Shaded Ember: The Vargr, #7

By Meraki P. Lyhne

The Alphas of all meet the battles they've risen to take on, but the embers of the story-time bonfire haven't even settled before one important fact stands clear. One story was not told.

As Matt continues to learn to work with the Völsung born in him, he gathers knowledge, power, and the resources needed to secure the North.

For every battle he meets head-on, another is fought within. If not for Hati's ember, crying out for his support, Sköll wouldn't stand a chance.

Pack Alpha Steffen has promised to stand by his pup until whatever lies ahead has been seen through. Doubt whether he's capable nags him as the pup shows off just how powerful Sköll has risen to become.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MarLau Publishing
• Release date: May 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9788793966567

Book preview

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Logline: The belief in the old gods of Norse mythology may have been suppressed by Christianity, but that doesn’t mean the races of old didn’t survive. Like the Vargr wolves.

Blurb: The Alphas of all meet the battles they’ve risen to take on, but the embers of the story-time bonfire haven’t even settled before one important fact stands clear. One story was not told.

As Matt continues to learn to work with the Völsung born in him, he gathers knowledge, power, and the resources needed to secure the North.

For every battle he meets head-on, another is fought within. If not for Hati’s ember, crying out for his support, Sköll wouldn’t stand a chance.

Pack Alpha Steffen has promised to stand by his pup until whatever lies ahead has been seen through. Doubt whether he’s capable nags him as the pup shows off just how powerful Sköll has risen to become.

Chapter One

Steffen sat in the communal building and once again looked around at his banged-up pack, but they’d kicked ass, and they were all alive.

Geri Freki Alphas had attacked both territory packs while the Alphas had been away, facing off against Völsung. Isbait and the other foal had killed two of the attacking Alphas and maimed one enough to probably never heal sufficiently to even walk again.

The Stallions had declared the mess their work to clean up, and they were tending to claw marks, too, having made medicine for them. Now they merely waited for the Alphas of all and the running bond to return from a second battle that day.

It had all started out as such a nice and quiet day with a human guest dropping by to say hi to Matt. Just a friend from school, worried about a classmate who’d had to drop out due to a sudden eye disease. A trip to the mall and shopping for clothes. The usual young people business.

That had ended with two dead Völsung among humans in a mall, fifty new Alphas responding to the angry embers of the Alphas of all, the human military being deployed as their backup, and another thirteen Völsung taken down at the beach under shading that disrupted traffic all over Aarhus and the suburbs.

Man, Steffen was glad he was merely a Pack Alpha who had to figure out the aftermath of a pack war. He felt competent at that. All of Aarhus was his territory, though, so he had to help, but it was ultimately all on Tristan, and his mate looked strung-out, tired, and in pain. Their mate bond didn’t pull for Steffen to aid him, though. Maybe because Steffen really wasn’t capable?

Seeing Matt, Hati, Geri, and Freki run off for buses with Thyra, Oliver and his mate, Mikkel, Torben, Vivi, Finn and his mate, Lukas, Steffen’s son Alexander and his mate, Ulff, and Dennis left Steffen perturbed. He wanted to be there for his pups, and he recognized that Matt had taken up residence in a soft spot in his heart. It, of course, had to do with the promise he’d made Rolf upon burying the past, but Matt was frigging Sköll, now dominating the most powerful ember in recent history, and he’d managed to make friends with his Völsung to boot.

The fact that Matt and Thyra had worked so well with their Völsungs gave him hope. That they could shade like that had given them an advantage when paired with Cubi and Feral, and once the attacking Völsung were in sight, it hadn’t taken long or even been that difficult to tear them apart. The ones at the mall had been a problem, since the Vargr had been way fewer to overwhelm and hold down the big beings. Being backed up by Sleipnir and Cubi at the beach had given them the needed strength to finish the battle quicker.

Watching and listening to Freki whistle a merry tune, as he’d trudged back to the beach with a Warlord’s head in his hand, had seemed quite uplifting.

Then onto another pack war, and now Matt’s treacherous uncles were joined by twenty Geri Freki in the temporary detention facilities in the stables at the three farms, while another handful of names were being carved into Yggdrasil as those fallen Vargr were buried under its crown.

