by Maggie Bandy
Carter looks over at him pointedly and a look of understanding passes between them. Suddenly I’m being passed to Carter. “I’ll be right back angel,” he says kissing me before heading for the door. Cole comes back with the doctor ten minutes later.
He gave me a prescription for pain meds and told me to stay off my feet. Also, that I wasn’t allowed to drive for the next week. Then he gave the boys a stern look and walked out leaving me alone with them. I looked at Carter confused, and he just shrugged. I sighed and grabbed my stuff heading for the door. Before I could make it all the way there, Carter came up behind with a wheel chair. “Sorry, doctor’s orders,” he said grinning.
When I refused, he said, “I can always carry you if you prefer.” I sat in the wheel chair and muttered under my breath. Something about pushy boys and doctors who can shove it. His grin got wider, and he laughed. “So sassy today princess.” I flip him the bird and that gets a laugh from both of them. I don’t know how they can joke after everything that happened in the last hour.
Carter leaves us alone to pull his truck up and Cole takes the opportunity to re-access my head. “I’m fine, Cole. Really. I wish people would stop fussing over me as if I’m broken. I’m not that breakable,” I say taking his hand. “I’m just sorry that we are the reason you’re in so much pain,” he said, and I could see the pain in his eyes. I don’t know how I ended up with these two or why they care so much but I was grateful. I just hope neither of them gets hurt trying to protect me.
It was getting dark by the time that we pulled up to my aunt’s house- I’m still getting used to the idea that it’s my house now too. Cole helps me out and kisses me on the forehead. “I have to go see what I can find out about the guy who ambushed you at the hospital. But I’ll be back by tomorrow for our date,” he says winking. “You have my number if you need me.” He nods at Carter giving him a look I can’t decipher and heads to his car. Carter leads me towards his house and says, “Since we can’t go out for our date, I called and had a friend set up dinner here.”
I look at the field behind his house and see twinkling lights surrounding it. In the middle was a blanket sprawled out on the ground surrounded by candles. “It’s beautiful, thank you,” I say trying to keep the tears out of my eyes. No one had ever cared enough to do anything like this for me before.
Carter looked taken aback by the emotion in my eyes. “Please don’t cry. If you don’t want to do dinner, I can take you home. I know today has been pretty traumatic for you. I was just hoping dinner would be a nice distraction,” he says eyeing me like he was scared I was going to start crying again. I shake my head, “No, I want to stay. I’m just not used to people doing things like this for me is all.” He lifts my chin gently to look me in the eyes. “Well, get used to it, I’m not going to stop any time soon,” he says taking my hand and leading me to the blanket.
He sat down on the blanket and pulled me in front of him letting me lean against his chest. In the basket of food was two steaks and a bowl of salad. He made me a plate and set it beside me before pulling out a few different drinks. “Is Pepsi ok?” he said holding up a can of Pepsi. I nodded and he opened it, handing it to me. I took a bite of the steak and my mouth watered. It was cooked just right and seasoned to perfection. “This is delicious, when did you call your friend and set this up?” I ask curiously.
He leans back to get a bite of salad and offers it to me. After I take a bite he says, “When the doctor was talking to you. I called to set it up so it would be ready when we got here. I didn’t want what happened at the hospital to be all you remembered today. I didn’t want him to ruin our day together,” he said softly.
I’m seeing a whole other side to Carter. He could be sweet and fiercely protective. There was a lot more to him than what the bad boy attitude I saw the first night I met him. I think I like this side of him. I like that he can let me see the softer side of him, but I love his sarcastic, witty side too.
“Thank you,” I said leaning in to kiss him. I stopped when I heard a growl from behind Carter. I looked up and saw the grey wolf heading straight for us. What is that wolf’s problem? Whatever this was seemed personal. Carter swore under his breath and looked at me.
