“He has. I’ve gone out of my way to show there are no hard feelings, but I won’t come right out and put him on the spot.”

Grant turned his attention from Frederick to Colleen. “What has he done?”

She shook her head. “Nothing of consequence. But I believe he’s feeling guilty about it, and he needs to take the first step to make things right. I have no problem with the lad.” She wanted to say it was all Grant’s fault the boy had pulled the prank on her.

Grant chewed on his ham, then said, “I can talk to him.”

“No. He needs to do this on his own.” She furrowed her brow at Grant. “I’m serious. Don’t you go asking him what this is all about. It’s no big deal.”

She sighed. She shouldn’t have told him anything about it.

“As you wish,” Grant said.

But he sounded like it nearly killed him to comply in the matter. And she hoped he really would do as she wished instead of being his usual pack-leader self and attempting to deal with it.

***

Colleen returned to the study to make a budget for the upcoming year. Though Grant had every intention of letting the situation go with Frederick, he couldn’t. His job was to see to his pack members’ needs. And if one had a problem, he wanted to help.

Not only that, but if Frederick had done something with regard to Colleen that he needed to apologize for, Grant wanted it done sooner rather than later.

Grant headed to the wall walk and watched the sunset, the clouds purple, while swaths of red-orange colors blazed across the sky. He phoned Enrick. “Have Frederick meet me up on the wall walk at the northeastern tower.”

Enrick asked, “Is this about his moodiness?”

“Aye.” So Grant and Colleen weren’t the only ones to have witnessed the lad’s unusual behavior.

“Do you know what it’s about? I’ve asked, but he just shrugs me off like there’s nothing wrong. I’m worried that maybe he’s feeling bad about losing his mum again,” Enrick said.

“That’s what I’m about to find out,” Grant said.

“Okay, he’s at the kennel. I’ll fetch him.” Enrick ended the call.

Grant leaned against the wall and watched the sunset, thinking he needed to bring Colleen up here on a night like this.

Before long, he heard Frederick climbing the steps inside the tower, and when he opened the door, the teen looked like he was about to be beheaded.

“Come. Talk to me,” Grant said gruffly.

The lad complied, getting close enough to satisfy Grant. “I asked you earlier if something was bothering you. You said no. However, Colleen believes you need to speak to her about something. She said she isn’t upset with you over whatever it is.”

Frederick’s dark eyes rounded.

Grant frowned. Seeing the boy’s reaction, Grant knew he was guilty of something. “Aye, women tend to know things before we do even. So I suggest you speak with her and clear this matter up.” He hadn’t intended for the lad to tell him of his transgressions, just that he wanted to let Frederick know he was aware there was a problem and the lad needed to deal with it.

“My laird, I…I do wish to confess something,” Frederick said.

He studied Frederick who now fidgeted with a piece of hay. “What do you have to confess about?”

“The lady. I didn’t mean to make anyone mad, but you…were so nice to me when my mum died and put me in charge of the dogs.” He looked at the wall-walk floor.

“Aye. Frederick, say what you have to say.” Grant couldn’t help his stern expression or gruff voice. If the lad had truly done something onerous, he would have to pay for his actions in some manner befitting the crime. Colleen might not want him to, but just because Frederick was a lad of fifteen didn’t mean he could get away with some form of devilment and not have to pay the consequences.

Frederick looked up at him. “I’m so sorry, my laird. I really like the lady, and she’s been so kind to me. She’s showed me all kinds of tricks on how to get the dogs to mind. And it’s really working. But…”

Suddenly a thought came to Grant. “This isn’t about the dog getting into her room that second night she was here, is it?”

The lad’s eyes widened. Then he nodded. “Aye, it is.”

Grant laughed. “Then it’s no big deal and the lass isn’t upset with you.”

“I overheard you speaking to your brothers and saying she would be like her father and that she would not be good for the clan. You told me to release the hounds in the great hall at mealtime after you finished sparring with Ian and his men after she first arrived. So I thought when she made you leave your own chamber…” Frederick swallowed hard. “I thought you wanted her gone. Everyone said so. No one should have told you to leave your own chamber.”

“Nay, lad. The lady had every right. The castle is hers.”

Frederick looked again at the floor. “Well, I truly believed she was bad for the pack, like you said. Until she started teaching me how to handle the dogs. And then she saved Ollie. And well, everyone signed the petition to ask her to stay with the pack. And you acted like you wanted her for a mate. Then she became your mate. And I knew everyone would be angry with me for what I did. You and her included.”

Grant was fighting a smile. “I understand your reasoning, but you should have spoken to me before about this. And you should have apologized to her long before this.”