Willow was picking up a long, heavy, black flashlight from the table behind her.
“What have you done with the Alphas?” Carter asked, not actually wanting to know. He didn't want the mental image of the dead Alphas in his head. They were already in almost all of his dreams for the last year. James smiled, eager to brag.
“I change them back, like I'll be doing to your girlfriend,” James motioned over to where Willow had been sitting on the floor, and Carter followed the motion, trying to make it look like he was looking at her still sitting there.
She was sneaking up behind James.
One cautious footstep at a time.
“I tear off their stars while they're still howling in pain, and then I stick a knife through their skull to finish them off,” he explained. “It's easy enough to drive out to the farmlands and bury them. Farmers won't think twice if they find a dead wolf somewhere. They're just glad to see it's not eating their livestock,” he added. “Hell, one farmer out by the casino has the second youngest's – Charles's – skull hanging out front of his farm to ward off other wolves,” he laughed.
Carter wanted to puke.
“You're a bastard,” Carter shook his head.
“That's a bit ironic coming from you,” James quirked an eyebrow.
She brought the flashlight down on his head.
Hard.
Chapter 25
Willow had never gotten in a fight.
Never hurt anyone purposefully in her life.
Still, she couldn't sit around and wait. She wasn't a damsel in distress.
Carter was a good distraction, all she needed, and Willow took advantage of that.
She stood there over Keech, his head bleeding from the hit, unconscious.
The flashlight fell from her fingers, clattering loudly against the hardwood floor, denting it with the metal of the contraption.
She'd just knocked out a police officer.
No, she corrected herself, gathering her thoughts and looking up at Carter. She'd just knocked out a murderer.
Shaking from relief and adrenaline, Willow fell to her knees as Carter rushed over to her, hugging her tight. Her hands were still handcuffed, and she was pretty sure her left one was broken from when Keech brought his foot down and stomped on it.
A sob broke out from her throat, and Carter held her tighter, rocking back and forth just slightly.
“It's okay. It'll be okay,” he said gently, his body warm against hers.
“Did I kill him?” she asked. She could feel her body start to shake from the panic.
“No. No, I don't think so,” Carter replied, his voice was soft and caring.
He'd just found out his best friend had killed his brother, and yet he was comforting her. Actual tears started pouring from Willows eyes. She felt unworthy and lucky.
How did she deserve him?
“Let me get these off of you,” Carter said, pulling away from her and leaning over to his unconscious childhood friend. He grabbed a key from one of the pouches on Keech's belt and gingerly took her hands in one of his as he unlocked them.
Free from them, Willow rubbed her wrists and watched as Carter rolled Keech over and handcuffed his hands behind his back.
“I'm going to call a couple pack members,” he said gently. “We'll have to decide if we want to make an official report on him to the police, or if we want to handle it ourselves,” he explained, taking the flashlight from her. “I'm relieved you didn't go for the knife,” he admitted.
Willow's mind raced.
She'd never considered stabbing Carter.
She didn't want to kill him or anyone.
“You're amazing,” he complimented, pulling out his phone. “I love you,” he added, as though he was mentioning the weather or the color of the couch.
“What?” Willow asked, her heart rushing for an entirely new reason.
“I love you, and I can't believe I almost missed my chance to tell you that,” he answered, running a hand through her long, dark hair. Willow leaned against his touch and felt her eyes water.
“I love you, too,” she admitted. Leaning forward, she pulled him into a kiss as her tears streaked down her cheeks. “I'm so sorry I almost left. I'm so sorry I put you through all of this,” she added. “I love you, and I can't leave. I can't leave even if he would have killed me for staying,” she shook her head. The words felt heavy and embarrassing, but she meant them.
“I wouldn't have been able to go on without you,” he agreed.
They kissed again, warm and gentle.
She couldn't figure out how she'd ever thought she could leave him.
Chapter 26
The pack decided there was enough evidence against Keech to report him to the police.
They decided he acted alone, and the others on the force could be trusted.
The pack wouldn't let her go to the hospital for her hand. Instead, they tried to convince her into shifting.
“I don't understand what good it'll do me,” she asked, and they all seemed to smile at this.
“We should just explain it,” said Carter, obviously annoyed at this behavior.
“No, no, let her figure it out,” said Miller, the shifter from the newspaper.
“I can't shift when I'm this stressed out,” she admitted. Her hand was throbbing in pain. She was completely sure it was broken, and she just wanted to go to the hospital.
Carter made a face and then sighed.
“I'll shift. Under certain circumstances it might make you shift as well,” he said softly.
“Well, yeah, if she's your True Mate, but that stuff isn't real,” Miller laughed. “It's princess fairy tale shit,” he continued. It was strange for Willow to hear a shifter – basically a werewolf – scoffing at the improbability of anything. Carter made a face, though. whatever Miller had said hurt him.
She didn't want that.
“Try it,” Willow said. If it would ease her pain, she'd try anything.
“All right,” he said. Was that worry she heard in his voice?
