Page 16 of Wolf Pack

They were huddled together, their faces etched with fear and confusion, but there was also a glimmer of hope and gratitude in their eyes.

As they hastily made their way up the cliffs, Erik couldn't help but steal glances back at the burning ships, watching as the flames grew higher and higher, the smoke billowing out towards the dark sea. He wanted to make sure they burned to the ground and couldn’t be used any further.

He and Erik helped the last male captives to the top of the cliff.

Then, as a unified force, Alasdair, Erik, and their men provided a safe escort as they hurried the villagers toward the castle. Armed and ready, the rest of their men formed a protective circle around the frightened villagers.

The group moved quickly through the forest as the villagers struggled to keep up. Once they left the forest, they had to rush across the open meadow.

It would not do for them to be caught out in the open now when the Vikings had to be nearby. The raiders would have no choice but to move on and find ships to steal to take them home. They wouldn’t make any headway here.

But Alasdair couldn’t send the villagers home, who belonged to a territory that he didn’t serve as a protector for until the Viking threat was gone.

Erik glanced at him. “So what about the lass and the lad?”

Alasdair shook his head. “She aided us and made our work easier.”

Until he located her and the lad, he would not rest.

5

“They’ll come for us,” Conall said to Isobel, sounding concerned. They made it back to the cave and told Elene and the twins what had happened where the Viking longships were beached.

“The Viking marauders? They’ll be sure that theScotskilled their guards and burned their ships.” Isobel held out her bloodied arm to Elene, where she’d injured her arm during the swim.

Elene bound Isobel’s wound with a spare cloth. The cut on her arm from the rocks in the ocean hurt something fierce. Despite the pain, Isobel only grimaced and didn't reveal how much it stung. Afterward, she and Conall changed into dry clothes.

Once they were settled on their blankets and furs, Isobel knew that the Vikings attacking the Scots above the cliffs were from the clan they had lived with. If the Scots realized that, or the Icelanders discovered Isobel, her cousins, and Elene were here, she feared the worst.

“Nay. You’re right. I meant that the Scots would come for us after seeing you kill Ari,” Conall said.

“I didna expect us to have Scots company. Though I’m glad they killed the other guard, saving us from having to do it. You’re right, though. They’ll know we swam to reach the beach.” Isobel had hoped when they made it to Scotia, they would have a new way of life and freedom. But what if they became slaves of the Scots?

“I canna believe you managed to eliminate Ari all on your own. He has bested two men at a time when he has been put to the test.”

“That’s why you must take such a big man down where it makes the most impact.”

“Mayhap I could speak to the Scots?” Elene asked.

“You might be safe. The rest of us willna. No’ after the Scots had to fight the raiders. We’ll have to leave here,” Conall said.

Isobel shook her head. “The problem is that if we try to beach our longship at another shore, the marauders might see it, take it from us—and eliminate us. Or the Scots will discover it, destroy it, and would sound the alarm.”

Conall exhaled deeply. "We've run out of food. We must catch more fish. If we go fishing before dawn and bring the ship back to the cave, we can smoke the fish and take it with us as we journey further inland."

Isobel wasn't keen on taking the ship out again, risking damage during the rowing process, but she understood his point. Their main priority was securing food. If she could climb up the cliff and scavenge for sustenance in the forest, she would do so.

Knowing the Viking threat could still exist, and the Scots were on high alert for any trespassers, Isobel decided it would be safer to fish from their ship rather than scavenge in the woods. "Let's leave before sunrise."

The wind began to whip about outside and inside the cave without warning. Waves began to crash, and thunder soundedjust overhead. The storm raged outside, lashing the waves against the rocky shore and sending them crashing into the cave entrance.

Inside, the longship that had been their home for weeks was tossed about like a toy in the white-capped waters. Isobel lay huddled under her furs, trying to ignore the storm, watching her cousins.

They were wide awake, Libby covering her head with her furs.

Isobel couldn't sleep, though her body pleaded for rest after killing Ari and the swim she and Conall had had. The raging storm was too loud, and the worry of their ship being destroyed by the relentless waves was at the forefront of her mind.

She could feel every crash and jolt reverberating through her, and the constant motion of the waves slamming into the cave and pulling out made it impossible to relax.

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