Liv Fenrir thought she had it all. That is, until her boyfriend dumped her for Miami Barbie. As a prestigious biologist at the top of her profession, she takes a new job in tiny Afton, Wyoming to live in the woods and research her favorite animal—wolves. It seems like a no brainer, until she comes across a pack she can’t explain.

Brodi Sköll isn’t your ordinary wolf shifter. This time-traveling Viking has been searching for his fated mate for a millennia in order to overcome a Berserker curse placed on his family by a jealous god. Just when he is about to believe his search was a lost cause, a chance meeting in his small town gives him, and the pack, a spark of hope. The only problem—she’s human.

Rushing against time to convince Liv she’s his, and the pack's only hope, he must bring her into a world she never knew existed. Neither can dismiss their undeniable chemistry, but will it be enough to defeat the person determined to keep them apart?

Prologue

"Not now!" Brodolf called to the gods for mercy, though they had never shown him any before. His shoulders continued to hunch, bones cracking, muscles growing and changing. "Kelda!" he roared, his voice contorting with the changing shape of his jaw.

Kelda threw her hands over the tortured man, chanting the ancient words that were the only thing standing between her alpha and the curse that threatened to take over his body and his mind. If the alpha was lost, so was the clan.

"Keep fighting, Alpha!" Kelda, the pack's shaman screamed over the rising wind and the crack of lightning crossing the sky.

Brodolf threw his head back and howled, the sound long, loud and dripping with pain. Suddenly, he felt a pop, weak as a soap bubble, but a sign that he had won this round. They had once again beaten back the berserker that lived within him. Slowly, his body righted itself until finally he was left lying on his side, naked and spent, upon the frozen ground. Kelda sat next to him, murmuring nonsense and stroking his hair, giving him what comfort she could until he recovered enough to sit up and wrap the blanket she held around his body.

"Thank you, Kelda," he said, his voice still gravely from the partial shift and the howling.

Kelda nodded her head and turned her eyes to her alpha, startlingly clear and green behind the black paint she wore around them. Sorrow tainted them. "It is getting close to your time, Alpha. It gets harder and harder to bring you back. We must redouble our efforts to find the one."

Brodolf knew she was right. He could feel it. The curse Odin laid on his bloodline was getting stronger as he neared his 350th year. The Sköll Pack descended from the line of Fenrir's son, Sköll , who was also the god Loki's grandson. Odin had been jealous of their growing strength and scared of the prophecy that Fenrir would kill him in Ragnarök, so he had cursed the firstborn male of each alpha to try to limit their growth. Clan Sköll had lost many Alphas over the years to the berserker curse. If Brodolf didn't find his fated mate soon, he would be lost to the berserker and his clan would have to destroy him as well. That would leave his brother, Brandur, in charge, and that he could not allow to happen.

"I know, healer. I feel it as well." He gathered his feet under him and stood to clothe himself again. He had ripped off his leggings and furs when he had felt the change coming upon him. They didn't have the clothes to waste out here on the cliffs of Faroe Island. "We've traveled all the known lands these last centuries and still have not found her. What else can we do? We must not allow Brandur to take charge. He will decimate the Clan in less than a generation with his greedy ways."

Already their grandfather and father had been lost in a war with Clan Hildisvini, protectors of Freya. The title came to Brodolf when he was only 250—very young for an alpha—but he was exceptionally strong and had risen to lead as his ancestors had taught him. No one could beat him in mortal combat to challenge his rule, not even his brother. No one, that is, but the curse that lived inside him. Kelda turned sideways and looked out over the cliffs to the stormy winter sea. Ice floated up to the beaches. They would have to leave this place soon. "I have seen something in a vision I have not shared with you, Alpha. I had hoped it was not a true vision."

Brodi's head whipped up at her words, his braids flying, and he impaled her with his ice blue eyes. "Have you seen her? Kelda, you must tell me!"

Her eyes met his through her long lashes, the black paint making them deep, dark pools. Her long red hair whipped across her face despite the intricate tangle of braids she wore. "I think I have seen her but....but she is not here."

"What do you mean 'not here'? Speak plainly, woman!" Brodolf had no time for her vague seer prophecies. He needed decisive action.

"She is in a place far from here," she said in the dreamy voice that came upon her with her visions, "A time far from here."

The Alpha could feel his expression harden as he gazed at her. A time far from here. "Faen! What, by Odin's teeth, are you saying?"

"We must travel there, Alpha. We must take the Clan and go before it is too late. Even now, the Hildisvini are amassing for another battle. You cannot afford to fight again until your berserker is controlled or we are all lost."

Brodolf knew this all too well. He ran his hands along his braids gathering them at the top of his head with a thong of leather again. "Travel in time?" he asked incredulously. "How?"

Kelda continued to stare out to sea. He paced in frustration, awaiting further information. This was not something he had ever heard of, even in the sagas. Kelda would not be rushed, however, when she was in this state.

Finally, she spoke. Her voice rang clear in the night air. "There is a place near the Yggdrasil..."

Chapter One

Liv - Present day

"Fuck it all to hell!" Liv cursed as she grabbed the ticket from the windshield of her state issued Jeep Wrangler. It was the third one this month. What happened to brotherhood of the badge shit? Two little white-headed ladies walking by on the sidewalk gave her the stink eye for her outburst.

"Sorry," she mumbled, but she wasn't really. How could a town that had literally one main road have so many fucking parking laws? She felt like she had broken most of them in her first month here and apparently there was no love lost between the game wardens and the traffic cops here.

She had thought taking this job as a wildlife biologist in tiny Afton, Wyoming was the perfect way to escape her ex and his new perfectly plastic girlfriend. The one he cheated on her with. The one with the fake ass, fake boobs, fake lips, and who knows what else fake that wasn't in plain sight. And it was an excuse to escape the conditions she had been forced to work in in the Everglades National Park. The air was so thick some days you had to swim through it, not to mention the ever-present danger of gators.

At least Wyoming was dry, there wasn't a gator within thousands of miles, and she hadn't seen a pair of fake fish lips yet. Granted, the cold was biting, and she'd had to buy a whole new wardrobe to accommodate the new climate, but she was able to spend most of her time out in the wilderness with only the animals and the trees for company and that suited her just fine.

