'Til Death Read online

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  ‘Til Death

  ISBN 9781419913327

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  ‘Til Death Copyright © 2007 Lorie O’Clare

  Edited by Mary Altman.

  Cover art by Syneca.

  Electronic book Publication: August 2007

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Werewolves of Malta:

  ‘Til Death

  Lorie O’Clare

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  eBay: eBay Inc.

  Chapter One

  The cold night air lay heavy with moisture over her long black coat. The smells of the night were everywhere, as well as an air of excitement, giving the world around Rosa Anthony a crisp, charged feeling.

  Anything could happen tonight.

  God. She wished something would happen tonight.

  She and her pack members reached the cliff and stared at the rushing creek that swelled with roaring water from melting snow. Spring would be here soon.

  A full moon made the water sparkle like it was loaded with diamonds. Even from here Rosa smelled the fish lazily moving around deep in the water, unaware of the deadly predators watching them.

  Moira Aldo pushed up against Rosa. Race you to the water, she challenged with her mind, thinking to her the same way others in her pack would speak.

  Moira’s mate, Dante Aldo, brushed against Moira and pushed her closer to Rosa. He looked down at both of them, his silver, almond-shaped eyes glowing in the night. You bitches can follow me if you can keep up, he taunted, his long, red tongue hanging from the side of his mouth as he laughed at them.

  Like I would want to stare at your ass. Rosa tossed her head, breathing in the rich smell of evergreen and the muskier, more pungent scent of the other males around her.

  One male in particular dominated. And he didn’t overhear their telepathic conversation.

  Rosa moved away from Moira and Dante, edging closer to the cliff so she could get a better look at Dimitri. Their pack leader, Dimitri Spalto, stood at the edge of the group, holding his head high and surveying the rushing water below them, ignoring everyone around him. Or at least that was how he appeared. Even though he didn’t have the gift, Rosa doubted Dimitri missed much that happened around him.

  It wasn’t too hard focusing on his thoughts. They were a small group, just the members of her pack who wound up agreeing on a late night run after leaving Perry and Claudette Zammit’s den. The young couple had opened their den up for a party, with cards and beer and just some really good downtime. Too many in the pack needed that after being shut up in their dens with the cold winter. Rosa wasn’t the only member of this pack not accustomed to the harsh cold and snow in the Rocky Mountains.

  Racing in their fur up the mountain to the stream that tumbled over the rocks, creating mini-waterfalls, made for the perfect end to an enjoyable evening. Although things could still get a lot better. Realizing she was almost drooling staring at Dimitri, she closed her mouth, feeling her long incisors pinch against her lower jaw.

  Lowering her head, she made a show of sniffing the edge of the cliff. Good thing Dante and Moira were more wrapped up in each other than anyone else. And Josie Balzon, who was so captivated with his brand new lunewulf mate, probably didn’t care what thoughts meandered around in her brain. The others with them didn’t possess the gift, the wonderful blessing bestowed upon Malta werewolves that allowed them to use the elements to their advantage—and to traipse around in each others’ minds.

  Like I want to hear any of them tease me just because I know perfection when I see it, Rosa thought to herself, inhaling the wet earth under her paws. It didn’t drown out Dimitri’s rich male scent. Or the growing smell of her lust.

  Although sex was on almost everyone’s mind this far into the run.

  Dimitri’s warning growl almost made her jump, then sent shivers over her hide when she imagined him making that same sound as he pumped deep inside her. Leaping first, the giant werewolf bounded down the cliff toward the rushing water below. Everyone else followed eagerly.

  Rocks pinched the pads under her paws as she hurried over the incline until she reached the water. For a few moments, its fresh smell—and that of the fish lingering deep in its depths—distracted her and the urge to hunt came on strong. Moira and Dante, as well as Dante’s littermate Juan and Juan’s mate Erin, bounded into the water, barking like cubs and splashing freezing water everywhere. The droplets soaking her fur felt real good after the hard run.

