Chapter 76

"Oh, hell no!"I swore, and Trevor's eyes shot wide open. "Get off me! I can't do this. There's got to be a way to unbind you."
"It's done, darling."Thor was standing beside the bed; looking down on us with an unreadable expression.
I gaped at him and pushed at Trevor. The werewolf rolled off me and my face flushed when I saw the stain on the front of his jeans. Trevor just curled up at the foot of the bed and continued to stare at me contentedly. It was as if he were high. Part of me wished I could stay in that high with him, but reality was a downer. I was stone cold sober.
"How much of that did you see?"I asked Thor, completely mortified.
"Enough."Thor's jaw was clenched so he had to speak through his teeth. That couldn't be a good sign.
"Baby."I sat up and reached for Thor, and he gave me his hand before he sat down beside me. At least he wasn't throwing things at my head. Maybe I stood a chance. I hoped so since I didn't think I could handle losing him again. I cleared my throat and looked over at Trevor. "Trevor, please. I need you to leave."
Trevor stood up and nodded solemnly, finally joining the rest of us on planet Sobriety. But then he turned to Thor before he left.
"You know me, Thunderer,"Trevor's voice went low and deadly serious. "You know whose scent I carry. I've pledged all to your woman and my legacy is now hers. As long as you treat her well, you are both considered Froekn. I don't ask for her love or her sex, but I will have my share of her. You know you cannot deny me."
Thor looked toward Trevor but not directly at him. He closed his eyes and nodded curtly before turning back to me. I didn't like that nod, and I didn't like the satisfaction on Trevor's face as he walked out of the room.
"What does that mean, Baby Thunder?"I looked at Thor with my heart in my eyes; begging him not to destroy it.
"He's bound to you."Thor swallowed hard. "Wolves mate for life. It's like an eternal marriage."
"But I don't want to marry him!"I nearly screamed in frustration. "I barely know the guy."
"This is a complicated situation."Thor took my hands in his. "Trevor has bound himself to you because you saved him. You haven't vowed to love him, but there will be attraction between you."He frowned and took a deep breath before continuing. "You'll desire him, Vervain. It's part of the magic. It's meant to keep the species going and the Binding strong."
"But I still feel attraction for you."I lifted my hands to his face; stroking the angles I loved.
Thor smiled and kissed both of my palms. "I'm very happy to hear you say that but you're not the Bonded. This wasn't a mutual Binding, as you've already figured out. He's given his life to you, but you haven't offered yours to him."
"So, normally the other wolf would offer their life back?"I frowned and tried to grasp it all. "The process is done by both wolves?"
"Exactly,"he said. "You're not under any restriction regarding him. Only he is bound."
"That's unacceptable,"I said firmly. "I can't have some werewolf bound to me, unable to satisfy his basic needs because I'm already in love with you."
Thor laughed and it was a surprised sound like he couldn't believe I'd made him laugh in such a horrible situation. He hugged me and kissed the top of my head.
"Thank you, darling,"he whispered. "You've just made this bearable."
"Thor,"I gasped. "I can't breathe."
Thor chuckled again and loosened his hold. "We'll make it work."He stroked my cheek and kissed me quickly.
"You still haven't explained what he meant."I gave him a reproachful look. "What was all that about scent, legacy, and having his fair share, huh? What the hell was that?"
"Vervain, someday I'm going to introduce you to Hel since you keep invoking her name."Thor rolled his eyes.
"What?"I was baffled.
"The Goddess of the Underworld."Thor gave my thigh a pat. "The Norse people revered her as the keeper of those who died of old age and illness. Her name is Hel; one L, not two. She also happens to be Trevor's Aunt."
"So, that's where the Christians got it."I snorted.
"We all traveled a lot."He shrugged. "Our myths got mixed and our followers got confused occasionally."
"You're trying to get me off the subject."I pointed at him and thinned my lips. "Wait. Auntie Hel? Oh, that's rich. No! You're not distracting me. Tell me the rest."
"Very well."Thor heaved a sigh. "The scent Trevor carries is that of Fenrir himself. All Werewolves stem from the Great Wolf, but most are generations from the source. Trevor is Fenrir's first cub."
"What?"I felt my face go slack. The bad feeling was getting worse; the butterflies in my belly turning to lead and plummeting. "That means I've bound the Big Bad Wolf's eldest son? His bouncing baby boy? His prime offspring? His—"
"Yes, Vervain."Thor laughed and shook his head.
Then something occurred to me, and I asked Thor, "What does V?ulfR mean?"
"He spoke his name to you?"Thor didn't sound so much surprised as he did resigned.
"Yes, and I felt something when he said it,"I confirmed.
"It's just one more thing that ties him to you now. You, of all people, should know the power of words when spoken at the right moment."Thor sighed.
"Why do you think I'm asking?"I looked at him expectantly.
"V?ulfR means Sacred Wolf,"Thor finally explained. "He's Fenrir's holy one; like Jesus to the Christian god."
"Whoa."
"Now, you understand why Trevor has a legacy and why it's an honor for you to be a part of it,"Thor said.
"Yeah, but what exactly is this legacy?"I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes in suspicion. "I'm not going to need a lot of Nair am I?"
"What?"Thor frowned.
"Am I going to get furry?"
"No, baby."Thor looked up as if there might be an explanation for my insanity written on the ceiling. "His legacy is power and now you can tap into it. Trevor has a direct link to Fenrir, and you may call on the Great Wolf himself for aid in times of need."
"That's pretty groovy."I lifted my brows.
"Yes, it's all groovy,"Thor grumbled, "and now for the bad news."
"No,"I groaned. "No more bad news. How's my back by the way? Am I going to scar?"
