Page 17 of Wolf Pack

Despite the chaos outside, there was a sense of protection within the cave. The walls were solid, and the roof held firm, shielding them from the storm’s fury. Still, Isobel couldn't shake the feeling of unease as she waited for the storm to pass and for the safety of daylight to return.

She prayed that their ship would survive the night and they would make it to their destination, wherever that may be.

As the hours ticked by, Isobel drifted in and out of a fitful sleep, her arm aching with pain. Each time she woke, she took a deep breath and listened to any changes in the storm. Gradually, the wind died down, and the waves grew less violent.

Everyone else was asleep, which she was grateful for, though Libby had moved in between her and Elene sometime during the night for safety’s sake.

“Are you ready?” Conall asked her before dawn.

She felt she had barely slept when Conall woke her the next morning.

“Ready?” he asked again, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, not looking awake either.

Isobel was normally a light sleeper. After the wild storm died down, she finally fell fast asleep when Conall woke her. At least her arm didn’t hurt like it did last night. She looked at the ship and realized it wasn’t sinking, thank the gods. The ship appeared to have been undamaged by the waves crashing into it last eve.

Elene lifted her head.

“If you can gather some driftwood in the dark, we’ll go fishing,” Isobel said.

“Aye.” Elene got up and stretched.

Drummond stirred, and Libby woke.

“What’s happening?” Libby asked.

“We’re gathering firewood. Come on.” While Elene waited for them to leave with her, Isobel and Conall rowed the ship out of the cave, not having any issues yet, and headed out into the ocean to fish.

“We were sailing for so long, it was hard to walk straight when we reached the shore,” Conall said.

“Ja.I feel like I’m still rocking on waves even now when I’m off the ship.”

They rowed out as far as they could where they figured the fish might be biting, anchored the ship, and then began trying to catch something to eat, her stomach and Conall’s stomachs grumbling all the while.

“What if we dinna catching anything?” Conall asked, sounding anxious.

“Then I will have to climb the cliffs and forage in the forest for something for us to eat.”

“What if you get caught?”

“I willna.” She would turn into her wolf and hide. At least, that was the plan.

A storm had batteredthe castle last night, and in the morning, Alasdair had Rory see to the damage to one of the walls while he and several of his men hunted for wild boar. His main concern was to repair the wall at once in case they had more difficulties with the Viking raiders.

The hunt was a welcome distraction from the recent turmoil within the castle walls, and with the additional mouths to feed as villagers camped out in the inner bailey, they needed more food.

The thrill of the hunt coursed through his veins as Alasdair couldn't shake free of the image of the woman who had killed the Viking guard by the longships. He had heard stories of fierce warrior women from across the seas, but to see one with his own eyes was another matter entirely.

Erik and his brothers had joined Alasdair on the hunt, eager for adventure and the chance to prove they were just as great at hunting as Alasdair and his brothers were. After an hour of tracking, they finally cornered a boar, its protruding, razor-sharp tusks capable of inflicting dangerous, deadly wounds, charging the hunting party.

The horses were just as much at risk as the men. Alasdair tried twice with a boar spear to take down the beast while others readied their arrows. Erik and Hans approached the boar from different positions, using spears to finish it.

Then, some men field-dressed the animal before taking it to the keep.

As the hunters returned to the castle, Alasdair's men were on high alert, searching for any signs of the marauders who had attacked before.

“I have seen no sign of them,” Hans told Alasdair.

“Nor have I. But what about the woman?” Erik raised his brows.

---