Blood on the Altar

Tamsin, a noblewoman of Strathclyde, stands at the threshold of a chapel, haunted by the blood she has spilled. Her husband, Lord Aedan, lies dead inside, killed at her command by the Viking Thrain. The act is both liberation and damnation: Aedan was cruel, but Tamsin is wracked with guilt, especially as she faces Lady Catriona, Aedan's grieving mother. The chapel, once a sanctuary, is now a place of judgment and reckoning. Tamsin's pain is physical and spiritual, her body marked by Aedan's violence and her soul by the choice to end it. The murder is not just a personal act of vengeance but the spark that will ignite a larger conflict, drawing in families, kingdoms, and the supernatural laws that govern their world.

Wolves and Widows

In the aftermath, Tamsin and her cousin Eormen tend to Aedan's body, their conversation laced with warnings about the dangers of Viking men and the consequences of intimacy. Eormen's pragmatic advice about herbs to prevent pregnancy underscores the ever-present threat of forced unions and unwanted children. The women's solidarity is a fragile shield against the machinations of men and kings. Meanwhile, Thrain, the Viking who killed Aedan, is both protector and captor, his motives tangled between honor, desire, and the politics of conquest. The lines between enemy and ally blur as Tamsin becomes a pawn in the games of men, her fate tied to the wolves of Dublin.

The Pact of Protection

Thrain claims Tamsin as his "pupil," offering her protection from further harm but also making her his hostage. The Vikings gather to debate the consequences of Aedan's death, torn between the thrill of victory and the diplomatic disaster it could provoke. Thrain's brothers, Olaf and Ivar, are drawn into the conflict, each with their own loyalties and doubts. The Vikings' plans for conquest are complicated by their growing respect for the Vanirdøtur—the sacred women of Strathclyde—and by Thrain's deepening feelings for Tamsin. The pact is uneasy, built on necessity and mutual vulnerability.

The King's Judgment

King Causantin of Alba arrives, demanding justice for his slain nephew. Thrain is forced to kneel before him, a public act of submission that humiliates the proud Viking and underscores the precariousness of Tamsin's position. Causantin's cold calculation is matched by Lady Catriona's grief and Tamsin's own shame. The king's solution is pragmatic: Thrain and his brothers must undertake a dangerous mission to eliminate a rebellious Pictish warlord, Uradech, as penance. Tamsin is to be used as bait, her body and scent a lure for the enemy. The judgment is both a reprieve and a sentence, binding the fates of all involved.

The Price of Freedom

As the party journeys into the wilds of Alba, Tamsin and her brother Rhun plot escape. The siblings, both marked by the curse of their blood, debate the morality and risks of running. Their bond is deep, but so is Tamsin's growing attachment to Thrain. When the opportunity comes, Tamsin hesitates, torn between the hope of freedom and the reality of her new loyalties. The attempt fails, and the consequences are dire: trust is broken, and the lines between captor and companion are redrawn. The price of freedom is revealed to be more than just physical escape—it is the cost of choosing where, and with whom, to belong.

Moonlit Temptations

The journey is marked by the relentless pull of the moon, which stirs the supernatural instincts of both Vikings and Vanirdøtur. Tamsin's heat becomes a crucible for her relationship with Thrain, pushing them to the edge of control. Their intimacy is both a source of comfort and a threat, as the boundaries between protection and possession blur. The moon's influence is not just sexual but transformative, awakening ancient powers and desires that neither fully understands. The threat of violence is ever-present, both from without and within.

The Gathering Storm

The mission to confront Uradech becomes a crucible for the Vikings' loyalties. Thrain, Olaf, and Ivar are forced to choose between their king, their kin, and the woman who has become their anchor. The politics of Alba and Strathclyde are a tangle of old grudges and new ambitions, with Causantin's duplicity casting a long shadow. The Vikings' respect for the Vanirdøtur grows, challenging the very foundations of their plans for conquest. The storm of war gathers, and every choice is fraught with peril.

