Page 25 of Wolf Pack

Armed with swords, Alasdair and five of his men began the climb down the cliffs. They would use ropes to bring the children up. The younger ones couldn’t make the ascent on their own.

The three of them had been caught unawares as Alasdair and his men descended with swift, practiced movements. Once they reached the beach, Alasdair's feet slipped on the loose rocks beneath them.

But then the lads and lassie disappeared, vanishing into thin air as they ran past a seemingly solid rock wall like the golden-haired woman had before. Alasdair realized there had to be a hidden cave there.

Alasdair and his companions followed, their hearts beating a frantic rhythm. Climbing around the cliff, they found a narrow cave entrance, invisible from the rocky cliffside, where they observed the ocean for signs of trouble.

They stayed there, not showing themselves to whoever was in the cave, just in case they were attacked, not by the two lads and the lassie but by warriors who could be inside the cave just waiting for them.

At first, he thought maybe the women were the only two who were wolves, but he smelled the older lad, and two children had left their scents on the beach and were also wolves. Erik and his kin were Icelandic wolves, but he had never met her. But Alasdair still wondered if more were inside, waiting to fight him. Yet he didn’t smell any sign of others.

“Come on out. “We mean you no harm. We will take you in, feed you, and provide you shelter and clothes. We have taken the women back to our keep to feed them,” Alasdair said. “The young ones canna climb the cliffs on their own. The women willna return for you. We are sheltering them at the castle. You must come with us.”

No one answered. He thought they might be so scared that they wouldn’t come out on their own.

Alasdair needed to do this alone to gain their trust. He said to his men, “Stay back.”

“Are you sure?” Hans asked.

“Aye. I dinna smell any sign of anyone else but the young ones. They’re afraid to come out.” He moved into the cave, the darkness enveloping him like a heavy cloak, though he could see in the dark.

Coming out of the back of the cave, the older lad finally approached him, brandishing a sword and shield, a fierce expression on his determined face. His shirt and trewes were stiff with sea salt, and his blond hair was long, partially braided, and tangled. He would protect the younger ones with all his might.

Liking the boy at once, Alasdair smiled. “We are wolves like you. If you are a well-trained warrior, but most of all, a hunter and a farmer, we can use you in our pack.”

Still gripping the shield and sword at the ready, the lad’s jaw dropped as he stared at him in surprise, frozen in his stance.

“I’m Alasdair, the leader of the pack. Our pack is thirty wolves strong. And you are?”

“Thirty?” His blue eyes widened, and the lad looked even more shocked.

“Aye.”

The lad stood straighter. “I’m Bodolf.”

Viking for wolf leader. They were Vikings.

“I mean…” Bodolf hesitated. “Conall.”

Alasdair opened his mouth but then nodded. Gaelic for wolf. He was a Viking. “And the others?”

“My sister, Libby, and her twin brother, Drummond.” Conall ducked back into the depths of the dark cave and had to usher them out, holding the girl’s hand, her eyes as blue and wide as her brothers. Conall was still holding his sword, but he’d let go of his shield so he couldn’t hold the younger sister’s hand. Drummond looked like he wished Conall would hold his hand, too, as he stuck to his side.

Drummond looked like the spitting image of his older brother, except younger.

Their weapons were ready, and Alasdair and some of his men investigated the cave. The air grew colder and more damp. It smelled of salt and seaweed. They didn’t smell anyone else in the cave besides the two women, the lad, and the two children. Reassured that they were the only ones here, Alasdair and his men sheathed their swords.

A seaworthy longship with a carved wooden dragon at the prow led the way. It creaked as it rocked gently in the currents moving in and out of the cave, which surprised Alasdair, given how dangerous it was to navigate the narrow passage between the breakers and into the cave.

Deeper in the cave, they found an array of treasures—furs for warmth, finely crafted clothes, sturdy tools, a brazier for fire, and weapons fit for warriors.

Alasdair couldn’t believe they had made it across the open ocean all the way here in the small longship—just the five of them, and two so young, he assumed they would not have been very much help.

Together, they emerged from the cave, the children now in the safety of Alasdair's men.

“We’ll leave the longship here if you need it at some point, but we’ll bring your supplies so you can use them while you stay with us.” Alasdair wanted them to know they were free to stay with the pack or leave as they wished. They didn’t take slaves or force wolves to join them.

“This is my brother Hans, who is my second in command. And Rory, who is with the women, is my other brother. We also have a sister, Bessetta, who’ll help look after your needs. Let’s get you up the cliffs.” Alasdair had the men carry their supplies to the cliffs, and while they hauled them up, they made a harness for the younger lad first.

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