“Ok, don’t freak out. You’re about to see something that you’re not going to understand but I need you to stay here and trust me. Please,” he said pleading with me to understand. The conversation they had in his truck when I was out of it coming back to me. Carter was about to change into a wolf and didn’t want me to freak out on him and run away. Well, I’m freaking out…
“Oh my God! So, it’s true? You really are a wolf? I thought I was dreaming in the truck,” I say panicked. Carter gives me a sympathetic look before he started stripping out of his clothes and shifted into his wolf. He took off for the grey wolf and stood protectively in the field blocking it from me. Pull it together Sophie, now is not the time to freak out, I say mentally chiding myself.
The grey wolf lunged for his neck and Carter barely moved out of the way in time. Unfortunately for me, his movement put the grey wolf closer to me. Taking advantage of that, the grey wolf snarled and lunged for me. I tried to move out of the way but was too slow due to my injuries. The grey wolf stood over me growling ready to strike when Carter came from behind and bit it’s flank.
Howling, clearly in pain the grey wolf turned to focus it’s attention on Carter. I took this as an opportunity to move out of the way. Carter had enough to think about protecting himself, he didn’t need to add me to that. “Look out!” I screamed when the wolf went for Carter’s throat again. It seemed to want him dead and out of the way. Carter was too distracted watching me and the wolf grabbed onto his neck with it’s teeth before he could get out of the way. Carter cried out in pain but shook him off.
I took off to aunt Linda’s garage and grabbed her shot gun. I fired off a shot at the wolf and hit it in it’s side. It let out a cry and took off for the woods, looking back at me with murderous eyes. Carter started to follow but I stopped him. “Let it go, please. I need to check your neck, we can worry about the wolf later,” I said concerned about the amount of blood pouring from his neck. He stopped and changed back. He collapsed in my arms and I lowered him to the ground and put his head in my lap.
Now that he had changed back it was already starting to heal. It still didn’t look great. I held my jacket to his neck to staunch the bleeding and stroked his hair. “Thank you for saving me back there- and well, I guess I owe you a thank you for saving me before too,” I say pointedly.
“How did you know it was me before?” he asked breathlessly. His wound was healing but he was still in pain. It hadn’t healed over completely yet.
“I wasn’t entirely asleep in the truck earlier when y’all were talking,” I say sheepishly, hoping he wouldn’t be mad that I didn’t say anything before. “Why didn’t you tell me before when I got mad and accused you of leaving me to the wolves?” I asked curiously. He ran a hand threw his hair and said, “I didn’t think you would believe me if I told you. I mean, would you have?” he asked. I thought about it for a moment then said, “You’re right, probably not.”
He nodded and said, “I figured as much, that’s why it was easier to just let you be mad at me- even if I wanted to tell you the truth. I wanted you to like me and that made me seem like the biggest jerk there is leaving you alone. I wasn’t sure if you’d go out with me after that. And then when I saw you with Cole, I just kinda lost it. Wolves are known for our tempers.”
He gave me an apologetic look and I shook my head. “I do like you- I did even when I thought you left me. You wanna know why?” I say tilting his chin and making him look up at me. “Because you have a good heart. You helped me when I was on the side of the road, not even knowing who I am, and you stuck with me the whole time in the hospital and you didn’t hesitate when you saved me from that guy.”
He looked sheepish for a moment then said, “Yeah, about that…” Then he continued. “I wasn’t just checking the f
ields. I was tracking the wolf that attacked us tonight. It’s been hanging around lately on our land and my dad asked me to find out why.” I considered that for a moment.
“So, was it you that made it take off the day in the woods? It was hunting us in the woods. All of a sudden it turned and left when another wolf howled in the distance,” I ask looking over at him questionly. He sighed and said, “Yeah, I was chasing him that day too. That’s when I saw you with Cole. I knew I had to get to know you after seeing you in the woods, but I didn’t think I was going to run into you on the road. When I saw that you were walking alone, I wanted to make sure you made it home safely. The wolf had been following you and you weren’t even aware of it. For some reason he is obsessed with taking you out. He has some kind of grudge against you or something.”
I shrug my shoulders not knowing what grudge he could possibly hold against me. Then it hit me… “The day of my parent’s accident there was a wolf that jumped out in front of us- it was the reason they wrecked the car,” I said shakily. I hated talking about the day I lost my parents. Carter sat up wrapping his arms around me protectively, his wound was completely healed now.
