Page 54 of Wolf Alliance

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Hoping they had no trouble from Freigard’s men, Erik realized how much he loved running with Accalia and his sons tonight with Alasdair and his pack. He was glad to show others that he had someone to care about again, whom he wanted to mate.

He hadn’t realized how much Alasdair’s mating Isobel had affected him. But now he could see that he’d longed for what Alasdair had in a mate. Erik thought it wouldn’t have mattered if he had found another because he’d loved his first mate, though not many people had seen her like that.

Accalia's inner beauty radiated just as brightly as her physical appearance, setting her apart from his previous mate. She had a natural ease with his sons and everyone else she met. He would have had difficulty connecting with her if she hadn’t treated his sons with kindness, respect, and affection.

He was glad Alasdair and Isobel were having their bairns in a few months.

The boys were playing with each other at first, tackling each other, play-biting, and then running to catch up with Erik and Accalia. They had so much energy, but he was sure they would wear themselves out before long.

Alasdair was running with Isobel near them, and he glanced at Erik and Accalia and smiled, knowing Erik was in heaven now that he had Accalia in his life. He had noticed that Hans and Rory had been careful not to tease Accalia and he suspected they realized Erik was now serving as her protector and they would get hell for it.

The boys were trying their darndest to keep up with the longer-legged wolves, but they were now falling behind. Immediately, Accalia slowed down to accommodate them, and Erik did too. She was always anxious about them, and he adored her for it. She always acted like a concerned momma wolf.

Although he wanted to keep her in his bed tonight, he wanted her to be there because she wanted to be with him as desperately as he wanted to be with her. She licked his face and then nuzzled each of the boys’ faces and they licked hers back, looking thrilled that she wasn’t going to leave them behind.

Others would have watched them, wolves guarding the mix of members from both packs. But Accalia was the one who made all the difference to them. Their tails lifted, their spirits raised, the boys were thrilled when she paid attention to them.

Then she licked Erik’s face telling him she loved him too. He wagged his tail, his sons watching their interaction, eager to see them together like that.

They ran all over the territory, but then the boys were no longer loping or running, but walking, taking deep breaths, tongues lolling out, showing how worn out they were. They would sleep well tonight.

Erik howled for everyone to return to the keep, and they all headed that way, the guards still riding on horses or running as wolves on either side of the families, leading the way, or following behind them. Erik had noticed that Isobel had slowed down a little and appeared to have been glad the boys were running at more of a reduced speed so they had to slow down on the run.

When they reached the outer bailey, he was glad they hadn’t encountered any trouble with any brigands. Then they went into the inner bailey and those who needed to enter the keep, while others went off to the barracks.

Again, Erik hoped that Accalia didn’t change her mind about staying with him. Bessetta and she ran off together toward her chamber and he was afraid she might have. The boys stood with him, looking disheartened.

Erik urged them to their chamber and shifted. “Dress and get ready for bed. I’ll return.” Then he shifted and hurried out of the chamber, intent on dressing and returning to the boys’ chamber before Accalia did so that they both could wish the boys a good night. He hoped she would join him while showing the boys he was staying with her.

He reached his chamber, shifted, dressed, and headed to the boys’ chamber. Both Bessetta and Accalia were there, and he feared that he had been thwarted.

But Thorfinn said to Bessetta, “Accalia is staying with Da tonight.”

Hendrie agreed. “But if you get scared by anything while you’re in your chamber alone, you can come and see us, and we’ll take care of you.”

“Aye,” Johnne said. “We’ll protect you.”

Bessetta smiled at the boys and hugged Accalia. “I’ll handle everything here. The two of you have a good night.”

Accalia’s cheeks blushed beautifully, and she leaned down and hugged and kissed the boys. “You behave yourselves and dinna give Bessetta any trouble. I’m the only one who is allowed to.”

They all laughed. Erik was smiling. He couldn’t help it. Accalia was coming to his bed tonight. Then he hugged his sons, something he’d been neglectful in doing because he’d felt they didn’t need him anymore. But they hugged him back as much as they had hugged Accalia, and he knew they still needed his affection.

Then he took hold of Accalia’s hand, walked her out of the chamber, and headed to his own, feeling like he’d climbed the highest mountain ever. “You dinna feel pressured that I want you in my bed this eve, do you?”

“I was going to come whether you were ready for me or no’.”

He looked down at her, not believing her.

“Aye, you didna think I could hold off much longer, did you?”

He swept her into his arms and hurried to his chamber a few feet away.

She laughed. “’Tis no’ a mating, mind you.”

He would make her want a mating, he hoped. “Aye. You let me know how far you want to go.”

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