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Shelley woke to the sound of so in the distance and realized that it was already late afternoon--and she’d slept for so that if she ever got pregnant, she’d never e by herself--and looked out the arrow slit of aShe saw a group oftheir skills Everyone was decked out in kilts, no shirts or sashes, justtheir swords at each other Her heart did a few triple beats

She threw on a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, and tennis shoes, and then rushed through the hall and down the stairs She didn’t want Duncan to give her any lessons in sword training while everyone was in the courtyard, but she did want to get a front-ro of Duncan battling with his clan How long would they be at it?

She was afraid she’d make it to the inner bailey in tiht not practice all that often

She flew through the great hall where Ian’s mate, the olf ro with Duncan’s cousin Heather Shelley had met Heather briefly when she first arrived--so sleepy that she had barely greeted anyone, though they were all sreat feast and celebration, a Highland wedding, though olves didn’t get h spirits Except for Shelley, who’d barely been able to smile and nod before she fell asleep on her feet

They both looked over at her a little in surprise because of her abrupt appearance as she dashed through the roo

She bolted through the door as she heard Julia say, "She’s worried about Duncan’s training"

No, not worried She just wanted to see hiht with men who kneield a sword better than the pirates had on their afternoon cruise in the Caribbean Well, maybe she was a little anxious, too

She stalked across the inner bailey, trying not to distract anyone and hoping to observe thes, several turned to see her approach and smiled

Her whole body instantly war around a whole pack of h she was alreadyanother female wolf in the pack

Duncan was fighting Ian farther away, concentrating so hard that neither of them noticed her Cearnach sauntered over to have a ith her Guthrie stopped in his fight with another man and watched Cearnach approach her, a small smile on his face She loved how Duncan’s family had taken her in as if she were one of their own

"The only one who fights better against Ian isthe sweat off his face with the back of his arht"

She’d loved how he had come to Duncan’s and her uncle’s aid on Grand Cay at the airport for theht sight of her at Sal’s house She’d been a distraction in Duncan’s mission to return theirthe other wolves off until Duncan and her uncle could kill off the first tolves

"He showedpirates in the Caribbean," she said, wincing when Ian swung so hard that she could see the shudder of the impact race up Duncan’s ar his brothers battle it out "He never said anything about it to any of us"

"He won I have to ad four at once, he was a bit outnumbered"

Cearnach raised a brow as he continued to observe Duncan and Ian "He’s a warrior at heart," he admitted "We couldn’t have beenhome the clan’s money, but also a lanced at Cearnach, wondering just what he meant by that Certainly she was all wolf A royal Barely any human roots at all

He smiled in a way that would have had all the wo at his feet

"He said you were part aze drift over her "He made us all curious about what made him think so"

She smiled and looked back at Duncan and realized he’d beco to Cearnach Duncan looked ready to take Cearnach on next and stalked toward theer brother wishes a rematch" With that last comment, Cearnach went to join Duncan in battle

Ian and Guthrie ca-brotherIan said, "Cearnach is just being Cearnach, but Duncan is too ena by his flirtations"

Shelley sighed "Duncan has my heart, no other"

"Aye, and in ti to worry about where you are concerned" Ian offered her a knowing s about you will keep hihed "Duncan’s teainst you, Ian, wanting to best you as always Now that he knows hisand Cearnach had the audacity to speak with her alone, he’s fightingwhile, especially after having been out here for an hour in training already"

Maybe Duncan could show her so, if he could demonstrate some private place where she could practice a little She really would like to see what it felt like

"We want to thank you for helping Duncan to have our money returned," Ian remarked "This was the first time ere able to pinpoint where Sal had ended up, and when he learned ere after our money--well, we couldn’t have done it without you We understand that your mother and other uncles will be here within theforward to their arrival"

"Thanks, my laird"