Free Far From Innocent by Lorie O'Clare Page B

directly toward her since she stood in the line of fire.
    Dante took a step forward. Moira yelled something. Erin’s head spun with the realization that Dimitri would try to kill Juan for speaking so boldly about her. She raised her hand, fearing for Juan’s life as her own anger racked her body.
    “No!” she screamed.
    “Erin!” Juan bellowed her name so loud that it vibrated through her.
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    All she could focus on was Dimitri—the intensity of his anger, the overwhelming smell of his outrage and determination. She pushed her hand through the air, calling forth the gift while she extended her arm and stretched her palm and fingers.
    “I said no!” she yelled, her own anger clogging the air between her and her littermate.
    Dimitri stopped as if he’d run into an invisible brick wall. Stumbling backward, he teetered on his heels for a moment. His hand went to his head, as if the impact of the force that couldn’t be seen left him bruised and bewildered.
    Large hands came down on her shoulders. “What did I tell you about using the gift?” Juan hissed in her ear. “Release him immediately.”
    His touch was like fire. Her anger shattered inside her. The harshness of his tone cleared her head. It was one thing for her littermates to scold her. She didn’t like hearing it from Juan.
    She dropped her hand and at the same time, Dimitri fell to the ground. Moira took a quick step forward, as if she would help him, and then stopped herself and instead looked at Juan.
    “Preventing her from using what is naturally inside her will cause her to resent you,” she said quietly.
    “Don’t decide how my littermate will think,” Dimitri snapped at her.
    “You will not talk to my mate that way.” Dante took a step forward.
    “If you can’t keep her in line, how would you manage a pack?” Dimitri sneered.
    “Oh wait. You don’t manage them, just destroy them.”
    “Dante has never destroyed a pack. He made that clear to you when we first moved here.” Juan still had his hands on Erin and his grip hardened as his anger toyed with the werewolf inside him, itching to be set free. “Your hatred will keep you from leading this pack, just like Erin said.”
    “Get your hands off her,” Dimitri growled. “There are many who feel like I do. And all of them side with me in leading this pack.”
    “Malta werewolves will not be guided by blind fury.” Dante moved in closer, shrugging his mate’s hand off him when she tried grabbing him. “Hatred destroyed us in Malta, not me. And until you accept that, you’ll never be able to lead.”
    Dante stood inches from Dimitri, the two werewolves on the verge of changing.
    Muscles rippled through their bodies, stretching their clothing until it looked like it would tear free from their bodies.
    “What happened in Malta will never happen again,” Dimitri hissed. “The gift will not be exploited. Those who have it will learn to use it productively and not like cubs who can’t keep their tails out of trouble.”
    With that, he grabbed Erin, moving quickly and pulling her off her feet until he had her out of Juan’s arms and secure behind him.
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    “Touch her again and I’ll break your fucking neck,” he threatened, pointing his finger in Juan’s face. “Go sniff around some other bitch and forget about this one.”
    “Damn it, Dimitri. Quit being such a bully.” Erin fought for her footing when he pushed her toward the road and then picked up the pace, grabbing her arm and marching her away from Juan and his den.
    “You’re going home and showering. The stench on you turns my stomach.” Dimitri ignored her complaints, holding on to her tight and heading up the road.
    “The last place I want to go to is our den. The night is young, Dimitri. And if you’d pull your head out of your ass, you’d see there’s nothing wrong with Juan.”
    Dimitri sighed, his anger hanging in the air while they climbed the rough road toward their