Chapter Seven
Carter
Carter paced the room, every step echoing the rhythm of his beating heart, a frantic tempo set by the uncertainty of the situation.
The wooden floor beneath him felt cold and unyielding, mirroring his own restlessness.
Each stride took him to the window, the moonlight casting ghostly silhouettes on his form.
It was supposed to be a tranquil night, but tranquility was the last thing on his mind.
She’s still in there... Megan... Carter thought bitterly, his inner turmoil visible in his furrowed brows.
His mountain lion, always present in the depths of his consciousness, growled softly, echoing his sentiment.
Must save her. Family. The voice was not outwardly audible but a deeply ingrained instinctual dialogue that had always been a part of him and took place inside his mind.
“I know,” Carter whispered aloud, rubbing his temples. “I know.”
The sudden vibration of his phone broke through his thoughts. Grabbing it, he saw the caller ID and answered immediately. “Talk to me,” he demanded tersely.
“Hey, Carter,” came the familiar voice of his friend and CIA colleague, Max. “We need three more days and we’ll be there with you.”
Three days. Seventy-two hours. It might as well have been a lifetime.
Carter’s fingers tightened around the phone, his knuckles turning white. “Every second she’s in there is a second too long, Max.”
Max sighed on the other end. “I know, man. I promise we’re working as fast as we can. This operation we’re on is delicate. If we rush, we risk everything.”
“Let me ask you something. What would you have said to me and the guys if we’d told you we needed to wait three days before going to rescue Mia from the Cartel?”
Max bit out a curse. “Honestly? I’d have told you to go fuck yourself, and I’d have gone without you.”
“Uh huh.”
“I’ll move heaven and earth to try to get there in a day,” Max said.
Taking a deep breath, Carter’s eyes drifted to Emily, who sat on the edge of the bed, her expression a mix of concern and understanding.
“Thank you,” Carter finally conceded. “Look, I know how important that job is. I can wait forty-eight hours. But if you’re a second longer, I’m going in there alone. I have to.”
“Understood. Chin up, we’ll be there as quick as we can.”
Ending the call, he placed the phone on the table, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
The mountain lion within him rumbled, Trust friends. Trust mate.
When did you become the logical one? Carter replied.
His lion chuffed.
For a moment, Carter just stood there, absorbing the wisdom of his inner beast. He then turned his attention to Emily, her presence like a beacon of light in his stormy world. A sudden idea formed in his mind, one that could perhaps bridge the agonizing wait.
“Emily,” he began, his voice softer now, “I was thinking. While we wait, maybe there’s something we can do together.
Something...normal.” He ran a hand through his hair, a touch nervous.
“How about I take you out to dinner? Our first official date? There’s a local Steakhouse near here, one of the best. I think it could be good for both of us. A brief escape, you know?”
Emily smiled gently, her eyes twinkling with warmth. “I think that sounds wonderful. It’s a chance for us to truly get to know one another.”
Carter grinned at her, reaching once more for his cellphone. “Great. I’ll call and make a reservation.”
The Steakhouse was abuzz with activity, a haven for hungry people seeking solace in delicious food and good company. The rich aroma of grilled meat wafted through the air, blending seamlessly with the sounds of laughter, clinking glasses, and mellow background music.
As Carter and Emily stood at the entrance, waiting for their table, Carter’s gaze skimmed the crowd. Amid the sea of unfamiliar faces, one familiar one stood out.
“Brett?” he called out, pleasant surprise evident in his voice.
His friend turned, his face lighting up with recognition. “Carter! Man, it’s been years!” The two men closed the distance, clapping each other on the back in a warm, friendly embrace.
Emily watched, a hint of a smile on her face, as the two old friends exchanged greetings.
“You look good,” Brett said, pulling back to take a good look at Carter. “But hey, where’s Megan? Maria’s been trying to reach her for days. She’s freaking out in Hawaii and threatening to cut her anniversary trip short. She said something feels off.”
Carter felt a prick of anxiety but quickly masked it. “Megan’s cell phone been acting up. She’s alright, just technical issues. Tell Maria not to worry and to enjoy her trip. Send her my regards.”
Brett looked a little skeptical but nodded. “Okay, I’ll relay the message. Maria’s probably just being her usual dramatic self.” He laughed softly, a touch of fondness in his eyes.
