Mating Brand: 3 (Mating Heat) (3 page)

She turned. “What would you like for lunch?”

The pride leader waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t give a
damn. Just feed me.”

Motion drew her attention and she met the glare of her mate.
Her spine stiffened at the malevolent look he directed her way. He stalked
closer to his father. “Feed me as well. You can rub my feet after you’re done.”

Hatred warmed her entire body and Charma found herself
wishing she had some poison to sprinkle over anything she fed Garrett. His
sense of smell wouldn’t allow that fantasy to ever become a reality. He’d make
her drop to her knees in front of everyone just to humiliate her. He’d beat her
if she refused.

He could do worse.
She just spun away and jerked open
the small fridge in the corner of the room. She’d never forgive Garrett for
even a tenth of the horrible things he’d done to her over the years. He really
enjoyed humiliating her in front of the enforcers and his father whenever
possible.

She quickly made a stack of sandwiches and took some to
Percy first. He didn’t thank her, never had, and she’d fall over in shock if he
ever did. She glanced at the monitor while she waited for him to take the
plate. The face on the screen made her freeze.

No. It can’t be.
Her gaze lowered to the name under
the picture.
Brand!

“My food,” Garrett growled. “Now.”

She automatically responded to years of taking his commands
and twisted away from the sight that shocked her to the core and rushed back to
grab the second plate. She avoided looking directly at him as she handed the
food to Garrett. He accepted it with one hand and painfully gripped her
shoulder with the other.

“Rub my feet.”

“Not now,” Percy snapped. “Make her do that later. I want
her to print out four copies of the map they sent. She takes my orders while
she’s here.”

“She’s my mate.” Garrett’s grip tightened until she
whimpered from pain.

“Let her go!” Percy roared.

Garrett shoved her away and Charma stumbled to her chair. All
the men followed Percy into his office and the door slammed. She lunged for the
monitor to twist it her way. She quickly halted the flashing pictures to back
them up a few frames and stared at a face she’d never thought she’d see again.

Brand had grown out his hair. Small lines bracketed his
mouth and marked the outer edges of his sexy eyes as he smiled at whoever had
taken the picture. He wore faded blue jeans and a navy tank top. She stared at
his buff, tan arms, remembering the feel of them wrapped around her. Her heart
lurched.

He’s in danger.
That sank in.

“Where are those damn maps?” Percy roared from the other
room.

“They didn’t send them,” she lied. “I’m pulling some up and
downloading them.”

“Hurry up,” her pride leader demanded.

Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she frantically
worked. Percy had never been known for his patience. It took only a few minutes
to pull up a map, scramble the names of a few towns to make certain the attack
party got lost if they followed the driving directions she changed, then
quickly printed out the copies. Her knees felt weak as she entered the office.

Her mate stuck out his foot as she walked toward the desk,
tripped her, and she slammed into the floor on her belly at the feet of two of
the enforcers. She pushed up to her hands and knees to shove the papers on
Percy’s desk. Randy’s firm hand gripped her elbow to assist her to stand. She
shot him a grateful look. He didn’t release her though. He frowned as he drew
air into his nose. His gaze left her to stare at Garrett.

“Your mark is fading from her. It’s faint.”

“So?”

“So it’s my job to keep the peace and some of the males
might go after your mate unless you cover her again with your mark. I can
barely pick it up. I don’t want to have to bury any of our members when you
tear them apart.”

Garrett snorted. “Nobody would want her. She’s useless. She’s
infertile, a rotten lay, and unless I’m smacking her she doesn’t even move
while I’m nailing her.”

Charma wished the floor would open up under her feet. She
could sense every male watching her. She should have known her mate would
retaliate for what had occurred the night before when he’d entered her area of
their home in a drunken stupor. It had been one of the rare occurrences when he’d
sought her out but she’d spurned his sexual advances.

“One of the pride will attempt to fuck her if you don’t
strengthen your scent on her,” Randy persisted. “You might not think so but she’s
very pretty.”

“I don’t care what happens to her.”

Randy released her arm. “You’re saying you don’t give a damn
if other pride go after her? She’s only half-blooded. She won’t be able to
fight them off.”