  As appealing as diving for fresh fish sounded, Rosa would rather hunt something else. She turned and caught Dimitri standing alongside the bank, taking long, slow drinks of the fresh spring water. Thick, roped muscle strained over his shoulders and large chest. His shiny black coat reflected moonlight and fell almost to the ground. He was a large, deadly looking werewolf, and the coat on her inner thighs grew damp watching him. And it wasn’t from the stream.

  Rosa walked toward him, climbing into his mind.

  At the same time, Tonya Miccatto, the lousy slut, made her move and pranced up to him. Rosa fought to swallow the growl that almost escaped her. She had no claim on Dimitri. Yet.

  Tonya wagged her tail and brushed up against him, practically turning around and begging him to mount her right there in front of all of them. Rosa didn’t know whether to puke or attack. Maybe she would kick the bitch’s ass and then throw up.

  Come on, wolf man. You know I could make you howl. Tonya’s thoughts would even be obvious to someone who didn’t have the gift.

  You never quit, do you, little bitch? Dimitri wasn’t quite sober and his thoughts were a little blurred. Even so, it was quite clear he wasn’t interested in the tramp.

  A werewolf like you needs a way to burn energy. Tonya brushed her body against his and then reached up and nipped the side of his face.

  Dimitri growled. Is there something you want?

  Oh hell. Rosa would not stand there and watch him flirt back with her.

  Ignoring the icy water that soaked her coat up her legs, Rosa marched over to Dimitri and Tonya, lowering her head so that she almost drank from the stream. She only had a couple beers earlier, but maybe they were enough to loosen her up. Her growl rose in her throat and grabbed Tonya’s attention. Dimitri turned his head and pierced her with glowing silver eyes.

  Leave him the fuck alone. She figured one solid warning was enough.

  Tonya opened her mouth, showing off long, white, shiny teeth as she panted and laughed at Rosa. The bitch rubbed her smaller body alongside Dimitri’s massive frame. It would take a good roll in the freezing stream to get her stench off his coat. Rosa lunged forward, splashing water on all of them, and bit Tonya on the chest.

  The bitch jumped backward, yelping. But she recovered quickly from her shock. Obviously being told no didn’t happen too often. Well she would be told no around Dimitri. Rosa would see to it.

  His mark isn’t on you, Rosa. Back off. He’s mine tonight. Tell you what. I’ll give you sloppy seconds. Tonya barked excitedly and pushed into Dimitri.

  Dimitri didn’t move, and the lousy bitch rubbed herself against him. Rosa took several large steps, almost jumping through the water to go at Tonya again.

&
nbsp; Let me make things a bit clearer for you. Rosa snapped at her again.

  When Tonya fell backward into the water, Dimitri turned his attention to Rosa. She lost her ability to breathe when he stared down at her.

  Would you fight for me, little bitch? There was no amusement or flattery in his thoughts.

  And that stung.

  Hell yes she would fight for him. And he damned well knew she was interested. Ever since she and her mother joined this pack a few months ago, Rosa did everything in her power to see Dimitri as often as possible. The werewolf preoccupied her dreams and distracted her during the day. One whiff of his scent and it was impossible for her to focus on any task she was trying to do.

  She straightened, meeting his gaze.

  You are too damned beautiful. What is it about you, Rosa?

  Rosa forgot to breathe. Simply gawking at him, she wondered if she heard his thoughts right. When she ran her tongue over the fur covering her teeth, his gaze shifted. Thick muscles twitched in his deep barrel chest. The tips of his coat clung together, soaked from the water, when he took a step toward her.

  The water could have been frozen solid and she wouldn’t have noticed. She didn’t dare move, heat rising inside her to dangerous levels when he sniffed her face with his cool, black nose. His thick, ripe scent wrapped around her like a drug, intoxicating her with lust.

