Page 62 of Wolf Alliance

“I’ve sent a messenger to your da to let him know we’re mated and coming. He’ll learn about it a day before we arrive.”

“Good. He will have everything prepared for us then.” She hoped her da would speak with her uncle and tell him to welcome Erik and his kin as he should. He would act one of two ways if his past actions indicated how he would treat them. He would make himself scarce, showing his contempt for the situation, or he would give Erik and his people grief, which she thought was more likely.

Once they finished the meal, everyone left to put on their best clothes while Etta, Bessetta, and Isobel helped Accalia into a blue cotehardie, a woolen gown with embroidered trim around the neckline and sleeves that Etta and some of the other ladies had made for her which she so appreciated.

“We began working on it the moment we learned Erik was bringing you here,” Etta said.

“’Tis beautiful.”

Then they attached a floral garland to Accalia’s hair.

“I’ve got to make sure the lads are ready.” Etta rushed off to check on them.

Cook had enlisted several of her kitchen staff to make small cakes stacked on top of each other. Erik and Accalia had to kiss each other over the cakes. Accalia knew the ritual and hoped she and Erik didn’t knock them over because that could be bad luck.

Then the ladies walked her down to the great hall, everyone dressed in their finery, waiting for Accalia to join Erik. She felt like a princess as bagpipes, a viol, flutes, and drums played when she walked into the hall. They stopped playing the music, and she joined Erik, who was smiling at her and took hold of her hands. She was on top of the moon.

His gaze was warm and intense on her, his mouth curved up a hint. “Behold my oath, I will take no other she-wolf to be my wife.”

She smiled brightly at him and his smile grew. “Behold my oath, I will take no other wolf to be my husband.”

Erik placed a gold ring on her finger that he had made for the occasion. “I love you, lass.”

“As much as I love you.”

Since they had already consummated the relationship and consented to marriage to one another in front of witnesses, they were now married—which for wolves, meant forever.

Everyone cheered them. Then Cook brought out the stacked cakes. All the chatter and laughter ceased as Erik and Accalia very carefully—so as not to knock them over—kissed each other in front of his pack and Alasdair’s and Isobel’s. Her breasts touched the cakes and there was a hush of worried conversation.

But then Erik and Accalia separated from the kiss, wanting more, but not wanting to upset the cakes and create a disaster.

The cake was offered to Erik and Accalia first, though Erik glanced at Cook with a twinkle in his eye and she looked crossways at him. “Dinna tell me you want me to taste your cake first.”

He chuckled and took the cake. “I have finally won you over.”

Cook scoffed, but tears of joy filled her eyes, and she even cast him an elusive smile.

Then he fed some of the cake to Accalia, and she did the same to him. It was delicious. The wolfhounds thought so as they scarfed up any crumbs they’d dropped.

“The best as always,” Accalia said to Cook, who looked grateful for the compliment.

Erik and Accalia joined their friends and his brothers as the cake was served. “That’s what I always love about you, Accalia,” Erik said. “You always take a moment to thank or compliment people for their work. Coming from you means the world to them.”

“It is well deserved.”

The musicians began to play music again, and Erik and Accalia helped form a circle, men and women holding each other’s fingers and moving to the left, then moving their right foot to strike their left foot gracefully while dancing in the Carole. Dancers would sing at the same time. She loved doing this with Erik, for the first time.

Accalia broke free of Erik and said, “We’ve got to get the boys to join us.”

“Of course we do.” Erik was as eager to dance with them.

They both dragged the boys into the line, and all of them were laughing as the boys messed up the steps a few times, even though the dance was simple to learn. But it made it even more fun.

Servers brought tankards of mulled wines, ale, and honeyed mead and offered them to those watching the dancing. Cook was busy preparing capons and muttons on the spit, while others were baking bread, and beaten eggs were used for thickening sauces.

For hours, pack members danced, drank, and sang in celebration. And then when the meal was cooked, everyone took their seats and feasted to their hearts’ content.

“You are beautiful,” Erik told Accalia. “I’m glad that Etta had the foresight to make a gown for your wedding.”

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