Page 46 of Wolf Alliance

Erik laughed. He knew that would come back to bite him. “Only because of the bad storm we had last night.”

“Understandable after what had happened when they were playing in the stable and lightning struck it and set it on fire. Even for us, we had a time calming the horses last eve during the storm before we reached Whitehaven Castle,” Alasdair said.

“I had wished you hadna been out in it.”

“I had wished the lasses hadna had to go through it. So about the sleeping arrangements tonight…”

“Bessetta will have Accalia’s bedchamber. You and Isobel will have your own. Your brothers can bunk with mine.”

“And Accalia?” Alasdair asked with a smirk.

“If it were up to me, she would be asleep in my bed—without the hindrance of my sons. But if it is up to her, there is no telling.”

“What seems to be the difficulty? She seems interested in you and if she is as good with your sons as you say she is, then mate her already. I wouldna hold back.”

“She said you and your brothers plagued her and your sister when you were younger,” Erik said, changing the topic.

Alasdair laughed. “Aye, you wouldna believe the shenanigans the two of them pulled. They were no’ the innocents.”

“Oh?” Now that was a surprise to Erik. He thought the brothers had been the mischief makers entirely. He was amused.

“Aye, when we went swimming at the loch, they would steal our clothes off the bank. We never even saw them, but we smelled their scents and of course we would vow payback.”

“So they initiated the mischief?”

“Sometimes. Sometimes we did. Those were carefree times.”

“From what I understood, they bested you any number of times.” If Accalia had been honest with him and he knew she had been.

Alasdair smiled. “Aye, they did. Why? Has she done so to you?”

Aye, but not that Erik wanted to share with his friend. Still, he gave his position away when Alasdair caught him smiling.

“Well, she is a bonny lass, skilled at organizing the staff back home, and I dinna know how her da will manage without her. If she is good with your boys and you care for her, she would make a good mate and be good for your people,” Alasdair said.

Erik knew that already.

Then the ale was served with bread, venison, and chunks of cheese. Before Erik could eat a slice of his bread, Accalia snatched it from his plate. Bessetta laughed.

Alasdair had thankfully missed the action while eating his food, but Isobel had caught a glimpse and laughed too. But this time Cook was prepared and brought Erik two more slices of bread.

That’s when Alasdair took notice. Erik realized so did lots of his kinsmen.

“A playful mate is a treasure to have.” Alasdair squeezed Isobel’s hand, leaned down, and kissed her.

Erik completely agreed with Alasdair. Accalia had made a significant, positive impact on his life.

Accalia wouldn’t pretendto be serious at the meal just because they had guests, especially when she wouldn’t have any pretenses in front of Alasdair and his kin. And she wanted to show Erik she would be her usual fun-loving self with him. She loved how he smiled at her, showing he was amused and not embarrassed by her actions. She swore he was anticipating she would do that very thing.

“You are predictable”—he leaned over and kissed her cheek—“until you are no’. And I love you the way you are.”

She was so surprised when Erik professed his love to her, though she knew he was being sincere. She sighed and finished his slice of bread. “If we were to mate, how would your sons feel about it?”

His jaw dropped. Then he smiled.

“They already adore you. I’ve never seen them so well-behaved since they lost their mother. Even Thorfinn, the most stubborn of the lads, is thoroughly in your court. If you were to leave us and return home to your da, they would want to leave with you.”

Her eyes sparkled with tears.