~HARPER~
“Meow.”
Something licked my cheek, followed by little nudges that felt like someone was poking me.
I stirred slightly, and the nudging motions stopped. A purring sound vibrated against my ear, and I felt a gentle touch of a paw.
“Meow.”
With a bit of effort, I opened my eyes slowly, needing a few seconds to adjust my blurry vision to the dimly lit room. Mismatched eyes popped into my line of vision; Muffin appeared pleased to see I was awake.
“Meow meow.” Muffin sat where she was, her tiny body on my chest as she continued to peer down at my face.
“Muffin,” I croaked. My throat was dry, and my body felt extremely weak, but I wasn’t in any pain. I took that as a good sign.
Something stirred next to me, and a deep breath of the rich pumpkin spice enlightened my senses.
Carter.
It took me a bit of time to fiddle with my fingers, testing each out before lifting my right hand, which didn't feel like there was a weight on it.
Reaching out to my left side, my fingers brushed against a soft coat of fur, and a smile formed on my lips.
"Meow." Muffin hopped off my chest and right onto Carter, the impact enough to wake him up.
He rose up, my hand sliding off him as he glanced down to glare at Muffin, who was upside down looking up at him.
"Meow!" She outstretched her little paws before rolling over and racing to snuggle herself between my neck and shoulder.
A weak giggle left me and the sound caught Carter's attention.
My eyes locked onto his and I couldn't help but grin at his shock. It was as if this was our first time ever meeting, and from the look in Carter's widened gold and turquoise eyes, he couldn't believe what he was witnessing.
Muffin moved from her spot and reached to tap my nose. I blinked and watched her move over to Carter, where she tapped his nose lightly as a way to pull him out of his initial shock.
"Meow." Muffin rubbed her head against my cheek and walked off me.
I figured she was bored of waiting to see what happened, and after making a slight "blop" noise as she jumped off the bed and landed on the ground, I could hear her little paws quickly stepping against what I believed was the wooden floor.
I didn't move as Carter's large wolf body moved to hover over me. His head lowered until his nose was mere inches from mine, those mismatched eyes shifting to turquoise. They grew glossy, and I bit my lip to hold back the wave of sadness I felt. The heartbreak and relief that seemed to trickle through me almost felt foreign, like it wasn't necessarily mine.
Or even Reika's.
But the various emotions only seemed to make this moment that much more special, and I couldn't stop my subconscious urge to comfort Carter; my hand reached up to gently press against the side of his face.
The little whimper that escaped his lips brought tears to my eyes and I slowly rubbed my thumb across his furry cheek when a tear escaped his left eye.
"Hey, Carter," I whispered, unsure what else to say.
Do I tell him what I know? Would this be the right moment?
He remained in place, looking baffled that I was awake and well. It showed me a side of Carter he rarely brought forth in his wolf form.
Whenever I would get sick in my younger years, he'd show the same vibrant concern that fluttered in his eyes now, perfectly fine with revealing the soft side to his usually powerful, badass appearance.
It was as if he'd pulled his walls down and didn't care that I was witnessing it. Maybe it was his vulnerability or my flooding emotions that blended with the foreign ones, but I couldn't hold back what I finally knew.
"There's no need to cry, my Prince," I whispered. His eyes grew wide as they blinked, allowing more tears to stain his white fur with hints of gold.
I gave him a sad smile and lifted my other hand to press against his cheek.
"Change for me?" I encouraged, wanting to tell him in his human form what memories had returned.
To reveal that I remembered everything and to watch his human expressions.
He didn't even complain as his body began to shift, but it was a smooth transition, and the sound of bones moving back into place was a lot quieter compared to the times I'd heard them amidst battle in the forest.
With a few blinks of my watery eyes, there he was.
My Prince… the one I'd sadly forgotten.
Those turquoise eyes that reflected both sadness and vulnerability released a stream of tears. A few droplets landed on my cheeks, and then my own tears descended the flushed surface of my face as I tried my best not to break down altogether.
