Page 8 of Wolf Heir (Highland Wolves of Old #3)

After weeks of rendezvousing with each other, Coinneach found Aisling already waiting in the meadow for him, her body a dark silhouette against the riot of wildflowers.

He settled beside her in the tall grass, watching the purple thistles and yellow buttercups bend with each whisper of wind.

Above them, the sky played hide-and-seek—brilliant blue one moment, then veiled by clouds drifting like scattered sheep.

The chill in the air meant fall was on its way.

“I still dinna know why your mother is so afraid of me.” He had pondered it for far too long.

Aisling rolled over atop him and rested her chin on his chest, her fingers lazily toying with his hair. “Maybe she is afraid you will marry me and leave her alone.”

“I will marry you. But family being family, I want her to feel the joy in our union and not leave her out in the cold.”

Aisling sighed. “I’ve asked her numerous times what she’s so afraid of concerning you, but she refuses to answer me.”

“I’m going to work at Middleborough Castle,” Coinneach said decisively.

“I would love that. My mother wouldna.”

He swept his hands through her long red tresses. “I canna stay away from you, and Tamhas needs the croft to call his own when our parents can no longer manage it. He’ll marry, and he’ll be content.”

“But you? You are too alpha to want to continue to till the soil until you are old and gray. What would you do at the castle though? Most everyone there has been trained since they were wee lads and lasses to fit a particular role.”

“A fighter.”

“You have no formal training.” Aisling rested her cheek against Coinneach’s chest and listened to his strong heartbeat.

She smelled his wolfish scent that she loved so much and absorbed the heat of his body on this late summer’s day.

She had no doubt he could do anything he put his mind to, but that didn’t mean the chief would agree to add an untrained warrior to his ranks.

“I practice.” He patted the Viking sword he carried with him just in case he encountered trouble.

“Against your brother. But we’re talking about warriors who are strong and muscular, who have the skill with a sword. They would love to show you how poorly you can compete and make fun of you. You know how men can be.”

“Aye.” Coinneach gave her one of his lopsided little smiles. “While you're watching, I’ll best them all.”

Aisling scoffed. “They will knock you on your arse.”

“And I will get back up and take them on again. I’m no’ afraid of a challenge.”

“Have you talked to your family about this?” She wondered if they would be all right with him leaving them to work the farm on their own.

“I have. Tamhas is eager to take over the farm when our da can no longer manage, though if I ever have a chance to leave, I will talk it over with them again to make sure they are ready for me to work somewhere else.”

“But you will come to work at Middleborough Castle, aye? You willna be going somewhere else,” Aisling said.

“At any time, I could have worked for Alasdair if I had wanted to. He is the chief of Ghealach Castle.”

“Ooh, you know a chief.”

“We are best of friends.”

“But?”

“I want to work at Middleborough Castle so I can be close to you. And to my family, should they need me.”

“That’s what I want to hear.”

They began to kiss, and he pressed his hand against her breast.

She moaned against his mouth. “We should just mate,” she said. “My mother will come around.”

“My family wants to celebrate our union with your mother’s consent.”

“We may never get it.”

He sighed and kissed her forehead. “If she doesna agree in a fortnight, we will mate anyway.”

She smiled. “I’m glad, but I will try to convince her before then.”

“If you can think of anything I can do to help, just let me know.”

“Aye.”

Then, with the gentle breeze caressing them and the flowers swaying around them, she climbed on top of him, and they kissed again when they heard horses approaching.

Coinneach sat up abruptly. “That is Alasdair.”

“Aye, I’ve seen him at Middleborough before. He has an alliance with Chief Hamish. Wolves need to stick together.”

“I agree.”

Coinneach pulled Aisling up from the grass, and they stood. He waved at Alasdair to let him know where he was.

When Alasdair rode his horse across the meadow to join them, he looked surprised that Coinneach was with a lass.

“How now!” Alasdair greeted Coinneach, his smile broadening as he glanced Aisling’s way. “It seems you have been busy while I’ve been away.”

Coinneach smiled. “I would marry Aisling in a heartbeat, but her mother objects.”

Aisling's cheeks flushed. “We dinna ken why. He is always so kind to my mother and treats me with the same kind of respect and kindness.”

“Mayhap I can convince her that he is of good heart,” Alasdair said.

“Nay. She willna tell me why, only to say it could be the death of us.”

Alasdair looked at Coinneach to gauge his reaction.

He shrugged. “She willna discuss what worries her. I’ve tried everything I can think of.”

