Page 26 of Wolf Pack

Conall remained with his sister while their brother was taken away, appearing uncertain about what to do. Conall didn't seem willing to leave his sister alone with the strangers, nor did he want to be separated from his brother. Alasdair fully understood how he felt.

“We can take your sister up now, and you can climb on your own, aye?” Alasdair asked.

“Ja.Aye.”

They had learned to speak Scots well, and Alasdair wondered if it was because the one Scotswoman had been a slave and had taught them their language. That would make it easier for them to understand each other in the pack. As long as they didn’t cause trouble for his clan, he welcomed them to become productive members of the pack.

After they managed to bring all the children to the top of the cliff, each one rode with one of his men and headed back to the keep.

“So tell me, how did you come to be here?” Alasdair asked. “The women didna tell us their names. How are they related to you?”

Conall hesitated to say at first. Then he let out his breath. “Elene was a captured slave. And Isobel is our cousin. Our da was her uncle.”

Conall explained all that had happened—his father attempting to kill the chieftain with the support of others who hated Funi, but then they turned on his father and killed him instead.

“I’m sorry to hear it, lad,” Alasdair said.

“My mother and Isobel’s mother and father had died while fighting earlier clan battles.”

“How long ago?” Alasdair asked, wondering if their losses were recent.

“Four summers ago. All were killed in the same battle. Isobel was fifteen and raised us as if she were our mother. Even though we are cousins, she was always there for us like a mother would be. If she hadna had overheard what my da planned to do and planned to save us, none of us would be alive today.” Conall spoke with pride of his cousin.

Alasdair deeply admired Isobel and the children for having gone through the ordeals they had and survived. “Aye. That was a dangerous journey to take.”

Even hardened warriors could find it difficult.

“It was. Isobel was always optimistic, even when I was sure we were lost near the end. I knew she was mad at me when I said so, but even then, she encouraged us and masked her feelings. Though at times, I knew she’d been anxious.”

“I imagine all of you were.”

“Aye. Isobel had a twin brother who had been lost at sea.”

“How long ago?”

“Seven years ago, before Libby and Drummond were born.” Conall cleared his throat. “Elene had been sold to my clan, and Isobel befriended her because she was a wolf. We had to be careful talking to her because they would beat her. But every chance we got, she shared the words you use, and we learned some of your language. In secret, Isobel trained her how to fight.”

He would have if Alasdair could have freed Elene and killed the chieftain himself. Better than that, if he’d been allied with the wolf pack she belonged to and had been able to come to their aid before all the killing took place.

“You really have thirty wolves in your pack?” Conall asked, sounding in awe.

“Aye, and if the five of you stay with us, that will make five and thirty.”

“I don't know about my cousin and what she wants to do, or Elene. She said she would stay with us for now but might want to look for her family.”

“Aye, well, you are all welcome to stay with us,” Alasdair said.

“I am a good hunter and a fighter,” Conall said.

“And you are good at taking care of your family. That is what’s so important also in a wolf pack.”

Looking pleased at the praise, Conall nodded sagely. From what Conall had told Alasdair, he had already seen so much death in his young life. Alasdair knew he understood the importance of being there for his family.

When they finally arrived at the castle keep, he saw that the outer wall was still being repaired after the storm. Isobel and Elene came out of the keep wearingléinesand brats that made them appear as though they were some of their own Highland women, which he was glad for. They had washed their hair and plaited it.

He didn’t want to have trouble with Highlanders passing through who might cause difficulties for them because they had Vikings living with his clan.

As soon as Elene and Isobel saw them arrive in the inner bailey, they ran to give the children hugs. The young lass and lad hugged them back, glad the women were safe. Conall tried to appear more warrior-like and stiffened when Isobel and Elene hugged him, but the women didn’t seem to care. They were just glad to see their companions safe and sound.

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