All Steffen could do was wait for news like Matt’s parents. Rebecca and Rolf sat with their baby girls, tending to Klaes and Sanne’s, too, as the big Alpha was getting patched up on the patio by Sleipnir, and Sanne helped the mates and Vargr get settled.

As always after a pack war or other emotional upheaval, they’d all sleep in the communal building to bond and feel safe, and the mates, unharmed Betas, and especially Omegas were seeing to the arrangements.

Steffen abhorred the scent of the gunk the Sleipnir had smeared on his Völsung scratches, but he’d suffer that in order to heal faster. The Vargr would have to sleep in that stink, though. He hoped his nose would grow numb or just used to it from prolonged exposure, but it was wolfsbane, so he suspected he wouldn’t. At least the stench had lost some potency from being mixed with the herbs that made the toxic plant a remedy for wolves.

Bjark and Trot expected the worst wounds to take about a week if constantly treated, so those harmed would be traveling on the same ferry and be tended to by Sleipnir to heal on the trip to Tromsø.

The run of the North seemed more and more needed.

Klaes limped over, bringing more of the abhorrent smell with him, as his thigh had been wrapped. He wore nothing but boxers, and the scent of sandalwood soap lingered, yet it wasn’t powerful enough to overshadow the herbal mashup. Nothing was to a Vargr nose. Or Feral, for that matter, as proven by Steffen’s pups refusing to come near him. They all looked perturbed and stayed outside.

The big Alpha didn’t even try to lower his weight in a controlled fashion—he merely collapsed on the sofa next to Steffen, making the thing groan under the sudden weight. Steffen’s body jolted on the cushion.

Sorry, Klaes mumbled, looking gloomy. I’m too exhausted to do more.

Oh, I get it. Steffen leaned against his friend for some pack piling. I can’t even do the brain work here. Where do we start? Where do we finish?

We don’t. We leave this for the council and human liaisons, and we focus on our pack. That’s why Matt...Sköll told us to remain here, while the warrior goes off to do his thing.

I see I’m not the only Alpha here feeling benched. And it would be way worse for first bond, seeing a newly risen pup run off to war.

Klaes snorted. At least Torben’s with him.

Rasmus looked at them from where he sat with a bunch of runts. He looked hurt that he’d been told to stay and that his cannon of an arm wasn’t enough to join a bunch of Alphas taking down a Völsung pack again. Steffen understood how he felt at that moment.

So, list of priorities. Safe place to sleep and heal, check. Steffen indicated the room they sat in. Food... Omegas were busy in the kitchen. Check.

I asked Jens to secure us a lot of meat, Klaes said. He and Anders left in the cooling truck to go raid a butcher for everything organ related. Steffen’s mouth watered at the thought. Wait, where are the two humans?

Matt’s friend, David, Steffen remembered. His brain was not working. Uhm...

Hanne came over. I was tasked with them. She perched on the coffee table. I had Kim’s first bond collected, and I put Heidi, Sofie, and Britt on both David and Kim, considering they know them so well from their school. The family’s being held at the Alpha house and guarded, while the human liaisons are talking with David and Kim, currently held at Rasmus and Torben’s apartment.

Steffen smiled at her. Thank you, Alpha.

She returned the smile. What do you need?

Peace, prosperity, and a cold beer.

Hanne snorted laughter. You worked well on securing the first two today. I can handle the beer. She stood. Klaes?

Yes, please.

Hanne left them.

Steffen looked around for Tanja. She wasn’t there, though. What do you really think will happen to our plans for the run? He pointed to Klaes’ leg.

Matt said to go ahead. Removing power will take focus away from the packs. Völsung won’t bother and mainly send pawns, if any. Like today.

Which is why there will be trained Cubi and Feral here. Steffen nodded. What Alphas will remain here?

I overheard a conversation about that among the Alphas.

Any who think I should stay?

No, Pack Alphas have to run. First Alphas, however... Klaes shrugged. If not for Matt being my first bond, I would agree, but I can’t stay. I’d lose my mind.

Steffen merely nodded. Mikkel, Trine, and Søs from our pack?

