Waiting. All Braydon seemed to do now was wait. He waited for the morning argument with Miranda about getting up. He waited for Taylor to arrive to take Miranda to work. Then, for most of his day, he waited for her to come home, all while waiting for an attack he knew was coming. 

Chad hadn't been able to tell him anymore than he had a few days earlier. Everything in the Corbani household had returned to normal; like Braydon had never existed. Carolina went to work, the pups had their home schooling and Manuel floated in and out depending on what ever business he had to attend to.

Nicholas had returned home too. From what information Bianca had got hold off, well, the information Connor passed on - confirmed everything did seem to be settling down. Braydon didn't believe it, yet there was little reason for him not to. After talking it over with Bianca, she didn't either despite what the others were starting to think. Something didn't feel right and they had also found out from Bianca's Alpha friend, Dean, some of his pack had been offered a decent sum of money in exchange for information on her family.

Thanks to their loyalty to their own pack, it didn't take long for it to be traced back to Braydon's uncle. They already knew his involvement so it wasn't a surprise, but it also meant that they probably knew Braydon and Miranda weren't alone now. Maybe it was enough to deter them from trying anything else.

Lost in thought, Braydon failed to hear Taylor's car until it was in front of the house and before she had even put it in park, Braydon had opened Miranda's door.

"Seriously, you'd think I'd been gone for a week!" Miranda teased, as Braydon nearly crushed her against him.

The reality of it was, she felt the same way and hugged him back with all she had. There was something different about the pair of them now. It was hard to describe, but ever since Bianca and her family had gotten involved, Miranda really did feel like she was one of them. As a human, with only human relationships to base her experiences on, Miranda didn't understand how it was possible to be so in sync with another person. Even now in Braydon's arms, she could feel him on much more than a physical level.

People who lived together were bound to end up picking up each others habits, get a sense of their moods and thoughts. Yet she knew it was something more than simply finishing each others sentences or being able to sense what they were feeling and thinking without actually seeing them. Bianca had told her, had she been a shifter, she'd be used to feeling so connected to people like this. It was what bought them together as a pack and what bonded mates. Miranda also would have been able to have more of a sense in regards to Braydon's wolf too, as hers would have bonded to his by now.

The whole thing fascinated her.

It really was magic and the fact Braydon was an actual wolf shifter should have been a sign to Miranda that things were never going to be the standard human kind of love and relationship. When Braydon had told her he was hers now, forever, she really understood what that meant. Because of this, Miranda could only imagine how it would feel for Carolina, which was why she didn't think it was over yet either. 

"I missed you," Braydon murmured against her hair, breathing her scent in like it was for the first time.

Miranda didn't answer, simply thinking how much she had missed him too and Braydon felt it. It was like a tug in his chest, an ache of loneliness that was being erased now they were back together.  He hadn't expected to feeling a bond quite like this Miranda, but the fact he did was enough of a sign that he had made the right choice. Not that there was any doubt to start with.

"Right, well before you two go all lovey dovey and make me want to throw up, you okay if I go Brayd?" Taylor lent against her car, looking more amused than anything else.

"Yeah. Thanks Taylor, I appreciate it!" Braydon reluctantly let Miranda go and went over to Taylor.

As she got in the car again, she put down the window and whispering so Miranda wouldn't hear, Braydon did the usual check in. "Anything?"

"The cafe we went to for lunch had a shifter there, no pack scent, I don't think she was any kind of threat and she left before us. That's all." Taylor told him.

"Drive safe!" Braydon went back to Miranda, playfully scooping her up in his arms as she weakly protested being carried inside. "How was work?"

"Great! I kind of hate that he didn't tell me what the job really was though and I miss Rory. Taylor is lovely, but its only temporary and she isn't great with the computer side of things!" Miranda sighed, not bothering to move from where Braydon had dumped her on the lounge chair.

"But you like this job better?" 

"I do. I didn't think I'd actually get to work with my own team as my own boss. It feels weird not having to run after someone else. Rory keeps emailing me to make sure I'm not letting the power go to my head!" Miranda laughed.

Braydon put down the wine on the table and poured them each a glass before taking a seat beside her. 

"So, how was your day?" She asked after taking a sip.

"Busy, I got some of the yard out the back started on!" Braydon boasted, feeling very civilized doing things around their home. 

"Oh really? I can't wait for summer and being able to be out there," Miranda sighed, laying back into the overstuffed cushions.

For now, none of the other stuff going on mattered. It was just her, Braydon, a good bottle of wine and the contentment that washed over the pair of them, left Miranda feeling completely giddy. In this moment, life was perfect and it was about to get even better as Braydon put their glasses on the coffee table and ended up hovering above her.

"Did I tell you I missed you today?" Braydon whispered, leaning in close to kiss Miranda's forehead, before her cheek, then her collarbone. 

The rough regrowth of his beard tickled her neck as Braydon rubbed his cheek against her jaw. 

"Maybe, I forgot. Tell me again." She mumbled as her heart began to beat that little bit faster in anticipation on what was going to happen next.

"I. Missed. You!" Each word was said in time to the buttons on her blouse being undone, and it seemed like a life time ago the thought of seeing Miranda naked had made him nervous. "A. Lot!"

