Page 59 of Wolf Pack

Ignoring Isobel’s question, Mege scoffed. “Accidents do happen out here.”

Isobel raised a brow. “And you think if I should ‘accidentally’ suffer an accident, his lairdship wouldna realize someone had done it on purpose to injure or kill me to keep me from mating him?”

Mege shrugged. “People are injured or killed all the time. Just so you know.”

“Thank you for the warning. I canna imagine you would do the deed, though. Would you put one of your kin up to it? Or some other? It would be a shame, should that happen, if he gets caught at it and is punished for the misdeed instead of the one who came up with the idea. Though he would still be punished for committing the wrong.”

“You think you’re so clever.”

“Aye. I am. When you have to work as hard as I did to stay alive and to ensure my kin did also, you have to be prepared for anything.” Despite having to deal with a few disgruntled pack members, Isobel had been so glad that Alasdair had taken her and her kin into his pack.

Everyone liked them, showing no animosity for them being Icelanders even after turning the brothers, but now this? Shecouldn’t believe she’d stirred up so much attention among some eligible maids because the laird had shown some interest in her.

Mege finally said, “You willna sit at the head table with him this eve.”

As if Mege could decide such a thing! “Why is that? If Alasdair wishes me to, I will. If he doesna, then I willna. So mayhap you are right. We will know for sure this very eve, will we no’?”

Mege scoffed, then turned on her heel, hurried down the stairs to the inner bailey, and headed inside the keep.

Isobel always watched her back, so if someone was out to get her, she would guard against trouble, as long as no one put her kin in danger because of her.

Then she began watching for any sign of anyone approaching the castle, but she suspected nothing would happen out there—not until night if anything was to happen. Now, though, she was more uneasy about herself concerning Mege and her family or her friends.

Once relieved of her duty, she headed downstairs to see if she was sitting with Elene to have the evening meal, or with Alasdair, which would irritate Mege even more. Mege caught her eye and was glaring at her as if she thought Isobel would heed her words and tell Alasdair she wouldn’t sit with him if he asked her to.

Alasdair smiled at her, wordlessly telling Isobel where he wanted her to sit. Bessetta came to the table where Isobel and Elene had been sitting together and said, “My brother wants you to join him at the head table.”

They saw Cleary and Baine head to the table where Isobel and Conall had sat with them earlier.

Isobel was surprised both Alasdair’s sister and his brother would speak with her. Maybe Hans wasn’t going to tell her to sit with Alasdair.

When Hans joined her, he said, “Unless Alasdair says otherwise, he wants you to sit with him at the head table.”

“I told you so,” Bessetta said.

Conall smiled at her as if he knew this would happen also. However, Isobel was never sure because clan chiefs often changed their minds about such things.

“I’m glad to.” Isobel smiled at Elene and then went with Hans and Bessetta to the head table, dying to give Mege a look, saying she was sitting with the laird, so what wasshegoing to do about it? But Isobel figured the woman was angry enough already and instead pretended she didn’t care how Mege viewed this.

Cleary and Baine hesitated to sit by Conall and Elene, watching Isobel escape their company.

When Isobel sat next to Alasdair, he said, “I’m glad you decided to join me.”

“I couldna presume you wanted me to sit beside you for further meals.”

“Well, I do. Rory said Mege went to talk to you on the wall walk earlier today when you were pulling your second guard duty.”

“She did.”

“No one can get away with much without someone noticing something.”

“You are having me guarded?” she asked, surprised but pleased that he would think of her safety like that if he had.

Alasdair smiled. “My brothers are watching out for you, it seems. They said that they’ve heard from several that Mege has been spreading rumors about you being dangerous to the pack. So Rory wanted to make sure she wasna threatening you.”

“She was, but I can take care of myself.” Even though Isobel felt that way, she wasn’t going to pretend Mege hadn’t threatened her because if she followed through with it, someone in the clan would die for it.

Maybe Isobel, or the person who came after her. She was sure Mege wouldn’t have the courage or the ability to try and kill Isobel herself. Though Mege would be the instigator and she and her kin would be banished if any harm came to Isobel, she figured. She owed it to the pack leader to tell him what was going on.

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