Waking up in Carter’s arms is the best feeling ever. I’ve had lovers before, but not one made me feel the way Carter does. None of them. Ever.

After kissing me slowly and making me come again, Carter decides he is taking me out for the day, so here we sit, in his huge truck, looking over a wide-open field full of trees, flowers, and tall grass. It’s breathtaking. The sun hits it just right and casts a beautiful glow emanating through the tall trees to the ground below. It goes on for acres and acres, and the only way I can tell is because we are on a hill, overlooking it all.

When he told me he was taking me to one of his favorite places, I’m not sure what I was thinking, but a huge field out in the middle of nowhere wasn’t on the top of the list. Maybe a diner or where his family lives. Here? Not so much. It’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, but for a man’s man like Carter is turning out to be, this didn’t register on my radar. I keep learning new things about this man every time I turn around, and all of it, I like.

“This is beautiful, Carter.”

“My family and I come here often.”

“For picnics or something?” There doesn’t appear to be a flat ground or tables anywhere, but I’m sure they could get creative.

“Something. We do eat here. Run around. Spend time with one another.” It makes me miss my mother back in Jones Bend. I need to call her and get in touch.

“That’s nice.”

We get of the truck and sit in the grass. I rest my head back on his shoulder while the cool breeze caresses my face. There’s a sense of calm, of peace that’s magnified here. I thought I had it at my house, but here, it’s times ten. A house up here on this hill, looking over this field every day, would be paradise.

“We’ve been doing it for generations, handing it down throughout the years. It’s important to me to keep the tradition alive.”

“So, you own this?”

He chuckles. “Yes, me and my family own this.”

“How far?”

“As far as your eyes will take you, then add about thirty more miles.”

“Wow, that’s … just wow.” Impressive doesn’t even cut it. No wonder the place looks like it’s well taken care of in a way that screams his family honors it.

I’ve never had something like that. My mother moved us around often after my father passed on. That’s why coming to Montana was so important. I wanted that stability and not have to move.

Out in the distance, tall grass and flowers begin to move. A gasp leaves my lips as I see my brown wolf and another lighter brown wolf. I try to sit up, but Carter pulls me back.

“Carter, my wolf.”

He growls. “Not yours. Black is yours.”

Damn, that man can read my mind.

“Okay, the other wolf that came. Do you think he knows we’re here? And where’s my black one?” I emphasis my, hoping he gets the point. Black is mine, no matter what, but brown is sweet, too. Not like black, but still.

“I’m sure he’s around.”

The wolves lift their noses and begin to sniff the air. Even this far away, their eyes come directly to us.

“They smell us,” I whisper as the brown wolf lets out a howl. Not a scary one, but one almost like he’s calling someone or giving a code of some sort.

“Yes, they do. Are you scared?”

“No,” I whisper, watching the two wolves who begin to move our way. “They’re coming.”

He says nothing as we watch.

My heart leaps in my chest as other wolves begin to come out of the grass. Mentally, I count up to sixteen of them.

“Holy shit, Carter. There’s almost twenty of them.” They’re so large and strong, but still pretty far away as they walk closer. “Do you think we should get out of here?”

“Are you scared?” he asks again.

I feel my heart thumping in my chest faster and faster. “A little. With just two, I didn’t feel it. But twenty? They could really hurt us.”

“And if I told you they wouldn’t, would you believe me?”

My breaths come quicker as they get closer. “How can you be so sure? They’re so big.”

He tightens his arms around me, and I feel my heart begin to slow. I have no idea how it’s possible, but it happens. The calm isn’t there, but some of the fear dissipates.

“Trust me, Izzy. I swear, nothing will happen to you. I’ll die before that happens.”

He’ll die? Holy hell, that’s a doozy of a proclamation to give someone. If he’s wrong, I guess we’re both goners.

“Now, you need to relax. They can sense when you’re scared, and you’ll lose the power you have over them. They want confidence and to know they can trust you, just like you can trust them. It’s a give and take relationship. If you show that you’re scared or fear them, they won’t trust you, and it won’t work.”

There are so many meanings inside of what he said that it takes me a bit to pull my shit together and do as he says. Of course I’m scared. There are twenty wolves coming my way, but I also don’t want to ruin the relationship I have with the brown wolf, or hell, the black wolf, if he shows up.

Pulling up my big girl panties, I take a huge breath and slowly let it go. I gravitate toward Carter’s strength and feed off it, knowing he’ll lead me.

Carter must sense this because he says, “Good girl,” just as the wolves get closer.

My brown wolf sniffs the air then hunches down on his belly, coming closer a little at a time until his head is mere inches from me.

I reach out and pet his fur. “Hey, bud. How’ve you been?”

One by one, the other wolves do the same. Each of them go down on their bellies and each lay their heads down on the grass.

“You’re right,” I say softly to Carter.

“Yes. They like you, and you like them.”

For the rest of the afternoon, I watch as the wolves play together. There is growling and biting, but it’s not ever angry. It’s comradery, a family. Sometimes, one will run off while a couple of others chase it and bring it back to the group. Other times, they will find rabbits or some other small animals and chase them. I thought for sure that one of them would eat what they caught, but surprisingly, they didn’t. It’s as if they want me to like them and are afraid that, if they did so, I’d be scared. Truth is, I want them to. I want to see them be natural and do what they normally do, so when I say, “Get ’em, boy!” it turns into a chase with several little bunnies not making it. Not that I’m a fan of killing rabbits, but it’s what wolves do. I wouldn’t want them to come in and dictate how I live my life, so why would I do that to them?

Each wolf takes their turn coming up to Carter and I, allowing me to pet their heads. Some even lick me, which I take as a good sign.

The entire time, Carter stays by me. We talk, laugh, and have an overall wonderful time. One that I will cherish forever.

When I ask if we can come back, he readily agrees.

When we leave, several of the wolves whine, and I swear I see some tears forming in a couple of their eyes. Not that that’s possible. Is it?

That night, Carter’s family comes over once again. It feels right. It feels like home. Carter feels like home.

When they leave, I curl up against Carter for the night and don’t wake up once. Not even to see my wolf.