Chapter Nine

Cora awoke with a start. Pain gripped her body. She swallowed the scream that rose to her lips as the bones in her back snapped.

"Nay," she cried, fighting the power that snaked through her cracking limbs. "Nay, please," she whimpered, looking down at her hands that were warping and cracking. Her nails thickened and grew. She climbed out of bed on feet that were spreading and arching. Agony tore through her, but she fought the power. Then her ears pricked and her heart sank.

The baying of wolves echoed in the night. She stumbled to her window and pulled back the tapestry. Their savage wails filled her room. She fought for control, her back rigid, her neck and face straining to resist, but the power was too great. Pain ripped through her tortured limbs, spreading like wildfire, melting the last of her will.

ALEX SAT ALONE WITH Jamie in the great hall.

"Has anyone heard from Murdock?" he asked

Jamie shook his head. "Not yet. We were the last to see him just before entering Dun Brae." He took a long draught of ale. "Now ‘tis your turn. Has the Lady Cora come out?"

"I tried to speak with her this morning, but she refused me. I'm baffled," he confessed, shaking his head. "There were moments we shared before coming here..." He searched for the right words. "Somehow she was in me, soul deep. And now..." He shook his head. "She is a stranger hiding from me."

"Not just from ye," Jamie said pointedly. "She hides from the world."

Alex nodded, refilling his drink. He stood and downed the contents of his mug. "This ends tonight. Keep everyone away. No one is to pass beyond the great hall." He squared his shoulders and eyed the wide, stone stairwell. "If I must break down her door, then so be it. We will speak tonight." His gaze shifted back to Jamie whose lips had upturned in a smile.

"Dare laugh at my expense and I will beat ye from these halls."

Jamie threw his head back, laughing out loud. "Your might could send me soaring across the room with one blow, but your conscience would never let ye. I will see ye back here in a few minutes. She'll not open the door to ye, and ye'll not force her. I'll just await your return and help ye drown your defeat."

Alex scowled. "Thank ye for bolstering my confidence. Ye're a real friend."

Jamie raised his cup. "Ye can always count on the truth from me."

When Alex mounted the last step, he proceeded slowly down the hall. Torch fire lit his way, illuminating the door behind which hid his bride of five weeks. Although they had shared precious few moments together, they had been the most exhilarating he had ever known. Jamie was right. He would never force her to comply with his will. He resolved then to ease her from her hiding. He knew he needed to gain her trust—his mother's words returned to him—all living creatures desire love and respect—he just had to have faith. She needed to know that whatever ill she faced, she did not do so alone, not anymore.

He froze. A strange noised had emanated from beyond the closed door. He held his breath and listened—muffled, restrained, but unmistakable a cry of pain. He thundered down the hall and grabbed the handle on the door, but it didn't budge.

"Cora," he shouted. "Cora!"

She did not respond. He pressed his ear against the door and heard a strange snapping sound that reminded him of bones cracking. Then she whimpered.

"God above, Cora, let me in!"

"Go away," she shouted.

A cry of such agony came from behind the door. She was not lamenting her life. She was fighting for it. The sound gripped his heart with fear, forcing his hand. His fist beat against the wood. Again she screamed. "Cora," he shouted. He drew back, then charged forward, ramming his shoulder into the door. Over and over again, he hammered his body into the wood.

"Damnation," he shouted as he raced back the way he'd come, calling for Jamie in the great hall.

"What is it?" Jamie said, breathing hard.

Alex bolted back around and thundered toward the door, throwing himself against it.

Jamie's eyes grew wide. "What are ye doing? Have ye gone mad? I only jested earlier. If ye break her door down, she'll never learn to trust ye."

"Shut up," Alex shouted, grabbing Jamie by the shoulders. "Someone is in there. Someone is killing her!"

A low growl resonated from behind Cora's door. Both men froze and turned to face the door.

"What was—" Jamie started to say, but Alex shoved him back. "Get ready to charge.

"Together," Alex said.

Jamie nodded.

"Now," he cried.

They barreled down the hall and rammed the door, splintering the wood. Alex fell through, landing hard on his side. He turned his body, rising up on his hands and lifted his face to look into the room. He froze. A sleek white wolf with hackles raised high stood inches from his face. Its lips were pulled back in a snarl, revealing slick, sharp fangs.

"Do not move," Jamie whispered behind him.

From the corner of his eye, Alex glimpsed Jamie grab a large, jagged splinter of wood from the floor. The wolf's eyes shifted to Jamie. It snarled and lunged forward, snapping the wood in half with its powerful jaws.

"Christ Almighty," Jamie swore, scurrying out of Alex's view. "Is this another animal of yours ye rescued from the woods?"

"Of course not," Alex snapped.

The wolf jerked its head, baring its teeth at Alex. Holding as still as possible, his eyes scanned the room. Cora was nowhere. Her kirtle, however, lay in a tattered heap on the floor. He turned his head very slightly to see the one corner outside his peripheral view, but the wolf lunged forward and snapped its jaws dangerously close to his face. Terror shot up his spine. He could feel the beast's hot breath. Keeping his head low, his peered up and for the first time looked the wolf in the eye. Sky blue eyes glowed bright, standing out in shocking contrast to the white fur. The wolf growled, bearing down upon him. Alex dropped his gaze.

"Whatever ye just did," Jamie whispered behind him. "Don't do it again."

Alex closed his eyes, his mind spinning. He remembered Cora's cries and the sound of her bones snapping. Bile rose in his throat. The beast must have ripped her body to shreds. The horror was too great to handle. He hadn't been fast enough. He had failed her. His eyes opened and looked at the fierce claws inches from his face. His stomach twisted when he imagined those claws tearing into Cora's flesh. Again the wolf growled, bringing his mind back to the present. He and Jamie were at the mercy of the murderous beast. If they did not do something soon, their blood would also be spilled.

