Far From Innocent (22 page)

Erin almost fell when he dragged her toward the road.

“What might not be like it for me?” she stammered, fighting to keep up with him when he started dragging her down the road toward her den.

“When a werewolf and a bitch have sex in their fur, it means something.” He didn’t slow down and his grip on her arm cut off her circulation.

“Would you quit hauling me away like this?” she yelled and almost fell to her knees.

Juan stopped, and she stumbled into his rock-hard chest.

“No matter what you think, I honor werewolf tradition.”

“So do I.” She looked into his smoldering gaze.

“Then you and I are mated.”

She stared at him, her mouth open and her heart pounding so hard it hurt. “Oh Juan,” she cried, unable to stop the tear that streamed down her cheek. Too many emotions tumbled around inside her. “I love you,” she said, letting the words fall out.

It looked like she’d just hit him up the side of the head.

“Love me?” The look on his face would have been comical if he didn’t still hold her arm in a death grip.

115

Lorie O’Clare

“And I’d love you more if you’d let go of my arm,” she stammered.

“Shit. Oh shit.” Juan let go of her, the spicy smell of his anger mixing with something muskier when he took her arm in both of his large hands, caressing and stroking her. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. This is new for me.”

“Me too.” She straightened and wiped her tear with her free hand. “And I was scared to say it first.”

“Erin. You’re braver than I am.” It wasn’t too often such a large, dangerous-looking werewolf had such a sheepish look on his face.

Erin decided she liked the look. She licked her lips, unable to stop her grin. “So. It’s your turn.”

“My turn?” A tangy, fresh smell, like happiness and embarrassment mixed

together, made the cold night air around them crisper. “Oh. Little bitch, I love you too.”

“Juan!” she cried out, jumping into his arms and wrapping her hands around the back of her neck. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

He held her to him with incredibly strong arms. So much power fed her confidence.

Together they could make anything happen.

“Come on,” he told her, wrapping her under his arm and turning toward her den.

“You are going to your den and showering, then going to bed. Don’t worry about your littermates—I’ll take care of them.”

“What are you going to do?” It was impossible not to worry about Dimitri and Nicolo. They were pains in the ass, but they were all she had.

“Tomorrow I’ll convince them that you’re part of my den now.”

She liked how that sounded. Dimitri and Nicolo wouldn’t be as thrilled.

“And how will you do that?”

“I plan on letting Dimitri know I’ll back him as pack leader.” He looked down at her, surprising her with a serious expression. “Dante has known from the beginning that he wouldn’t lead this pack.”

In the park Renee had said something about how Moira knew all along that Dante wouldn’t lead them. She bit her lip. Juan would think she was crazy.

“How did he know?” she asked.

“Dante and Moira can do things, see things, that most of us can’t.”

“Did you know Bruno and Renee Tangaree?” she asked.

Juan shook his head, holding her tighter when the road got rocky. They hiked along a rough path that would be impossible for even a four-wheel drive to make it over easily. She could have lifted her feet and still moved along just fine. Juan had her pinned to his side and almost carried her.

“I met Bruno a few times, but never his mate. I’ve heard plenty about both of them though.”

116

Far From Innocent

“I knew them most of my life. Bruno was our pack leader. And Renee—she was wonderful.”

“We never knew anyone most of our lives.”

She looked quickly, sniffing the air, but didn’t notice any resentment. Juan simply stated it as a fact.

“Dante’s sire was killed shortly after he was born. Mom took another mate from the Malta pack and I came along. I barely remember my sire. He died fighting to help protect the pack when I was just a cub. We did okay though. And we saw a fair amount of Europe. Mom took us back to Ireland where Dante’s sire was from and we lived with his den until we were old enough to live on our own.”

“Why did you travel so much?” It sounded like such a romantic life, and since he didn’t sound resentful of it, she was curious to know more.

“Creating a strong, powerful and secure pack isn’t easy.” He continued holding her but looked ahead as they got closer to her den. “Oftentimes dens can try forming a pack, but without strong leadership, they dissolve and the dens move on to better land.

That’s what we did. Mom wasn’t mated, and if there wasn’t enough protection in the pack, she’d bundle us up and head out to another pack. Once we were old enough, of course, we were her protection.”

