A Highland Wolf Christmas

  “I don’t like this at all,” Robert said. “If they already killed your brother, maybe the pack will let us off with just a warning. But if we take Calla, you know the MacNeills will want all our blood.”

  “You control the finances,” Vardon said. “You okayed the transfer of funds. So no, I don’t believe they’ll let us off that easily. Either way, we need her as a bargaining chip. Let’s grab her.”

  Guthrie hadn’t reached the road before he heard Robert shout, “Cearnach’s coming as a wolf!”

  Robert didn’t get another word out as Guthrie reached the road and saw Cearnach chasing Vardon and the others. Calla was lying beside Guthrie’s car as a wolf, giving Guthrie a terrible shock.

  He raced to her, while Vardon and Robert ran for their car, slipping and sliding on the icy pavement. Vardon’s younger brother, Oliver, was already diving into the backseat of the car. Robert and Vardon scrambled into the car, and then they sped off. The tires slid on the ice and the car careened across the road, spun back around in a circle, and headed straight for the cliff. And dove over it.

  Branches in the path of the car snapped, rocks tumbled, and then there was silence until a loud crash sounded below where the car met the rocks. Another bang, and then silence.

  Duncan joined Cearnach at the edge of the cliff and watched for any sign that the men were alive.

  Guthrie realized with relief that Calla was still breathing, and he licked her face until she stirred and blinked groggily.

  He quickly shifted. “Are you all right, Calla? Can you shift?”

  She let out her breath, then shifted. As soon as Guthrie saw the bruise on Calla’s other temple, he was angry with Baird all over again. He quickly pulled her sodden sweater over her head and then helped her into the rest of her clothes.

  He eased her gently into the car. “Stay here. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

  She nodded, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes, shivering violently. “I’ll be right back,” he repeated. Then he shut the door, shifted, and raced along the road as a wolf to join his brothers.

  Guthrie peered over the cliff, the same one that Baird hadn’t been able to climb because it was so steep. The car had taken a swan dive into the rocks below and had landed on its side. No one was moving inside the vehicle that they could see. The younger brother had been thrown from the vehicle and lay motionless against a tree. No sign of Robert or Vardon, who were probably trapped inside the smashed-up car, Guthrie assumed grimly.

  But Baird had gotten away. Guthrie and his brothers went to retrieve their clothes where they had stripped out of them, shifted, and hurried to dress.

  “No way to check the car out unless we go back down, take a swim again, and poke around at the wreckage,” Guthrie said to his brothers. “Next best thing is to call their next of kin and let them sort it out.”

  “Aye,” both Cearnach and Duncan agreed. Being second in charge of the pack, Cearnach normally would have taken care of the matter, but because Baird had stolen Guthrie’s mate, Guthrie would inform Baird’s pack of the business. As soon as he got into the car, his brothers quickly following, Guthrie wrapped his arm around Calla and hugged her shivering body tightly against his. “What happened,” he asked, “when Vardon and the others arrived?”

  “When we heard the car coming, Cearnach went into the woods to shift. When I saw Vardon’s car, I shifted so I could protect myself, but I guess I fainted. I’m glad you’re okay,” Calla said.

  “That was the best thing you could have done, Calla, as it turns out. They could have broken into the car and grabbed you if we hadn’t been able to stop them in time.”

  Duncan started the car and turned the heat on high, though the Arctic blast from the vents nearly transformed them into frozen statues before the car warmed up. And then, very slowly, Duncan drove back to Calla’s parents’ estate.

  Guthrie got his phone out to call Baird’s other older brother, Skinny. He was the biggest wolf in the pack, but normally more even-tempered than Vardon. He was apparently more interested in his artwork than running the pack, but Guthrie wasn’t sure how he was going to take the news. It could go either way.

  He had to tell Skinny that Baird and the others had brought this all on themselves, if they were dead—and before any rumors started to circulate that the MacNeills had intentionally taken them out. “This is Guthrie MacNeill. I’m calling to tell you that Baird stole my mate and his car went off the cliffs.” He gave the location. He could hear Skinny’s heavy breathing, but the oldest McKinley wasn’t saying anything.

