Chapter Eight
Emily
The early morning light streamed in through the gaps in the drapes, casting a gentle glow on Carter’s tense figure. Emily stirred, her eyes focusing on him as he stood by the window, lost in thought. The world outside was calm, but the man before her was a storm of emotions.
“Carter?” Her voice was soft, filled with concern.
He turned to face her, a forced smile on his face. “Morning, Em.”
She pushed herself up, sitting against the headboard. “You didn’t sleep?”
He shrugged. “Not much. Just got a lot on my mind. Today’s the day. The guys will be here later.”
“You’re sure?”
He nodded. “Yeah, Max and the others won’t let me down.”
She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, the cool floor a stark contrast to the warmth of the sheets. Approaching him, she took in the set of his jaw, and the tightness around his eyes.
“Talk to me,” she murmured.
He sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair.
“It’s just the weight of everything. My sister and whatever is happening to her in that God awful place, and introducing you to a part of me you haven’t seen yet.
After everything you’ve seen at the facility…
” He shook his head. “I’m just worried that you won’t look at me the same way. ”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I don’t want you to just see me as an animal.”
Emily gasped. “Carter, I don’t think of them that way and I would never think of you that way either. You’re human beings who have a few extra abilities. That’s the only way I see them, and you.”
Carter hung his head. “I’m sorry. I should have had more faith in you. I guess I’m just feeling vulnerable. I’ve never shown this part of myself to anyone but another shifter. I was just worried that you wouldn’t accept me.”
Emily’s heart ached at his vulnerability. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “If anything, it will just make me love you more.”
Carter pulled her to him, kissing her softly on the lips. She went to him willingly, melting into his embrace.
“Thank you,” he said against her lips. He looked down at her, his eyes softened. “So, you’re ready to meet the other me?”
She smiled, running her hand down his arm. “I’m ready, if you’re ready to show me.”
Mate, his lion chuffed.
The room filled with an easy silence, and the scent of coffee brewing in the kitchen wafted through the air.
“I am,” Carter said. “Let’s grab breakfast then we can get on our way.”
“To where?”
Carter grinned. “My animal form is a little big for the kitchen.”
She chuckled. “Oh, right.”
After finishing their coffee and a hearty plate of bacon and eggs, they quickly freshened up. Emily threw on her hiking shoes while Carter packed a small bag.
“Everything ready?” she asked, her hand on her car keys.
He grinned, the weight on his shoulders seemingly lighter. “More than ready. Let’s do this.”
The winding roads led them deeper into the heart of the mountains. Towering pines flanked the road on either side, their dark green needles contrasting beautifully with the blue sky. The sound of birdsong echoed through the valleys, as the city’s cacophony became a distant memory.
Emily glanced over at Carter as he drove. His eyes were focused on the road, and he appeared to be lost in thought. She could feel the anticipation radiating off him, mixing with her own excitement.
“This place is beautiful,” she said, taking in the sprawling views. “I’ve never made it this far up into the mountains.”
Carter’s lips lifted in a soft smile. “Growing up, the mountains were always my retreat. Whenever the world got too loud, the mountains called to me.”
She tilted her head. “What was it like for you? Growing up with this... gift.”
He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. “It was a double-edged sword. On one hand, the freedom, the raw power...it’s indescribable.
But on the other, it was isolating. I couldn’t share that part of myself with just anyone.
These mountains,” he gestured broadly, “were my sanctuary. The place where I could be truly free to be myself.”
Emily’s fingers played with the hem of her shirt, processing his words. “It must have been hard, especially during your teenage years.”
Carter glanced at her, his eyes shadowed.
“It was. While other kids my age were hanging out, and going to parties, I was here, running wild. It’s not that I didn’t crave their company, but there was always that fear of being discovered.
With teenage hormones being what they are, I was afraid of not being able to control the shift. ”
She reached over, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “But you found a balance, right?”
He nodded, a smile playing on his lips. “With time, yes. It helped having Megan by my side who was going through the same thing as me. And later on, the responsibility of working for the CIA and protecting people gave me a purpose.”