"What? No."Thor blinked as he tried to follow my train of thought past its derailment. "You're back will heal perfectly; Teharon's a god."
"Very groovy."I nodded and felt supremely cool.
"Can I tell you the bad part now?"
"If you must."I waved imperiously. I was a powerful girl now; I had connections.
"Too bad I'm not a god of patience,"he muttered.
"What was that?"I narrowed my eyes again; with great wolf-empowered menace.
"Nothing, darling."Thor sighed. "Trevor is bound in a one-way tie so he'll require you to spend time with him or he'll fall ill."
"He'll get sick if I don't see him?"I blinked in surprise. "Talk about taking rejection hard."
"This isn't funny, Vervain."Thor was losing his tolerance, so I gave him my good girl face and nodded. He seemed satisfied enough to continue. "You must have physical contact with Trevor at least once a month. It doesn't have to be big. You don't have to have sex with him or anything like that, but it must be skin-to-skin contact. He's given you a part of his soul, and he'll need to connect with it, or he'll die."
I felt the blood leave my face as I sat back against the pillows with a thud. I had to touch Trevor every month, or he died? Well, hell—I mean Hel—no pressure or anything. I looked at Thor and noticed the little lines of strain around the corners of his mouth.
"You're not telling me something."I glared at him.
His eyes widened and his head rocked back, "You're getting good at reading me."
"Yeah, and what aren't you telling me?"I insisted.
"It's best to touch Trevor as often as possible."Thor looked away, and I hit his arm lightly so he'd turn back. "If you keep the touching to a minimum, Trevor could become starved for you and attack."
"Attack, as in; he'd try to kill me?"I clarified. I so did not need a rabid werewolf for a pet. What would Nick think?
"Not kill."Thor looked away again but only briefly. "Rape maybe."
"Oh, damn,"I gaped at him.
"Yes, very eloquent, Vervain."He swallowed hard. "That about sums it up."
"Okay, so I've got a new doggy who needs to be pet a lot, or he may end up humping my leg."I pursed my lips thoughtfully.
"You have such a way with words."Thor's lips were twitching.
"I just wish he didn't have to give up a chance at normal werewolf love for me,"I grumbled. "I don't like standing in the way of anyone's happiness."
"You still don't understand."Thor caught my gaze and held it. "You are his happiness now. You bring him joy beyond sex. Trevor doesn't need intercourse as much as he needs you. The needs of the body can be managed in other ways but the needs of the soul cannot."
"So, he can still masturbate is what you're saying."I chewed my lip as I mulled it over.
Thor rubbed his hand over his face and groaned. "Yes, he can, but as you experienced earlier, your touch alone can bring him that pleasure."
"And you'll be okay with this?"I looked at him apprehensively.
"No, I'm definitely not okay with this, but what choice do I have?"He snapped.
"There's always a choice,"I whispered and looked down at my hands.
"Not if I want to keep you."Thor pulled me against him so roughly and so suddenly that I couldn't think for a second.
His mouth ravaged mine, and I tasted the salt of his tears in the kiss. The air sparked around us, our hair starting to lift, and I knew what that meant so I pulled away breathlessly.
"I don't know if I'm rested enough for mind-blowing sex yet, babe."I gave him a saucy smirk. "And that's the only kind of sex I'm willing to have with you anymore."
"I love you."Thor laughed. "You're worth every headache."
"I told you before that you should be careful not to speak too soon."
"There's something else."Thor was smiling so it couldn't have been that bad, but I still went on guard immediately.
"What?"I asked carefully.
"I think you should take a look in the mirror,"he suggested.
I looked down at my body quickly to make sure I hadn't turned into a wolfgirl or anything like that. Nope, still me. What the hell? Oh, no; my face. My hands flew up to it but everything felt fine to me. Thor laughed and helped me out of bed.
"It's nothing horrible, just go take a look."He nudged me in the direction of the bathroom.
I was still a little weak, and I stumbled, but he reached out to steady me. I caught my balance, waved him off with a smile, and made my way over to the bathroom mirror. Then I just stood and stared.
It was still me. Same dark hair, same dark eyes, same curves, but somehow I was different. I leaned in closer. My hair was longer and a little thicker; falling in shining, fat curls past my hips. Normally it grew at a snail's pace and to get that kind of curls I'd have to set it with rollers. My skin was perfect, resplendent with a healthy glow, and when I touched it, my hand glided over its surface like silk. My eyelashes were long and thick; curling up and out over eyes sparkling with vitality. My lips were just a tad fuller and were a soft rose-pink. I felt like a sex kitten, and I didn't have a stitch of makeup on. Then I noticed the changes in my body; the way everything felt tighter and stronger, and the way even simple functions like breathing seemed easier.
"Groovy,"I whispered.
"Yes, darling it's very nice."Thor's eyes twinkled as he came up behind me.
"Very nice?"I turned and lifted a perfectly shaped eyebrow. I wondered if this meant I'd never have to pluck again. "This is about fifty thou in work here. Check me out."I spun around in a circle and felt my hair follow me in a wide arch. "Holy cannolis! Is my ass firmer?"
"Yes."Thor reached out and pulled me to him. "As I said, it's very nice, but I liked you as you were. This added kick from Aphrodite's magic is just frosting on my Vervain cake."He kissed my neck over the thunderbolt scar.
I laughed and shook my head at him. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you're not impressed; it's pretty much what you've been saying all along."
"Ah, so I've proved my love then?"His kisses were heading lower.
"I think I might require just a little more proof."I sighed.
"Little?"Thor raised an outraged face to me.
"We're not back to that again, are we? You're huge; monstrous. I'm terrified. Eeek, someone help me,"I intoned dryly.