Bear Naked 4: The Sons of Garm

Chapter 47

Oliver Gorman arrived at the council two days after Arthur's fight. Rumours swept the camp with his arrival. If Erica hadn't seem him arrive she might have discounted the rumours or the awe he inspired. He was a fit man in his mid-forties with broad shoulders and powerful arms, but such physical prowess was unremarkable among werewolves. His confident, predator's stance and dark intimidating eyes were another thing all together. Erica hadn't seen a man who's entire stance spoke the word "killer" since Erik's death. She knew at once that this was a man to watch her step around.

He bore some long title in old German that meant "enforcer." And that was what led to rumours and whispers to follow his arrival. One rumor said he had been sent to kill Koby for his failure to beat Arthur. Others said he was there for the Skinwalkers; a few still believed they were holed up in Leidulf's camp.

Most saw it far more simply. Fenrir and his Fleischers had failed to intimidate the others into submission. With Connor and the Leidulf's leading the way, tribe after tribe had begun to speak up, to show signs that they weren't about accept Fenrir's dominance at face value. What was worse, each attempt to prove their dominance had backfired on them.

"No more challenges," Aaron had warned. "He won't just beat you, it will someone's death next."

Arthur, who hadn't left his tent in the two days following the fight and still walked with a barely concealed grimace despite werewolves' enormous healing talent, declared Oliver's arrival, perversely, a good sign. "They are losing too much face. The mere fact that they need the enforcer to show himself in the camp, proves just how weak they are." He watched Oliver stalk past their camp and even had the gall to smile and wave at him.

The Ritter ambassador arrived hard on Oliver's heel with his own conspiracy. "They know the Skinwalkers left in our vehicle. When we leave, he will hunt us." Fear showed in the man's eyes. "We know his reputation. There is no escape."

"Don't fear," Connor told him. "Your new van is in the same lot as us. You will leave when we do, come to our territory to meet our elders again. We have three packs, we've already made the same offer to the Skollsens. The man may be the big bad wolf, put five packs? Let him hunt if he will."

The Ritter breathed a sigh of relief.

"Move your camp closer to ours, if you are worried they'll break peace," Jonathan added from Connor's side.

"Yeah, maybe," he said and headed off to confer with his pack.

Jonathan turned back and smiled. "Another on our side, I think. Dad's right, we're winning this."

But when the next day's council meeting was called to order, Oliver's presence seemed to be having a more mixed effect. The Fleischers were emboldened. Marty spoke, ignoring Connor and addressing his fellow tribe members. "We've wasted half the summer on this shit," he told them. "A pathetic few tribes don't want to admit what's obvious, that we are now all one. Let's not waste anymore time deliberating. Let them go. Let them be outcasts of this new order. It's their loss." This was greeted by cheers from many.

The Negelman and Jaegers were both sitting noticeably closer to the Fleischers, though Erica couldn't tell if they were happy to be there, or cowed into submission.

Even Lukas was more abrasive then he had been up to now. "You talk a lot of peace," he said to Aaron and Connor. "But at every turn it's your wolves that agitate against it."

Sometime during the council Erica caught Oliver staring at her. She shuddered and then realised it wasn't her, it was Myrna, next to her. She moved to block his view, as though she could protect Myrna from his staring eyes.

The next day Myrna was gone. Erica found her tent door open, the sleeping bag and clothing that Erica and her friends had donated to her piled neatly within. Erica stared at them a long time before she went looking around the camp.

She found Myrna in Oliver's camp. Her arms were bound behind her and she wore a collar around her neck again. Her head was down, staring at the ground. She was naked and already bore several red streaks from the leather strap that Oliver held. Fenrir was there as well, watching the scene with obvious delight. Indeed his entire pack was there, watching while Oliver beat her.

"What are you doing?" Erica demanded.

Oliver gave a cruel laugh. "I found this thing all alone, unclaimed by anyone. So I made her my slave."

"She's not a slave! He freed her," Erica snarled, pointing at Fenrir.

"Once a slave, always a slave," one of the women at the camp said dismissively.

"You can't just make her a slave again. It's not fair," Erica persisted. This was greeted by howls of laughter. "She's a free wolf."

"Is this true?" Oliver demanded of Myrna. "Have you been telling this girl that you are a free wolf?"

"No, sir," Myrna replied without looking up.

He slapped her hard. Erica started forward and froze.

"I think you are lying, slave," he said. "And what do we do when slaves lie?"

"Punish them," Myrna replied, her voice flat, almost robotic.

"No!" Erica screamed. She started forward.

Fenrir sprang forward, grabbing Erica roughly by her hair and forcing her down to her knees. "Careful, bitch," he snarled in her ear. "Don't start something over this worm."

Erica fought to rise but couldn't. She glared up at Fenrir. His eyes shone. "When I destroy your pathetic little tribe," he said. "I will kill that dog Connor and the bear, too. But you, I will let you live. So you can be my slave. I will take great delight in breaking you."

"Never," Erica hissed.

He laughed. "They all say that before you break them. Then they beg for more when I'm done. Isn't that right, Myrna?"

Myrna looked up. Her face betrayed fear and sorrow for one second and then became a mask. "Yes," she cried, her voice pitiful. "I beg for your release, my lord. Please, leave the foolish one. Punish me, not her."

Fenrir was delighting in this, Erica realised. She shot daggers from her eyes, but she couldn't move.

"No, you are Oliver's now," Fenrir said to Myrna. "And it's him you must beg." He stood, dragging Erica to her feet and staring in her eyes, trying to intimidate her. She glared back, refusing to be cowed. "As for this one, she isn't mine, yet." He threw her to the ground. "Now go before I decide to break this stupid council peace once and for all and take you right now."

Erica looked into Myrna's stricken eyes. "Go," Myrna mouthed. Erica fled.