“There is a lot I’m trying to figure out,” he replied honestly.
Carter cupped his face and Aaron closed his eyes from the warmth of his touch. “Is anyone helping you?”
“They’re trying,” Aaron whispered, soaking in having his mate touch him. “It’s not like anyone can do much. We have other things happening.” Too many things. Plus Aaron really couldn’t do anything about his unreliable gifts. They were just his burden to live with.
“Then I’ll help you,” Carter declared.
Aaron smiled as he forced his eyes open and pulled away. Carter was just too sweet. There would be no help for Aaron, especially from someone who Aaron should stay far away from. “I appreciate the offer. It’s not safe for you.”
“But it’s safe for you?” Carter questioned.
What else could Aaron do? Or say, to get Carter to give up on this crazy idea of helping him? “There’s that pesky little thing called fate where I’m given these confusing dreams and visions that don’t make a lick of sense.”
Determination seemed to fill Carter as he nodded. “Then I’ll help.”
What was it with this stubborn man? Aaron needed to stay far away from Carter Moore. The pull of the mate bond would not be denied. The more Aaron was in Carter’s presence, the harder it would be on him.
Humans didn’t feel the bond the same way that the paranormal partner would. Aaron might not be a shifter, but his magic or whatever it was that was inside him wanted to wrap around Carter. Which was probably how Aaron dragged Carter into his dream.
“How about you figure out how to get some real sleep?” Aaron suggested.
“What does that mean?”
“Take it from me,” Aaron said bitterly. “Dreaming does not equal sleep. You’ll wake up exhausted.” He would know. His sleep was always shit. The dreams might not make sense most of the time, but they were still nearly nightly.
“Is that why you looked so tired earlier?” Carter asked.
Aaron’s eyes burned at the concern he could hear. Yep! He needed to be far away from Carter. “It’s my burden.”
“I don’t accept that.” Leaning over, Carter brushed his lips across Aaron’s forehead.
“Carter—” He reached for the other man and fell…right onto his face.
Pushing up, Aaron peered around for Carter. Nope, nothing. He was all alone in the middle of the woods. Great. He rolled over onto his back to stare at the canopy of leaves overhead.
“Gee, thanks for that!” Aaron mumbled. He didn’t know if he was talking to the fates, the mate bond, or maybe Carter himself. It didn’t matter. Not when he had a long night ahead of him.
The thing was that Aaron couldn’t exit his dreams.
He was sort of stuck until he woke up. Not only did that mean he wouldn’t be getting any sleep, but he’d also be trying to figure out where he was all on his own. Aaron would be returning in the morning. If those pups were still out there, then he was going to find them.
Maybe in the meantime he could get some information on the pack for Bas.
It was sure to be a very long night.
Chapter Three
Carter
It was barely light when Carter had left his house and driven to the state park. He’d left his truck behind to hike the trails near water that he’d found from a google search that morning.
Carter didn’t know if he was looking for Aaron or those little puppies. Either way he couldn’t go back to sleep once he woke up. He tried texting Aaron but hadn’t received a response. Was Aaron still asleep? Or was he lost in that weird dream?
The dream.
Unbelievable as it seemed, Carter had been part of another person’s dream.
He’d been touching Aaron one second and the next sitting up in bed. Alone. Carter had cursed before trying to force himself back to sleep, back to Aaron, but instead had lain there with his mind whirling. Much the same as when he’d first gone to bed.
