By the Light of the Scottish Moon - Unrated (My Kilted Wolf, #1) (7 page)

Bryn.

He licked her cheek, whimpering softly. Then he nuzzled her neck, forcing her to turn her head to the side, exposing her throat to him. Bryn looked into her eyes asking permission and she nodded, not having the strength to speak.

Freya felt only gladness when his teeth closed around her throat and cut off her air, but she noticed he was not biting hard enough to break the skin. She struggled under him, suddenly realizing he was not there to save her.

Thrashing violently, her body fought one last time to cling to life. It was then, in the struggle, she understood that Bryn was putting her out of her misery. It was the way of his kind—a final act of kindness.

It was enough.

Freya stilled herself, accepting his gift. Her heart began pounding in her ears as the darkness took hold. Having fought it for so long, she finally relaxed and let go, allowing her spirit to release.

Rebirth

S
he felt hot blood coursing through her veins, burning her up inside with its animal heat. Next came the unique smell of
him.
Without even opening her eyes, she knew who lay beside her, could hear his breath, could even hear the rapid beating of his heart.

Freya opened her eyes and was flooded with overly bright shades of color and images sharper than she ever imagined existed. The terrifyingly wonderful fact that she was seeing the world through new eyes thrilled her, but her body seemed sluggishly slow.

“Bryn,” she croaked.

“Shh… Ye need time to adjust.”

She turned her head and caught her breath, staring at him in pure wonder. He didn’t look anything like the man she’d known. Her new eyes picked up on the various tones and textures of his skin, and the sharp curvature of his jaw, the rippling muscles of his chest, the sheen of his hair. His eyes, however, were the most magnificent of all.

Freya gazed into those glowing amber orbs of light and said in a gravelly voice, “You’re beautiful.”

He put his finger on her lips. “Shh…”

Freya tentatively touched him, running her fingers down his strong, veiny arms and felt a surge of excitement. Her fingers tingled from the simple contact. Bryn even
felt
beautiful.

She smiled to herself, wondering how she looked to him now. Had she been as equally transformed?

“Welcome to my hell.”

She shook her head slowly. “No, Bryn. The beginning of your heaven.”

His lips only showed a hint of a smile. “Ye foolish lass. Normally humans who go through the
Athrú
grow up here and have heard stories and fairytales of The Chosen. But ye?” He chuckled softly, nudging her. “It’s like yer a newborn
bairn
. I’ll have to teach ye everything.”

She sat up and suddenly felt the room start to spin. He pushed her back down on the pillow. “Too fast, Freya. I told ye it takes time to get used to yer new body.”

She looked up at him gratefully. “Teach me, Bryn. I want to learn everything about you and your pack.”

A troubled look flitted across Bryn’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

He said with a look of regret, “The pack will not be pleased. This may end badly fer us, Freya.”

“You didn’t go tell them when you left?”

“Nae, I
kin
what they would say. I went to Sacred Point and prayed to the Mistress fer wisdom. It was she who gave me the courage to come back fer ye.”

Freya wrapped her arms around him, and said with a heart full of gratitude, “Thank you, Bryn.”

He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. With that kiss, a whole new world opened up! All at once, in equal measure, she smelled his masculinity, tasted his gratifying lips, felt his possessive aura, heard the increase of his heartbeat and connected with his spirit.

She pulled away, amazed by it.

He gazed into her eyes, looking just as stunned.

“Bryn, I’ve never felt anything like that…”

“Nor I.” His eyes glowed with an inner light that drew her in and held her captive. He explained huskily as he leaned closer, “I’ve heard when ye find yer true mate it’s like this.”

“True mate?”

He kissed her again, groaning the moment their lips made contact. This time when he pulled away his eyes shone with a possessive need that was intoxicating. She’d never felt so cherished or desired by another.

“I spent my youth growing up with fairytales of it,” he explained. “The story goes that a wolf knows the moment he meets his true mate because the connection is instantaneous and unbreakable. However, I’ve never felt that with anyone, not even ye—until now.”

She looked at him, her mouth open in blind admiration. “I can’t stop staring. I can’t get enough of your kisses, your touches. I. Need. More.”

He cocked his head. “What a compelling craving I feel fer ye. I can smell it on ye, I taste it in yer kisses, I feel it in yer touch. Yer meant to be
mine
.”

She touched his chest just to feel the thrill of the connection. “The Moon brought us together using my visions, Bryn. It was meant to be.”

“Aye, I suppose yer right. The Moon brought ye to me in human form, but it took the
Athrú
fer me to finally recognize her gift.” Bryn took her hand, guiding it over his naked body. Both were entranced by the fiery power of the contact.

“Kiss me again,” she pleaded.