The only problem she could see with the assignment was her boss, Jeff Roundtree, telling her a big plot of land right in the middle of the Forest was completely off limits. It apparently belonged to some rich asshole who didn't want anyone trespassing on his land.

"I know it makes your job more complicated, Liv, but Wolf Brothers Logging pumps a lot of money into this town and into the conservation of these woods. They don't log here, haven't for centuries. The current owner is very conservation-minded so there are lots of good habitats in those woods. And thanks to Brodi, there isn't any chance of them being destroyed anytime soon."

Liv looked at him with suspicion in her eyes. "I know," Jeff continued, "it sounds counterintuitive, but it's true. I've worked closely with the man and his family for years. The family was here long before the state started the National Forest. They're good people. Having their patronage is worth dealing with a little complication. And he works with us to watch out for the poachers as well."

Liv had no choice, so she decided to let it go and just try to do her job. "Fine. I'll make sure to work around the property. Anything else I should know?"

"Just one," Jeff added. "I really don't like you out there alone with these poachers on the loose, but we don't have the budget to pair you up. Keep your sat phone handy in case your cell won't pick up a signal. Wolf hides go for a pretty penny on the black market and with the economy the way it is right now, they've gotten more and more brazen, and more dangerous. And the traps they are setting, even more so." Jeff's eyebrows knitted together when he looked at her. "You need to watch where you're stepping out there and watch for signs of camping out of the regulation camp sites and steer clear. Take coordinates and call in Justin, the game warden. Don't confront them alone."

Liv nodded. She hated poachers. They were scum. There were reasons for hunting and trapping seasons, but these types of guys didn't care. It was one thing for people to take meat animals out of season. She didn't like it, but she could understand people on hard times needing to feed their families. The poachers they were currently having trouble with were only interested in the money they could make from the hides of these beautiful, majestic animals. She gave Jeff a little salute. "Will do, boss. Already have your and Justin's numbers in my phone. So, is that it?" She was anxious to get her groceries bought and to get out of town. Even this little bit of civilization was starting to wear on her.

"All done," Jeff said. "Be safe out there. I look forward to seeing your reports."

After the meeting with her boss, she only had to get some food and supplies before heading out to try to find the primary wolf packs in the area. Her first job was to find and document the packs in the area. And keep her eyes out for poachers or campers who weren't following the rules of the forest. Thank God there were no traffic cops in Bridger National Forest at least!

As she walked into Valley Market, cart at the ready, she noticed a striking young woman in the produce section. She had long blonde hair sporting the most intricate braids Liv had ever seen, as well as silver and leather jewelry surrounding her neck and both wrists. A beautiful, swirling black tattoo ringed one lean, toned bicep. She looked like some modern-day Viking shield maiden. Liv was fascinated. She'd always loved Viking stories though she didn't know that much about actual Norse legends. Just as she was about to go over and ask her where she had gotten the braids done, a huge man stalked up to the woman aggressively. He sported sleeve tattoos on both arms with more crawling up one side of his neck. His huge biceps showed off more of the thick black tattoos very similar to the one the woman was sporting. His blonde hair was shaved on the sides with the rest just as intricately braided as the woman's gathered down the middle of his head. He stood over the woman, staring at her menacingly.

"Asta! Come on! Everyone is waiting for you," he growled at the woman. The young woman just gave him an indifferent look, seemingly unconcerned that this six- and-a-half-feet of hulking muscle was looming over her.

"I'm still shopping, Brand. You'll just have to wait." She flicked a dismissive hand toward him and turned her back, continuing her perusal of the fruit on display. Picking up one piece after the other, she slowly squeezed and fondled each piece, putting each one down again as she judged it not quite right.

Liv had been concerned at first and had been ready to run for help but watching the woman's response to the man had her standing down and simply enjoying the drama. She stifled a giggle at the fury and impotence on the large man's face as he continued to glare at the young woman. His hands planted firmly on his hips, he stood there for several long beats. Finally, he scrubbed his hands up and down his face and through his long goatee in frustration and stomped off. She could hear him muttering in a strange language as he passed close by her on the way to the front door.

"That was pretty impressive," Liv found herself saying to the woman as she sidled up to her in the produce department. "I don't think I could have been that calm with him looming over me."

Asta gave her a sidelong glance, her ice blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "He's my brother. He thinks he's intimidating so I have to let him know he's not occasionally."

"That explains it. Brothers!" Liv agreed, smirking. She had two of her own that were constantly trying to get in her business. Liv moved on to her original question. "I didn't mean to be nosy, but I really wanted to know who does your braids. They're fantastic and would be so helpful to tame this mess when I'm out in the forest working." She motioned to her own long, red hair which was relegated to a ponytail or single braid down her back when she was working. The thick, silky strands still escaped her ministrations, however, and she was forced to fight with it several times a day.

"One of my cousins does it for me," Asta answered. "We all wear our hair like this. It's a tradition in our pa...family." She smiled.

"Oh, bummer. I was hoping there was a shop here in town I could go to," Liv said. "You're lucky. It's really beautiful." Live turned to go. "Nice chatting with you."

"Wait." Asta put a hand on her arm to stop her. For some reason, she felt a compulsion to reach out to this woman. "I'm sure Elin or Ursula would be glad to do it for you. You said you work in the Forest?"

"Really? That would be so great!" Liv answered. "And yes, I'm a wildlife biologist. I just started a job here in the National Forest. Monitoring the wolves."

Asta's breath hitched a little in surprise, but she quickly caught herself. "Monitoring the wolves? What does that entail?"

"Oh, well first I have to find them," Liv started, always pleased when anyone was interested in her work. "Then I have to count how many there are and assess their health. I also try to delineate the different members of the pack, who's the alpha and beta, etc. and make notes about their markings and coloring so we can try to keep up with them in the future. On some jobs, I try to tag them and take blood samples, but the state of Wyoming isn't requesting that this time, for whatever reason."

Asta took in everything this woman was saying and thought hard. She would have to tell Brodi about this. Wouldn't it be better to bring her to the pack and let her brother check the woman out, though? She tried to figure out her draw to the redhead and what her brother would want.