“I bet your mother is a wonderful bitch.”

“She was.”

“Was?”

“She was killed challenging another bitch over a male.”

Erin thought of her own mother and her untimely death. A part of her died that day too, and the wound had never quite healed from losing her. She sucked in a breath and glanced up at him. Juan grinned at her then squeezed her ass.

“I assure you, there are no other bitches for you to challenge,” he told her, taking her hand so she could step over a fallen log once they left the road. “I’m afraid you are stuck with me.”

“You won’t face any challenges either.” Not even with her littermates. She’d damned well see to it.

Not once had she taken time to discuss personal history with a werewolf before. In those few brief minutes, Juan had let her see his soul. There was pain in his past. Yet he smiled so easily. More than likely, he covered hostile emotions with amusement. That wasn’t necessarily a bad trait.

“Your littermates are here.” He pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Do as I told you now. Go shower and go to bed. I’ll be here tomorrow to secure our mating.”

She didn’t expect him to walk her up to the door. He did though, going as far as to put his hand on the doorknob.

117

Lorie O’Clare

The door was pulled open before he could turn the handle. Dimitri scowled at both of them, his anger spicing up the air enough that she almost sneezed.

“Do as I say,” Juan told her, giving her his full attention before slowly meeting Dimitri’s gaze. He wasn’t daunted but turned Erin to face Dimitri and gave her a push into her den. “I will be here tomorrow to speak with you, Dimitri.”

She moved behind her littermate, barely able to see over his shoulder when he filled the doorway. He closed the door on Juan without answering him. At least he didn’t tell him no.

Nicolo walked into the room, sniffing the air and then giving her a concerned look.

“Go shower,” Dimitri ordered.

“I was planning on it.” She fought the urge to tell him that for the first time, he and Juan wanted the same thing.

Her hair was damp when she padded back into their living room, comfortable in baggy sweats and a sweatshirt, but feeling every muscle in her body. She tingled from head to toe, and it wasn’t from the hot shower. Making love to Juan in her fur left her sore and aching for more of him.

It sucked that she’d be sleeping alone tonight.

Cuddling up next to Juan sounded so wonderful. But he’d promised to come by tomorrow, and the happy, fulfilled sensation rippling inside her would easily carry her that long.

“How did the meeting go?” she asked, cuddling into the corner of the couch and pulling her feet up.

“If you were so concerned about it, you wouldn’t have left.” Dimitri crossed his arms, stretching out at the other end of the couch. He crossed his legs, and his large boots reached the middle of the living room.

Erin wouldn’t let either one of them sway her good mood. “You know why I left.

Now tell me about the meeting.”

“Basically, we’ve been planted in between two feuding packs, and now the
lunewulfs
can take their aggression out on us instead of the American werewolves.”

Nicolo stared at a longneck bottle of beer in his hand and ignored Dimitri’s scowl. “The American werewolves have been in these mountains for a couple generations at least.

Then five years or so ago, the
lunewulfs
settled into land on the mountain next to ours.

Werewolf Affairs approved their territory claim, but only after a year of the
lunewulfs
fighting for rights to it. By then, the feud between the Americans and
lunewulfs
was well under way.”

“I remember the day we first came here.” Erin stretched and muscles inside her thighs cramped. She stiffened and her littermates looked at her oddly. Pressing her hands down on her legs to calm the muscles, she ignored them, determined to keep the conversation on topic. “Both of you were so convinced this would never work.”

118

Far From Innocent

“We were right when we guessed Malta werewolves would be dumped onto bad land.” Dimitri studied her closely, giving her a thorough once-over.

“It’s good land,” she argued. “It’s just not problem-free. You’ve got to admit though, some of the problems we’ve brought with us. I know you’ll make it work here for us, Dimitri.”

“I’m not pack leader until after the challenge,” he reminded her. “And there’s always the chance I won’t win.”

“The challenge is to the death?” she asked, already knowing the answer. Up until this moment, she’d been so preoccupied with Juan, she hadn’t thought about it.

