Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“My father had to make it on his own since he was eight. His father refused to claim him and his mother died from sickness. He found that few were interested in a lad with blood of Scot, English, and Norse mixed in his veins. He wandered for a good many years accumulating others just like him.
“Together they forged a clan, and since my father had always admired the nature of the wolf, he took its name. The Wolf clan was born and my father was its leader. He along with his men would hire out as mercenaries. It was while in the service of a powerful chieftain that he met my mother.”
“They fell in love.” Aliss smiled with excitement.
“Almost instantly, though they dared not admit it to anyone, even themselves. You see, her father had plans for her to wed another, a uniting of two powerful clans.”
“That was to be my sister’s fate, an arranged marriage, though it worked out well for her.”
“Not so my mother. They knew their only chance to be together was for my mother to run away with my father.”
Rogan grew silent. His father had recited the tale often to him and the memories he had imparted were harsh and bitter for Rogan to recall, yet endearing in their own special way.
“Memories hurt.”
He heard compassion in her voice and knew that she had to have suffered a similar loss. Only someone who had known loss could truly understand its unique pain.
He continued. “My parents returned to my father’s land. They soon discovered that my mother’s father intended to come after her and they decided to leave, not wanting to place the Wolf clan in jeopardy. The clan would not hear of losing their leader. They all agreed to join him.”
Rogan’s glance drifted down to his hands, clenched on the table in front of him.
He was not surprised when Aliss squeezed his hands reassuringly.
He looked up at her, her beauty startling, her concern obvious, her tender touch palpable, and a sense of loving warmth flooded him. He had realized of late just how very comfortable he felt when with her. She was so very easy to talk with, even to share the silence with. Theirs was a natural companionship—or was it more?
“What happened?”
“My mother was taken away from me before I saw my first year. He came for her, her father, with more men than my father could battle, though battle he would have if my mother had not stopped him.
“My father told me that she refused to see the Wolf clan slaughtered because of her and—” He bit back the anger and bitterness. “Her father warned that he would slice her son’s throat in front of her and let her watch me bleed to death if she did not return willingly with him.”
“Did you ever see your mother again?”
Rogan shook his head. “Mother made my father promise to take me away. She did not trust her own father. She feared he would see me dead regardless of what she had agreed to and Father agreed with her. We never saw my mother again.”
“How very sad for you all.”
Rogan reached up and wiped away the lone teardrop that lingered in the corner of Aliss’s eye. “Love can be sad and it can be happy, but love is forever beautiful—just like you.”
He watched her body tense and she took her hand off his. He did not want her to shy away from him. He wanted to learn more about her, come to better understand her, this woman who lovingly healed yet evaded loving.
“What of your parents?” he asked.
Her smile was slow in coming, as if she had to think on the question, then it suddenly burst wide and generous.
“I have two sets of parents.”
“Two?”
“There were the parents that raised Fiona and me, a kind and loving couple, and then there are our birth parents, Oleg and Anya. They are also kind and loving. We were taken from them when we were newborn babes. Fiona and I have only recently reunited with them and with a brother, Raynor.”
“How did you feel when you learned about them?”
“It was strange to suddenly discover that the loving parents who raised you are not truly your parents. Upon meeting my real parents, I found myself feeling terribly sorry for my mother as I do for your mother. Neither of them were able to watch their children grow, hug us, laugh with us, cry with us, though they always continued to love us.”
“You would make a good mother.” He almost laughed when her eyes sprang wide, her mouth dropped open, and she sat speechless.
She was quick to rein in her shock. “I do not have time for children.”
“No?” he questioned. “That is odd. You deal so well with ill children. Even the devilish little Daniel behaves around you.”