KARA/CAROLINE

I had a restless night after the mess with Rick. I constantly woke with a start, expecting him to be hovering over my bed, needle in hand. Will would hold me in his arms and tell me I was safe, until I calmed.

Was Rick really prepared to tranquilize me to make me cooperate? It horrified me to think that maybe he would have succeeded without William there. I even had a nightmare about him keeping me locked in his office like a caged animal and forcing me to heal a line of sick creatures. It was horrendous. Thankfully Will woke me before too long. I had pressed myself back into his embrace and his large hand stroked down my hair until I fell asleep again.

When the earliest rays of morning came, I didn't feel any better rested and knew that was going to come back to bite my butt when we tried to drive to Boise today. At least I had a second driver.

A squeeze around my back told me that Will was awake.

"Morning," I whispered.

"Morning," his chest rumbled under my cheek.

"Did you sleep okay?" I twisted to his arm, so I could see his face. I must have woke him up a dozen times.

He gave a gentle smile and thumbed across my jawline. "Being next to you was amazing."

I caught that he did not answer my question. "Do you want to sleep more then?"

"I'm awake," he stated simply.

"Time for breakfast then? And we can get on the road after that?"

"Sure." His fingers danced up and down my arm, shooting goosebumps up.

I was pretty much content to stay in his arms all day, but I really didn't think I wanted to sleep anymore. "Feel like bacon and eggs?" I yawned and sat up.

He followed to a sitting position and stretched, looking at the earliest light spreading through the curtains. "Why don't we get breakfast to go and you show me where you and Catherine met Blake."

"You mean East Peak? But it's an hour away to even start the hike if we're still trying to do eight hours of driving today. It would take us more than half the day to make it there and back."

William gave a sly grin. "I don't think the hike will take us as long as you and Catherine took. And anyway, it sounds good to stretch our legs. We don't have to make it clear to Boise if we don't want."

I nodded considering, "okay. That could be fun."

We got ready for the day and decided to come back to the apartment after and would pack up then. With a drive through of bagels and juice, I put the destination in the GPS and watched out the window picking at my breakfast.

As we pulled into the parking lot at the base of the trail, rain was drizzling on the windshield.

He examined the water droplets and sky. "I think it'll be okay. I don't mind hiking in this, the sky still looks pretty clear. I think it'll be fine, but what do you want to do?"

"This kind of rain will only last a few minutes. But it'll still keep the tourists away."

He twisted and grabbed his spare clothing bag from the backseat and then hopped out of the car. He opened the door for me, the slight drizzle almost nice with the sun still shining.

He shouldered his bag and then grabbed my hand and started leading us to the trail.

When we were about a fourth of a mile up, the drizzle had thinned completely, and his eyes dashed around the deeper set of trees. "This looks like a good place."

"Good place for what?" I smiled at the beautiful greens surrounding us.

"To change Love." He winked and started tugging me off the trail.

"Hey," I playfully complained. "We shouldn't be going off trail. It's bad for the environment, right?"

He turned back to smirk, still stepping deeper. "I'm sure the Forest Service would prefer wolves to stay off the trail."

I giggled at the thought of a giant wolf trotting past some hikers. "That's probably true."

He stopped a few more yards in and surveyed the large trees and full bushes. "This'll do." He turned back to me. "Okay Love. I want you to run with me. As your wolf side."

I stepped back unprepared for his words. "My wolf side?"

His hands wrapped my hips and pulled me close to his body. His words were a purr to my soul. "I know you can't transform, but you have a wolf side. Tap into it and you can run alongside me."

I swallowed hard, but knew his words were truth. I had flashes of me running and jumping to superhero strengths when I was in the healer trance. "Can I do it without someone to heal?"

"Yes. I'm sure of it." He slid a lock of hair over my ear.

"Can you help me?" I asked hopeful.

He nodded. "Watch my eyes again."

I grinned. What did he think I was doing?

His color shifted and I relaxed, feeling a warmth build up behind my own eyes. It was different than the heat of tears. It was home and peaceful.