Carter shifted slowly, his back and body rippling. He slipped out of his shirt, his pants, and underwear. His human nakedness was visible for only a moment as he became a wolf.
He was a beautiful wolf.
Charcoal and gray fur, streaked with white that made it look like a night sky with blurry stars.
Her heart beat heavily, and Willow could feel her body forcing her into the change.
She dropped to the ground in the pain of it, falling on her broken hand, and yelped out in pain.
Within moments, that pain was gone.
There was a paw, instead, and it seemed entirely intact.
What?
Miller stared at the two of them the same way the pack had the first time she shifted.
“I thought it was fake,” he whispered. “Fated Mates are a real thing?” she could hear him mumble.
Carter walked over to her, his wolf teeth nipped gently at her face, and then he licked her, and it was embarrassing how nice it felt.
When they finally shifted back, her hand was intact.
Painless.
“How?” she managed to get out, wiggling her fingers and flexing the hand.
“When we shift, our bones all break and rearrange anyways. It just fixes them if something's off,” he explained. “Doesn't work if the hand is cleaved off. You just end up missing a paw,” Carter went on.
***
She had to go through three different rounds of questioning with the police and two rounds from the pack.
By the time they made it back to the resort, night had long since fallen.
They held hands as they walked in, not saying anything. Their hearts were heavy, and their minds were busy.
Willow didn't know how to explain today.
She'd woken up in love, and by the end of the day found out he felt the same.
At the same time, she'd been kidnapped,
had her hand broken, and had been terrified for her life. It was neither the best nor the worst day of her life. Willow squeezed Carter's hand gently, thoughtlessly, and he squeezed hers back with the same pressure without pause.
Commotion from their left came blazing out, causing them to drop hands.
“MISTER ANDRESSON!” Edwin, the owner of the resort, came running angrily. “How dare you step foot into my resort after that show you put on earlier?! Get out!” He stuttered to a stop as he finally took his eyes off Carter and realized Willow was next to him. His demeanor spasmed, like he wasn't sure whether to keep chiding Carter or put on a fake face for a good review. “Miss Royd,” he said, sweetening his voice.
“Yes?” she asked, amused by how transparently fake he was being.
“Mister Andresson here isn't a savory person to stay around. Please come with me, and I'll comp your dinner. He stormed out this evening, angry and aggressive,” Edwin explained, motioning angrily toward Carter.
“I think you should know the full story,” she shook her head. Edwin watched Carter carefully, like he suspected he had tricked Willow into liking him. “This man just saved my life,” she explained. “He saw I was missing from the resort and knew that there has been a recent trend of missing people being taken from town.” Edwin's face deflated as she continued on. “I was being held at gunpoint tonight by a serial killer, and Carter saved my life,” she explained. “The newspaper is running a story on him tomorrow that I helped pen. I wouldn't be here without Carter running out from work today,” she motioned to him.
Edwin looked like he wanted to cry from embarrassment.
“I'm so sorry,” he said, his bald spot beginning to sweat from nerves. “Please forgive my outburst. I had no idea,” he continued.
“I know you didn't,” she answered. “I'm not vindictive. Don't worry, I'll still give your resort an honest review,” Edwin seemed to fill back up with life.
“Of course, you can have your job back, Mister Andresson,” Edwin offered.
“He's got a new job now. He'll be applying at the police station,” she said as she shook her head.
Edwin eyed Carter thoughtfully.
“Him? Doesn't he have a past?” he asked. Willow bit the inside of her cheek and told herself that she'd need to ask him what that meant later.
“They couldn't afford to not have him,” she shrugged. “I'm going up to my room now. Have a good night,” she said dismissively, leading Carter by the hand again.
When they were out of earshot, Carter murmured in her ear.
“What do you mean I'm applying to be an officer?” he asked softly.
“You need a job where you can do good,” she explained. “You deserve so much better than being a security guard at an empty resort.” Willow lifted Carter's fingers to her lips and kissed them gently.
Chapter 27
“So, is a Fated Mate like a soulmate?” Willow asked. It was past midnight the next night, and they were sneaking down through the resort and to the heated indoor pool. It usually closed at 11 in the evening, but they figured they could get away with most anything now.
“Yeah, almost exactly,” Carter said, opening the door to the pool room to her.
“It's a little cheesy, isn't it?” she teased, pulling off her robe to reveal the same black bikini she'd been wearing the first time they met.
“Mm, it is,” he agreed. His eyes were hungry on her, and he pulled her in for a kiss.
She could never get over kissing him.
His lips were warm and perfect against hers. She enjoyed every moment of it. Pulling off the t-shirt he'd worn down to the pool, he grabbed her by the hips and jumped into the pool, dragging her with him.
Willow shrieked, surprised, and then started laughing and splashing him when they'd both surfaced. This was the most fun she'd ever had in her entire time at resorts. She thought about her job, about what she'd tell them, and for a moment, she felt queasy.
She was late on her work.
She hadn't submitted it yet, not even a progress piece, and today was the day she was originally supposed to leave and go back to her empty condo. The idea caught her as funny, and she wrapped her arms around Carter and kissed him again, letting him keep them afloat in the deep pool.