Carter cleared his throat, attempting to divert the topic, “Brett, I’d like you to meet someone.” He placed a protective arm around Emily’s waist, pulling her closer. “This is Emily, my mate.”
Emily’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, a bemused expression on her face. She evidently hadn’t expected such a direct introduction.
Brett’s eyes widened for a split second, and then a big grin split his face. “Your mate? Well, hell, Carter, congratulations! She’s beautiful.”
Emily blushed, offering a shy smile. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.”
After a few more pleasantries, Brett excused himself to get back to his friends. As he departed, Emily turned to Carter, a playful pout forming on her lips. “Mate? Does everyone around here know about you?”
Carter chuckled, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Brett and his family are shifters too. I told you how sacred the mate bond is to our kind.”
She nudged him lightly, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Well, next time, maybe give a girl some warning?”
He leaned in, whispering conspiratorially, “Where’s the fun in that?” They both laughed, the moment shared between them lightening what had been an incredibly stressful few days.
As the night deepened, Carter and Emily found themselves in a cozy corner of the Steakhouse, the atmosphere intimate and dimly lit. The gentle clinking of utensils and hushed conversations created a comforting backdrop to their date.
After ordering their meals, Carter leaned back in his chair, studying Emily’s face. “You know, it feels like we’ve been through a lot in such a short time, but we’ve really only just met. There’s still so much I don’t know about you...and vice versa.”
Emily nodded, sipping her wine. “Yeah, I guess I’ve been so caught up in everything that’s going on at the facility, that I haven’t had the chance to stop and think about anything else.
Plus, it’s so weird, but I feel like I’ve known you for my entire life even though it’s only been a couple of days.
Is that normal?” She glanced around to check they were not overheard before continuing. “Between mates?”
Carter grinned, “Pretty much, yeah. The mate bond between two people is so strong that it helps them connect far quicker than say, two humans would. But let’s change how well we know each other. Go on, ask me anything. What do you want to know about me?”
She pondered for a moment, “Okay. Tell me about your childhood. What was it like growing up as a shifter?”
He chuckled, “Well, it was normal to me of course, but I’m sure it wasn’t your typical childhood.
I’d seen my parents shift many times, but I shifted for the first time myself when I was about seven.
I remember it clearly. I was out in our backyard, playing with Megan, and out of nowhere, I just shifted.
I scared the hell out of my sister. She was just four at the time.
She looked at me with these big blue eyes and then she burst out laughing and started to pet me. ”
Emily laughed, “I can imagine it now. How did you handle it?”
Carter shrugged, “Honestly? I freaked out at first. I was in my mountain lion form, and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to shift back, but I did, of course.
My parents were supportive—always have been.
They helped me understand and control my abilities.
They told me it’s a gift, but that it comes a lot of responsibility. ”
Emily leaned forward, intrigued. “Responsibility? In what way?”
He took a deep breath, “Being a shifter means we’re naturally more powerful, more attuned to the world around us.
It also means we can’t let that power go unchecked.
A lot of young shifters struggle with that.
You know, the lure of the wild side.” He spluttered a laugh.
“My parents were strict about training and discipline, and it laid the foundation for my later years in the CIA.”
She raised an eyebrow, “So, the CIA? How did that come about?”
Carter smiled wryly, “Honestly, I just applied right out of college. The interview process was brutal, but I’d always felt this sense of duty to my country, and I guess the CIA look for that in their officers.”
“Officers?” Emily said. “I thought you were called agents.”
“Carter chuckled. “Only in the movies—they always get it wrong.”
“Huh. But, you like what you do?”
“I love it. The discipline, the rigorous training—it all shaped me into the officer I am today. It was challenging, but it’s worth it.
The adrenaline, the missions, the thrill.
.. I love every part of it, but above all, it’s the purpose and our mission.
Protecting those who can’t protect themselves.
Defending our country from those who seek to do us harm. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
Emily looked at him with newfound respect. “It sounds intense. But also, incredibly fulfilling.”
He nodded, “It is. But there’s always a cost. Time away from family, the risks we take every day...”
“I don’t think I could do it,” she mused.
Carter shrugged. “You’d be surprised. Our training is rigorous—about eighteen months. Afterward you feel prepared to do just about anything.”