His blond hair with hints of white hung loosely, and I lifted my hand once more to press against the wet skin of his cheek. I trailed my hand down, lightly brushing the surface as I appreciated every angle, softness, and line of his face.
I allowed my hand to stop at his jaw, and my thumb carefully grazed along the bottom of his lip as it trembled slightly.
The rich aroma that always reminded me of Carter almost shifted in intensity and blended perfectly with my scent that I realized was a mix of vanilla, lilies, and even roses.
Roses that reminded me of the field of pink flowers where we'd left our mark and created so many memories.
It was as if the years we'd spent together were only a small fraction of what we could have done.
Could have become together with my previous knowledge.
To some, a man displaying emotional vulnerability like Carter was at this moment would be deemed a weakness or a miscalculation. But to me, he looked beyond handsome in this new light, and my heart couldn't be happier to finally see Carter for who he really was.
My Prince. My Mate. My very first friend.
The memories kept flickering in and out of my consciousness, especially the ones I'd had no recollection of prior to this moment. I put them in the back of my mind, knowing if I began to filter through the lost catalog from years ago, I'd miss this one chance to make things right between us.
I couldn't possibly know why or how I'd forgotten about the boy I'd promised to spend my life with, but it seemed to me that such forgetfulness was one-sided.
Carter knew all along.
He stood afar to allow me to be loved by another, even though at one point in our lives together, I'd vowed to be his. To marry him like we'd been destined to do, with the Moon's watchful eyes in the field of pink roses and glitter descending upon us. I didn't keep my end of the bargain, and absorbing that information made me sorry for not upholding my word.
Carter had done something very few would do. He let me go.
He remained in the shadows to watch my happiness, while he kept the secret of our past together hidden.
Though I wasn't precisely sure that he knew, his eyes gave me enough information to assume my suspicions were bang on.
The tears that rolled down my cheeks weren’t because I'd remembered everything. I cried because I was thankful for Carter's selfless act to leave me alone to live the life I'd been given. Whether planned by shifter inference or mapped by the Moon herself, he made sure to protect me in his own way, and now, this was the reward he'd been given.
To witness his mate acknowledge him for who he was, and gain the memory of everything that occurred back then. To remember him. All of him...
I wouldn't allow myself to think as my head rose, our lips barely brushing as I whispered, "I remember, Prince Moonshine."
Lowering back into the sheets below me, I watched his lip tremble as he tried to speak. I could only imagine what ran through his mind.
The multiple questions, words, and wishful dreams he’d probably wanted to share with me for years, and yet, he held his tongue for my sake.
He lowered his head and closed his eyes while he pressed his forehead against mine. With a trembling voice, he spoke softly.
"Harper… my Eternal Love. My princess… my Queen." He whimpered, and I kissed him lovingly.
I couldn't handle any more crying, or I'd lose any restraint I had left. It simply felt spectacular just to remember him again, and his touch ignited a love that had been buried deep within.
Reika responded to it, feeling the overwhelming love from the past smother us, and I couldn't help but take action; I kissed Carter like it was our only shot at expression or compassion.
He returned the kiss with haste, deepening it and riding on the same energy that was pulsing through me.
We pulled back when we had no air left in our lungs to continue. Our exhales were quick but fulfilling as we stared into each other's eyes once more.
I witnessed those turquoise eyes returning to their mismatched state; his one golden eye overtaking the vivid ocean tone, while the other was unchanged.
We didn't exchange any other words, and he leaned down to give me a slow kiss that made me moan quietly. I let my free hands run through his short locks, enjoying their silky feel and how easily my fingers glided through them.
When he was satisfied, he broke the kiss and rested his head against my shoulder, quiet whimpers and sobs muffled into the grey gown I wore.
My own tears fell, but I held him tightly, perfectly fine with his added weight as he relaxed on me. I just wanted to comfort him the best I could in this moment, and from how his quiet cries lessened, it must have been working.
We reminisced in our stillness, and I could feel the foreign sadness begin to dim and a sense of comfort grow stronger.