“Nope. Hell, you want her, fuck her right there. You’ll be
disappointed if you think it’s going to be any good. Any of you can have her if
you want. Bend her over the nearest chair if you’re in the mood.”

Horror gripped Charma. Her gaze lifted to Randy, praying he’d
protect her even if her mate wouldn’t. Interest sparked in his green eyes and
he licked his lips.

“You sure? I’ve always wondered what it would be like having
her.”

“I’d find it amusing as hell.” Garrett chuckled. “Go for it.
Just be rough.”

“Not inside my office, on my furniture.” Percy sighed. “Do
it on your time. Right now she’s got shit to do other than amuse your friends,
son.” Percy waved her off. “Go. We are busy. Tomorrow night we’re declaring war
on those damn werewolves.”

She fled toward the door, wanted to escape, but paused to
address her pride leader. “Your dry cleaning is ready. Should I pick it up now
or wait until later?”

“Go but come right back. We’re going to need coffee soon
while we plan the attack.”

She backed up, avoiding Garrett and the other men who
watched her with way too much concentration. As soon as she reached her desk,
she grabbed her purse and car keys before bolting from the office.

There was no going back once she left town. She’d die but it
beat sticking around waiting for Garrett to allow the enforcers to have her. He
would do it. Her mate was a total bastard. The fact that he would outlive her
was the only regret she suffered as she climbed into her car.

Within twenty minutes Percy would figure out she hadn’t
returned and send some of the enforcers to hunt her. Within two hours they’d
realize she wasn’t within pride lands.

She rolled down her window and reached inside her purse. She
glanced at the phone, tempted to call her family to say goodbye but rejected
the idea. Her parents would demand she stay. She also didn’t want to have to
explain to her siblings exactly how bad life had gotten for her. They’d be safe
from retaliation since her sister had mated with the alpha’s son from another
pack. It would be an offense to that pride if Percy or Garrett hurt Megan’s
family.

Charma pitched the device out the window. She could be
traced by it and she didn’t want to weaken her resolve to do the right thing.
Calling one of her siblings made that a real possibility.

Fear nearly overwhelmed her but a memory surfaced. The image
of Brand smiling at her from across a candlelit table on their first official
date soothed her.
I can do this. For him.

* * * * *

Brand jerked awake, panting from the nightmare of reliving
the worst day of his life—the day Charma had fled. He was twisted up in the
bedding, sweat covered his body and his dick was rock hard. He glanced down at
the tented sheet.

“Yeah, I know who you want but she’s not here.”

He sat up, shoved the sheet away, and stood. His skin was
overheated, his gums ached and he knew why. “I hate this time of year. Goddamn
mating heat.”

It disgusted him that his evening would consist of porn
flicks and lotion. He had stopped going to the pack runnings once he realized
that he’d never find a mate there. He had tried it for years, hopeful someone
would make him forget that she-cat, but eventually acceptance had settled in.
The random sex gave him a break from routine but after a while, even that bored
him. It just wasn’t worth the bullshit.

The phone rang and he stared at it. He wasn’t on duty until
tomorrow. The answering machine picked up after three rings.

“Hello? Brand? It’s Peggy!” The annoying voice grated on his
nerves. “You haven’t called me back. I’m going to the running in an hour and
wanted to make sure you know where to meet me.” She giggled, sounding like a
teenager instead of a thirty-year-old mother of nine. “I’m really excited. Don’t
be late. I don’t want to have to fight off other males if they find me first.
You’re the one I want. I’ll be at the creek where the white rocks are, near the
waterfall.” She hung up.

The woman had lost her mate and was looking to make him the
father and provider for her family. She chased him often but he wasn’t having
any of it. She only wanted him for his home and money and was not even polite
enough to lie about it. He had to give her credit for honesty, at least. She’d
told him flat-out why she’d chosen him. She’d loved her mate but figured Brand
would welcome a relationship where no emotions were involved. She had also
tired of dealing with nine kids alone.

“Not happening,” he groaned. “I might not be the friendliest
bastard but I’m not desperate either.”