Dimitri’s gaze softened for the first time since she’d gotten home. It wasn’t often she saw his dark eyes look more like melting milk chocolate. Once in a while, she saw what the other bitches always saw in her littermate. He just had an incredible knack for hiding his compassionate side behind threats and orders.

“So far, five werewolves have entered the challenge. Only one alpha male will stand when it’s over. Tradition won’t be altered in our pack.”

“And Dante isn’t one of the werewolves, is he?” she said quickly, and then wished she could take back her words. Her strange meeting in the park with Renee came to mind. She’d really seen her old queen bitch. There was no doubt in her mind. What she didn’t know or understand was if she’d seen a ghost, or if somehow Renee had managed to survive the fire in Malta. It didn’t make sense that she’d survived the fire.

“No. He isn’t,” Dimitri said. “The werewolf never signed up for the challenge. Why do you think that is, Erin?”

“I don’t think he ever planned on trying to lead the pack,” she said quietly.

“He brought us all here and then doesn’t try to lead? That doesn’t make sense.”

Nicolo shook his head, scowling as he stared at the floor.

“I really think it’s destined for you to lead us.” Maybe that’s why Renee had come to her. She could have appeared before her daughter anywhere, but she’d shown up while Erin was there. That had to mean something. “Everyone I’ve talked to backs you as pack leader.”

“I still have to win the fight.” Dimitri cocked his head at her, frowning when he sniffed the air. “The gift won’t be allowed during the challenge. Anyone caught using it will be killed immediately. What is this about destiny? What are you talking about?”

“If you’re plotting anything to help with the challenge,” Nicolo cut in, suddenly smelling suspicious.

“No. No. It’s nothing like that.” She straightened, leaning her elbows on her knees and then resting her head in her hands. “Neither one of you will believe me if I tell you.

You’ll both think I’m crazy.”

“I already think you’re crazy,” Dimitri said. “And from the smell of you, it’s too late to do a damned thing about it.”

“Don’t start,” she said, waving her hand at him.

119

Lorie O’Clare

Immediately Dimitri stiffened. Nothing pissed him off more than her trying to give him the brush-off. His tail always got bent out of shape so quickly. Erin sighed, purposely sneezing over the spicy smell of his anger.

“Something happened tonight while you two were in the meeting.”

“We really don’t want to hear the details, Erin,” Nicolo said. “Dimitri’s right. The smell of that werewolf on you is nauseating. You even showered and it still weighs heavy in the air.”

“I’m not talking about that.” She wouldn’t honor his comment by justifying it. She smelled Juan with every breath she took, and she hoped she did for quite a long time.

Her nerves twisted inside her, and she hoped she wasn’t making a mistake telling them what she was about to say. “When I left the meeting, Moira followed me and we went to the park. I saw someone there that I thought was dead.”

The room grew quiet and both of her littermates stared at her, waiting for her to continue. She’d said this much, so she might as well get the rest of it out. Even though Moira asked her not to, Dimitri deserved to know what had been said.

“Renee Tangaree was in the park.”

“What?” Dimitri jumped to his feet.

“Are you sure?” Nicolo frowned, glancing at Dimitri, who suddenly looked ready to explode.

“I’m positive. We talked to her.”

“You talked to her,” Dimitri repeated.

“So they are alive?” Nicolo shook his head, turning his attention to Dimitri. “If Moira was there, then her den would know about this too.”

“Bruno would encourage Dante to fight in the challenge.” Dimitri walked to the other end of the living room and then turned, pacing back. “He would want the pack leader to be from his den.”

“No. It’s not like that. Listen to me.” Erin jumped up, muscles screaming in her legs as well as deeper inside her when she moved quickly. “Renee told us that Dante wouldn’t lead the pack. She said it like she was reminding Moira of something she already knew.”

“But what are they doing here? And why are they hiding?” Dimitri yelled, as if she knew the answers.

She shook her head, touching his arm, which made him jump. He looked down at her fingers brushing against his forearm and then slowly returned his gaze to hers.

“I don’t think they are hiding. And all I saw was Renee, not Bruno. I asked her how she survived the fire and her answer was confusing. She said something about the strength of the gift offering advantages that she couldn’t even begin to describe to me.