.

“I know, what you said hurt, but you weren’t completely wrong. I’m sorry too for challenging you. I know that you are only trying to keep me safe. Frode was right when he said that we skipped over the getting to know each other phase, and I think it’s starting to catch up with us.” I said, taking his hand. “That being said, I look forward to training and getting out with you guys as soon as I can.” I smirked.

“I would expect no less.” He grinned.

Sten walked over to the kitchen and served us our plates and we all ate in comfortable quiet, each anxious so see Frode and Rune. I know they said his wounds weren’t life threatening, but I needed to see it for myself. A part of me flared to life that I hadn’t realized had been quieted.

I’d missed working as a doctor the last few weeks, and it was all coming through now. I’d always known I would be a doctor, helping others heal. That was something we’d have to compromise on, I couldn’t just stay home for the rest of my life I knew that.

Erik cleared the plates and cleaned up while Sten and I did some more research. I found myself starting to fall asleep and decided it was time for bed. Excitement flared in my belly, Frode and Rune would be home in the morning, and I couldn’t wait to see them.
Claiming Their Mate
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