“Do all of you look like that?” Maura whispered.
“Maura,” Heidi warned.
“Look like what?” Nicolo asked.
“All of you are so dark and so…big.” Maura’s husky whisper sure made it hard to believe she was a mated bitch.
“Probably no more than all of you looking blonde and small,” he added, intentionally sounding stern.
“We don’t all look the same.” Maura didn’t take his implied warning to watch what she said. “Are your females really tall and muscular too?”
“I’ve met his littermate and she’s just an inch or so taller than I am,” Heidi offered. “And I don’t think Nicolo appreciates your implying they all look the same.”
“Oh. Sorry. American packs all look different and those are the only packs we’ve run across other than lunewulfs. You’ll have to forgive me,” she said, sounding hurt.
Nicolo drove in silence for a while, his gut twisting with anticipation the closer they got to his territory. Josie had probably called Dimitri, and even if he hadn’t, Nicolo didn’t feel like arguing with him in front of the bitches. They would hear enough once they got there. The lunewulf pack leader would have to be notified too, but Dimitri could deal with him. Nicolo only had one thing to say to the lunewulf pack leader.
Both bitches smelled nervous when they turned off the highway and started the slow incline up his mountain. Since Josie hadn’t let him know that he needed to pick up any of the other werewolves, he assumed they had run back to the pack in their fur. He hoped none of them ran into any of the humans. And the animosity between humans and werewolves would probably get worse now that he’d attacked the group of hunters. But no one attacked his bitch without losing their life. He had no problem killing to protect Heidi, even if she was where she shouldn’t have been.
“Where are we going?” Heidi asked. She’d gotten comfortable leaning against him but straightened when the truck moved slowly up the snow-packed road.
“To my den. You two can clean up while we wait for the showdown.”
“You think there is going to be one?” The way she scrunched up her lips showed she already knew there would be.
“I’m going to see to it.” He parked the truck alongside his den and turned to grip her chin. “You will not run again.”
Her blue eyes were like sapphires, rich and deep in their color. She looked up at him wide-eyed while the truck shook and swayed. His pack members started talking outside the truck, but her gaze didn’t leave his.
“Damn good thing you found me, wolf man,” she whispered. “Remind me to thank you sometime.”
“I doubt you’ll forget.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but I’m not going out there by myself,” Maura announced, poking at Heidi at the same time.
Nicolo opened his car door and then pulled Heidi out on his side. He looked past her at Maura, knowing that even though she was mated, his packmates would come after her. Her scent alone would drive them nuts. Strong sexual energy radiated off her. She’d be in more danger here than alone out in the mountains with human hunters surrounding her.
“Get out on this side.” He held Heidi to his side and gripped the door so Maura could climb out.
Dimitri came out of their den, quickly getting the gist of what happened from the group of surrounding werewolves.
“Are you going to call their pack leader?” Perry Zammit asked.
“He’s on his way over here.” Dimitri looked past the group, glaring at Nicolo. “Several of you head down the mountain and give the pack leader an escort to my den.”
“My car is parked on the road.” Perry gestured to the group. “Let’s head down there and get him.”
“He will be honored as a guest in our territory.” Nicolo’s words stilled the group and they turned to look at him. “We will show their pack that we don’t condemn others simply because they’re different from us.”
Five werewolves stared at him, a mixture of emotions filling the air. Dimitri cleared his throat.
“Go get him. None of you have to kiss his ass, but we won’t fight over these bitches either.” Dimitri waved his hand at the group, his words satisfying all of them as they hustled off.
Nicolo headed toward his den with his arm around Heidi. He stopped when Dimitri didn’t move.
“She’s injured and her pack leader won’t see her without her wound tended to,” Nicolo growled when Dimitri appeared unwilling to let them inside.
Dimitri looked at Heidi, and then his gaze traveled lower to her leg as he sniffed out where she might be hurt.
“Why did you run, bitch?” he asked.
