~Brenna's POV

I blinked my eyes a few times when I woke up. I was still dazed from sleep and felt a little disoriented. Then it all came flooding back to me.

I sat up, causing my thick, amber hair fell around me in waves. Jasper's scent engulfed my bare skin. My cheeks burned as the memory of his touch flooded back to me.

I pulled a fur around myself tighter. I placed my hand over my mouth and smiled softly, thinking of Jasper's touch. I enjoyed every second of last night, and I wanted more.

I made my mind up the minute I knew he was missing but last night made me ready to say it aloud. Despite our differences and the repercussions our relationship could have, I was in love with Jasper.

Just then, the door opened. I expected it to be Jasper, but to my mortification, it was one of the servant girls. I jerked the furs up to cover my chest. She froze at the door, just as embarrassed as I was.

"Chief Bloodborne... he asked me to serve your breakfast." She stammered

"Oh, okay." I gulped. I realized she was waiting for an answer. "Umm, just leave it on the table by the couch."

She placed the food down and turned to leave.

"Wait, do you know where he is?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, my lady. He went out early this morning." She said before leaving.

I felt panic rising in my body. Why would Jasper go out and not tell me? I started having flashbacks about the day he left to go back to the battlefield.

I threw on my chemise that was still damp and ran across the hall to my room, trying to avoid being seen. I pulled on my other dress and ran a brush through my wild hair.

I rushed to the kitchen to find Helena. I found her slaving over the hearth. She smiled when she saw me but quickly looked concerned when she saw the panic on my face.

"What's wrong, dear?" She asked.

"Have you seen Jasper this morning?" I asked.

"He came by very early this morning with Sten. He said they needed to head out for something important. Did he not tell you?"

"...No," I said, feeling embarrassed, hurt, and worried for him. "Why would he go out in his condition?"

"You know how he is. He is a very determined orc. He can't stay still for long; he's always working. I'm sure he's aright, dear."

I gave her a weak smile and went back up to his room. I paced back and forth through the room throughout the day. I found a few distractions to pass the time, but I stayed worried.

It had been nearly a month if not that I went without seeing him. I thought he was dead for close to a week, and then he just disappears without saying a word to me in his condition. Did he regret the night before? My cheeks burn, thinking I disappointed him in some way.

I watched the sun go down from his windows. I began to cry as I was overwhelmed with worry. Just then, there was some kind of commotion out in the hall. The door bursts open, and a large pitch black creature barreled through the room right at me.

I screamed out as the massive beast lunged onto the bed and engulfed me. I was sure this was the end; I flailed around as I saw its mouth of sharp teeth open. To my surprise, pain didn't come next. The beast started licking the tears from my cheeks.

"Get off her, you great fleabag!" Jasper's voice commanded.

He grabbed the beast from the nape and pulled him off of me. I watched in bewilderment; the beast looked like a full-grown black wolf. Jasper patted him on the head once he calmed down. Jasper looked at me with concern when he realized I was crying.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

My cheeks turned red but not in embarrassment. "You left." My voice squeaked. "And you didn't tell me. I thought... I thought you went back out there."

"Brenna... I didn't realize. I wouldn't do that to you again. I just didn't want to wake you after last night. Do you think I would do that again after all this?" He seemed hurt.

"I..." I didn't finish my sentence. I just looked down at my lap and twiddled my fingers.

He patted the beast that now lay in front of me. "Don't be angry with me, little warrior. I had some things I needed to take care of. With Amity gone... I needed to be paired with a new Warg pup to train up."

"You're telling me that thing is a baby?" I blurted out before I could think.

The warg pup belly crawled to me closer, thumping his massive tail on the bed. He looked up at me with his big golden puppy dog eyes. Jasper didn't have to answer. You could see it all over the warg's face and features.

Even though he was as big as a full-grown wolf, he had this adolescence about him. His paws and ears looked oversized, like he still needed to grow into them. I giggled as he inched closer and plopped his head on my lap.

"Would you like to help me name him?" Jasper looked at me thoughtfully as I rubbed the pup's large ears.

The pup groaned as I kept scratching his ears. He rolled over onto his back and looked at me, still wagging his tail. Giggling, I leaned down and kissed his snout.

"You mean to tell me he is to be a weapon in war? He seems so sweet." I giggled.

"Well, if you keep babying him like that, he won't be." Jasper laughed and sat beside us. "So what should we call him?

"Hmm... what about Leif?"

Jasper looked at me oddly, cocking an eyebrow. "Leif?"

"Do you not like it?" I said, somewhat disappointed.

Jasper immediately softened his expression. "No... I mean, yes." He huffed in confusion. "Leif is a fine name, Leif it is. What does it mean?" He asked, scratching the back of his head.

I paused a moment. "...It means love," I said shyly.

Jasper took my chin in his hand and gazed into my eyes. He pressed his lips against mine and kissed me softly. For a moment, all my worries melted away. Then we were interrupted by Leif's slobbery kisses.

"Alright, down boy, go lay down," Jasper commanded.

Jasper turned his attention back to me. "Do you wanna go out?" He asked.

"Go out?" I looked at him questioningly. "But it's dark."

"I'll protect you." He teased, flexing his muscles.