Page 28 of Trapped by the Wicked Highlander (Lairds of the Loch Alliance #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

L ate that night, after Margaret and Michael left the castle, Hunter stirred from his restless sleep, his ears catching the faintest cry echoing through the corridors. Then Leonora barked loudly with panic. His heart leaped into his throat as he recognized Elena’s voice, sharp with fear. Without hesitation, he threw back the covers and bolted from his chamber, his bare feet pounding against the cold floor.

He reached Elena’s room in seconds, his instincts screaming that something was terribly wrong. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, his blood ran cold at the sight before him. Margaret stood by the bed, her hands clutching Elena’s small frame, dragging her toward the door. Elena kicked and struggled, tears streaming down her face as she fought against her mother’s grip. Leonora tore at Margaret's skirt.

"Unhand her this instant!" Hunter bellowed, his voice like thunder in the small chamber.

Margaret froze for a brief moment, then yanked Elena closer, her wild eyes meeting his. "She’s me daughter," she spat, her voice filled with venom. "I willnae leave without her!"

Hunter’s hands curled into fists, his fury barely contained. "She is nae yers to take!" he roared. "Ye lost that right long ago when ye abandoned her!" Elena sobbed and reached toward him, her small hands trembling.

Margaret’s grip on the child tightened. "I willnae let ye poison her against me," she hissed. "She deserves a maither, nae a brute like ye raisin’ her alone!"

Hunter stepped closer, his body coiled with rage. "A maither protects her bairn, she doesnae terrify her!"

Elena thrashed in Margaret’s hold, her cries growing louder. "Papa!" she wailed, desperation laced in her voice. Hunter had heard enough. In one swift motion, he lunged forward, tearing Elena from Margaret’s grasp.

Margaret staggered back, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. "Ye will regret this," she seethed. "Mark me words, Hunter, I willnae go quietly!"

His voice was like steel. "Ye tried to steal me daughter in the dead of night. That alone is treason against yer own clan."

Margaret’s face twisted with rage, but he did not stop.

"Ye will be imprisoned at dawn and executed for what ye have done."

A cruel smile spread across Margaret’s lips. "If I’m to die, I’ll nae go alone," she sneered. In a flash, she pulled a hidden dagger from the folds of her cloak. With deadly speed, she lunged toward Elena.

Hunter moved on pure instinct. He threw himself in front of his daughter, catching Margaret’s wrist before the blade could reach its mark. With a growl of fury, he twisted her arm, forcing the knife from her grasp. He struck deep with her own blade, sending her crumpling onto the floor.

He grabbed Elena shielding her eyes and ran out of the room with Leonora behind them.

Elena sobbed into his tunic, her tiny body trembling against him. Hunter held her tightly, his heart racing, fury and fear battling within him.

Daniel rushed toward them, sword in hand. His eyes darted between Hunter, the crying child. "What happened?" he demanded.

Hunter exhaled sharply. "Margaret tried to take Elena. And when I stopped her, she tried to kill her. So, I took her life. She's in the room.

Daniel’s expression darkened as he sheathed his sword.

"I daenae think she acted alone. Her faither Michael must be in the castle or on the grounds. Find him!"

"I’ll have the guards take him to the dungeon when we find him," he said.

"See to it he never gets another chance at this," he ordered.

As Daniel called for the guards, Hunter carried Elena out of the room, away from the darkness and danger. She clung to him, her fingers fisted in his tunic.

"I was scared, Faither," she whispered. He kissed the top of her head.

"I ken, lass. But she’ll never hurt ye again."

They reached his chamber, and he tucked her into his own bed, keeping her close. His mind was filled with only one thought—he had almost lost her. And the woman who had truly cared for Elena, the woman he had foolishly let go, was not here.

Elena's sobs broke Hunter’s heart as she clung to him, her small hands gripping his tunic like a lifeline. "I want Cassandra," she cried, her voice trembling with fear. "I dinnae want her to go away. Please, bring her back."

Hunter’s heart twisted at the raw pain in his daughter’s voice. He brushed a lock of hair from Elena’s tear-streaked face, his hand gentle despite the storm raging inside him. He realized that he had been worried Elena needed a mother that he could not be, and all along Cassandra was that woman that Elena herself had chosen to be the one to provide motherly love in her time of need.

"I promise ye, lass," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I will bring her back. I’ll make sure she’s here where she belongs, safe and sound."

