“I’m not! I goofed up and I’m clearing the air. Most women from our pack won’t even consider mating with him while my older brothers are single. They’re hoping they’ll hook up with them instead, but other packs would be thrilled to have Brand. He got tired of women trying to use him. That’s why he stopped going. They’d hound him for months afterward if he fucked any of them. He’s a prime catch for some bitches.”
“Shut up!” Brand snarled, his fangs elongating.
Charma rose from her chair and frowned. “Calm down.”
“He’s upsetting you.”
“I’m fine. You beating on your cousin, though, will upset me. I hate to clean up blood.”
“I just told her you haven’t gone to the runnings in years. He usually holes up with one bitch or hides in his house until mating heat is over. He doesn’t even keep a girlfriend for long.”
“Shut up.” Brand lunged.
Charma stepped into his path and her palms flattened on his chest to hold him in place. She turned her head to shoot Braden a pleading look. “Go wait in the truck and seal your lips.”
He fled, the door slamming behind him. Brand’s body trembled against her hands as she gave him her full attention. She had to tilt her head back to peer at his face. He grimly regarded her.
“I’m sorry.”
She rubbed him. “For what?”
“You shouldn’t have heard about that.”
“You had sex while we were apart. I’m just grateful you didn’t mate anyone. It would break my heart to see you with someone else and not be able to be with you. It worked out, didn’t it?”
His hands gripped her hips. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, hon.”
“You’re the only man I’ve ever loved. It doesn’t matter. Your runnings are over though.” She smiled to soften her words. “That would upset me.”
“Never. You’re it for me.”
“We’re fine then.”
“I’m your mate. I’d never want another.”
She leaned into him and dropped her chin. Her cheek rested against his chest. He hugged her and placed a kiss on top of her head.
“I’m not him.”
“I know.”
It amazed her that Brand would guess she had thought about Garrett and how he’d cheated. She’d driven him to it but it had still shocked her at first. She hadn’t been hurt, though, more relieved that he’d sought out physical release with other women. The thought of Brand touching someone else made pain sear through her heart.
“I’ll send Braden without me and stay here with you. They don’t really need me at the meeting.”
“No. You should go. I’ll be fine and this is about your pack. That’s important.” She pulled away enough to meet his intense gaze. “Call me if you have any questions about the prides. I’d offer to come along but I’m kind of afraid to do that.”
“It’s our pack now, yours too, and after this meeting, you’ll be safe anywhere you go within our territory. I’ll make damn sure of that and my cousins will back me.”
“Are you sure?” It worried her still that his pack might not accept her.
“Positive. Grady married a full human and Anton mated a quarter-puma.” He grinned. “Now we have a half-breed spotted leopard in the family. We’re going to gain a reputation for being a totally cool pack. All we need now is a bear shifter—and I’m thinking Braden should volunteer for that.”
“Don’t bears hate everyone? I heard stories that they eat our kind.”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “That’s why I think Braden should go find one to bring home. He’ll be on toast the first time he pisses her off, which shouldn’t take too long.”
She laughed, shook her head and pulled out of his arms. “He’s young and his intentions were good.”
“I’ll try to remember that. Lock the door and don’t answer it. I’ll be back soon. Get the phone if it rings.”
“I will.”
He leaned down to kiss her lips. “I’ll be home real soon. I can’t be away for long.” He growled softly and a hungry look filled his gaze as it traveled down her body. “I’m already hurting for you.”
“I’ll eat and wait for you on the bed.” She backed away. “Naked.”
A pained look crossed his handsome features. “Now I’m really hurting. Damn, hon, don’t torment me while I’m in heat. I’ll hurry. Lock the door.” He spun on his heel and left the house.
* * * * *
Brand shot dirty looks at Braden the entire trip to the Harris Pack alpha’s house. “You don’t speak to my mate of such things,” he ordered.
