Chapter 17 Carter #2
The stranger in the big rig must have seen what was happening and got out of the cab. “Come on, kid, get in the truck!”
Just as Carter reached the semi, another shot went off, and Carter watched in horror as the driver went down.
Tears of grief threatened to blind him. He darted past the truck, unable to check on the man.
He needed to reach the trees. At least there he could shift.
Blood poured from the wound in his shoulder, soaking his shirt and skin.
His right arm throbbed, nearly useless at his side.
Sobbing, Carter heard another shot, and something whizzed past his head. Oh god!
Finally, his shoulder brushed against a tree as he scampered into the surrounding forest. The second he could, he shifted into his wolf in a flash of white light.
“What the fuck?” came from only a few feet behind him.
Shit, Darryl must have been closer than Carter thought and had seen him shift.
He’d have been safe if Darryl had thought him just a wolf, but now that he’d seen Carter turn into his wolf, the man knew it was him.
“What the fuck are you, Carter? How the fuck did you do that?” Darryl demanded, the gun still pointed at Carter.
Carter ignored the agony ripping through him and scurried to the left, moving as fast as he could with only three fully working legs.
The bullet hadn’t gone all the way through and remained lodged in his shoulder.
Even shifting wouldn’t remove it or repair the damage.
“Get back here!” Darryl screamed, racing after him.
The thud of Darryl’s boots on the ground was loud as he chased after him.
Carter prayed he could find somewhere to hide until Darryl gave up or that he could get far enough away from Darryl so that he could make it back to the station.
Foliage grew thick and wild all around them.
He wiggled his way under several bushes, ignoring the branches and prickers that snagged his fur.
Wild animals scampered to hide from the noises they were both making.
Finally, after about half an hour, Carter no longer heard Darryl’s clumsy lumbering through the forest. His leg had become almost useless.
He could barely move it. Blood saturated his fur, and agony licked along his nerve endings.
Every bit of strength he had was gone. His limbs shook with exhaustion, but he pressed onward, knowing if he laid down, Darryl would find him.
It took another fifteen minutes before he located a small outcrop of rocks with an entrance only a small animal like himself could get through.
If Darryl found him, he couldn’t get to him.
Gratefully, he wedged himself in between the rocks and collapsed as far from the entrance as possible.
His sides heaved with every breath he took, and his head swam, dizziness ratcheting the nausea higher than ever now that he could finally rest. He drifted in and out of consciousness while he lay there.
Faint noises of the forest waking up showed the passage of night into day.
Birds called out, chirping their good mornings.
He could hear a fox in the distance, screaming for its mate.
Heart aching, Carter wondered again if Rey was truly dead. But wouldn’t his wolf know it? Wouldn’t the bond between him and his mate have broken? Surely there would have been some sensation, some feeling inside of him, if Rey had died.
His parents had loved each other so deeply.
Watching the way his father cherished his mother and seeing the love shining from his mother’s eyes every time she looked at his father had made Carter’s heart clench in envy.
He’d always known he wanted the same thing.
To love his true mate with his entire being and to be loved in return.
Finding Rey had given him hope. Hope for a future filled with love, happiness, and a lifetime of kisses, laughter, and lovemaking.
Now, Darryl may have ripped that away from him, and it was the cruelest thing his ex had ever done to him.
Crueler than the beatings, the berating, and the threats.
He wished he’d never gone to that nightclub, never met the man who may have broken not only his body but also his soul.
Memories of his time in Senaka flooded Carter’s mind.
His entire life had changed from the moment Rey had tackled Nick.
Rey uncompromisingly accepted every little quirk about him.
He hadn’t cared about Carter’s messiness or been embarrassed or upset when Carter went off the rails on caffeine.
He’d just given Carter an affectionate glance before guiding him back to the diner.
A weak smile flitted over Carter’s muzzle when he thought of Rey’s thoughtfulness in bringing his laptop to the auto shop.
Of course, the auto shop made him think of Nevada and how he had joked around with him.
No one had ever included him in inside jokes or teased him good-naturedly.
They’d always made him feel insignificant or as if he were a pest. Nevada listened to him just like Rey did—without censure or impatience.
He’d become friends with Nevada so quickly and cared for the other shifter.
It had been a long time since he’d truly had friends.
Then there was Seth, the dark-haired, kind alpha-mate who’d healed him that first night.
Carter thought maybe Seth would want to be his friend, too.
They’d shared a few laughs together at the summit, and Seth had even offered to let him come visit him at the animal clinic so he could see the puppies and kitties people brought in. But now, he may not get the chance.
His thoughts drifted to his cousin, and regret filled him.
He missed his cousin. They’d communicated off and on through text when Nick checked in on him, but Carter had spent so much of his time in Senaka distracted between Rey and the tasks at the shop and sheriff’s station since arriving in Senaka.
He wondered how things were with Nick and Thayne but scoffed at thinking they weren’t still madly in love.
Their mating hadn’t started off well, but after Nick almost died, things had changed.
Carter didn’t know the entire story of what had transpired between them.
