Carter, Denver, and I are in Carter's truck heading to get a late lunch. I am assuming we are heading back to the diner I had met him at just a few days ago. When I went into my room to change, Carter did as well. He is now wearing a black t shirt perfectly fitted and pair of light wash jeans, visibly stained with grease and oil from his truck I assuming. Tucked into his jeans are the same boots I have seen him wear each day. And his hair is pushed back and held down by the same black hat. Ever so simple, but ever so sexy.
Carter clears his throat, and I realize I totally got caught staring at him. I quickly look away, and he grabs my chin turning my head back in his direction with a smirk. "You can look all you want baby" he says.
Once again, I blush. Knowing I wont be able to mutter out a single word successfully, being flustered and all. I lean over the center console and plant a kiss on his cheek. We pull up to the diner with a smile on both of our faces. I am so thankful he is letting our relationship develop as slowly as it would in the human world. He is defying every natural instinct he has to make sure I feel safe and happy. It is everything I have ever wanted in a man. And with that, I feel as if we need to get to know each other more. We haven't talked much, and now I know why. At least I assume his lack of words is due to our situation. But, I am determined to make him tell me all about himself today.
We take a seat in the same spot I was in not long ago. He sits with his back to the wall and I stop in front of him at the table. He looks up at me with questioning eyes. "What's wrong?" he asks.
"Uhhm well, Can I actually sit there and you sit here?" I say gesturing to the other seat. He gets up and holds his hand out for me to sit. "Thank you" I say.
He laughs, "What's the deal with that?"
"It is just habit for me to sit with my back to the wall, and able to see everything around me." I respond. "Leaves less chance for a sneak attack" I add with a smirk. He laughs again.
After we order our food, I watch him fold the napkin in front of him over and over again. I reach out and place my hand over his, tingles and warmth filling my body. He looks up at me, which intensifies the feelings inside of me. "What are you thinking about?" I say softly. Kenzie would laugh at how calm and submissive I act around him, far fetched from my usual attitude. He just has that effect on me.
"You." Carter says. So simply, so straight to the point. I smile.
"Elaborate."
"I am thinking about how I lucky I was to find you that day, how our paths crossed just perfectly," he pauses, "and I am thinking about every place we will go from here."
I respond with a toothy smile, happiness spread on my face. "You better start telling me what you are thinking a lot more often," I say "I can see it on your face when you are lost in your thoughts. You go blank, your eyes are glossed over, and you don't even blink."
"Oh I am not thinking when that happens, that is when I am mind linking with my pack."
I shoot a confused look, "Mind linking?"
"Yes, in simple terms, I can link my mind with another wolfs in my pack and speak to them."
"Oh wow, I must've missed that lesson" I giggle. He moves his hand to on top of mine.
"It's okay, you still have lots to learn" Carter says.
Our food arrives, and we get to eating. I feel him watching me periodically, feeling awkward under his stare while I am eating. I try to break the silence, "So tell me about yourself, we haven't done much talking yet."
He takes a sip of his milkshake, crosses his arms, and leans back. His muscles flex as he does this, my eyes directing right to them. His chest rises as he chuckles. "Well I am sure Kenzie told you I am the alpha of my pack, Twisted Moon." I nod. "My father was Alpha before me, my mother Luna, she is also human. I don't have any siblings unfortunately, my parents had a hard time conceiving after me. I have always considering Jared my brother though, fitting that he is my Beta. I am 25 as of two weeks ago." He pauses as if he is thinking. "What else do you want to know about me?"
"Hmm" I say, thinking as well, "what do you like to do for fun?"
"I am working most of the time, and was searching for you when I wasn't working, so I haven't done many things that are fun lately."
"Well that is going to change, I am lots of fun" I say with a smirk. He laughs and we wrap up our lunch. We jump back into the truck and start heading home.
"So tell me about you?" Carter says, but it comes out more of a question.
"Okay" I respond. Where do I even start? "I am 23, my birthday is in two months. I am a Physician's Assistant as you know, since I am working for your mom now. I am human, at least I think I am. Apparently, I have a family of werewolves that was kept a secret for my entire life." I laugh bitterly. "I haven't decided how I will handle that conversation yet. Hmm.. what else. I have two older brothers, they are twins. Super protective, super annoying. My mom and dad, well I don't know what to say about them because clearly I don't know them very well. Kenzie is my best friend, but you already knew that. And Denver is my baby, you knew that too."
Carter smiles at me. I wonder how much he wants to know about me. It sounds like we are stuck with each other forever, so I will have to tell him all the highs and lows at some point. "That was a summary of things, how much do you really want to know?" I ask as we pull into the driveway.
"I really want to know everything." he responds.
"Alrighty then."
We both walk into the cabin, Denver close behind. I slide over the back of the couch onto the cushion, and cross my legs. Looking up at Carter, I pat the cushion next to me, signaling for him to sit down. He holds up his pointer finger and runs away to the kitchen. I laugh and look back at him, wondering what he is up to. Carter comes back over to the couch with a tub of ice cream in one hand, and two spoons in the other. He slides on the hardwood floor coming up to the couch, almost falling backwards and we both start laughing.
Once we calm down, we settle into the couch. My legs are still crossed as I sit facing him ready to spill the details of my life to this man who seems to still be a stranger, but who has a deeper connection to me than anyone ever has had before.
"So where should I really start?" I ask.
He shrugs, "Where ever your heart desires princess."
