Rave answered. “No. They could have attacked and taken out many of us if we weren’t expecting them. A lone wolf against a large group of cats would assure his death. We’re under orders to stay in twos right now but even then, two against thirty would be grim odds.”
“A lot of us are ignoring the order too.” Brand shot the other male a raised eyebrow. “I don’t see you with your shadow.”
“He stopped to check on the bar. I don’t see you with yours, either. Where is my youngest brother?” Rave arched an eyebrow.
“Hanging out in my basement. I didn’t want to bring him along since I knew something bad had happened. Jeff called.” Brand stared at Charma and sighed. “You could have been killed, coming here.”
“I knew the risk. I even expected that might happen. I just hoped your pack would allow me to warn them first.” She wouldn’t lie to him.
He opened his mouth as if to speak but quickly closed it. His harsh features softened as he stared at her. “You’re safe, Charma. Nobody is ever going to hurt you.”
She believed him.
“I’m never letting you go. Deal with that. You ran out on me once, but don’t try to do it again. I want you to swear that you won’t leave me. You’re mine and always have been. You don’t belong to that pussy.” He snarled the last word. “I looked for you.”
That news stunned her. “You did?”
He growled softly. “Did you believe I wouldn’t? I was afraid to use your name in case it put you in danger but I put out feelers for a woman with your looks. No one ever reported a sighting.”
“I never leave my pride’s territory. It’s forbidden.”
“I hate to interrupt,” Rave muttered, “but we need to get her out of the center of town. We’ve got a lot of strange wolves roaming during mating heat and her being a she-cat… They already attacked her once.” He glanced at her car. “And we probably should hide her car before her pride arrives.” He met her gaze. “I take it you don’t want them to know you warned us?”
“It won’t matter. I fled my pride. They’ll want me dead regardless of what I do. I knew there would be no turning back and that my life there ended the second I drove away.”
Two werewolves in skin approached. Charma’s hold on Brand tightened and she stared at them fearfully. Brand growled in response. His hold on her adjusted, one arm releasing her waist as claws slid out of the fingertips of the hand he used to point at the males.
“Stay there. Don’t come any closer.”
Charma stared at the blond guy who stopped in his tracks, recognizing him, but not the man with him. “Yon?”
His dark gaze fixed on her and he frowned. “How do you know me?”
“The pride council sent your pictures and yours was among them.” She glanced at Brand. “That’s how I knew this was your pack. They had your picture too. I saw you and knew I had to come.”
“Fuck,” Rave groaned. “They have pictures of us? Really? I feel totally out of the loop. Should we have pictures of them?”
“No. We’re more of a threat to them than they are to us,” Brand stated. “Guys, this is Charma. If you look at her twice, I’m going to hurt you. You feel me?”
“Shit!” Yon groaned. “Another one? Really? Good thing your aunt was sent away. She’d go nuts if she saw you holding a she-cat that way. I’m guessing you’re spending your heat with her?”
“She’s mine.” Brand’s voice deepened into a dangerous tone. “Forever. She’s going to be my mate.”
Shock tore through Charma. It was one thing to announce it to a male relative, but he was telling pack members he planned to claim her. He turned his head and their gazes met.
“Won’t they shun you? Don’t get exiled from your pack for me.” She kept her voice low. “Please? I couldn’t stand it if you’re attacked for protecting me.”
He emitted a soft rumbling sound but it wasn’t scary. He used to do that when she said something that annoyed him but she knew he’d never hurt her. Not Brand. He shook his head and wrapped his arm around her again to hug her tightly.
“They won’t kick me out and they sure as hell won’t fight me.”
She turned her head, still uncertain, but the other men didn’t seem aggressive. The blond actually winked.
“She’s cute but too thin. She looks like a bitch. I’ve never seen a she-cat so small, but then I haven’t seen many this close up.”
“She’s lost weight.” Brand pushed away from the car. “Do me a favor and hide her vehicle. I’m sure her mate will be searching for her.”
“Mate?” The blond gasped and his dark gaze widened. “She’s mated already but you’re going to mate her? Are you nuts? She’s taken.”
“By me.” Brand turned his head to address Rave. “Stash her car, okay? I want to take her home.”
Rave nodded. “Go. Keep Braden from the running and I’ll call you in a few hours. I’m going to get in touch with my brothers and we’ll hold a pack meeting early in the morning to warn everyone of what’s coming. I’m worried they’ll suspect she warned us when they realize she’s gone. They might attack earlier than planned.”
“They won’t,” she informed him softly. “They’ll think I ran for other reasons. No one knew about Brand and me. I was too careful, and didn’t even take pictures of him with me when I returned to my pride. It would have put him in danger.”
“Who’s going to attack us?” Yon sounded confused. “What did I miss? It didn’t take me that long to get here after we heard there was trouble brewing in town.”
“Brand, take her home with you and I’ll deal with this.” Rave hesitated. “Did you run here or drive?”
“Ran.”
He held out his keys. “Take the bike. Just leave the keys under the seat. I’ll pick it up later. I don’t want you walking back with all our visitors in town. They’ll scent her. The bike will get you there faster.”