  “After the crash, Baird called Vardon, and he and Robert and your younger brother Oliver came to help him out.”

  Calla cleared her throat. Guthrie glanced at her. “Tell Skinny that Baird didn’t bother to try to rescue me from the car.”

  Guthrie stared at her for a moment, furious with Baird. “Did you get that?” he asked Skinny.

  “Aye,” Skinny said. “The others?”

  “Their car went over the cliff as well. Roads are really icy up here.”

  “Yeah, but they slid on the ice because they were hightailing it out of here after trying to abduct me yet again and push your car off a cliff yet again,” Calla said, folding her arms and looking cross. Guthrie smiled a little at her. His brothers were grinning.

  “Survivors?” Skinny asked.

  “Not sure. Baird made it out alive, but he ran off.” Guthrie wanted to say “like the coward he is,” but he was trying his damnedest to be diplomatic since they didn’t need a big fight with Baird’s clan.

  “Here, let me have the phone and I’ll tell him,” Calla said, clearly not interested in diplomacy at the moment. “Tell him that we’re mated, but Baird knocked me out and kidnapped me anyway.”

  “I heard,” Skinny said. “What of my brothers and my cousin?”

  “For all we know, Vardon and Robert could very well be alive. We can’t see them. The car is on its side, and all we can see is the underside. Oliver was thrown free of the vehicle, but he could have only been knocked unconscious. We can’t tell from way up here. Whoever retrieves them will have to swim to reach them, or maybe get some climbing gear and go after them that way. In this sleet, no matter what, it will be a risky business,” Guthrie said.

  Skinny grunted.

  “We don’t want any more trouble between our clans. Calla is not returning to your pack, and the loan to her parents has been repaid,” Guthrie said.

  The phone clicked dead in his ear.

  Cearnach let out his breath. “He hung up on you.”

  “Aye.”

  Guthrie called Ethan next. “How are the two of you doing? We’re on our way there. But it’s so icy that it’s going to be slow going.”

  “We’re fine. Glad you’re all right. I take it you’ve got the lass? And she’s okay?”

  “Aye. She’s with us and just fine. I can’t say the same for Baird’s brother, Vardon, his cousin, or younger brother.” Guthrie explained what had happened. “As long as we don’t have any accidents, we’ll be to your location in a wee bit.”

  “Did you want us to run back as wolves?”

  “No. We’ll pick you up.”

  “Good. See you soon, but you drive careful, you hear?”

  “Aye.” All they needed was to all be stranded out here in the freezing weather.

  Cearnach called Ian to update him on everything, putting the conversation on speakerphone. He ended with, “Skinny hung up on Guthrie, so we have no idea how the McKinley pack is going to respond to this.”

  “If Vardon’s alive, he might try to stir everybody up like he always does. Or Baird might, if his pack doesn’t actually kill or exile him and his brothers. Not sure about the others. Robert’s kind of a ‘tuck tail and run’ kind of wolf. Oliver is a total yes-man. If someone says fight, he’ll be there, but if he’s on his own, he’ll be out of there. Not sure about the others in the pack. Those who are angry about Baird and his close kin stealing the money may figur
e it is justice.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. We’ll be ready for them if they decide to take this further. What about the ladies?”

  “They’re home safe, anxious to get word from you. We still have no electricity. Can you hold out if Skinny and any others intercept you on the road in an attempt to pay you back for this latest calamity?”

  “Aye. I’m certain they’ll have the same problem reaching us as we have in returning to Argent Castle,” Cearnach said.

  Calla snuggled closer to Guthrie. As soon as they picked up Ethan and Oran, it would be a really tight squeeze in the small hatchback. It seated four comfortably, five was a snug fit, and six was impossible unless Calla stretched out on the men’s legs or someone rode in the trunk. Or maybe if she sat on Guthrie’s lap.

  “All right. I’d send men as reinforcements, but I don’t want anyone else stranded. Just keep me informed. Let me know when you reach the Stewarts’ manor house.”

