Chapter Six
Emily
Emily sat in the cold, sterile room, making notations and pretending to concentrate on the data in front of her.
But her mind was somewhere else, on someone else—Carter.
The anticipation of seeing him again was overwhelming.
Since their unexpected encounter at her condo the night before, she felt an inexplicable connection to him, one that tugged at her heart and filled her mind with an almost dizzying array of emotions.
Why did his presence affect her so profoundly?
A part of her chastised herself for letting her guard down, for being swept up in emotions when she should be focused on her work.
But another part, the louder part, insisted that her feelings for Carter were more than just a passing fancy or some kind of delusion born from her stressful circumstances.
As she went through her tasks mechanically, Emily found herself glancing at the clock every few minutes.
Time seemed to crawl. With Carter, she felt safe, and for the first time in a long while, she had someone who genuinely understood the gravity of her situation—someone she could confide in.
He was someone she believed she could trust—someone who had as much invested in closing this place down as she did.
As she passed by a series of cells, she slowed down when she reached Megan’s.
The young shifter was leaning up against a wall, looking defeated.
Emily’s heart ached, knowing she held information that might bring the woman comfort.
Carter was looking for her. He was here, in town, and he would not rest until he had rescued his sister.
However, Emily hesitated. She couldn’t risk being overheard or arousing suspicion. Not now.
Emily paused a moment longer outside Megan’s cell than she usually did. The younger shifter’s form, huddled in the corner, tugged at her conscience. Before she could think better of it, she tapped lightly on the cell door.
“Megan?” she called softly.
Megan’s head slowly lifted, and her gaze met Emily’s through the narrow viewing pane. The weariness in Megan’s eyes, shadowed by anger and pain, was impossible to miss.
“What do you want?” she asked, her voice dripping with disdain.
Emily bit her lip, hesitating. She needed to tread carefully. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing,” she whispered, well aware of how hollow the words might sound in this setting.
Megan scoffed. “How I’m doing? In this cage? How do you think, Dr. Emily?”
“I’m sorry, Megan. I wish things were different. I’m trying to help.”
Megan let out a bitter laugh. “Help? By poking and prodding us like lab rats? By locking us up and stealing our freedom? If that’s your idea of help, I don’t want it.”
Emily felt the sting of her words, even though she understood the anger behind them. “I can’t explain everything right now, but please believe me when I say I’m doing the best that I can.”
Megan’s eyes, once soft, now glinted with a mix of anger and despair. “Save your words for someone who cares. As far as I’m concerned, everyone who works in this place is the same.”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Emily nodded slightly, understanding Megan’s position even if it hurt to hear. “I hope one day you’ll see things differently. I truly do.”
Megan turned away, retreating farther into the shadows of her cell. Emily took a deep breath and continued on her way, her heart heavier than before.
Taking a deep breath, Emily went back to her desk.
But her thoughts kept drifting back to Megan, and the difference a day had made to her mental wellbeing.
Carter had to get her out of here. Soon.
When his face flashed through her mind’s eye, she remembered the feel of his hand against hers, the warmth of it, the undeniable spark that seemed to pass between them.
She didn’t understand it, but she couldn’t deny it, either.
And she didn’t want to. He was her one glimmer of hope in the bleak place she found herself.
One positive thing to cling to. But she was asking him to risk so much.
Her internal debate was interrupted by the chime of the clock on the wall. Five o’clock. Without a second thought, she rose abruptly, so suddenly that her chair teetered backward, almost toppling over. She hurried out, relief flooding her when she finally exited the facility.
As usual, Rory and Jude were waiting outside to escort her back to her condo. Emily tried to keep her nervousness at bay, knowing any sign of it could be perceived as suspicious. She didn’t want to give anyone a reason to question her or delve deeper into her activities.
Once home, she began pacing. Each minute felt like an hour as she awaited Carter’s arrival. She knew that with him, she was on the brink of something profound, and she was sure it was about more than just the facility.
The evening had settled into a quiet stillness by the time there was a knock on her door. As she moved to open it, the knot of anticipation in her stomach tightened.