Those are my thoughts, but of course, Pack Mother has final say.

Yeah. Part of her strength was the will to stand fast, and it had been the trait that allowed her to be mated to Steffen so young. At first, her parents had said no because she was less than one hundred. Oliver had retold how that had gone down, and the Regional Alpha had finally conceded to his fierce Bitch of a daughter as she reminded him why she was fit for the task by adding to a list multiple times a day. Once she’d glued the third piece of paper of qualifications to the wall, next to where he enjoyed evening coffee with his first bond, he’d conceded. Oliver had seen it on his face.

The next day, he’d told Tanja to pack up. That was when she’d grown nervous from her plan having worked, but she was stubborn that way, and Steffen loved her for it.

Once the running Alphas return to Denmark, the rest might follow, Klaes said. By then, I don’t think we have to fear for packs anymore.

I can’t even imagine the pull those four can muster. I mean...they’ll pull Betas, too, right?

If not, Alpha embers will. Torben and Rasmus will both be going from the beginning.

Steffen nodded. Alex and Ulff, too.

Hanne returned with two beers, while Silas brought his own and his pups. He had a serious shiner from the fight at Moesgaard, where he’d clung onto a Völsung and found a tree head-first during the struggle. The swelling almost closed his eye.

Waiting for news was the worst part. Feeling embers and first bond was one thing, and so far, nothing indicated a major fight. It had been almost three hours since the buses left, and Steffen feared it all firing up, soon.

His phone rang, and pain shot through him as he moved too quickly to snatch it from the table. Alex?

"Hey, Dad. Buses are returning with all the Alpha sons and daughters."

And all of you?

"No, not all of us. We’ve got some cleanup here, but there was only one Völsung left."

Is he dead?

"Uhm, not so much. I think Sköll will call you soon. Once he’s done prowling through the library."

Steffen snorted, not putting that priority past the pup. Please tell him to call me soon.

"I will, Dad. How are you?"

Stinky. Sleipnir medicine is rancid to a Vargr nose.

Alexander chuckled. "Just get better."

Thanks, son. Steffen hung up and sat back, grunting in both relief and pain.

Where to put the sons and daughters? Klaes asked.

With their fathers? Silas asked.

Steffen’s brain was still not cooperating. They’d run out of room long ago, and now they had a lot of guests and a huge pack and a running bond and a lot of prisoners of war. I dunno. How...where?

Tristan limped over with Agnes carrying an armchair. She helped him lower his four hundred pounds to sit and looked around, then left for the kitchen. Agnes is helping Tanja, and she’s called in for containers. Those construction worker containers with living quarters. Sleipnir is preparing and mapping out an area, and Anders and Jens are on provision runs for everything necessary for simple but comfortable living. Instant coffee and stuff. Cubi Lords and Ladies will stand Guard around the site.

Steffen’s phone rang again, and another shot of pain accompanied the too-eager movements when he saw Matt on the display. Matt?

"Yeah, hi. Everybody’s okay here. We’re moving the sons and daughters, Omegas, and humans now. Some of the running bond will return, too, but Thyra, Hati, and I will stay here with the surviving Völsung."

Why surviving?

"She’s heavily pregnant with six pups and has two pups around age six here, Matt said. Steffen groaned and hung his head. What to do with them? At least he was happy to hear they survived. A tank cousin from Sweden is on his way here to help."

Who? Tristan asked.

"Jari. My Völsung claimed the surviving Bitch and the pups as pack, and they’ll stay here for now, watched and protected by the bond he brings."

Steffen smiled. He’d met that big-ass tank once. He was almost as big as Tristan, a silent rock of stubbornness, but he had his mother’s kind heart. Once people earned a place in it, at least. His smile fell when the rest of that sentence registered. Wait, what? Your Völsung is building Völsung pack?

Agnes stalked over, looking troubled. Tristan closed his eyes and sighed.

"Not letting her and the pups go, and I’m not killing them."

Yeah, okay, but...of course not, but...pack?

"Völsung pack, not Vargr pack."

Staying where?

"Here for now, but she’s due in two weeks. This territory is opening up for attacks from the south now, so Alphas are to stay here with Feral. Thyra and I are devising a plan for when we run."

