Page 26 of Wolf Heir (Highland Wolves of Old #3)

Coinneach could have killed Rupert for accosting Aisling. By the time he’d heard her shouts, seen her being manhandled by Rupert, and raced down the tower stairs, Drustan had gone to her rescue. He was glad Collum had put Rupert in his place.

But that hadn’t stopped Coinneach from letting Rupert know that he wouldn’t tolerate his actions toward Aisling.

Aodhan immediately joined Coinneach on the wall walk as he came out of the tower stairs. “If he wasna the chief’s son, I would have pummeled him myself. You showed great restraint, Coinneach.”

“Collum stopped me from putting a hand on him.”

“He was right to do so. He’ll tell Hamish what had happened, which you know will be different from Rupert’s version.”

“Rupert said that the reason he was angry with Aisling was that she accused him of being behind Gormelia’s attempted murder of her.”

Aodhan stroked his bearded chin. “Is that what Aisling truly thinks?”

“Nay. Rupert was the one who brought it up, which makes us believe he was involved.”

Aodhan looked out across the countryside. “If that is so, he is truly evil, the chief’s son or no’.”

“What if he isna the chief’s son?” Perhaps that was the way to eliminate the threat in their midst. Reveal that part of the truth anyway.

Aodhan looked sharply at Coinneach.

“What if he is Osmond’s son?” Coinneach hoped he wasn’t making a mistake by bringing it up to Aodhan.

Aodhan laughed. “Because they are both redheaded? We have other redheads in the clan. Why no’ any of them?”

“Because Morag doesna go to the stable with any other redheads?”

Aodhan frowned. “I canna believe he wouldna be Hamish’s son.”

“Mayhap Hamish knows it but chose to accept him as his son since he lost his firstborn.”

Both of them looked out at the forests beyond the meadows.

Aodhan cleared his throat. “’Twas a shame that his first wife and baby son didna survive in childbirth. I was four years old then, so all I remember was Morag quickly taking Orla’s place and becoming the chief’s new wife.”

“Did anyone question the fact that she took over Orla’s position so suddenly?”

“I wouldna know. She was the midwife, our healer, and she comforted him in his time of grief. I dinna see any love between them, however, not like older pack members have said about Hamish and his first wife.”

Coinneach didn’t know if he could trust Aodhan to tell him the truth about Morag ordering Hamish’s bairn to be murdered. Yet how else could Coinneach truly protect Aisling and her mother from the threats within? Unless he could get rid of Morag and Rupert.

“What if Hamish’s firstborn son survived?” Coinneach leaned against the stone wall of the wall walk.

Aodhan glanced sharply at him. “Nay. They buried the baby with his mother.”

"What if a child from another mother whose twin had passed away was buried in place of Hamish’s true son?"

Aodhan furrowed his brow. “Where are you coming up with all of this? Is there some gossip going around the pack? I’ve never heard of it.”

“What if Morag ordered Hamish’s bairn to be murdered so she could mate him and no’ have to raise his son, but have one of her own, only he isna Hamish’s but Osmond’s? Then her son would lead the pack instead of his firstborn.”

Aodhan shook his head. “Preposterous.”

“Aye. You are probably right.” It did sound far-fetched, and even Coinneach had to agree he couldn’t believe it when Aisling told him about it, either—at first.

Aodhan rested his arms on the top of the wall walk and glanced at Coinneach. “How do you know any of this?”

Coinneach didn’t want to reveal Blair’s role in this, should it go badly for her.

Aodhan let out his breath. “Where is the son then?”

“He would be full-grown, a year older than Rupert if he were born a year after the firstborn disappeared.”

“But if Morag ordered the bairn killed—”

“And the person who took the bairn away couldna do it, then someone else raised him as their own. You see the problem with this? Morag would still want him dead if she learns he is alive. And she’d want the person dead who was supposed to carry out her orders.

She couldna risk having this come back to haunt her. ”

Aodhan looked back out to the meadows. “It’s too far-fetched. Unless you’re no’ telling me something. Even if Hamish’s son is out there, how could he prove he’s his son? If Hamish never saw him, and he’s fully grown, he wouldna know him now.”

“The women in the birthing room saw the healthy bairn before Morag had him taken away and brought the other baby to rest with Orla.”

Aodhan’s eyes widened. “Blair had to have told you this. She was in training to be a midwife and healer when Morag became Hamish’s wife. Why would she tell you this?” Aodhan glanced back at the inner bailey, where Collum and Hamish had a heated discussion with Rupert.

Rupert finally threw his hands up in response and headed for the stables.