“It was my fault my parents were even out- they were picking me up because my car had broken down on the side of the road. On the way back a wolf jumped in front of us and dad didn’t have time to react. He swerved and over corrected, flipping the car over the embankment into a tree. The wolves drug my parents from the car and carried them off… Their bodies were found the next day torn to shreds. I was barely alive when a man found me and took me to the hospital. The rescuers didn’t know I was in the car because I had been thrown into the wood. They said I was lucky a hiker had come through and found me when he did, or I would have died. They said I shouldn’t have made it through with the injuries I had,” I finished softly.
Carter sighed. “Those weren’t regular wolves that attacked you and your parents. Sounds like this is all connected somehow… maybe they are back to try to finish the job,” he says with anger in his voice. I shiver at the thought. “I won’t let that happen Sophie,” Carter says looking up at me. “I know,” I say leaning down and kissing him. “Right now, I need you to rest and get better- that guy almost tore your throat out,” I say pissed off that anyone had dare hurt him. He smiles. “Yes ma’am. I like it when you’re bossy,” he winks.
I roll my eyes but smile back at him. I may act annoyed but I’m happy to see him joking around. I could have lost him back there. The thought made me wince.
“I’m sorry our date got ruined,” Carter says pulling me closer. “Do you wanna take this inside and finish?” he says pointing to our uneaten food. “Sure,” I say putting everything in the basket as he blows out the candles. I’m shocked the candles didn’t get knocked over during the fighting and catch the blanket on fire but all it did was blow some out.
Chapter Five
Mates
Carter took my hand leading me inside, it was beautiful. It was a log cabin house with a wrap around porch on the outside. Inside there was a beautiful fire place, and a brown sectional couch and a wooden coffee table in front of it. Beautiful hardwood floors, and a stair case leading upstairs to where I’m sure is a Carter’s room.
Carter leads me into the kitchen and sets our food down on the table. “So, you’re the girl who has my brother so spazzed out,” a voice from behind me says giggling. A girl with long wavy brown hair and green eyes comes down the stair case to stand next to Carter. “I am not spazzed out, I was just worried,” Carter says rolling his eyes at his sister. She turns to me and says, “Yeah, Carter does not worry about anyone. I’ve never seen him so distraught over anyone, especially a girl before. You must be special.” She eyed me inquisitively as if wondering why I was so special to him.
My heart sings at her words, I don’t know why though. I haven’t known Carter very long, but I feel this pull towards him. I felt it even when he was being an asshole the first day I met him, and I wanted to walk away. Part of me wanted him then but I didn’t want to acknowledge it because well, he was an ass. Carter looks embarrassed at his sister was insinuating and blushed. Wow, I never thought I would see the day Carter blushed.
Carter clears his throat, “Sophie, this is my sister Crystal. Crystal has no filter and pretty much just says whatever comes to mind. So, I apologize for her ahead of time.” He shakes his at his sister, but you can see the love he has for her in his eyes. They may get on each other’s nerves, but they were close. She cuts him a sharp look and says, “Well, Carter is afraid to say what he really means so I’ll say it for him-”
Carter puts his hand over her mouth shutting her up. “I don’t think now is the time Crystal,” he says eyeing her in a way that tells her not to say another word.
Crystal licks his hand and he lets go. Carter wipes his hand on his shirt and says, “Ew, gross.” Crystal laughs and turns to me again leaning on the counter. “Fine, my brother doesn’t want me to tell you yet but there’s some things y’all need to talk about,” she says eyeing him again seriously. “And soon,” she says walking away leaving us in the kitchen alone.
“So… what was that about? What are you not wanting to tell me?” I ask as soon as she’s up the stairs. Carter looks weary. “Why don’t we talk about it while we finish eating. I’ll heat these back up,” he says taking our half-eaten steaks. “Fine, but I’m not leaving till you tell me,” I say crossing my arms over my chest stubbornly. Carter sighs and says, “Fine, but you’re not going to like what I have to say.”
