Knowing his brother wouldn’t stop until he knew everything, Carson answered, “Yeah, he came to tell me the great news about our cousin Hunter finding his mate. Whoop-de-doo.”Gods, I sound like a prick. Looking down at his dress pants, he brushed off the lint they’d picked up from the floor.
“Finding a mate is always a good thing,” murmured Cody. Then, noticing the slump of defeat in Carson’s shoulders, he said, “So you decided to leave because of that?”
Pissed, he growled, “Back off. Why I want to leave is my business.”
“Wrong. It’s also my and Colton’s business. What happens to you affects us and you know it,” Cody said. “Carsy, you know if you leave, Colton and I will be missing a note in our triad. Don’t you think we deserve to know the reason why?”
Anger surged through Carson, pissed at Cody for using their special bond against him. “Fine. You want to know why I’m going to leave? Because it’s obvious to me I’m not good enough to have a mate! There! Satisfied?”
Chapter19
“Carsy, that’s bullshit!” retorted Cody. “No fucking way! Not good enough? Of course you have a mate. Everyone does. It just takes time. Honestly, why would you even think that?”
“Isn’t it obvious? All my brothers found their mates and then what happens? The Fates skip me and now my fucking cousins are finding theirs.”
“Not cousins…justonecousin. And that doesn’t mean anything except Hunter was in the right place at the right time. C’mon, bro, you know finding a mate isn’t anything except pure luck. Look at Jackson…he stopped to help two dudes and got robbed. If that hadn’t happened to him, how do you think he would’ve met Steel? And what about Dylon? An enforcer for Josiah’s pack who just happened to be beaten nearly to death before he was found? And that wouldn’t have happened if our uncle had decided to dump his body somewhere else. What about Zane…he goes to Scotland on vacation and finds his mate…talk about luck. No, your mate is out there, you just haven’t connected yet.”
Seizing the opening his brother gave him, Carson asked, “And how am I supposed to find him, if I just stay here? Wait until he shows up at the gate? Every one of my brothers has traveled except me.”
“Is that the reason you want to leave? Tofindyour mate?”
Looking at the floor, Carson muttered, “Dylon said many enforcers travel from pack to pack looking for their mates.”
Searching his brother’s face, Cody slowly nodded. “Yeah, that’s true.”
“I thought I’d ask Maximus if Dire Enterprises has any job openings. They have offices all over the world.”
“So you’d still be working for Steel and Slate?” Cody asked.
“If they have a place for me,” Carson said.
“I guess that’s okay,” mused Cody.
Snorting, Carson replied, “I’m not asking for your permission, big brother.”
Shrugging, Cody said, “Didn’t say you were. Just doing what any big brother would do…looking out for their little brother.”
“Big brother by five fucking minutes.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Cody smirked, then turning serious, said, “Carsy, Colton and I will support whatever you want to do, you know that. I’m just worried about you…thinking you aren’t good enough for a mate, because I know you are. It might take you a little longer to find yours, but trust me, there’s one waiting for you somewhere.”
The certainty in Cody’s voice helped to erase some of Carson’s hopelessness. “Thanks,” he said, softly, overcome with emotion.
“Now, what can Colton and I do to help you? Do you want me to speak to Slate?”
Aghast at the suggestion, Carson replied, “Don’t you dare! Oh my gods, are you trying to embarrass me on purpose? I can do my own asking.”
“Just trying to help.”
“No, thank you. I’m perfectly capable of handling my own life, including dealing with my boss.” Carsonpushed himself up off the floor. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
“Okay, bro,” said Cody, standing and giving his brother a hug. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
Patting his brother’s back, Carson murmured. “I will, promise. And thanks for the support.”
“Always!”
~/~/~/~/~
