Chapter 10 Rey
REY
“Alpha,” Rey said in greeting. “Good morning.”
Kasey smiled and set his and Seth’s plates on the table. Seth sat in front of Carter and Kasey slid in next to him, facing Rey. “What time do you fly out today, Rey?”
“Just after two o’clock.”
Rey noticed his mate fidget next to him several times, and he worried Carter would choke at the rate he shoveled food into his mouth.
He’d struggled a little to keep up with Carter’s chatter, wondering if Carter even took a breath, but he hadn’t been annoyed or frustrated.
In fact, he found it endearing just how excited his mate seemed about everything.
Though Rey did get frustrated when Carter kept insisting on paying him back and getting a job as soon as possible.
He hadn’t been lying when he’d told Carter he didn’t need to worry about that right away.
Finally, needing to know what was going through his mate’s mind, Rey tapped his hip gently. “You okay?” he asked close to Carter’s ear. Carter nodded, visibly biting the inside of his cheek. Rey kissed his temple. “You sure?”
“Yes,” Carter said, instantly shoving another bite of food in his mouth.
Comprehension set in. Rey knew Carter had spent most of his life being ridiculed for talking too much, and his heart ached when he saw Carter trying so hard to go against his true nature. Rubbing his fingers along Carter’s hip, Rey said, “Did you want to say something, little wolf?”
Carter shook his head, and Rey knew he couldn’t force Carter to talk, but it pissed him off at the same time.
People didn’t care about anything except their own comfort, their own needs, and they didn’t care about the long-lasting effects their actions and words had on someone else.
Carter was the kindest, sweetest soul Rey had ever met.
People shouldn’t drag him down because he found joy and wonder in things.
Excitement wasn’t something to punish someone for.
If it took Rey the rest of his life, he’d break Carter free of the chains, the cage, his poor little mate found himself locked in.
“Why don’t you tell Kasey about the business idea we were discussing yesterday?” Rey said.
Anxiety flashed across Carter’s face, and Rey saw Kasey glance at him in concern.
“Carter works with computers. I know there aren’t many places in Senaka which would need someone full time, and I know Julian does his best with the equipment at the station, but I thought maybe Carter could start a mobile-style business.
Offer his services when needed. Everyone knows I hate computers, so having someone around who can fix mine would be great, too. ”
Rey opened the connection to his alpha. He’s afraid of talking too much, that he’ll annoy people, because it’s all he’s ever known. His packmates have shunned him for it all his life.
Kasey’s face softened, and he looked at Carter. “I think that sounds like a great idea, Carter. We could certainly use someone to come in and look at the computers at the station. We might even need an upgrade to our systems. They’re a bit outdated. You have any ideas for that?”
Wary hope surfaced on Carter’s face as he nodded. “I’d have to look at what you have now, but that shouldn’t be too difficult. Do you know how many computers you have and what model they are?”
“We have four. One in my office, one for the receptionist, Julian has one on his desk, and my other deputy, Malik, has one as well. Models, I don’t know. Why don’t you swing by the station sometime this week and I’ll show you what we have? We can discuss the cost and budget then.”
A bright smile broke over Carter’s face. “Sure! That sounds great, Alpha Whitedove.”
I know not every pack is like ours, but he is such a sweet guy.
I can’t believe Cole’s pack would be so cruel.
It makes me worry about any of our own who move out there to join them, Kasey said as he gave Carter an encouraging smile.
“I know Julian will be happy not to spend time with support on the phone every time something goes wrong.”
Carter almost bounced in his seat, and Rey gave Kasey a grateful glance.
He knew Carter just needed a chance to shine.
I don’t think their pack is necessarily cruel, Kase.
Unaccepting of some things, perhaps. Every shifter I’ve met from the Emerald Lake Hills pack has been warm and friendly.
I’m not brushing off what they’ve done, Kase, not by a long shot.
For so long, they stunted my poor mate. But I don’t think we need to be worried about the others going out there when they are going with their true mates.
Perhaps, Kasey mused.
Rey wouldn’t let his mate return to Emerald Lake Hills without him in the future.
If Carter wanted to visit, Rey would be right by his side, and he’d destroy anyone who thought to be unkind to his little wolf.
