Page 68 of Wolf Pack

Hans said, “I take it that a celebration is in order.”

“Aye,” Alasdair said and held his head. He sat down on a chair at the table, and Agnes quickly washed the blood off his head and bandaged it with a spare cloth.

Awake now, Libby and Drummond were looking on, wide-eyed, though Drummond was holding his small sword prepared for a fight.

Isobel explained to Leif who Conall was.

“Bodolf?” Leif said in surprise. “You were a wee bairn when I saw you last.” And then he met the younger siblings. They hadn’t been born before Leif was lost at sea. “My cousins.”

Leif gave everyone bear hugs, looking delighted to have found his family again, but when Isobel told him all their parents had died, he was saddened to hear it, his shoulders drooping.

“What do you want us to do with them?” Hans asked Alasdair.

“I’m going with Alasdair to the keep,” Isobel said, deciding the matter for them. “My brother will stay with his cousins to provide security and to get to know them.” She knew the crofters would be pleased her cousins were staying with them. “If that is all right with you and Agnes,” she said to them. “And if it is all right with you, Conall, Drummond, Libby.”

“Aye,” Conall said, and everyone agreed with him.

She didn’t ask if everything was all right with Leif, but he needed to get to know his cousins and she wanted him to stay there for their protection.

“In the morn, we can break our fast together,” Isobel said. “Leif’s friends can come with us and stay in the barracks.”

Alasdair smiled at her. “We do as the lass says. She is now your pack leader also.”

She hadn’t realized that she had automatically taken charge of the new wolves.

For wolf pack leaders, it was different than if Alasdair had just been a human clan leader in which the wife might not have much say in the clan’s leadership. Isobel would help rule the pack just like her husband. She was glad he seemed to appreciate how she’d handled the situation when he appeared a little out of it for now.

Hans helped Alasdair onto his horse and then lifted Isobel behind him to make sure her mate didn’t fall from Alasdair’s mount. Two other riders gave both brothers a lift. They said good night to the crofters and Isobel’s family and rode back to the keep.

“I think you did this on purpose,” Isobel said, hugging Alasdair tightly. Not because she thought he might fall off the horse—well, maybe that too—but because she loved feeling his hard body pressed tightly against her.

“That I encouraged your brother to hit me?” Alasdair sounded like he wasn’t following her line of reasoning.

“Aye. So that I would come home with you tonight, and he would stay with the rest of my family, and all would be well.”

Alasdair grunted. “He struck me.”

“Aye, but he didna kill you.”

“Which is why I’m taking the lot of them into the pack.”

“Because they can help rebuild your wall.”

“Our wall.” He turned his head to look at her, and she kissed his cheek.

She sighed. “I love you. Thank you for taking them in, despite what my brother had done to you.”

“I love you, Isobel. You saved me when I couldna save myself. Your quick action, both in warning the crofters and the pack, proved to me just how invaluable you are. And then telling them that all was well before unnecessary blood was shed? You will make a great pack leader.”

“As fair-minded as you, I should hope.”

“Aye. You will be. It is the reason I continue to rule the pack.”

They finally arrived at the keep, and Hans said, “We willna wake you in the morn, but we’ll bring food to you in your chamber when you wish to break your fast.”

“And a celebration is in order also,” Rory said.

Alasdair smiled. “Aye, but we will break our fast in the great hall and make the announcement.”

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