The Winter

Chapter 24

Pronouciation/Glossary

Mamaidh - mum/mummy (ma-may)
Athair - father (ah-her)
Cailleach - Scottish goddess (Call-yoch)
Danu - Celtic Goddess (Dan-oo)
Nirribhidh - Norway (Nir-i-vig)
Èirinn - Ireland (ai-rin)
Helheimr - Hel's domain (hell-hame-er)

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Chapter 24

An upset Oighrig was led away by a gently murmuring Eirny. My aunt was more upset than Niamh who was now sound asleep on my mother's lap, blissfully unaware of the tension in the room that caused my father to pace in between his mate and the other wolves intruding in his den. It wasn't his fault. Instinct demanded he keep us away while his mate was vulnerable in heat, her scent calling out to any unmated male who caught a whiff - and to any mated male who would tarnish his mate bond.

Thankfully, the other males in the room were mated, happily so, and Fionnlagh was reacting to my mother's mating scent with not so subtle boking that had my mate casting him a look.

Glumly, my cousin padded from the room to return to his own with his mother, now being shared by Anndra too until my parents could. . .return to normal.

I found ignoring my mother's mating scent easy. I was more unnerved by the red marks on my father's skin that no amount of pretending I couldn't see helped me avoid thinking about just how they got there. After two days in seclusion, mother's eyes still held a bright and wild quality they usually only did when she was in fur. Though her finger stroked evenly through Niamh's thick curls, there was a tremble to her form. She would need us to go, and take Niamh too, once she was satisfied her pup was unharmed.

"I want to know exactly how she got a hold of Niamh," my father demanded in a hushed growl, hazel eyes whipping accusingly to me. "How could this have happened! Your siblings were meant to be under your charge, Eabha."

"And then they were under mine," Caldar cut in, shifting his body so his shoulder nudged me back. "It is I who seeks your forgiveness, father-wolf. I made the mistake of thinking they would be safe in their Alpha's bed when I should have brought them to their Aunt."

I myself was plenty angry with Caldar for that too. Then again, I should have thought to ask who's charge he had left them in when he arrived to help us make sure we put an end to Sköll's minion.

"If they were safe in their beds alone, I never would have had need to give them to their sister in the first-"

A growl silenced my father's retort, my mother lifting her chin to cast us all under her gaze. "Enough! Placing blame is futile. Both of our female's could have been gone tonight, Tabhin. Three of our young gone before us. Be thankful we continue to only mourn one."

Mother's grief softened his hackles and he sat beside her on the bed, thick arms wrapping around her frame as he offered a deep rumble. She sank into him, careful not to jostle Niamh.

What use were any of my powers if I could condemn my enemies to death with it, but not bring back or at the very least keep safe, the ones I loved?

Despite their concerns for my wellbeing, I could see it festering in the depths of their eyes; blame. I was sure of it.

Because of me, my father's brother had died, my brother had died, and my sister had been closer to death than many could boast of. I was Alpha Female, oldest daughter, older sister, I should have made sure Niamh and Anndra were being watched.

A soft moan of pain, or building frustration brought my gaze up from the floor. Mother's eyes fluttered shut and she hunched in on herself. We were out of time.