"Let me have your number and I'll call you once I've talked to my cousins," Asta concluded.

Liv gave her the digits. "I'm Liv, by the way, Liv Fenrir."

Asta's mouth dropped open at the name, but she quickly recovered and held out a hand and smiled. "Asta Sköll, nice to meet you."

Chapter Two

Brodi - present day

Brodi stood on the ridge with Finn, his closest advisor, and surveyed the landscape. He felt he could breathe when up high over his pack lands watching the sun sinking toward the trees in the valley below, the stress of leadership melted away, if only for a few minutes.

"There, Brand's truck." Finn pointed to the small road at the head of the valley that led into their compound set deep into the National Forest. When they had arrived in the late 1800s, Bridger had been just acres and acres of wilderness. They had slowly purchased as much as they could, working as loggers and opening one of the few sawmills in the back country. When the government had bought up the land to create the National Forest, Brodi had refused to sell, and they had been grandfathered in. Now they were surrounded by government forest. The forest service kept the area pristine, and left them alone for the most part, so Brodi couldn't complain. It gave them plenty of room and privacy to run - two of the main things Brodi required to keep his pack intact and their nature hidden over the human generations.

"They're late." Brodi crossed his arms across his wide chest. His long braids danced around his shoulders and face. The wind that had started gusting at that elevation.

Finn grinned. "He probably tried to boss Asta again. You know how your sister likes to devil Brand."

"He'll be in a foul mood then." Brodi's lips quirked. He shouldn't enjoy his baby sister's antics so much. She was willful and stubborn and fought pack rules tooth and nail. She would be the death of him, but he admired her spunk and her sassy mouth. No one else would take on Brand with such disregard to their safety. He worked hard to not show his favoritism, but he knew Finn was well aware of how he felt.

"Fouler than normal?" the smaller man quipped. Finn was not only his advisor but his closest friend. Closer to him than even his brothers, Brand and Gunnar. With Finn, he could just be Brodi, not only Alpha. Finn was a slight man when compared with most of the rest in the pack. He was barely 6 feet tall with the lean muscles of a runner, not the bulky frame of Brodi, his brothers and most of his cousins. He made up for his lack of brawn, however, with a brain honed sharp as a steel Viking sword and eyes that took in everything and everyone. There were no secrets from Finn. Brodi sighed deeply. He wished he didn't have such a difficult relationship with Brand. They always seemed to be at odds over one thing or another. After all these centuries together, they had forged only a fragile detent. He was afraid Brand would always chafe under his leadership. Always be someone he had to watch his back around.

"We'd better get back down to the house." Brodi clapped the smaller man on the shoulder.

Finn gave him an evil grin, "Race you, Alpha." Before Brodi could respond, Finn had transformed into a large black wolf with gray markings on his muzzle and ears. Brodi barked a laugh as he let his wolf overtake him. They ran through the trees and down the mountain, their yips and barks of pure joy following in their wake.

***

As Brodi and Finn strode across the clearing toward the main cabins, Brand came storming toward them.

"You have to do something with Asta," he demanded, his voice booming. "She is...." His feet stopped suddenly as he felt the Alpha power radiate off of Brodi. Brodi had stopped and taken a dominant stance, his hulking arms crossed across his heavily tattooed chest. Brand stumbled backwards as his brother's ice blue eyes speared into him. Finally, he lowered his gaze and bowed over one knee though he continued to try to fight the dominance compelling him.

"I'm sorry, Alpha," he said through gritted teeth, his tone quieter but still rough. He forced his head partially up to attempt to meet his brother's eyes through the fall of blonde hair that had covered his forehead when he had been forced to bow before his brother's power. "I meant I would like to speak with you regarding our sister."

Brodi uncrossed his arms and silently held out a hand for Finn to pass him the clothes they hadn't had the chance to don before his brother had come at him making demands. He slowly pulled on the jeans and thermal t shirt while Brand remained on one knee in front of him, making the man wait further to punish his continued insolence.

"You may meet me in my office," Brodi told Brand as he released his brother. "I will be there directly."

Brand regained his feet and nodded curtly once before turning toward the main cabin where Brodi lived, and the pack's business was run as well.

"I'm afraid he's building up to cause trouble again," Finn said solemnly. "You'd think after all these years, he would accept you wholeheartedly as Alpha. You have earned the title by birthright and by might, Brodolf. Your pack is behind you."

Brodi stared off toward the mountains they had just come from. "It may make no difference soon. We've traveled such a distance, even through time, and still we have not found her. Kelda swears she is in this general time, but it's already been centuries...."

"I have faith that the gods will not allow you to succumb to the Curse," Finn said, taking a firm grip of the man's bulky shoulder. "You must have faith as well."

Brodi continued staring. He didn't want to remind his friend that a god had placed this curse on his family and his faith was long used up. He feared for his people. "Go find Asta and tell her I want to speak with her this evening. I'm going to deal with Brand."

"Yes, Alpha," Finn nodded, and grinning, ran off to find Asta. He always enjoyed hearing about what she had done to set off her brother. He wasn't worthy of her. He wasn't ancient Norse royalty like the Skölls, but he had worshipped her from afar since they were children. No other woman had ever turned his head as Asta did.

For centuries now, he had contented himself to bask in her presence as her friend and no more. He didn't know what he would do when some other man caught her attention. He wasn't sure he'd be able to stand it. So far, Asta hadn't found anyone that interested her for more than a few tumbles in the woods at extended pack gatherings before she turned them aside. And those were only held a couple of times a year. He knew that couldn't last forever, though. He would somehow have to find the courage to declare himself.

Finn caught up with her in the meadow behind the big house throwing axes at the large wooden targets set up for practice. He admired the lean muscles of her back and arms as she threw the weapons unerringly at the center of the bullseye. This one is a shieldmaiden, through and through.

Before her next throw, he called to her. "Asta! Brodi would like to see you."

Asta turned a sardonic smile his way as she shouldered the ax she had been about to throw. "Brand has been tattling on me already, has he?"

"You know he has," Finn laughed. "I don't know why you devil him so. You know it only gets him riled up and then he goes to Brodi and they end up arguing. Why put Brodi through that?"