  “Aye. Don’t worry about Ethan and Oran. We’ll pick them up on the way.” Cearnach ended the call and then punched in another number. “Jasper, we’re returning to the Stewart manor as soon as we pick up our stranded men. Keep a lookout. We might have company—and it won’t be the good kind.” He explained all that had happened as Guthrie stroked Calla’s wet hair.

  “Ask if they still have electricity,” Guthrie said to Cearnach.

  Cearnach asked, then shook his head at Guthrie.

  “Does the manor have a gas water heater?” Guthrie asked Calla.

  “Aye. Two of them.”

  “Great. I’m sure we could all use a hot shower,” Guthrie said.

  “All of you can borrow some of Dad’s clothes, I’m sure,” Calla said.

  After picking up Oran and Ethan, they weren’t sure they could all fit in the car. All of the men were around six feet tall. Calla was about five and a half, but Guthrie didn’t want her sitting in the trunk.

  “I’ll sit in that,” Oran said, winking at Calla.

  She opened her mouth to say something, but Guthrie quickly said, “Good idea.” He wasn’t letting her sit back there, being chilled to the bone already, not when he wanted to keep her tucked against his body. Even at that, it was a tight squeeze, but that helped to warm them up a bit.

  They were steaming up the windows, though, and Duncan had to turn the defroster on high, along with the heat, as wet as they all were.

  When they finally reached the manor house, Cearnach hurried to open the hatchback to let Oran out. He’d practically been curled up in a ball, sleeping on the floor of the trunk. Cearnach laughed. “Now I know why you wanted to sit in the trunk.”

  Jasper and Heather rushed outside to greet them, wearing their jackets and gloves and looking much warmer.

  “So I take it we’re staying here for the night?” Jasper asked. “Even though we have no electricity.”

  “Aye. It’s the same at Argent Castle,” Guthrie said. “It would be safer starting out tomorrow after the ice has melted off.”

  “We have lanterns and candles,” Calla said, the day already turning dark. Though as wolves they could see well at dawn and dusk. “We can still cook something. We have a gas stove.”

  “We’ve got the fire going in the den too,” Jasper said.

  Guthrie was more concerned about sleeping arrangements and speaking to Calla in private. He really wanted to stay with her in the carriage house alone. But his brothers were already looking at him like they knew what he was thinking. They were ready to disagree with him on splitting up their forces, though they’d give him the chance to make that decision on his own.

  “We all stay in the manor house,” Guthrie conceded, knowing that it was the safest thing to do.

  Everyone eagerly concurred.

  Inside the house, Heather said, “I’ll take everyone’s wet clothes and hang them to dry by the fire.”

  Jasper asked, “Is there anything that we could cook that I can start making?”

  “You can cook?” Calla asked, sounding surprised.

  “Aye. Not sure about your fancy Scottish dishes, but I make mean Texas chili with the right ingredients.”

  “You’re welcome to anything in the fridge or the cupboards.” She turned to Guthrie. “Can you cook?”

  The brothers laughed.

  “Well, it was a much-guarded secret that my brothers and I could cook, but I think the truth is out,” Guthrie said, taking her hand and leading her to the stairs. “Let’s get out of these wet clothes.”

  She let out her breath in frustration. “You only moved things that needed to come here. So my clothes are still at the carriage house, packed in boxes to take to Argent Castle.”

  He frowned.

  “We can get the boxes,” Cearnach said.

  “Wait, I packed them. So I know which ones she’ll need.” Guthrie hugged her and kissed her lips. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay, I’ll take a shower while you’re gone,” Calla said.

  “I’m going with you,” Duncan said to Guthrie. “You realize we’re not going to be able to return home tomorrow without another vehicle.”

  “Aye, we barely made it here with the number we had already. And we also have Jasper and Heather to take home. We wouldn’t be able to carry any of Calla’s things with us, either.”

  Guthrie and Duncan ran to the car in the sleeting rain, slipping a little on the cobblestone drive. They climbed inside the vehicle, then drove back to Calla’s place. As soon as they parked, they raced to the covered porch. Guthrie tried the doorknob, figuring they hadn’t locked it in their rush to rescue Calla. Sure enough, it twisted open.

