Page 7 of Wolf Heir (Highland Wolves of Old #3)

Aisling and Coinneach followed the Viking raiders, staying hidden and watching where they went to ensure they left their territory.

She’d finally gotten her bag of herbs that evening, but the castle gates were locked by the time she had found everything she needed that they hadn’t located on their first trip foraging for them for the morning meal.

Then she heard the Vikings were headed for the crofts.

She’d only had time to remove her clothes in the forest and then shift.

Before she could howl a warning, she heard another wolf howl.

She hadn’t recognized who it was. Then she saw wolves racing into the forest, seeking safety.

Coinneach’s mother, father, and brother were nearby, but Coinneach hadn’t been with them.

She began searching for him when she saw him facing the Viking down.

Even as a wolf, Coinneach couldn’t have moved from where he was standing before the Viking shot him with his arrow.

As dangerous as it was, she had sprung, not thinking of the peril to herself, only knowing that she could not let it end like this.

She hadn’t hesitated to rip into the man’s throat to save Coinneach.

Now, she and Coinneach were shrouded beneath the towering canopy of the ancient forest, their presence camouflaged by the dense bracken.

The echoes of distant crunching leaves betrayed the Vikings ahead, guiding their stealthy pursuit through the woodland.

Each sure-footed step was a whisper against the forest floor, their breaths synchronized with the rustling wind that enveloped them, ruffling their fur like an unseen guide, as she and he followed the Vikings.

As they neared the jagged edge of the cliffs, their anticipation swelled with each glimpse of moonlight piercing through the thinning trees. The mighty ocean roared below, a symphony of waves crashing against stone echoed up to meet them.

From this vantage point, they spied upon the Viking warriors who skillfully descended the craggy face of the cliffside—a deftness honed by years spent upon their seafaring quests.

It was a sight both awe-inspiring and ominous, as the figures moved with a purpose that hinted at ages-old traditions and unyielding resolve.

Reaching the precipice, she and Coinneach exchanged a silent glance, understanding passing wordlessly between them, hearts beating in tandem with excitement and trepidation. The expanse opened before them—a breathtaking panorama that revealed the foggy shoreline below.

There, nestled within a secluded inlet, lay a majestic longship—its formidable silhouette casting an elongated shadow upon the lapping waves. The ship rode silently at anchor, swaying gently with the rhythm of the sea.

With eyes fixed on this scene of raw power and potential fury, she wondered what tales those warriors might spin upon returning to distant lands, what myths would be born from their ventures across this realm where a sky-kissed sea and legends took shape.

Would they speak of victory or loss? Change the narrative to one that made them seem more braw?

Coinneach's nuzzling her face brought her back to reality, a gesture both grounding and encouraging, reminding her that they had not come merely to observe what the Vikings were doing. They needed to let the others know that the Vikings were leaving.

From the cliff above, they observed the raiders reach the pebbled shore while carrying their dead comrade, and then wasted no time reaching their longboat.

A carved dragon sat at the helm, the red and white striped sails beckoning them in the wind to hurry and climb aboard the Viking ship moored in the inlet before it was too late.

Before long, the men had reached the ship and taken hold of the oars, knifing them into the foamy water, their muscles straining to push on.

She wished she and Coinneach could destroy the Vikings and their ship, but they would have needed more help to accomplish it.

She nuzzled Coinneach’s face and returned to the forest where she had left her clothes.

He stayed by her side, then she shifted and dressed.

She grabbed her bag of herbs and followed him to where he had ditched his clothes.

Once he was dressed, they dug up the Viking’s weapons and carried them to Coinneach’s home.

He howled to let the others, both the crofters and the castle guards, know the danger had passed.

Soon, Coinneach’s parents and his brother were running beside them as wolves.

“You’ll stay with us the night,” Coinneach said to Aisling, his voice firm, protective of her.

“If ‘tis no’ an inconvenience.”

“Nay. You can have my pallet.”

She smiled at Coinneach. He was so sweet. She howled to let her mother know she was okay; otherwise, her mother would worry about Aisling being beyond the castle walls that night.

When they reached the croft, Coinneach’s family shifted, then dressed.

“You can sleep with me on the pallet,” Aisling said to Coinneach, not wanting him to give up his bed when he would have to work hard in the morning like she had to and would need a good night’s sleep.

He smiled at her, a little evilly, and she smiled back. She was serious. She had never slept with a male wolf before, but with him, she was ready. Though they had just met, he was someone special, and she wanted him in her life.

His mom and dad were smiling as they climbed onto their pallet. Tamhas’s mouth was gaping while he waited to see what Coinneach would say.

“I’ll be comfortable on the floor if I wear my wolf coat.”

She took hold of Coinneach’s hand and pulled him to his pallet. “I’m tired. Let’s sleep.”

Coinneach smiled. “Your wish is my command. Oh, and, Tamhas, I have a short sword for you.”

Tamhas’s eyes grew round, and his mouth gaped again as he took the sword and turned it in his hands. “You took this off a Viking?”

“Aye, ‘tis yours now.”

“Thank you, brother.”

“You should…” Coinneach started to say.

“Get some good use out of it.” Aisling cast Coinneach a warning glance. She didn’t want Coinneach to tell anyone she had killed the Viking herself in the event they would think less of her.

Coinneach seemed to get her message. “Aye, to help you stay safe when you’re no’ in your wolf coat.”

Then he joined her on his pallet. Tamhas took the short sword with him to bed.

As the moonlight gently filtered through the small, dust-laden window, Coinneach and Aisling drew closer together on the narrow confines of his modest pallet.

