Ellora's Cavemen: Tales from the Temple II

ELLORA’S CAVEMEN: TALES FROM THE TEMPLE II

An Ellora’s Cave Publication, June 2004

Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

PO Box 787

Hudson, OH 44236-0787

ISBN MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-84360-927-4

Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned): Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), Mobipocket (PRC) & HTML

BY MOON RISE © 2004 TIELLE ST. CLARE

DREAM WALKER © 2004 PATRICE MICHELLE

ONE NIGHT STAND © 2004 J.C. WILDER

TAIL OF THE TIGER © 2004 R. CASTEEL

DRAGON’S LAW: MACE © 2004 ALICIA SPARKS

TAMING JACK © 2004 ANGELA KNIGHT

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.

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

ELLORA’S CAVEMEN: TALES FROM THE TEMPLE II edited by The Legendary “Queen of Steam”
Jaid Black.

Cover design by
Darrell King
. Photography by
Dennis Roliff
.

ELLORA’S CAVEMEN:

TALES FROM THE TEMPLE II

By Moon Rise

By Tielle St. Clare

Dream Walker

By Patrice Michelle

One Night Stand

By J.C. Wilder

Tail of the Tiger

By R. Casteel

Dragon’s Law: Mace

By Alicia Sparks

Taming Jack

By Angela Knight

BY MOON RISE

Tielle St. Clare

Tielle St. Clare

“We’re
what
?”

Caitlin didn’t flinch at her boss’s outburst. After three years she knew Luc’s temper flared hot but burned out quickly. She also knew his anger wasn’t directed at her. She was just the messenger.

“Quarantined,” she repeated with polite patience. Since the SARS outbreaks a few years before, world health organizations took immediate precautions when new viruses appeared. “The entire hotel is locked down for forty-eight hours. The virus takes twenty-four hours to incubate. We’ll all be tested and if we’re fine and showing no symptoms, we can leave.”

“They can’t just keep us here.”

“Yes, they can. Ninety percent of the people who contract this disease die within three days. It’s got everyone in a panic and since the last two cases have connections to this hotel, they’ve quarantined the whole building. Only health officials will be allowed in and they’ll be in protective suits.”

Luc dragged five fingers through his long black hair and spun away. His long legs carried him across the suite at a furious pace before he whipped around and came back.

“We have to go north.” The bright glitter of his blue eyes warned of the ragged emotions humming through him.

Caitlin could understand his concern. His future wife was waiting for him. The bonding ceremony was only three days away.

“Don’t worry. I put extra time in our schedule to deal with any delays. We’ll make it on time.”

“You don’t understand. We can’t stay.”

“We don’t have a choice,” she countered. She knew he didn’t like to be confined, but the suite they occupied gave them plenty of room—enough for some privacy and a little freedom. “And don’t worry. It’s a simple blood test to determine the existence of the virus. They won’t notice anything different in your blood,” she said in case that was his concern.

“We can’t stay,” he repeated. Something in his tone alerted Caitlin. He wasn’t joking or complaining. He was dead serious. There had to be a reason. She waited.

Finally Luc sighed. “Tomorrow night is the full moon.”

Caitlin’s stomach fell away. A full moon was the one time when werewolves couldn’t control their change. That meant that sometime tomorrow night, Luc, third in charge of the Northern Pack, would sprout fur and grow very large teeth.

“I have to sneak out.”

6

By Moon Rise

Caitlin shook her head. “They have guards posted around the building. They are really panicked about this latest outbreak.” She bit her lip and began her own wandering around the room. “And they have your information. If you were able to get out, they’d come after you, and that could lead them to the Pack.” Pack security was always the first priority.

“Either I make a run for it or we’re going to be explaining how a wolf got loose inside an urban hotel.” He rubbed his forehead. She could almost see the tension headache forming. “God knows what kind of damage he’ll cause in a place like this.”

Caitlin knew from talking with pack members that they had only vague memories of their times as a wolf. The passion and energy of the animal remained, but specifics were hazy.

“Isn’t there a way to stop the change? Or delay it?”

Luc shook his head. “No. The moon controls it.” He sighed. “And that means by moon rise tomorrow night, I’ll be a full wolf.”

Their paths intersected in the middle of the suite. She stared up at him, noting again the sheer masculine beauty—the long black hair flowing to his shoulders, the intriguing angles and shadows of his cheekbones and strong jaw, but it was his eyes that called to her. Eyes troubled and looking to her for answers.

“Call Fallon,” Caitlin suggested. “Since becoming the Alpha he seems to have answers for everything.”

Luc smiled grimly and agreed. “He does seem to have bits of arcane knowledge that he doesn’t see fit to share with the rest of us until the precise moment we need it.”

Luc flipped open his phone and dialed the direct line to the head of the wolf pack.

