'Til Death

by Lorie O'Clare

  That was fine. Dante’s bitch could tend to him. He came here to do what he needed to do for his pack, and now he was out of here. Keeping his grip on Rosa, he left the den. The door slammed behind him and he knew neither Moira nor Dante had touched it.

  “How did you get here?” Dimitri didn’t take his hands off Rosa when they reached his truck.

  She studied his arms, his chest, then lifted her gaze to his face as her fingers traced lines up his torso to his collarbone. “I walked,” she told him, then leaned into him, stretching her body against his, and tried to kiss him.

  He grabbed her upper arms, putting a bit of distance between them. Rosa was on fire, her adrenaline pumping inside her. It made her scent even more provocative. Their bodies touched way too much while inside Dante’s den, but Dimitri would be damned before he got a boner while confronting that asshole. Now that every bit of his concentration wasn’t focused on dealing with his nemesis, sparks popped and sizzled inside him. He could ride Rosa hard and long tonight and it wouldn’t drain all of his energy. She didn’t deserve it so rough from him just because he was so wound up.

  “I’ll take you to your den.” Having her sit next to him in his truck might be more than he could handle right now. The gleam in her eyes when she looked up at him was enough for him to know she followed his thoughts. He doubted he had the strength to keep them from her at the moment. “What did you say to Dante inside before we left?”

  “I told him the only way I was going to my den was if you refused me.”

  “Damn it.” He yanked open his passenger door and watched her slide into his truck.

  Rosa smelled of her usual lavender scent. He inhaled what was left of the anger and high energy that had been on her when he arrived at this den. His scent clung to her skin, overriding all other aromas. If he took her to her den and Rosa called Dante, then the werewolf would know Dimitri had refused her. And after marking her like he had, refusing Rosa would humiliate her in the eyes of her den.

  The little bitch was pretty damned clever.

  “So where are we going?” She snuggled up to him, pulling her legs onto the seat and leaning into him.

  He scowled at her glowing smile. “I have half a mind to take you to your den just to show you that I won’t be bullied.”

  Her smile faded and she looked so hurt that instantly everything inside him went soft—well, almost everything. Sitting this close to Rosa kept his dick hard and alert.

  “I thought that to him out of anger,” she said quietly, her scent softening. She shifted, her breasts brushing against his arm. “But don’t worry. There wouldn’t be any pleasure in manipulating your actions. I would never know if you were with me because it’s what you wanted if I did that.”

  He pulled out of the driveway and turned toward his den. “You’re with me because I want you to be,” he told her.

  She didn’t say anything, but the smell of her happiness almost drowned out her rich, lustful scent that nearly intoxicated him. His phone rang between them, and again Rosa shifted.

  “Want me to get it for you?” She looked searchingly at his face.

  Dimitri saw her effort not to chase him too hard. Although there was little humor to it, he almost laughed. Rosa ran after him so hard, going so far as to sabotage another bitch’s den just to put her mark on him. He stretched slightly, lifting his elbows as he drove and allowed her to free the cell phone from his belt.

  He took it from her and glanced at the screen. “What?” he asked after accepting Josie’s call.

  “Did you go to Dante’s?” Josie asked.

  “Just left from there.”

  “How did it go?”

  “I had intervention.”

  “Intervention?”

  “Rosa was there.”

  “I see. Is she with you now?”

  “Yup.” And he was sure she heard every word Josie said through the cell phone. Dimitri didn’t look at her face to find out. Her scent subsided, giving enough hint that she concentrated on something—either his call or his thoughts or both. “Where are you now?”

  “A few of us are up at my den. We’re thinking about heading out for a run—figured you might want to go.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll head that way in a few.” As soon as he hung up his cell, he glanced at Rosa.

  She watched him, her soft features accentuated by moonlight streaming in through the windshield. “You don’t want to take me.”

  “I wasn’t thinking that.”

  “I’m guessing.”

