He knocked on the door. He could hear Elijah rustling around inside, and a second later the door opened and Elijah was staring back at him.
Carter studied the alpha’s son. You never would have guessed from looking at him that he was submissive. He was slightly taller than the average werewolf, standing just two inches shorter than Carter himself, and though he wasn’t bulky there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. His muscles were sleek and powerful, and from the way he moved you could tell that he knew how to handle himself.
Elijah was currently wearing nothing but a pair of sweats. They hung low on his hips, showing off his Adonis belt—as well as the sizable bulge of his cock.
“Hello, Elijah,” Carter said, pushing into the room. He looked around, but he still couldn’t smell anyone else. He turned to Elijah with a frown. “What’s going on here?”
“None of your business,” Elijah said, sitting down on the bed. Though his words were combative, his body language was wary and submissive. It was an odd contradiction. It was probably down to having a father who constantly forced him to act more dominant than he really was.
“Isn’t it?” Carter asked, crossing his arms and moving to stand in front of the younger man. The pose was pure intimidation. “Because from where I’m standing I had to skip work this morning because you ran away.”
Elijah was silent, ducking his head and looking at his lap. Carter sighed and sat down next to him.
“You don’t smell like you’ve been having sex,” he said, looking at Elijah’s face for a clue as to what was going on here. He put his hand on the younger man’s back, regretting it immediately when Elijah’s breath hitched.
He didn’t want to start anything with Elijah until he knew the spell to make him attracted to him could actually work.
“I just wanted a break from my dad. I mean, I’m twenty-six and he still won’t let me move out. And the last guy I had sex with he exiled from the fucking pack. It’s bullshit.”
Carter blinked. He was a little surprised that Elijah hadn’t had sex since Luke, but maybe he shouldn’t be. When Elijah had been the one taking the punishment for his sexual exploits he hadn’t blinked. The boy had kept right on fucking his way through the pack. Carter should have known he wouldn’t be so easy about it once it wasn’t just him being punished.
“Your dad wants you to be something you’re not. That’s unfair, trust me, I get it. But he’s also your alpha. You have to do what he says.”
“Couldn’t you be the alpha?” Elijah looked at Carter beseechingly. “I mean… Everyone in the pack wants you to. Even if Luke’s nasty little witch doesn’t back it, I don’t think he could actually stand in the way of a challenge. Not without the council getting involved.”
Carter stared at Elijah, and for a second he understood how he’d gotten so many people to sleep with him knowing full well what a bad idea it was. The trusting expression, the earnest and stunningly handsome face… he was incredibly appealing.
“Owen wouldn’t be a problem,” Carter said, choosing his words carefully. “But I’m not in a position to challenge your dad right now.”
“You’d win,” Elijah said. Carter shrugged. He wondered if Elijah had really thought his request through. He was essentially asking Carter to kill his father.
“We’re not talking about this any more,” Carter said, standing up. “Come on. It’s time for you to go home.”
“You’re such an asshole,” Elijah mumbled, rising to his feet. Carter ignored the disrespect, even though his instincts told him to pin Elijah to the floor and show him who was boss. Elijah looked at him, waiting for a reaction, and when he didn’t get one he sighed.
“Put on your clothes and get your things. I have to get to work.”
Carter wasn’t lying. He’d been ignoring his responsibilities to the point of criminal negligence, and he really needed to make a visit to the office so that he could get back on top of things.
Elijah packed up his things and got dressed, following John out into the hall and into the elevator. Carter watched him check out at the front desk, and then they headed back to his truck.
He drove Elijah home and told him to head to his room, texting Grayson while he was at it that Elijah was back and that he hadn’t spent the night with anyone.
A second after he sent the text his phone rang. Carter assumed it was Grayson, his mouth curling in a distasteful grimace, but when he looked down Owen’s name was lighting up the screen.
His heart hammered as he picked up the phone.
“Owen, hello,” he said. He sat tensely in his seat, making no move to pull out of Grayson’s driveway. Elijah was watching him from the door, and Carter waved at him to go inside.
“Hi Carter. My grandmother contacted Yolanda. She’s agreed to meet with you sometime at the end of May, but she wants you to contact her now to discuss the specifics of the spell she’ll be doing and her payment.”
Carter blinked. May was three months away. He’d hoped for sooner, but in the grand scheme of things he wasn’t going to complain. Waiting three months was a lot less than waiting forever.
“And do you really think she can do it?” Carter asked. If there was any doubt heneededto know.
“My grandmother says she can, and she’s the expert. Are you sure you still want to go through with it?”
“Yes.” Carter didn’t hesitate.
