“How far is it?”
“Pretty much on the opposite side of the state park. You were smart to drive,” Aaron answered.
It hadn’t occurred to Carter to even go to the house first. He knew the pack or family was there. Hudson was there. Aaron. Carter had just felt a need to make sure Aaron wasn’t stuck in the woods and to see if the pups really were there.
The pup in his arms started to chew on Carter’s sleeve. “We’ll get you some real food,” Carter promised the little thing. “Let’s just get you home.”
“Did you hear that, babies? You have a home,” Aaron said behind him.
Carter nearly groaned. Three small pups couldn’t be that hard to care for. Could they?
* * * * *
Aaron
Aaron laughed as Carter chased the rumbustious little pup again. The brave little boy was a master of getting out of the makeshift kennel that Carter had put together. Like, Carter had actually used tools and boards that had been lying around the house. Who did that? Carter, apparently.
Carter building a kennel might have unleashed a new kink for Aaron. A handyman kink, because it had been sexy as hell. The pups had fallen asleep after getting their tiny bellies full andAaron had been put in charge of watching over them. Aaron had watched something, all right. Maybe just not the three precious little souls that he was supposed to keep his attention on.
At least Aaron didn’t have an audience for his drooling over Carter. Hudson and Bastian should be there soon, and Aaron needed to get control of his unruly cock. He did not want Bas near him when Aaron was this turned-on. Aaron would never hear the end of it.
Hudson had been thrilled to run into the city close by that had a pet store. Bas hadn’t been quite as excited, but since Bas would do whatever Hudson wanted, Aaron had called Hudson and asked.
Aaron had no experience with brand-new pups so that was where Google had come in handy. He might have gone overboard with his list as Aaron added anything it seemed like they needed. He also gave Hudson full authority to add things which Carter had groaned and grumbled about.
What?
It wasn’t like they couldn’t return what they didn’t use. It was better to be prepared. And Aaron had kind of tricked Carter into taking the puppies home just to spend more time with the other man. Although he had been concerned about how the pups would react with such strong shifter animals around. That just wasn’t his main concern.
He had sent some of the guys from the family to check out the area. Some kind of animal had gotten to the mama dog and the puppies. If it was a natural animal, it was sad and the fault of whoever had dumped the dog. But if it wasn’t…which was what Aaron feared, then Aaron wanted the culprit tracked down.
The scents in the area hadn’t been familiar. Maybe one of the shifters would have a better idea. Aaron could just feel the evilness to the area where he’d found the mama dog. Something had not been right. Unnatural.
“How is he getting out?” Carter complained as he stomped back into the living room carrying the brave boy.
They really needed to name the pups.
“I turned my head for like a second to answer a text,” Aaron said. “He just wants you.”
Carter handed Aaron the puppy. “And I’m trying to make us dinner.”
“You need one of those harnesses that goes around your front to hold him close,” Aaron suggested. That was an amazing idea! Carter would look so cute with a puppy tethered to his chest. He eyed his phone. Maybe Hudson could find…
Narrowing his eyes, Carter pointed at him. “Don’t even think about it.”
“But—” Aaron pushed out his bottom lip. It would be adorable. Aaron totally wanted a picture of that.
“No. Not going to happen,” Carter said firmly.
Aaron grinned in return. Just spending one day with Carter had shown Aaron that Carter had a soft spot for him. Maybe not just him. Carter could just be a softy in general. He might seem imposing for a human, but that smile. Aaron was hooked on Carter’s smiles.
Not that Aaron was thinking of claiming Carter as his. He knew that having a mate was different for him. Aaron couldn’tdrag someone into what was a mess of a life. With a power that might be dangerous and he had no hope in controlling. That didn’t stop Aaron from wanting.
This whole thing might be a mistake.
Spending time with Carter would only lead to heartache for Aaron.
And still he was sitting on the floor, holding one puppy as the other two slept in the kennel that Carter had built.
