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. “Betweenmates?”
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.”
She let out a delicate sounding laugh. “I think I’ll just stick to my safe lab job.”
Her face cleared in an instant. “At least, a lab jobshouldbe safe, but that’s not taking into account that I work for these monsters.”
Her mention of the monsters she worked for made Carter think of his sister again and what she was going through.”
“If it was me in there, I could handle it to some extent,” Carter said, his voice filled with emotion. “But Megan…”
Emily reached out, placing her hand on his, offering silent comfort. “You’ll get her back, Carter. I believe in you.”
His eyes locked onto hers, gratitude shining through. “Thank you. Your support means more to me than you could ever know.”
With the comforting weight of Emily’s hand on his, Carter felt a surge of warmth. He realized, despite the intensity of their situation, he was genuinely interested in knowing more about his new mate. “Enough about me. What about you? Tell me about your journey.”
Emily hesitated for a moment, collecting her thoughts. “Well, I had a pretty normal upbringing until my father’s cancer diagnosis. After that, things changed dramatically.”
Carter’s gaze softened, sensing the pain behind her words. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
She offered a weak smile. “It was a tough time. He passed away when I was twelve. It was just me and my younger sister, Claire, after that. Our bond grew stronger, out of our shared grief.”