Not wanting to eavesdrop on the conversation but knowing she might be needed, Caitlin lingered nearby as Luc went through the ritualized greeting of the wolves.

Then, Luc reported their situation. “So, is there anything that can stop a full-moon change?” He waited. Confusion crinkled the corners of his eyes. He looked over at her.

“Uh, I don’t think that’s going to work,” he said, his voice dropping. “I’m with Caitlin.

I’m just not sure she’s ready for that.”

Caitlin straightened, pulling her shoulders back and extending to her full five-foot-six. Though not a werewolf herself, the Pack had become her family as well as her employer. She would do whatever it took to defend the Pack.

“Fallon wants to talk to you.” Luc offered her his phone then quickly backed away.

What was this mystery activity? Did he need to feed on her blood? That sounded suspiciously like a vampire’s cure and since werewolves and vampires had been mortal enemies for centuries, she doubted that would be it.

“Honor upon your house. Health and happiness for your pups, Alpha,” Caitlin said.

Luc leaned against the wall and watched Caitlin. He’d always thought she was cute but he’d never allowed himself to look at her in a sexual way. Staring at her now, he 7

Tielle St. Clare

could see her lush body—firm, full breasts, an ass with just enough curve to fill his hands. He ignored the tightening in his crotch and listened to Caitlin’s conversation. As she talked, she continued to walk the width of the room. The Alpha’s solution was unusual and risky. And it required Caitlin’s full cooperation.

Luc could hear the faint rumble of Fallon’s voice through the phone. And he knew the precise moment he explained what was needed. It was the moment Caitlin’s cheeks turned red. She raised one finger and gnawed on the nail. It was a habit she had when she was thinking or nervous.

“Yes, I understand.” She nodded and turned away. “Yes, thank you, Alpha.” She snapped the phone shut but kept her back to him.

“Did he explain what you would need to do?”

Caitlin nodded and slowly turned to face him. “I’m to keep the room cool, feed you the rarest cuts of meat they can provide and…” The blush bloomed again in her cheeks.

“And have sex with you whenever and however you desire it.”

* * * * *

Caitlin paced the length of the bed, crushing the plush carpet into a squished path.

She stopped by the window and glanced outside. The crisp clear winter day had faded to a brightly lit night with city lights and star bouncing off the fresh snow. It was a peaceful scene and did nothing to ease her frazzled nerves.

She’d agreed to do it. She’d agreed to offer herself to Luc and his wolf for sex.

According to Luc the pull of the moon began during the twenty-four hours prior to the rise of the full moon. That meant that sometime tonight, he should be calling for her.

Could she do it? Could she actually have sex with her boss? Her friend?

The man she loved.

Her stomach fell away at the thought. She was able to conceal her emotions most of the time, but what was she going to do now? She’d been in love with Luc for almost three years but she’d never let that affect her work or her interactions with Luc. It did no good to love Luc. Nothing would ever come of it. Early on, when she’d first joined the Pack, she’d learned that while some pack members chose human mates, rarely did those unions produce children. As a dominant male, Luc’s duty to the Pack required him to mate with a dominant werewolf female and produce strong cubs. Luc’s mate was already chosen for him by his Alpha.

So Caitlin had learned to hide her feelings and keep her distance. But tonight they were going to be as close as two people could get. The ache in her stomach moved lower, between her legs.

Before retreating to her room, Caitlin had asked, in an attempt to appear practical and nonchalant, about birth control. Not having planned to have sex on this trip, she hadn’t brought condoms and hadn’t been on the pill since she’d kicked her last boyfriend out of the house. Luc had assured her that only a True Mating between a 8

By Moon Rise

human and werewolf could produce a child. True Mates were rare because the wolf had to fully accept the human. The animal’s instinctive fear of humans made that unlikely.

Caitlin sighed and continued pacing. Birth control was actually low on her worry list. A broken heart was much more likely. The one thing that had helped her suppress her feelings for Luc was his platonic treatment of her. But to have him look at her with lust and desire…just the thought made her knees weak. What would happen after they’d had sex? Either she would be able to walk away having known the experience of loving him—

Or it would only serve to tighten the connection she felt for him.

Despite her fears, Caitlin couldn’t stop the flutter of anticipation. For one full day—

twenty-four hours—she would have him, belong to him.

And when the moon began to wane and the wolf was once again contained, she would have her memories.

Then she would leave. Caitlin planned to request a transfer as soon as Luc’s Mate Bonding was complete. She knew she could never have him for herself, but she wasn’t a masochist. Seeing him every day with the tall, elegant werewolf who’d been chosen as his mate was too painful for her to endure. She couldn’t leave. Once a human was drawn into the Pack, they stayed—serving in whatever capacity the Alpha deemed.

Fallon would understand and find a new place for her.