Mating Brand (Mating Heat Book 3) Read online

  The thing was fast, but Brand caught him by his back leg mid-leap when he attempted to jump onto the second floor landing. His teeth sank into the leopard’s meaty thigh. The male yowled in pain and crashed to the ground. He rolled over, his claws slicing at the thick fur protecting Brand’s chest, but Brand rolled to the side, avoiding the deadly strike as the shifter went for his heart. He inwardly winced at the thought of the new scars he’d have.

  They both slammed through the living room windows, into the house.

  More werewolves attacked the male as Brand backed away, leaving the poor bastard to his fate. The cat only made it a few feet inside before he was dead. Brand jumped back outside and scanned the yard for other threats to the house.

  He figured they were searching for Alpha Elroy, to kill him. They wouldn’t find his uncle, since he was miles away, hidden, locked inside the pack doctor’s basement. Another leopard caught his attention. That one was using the treetops to launch an attack on the house. He landed on the roof and Brand howled a warning to the ones inside. He turned, barreled back through the broken windows and jumped over the carcass of his enemy.

  His bulkier, hairy body filled the stairwell and his claws tore into the carpet. He didn’t give a damn because that leopard was too close to Charma.

  It was tough to distinguish noises, with all the battles taking place, but he heard glass break and a female scream.

  Charma! No!

  He went insane as he bolted to the second floor and crashed through a window at the end of the hallway. He almost skidded off the narrow roof but his claws tore into the wood shingles, holding his ground as he started to climb toward the third floor. He’d ordered her to barricade the door and knew it would be faster to reach her from the windows. Werewolves weren’t designed to climb but he was motivated. He slid on the steep incline.

  Brand howled in rage and had to take a few calming breathes. He forced his wolf back enough to lose his claws and regain his hands. He tried to climb but slid farther. He turned his head and jumped toward the tree that the leopard had used to reach the third floor. He couldn’t climb as a wolf but he could as a man. It was slow going but he had to reach Charma.

  It was eerily silent above as he finally reached the branch that was close enough for him to peer in through the windows that had been breached. He stared inside—and what he saw made him want to roar in outrage.

  Charma cowered beside a dresser that had been pulled into one corner of the room. A leopard had her trapped there, blocking her escape.

  The pride male stood just feet from where she huddled. That male could be Garrett.

  Rage gripped Brand as he recovered enough to catch his breath and inch along the branch toward the opening. He was going to kill that son of a bitch for getting too close to his mate.

  Chapter Ten

  The big beast crashed through the windows. Charma gasped and rolled out of the way when the leopard paused to shake off the broken glass. Terrified by his violent entry, she managed to stumble to her feet but there was no escape. She wedged into the corner beside the dresser she’d used to block the door. The shotgun was behind the intruder, out of her reach.

  The male shook his furry body again, removing the last of the debris, and straightened. His head swung her way and she identified his features and eyes. She’d spent way too much time with Percy and the enforcers not to know what they looked like shifted as well as in skin. Surprise widened his eyes when his gaze landed on her and his vision adjusted to the dim room.

  Oh shit. He’s going to kill me. She had no doubt about that. The last time she’d seen Randy in Percy’s office, he’d been considering mounting her until the pride leader had forbidden him to take her.

  Time seemed to freeze. She didn’t glance away from him until he moved a step in her direction.

  She grabbed at the only thing within reach. A vase on top of the dresser. She grasped the base and smashed off the top. “Stay back!”

  He began to shift and she saw his nose flare as he sniffed. He’d picked up her change in scent. Brand’s mark would offend him—and he’d also know she’d gone into heat. Her fangs elongated but she kept her lips closed, hoping he didn’t notice her fingernails were clawed as well. She needed any advantage she could get to survive.

  Brand, where are you? She silently screamed for him but knew her mate was probably fighting for his own life.

  Randy’s voice came out a mix of pissed-off man and outraged leopard. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to warn them.” She braced her back against the wall and inched her other hand behind the edge of the dresser. He’d have to come at her, and she planned to push the dresser in the way when he did.

  “You what?” He took a threatening step forward but stopped, his mouth hanging open.

  “I warned them,” she taunted, praying she’d be able to send him into a rage. He wouldn’t be thinking, would be more focused on just tearing her apart, and that was the only advantage she had. “I told them the pride called a joining.”

  “Why would you betray us that way?”

  “Why do you think?” She finally lifted her chin, allowing him to see her fangs. “I loathe the pride.”

  He didn’t strike out at her the way she figured he would. He took a step back, his face paling. “You stink of wolf!”

  “I mated one.”

  His utter shock was apparent.

  Attack now, her inner voice urged. She just wasn’t brave enough to leave the tight space. Her instincts were playing hell and the shifter side of her wanted to hide from the larger, dangerous male threatening her. He was stronger, faster, and she wasn’t about to fool herself that her odds of winning weren’t slim to none. Her human half wanted to cause him some pain before he killed her.

  “I have your sister,” he finally spat.

  It was her turn to be shocked. “What?”

  “Breeanna followed us here, thinking we were tracking you.” His eyes narrowed. “Put down the vase and follow me out of here, or I’ll kill her.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “I hate Percy too.” He cocked his head, staring at her. “He wouldn’t even send Garrett to fight for this cause. I’m sick of being fodder. With you and your sister, we could breed a new pride. You come with me without putting up a fight, and I won’t kill her. I always wanted you,” he hissed. “But first we’ll have to rid you of that dog stench.”

  “You don’t have Bree.” She refused to believe him.

  “I do.” The smug expression on his face terrified her that he was telling the truth. “She’s with my brother. He can have her, and I’ll get you. I don’t think you’re defective.” His gaze lowered down her body with interest. “I just think Garrett is as spineless as his father and shooting blanks. I know about him screwing anything that says yes, and none of them have ended up pregnant. Your mother was a breeder; she gave your father four kittens before the accident. I wanted you, but Percy said his precious boy could have you instead. Leave with me now or Breeanna will pay, Charma. I’m taking you with me either way, but I’ll hurt her as your punishment if you put up a fight.”

  Her hold on the vase loosened. Randy took advantage of that by moving faster than she could react and grabbing hold of her wrist, violently snagging it with enough force to shake the broken object from her fingers. It crashed to the carpet and he yanked her out of her hiding spot.

  He turned, prepared to drag her out the way he’d come, but the sight of Brand climbing through the window stopped them both.

  Charma was never so happy to see her furious mate than at that moment, since she was too worried about her sister’s fate to know what to do. He snarled and lunged forward.

  Something wet splattered across her face and she turned her head, saw claws rip into Randy’s chest, all the way through to his back.

  He screamed and his hold on her was gone as Brand threw him across the room. Brand’s elbow caught her shoulder, sending her crashing toward the bed. She landed facedown