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PROLOGUE

"Shhh…it's alright, I won't hurt you," says the young woman of no more than six-and-ten as she tries to coax Loki from his hiding place.

Loki Odinson all but growls, his hackles rising as he gazes at the woman with wild dark brown hair and grey eyes.

To her credit, the woman does not recoil back from Loki's warning growls, but instead he sees a determine gleam in those grey orbs as she looks at him.

"Come out little one." She says gently, a small smile tagging from the corners of her mouth.

Loki answers with baring his fangs and emitting another low growl. His emerald eyes flashing dangerously.

"My name is Lyanna Stark." The woman introduces herself as she reaches out towards him. "And I won't hurt you, I promise."

Stark? Loki thinks in consternation. Is she related to that arrogant man in the iron suit by any chance?

However, his momentary distraction gave the young woman – Lyanna Stark - a chance to snatch him from beneath the roots of the bone-white tree, with the scarlet leaves, where he is soon deposited straight into her arms.

"Got you," the woman murmurs while she hugs him tightly against her chest.

Immediately, Loki starts struggling in her embrace, clawing and growling loudly.

"Calm down little one. Do not struggle. As I said, I will not hurt you." The Stark woman says as she tightens her hold around him.

Loki stops struggling at once and glares fiercely at the young woman who was now carrying him away from the sacred grove that he has appeared in.

"You are mine now, my green-eyed wolf." The woman is saying while she smiles softly down at him. "I've always wanted a direwolf of my own…and it seems the Old Gods have answered my prayers."