"Try to stay in control."

"I'll try," I agreed, holding the warmth back like I would try not to cry at a sad movie.

He kissed my cheek. "Tell the healer to stay out of view of humans if she takes over at least."

I giggled and went cross eyed at my nose. "Healer! Be good."

He chuckled and then let his lips slide down over my cheek. He breathed out over my neck and heat suddenly flamed over my insides. All the giggles of only a second ago, long gone. My throat opened wide, submitting to his touch. Senses clearing.

The next moment he was feet away from me.

I was left breathless and curious.

He started taking off his shoes and smirked. "You're there Kara. Stay in control."

I looked around to the trees and felt my lips part in wonder. It was like I was wearing super glasses. Every vein of every leaf could be seen, minute insects scurrying up the bark, streaks of crystals in tiny pebbles, each image like my eyes were a telescope. The world was alive and beautiful.

The scents and sounds following in clarity, flowers, animals, evergreens, things I couldn't even try to identify, completely overwhelming, but incredible.

"It's amazing," I spoke in awe.

Will was stuffing clothes in his bag when I came to realize he was bare. I tried not to zero in with the new eyes and he smirked watching me, tossing a strap over his head.

His bag was similar to a messenger bag. Tan, and a heavy material like canvas, flapped over with a button, with elastic straps at the top and bottom. I watched as the straps were instead looped over his high back and neck, bag portion covering his chest.

Yes.

I was studying the bag with great detail.

Great detail people.

I was even going to start counting stitches there in a second.

"Do you want to watch?"

"Huh?Yes?What?" My twitching eyes met his. His gold already strong throughout.

His smirk only grew. "Do you want to watch me shift? You can turn around if not."

My face squinted in thought. Did he really think I could turn away now? I was as stuck as stuck could be. My feet were concrete.

Really, he should be happy that I wasn't jumping into his naked arms.

He laughed. "Maybe later."

That cut my face blank.

He then pressed his chin down to his chest, almost touching the bag. His shoulders hunched and roughly like unzipping a zipper, hair started flowing out of him and the cracking and forming of bones snapped around the clearing. And in only seconds a large walnut brown wolf stood eye to eye with me. His golden eyes simmering into me.

I had seen shifted wolves in the dungeon of the packhouse, but here facing me was so much different. I just couldn't think of any of them as majestic as William's wolf. I was awestruck at how handsome he could be even in this shape.

My hand tentatively reached to touch him. He bent and nuzzled down into my palm, his fur soft as flower petals, nothing like the coarse canine hair I was expecting. "You're beautiful," I spoke in quiet tenderness.

Thank you Love. Will's strong voice was in my head again and instead of thinking myself crazy and wanting to shut him out, I seemed to welcome him in deeper. He could feel through my senses and I tested the bond that I could feel through him as well. The heat of sunshine across his fur. His crushing love for me, seeing through his eyes. The giving soft mud at his paws. Everything. It was like I was his wolf.

The connection was phenomenal. Us being both in this heightened state and bonded. The feeling was unbelievable.

I loved him. Fully and deeply. There was no break between us. We were one flowing mass of soul.

Shall we run? His wolf eyes blinked slow in question.

I just nodded, a slight smile forming as I perceived this new world with the wolf in me pushed forward.

I'll give you a head start. His wolf tongue lolled playfully. Make sure to sense the humans.

Okay. I grinned back at him. Meet you at the top.

And I ran.

At first, I sprinted like I would run on the treadmill back at my dad's house. But when I realized it felt effortless, even climbing upwards and dodging boulders and fallen trees, I upped the speed.

My hair whipped behind me, the whistle in my ears strong, but not overpowering enough to stomp out the flutterings of birds somewhere far off, or the song of a river a ways to my right.

It felt like I was flying. I let out a hoot of delightful happiness.

I pressed forward again, going even faster, letting my nose take over, scenting the greens and rich earth. My wolf mind trying to pick out a hundred animal trails.

Right behind you Love, William chuckled, loving feeling through my senses. He was watching me like a parent seeing their child's face light up at the first stroll through Disney.

