The Tribes Luna

CHAPTER 6

ASTRID'S POINT OF VIEW 

Walking into the longhouse I had only one thing on my mind, to talk to my father. Seeing I had no choice but to sit next to Mathias only added fuel to the fire that was burning inside me. But that fire of rage was dowsed in the form of Alpha Erik. I became so transfixed by his deep green eyes I had completely forgotten what I was meant to be angry about. His hair was black and shaved at the sides and the back, he looked like a magazine model. I would've said a god but most gods are meant to have huge rotund bellies with big bushy beards, plus they eat and act like slobs. But then I was literally pulled out of my trance and back to my reality and into my seat. 

"What in Odin's name do you think you're doing?" Mathias whisper yells at me. 

I don't respond, but I yank my arm out of his grip. He counties to be annoying but I just ignore him, I know he can't do anything in front of guests. Soon, I'm just playing with my food now and stealing covert glances over at Alpha Erik, thankfully not being noticed by Mathias. My father begins to make a speech, I assume it'll be about me and Mathias. Instead, he starts it off by talking about Alpha Erik and renewing an alliance. When Alpha Erik stands up and starts talking I'm instantly hooked on the sound of his voice, I just want to hear him talk for as long as I live and I suddenly want to know how it sounds when he says my name. 

But then he stops talking and now my father is announcing me and Mathias. As he says it I see people that I know from when I was growing up and they don't look too excited about it, because they know I would never willingly be with Mathias. Suddenly I'm being dragged away from the table by Mathias, I turn back to the table and see that my father doesn't look happy, Alpha Erik is currently chugging his tankard of mead. 

Mathias pulls me to him and begins to dance, I make sure his hand stays on my waist and doesn't travel any lower. I don't feel like I'm dancing more like being dragged and pulled about the floor. Every now and then someone would ask me to come to join them whether it was my friends, handmaidens or even Geir my personal guard but every time Mathias would say no before I can say anything else and pull me away. 

I had just about had enough of Mathias and I was a second away from snapping at him when I felt the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. As Mathias grabs a drink I turn and see Alpha Erik making his way towards me. In the next moment he was holding out his hand for me to dance with him, but I'm able to say anything before Mathias gets in the middle of us. I had had enough of him, I state that it's my choice who I dance with and it will never be his.

I drag Alpha Erik away from Mathias and in the next second, I'm lost once again in his deep green eyes. I loved how his hands felt on me and I never wanted them to leave my body. I desperately wanted to feel his lips on mine. But then it's like a record got scratched and came to an abrupt halt. My father is demanding I go with Mathais, Alpha Erik and his brothers look like their going to fight with him, but instead, Alpha Erik says I should get to choose who I go with. 

He lets me choose what to do. I don't want to leave this feeling of safety with Alpha Erik and I know if I walk away it'll upset him and I know it will break my own heart for some reason. But I don't want to cause a rift between the two groups of people. I take a breathe and do something I know Mathias will try and punish me for doing so, but I just needed to feel his skin. It's soft and smooth, with that freshly shaved feel to it. 

I've pulled away so violently, I feel like my shoulder would pop out. I'm being dragged away once again by Mathias, I felt tingles on my fingertips, but I don't know what causes it because I don't want to look back and see the hurt and sadness in Alpha Erik's eyes. I'm being buffeted by people as I'm still being dragged away from everyone, I realise he's dragging me out of the longhouse. 

Once outside I begin to twist my arm and dig my feet into the dirt. He swung me around and pushed my back against the outside wall of the longhouse, his hands slam on either side of my head, still holding onto my own wrists. He hasn't said anything, he's just growling at me, his eyes are blacker than night, with no mercy in them. His Lycan is in control and he tends to kill without mercy. He lunges his face towards mine, but I swing my leg up, as hard and as fast as I can before his lips have a chance to make contact with my neck. He crumples onto his knees, hands holding onto his family jewels. 

"Lady Astrid, your father has sent me to make sure you get home safely." Came Geir's voice to my right.

I nod to him and walk as quickly as I could towards him. Not wanting to know what he saw, or what he might have thought seeing Mathias on his knees growling in front of me. Loki comes flying from Geir's shoulder to my own. He lead me to the cottage that I share with my father and it was only till we were outside the door that Geir spoke again. 

"Astrid, I don't know what's going on with your father but you know he wouldn't actually let you be with Mathias, even if it was your idea or want or even if he was your mate, don't you?" He asked.

"Yes, I do know that. Which makes me wonder what is going on, but I'm unable to do anything. I cannot defy my father publicly because people will think him weak, and I have yet to be able to speak with him privately." I say sighing. 

"His facial features when he announced your wedding did not seem like that of one of a proud father. It is like he is having an inner battle." Geir says, with a frown. 

"What are you saying, Geir?" I ask.

"Maybe there is more than just persuasive words in play. Maybe there is more than what meets the eye." He says sceptically.

"You think there might be magic in play?" I almost whisper, as though I'm afraid of being overheard. Geir merely shrugged, I ponded this for a moment, before saying. "I thank you, Geir for your counsel." 

"Now, get inside, you'll need your rest if you are to receive your spirit animal when you turn 18." He says holding the door open for me. I watch as Loki flys from my shoulder into the cottage, through my open bedroom door.

"I hope I do, maybe that way I can be told whether Mathias is indeed my mate or not. Even if he is I shall reject him. I will not be with him." I say, walking into my home.

With that Geir closes the door behind me and I watch him walk away through the little window in the door. I sigh, the events of today chasing each other through my mind. When I make it to my room, Loki is on his perch by my window. I sit down on my bed and try and think of what I can do about my father, but my mind refuses to concentrate. I glance at the clock on my wall and see it is one minute to midnight, please give me my spirit animal when I come of age. 

I stare at the clock closely holding my breath as I watch the seconds tick away. Soon midnight came and went and nothing changed. My room did not change, I did not change, I did not even hear my father come back home either. I lay down on my bed not bothering with getting out of my clothes and just let myself cry and sob. I feel Loki land gently on my pillow and he rubs his head on my cheek, but I continue to sob, feeling like I have no choice but to be with Mathias. 

"I'd rather die and go to Hel before I go with him willingly," I whisper more to myself rather than Loki. 

Soon I'm consumed by the darkness of sleep.