What he knew came from pack rumors and the bits he’d overheard between Nick and Thayne.
But now they were inseparable. Their relationship was the stuff of legends and romance movies.
He’d literally ached watching the two of them together when he’d lived with them after getting out of the hospital.
In his heart, he’d believed he’d never find the one meant for him.
And now… Now he had, but he wasn’t so sure he’d get his happy ending.
His forever with Rey seemed to grow impossibly further away.
The day progressed onward. Sunlight filtered through the split in the rocks, and the more time that went on, Carter knew if he didn’t move, he might not move ever again.
No one would find him here and rescue him.
Darryl had to be long gone by now. He prayed that was the case.
His entire being shrieked in distress as he levered himself from the ground.
It took every bit of strength he had regained with resting to force his body back through the narrow opening.
Every step felt like walking on shards of glass as Carter hobbled back in the direction he’d come from.
This time, he had to make his way around the bushes and weeds.
He wouldn’t be able to drag himself under them.
Each time a twig cracked nearby, Carter would freeze, his ears twitching as he listened for any signs of the noises being caused by Darryl.
If he survived this, he’d never leave the house again.
He would tie himself to his laptop at home and just play WarCraft.
He’d only made it halfway back to the rest stop when his body finally just gave out.
His fur ruffled as he collapsed beneath a tree, unable to keep going.
Whines left him at intervals. Panting breaths rustled the grass beneath his muzzle.
If Rey was dead, at least he’d be joining him soon, he thought.
Then, a voice in his head caused his heart to race and his hope to skyrocket.
I’m coming for you, sweetheart.
If Carter could have sobbed in his wolf form, he would have. The deep, rumbling voice of his mate echoed in his mind. Rey?
Yes, little wolf. I’m almost there.
He said he’d killed you. Carter’s heart pinged painfully at the thought. I… I tried to reach out to you, but you didn’t answer. I didn’t know if you were dead.
No, sweetheart. I’m very much alive, and I’m on my way to you.
I-I’m sorry, Rey. So, so sorry. I tried to get away. He snuffled slightly, wanting so badly to smell his mate’s warm, familiar scent. I wanted to make you proud of me.
Shh, little wolf. You have nothing to be sorry for. I am proud of you. Beyond proud that you’re mine.
Carter raised his muzzle slightly and let out a chuffing bark, trying to alert his mate to where he was. He knew he’d lost a lot of blood, and he could feel his heart slowing. It struggled to keep beating. I love you, Rey.
Concern and fear raced along their bond, telling Carter that Rey wasn’t far away now. Stay with me, sweetheart. I know you’re hurt. I can feel it. But you have to stay awake. I won’t lose you.
Leaves crumpling sent joy rushing through Carter, but the joy died an instant death when Darryl appeared over him, a sadistic smirk on his face. “Thought you’d gotten away, didn’t you?”
He’s here, Rey.
A low snarl nearby alerted Carter to Rey’s presence.
Darryl swung the hand holding the gun outward, aiming in the direction the snarl came from, but Rey had already dashed away.
“Come near me and I’ll kill him,” Darryl shouted, wildly glancing around while turning the gun back toward Carter.
“I don’t know what the fuck you all are, but he’s mine. Do you hear me? Mine!”
Darkness edged into Carter’s vision. He couldn’t do anything except lay there, panting, struggling to remain awake.
Even if he didn’t make it, he wanted to see Rey one more time.
To gaze at the beautiful face of his gentle, wonderful true mate as the spirits took him.
If he could have, Carter would have lunged at Darryl, tried to take the bastard down, but his body wouldn’t respond, too broken to move.
All he could do was hope and pray for Rey’s safety.
It was all that mattered to him right then.
A twig snapping to their left caused Darryl to swing the gun toward the sound.
Carter whined in fear, but his whine faded as Rey leaped from behind Darryl, crashing into him and sending them both to the ground.
Darryl shrieked in fear and then in pain.
The gurgling sounds he made as Rey ripped his throat out would haunt Carter forever.
Or at least the few moments he had left.
Carter whimpered when the leaves nearby rustled again, and then Rey was there, leaning over him, hands hovering above his fur but not touching him. “Easy, sweetheart. He’s dead. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
He drank in the sight of Rey’s sharp angular features—the jut of his chin, the high cheekbones, the full lips he wished he could taste one more time, and the warm smoke-dark brown eyes he loved so much.
Pain and worry filled those eyes as Rey gazed down at him.
“Stay with me, sweetheart. You can’t go to sleep yet. ”
I love you so much, mate, Carter whispered across their bond.
“Seth!” Rey shouted, his face twisted in agony. “Don’t you dare leave me, Carter. We have so much left to do together. Do you hear me? Don’t you fucking dare let go!”
Darkness swept over him just as he saw Seth drop to his knees beside him. Carter would have greeted his new friend eagerly, but his body wouldn’t respond, and then he knew nothing. The darkness took him underneath the waves as the pain entirely faded away, leaving blessed nothingness in its path.