“Fuck.” He was pissed but controlled his temper. “What did you do?”
“I took the pills but then he got angry when I never went into heat and he injected me with drugs, trying to force it.”
A snarl tore from Brand. “He drugged you to make you want him?”
“He threatened me with it first so I was able to plan ahead and avoid him forcing me into heat. I took the pills every day, Brand. I never knew when he’d come after me with those injections. The pills counteracted the drugs as long as they were in my system. They weren’t designed to be taken every day the way I was popping them. After two years I no longer even felt the heat coming on. There were no urges at all. They also suppressed my appetite so I started losing weight. That was an added bonus because I wasn’t attractive to him anymore.”
He lowered his head and brushed a kiss on her forehead. “I understand. I’m so sorry you had to do that.”
“It’s not your fault.”
He pulled back and surprised her when he smiled. It reached his eyes. “I don’t need to drug you to make you want me.”
“No, you don’t.” She was relieved he wasn’t punching walls or snarling. “I love you.”
“I love you too, hon.” His humor faded. “I’m still going to kill that son of a bitch the first chance I get.”
“Okay. Just don’t risk your life to take his. I couldn’t stand to lose you.”
“It’s not ever happening. You’re stuck with me.” He winked.
She laughed. “Good.”
“Speaking of us, do you want to go another round or do you want to eat first? I could fuck you all d—”
A knock sounded on the door.
“Go away!” Brand yelled.
“Um, you’re needed downstairs,” Braden called out. “I heard you two going at it. Don’t I get points for waiting until you were done? Anton said to get you pronto. The pride has been spotted in town and they are headed this way.”
“Fuck!”
Fear gripped Charma as she stared up into Brand’s handsome face. He could get hurt. She could have found him again only to lose him. They stared at each other.
“Did you hear me? Are you coming? I mean, going downstairs? I know you just came. My ears are still ringing from that howl and I was two floors below, man.”
“Go away, Braden. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay.”
His footsteps faded down the stairs. Brand gently tugged to get her to let go of his hands but she refused.
“I’m needed, Charma.”
“Swear you’ll come back to me.”
“Nobody is going to stop me from returning to this bed really soon. I have too much to live for.”
She let go but it was a tough thing to do.
He paused before he pulled away. “You stay up here. Lock the door and barricade it. I doubt they’ll get inside the house but… There’s a shotgun under the bed with a box of shells. Use it if you come under attack.”
“I will.”
He inhaled. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
“The fear you smell isn’t for me.”
A smile softened his mouth. “I’m going to kick their asses. No worries.”
She sat up to watch him dress. “Go for their faces.”
He glanced at her before pulling his shirt over his head. “Why?”
“Pride males are very vain and conceited.”
“Seriously?”
She hesitated. “Yes, they really care about their appearances. Sometimes it’s the only thing they have going for them. You claw up their faces and they’ll freak out.”
“Scars are sexy.” He winked.
“I think so but they don’t. Just be careful.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
He left and she slid off the bed to rush toward the door. He waited on the other side until she locked it. A smile curved her lips. “I’ll barricade it now. Go. Your family is expecting you.”
A deep chuckle sounded through the door. “You’re a great mate for taking orders.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
He laughed as his footsteps receded down the stairwell. Charma turned and glanced around, spotting some old heavy furniture in the shadows. She highly doubted any of the pride would breach the house filled with werewolves but she didn’t want to take a chance of coming face-to-face with anyone from her old life. They’d kill her on sight if they discovered she’d warned the Harris Pack of their pending attack. She was a traitor to her own kind.
Her gaze slid to the bed. She should have told Brand she didn’t know anything about weapons but it was a comfort to know a shotgun was there.