Chapter 14 Rey
REY
They fell into a pattern over the next few days.
Breakfast was Rey making something or them ending up at the diner.
Carter spent most of his day in the office at the shop, setting up the new computer and inventory software, transferring everything into it from the old program.
Rey went between helping repair vehicles in the garage and being in his office with Carter, answering questions about the various products he kept in stock.
On more than one occasion, Rey had locked the office door and ravished Carter over his desk or on the sofa he had in his office.
He couldn’t keep his hands off Carter’s slender body, loving the sounds he did his utmost to wring from him.
He loved being around his adorable, sweet mate.
If he could, he’d keep Carter at his shop every day, just to be with him, but he knew he couldn’t be selfish.
Carter needed a chance to spread his wings and fly.
No one had ever given him a chance before.
He took Carter to the sheriff’s station to work on the computers there while keeping an eagle eye on his little wolf and chatting to Kasey.
There’d been no word or sighting of Darryl.
Kasey had sent a picture of Darryl’s arrest around to the other pack members and business owners in the area, instructing them to contact Kasey but not engage should Darryl appear.
Rey figured it would take Darryl time to figure out where Carter was.
Without money, it was a lot harder to track someone.
Especially since Nick had destroyed Carter’s phone, and they’d changed his number.
Malik Hollis, the only other deputy under Kasey besides Julian, stood near the desk Carter occupied, pointing out something on the screen.
He wasn’t Native American or wolf, but he knew of them, as his sister had mated with one of the Senaka pack when Malik was a teenager.
“Can’t quite figure out where that icon came from or what it does. ”
Carter shook his head, giving Malik a pained glance.
“Someone visited a website or opened an attachment from an email that infected the station computers with malware. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like it’s too malicious.
Merely tracks what sites you visit or files you open.
Though I wouldn’t be too certain they didn’t take sensitive information. ”
Kasey cursed, bringing his feet down off the desk they’d been up on. His boots hit the floor with a loud thwack. “Can you get rid of it?”
“Yeah. Easy to do. I can also install antimalware and virus protection software. I’m surprised you don’t already have any.
” Carter frowned, clicked on a couple of things, then hummed.
“I also would recommend a better cloud service and some new stacks. These are pretty outdated, and they don’t have sufficient RAM for the programs you’re using. It’s why they run so slow.”
Rey chuckled at the lost expression on all three cops’ faces.
He didn’t have a damn idea what his mate was talking about either, but he’d learned to roll with whatever Carter threw his way over the last week.
It also made him proud to see Carter so confident, at least in one aspect of his life.
Now Rey just had to convince him how amazing and smart he truly was so he could display some of that confidence in other areas, too.
Hard to believe he’d only met Carter a week prior.
It felt as though Rey had known him his whole life.
He couldn’t imagine life without the little wolf now.
Just seeing Carter’s face light up with a bright smile sent warmth blossoming through Rey’s chest. There was no doubt in his mind: He was falling in love with his adorable mate.
Fast? Sure, but Rey couldn’t ever remember feeling this way about anyone before—when someone else’s happiness mattered above everything and everyone else, including his own packmates.
If the pack couldn’t accept Carter for who he was, Rey would take him and leave.
Rey wanted to give him the world. Starting with a home where everyone loved him for who he was.
“Stacks and rams are what now?” Julian asked.
He listened to Carter patiently explain that the computer towers were stacks and RAM was computer memory.
Which eventually spiraled into Carter’s usual spinoff into other subjects, his excitement rising.
Rey carefully watched Julian and Malik, waiting to see any hint of irritation or unacceptance of his mate’s chatter, but they just smiled at Carter and asked more questions.
Julian seemed the most interested in learning about computers and the software they needed.
Malik moved closer to Rey’s side, setting his hand on Rey’s shoulder. “Congratulations on your mating, Rey. He’s adorable.”
Grinning, Rey nodded, his metaphorical hackles settling at the obvious acceptance from both deputies. “He is.”
“I’m kind of jealous. Don’t know if I’ll ever have a mate of my own,” Malik said, frowning. “Since I’m not like you all.”
Rey hoped the kindhearted Black man had a mate out there.
Whoever it was would have the fiercest, sweetest protector.
Malik may be human, but he wasn’t small by any standard.
