Page 40 of Wolf Pack

“I will be on my way,” Isobel said since she didn’t feel these matters were any of her concern and wanted to see if anyone needed her help at the croft.

“Hans, provide the lass with the two horses I spoke to you about and give her an escort home, will you?”

“Aye, brother.” Hans offered Isobel his hand to pull her up on his horse when she’d planned to walk to the stables alone.

With everyone watching, she gave in, accepted his help, and climbed on the horse behind him. Before they could leave, Baldur told Alasdair, “Accalia is still of marriageable age and needs a mate.”

Isobel knew the thought of mating Alasdair would be too good to be true. If he had the chance to mate with a wolf who would give him an alliance with another clan, his pack would be so much better off. What did she have to offer him? Nothing but her ability to fight.

And trouble should the chieftain of the clan who killed her uncle come after them. She could envision Vigge offering to go in his da’s stead to tack her and her cousins down.

Not to mention others in the area who had been killed, injured, or had family members stolen by marauders might be up in arms if Alasdair mated with an Icelander with ties to raiders.

“Did Alasdair tell you why he gave you and Conall the horses?” Hans asked as he rode into the outer bailey and headed for the stables.

“Aye. So that if we have trouble, we can come for help.”

“Right. Even though you’re wolves and can run fast, and though you can howl and your howls will carry long distances, they might no’ reach us in time. If you have to take the twins with you, then both you and Conall can ride and carry each of them to safety. As young as they are, Libby and Drummond couldna keep up with you should you run as wolves.”

“Aye. I take it that Alasdair knows Baldur Hamilton fairly well.”

“Aye. We’ve known them for years. Baldur’s daughter is best friends with Bessetta.”

Just then, Bessetta dashed out of the inner bailey and called to Hans, “I saw Baldur is here through my window. Did he bring Accalia?”

“Nay. He brought a force to help us repel the raiders if we needed his extra forces. He wouldna have brought her and risked her safety.”

Bessetta’s shoulders dropped, and her expression darkened. “I hate Viking raiders.” She stalked back to the castle.

Isobel felt bad for Bessetta. She could imagine it might be years between visits as much as the packs were spaced apart. The difference between Isobel and Accalia was that she would have been with the warriors to fight their enemy. “So Alasdair will mate Baldur’s daughter?”

Hans laughed. “Nay. Accalia is like a sister to us. I’m afraid you’ve spoiled Alasdair if he had any notion of seeking out any other she-wolf to mate. He really doesna want you to stay with the MacEachens, but once you offered to help them, he knew that was the best thing to do. I’ve never seen him give in so much when he wants things to go in a different direction.”

She shook her head.

“Know this, that Alasdair has spoken to everyone in the pack, and you shouldna have any trouble with anyone. But he wanted the four of you in the castle so that he could ensure you didna run into any trouble with the local populace.”

“What about the boy who lashed out at Drummond? I’m certain others feel the same way as he did. Maybe some who were kin or good friends of the ones who died in the raid with the Vikings last year.”

Alasdair might have spoken to them, but it didn’t mean they wouldn’t resent her and her cousins living there with the pack.

At the nooning meal,Alasdair expected Isobel to be seated at the table with Elene, and of course, he was looking for any sign of Cleary and Baine after Isobel returned to the croft to check on the situation. When he saw Isobel standing beside Elene, he was relieved.

Baldur Hamilton was seated between Alasdair and Erik. Hans, Bessetta, and Rory were seated to Alasdair’s left. Erik’s brothers, Logan and Finlay, were sitting beside him.

“As I was saying,” Baldur repeated to Alasdair, “You know Accalia, and she is of a marriageable age.”

“She is like a sister to me. I love her in that capacity. Not only that, but I’m interested in another she-wolf who might be my mate.” Alasdair ate another bite of the trout that members of his clan had caught. “I’m grateful for the alliance between our packs. And I thank you for coming to our aid.”

“Aye.” Baldur glanced at Erik. “You are known as the great white wolf chief, and you dinna have a mate. Mayhap you and I could form an alliance as well.”

Erik drank some of his ale. “Tell me about your daughter.”

"She's incredibly beautiful, great with children, can handle the responsibilities of managing a castle, and everyone adores her. If you mate her, we could ally."

Alasdair glanced at Erik to see how he viewed the news.

Somberly, Erik nodded. “I will come and see her for myself.”

---