Chapter 9: Nine.

Calum killed his bike engine and swung his long leg up and behind him to dismount. He had found a spot to park, around the side of the hall, just as a Hilux truck had pulled away. It was a new one too, he noticed with more than a tinge of jealousy.

It was late now, but finally he was at the damn ceilidh hall. Of course, this was all after his Mum had made him shower another two times, claiming the first two were not sufficient enough to remove the fish odour. So, this was the only way he was apparently, fit to be seen in public. Personally though, for Calum the smell was still lodged so far up his nose, he could no longer rely on his own olfactory abilities whatsoever.

Miraculously, Calum managed to slip into the hall unnoticed, and located his friends sat at a table a few metres from the bar. He smiled, internally noting how some things never change. Stealthily Calum slipped through the crowd and got behind them to the bar, without being noticed. Then he ordered another round of drinks, before piling them onto the table unannounced, and eliciting a round of loud cheers.

Once the welcomes, and back slapping had settled down, Calum asked, "So, what did I miss? Where's Angus, I need to hit something?"

Alasdair's face lit up, as did everyone else's, and Calum knew without a doubt, he regretted being late. Something had happened.

"You missed Bruce and his new fiancé, decking him with two punches!" Logan Macaulay announced, utterly delighted with the turn of events. "It was priceless, Arthur had to carry him out. The Bastard, couldna stand, let alone walk."

Calum's brows shot into his hairline. "Shit!" He took a swig of his beer. "I need to buy that lass a drink. Where is she?" He asked his eyes scanning the hall hopefully, as the music played around them.

Alasdair answered, "Too late, and on two counts. Her Uncle took her, and Iona home, not too long ago actually. But, I did buy her a round to say thanks." He bragged, knowing it would wind up the others.

"Piss off, Dougal, she is fair game!" Alan Cameron shouted, rising to the bait.

"Wait, what?" Calum asked, his eyes darting around everyone, as he tried to catch up. "Speak plainly, for crying out loud, you lot." He demanded.

The others all laughed at their absentee friend's confusion. But before anyone could tease him about his lack of presence these days, Alasdair spoke.

"So, Colt, Angus' ex fiance now?" He clarified, to a bunch of nodding heads. "Aye, right, she's American, she is the daughter of Isla Campbell. You remember, the lass who ran away with a wolf, years ago?" Alasdair filled in Calum on what he had found out so far.

"Right, so she is old Jimmy and Reenie's granddaughter then?" Calum joined the dots. "So, why is Alan convinced she's fair game? She is a Campbell, right?"

Alan piped up at this point, "Ah, but out of her own fair mouth she stated, 'She is her father's daughter.' She claimed to be clanless." He stated with a calculated grin.

"Fuck!" Calum swore. "Does she know what that means?" He asked, but he wasn't sure why he suddenly felt protective of her, and the strange feeling wasn't sitting well with him at all.

"Doubtful." Alasdair shrugged. "But, there is one more thing that might catch your interest, yet." He added in a conspiratorial manner.

"Oh, spit it out, Double Oh, Not." Calum asked annoyed.

"Aye, and your Uncle's." Paul MacDonald stated, pulling his head up from his phone briefly to join the conversation.

"What is it then? And why the hell is your nose buried in your phone?" Calum asked, snatching the device from Paul's grip.

The cracked screen was showing an order completion form; *Two dozen red Roses*. They were being delivered tomorrow morning. The sight left Calum shaking his head.

"Really?" Calum scoffed. "Roses?"

Paul just shrugged, grabbing his phone back, to look through more gift ideas.

"Calum, you always miss the point mate!" Alasdair scoffed at him like he was hopeless.

"Do I now?" Calum responded, punching his friend in the arm.

"Aye, the address, you Twonk." Logan laughed, pulling out his own phone, as he took inspiration from Paul.

Calum frowned snatching Paul's device back again, and leaving a scowling Paul giving him a death glare in response.

"Wait. That's Bay Croft? Macgregor lands? Fuck! Is she that American? But, Colin thinks she's a wolf." Calum shot back.

Alasdair and the others shrugged uncaring about Calum's verbal diarrhoea.

"She kind of is, but she is definitely a Wildcat as well." Logan responded, completing his own order, for three limited edition bottles of Glenmorangie single malt whisky.

"Whatever animal she is, she is also sex on fucking legs walking!" Alan spoke crudely. "Christ, you could get lost in those thighs." He added.

The others just glared angrily at him, giving Calum pause. It dawned on him, just why they were annoyed. They all viewed this woman as a potential wife. This was going to get ugly.

"You're all making a play for her, aren't you?" He asked, wanting to confirm his suspicions, as he went to finish his beer.

"You would too, if you had seen her. Or smelled her!" Paul answered. "Especially in that, Macregor tartan skirt, she turned up in! Fuck she looked good in red."

"She what?" Calum asked, spitting out his beer.

"Aye." Alasdair nodded. "But, it was for her grandparents' and Angus' benefit, I believe. Lass has a brass neck, that's for sure."

"Why are you not pulling out your phone?" Calum asked speculatively, eyeing his closest friend.

"Because it's a lost cause. The woman is mated, there's a wolf mark on her neck. Plus, I just cana. Iona's cousin. Just no." He stated, shaking his head vigorously.

"God, you lot are desperate." Calum stated, with a laugh, omitting Alasdair from his declaration. "A wolf's mate? For a wife?"

"You not making a play yourself then?" Alan asked relieved.

"It's not every day, an unmarried wildcat female, with no clan ties or politics is on the table?" Logan added, smiling to himself at the thought of taking Colt across a table.

Paul smirked, "You'll be the only one in the Highlands, not taking part. Daniel, Greg and Liam left right after she did. Liam wanted to 'make sure she got home safe', apparently, and the other two suddenly had an early start."

Calum shook his head and finished his beer, standing to get another round he said, "On yourselves. As far as I'm concerned, she is all yours. There is only one woman for me, and all I know is she had long black hair, and the most delicious scent, and I will find her again. Keep your American, I'm not the least bit interested in her."

"Black hair, you say?" Alasdair asked mischievously.

"Shut it, Dougal." Alan warned, his fists clenching.

"What now?" Calum asked, with a laugh.

"I suppose, it could have been a very dark, dark brown." Alasdair said, to a chorus of hisses. "But Miss Merrier's hair was, pretty dark, maybe even black, almost." he laughed, as Alan and Logan dived across the table to punch him.

The three men were knocked to the floor, with a thud. The scraping of knocked chairs echoing through the hall, as the music stopped for the second bust up of the night. By the time Calum and Paul had pulled the three men apart, there were swollen eyes and burst lips all round. As was the laughter shared among them.

"Don't worry lads. I only want my true mate. Your American is safe from me." Calum concluded, before stepping up to the bar. "Moira? Can I get a round of jäger bombs and some ice please?"

"Sure thing, Calum." The older lady called back, shaking her head at the lads.

*Author's Note: He isn't even aware this conversation happened, but in my head at least, Elijah is pretty damn pissed off! 🤣🙈