Carter stood on the other side, his strong features illuminated by the dim hallway lighting.
His presence caused a flutter in her chest that she couldn’t quite control.
Without a word, he leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
The warmth of his lips lingered and for a fleeting moment, she thought he might close the gap between them further and kiss her lips.
But he stepped back, and a tinge of disappointment washed over her.
“Good evening,” Carter greeted her, a hint of teasing in his eyes.
“Hi,” she replied softly, smoothing out a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. “It’s good to see you again.”
She stood aside to allow him to come in and they shared a comfortable silence for a moment before he asked, “How was your day at the facility?”
Emily sighed, feeling the weight of the day crash down on her again.
“It was…tough. There was a shifter today, young, maybe in his twenties. He almost didn’t make it after one of the experiments.
It was touch and go for a few hours. I was able to sneak into his cell and give him an antidote I’ve made in secret and he pulled through. ”
“You made an antidote?”
She nodded. “It was the least I could do.”
“You saved his life,” Carter said.
Emily shrugged. “I’m just lucky they didn’t catch me.”
Carter’s jaw tensed, his eyes growing cold with rage. “Every moment we wait, the greater the risk to you. And the more they suffer. I have to get them out. I can’t leave my sister in there for much longer.”
“I know, and you will get them out,” Emily whispered, reaching out and placing a gentle hand on his arm. The electric connection was instantaneous, but she tried to focus. “I talked to Megan today.”
His eyes shot to hers, a storm of emotions playing out. “How is she?”
Emily hesitated, not wanting to add to his burden but knowing he deserved the truth. “She’s...angry, resentful. She’s beginning to hate everyone at the facility, and I can’t blame her. We had an...uncomfortable exchange.”
Carter’s eyes clouded with pain. “I hate that she’s going through this. I have to move fast. I’m working on a plan, Emily. I won’t let them hurt her—or any of the others for much longer.”
Carter had accepted Emily’s offer of staying for dinner, and the gentle hum of the stove, and the aroma of freshly chopped vegetables set a cozy atmosphere in her kitchen. She moved from countertop to stove, expertly dicing and stirring while Carter sat on a stool, watching her intently.
“You’re quite good at that,” he remarked, motioning to her knife skills.
Emily laughed lightly, “Cooking is a way for me to relax, you know? It’s like therapy after all the stress of work.”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the countertop, his gaze piercing. “Speaking of work, how long have you worked at that facility?”
“Three months,” Emily admitted, her smile faltering a little. “I’ve been working closely with the shifters every day.”
Carter’s gaze didn’t waver. “During your time there, have you learned about shifters mates?”
Emily paused, setting the knife down. “I have. The term ‘mates’ has come up in conversations and reports. But I don’t fully grasp the concept. What does it really mean?”
Carter took a deep breath. “When a shifter finds their mate, it’s like finding the other half of their soul.
It’s an unbreakable bond that pulls them together, both physically and emotionally.
Every shifter dreams of the day they meet their mate—it’s a connection like no other.
It’s for life and the bond is sacred to us. ”
She stared at him, absorbing his words. “Do you believe in fated mates—in meeting the one person who you are destined to be with?”
He leaned in even closer, his amber eyes searching hers. “Do you feel a connection to me, Emily? Something inexplicable that you can’t quite put into words?”
She blinked, taken aback, but her heart knew the answer before her brain could even process it. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I do.”
Carter reached out, gently taking her hand in his. “That’s because you are my mate.”
For a moment, there was only the sound of the simmering pot on the stove. Emily tried to digest the revelation, the weight of its significance heavy in the air. It made sense—the strange pull she felt towards him, the comfort in his presence.
“I don’t know what to say,” she admitted softly, looking into his eyes.
Carter smiled, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of her hand. “You don’t have to say anything. I know it’s a lot to process. Just know that whatever happens, I’m here. And I won’t let anything, or anyone hurt you.”
Emily felt a tear trickle down her cheek, the weight of her world now shared with another.
“Thank you,” she murmured, hope blossoming within her.