Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 128

Carter

My ears perked up to the sound of Briar’s alarm. I rose and stretched before slinking into the underbrush. Lana pulled in not long after and she complained as Briar greeted her and they started jogging down the trail. I followed them through the trees, Lana’s eyes catching me just before I veered off and went home.

I may have given her a gun and taught her to use her body as a weapon but Clyde’s words had hit home. He wouldn’t protect her with the pack. She was a lone wolf amongst us, he wouldn’t stop anyone from helping her, but he also wouldn’t claim her under his protection. She was free game to anyone. Knowing he had spoken with her previous mate the entire situation had ill tidings. I didn’t trust anyone else with that duty to protect her but myself. Though I knew Lana, Mazzie and even the guys from the shop would attempt to keep her as safe as they were able; they wouldn’t lay down their life for her like I would. Clyde was right. She needed more allies and right now she wasn’t going to let me help with any of that. As I ran I thought of her finding out who she really was alone and my mind swam. It was two weeks till the next full moon and I had ‘no idea if she would shift after the recent close calls.

I padded up the stairs and shifted before entering the house. I pulled on the pants I had discarded yesterday and opened the back door for Rosie. Her and Tucker had been shunning me like I was a plague. Somehow they sensed how wrong this all was and blamed me. Not like I wasn’t already blaming myself. A flash of grey and white behind me let me know Rosie went out as I made coffee. I wandered up stairs to shower, my mind still berating myself for being so stupid. I thought Briar wasn’t ready for the truth but in reality this would be torture or both of us. I’d give her space one day at a time but eventually I’d have to make her listen and everything I had wanted to bring on gently would be a bomb I’d unceremoniously have to lay in her lap. How had Jake not told her anything? How had he kept it a secret for so long? I turned on the shower and stepped under the spray, missing her presence. Somehow I’d make all of my fault up to her in this even if it took me the rest of my life.

Mazzie’s vehicle was already in the parking lot when I arrived. It was empty so I’d have to steel myself and walk in alone today. It was like any other day as I hit the coffee station and I once again took it black. She was waiting for me in my office. She wore a grim look on her face.

“What is it?” I asked plopping down across from her.

“Clyde is letting Creedon in,” she said, concerned about lacing her words.

I felt my heart fall out of my chest, my breathing quickening as I tried to control my wolf from breaking through the surface.

“Lana is gonna take her out of town that day, Clyde put me on him, I’m going to do everything I can to steer him away Carter, but if he gets the go ahead to stay and search it's inevitable” she gave me the hard facts. I swallowed down the rage that threatened to boil over.

She kept her tone level so I could follow her words. “You need to keep it together Carter or it’s all going to go to shit.” she warned.

“Its already gone to shit,” I snarled.

“I know you feel that way, but from what he's done and what you said about what Clyde said…everything is about to get so much worse. I know you want to keep her Carter, but going up against an Alpha like that is a death wish. I’ll stand by you whatever you choose but I don’t want to see you hurt,” she said with so much more understanding than I deserved. By hurt she meant dead.

“When?” I asked heaving with the effort to keep my fur from sprouting.

“It’s yet to be determined, but soon.”

“My sister warned her away from me, now Clyde has driven a wedge just as he's allowing that piece of shit into the territory. Also, Clyde told me Creedon offered to pay.”

Mazzie’s jaw dropped.

“He’s up to something, he warned her he wouldn’t offer her any protection, that she needed to find her own allies. Keep me posted but in the meantime … she needs to create as many relationships within the pack as possible, she's got your crew and the guys at the shop, anyone who took her side in the Miranda incident and the kid she saved at the fair.” I summed up. “Everyone in town she has crossed paths with likes her enough but they won't fight for her.” I added. We need a plan.