  And then Tonya ruined the moment when she splashed up next to them. Ignore her, Dimitri. She won’t put out. I will. You know that’s what you want. Do you really think she would lift her tail after a hard run? Her den wouldn’t let her.

  Damn the fucking little bitch for her thoughts. Obviously they alerted Dante, who suddenly sauntered over to Rosa with his mate by his side. Glaring at Dimitri, he pushed between the two of them, forcing Rosa to stumble backward.

  Tonya barked her delight at no longer having competition and began nipping at Dimitri again.

  Don’t you have something better to do? Rosa scowled at Dante, raising her upper lip and growling.

  Not when it comes to protecting your reputation. I think it’s time we headed back.

  Dante was her cousin, not her fucking mother. And she told him as much with her thoughts. Besides, being with their pack leader, even though he was an unattached male, would hardly ruin her reputation. Not when she didn’t plan on it being a one-time thing.

  Tonya’s excited yelps annoyed Rosa even further. With Dante’s large black frame blocking her view, she couldn’t tell what the bitch was doing with Dimitri, and that made her blood boil.

  She raced to the shore, putting distance between her and all of them. Fortunately, most of her pack was preoccupied with pouncing on fish and playing with each other. None of them cared what she did other than her overprotective cousin.

  Dante moved enough to give her a view of Dimitri. He still stood in the water, sniffing it and scooping out the fish, although most of the school that had been there when they arrived had managed to swim upstream and away from the deadly predators.

  The little black bitch pranced around Dimitri and then stopped in front of him, this time raising her tail in invitation and practically backing into him. Tonya needed to be shown what kind of fire she played with.

  Rosa saw all she could handle seeing. This time she didn’t bark her annoyance. And the water was shallow enough, barely coming halfway up her legs, that it didn’t slow her pace. She plowed into Tonya, knocking the bitch off all her paws and sending her tumbling head over heels. The water splashed fiercely around them and Tonya came up all teeth and claws.

  Bring it on, stupid bitch, Rosa growled.

  He’s not your fucking werewolf, Tonya barked furiously. Her almond-shaped eyes became narrow slits, with bright silver gleaming. Anger filled the air with its spicy scent as she lunged at Rosa. The impact sent Tonya sideways, sliding over the stream as if she suddenly decided to go belly surfing.

  You want a challenge? I’ll take you on right now. Whatever it takes to make you keep your nasty paws off him. Rosa was pissed.

  Dimitri didn’t like Tonya. Rosa knew he didn’t. But if the bitch needed an education on who she could flirt with and who she couldn’t, Rosa had no problem giving it to her.

  She leapt into the air, opening her mouth wide enough to clamp down on Tonya’s neck. Fury tore her insides apart. Dimitri was an honorable werewolf, their pack leader and way too fucking gorgeous for some tramp to think she stood a chance with him.

  Rosa clamped her jaw shut, feeling fur and flesh fill her mouth. Her teeth pressed into Tonya’s hide, ready to puncture and taste blood.

  She went flying to the side, tumbling over her legs before any thoughts registered in her mind.

  There will not be a challenge over me! Dimitri barked furiously enough to grab everyone’s attention. Standing in front of Rosa as she pulled herself out of the frigid water and shook the droplets from her coat, Dimitri lowered his head and growled low and angrily at the drenched bitch. Tonya looked like a dirty mop that needed rung out.

  Tonya backed up a few paces. Dimitri leapt at her, roaring his order for her to back off. Tonya tripped over her tail trying to get away from him.

  Like I need this shit right now. Dimitri was pissed.

  The werewolves, who a second ago laughed jovially in the water, now all stood silently watching their pack leader and the two bitches who were now on either side of him. Rosa didn’t move. When Tonya walked away from him, deciding to lick her bruised ego, Dimitri turned around slowly and gave her his attention.

  I take one step toward her and her littermates will come after me. Doesn’t the little bitch know there is no love lost between me and her den? Dimitri studied her, not moving, while he tried to figure out her actions.