“I’m sorry.” His cousin shifted a little closer to the door to keep space between them. “Where’s your sense of humor? Gaining a mate has made you kind of a dick.”
“You could have hurt her feelings. I didn’t want her to know about the runnings. It’s not cool to discuss fucking other women in front of your mate.”
“She would have heard the truth from someone at some point. She didn’t seem angry.”
“You’re lucky.” Brand slowed the truck and parked behind a line of vehicles near the driveway. “Just don’t talk when you’re around her.”
“Really? I’m living in your basement.”
Brand growled softly. “Fine. Just don’t discuss sex with her, or bitches, and take hints when I shoot a glare your way. That means shut your trap.”
“I’m sure cats have runnings.”
“You’d be wrong.” Brand jerked on the handle and slid out of his truck. “The females can take pills to stop the heat. They only allow it to happen when they’re with someone they trust or when they’re already mated. It’s frowned upon if they get pregnant otherwise.”
“Tell it to those pussies who wanted to hurt Shannon.”
“Only prides with low birthrates are willing to do that breeding-for-litters bullshit, and from what I’ve heard, they force the half-breed mothers to give up those babies to barren full-blooded women to raise.”
“That’s some fucked-up shit.”
“Agreed. Just watch your mouth around Charma and remember that she’s different from us.”
“Fine.”
They walked side by side to the front door. Braden opened it and stalked inside first. The scent of pack filled the entire house and it didn’t surprise Brand that they’d met in the large living room instead of going downstairs where they held their usual family meetings. He nodded at his packmates but ignored the shocked expressions as they got a whiff of him. He’d expected the scent of Charma to draw plenty of attention.
Rave met his gaze across the room. He watched his cousin sniff the air and a grin spread across his face. “Glad you dragged your ass out of bed.”
Grady walked out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand. His head snapped in Brand’s direction and then his eyebrows lifted.
“Charma came home to me.”
“The spotted leopard from college?” A smile curved Grady’s lips. “I heard something about her from Rave.”
“She’s not leaving me a second time.” He lifted his chin to level a fierce look at the faces around the room. “She’s my mate. Got it? Anyone have a problem with that? Say so now and I’ll kill you before the meeting starts.”
“We welcome your mate, so don’t slaughter anyone.” Anton’s deep voice spoke as he entered the room carrying a big tray of food. “Congratulations. Tell her thanks for the heads-up on the pride threat.” He shot a menacing look around the room. “Is everyone cool with she-cats as protected mates in our pack? If not, step outside to get your ass kicked. You can pick who you want to fight but there will be no killings. I’d hate to get stains on Dad’s carpet so we will definitely take it to the backyard. There’s a hose out there to wash away the blood.”
No one spoke or moved toward the door.
Brand relaxed. He’d never worried that his cousins would have a problem with Charma, but the other wolves were another matter. Some of them were older, set in their ways, and cats were c
onsidered to be the enemy, no exceptions made. He had a suspicion that some weren’t cool with it but they were too afraid to protest. They’d get their asses handed to them by a Harris family member.
Anton placed the tray on the coffee table and moved to sit in a chair by the fireplace, apparently relaxed. Brand knew better. His cousin’s eyes were solemn, his fingers clawed a little on the arms of the chair. Brand took a seat on the couch opposite him.
“We have pride males lurking outside of town and they think they can take us.” Anton leaned forward a little. His cold smile didn’t reach his eyes and his voice was gruff. “The runnings are officially canceled. Spread the word to your family and neighbors. Any visitors we have need to leave. It’s too dangerous to be caught unaware that way. I want them gone, even if they offer to stay. The last thing we need is other packs pissed that they lost some of their own in our war. Turn your cell phones on and keep them close. I’m ordering families to go into house lockdown. The more family members in one home, the better. If you scent cat, call for help. We’ll be there with the enforcers immediately.”
Raymond Borl protested. “I don’t want my son-by-mate fucking my daughter under my roof. That’s why they have their own home.”
