Page 86 of Alpha's Redemption

“Geez, bro, what crawled up your ass?”

“Nothing, I just need to think,” Carter says, rubbing his temples before running his fingers through his thick, blonde hair. The two thugs look at each other before looking at me. Micah also appears confused as he glances between the three men.

Carter's phone rings. He looks at the screen, and a silly smile splits his face before he looks up, noticing everyone watching him. Quickly rejecting the call, he looks back at his men before his eyes fall on Micah briefly. He nods to the other two, who instantly snarl and start stalking Micah while he backs up.

“Wait, what's the meaning of this? Carter, we had a deal,” Micah says.

“Deal changed because now my plans have changed. Throw him in the trunk while I figure out what to do next,” Carter says. Micah fights but is no match for the two men, who quickly overpower him.

“Wait, why have our plans changed? I thought we were killing the bitch and kid?” the blonde-haired man asks while holding a struggling Micah.

“I need to think of something else first. Something has come up.”

“So, what do you want us to do?”

Carters ponders for a second and bites his lip, looking at the ceiling.

“We hand over a peace offering. And get me everything you have on that rogue girl, Macey,” he says, and the men look at each other, confused; my brows furrow.

The dark-haired man licks his lips. “The feisty bitch? I wouldn't mind taking a bite out of h–”

His words cut off when Carter launches out of the chair and punches him. The man staggers back and Micah uses that chance to escape up the steps. The blonde man gives chase, yet I can't tear my eyes from Carter. His face is barely recognizable and he’s pummeling his man bloody before he stomps his head into the ground, spilling blood and brain matter everywhere as he kills the man right in front of me. Horrified at the display of violence, I remain quiet and still.

The blonde man returns, stomping down the steps, but stops when he sees his dead friend. When Carter stands upright, he shrugs his suit jacket off and tosses it on the broken chair before slowly undoing the buttons on what was a white shirt, now stained red. I watch the blonde man's Adam's Apple bob in his throat as he swallows.

“Find Brendan, clean this piece of shit up, and get me another shirt,” Carter snaps at him without so much as a stutter, like killing his pack member means nothing to him.

“Uh, Boss, Micah–”

“Fuck Micah! He can get himself out of his shit. I have bigger issues. Now get me everything on that Macey girl and get this place cleaned up. And fucking feed her, and get her a drink,” he says, pointing to me. The man nods swiftly, rushing off up the steps to do his bidding.

Carter removes his shirt and moves to a rusty sink basin in the far corner, washing his bloody hands before drying them on a rag. When he’s finished, he pulls his phone from his pocket, types in a message, and smiles to himself.

I watch him—his entire demeanor changes when his phone rings. He answers it.

“Hello, little mate,” Carter purrs and a gasp leaves me. Who is he speaking to?

ChapterThirty-Six

Macey

My head is swimming. I can't bring myself to tell them about Carter being my mate. I want nothing to do with the vile man that would allow the woman I consider to be my sister to be violated the way she was. Shame courses through me.

I feel like I don't deserve to be around her after what my mate has done to her. Am I cursed when it comes to men? Am I a bad omen for my girls? I’m seriously considering it. My mate ruined Zoe's life and kidnapped Everly’s sister, and his father is responsible for killing Everly's mother.

Carter being my mate leaves multiple additional issues because unless Tatum marks me, I’m as good as dead once I reject Carter—and Iwillbe rejecting him. But then what will happen to Taylor? Who will look after her and love her the way I do? My Mom is getting old, plus she has my brother and his mate living with her, and as much as I love my brother, he isn't exactly a good role model.

After showering and checking in with Kalen and the kids, I head over to see Tatum. At the moment, he’s the only good thing in my life other than Taylor. Everything feels like it’s falling into tatters, and I have no idea how to come back from this. I saw the hell Everly went through without Valen—saw how Kalen's rejection killed Valarie—so what will me rejecting Carter do? What will be the consequence of that?

Walking down the corridor to his ward, I stop and speak with his physical therapist. Her name is Tracey and she’s the one helping us get him back on his feet. She warns me he’s in a mood before I leave her to head to find his room. I know something is wrong before I even open the door. I can hear him cursing and hear glass break as he tosses something.

Pushing the door open, I find Tatum on the ground, his crutches by the bed.

“Stupid fucking leg!” he curses with a growl. Immediately, I rush to his side, gripping under his arms to help pull him.

“Why didn't you use the crutches?” I ask him when he pushes me away, forcing me to drop him. He grunts, and I move to help him again when he snarls at me.

“Just fucking leave me, Macey! Stop fucking mothering me!” he snaps. I roll my eyes. I’ve put up with his pity parties before, only this time, I ignore him and retrieve the wheelchair, pushing it beside him. He growls angrily at me and punches it.

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