“And one other,” Julia said. “I’m certain if Grant had known, he would have torn after him himself. Well, he’ll be highly pissed as soon as Ian tells him who he was.”

“Who was he?” Colleen asked.

“Archibald Borthwick. Friend of your father and no friend of Grant’s.”

***

Grant knew about Calla’s former fiancé and how Cearnach wanted to save her from a bad mating, and did. But he was surprised that the ex-fiancé continued to stalk her.

“We’ll get them,” Ian said. “This is the first we’ve seen of them since the big fight where several of Elaine’s cousins were injured. But what I don’t understand is why Archibald Borthwick was with them.”

Grant’s blood turned to ice. “Archibald?”

“Aye. He’s as much a pirate as the rest of the men, only he attempts theft in a different way. Word has it he’s got some notion he might still have a chance at running things at Farraige Castle,” Ian said with a knowing glint in his eye. He knew that Grant wouldn’t let the bastard get near Colleen in any way, shape, or form now that they were mated.

“Why the hell were they here?” Grant asked, though he realized that Colleen had told him where she would be for the night, so he knew she was here.

“I imagine they’re after the same thing—Baird McKinley still wants Calla, and Archibald has some notion he has a chance with Colleen. Things didn’t work out between Archibald and her father, but maybe he thinks mating her will even work better in his attempt to get his hands on Farraige Castle,” Ian said.

“Like hell he will,” Grant growled. He would kill the bastard if he thought to lay a hand on his mate.

“I doubt he knows you’ve mated her yet. I’d make it known in a grand wedding soon,” Ian said.

Grant intended to do just that.

Guthrie said, “Just don’t let Calla plan the wedding. It will cost the clan a fortune.”

Ian smiled. “I have a task for you, Guthrie.”

His brother frowned at him.

“Now, don’t get all negative on me. Calla’s been staying with friends—not even her own relatives—attempting to keep a low profile while Baird is still harassing her. I want her to stay here with us. She won’t agree to it. Cearnach has been more of a friend to her than any of us, but even he couldn’t persuade her. She insists Baird won’t make her hide away. She has her party-planning jobs to do.”

“Aye, I understand how she feels,” Guthrie said warily. “What has this got to do with me?”

“Julia’s asked if she would stay, but she’s given her the same song and dance.”

Now Guthrie was grinding his teeth. “You can’t think I’d ask her to. What if she planned parties for every day that she stays here?”

“She hung your shorts on the pirate’s pole. I never would have thought she’d do such a thing.” Ian smiled. “I want you to ask her to stay.”

“Ian…”

“That’s all, Guthrie. Just ask her to stay with us for her own protection. You don’t have to do any more than that.”

“Aye,” Guthrie said, “but what if she sees more in my asking her to stay than I mean for her to see?”

Ian chuckled. “You can do it. Just get her to agree.”

“If Colleen decides she wants to use Calla’s wedding planner services, the lass can stay with us until the wedding’s done,” Grant offered.

Guthrie sighed audibly.

“But she’s staying with us after that, Guthrie,” Ian said. “You will make it happen.”

Grant bit back a smile. If he could deal with Colleen, who he’d thought would be the bane of his existence, and turn the situation into one that he could live with as one happy wolf for the rest of his life, maybe Guthrie’s ordeal would turn out just as well.

He saw the way Guthrie scowled.

Maybe not.

Chapter 20

Colleen wasn’t ready to take this anywhere yet. She’d mated with Grant, sure. But she had never had a wedding and had never expected to have one. It was all so sudden and…nothing she’d ever given any consideration to.

But the ladies were excited about the prospect, and everyone was asking her a million questions and offering a million suggestions. Before she even had a chance to answer all the questions.

“Be right back,” Calla said. “I’ve got to get my laptop and I’ll show you some wedding ideas.”

“I’ll go with you,” Heather said, “in case the guys try to take you hostage or anything. You know how that turned out last time.”

They looked at Colleen, and she felt herself blushing all over again. Here she was, supposed to be having an all-ladies’ gathering, and she ends up mated to a very sexy he-wolf. That had to be some kind of record.

She wondered if Calla had hoped she would have better luck if she went alone. Maybe catch Guthrie’s eye, after having stolen his underwear from his drawer and claimed him on the pirate’s pole. Colleen had been so busy meeting everyone that she hadn’t noticed if Guthrie returned the interest, even though Calla insisted she only grabbed Guthrie’s underwear so he wouldn’t feel left out.

“What does everyone’s schedule look like?” Julia asked, beaming. “We have a wedding to attend.”

***

Grant was still trying to figure out a way to coax Colleen away from her slumber party to sleep with him tonight. He shouldn’t have been so possessive and needy, but she was his mate and he wanted her with him on their first night.