[The Highland Wolf 02] • The Lone Wolf's Bride

Ilene Campbell is poised on the brink of getting her heart’s desire. As the daughter of powerful Laird Duncan Campbell she has the world at her feet. But when her hopes for the future are cruelly dashed and her heart broken she has no choice but to seek the protection of her wild and rugged adopted brother Murray, returned from war and scarred by the life he has led, inside and out. He wants her, that is obvious, but can she ever find happiness with him, especially as an awful betrayal opens up a gulf between them. Ilene must gain his trust and his forgiveness if she is ever to bind this hard, uncompromising highlander to her forever.

Murray Campbell has led loveless, brutal life and has spent years enriching himself on the battlefields of war-ravaged Europe. Returning to his home of Cailleach after years of self- imposed exile he finds Scotland on the brink of a civil war. Much has changed in his absence not least his adopted sister Ilene, now a captivating young woman, pretty and free-spirited. She appears too good for the likes of him until an abrupt change of fortune places her within his grasp. But the beautiful stranger he takes to his bed has hopes and dreams of her own…and a terrible secret. Murray must find some warmth and forgiveness in his shrivelled heart if he is to claim the prize forever just beyond his reach.

Is he to be her road to hell or her path to redemption...?

The brief smile he gave her instantly changed a harsh face to an almost handsome one. Just for a second, though her memory was hazy, she could see in that smile the shadow of the Murray known long ago.

‘It is a great joy to see you again Ilene,’ he said, in a voice deep and rough, which made Ilene think of cold, dark places. ‘I always thought of you all these years as a child and now, what a shock it is to see you grown into a woman…and into such a beauty at that.’

Ilene turned away from his compliment, her cheeks burning. ‘I must go and tell mother you are here,’ she said to her father in a rush and sped off, mind tumbling in confusion and embarrassment.

‘Well, this is a bad start,’ said Duncan laughing.

‘No matter, it’s been a long time,’ replied Murray casually, shrugging his shoulders, as if Ilene’s snub was nothing to him. He put a hand to his face, feeling the texture of his skin turn from smooth to rough where the scar ran down it, like a red river, from temple to jawline, narrowly missing his eye. He was self-conscious about it, and today, more than ever, he wished it was not there. ‘I am much changed and I did not expect her to recognise me, and it must be a shock for her to see me again.’

‘She has grown into a fine looking lass has she not,’ beamed Duncan.

‘Aye, she has that.’ Murray’s head was still reeling at Ilene’s dark beauty, which was completely at odds with his memory of her as a fat little girl. In some ways he resented this miraculous change, preferring that she remain as he remembered, still the child he had once been so fond of. Instead, he had been confronted with a captivating young woman, the sight of whom made his heart beat faster within his breast and the pull of desire to stir in his guts.