Chapter 7 Carter
CARTER
Carter couldn’t believe he’d found his true mate, and he also couldn’t believe how amazing Rey was.
At least, he seemed to be. He still worried that Rey would change after Carter moved to Senaka and they mated.
Darryl had damaged not only Carter, but Carter’s easy trust in people.
Men specifically. Could he trust Rey wasn’t hiding his true self because they were around so many other shifters?
Shame at comparing Rey to Darryl set in. Rey had been nothing but kind and gentle with him, raising him up instead of tearing him down. He’d defended Carter against Josh. Rey had done nothing to make Carter suspicious. This would be different. Right?
Carter grabbed a new pair of jeans, boxer briefs, and a shirt and went into the bathroom.
Instead of turning on the shower, Carter did a quick wipe with a wet washcloth over his chest and stomach just to clear away the itchy semen before doing a deeper clean on his crotch, wincing at the tug on his pubic hairs.
Dried cum wasn’t the most comfortable thing.
He didn’t take a shower, not wanting to rinse away the smell of Rey on his skin.
Dressed again, Carter headed out of the lodge and found his cousin seated on Thayne’s lap, their heads together while they chatted with Kasey and Seth.
Carter smiled at Seth while grabbing a plate to fill with whatever was left from lunch.
Thankfully, someone had thought about bringing Sterno fuel cans to keep the food warm for anyone who couldn’t eat immediately.
He finished filling his plate and took a seat next to Seth. “Hi,” he said.
“Hey, Carter!” Seth gave a surreptitious sniff and grinned. “Looks like you had fun on your run today.”
Carter blushed but nodded, taking a big bite of potato salad. His thoughts drifted to Senaka. “Rey said that Senaka is a small town? You don’t even have a store with computers available?”
Seth nodded, leaning against Kasey’s side. “It is pretty small compared to places like Cheyenne for sure. We can get what we need either delivered or go to one of the closer urban areas. Why?”
Carter frowned. He worked as an IT support agent. What would he do for work if there wasn’t anywhere he was needed? He bit his lip and studied his food for a moment. IT support usually did the equipment setup and servicing when someone in the company needed help. “Something wrong?” Seth asked.
“I work in the help desk department at my current job. Well, I did. I’ve been on extended medical leave.
But it means I work with physical computers and other office equipment, along with software.
If your town is that small, there won’t be any companies that need someone full time for IT support.
What am I going to do for work?” Carter said.
Seth gave him a contemplative look. “What about doing something remote?”
“I’ve always done IT help desk support.” Carter sighed and set his fork down on the table. “I don’t know how to do anything else.”
“You can’t troubleshoot things over the phone and internet?” Seth asked.
“Some, but most companies look for someone to physically be on-site because of the hardware problems.” Would he be able to move to be with Rey? The thought of having to give up Rey because of his job skills was depressing. He needed to make a living.
Seth patted the back of Carter’s hand. “Talk to Rey. Maybe he can come up with an idea. Hmm?”
“Talk to me about what?” Rey rumbled from behind them. Carter turned his head, smiling at his mate when the man kissed his temple.
“Well, it seems Carter has a problem with the possibility of a job back in Senaka. Thought maybe it would be a good idea to discuss it with you.”
“You don’t have to work if you don’t want to, little wolf,” Rey said.
Carter pursed his lips. “I am not sitting around doing nothing all day and living off of you. Mate or not. I’d be bored out of my skull in five minutes. I’ve been bored for the last month and a half. That would be no different.”
Rey laughed. “Well, you could start a ‘mobile’ IT support business. I could use help at the auto shop. I’m sure the other stores have some type of computer equipment or may need help setting things up. You could set your own hours that way and still play your game.”
The idea of having his own business sounded exciting. Carter chewed his bottom lip. “But I’m not very good with selling things. Wouldn’t I have to sell my services?”
“Word of mouth, business cards, and of course, you’ll be a part of the pack once Kasey initiates you. Our pack members will surely hire you. You could even do home computer work, as well. I’m sure there are people who could use help with their personal laptops.”
“I don’t know,” Carter replied.
Rey sat next to him and took out his phone. He opened the notes application and started writing things down. “I’ll help you set it up, sweetheart. It won’t take much. We’ll wait for you to turn a profit before we worry about incorporating your company. Any ideas on what you would like to call it?”
