Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 115

**Carter**

“Carter, I’m releasing you from your assignment. Miss Anderson, I’m going to 

Allow you to stay for the time being, only because of who your father is. However, how long you stay will depend on what you can contribute to the community.”

My eyes widened not just because he had released me from being Briar’s babysitter; which wasn’t what I wanted to happen, but also because he knew who Briar’s father was, that is if it wasn’t who I expected it to be. I quickly schooled my features as he turned his attention back to me.

“Come back tomorrow to collect your bonus, you more than earned it with this one.” He chuckled.

That phrase just made everything sound even worse. I couldn't imagine what was going through her head right now but I could feel her glare like daggers as her wolf’s presence rose in the waves of her dominance as it permeated into the room. Clyde returned his attention to her and let a wave of his own ripple into the room. I gritted my teeth against it and pinned my wolf inside me as he attempted to claw his way to the surface. He wanted to lash out at our Alpha for targeting our mate. I chanced a glance up at Briar about to blow my cover if he made her so much as whimper. Instead I found glowing aquamarine eyes trained on my Alpha. Shit. He grinned at her.

“Seems you are right Carter, she has so much potential. It's a shame really it’s been wasted all this time.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Briar snapped. Her voice raspy as a growl undoubtedly strained to free itself from within her. My wolf strained to get the upper hand and go stand by his mate. I didn’t blame him but our interference would make everything worse. 

“It means you’ve piqued my interest enough to give you a chance here. I’m not, however going to grant you any protections. You're going to have to make your own alliances if you want to survive. I'm sure you have already realized that the locals aren’t friendly to outsiders. Understand once you know this town’s secrets there is no way to turn back, you are either with us, or against us. I suggest you figure those secrets and the ones closer to home out sooner than later, because a man like that ex of yours isn’t going to let a prize go easily.”

“What do you know about Creedon?” she hissed.

“It doesn't take much to guess the type of man he is by his actions, which you have admitted to here. I’ve said my piece, we are done here.” He said as he dismissed us.

Briar’s glare didn’t leave his as I stepped forward ready to usher her out of the room. Instead she reached for the door handle and let herself out briskly. When I reached her outside she was grabbing her bag from my truck. She slammed the door shut as I approached her.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I blocked her from stepping away from the car.

“Walking, I don’t feel like being in the company of the likes of you,” she spat.

“Hate me all you want Brair, but you need to get back in that truck and make it seem like you're going to keep your head down, Clyde is probably watching and I wouldn’t doubt that every step out of line will be seen as a reason to ‘get rid’ of you. Be smart Brair, play the part, we have to talk, this wasn’t how I wanted any of this to go down. 

“Strange words coming from a man who has lied to me from the start.”

“I never lied to you, I only omitted what I had to to keep you safe.”

“Sorry if I don’t believe you.”

That was fair, I wouldn’t believe me either.

“Please, just get in the truck Briar, I meant what I said earlier today, I promise I will give you answers but not here. Her eyes held venom as she glared back and I reached around her to open the door to the truck. I was waiting for her to strike at me or spit in my face. I wouldn’t blame her. Thankfully she just shook her head as if she had decided against both of those thoughts and slid into the passenger seat.

I shut the door and walked around the truck and walked around the front keeping her in my peripheral as I climbed in and started it up. Her face was turned away from me, her body language tucked into herself, closed off to repel me from engaging with her. Thoughts of how to word what I wanted to say swirled in my mind and the barbed silence sliced at me like a well sharpened knife. Keep to the truth, be honest, repent.

“I’m sorry Brair, I had meant to tell you before it came to this. Yes when he first assigned me to check out who was squatting on Jake's property that was all it was. The instant I met you, I knew I’d do anything to protect you from even him. Please—” the word came out half whine as I begged—“understand that every truth I omitted was to protect you.”

“Your explanations are too late for me to take you seriously,” she growled, her eyes still fixated out the passenger window. “They mean shit to me right now; so save your breath.”

“I deserve that, I really do, but nothing between us was ever about the job he gave me, yeah I had to run your background. That's standard procedure. Everything else between us was as real for me as it was for you. You have no idea how much you mean to me.”

She huffed. “I’m going to call bullshit on all of that,  enjoy your nice fat bonus, stop trying to be the good guy; it's not going to get you anywhere with me.” she hissed.

I felt my heart bleed at her words. How had we suddenly gotten here…that's right me. I was too worried about how fragile she was in some aspects to divulge anything to her sooner. It had taken a close call for me to finally decide and then I was too late.

“Damn it Briar, I was wrong! You were dealing with so much, so much more than even you realize that I couldn't fathom putting another ton of bricks on your shoulders. You don’t know the half of it, I have so much to tell you but not like this. This place isn’t as it appears, the people here aren’t what you think they are and you are one of them, and you don’t even know it. Your so damn fucking strong; thats why he’s turning you against me in an attempt to cut you off from any aide. Jake told me to keep those I love the most safe from him, to never let him know who was important to me . I didn’t understand that warning till I met you.”

“Don’t you fucking bring Jake into this shit, its on you. This is your fucking mess Carter. I came clean to you about the most horrific experience in my life…in detail. You couldn’t even be straight with me. You had to dig yourself deeper, you could have just been my friend, been honest with me and I would have understood. Instead you led me on, toyed with me. I allowed you into my heart after everything, I loved you in a way I’ve never loved anyone and this is what I get, a fucking slap in the face. I was so fucking stupid.” I glanced over as I scented her salty tears. I slammed on the breaks when her lips trembled as she stifled a sob. I went to reach for her but she just slapped me away.

“Fucking drive or I’m getting out!” she screamed at me as she curled up in the cab as far away from me as she could get.

I started to drive but I said softly. “I fell in love with you the first day I met you, all I could think about from that moment forward was how to keep you safe and I’ve fucked it all on so many levels.” I fell silent then. My mind began to stew on what all this would mean and what I could say to make it any better. I’d do anything but right now I didn’t think she would hear me but when we got home and she didn’t feel so confined in the truck maybe she would hear me out.