Page 61 of Wolf Alliance

“Aye, that I am. Forever and ever.”

The boys hugged her again. Erik and Accalia left the room. The boys ran past them and bounded down the stairs.

“We made the right choice,” Accalia said, holding Erik’s hand and he leaned down and kissed her. She was so glad he had stolen her away to his castle. If he hadn’t, she might not have agreed to mating him.

“There was no doubt in my mind.”

She laughed. She thought he’d had a wee bit of doubt about it when he’d tried so hard to get her to join him in bed and she had been fighting the notion.

When they arrived in the great hall, everyone waited, and they cheered. The boys were ecstatically cheering with the rest of them. Accalia knew this was where she belonged and Erik kissed her in front of his pack to show them how much she was one of them, cherished and home.

She hoped when they traveled to her home, they wouldn’t run into trouble with Freigard and his men though.

17

Accalia was so glad that everyone was happy with her union with Erik. She worried that her uncle might be displeased when they returned to her castle and he learned of it, though he should be glad that Erik was allying with her da. But he could be a tyrant when he didn’t get his way, and she could see him treating Erik and his kin poorly. She intended to do everything in her power to keep that from happening.

Then Erik sat down with Accalia at the head table and Bessetta hugged her. “Congratulations. I’m so glad the two of you mated. You’re perfect for each other. And the boys adore you. In case you two were headed for a mating, Isobel and I brought pretty gowns to wear to your wedding.”

“You knew it would happen all along, didna you?” Accalia asked, so glad that Bessetta and Isobel were here to celebrate with them. She drank some of her honeyed mead.

“Aye. Though I had to see it for myself, it was clear that you loved each other once we saw you together,” Bessetta said. “Before that, I told Isobel how sweet you were and how you would be so good with Erik.”

“But I was never a nanny for any of the bairns in the pack.”

Bessetta laughed. “You were always responsible for the whole of the pack, but even when you were young if a wee one was hurt, you were there to take care of scratches and more. If one was crying, you had to learn what was the matter. You have always shown you cared about the children in your pack. Even in mine!”

Anyone would have done that, Accalia was thinking. It didn’t mean she would have made a good mother to any of them.

“Remember the time a little girl had lost her mother in a boating mishap, and you let her sleep with us that night? I was fine with it of course, but I was surprised when you were the one who offered. We talked for so long about…well, I canna even remember any longer, but we fell asleep. And until you left to return home, she sought you out as if you had become her best friend in the world.”

“She cried to see me go.” She had forgotten all about that.

“Aye, and I had to be there for her once you left. But you had a special knack for making a lass or lad feel loved.” Bessetta tore off a piece of her bread and began eating it.

“How is she now?”

“Married to a wolf who treasures her, and they have wee bairns of her own—twin boys. They have a croft and raise sheep.”

“I’m so glad.” Accalia hadn’t seen her when she had visited with Bessetta some years ago. “On another subject, Erik wants to have the wedding this day and then on the morrow we could travel to my castle to celebrate with my pack.” She couldn’t wait to do it.

“Aye, Alasdair will agree to it. My brother and Isobel would be honored to celebrate with your da and the rest of your kin,” Bessetta said.

“I’m thrilled.” She was ecstatic that her best friend and her family would celebrate with them again.

“Next, you’ll tell me that little wolf pups are coming.” Bessetta took a bite of her mutton stew.

“Isobel had been married to Alasdair for some time before she was with child.” Accalia figured it would be the same with her.

“Aye, but it might no’ be long for you. You never know.”

Accalia glanced at Erik to see if he had heard that part of their conversation, her body warming with embarrassment.

Then Erik leaned over and kissed Accalia. “Alasdair and Isobel are delighted to enjoy a second wedding with your family’s pack.”

“I’m so glad.” She hoped Alasdair’s presence, as an ally of her da, would help to subdue any objections her uncle might have to her marriage to Erik.

Erik handed her a piece of his bread. She smiled and took it.