Mating Brand(19)

“What happened here?”

“Fights. I came home in a bad mood after college. I spent a few years raising some hell. Just don’t freak out when you see my back, okay?”

She instantly walked around him and gasped. Two scars ran from his shoulder blades to his mid-back. They were deep ones, white lines on his tan skin. He spun, met her horrified stare, and smiled.

“It looks worse than it was.”

“I hope you won.”

“I did.”

“You’re bigger.” She peered up at him. “Your hair is longer. I love it.”

His gaze slid over her body. “You’re so thin.” His features tensed when he met her gaze. “Give me the address of where you lived. I’ll get them and bring them home, Charma. Here with us. I’ll take some of my cousins and we’ll fight our way in and out. I know it will be tough at first but we’ll make it work. I love you and I’ll love them.”

She stared at him, confused.

“Your kittens, honey. I’ll take them from your pride and we’ll raise them.” Pain clouded his features. “I swear I’ll accept them as if they are my own.” He lowered his body to kneel before her. “I know you hear bad shit about wolves killing young that aren’t theirs but I swear to you that I’d die to protect them and you. That shit isn’t true. They’ll be safe here and loved.”

She stepped closer and hugged him, pulling his face against her chest. “I never had kids, Brand. Thank you though.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “That means so much that you’d accept them and get them back for me…if they existed.”

He hugged her tightly. “Why are you so thin? I thought maybe having kittens had changed your body.”

“You’re relieved, though, aren’t you?”

He hesitated. “The idea of you carrying another male’s offspring hurts but I would have loved them because they were part of you.”

All the reasons she’d fallen in love with Brand slammed home. Years had passed, things had changed, but the man she knew still existed. He had a huge heart and the fact that he’d offered to fight to retrieve her children, face danger to do it, just made her more certain she was where she belonged.

“I just wasn’t happy. I’m not sick or anything.”

“Good.” He pulled away to stare at her. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“You have no idea how much I thought about you and how those memories of us together got me through every day.”

He released her and rose to his feet. “Let’s shower together and go to bed.” His gaze raked over her. “No more waiting, Charma. I’m making you mine and that bastard you mated is dead when he shows up here to take you back.”

“He won’t fight to the death over me. He won’t even search unless his father orders him to. He’d do a half-ass job because he won’t want me back. He’ll be relieved.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute. Any male would do anything to find you and bring you home.”

“It wasn’t a love match. We…” She hesitated. “I hated him. It became mutual. I couldn’t prevent mating him but I could control certain things. I sneaked pills to avoid ever getting pregnant or going into heat. He never guessed, just thought I was defective as a mate. After a year he became really angry when I never conceived and he grew bitter.” She watched Brand’s face, hoping he wouldn’t judge her. “Part of the reason he chose me was because he thought I could give him litters of kids and make him a stronger leader when he takes over the pride. I failed to do that and it pissed him off.”

Brand didn’t appear shocked or horrified by her admission. “I don’t blame you. Two people should have kids out of love, not duty.”

She relaxed as the tension drained. “I never want any deception between us. I’ve had to lie for years but I would never do that to you, Brand. I love you too much. I’d never deceive you that way but I had to do it with him.”

“He hated you?” Anger deepened his voice. “Why didn’t he set you free then? I’m guessing there was no bond formed? He could have just found a new mate without suffering emotionally.”

“He wanted to but his father refused to allow it. He wants to keep in his father’s good graces by obeying orders since he has younger brothers who could be chosen to take over the pride leadership instead when Percy steps down.”

Anger narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like him already. Was he at least good to you?”

She cautiously regarded him. “I don’t want you to get angry enough to go after him.”