  He sighed, pulling into his den and then putting the truck in park. Turning to face her, he couldn’t stop himself from stroking a strand of her hair with his fingers.

  “I will never be accused of not honoring our traditions.” He wasn’t sure how to approach the discussion of mating, especially since it wasn’t something he’d considered doing any time in the near future. Or at least he hadn’t until recently.

  “Nor would I,” she murmured, straightening and folding her hands in her lap.

  She suddenly smelled disappointed. Damn it. He didn’t want to hurt her. “Rosa.” God. What the fuck was the right thing to say? “If we make public appearances together, my pack will anticipate an announcement. The pack leader has the obligation to provide the example others will follow. We’ve already marked each other with our scents.”

  Why in the hell could he find the words to actually ask Dante for help, but then get all tongue-tied when it came to talking to Rosa about mating?

  She adjusted herself, moving to her side of the cab and then looking out the passenger window. Dimitri actually reached for her, intent on pulling her back to him, when he stopped himself. If they called things off right now, or at least slowed everything down drastically, possibly the pack wouldn’t start howling their demands that he mate with Rosa. And Dimitri would not let it get to that point. A pack leader who didn’t lead the most honorable life shouldn’t be leading a pack. None of his actions would be sniffed after and deemed inappropriate. He put his hand on his thigh and forced himself not to touch her.

  “Earlier Maura called me. I was supposed to call her back if I sniffed out her mate.” She licked her lips and stared at her lap, then turned and focused on him with her sultry tan-colored eyes. “I knew I would never be able to sit in a den, continually wondering where my mate was while he ran over the mountain, determined to find trouble before it started.”

  “Josie is a good werewolf.”

  She nodded quickly. “And so are you. Very good,” she added quietly and then sucked in her breath while her cheeks flushed noticeably even in the darkness.

  “This is about more than sex. Even if it were just sex, we couldn’t be seen with each other, or carry each other’s scent without the pack talking. Possibly if you howled for someone who wasn’t pack leader…”

  “I don’t want another werewolf, Dimitri. I want you. And you aren’t getting my point.” She puckered her lips, making them look damned ready to be kissed. “I told you I couldn’t sit in a den while my mate ran around protecting the pack. I would have to be out there by your side. And so that’s what I did.”

  “That’s what you did?” He understood after a moment but wasn’t sure he liked it. “You went to speak to Dante as a queen bitch would do for her pack leader.”

  “I wouldn’t say it like that.”

  “I wouldn’t either, since you aren’t queen bitch. What exactly is it that you did then?”

  “I tried to help you,” she hissed, suddenly angry.

  “Did I ask for your help?” God. Did she really think he would have failed with Dante if she hadn’t sniffed him out first?

  “You didn’t have to ask.” Her breathing got heavier and she searched his face then looked around the cab like she fought for what else to say.

  “I wouldn’t have to ask if you were queen bitch.”

  “Which I’m not.” She slid backward, reaching for her door, then pushed it open, letting the cold flood the small space between them.
“You’ve made that real fucking clear, Dimitri. I don’t need to hear it again.”

  “Rosa.” He almost had her arm but she got away from him. “Damn it. Come back here.”

  Dimitri shut off the engine and hopped out of his side of the truck. Rosa raced up the mountain, disappearing into the darkness in the next minute.

  Son of a bitch!

  Run after her. Do you really want her to slip through your claws?

  Like the asshole that he was, he stood and watched Rosa until he couldn’t hear her boots pounding against the hard ground any longer.

  “Damn it,” he said again and jumped back into his truck. Maybe they did need some time apart. Things were moving damned fast between the two of them, at least according to tradition and their laws. He’d swelled inside of her and couldn’t wait to do it again. His scent on her appealed to him more than anything else he had ever smelled. But if they appeared together at a pack run, with his mark on her, the pack would anticipate his announcement.

  Was he ready to do that?

