Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 137

Carter

“Shift? I’ve been trying to coax your wolf to the surface for months Briar, right now she peeks through, but only threatens to shift if you are about to lose your shit, even then it’s like she fills you without ever breaking through your skin. Maybe she is waiting on you, there’s no prescribed formula and the last thing I wanted was for you to transition alone, as your…its my job to ensure your wellbeing, I want her to choose to come out, just like I wanted you to choose me and not feel trapped by our bond, I can feel it, I know it affects you but you don’t feel it as much because your wolf isn’t fully present, and Creedon hasn’t severed his bond to you. By rejecting him you severed his bond to you, however your bond to him is still functional, and instead of feeding each other’s life force,’ he’s sucking the life out of you. That’s why it took you so long to heal, why the emotional pain of the bond not reciprocating what it was meant to do, emotionally broke you down into a depression few wolves have ever come back from. There are three ways to break his side of the bond, he dies, he willingly rejects you, or you fully bond with another wolf.

“I was stupid and wanted you to choose me, then feel the bond. I was ready to tell you everything after the fair, but I was waiting for a perfect time that will never exist. I wanted to do it right, and by waiting, Clyde got to you first. I’m not going to downplay what I’ve done in the past in the name of keeping humans out. I’ve strung many women along to crush them and send them packing right out of this place. I’ve bullied and harassed men till they gave up trying to make it here but you, I knew from the second our eyes met that I wanted to keep you here and protect you, I used Jake as an excuse, yes, but in reality I omitted things to my Alpha and fed him only enough to give you a chance to at least get on your feet, and nudged him away from the realities that would have him ordering you put out of the territory, in an effort to keep you here. When I saw your name when you mistakenly signed your real one at the electric company and saw the papers that left you Jake’s place, I went to Martha, who claimed you, and that gave me leverage.” I explained. She had been listening quietly while pushing her food around the plate. I braced myself for her anger at my past.

“So Clyde pimped you out to get rid of humans?”

I snorted. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I guess she was right. I shrugged, not wanting to voice it as truth.

“Unfucking believable!” she said, pushing her plate away from her and crossing her arms over her chest. She was angry, and she had a right to be.

“So let me get this right…An Alpha orders, and you choose to obey?”

“No, you obey or die,” I admitted.

“What a piece of fucking shit,” she hissed, pushing back from the island.

I bowed my head. “I’m so sorry, Briar, you deserve so much better.”

She stood. “I’m not talking about you Carter, I’m talking about him, if theres one thing I’ve learned is men like him and Creedon don’t give a fuck who they destroy as long as they get what they want.”

Surprised, I looked up at her. Her eyes met mine.

“He fucking used you Carter, and I’m pissed about it, I should be pissed at you for everything else, but like the stupid bitch I insist on being…I believe you.” She shook her head as the glimmer of her wolf came into her eyes. When they met mine again it was gone. I reached out and pulled her back to the stool gently, she let me.

“It’s easier to eat when you’re here,” I admitted, humbly. “Please, for us both, just finish the food, I’ve been worried about you. Whatever I’ve done in the past doesn’t matter, the only thing that matters now is you.” I admitted. Her face fell and she sat.

“This is how you got me to eat before…” she said, gripping her fork. I gave her a sad look and went back to trying to finish the plate of food in front of me as well.

“I know you didn’t take the money for me,” she said, scooping some eggs and bacon on her fork before shoving it in her mouth. I swallowed my bite, stunned. How had she known?

“How do you know that?”

“Rosie and Tucker showed up. I brought them back early so you wouldn’t come looking for them at Jake’s place. I picked the pieces up off the floor and realized what you did; how long until he notices you didn’t cash it in?”

“A few weeks at best,” I answered, realizing suddenly the ramifications of what I’d done. He’d know Briar was close to my heart because I didn’t cash the fucking check; I was so stupid. I set my fork down and immediately wanted to throw up. Briar’s hand gripped my bicep. I looked over, her features sincere.

“If I hadn’t seen the ripped-up check, I wouldn’t be here, but now we have more problems,” she huffed, letting me go and stabbing a mutilated egg and shoving it into her mouth. Her anger and sheer stubbornness were fueling her desire to get through all of this, including this meal.

I bit into a piece of bacon and glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She did the same, and a glimmer of the wolf appeared solid in her eyes, then vanished. The wolf was no longer dormant after all…a thrill ran through me, but I soothed it down. One step at a time. She was dealing with so much shit. I still didn’t know where she stood with me right now. I had told her so much, yet I still had so much to say to her, and I found through the bond she didn’t know what to think herself, which was understandable. I pulled back, not wanting to intrude anymore. I’d answer any question she had, but as Mazzie said, she needed space. I’d give it to her no matter how much it hurt. Deep inside, I knew this hadn’t won her over; it was too much for one mind to comprehend over a few hours. She finished her food, barely tasting it, and I did the same.

She stood and collected her plate, washing it “properly”

She turned to me after setting it on the dry rack.

“I’m going back to Jake’s. I need some space to think.” She scooped up Tucker and hugged him to her chest. She kissed the cat's head before putting him back on the floor.

“Just know I love you,” I found myself saying as she strode for the back door.

“I shouldn’t, Carter, but I can’t seem to help the fact that I love you too,” she murmured before she walked out the back door and disappeared.