He rivaled Rey in muscle size, with Rey only a couple of inches taller than the other male.
“You’ll find them, Malik. Maybe you can even go to the summit.
Meet some of the other pack. You never know.
You could come home with your own,” Rey said, winking at Malik.
Grinning, Malik had a contemplative gleam in his eye. “You think Kasey would be on board with that? I’m not a shifter.”
“You’re still pack,” Rey said. “I’ll talk to Kasey. Humans have mates, too.”
Malik squeezed Rey’s shoulder and then released him. “Thanks, man. I appreciate that. And if we find the son of a bitch who hurt your mate, I’ll help you erase him from this earth.”
“If there’s anything left of him when I get done with him,” Rey said with a growl.
“Can’t believe someone could beat on someone as sweet as Carter,” Malik said. “I’d love to run into the fucker in a dark alley. Show him what it’s like to feel helpless.”
Rey noticed Carter stiffen and knew his mate had heard their conversation. He gave Malik a look and changed the subject. “How’s Tish doing?”
“She’s great. Got another kid on the way again.”
“That’s great! Congrats, man. I hadn’t heard.”
Malik grinned and started describing a funny story about one of his nephews.
Rey watched the tension bleed from his mate the longer Malik talked.
He knew Carter felt ashamed about what Darryl had done to him, something he should never feel.
There wasn’t a therapist in town, but Rey wondered if Carter talking to Jack, the pack healer, would be a good idea.
He’d bring the subject up with Carter soon.
Rey’s phone vibrated in his pocket, and he slid it out, frowning when he saw an urgent text from Nevada.
Jake hadn’t come into work again, and Nevada had a tow to do.
Carter was still going over the pricing for the new computers and software, and Rey knew he couldn’t leave Nevada drowning.
“Hey, Kase,” Rey said, pushing away from the desk he leaned on.
Kasey looked up from what Carter was showing him.
“I’ve gotta get into the shop. Nevada’s on his own and there’s a tow request. Can you keep an eye on Carter until I get back?”
“Of course, Rey. We’ve got your back,” Kasey said. “If you get hung up, just let me know.”
“Thanks,” Rey said gratefully. He moved over to Carter and leaned down to give him a brief kiss. “I’ll be back in a little bit, sweetheart. Don’t leave the station. Okay?”
“Yes, Rey,” Carter replied. “I’ll be right here.”
Rey kissed him again, glanced at Kasey in thanks, and hustled out of the station.
The shop wasn’t far, but Rey took his truck, anyway.
Nevada had the tow truck out and prepped by the time Rey arrived.
He tossed a wave Nevada’s way and headed into the shop to spend the next couple of hours helping with the few maintenance appointments.
Between oil changes, he tried calling Jake but got no answer.
Frustrated at having to leave his mate, even with his own alpha and the other deputies, Rey left a message for Jake. “You have one hour to call me and tell me you’re not passed out with a hangover, or you’re done, Jake. I’ve given you chance after chance.”
He jabbed the disconnect button and threw the phone on the nearby workbench, scowling. There weren’t many qualified mechanics in Senaka, but he was done with Jake’s bullshit. He preferred losing a mechanic to enduring the unreliability any longer.
After finishing a couple more oil changes, doing a tire rotation, and changing out a couple filters, Rey made a few calls to let customers know their cars were ready for pickup. Nevada returned while Rey was in the middle of some paperwork.
“No Jake?” Nevada asked with a frown once he’d unhooked the dark gray Toyota Tundra from the truck.
“No,” Rey replied. “He’s through, Nev. I already left a message half an hour ago. We’ll have to manage until I find a replacement.”
Nevada nodded, a serious expression on his face. “I got a cousin in New York looking to move here. Name’s Stone. He’s got about ten years’ experience under the hood. Spent a lot of time as a teenager and his early twenties street racing. He knows a lot about cars.”
“Formal training?” Rey asked, leaning a hip against the side of the truck.
“No, but I can vouch for his skills. He’s clean, doesn’t do drugs. Doesn’t drink beyond the normal.”
“Shifter?” Rey asked, knowing the cousin could be human.
“Yeah. He’s part of the Westerly pack. My aunt and uncle, his parents, passed about five years ago and he’s been on his own since.”
“Does he hold any official positions in the pack?”