Page 39 of Wolf Pack

“Thank you, but if they come after us and I’m there, I’ll protect my kin.”

“You have all of us for that from now on.” He suspected it would take a while before she believed his people would protect her and her kin.

She nodded, but he didn’t feel she believed it.

“How are you and your kin fairing at MacEachens’s croft? Do you need anything?”

“Nay. We’re comfortable, and they’re appreciative.”

“I want to gift you with the horse you rode here on," Alasdair said. "Conall may also have one, so you may return to the castle quickly whenever needed. If any of your family members encounter trouble, they can seek refuge at the keep.”

“You are gifting us each a horse?” Isobel sounded a little wary.

He smiled. “Aye. And if Dawy or Agnes have trouble, you can ride here with a warning.”

“I thank you for the gift of the horses. It’ll help when I return here to pull guard duty.”

“When are you going to start that?”

“In a few days, sooner, if you are desperate to have me here.”

He smiled.

“To guard.”

He couldn’t help but smile more broadly. She could guard his body anytime. And he would be happy to reciprocate. “Aye.”

“I’m returning to the croft now to ensure my cousins are doing their chores.”

“I’m sure they are doing a great job without you being in charge.” He suspected demanding work was engrained in them. Especially Conall since he was practically a man.

“Aye. But for now, I think it will be a good idea for us to avoid Cleary and Baine until you turn them, maybe even after you’ve turned them.” She took a deep breath. “We should probably return to the keep so I can get on my way before more rumors begin to spread about us.”

“What rumors?”

Her cheeks blossomed with color. “Naught that would interest you.”

He laughed. “If it’s about the two of us, I’m interested.” Then he suspected what it was about without her revealing what had been said. “Ahh, about the loch.”

Isobel blushed anew.

11

Before Isobel could leave the meadow and return to the croft, about twenty riders approached. Friend or foe? Alasdair unsheathed his sword, and she quickly followed suit. Hans and a dozen men suddenly rode out of the outer bailey, and she realized the guards on watch must have alerted Hans that they had company.

Then Alasdair smiled and sheathed his sword. “They are our allies from Hillshire Keep, east of us. The one in the middle is Laird Baldur of the Hamilton clan.”

The breeze blew their scent in her and Alasdair’s direction, and she realized they were gray wolves.

“How now,” Alasdair called out as Hans and the other men joined them.

“Greetings, Alasdair. With getting word that the Viking raiders were wreaking havoc the last few days in your area, we came to see if you need reinforcements.”

“Thanks be to thee. We burned their ships, and I’m sure they’re looking for a way back home further up the coast.”

Baldur laughed. “Good.”

“Come, visit with me.”

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