Part C: Chapter 62

"Dude, what’s going on? Why did you call me this early in the morning?” Carter asked as he budged into my room, his hair was tousled and he was in nothing but his boxers.

I was sitting on the edge of the bed with papers strewn all around me. “Just because I said it was urgent didn’t imply that you should show up here naked,” I said, giving him a disinterested look. “Go and wear something or just take a shower and then find yourself here.”

Carter scowled at me as he ran his fingers through his hair in agitation. “You really are a drama queen,” he huffed. “It’s too early for this crap. I’m going back to bed.” He turned around, heading for the door.

“I think I may have figured out who the traitor is,” I said and Carter stopped dead in his tracks. Slowly, he turned to face me, his eyes narrowed into questioning slits. “I’d suggest you hurry up with that shower and I’ll have Esther prepare something for us to eat.”

Carter was still looking at me weirdly but I shooed him away as I picked up a stack of papers that I had Mal send over when I woke up. “For your troubles,” I added and went back to work.

I heard the door close and I looked up to find Carter gone. I spent the rest of the time trying to piece everything together. Something just wasn’t adding up and I knew I should trust my people but I also had to take into account what Mum had told me in my dream. I knew I should focus more on the facts but something about that dream felt more real than anything and I never *dream*.

I called Esther and asked her to bring some breakfast in my room just as Carter entered. “Place it on the dining table. That will be all,” I said and then hung up. “Good, you’re here.”

“This better not be some joke.” I could hear the clip in his voice as he walked over to the bed and joined me. “And I better have my breakfast or you will regret lying to me Carmichael.”

“This isn’t a joke, just take a seat and let me explain,” I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair. I hadn’t slept much after that dream so I had decided to try and make sense of everything that had happened, before I finally gave up and ended up calling Mal and asking him for all the details about everyone in my pack. Something told me I could trust Mal, Sean and Carter. “Mum visited me in my dream and told me something that got me thinking.”

By now, Carter was looking at me like I had suddenly gone crazy which maybe I had because there was no way I would believe me too if I was in his position. “I know it sounds weird because we can’t see those who have passed but trust me, I saw her and she talked to me.”

“Uh-huh,” Carter began and then touched the back of his hand to my forehead but I swatted it away. “Are you sure you are okay? You seem like you haven’t had any sleep.”

I sighed, starting to get frustrated. “Listen to me for once and stop being such a dumbass,” I said agitated. “Yes, I know I haven’t been sleeping but just listen for crying out loud. Mum was in my dream and now I don’t even know whether it was a dream or not because she seemed like she was afraid of someone or something from finding her because she kept talking about how she didn’t have time and how they were watching us.”

Carter’s eyes had narrowed more than before and just as he was about to say something, there was a knock on my door and we both turned to find Esther standing there.

“Breakfast is served,” she bowed her head and then left.

“Again, it’s too early for this and I’m hungry.” Carter stood up, his sweats and hoodie looking really comfortable and reminding me that I still hadn’t showered or changed. “Tell me this when I have food in my system.” He turned once he was by the door. “Aren’t you coming?”

I placed the papers back on the bed and stood up. “I have to take a quick shower first and then I shall join you.” That earned me a look but I brushed it off as I walked into the bathroom and closed the door.

The shower didn’t take long and I was out, all freshened up and in a new pair of sweats and t-shirt. I found Carter wolfing down a plate of bacon and eggs with french toast.

“I didn’t have her make all that for you,” I said with a sigh as I joined him by the table and grabbed some bacon from the plate and placed them on my plate.

“It’s not my fault you decided to take a shower when the food was served,” Carter said through a mouthful. “Besides, it’s as if you even eat these days. Just think of it as me doing you a favour and preventing the food from going bad.”

I rolled my eyes as I poured myself a cup of coffee and took a sip, making myself comfortable on the chair. “Just because I don’t eat as much as you do doesn’t mean that I don’t eat.” I was looking at him over the rim of my mug.

Carter snorted. “Whatever you say Alpha,” he said sarcastically and continued to eat.

I shook my head but didn’t say anything as I ate something and when I was done, I wiped my hands and mouth and turned serious. “Now, can we talk?”

Carter wiped his hands and mouth as well and turned sombre. “I’m listening.”

I stood up. “Follow me.” I walked into my bedroom.

Carter snorted from behind me. “I should have known you only wanted me for my body and nothing else. I mean, I know I’m fine and all but please spare me.”

I sat at the edge of the bed and glared at him. “This isn’t time for jokes.”

“Yeah and it’s also not time for you to try and get into my pants,” he retorted with an eye roll as he sat down next to me.

I ran my hand over my face. “You aren’t my type.”

“You mean hot and attractive with a ridiculous sense of humour isn’t your type?”

“I’d say more annoying and a pain in my arse isn’t my type.”

Carter snorted but I interrupted him by passing him some of the documents that I spent so much time going over. He looked over them and then scowled as he looked up at me. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, sounding unsure of himself. “What if you got it all wrong?”

I shrugged as I leaned back on my bed and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know but when you think about it, it just makes sense.” I turned my head to the side and looked at him.

Carter sighed, “I guess but it’s a big thing to accuse someone like this,” he said, being the voice of reason as usual. “It has to be more than just a feeling. You have to actually have evidence.”

I took a deep breath, letting my lungs feel with oxygen and then breathed out. “i know but Mum told me to go with my trust and only trust those that I know deep down would never fuck me over,” I said as I looked back at the ceiling. “And believe me, I know it’s really dumb but that’s all I have to work with.”

“How was she?” he asked after a moment of silence had passed.

“She looked exactly the same as she did and she misses you too.”