Chapter 101: The Brotherhood
The courtyard of the pack house was now full of long trestle tables. Every member of the pack was there, about three hundred in total. The air smelled of food and wine. At one of the tables, fifteen young male wolves sat together. Astrid was with them. He looked down at his shaky hands, then up, trying to appear steady.
The feast began. Alpha Faelan stood up, raised his goblet of wine, and said, "To the land and to those who work it."
The pack repeated the exact words and began eating. Platters were passed: thick slices of ham, smoked meat, toasted potatoes, steamed greens, and fresh bread. As they ate, some merchants from neighboring packs who had stayed for the festival talked business with Alpha Faelan and some of his stewards. Orders were confirmed for the next season’s barley. A deal was struck for a new breed of seedlings. The commerce of Emberspire continued even on a festival day.
After the meal, the tables were cleared. The pack formed a wide circle in the courtyard. The fifteen young wolves stood in the center. Their fathers came forward, each carrying a large wooden box.
Faelan and Isoldea stood before them, ready for the initiation. The pack’s priestess circled round the young wolves, sprinkling moon water on them, chanting, and the people joined in singing the moon songs.
When the ritual ended, everywhere was silent.
Faelan’s voice was loud when he spoke up. "You have grown on our land. You have worked it with your hands. You have claimed the wolf within you, not for battle but for the strength to till, to sow, and to harvest. Do you vow to uphold the ways of Emberspire? To work the land given to you with respect? To provide for this pack and for those who depend on our bounty?"
Each young male wolf replied. "I vow it."
Isoldea spoke next. "Do you vow to respect the bonds of this oath, to build and not to break? To take a mate with honor or to leave with peace in your heart if your path leads elsewhere?"
"I vow it."
One by one, the father opened their boxes. Inside each box was not a weapon but a tool. A hand-forged scythe. A polished ploughshare. A heavy, sharp axe for felling timber. The fathers presented the tools to their sons.
Faelan approached each male. He placed his hands on their shoulders, looked them in the eye, and said their names. Isolde followed, placing kisses on their forehead as a sign of blessing.
"Welcome to the Brotherhood." Faelan and Isoldea declared.
The solemn mood broke. The pack members cheered, and some of the men surged forward, clapping the new brothers on the back and offering congratulations. Casks of cider and ale were tapped. Music started, lively tunes for dancing.
Faelan and Isoldea moved through the crowd, accepting thanks and good wishes. Isoldea had her eyes on Astrid the entire time. She watched him smiling and laughing with his friends.
Astrid moved away from his friends and approached Dorianne, the beta’s daughter. His scythe was held carefully at his side.
"He looks happy," Faelan whispered next to Isoldea.
"With Dorianne?" Isoldea asked.
"Yeah. They make a great couple."
Isoldea snorted. "No, they don’t."
"Does seeing Astrid with another wolf make you jealous?"
"Jealous?" She laughed. "Why would I be jealous that a little boy who warms my bed is seeing someone else?"
"He satisfies you better than the rest," Faelan responded. "Still, they look great together."
"Haven’t you heard?"
"What?"
"Dorianne has already found her mate."
Faelan exchanged glances with her. "Really? Talywn didn’t mention it when I spoke to him earlier."
"The mate is not a native of this pack. He’s one of the merchant’s sons from FangBane Pack."
Faelan hummed. "So how does that make you feel?"
"What do you mean?"
"Knowing Dorianne is out of the way," Faelan smirked before walking away.
Isoldea watched Dorianne drag Astrid away from the crowd until they were no longer in sight. She noticed a tall and muscular man’s eyes on her. When she looked at him, their eyes met. They didn’t need to say anything more. As Isoldea left the scene, the man followed immediately.
As the afternoon sun began to wane, casting long shadows, Lyric approached Faelan. "The tribute wagons are loaded and ready, Alpha. The king’s guard captain says they’ll depart within the hour."
"Alright. See them off with a cask of blackberry wine for their journey." Faelan said.
Lyric nodded and left.
Dorianne had dragged Astrid into an old farm warehouse. The moment the door shut behind them, Dorianne’s lips met his immediately. Her hands were everywhere all at once, tugging at his clothes, in urgent need. Astrid popped the buttons of her shirt, exposing her full breasts. He buried his face between them while his hands roamed her body.
Dorianne found his zipper and freed his rigid cock. It stood at attention, thick and ready. She wrapped her fingers around it and slowly pumped her hand up and down.
"You’ve been waiting for this time, haven’t you?" Astrid purred against her ear.
"You have no idea." She whimpered, her body trembling with anticipation. She needed to feel him inside her. She needed his cock to fill her.
Astrid lifted Dorianne, her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he carried her towards a haystack. He dropped her and quickly shed the rest of his clothing. She didn’t hesitate. She leaned forward, taking him into her mouth with a hungry moan. Her tongue swirled around the head, savoring the taste of him as her hand worked the base.
Astrid’s fingers tangled in her hair, urging her on with a groan of approval. "Fuck, you are good at that." He rasped, his hips gently thrusting forward.
Dorianne took him deeper until her lips met the base. She pulled back slowly, her mouth slick with saliva, before diving back down.
With a low groan, Astrid pulled Dorianne off his cock and flipped her onto her hands and knees.