She had the good grace to look just a little bit ashamed. "Aye, I know, Finn, but I can't seem to help myself. He tries to lord his size over me all the time and tell me what to do. He's only a few years older than me. I'm not a child."

Finn could see all too well that she was no child and hadn't been for years. As long lived as they were, they were considered children long after they looked like adult humans. While Asta was young for their kind, she was still all woman.

"You're going to have to be the bigger person, woman," Finn admonished her gently. "Brand is never going to be able to control that temper of his. It's why everyone is so worried about something happening to Brodi." He couldn't bring himself to actually bring up the curse that menacingly floated like one of Asta's axes over all their heads.

"You're right as always, friend," she acquiesced, bowing her head slightly. "I'll try harder. Now let's go see what my brother has in mind for my punishment this time. I have some news to tell him as well."

***

As she knocked on the door to her brother's study, she hoped the news she had to share would distract him from pronouncing some horribly boring punishment on her for winding up Brand again. She opened the door at her brother's gruff acknowledgement of the knock and quickly shut it behind her.

"Brother! I'm so glad you called for me," she declared, coming in and taking her usual seat across from his desk.

Brodi raised a sardonic eyebrow at her. "Really?"

"Yes! You'll never believe who I met at the store today. Who, by the way, I wouldn't have met if I'd let Brand drag me out of there like the caveman he is."

"Asta.." Brodi started to growl at her.

"Yes, I know. Stop deviling your brother. But it's so easy! Anyway..." she continued before Brodi could chastise her. "I met a woman, and you'll never guess what her name was. Go ahead, try!" Asta sat back in her chair with her arms folded, grinning at her brother.

He shook his head wonderingly at her impertinence but caved as he always did in the face of her effervescence. "I have no idea. Tell me before you bust."

"Her name was Liv. Liv Fenrir."

Brodi's eyes shot to his hairline in astonishment. "Fenrir? Are you certain? Maybe you misheard her?"

"No, brother. She was very clear. Aaand, she's a wildlife biologist here to study the wolves in the National Forest." Asta sat back with a smug smile. Take that Brand!

Her gloating soon faded, however, when she saw the expression on her brother's face. He looked like she had just punched him in the gut. She thought this was good news, would have given him the hope that she was afraid he had started to lose. Instead, he just looked shellshocked.

Brodi's ice blue eyes locked onto her own matching ones. She had never seen such intensity in them. "Where? Where was she going to be looking for the wolves?"

"I, I'm not sure, brother," Asta stuttered. "I didn't think to ask. She was asking about my hair and then she started talking about her job and that was it." She bowed her head, ashamed now that all she had been thinking about was how to get back at Brand and get out of trouble herself when Brodi's life, and that of the entire clan, was in peril. "I'm sorry, Brodi. I should have gotten more information." Suddenly, her head popped up. "I did get her number though. She wanted to see if Ursula would braid her hair for her. I told her I'd call her once I'd talked to her."

Brodi's gaze relaxed slightly. "I need you to contact her, Asta. Find out more about her. Meet her somewhere. I don't want her near the compound yet. Not until I know more." Brodi ran a hand across his jaw. "But I must know more," he mumbled softly to himself.

When he didn't give her further instruction, the young woman took it as her sign to go. "Yes, Alpha," she said respectfully. "I'll find out more as soon as possible."

Chapter Three

Liv was surprised at how disappointed she had been to not hear back from Asta about getting her hair braided before she had to return to the forest to work, though, in all honesty, there hadn't been that much time. She had to leave the next morning. She didn't often think that much about her appearance, but something about the intricate braiding had called to her.

"Oh, well, ponytails have worked up to this point," she murmured to herself, as she finished packing her Jeep for the hour-long trip to her campsite for the next several weeks. "They'll just have to continue doing the job."

The young woman and her hulking, tattooed brother had captured her thoughts while she had packed the previous evening. She wasn't sure what it was that seemed to draw her thoughts to them so often. There was something familiar about them that niggled at her brain, yet they were the most unique looking people she had met since her move to Wyoming. Obviously, she would have remembered if she had met them before. She'd have to ask around about them when she was back in town, but for now, it was off to the woods.

Liv had managed to get her camp set up and was getting ready to boil some hot water for coffee when she first caught sight of disconcertingly light blue eyes watching her from the edge of the woods. She froze. Wolves didn't usually venture so close to a campsite, especially before dark. She hoped something wasn't wrong with it. Her air horn and shotgun were both still in her jeep. It was only a few feet away but felt like a mile. She knew she couldn't outrun the beast if it decided to attack her.

"Hey there, beautiful," she called tentatively in a singsong voice, as she slowly came up from a crouch. "You don't want to eat me, right? I'm sure I'd be all tough and stringy. And my lotion probably tastes really yucky as well."

The animal cocked its head at her and sat without any aggression in its posture. The expression was so much like Mimi, the German Shepard she had grown up with, that she was taken aback. Could this be someone's pet rather than a wild wolf? She hadn't come across any other campers on her way into the forest, but wolves could roam for miles. The eyes were so unusual on this one, too. Maybe it was a half-breed with a Husky? She'd never seen a full-blooded wolf with eyes that color. The fur was extraordinary as well, long and silver with just a hint of black at the root and over her eyes like someone had taken an eyebrow pencil and fashioned her perfect brows to accent her beautiful eyes. She was obviously female with the more delicate bone structure and silkier coat.

"You're just curious, right?" she continued to talk softly to the wolf as she slowly tried to make her way to her Jeep. "Never seen anyone out this far in the woods before?"

The wolf continued to stare at her unblinkingly with those bright eyes. Her ears were the only part of her that moved, as if she was contemplating what Liv was telling her.

Liv finally reached her Jeep but as she raised the back hatch, the female suddenly leapt up and gracefully loped away through the trees. Liv took a long, deep breath. She'd been shocked at the sight of the wolf so close and nervous about not having any way to defend herself, but, somehow, she had never truly felt in danger.

Those eyes were so familiar.

***

"Brother!" Brodi raised his head at his sister's call. He had been going over the never-ending paperwork that went along with managing their foundation and investments. He welcomed any distraction he could get.

