The tour guide is too charming for his own good.
“So, how did you get into the business anyway?”
“My da is a history professor. We would spend our summers traveling all over Scotland. I love this place and I love sharing it with other people even more,” he says as we walk down the path.
We finally reach the overlook and my breath is taken away.
The winding loch is a dark blue, calmer than I would expect, surrounded by lush, deep green mountains. The sky is a perfect pale blue in the background, and I’m almost positive this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.
I hold on to the railing, taking it all in, looking at these mountains that have been here millions of years and somehow it makes my problems feel so small. The valley is vast, stunning, and resilient.
I want to be the same.
“It’s gorgeous,” I say.
“Aye,” Lain says behind me.
The two couples from the tour join us, and Lain offers to take their pictures. The man is clearly trained on how to take the best photographs, as he takes at least three horizontally and three vertically of each couple.
“Would the two of you like one?” the gentleman asks.
“Oh, that’s?—”
“Absolutely,” Lain says, handing him his phone and bringing me and Fergus over to the overlook.
He wraps his arm around my shoulder, like he’s known me his whole life and Fergus sits between us. I smile at the camera as the man takes a few pictures.
“Let me get one of just you,” Lain says and I wave him off.
I look back at the view, resting my forearms against the bannister and take a deep breath. I’m not sure how I know, or maybe I’m being overly sentimental, but something tells me my mom stared out at this same view, and I find solace in that.
Fergus nudges my leg and I turn to face Lain. “Thank you for bringing me along,” I tell him.
“My pleasure,” he says.
I glance back at the view one more time, and I know without a doubt I won’t be going home anytime soon. Effie was right. I need to give Scotland a chance.
I need to give myself a chance.
6
lain
I sneaka picture of Maisie while she’s lost in thought, her pretty green eyes taking in the view.
I’ve been here hundreds of times, but today feels the most significant.
Callum is against us showing any interest to Maisie, which isn’t a surprise. He cared for Fiona deeply. Her leaving us for her scent matches destroyed him.
Now he’s a grumpy arse who doesn’t even call us a pack any more.
Greer has his concerns about her not being a permanent fixture in Scotland, which are valid. Reason enough to not entertain this attraction.
But there’s something about her. Undoubtedly, she’s the most beautiful Omega I’ve ever met, and I haven’t even been able to scent her.
Greer also noted that she deliberately hides her scent and I wonder why. Something about her is drawing me in like a moth to a flame, and I’m not one to deny myself.
Plus, there’s no one more fitting to make someone fall in love with Scotland than me. Maybe my tour guide ego is too big andshe’ll still leave in a month’s time, but at least it will be a month worth remembering.
