Chapter Twenty-Five
When Wade opened his eyes, he found himself kneeling before Odin. The pain in his chest a thing of the past. That was not something he wanted to feel again, anytime soon, or ever again.
He remained on his knees with his eyes locked on the ground. He knew better than to speak before he was spoken to. He learned quickly that his maker was a prick who specialized in painful lessons if you dared to fuck around.
“What to do with you, Stian?”
Odin had finally spoken, and when he did, it was a name Wade hadn’t been called in centuries. A name he would not recognize. He chose, instead, to ignore Odin.
“Have you no response, Wanderer?”
Wade’s jaw clenched and unclenched. He remained silent. Odin thought it funny to name him after one who wanders, reminding him that he must always choose the path of solitude. One who is never to settle, never to find a mate.
He knew exactly why he found himself before the all-powerful god. His mating with Adalyn had defied the very edict Odin demanded.
Yet he felt no remorse for the path he had chosen. His mind was made up in the matter.
The Fates had deemed him worthy of a mate. Who was he to argue that logic? Who was Odin to argue against the Fates?
His eyes stayed glue to the floor as he heard Odin’s robes shuffling around him.
“You are so full of spite for me—the one who created you. It’s almost amusing that you think you deserve the breath filling your lungs, let alone a mate.”
The anger rolled off Odin in waves. Clearly displeased with Wade’s decision to claim Adalyn as his mate, but Wade had been helpless to stop the mating from happening. From the second she crossed Wade’s path, his fate had been decided.
That was the beauty of having a fated mate. A single soul created for only you. He’d tried, half-heartedly, to deny the truth the Fates had thrown right in front of him and failed every step of the way. The draw he felt to her was too strong to deny.
“You knew you should’ve stayed away from this girl. Yet you persisted in your foolish pursuit of her, putting yourself in her path, time and time again, knowing damn well there would be repercussions!” Odin’s voice boomed, shaking the walls of the temple around them.
Wade could say nothing in his own defense. Odin was right. As always. He had no right to claim Adalyn, yet he did. Some selfish part of him had known that it would always come down to this instant. The moment he would have to pay for his disobedience. How high of a price would his creator demand?
“Have you nothing to say in your own defense? Will you not fight to save your own life?”
Wade refused to be goaded by Odin, keeping every muscle in his body on lockdown. If he moved so much as an inch, he would spring, attacking Odin in the vilest of ways. An act that would all but insure his destruction.
“You think to stand defiant before me? If you will not fight to save your own life, what about that of the girl? Will you fight to save her?”
Wade’s eyes snapped to Odin’s face. A snarl flew from his mouth. He was on his feet before he could stop himself.
“Ah! Finally, I have your attention!” Odin seemed almost smug.
“Of course he’s smug. He’s the All-father. Creator of realms and lives. We don’t stand a chance against him.”His wolf provided nothing more than the truth. Odin could simply wish for his or Adalyn’s death and their lifeless bodies would fall to the ground.
Whatever game his creator was playing, he had no choice but to play along. There was no one to step in to save him. No Alpha to back him up or plead for his or Adalyn’s life. Not that any of that would even matter.
“Odin! Why are you torturing your creation in such a manner? Has he not served you and only you faithfully for centuries?” Freyja entered the temple, scolding her husband.
“The one whom I created to wander Earth, collecting souls for eternity has taken it upon himself to mate.”
“Of course he has.” Freyja closed the distance between herself and Wade. Her fingertips danced over his naked chest. She eyed him as if he were the finest specimen to grace her presence in all eternity.
“Watch yourself, woman,” Odin warned, clearly disliking her familiarity with Wade.
“He is one of your finest creations. One of your fiercest warriors. One of your most humble servants. But not to worry. I’ve taken care to see that he remains so.” She grasped Wade’s chin, turning his head from side to side. “Very fine, indeed.”
Odin growled. “What have you done?”
She smiled and faced her husband. “As his creator, you are his father. Are you not?” she asked.
