“Yes.” Carter didn’t even have to think about it.
“Really?”
“Absolutely. I want you there. Having you in my life makes me happy.”
Carter felt cheesy as fuck, but every word he spoke was true.
“It makes me happy too,” John said, his voice soft and tentative. “Having you in my life, I mean.”
“Good.” Carter grinned. He felt so happy he could burst. “So just… pack a bag and head on over. Make yourself at home.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later tonight.” John hesitated, and for a second Carter thought he was going to say I love you. He didn’t, and Carter felt a swell of disappointment.
“See you.”
They hung up, and Carter spent a minute just sitting there. His heart was hammering like crazy against the wall of his chest. John was moving into his apartment. Even if it was just temporary, the idea of having John living in his space—under his protection—made him want to run through the woods and scream for joy.
His wolf wanted to kill something. A moose or a deer—anything big and impressive—and drag it back to lay at John’s feet.
He couldn’t believe how gone he was.
***
Carter didn’t want to track Elijah in his three thousand dollar suit, and so before he headed over to Grayson’s house he drove home to change.
He found Elijah sitting on his front step, beaten to a bloody pulp.
“I didn’t tell him anything,” Elijah said, looking up as Carter stepped out of his car and came to stand in front of him. The words were clumsy, like he’d bitten his tongue and it still hadn’t healed.
“But you came right here,” Carter said, and then immediately felt like an asshole when Elijah flinched. He shook his head. “I’m sorry. You did good.”
Carter crouched down and studied the younger wolf. Grayson had really done a number on him. His cheekbone was fractured, and his shoulder was dislocated, and that was just what Carter could see at a glance.
“Come on, let’s get you inside. We need to set all this before you start healing.”
Carter helped Elijah into the house, taking him into the kitchen and pulling out a chair for him. Elijah didn’t so much as whimper, even though he had to be hurting like hell, and Carter was impressed.
“I’m going to call a friend who might be able to help, is that okay?”
“Who?” Elijah looked suspicious.
“Luke’s witch. He might be able to help speed up your healing and make it hurt less. Is that okay?”
Elijah frowned. “Doesn’t he support my dad?”
“No, the only side he’s on is Luke’s. Given how Grayson treated him, he has very little love for the man.”
“Oh.” Elijah looked confused. “If you think it’s best.”
Carter nodded, calling Owen and asking him to come over. He didn’t explain much beyond needing some help to heal a friend. Owen promised to be right over.
“I’m sorry,” Carter said, pulling up a chair for himself and sitting down across from Elijah. “Telling you to keep your head down obviously wasn’t the best advice.”
Elijah shrugged, and then winced in pain at the movement. “It was my fault. I should have known that he’d think I was up to something.” There was a pause, after which Elijah looked up and stared right into Carter’s face. “The guy from Texas. He’s still coming to take over?”
The intensity in Elijah’s expression was almost frightening.
“Spencer Tiller. I’m going to summon a pack meet next week and he’s going to crash it. We’ve got it all planned. If he doesn’t take your dad down, I’ll finish the job. I promise.”
