Pack (The Ulfhednar Saga bk 1)

It begins

Leading the siblings back to their temporary homes, Torstein watched them, their interactions with each other and how they truly cared for one another. Both of their faces were flushed, however, Val's looked to be hardening. Getting stronger with the revelation of what they were up against and what her duty was. She was excited and determined, and so beautiful.
He knew they still had so much to learn and it wasn't going to be easy, but he was looking forward to every moment of it as long as it was by her side. He shook off the thought, why was he becoming so soft? What was she doing to him? There was no time for all of this, just fight and save the pack. Right? These mixed emotions needed to find a place to be until he had time for them.
"So, your father?" Valdis started, then waited when he met her eyes. Her cheeks flushed a little and the realization made him smile.
"Yes?"
"He is human" He knew this was coming after what he did to her earlier in the day.
"More or less." He replied.
"What does that mean?"
"Yes, Val, he is human." She wasn't going to let the topic go easily he realized.
"What about your mother? You said you grew up here, but we haven't met her yet."
"She was an Ulfhedinn." He said.
"Was?" Her face seemed sad, he was going to need to explain.
"She passed while giving birth to me. Olaf and Ingrid raised me here and my father comes and goes." He kicked a menacing looking rock out of frustration. "My father is a very busy person, so Olaf became my father."
"I'm sorry, that you didn't get a chance to know her and really you didn't get to know your father either. That must have been hard to handle as a pup." Her eyes had softened, she was hurting for him. He could feel it as if it was his own pain and that was something that shook him deep down. Trying to lighten the mood, he smiled at her and raised his body up so that he was standing tall again and not crouched like a sad little child.
"It was hard, but I was lucky to have Olaf and Ingrid. They taught me the lore, raised me as their own. I never did without." He hadn't really thought about it in that context before. He was lucky to have been taken in as if he were their child and not just a child without family.
She sat at the foot of a tree near her little hut, motioning for him to join her. She seemed so small sitting there, holding her knees. He knew she was a capable warrior but he had the urge and need to protect her as if she was a weak human. She was absently picking at her nails looking up into the tree. He followed her gaze to a bird building a nest. Spring was upon them, bringing the animals to the lands to give birth, life was returning to them. For her, seeing this novel behavior must be incredibly beautiful. Her lands had been barren for so long, devoid of nesting birds.
"Go ahead and rest for a while, you had a long day. Once you're rested, get ready for this evening." He told her. A look of surprise grazing her face.
"What is happening this evening?"
He smiled, realizing they must not know the date, "It is Walpurgisnacht, have you lost all of your roots?" He chided laughing mildly while leaning slightly into her. When she didn't smile back, he realized that she didn't know what he was talking about. That stung.
"Trust me, you'll love it." He promised.
He couldn't help but be excited for the night's festivities. He anticipated seeing Val and Bran carefree and enjoying life the way it was meant to be. This was their chance to revel in their ancestry like they never knew before and he was going to enjoy watching it. Mostly he was anticipating Valdis in a dress laughing rather than fighting. He realized he must have been smiling at her when she was suddenly quiet. He hardened his face as his palms began to sweat.
"It's a celebration of the coming spring. We will eat and blöt with the pack, enjoying the warm months and celebrate our fortunes. This is how we tell the Gods we appreciate them and all they have done for us." Her face lit up as he explained. He wanted to touch her face, where her smile reached her eyes, but he firm and resisted.
"That sounds amazing. I will see you soon then." She told him walking into the house. Her hair had begun to fall loose from its braids creating a tangle of golden blonde hair falling down her back. She turned back and gave him a smile before disappearing into the house. Reluctantly he headed for his home to prepare.