“I’m sure. I know it’s a big decision,” she said steadily. “I want this, Zach. I think I’ve wanted it for a long time.”
That caught his attention. “I thought you were raised to think shifters were evil. You wanted to be one even though we were supposed to be vicious animals?”
“I was never sold on vicious animals, really,” Teri said, her mouth quirking. “And...I remember this so clearly, even though it was years and years ago. I was at the Park, walking along a totally deserted trail. Far away from the usual tourist places. And I saw a snow leopard.”
Zach’s eyes went wide. “Wow,” he said. “Someone’s probably kicking himself about that to this day. I wonder who it was.”
“I have no idea,” Teri said. “But it was so beautiful, so powerful...I knew it had to be a shifter, of course, because there’s no snow leopards naturally living in Glacier. And at first I was afraid, but it didn’t attack me, didn’t make any kind of violent move. Just vanished into the mountains. And I thought, I wish I could do that.”
She shook her head. “I never knew it was really possible. When I met you, and I saw you shift, I thought that it would be enough to be close to a shifter like this. To be part of you, because we’re mates. And I love being part of you, and I want to be together forever. But I also want so, so badly to be a snow leopard too, Zach. Will you change me?”
All of the sensible thoughts, all of the practical instincts he’d honed in himself for years, all of the caution and wariness about risk, had totally evaporated. Zach knew what the right answer was, and it came out of his mouth without any need for conscious thought: “Yes.”
It felt strangely like accepting a marriage proposal—something that, as a man, he'd never thought he'd do. But he was filled with a sense of exhilaration, and commitment, and his entire self was thrilled at the idea of what the future was going to hold.
Teri at his side, as a leopard. He and Joel and Teri as a little pack of leopards, within the larger pack of the Glacier rangers.
Leopard cubs, someday.
He couldn't wait. He didn't know why he'd hesitated at all.
And his leopard was in complete agreement. It was eager, ready to leap up and run outside to do the change right this second.
Our food hasn't even come yet, Zach reminded it, although he knew it wouldn't care. He was right; even to leopards, some things were more important than food.
Teri's eyes were shining. "Thank you," she said.
"No." Zach thought his own eyes were probably shining too. "Thank you. For wanting this, and for asking for it. I would've been too hidebound to suggest it to you."
"Then I'm glad I asked." Teri's grin faded a bit, from something happy into something...mischievous. "Wait, does that mean that it's my job to be the adventurous one in this relationship?"
"Definitely," Zach said without hesitation. "I'm always the responsible one. I can't help it. Comes of being the oldest sibling."
"And I'm the rebellious one," Teri said thoughtfully. "Comes of being the youngest."
"I want that." Zach reached across the table and took her hand. "Joel's always doing wild things, running around in the mountains—he's calmed down a lot since he took all those crazy risks as a kid, but he's still the sort of person who thinks adventure is fun. And when he does it, I have to be the voice of reason, because it's always been my job to protect him...and I can remember what happened when it went wrong."
Teri squeezed his hand, and Zach had to blink a couple of times at the realization that the memory of Joel caught midway through his change, being hit by rocks and crying out in futile pain, wasn't his own secret and burden to bear anymore. He'd gotten so used to it being a horrible thing that he kept tucked next to his heart for him alone—because Joel had actually been through it, so Zach wasn't ever going to try and ask him for support when he couldn't help but remember.
But it wasn't anymore. He had his mate with him, and she knew when he was remembering, and she wanted to support him. It might've felt scary if it had been anyone else, but because it was Teri, it felt...secure. Safe.
"I know I can trust you," Zach said, hoping his voice wasn't too scratchy. "I don't feel like I need to watch out for you, protect you. Joel's smart enough not to need protection, but part of me's always going to want to give it. With you..." The overwhelming emotions inside of him were slowly transforming, until all he could feel anymore was happiness. "If you want to have an adventure, I'm going to want to run out beside you and join in."
r /> Teri’s smile made her whole face sparkle. "Good, because any adventures I go on, I want you right there with me. Starting with this one."
Zach shook his head. "No, we already started with this one." He brought one of her hands to his lips and kissed it.
"The best adventure of all," Teri said. Zach had never felt anything to be more true.
***
As they headed back to Zach's place, Teri was nervous, but in a good, exciting way. She knew her life was about to irrevocably change, for the second time in two days.
And she couldn't wait.
She almost wished they could do the change in the Park, but she knew Zach wasn't going to risk going somewhere they might be seen. Especially not after what had happened to Joel as a kid.
And frankly, Teri might be adventurous, but she liked to think she was smart, too. And it wouldn't be at all smart to change for the first time somewhere a hiker might happen by at any moment, even if it looked deserted.