The weight of his words settled between them, but it wasn’t oppressive.
It was a sharing, an understanding. Emily could feel the weight of the moment, the stillness of the world around them as Carter led her to a clearing surrounded by trees.
The gentle rustle of the leaves and the chirping of distant birds seemed to accentuate the serenity of the location.
“I’m glad this is something you’re willing to share with me,” she said.
“There’s nothing I won’t share with you,” he vowed. “Ever.”
She swallowed, her heart racing with anticipation. “I believe you.”
He gave a slight nod, appreciation evident in his gaze. “It might be...intense. But I promise you are perfectly safe. It’ll still be me, just…different. Are you sure you’re ready?”
Emily took a deep breath, nodding. “I trust you.”
With a deep exhale, Carter nodded. He undressed quickly then closed his eyes.
There was a charged moment of stillness, and then, in a fluid motion that seemed almost like a dance, he began to change.
Bones reformed, muscles shifted, and fur sprouted.
Within seconds, where Carter had stood, a massive mountain lion now sat, its fur a beautiful mix of tawny and cream.
Emily’s breath caught in her throat. The sight was awe-inspiring. The creature before her was both familiar and entirely new. It was majestic and wild. In the bright morning sunlight, muscles rippled beneath the surface.
Emily’s eyes were wide with awe and admiration. This was Carter in his rawest form, vulnerable yet also so incredibly powerful. The cat was even more magnificent than she had imagined, and its golden eyes held an intelligence and awareness that was unmistakably Carter.
She crouched down, watching him.
The mountain lion’s steps were silent against the forest floor, its large, muscular body moving gracefully.
He came closer, his gaze unwavering and deeply connected to Emily’s.
It was those eyes—so deep, so human in their expression—that reminded her of Carter.
She held her breath as the lion lowered its head and nudged her hand, a gesture so tender that it brought tears to her eyes.
“I knew it was still you,” Emily whispered, her voice choked with emotion as she wrapped her arms around the mountain lion’s neck, embracing the powerful creature. “Even in this form, it’s still you.”
The warmth of his body, and the rhythmic pulse beneath his fur—everything about him was familiar yet so vastly different.
A purr rumbled deep within the lion’s chest, reverberating through Emily. She laughed, the sound light and carefree. “You’re quite the big softy, aren’t you?”
The cat—Carter—nudged her again with his head.
The hours seemed to melt away as Emily found herself getting lost in the magic of the forest. With Carter in his mountain lion form, they explored the wilderness together.
He’d chase after leaves, stalk behind trees playfully, and pounce out, surprising her with his swift movements.
They played games of chase, and hide-and-seek, with the beauty of nature becoming their playground.
It was strange, in the best possible way, this silent bond they’d formed. Words weren’t necessary when a simple nuzzle or a brush of fur could convey so much. Every so often, the lion would stop and simply stare at Emily, a contemplative look in his eyes, as if trying to express something deeper.
When the sun was at its peak, painting the sky in hues of gold and orange, Emily lay on a grassy patch, the mountain lion’s head resting on her lap. Their breathing synchronized—it was a moment of pure serenity.
“This has been...magical,” Emily whispered, running her fingers through his soft fur. “Thank you, Carter for sharing this part of yourself with me.”
The lion’s purr grew louder, a resonant note of contentment echoing in the stillness of the forest. It was a day neither would ever forget—a testament to their growing connection, one that went beyond words and forms.
The gentle babble of the stream provided a calming backdrop as Emily and Carter settled down on a grassy patch beside it.
Carter’s transformation back to his human form was just as mesmerizing to watch.
The intensity of the moment lingered in the air, bridging the gap between human and beast, binding them in a bond that went beyond the physical.
Carter pulled his clothes back on before either of them could get too distracted.
“That was wonderful,” he said. “Thank you for doing this with me today.”
Emily smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. “It was my pleasure. I’m honored. Truly. Your lion form is beautiful. It’s a side of you I’m glad I got to see.”