The phone rang as he reached the master bathroom to take his
shower. He paused and waited as the answering machine clicked on.

“Brand? It’s Melissa.” The woman paused. “The guy I agreed
to hook up with chose another bitch who wiggled her tail at him.” Anger
deepened her voice. “I thought since that fell through that maybe you and I
could get together instead. I figured you’d still be available. I hate this
time of year, don’t you? Hey, it beats batteries, right? Give me a call back
soon or I’ll find someone else.” She hung up.

“Right,” he muttered. “I’m so flattered to be your second
choice and better than a vibrator. You thinking of some other guy while I’m
nailing you is such a turn-on.” He snorted. “I’ll pass.”

He flicked on the bathroom light and quickly shoved down his
sweatpants. He twisted the lever to cold, hoping the chilling spray sluicing
down his body would cool his heated blood.

He glanced down at his dick, which refused to soften, and
clenched his teeth. He hated mating heat, detested how once a year he kept a
constant boner and wished he were a woman. They had it slightly easier. They
suffered severe horniness but it wasn’t painful, didn’t drive them out their
minds or make them turn into pitiful creatures who jacked off frantically to
anything flashing skin, even on television.

He shook his head and tipped it back under the icy blast of
water. He knew it wouldn’t work. His cock seemed to have a pulse and a growl
tore from his throat. His balls ached too. He quickly washed his hair, turned
off the water and snatched a towel off the rack.

The phone rang again. He tilted his head as he dried off
while avoiding his middle and perked up when his ex-girlfriend’s voice met his
ears. Hope soared that she might want to spend time with him. She was pretty,
made him laugh, and he’d had a good time with her until she’d cheated on him
with another wolf and insisted that he was to blame. It wasn’t a match made in
heaven but he’d take it during mating heat.

“Hey, stranger. Um, this may be a bit awkward but I know you’re
still single. My grandma hasn’t gone through menopause yet and well, hell, you’ve
got to be hard up since most know to avoid you after learning you’re not
looking for anything lasting. She’s been reading these books about cougars.
That’s what they call older women who fuck younger guys. She always thought you
were hot and wondered what it would be like having a young stud go after her
again. She was totally excited when I shared how good in bed you are. I told
her you’d be flattered she wants you and you’d go for it. You remember where
she lives, right? Just go over there and she’ll take care of you during the
heat. You’re welcome!”

Brand dropped the towel, horrified. A memory of Jackie’s
grandmother flashed through his mind. The woman had to be past a hundred and
actually looked like someone’s grandma. She had baked cookies for the occasion
when she’d met her granddaughter’s “nice young man”. He remembered her using a
walker to get around after breaking her hip when she’d lost a fight with a bear
she’d encountered in the woods. The idea of doing her made his cock lower
slightly. He peered down. It remained hard but he could see a little difference
until it perked right back up.

“Goddamn it!” he roared. “I’d rather hump a pillow! I hate
mating heat!”

He snarled as he stormed to the nightstand and yanked the
drawer open in his haste to grab a bottle of lotion. “Her grandmother. Shit.
That’s just mean.” The memory of the older woman flashed again and he paused. “No
damn way.” He’d rather meet up with Peggy, though he was certain she would try
to get him hot enough to lose his mind until he bit into her to seal the mating
deal. She’d own him then, her and the nine pups he’d have to care for. He’d be
mated and destined to be nothing more than her checkbook and pup wrangler. “I
hate my damn life.”

He threw his ass on the bed, opened the lotion bottle and
was about to tip it to pour a generous amount into his palm when the phone rang
again. He paused. He needed to ease the tension inside his body. He had to get
off to stop the pain that had become nearly unbearable.

“Who’s next? Someone trying to shove their three-legged
cousin at me? Maybe someone’s going to ask me if I’m hard up enough to do barn
animals?”

“Brand? Pick up now,” Jeff ordered. “We have a situation.”

He lunged across the bed, dropping the lotion. He jerked the
phone from the cradle to shove it against his ear. “What’s wrong?” Something
bad had to have happened for an enforcer on duty to call.