"Tae the laird and his lady!" others echoed.
Cups were raised, toasts made, and Mhairi found herself swept up in celebration despite the surreal nature of it all. She'd gone from orphaned and sold to engaged to a laird in the space of a few weeks.
It should have terrified her. Instead, it felt like coming home.
"Are ye all right?" Alpin murmured in her ear during a brief lull in the congratulations. "I ken that was sudden. If ye want tae take it back, it’s yer choice."
"I dinnae want tae take it back." She turned in his arms to face him properly. "I'm terrified and overwhelmed and nae entirely sure this is real, but I dinnae want tae take it back."
"Good." He pressed his forehead to hers. "Because I meant every word. Ye're nae just someone I'm protectin’ anymore, Mhairi. I love ye."
Her breath caught. "Ye dae?"
"Aye. I think I have since ye punched me in the forest and called me terrible." His smile was warm and tender. "Though it took me a while tae realize it."
"I love ye too," she whispered. "Even when ye're being insufferable."
"Especially when I'm being insufferable."
They stood there in the firelight, wrapped in each other's arms, while around them the celebration continued.
The village had lost so much that day—homes, security, loved ones. But for that moment, they had hope.
Hope that their women would be found. Hope that justice would prevail. Hope that from the ashes of that day's tragedy, something stronger would emerge.
And Mhairi, standing in the arms of the man who'd saved her and was promising her a future, felt that hope take root in her chest.
The next day, they would track Graham's men. They would plan their assault on the auction network. The fight would continue.
But for that night, they had community, celebration, and the promise of a future built together.
It was enough. More than enough.
It was everything.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
"Where are we going?" Mhairi asked as Alpin led her away from the fire.
The celebration had died down to embers and quiet conversation and Mhairi was still feeling dazed from everything that had happened.
Engaged.
She was engaged to Alpin MacDougal.
"Somewhere we can have a bit of privacy." He guided her toward the edge of the village, where several tents had been erected for those whose homes had been destroyed. "The villagers set up a tent fer us. Well, fer me initially..." He smiled.
"Alpin, we're nae married yet. People will talk if we share a tent."
"People just watched me propose tae ye in the middle of the village square. I think they've already assumed we're sharin’ a tent." He paused at the entrance to the largest tent. "But if ye'd rather have yer own space, I can arrange it. I daenae want ye tae feel pressured."
Mhairi considered.
The proper thing would be to insist on separate accommodations until they were formally wed. But after that day, after the violence and fear and uncertainty, she didn't want to be alone.
"I want tae be with ye," she said quietly.
His expression softened. "I am happy. But first, I need tae take care of something. Wait here."
