She appeared a little stunned. “Brand—”
“Did you say mate? She’s mated?” Rave coughed. “I’m sure I heard you say that.”
A snarl tore from Brand’s throat that he couldn’t hold back. Fury gripped him but he tried to regain control. His fangs wouldn’t retract for anything but his claws remained sheathed while he stared into Charma’s eyes.
“He doesn’t matter. You still love me, don’t you? I want you to kill me if you say no. That’s what you’d be doing anyway.”
“I love you, Brand. I always have.” Fresh tears filled her eyes. “I never stopped. I had to warn your pack about the joining call. You’re in danger.”
“I never stopped loving you either.” He blinked back his own tears. “You came here and risked your life to save mine, didn’t you, hon?”
She nodded. “The prides are going to attack your pack tomorrow night. I couldn’t let you die.”
Dozens of questions filled his head. How had she known it was his pack that was in danger? Did that mean she’d always known where to find him, yet stayed away? The stabbing sensation to his heart hurt but as he stared into her eyes it eased. She said she loved him and she’d left the creep she’d mated to warn him when she thought he was in danger.
She picked me over her mate. That soothed him somewhat.
“Clusterfuck,” Rave growled. “That’s what this is.”
Brand turned his gaze on his cousin. “It’s not that big of a deal. I’ll kill the pussy if he comes after her. She’s always been mine.”
Rave ran his fingers through his hair, gave him a frustrated look and clenched his teeth. “I’m not talking about you and her. We’ve got to warn the pack and prepare for the arrival of the pride. They obviously don’t know this is the absolute worst time for them to attack us. It’s going to be a slaughter with all the aggression going on during the heat.”
Charma couldn’t believe that Brand held her once again. His wonderful scent had changed slightly from what she remembered but it had been nine years. Memories could fade and obviously had. He seemed bigger than she remembered, bulkier, beefier and even stronger. She dangled from his arms where he kept her face level with his. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and she didn’t ever want to let go. She even fought the urge to wrap her legs around his waist, regardless of her skirt, just to press even tighter against him.
“At least thirty pride males will come,” she informed them, not sure if she’d mentioned that already after her shock of seeing Brand. “You need to flee the area if that’s too many and the mating heat has weakened your pack. They can’t stay for more than a week. Your people can safely return after that time. I’ve never heard of a joining call lasting longer than that. The males will clash amongst themselves. We don’t have a pack mentality. Pride males keep a wide berth of each other unless they are family. They kill each other after extended contact, especially when they aren’t in the same pride. There’s no sense of hierarchy so they will fight for dominance.”
Brand stared into her eyes. “The slaughter wouldn’t be ours. It will be the pride males. We’re really aggressive right now, more so than any other time of the year, and our hold on our humanity is barely there. The only fleeing that will be going on is from the pride that shows up here.”
She accepted that. Werewolves were known for fighting more fiercely than pride males. Cats could be flat-out lazy. She knew that from living with one. She relaxed. “You would have been fine if I hadn’t come to warn you?”
“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,” Rave answered.
“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.”