I jumped up on a massive boulder. It was like I simply hopped and I was on top of a refrigerator. I balanced on the rounded edge as William's regal wolf slowed before it, eyes on me.

"Took you long enough," I taunted the beast on the ground.

Kara, he threatened lightheartedly.

"Eh," I jumped down beside him and winked. "I get it. You probably got distracted by a fire hydrant along the way?"

He threatened. Those are fighting words Love. He gave a wolfie chuckle and nudged his head against me, knocking me clear off balance.

I giggled and pushed on his face.

"Catch me if you can," I challenged and then took off.

He howled into the air accepting the task and thundered forward after me.

I was new to this pace, so he caught up in only seconds and playfully nipped at my fingers. I squealed with surprise and darted away through two close trees. His massive wolf was too much to sneak through them and lost time running around it.

I tried to press faster, not knowing the limits of this body. As he caught up again, I dodged quick and zipped through a hole in a bush. My sleeve tugged on a sharp branch and a slight scratch skimmed off my arm.

Careful Kara.

Snickering I kept running, a giant wolf still on my heels. "It was just a bush, dear." I poked fun, then the word gave me a new thought. I pointed behind him. "Hey, look a deer!"

He turned and I sped my legs forward. He didn't even scan the area, already knowing the fib through the matebond. His wolf paws thundered over the soil, catching up in only a few long strides. He was having as much fun as I was and nipped at my fingers again, pressing me the other way.

Giggling, I turned away from him and then slipped through some wet loose rocks almost tumbling down. His wolf was at my side in a flash, head holding me from crashing. I caught myself against him and marveled at his swiftness as I regained my footing. "Whoa, is that how fast you are?" He'd been playing me all this time. I wondered if I could go that fast.

Sweetheart, don't try too much quite yet. Ease up to full speed.

"Show me," I marveled.

His wolfie eyes met mine, a humanized twinkle inside them. You got it. Then he shot out like a bullet. He ran around the area in a wide arc. I could only see him up the mountainside through the trees in glimpses of brown. My gaze followed as he roamed down the mountain and back around the other side and met back with me in only seconds. His wolf was panting, but not completely out of breath for running an entire mountain.

It was amazing.

"Do it again!" I shouted with glee.

His wolf eyes squinted at me dubious and he stepped up close. Kara, he cautioned in mischievousness, I can hear your thoughts. I won't be worn out by another couple runs around. I can still catch you.

Oops! Love you! I giggled internally and then sped up the mountain again, trying to steer clear of the loose rocks.

His thoughts grinned wide. You better run! He laughed and then howled a warning into the sky.

As the trees got denser, I chose paths between tight trunks, trying to squish his large frame again. I was grinning internally as I was making headway leaving him behind. Another minute of dancing through the trees and no William, had my senses scanning behind for his footsteps, but I could hear none.

Gotcha!

As I came out of the dense grove his wolf was already there with a pounce, obstructing my movements forward. I squawked a yell and then was shoved back into my own mind. In no move of my own, I leaped up, my arms grabbing a branch and with practiced cheerleading precision rounded it, making some gymnastic moves up a few limbs and landing atop the branch in a defensive crouch, poised to run.

Oh, Kara! Shoot! Take back control Honey. Breathe.

My fingers dug into the bark ready to make a hasty retreat, my eyes scanning the area in short quick bursts assessing for any dangers.

There's nothing to be afraid of. You're safe here. It's just me. Just breathe. Come back Honey. You can do it.

I tried to focus on William's comforting words. I closed my eyes tight, forcing myself to step forward in my own head. It was like I was trudging through mud, but I kept pushing.

There you go, sweetie. Come back.

A big breath of air shook my lungs, and I opened my eyes. My vision was back to normal and I clutched at the tree as I glanced down, no longer having the razor precision equilibrium. "Oh my."

You okay Kara?

"I'm okay," I said a little breathless seeing down to him.

His wolf smiled. You did it. You came back on your own.

"Now the question is can I come back down on my own." I laughed at myself.

