Duncan prayed Madelyne wouldn't wake up. He started forward so he could gain a clear shot at the beast.

The wolf suddenly moved to stand over Madelyne. Duncan stopped breathing.

Her scent must have been familiar to the animal, Duncan decided, for the wolf quickly ended his curiosity and went back to the food. Duncan watched the wolf take the bone between his teeth, turn again, and disappear down the other side of the hill.

Duncan threw down his bow and arrow as he ran to his wife. Madelyne was just waking up when he knelt down beside her. He gently lifted her into his arms.

She rubbed her jaw, testing her injury. She was able to move it, yet thought it throbbed enough to make her think it should be broken. She realized then that Louddon was there.

"Are they gone?" she asked Duncan. She was squeezed so tightly against his chest, she could barely whisper her question.

"Louddon's dead."

Madelyne closed her eyes and said a prayer for his soul. She didn't think it would do him much good, but she said it all the same.

"Is Anthony all right? We must see to his injury, Duncan," Madelyne said, trying to struggle out of her husband's hold. "He's wearing an arrow in his shoulder."

Duncan stopped shaking. Madelyne was deliberately talking without pause. She knew he needed a few minutes to recover. When he eased up on his hold, Madelyne smiled at him. "Now is it over?" she asked.

"It is over," Duncan said. "Your wolf saved your life."

"I know you did, love, you will always protect me," Madelyne answered.

"Madelyne, you misunderstand," Duncan said, frowning. "Your wolf killed Louddon."

Madelyne shook her head. How like her husband to become fanciful in her moment of fear. She knew he teased her just to lighten her worry.

"Are you strong enough to stand?" Duncan asked. "Do you feel-"

"I am fine. We are fine," she amended. She patted her stomach for emphasis. "I can't feel her yet, Duncan, but I know she's safe."

When Duncan helped her to her feet, she tried to look at Louddon. Duncan moved in front of her, effectively blocking her view. "You needn't look at him, Madelyne, it would only distress you," he told her. Louddon's throat had been shredded by the wolfs jaws. It was not a sight Madelyne would soon forget if she saw it, Duncan decided.

Anthony came to stand with them. He looked more incredulous than pained.

"Anthony, your shoulder-"

"'Tis only a flesh wound," Anthony said. "Baroness, you shot one of them right through his heart," he stammered.

Duncan didn't believe him. "It was her arrow?"

"It was."

Both men turned to stare at Madelyne. They looked quite astonished. Madelyne was a little irritated by their lack of faith in her ability. For a fleeting second she thought she just might keep silent. The truth, however, won out. "I was aiming for his foot."

Both Duncan and Anthony thoroughly enjoyed her admission. Duncan lifted Madelyne into his arms and began to walk down the hill.

"The wolf saved your life," he told her once again, thinking to explain the full truth.

"I know, dear."

He gave up. He'd have to explain it all to her later, when her mind wasn't so stubbornly set on believing he was her savior. "You'll never feed the beast again, Madelyne. I'll see the duty done. The wolf deserves to live an easy life now. He has earned it."

"Will you stop teasing me, Duncan?" Madelyne announced, clearly exasperated. "I've been through an ordeal."

Duncan smiled. Such a bossy bit of goods she was, and such a delight. He rubbed his chin against the top of her head while he listened to her complain about her new bruise.

Baron Wexton was eager to get Madelyne home, as eager, he thought, as Odysseus must have been to get home to his wife.

The future belonged to them. Madelyne liked to call him her wolf, but he was only a man, yet a man more powerful than the magical Odysseus.

For though Duncan was a mere mortal, flawed as well, he'd accomplished a daring feat. Aye, he'd captured an angel. And she belonged to him.