Page 74 of Wolf Heir
“That you are Rupert’s da,” Collum said. “After the trouble Rupert caused with Aisling, and then Coinneach took him to task, it would be easy to believe that you would set the men on them to eliminate them.”
“Nay, I would never have done that.”
Aisling noted that Osmond didn’t object to the rumors that he was Rupert’s da. Was he proud of it? Despite how Hamish might react toward Morag and Osmond’s relationship, and that Rupert was their son. He had to be delusional if he thought anyone in the pact would accept it.
Or maybe he was ready to give up the farce and wanted to claim his son and Morag as his own, forget that Hamish would most likely have them banished. Maybe even worse.
“You’re Rupert’s da,” Collum said again, trying to get confirmation.
What about Morag? Aisling couldn’t imagine her wanting to give up her position as the chief’s mate, where she could give orders to pack members at will. Only Hamish could override her commands. After all that she’d done to get that position, Aisling couldn’t imagine she’d want to admit she had been Osmond’s lover for years.
Osmond shrugged. “You know how often there is some truth to rumors.”
Did he also know how Morag had gotten rid of Hamish’s real son?
Aisling glanced at Collum to get his take on it.
“So you are admitting that you and Morag conceived Rupert?” Collum asked.
Osmond smirked. “Dinna you see the similarities between me and my son? No’ to mention he doesna wear the mark of the wolf on his body.”
Aisling and Coinneach quickly exchanged glances. She didn’t understand. Had he seen Coinneach’s birthmark? Did Osmond know he was Hamish’s son? Did Morag?
But she hadn’t attempted to kill Blair, who would have been a witness to what had happened, or possibly the other women there at the time of the birthing.
“You will tell Hamish this?” Collum asked.
“Aye.”
“Come with me then.” Collum escorted Osmond to the castle, telling Aisling and Coinneach that they were dismissed.
Coinneach hugged Aisling. “Does Osmond know about me then?”
“I dinna know. I would think Morag would have silenced my mother and the two other women who had been in the chamber when Hamish’s mate gave birth,” Aisling said.
“I agree with you.”
“I’ve got to go to work, and so do you. I’m sure we’ll hear about what Hamish wants to do about Osmond soon enough.”
“I would love to have heard what was said.” He kissed her mouth. “Mayhap Hamish will ban Osmond and Morag from the pack. Rupert, too, so he can be with his parents. And then we will be done with all this.”
“I agree.”
“We’ll stay together in the couple’s quarters.”
“Oh, my, ‘tis the best of news.” Aisling just hoped that Osmond’s telling the truth about Rupert being his son truly would be the end of all this, as long as Hamish believed Osmond. “I’ll see you for the meal.”
They hugged again, and Coinneach hurried off to the tower stairs. Aisling went to look for her mother to warn her about what had happened, just in case Morag learned of it and went after her, fearing her mother would also tell the chief about the baby she had ordered murdered?
“Where is my mother?” Aisling asked one of the washer women.
“She’s delivering twins in the women’s chamber,” one of the women said.
“Thank you,” Aisling said and hurried off to the women’s chamber. No one but her mother, the woman having the babies, and two other women were there. Everyone else was working at their various stations.
Her mother glanced in her direction, must have seen the panic in Aisling’s expression, and told the other women that the expectant mother needed to shift and have her babies as pups. Then she joined Aisling and took hold of her arms.
“What is wrong?”
