Mating Brand: 3 (Mating Heat) Read online

  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 up there. 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 toward him 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, more in tune with 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 safe, 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 were 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 and 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 grabbed 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 on the mattress, bounced once and realized what had happened. She twisted her head and watched Brand tear Randy apart. The gory sight was horrific. The pride enforcer never even got the chance to scream again before he died.

  Brand turned, half man and half beast, panting. Fresh blood covered his skin and dripped off his claws. His eyes were all wolf as he stared at her.

  Charma blinked a few times, in shock.

  “Are you okay? I thought that might be Garrett but I can tell by his smell that he’s not.”

  She had to adjust to his rough voice to understand what he said. She managed a nod. “He was an enforcer from my pride.”

  He took a step forward, then another, and dropped to his knees next to the bed. He kept his arms outstretched at his sides, his claws extended but far away from her.

  “Charma, did he hurt you?” His voice was less growl now, more human.

  She rolled over and sat up. “I’m okay. He said he has my baby sister.” She turned her head to stare at what was left of Randy. Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed hard, avoiding the sight as she desperately turned back to hold Brand’s gaze.

  “I’m sorry, baby.” He inched closer but didn’t touch her. “I thought you’d be safe up here.”

  “I’m okay. What if he really has my sister? He said Breeanna followed him here and his brother has her.”

  Brand breathed hard but his claws slid back into his fingertips. He grabbed some of the bedding and wiped his hands on it. “Do you think he was tell