“Would you prefer to hear she was killed when they were slaughtered at their home?” Grady crossed his arms over his chest. “We’re better off staying in large numbers since I’m sure those pride males will attack en masse. They would be stupid to separate into smaller groups to come at us.”
“What if you’re attacked inside your home with no one else there, Raymond?” Braden snorted. “Bob is a good fighter, and you’d want him at your side to defend his mate and yours until help reached you.”
The older wolf rose to his feet and bared his teeth. “This wouldn’t be an issue if your family hadn’t attacked a pride. You invaded their territory first, not the other way around. You brought this on us!”
Anton moved so fast that Raymond didn’t even have time to flinch before he landed on his ass after being punched. “They invaded our territory first to take my mate. They had no right to come here.”
The older man on the floor coughed, rubbing his injured chest. “Your mother invited them to take that she-cat back where she belonged. They had her permission to cross into our territory.”
Rave grabbed his brother’s arm and hauled Anton back. “Easy,” he hissed, shooting a glare around the room. “Our mother had no authority to allow them here, and she has been banned from our pack for treachery against her own family. She’s paying for her crimes. Her mate shunned her. That she-cat you’re speaking of is a Harris now, a member of this pack, and considered one of us. This is where she belongs. Anyone who betrays this pack will face the same fate as my mother. She gave birth to me but I packed her bags myself. Remember that, if you think you’re immune from our wrath just because we’ve known you all our lives. This isn’t a democracy. Your acting alpha just gave you an order.”
Braden inched closer, shooting Brand a meaningful glance. It reminded him that he was usually the one who calmed tensions at pack meetings, often with his humor. He didn’t have any at the moment where prides or the pack’s stance on she-cats mated to werewolves were concerned. It affected Charma. It wasn’t a joking matter that someone thought they shouldn’t be defended because they weren’t bitches.
He stood, knowing he needed to say something.
“You can whine about why this happened later,” he stated gruffly. “Right now our pack is in danger. The pride males are going to be looking for small groups of us to attack but we won’t give them that.” Something his mate said surfaced in Brand’s memory. “We’re a pack. We stick together and back each other up. We work well together as one unit.” He stepped forward and bent, offering a hand to Raymond. “They are pride. They fight amongst themselves and won’t be able to spend much time together. Let’s show them why we’re to be feared—unity.”
Raymond took his hand and Brand pulled him to his feet. He released the jerk as soon as he could and resisted the urge to knock him back on his ass. Brand glanced around the room, looking for more trouble, but didn’t see it.
“You’ve got your orders,” Anton growled. “Move out. Enforcers, stay.”
The room cleared. Brand waited until the door closed before he frowned at Anton. “Where’s Von?” His cousin wasn’t present, something he’d taken note of when he arrived. It concerned him. Anton, Rave, Grady, Von and Braden always backed each other up. It was odd that one would miss a mandatory pack meeting.
Grady ran his fingers through his hair. “We don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Braden’s alarm was evident. “Did those damn cats grab him?”
Anton closed the distance and gripped his youngest brother’s shoulders. “He’s fine. He called my cell and left a message early this morning. He said something came up. It was an emergency and he had to leave town for a few days. He used the safe word. He wouldn’t have done that if someone forced him to make the call. The pride doesn’t have him.”
Now worry hit Brand hard. “Didn’t he hook up with someone for mating heat? Is she with him?”
“He had Debbie staying at his house,” Kane, the pack’s lead enforcer, explained. “He didn’t take her with him. He called and had me go tell her how sorry he was for leaving. I escorted her to her parents’ after stopping at a store on the way.” He actually blushed. “She needed some supplies.”
“Supplies?” Braden cocked his head. “What? They didn’t have enough food?”
Anton chuckled and released his brother to smack the side of his head. “She’s in heat too. I’m thinking what Kane isn’t saying is she needed lots of batteries for her vibrator.”
Rave chuckled. “He blushes.”
