Imprint.

Twenty Three

I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around my head. Dean was laying on my bed, his arms crossed under his head and a grin on his face.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Getting comfortable."

"You're not sleeping in here."

"I'm not letting you in here so you can sneak out the window and run away." He was sounding more and more like Carter as the days passed.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not going to. I'm tired and I want to get some sleep."

"Victoria-"

"Talk to Carter but I'm sure he'll tell you to get out."

He stood up, looking ready to fight for his right to stay in my room. A right he didn't have but that was beside the point. "Fine. I will."

When he left the room, I closed the door and locked it, glad there was a lock to keep him out. Though if he really wanted to, he could just break the door down.

I turned the light off and crawled under the covers. The bed felt so big and lonely without Gage there. I hated sleeping in the room alone but there was no way I was letting either Carter or Dean stay with me. And I wasn't about to lose my privacy by going to the other room. It was my house after all.

Dean never did come yell at me for locking the door. I could still hear him and Carter talking from the living room when I fell asleep.

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It was nearly eleven in the morning when I woke up the next day. Dean was still asleep when I walked down the steps, heading for the kitchen for something to eat. He was on the couch, his arm hanging off the edge. There wasn't a blanket on him but he looked comfortable enough.

I opened the fridge and there were twice as many groceries as when I last checked the fridge. I knew Gage didn't have time to go grocery shopping. I didn't. So who did?

A note hanging from the top of the fridge read: Don't eat it all at once. I recognized it as Carter's handwriting. How did he have time to get food? Where was he?

I left the fridge and walked over to Dean. I kicked his arm. He groaned but didn't wake up.

I sighed and shook him, not giving up until he rolled onto his back and opened his eyes.

"What do you want?"

"Where's Carter?"

"He's not here?" He sat up on his elbows and looked around the room. The plush chair still had a blanket draped on it and it wasn't folded, meaning Carter had slept there. Making his bed was such a difficult task for him.

"You think I'd be asking you if he was?"

Dean glared at me. "Why are you so pissy in the morning?"

I couldn't believe he was asking me such a question. He was always quick to snap at someone with a sarcastic comment.

"Dean, knock it off. Carter's not here. Did he tell you where he was going?"

He stretched his arms out, shaking his head. "I'll call him and see where he's at. Do you have your phone on you?"

"Hold on." I ran up the steps and grabbed it off the nightstand. There was only one missed call and it was from mom. I was really hoping Carter hadn't said anything to mom about the last two days.

I went back downstairs and tossed the phone to Dean.

He called Carter and waited for him to answer. Finally he did and Dean perked up a little. "Where are you?"

You two were sleeping so I came back to the house. I wanted to check on Gage.

"You should be glad I'm here."

Is she okay?

"Duh, we're fine. I know what I'm doing."

Wanna bring her here to see him? He's up and moving around.

"Wait - are you sure?"

He won't make her mad.

"She's unpredictable, dude." I glared at him.

Trust me, Dean. All of us will be here to intervene if something happens.

"Fine. It's your funeral." He handed the phone back to me. "Let's roll."

I looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Where exactly?"

"The house." He said, giving me a look that said I was crazy.

"You think it's safe for me to be there?"

He scoffed. "No, but your brother does."

His words surprised me. Carter was a good decision maker, especially when it came to something serious. But this wasn't a good idea and I was worried. What if I did something to him or the other guys or Gage? What if someone got hurt or even killed because of me?

Dean pulled his boots on and ran a hand through his hair. "Grab your shoes and let's go. Give you a chance to stretch your legs." There was a fire in Dean's eyes. He was ecstatic when I first showed up at the house, looking for Carter. We quickly became friends and I often found myself going there to see him and not Carter. He never imprinted on me and I think he hated himself for not doing so. I knew he had some feelings for me but buried them because of Will. Then he had to once Gage imprinted. The poor guy couldn't catch a break. Having me around because I was truly a member of the pack had to make him feel better.

I slid my tennis shoes on and followed him out of the room. "There better be food when we get there."

He grinned. "My thoughts exactly."