"Harper." Carter's voice had a soothing tone to it, even in its husky state.
"Yes, Carter?"
"Sor—"
"Nope." I cut him off before the simple word passed his lips. "I won't hear an apology from you. I may be a bit tired and unsure of everything that has happened in the past and during my unconsciousness, but that doesn't grant me the privilege of an apology from an Alpha. Especially the Alpha of our pack…uh. It's ours, right? I mean…I'm included?"
My confidence dimmed to uncertainty, not really knowing where we fit in now that my wolf status was official. Carter lifted his body so he hovered over me again, and the love that shone in his eyes made my heart rate quicken.
"You're ours, remember? That doesn't change because you've proven to be what you always were," he mumbled, his usual confidence returning to him, which made me grin.
"You have a mood problem." I giggled weakly.
He blinked and pouted his lips, looking annoyed. "I do not."
"You went from shocked to sad, grateful to depressed, confused to annoyed all in about five minutes," I teased.
His cheeks grew red and he grumbled back. "Stop picking on me."
"Aww, my Carter is still my short-tempered wolf who has mood swings." I wanted to lighten up his mood, knowing it was hard for him to break down those walls and show his emotions. From my years of taking care of him in wolf form, I figured there wouldn't be much difference now that I could interact with him through a language we both understood.
It’s more fun to tease him in human form, though.
He looked back at me, his eyes lowering to my lips. "Can I kiss you again?"
"You never asked to kiss me before," I reminded.
"Because I was being needy," he admitted.
"And you're not now?"
"I can think more clearly now, and I feel bad for not asking before," he whispered.
I smiled and nodded slightly, loving how considerate he was acting. He lowered his lips to rest lightly on mine. It impressed me that each kiss could feel vastly different, yet all captivate my body and mind.
A sound of something shutting caught our attention, and Carter pulled back to look over his shoulder while I leaned my head over slightly to realize we weren't the only ones in the room.
Oh shit… damn… he's hot.
An unfamiliar male sat in a black chair with a closed book in his hand. His shoulder-length hair shifted from pure black strands to a perfect navy blue that was bright enough to display the difference between the two dark tones.
I knew from his complexion that he was of Asian descent, probably Korean with his delicate features. His smooth lips puckered in a pout, his left eyebrow lifted, his forehead marred with concern. His lopsided expression gave me the impression he was puzzled.
"I can't believe the book ends like that. All that action and suspense, but now I have to wait. I wonder if I can express order book two? What was the speeding service again? I'll go nag Levi to let me use his account to buy it."
"Meow?" Muffin sounded confused, and a small smile formed on my face, while Carter sighed. His exhale reached the person's ears, and his head turned in our direction.
Vivid sapphire eyes locked onto us, and I felt like I knew who this person was.
Everything clicked, including why he'd clearly not noticed us. He blinked a few times as if registering our current position. His cheeks tinted slightly and he stood up.
"Uh… I'm not here." He raised his hands, still holding onto the book, and waved them around. "All just a dream. Nothing to see here."
"Meow?"
"Shh, Muffin. We're invisible."
My grin widened and even Carter had a small smirk on his lips. The person leaned over and when he rose, had Muffin in his hand. "Call me if you need me, Carter."
"I thought you were invisible," Carter joked.
"Uh…I am. Invisible. Lalalala." The person continued to wave his hands in circles, one with Muffin, who looked like she was enjoying the ride, and his book in the other.
In a smooth movement, he slipped out the door and closed it behind him. I began to giggle and Carter looked back to give me a smug smile.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because I'm one hundred percent sure that was Damien, and his escape was golden," I replied joyfully.
"I didn't think you'd guess straight away," Carter admitted.
"Damien loves when I read to him. He gets all intrigued by the story and won't let us come back home until we've finished the book. I'm not surprised that he was so immersed in the story that he didn't notice us until now."
Carter seemed pleased by my answer and his smile widened.
"You really care about the pack. Guess this transition won't be as hard as I thought it would be."
"There's a lot to talk about..." I admitted and closed my mouth to stifle a yawn.
