Page 38 of Wolf Pack

“When do we turn them?” Hans asked.

“Make sure they work hard on the wall today. Then tonight, in the barracks, you and I can turn them.” Alasdair ate some of his venison. He didn’t make the decision lightly.

As leader of their pack, he and his eldest brother, his assistant leader, would take full responsibility for these men. If either of them went rogue against their pack, Alasdair would handle it himself; he wouldn't leave it up to others to deal with the consequences.

“Aye.”

They made a conscious effort to avoid turning anyone into one of their own kind unless absolutely necessary, such as in cases where a human had been accidentally bitten by one of their kind or had witnessed a wolf transforming. In those situations, they were left with no choice but to either eliminate the human or turn them into one of their own kind.

Due to the scarcity of their numbers, they preferred not to resort to elimination unless it was unavoidable. For instance, ifthe person belonged to an enemy clan and would not coexist peacefully with their pack if turned into a wolf.

There were advantages to being a wolf shifter—increased longevity, faster healing powers, and of course, their heightened wolf senses. For newly turned wolves, the shifting issues were the problem. Neither of the men had any family, so that helped Alasdair decide what to do with them.

Alasdair watched the two men as they entered the great hall with Lorne and were escorted to their table. Actually, everyone did. Cleary and Baine glanced around the room until they spied Isobel. When they saw her, they observed her. Alasdair hadn’t figured they would show that much interest in her—unless they assumed the worst about her.

Both men began to eat and drink the food and ale that women brought out for them.

Alasdair told Rory, “Hans and I will turn them tonight in the barracks. We want to have other men on hand if we should have trouble with them. And they have to be disarmed.”

“Aye. They are already showing way too much interest in Isobel. Do you think ‘tis because she is so bonny?” Rory asked.

Why hadn’t Alasdair thought of that? He’d been thinking the men had heard Isobel and her kin were Icelanders and staying with his clan now. Mayhap their interest in her went in that direction instead.

“We will keep an eye on them. Mayhap, once they are wolves, they’ll understand we’re all wolves under one roof, and we’re here for each other. If they canna live with the rules, we’ll have no choice but to eliminate Cleary and Baine. If we dinna turn them to see if they come around, I’m afraid they’ll target them when we’re least expecting it.”

“Aye.” Rory nodded.

“If they are only interested in the lass because of how comely she is, they could still turn on her once they learn she’s not aScotswoman. We’ll have to always have eyes on them.” Alasdair thought of the children playing in the meadow, or Conall and Isobel with them on the hunt andaccidentallybeing killed.

Or that Isobel might bathe in the loch again on her own and the brothers could catch her at it. But Alasdair certainly thought of her and her kin being in danger where these men were concerned unless turning them changed their outlook.

Rory had purposefully made sure Cleary and Baine were sitting next to Lorne. He would listen to anything that was being said. Alasdair wished he could listen in on their conversations himself. Until Cleary and Baine had arrived, he had been concentrating on Isobel smiling and chatting it up easily with Elene.

They appeared to be best friends, and he was glad to see it after what had happened to Elene.

His sister, Bessetta, had tried to befriend Isobel also. He hadn’t heard how that was working out. Bessetta was sitting at the head table with him, as she should be. He was hoping she and Isobel would become good friends.

Elene seemed to fit in with the other women. From what others had told him, she hadn’t said anything about leaving the clan to find her other pack members if any of her kin were still alive. They would help her locate them when they were able to if she wanted to.

First, though, he wanted to ensure they finished repairs to the wall, to make it more secure before they left the keep for any length of time. Alasdair kept worrying about Cleary and Baine, though he knew everyone would keep an eye on them.

After they finished eating, everyone cleared out of the great hall to do their work except Alasdair, who made a beeline to speak to Isobel to ensure that she understood what was happening with Cleary and Baine before she heard it from anyone else.

He walked her outside the outer bailey, beyond the castle walls where men, including Cleary and Baine, were already adding stones and mortar to the damaged wall. When they were far enough in the meadow, out of anyone’s hearing, Alasdair said, “We always have Cleary and Baine under watch. Hans and I are turning them tonight.”

Isobel nodded. “Good. They’ll have more control over their shifting right now.”

“Aye, between the full moon and new, they will. This is partly why I wanted to do it now but mostly because they seem to be interested in you and your kin, and I canna have them giving you trouble. They’ve always wanted to join the clan, but since they’re no’ wolves, I couldna allow it before.”

Isobel bit her lip, and he tenderly rubbed her chin. “Mayhap I am mistaken, and they are only interested in you. But I couldna have that either.”

She raised her brows. “Nay.”

He smiled. “’Tis possible.”

“I doubt it. I imagine ‘tis more likely that they believe we’re from the north and they would like to destroy us. They saw the way Conall was dressed when we were on the earlier hunt. And they appeared angry about it.”

“We hope turning them will change their opinion once they learn the truth about you and your family, but if it doesna and they wish to harm you, we’ll take care of them.”

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