Page 88 of Wolf Alliance

“You are the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said.

“As you are for me.” She snuggled her head against his chest.

She was so glad they were together for the night in her private chamber, that they had celebrated their wedding with her people, and that they had vanquished Freigard. Though she worried that while he was still alive, he would be a threat.

Erik and Accaliaspent a week celebrating their wedding at her da’s castle and then it was time to return home to Whitehaven. Accalia was sad to leave her da alone, but she knew his men would be loyal to him, and one of them would be his new advisor. Her da hugged her longer than he ever had, and when she looked up at him, she saw tears in his eyes.

She sighed. “I’m happy with Erik, you know.”

“Aye. All this week, I could see that you are both happy with one another.” Her da glanced at Erik as he readied everyone for their journey. “And you have fine young lads to raise as your own, though I hope you and Erik will have more bairns.”

“We want you to be your grandsons since they dinna have grandparents.”

“I’m happy to be that for them. Davina has played with the lads all week long. She will miss them too. Dinna be a stranger.”

“You either,” she scolded. “You, Davina, and my cousin are welcome to visit. We’ll all be glad for it.”

“Aye. We will.”

Then they said their final goodbyes, Erik promising Baldur he would take care of Accalia.

“Us too,” Thorfinn said, his head held high.

“Aye, us too,” Hendrie and Johnne both said.

“But who will protect you?” she asked.

“You and Da,” Thorfinn said, and they all smiled.

She said goodbye to her pack members that she’d grown up with, vowing to return, and then she, Erik, the boys, their clan members, her good friend Niamh, and Isobel and Alasdair and their clan members rode out together.

After a few hours on their journey, they came to a glen where they had to split up and go their separate ways.

They dismounted from their horses to hug each other goodbye. Bessetta and Isobel hugged the boys.

“But you’ll come back to see us?” Thorfinn asked.

“Aye. I want to watch you in sword fighting and using the bow,” Isobell said.

“Will you sleep with us?” Hendrie asked Bessetta.

Bessetta laughed. “Of course.”

“We’ll come see you when you have the babies,” Accalia said to Isobell, hugging her. “And, Bessetta, I look forward to seeing you again.”

“Aye, same here.” Bessetta embraced her warmly.

Alisdair and his brothers swung the boys around and set them on the ground. “Be good lads,” Alisdair said.

“We will. Our mother makes sure of it,” Thorfinn said, smiling at her.

Erik and his brothers hugged Alisdair and his brothers.

“Until we meet again and show who is the best at archery,” Erik said.

“And archery,” Alisdair said.

Then they remounted their horses, waved goodbye to each other, and headed on their way home.

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