“Thanks.” Brand slowly lowered her to the pavement beside the bike. He caught the keys Rave tossed to him.
“My keys are still in the ignition of my car,” she informed them.
“They could move it anyway.” Brand straddled the bike and turned his head. “Get on, Charma.”
She didn’t allow her skirt to stop her, regardless of how high the material hiked up her thighs. She hugged Brand tightly from behind, not wanting to let him go. He started the bike, and she knew the other werewolves watched them curiously but she avoided their gazes.
Brand lived close to town in a wooded area on a hill. Other houses lined the street but a good distance separated them. He parked the bike next to a red truck but didn’t move as the engine died. His hands abruptly covered hers where she hugged his waist.
“We’re going to go inside. I’ll head downstairs to order my cousin to stay in the basement and then we’re going to talk. Swear to me that you aren’t going to flee, Charma. Otherwise I’m not allowing you out of my sight. I’d prefer not to take you near Braden right now. He’s young and in heat. I don’t know if he’ll be dressed. Clothes irritate our skin when we suffer this condition. I’d rather spare you that sight, and hell, he could be doing something embarrassing that you really don’t want to see.”
She peered at the back of his head. He didn’t glance at her, just stared straight ahead at his closed garage door. “I’m not going to leave you again, Brand.”
His body relaxed and he released her hands. “Good. I’m trusting you to keep your word. You don’t know how tough that is for me but I don’t really have a choice. Let’s go.”
The lack of confidence hurt a little but she couldn’t blame him. “I swear, Brand. Leaving you was the worst and toughest thing I ever had to do. It tore me apart. But all the reasons I left are gone. This is where I want to be. You have no idea how much I mean that.”
He took a deep breath and expelled it slowly. “I’ll really tie you to my bed if you make a run for it. Fair warning.”
“I understand.” She didn’t feel threatened.
Br
and took Charma’s hand, she climbed off the bike, and he slid the keys under the seat. He glanced at her before she followed him up the walkway to his front door. He pushed open the door, which wasn’t locked. Lights had been left on and she inhaled. Brand’s scent lingered inside his home but she didn’t detect any others.
“You live alone?”
“Usually. My cousin is just staying with me during the heat. It’s got a full apartment in the basement so he doesn’t come up here often. That’s why you probably won’t smell him.”
“My sense of smell isn’t as good as yours,” she reminded him.
Her gaze left his to study the living room. It had obviously been furnished by a man, his black leather couches, matching easy chairs and bare furnishings testaments to that. She smiled when she spotted the big-screen television that was a prominent feature in the room.
“I know. You probably want to change a lot and you’re welcome to do anything to make it more homier.” He closed the door, grabbed her and pinned her against the wall. He leaned down until his face hovered inches from hers, his gaze intense. “I’m going to mate you—and I don’t care about the bastard who did it before me. I’ll bite you until his scent is gone and only mine remains. Deal with that, hon. I’m never going to let you go. I’ve spent every single day of the last nine years thinking about you. I missed you, and hurt because you weren’t with me.”
She battled tears and won. “Me too.”
“Let me deal with Braden before we talk. Are you hungry?”
“No. I ate a burger on the drive here.”
His gaze lowered. “You need to eat more. You’re so damn thin. I’m a great cook. I’ll feed you until you gain back every pound.”
His thoughtfulness was a reminder of what she’d lost and missed. “You’d cook for me? Really?”
His gaze met hers. “I’d do anything for you.” His hand shot out and he locked the door. “Make yourself at home. This is yours now too. Ours. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
He spun toward a hallway and disappeared around the corner. Charma remained against the wall where he’d put her and drew in a shaky breath.
Hot tears threatened to spill again. She stood inside Brand’s home. She’d dreamed of seeking him out but never thought she’d see the day.
Her gaze roamed the room. She wouldn’t change a thing. Her arms hugged her waist as she smiled.
“Home,” she whispered.
Chapter Three
Charma sensed Brand behind her and inhaled, his scent flooding her senses. She slowly turned away from the kitchen and found him standing inside the doorway, watching her.
“I was exploring. I love your home.”
“Ours,” he corrected. “Yours and mine.” He took a hesitant step forward. “I keep expecting to wake up and realize this is just a dream.” His hand lifted. “Come here, hon.”
She went to him without hesitation. Her hand clasped his larger one and he pulled her into a hug. His face burrowed into her hair. He seemed content to just hold her. She rested against him. He’d never left her thoughts, and at night when she’d lain in her bed, she’d relived their months together. It had kept her sane.
She remembered the day Brand had arrived at her apartment in Texas with a blindfold…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“You have to wear this, and then just come with me.”
She laughed, sure it was some kind of joke. It wasn’t. He insisted on covering her eyes after she got into the cab of his truck. Charma had a tough time resisting the urge to reach up and remove the blindfold. “Where are you taking me?”
“We’re almost there.”
“Is this some kind of romantic picnic? I can smell the trees but there’s no exhaust from other cars. We’re somewhere out of the city.”
“Stop sniffing.” He chuckled.
“You know I hate surprises.”
