“We appreciate that.” Brand stood next to Charma, feeling better that she was within reach in case the cagey bastard decided to attack her.
“We’re pack. I don’t always agree with the decisions made but in the end that’s what it comes down to.”
Brand removed the paper plate from the microwave and held it while he added mustard. “Here you go. You can’t miss the bar. I suggest the whiskey.”
Charma remained silent until they were alone. She stepped in front of him and lifted her chin. “How are you holding up?”
“Good.” He didn’t want to think about the tasks he’d just performed, one of them being cleaning up the mess in the attic. The carpet would need to be replaced. “Where is the pup?”
“Rave had a chore for him. I was fine. He heard from Braden and I got to talk to my sister. She’s okay.”
He was grateful. “I’m glad, hon. I hated you being so worried about her and stuck here. We’ll be able to go home in a few hours. The carnage outside is mostly dealt with and the families of the deceased in our pack have been notified. Just don’t go downstairs and open the big chest freezer. Both bodies were put in there until their families collect them. We were lucky we didn’t lose more.”
Her expression almost made him laugh. “Their kin will want to bury them in the pack cemetery. It’s not safe to travel yet until we make certain our territory is cleared of all pride. Some of them are severely injured and probably in hiding. The enforcers and a few of my cousins are tracking them. We only burned the pride members who died. I hope that doesn’t offend you.”
“No. Of course I hurt for their families but only enforcers were sent for the joining. They know the risks. It’s a sad fact of life that most of them don’t have a long lifespan.” She bit her lip, staring up at him.
“What is it?”
“Do you have to keep being an enforcer for your pack? I mean,” she rushed on, “I know you’d always want to fight to defend your family but could you step down from the other duties?”
He liked that she worried about his safety. “I could.”
“Your uncle wouldn’t be angry?”
“Nope. He’d understand. Most do after we mate unless we were born to it. Kane and Klax will always be enforcers. Those two are naturals.”
She remembered the twins. “I’m glad they are on your side.”
“Ours,” he reminded her. “This is our pack. Why don’t we head upstairs and shower? I know I could use one and that dried blood on you is going to drive me insane.”
She nodded. “I think I’ve fed almost everyone.”
“They can fix something themselves if they show up.” He held out his hand. “Just don’t stare at the blood on the carpet up there. There’s nothing I could do about it today. That’s going to require ordering new, plus the pads. I’ll come back in a few days to take care of it.”
It was a reminder to both of them about Randy and how close he’d come to taking her away from Brand. She clasped his hand. “Lead the way.”
The fighting had worn him out but not enough to dull his desire to get Charma naked. He locked the door once they were inside the attic, grateful for the privacy. The broken window had helped air out the stench of a recent kill but not by much. He was torn between the desire to just take her home or remain at the alpha house for a few more hours. His dick decided, though, when his mate walked into the bathroom, stripping. The sight of her bare back was enough to make him groan.
She turned her head, meeting his gaze. “You coming?”
“Yeah. I plan to.” He grinned, hurrying to join her.
She laughed. “You know that isn’t what I meant. I was distracted but now…” her nose flared. “You smell so good.”
The sight of her fangs spurred him to tear off his pants and pin her against the wall once she’d stripped bare. He didn’t care if they both had blood on them. He just wanted to kiss her.
“Water,” she urged as he lifted her high enough to press his hips between the parted thighs she’d wrapped around him.
He groaned but turned, releasing her with one hand to yank open the shower door and step inside. She clung to him the entire time. It only took seconds to turn on the water and pin her against the tile. Warm water sluiced down their bodies. His mate found his lips, kissed him.
It took control not to just bury himself balls-deep in her. It quickly slipped away, though, when her nails dug into his shoulders, urging him on. He lifted her a little higher, pressed her back firmly against the tile and drove home. Her pussy clamped around him. He growled and tore his mouth away from hers to avoid drawing blood. Her cries of pleasure assured him that he wasn’t causing pain while he fucked her hard and deep.