Obviously, that conversation had to be brought up to light whether I wanted to or not.

It was probably a month or more after the ordeal and I was still staying up in the cabin but made some visits back home to reassure my family and friends that I was fine and unharmed.

Carter made sure of that.

He stayed with me throughout the duration of my living at the cabin and only left to go out for a run. Half an hour later, he would come running back with his tongue hanging out of his mouth trying to lick me. He gave me my space obviously and I appreciated it as well as his company. Although, one time I went back to my parents place and I was only there for half an hour before a full fleged wolf came crashing through our living room window.

Dad, needless to say, was not impress.

Me however, I couldn't help but laugh so hard with tears running down my cheeks as I clutched my sides like my life depended on it. While my mum was trying to make me be serious of the situation, dad and Carter were on their way to the study. When they came back, Carter's cheeks were burning red and mum was consulting a window repairman who was bewildered as to how the window could have been broken in such a way. "What did he do?" I asked as Carter sat on my bed and I closed my door. "You don't want to know." he mumbled as I turned around and looked at him rubbing the back of his neck. Shaking my head amusingly, I went and took a seat next to him. "Hey, he's all right as most dads' are. Don't worry." I awkwardly patted his shoulder and gave him a smile as though to reassure him.

He never told what dad told him that day and I was wondering about it that day I was outside the cabin and was taking down the laundry. "You hungry Jess?" I had just placed the last of the laundry in the basket when Carter called out to me from the veranda. "Not really. You?" I asked as I walked back up to the cabin while Carter let out a sheepish smile. Rolling my eyes, I said as I walked up the stairs, "Alright, I'll cook." Carters face lit up like a child on christmas morning and before I knew it, Carter kissed my cheek then said after with a grin on his face, "You're the best love."

Caught of guard, I mumbled as I shuffled back in the house and in to the living room, "Don't mention it." Half an hour later after folding up the clothes in the laundry basket, Carter walked in to the room and sat down next to me. Without even thinking, I asked, "What happened while I was gone?" I put down one of Carter's shirt that I was folding and looked at him. Confusion was written in his eyes before he replied, "I went and took a shower?" Rolling my eyes, I clarified, "I meant when I was kidnapped you dunce." His eyes started to look guarded as he murmured while looking away from me, "I'd rather not talk about it." I pressed, "I deserve to know Carter. I was kidnapped and I want to know what happened to you while I was in his captive and where that psychopath is now."

Carter turned at me and his face was scrunched up as I could see the battle he was having with his wolf because his eyes kept changing their colour. Finally, he let out a defeated sigh before breathing out, "I went ballistic when I realized you were gone the next morning Jesse. Only the Moon Goddess knows just how I felt when you were gone. Anger, fear, anxiety- you name it. I felt it all. Right after that I went back home to tell Ryder and inform him of what happened. Was he happy I lost their Alpha's only child? I think you can take a guess as to how he reacted when I told him."

I grimanced as the imagination of whatever torture Ryder put Carter through.

He continued after taking breather, "The next few days flew by and I continued on my search for you with the help of both our packs. Our trackers picked up on your scent but, it quickly faded off and they needed me to join them because no matter how faint your scent was, I would still be able to pick it up. A few hours later after no progress, I went back to your house to take a shower. I stayed their for the duration of trying to find you. I had just gotten out of the shower in your room when I was tackled in a hug." Carter paused slightly before he continued, "Seeing an auburn haired female hugging me tightly, I almost cried out of joy. That is until I took in her scent."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I yelled up as I pointed an accusing finger towards Carter before breathing out in disbelief, "Are you saying that my mum, saw my mate, butt-naked?" Of all the things that could have come out of his mouth, he had to say this with a smirk playing on his lips, "Your mate?"

I brushed it aside as I continued, "Nevermind that. My mum saw you naked?" Carter replied while moving away my hand from him, "No, she didn't. Because I had the decency to wear a towel around my waist." Letting out a sigh of relief, I froze. Narrowing my eyes at him, I asked, "What do you mean, had?" Just as he was about to open his mouth to reply, I waved my hand in the air dismissively while saying, "You know what? I don't want to know. Just continue your story."

Carter pouted but obliged, "I told them what happened and obviously, they were outraged, terrified. Then, we got a lead from one of the scouts that was staying watch outside the perimeter. She said she saw some suspicious activity happening at an old abandoned warehouse about 5 miles from where she was stationed. Then as I went there, we heard that some rogues liked to stay at a lake nearby that area and decided to set a trap. The next part of the story, you can already fill that up." He eyed me before asking, "How did you escape from that place?"

I quickly filled him in on how I had help from the inside.

"I'll be forever in her debt then." he said and before I had time to react, Carter had pulled me close to his side and mumbled against my neck, "She kept my mate safe." Feeling a blush creeping up to my cheek, I asked, "What happened to the guy who caught me? Why did he even catch me? And why did he keep calling me Susan?"

What Carter had to say next, surprised me to say the least.

"Do you remember that tale you told me of a family member of yours whose name was Susan?" Carter questioned as he eyed me carefully. Nodding slowly, Carter continued, "Well, the rogue who kidnapped you, was her mate." My eyes practically bulged at what Carter explained and then he went on, "After he realized what an asshole he was being, he went to find Susan to tell her he wanted her back but, she was already long gone. Then he basically went in to denile and imagined her really there when she wasn't. So, when he saw you- a shewolf- shift in to a pure black wolf, he thought he found his mate again. But..."

I slowly let all of the information I heard sink in before asking one final question with my voice shaking, "So, what happened to him?" Just as Carter opened his mouth to answer, the door was knocked on. Annoyed at being interrupted, I decided to just get up and tell whoever was at the door to fuck off or go away.

Either one would have been fine.

Obviously whoever I was expecting at the door, was definitely not what I expected because I practically slammed the door back shut just as soon as I recognized his face. Not knowing what else to do, I just decided to shout out with my back against the door and my heart hammering against my chest.

"Um, Carter?"