The Viking Alpha and his New World Luna

Chapter 5 - Leif’s POV

We walked in the direction of the trade post. I knew it’s rough location but I had no idea how far we were from it. We took a break just before dusk and rested, the moose was tough to chew and eat but it was most welcome after eating salted fish for so long. The thought made my stomach roll. We decided to continue just before dawn.

A feeling of unease was gnawing at me but I wasn’t sure why.

Dawn came and we broke camp. We walked the whole day and decided to rest beyond the next forest. As we neared night was falling, but there was an ominous orange glow behind the forest. We sped up our pace and after some time we heard commotion ahead, screams from men and women. What the hell was happening for such noise to spread this far?

As we breached the forest we saw the trade post ahead. I say trade post lightly as it was far bigger than what I was expecting. A wall of logs encircled the camp, a good idea and shows the post is ran by sensible people. But the glow came from within. As we got closer we could see fires and hear the blood curdling screams get louder. They were under attack!

I ran around the edge to find an entrance, my men in tow. I found the entrance, it was wide open. A horse bolted past me with a corpse tied to its back. The head tied in its tail. It ran in a well trodden direction, I made a mental note to find out who that was.

We entered the trade post, bodies laid everywhere. Men mostly, the occasional shield maiden too. Fatal wounds on each of them ranging from claw marks to axe blows. Such a waste of life!

I saw a warrior checking bodies ahead, he hadn’t seen us arrive. I grabbed him on the shoulder and he nearly lept from his skin.

Warrior: “Who the hell are you? You don’t smell familiar. Are you with Harald?” He spoke to me like I was some low level mongrel. Agnar was scratching at my skin to escape and teach him a lesson.

I stood tall, my full height of 6’8” was intimidating. I did NOT appreciate this Omegas tone with me. I let my Alpha aura flow before I answered. The Omega began to feel it almost right away and he bowed and exposed his neck in submission.

Leif: “I, Omega, am Alpha Leif- Gunnarson! Alpha of our pack and leader of this post!”

The “warrior” omega sunk lower.

Warrior: “Forgive me Alpha, there has been a coup. Harald-Ivarson has taken over and is killing anyone who has bedded, bred or traded with the local natives. He’s killed the closest Chief and kept his daughter to be his slave. The Chiefs body was tied to his horse and sent back to the village with a warning to stay away.”

I looked at the man in front of me. He was unable to lie to me even if he wanted to. I relaxed my aura a little.

Leif: “is that so. What have the natives done to deserve this?”

Warrior: “Haralds mate has been found dead and skinned in wolf form. It’s driven him mad Alpha. His men are so loyal they are killing anyone who opposes him. I was checking the dead and pretending to be apart of his coup. I’m just trying to to save my mate and pup. Please…..forgive me.”

I could see the man was telling the truth. I grunted acceptance as I strode past him with him still on his knees.

Leif: “ Help the wounded and come find me with a report of losses and injuries. I also want a full inventory of goods on site.

Warrior: “ Yes Alpha.”

Leif: “Do you know which village the corpse belonged to?”

Warrior: “yes Alpha.”

Leif: “Good, find someone who speaks their language and bring them to be at the pack house later.”

The warrior nodded and ran to start his orders.

I stood facing the slaughter but spoke to my Beta.

Leif: “Ivar…”

He was on my left but from the corner of my eye I saw him turn to my direction. Disgust at the display all over his face.

Ivar: “Alpha?”

Leif: “ I want the fighting stopped. Take our men and find the ones loyal to Harald. Bind them and bring them to the pack house. Send someone to help that warrior tend and sort the wounded. We will notify the families of the fallen including the natives and they can send their dead to their paradise as they see fit. For our brothers and sisters we will make pyres and if Odin sees fit he and the Valkyrie’s will welcome those who died in battle to Valhalla. “

Ivar: “yes Alpha.”

Leif: “I’m going to the pack house for this Harald. Find me when you’re done.”

I started to walk in the direction of the pack house. It was the largest building on the site and slightly elevated so it was easy to find.

I could hear female screams coming from inside so I quickened my pace. But I wanted to be stealthy. When I got to the steps I placed my feet softly. The door was open, I snuck inside and saw a hell-like scene. My heart fell to my feet.

Women both native and our own lay naked and dead in various places. Some were on tables, most on the floor. The smell of blood and other bodily fluids filling the air. I was about the check one for life when I heard a loud female scream from across the room. I slowly and carefully stalked my was past the tables and bodies.

I saw a curtain and peaked around. Six men were holding down a native woman. A very young girl, no older that 15/16 years. Too young to be touched. Four men had a limb each, the fifth held her head and tried to stop her screams. The sixth man was tearing at her clothes, eager to access her. The smell of fear heavy.

I looked at her face, they had been beating her before hand. Her lip was bloodied, her eye bruised. Still she fought on.

These men must have been responsible for the other deaths and assaults I passed on my way through, Transgressions no Alpha can forgive.

Agnar: “They will die for this, why have their wolves let them do this?”

The woman suddenly saw me and stilled. A smile cracked on her face. The man at her head looked up too, wanting to see what has silenced the woman. His face paled when he saw Agnar’s yellow eyes staring back at him from my head. He started to stumble back away from the woman. He looked at his friends but they were too busy trying to watch their comrade commit another vile crime.

As if the woman’s silence was a death knell the man between her legs stopped removing her garments and looked at her face. Why wasn’t she screaming? Because he had stopped, his friends who held her limbs looked also….

I began to spread my Alpha aura into the room. They all then turned and knelt to me. The native woman took her chance, she grabbed the hatchet axe from one of the men’s belt and stilled it into the man between her legs neck. Problem was this guy was big and a wolf. Yes it hit and stuck but it didn’t kill.

The man stood and removed the axe from his neck, he turned and went to strike the woman. I blocked the blow.

Leif: “Easy, this is a crime that needs punishing.”

The warrior smiled at the woman thinking I was on his side. The woman spoke loud and fast, I couldn’t understand what she was saying but her face looked to be begging to spare her life or a quicker death. I couldn’t be sure.

I found a blanket and passed it to the woman. The warriors looked at me confused.

I felt my Beta come up behind me with some of our men. The fury was palpable in the air.

Ivar: “Alpha, have you seen…….” He began before taking in the scene ahead.

Leif: “ah Ivar, just the man. Men this is my Beta Ivar.”

Ivar looked at the men before his Alpha and nodded greeting.

Leif: “Ivar, these men have had far too much fun here today.”

Ivar growled realising these so called men were responsible for the c*****e in the pack house.

Warrior 1: “Harald said we could have the spoils!?”

Leif: “Is Harald Alpha?” I said calmly.

Warrior 1: “Nnnnn no”

Leif: “No he is not. I am and I will deal with you all after a night in the silver cells.”

Warrior 2: “Who do you think you are? Pup!” He was an older man, around my father’s age. Set in his ways. “I answer To Harald, not some runt! You have no power to judge me!”

Ivar moved forward to kill the man but I held him back.

Leif: “ I am Leif-Gunnarson, I am Alpha of this post. I will not judge you, for your crime is too high to scale. So I will let Odin and Celeste judge you, my duty here is to arrange the meeting.” I said in a low menacing tone.

The men cried when they realised their fates.

Leif: “I will have you all Blood Eagled after dawn. May the Moon goddess bless your wolves and remove them from your souls. May she gift them more deserving humans in their rebirth.”

The warriors cried and begged. Cowards!

Leif: “Now, where is this Harald?”