  It’s the fucking right thing to do. His thoughts pissed him off even further. Nothing annoyed him more than feeling trapped. But you want her, you son of a bitch. Why the hell can’t you tell her that?

  The physical part of their relationship raced at a much faster speed than the emotional part. Or maybe he wasn’t ready to accept how he felt about her.

  Fuck that. He accepted how he felt about her. He was just too big of a chickenshit to admit those feelings to her. And now she ran from him. Glowering, he stared out the windshield and allowed his thoughts to war with each other. Finally, growling at the darkness, he shoved his truck into gear. Josie and the others would wonder where in the hell he was if he didn’t show up soon.

  Dimitri still scowled when he parked in front of Josie’s house. Josie and Maura stood out front with a handful of their pack lingering around and chatting. He stared at Rosa’s backside as she faced Maura. Josie stood next to Nicolo and the two males moved away from the others standing around them and walked up to Dimitri’s truck.

  “I hear your visit to Werewolf Affairs didn’t go over real well,” Nicolo said in greeting.

  “Good news travels real damned fast.” Dimitri glanced past them at Rosa, but she didn’t turn around and acknowledge him. He watched her toss her thick black hair over her shoulder and laugh at something Maura said. The little bitch planned on ignoring him. Just fucking lovely.

  Josie gave him an odd look and then followed his gaze over to the bitches. Dimitri scowled at him. “Shut the fuck up,” he hissed.

  Josie held his hands out in a sign of surrender but gave him an impish grin that Dimitri ached to wipe off his face with his claws. “She didn’t mention you at all when she showed up. I do know she called Maura and we invited her to join us. So she is running with an escort. Don’t go getting your tail in a knot.”

  “Mind filling me in on the conversation here?” Nicolo complained.

  “Lovers’ quarrel,” Josie muttered.

  Nicolo rocked up on his toes when Dimitri growled. “She would be a damned good mate for you.”

  “Why the hell do you say that?” Dimitri didn’t like the knowing smile his older littermate gave him any more than the smirk on Josie’s face.

  “You would do well to take a queen bitch who has the gift,” Nicolo pointed out.

  “She’s a sexy bitch,” Josie added.

  “Those aren’t reasons to mate with her.” He had the energy built up to kick both of their asses.

  “Oh hell—you went and fell in love with her, didn’t you?” Josie punched his arm.

  Dimitri was ready to pounce. “Are we going to go on this fucking run or not?”

  “Round your pack up and let’s head out.” Josie shook his head and then left him to join his mate. He laughed like he had just heard a damned good joke when he walked away from them.

  “Once you tell her how you feel about her, it will be a lot easier.” Nicolo didn’t wait for Dimitri to respond, but went to join his mate.

  Dimitri stared into the darkness, wondering if he wouldn’t do better to just run alone tonight. But his pack was here and they would stand around and gossip all damned night until he announced it was time to leave.

  Sucking in his breath, he stifled his emotions before walking over to Josie and Maura. Gallantly nodding at Rosa, he put his hand on Maura’s shoulder, silently interrupting their conversation.

  “Take the bitches inside to change,” he told Maura, since they were at her den. With unmated bitches in the group, it was proper for them to change where the males couldn’t see them.

  One of the newer dens in the pack showed up, and the mother and her two teenage daughters joined Maura. “Dimitri, we haven’t formally been introduced,” the mother said, nodding to him and grabbing both of her daughters and practically pushing them in front of him. “I’m Margot Shelling. My mate is over there, Pete Shelling. And these are our daughters, both of them mating age—Priscilla and Polly.”

  The two young bitches gave him the once-over and he felt like raw steak being eyed before it was devoured.

  “We’ll make sure your daughters are properly escorted.” Rosa stepped forward, breaking the teenage bitches’ concentration on him with the reminder that they were being watched.

  He didn’t notice Tonya on the other side of Maura until she stepped forward. “Who is going to escort me?” she asked, winking at Dimitri.