The Voice of Iron

In a pivotal confrontation, Tamsin discovers the true extent of her power. Uradech, the Pictish warlord, reveals that the Vanirdøtur possess a "voice of iron"—a supernatural command that can bend even the fiercest warriors to their will. In a moment of crisis, Tamsin's voice compels an entire host of picts to submit, saving her Viking companions and turning the tide of battle. The revelation is both exhilarating and terrifying, for it means that the women of her line are not merely victims or prizes, but potential rulers and destroyers. The knowledge changes everything, for Tamsin and for those who would claim her.

The Pictish Bargain

Uradech, far from being a simple enemy, becomes a mirror for Tamsin's own struggle. He offers her a bargain: help him survive and he will aid her people against Causantin. The two share a moment of dangerous intimacy, recognizing in each other the loneliness of power and the burden of being both weapon and prize. Tamsin's choice to spare Uradech and orchestrate a deception against Causantin is a turning point, marking her as a player in the great game of kings. The bargain is sealed in blood and secrecy, and its consequences will ripple through every alliance.

The Madness of the Moon

As the moon reaches its zenith, the boundaries between human and beast dissolve. Tamsin, Thrain, and their companions are swept up in a frenzy of violence and desire, their bodies and souls marked by the ancient laws of their kind. The claiming ceremony becomes a riot of blood and sex, a ritual that is both terrifying and ecstatic. In the aftermath, the bonds between them are irrevocably changed: they are no longer just allies or lovers, but a true pack, bound by blood, magic, and choice. The madness of the moon is both a curse and a liberation, revealing the truth of who they are.

The Claiming Ceremony

With the threat of war looming, Thrain and Tamsin choose each other in a public ceremony that is both marriage and magical binding. The ritual is witnessed by their pack and the assembled warriors, a declaration of loyalty that defies the politics of kings. The claiming is not just a personal union but a political act, signaling a new alliance that could reshape the fate of Strathclyde and the Viking invaders. The ceremony is both tender and fierce, a testament to the power of chosen bonds over those imposed by birth or conquest.

The Bond Forged

In the quiet after the storm, Tamsin and Thrain discover the depth of their bond. The magical connection between them is more than symbolic: they can feel each other's emotions, share each other's pain and pleasure. The pack—Olaf, Ivar, and the loyal Dubliners—becomes a true family, united not just by circumstance but by choice and affection. The revelation that Tamsin is pregnant adds a new layer of meaning to their union, a promise of hope amid the gathering darkness. The bond they have forged is both shield and sword, a source of strength for the trials to come.

The Shadow of Strathclyde

As the Viking fleet sails for Strathclyde, the reality of war sets in. Tamsin and Rhun, once children of the land, now return as exiles and potential traitors. The familiar landscape is transformed by the presence of armies and the threat of siege. The choices they have made—who to trust, who to love, who to betray—cast long shadows over the home they once knew. The siege is not just a military campaign but a test of identity, loyalty, and the meaning of belonging.

The Siege Begins

The Viking and Alban armies converge on Dumbarton, the heart of Strathclyde. The strategies of siege are laid out: blockades, assaults, and the slow grind of attrition. Tamsin and her allies work in secret to undermine the invaders from within, smuggling messages and supplies, sowing dissent among the ranks. The siege is a crucible for every character, forcing them to confront the cost of their choices and the limits of their power. The machinery of war is relentless, and no one will emerge unchanged.

The Choice of Loyalty

As the siege drags on, the loyalties of every character are tested. Thrain, Olaf, and Ivar must choose between their king and their pack, between the glory of conquest and the bonds they have forged with Tamsin and her people. Tamsin must decide where her true home lies, and what she is willing to sacrifice for love and freedom. The choices are not simple, and every path is fraught with danger and loss. Loyalty is revealed to be both a gift and a burden, a force that can unite or destroy.