“I don’t like being told who I can and can’t see.” Heidi didn’t look away from Dimitri although she pressed against Nicolo.
Dimitri looked past her at Maura, who stood next to Heidi. “Lunewulf bitch. Look at me. Tell me why you are part of this wonderful party.” His sarcasm filled the air with a sour smell that matched his expression.
Maura stepped around Heidi. She straightened, which barely brought her to Dimitri’s chin. There was no fear on her when she looked up at him though.
“What would you do if a bitch who’d been beaten by her mate came to you and asked to be let out of the mating?”
Dimitri blinked quickly and raised his eyebrows, showing he hadn’t expected the question. And Nicolo had to admit, the bitch had some guts to spill her personal issues so boldly in front of strangers. He watched his littermate curiously while slowly stroking Heidi’s shoulder. She leaned against him, wrapping her arm around the back of his waist.
“Maura,” she whispered. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes. I do.” Maura turned quickly, looking at Heidi and then him, then letting her gaze travel down Josie, who stood silently to the side, watching. “I want to know if all werewolves are the same. Maybe I’m the one who’s insane here.”
“You know you aren’t.” Heidi tried pulling from him, but Nicolo tightened his grip on her.
“I don’t have enough information to answer that question,” Dimitri said.
Maura tossed her hair over her shoulder. “At least I now know all males are the same. How typical to avoid answering a question by demanding more information.”
“Don’t insult the pack leader who holds your fate in his hands,” Josie growled.
Maura jumped, turning quickly to stare at Josie. Her jaw dropped, and for a moment, she looked ready to attack. Josie’s growl was so low Nicolo almost didn’t hear his subtle warning for her to behave. Maura crossed her arms across her chest, pushing her rather large breasts together, although Nicolo doubted the act was meant to distract any of them. She sincerely looked torn on what action to take next.
“Forgive me.” She didn’t look at Dimitri, but stared at the ground. A long strand of hair fell over her shoulder, partially covering her face. “I ran from my pack because of personal reasons,” she added quietly.
“You two may go inside and clean yourselves.” Dimitri held his hand out when Nicolo moved around him. “They go inside alone. Your bitch knows her way around, I’m sure.”
Nicolo didn’t miss what Dimitri just said. He ran his hand down Heidi’s back, gently pushing her toward his den. “Go inside,” he told her.
Heidi headed toward the den with Maura right behind her. The two bitches closed the door and he immediately gave his littermate his attention.
“My bitch?” He wouldn’t let Dimitri get away with his slip.
“You know what I meant,” Dimitri growled.
“Their pack leader is coming up the mountain,” Josie announced and then stepped in closer so that he stood alongside both of them. “You’re going to have a hell of a time with this one, Dimitri.”
“Unless you have advice to offer, shut the fuck up,” Dimitri growled.
Josie slapped Dimitri on the back. Dimitri looked ready to pounce. He was wound tight enough to attack without thought. He jerked, moving to punch Josie, who in turn laughed easily.
“I do have advice, asshole. Come across like you’re going to kick ass to that pack leader and we’ll be at war before the night is out. They’re his bitches.” He turned to Nicolo. “Unless you can prove otherwise.”
“Don’t think I don’t already know this.” Dimitri scrubbed his hand over his head, scowling at his driveway. Tiny snowflakes blew around the three of them, and when Dimitri sighed heavily, showing the burden of his position, Nicolo almost felt sorry for his younger littermate—almost. Dimitri glanced at his den. “I’ll hear what the lunewulf leader has to say, and unless his arguments are completely unreasonable, we’ll return the bitches to him.”
Nicolo would have argued the point, but a large, extended cab pickup truck pulled into the driveway. He turned with Dimitri and Josie on either side of him and watched the lunewulfs slowly get out of the truck. The air got even colder with the animosity that surrounded the males.
“Are there no females on this mountain that ours seem to keep showing up here?” Bob asked, stepping forward and eyeing each of them before focusing on Dimitri.