  Sometimes werewolves could be so dense.

  None of her den will lay a paw on you. They are all bark and no bite. Josie Balzon, a very large werewolf who had grown up with Dimitri and ached for a reason to take on Dante, sauntered over to his pack leader like he owned the stream. His lunewulf mate moved quietly behind him, watching the other werewolves around her warily.

  Stay out of it, Josie. She knew he could hear her thoughts. No one is going to fight anyone tonight. Especially over me. Just leave me alone.

  Josie looked past Dimitri at her, hearing her but not commenting, and then turned his attention to Dante.

  I’ve got better things to do tonight than toss your lame ass around. Dante curled his upper lip at Josie and then intentionally turned his back on him, focusing on his mate as he pushed her toward the shore.

  Rosa ached for something better to do too. She returned her attention to Dimitri, who ignored his pack as they moved to shore and continued watching her. When she finally dared to step closer to him, he turned and broke into a trot, barking at his pack members to head back down the mountain.

  Galloping down the steep incline, leaping over boulders and running around groups of evergreens helped clear her head a little. Halfway down the mountain, Tonya fell into pace alongside Dimitri. Damn the little bitch for still having hopes of getting laid tonight.

  For all Rosa cared, the bitch could go fuck half the pack. But she wouldn’t get any from Dimitri. No matter what her busybody packmates and littermates thought on the subject. Rosa would have Dimitri. Tonya, and any other bitch who was brave enough to come sniffing around, would learn quickly that they were out of their league.

  She would fight for him, accept any challenge if need be, and to hell with the overbearing males in her life.

  When they slowed as they came to an extremely rocky part of the mountain that was still covered with a fair amount of snow and ice, Tonya faked falling into Dimitri. Like anyone would believe she slipped on the ice.

  He stopped, waiting but not helping as she pulled herself to her paws. She grinned a toothy grin at him, getting off her ass but then sitting before him and then scooting closer until she almost was underneath his large chest.

  Most of the others ran ahead, eager to return to their dens and
get laid before sunrise. Rosa stopped, knowing her outrage filled the air with a spicy scent. The fucking slut had her seeing red. Tonya dared to roll over, spreading her legs and panting with excitement as she stared up at Dimitri.

  Rosa leapt, not thinking, which prevented Dante and the others from hearing her plan out her next move in her head. She pounced on Tonya, who lay right in front of Dimitri. Rosa’s quick actions forced her to stumble backward, stopped only by his steel body.

  Tonya screamed, getting the full impact of Rosa’s extended claws. And she possibly could have been ripped wide open except she did slide on the ice then, gliding a few feet out from underneath Rosa.

  What kind of warning do you need? Rosa let out a rumbling growl, so furious that for a moment she didn’t feel the heat from the thick fur that pressed against her backside. Stay the hell away from him or you’ll regret ever sniffing out his scent.

  Tonya slipped again before finding her footing and then shook her coat furiously. Long black fur fanned around her, making the bitch look like she was puffed up like a porcupine.

  You might have to fight this bad for a hard cock, but I sure as hell don’t. Just wait, bitch. When you aren’t around, I’m going to enjoy the hell out of what Dimitri has to offer. A werewolf like him wants a good roll outside the pack, not some prissy little female like you who would simply offer him your kill and make him listen to your overbearing mother while eating it. Tonya tossed her head, hastily barking her final threat, and then bounded down the mountain to catch up with the rest of the pack.

  Rosa shook with anger. And then noticed she was pressed up against Dimitri. Stepping gingerly over uneven, slick ground, she created some distance. It was hard to see around his massive body, but she glanced around her to see who else witnessed her tirade. Although she didn’t see him, she smelled Dante’s presence. His thoughts didn’t press into her. Good thing too. He wouldn’t give her a moment alone with Dimitri. But she would take the one free moment while she had it.