Steffen managed not to sneer loudly, but his features sure as hell didn’t hide it. Again, his brain was so not cooperating with all of this, but he had to be there for the pup. Okay. Looking up, Steffen found Rolf staring at him. When can I tell your first bond you’ll be home?

"Tomorrow. Hopefully before lunch. She’s teaching me to read the coded language in Villum’s notebooks."

Steffen blinked. She is?

"Of course. I’m her Warlord."

Oh...okay.

"It’s okay, Stef. The Völsung and I are on the same page about what and why right now, or I couldn’t shade this big a territory. Just relax and heal."

"No, no, no!" Freki shouted in the background.

"Stop eating Freki! Matt snapped. Something young growled in the background. Either way, you guys just relax and heal. Geri and Freki are returning with the captives here and will take care of things."

Okay, Steffen said, wondering what he’d just heard. Is Freki okay?

"Yeah, yeah, he just learned why kids are called ankle biters. Matt snickered. Especially Völsung pups."

Steffen blinked. He couldn’t even imagine what one looked like, yet he suspected he’d soon learn. Okay. Take care.

"We will. You, too." Matt hung up.

Steffen lowered the phone, thinking. A long line of what the fucks waited, but his mate’s blank expression drew his attention first.

What. The. Fuck? Klaes mumbled, making Steffen laugh and groan as his flank hurt.

I...yeah, I dunno, Tristan said. I got nothing. I’m too tired.

You all are, Agnes said. You should sleep. I’ll help Tanja. Agnes walked off.

Steffen agreed wholeheartedly that they needed sleep, yet it pained him that her presence meant he couldn’t snuggle up with Tristan. He pushed the thought away and drank the rest of his beer, but his need for Tristan wasn’t hidden through the mate bond. Didn’t help that Tristan’s cried for the same.

Agnes set up mattresses in a corner, making a big enough area for pack piling.

Tanja came over with Helene, and the girl looked tired and sad. She’d like to nap with you.

Steffen smiled at his adopted daughter and held out his arm for her. She let go of Tanja’s hand and eased into his embrace, having apparently been told to be gentle with him. Are you tired, too?

Yes. And I’m afraid.

Steffen slowly rocked her. The Alphas of all are taking care of everything now.

Will he grow to be even bigger than Uncle Tris?

He already is, Tristan said. Physical size isn’t everything, honey.

Helene leaned into Steffen, who inhaled the scent of her hair, but the rancid stank of the wolfsbane took even that soothing scent from him.

Agnes came over and stroked Tristan’s shoulder. Come sleep, Tris. He held up an arm, and the Bitch helped haul him to his feet to limp to the mattresses. Steffen’s ember hurt from needing him. Come, Steffen. Do you need help standing, too? Steffen looked up, surprised. A sad smile stretched on Agnes’ face. You both need your mate to heal. Come sleep.

Steffen stood, glancing at Tanja. A slightly defiant smile tugged. Damn, had she torn the Regional Alpha Bitch a new one? Considering the fierceness in her eyes, he wouldn’t put it past her, so he brought Helene to the mattress and let Agnes direct him to lie with Tristan. Due to their injuries, they ended up face to face with Helene between them, holding each other.

Klaes settled in back-to-back with Tristan, curling up with his mate Silas and his son. Agnes covered them with blankets and caressed Helene’s hair before she covered up Klaes and Silas and left.

Steffen looked at Tristan. He managed a smile, but he was clearly as confused as Steffen felt. Tristan tightened his grip around Steffen a bit, and a sense of ease and safety spread through their mate bond. Their hearts stuttered and synced, and Steffen gave himself over to sleep.

Chapter Two

Matt watched as the buses left with Geri, Freki, the Omegas, and all the Alpha sons and daughters that the Völsung Warlord had gathered. Two-thirds of the running bond returned with them, while the rest stayed to be lookouts and so that they could take turns sleeping. Twelve Guards stayed, too.

Their presence gave Matt’s mind the peace to wonder about everything. Why were so many Alpha sons and daughters there? In training? The pack had been roughly the same size as Villum’s, yet this Warlord had held more power, it seemed. Either that or something else was going on. He needed to understand, yet prowling through the library and materials on the desk hadn’t provided answers so far. A lot had to be deciphered, too, and he’d packed it up.

