The Alphas Assassin (Complete)

Road Side Chats

*Ariella*

“Do you… really want to go in alone?” Carter asked as he parked the car at the rendezvous point we had used when he picked me up. I stared into the wooded path that wound up to the pack house and sighed, nodding, massaging my fingers into my belly with one hand as I chewed the nails on the other. “Ari… stop with the nails…” he scolded when I didn’t answer and I pulled my hand from my mouth, wiping it on my black pants.

“S-sorry… yeah… I’m sure…”

“We could wait till the morning…”

I shook my head, looking down at the clock. It was 2am and the house would be quiet. I’d have time to run a device scanner as I went out to Gabriel’s room if he was asleep and make sure we were clear of bugs. If I’d have gotten lucky Melany would only have had enough time to get her mits into the alphas office to bug it… but knowing her, with her specialty being more focused toward surveillance, she’d have tried to get bugs anywhere she could as soon as she could.

Carter had checked both our phones and his laptop. They were clear but there was one placed under the alarm clock of my room. I wasn’t sure how she had gotten it there. But Carter smashed it as soon as he found it. Whatever info I had said in that room since staying there would be sent back to whoever was controlling that device. I needed to clear any others I found before any discussion about solving the issue could be made.

“If… if Gabriel is being watched… it’s only a matter of time before Red River knows… if they don’t already… I need to get in there and talk to him…”

“I can help…”

“After how he blew up on you the other night… let’s not give him any more reason to stress out right now… not until I know more details…”

“You know I hate leaving you alone…” He whispered.

I tilted my face toward him and smirked. “Awe, is someone worried?” I giggled.

“Of course I am, Ari!” He defended.

“Carter.” I stated firmly, turning my gaze back to the wooded area, “I’ve been trained the exact same as you. I have the exact same training as Melany. I know what to look for and what to do.” I paused and looked back at him. “Or… are you worried because of the baby…”

“I just… don’t want you stressing yourself out…”

“Well it’s too late for that one.” I responded with a chuckle as I finally unclipped my seatbelt. He rolled his eyes. “Carter, being hardly a month pregnant doesn’t inhibate me from fighting…”

“It’s not safe though.” He responded, “if you shift it’s a risk…”

“A lot of this is a risk.” I responded matter-of-factly. “Yes, it makes things harder. Yes, I don’t feel good. But, if worse comes to worst I will do what I need to do…”

“Ari…”

“Carter… stop treating me like a little sister and start treating me like you would any other operative…” I ordered as I locked eyes with him. “I’m not a little kid, I’m not some frail being just because I’m pregnant… I am an operative just like you, I was trained to be a fighter, just like you…”

“Ari…” he sighed and dropped his gaze, unable to hold my intense stare for long before he submitted, the benefit of an alphas bloodline… right? “You mean a lot to me. You’re my best friend...” he huffed, “Yeah, maybe we were all trained the same… but you… Ari… you’re special to me, and to Mason…You’re special to the Farm… I will always worry about you, no matter your status, or your training, or your decisions…” he raked his hand through his hair. “10 years growing up with someone by your side will do that…”

“You’re going soft, Carter.”

“Never had that complaint…” he teased back. I shoved my fist into his shoulder and we shared a laugh before he shook his head and sighed. “I guess… I’ll just always worry Ari… you’re the closest thing to a sister I have… you’re my family…”

“I know Carter…”

“I was sent with you to protect, and I didn’t….” He snorted apathetically, “Shoulda punched that pompous asshole of an Alpha when I first laid eyes on him at the Gala.”

I giggled with a nod. “I'm glad you didn’t.”

“Yeah?” He asked with a smirk, “What, Ari wants a boyfriend now?”

“Ew” I grimaced as I scrunched my nose and stuck my tongue out at him.

We both giggled.

“Now you’re carrying a little niece or nephew…” he paused, I saw a tear trickled down his cheek, it had been a long time since I’d seen Carter cry… “I’m always gonna worry… I’m always gonna be big brother Carter…”

“I know you will.” I responded by tilting my head. His tears had made my own form and I was now crying with him. He looked like he wanted to say more but stopped himself as he looked at the clock. It was nearly 2:30 now and our night was slowly wasting away as we sat and had a meaningful conversation on the side of the road.

“Alright… Ready Show Stopper?” He asked as he flipped over a slender device toward me. It was about the size of a large tube of lip gloss. Then he pulled a black carrying case from his cup holder and handed it to me as well.

“As ever…”