Chapter 15 Carter #3
Carter grunted and followed Rey out of the house, never releasing the mug of coffee.
He almost dozed off in the truck, but the caffeine kicked in a few minutes into the ride, and he drained the mug.
“Maybe the new computers for the sheriff’s station will come Monday.
I can’t wait to get it all set up. Kasey even had me order new monitors since the ones there are so out of date.
They really need an isolated server with all the private information they store. ”
He continued to ramble on, bouncing a little in his seat.
The caffeine didn’t hit him the same as it did if he had any when wide awake, but it gave him a boost of energy.
Rey smiled indulgently at him more than once, and Carter smiled right back.
Pure happiness flooded him. There weren’t many times Carter could remember where his heart practically sang with joy, but right then, ensconced in his mate’s truck, knowing his mate accepted him, ranked in the number one spot.
Of course, that kind of happiness was always fleeting for Carter, because when he logged into his email on Rey’s computer at the shop, his stomach cramped, heart pounded, and sweat broke out all over his body.
Darryl had emailed him again, and this time, it was more aggressive.
His hands trembled when he saw Darryl’s parting sentence.
I’ll see you soon, slut.
Ringing filled his ears. Carter heard a muffled voice, then cursing, and he found himself airborne.
Shushing reached him finally, and he felt himself being rocked.
Firm hands rubbed over his arms, shoulders, and back.
He breathed in deeply the familiar scent of warm vanilla and melted sugar.
Embarrassment at falling apart yet again crashed over Carter.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured against Rey’s neck.
“What are you sorry for, sweetheart?”
“I’m weak,” Carter said.
“You listen to me, mate. You aren’t weak.
Even the strongest men come out of battle with PTSD and will display a trauma response when threatened with a trigger from that battle.
You aren’t weak, and I don’t want you to ever call yourself that again.
” Rey nuzzled his chin along the top of Carter’s head.
“You survived, and not everyone can say that. I’m so very glad you did, sweetheart, because if you hadn’t, I never would have found you. ”
Rey paused and then took a slight breath. “Maybe it’s too soon, but I love you, Carter.”
Carter jerked his head back in shock, staring into Rey’s dark brown eyes, searching for any possibility of deceit. “You love me?”
A tender look came over Rey’s features. “I do, little mate. You’re everything I could have hoped for in a true mate. You’re sweet, sexy, and you take my breath away every time I look at you.”
Joy burst through Carter. “I love you, too, Rey.”
Carter found himself crushed to Rey’s broad chest, his mouth plundered as if Rey’s tongue was looking for Blackbeard’s treasure, and a rumbling growl vibrated through his body everywhere they touched.
Rey only released his lips when it became paramount to breathe.
Gasping for air, Carter rested his forehead on Rey’s shoulder, struggling to gather his wits around him.
Rey loved him! His head spun at the knowledge that his mate loved him.
When Rey patted his hip, Carter lifted his head to meet Rey’s gaze. His next words caused Carter to stiffen again, but he didn’t freak out this time. “I’m going to forward that email to Kasey, then delete it. He’s not getting near you, sweetheart.”
“Do you think he knows where I am?” Carter whispered, his stomach cramping at the idea of seeing Darryl again.
“How could he? Your phone was destroyed, and no one except Nick, Thayne, and your alpha know where you are.”
Tensing further, Carter muttered, “My ex-boss knows, too. I had to tell him for the paperwork for my termination.”
Rey cursed. “Would he tell Darryl where you are?”
“I don’t know,” Carter replied. “He only met Darryl twice.”
The air turned blue when Rey let out several more oaths. “I have to tell Kasey. We need the entire pack on alert.”
“I’m sorry,” Carter said, his voice trembling at the anger on Rey’s face. He didn’t believe Rey would hurt him physically, but the emotion still scared him. Even if Rey loved him, he could still choose to leave Carter. “I’m sorry I’m causing so much trouble.”
“No, little wolf! This isn’t your fault. Your ex is the one at fault here.” Rey cupped his cheek and tilted his head back enough to meet his gaze. “You’re my true mate and part of this pack. The pack protects their own, and I would die to keep you safe, sweetheart.”
“But I don’t want you to die because of me! I don’t want anyone hurt because of me!” Carter tried to climb off Rey’s lap, but his mate wouldn’t let him go. Tears flooded his eyes, and he blinked heavily. “Please, Rey. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me. I promise.” Rey ran his fingers through Carter’s hair, gripping the strands at the base of his neck to tug Carter’s head back a fraction.
“Listen to me, sweetheart. Darryl is human. He doesn’t stand a chance against me.
Remember, I’m an enforcer for this pack.
You haven’t really seen me in an official capacity yet, but I wasn’t handed my position. I earned it.”
“What if he’s got a gun?” Carter said.
“He won’t get a shot off before I’ve torn out his throat,” Rey said with a growl. “I’ve got you, little wolf.”
Carter didn’t respond, still fretting over the idea of his big, gentle mate being hurt because of him.
He’d never seen Rey fight, but no one could match a gun.
He burrowed into Rey’s chest, burying his face against the side of his neck.
“I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you, Rey,” he whispered.
Rey’s arms tightened around him. His constant five o’clock shadow rasped along his temple when Rey nuzzled him. “Nothing is going to happen to me, sweetheart. I wouldn’t let anyone take me away from you now that I’ve found you.”
Carter sniffled and nodded, slipping his arms around Rey’s chest to embrace him.
“Let’s get the information and email over to Kasey. You aren’t leaving my sight unless you’re here in this office. I’ll have Talon patrol the reservation while Julian and Malik watch here in town. No one is getting within a mile of you, Carter.”
The only window in the office was the one looking out over the shop floor, so no one could sneak in or out.
Music drifted through the open doorway from a radio, and Carter could hear a compressor running.
In the short time he’d been coming into the shop with Rey, he’d learned a lot about the different tools and things they used by asking lots of questions.
That and by helping transfer the inventory from one piece of software to the other.
“Do you trust me to keep you safe, little wolf?” Rey asked.
“I trust you,” Carter said. He did trust Rey. He just didn’t trust Darryl.