“Not once have we extended an invitation to your females.” Dimitri sounded calm. That much was in his favor. “We’ve found your bitches and here you are to pick them up.”
“Where are they?” Bob asked, making a show of looking around them. “I smell no females.”
“They’re in the den. We sent them in alone out of respect. One of them is hurt and—”
“Hurt?” Bob interrupted.
“The human who shot her no longer lives,” Nicolo told Bob, watching the leader carefully when he slowly turned his attention to Nicolo. “Heidi and the other bitch were found quite a ways south of here.”
“And you just happened to be the one who found them.” Bob crossed his arms over his chest slowly.
Nicolo growled, noticing for the first time that one of the lunewulfs behind him was the spokesperson that he’d confronted the other day. “I’m getting real tired of being called a liar.”
“We were that far south because I have the ability to smell things that other werewolves can’t smell.” Josie’s admission stunned the lunewulfs.
Nicolo was rather shocked too. He had no clue they’d taken the last section of land that far south because of anything Josie sensed. He didn’t dare take his attention off the lunewulfs in front of him, but he sniffed the air, curious whether Josie told the truth. He wouldn’t have the werewolf cover for him by confessing something that was none of these lunewulfs’ damned business.
“You have the powers that I’ve heard so much about.” Bob actually looked impressed. “Show me what you can do.”
“You don’t have to show him shit,” Dimitri told him.
Josie raised his hand and pointed at one of the lunewulfs who stood closer to the truck. The lunewulf suddenly rose into the air and yelped in surprise when he found himself hanging over the rest of them.
“I have a problem with werewolves who beat bitches,” he snarled and lowered his hand.
The lunewulf fell to the ground.
“Shit,” Nicolo growled.
Every lunewulf in front of them braced themselves. Bob jumped around and then turned again quickly, his mouth open in shock while he gawked at Josie.
The lunewulf, who Nicolo guessed must be Maura’s mate, climbed to his feet, moving awkwardly and limping a bit as he moved next to the truck and then leaned against it. Bob kept his attention on Josie while the others watched him too.
“I guess I asked for that,” Bob said slowly, surprising Nicolo with something that sounded like respect in his tone.
“I don’t make a habit of doing requests.” Josie clasped his hands behind his back, relaxing his body. Silently he showed the pack leaders that he had no intention of doing anything aggressive. “But I will make it a habit of ensuring that my pack isn’t ridiculed for something that would only prove a threat against an enemy.”
“Enough.” Dimitri raised his hand. “While the females are inside, I would discuss another issue with you.”
Bob blinked, pulling his attention from Josie and focusing on Dimitri. The aggression had faded in the air. Nicolo wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t witnessed it. The gift actually brought a moment of peace between the two breeds. The very gift that spawned their hatred. He wondered if his littermate noticed the same thing.
“Are you going to do tricks too?” Bob asked, raising an eyebrow.
Several of the lunewulf behind him muttered comments and shifted around anxiously.
“There are no tricks here,” Dimitri growled. “We are quite real, and very serious.”
Bob straightened. Snowflakes continued whirling around in the air, making it harder to determine where the spicy smell of anger originated. Nicolo watched the two leaders and the group surrounding them closely. They were all like time bombs, waiting to explode.
“Say what you wish to say,” Bob ordered.
“I plan on it.” Dimitri put his hands on his hips, scowling at the lunewulfs. “Prior to taking this mountain as our territory, none of us gave any thought to your breed. We carry no prejudice, but appreciate a werewolf for his strength and courage. Likewise, we’ll mark an enemy if he smells of deceit and animosity.”
“The same would apply here.” Bob didn’t pull his gaze off Dimitri.
“The humans are working to eliminate us. I’m sure of it. Work with us or step to the side so we can handle the matter. But I won’t take responsibility for any of your deaths or disappearances, nor will I tolerate any of my pack being charged with such offenses.”
“You don’t find it odd that twice when Heidi has disappeared, I’ve found her in the paws of that werewolf?” Bob pointed at Nicolo.
