Page 11 of Wolf Pack

Isobel was glad to finally see the shore so close. But the fog kept drifting in sheets across the shoreline, briefly revealing it and then hiding it again. She feared they would crash their longship before they could reach the shore.

Oceanwater struck the rocks and broke up, splashing sky-high, warning them of the danger of the partially submerged rocks.

“A cave is over there.” Elene pointed to treacherous currents flowing into the cave.

“We need to navigate over there.” Isobel agreed with Elene and motioned to what appeared to be a narrow passage where the water was deeper. She detected no breaking water, and they might make it inside.

“We willna make it,” Conall said.

As much as she wanted to tell him he was wrong, she feared he was right.

“We will make it. Row, watch for the rocks,” she said.

With the sail down, they rowed toward the narrow passage between the rocks, scraping the sides of the longship. Everyone’s hearts beat frantically, and Isobel’s young cousin gasped when they hit a rock. They maneuvered the ship until they could angle into the mouth of the cave.

When they managed to enter the cave without breaking the longship up on the rocks, it was dark inside, except for the light shining into the narrow mouth of the large cave.

As quickly, fog rolled in, swallowing them up as if to blanket them in secrecy, protecting them from the Scots or Vikings who might wish them dead.

Then they hit another rock, sending a jolt through the ship. Libby let out a heart-curdling scream as she fell overboard with a splash.

The Northmen attackedtwo weeks after Alasdair had spied the Viking ships land on the shore near them. But the marauders had gone north to attack monasteries for gold and silver first, the monks offering no resistance, making them easy prey.

Thankfully, Erik and his clansmen arrived at the castle before the Vikings did.

Wearing warpaint and carrying their black and yellow painted shields, they banged on them with axes and swords before they swarmed up the hill toward the castle. Even though the Scots were fierce fighters and were ready to kill every last one of them before the Vikings killed them, Alasdair couldn’t help but feel a chill run up his spine.

The archers readied their arrows. Alasdair counted the Viking’s numbers. They thought they would have close to forty men. But they only had thirty here now. Had some of them died in other raids? He hoped so.

Erik hadn’t known he would visit Alasdair and his kin and end up in a battle against the Vikings. “I’m glad they’re here now.”

“Aye. The waiting was killing me,” Alasdair admitted. “I’m glad you came and were able to take shelter with us. I sent five riders to intercept you and tell you of the trouble we could face, but they never found you.”

“We traveled a different route than we’ve come before. But we’re glad to be here and help you fight your battles.”

Alasdair felt the tension easing a bit, knowing everyone was safe within the castle walls, though the adrenaline was shooting through his blood as the Vikings threatened to battle with them.

Then the commander of the archers called out, “Loose!”

A barrage of arrows darkened the sky, a deadly rain that threatened to pierce the Vikings' defenses. The warriors quickly formed a shield wall, their shields overlapping to create a solid barrier against the onslaught.

The Vikings' shields were rough and worn from frequent use, each bearing the marks of battles past and present.

However, a few arrows still found their mark, striking three of their men and causing them to fall to the ground in the throes of agony.

“They’ll never be able to breach your castle walls,” Erik said.

“Aye. They’ve been attacking several villages, but they normally dinna attack a protected castle. They caught us unaware the last time while crofters were planting seeds and others in the village were doing their work. I believe they thought they would do the same this time.”

“I agree. But everyone is safely within the castle walls.” Except for their midwife.

The wolf patrols he had sent out hadn’t located her. He feared they’d lost her for good.

“Aye. I want to free the slaves they’ve bound to have taken, though.” Alasdair wanted to go to the other clans’ aid, though they had no alliances with them, just with Erik Norwulf and his people and a chief named Baldur of the Hamilton clan because they were wolves.

He also hoped if they could find captives, Rheba might be among them.

They only recently allied with Erik Norwulf and his people because the white wolf chief had taken over a human clan andterritory. Ironically, they were Northmen, but with a common cause. To protect their wolfkind.

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