Chapter 05

BETA ANTHONY CARTER (CARTER) POV

I sat in my office at home while Lindy was downstairs doing her workout. I enjoyed watching her do her yoga the most.

A smile spread across my face at just the thought of going down and joining her with some downward dog stretches.

Felix, my wolf, agreed hungrily.

“Soon, buddy,” I said with a chuckle, trying to calm the horny wolf within.

We had to finish up the paperwork for the day before we allowed ourselves to become distracted by our lust-inducing girlfriend.

She is not a girlfriend; she is our mate! Felix growled in disagreement.

I couldn't agree more. Lindy was everything we had ever wanted in a mate, and if it wasn't for her lack of a wolf, I was certain we would have been true mates. The connection, the bond, was unbelievably strong. She made me want to be a better man—a better wolf.

She pushed me to see the errors in my misguided ways. I made many mistakes, but slowly, with Lindy's guidance, I made the changes to fix them.

The most important one was with Carissa. Carissa may have been a bastard pup, born through my soon-to-be ex-wife's betrayal, but she was a good girl. I cared a lot for Carissa, but hurt forced those feelings aside, leaving us to grow distant. I didn't want that for her anymore. She needed a home where she felt safe and wanted, and that was precisely what I planned to do. I knew it was late in the game to start being a father now, but it was better late than never. I needed to give her a real home, even if she left the pack in a few more months. Lindy and I had been talking in private about following. We could find a new pack for the three of us or live within the human city. Maybe we would buy a small acreage with forest access. Something where my wolf and Carissa's can bond and run together while Lindy watches over us from the porch or on Felix’s back. The thought of the prospective future brought a smile to my face. I was going to fix all of my mistakes with Carissa.

I signed the last adoption paperwork for Carissa to be officially under my name. Our pack didn't realize until only a few years back that under the father at the birth registry, Carissa had none listed. For most of her life, I refused to be legally associated with her.

All that changed through Lindy's guidance. It took me all this time to realize that Carissa wasn’t my enemy and that she needed a father; I wanted to be that male for her. Lindy would make an incredible stepmother to her; she already filled the role without the ring and title.

All that would change as well.

I opened the drawer of my desk and pulled out the engagement ring.

The light sparkled over the diamonds, forcing a big smile on my typically serious face.

Once the adoption paperwork went through, Alpha Kane, in his final act as Alpha, swore to help me get custody of Carissa and bless my marriage to Lindy. Lindy had already proclaimed that her future stepdaughter would be her maid of honour. The only witness that either of us cared to attend the happy union. Lindy didn’t know how soon that would become more than them talking about the future and become their reality.

It wasn't lost on me that there was a bit of harsh energy. Many of the pack members expected Lindy to be a fling and for me to return to my cheating, title-hungry, gold-digging wife. It wasn't going to happen, however. I had already written her out of my will. I left everything to Lindy and Carissa.

Finally, everything was coming together, and no one, not even my soon-to-be ex-wife, Kim, would get in the way.

I took out my cell phone and called my long-time friend and Alpha to confirm that the plan was still a go. I wanted to surprise Carissa as soon as possible.

She was a newly graduated young lady starting her summer break from school. This would be her final summer of internship with Alpha Kane. I honestly didn’t know how Kane was going to handle it. It was a challenge to work under, and Carissa was the best admin he’d ever had.

Because of this, we planned a large celebration to let the world know that she would proudly bear the name Carter.

"Hey, man. You all set?" Kane asked right away. I smirked. He knew precisely why I was calling.

"You bet. I will grab Lindy; we'll head to the house and see Carissa before stopping there. Sound good?"

"I'll be here. See ya soon, buddy."

The call disconnects, and after a good stretch, I leave my office with the finished documents.

I will serve Kim with her divorce documents and give Kane the adoption and custody papers to push through. It was time for me to take my life by the reins and choose my own happiness.

"Hey, baby. It's time to get going." I called out as I walked down to the small home gym.

There, finishing her cool-down stretches, was the love of my life, Lindy.

"Looks like I missed all the naughty positions," I teased, pulling her into my arms. She was covered in sweat, which drove Felix and me into an even greater frenzy. Her scent was ripe, and we wanted to roll in it.

"You sure did, Beta sexy!" she cooed, stretching on her toes to plant a teasing kiss on my lips before ducking around me to run to the shower.

Chase! Felix sparked with excitement at the thrill of the hunt.

I did just that. I lunged after my little minx, close on her heels as she laughed once she reached our private en-suite washroom.

"Are you going to help me reach my back, Beta sexy?" she purred as she slowly peeled out of her workout gear. The scent from her workout was strong; her arousal was stronger.

"I'm going to help you reach more than that, baby." Followed her lead by stripping naked before her.

Snatching her naked body and pulling her flush to mine, I walked us to the shower, turning on the faucet but not focusing on the cleaning. No, my focus was on making her dirty.