Epilogue

Not only was there feasting galore for two weeks straight once the pack learned that Isobel and Alasdair had mated, but they wed each other too while Baldur and his men and Erik and his were still there.

The wall was finally completed with additional help from their new pack members and allies. They hadn't encountered any more threats from enemies in their territory.

Mege was not pleased with Alasdair's choice of mate and secretly hoped to gain the attention of whoever would become the next leader after them. However, Hans had no interest in her advances, especially since she had threatened harm towards Isobel. Besides that, he simply was not attracted to Mege.

The lad who had shoved Drummond when they first arrived was now his best friend, and they spent time together working with the hunting dogs. Cleary and Baine constantly asked Isobel what they could do for her to her amusement and Alasdair’s frustration.

Then Erik and his men and Baldur and his people headed home. Isobel wished she could have met Baldur’s daughter and become friends with her like she was with Bessetta now. Elene was happy to stay with the pack for now. Isobel continued to practice sword fighting with the ladies, including Rheba, who was just as good a friend.

Mege was lucky she was still with the pack and spreading dissent. Mege had been saying that Isobel would never provide bairns to the clan, but everyone loved Isobel, so no one was really listening to Mege. Four months later, Isobel proved her wrong when their midwife, Rheba, told her she was probably carrying twins.

The clan had even brought Isobel’s longship hidden in the cave to the loch and refitted it to look like one of their own. Alasdair had fastened the dragon masthead to the wall in their bedchamber to honor the symbol of the strength and bravery of Isobel and her kin and Elene’s journey.

The children learned to row, sail, and fish from it. Isobel’s brother and her kin continued to stay with the crofters, which delighted them. Also, they were better protected now that her brother was with them. Dawy had healed completely, and he and Agnes treated Isobel and her kin like they were their own.

That night as wolves, Isobel and Alasdair ran to the cliffs to see the sun setting over the ocean in all its glory, where she had first come ashore and found a new world that had awaited her. Once the sun had finally set, the full moon in the dark sky shone across the choppy ocean, a storm off in the distance coming in, fog covering the beach.

With a joyful howl, she embraced the fact that she was with Alasdair: the stunning fusion of a man and a wolf. He had taken her, her kin, and their Highland friend in, and now he was the father of her unborn cubs.

She had no way of knowing how many there were, as wolves tend to have more than one in a litter. But despite the unknowns, she could not be happier to be part of this pack with him, his family, and her own.

Alasdair howled, telling the world he was with the she-wolf of his dreams, and licked Isobel’s face. She licked his back. He adored her and couldn’t be happier that he had found her and brought her home, that she was having their bairns, and that their home was safe from their foe.

He loved her family as much as she loved his and was glad this had all worked out. He’d always wondered if some of the warriors of the clan she’d been with would ever come looking for her and her family again, but he felt assured they wouldn’t bother after losing so many longships and men while trying the last time.

But if they ever did show up here again, their wolf pack would take care of them.

With the approaching storm growing closer over the ocean, lightning flashing in the distance, and thunder crashing nearer, he and Isobel raced back to the keep. The guards quickly opened the portcullis for them.

He and Isobel ran inside the castle through a special door they’d created for wolves, though the hunting hounds had also learned to use it. Alasdair and Isobel ran up the curved stairs to their own chamber for lots more loving. All other matters were put on hold unless it was a life-or-death situation; this issue always took precedence.

The End