"I wish to become a clavager."

Randolph Lyall had a female Alpha, but this young girl standing before him left him speechless. Elspeth McCrimmon was hardly the girl she looked. She was twenty but looked sixteen. Her curly red hair was wild and all consuming. Even though she was small framed it was covered in nothing but muscle. She had known werewolves all her life and was always trying to outdo all the lads in her village. Climbing trees, chasing animals, and much to her mother's chagrin getting in to fights. She wasn't stunning with her green eyes but she exuded intensity.

It was the intensity that had left Lyall without words. This was a new place for the beta to be. Words were his tools and weapons that he carefully constructed. Since Lady Kingair had survived the bite, they had a few female candidates. All had been turned away, because hardly ever did a female survive. It wasn't fair to have them serve the pack only to die. But this one, he wanted to say no, yet the strength and determination in those eyes said give her chance. She took his silence is an invitation to continue.

"I been around werewolves all my life. My Pa, that raised me, he was a Rove named Peyton McCrimmon," she continued. "He took in my Ma when I was still in her belly. Her father disowned her so she went to work for my Pa and they fell in love. My Ma, god rest her, took sick with fever when I seven and passed away. Pa and me had to look after each other after that. He liked to gamble, and got in deep with the wrong people. They killed him about a month a go. I've got no where else to go and like I said I know werewolves. Also know how to read and my numbers, Pa taught me."

Sidheag had been in alpha werewolf for five years now. Even as a human her pack considered her there alpha. Yet during that time they had lost many clavagers. The applications had an increase in search as her mission, but slowly.

"A female?" Lady Kingair inquired of her Beta. "Let me meet this lass who has passed your scrutiny."

"I have employed her as a kitchen maid for the time being." Turning to the nearest servant, "go tell the new maid Miss McCrimmon to come here and once."

A few moments later, Elspeth emerged from the kitchens. She had heard tales of the Kingair Alpha from her father and others, but she was surprised to find Lady Kingair so normal. She was surrounded by very large and burly members of the pack. Any other woman would've been intimidated by the sight. Elspeth on the other hand had been raised by a big, rough werewolf and knew that most were probably big softies.

"So you're the lass who wants to be a clavager?"

"Ay my lady," Elspeth did her best to attempt at a curtsy while keeping her eyes fixed on the Alpha.

"Why?"

Elspeth related the story of how she became the daughter of a Rove. She looked for any effect on Lady Kingair. Sidheag only sat there in stony faced silence till she finished her story.

"Thank you, you may return to the kitchens now," Lady Kingair dismissed her.

She straightened her back and held her head high even though all she wanted to do was break down and cry.

Once she had left the room Lyall asked, "What do you think my lady?"

"Her curtsy leave something to be desired then so does mine." The pack let out a roar of laughter. "I see why you recommended her. That one will not take no for an answer. We will accept her as my clavager and ladies maid."

It took all her self-control not to hug the stiff English beta when he informed her.

"Of course you will continue to live in the maid's quarters as it would be inappropriate for you to live with the other clavagers. Now you said that you were able to read and know your numbers. Correct?"

"Yes sir, my Pa taught me." She then looked concerned, "Sir, may I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"I've never been a ladies maid, nor really been around other women since my Ma died. What do I have to do?"

Lyall suppressed a laugh, "don't worry you'll find Lady Sidheag and you have a lot in common."

Over the next few months Elspeth and Sidheag found that they did have a lot in common. Her days were filled with helping Sidheag, assignments are given to her by Lyall, and proving herself to the other clavagers.

That had been one of the hardest things. All they saw was this scrawny female. Slowly though they came to respect her. Mostly because she can hold her own against any of them and drink them under the table. It wasn't until the third full moon that she was fully accepted. One of the other clavagers didn't lock one of the cells correctly and now was being stared down by a large brown wolf. The others ran to get the silver weapons leaving their compatriot for dead. Elspeth caught the wolf's attention and was able to trick him back into the cell. The others returned weapons in hand only to find Elspeth and a very grateful Cormac locking the door to the cell.

Over the next year she found that she and the Kingair beta had formed a strange friendship. Lyall found that he liked having this girl to confide in. Since coming to Scotland he had not really connected with anyone. He told her the story of how he became the Kingair beta, his love that he had left behind, and his life in the pack he