"What's happening, baby sister?" He laced his hands behind his head and stretched as Asta came running through his study door.

"I was down near Four Corners and there's a woman camped there. The woman." Brodi raised his eyebrows in question. "The one from town, Liv Fenrir. I never dreamed she'd come so close to our property. What do you want to do?"

Brodi's posture instantly shifted. Every muscle in his body tensed at the thought of her being so close. The woman called Fenrir. Surely it couldn't be a coincidence.

"I've got to speak to Finn." Brodi tried to quench the lick of hope that flared in his chest. He kissed Asta on the top of her head as he ducked out of the room. "Thank you, sister."

Quickly finding his second, Finn and Brodi loped silently across the forest floor toward the campground. With their heightened vision in their shifted state and the full moon illuminating their way, the dark woods were almost as bright as day. The small human campground was only five miles from the pack compound. It was an easy run to check out this woman with the name of the Norse wolf born of the god Loki.

His nose to the wind, Brodi skidded to a halt when a captivating scent curled around his head and teased his nostrils. Finn stopped and trotted back to his chief. They spoke in their telepathic language, Rhuhi, that they used in their wolf forms.

"What's wrong, Alpha? We have another mile to the campground."

"Don't you smell that?" Brodi stood stock still, staring into the darkness. He sniffed again. That scent, intoxicating. It wrapped around his senses until nothing else could penetrate. His fur rippled across his body in pleasure. His eyes closed and a low growl hummed through his deep chest. Finn tilted his head in confusion but raised his long nose to give a deep sniff. "Nothing but trees, leaf mold, a deer in the distance, maybe. Nothing unusual. What do you think it is?"

"I don't know, something…magical.” Without warning, Brodi shifted to his human form and Finn quickly followed suit, alarmed.

“Alpha!” Finn whispered furiously. “What are you doing?”

Brodi didn’t answer him but continued to stand, sniffing the air as if in a trance. A slight smile played on the harsh planes of his face. Despite the cold, he felt his cock standing to attention, his arousal growing as the intoxicating fragrance danced through his body and mind.

Finn watched his alpha, concerned. Even when the curse gripped him, the man had more control than anyone he had ever known. He'd never seen him like this. And for what? He couldn’t figure it out. He didn’t sense anything out of the ordinary at all.

“Brodi, what is it, brother?” Finn continued to scan the trees furiously, desperate to find what was causing his alpha to act so out of character.

Brodi started to walk slowly along the animal track they had been following to the campground. “I’m not sure. I just know I need to find her.” Her? Where had that come from? But he knew it as sure as his own name. “Yes, that’s it - a female. That’s it. I must find her.”

He started to move more quickly, ignoring the branches lashing his human skin, and the stones and sticks bruising his feet.

“Alpha, wait!” Finn caught up in three quick strides and put a hand to Brodi’s shoulder to try to stop him. Brodi simply shook him off and continued on as if in a trance. Finn could do nothing but try to keep up with his much longer strides.

Soon, they were at the edge of the campground. Finn saw the smoldering fire in the stone lined pit and a large, family-sized tent pitched near a red Jeep Cherokee. He jumped in front of Brodi before he walked straight into the middle of it all. “Alpha!” he hissed, putting his hands firmly against Brodi’s strong chest. “Stop, before you are seen!” When Brodi continued to push against him, he said a quick prayer to Odin, and slapped his alpha hard across the face.

Brodi blinked slowly then focused on Finn’s panicked face. “Finn? Wha..” He felt a sting on his cheek. “Where are we? Did you just hit me?"

Finn huffed a relieved breath and pulled him back several steps until they were concealed in the dark shadows of the trees. “Yes. I beg your forgiveness, Alpha, but I couldn't get your attention,” Finn whispered. “You shifted, said something about you needing to find her, and took off through the woods. I couldn’t get you to stop. You were about to walk right into the human's camp." He scanned Brodi up and down. "Like that."

Brodi looked down at himself and saw the bleeding scratches covering his body and felt the pain on the bottom of his feet. He also noted he was so hard it was almost painful. Before he could ask more questions, the tantalizing scent came again. His head tipped back, and he groaned in pleasure. A shudder ran through him. “She’s here,” he said huskily.

Brodi felt Finn take a strong hold of his shoulders and give him a quick shake. Brodi would normally never be manhandled this way, but these were extenuating circumstances. “You have to shift, Alpha. Heal your injuries and hide yourself. If there is a woman here, she’s going to panic if she sees a huge, tattooed, strange man walking into her camp. Shift, man!" Brodi finally heard his friend's words. He dropped his head, sighed heavily, and with more effort than it had required in centuries, shifted. Finn quickly followed suit in relief. He nudged Brodi back into the tree line and they started to circle the camp.

The woman seemed to be alone. There was no evidence of any other presence. Brodi couldn't understand how Finn couldn't smell the honeysuckle and vanilla which was probably in the human's lotion or shampoo. He could smell that too as well as the lingering smell of coffee in the air as well as frying meat, hot dogs. But overlying all these basic scents was the one that tugged at his very soul. Something unique to this female he had never scented before. He couldn't help but follow it and quickly found himself closing in on the woman's bright orange tent. Finn rushed to his side, calling to him in Rhuhi.

"Alpha! What are you doing?"

"Can you not scent her, brother? It is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I don't just smell it. It has invaded all my senses and my mind. I feel...alive!" Brodi shuddered again. He tried to move closer to the tent, but Finn blocked him with his body.

"I smell nothing but camp smells and a regular human woman." Brodi heard Finn chuff in astonishment. His eyes widened as a possibility seized him. "Brother, could she be the one? The one we have traveled so far and long to find?"

Brodi's head whipped around. He had not let himself hope that the woman with the Norse Wolf name could be the one they had been seeking for all these centuries. She was just a human. How could it be possible? He met his advisor's shocked eyes.

"I don't know, Finn. I just know I've never experienced anything like this before and you're experiencing nothing unusual." He turned his head back to the tent. 'I must see her, brother."

"We should get Kelda. Let her meet the woman first. Whatever this spell that is being cast on you, she should evaluate it before you place yourself in danger! You are not in control, Alpha!"