Elena’s eyes, wide with a mix of hope and uncertainty, met his. "Ye promise?" she asked, her voice small, fragile.

Hunter’s jaw clenched, but he nodded firmly, squeezing her hand. "Aye, I promise. I’ll not let ye lose her." His heart, heavy with guilt and longing, swelled with determination. He would not let Cassandra slip away.

He exhaled heavily, his heart aching.

I cannae make the same mistake twice.

Cassandra was hunched over a small bowl in her workroom, the scent of dried herbs filling the air. Her hands moved with precision as she carefully ground the mixture, her mind occupied by the work, yet a strange restlessness lingered in the back of her mind. The door suddenly burst open, and Cassandra’s head shot up in shock. There, standing in the doorway, was Hunter, his face pale with worry and his eyes wide with urgency.

Her heart skipped a beat, a knot tightening in her stomach.

"Hunter?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What’s wrong? Is it Elena? Tell me she’s alright." She stood up, her hands instinctively reaching for him, dread flooding her chest. She had feared something terrible had happened to her beloved girl.

Hunter took a few steps into the room, his eyes still sharp with concern but softening at the sight of Cassandra.

"Elena is safe, lass," he said quickly, his voice urgent yet reassuring. "But it does me good to ken yer thoughts are on me daughter."

"Then what has happened?" she asked.

"It’s Margaret. She tried to abduct Elena. I caught her in the act, but…" He paused, running a hand through his hair as if still processing the chaos. "She wouldnae go quietly. There was a knife, and she attacked Elena. I… had nay choice but to end it. To end her."

Cassandra's face drained of color as the weight of Hunter’s words sank in. "Margaret… she's dead?"

Her voice cracked, her mind racing to understand the enormity of what he had just said.

"Aye."

"And Elena? She’s alright?" Her hands trembled as she clutched the edge of the workbench, struggling to steady herself.

Hunter gave a solemn nod, his jaw tight as he spoke the words that brought some measure of relief. "Elena, she’s safe. I made sure of it." He paused, his brow furrowing as he continued, "Michael ran off after it all happened. My guards pursued him, but we lost him in the woods. I daenae think he’ll be a threat anymore."

Cassandra let out a long, shaky breath, her shoulders slumping as the tension eased from her body. She had feared the worst, and now, despite the tragedy, her heart felt a tiny flicker of relief. "Thank God," she whispered, her mind still reeling from the gravity of the situation.

Hunter took a step closer, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. "Cassandra," he said softly, his voice low, "there’s somethin’ I need to ask ye. I’ve thought on it long and hard, and I cannae wait any longer."

His eyes searched hers. "Marry me. Be with me. Let me make ye me wife, and we’ll build a life, together. I love ye."

Cassandra’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest as his words settled into her soul. She had never expected him to ask, not after everything they had been through. She had always feared that their connection might remain unspoken, a deep bond without a name. But now, standing before her, he was asking for more than she ever dreamed of. She looked into his eyes, feeling her heart swell with love, and in that moment, she knew what her answer had to be.

"I will," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I will marry ye, Hunter. I love ye, and I’ve never wanted anythin’ more than to be by yer side. With ye and Elena."

Her hands reached out to him, trembling slightly, but Hunter’s smile softened the fear and uncertainty that had held her back. He took her hands in his, his grip strong and reassuring.

As they stood there, the world outside the walls of the castle seemed to fade away. Cassandra’s mind was a whirl of emotions, but beneath it all, there was a steady warmth blooming in her chest. She had spent so many years alone, carrying the weight of her past, but now, in this moment, she realized she wasn’t alone anymore. She would be with Hunter, with the man she loved, and they would build a future together.

Her heart fluttered with joy, and for the first time in years, she allowed herself to dream. She was deliriously happy, and though she knew there would still be challenges ahead, she was ready to face them, so long as Hunter was by her side.

"I never thought I would be this happy," she sobbed.

Hunter pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her with a tenderness that matched the depth of his love for her.

"Ye’ve made me the happiest man alive, with yer answer" he whispered against her hair, his voice thick with emotion. "This is just the beginnin’, lass. Together, we’ll make it work."

In that moment, as the sounds of the world outside faded to nothing, Cassandra knew that everything had changed. She had a family now, and her future was no longer a solitary one. She had a life with Hunter ahead of her, a life she had once thought was beyond her reach. But now, with him, anything was possible.