  Rosa growled and Tonya stepped back quickly. Maura grinned at Rosa, shaking her head and then guiding the bitches into her den. Rosa hesitated and turned, catching him watching her.

  “Just so you know,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mention you when I arrived. No one knows we had a fight.”

  “We didn’t have a fight.”

  She blew out a loud breath of frustration. “You are the most stubborn werewolf,” she began and then turned away from him, tossing her hair over her shoulder and following Maura into the den.

  “Dimitri,” Josie called. “Come here and meet Pete Shelling.”

  Grateful to get the sassy little bitch off his mind, even if it would probably be for just a second, he strolled over to the group of males and exchanged introductions with a Malta werewolf he barely remembered from the old pack.

  “And this is my littermate, Paul.” Pete Shelling was a stocky werewolf with short black hair shaved close to his head. His littermate had a similar build.

  “Oh good. You didn’t leave without us.” Perry Zammit hurried from the parked cars that filled Josie’s drive. His mate grinned at all of them as she held her mate’s hand.

  “The bitches are already inside.” Dimitri nodded at Claudette Zammit, who leaned into her mate and pecked his check with a quick kiss, then left the males. Dimitri offered quick introductions. “Are all of you in one den right now?” he asked the Shelling males.

  “No. My littermate has enough of a den without me crowding the action. We planned on approaching you tomorrow to see if you have any cabins available on the mountain, and to officially ask to join your pack.”

  “All Malta werewolves are welcome here. Stop by tomorrow and we’ll discuss what trades you know and see about getting you settled.”

  “Do you have a lot of single bitches in the pack?” Paul glanced toward the cabin. “I smell a fair amount of them in there. And you sent them inside because a few would need escorts?”

  “Of course. We have a few single females, and our run is mixed tonight with those well acquainted and those who aren’t. You’ll find that I run a very honorable pack here on the mountain.” He studied Paul’s profile as the male focused on Josie’s den. “All single females here tonight already have escorts. Tomorrow when you stop by I’ll visit with you and then let each of them know about you. If they’re interested, I’m sure you’ll find out.”

  When he grinned at Dimitri, it was obvious what an ugly son of a bitch he was. Dimitri glanced around the yard, more than aware that Josie and Nicolo paid a bit too much attention to
him at the moment. To hell with them both. He wouldn’t be pushed into mating anyone. And it would just have to suck if he decided that Rosa wasn’t available to any other single male right now.

  Josie came up behind him and spoke quietly into his ear. “That single bitch who isn’t really single just sent me a mental message to let you know that the females are ready for the run.”

  Dimitri turned his head enough to see the shit-eating grin on Josie’s face. “Fuck you,” he mouthed, then turned toward the other males. “Let the run begin,” he shouted.

  Whoops and hollers filled the air as the males stripped out of their clothes and twisted them around their necks. Dimitri moved to the side of the cabin, aware that the females would exit through the back door so they could come outside naked and then let the change take over.

  The cold night air was brutal against his bare skin. Focusing on tying his jeans and shirt into small knots, he let his heartbeat pick up speed. Blood pumped in his veins, flowing quickly throughout his body as his muscles grew and changed shape. His senses heightened and a quick, hard pain racked his system. He managed to tie his clothes around his neck before his fingers got too thick to handle the simple task.

  When a hard breeze raced around the surrounding evergreens, it didn’t feel as cold as it would have if the change weren’t hitting him full force. Already his skin was thick enough to handle the elements. His pack moved around him, crunching dead leaves and twigs as their feet—or paws—pounded on the ground. Moonlight streaming through the branches made patches of the yard almost too bright. And the shaded areas became more distinct as his eyes altered, allowing him to view everything with a crisper, more focused vision.

  He smelled the bitches before he saw them. Falling to all fours, he watched the mated males leap to join their females and the single males move around the group, sniffing out any opportunity that might exist to get their dicks wet before the sun came up.

  A good, hard run was best if followed by sweaty, intense sex. Like he stood a chance in hell for his night to end that way now.