Brodi glared at Finn. He felt an overwhelming need to see this woman, to touch her, to claim her in the marrow of his bones. He retained just enough control to understand that his feelings were not reasonable, and he fought against them. He knew Finn was right, but it was the hardest thing he had ever had to do to force himself to start to turn from her tent. Then he heard her voice and heard the teeth of a zipper parting.

Chapter Four

Liv tossed and turned restlessly in her down sleeping bag, her eyes moving rapidly behind her eyelids. She was caught in a dream. A dream about wolves. Wolves with bright, ice blue eyes. Suddenly, the eyes were no longer in a white wolf’s face, but a man’s. A man’s face, all planes and angles; the only thing saving it from being cruel looking was a wide, sensuous mouth.

He had some kind of fur thrown over one shoulder and tattoos covered his upper chest and arms. Long blonde hair was braided up in hundreds of tiny braids that were gathered atop his head leaving the sides bare except for more strange but beautiful tattoos. Somehow, she thought she should be able to read them. Were they letters? In the haze of the dream, she couldn't tell.

As if feeling her scrutiny, the Viking – yes that's what he was, she could tell now – turned to meet her gaze. His eyes locked onto hers and she forgot how to breathe. Her body thrummed under his scrutiny. Her mind gave her a vague impression of danger, but she wasn’t afraid. She was drawn to him in a way she didn’t understand. His intimidating body turned in the direction of his eyes and he started to stalk toward her in long, even strides. She didn't move, couldn't. He stopped in front of her. His hand reached out toward her face and... she jerked awake.

Liv found herself sitting straight up, eyes wide, staring into the darkness of her tent. Wait. Was that a real noise or part of the dream? She blindly reached for the bear spray she kept next to her pillow. She listened intently. Nothing. She felt caught in the cobwebs of her dream. The fine hair on her arms still stood up in atavistic alarm; her body recognizing danger but her mind not understanding. Something was out there waiting for her. Something big and important. She didn't know how she knew but she felt it in the center of her being. Something, no, someone was calling to her though her ears still heard nothing. She shivered as her sleeping bag fell away. It wasn't the cool of the night that caused the trembling but a deep desire she felt in her core. She couldn’t logically reconcile the contradictory feelings her mind and her body were warring with.

“It was just a dream,” she said to herself out loud, trying to break the spell that had wound around her. Her quiet voice seemed to boom in the deep silence of the camp. She flinched at the sound.

She crawled the rest of the way out of her bag and kneeled in front of the zipper sealing her into her tent. She paused, listening and keeping a grip on the bear spray. Come on, Liv. Get it together. She’d never been nervy camping before. She was used to being in the wilderness alone. It’s what she did. Tonight, she just knew something was out there, waiting for her, calling her.

Taking a deep breath, she inched open the zipper and pushed the nylon back. She took in the camp in a measured scan – the banked fire, her jeep, the log she had upended to use as a seat. Everything the same. She took a deep breath, and she froze. What is that? She took another deep breath to attempt to clear her head from the dream. What was that scent? Her nose alone couldn't get a grip on it. It was swirling around her, in her, taking over her senses like nothing she'd ever experienced. She closed her eyes, dizzy with it.

Her body followed the scent until she had left the safety of her tent and crossed the clearing. The scent continued to get stronger until she had to open her eyes, sure she was right on top of it. When she opened them, her eyes widened in panic as she saw the two large wolves standing right in front of her. They were close enough to touch if she would only reach out a hand. To her horror, she realized that was exactly what she was doing, reaching out to these wild wolves! What was she thinking? And how did she get out unscathed now?

As her panicked thoughts ran through part of her mind, another part told her these animals wouldn't hurt her. Despite all her training, she found herself locking eyes with the larger wolf. She knew better but couldn't break the contact. He had those same piercing, ice blue eyes as the female wolf she had seen earlier, and they were staring straight at her. She swallowed and licked her suddenly dry lips. As she stood frozen in place, she could only stare as he took a slow step toward her and placed his head under her outstretched palm.

***

Brodi was entranced as he watched the woman walk across the camp with her eyes closed. Long, toned legs ended in tiny sleep shorts covered with a long-sleeved t-shirt. Her red hair was wild around her face and hung down past her shoulders. Could she be sleepwalking? She seemed to be sniffing the air. Could she smell it, too?

"Come away, Alpha!" Finn begged.

But nothing could have moved Brodi from that spot at that moment. She almost walked right into them before she stopped and opened her eyes. They shone bright green in the moonlight. He saw the immediate fear in them as they widened and locked onto his but then she did something truly amazing. She reached out a hand toward them. He watched the confusion roll across her face. He was sure she knew what she was doing would normally be incredibly dangerous. Asta had said she was a wildlife biologist after all, but she stayed frozen with her hand outstretched, almost in supplication. He watched her swallow and followed her pink tongue as it swiped across her full lips. Brodi had to have her hands on him. He took a slow step forward.

"Alpha, no!" Finn screamed in his mind, but Brodi ignored him.

He took another step toward the woman until his head was directly under her hand. He could feel the heat just above his fur. He had to have her hands on him! He bumped her palm, and, to his delight, she stroked him. He didn't understand the ecstasy he felt at her touch, but he reveled in it. His eyelids dropped closed and he heard a rumble of pleasure emanate from deep in his chest.

The woman blinked at the sound and took another step closer, rubbing his head and ears like he was some kind of domesticated dog. Was he… purring? Liv didn't know how else to describe the sound coming from his chest.

"Aren't you gorgeous?" she crooned to him.

She couldn't explain the affinity she suddenly had for this wild animal. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. All she knew was she needed her hands in his fur, to feel his strong muscles, understand this wild beast in front of her. She knelt down in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling her face into his soft, white fur. Her eyes closed and she breathed the magical scent of him deep into her lungs. She couldn't get enough. Her fingers continued to caress his silky coat.

Suddenly, the black wolf growled low in his throat. She froze, her synapses starting to fire again. She was practically wrapped around the huge white wolf! She slowly leaned back on her heels and Brodi saw the fear shoot back into her eyes. His head whipped around, his eyes narrowing sharply on his Beta. A deep, menacing growl came from his chest. The woman's hands dropped from his body, and he had to stop himself from whimpering in pain over the loss. His second backed away and bowed his head but that didn't stem the tide of rage that Brodi felt washing over him like water. He snapped at his friend and drove him back away from the woman. His woman. He had no doubt now. She had to be the one prophesied for him. His fated mate.

