Page 27 of Carter

“Wait, so there's more werewolves out there? Other packs?” I question, and all three of them nod.

Isabella continues to tell me all about packs. I stay quiet but listen to everything she says. “Every pack has a Luna. Isabella is the Luna of The Dark Blood Pack because she’s my mate,” Liam explains. Carter’s eyes snap to Liam instantly, a look on his face to tell him to shut up.

“Mate? Wait that really does exist?” My voice is laced with confusion.

“We’ll talk about that later,” Carter says softly, kissing my forehead. “Alone. Okay?” I purse my lips nodding. “Okay.”

For the next hour or so, they explain the werewolf world and everything there is to know about The Dark Blood Pack. Carter tells me about his position as Beta for the pack and his duties to maintain. Hearing them all talk, especially Carter, was interesting and overwhelming at the same time.

My head hurts just processing all this information. By the time we finish, it’s already dark outside. Carter tells Liam and Isabella to rest as we will do the same. Carter takes me upstairs to his room in the pack house, where he spent most of his time before he met me. I sit on the edge of the bed now realizing this has finally hit me.

It’s not a dream. This is real. Werewolves were real. It's as if I were reading one of my books.

“Come on, let's shower, and then we can continue talking.” He says, standing up and dragging me to the en suite.

I’m now laying on his bed with my head on his chest as he rubs circles against my back. Tracing patterns on his chest, Carter kisses my head, causing me to look up at him. “You know how Liam mentioned that Isabella is his Luna? She’s his Luna which means she's his mate for life.” I nod, urging him to continue. “Leandra, I've seen the way you observe thier relationship. We both know Liam would give his life for her. Their love is deep.” He says slowly.

“Well, they were chosen to be mates. It's not a coincidence.” He swallows hard. I get up a little, resting on my forearm.

‘What do you mean? They were chosen mates? What are you trying to tell me?” My eyebrows furrow towards him. Carter stands up so that his back rests against the headboard then he proceeds to grab me so that I’m now straddling him. He never lets go of my hand. “Werewolves have what we call mates,” he pauses. “Mates are two people the Moon Goddess has matched up to spend the rest of their lives together. It’s like a real-life soulmate.”

I’m confused and worried because I know what a real-life soulmate implies. “I don’t understand. So, the mate is the person you’re destined to be with forever. Right?” I say, swallowing all the fear I have right now. Carter nods. “Why and how?”

“Liam and Isabella are mates because they were made for each other within the werewolf world. They make each other better and stronger. His wolf calls her wolf.” Carter flicks his thumb over my knuckles. “How does one know when they have found their mate?” I question as I look at him while holding his gaze. Carter closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before exhaling.

“All your senses are heightened, and your wolf can smell their scent. A scent so intoxicating only you can smell it. Being around them feels euphoric. Touching them feels like magic, and your wolf craves every inch of them. Your life comes together, and it makes sense.” His words sink in.

"Am I… Am I your mate?" I question Carter.

His gaze won't meet mine giving me the answer to my question. I swallow hard and I can feel myself start to panic as I realize what this means.

“So yo—” My heart sank as I thought about those words. “So, you have a mate?” I ask quietly. When Carter refuses to make eye contact with me, let alone reply, I force myself to cup his face and make him look at me. The lump that is currently in my throat is impossible to swallow. I knew this was too good to be true. Love doesn’t exist for people like me. I’m not stupid; I can see how Liam and Isabella looked at each other. They adore one another, and they are perfect for each other. Carter has someone out there that will make him feel like that too.

Carter’s sad eyes look into my own. “Hey,” he says softly as he cups my face. “Don’t get upset.” My brows furrow towards him. I didn’t even realize that my eyes had started to water. “So, that’s a yes. You have someone out there that was made for you?” My voice is just above a whisper. Carter says nothing once again, “So what the fuck am I, Carter, huh?” I question with so much anger and venom in my voice. “Oh, I know, just some fun on the side while you wait for this precious mate of yours!” The anger is getting the best of me.

Carter holds me tighter, not allowing me to get off his lap. His eyes turn to shock, and he instantly shakes his head. “Don’t you ever fuckin' think that again!” He exclaims. “You know it was never like that. I fuckin' love you, Peach.” His eyes show hurt and I can’t look at them now. I know he loves me. I just don’t know if that’s enough.

“Then what?” A tear rolls down my face, and Carter wipes it away in less than a second. His warm hand stays on my face for comfort as he pulls me into his chest. I would be lying if I said that his action didn’t comfort me because it did. “Regardless of whether I meet my mate or not, what you and I have, Leandra, is special. We have something between us that I know I will never find with anybody else. I love you. Don't you ever doubt that?” His voice is full of honesty, and I can see it in his eyes.

“You can’t say something like that. What if you change your mind, and I’m not enough for you and your wolf.” I cut off his last few words as I started to overthink. He cups my face with both his hands, leaning down to gently kiss my lips.

“I won’t,” he says instantly. I try to argue with him, but he shuts me up with another kiss. “I won’t, Leandra,” he rests his forehead on mine. “I promise you. I won’t. I breathe for you, baby. This heart beats for you.” He says those last few words by placing my hand on his chest above his heart, feeling it beat. My eyes close shut, and I let a few tears free.

“I may never meet her, and I hope she’s out there meeting someone who loves her just as much as I love you.” I open my eyes and watch Carter’s eyes watch me. I can’t help but give him a little smile because God, I hope so too. It’s selfish of me to think this, but I don’t want him to find his mate. I hope she’s already found someone who she loves enough to marry and have kids with.

“Don’t you want to know what it would feel like to find your mate? To feel and have what Liam and Isabella have?” I find myself asking because even though I’m selfish, I love him too much to see him hurt. Carter’s eyes turn sad and reflect her once again.

“Having you with me is worth a million times more.” His words make my heart clench. I couldn’t help but feel sad. “You make me happy, Peach, more than anything. I look at you and picture a future together.”

My eyes dart down to my lap. Carter forces me to look back at him. “What can I do to prove I want to be with ONLY you?” He questions quietly. I shrug. Getting off him, I take the spot next to him, resting against the headboard. I don’t know how to answer him because we won’t know until he meets his mate. I let out a jagged sigh. “You can’t,” I say, looking at him.

“Then please just trust me. Please.” He pleads, and all I can do is nod. My heart hurts, and my head is about to explode. I just want to sleep.

“This has taken a toll on you, hasn’t it?” Carter says softly. “Yes.”

“Why don’t we go to sleep, and we can talk more tomorrow morning if you’d like?” He suggests, and he pulls me into his arms. I inhale his scent that has swarmed me, and between his warm body and the sweatshirt I have on, I relax, closing my eyes. I hear him mumbleI love youas he kisses the back of my head, but I pretend to be asleep as I let a tear roll down my face.

What the hell was I going to do?

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