The old frame beneath them creaked softly, almost as if it were a living thing, attempting to accommodate the two bodies nestled against each other.

Coinneach pulled a wool blanket over them. Their limbs tangled naturally, as if they had always been together in this way, entwined in an embrace forged from equal parts passion and solace.

She rested her head lightly on his chest, rising and falling with each steady breath he took. His heartbeat was a rhythm both comforting and constant beneath her ear—a reminder that this moment was real, not some fleeting dream to be scattered by morning light after what they’d been through.

She cherished this time with him. He gently nuzzled her ear with his lips and kissed her. She returned the kiss with equal passion. Everything felt so perfect with him. It would have been even better if they’d had more privacy, but she was glad to end the day in this way.

He wrapped his arm protectively around her, pulling her even closer until there was no space left between them. As he did so, she marveled at how seamlessly he fit against her.

Just as they were surrendering fully to this peaceful proximity, allowing their eyes to flutter closed in mutual surrender to sleep’s gentle pull, a soft sigh escaped from her. She was as close to heaven as she would ever come.

Then she realized that her mother would smell him on her and be all upset again.

The next morning, Aisling smiled at Coinneach, not wanting to leave the pallet. Everyone was stirring, and she got up and said to Elspeth, “I’ll help you make breakfast before I return to the castle. I canna be late to the kitchen where I’ll be helping to prepare the meal.”

“Aye,” Elspeth said.

Coinneach kissed Aisling. “We’ll be outside planting seeds. After we break our fast, I’ll walk you back to the castle.”

“I would like that.”

Then the men went outside to work on the crops, Coinneach winking at Aisling as he left the croft.

She smiled and saw Elspeth watching them. “You know he has never been interested in a she-wolf like he’s intrigued with you.” Elspeth prepared oats.

“The feeling is mutual.”

Elspeth sighed.

Aisling realized his mother might be worried that she was leading him astray and might break his heart. But she had genuine feelings for him. She knew he felt the same way about her.

She sliced the rye bread. Then Elspeth left the croft and brought in five eggs and boiled them.

Once they were finished, Aisling called out to the men that it was time to break their fast. She was beginning to feel anxious because she needed to arrive at the castle on time. She served up honeyed mead, and they all sat down to eat.

“Were the long sword, bow, and arrows from the same Viking you had killed?” Tamhas asked Coinneach.

“Aye,” Aisling said. “But the bow and arrows are mine.”

Tamhas smiled at her and raised his brows at Coinneach. He was busy eating his bread and reached over to squeeze Aisling’s hand. Once they were done eating, she grabbed her bag of herbs, then seized his hand and pulled him out of the croft, saying, “Thanks,” to his parents and brother.

Then she walked as fast as she could while she held his hand, loving the intimacy between them.

“I wish we could prolong this between us, but I know you’re anxious to get back to the castle.”

“Aye. I canna afford to lose my job.”

Coinneach wanted to enjoy the walk through the meadow with Aisling at a slower pace, but he knew she worried that she might be late. “You didna want me to tell my family that you killed the Viking?”

“Nay. What would everyone think of me?” She looked serious when she glanced at him.

“That you are a great warrior wolf.”

“That’s all right for a male wolf, not a she-wolf.”

“No’ in my estimation. If you hadna killed him, I wouldna be alive.”

“I couldna have allowed that.”

“I was lucky you were there when I needed you.”

“Aye, you were.” She smiled at him.

He loved her quick-wittedness. Sleeping with her last night had been the highlight of his life.

“About last night…” she said.

He hoped she didn’t regret that they had slept together. Not that they had mated, but even so, sleeping with an unmated she-wolf wasn’t usually done.

“I was glad for it. I have never slept so well in my life.” She squeezed his hand.

“Me either. What were you doing outside the castle walls at night?”

“I didn’t want to wake up so early to gather the herbs before the morning meal. I thought I could get what we needed and return before the castle gates were closed.”

He nodded. “Your mother, will she be worried that you were outside the walls when the raiders came?”

“Aye. She will no doubt be upset with me for worrying her so.”

“Has she told you what upset her when she saw me?”

“Nay. I still dinna know what the matter was, but I keep asking and I will eventually get the truth out of her. ”

They finally reached the gates of the castle, now open, and Coinneach brushed Aisling’s soft red hair out of her blue eyes and cradled her face as he kissed her mouth. “When will I see you again?”

“Oh, whenever I have the chance, I’ll meet you in the meadow near your croft. I’ll just give a little wolf howl to let you know that I’m there.” Then she howled in her human form, and the sound of her howl captivated him.

With a backward wave to Coinneach, Aisling rushed into the outer bailey and then into the inner bailey. Her mother was just coming out of the castle and raced to take her in her arms.

“Why were you beyond the castle walls? I didna learn about it until it was too late,” her mother said.

“I thought I would gather the herbs in time. I need to get these to the kitchen.”

“You have his smell on you,” her mother accused her, probably believing that’s why Aisling had been locked out of the castle that night.

“Aye. I stayed with Coinneach and his family. He offered his pallet to me.”

“You smell of a human’s blood. What did you do?”

“I killed a Viking raider before he eliminated Coinneach.”

“Och, Aisling.” Her mother looked at the bow and arrows she was carrying. “You took his bow?”

“Aye, and I’ll learn to use it. I must go, Mother, or lose my position in the kitchen.”

“We will talk more later.”

Aisling knew her mother would question her further, but she didn’t want anyone else to know what she had done.