Page 94 of Moon Craving

He lifted his head, taking in the monochromatic image of his surroundings that he

got in his wolf form. He was definitely still on his land, newly deeded to him by Scotland's

king. A growl rumbled in his animal chest as he scented the ground around him again. Six

distinct traces, two Chrechte and four human. All males.

A hunting party? A mistake? Or a challenge to Sinclair ownership of the territory

dowered him by the king?

The Donegal laird was aging without a clear successor. He presided over one of

the smaller clans and Chrechte pack within it, which was only a mere handful of

shape-changers. Even without the king's intervention, the other laird would have ended

up ceding the land to Talorc's much larger clan and Chrechte pack, and they both knew it.

Never a large group, the Donegal clan had lost too many to war. The laird's son

had died at the hands of the same English bastards responsible for Talorc's father's

death. The young warrior had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, patrolling his

borders with a small band of soldiers when the English contingent bent on stealing the

Sinclair Royal Treasure had crossed Donegal land.

That was the reason Talorc had not yet used might to press his claim to the

disputed territory. His father had been responsible for bringing the betraying English bitch

to the Highlands. Talorc did not dismiss the consequences of that act.

He had gone so far as to offer use of the springs to the Chrechte of the Donegal

clan for their mating ceremonies and for use in clan healings, with the understanding that

the Sinclair clanspeople's needs would take precedence. However, he would not tolerate

the Donegal clan hunting on the newly claimed Sinclair land. Not in human or wolf form.

The Donegal laird had accepted both Talorc's generosity and his stipulation

regarding the hunting.

So, what in the hell were six strangers doing on his land? Were they even from the

Donegal clan? Neither of the Chrechte carried the scent of the laird. Talorc would have

recognized it.

No matter where they were from, they didn't belong here and he meant for them to

know it.

He followed their scent trail until it became clear the four humans and two Chrechte