Carter brings our food back over and sets it down on the table. He picks at his food before beginning. “So… you already know I’m a wolf,” he begins reluctantly looking down at his food. I smile. “And? Is there some big secret you have to tell me? What could be bigger than that?” I tease him. He doesn’t respond for a moment. When he goes quiet, I get nervous. “You don’t like kill people, do you?” I ask quietly. He quickly adds, “No, no. Nothing like that. I mean we defend ourselves, but we don’t go around killing people.”
I let out the breath I was holding and sigh in relief. Thank God because I don’t think I could handle it if that was the case. “Then what? You know you can tell me anything right? I mean I know we haven’t known each other long, but I think with all we have been through we can tell each other anything. Don’t you think?” I say wondering what could be so bad he was reluctant to tell me.
Carter lets out a shaky breath and says, “Ok, but please don’t freak out. Promise?” he says looking at me expectantly. Why would I freak out? “I promise,” I say thinking it couldn’t be worse than him telling me that he was a wolf. He looks at me for a minute then starts to explain. “As wolves, we are protective by nature. We are extremely protective of our mates- the ones we are bound to. We don’t really choose our mates, it’s just kind of chosen for us,” he goes on not knowing how to explain it.
My heart starts racing- what is he trying to tell me? Is he breaking up with me? Oh God, he found his mate and he’s trying to let me down easy. That’s what his sister was trying to tell me, wasn’t it? But wait, she said I was special. Does that mean that he wants to fight for me? But if he has a mate, I can’t let him do that. It wouldn’t be right. How am I going to let him go…?
“Are you- are you breaking up with me?” I try to say but my voice breaks at the end. Carter looks up at me in shock. “What? No! Why would you think that?” he asks suddenly upset. “Because you found your mate- didn’t you? Isn’t that why you’re telling me this?” I ask looking down not wanting to meet his eyes. It hurt too much to think about leaving him- which is strange because I hardly know him.
“Yes, I have…” he says trailing off. My heart sinks and I feel tears prick my eyes but try to push them back. “Sophie, look at me, please,” he says titling my head up to look at him. I reluctantly look up at him. “Sophie- I found my mate, but it’s you. So, please wipe those tears. I’m not leaving you princess,” he says taking his finger and gently wiping my tears away.
I look up at him surprised. “Wait what? How?” I ask. He shrugs. “I don’t know how all this works myself. I just know that when I first saw you, I felt this pull towards you. That’s part of why I was so rude to you when I saw you on the road. I didn’t understand what this meant and why I felt that way, but it pissed me off. I don’t do relationships, romance- any of that. But I wanted it with you, the moment I saw you. That is also why I got so angry when I saw you with Cole- wolves are protective of their mates,” he says apologetically. I know he was thinking of when he fought Cole and I got hurt.
“I feel that pull too… I just didn’t know what it was. But I’m so confused- I feel that pull with Cole too. Is that supposed to happen?” I ask confused. Carter shook his head angrily- but not at me. “No, that wasn’t supposed to happen. But that isn’t my story to tell. I promised Cole I’d let him tell you tomorrow. All I can say is, I’m not happy about it- but if he didn’t do what he did then you wouldn’t be standing in front of me right now. So, for that I’m grateful. But I’m also pissed as hell because you’re supposed to be mine, not ours,” he said frustrated.
I shake my head confused. “This is a lot to take in… So, your family knows about this?” I asks embarrassed that people know about me complicated relationship with them both. Carter looks down at his hands for a moment then back up at me. “Yeah, they all know. They were happy till I told them about Cole… dad isn’t happy about that part. In fact, he’s angry. I can’t explain why until you talk to Cole, without outing him. This whole thing is so complicated…” he trails off frustrated.
“And this whole thing with the other wolves has my pack on edge. But now you have my pack behind you, and I promise no one will get to you. They will have to go through all of us first,” he says determined. “I’m so glad you took this well, I thought for sure you would be running for the hills screaming to get away,” he jokes, but I can see in his eyes that he was serious.