"Yes, but can we enjoy a few more minutes cuddling?" he asked.
"We can," I replied, lazily staring down at his chest, and then I realized he wasn't wearing anything.
Not even underwear… completely naked.
My cheeks flushed and I quickly looked away. "Well…after some clothes."
Carter chuckled in response. "You were fine with me being naked moments ago."
"My brain didn't absorb everything until now. Plus…if I get all excited, I can't do anything." I mumbled the second part as my face grew hotter.
"At least you're honest," Carter whispered.
Instead of getting off me, he relaxed next to me, sliding his arm around me and pulling me into a side hug.
"That's not how you put clothes on," I pointed out, but relaxed in his hold, resting my head on his chest.
Even though I'd had very few encounters with Carter in his human form, being in his arms right at this moment was comfortable and was easing my mind enough to sleep.
"I'm too tired…and you're nice and warm," he mumbled. "We can talk about the serious stuff later."
"You promise? Not going to leave me in the dark like I need protecting?" I meant it as a tease, but I did have a point. I wanted to know what was going on and not be protected like a damsel in distress. I was a part of their pack, and that meant I got to be just as informed as they always were.
"You? Protected? After you showed Rogan the price of underestimating a female shifter, I think you can handle yourself with a bit of training. You're a part of our pack, Harper. Always have been. It's just easier now that we're allowed to show you this side of the world."
I snuggled closer and sighed. "That really makes me happy."
"That's what I want to hear from my mate," he replied, and the softness of lips against my scalp made me shiver.
"What's going to happen? With me knowing the truth…and the mate thing?" My voice was but a whisper as I continued to enjoy Carter's warmth.
"We'll figure it out…but I still get two days with you. Fuck Ian."
A grin morphed on my lips. "You two are going to be a pain, huh?"
"He's a pain. I'm the same person whether wolf or human. Also, my wolf says he's glad you’re awake. Both you and Reika."
Reika had been chilling in her corner but lifted her head at the comment.
"Me?"
"Reika’s curious if your wolf is really referring to her."
"Yes. I didn’t name my wolf as you did, but he's intrigued and glad she's safe as you are." Carter pulled up the blanket to cover both of us.
"Brownie points," Reika replied.
I almost laughed at her comment. Talk about being pleased easily.
Don't go falling head over heels for him. I thought you liked Wolfie?
"I do, but Carter’s wolf is mysterious. Makes me want to pounce on him."
At least you're honest. I agree with you. Do you think that's why Ian had been acting weird since the night we'd walked into the forest?
"Maybe. You'd met Carter by accident because he was protecting you from Rick. Ian thought maybe you'd remember the connection? I wonder if he knew to begin with…lots of questions, but I'm sleepy."
I agree. Let's think about it later. After a nice nap…and food.
"More kisses."
And she's a goner.
"From the girl who's all snuggled up with her naked mate. Did you even check to see how big he is?"
Stop promoting my sex life. We just woke up from…uh…death?! Don't excite me.
"You got a peek, didn't you?"
I was silent for a long moment.
He's bigger...
"Fun, fun, fun."
Go sleep, you promoting sex addict of a wolf.
"We're the same. If I'm a sex addict, so are you. Besides, I'm not the one who mast—"
I'm asleep!
"Sure you are." Reika sounded pleased. I watched her lower her head and get comfortable. "Harper?"
Yes, Reika?
"I'm happy to be alive." Reika meant those words, her emotions pushed through to me, and I couldn't be happier for her. For us.
Years of dreaming, wishing, and craving to be a part of something we knew deep down in our bones was where we belonged.
I didn't know when the feeling of acceptance and immense joy would fade, or if it would disappear at all.
What I knew for sure was, aside from my fatigue, I was happy and knew I'd get stronger, wiser, and become someone in this new society I'd just entered into.
No matter the challenges, lectures, and whatever else would come my way as I discovered who I was and who I'm meant to be, I hoped to stand my ground.
Me too, Harper. We'll get through this. Together.