Patina lounged in the shadow of the porch with her pups. The little Bitch, Signy, had bit Freki twice more, since the first time he’d tried to enter the house, and the Völsung in Matt found it hilarious. He liked the pup and praised her for being brave and combatant. She’d certainly found the right Vargr to attack, considering Freki took such pride in gatekeeping. She tested him like a strong Bitch would.

Matt wondered whether it meant the little Bitch respected Freki for being a gatekeeper and wanted to prove herself. Something about the Völsung mindset pointed to it, yet Matt hadn’t aired that thought to Freki. Still not fully having figured out what the hell he was supposed to do with his Völsung side’s pack didn’t help. Steffen’s reaction? Yeah, that pointed out how badly timed it was, yet no matter how he twisted it in his head, he couldn’t come up with a better solution.

Matt went to sit in the sun on the steps, listening to the silence of the area. Soon, a cow would arrive and feed the thirty Alpha mates and Völsung there. Thyra’s nephew and a few others from Sweden would arrive. Matt wondered whether he’d be able to understand them.

Until then, he looked through some of the notes from the desk, and he tried to figure out whether they could or even should storm Ting. They’d be leaving for Frederikshavn and sail to Tromsö in a few days, yet they’d have to see how injured the running bond was. It would be a six-day trip. Matt figured the run so important, strategically, that they had to time it with their health, yet they’d had to plan all of this with the humans so that they could hide shifter existence from the public.

Was that even possible after that day? After the mall? After the shading that had caused new incoming Alphas to shift and run on public roads in their Vargr form? Matt pulled out his phone to see if he had a signal. He did.

Patina, please tell me how shading works.

She looked at him. That should be instinctual. Warlord.

He looked at her. I feel no reason to have it up now.

That’s probably because you underestimate Völsung.

Inform me, then. Also, I’m in human form right now, which puts me far from Völsung instincts.

She sighed and looked out at the single sunny spot in front of the house as the afternoon bled into evening. We’re always ready for an attack. Thus, we’re always shaded. You don’t expect to be attacked because you don’t think anyone would?

You’re drawn to shading, seeing it as a provocation and display of power to be subjugated, right?

Always more.

Patina nodded.

So with no shading up, there seems to be no more power here to waste time on?

True, but that you leave this home unshaded means they might come see what’s left. To find information about me to be conquered.

A Bitch as strong as you? They’d be stupid not to.

And she’s ours. We have two strong Bitches.

The Völsung in Matt sounded almost in love—in a possessive way.

Hati came over, sat next to Matt, and leaned in, so Matt put an arm around him. Did you see the news?

No, I was just going to.

Don’t bother. Focus on this.

At least tell me what’s up.

Videos of Vargr shifting and running is all over the internet, the shading, too, and everybody’s crying wolf. As in werewolf. Lame CGI excuses. And someone’s out talking about devils and the end of the world. Of course.

Matt grumbled.

Their ignorance is dangerous, Patina said. That dumb...they don’t deserve power because they destroy from being so stupid.

Matt looked at her. Teaching might eradicate that, you know.

How do you teach those who think they already know everything?

How indeed. Matt couldn’t suppress the grin because it counted Völsung, thinking their ways were superior. The glare she sent him indicated she understood the hint, and she didn’t agree.

What ways of yours do you think superior to humans? Patina asked.

Matt thought for a moment. We seek to live in greater balance with nature and don’t hoard to make money on raping the world of precious resources.

Yet you assimilate so much you become part of that cycle, she shot back.

True. But we teach, too, to lessen it.

Why not simply remove the threat to nature?

You mean humans?

No, I mean their power to destroy nature.

Because I’m not sure that my limited knowledge on the fine balance of nature would be a step up. Having power doesn’t mean one has to use it just because.

True. Patina cocked her head, studying Matt. What ways of yours do you think are superior to Völsung?

I’d really like to hear your answer to the first question you posed, Hati told Patina.  