“You’ll like this one.” He paused, and then she had to strain to make out what he said next. “At least I hope so.”
“I heard that.”
“We’re here. Don’t move.”
The truck stopped and the engine died. She waited impatiently until he got out and opened her door. His fingers curled around her upper arm as she unfastened her seat belt. He led her about ten steps before stopping and positioning himself behind her, one arm wrapped around her waist as he leaned down to press his lips to her ear.
“Have I told you how much I love you?”
Warmth spread through her. “Yes. I love you too. May I look now?”
“Not yet. My roommates are a bunch of idiots and I might have to kill them if I catch them checking out your ass one more time when you stay with me. You’re living with the world’s biggest grump. It’s getting tougher to leave your apartment in the mornings, but it’s even worse on the nights we can’t spend together. I want to be with you all the time.”
Her heart rate increased as his words and their possible meaning sank in. His fingers touched her face and the blindfold came free. She blinked a few times to adjust to the sunshine. The first thing that came into focus was a rustic cabin in the woods. It was a cute single-story A-frame. She forgot to breathe.
“I hope you aren’t angry.” He dropped the blindfold and wrapped his other arm around her waist to hug her tightly. “I signed a lease. It’s ours, Charma.”
She latched onto his arms to keep upright when her legs threatened to buckle. She was stunned.
“I know I should have asked you first,” he rushed on, “but listen to me before you make up your mind. I can pay the rent, so don’t worry about the price. It’s not exactly a dream home but it’s cozy inside and it’s remote enough to give us as much privacy as we want. You might be worried about your car breaking down on the drive out here but I changed a few of my classes to fit with your schedule. I’ll drive us to the campus. We won’t have to sleep apart anymore or worry about your roommate hearing us have sex.”
She recovered from the shock and turned in his arms. The look of anxiety in his expression was clear. “Brand…”
Lines appeared next to his mouth. “I think I thought of everything. I know your pride pays your rent. I talked to your roommate. She swore to say you’re still living there if anyone asks. Hell, she was thrilled with the prospect of getting half the rent paid without having to deal with an actual roommate. It was motivation enough for her, and your family won’t find out you’re living with a werewolf.”
Hope was the next emotion that sprang up. “Really?”
Brand grinned. “Yeah.”
She turned her head, stared at the cabin. “It’s so adorable.”
“It’s not the biggest place, only one bedroom, but it’s in great shape. I had the guys come out with me a few days ago to paint and do minor repairs.”
She faced him again but had to blink back tears. “Yes!”
He lifted her off her feet and hugged her tightly. “You haven’t even seen the inside.”
“I don’t care. We’ll get to sleep together every night. I hate when we’re apart too.”
His gaze flicked to her shoulder then back to her eyes. “Sometimes I want to bite you.”
That heartfelt confession made her sad. “We can’t do that.”
“You love me.”
“I do, but you’re a wolf and I’m a cat.”
“You’re half cat but I don’t give a damn. It doesn’t change my feelings or my urges.”
“Our families would raise hell if they knew we were a couple. I also told you—”
“Don’t.” He cut her off. “Don’t mention that asshole you’re supposed to mate because your leader ordered it. Not now, not today. We’re living in the here and now. We have a while before you have to return to your pride.”
He was right. She always resisted thinking about when she’d graduate and be expected to return. “Okay.”
He slowly eased her back to her feet. “Let’s try living together before we have a discussion about that kind of crap.”
She could tell he was upset. “I’m so sorry, Brand. I’d want you to bite me if it were possible. I swear I would.”
He released her waist and snagged her hand. “I refuse to argue today. Let’s go inside. I’ll give you the tour.”
“Okay.” She was willing to let the matter drop.
He fished his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. Charma tried to take a step inside after he swung the door open but she gasped instead when Brand scooped her off her feet and carried her inside. It was romantic and sweet of him to carry her over the threshold.
The living room and kitchen were one big open space. She was in for another surprise as she studied the new furniture. “You big liar!” She laughed though.
He turned her a bit so she could take in more details of the room. “Sorry about that. I didn’t want to buy stuff you’d hate, so that’s why I made up the story of needing to replace everything in the living room of the house I rent with the guys. They do randomly get sick from drinking but I’d never sink money into that hole. It’s like a fraternity, what with five guys living in one house. They destroy everything nice.”
She turned her head and stared up at him. “This was so sweet, Brand. It must have cost you a small fortune.”
He shrugged. “Not really. I just had to buy stuff for the living room and our bedroom. I got us a king-size bed. No more twin.”
She grinned. “I kind of liked having to sleep on top of you so one of us didn’t fall out of my bed.”
The bedroom was down the only hallway. They passed a bathroom on the way. He paused inside the door. “I just got the bed and a nightstand. There’re built-in drawers under the closet. See?”
Charma wiggled until he put her down. The space wasn’t big and the bed took up most of it. “A dresser wouldn’t fit. I love it just as it is. It’s perfect.”
“I’ve already got the most important thing in this room.”
She grinned, following his heated stare to the bed. “Yes, you did.”
His gaze shifted to her. “I meant you, hon.”