The Nesting Instinct

Amid the chaos of war, Tamsin discovers she is pregnant. The news is both a source of joy and a new vulnerability, a reminder that the future is always being written in the present. The nesting instinct—her body's urge to create a safe space for new life—becomes a metaphor for the larger struggle to build a home and a family in a world at war. The pack rallies around her, their loyalty deepened by the promise of new beginnings. The child is both a symbol of hope and a challenge to the old order.

The Last Night's Calm

On the eve of battle, the pack gathers for one last night of peace. Old wounds are tended, new promises are made, and the bonds between them are reaffirmed. The calm is both a respite and a reminder of what is at stake. The night is filled with music, laughter, and the quiet intimacy of those who have chosen each other against all odds. It is a moment of grace before the world is remade by war.

Into the Maw of War

As the fleet sails for Strathclyde, Tamsin, Thrain, and their pack face the unknown together. The choices they have made—who to love, who to trust, what to fight for—have set them on a path that cannot be turned back. The war ahead will test every bond, every promise, every hope. But they face it not as pawns or victims, but as a family, a pack, bound by love, loyalty, and the hard-won knowledge of who they are. The maw of war is open, but they enter it together, ready to shape their own fate.

Characters

Tamsin

Tamsin is the heart of the story—a woman marked by trauma, guilt, and the burden of impossible choices. Her journey is one of transformation: from victim to agent, from pawn to player. She is fiercely loyal to her family, especially her twin brother Rhun, but is also drawn to the Vikings who become her protectors and, eventually, her pack. Tamsin's psychological complexity is rooted in her struggle to reconcile her desire for freedom and love with the expectations and judgments of her society. Her power—the "voice of iron"—is both a gift and a curse, making her both a prize and a threat in the eyes of men. Her development is a study in agency, vulnerability, and the cost of survival.

Thrain Mordsson

Thrain is a Viking jarl haunted by exile, violence, and the longing for belonging. His relationship with Tamsin is at once protective and possessive, shaped by the supernatural instincts of his kind and the scars of his past. Thrain's loyalty is tested at every turn: to his brothers, to his king, to the woman he comes to love. He is both a killer and a caretaker, a man who must learn to balance the beast within with the demands of honor and love. His psychological arc is one of self-forgiveness and the courage to choose a new path, even at great personal cost.

Olaf Gofraidsson

Olaf is the eldest of the Dublin pack, a man shaped by duty, loss, and the weight of leadership. His calm exterior hides deep wounds, especially the death of his wife Vírún, which colors his every decision. Olaf is the voice of reason and tradition, but he is also capable of great tenderness and sacrifice. His relationship with Tamsin is marked by respect and restraint, and his loyalty to his brothers is unwavering. Olaf's development is a meditation on grief, responsibility, and the possibility of new beginnings.

Ivar Gofraidsson

Ivar is the most mercurial of the pack: witty, curious, and always testing boundaries. As a skáld (bard), he is both observer and participant, using words and music to shape the world around him. Ivar's relationship with Tamsin is playful and provocative, but also deeply loyal. He is the first to question authority and the last to abandon a friend. His psychological journey is one of self-acceptance, learning to find his place in a world that often sees him as an outsider.

Rhun

Rhun is Tamsin's twin, marked by the same curse that haunts the Vanirdøtur and the Vyrgen. His journey is one of survival and adaptation, learning to navigate the dangerous politics of both his own people and the Vikings. Rhun's loyalty to Tamsin is absolute, but he must also find his own path, his own pack. His psychological arc is about the pain of separation, the longing for acceptance, and the courage to claim his own identity.

Lady Catriona

Lady Catriona is a study in strength and sorrow. As the mother of the slain Aedan, she is both victim and survivor, forced to navigate the treacherous politics of Alba and Strathclyde. Her relationship with Tamsin is complex: compassion mixed with resentment, solidarity mixed with suspicion. Catriona's development is a meditation on loss, forgiveness, and the limits of power.