Do you need some help?

I tentatively worked my way down a level of limbs, teasing the beast on the ground. "Why? Still afraid of heights?"

Kara, he threatened lightheartedly.

I giggled and told him what I'd told Eric. "Eh, no one expects werewolves up in tree branches."

He made a wolfie chuckle then bowed naturally into his human form, quickly reaching in his bag for pants.

"Opposable thumbs are helpful too," I winked, going down another limb.

I had hit the lowest branch by the time William had clothes back on. I was examining the rest of the trunk trying to decide if I was in good enough shape to shimmy down it.

William must have caught my thought, "I can catch you Love. Just jump." He stepped under me and held his arms out.

"You sure?" I asked skeptically. Wouldn't I crush the poor dude?

He laughed. "Just jump."

I took a deep breath in resignation. "Okay. If you say so."

And I leapt.

And then I was caught.

Oh.

That was very anticlimactic.

I guess it wasn't it wasn't as bad as I imagined. I snickered as my feet touched the ground and then wrapped my arms around his neck, holding us close. "I guess it wasn't that bad."

He grinned, wrapping his own strong arms around my back, looking at me as if I was his world. It made my heart soar further and faster than even my new running capabilities.

I looked up at him, getting lost in the depths of his eyes, a pooling of love crowding around my stomach. "William? Do you think we only like each other because of the matebond?"

His smile widened, showing a straight row of teeth. "Everyone wonders that." His hold tightened, but we still stared down deep into each other's faces. "There are some couples that I've thought that about, sure. But you? No." He spoke softly and endearingly. "I would have fallen for you anywhere."

"I think I would have liked you too," I admitted.

After a long pause rich in happiness, I guess I needed to ruin the mood. "The mint chocolate chip thing though. That might have been a deal breaker."

He laughed strong and out loud, and then palmed down my hair. "Sorry. I can change." He winked.

I followed with my own bellow of laughter. "You better."

Will's arms then tightened around me, pulling me hard into his chest and he kissed at my hair. I would cherish this feeling forever. "I love you."

"You too." I spoke softly into his shirt.

He released his grasp and grabbed my hand. "Let's go check out that lookout spot."

"Okay."

Taking a few steps up the mountain, he didn't follow and my hand tugged in his. I glanced back to see why he wasn't walking and he grinned, head motioning the way we came. "It's back this way. We overshot it."

"We ran passed it?" I asked in surprise. We'd only ran for a few minutes. It was a hike that was supposed to be hours long. "How can you tell?"

"I can smell it."

"You werewolves and your fancy noses," I jokingly complained and then started walking his way.

With a gentle stroll, we came upon the lookout area taking longer than the entire run up. It was still early but a group of hikers were already at the ledge. Though none gave us a second thought coming on the scene from a different point than the trail.

He guided us to the safety fence and wrapped his arm around my shoulders at we stared at the beauty. Fully ripe green mountain sides, like they were made completely of moss jetting out of the long valley. The lake below, a serene shade of green-blue, so turquoise that it would make the stone jealous. Evergreen trees standing tall as sentinels, guarding the scene. Misting clouds far off, showering that side with a breath of rain. The beauty stirred something within me, making my heart glow with the closeness of nature.

When the group left, William set us down on some damp grass, still in a spot to see beyond to the valley.

"It's so gorgeous," I commented. Everything was so much more alive than the last time I was there. It may have been the new wolf senses, but I also went in March before spring had really set in, so that could be part of it too.

"Blake skipped school that day," he spoke casually to the view.

I grinned and leaned into his shoulder, his arm firmly around me. "I know."

"We couldn't be mad when it was to find his mate, but for a while I was still a little annoyed because the pack was paying his tuition." His cheek nuzzled down against my hair. "I guess I'm glad he skipped after all. He got you back to me."

I tried to bite the smile away and tucked myself into his chest, shyly.

He took a deep steadying breath, like he was preparing for something and then cleared his throat. "Did you, uh... Did you want to know what that call was about, at the mall? I could tell you now?"