Bryn swooped down and plundered her mouth. Even his kisses were different than any she’d experienced. His tongue was alive with electricity as he teased her lips and skimmed the ridges of her teeth before exploring her mouth.

She had to pull back, the feeling too intense. “You make me lightheaded.”

He chuckled, laying her head back on the pillow. “I need to remember you’ve just completed the
Athrú
.” He growled in frustration, abruptly moving away from her. “The first order of business is to introduce ye to the pack so that we can officially become Everlasting. I will not touch ye again until the ceremony. It seems I have zero restraint.”

Bryn opened the window and threw back the shutters, howling at the Moon in his human form. It was a glorious, emotionally uplifting cry. He turned back to her, his naked body outlined by the pale caress of the moon. He stared at her lustfully. “Yes, I need to stay far away from ye until then.”

He ignored his own declaration, striding back to her. As he lay down beside her again, she took in his masculine form. Her eyes picked up every ridge and muscle, every bump and individual hair. Bryn was an undiscovered continent ripe for exploration.

She ran her hand lightly over his pecs, thrilled at the electrical current it caused as her fingers ran through his thick chest hair. Her wolf was well-built. His tight, defined muscles were made for fighting and defending his pack, not pumping iron like the men she knew. As her hands glided over them in wonderment, she felt the rawness of their power.

Freya allowed her hand to travel lower as she stared openly at his naked shaft. It was unlike any she had seen, long, smooth and thinner than most. When she tentatively touched it, his cock sprang to life as if it had a will of its own. She looked up at Bryn and smiled nervously.

The look on his face made her heart skip a beat. He wanted her… he wanted her in the worst way.

Freya shivered, physically responding to his animal need. When she reached out to touch him again, he commanded in a low growl, “Dinnae.”

His warning both frightened and excited her. She smiled coyly at him, asking, “Why not?” as she moved to caress his manhood.

Bryn grabbed her wrist to stop her. “Making love to one of The Chosen is not the same.”

She was intrigued and gazed at his shaft. “How is it different?”

“I will guide you through it after our Everlasting.”

When her fingers headed southward, his tone became deadly serious. “Freya, you can touch me anywhere but there.”

It almost sounded like a challenge, but she chose to honor his request. She realized this was the perfect opportunity to survey the scars on his back. “Fine, since I find your shaft too much of a temptation, you’ll need to lie on your stomach.”

Although Bryn was reluctant, he rolled over, folding his arms to support his head as he looked back to watch her.

Freya kept her expression relaxed knowing his eyes were on her as she scanned the wounds on his back up close. They were far more extensive and deep than she’d imagined. Truly, it was a miracle he’d survived the vicious attack. Looking at the extent of his injuries, she had more appreciation for the violence he had endured—that his whole family had endured.

She shuddered at the thought of it.

“Hideous, I
kin.”
He laughed bitterly. “I’m a monster among monsters.”

She lightly traced one of the lesser scars with her finger. “No, Bryn. They are a testament to your courage and loyalty.”

“How does it feel to find how cruel Mistress is to partner you with one such as I?” he joked.

Freya’s heart ached hearing the pain in his voice. She curled up beside him, laying her head down beside his so she could stare into his eyes. “I am to be mated to the
Ceannard.
I would say I am very blessed indeed.”

He snorted. “Ye’ll soon know differently.”

Freya brushed the hair out of his eyes. “What I
know
is that the Moon saw fit to bring us together.”

He breathed in her smell, pulling her to him. “As good as this feels right now, the road ahead will not be easy. I’ve broken the law. As
Ceannard,
there will be a heavy price to be paid.”

Freya snuggled closer to him. “Whatever the price, I don’t regret this. To find my true mate—to know the power of this connection—is worth any price.”

He kissed her again, running his hands through her hair, sending delicious chills down her spine. She got lost in his kiss, her spirit mingling with his. Bryn grunted, forcing himself away but staring at her hungrily.

“I never believed in finding one’s true mate, it was simply a fanciful tale.”

“Like fairies and dragons?” she teased.

Bryn smiled, leaning down to growl in her ear. “Nae, Freya. Dragons are real.”

She caught her breath.
Dragons?

Freya couldn’t believe that through her death she had been reborn into a completely new life. A life full of mystical charm and dangerous allure, one she was ready and eager to discover at Bryn’s side. This wondrous gift she’d been given was beyond price.

“Bryn, I need to get up.”

“No, Freya, rest.”

She pointed to the window. “Please,” she asked, silently begging him with her eyes.

“I cannae say no to those puppy dog eyes,” he complained, holding out his hand to her. Bryn supported her as she made her way to the window on wobbly legs. He opened the shutters wide.

Freya stared up at the glorious Moon and howled for the very first time. It was the sound of pure joy and gratitude.

Pleasant chills coursed through her when Bryn joined in her song…

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Judgment