“What was that for?” he asked, grinning.
“I've known you for a week today,” she shrugged, pulling herself closer to him. His skin was soft from the salty water, she was happy to explore it with hungry fingertips.
“Wow, is that all?” he said. His bright blue eyes declared his surprise.
“Yeah,” she nodded. “I can't believe it, I feel like I've been here for a lifetime,” the water was perfect and warm. She felt like she could stay in it forever.
“You will be here for a lifetime,” he teased, kissing her.
“Mm, I know,” she laughed, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she leaned her head against his neck. Carter swam them over to the edge of the pool. His arms on either side of her held the wall.
“I love you,” he said, his forehead against hers. His breath was warm and sweet on her face.
“I love you, too,” she said. The words still felt amazing to say.
He kissed her again, pressing her against the wall of the pool. Willow's hands went from his neck to his hair, tangling her fingers in it as the kiss deepened. His tongue parted her lips and slid against hers, and Willow kissed him back just as fully.
When their mouths finally parted, his lips went to her neck, making her squirm in the good sensation.
“Oh, my god,” she gasped out, writhing against him. It felt amazing.
An idea froze her.
“Wait, wait, wait, wait,” she said, pulling his head back a little just as he started a promising hickey. “Aren't there cameras in here?” she asked, looking around.
“Mm, yeah, but they aren't on tonight,” he whispered. He looked like he was dying to get his lips back on her. “I have a friend on shift, and he agreed to turn them off in here,” Carter explained.
“You're so dirty,” Willow gasped, surprised at how bold he was.
“Oh?” he grinned, quirking an eyebrow. “I was just going to have some alone time in here kissing you. Don't tell me you're thinking about having sex in here?” he asked, his smile getting more and more wicked.
“What?! No!” she gasped, mortified. Willow could feel her face turning bright red.
“Mm, that's a shame then,” Carter sighed against her lips as he leaned forward against her and the wall again. “I'm kinda warming to the idea,” he admitted, stealing another kiss from her. Willow gasped as he finally left her lips again.
“Oh,” she said softly, thinking it over.
They were alone.
It wasn't something she'd normally try, but the pool was comfortably warm, she was in a bubbly mood, and she wasn't shaking from the murder attempt anymore.
“Yes, okay, yes,” she nodded, kissing him roughly. She heard Carter chuckle into the kiss, and it pressed her to be bolder. She pulled him against her, wrapping her thighs around his hips.
Carter moaned into the kiss as she ground down against him.
“Fuck,” he gasped out, grinding back against her.
She would have never done this in a thousand years with anyone else.
This was Carter, though. The man even the universe said was right for her.
The man who saved her life. Who saved her heart.
His hand slid between them, his finger pressing against her clit and opening through her bikini bottom. It was Willow's turn to moan. She threw her head back, letting her voice reverberate around them in the echoing room as she let him make her feel good.
“Yes…god yes,” she gasped. Carter pulled the bikini bottoms to the side, his fingers now on her without any barrier. The feeling, smoother from the water, had Willow forgetting to breathe. She ground against his hand and leaned up to kiss him again.
His left hand kep
t them anchored to the side of the pool as she slid his swim trunks down and over his thighs.
“Please,” she gasped.
Carter kissed her quietly and started to press into her.
There was more friction than she expected with the water, but she liked every bit of the sensation. She rotated her hips, rolling them like waves as he filled her.
“You're so fucking gorgeous,” he murmured, his left hand was on her hip to keep her stable.
Willow felt herself blush at the compliment, ignoring how ludicrous that reaction was with how intimate they were. She got the feeling she'd always react to compliments from him like that.
Carter started with shallow thrusts, the water around them splashing and rippling like it was part of it.
Willow moaned, feeling amazing, and met each of his thrusts by pressing down against him.
“Yes. Right there,” she gasped out like a secret as he hit her g-spot. He aimed for the same angle, and on the second try, he hit it again. From there, he didn't miss it again, every thrust bringing her quickly to the edge. “Mm, yes, Carter, yes,” she felt the words tumbling out. Willow didn't care how ridiculous she was being, what she was babbling. She needed him to know how good he was making her feel.
“Mmm,” he moaned along with her, his speed picking up as his thrusts went deeper.
“I'm close,” she gasped as she realized it, embarrassed.
“Good girl,” he teased, not faltering in his speed.
The phrase caught her off guard, and she came without much more warning. The water splashing around her, him holding her up against the wall, feeling herself tighten around him, it all left her buzzing and flying in the pleasure.
Carter was still going, not losing pace.
“If you keep this up,” she gasped, feeling herself getting aroused again, “I might come a second time,” she admitted, embarrassed.
“Then I'll keep it up,” he winked at her as he pressed in again. Willow's face felt bright red, but she didn't complain. Carter leaned in to her as he kept going, his teeth and lips pressing into her neck and jaw. He left a trail of small purpling hickies, chasing them with kisses.
White Star (Wolves of West Valley Book 1) Page 11