Finn fled back into the forest. Brodi gave the woman one last beseeching look before tearing his gaze from her and chasing after his beta. He'd found her. Now what did he do?

Chapter Five

Brodi was larger and stronger, but Finn was faster. Especially when he was running in fear for his life. When Brodi finally caught up to him, the smaller man was in his human form, on his knees in front of an ancient Chestnut tree. When he saw Brodi run into the clearing, he lowered his head to the ground in supplication.

"Forgive me, Alpha," Finn implored. "I beg you! I feared for you. I didn't know what was happening."

Brodi walked slowly around his second, growls rumbling deep in his chest as he surveyed him. His stare hard and his eyes gone almost white in his fury. He could see Finn's skin ripple. He was fighting through his fear to stay in this more vulnerable state. Good. He should be afraid. Brodi rounded him one more time with his fangs bared, growled, and then shifted.

"I'm sorry, Alpha, truly," Finn continued, his voice tremulous. He dared a quick glance up to Brodi's face.

Brodi stared down at him menacingly. "You threatened my mate. My mate, Finn. What should the punishment be for such a transgression?"

"Your mate?" Finn asked incredulously. Could it be true? Did that explain his Alpha's alarming behavior? "I didn't know, Alpha. I didn't realize. She had you by the neck. I, I panicked," Finn stuttered.

Brodi blinked in surprise at his own declaration. He'd just called the woman his mate. Did that explain the rage that had overcome him when his Beta had growled at the woman? Could it be? After all these centuries? Brodi blew a long breath through his nose, remembering her touch. He couldn't believe it was happening when the woman had wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled his ruff. He hadn't been able to move an inch, the pleasure had been so great. It was the most erotic feeling he'd ever experienced. Odin's eye, she was fearless! Brodi was pulled out of his memories by Finn's voice. His second was still talking.

"What did you say?" he asked, irritated to have his thoughts of the woman interrupted.

"Is she truly the one? The one we've been searching for? Are you sure?" Finn asked, still on his knees.

Brodi ran a hand along his jaw in thought. "I don't know. All I do know is that I've never felt anything like it," he admitted.

He rubbed the stylized wolf- head tattoo inked over his heart by their shaman before they had left their home, their time. She had told him it was necessary but couldn't tell him why. "It pains me physically to have left her. The pull is so strong that even now, I want to go back to her with everything in me."

He started pacing, continuing to rub the tattoo. "I need to talk to Kelda," he muttered. "She never said anything about the woman being human. I don't know what to do now."

"She could be the answer to all our prayers, Alpha. The curse could finally be broken," Finn stated, hope gleaming from his eyes.

"Come on. We need to find the witch. We'll deal with your punishment later," Brodi said and shifted.

Finn followed suit and the black and white wolves ran quickly toward their compound. Brodi prayed Kelda would have the answers he needed. He felt deep in his bones that he would need the answers sooner rather than later.

Liv let herself fall to the ground as the wolves turned and ran back through the woods. She clutched at her chest, suddenly having trouble finding enough oxygen. She wanted to yell at them to come back, not to leave her. She realized that was irrational. She should be bowing her head and giving thanks that she was still alive but instead, she felt a hollow pit in her belly. She wanted, no needed, the white wolf to come back to her.

Her hands tore through her tangled mane in frustration. What was going on? What was she thinking? She'd had her arms around the biggest wolf she had ever seen like he was a puppy! She nuzzled him for God's sake!

She pushed her hair back behind her ears with a shaky hand. Why hadn't they attacked her? That huge animal had just stood there and let her snuggle him. Why had he let her even get close enough to touch him, much less treat him like a well-loved pet? She wracked her brain trying to come up with a reason for his behavior. Nothing in all her years of research about wolves came to her as an explanation.

"You idiot! You could have been killed!" She yelled out loud to herself, pushing herself up on wobbly legs and pacing around the campsite.

She decided to build the fire back up. She needed to make sure they didn't come back. Do you? a little voice inside her head asked. She stopped and shook her head as if she could shake the mad thought out. Of course, she did. She couldn't have them coming so close to the campsite again. Or her. Right? She stomped loudly to the edges of the camp, gathering sticks and breaking them over her knee for kindling. She had a dozen or so in her hand before she saw the blood streaming from a cut on her thigh. She was still only in her sleep shorts and had cut her leg on the bark of the sticks.

"Dammit!" she exploded, the last of the fog finally clearing from her mind.

She stumbled to the Jeep to find her first aid kit. Now she had fresh blood on her and wild animals near her camp. What was wrong with her? She quickly cleaned and bandaged the scrapes and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a well-worn pair of Uggs. She had only just realized the night was cold, and she obviously wasn't going to get any more sleep tonight.

She sat next to the fire, poking it up to a blaze and staring into the woods where the beasts had disappeared. Her mind spun trying to figure out what had happened until the first blush of morning started to filter through the trees and the birds started chirping. She rose stiffly to make herself coffee and get ready to start her research. In the clear light of day, she was going to be the one hunting the wolves, not the other way around.

Chapter Six

Liv checked the supplies in her day pack for the third time. After last night, she wasn't sure she trusted her own judgment. She wasn't planning on going very far today, not with two large male wolves stalking her campsite. She'd almost convinced herself she had dreamed the whole thing. Surely, she hadn't been snuggling with a giant white wolf with ice blue eyes. She chalked the experience up to too much caffeine, too close to bedtime. She was probably sleepwalking and dreaming. That scenario still didn't make her feel too good, but it was better than believing she had hugged a wolf. Though she was choosing to believe it hadn't been real, she still packed her dart gun and her bear spray in her pack. She was just being smart.

By the third day of hiking through the woods, following trails and making notes without any further sightings of her imaginary wolves, she started to relax. This was just like any other assignment. She scribbled in her notebook as she stopped to sit on a rock shelf and sip some water. She had found signs of wolves in the area, real wolves, and she was hopeful she would have a sighting soon so she could start delineating the pack members.

