Chapter 12
Ragnar
Feeling a sharp pain in my muscles, I took a step back, shaking my head.
"Uncle Ragnar?" Ivar called out.
"Leave," I said, rubbing my forehead.
"What troubles you? Thou dost not look well."
"I said leave!" I yelled. "Go to your chamber. Lock the door and venture not out. Should you disobey, I shall tell your father what transpired."
A small frown tugged at her lips, and she stared at me for a moment before walking away. I watched her back as she walked out of sight before turning my gaze to the fence.
I looked at the moon in the sky. I was terrified. I felt fear rushing through my veins.
I stood near the fence, placing my hands on it. I ran my tongue over my teeth. Were my wolven teeth out?
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. This happened every month when I shifted into my wolven form and ran into the woods. Most people of my kind had already turned into their beasts, and the humans here were killing them.
I growled in pain as my sharp, animalistic teeth emerged. My emotions seemed to intensify, and I could not control them. This was the worst part of having this curse. Shouldn't I be able to control my anger?
Now, I was more terrified because it felt like I was about to turn into my wolven form.
It was all because of this curse. Many years ago, during the era of Ragnarok, Skadi, the goddess of winter and vengeance, grew weary of monsters that trespassed into her mountains. Although she was able to kill most of these monsters, Skadi desired something that could hunt them and keep the wilderness untamed.
Her search for retribution led her to the giant hound Fenrir, the monstrous son of Loki, imprisoned by the Aesir gods. Though chained on the island of Lyngvi, Fenrir desired vengeance and sought to destroy Asgard.
Under the frozen moon, Skadi descended to where Fenrir was bound and struck a bargain with him.
He agreed to give her his blood in exchange that she free him from where he was bound.
She drove her ice spear into Fenrir's flesh, drawing forth his black blood. She carried his blood to her hall, where she performed a ritual with the sacred wolvens loyal to her. From his blood, she created the first wolvens.
At first, Skadi loved her wolvens because they were loyal to her. They entered the mountains, killing the monsters that trespassed. But Fenrir's blood was like a poison inside them. Over time, the wolvens began to change. His blood triggered fury inside them, driving them mad and making them attack not only mortals but Skadi herself.
Skadi, realizing the wolvens were cursed with Fenrir's blood, attempted to restore them, but they had turned rogue and were now sired to Fenrir. They could only obey his commands.
The wolvens continued to cause chaos both in her hold and in the mortal realm. They killed and bit humans, and any humans bitten by them would turn into the same creature.
The humans turned to the gods for help and prayed to them. Their prayers reached Màni, the god of the moon, who watched the humans every night from his chariot.
One night, Màni descended onto Skadi's stronghold and warned her that she must destroy her creatures, but she refused. In rage, he cursed her creations, raising his hands towards the moon.
From that day forward, the werewolves' transformations were tied to the moon. They could only turn every full moon, and it would be painful for them. Wolvens blamed Skadi for not destroying them after they turned rogue, and now they would have to carry the curse for their whole lives.
Heat burned through my insides, and I gritted my teeth. I knew I had no time to waste anymore.
Looking around, I raced out of the compound and into the woods, only slightly aware that the guards were watching me. But they didn't follow me, and I continued running. I felt so hot, my skin burning in this cold night.
As my feet carried me deeper into the woods, I felt my bones break. The pain was unbearable, sending me to the ground, and I growled.
I bit down on my lip so hard that blood came out. Hearing footsteps and the screams of my kind being killed by these humans, I began crawling, digging my fingers into the ground. Claws burst out of my hands, and I groaned, feeling blood drip down.
The moon cast its glow on me, and it felt as if I could hear Màni laughing from his slumber.
My bones cracked and shifted at unnatural angles. My vision blurred, and it looked like I was about to lose consciousness.
This was how it felt every full moon for my kind. Only those who were as old as me could shift into their wolven form at will, but that didn't mean we wouldn't experience pain every full moon.
I tried to crawl again, and when my claws dug into the ground, I transformed into my wolven form.