Aodhan faced Coinneach. “You are no’ Hamish’s son.”

“I didna say I was.”

“You resemble Hamish and this twin brother, much more than Rupert does.” Aodhan straightened. “Are you saying Magnus and Elspeth are no’ your parents? That Tamhas isna your brother?”

“I’m saying naught of the sort.”

Aodhan looked back out to the forests off in the distance. “So, how are we going to prove you’re Hamish’s son?”

Nelly and Aisling showed their two new cooks how to serve the tables. Then Aisling served the champion’s table, while Aodhan and Coinneach were still on the wall walk. She was so glad he hadn’t hit Rupert and gotten banished from the pack.

Right after the meal was done, she hurried out to the wall walk with meals for Coinneach and Aodhan. They both thanked her.

Then she quickly kissed Coinneach. “I have to eat and then I’ll meet you in the inner baily as a wolf?”

“Aye. Is Nelly still coming?”

“She has her heart set on it.”

“I’ll see you then.”

Aisling hurried off, excited about running with Coinneach as a wolf, and she hoped Tamhas would be as thrilled to see Nelly as much as she was to see him.

She ended up in the kitchen with the others, everyone serving up meals, but this time Aisling served up her own. Nelly ate faster than Aisling had ever witnessed. “Slow down. The men are no’ changing shifts for a while.”

Nelly drank some more of her ale. “Do you think Tamhas likes me?”

“Aye, he does. But he’s different from Coinneach. I can run up to Coinneach and hug him, whereas Tamhas is a bit more reserved. Still, as you get to know him, he may change.”

Nelly sighed. “I will be cautious around him, no’ wanting to scare him off.”

“Be yourself, Nelly. If the two of you fall in love, you will know you’re right for each other.”

“Coinneach doesna have any other brothers, does he?” Ann asked.

“Nay.” In truth, he didn’t have any blood brothers.

As the head of the table, Cook cleared her throat. Everyone looked at her. “I’ve heard rumors for years that Rupert isna Hamish’s son. But I wouldna want any of you to be in trouble for spreading these rumors should Morag, her son, or even the chief be angered about it.”

So even Cook had heard the rumors. That was good news. How many more of the pack members felt the same way? And were afraid to mention it?

After they ate and cleaned up, Aisling told Cook, “Nelly and I are off to Coinneach’s family’s croft. Though Coinneach and I are running as wolves.”

“Be safe and watch your surroundings.” Cook had never said that to Aisling before, and she wondered if she feared Rupert would try to retaliate against her.

“Thanks. We will be.” Aisling and Nelly went to the women’s chamber, and Aisling stripped off her clothes. “Take my bow with you. You’ve been practicing, and if we encounter any trouble, you can use it to take down the threat.”

Nelly frowned and picked up the bow and quiver of arrows resting beside Aisling’s pallet. “You think Cook is worried about us?”

“Aye. No telling what Rupert might do after getting in trouble with his uncle. And then having to muck out the stalls? He will be sure to want to get back at me.” Aisling shifted.

The two of them headed out of the castle to the inner bailey, where Aodhan and Coinneach were coming down the tower stairs.

“I’ll be out shortly,” Coinneach said, smiling at Aisling. He went inside the barracks and soon emerged as a wolf, hurrying to join Nelly and Aisling.

“Howl if you get into trouble,” Aodhan said, “and I will come with an army of men.”

Aisling and Coinneach inclined their heads to him. They would have raced across the meadow if Nelly hadn’t been with them. Instead, they walked beside her as her wolf companions.

“You might not have had a chance to tell Coinneach, Aisling,” Nelly said, “but the washer women who have joined our kitchen staff said they believe that Rupert is Osmond’s son.

Even Cook said she’d heard the rumors for years.

But she warned us no’ to speak on the matter because we could be in trouble. ”

In real danger, Aisling wanted to say. She glanced at Coinneach to see how he viewed the news. He licked her face. She took that to mean he was glad others knew about it.

Aisling and Coinneach howled to let his family know they were coming.

They finally reached the croft where Magnus and Tamhas were outside doing last-minute chores. As wolves, they could see well in the dark. Human crofters would have been abed by this time. His mother came out too.

Tamhas brightened to see them, but especially to see Nelly. She smiled brightly. But he seemed a bit tongue-tied. He needed some alone time with Nelly.

“They wanted to run as wolves. I came along to protect them.” She showed them Aisling’s bow. “Rupert accosted Aisling in the inner bailey and was punished by having to work in the stalls. So we worried he might retaliate.”

“We’re delighted you are here,” his mother said.

“Come in,” Magnus said, heartily. “Join us for some ale.”