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Mating Brand(33)



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 considered 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. He 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 are 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 to 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 has been banned from our pack for treachery against her own family. She’s paying for her crime. 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 him a meaningful glance. It reminded Brand that he was usually the one who calmed tensions at pack meetings, with his humor. He didn’t have any at the moment where prides were concerned or the pack’s stance on she-cats mated to werewolves. 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.”