Page 22 of Wolf Pack

It was a balancing act for Isobel. Conall was responsible for his siblings, and Isobel was responsible for all of them. She hoped Elene would stay with them because Isobel wanted to keep her safe, but she also understood if, at some point, Elene wanted to be on her own since she wasn’t related to them by blood. Though what if all wolves at some point had been?

“I’ll stay with them,” Elene said again.

“Thank you.” Isobel hugged her and then hugged her younger cousins.

Conall always acted like he was too old or too much of a warrior for hugs, but she pulled him into her arms and embraced him. “Keep them safe.”

“I will.”

Then she left the cave and hurried to the cliffs, praying she wouldn’t be seen by anyone who might be up on top. As soon as she reached the cliffs, she looked for the best hand and footholds and began the climb, praying she didn’t fall and leave her kin and Elene alone to fend for themselves in a hostile world.

6

Bessetta had returned from her watch, having seen nothing, and Alasdair—as a wolf—was taking another turn observing the cliffs.

Hans and a dozen of their men had taken off to check out the village where the villagers they had freed resided to see if it was safe for them to return home.

Other wolves from Alasdair’s pack would come throughout the day to watch from the cliffs, but if they didn’t see anyone on the beach by midday, Alasdair figured it would mean he’d only thought he’d seen another longship, and there had been nothing to it.

When he drew close to the cliff's edge, he heard a rock falling down the rock face close to the top. He couldn’t imagine rocks falling for no apparent reason if they had been experiencing a land lash, strong winds, or punishing rain—mayhap. The other possibility? Someone was climbing to the top.

He peered over the edge and saw a golden-haired woman climbing up the rock face. His heart nearly gave out. She bewitched him, her hair partly hanging loose and some in braids.

She fascinated him not only because of her blond locks but also because of her garments—deer hides fashioned into trewes and a tunic, and leather belts that showed off her slim figure and leather boots trimmed with fur.

She was a Norsewoman, he was certain. And she was the one who had so deftly killed the Viking watchman on the beach who had been guarding the longships. Everything about her intrigued him.

He wondered if her longship had broken up on the rocks, and she had swum to shore, dried out, and was now trying to reach the top of the cliffs so she could find food and shelter. But what about the lad who had been with her?

She appeared to be alone and wouldn’t pose any threat to him or his pack members unless others of her kind came to rescue her. Though he could see she was armed with a sword and probably a dagger hidden in her boot.

She suddenly looked up as if she realized someone was watching her. He ducked away from the edge. He didn’t want to scare her if she should see a wolf watching her, and she worried he would attack her. Though he wouldn’t.

He wanted to watch her progress and help her should she have trouble, but he couldn’t as a wolf. If he shifted, how would that look? A naked Scotsman coming to pull her up on top of the cliffs? She would be terrified.

He tore off into the nearby woods so when she crested the cliff, he wouldn’t be seen as a threat. He strained to listen for sounds that said she was still climbing the cliff. He was dying to know if she was near the top.

He wasn’t sure what he would do after she reached the top. He guessed he would follow her wherever she went and stay out of her line of sight. He wouldn’t howl to alert the others. Not since there was only one of her.

She finally reached the top but didn’t climb the rest of the way. She just peered around at the scenery, the mountains in the distance, the forest, the loch while he watched her and waited. He assumed she was afraid to reveal herself, but no one was about. She didn’t climb to the top of the cliffs. What was she waiting for?

Then to his surprise, she disappeared below the edge of the cliffs. No way could she be climbing back down to the beach below. What if she had been the scout? And others were hiding down below, and Alasdair hadn’t seen them?

He ran toward the cliffs, and when he reached them, he slowly peered over the edge. He saw the top of her head as she continued to make her way down the cliffs. Others, or maybe just the lad she’d been with, had to be hiding down below somewhere, though he couldn’t imagine where. Unless…there were caves down there? None of his people had ever climbed down there. There hadn’t been any reason to.

Still, he didn’t howl, wanting to see where she was going once she reached the bottom of the cliffs. He was amazed at how agile and strong she was. That was a long climb to make.

He lay down, keeping a low profile, peering over the edge. She didn’t look up while descending; she was too busy keeping her footing. Once she was down, he backed off, afraid she would look up. Then he heard her running across the rocky shore, and he moved to the edge again, staying low, peering down.

He expected to see a whole bunch of Viking men coming to greet her, though he wondered why they wouldn’t send one to climb up the cliffs instead of one of their women. Though Alasdair knew their women fought as ferociously as the men.

She paused near the water’s edge, and he anticipated she would glance back at the cliff to make sure no one was watching her, which she did. He ducked out of sight, hoping she hadn’tseen his head. She might have thought he was a villager’s dog and would warn the villagers she was there.

He finally chanced looking over the cliff again, but she was gone.

“Well?”Conall asked. “What did you see, Isobel?”

“Forests, a loch off in the distance. It’s a strenuous climb, and I think you and I should go if Elene is all right with it, and she can stay with the younger ones,” Isobel said.

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