The Highlander’s Defiant Bride

New Release August 13, 2026

Book One In The Munro Brothers Series

She was given as a gift to broker peace between clans. She refused to stay wrapped.

Destiny Gunn didn’t cross the windswept shores of Foulis Castle to become a dutiful bride—she came to save her clan and survive. Betrothed to Highland laird Cameron Munro to seal a fragile political alliance, she expects a ruthless warrior who’ll try to cage her. She never expects a man who sees her passionate spirit.

Cameron Munro is a fierce Highland warrior, bound by iron honor and a code older than the Scottish hills he defends. When he pulls Destiny from a brutal ambush, he realizes the true danger isn’t the enemy at his gates, but the flame-souled woman standing in his great hall, challenge in her eyes.

But when Destiny’s fierce loyalty ignites a scandal threatening both clans, Cameron must choose between the duty that defines him and the woman fated to complete him. One act of defiance. Two hearts on the line. A Highland alliance that could shatter—or forge something unbreakable.

Some unions are arranged by fathers. Some are written by fate.

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“Stop.” A guttural sound came from close behind Destiny.

Pushing herself to even greater speed, she searched the trees ahead, her gaze desperate for a suitable limb to grab. When a stout branch loomed close, she hiked her skirt up, shoving the length and the hem of her travelling coat into her waistband, then jumped, grabbing the stock, feeling the rough bark digging into her hands. Ignoring the pain in her injured arm, Destiny gritted her teeth as she strained to pull herself upwards. She lodged her boots against the branch until it was solid beneath her, and she could stand. Before the man was upon her, she scrambled up two more branches, putting a sizeable distance between them.

He stared up from beneath her, breathing hard. “I have caught you. Come down.”

Destiny frowned. Such odd words from her attacker. Why was he not threatening to shoot her with a pistol or an arrow?

Her breath was ragged as well as she clutched the trunk of the tree. “I have no intention of making this easy for you.”

His clothing was covered in a fine layer of dirt, the kind of dust gathered while riding a horse on dusty roads. Beneath the linen lay evidence of the well-developed muscles of his arms and chest.

Dirt and blood lay splattered across his bristled cheeks and forehead, and brown hair hung down around his stony jaw. “Then perhaps I will climb up after you.”

“You could.” She dug her grip into the tree trunk, preparing to fight. “But I have the tactical advantage. I could step on your hands or knock you off-balance and watch you fall to your death.”

He frowned and released a frustrated sigh. “My lady, may I say that you make it damnably hard for a man to rescue you?”

Her eyes widened. “Rescue?”

He stepped back and crossed his arms over his well-muscled chest. “I brought reinforcements to guard you when I heard the Mackenzies were roaming this area, searching for you. If only you had stayed in the carriage.”

Her eyes widened. “Who are you?”

The warrior straightened, appearing even larger than he had a moment before.

He reached for his sword. “You will come down right this moment, or I will chop this tree down.”

Destiny swallowed roughly. This was no standoff with her father. This man was far more dangerous. “I asked who you are.”

His eyes connected with hers, and she had to hold back a shudder at the intensity of his gaze. “I am Cameron Munro. Your soon-to-be husband. I demand you come down from that tree.”

Destiny startled. Her husband? She thought about denying him his request, but no matter how long she resisted, she would have to come down, would have to take this stranger as her husband. With a sigh of irritation, she climbed down. As she reached the bottom limb, he sheathed his sword and reached up, placing his large hands about her waist, gently lowering her to the ground before him.

He frowned as his gaze dropped to the torn edge of her gown and the thin smear of blood against her skin. Something tight flickered in his eyes. “You are injured.”

“Only a scrape,” she said softly. “I was lucky.”

His frown eased as his gaze lifted to her face, the concern in his eyes giving way to quiet curiosity. “Lucky?” His voice thickened. “There is nothing lucky about being attacked.”

Destiny wanted to look away, but she found she could not. As big as he had seemed while chasing her, he appeared even larger up close, seeming to tower over her. A thin white scar crossed his left cheek, ending where his helm must have stopped the blow. The thought crossed her mind that although he would never be mistaken for anything but a fighting man, there was a rugged handsomeness about his face. If only he would smile, if only he would give her some hope that this marriage would be more than a transaction between two clans.

Finally, after a long silence, he said, “If you are willing, I am satisfied.” He stared at her, waiting for a response.

Destiny sucked in a breath and held it. She would have to answer him. She closed her eyes and swallowed. She wanted to cry out that she had no wish to marry him, or anyone else for that matter, but that was no longer an option for her. In fact, there were no other options at all. Her father had set her on this path from which there was no veering.