Every muscle inside him tightened. The lunewulf was about to lose his fucking finger. He took a step forward and Dimitri jumped between him and Bob. Every werewolf in the small clearing in front of his den braced himself for action.
“Your bitch ran from your pack—she wasn’t fucking howled for!” Dimitri hissed. “And you damned well better admit to that now before you lose a bunch of your pack.”
Chapter Thirteen
“No!” Heidi screamed, hurrying out of Nicolo’s den. She’d heard just about enough. “This is exactly what I didn’t want to have happen.”
The smell of outrage, pushed to the point of attack, stopped her quickly before she ran in between the two pack leaders.
She gulped in the incredibly spicy smell, which instantly made her eyes water. She blinked quickly, determined to stand tall and take on both packs. No matter the fear that mounted inside her, all of this had come to be because of her. And it had to end now.
“Nicolo,” she pleaded, meeting his hard, determined gaze. “Must werewolves die because of us?”
Nicolo took a step toward her and both Malta and lunewulf moved. Holding one hand out to her, he turned and faced Bob.
Heidi hurried to his side, every tiny hair on her skin standing at attention. Her muscles and bones wanted to grow and change. The blood inside her ached to flow faster, to protect herself from the danger that surrounded them. Protect her male, her right to live and run the way she wanted.
Nicolo’s large hand wrapped around her wrist, clamping down so hard she swore blood no longer flowed to her hand. He yanked her behind him, although she struggled to see more than his muscular, broad back. She wouldn’t hide and cower when a battle was on the verge of breaking out because of her.
“Give this bitch to me,” Nicolo said, addressing Bob. “Allow her to be my mate.”
“No,” Bob said firmly.
“Like hell,” Dimitri shouted at the same time.
Heidi would have broken down in tears if anger didn’t hit her so hard she shook from it. “Who are you to control my life like this?” she demanded, taking a step forward but then falling backward against Nicolo’s hard chest when he yanked her to him.
“I am your pack leader,” Bob growled. “Would you deny your pack over this werewolf?”
Heidi swallowed, knowing a bitch without a pack would be shunned everywhere. Her life would be worse than it was now, other bitches snapping and attacking until eventually she would be killed. It wasn’t a life she wanted to think about. She’d already seen how Nicolo’s pack would treat her. Living without a den was a life worse than death.
“I’ll never deny who I am,” she told him, straightening and standing tall while she faced the members of her pack. “I am lunewulf and will never be anything else.”
“Then return with your pack and let this werewolf go,” Bob demanded.
Nicolo’s strong hand wrapped around hers. The heat from his body soaked into her backside. Her heart broke, swelling and throbbing painfully in her chest. No longer could she deny the tears, and they stung her cold cheeks as they streamed down her face. She wouldn’t blink, wouldn’t look away from the pack leader who’d taken her in, given her shelter and protection and had been someone she’d called a friend. She’d run with these lunewulfs, helped them grow strong as a pack, howled with them and played with them.
“I can’t let him go,” she said.
“Then you are shunned.” Bob turned his back on her, gesturing to the members of her pack—his pack. No longer her pack. “Let’s go.”
Not one of them looked at her as they piled into the truck. Bob turned, ignoring her but looking at Nicolo’s den.
“Maura?” he yelled.
Maura appeared in the doorway, her long blonde hair damp and her cheeks flushed with emotion.
“Join your mate,” he ordered firmly.
“Maura,” Heidi cried out.
Nicolo pulled her into his arms, shielding her from the biting wind that seemed to grow colder by the minute. Bob ignored her plea to her friend, focusing only on Maura as she walked alongside the den with her head lowered until she reached the other lunewulfs. Pete, her mate, moved toward her, holding his arms out in a show of compassion that reeked of insincerity. Maura walked to him and he hugged her while Maura’s body went limp. She didn’t return the hug. Heidi knew the concern Pete made an effort to display at the moment would disappear the second the door to their den closed.
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