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.

* * * * *

Brand glanced around the basement at the pack males holding various conversations while they waited for everyone to arrive. Anton frowned at Rave for some reason, seeming upset. He walked over to the brothers.

“Is there a problem?” He kept his voice low to avoid being overheard.

“Yes,” Anton hissed.

“No,” Rave answered at the same time.

“Okay.” Brand glanced between them. “What isn’t the problem then?”

Rave crossed his arms over his chest. “Anton isn’t happy that I brought a guest home.”

“It’s too dangerous.” Anton glared at his brother.

“She is safer with me than on her own.”

“Really? We’re at war with a bunch of pissed-off cats. Explain to me why she wouldn’t be better off far from here.”

Rave hesitated. “It’s complicated.”

“I’m all ears.”

“I’m just nosy,” Brand whispered.

His cousins both shot him a grin and he was happy the tension eased between them. The last thing anyone in the pack needed was for the alpha’s sons to show stress. There was enough of that going around already with the news of the approaching enemy. Rave spoke.

“She came to me for help. It’s a long story but she wasn’t safe with her pack. She was already in danger from them. She asked for asylum with our pack and I gave it to her.”

“Fine.” Anton looked annoyed but he calmed down a bit. “We’ll discuss this later. Did you get her settled in your old room?”

“Yeah. Sorry we were late.”

Grady stepped into their tight huddle and smiled. “What are we whispering about?”

“Rave brought someone here that we don’t know,” Anton whispered.

“That’s not all that strange. He’s always bringing women home.” Grady brushed his shoulder against the brother in question. “Is she hot?”

“Yeah.” Rave grinned.

Grady shrugged. “Mystery solved. Are we ready?”

Anton glanced around the room. “Yes. I think everyone who was able to come is here.” He turned, faced the room and moved to the center of it. One loud growl from him caused the room to go silent as all conversation ceased.

“The pride males were spotted in town and at the bar where they asked for directions to this house.” He paused. “We made sure no wolves were there, hoping to draw them in. They were given that information by the few humans we hired for that purpose. It was reported that the pride hasn’t started any trouble yet. I’d guess they are going to attack really soon though.”

“What humans?” Clover Arris frowned. “You told them what was going on?”

Rave answered. “No. They are some biker friends of mine who have no clue what I really am. They don’t ask a lot of questions and some of them owed me a few favors, which I called in. I gave them orders to just direct anyone who came looking for a Harris to this house.”

“What do they think is going on?” Brand was a little curious about the humans his cousin had planted at the family-run bar to feed information to the invading pride.

“I said I’d gotten into debt gambling. As I said, my friends don’t ask many questions.”

“Aren’t you afraid they’ll get hurt?” Thomas Krid frowned.

“No.” Rave chuckled. “These aren’t your typical humans. They are good at lying and aren’t easily intimidated. They’ll also split right after their shift ends and leave town, no questions asked. We couldn’t exactly have Yon bartending or any of the other pack members on staff there. The pride would have been on the attack, not just asking directions.”

“What about the other humans in town? The pride could screw with our pack by causing trouble with them.” Raymond Borl shook his head, a look of disgust plastered on his surly features. “They are lambs to the slaughter if we aren’t around to protect them. We should go into town and attack the cats there.”

“That’s why you’re not an alpha.” Anton glared at him. “The last place we want this to go down is so close to innocent people. Some of their houses aren’t far from the main strip and they’d hear the fighting taking place in town.”

“What about the ones who do know about us?” It was Timmy McQuire who asked.

“We told them trouble was coming and to go visit family. Hopefully they all got out.”

“But what if these idiots do attack some of the humans?” Timmy questioned him again.

“Prides are stricter about keeping secrets than we are,” Rave answered. “It’s a death sentence in most prides to reveal what they are to anyone who isn’t a shifter.”

“How do you know?” It was Raymond Borl who asked that question.

Grady growled at him. “I’ve heard enough shit from you. What is up with you being the loudmouth of contention lately?”

Rave stepped closer. “I know because I’ve dealt with all kinds of shifters. Who do you think my father sends to talk to them when we’ve had boundary issues? Me.”

The older man didn’t look convinced. “We’ve never had anyone attack us before. This is what happens when you don’t stick with your own kind.”

Anton snarled. “What does that mean?”

Brand felt his own fangs growing longer. This conversation concerned Charma too. “Be very careful of what you say, Raymond. You might be the first to go if you want to start thinning the pack.”

Braden stepped between them and the older man and faced him down. “I know you’re old school but you’re being an idiot. Brand’s way nicer than my brothers. Have you noticed how they aren’t like Dad? Dad would have just smacked you down by now but they will kill you. Now sit down and be smart. Shut up.”