“Coinneach, Aisling, come with us. We’ll show Aisling’s mother that we are friends and allies. Mayhap that will help,” Alasdair said.

Coinneach couldn’t have a better friend than Alasdair. “Aye, if you think it will be all right with Chief Hamish.”

Alasdair slapped him on the back. “You will have to sit at a lower table.”

“To be closer to Aisling, I would do anything. I’ve always wanted to see the inside of the castle also.”

“I am Cook’s assistant, and I’ll be serving the meals. I’ll sit in the kitchen and eat after the laird and everyone else eats. Otherwise, I would ensure I could sit with you at the meal.” She sounded so disappointed, and he knew exactly how she felt.

Alasdair cleared his throat. “Maybe in the future, I could help to change your circumstances, but for now, I’ll be visiting with Chief Hamish. We brought barrels of wine to celebrate the occasion.”

“Was Chief Hamish angry when your da had gone to visit him when we were younger and we ate the boar?”

“Nay, we had wine that time too, and he was much pleased.” Alasdair motioned to one of the spare horses they had brought with them this time. “Yours and your lady’s to ride. I dinna know you would have a companion.”

She was hoisted onto Coinneach's lap and whispered, “Do you know how to ride?”

“Alasdair taught Tamhas and me when we were younger.” Coinneach held her close.

“He is a good friend indeed.”

“Aye.”

“Let me tell my family where I’ll be,” Coinneach said.

“Aye. We’ll head toward Middleborough Castle, and you can catch up,” Alasdair said.

Coinneach inclined his head and galloped toward the croft.

“’Tis exhilarating and frightening at the same time,” she said.

“See the distance we cover in such a short time?”

“Aye. Much quicker than walking.”

As soon as he reached the croft, he called out to his family to let them know they had visitors and told Aisling, “I’ll be right back.”

Magnus walked out of the croft with Tamhas right behind them, while Elspeth wiped her hands off on a cloth as she joined them.

“Alasdair has invited me to dine with him at the castle,” Coinneach said.

His da smiled. “Good. Mayhap Aisling’s mother will see you differently then.”

“Aye, she’s the one for you.” Elspeth waved at Aisling, who smiled and waved back.

“I’m off then before Alasdair reaches the castle and I canna gain entrance.”

“Aye, go,” Magnus said.

Coinneach hugged his mom and kissed her forehead, then hurried to climb back on the horse and leave. He galloped off to catch up to Alasdair and his men.

They were getting close when Aisling said, “I worry about my mother, though. She will be angry when you join us for the meal.”

Alasdair overheard her and drew his horse closer. “She canna be angry with him when she sees Coinneach is our guest. I didna tell you, Coinneach, but we always have sword fights between our packs to display strength and prowess when we visit with your pack. You will have to do it also.”

Coinneach wasn’t sure he could fight against well-trained men, not when he had only fought against Alasdair and Tamhas over the years and knew all their moves.

“You can do it. I have every faith in you that you’ll best half the men there.” Alasdair was always great at offering encouraging words.

“Aye, I will give it my best.”

“That’s all any of us can do,” Alasdair said.

“If you dinna get yourself killed,” Aisling said.

When they arrived at the castle gates, the guards greeted them warmly. Coinneach could see that Alasdair and his pack had a good working relationship with Hamish’s pack. Coinneach was glad for that because, for the first time since escorting Aisling home, he was treated with respect as well.

On occasion, they would have celebrations of one sort or another at the castle, but his mother always said that their place was on the farm and their da always agreed with her.

He wondered if they had some trouble with the people in their clan who lived in the castle, but when he’d asked, his mother and da had shared looks, but neither had said anything.

Now, that was in the back of Coinneach’s mind as he got ready to fight one of the warriors.

“We fight and then feast,” Alasdair said.

Warriors from both sides were gearing up to fight in the inner bailey.

Aisling said, “I can stay for just a short while and watch you, and then I must help Cook with the meal. Dinna let anyone get the best of you.”

Coinneach dismounted, helped her off the horse, and gave her a spontaneous hug and kiss. “Aye. As you wish.”

She quickly hugged and kissed him back.

Then he pulled off his shirt, just like the other men did, preparing himself to fight.

No one looked eager to take on the biggest man, his solid muscles glistening in the sunlight, his intimidating, fierce scowl directed at Coinneach, as if challenging him to fight him.

Coinneach knew not to challenge the blond-haired, blond-bearded man.

He looked big enough and ferocious enough that he could be the chief’s champion.