Page 5 of The Highlander’s Untamed Lady

The Mackenzie man had found them.

Evander stared into the cave at his betrothed, who was bent over the wolf.

The black wolf’s growl snapped into a snarl. Behind Evander, a clap of thunder shuddered and lightning illuminated the cave in front of him.

And yet none of it garnered nearly as much of his attention as the woman he was supposed to marry. Lady Diana’s hair fell in a tangle of golden curls and waves around her face. Her brows were straight and stubbornly set over a pair of wide eyes. But what drew him most were her full, red lips. Her slender neck suggested she was not the large lass her hit had implied earlier. Merely one strong enough to survive the Highlands of Scotland.

“Do you mean for your stare to intimidate me? If so, I’ve had worse.” Diana turned her attention from him and prodded at the gray wolf’s paw. The wolf gave a whimper and lowered her head.

“Ye’re beautiful.” The words were out of Evander’s mouth before he could stop them.

The foolishness of his statement was echoed in her snorting scoff. “Winning me over with romance is as ridiculous as believing in the legend.”

“A legend about ye?” He spoke loud enough to be heard over the roar of rain.

She shot him an angry glare and resumed staring at the wolf’s paw. “I could have Zeus tear out your throat. I suggest you leave before I give the order.”

At the mention of his name, the great beast stalked forward and peeled his lips back from his fangs.

“And end up with another injured wolf?” he said. “Or dead.” He pulled the dirk from his boot and readied the weapon.

Aye, he’d wanted to keep his bride contented with her pets, but not at the expense of his own life.

Her head snapped up. “You said you were unarmed.”

“’Tis only a dirk.”

“It’s still a weapon. You’re armed.”

“Then I lied.”

She heaved an irritated sigh. “Is that really the best way to start a marriage?”

“Is having to chase down my bride?”

“I have no desire to marry you.” She shot him a defiant look. “Now give me your blade so I can help her. She’s got some wood buried in her paw.”

He held his ground. “I dinna want to marry ye either. And ye’re a fool if ye think I’ll be giving ye my blade. Call off yer hellhound and step aside. I’ll do it.”

“If you don’t want to marry me, why are you here?” Diana rose and propped a hand insolently on her hip.

“Because some of us put the needs of others before our own selfish intent.” His chest constricted with how bad those needs truly were.

“Zeus, enough.” The authority of her command rang out in the small cave.

The large black wolf stopped snarling and obediently sat. Those large golden eyes continued to watch Evander, unblinking and full of lethal promise.

“Give me your weapon.” Diana strode to the front of the cave with a bloody hand extended. The cloak she wore parted, revealing a ragged, overlarge dress.

“The day I give ye my dirk is the day I trust ye.” He made his way to the fallen wolf and moved around Diana to do so. “Show me where it is.”

She faltered. “How do I know you won’t try to kill me?”

“If I kill ye, I’ll no’ get yer dowry.” He squatted next to the gray wolf. Her head lifted and her body tensed. He quietly shushed the beast and drew a careful hand over her pelt. “I’m going to help ye,” he murmured in Gaelic. “I’ll be gentle with ye, aye?”

The creature turned a mournful gaze up at him, the deep brown eyes full of trust. He rubbed behind her ears and she bent her head toward him.

“What’s her name?” he asked Diana.