Mating Brand(10)

It doesn’t matter, he decided. She’s mine! I’ll hunt the fucker down and tear him limb from limb. I’ll rip off his head. No. I’ll tear out his heart and feed it to him for taking what is mine. Yeah. That’s a good plan.

“Brand!” His cousin punched his shoulders. “Put her down! Damn it,” Rave snarled. “Release. I know you’re horny but fuck! Control yourself.”

Brand shook off Rave and stumbled, still holding Charma. He nuzzled her neck, hoping to soothe her in case he’d frightened her, something he didn’t want to do. Her weight was even wrong. She’d lost a lot of it. He turned to lean heavily against the hood of the car and adjusted his grip on her. He kept his nose buried against her hair in the crook of her neck, taking deep breaths to pull more of her scent into his lungs.

She was real. It wasn’t a dream or a mating heat, fever-induced fantasy. Charma was in his arms, frail and bleeding. The smell of her blood had him battling to keep his skin. The animal inside wanted out to hunt and kill every male whose stench still hung in the air. They’d attacked her car, could have killed her. He snarled, resisting the urge but only because it meant he’d have to put her down. It wasn’t happening. He’d kill them later.

She wiggled her arms against his chest where he’d pinned them but she managed to get them free. He feared he’d go insane if she fought to get away from him. He prayed she wouldn’t do it. He couldn’t stand the thought of letting go after he’d finally found her again. Her thin arms wrapped around his neck instead. She didn’t resist, didn’t speak, but just clung to him.

“Brand,” Rave snarled. “Let her go. I gave my word we wouldn’t hurt her. She’s a little thing and could get hurt if I have to force you to release her.”

“Go away,” Brand ground out. He really feared he might kill anyone who tried to get between him and Charma, even the cousin he loved as a brother. “Leave us alone.”

“I know the heat is bad but damn, you can’t go around grabbing stray cats and forcing them to allow you to rub up against them. This is embarrassing. I told her she’d be safe.”

Brand adjusted her in his arms just to verify that she’d definitely lost weight. His Charma had been curvy and lush. Most she-cats kept a fuller figure than werewolf bitches. He’d loved that about her. She currently could have passed for a lean bitch by the feel of her. A horrible thought struck. He’d once heard that pride males shunned a mate if she was dying or gravely ill.

“Are you sick, hon?” He was afraid to hear the answer.

“No.”

He could breathe again. “It doesn’t matter. You’re with me and this is where you belong. I’m going to take care of you.”

She sniffed, wiping her face against him. Wetness seeped through his sweater to his skin, assuring him she’d done it to hide her tears. Her pain, and the possible reason behind it, tore him apart. It didn’t matter though. Nothing did, except the fact that she was real. All the bitterness and anger he’d suffered at her loss paled in comparison to having her back in his life. He wouldn’t allow her to take off on him again. Once had been bad enough.

“Is he dead?”

She shook her head, clearly knowing what he asked. He lifted his gaze to stare into her eyes—the most beautiful he’d ever seen. The love he felt remained strong, tightening his chest. Time had passed but his feelings hadn’t changed. She was “the one” and always would be. He knew that deep in his soul, without doubt.

“Brand?” Rave stepped closer. “You know you’re acting insane, right? Did you take drugs, trying to ease the heat? Talk to me, man.” He glanced at Charma. “Don’t be alarmed, she-cat. I’ll talk him down. He might be a little out of his head. Please don’t claw or bite the crazy wolf. He’s harmless.”

Brand glared at his cousin. “This is Charma, Rave. My ‘I-fell-in-love-with-a-half-human-spotted-leopard-shifter’ Charma.”

“Shit.” Rave gawked, studying her. “She’s tiny, man.”

“She’s five foot one. Leopards are small. She used to weigh a lot more.” He peered at her, noticing the change in her thin face. “Where’s my love handles? You know how much I enjoyed them.” His mood darkened, though, when he inhaled that stench coming off her. “I’m going to kill your mate when he comes after you. You’re never going to leave me. I’ll chain you to my bed, dig a big-ass moat around my house and fill it with alligators to eat any damn cats who show up. And barricade every door and window.”