I woke to the sound of logs being dumped near my head and I sat up with a start.

“Sorry,” said the woman who was now placing them in the center of the pit, “It’s only, I thought I ought to get the breakfast on. They’ll be wanting it.”

“No apology necessary,” I yawned, morning had come quickly, “Thank you for preparing it. I am Eir.”

“I’m Sylvi. Runa, the alpha, she’s my sister. I keep things running smoothly in her household.” She poured a bucket of water into the pot she had hung over the fire, then poured the grains into the pot and stirred. Looking at me pointedly and waving her hand towards a bowl of water near the door she said, “There’s water to wash if ye’d like.”

I took her up on her offer, splashing the cold water in the bowl on my face and neck and combing my fingers through my hair. I dried my face and hands with the rough cloth placed next to the bowl and returned to the fire. Sylvi moved efficiently, chopping apples and slicing bread at the table near the fire. The apples went into the pot with the porridge. I folded the blankets that made up my cot and stacked them neatly, unsure of what to do next.

“Milk?” she asked, offering a cup.

“Yes please,” I took the cup and sat by the fire. It was strange, the quiet of this morning. I had become accustomed to the roar of a hundred or so trainees dining together every morning for most of my life. Now everything was to be different, the healer had their own quarters next door to the infirmary. The infirmary was only used in times of disease or war, I would primarily be caring for people in their homes. Once my training period with Frode was finished I would be living alone and he would join the household of his children as an elder. That was, until Sage and I decided to complete the mate bond. As the heir, would she join me in my quarters or would I join her in the Alpha’s longhouse?

My thoughts were interrupted as the household began to awaken. A young boy and girl raced past Sylvi. The boy hit the table, sending a few pieces of bread flying. A rooster chased them, stopping to pick at the fallen bread..

“Ylva, Canute, I swear if you do not behave yourselves I will turn your hides into a pair of boots! And when I am finished I will throw this mangy chicken in my cookpot!” The children stood before her, protesting any blame being placed on themselves. Then a burly man with long, dark hair came from one of the sleeping nooks and wrapped an arm around Sylvi.

“What’s this?” He said, giving her a peck on the cheek.

The children began arguing over a comb that Ylva claimed was hers, given to her by Sage on her most recent birthday. Canute swore that he had found it in his own sleeping loft and therefore it was now his. The man, who Ylva called father and Canute called Uncle Ulf, laughed and took the comb out of Canute’s hand. He examined it and then began running it through his hair.

“Well, I believe it’s mine now. Perhaps we can discuss ownership further when ye’ve tended to your chores.” He said, dismissing them.

I never heard their response because just then Sage descended from a sleeping loft to my left. I think she became more radiant every time I saw her, at this rate she would soon become the sun and I Skoll himself, chasing her. She smiled at me and went to wash, her hair was pulled away from her face in two long braids that ran down either side with the back loose and wavy down to her waist. I desperately wanted to run my fingers through it. She wore a quilted tunic with leather armour over it, with tightly wrapped trousers underneath underneath it. From the questions her mother asked I gathered that she would be training the pups today, last night she told me how much she enjoyed it.

The residents of the longhouse were wholly awake at this point, sipping cups of milk near the fire and eating bread with soft cheese. Sylvi began spooning the porridge into bowls and Ylva and Canute delivered them to the assembled household. I pieced together the relations. Sage’s mother and father - Runa and Selby, as well as her younger siblings - Rose and Canute. Sylvi had told me that Runa was her older sister. Ulf was her mate and Ylva was their daughter. Runa and Silvi’s mother, the Elder Alpha, was simply called mother or Moromor by the children.

The way they interacted was everything I had imagined a family ought to be. I had lived with my parents and elder brother, Lief, until I was 25 but for most of my life, 75 years, I had been in training and lived in the dormitories provided in Thviti. I had never even lived with my younger sister, Inge, save for short visits. I had imagined what sort of household I would have when I found my mate and it all fell short of this. It was noisy but in a familiar, loving way. Gentle teasing and laughter, along with genuine interest in what each others’ days would hold. I heard advice and opinions sought and given.

“Eir, my mate is headed to do some structural work to maintain the infirmary today, he will show you to Frode’s quarters.” Sylvi took Runa’s bowl and she leaned onto her knees, placing her chin on her hands, “Frode has some extra space, his son recently built a longhouse of his own so his family has moved there. It seems fitting you stay there with Frode and his mate, Alva. They are good people and will help you to settle in comfortably before they also move on to the longhouse. Frode will also be staying nearby and I am sure he will be pleased to mentor you, should you need it.”

“Yes, Alpha. Thank you, you’ve thought of everything.” I said, unsure of what else to say. Just then twin warriors walked into the longhouse.

“Asmund, Dagny.” My mate stood, “You’ve just missed breakfast.”

“This one,” one of the twins jerked her thumb at the other, “wouldn’t get out of bed.”

“I was up late working on some new practice swords! The rate these pups bust through them, I can hardly keep up!”

Sylvi waved them over with a spoon and gave them some bread and cheese, “Not that ye deserve it, I found your wee prank this morning.”

“What? Us?” One of the twins gave her a look of mock innocence while the other smirked.

“I know of no other that has the time to waste carving and painting rats to put in the wood pile.” She pointed a wooden spoon at them, “I’d bet Tyr’s other hand on your innocence.”

The twins laughed and scooped the bread and cheese up. I put it together, they must be Sage’s sworn guard. Every Alpha had a set of twins sworn to them at birth. They trained together, assisted the Alpha in any pack duties, and were generally trusted confidants and friends. We believed twins to be a perfect balance of all Fenrir gives, like his sons Hati and Skoll. This made them particularly fierce fighting side by side in battle. Furthermore, the sworn guard promised to lay their lives down in defense of their Alpha, if necessary.

Sage was gathering her things, she slipped a cloak over her shoulders and a belt around her waist, attaching a dagger to one hip and a sword to the other. My mate looked fierce and strong. I stood and began gathering my things as well, brushing past her and lingering as I sought my bag near the door. I felt her hand on my arm, sending heat up it.

“Pardon me,” She reached for something on a hook past me, exposing the juncture of her neck that I had nibbled at last night in the woods. The sound of her sighs echoed in my head and I felt my body react to her proximity. She pulled away and smiled at me, coy, then turning to one of the twins who was asking her something. She knew what she was doing to me, here in front of everyone.

“Ye ready lad?” Selby came up behind me, wholly unaware of the racing thoughts I was having about his daughter.

“Yes sir, whenever you are.”