Carter shook his head. Nerves set in, and his stomach twisted. Running a business? He was a screwup. He’d surely drive people away with his chatter. No one would want to do business with him. It would be a total flop.
Rey nudged Carter with his shoulder. “You can do this, Carter. I have faith in you.”
Eyes widening, Carter looked up at Rey. “You do?”
Smiling, Rey leaned in to rest his forehead against Carter’s. “I do, sweetheart. I know you’ll succeed at whatever you choose to do. Now help me think of a name.”
“Umm, I can’t think of anything,” he said.
“What about The Wolf of IT?” Carter wrinkled his nose. Rey chuckled. “Okay, no to that.”
Everyone seated around them started throwing out names.
“Control, Alt, Elite!”
“Off and On, Co.”
“What about The Nerd Herd Dispatch?”
Most of them were too cheesy or just not something Carter connected with. Then Thayne came up with the one that Carter jumped on. “The Friendly Reboot.”
The name was cute, and Carter usually found that rebooting a computer fixed most of the problems people had with them. “I like that one,” he said, smiling at Thayne.
Thayne returned his smile. “I think it suits you, shorty. You’re friendly, and I’ve always heard rebooting fixes everything.”
Carter laughed. “It does.”
Rey gave Thayne a sharp look. “Shorty?”
Thayne sighed and rolled his eyes. “Relax, Rey. I’ve been calling him that forever. I’m not going to steal your mate.”
Carter pursed his lips at Rey. “Thayne is so madly in love with my cousin that no one else exists for him, so stow the jealousy, mate.”
“Mates are possessive, little wolf. I doubt I can control that any more than you would if the roles were reversed.”
“I didn’t jump on Josh for flirting with you,” Carter replied dryly.
“No, but you wanted to.” Rey arched one brow.
“Maybe, but I am not a fighter. Josh also outweighs me by, like, fifty pounds and has about half a foot on me. Pretty sure he’d bat me away like a fly.”
“He wouldn’t live if he did,” Rey said.
Carter snorted. “You going to kill everyone who ever insults me?”
Rey shrugged. “Most likely.”
Gaping at Rey, Carter stared at his mate. The man seriously would hurt anyone who said something mean to him? “Well, I think we’d better learn how to hide a body then because you’re going to be a very busy wolf.”
Rey frowned. “That many people insult you, my mate?”
“You saw Josh this morning. That’s a daily occurrence.” Carter wasn’t lying. Most days, someone insulted him in some way. Whether to complain about his talking or to make fun of his size, they always had something to say.
“Well, that won’t happen in Senaka,” Rey said. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Carter hummed, knowing Rey couldn’t be there all the time.
“So, you like the name The Friendly Reboot then?” Rey asked.
“I do! It’s cute and quirky.”
“Ok. The Friendly Reboot it is. Going to need a logo to go with it. We’ll get you a laptop and whatever else you need when we stop to get your gaming computer.” The list went on and Carter’s head spun by the time Rey took a breath.
“Jeez, Rey, way to overwhelm him,” Thayne said sarcastically. “I think starting small is a good idea. Some of that stuff can wait. Especially until he has some regular clientele.”
Rey gave Carter a sheepish glance. “Sorry, sweetheart. I enjoy organizing things. You should see the tools in my shop. I can’t stand them not being in the right place.”
Carter could see that. Rey seemed on top of things. That’s probably what made him a good enforcer, too. “It’s okay. It’s not like we can do any of that stuff right now.”
“We can do some of it once we get home to Senaka,” Rey replied. “I already called the airline and changed my flight and bought you a ticket. We’ll be leaving a little later than I originally had booked, but it was the best they had available.”
Reality set in. Carter knew going back to Senaka with Rey was inevitable.
Hell, mates didn’t like to be apart once they’d met.
But to leave everything and everyone he knew?
Of course, what did he have to go back to?
No place to live, a pack who didn’t even tolerate him, and a job which really didn’t fulfill him.
While he’d promised not to compare Rey to Darryl anymore, not when Rey had shown him nothing but gentleness up till now, he’d be at Rey’s mercy.
No one to turn to. Of course, he probably wouldn’t turn to anyone since he’d clearly shown that with Darryl.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Rey hummed near his ear.
Carter nodded. He stood up from the table. “Need to use the restroom.”