King Causantin

Causantin is the architect of much of the story's conflict: a king whose pragmatism borders on cruelty, whose alliances are always provisional. He sees people as pieces on a chessboard, and his willingness to use Tamsin as bait is emblematic of his approach to power. Causantin's psychological profile is one of control, calculation, and the fear of losing what he has built.

Uradech

Uradech, the Pictish warlord, is both enemy and reflection for Tamsin. He is a man who has survived by embracing the old ways, by making himself both weapon and outcast. His relationship with Tamsin is one of dangerous intimacy, a recognition of shared loneliness and power. Uradech's development is about the cost of survival, the possibility of change, and the burden of being both feared and needed.

Eormen

Eormen is Tamsin's cousin and one of her few female allies. She is pragmatic, protective, and often the voice of reason in a world gone mad. Eormen's journey is about the limits of solidarity, the pain of watching loved ones suffer, and the courage to act when action is needed.

Gofraid

Gofraid is the king of the southern isles, a man whose authority is both absolute and increasingly challenged. He is the embodiment of tradition, but also of its limits: unable to adapt, unable to see the new world being born around him. His relationship with his sons is fraught, and his downfall is a lesson in the dangers of pride and rigidity.

Plot Devices

The Omegaverse and Supernatural Instincts

The story is set in a Viking Omegaverse, where supernatural instincts—heat, rut, the "voice of iron"—shape the fates of men and women. The biology of the Vanirdøtur and the Vyrgen is both a source of power and a curse, dictating who can claim, who can be claimed, and who can command. The Omegaverse structure allows for explorations of consent, power, and the tension between destiny and choice. The moon's influence is a recurring motif, marking the cycles of desire, violence, and transformation.

The Claiming Ceremony

The claiming ceremony is both a personal and political act, a ritual that binds Tamsin and Thrain (and, by extension, their pack) in a union that is both magical and social. The ceremony is a site of both ecstasy and terror, a moment when the boundaries between self and other dissolve. It is also a challenge to the old order, a declaration that chosen bonds can be stronger than those imposed by birth or conquest.

The Voice of Iron

The "voice of iron" is a supernatural ability possessed by the Vanirdøtur, allowing them to command even the fiercest warriors. Its discovery is a turning point, shifting the balance of power and revealing that the women of Strathclyde are not merely victims or prizes, but potential rulers and destroyers. The device is used to explore themes of agency, repression, and the dangers of denying one's true nature.

War and Siege as Crucible

The looming siege of Strathclyde is both a literal and metaphorical crucible, forcing every character to confront the cost of their choices and the limits of their power. The machinery of war is relentless, grinding down old certainties and forging new bonds. The siege is a test of loyalty, identity, and the meaning of home.

Pack Dynamics and Chosen Family

The formation of the pack—Thrain, Olaf, Ivar, Tamsin, and their loyal followers—is a central device, allowing the story to explore the dynamics of chosen family, loyalty, and the tension between individual desire and collective good. The pack is both shield and sword, a source of strength and a site of conflict. The device is used to interrogate the meaning of belonging, the cost of loyalty, and the possibility of building a new world from the ashes of the old.

Analysis

Taming the Wolves is a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy that uses the conventions of the Omegaverse and Viking romance to explore deep questions of power, agency, and belonging. At its core, the novel is about the struggle to claim one's own destiny in a world that seeks to define and confine. Tamsin's journey—from victim to agent, from pawn to pack leader—is a meditation on the cost of survival and the possibility of transformation. The story interrogates the ways in which power is both given and taken, the dangers of denying one's true nature, and the redemptive potential of chosen family. The supernatural elements—heat, rut, the voice of iron—are not just plot devices but metaphors for the forces that shape us: desire, trauma, love, and the longing for home. The novel's ultimate message is one of hope: that even in a world scarred by violence and betrayal, it is possible to choose love, to build new bonds, and to shape a future that is truly one's own.

Last updated: May 15, 2025