Kane flipped him off. “Screw you. It was uncomfortable, okay? She’s like a kid sister to me.” He stared at Anton. “Von refused to tell me where he was going or what he needed to do. I’m worried.”
“Me too.” Anton frowned, glancing around the room. “Does anyone know anything?”
Silence reigned.
Anton studied Kane. “You were on duty with him last night. Did something happen?”
“Nothing weird. We picked up the scent of a couple of humans by the pack graveyard. Von said he’d deal with scaring them off and sent me home.” His cheeks colored slightly again. “The heat was getting to me. I was sweating bad and he told me to go take care of business. He was fine when I left him. He’d taken some drugs to dull the desire. He said someone should keep a clear head, considering the state of the pack. Tension is high since your father shunned your mother and had to go on medical leave to survive cutting the bond with his mate.”
“Fuck,” Rave groaned. “It has to be something major for him to take off while in heat without one of our women with him to keep him sane. How bad does it have to be for him not to tell us what’s up?”
“Call him,” Braden demanded.
“We have,” Grady offered. “Many times. He’s not picking up and it goes straight to voice mail. I have no idea what’s up but right now we have other shit to deal with.”
“Nothing is more important than finding Von,” Rave growled.
“You think I don’t feel the same?” Grady held his gaze. “We’re all worried but he’s tough enough to handle himself.”
“Grady is right.” Anton sighed. “We’ll deal with finding Von later. Right now we need to protect the pack. Von had no idea of the seriousness of the threat we’re under or he’d be here. We left messages so hopefully he’ll hear them and show up soon.”
“This is a cluster-fuck,” Braden groaned. “Von is missing and we’ve got a pride about to attack.”
“We’ll handle those pussies and then track down Von.” Rave glanced at his brothers. “Where are we staying?”
“Here,” Anton announced. “It’s big enough to house all of us. The enforcers are taking over the basement and you’ve got an hour to grab your stuff. I expect
everyone to return by then.”
“Fuck no,” Rave rumbled. “I refuse to share a house with over twenty people.”
“Deal with it. We need to set an example,” Anton reminded him. “So far you haven’t done a good job of that after we ordered everyone to double up. You said Braden drove you nuts and you sent him to Brand. You demanded Shannon and I move to Grady’s place. We’re alpha-blooded, two of us could fight off a few dozen pride members. The rest of the pack wouldn’t stand a chance against those numbers so we’ll bring the fight to us. It’s best if we’re all under one roof. We’ll be their main target so we may as well make it easy for them to find us.” He grinned. “And this is the first place they’ll look. Rave can find some humans to fill in at the bar and make sure they know where to send anyone who comes looking for a Harris.”
“Done.” Rave nodded.
“Rave drove me nuts,” Braden muttered. “Not the other way around. He took over Anton’s old schedule of the prospective out-of-town mates. Do you know what it was like, hearing him nailing different women every few hours that first night? He took them to the guestroom right next to mine.” He flipped off his brother. “Just to rub it in so I’d know exactly what they were doing.”
“Shut up,” Rave growled. “I didn’t want their scent in my bedroom. I had to listen to you whine constantly about how mean it was to smell sex when you couldn’t get laid.”
“I could if I hadn’t been banned by Dad from touching pack women!”
Grady stepped between them. “Rave, stop needling him, and Braden, you’re happier with Brand. It’s your own fault you were banned from fucking pack women unless you got a serious girlfriend. You damn near caused three males to kill you when you crashed that party. Those women’s future mates weren’t amused when they’d discovered you’d nailed them.”
“I was happy at Brand’s house,” he corrected. “But now I have to listen to him doing his mate. And you would have done what I did too. I just offered up my bod to three women who wanted one last fling. Those weren’t love matches.”
Kane groaned. “I’m the one who had to talk their future mates out of killing your ass the morning after when they arrived to pick up those women. You were passed out from exhaustion when the shitstorm hit.”