Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 177

*two weeks later*

Briar

two weeks later

Carter joined me on my workout this morning. He walked on the treadmill while I jogged. I had missed him in this area. He had always been that steady anchor beside me as I ran, the man I could trust to teach, not hurt me, but also never go easy on me. I gave him a smile as I popped my earbuds out and slowed my gait, punching the speed down to match him.

“You look good on that treadmill,” I teased.

He snorted adorably and gave me a pose, batting his lashes, as he flexed his goddess damned, drool-worthy muscles at me mockingly. His humor was back, and every moment we spent together just reinforced how much I just wanted to wrap myself around him like a cocoon and transform into one being with him. This was being mates, two halves that fit so perfectly together. The last two weeks, as the paranoia and the edginess wore off from the panic and survival mode, knowing Creedon was after me, Carter’s kidnapping, shifting, and my rise to alpha all happened in succession. I now find so much peace, even with the other things looming to be addressed.

“You sure you can go back to work today?” I asked him. 

“Yeah, honestly, I’m looking forward to telling all the guys that wanted a piece of you that you are mine,” he said, grinning before he added. “Not to mention the longer I stay away, the more paperwork that will pile up,” he said, cringing.

“Promise me you will only leave with Mazzie and that you will stay on desk duty until you can at least keep up with me again. 

He smirked at that. “I promise Madam Alpha that I am just conserving my strength to serve you better.” 

I gave him an incredulous look. “Stuff it, pretty boy,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Oh I’ll stuff it alright,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.

Guess I walked right into that I thought, shaking my head. I was making him wait till I deemed he was up to the task. As excruciating as that wait was, his well-being meant more to me. “You’ve been spending too much time with Lana,” I said.

“Well, she’s here every day. How is that my fault? Not to mention, I have a tally going for how many I owe yous, you have built up, and let’s just say my brain is constantly overloaded with images of you in very compromising positions,” he pointed out.

“When you can shift, you are more than welcome to cash them in for me,” I said, giving him a broad smile. I wasn’t letting him hurt himself in order to pleasure me. His cuts were healed now, but he was not fully back to himself. Dr. Thomas had insisted Carter would heal the rest of the way on his own, and the transfusions were no longer necessary, but that he had to take it easy. Gratifying him seemed to help, but I could tell he was getting increasingly frustrated with my no sex till you wolf out and are 100% healed rule. I had to admit I shared that dilemma.

Today Lana and I were going to Colorado Springs to collect whatever information Jake had hidden in the safety deposit box. Over the last two weeks, I had stayed by my mate’s side and let my father stew, wondering if I would take him up on the offer to be his heir. I had even talked to Latrisha about it. Even Nellie was in agreement. So I would let him stew until I knew what I needed to prove from Jake’s information. My current plan was the best way. So, once I had the information while studying whatever I could come up with by playing dutiful long lost daughter, my ass would pretend to be the next heir to the Divide pack and my gene donor’s silver child. 

I also had to address my grandmother. After missing two Saturday night dinners, she was surely stressing out since our last encounter had been of her telling me who my father really was and all the ways that was fucked up with her background story. The truth was, I didn't know how far I could trust her. I was waiting for the evidence to be ready to go after her son. Listening to my gut wouldn’t work because it was torn. Carter tapped out of the workout, and I increased the speed on the treadmill as he walked up the stairs to shower. I popped my earbuds in, but the metal music was replaced almost instantly by an incoming call. I tapped my earpiece and answered.

“Hello?” I said as I panted through the pace on the treadmill.

“Are we doing this today bitch?” Lana asked.

“Yes,” I answered. “I got you a tattoo session,” I told her.

“Goodie!” Lana said. “I’ll be there in an hour.” 

“Mazzie is going to keep an eye on Carter, right?” I asked in a whisper. The three of us had been conspiring about his return to work, all worried about how it would go. If he had the stamina for the day. Which was precisely why I hadn’t joined him in the shower.

“Yes, Momma alpha,” she promised, and I huffed as the call disconnected, punching into the controls to slow down the run. She never missed an opportunity to remind me that I was now pregnant. Today was the first day I would be going into the wild since we got back home. Thankfully, Clyde was giving me space; he hadn’t shown up since our last encounter and I was perpetually thankful for that. Now that Carter was up and moving it was time to unearth whatever Jake had on my father, his half-brother.

I needed to shower now; this wouldn’t end well.