Blood.

His eyes returned to the large, gleaming white paws. There was not a trace of blood. Keeping his head low, his eyes once more scanned the room all the while the beast's low growl filled his ears. There were no signs of struggle and no blood anywhere. His eyes once more settled on Cora's shredded gown. His body strained while he fought to remain still. Then his mind returned to their wedding night in the shelter. He remembered the jarring pain of her nails raking his back. His eyes returned once more to the large, sharp claws in front of him.

It was all he could do not to move.

"Jamie," he whispered. "Slowly, and I do mean very slowly, back away."

"Fangs are inches from your face. I dare not move."

"Do as I say," Alex gritted.

"I will not. I've no wish to see ye eaten before my very eyes."

"As your laird I command ye to slowly back away and leave us."

"Upon my word, I will not."

"I'll be alright," Alex said. "I think," he muttered under his breath.

"How can ye possibly think anything could be alright when the biggest wolf I've ever seen is literally breathing down your neck?" Jamie snapped.

The wolf lunged passed Alex, bearing its teeth once again at Jamie.

"Because ‘tis not a wolf. ‘Tis my wife."

"Have ye gone mad?" Jamie cried.

"Trust me," Alex said. "Now, back away."

"I've sworn my allegiance to ye. I'll not let ye kill yourself."

"Your allegiance demands ye follow my orders. Leave."

"Never," Jamie promised.

Alex heard the intent to attack in Jamie's voice. He pushed off the ground just in time to block the large splinter in Jamie's hand from stabbing his wife and his wife's slashing paw from maiming his friend. Instead, Jamie's makeshift weapon plunged into his shoulder while Cora's claws raked his chest. He cried out, landing in a heap, but he leapt once more to his feet, standing between the two. Reaching over his head, he pulled the shard of wood from his shoulder, and threw it back at Jamie.

"Enough," he shouted. "Open your eyes. If this is not Cora, then where is she?"

Jamie's eyes scanned the room, then settled on Cora's dress on the floor.

"Leave us now," Alex said.

"How can that possibly be—" Jamie began to say, but Alex cut him off.

"Go," he shouted. "And speak to no one of what ye've seen."

Jamie said nothing but planted his feet firmly in place.

"Fine," Alex snapped, running his hand through his hair in frustration. "But squat down and lower your eyes."

Alex turned back around and slowly dropped to his knees once more. His eyes narrowed on the ever present display of sharp fangs. With small movements, he inched forward, careful to keep his eyes low. His heart still raced, but he focused on quieting his breathing. Her growl deepened, which he took as a signal that he was close enough.

For a long while, he stayed in that spot, ignoring the pain of his injuries. Then he drew a deep breath and slowly reached out his hand, filling his mind with memories of Cora when they first met. She had stood up beside the empty hearth in her room, her blond hair sweeping the floor. He remembered her candid laughter and vulnerable shyness, which had touched him so deeply, and sparked the beginnings of an affection that brewed within his heart for his lovely but sorrowful wife.

From a dark corner in his mind, trouble emerged. He'd been tricked into marrying a demon sent to destroy them all.

The ferocity and suddenness of her growl shattered his imaginings, and he tasted the bitterness of his thoughts. He knew she had sensed his unbidden hostility. Exhaling, he expelled the poisonous accusation from his mind. Somewhere hidden deep within the deadly animal poised for attack was Cora. Despite it all, she was still his wife. He inhaled the heat of her breath, and listened to the sound of her uneasy growls. Then, suddenly, there was silence.

After a time, he raised his eyes. She sat before him, her snowy white head cocked to one side. They were eye level, though he intentionally did not make eye contact. He heard his mother's voice echoing in his mind. Love. Respect. Faith. She would have opened her heart to Cora. This he did not doubt.

Inviting peace into his soul, he slowly eased his hand out. When she did not lash out, he stoked the tips of his fingers down the space between her eyes. Then he retracted his hand and held still. Long moments passed when suddenly she released a short bark and stepped forward, then skittered back. Again she approached him, but chose once more to back away. This dance continued until at last she nudged his chin with her nose.

A smile stretched his lips wide as he reached out and stroked the thick fur behind her ears. She sniffed his chest, and to his surprise she began licking his wounds. His eyes widened as he watched the bleeding quell and the welts begin to close. Then she walked around him and did the same to the puncture wound on his shoulder. It did not take long for the pain to ease, and then she circled back around and sat before him.

They locked eyes and at last he found her. Through a cloud of sadness and fear she was there, staring out at him, her pain palpable and urgent. Raising her snowy head, she released a howl, which cut him soul deep.

"Come back to me, Cora," he whispered, inching closer. She lowered her eyes then and nosed his arms open, nuzzling into his chest. Bringing his arm gently under her belly, he strained beneath her larger size and carried her to bed.

"Ye may go now," he said quietly to Jamie who stood transfixed in the broken doorway. "And keep everyone away until ye hear from me."

At first, Jamie did not move, and so once again Alex bid him leave.

With a jerk, his friend's senses appeared to return. "I...I cannot even begin to...."

"Jamie," Alex urged.

"Aye. Right. Forgive me. I'll leave ye to your...wife." He stumbled out the door, making a quick retreat down the hall.

Alex sat on the bed beside the large animal and began stroking her thick, white fur. Her eyes were heavy. "Hush now," he whispered. After a time, her side rose and fell in a peaceful rhythm. He stood and stared in shock at his sleeping wife. Shaking his head, he took a deep breath. He could not for the life of him know what to do next, and so he did what seemed most natural. He climbed into bed and curled up against her soft warmth.