He would never defend those who’d stomped all over Carter, but he didn’t wish to harm the truce between the two packs and prevent others from possibly finding their true mates.
There were already seven new mated pairs since the first summit.
They spent the rest of the morning packing and saying their goodbyes to Nick and Thayne.
He saw Carter wipe away tears more than once while he hugged them.
Nick had decided not to return to Senaka with them, after all.
Partially out of not wanting to leave his mate behind, but also because Rey had convinced Nick he would give his life for Carter.
“Thank you for everything, Nick. You’ve always been there for me,” Carter said, his arms tight around Nick’s waist.
Nick hugged him just as tightly. “I’m only a phone call away, cuz. If you need anything, you call me. I’ll hop on the next flight out there.”
Carter nodded, his eyes shining damply. “I know, Nick. I’m going to be fine.”
“I know you will,” Nick said, leveling a hard glare at Rey. “I’m going to figure out what I can about Darryl’s whereabouts. Until we know he’s been caught, I think it’s best if you lie low.”
Rey almost flipped Nick off at the implication he wouldn’t keep his mate safe, but he knew if he were on the other end, he’d react the same way. He rattled off his phone number to Nick, then plugged Nick’s into his own phone.
There were a few more strained goodbyes from Carter before Rey guided him to the truck. Their luggage was already in the back. “We’ll go visit them, sweetheart.”
Carter stared behind them as they drove away, watching the lodge until he couldn’t see it anymore, then he turned around with a sigh. “I know. I’m going to miss him. He’s the only one who has ever cared about me.”
“Not anymore,” Rey said, grabbing Carter’s hand. “You’ve got me now.”
He gave Rey a soft smile, squeezing his hand. “And you’ve got me,” he said proudly.
Rey kissed the back of Carter’s palm. “That I do, little wolf, That I do.”
The drive to the airport passed with Carter chattering away, talking about his coworkers, his packmates, and a handful of funny stories about Nick.
Rey gave perfunctory responses of grunts and acknowledgements, but he let Carter fill the silence on his own.
Then Carter started asking more about Senaka, and those questions didn’t end even during their flight.
Of course, the questions about the pack had to wait until they weren’t around humans.
It didn’t take long for them to grab their bags and get to Rey’s truck once they landed at the airport closest to Senaka.
It was still early enough that the stores were open, so Rey headed to the nearby electronics store to get what Carter needed.
Carter tried to decline again, but Rey ignored him and approached a salesclerk, asking for the best gaming computer they had and the latest cell phone on the market.
Carter squawked at the price when everything was rung up, but Rey just handed over his credit card without batting an eye.
The auto shop had done well, and with the help of Talon, Rey had invested several profits into the stock market and other ventures.
He could retire tomorrow and not run out of money.
“Relax, sweetheart,” Rey said as he loaded the box for the laptop and a new monitor into the bed of his truck. “I want to do this for you.”
“But I don’t need all that,” Carter said, wringing his hands in distress.
Sighing, Rey closed the back of his truck and turned to Carter.
He circled Carter’s wrist and pulled him against his chest, wrapping his arms around him.
“It’s just stuff, Carter. I am not hurting for money.
I barely spend any of what I make at the shop, and if having a gaming computer makes you happy, I’ll gladly spend ten times over what this cost.”
His mate mumbled something into his chest, and Rey loosened his hold, letting Carter back away a fraction. “What was that, sweetheart?”
Carter bit his lower lip before looking up at him. Fear and anxiety radiated from Carter, something Rey prayed one day Carter wouldn’t ever need to feel with him. “It’s a lot of money, Rey. A lot. I-I can’t pay you back.”
“You don’t have to pay me back, Carter. I told you, we are mates. What’s mine is yours.” Rey cupped Carter’s cheeks, placed a tender kiss on his full lips, and pulled back. “What is really the issue, Carter? I know it isn’t just the money.”
“I don’t want you to leave me!” Carter blurted, then blushed, covering his face with his hands.
“No one wants someone who’s broke. I have, like, a hundred dollars in the bank, and I still have to pay my medical bills.
I won’t be making any money until I can get a job.
Who wants to be someone’s wallet? It isn’t fair to you.
You worked hard for what you have, and—”