Frozen Lakes and Forest Fires

Chapter 3

^^^Carson^^^

Carson rubbed his fingertips into his temple, biting down on the growl growing in his chest. He was normally a very mellow, laid-back wolf, with a dry sense of humor but the past month had put both him and his wolf on edge and it took everything he had not to snap at the rooms only other conscious occupants.

They had been trying to decide for thirty minutes what to do about Steffan. Unfortunately, not much was actually happening since he was stuck in this situation with Alistar and Oscar, two men who believed most conversations were overrated. The conversation he's had by the lake about helping Steffan was the most Alistar had said to him in the month he'd been in town and Oscar barely speaks to anyone except Alpha Cecilia and his Mate Franny.

"Tell me again why we are still discussing this? We can't get ahold of Cecilia and Steffan is out for the night, can't we deal with this in the morning?" Oscar asked.

"I would love to but," Alistar's gaze flickered over Steffan's sleeping form, "I can't be sure how long he'll be out and what condition he'll be in when he wakes up. We were lucky he was in a secluded open space when he lost control."

Carson hated to admit Alistar had a point but having seen what had been happening by the lake, he knew Steffan could be dangerous.

"Is he a mage too?" Carson asked looking over at Alistar who shakes his head.

"No. Obviously he's part wolf and his other half is the same as mine. I'm not sure what it is but.... It's the eyes. You saw the glow?" Carson nods, "I've never seen that in any of the Fae I've run into but mine do the same when I tap into the power I get from whoever my father was."

It had unnerved him when he first saw Alistar's dark eyes glow an unsettling deep blue color. Steffan's pale blue eyes glowed almost white as his powers flowed from him. They were hauntingly beautiful and mesmerizing, like ice crystals or white-blue stars.

"We can't keep him here, not till we are sure it's safe. There are many wolves living here." Oscar's deep voice cut through the silence.

"My cabin." Carson blurted suddenly. "It's close but separated from the main building, so if he wakes up badly the pack will be safe and being around my scent should calm his wolf."

Alistar and Oscar both stared at him for several minutes before looking at each other.

"It could work, even unconscious his wolf will recognize Carson's scent and be more at ease. Might not help when he wakes but we don't have many options right now." Oscar's brows were furrowed, "I have a feeling the Alphas are officially bonding tonight. We might be able to get some time in the morning, but they will be occupied for at least a week."

"Right, then Carson can take Steffan to his cabin and stay with him. In the morning you and I will try to get a moment with Cecilia and Hammer."

"We should text Jing. He might be helpful when Steffan wakes up." Carson suggests.

Neither man says anything, so Carson takes it as a do what you think is best situation. It had been a long, stressful day and he wanted to get his Mate somewhere more comfortable, not the loveseat he was currently folded into, still unconscious.

"How long will he be asleep?"

Alistar shrugged, "It's hard to say, it varies by species and body type. Probably at least six hours but I'm hoping the forced sleep will give way to a more natural rest that he clearly needs."

With a sigh Carson went over to the loveseat, scooped Steffan up into his arms, nodded to the other two men in the room and left the pack house.

It wasn't a long walk to his cabin. When Franny's father Jebadiah had been Alpha and Carson's father the Gamma, the pack had built multiple single room cabins within a mile of the Pack house for wolves who didn't want a room at the Pack house but weren't ready for a home any further away from the Pack's central location.