  He felt wary all at once. It was completely dark out and the same inside. He smelled Baird’s angry scent and Calla’s angered and fearful scent, and that made Guthrie’s temper rise. Even though he knew the man couldn’t be here, Guthrie couldn’t help but feel that Baird was in the house again.

  “Come on,” Duncan said, nudging Guthrie to go with him to Calla’s bedroom.

  They both were taking deep breaths—scenting the air to make sure no one else had been in the house while they were gone or was here now—as they stalked down the hallway to her room. Guthrie found the right box, then lifted it and carried it back down the hall.

  “Is Calla all right?” Duncan asked. “Shelley had some trials of her own, but every lassie deals with them differently.”

  “Aye, she’ll be fine.” As soon as they ate, Guthrie was taking her to bed, snuggling with her, and talking.

  “We’re all here for you,” Duncan said as they drove back to the house.

  Suspicious, Guthrie said, “Why are you bringing all this up?”

  “Just, if she’s upset about you trying to kill Baird, all of us will help you and Calla deal with it.”

  “I’ll talk to her privately later about all of it.”

  “Aye.”

  Sometimes Duncan surprised Guthrie. His younger brother tried to pretend he was all warrior all the time. But at times like this, Guthrie saw Duncan for who he really was—concerned about others’ feelings and ready to step in and help out.

  Still, Duncan’s unease worried him a little. “You can talk to me about anything, you know,” Guthrie said to his brother as he parked the car.

  Duncan took a deep breath and let it out.

  Hell. “What?” Guthrie asked.

  “I was just concerned when she wanted to go with us so badly. That maybe she had it in mind to protect Baird. I didn’t want to mention it, Brother.”

  “Aye, well, I’ll talk with her later.”

  “Aye.” Duncan looked guilty for saying anything.

  Guthrie attempted a smile and slapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, she got the best man out of the deal. And that’s all that matters.”

  Duncan smiled a little. “Aye, you’re right there.”

  Guthrie grabbed the box from the backseat and they headed for the house. He loved his mate unconditionally, no matter why she had wanted to go with him so badly when
he took off after Baird. Guthrie couldn’t fault her if she’d been concerned about either of them. She had promised to mate with Baird first, and Guthrie had to take that into account.

  Chapter 22

  “We’ll post guards through the night,” Cearnach said as Guthrie carried the box of Calla’s clothes into the house.

  Duncan locked the door. Oran had been watching them through the window, making sure they got back all right without further incident.

  “But we want you to stay with Calla through the night. Jasper’s going to watch out for Heather,” Cearnach continued.

  “Sounds good to me.” Guthrie smelled chili cooking. He should have known Jasper would make something like that. He’d already cooked it at the castle, shooing away Cook who was fussing about his preparing meals in her kitchen and making a mess of everything. Though Guthrie was surprised that the Stewarts already had all the ingredients for it. The MacNeills hadn’t been stocked with just the right things until Jasper wanted to make it.

  “Chili, eh?” Guthrie said to Cearnach.

  “Aye, Jasper is in seventh heaven, talking about the Texas chili cook-offs and the famous chili he entered. Again.”

  Guthrie snorted and shook his head.

  “We all took turns taking showers and grabbed some of Calla’s dad’s clothes. She’s upstairs waiting for you,” Cearnach said.

  “Chili will be served in another forty minutes,” Jasper called from the kitchen.

  “Where’s Ethan?” Guthrie asked Cearnach.

  “Helping him. The three brothers always did the cook-offs together. Ethan and Jasper are arguing about how much chili powder to put in the chili. We told them to go light on it.”

  “Hey,” Jasper said, “I’m going to enter my…well, Ethan and Teague’s and my chili in the second chili cook-off in Scotland next year.”

  “See you in a minute,” Guthrie said and carried the box upstairs. Duncan had already disappeared, but then Guthrie heard a shower running so he figured Duncan was taking one now.

  When Guthrie reached Calla’s bedroom, he found her buried under the covers.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, setting the box on the floor and closing the door.