Mating Brand(48)
It rang twice before her sister picked up. “Who is this?” Alarm was clear in her voice. “How did you get this number?”
“Hi, Meg. It’s Charma.”
“Who is B. Harris? Where are you? Garrett called and came over here, looking for you. He seemed worried.”
She refrained from snorting. He was such a good liar. “I left him. I’m not coming back.”
Silence ensued and she imagined her sister was a little shocked. “He beat you again, didn’t he?”
It was Charma’s turn to be a little stunned. Did her whole family know?
“Char?” Meg lowered her voice and a door closed. “Are you hurt? Do you need me to come to you? Some of the pride are nearby but I can sneak out. Tell me what you need and where you are. I know Darbin and my mate can’t protect you without starting a war between our prides but we can help. Do you need money? Where did you go? Are you safe?”
“You knew Garrett hit me sometimes?”
A small sniff escaped Megan. “I suspected but had no proof. I do now. I’m mated and I know how wonderful that is. I never saw your mate treat you as well as Cole does me. I’m so sorry. You did it to protect us, didn’t you? I wondered why you mated Garrett. You always said he was a prick but then you agreed to be with him after you returned from college. You refused to answer my questions but Cole and I talked. He said you might have done it for us, the family.”
“Yeah.” Charma sat on the floor, leaned against the bed. “Percy is a bastard. You know how he rules. He wanted me mated to his son and that was the end of it.”
“Darbin isn’t anything like him. My father-by-mate is pretty awesome.”
“I’m glad you ended up with a good pride, honey. I called to tell you that I’m safe.”
“Have you called our parents?”
“No.”
“Are you going to?”
“No. You can’t tell them about the name on the caller ID. I’m trusting you, Meg. I doubt Garrett will come after me but I’m not willing to risk it. Okay?”
“Is this B. Harris a friend of yours?”
She hesitated. “It’s a long story.”
“I have all the time in the world for you.”
She hesitated but knew she could trust her sister. “I met him in college and we fell in love. I had to give him up for the family. I ran to him and that’s who I’m with. I’m safe and he still loves me.”
Her sister sucked in air. “A human?” She recovered before Charma could speak. “Okay. I can deal with that. You can hide what you are from him and hell, I guess you could get him drunk when you go into heat and feed him Viagra to help him keep up with your sex drive. He’ll just think he became some mega-stud. I won’t judge.”
“Um…”
“No. It’s okay,” Meg insisted. “Since you don’t shift, you can pull it off. Just dye your hair, tell him those spots down your back are faded tattoos you got while you were drunk as a teen. Contacts can be worn for days at a time. You can take them out while he’s not with you. Does he live near pride lands? Are you close to us because Darbin can order our people to never mention it if they see you. Just be real careful.”
“He’s not human.” Charma hesitated.
“Oh my god. You ran off with a pride male? I don’t remember a Harris as one of Percy’s. Is he one of Darbin’s? I haven’t met the ones who live farther out.” Her voice lowered to a murmur. “Are you in our pride? Shit! It’s okay though. Darbin can order them not to mention you’re here. That will probably work out better.”
“Brand isn’t a pride member,” she admitted. “He’s a werewolf.”
“What?” her sister shouted.
Charma winced. “Calm down.”
Her sister lowered her voice to a whisper. “A werewolf? Is that what you said?”
“Yes. We met at college and lived together.” Total silence. “Are you still there, Meg?”
“I am.” Her sister took a ragged breath. “I’m flabbergasted.”
“I know.”
“He doesn’t try to eat you?”
Charma couldn’t help but laugh. “Every chance he gets but in a good way.”
“Oh!” Meg laughed too. “Got it.” She sobered. “Is he good to you?”
“We love each other and he is amazing. I mated him.”
Her sister gasped.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“You’re already mated.”
“Was. Not anymore, not to Garrett. Brand is my true mate.”
“This is a lot to take in.”