Page 31 of Wolf Pack

She watched as the guards escorted the second group of people out. “They are wolves.”

“Aye. They are the crofters and villagers under my protection. Whenever we have trouble, we bring them here to protect them.”

Then Hans introduced her to the guard in charge of making assignments, and he smiled. “I’m Lorne.” He turned to Hans.“Dinna tell me she is looking to guard the keep. I was hoping she was seeking a husband. Me, in fact.”

Hans slapped him on the back. “That’s something I’ll leave you to work out between the two of you.” Then he left.

“Guarding the keep works for me,” she said.

“Nay on being my wife, eh?” Lorne said.

She smiled, amused at his jest. But she glanced in Alasdair’s direction. Something about him just drew her to him. What if she could be the pack leader’s mate? Her kin would be secure, Alasdair and his people protecting them without hesitation.

That’s the role she had always envisioned she was destined to play. A pack leader. Especially now that they could live with a large pack like this. The problem was—she was still of Icelandic breeding—and many would think of her as a Viking first, a wolf second.

The way three pretty young women nearby were eyeing Isobel with contempt made her believe they were interested in mating Alasdair. But if she decided he was the one for her and he was of like mind, no one would stand in her way to get what she wanted.

9

Once the villagers from the other place had left, Alasdair felt more at ease, as long as the marauders didn’t attack their village again. He appreciated that Isobel wanted to help the MacEachens and the guards at the keep by pulling duty, but he wanted her and her kin to stay at the castle.

Still, Dawy and Agnes needed help, and if she and her kin could assist them for a time, Alasdair would know they would be grateful. He knew they feared allowing someone else to take over the croft until Dawy could walk on his broken leg, worried they would never be able to go home again.

Lorne told Isobel, “I will put you on the schedule when you are ready to guard since you are helping to take care of the MacEachen.”

“Ja, uhm, aye, thank you.”

“I will take them all to their croft,” Hans said.

“Do so,” Alasdair said. “But I want you to come here also to get to know our people.”

“Aye, of course,” Isobel said.

“Elene is staying here,” Alasdair added.

“I’m glad for her. She has needed to be among her own people for so long.” Isobel was grateful that Alasdair had taken them all in, though she knew there would still be trouble.

Hans gota cart to carry Dawy while a couple of servants brought cooked boar out to them to take home with them. Isobel figured Alasdair had told them to do so, which she thought admirable.

Agnes, Isobel, and her cousins would walk. Isobel took Libby’s hand. As they passed the wall, they saw Conall working with others to repair it.

“Come with us, Conall,” Hans said. “You are going to help the crofters for a while.”

Conall frowned and Isobel thought he was enjoying working on the wall.

“Unless you want to stay here, Conall,” Isobel said.

“Nay, but I want to come back here when I can.”

She figured after all they’d been through that he wanted to stay close to his siblings and her.

They finally arrived at the croft, which was made of unmortared stones. The thatched roof was made from heather and held up by driftwood timber. A dozen sheep stood watching them in a corral, and one cow was in a field. The croft was situated near a loch, bracken leading up to it, and a forest was nearby.

Hans helped Dawy out of the cart and assisted him inside. “If any of you need anything, let us know.”

“Aye,” Agnes said.

“Aye,” Isobel said.

---