I lean sideways into the back of the couch, and look up at the fan spinning. "Well I don't remember much before I was about five years old. Memories before then seem to be lost in my brain. But after that point, I can tell you every little detail." I look back to him, seeing he is intently listening to me speak.
"I was an interesting kid," I laugh "I was the smart girl, who loved to read, but also the little girl out in the fields with the older boys getting dirty and wet." I take a bite of ice cream while I process more memories.
"I developed a love for all animals young, I was always riding my horse Jennings, working cattle with my Uncle, going to the fair or the rodeo. Now that I think about it, I rarely spent time at home. I always thought it was by choice, I loved being outside and adventurous. I spent most of my time with the animals on the ranch, and if I wasn't with them I was with my brothers and Nick." I feel myself twitch when I say his name. That will have to be apart of this conversation as well.
"My life was that simple until high school. Then I threw in extra classes to graduate early, I was in the high school rodeo, and started college courses. I finished there and went on to get my bachelor's degree right away. After that, I had no more than a month off and I started Physician's assistant schooling." I pause, knowing the next part will be hard for me to say, and hard for him to hear.
"In the mix of it all, I didn't have much time for a boyfriend, Kenzie and I had plenty of fun on our own. Almost all the free time I had, I would spend with her. But then Nick and I got closer, which is my brother's best friend." I watch him tense a bit, but still showing his interest in my words. "At this point I was already living on my own with Denver, and Nick and I began to secretly date. I thought it was a secret more so because my brothers would be upset. Maybe now I realize it was because he knew we were not mates and no one would approve. After some time, we got caught. Everyone was upset but got over it. He moved in, and we publicly had a great relationship." I feel myself starting to cry, voice cracking. "But in all reality, it was loveless on his end. I always told myself he just didn't know how to love. He never had a girlfriend before me, so he didn't know how to act. Maybe it was the strong friendship we had for years and years before that was confusing him. I won't get into the details, it's not important anymore. Long story short, I came home to find him and another girl naked in my bed. And hours later, I had packed up and set out on the road, ending up here. I know it may seem stupid to have ran away because of a guy who broke my heart, but I always said there was nothing tying me there besides my relationship with him. And once that was over, I'd be gone. I knew an end was coming, I was tired of being treated that way. I was tired of suppressing who I really am for a guy, one who doesn't love me at that."
As soon as the last word left my mouth, Carter reaches out and grabs ahold of me pulling me into him. I can feel his chest rising and falling slowly, as if he is calming himself down in addition to me. I let my tears fall as this point, I don't think I have truly voiced it all to anyone. I never admitted what I walked into that day to anyone else. He tilts my head up to look into my eyes, taking his thumb and wiping away the tears on both sides of my face. He softly places his lips on mine, pulling back and putting my forehead against his. It feels as if he is looking straight into my soul as he says, "I promise you principessa, I will never hurt you in any way. You are the most cherished piece of my life."
I hold onto him tightly, giving him the response I am sure he wanted. "Thank you." I whisper.
"You don't need to thank me, Myranda. It is everything you deserve." he says. "We will have to talk a bit more about this Nick guy though", he adds with a laugh.
I groan. "No no no. No possessive or protective shit, okay?"
He gives me a bigger smile now, pulling me into a strong hug with his arms around my waist. "I hate to break it to you sweet heart but I will be both possessive and protective over you for the rest of your life, that is non negotiable."
I roll my eyes, I figured.
"Okay you got my odd sob story of a life recently, now I want to hear your deep dark days." I tell him.
"There isn't much more to add for me." he responds. "I grew up the son of the alpha, it was a strict schedule of school and training to be alpha one day. I've had Jared by my side all of these years, and a few other friends. I have never had a girlfriend, I have always believed my mate would find me and I wanted to be ready. I wanted no strings attached anywhere else. I have had issues with a few of the girls in the pack being persistent with me, but I have always shut it down. So you have nothing to worry about," he finishes with a wink in my direction.
I let out a small laugh. It is comforting with how open he is, and how much reassurance he gives me. "So what is your pack like? I have only seen your interactions with me and your close friends, I want to know if you're this cute and soft all of the time." I say.
"I am definitely not." he says with a tinge of embarrassment on his tongue. "We are the strongest pack on this side of the country, and are seen as fearless. I may be soft around you, but outside these walls I always have my guard up."
He looks proud, but also a bit tickled I called him soft, which makes me giggle. "Okay okay sorry, you're the big bad alpha!" I say with my hands up by my head and a smirk on my face, serving the attitude.
"Oh really?" he laughs. His hands dart to my sides, and he begins tickling me. I let out a screech and he stops dead in his tracks as Denver plummets towards him teeth barred. I grab onto Denvers collar, pulling him closer to me than Carter with my eyes wide.
"Denver. Denver. Stop its okay" I say to him while petting his head. He stands on edge, pushing into me protectively. "I'm not hurt we were just messing around," I add while soothing him. Yes, I always talk to him like he is a person, always have, always will. It makes me feel like we have a higher understanding of each other.
I feel Carter's hand rubbing small circles on my lower back as I am still turning giving all of my attention to Denver. Denver now has his head on my shoulder, looking at Carter. They seem to be exchanging some sort of understanding. Carter moves his hand from my back to Denver's head, petting him in the same place I was just a few moments ago.
After everyone settled Denver curls up on one side of me, and Carter is still seated on the other. Since everyone is okay, I can't help but laugh at the situation. I turn to Carter, "you better keep those tickling hands to yourself, or my attack dog is going to get ya." I wiggle my eyebrows at him. With that he smiles, there is no lack of smiling in this house that's for sure.