Wolves were, by far, her favorite animals to study. Beautiful. Powerful. Smart. Deadly. She knew what she was doing, however, and was glad to be out in nature again. So far, this piece of the forest seemed relatively free of any evidence of humans. There were no hiking trails, no destructive tearing up of the forest floor by four-wheelers, nothing but pristine woods and the typical wildlife you would expect. Liv sighed at the peacefulness of it all. She'd take being alone in a forest over being surrounded by people in town, any day. She'd never met anyone that really understood her love of the wilderness. The few friends she had thought she was lonely and needed to get out more. Meet more people. Meet a guy. She'd given up trying to explain to people that alone didn't need to mean lonely. She took a deep breath of fresh air and sighed happily. This was exactly where she belonged.

***

After that indescribable meeting in her camp, Brodi's brain hadn't been able to focus on anything but the red-headed female in the woods. He had gone straight to Kelda on returning home to tell her of the experience. He could see the excitement flare in the shaman's eyes as he described scenting the female and her reaction to him in his wolf form. She agreed it was unlike any reaction they had ever seen. Kelda counseled caution, however. The female was human, after all.

Kelda couldn't find any evidence of a human being a fated mate in the many old tomes she had brought with her, but she felt strongly that he needed to meet her as a man and in as non-threatening manner as possible. It was imperative that she mated him to break the curse. He couldn't afford to scare her away. He agreed, but still couldn't manage to stay away. He followed her at a distance every day. Finn had dogged him every second the first couple of days, needing to watch that his Alpha didn't do something stupid as he seemed to have no control around the strange woman. Brodi understood what his second was doing but rankled under the supervision. By the third day, he'd had enough, and slipped his chaperone by setting off long before daylight. He was desperate to get closer to the female. His female. And if that upset his Beta, then too bad. He was the Alpha here, after all.

He had made ever-widening circles around the female's camp when he finally found her. Moon shine! She was glorious! She was sitting on a shelf of rock, writing something in a notebook. He watched transfixed as she poured water from a hot pink water bottle into her mouth. A few drops lingered on her full lips and the sight of her throat swallowing made him start to pant. Some of her fiery red locks had escaped her ponytail and were sticking to her face. He watched her push them behind her ear seemingly by rote. He wanted to pull that magnificent hair out of the offending tie and feel it cascade over his body. He tipped up his nose and breathed deeply trying to scent her more fully. There was that same amazing aroma – honeysuckle, vanilla and magic. He closed his eyes and tried to control his panting. Thanks to Finn, he'd not been this close to her since that night in her camp and the need to go to her, to feel her soft hands in his fur again, was almost unbearable. He was unable to stifle a whine before it escaped from his throat.

Liv's head popped up as she heard a sound. She thought it almost sounded like the whine of a dog. Or a wolf. Her hand slowly went to her small cannister of bear spray attached to her day pack. Her eyes scanned the area looking for movement or the shine of predatory eyes. Nothing. Nothing at all and that was weird. She realized the birds weren't even singing. There was no buzz of insects. Everything had gone still. Her eyes made another pass along the tree line. Her back was to a rock face so nothing could sneak up on her from behind. She stood up carefully, not wanting to move quickly and possibly trigger the unseen animal's predatory instincts. It might have been a bird, Liv. Don't be so jumpy! But her gut told her something was out there, watching her. She took a step toward the trees and suddenly a familiar scent drifted to her nose. Her body recognized it before her mind. She breathed in deep and took another step toward the trees. The sun's rays came out and illuminated a patch of white in the dark green of the bushes directly in front of her across the clearing. Every hair on her body stood at attention. She froze.

Brodi recognized exactly the moment when she saw him. Her whole body tensed. He hated the fear and confusion he saw in her eyes. It made him want to go to her. Protect her. Let her know she was safe. But he was the thing she was afraid of. If he only had some clothes stashed close by, he could have shifted and come across her as just a hiker out enjoying nature. Fuck! He should have listened to Kelda and Finn. Now what should he do?

He debated for several long moments, then not able to resist the pull of his mate anymore, he stepped out into the clearing. He immediately sat and tried to make himself appear as unthreatening as possible. He tried to control his panting. No teeth showing, Brodi! Her intoxicating scent was overwhelming him now. He was almost dizzy with it. He knew this was a big risk. What if she had a gun in that pack of hers? He had to try regardless. He needed to be near her.

Liv sucked in a breath when she saw the wolf slowly step from the trees. Damn! Apparently, she hadn't been dreaming. It was the same giant, white wolf with the ice blue eyes. She stood stock still watching the animal. He was simply stunning, like no other wolf she had ever seen. Pure white wolves were rare as their color made them easy to spot and they were often killed as pups. She didn't think she'd ever seen one in the wild. He wasn't albino though. He had black tips to his ears and his tail and an interesting pattern of swirls across his chest. Those intense blue eyes locked on hers as if he was trying to make up his mind about something. Instead of attacking or running away, however, he simply lay down and continued to regard her.

Liv's eyes widened in surprise. A wild wolf had just lay down in front of her! Then it happened. the intoxicating scent seemed to envelope her just like it had that night in her camp. Her hands dropped to her sides, forgetting about the bear spray or the flare gun. Suddenly, she wasn't afraid of the wolf anymore. In fact, she wanted nothing more than to be close to him again. She slowly walked toward him with one hand outstretched. When her hand felt soft fur under her fingertips, she felt a wave of calm and contentment flow through her body. She didn't know what was happening, but she didn't want it to stop.

Brodi could barely contain himself once the woman started walking in his direction. All the stories about fated mate magic must be true if this human woman was walking toward him in his full-grown wolf form here in the woods. He didn't dare move a muscle. He thought his lungs might have forgotten how to work. Suddenly, there was too little oxygen to be had. When her hand touched his fur, his eyes dropped closed and he tried to rub his head into her soft palm. Freya, bless me!

Then her arms were around him, her face buried in the fur around his neck. His lungs were able to fill again when he felt her hot breath blow against his ruff. His heartbeat slowed in his chest, and he was filled with a sense of wonder. This was the female who would save him from the curse. The woman who would save his people. His mate.