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.
