CHAPTER 151: JUST A LITTLE

[Skarthheim Pack Territories – Thorgar’s Study Chamber]

Thorgar sat in the center, hunched over a monstrous tome that looked older than most civilisations. His thick fingers turned the pages carefully, but his jaw was clenched, the muscle twitching with every shallow breath he took.

The Grimoire was stained with time and blood...scrawled in runes that probably had no direct translation. Thorgar wasn’t casually reading, he was actively looking for something...He hadn’t moved in hours.

Hadn’t spoken.Hadn’t even eaten since the morning.

The silence around him was broken only by the faint hum of an ancient magic and the occasional crackle of the fire.

Then from the outside came a low noise, "Ahem! Ahem! "

Someone coughed deliberately, obviously begging for his attention. But Thorgar didn’t look up.

Another pause.Then soft steps came a bit closer...leather against stone.

"Permission?" came the voice.

Smooth. Calm. Feminine...It was Selene!

Normally her neck would have been wrung and her body fed to the vultures had she even dared to come inches near Thorgar’s private study. But things around Skarthheim had changed... and so had her status in the pack.

This chamber wasn’t quite a cave.But it wasn’t a room either.

It was carved deep into the side of a cliff that bordered the old forest. The walls were jagged.

A single iron brazier lit the space...flames flickering like restless spirits.

Selene took her sweet time peeking inside, waiting for his permission to enter.

Thorgar didn’t speak. Just...nodded once, jaw still locked.

She entered... soundless.

Her cloak trailed behind her like a shadow with secrets. Her hair was tied up this time. Her boots had traces of ash and dried herbs. She had three small pouches in her hand.

She stepped beside the table,unceremoniously laying them down.

"One for each week," she said flatly. "The witches know the dose. They will administer it."

She paused.

Then added, "But I don’t trust them with such a large quantity of this thing. So you will have to oversee it.Be there when they are administering it. You miss the timing, she won’t survive the next collapse."

Still, Thorgar didn’t look at her.

He was too focused. Or maybe just refusing to let her see how frayed he really was.

Selene sighed.Really deep. Too long.

She turned to leave.

But she didn’t make it three steps before his hand shot out...lightning fast...and clamped around her wrist.

Before she could speak, he twisted it, yanking her back until she slammed against his chest...hard.

Her palms hit his torso.

Her eyes met his.

His gaze was freezing cold ,extremely furious.

His face was a breath away. He growled, deep from his core.

"My daughter is still unconscious.Barely even breathing.Where the fuck do you think you are going, leaving her like that?!"

His voice roared off the cave walls... in wild waves.

However,Selene didn’t flinch.Didn’t blink.

She held his gaze. Her breath was warm against his jaw.

Her words cut, steady. "You see, this concoction that’s keeping her breathing does not grow around your pack. I need to go extract the ingredients. And that’s risky as fuck. Yet I am willing to take the risk..."

He bared his teeth slightly. "Send someone else."

"No one else can extract them without killing themselves." Her voice remained level. "The plants react to intention. They need to know I care.That’s what makes them yield...also, you need to have that strength in your magic to actually pluck them without getting eaten alive by the acid around them. "

Thorgar growled again.

But Selene stepped in closer...defiantly close...until her lips were nearly brushing the underside of his jaw.

"You think I am abandoning her?" she whispered. "I wouldn’t have batted an eye if it were anyone else. But she is your daughter. That’s why I am risking my life. That’s why I am still here."

Thorgar’s grip didn’t ease...but something in his eyes flickered.

His silence gave her room.

And she took it.

"Do you have any idea how complicated her situation is? Her body is too weak," she continued, her voice softening just enough. "The babies inside her? They are too powerful for this stage in her pregnancy. And they are distressed. Their energy is uncontained.And they can actually damage Autumn internally if not calmed down. And given her weak body, she can’t even handle an official Rejection at the moment...so she will have to live with her strained Mate Bond until she is strong enough to cut it off forever."

Thorgar finally dropped her wrist but didn’t let her go. He simply turned her around so they were face to face.

Selene didn’t even try to back away.