Why I think our ways are superior to humans? She chuckled. They act like ants. Obedient lemmings. Most follow the few with power blindly, and they give power to few and raise up spineless morons who merely bask in the undeserved attention.

An example? Hati asked.

Technology may not work in our shading, but I’ve watched TV. Reality TV?

We agree on that, Matt said. It’s why I never watch TV.

She cocked her head. You read. She looked at Hati. And you?

Play with pups. I teach them stuff.

Like?

To fight, to solve puzzles, to think strategically, to gain confidence in their abilities and control over their motor functions.

So you hope all they need to learn is learned through play?

No, of course not. It’s foundational work to be built upon later.

How much do you fight?

Too little, Matt said. We’ve assimilated with humans. But we’ve kept to fighting more than you think.

Clearly.

Does it surprise you? Matt asked. Völsung in general, I mean. The first time you step on Sköll Hati’s toes, a whole pack goes down. Second time today. Same result.

These were small packs.

Going for ankles because...

Skepticism shone brightly in her eyes. She didn’t trust them, and something seemed off. It’s the easiest way to get to the throat when you’re lying down.

Why lying down? Hati asked.

To hide, Matt said. Bide time. Wear down the enemy slowly. There can be many strategic reasons to stay out of sight and nibble away at a problem. Like eating an elephant is done one bite at a time, even though it can seem an insurmountable meal to get through. But why the Alpha sons and daughters? That’s stepping it up. Part of the timeline?

Patina nodded. Well, more or less. The rumors of Sköll Hati suddenly running with colored eyes pushed up a few plans.

And the fact that Regional Alphas of both Sköll Hati and Geri Freki ran together to take down the packs? Matt asked. Her expression said it all. I see. That was new to you.

Our weakness is the packs which don’t know of the unity on that high of a scale. Only the running bond’s Alphas have that knowledge and took it to their packs. That’s too few, especially Geri Freki packs.

Matt nodded. The run on Fyn let everybody see us run together, though.

Which Geri Freki will see as Geri and Freki abandoning their own, pushing the remaining into the arms of Völsung.

Well, fuck.

Who are you talking to? Patina asked.

A great warrior who understands this more than a Vargr pup.

The Völsung in Matt purred at the praise.

Matt texted those thoughts to Geri and Freki, who’d be returning first. They needed extra eyes on the Alphas, and they needed to bite them as soon as possible. They needed to bond with them, earn trust, and show them that Geri and Freki were still Geri Freki.

Freki sent a thumbs-up not a minute later.

Aggressive but not very aged growling sounded, and the Völsung pups went at it, rolling into the sunny courtyard, fighting and biting each other. Patina merely watched.

How many were in that litter? Hati asked.

Four.

How did the two die?

Patina looked at him, coldly. Like that. Pain made it through the mate bond, and Matt rocked Hati, who looked away. You are Warlord now. You have the right to tell them to stop fighting.

My aim is not to change your ways. Especially not without fully understanding them.

You see nothing positive in it?

In letting siblings kill each other? Absolutely not. If I were to look at it from the outside but through Völsung mentality, I could say that I, as Vargr, or human or whomever you’re also a primordial enemy to, then it’s a good thing. You help with pest control and keep your own ranks low.

Patina’s nose wrinkled subtly in a sneer. But what’s left is ten times that.

Losing in droves to powers you don’t even understand because you’ve ended up focusing on something so singular that you lost your most powerful weapon.

Which is numbers? Patina snorted. The humans have numbers, but we could half their population, even as few as we are now, in a single night. My children could take down a small town alone.

That is impressive, Matt said. But what would the point be? Other than destruction.

Power. Territory.

To do what with?

To have.

She studied him. To have.

For what purpose?

Our territory was stolen, and we were almost all killed. So now we take it all.

Something clicked in Matt’s brain. And the ninth brother survived because his sister had him covered in honey and his mouth filled, and he ate the tongue out of the wolf’s mouth.

Patina smiled. Yes.

Their mother was a Valkyrie. A chuckle made Matt look up. What?

That’s the saga, retold by humans.

But the wolf is prevalent. So’s the killing of the kids not strong enough or the ones fearful of the poisonous snake in the flour.

"Who took your territory and