"In her current state," she continued, "even a whisper of rejection could kill her. But that’s not even the worst part."

She looked up at him again, eyes flashing.

"If her mate keeps screwing his chosen bitch...Autumn will feel it again. Over. And over. It will rip at her heart like claws on wet flesh."

Thorgar snarled again...vicious, violent...like a trapped wild bear...but didn’t interrupt.

"And if the other woman conceives?" Selene’s voice dropped to a whisper. "Then Autumn’s babies will sense the threat of a rival bloodline. And they will retaliate. From inside her."

She stared at him.

"Can you imagine that, Thorgar? Her unborn children fighting inside her womb?"

He made a sound. Not a word. Just a deep growl.

Then he just turned and snatched his massive axe from the side wall...the steel gleamed with ancient sigils.

But before he could storm out of the door...Selene stepped in his path.

" Thorgar, no!!!"

He glared down at her. "Move."

She didn’t.

"You kill Kieran now," she said, "and Autumn dies. The bond will snap entirely. It will drag her down with him.You threaten him and he rejects her, she dies. You can’t risk that. Can you?"

Thorgar’s nostrils flared. His chest heaved.

He looked like he was going to crush something...anything.Anyone.

Instead, he turned and threw the pitcher across the room.

It shattered against the far wall.

Then a vase. Then a stool. Then the brazier itself, flames scattering.

Selene stood quietly, her expression unreadable.

Only after the rampage calmed down a little did she finally walk over.

She placed her hand on his arm. Gentle but firm.

"I will be back soon," she said softly. "Faster than last time. If you maintain the dose and follow instructions, she should wake up. In a day. Maybe two."

Thorgar said nothing.

"She might be dizzy. Disoriented even. Don’t let her dwell. Don’t remind her what happened. Don’t let her remember at all."

He looked down at her.

"How the hell do I do that?I can’t control freaking mind! "

She smirked. "Buy her some clowns."

He blinked.

"What?"

"Literally. Clowns. Jugglers. Silly things." Her smirk deepened. "Keep her distracted. Keep her smiling. Let her think the world is still kind...make her enjoy this new life...dance...sing...keep her surrounded with happiness!Take her out hunting...get her some handsome male attendants that will help her pass the time...bring her books, bring her paints...anything she wants...You said you wanted to give her the world, didn’t you? Now is your chance...give her whatever you can.Do whatever you can...pull all strings."

A long pause... then Thorgar growled low.

"You think I don’t know what you are doing here? Trying to make a fool out of my people.You think I don’t see that you enjoy this?"

Selene raised a brow. "I am only giving you suggestions.But of course, I like being needed. I don’t bother being where I feel unwanted. And let’s be honest...you look too hot when you are helpless."

He gave her a look that could have burned kingdoms.

She patted his arm again like she was speaking to a child. "Now behave, big guy.I am not asking for a hot fuck right now. " She trailed a finger down his bare broad chest. " But we can have that once I am back and Autumn is feeling a little better!! " She stepped a bit closer, her crimson lips brushing his ears as she stood up on her toes, her hands over his shoulder. "You have no idea how badly I have missed the taste of your dick! It’s been ages... has it not?"

She bit his earlobe gently before pushing away.

He didn’t stop her this time.

But just as she turned to leave... He reached forward and caught her shoulders. His massive palms swallowed her completely.

His voice was barely more than a whisper. "Selene...save my daughter...please!!!"

His throat bobbed.

"...and I will give you anything you want."

Selene’s gaze softened for just a heartbeat.

Then came her sly smile. "Ah well! Since we are talking about payment...you still owe me for bringing her back to you! " She patted his shoulder. "And don’t worry big guy, I am not going anywhere...I will take my payment with all due interest! But right now...focus on your daughter.She needs you. "

Selene leaned in, her lips nearly grazing the edge of his ear again. " And try not to dream about me too! "

And then with an audible chuckle, she was gone...vanishing into the tunnels as quickly as she came.

Thorgar stood still in the middle of the wreckage, surrounded by smashed pottery and flickering embers.

He turned back to the Grimoire.

Flipped the page.And resumed reading.Resumed searching...But his hand shook once.

Just once.