Goosebumps raced across her skin as his slightly calloused hands made contact with her stomach and slid around her back. Holding her close, Braydon savored the taste of the wine on her tongue as piece by piece, their clothing found it's way to the floor. Closing her eyes, Miranda changed her mind; this moment was perfect, and the feeling was completely mutual as Braydon made it very clear how much he had missed her.

That was until his phone started to ring in the kitchen, repeatedly, and Miranda became distracted enough by the sound to work out the personalised song. "Braydon, that's Chads, it's Chad." 

"I'll call him back." Braydon choked out; silencing Miranda's protests as his mouth returned to hers.

Yet the ringing didn't stop and for the couple, it was agony to be so close to what they both wanted, but hadn't yet been able to achieve. It took another few seconds after that for Braydon to actually get up and his whole body vibrated with a rather savage rumble of a growl as he stormed into the kitchen. His first instinct was to destroy the device on the sheer principle it had interrupted his time with Miranda, yet seeing Chad's face on the screen settled him enough to actually speak rather than roar down the line.

"What?" He snapped rather breathlessly, and glancing back towards Miranda, who had the throw rug from the lounge wrapped around her as she came to his side.

"He's back. He's here and I heard them talking about him taking us!" Chad blurted down the line, not bothered at all by how Braydon had answered.

"Who?" Of course Braydon knew, he just needed to hear it.

"Your Uncle. Manuel said we're a burden and he wants Carolina to move on from everything. He's splitting us all up and taking her South, to start again. Amber - because she hasn't shifted yet, he said she isn't their problem and is going to kick her out, back into the streets for someone else to deal with!" There was no missing how hysterical the pup was and how annoyed Braydon had been at being interupted disappeared, as instead he only felt rage for other reasons.

The shift in his mood had Miranda feeling cold, her stomach in knots as bond or no bond, it was obvious something was severly wrong. "Is he okay?"

"My Uncle is taking them, so Carolina and her Father had move and start again. Amber is going to be left because she hasn't shifted yet!" he snapped, filling her in as his grip tightened on the phone.

Instantly Miranda went to pry it from his hand, and as Braydon trembled on the verge of shifting she took over. 

"Chad, when is this happening? We won't let anything happen to you guys, I promise!" She sounded so calm, confident that the wolf in Chad instantly believed her and slowly he managed to find the ability to breath again.

"He said we're leaving in the morning and we're meant to have packed our stuff up by the time he gets back. There are other wolves here now, from his pack and Nick left like half hour ago to the airport with Care and her Dad. She wouldn't even say goodbye to us!"

"I'm sorry, I really am," there was no denying how hurt the pup sounded. "We'll get you all, no one is being left behind. We're coming!"

"Miranda, I don't think it's safe for you. Go to Bianca, tell Braydon to take you there first!" Chad demanded in a moment of clarity.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me!" She glanced at Braydon and knew he was hearing it all as clearly as if the call had been on loud speaker. 

"Who are you talking to?" The deep male voice rang through the background as Chad gasped. 

Instantly Braydon was back on the phone, just in time to hear a crack and a thump, before the call was disconnected. "Chad! Chad!"

"What are we going to do? Is there like a werewolf police?" Miranda felt hopeless, yet desperate to help.

"Packs look after themselves, we are the enforcers of our own law and considering their pasts, they're lucky Nick is even offering to take them."

"Can't we send the others, this has to be a trap to get you there. Who knows what they will do when you get to their house!" Braydon knew she had a point. 

If he went alone, or even at all, it could have been the trap they'd planned all along knowing he'd want to go and help them. Chad had overheard their plan to use them to get to him and looking at Miranda now, he couldn't just rush to their aid. First he had to make sure she was safe; Chad was right.

 "I'll let the others know," Braydon called Bianca and filled her in, "appreciate it. See you soon."

"So, what did she say?" Miranda demanded, hugging the blanket tighter around her.

"They're coming. You're going to Deans with her and Connor, the rest of us will be going to collect the pups and sort this out with Nicholas." There was some deadly about his tone that Miranda didn't like.

"You need to calm down, I don't want you going like this!" She argued, "Why don't you let them sort it out and stay with me?"

"I can't. It's all because of me this is even happening."

"Exactly! Cody is capable enough to deal with this on his own, I can't let you put yourself at risk like this!"

"You don't have a choice!" With that Braydon went and grabbed his clothes and started to dress. "Get dressed. They'll be here soon."

Miranda stood in the doorway completely speechless. Braydon had never, ever, talked to her like that before. It was cold, distant and clearly an order. "No!"

"Yes." Again his voice was void of any real emotion and his eyes altered to the more golden, canine appearance of his wolf as they narrowed in on her. "Get dressed. Now."

"Braydon, this is a mistake. I know it is!" Storming towards him, he stopped her mid stride and swiftly had her pinned against the wall. Furious, she glared at him and even with the roughness of his actions, Braydon didn't hurt her.

Despite the growl to his words, he spoke as if he was begging. "I have to go to them. This has to end, because if it doesn't now, it won't ever! You are human and I will do what ever I have to do to ensure you are safe from those wolves!"

There was a reason why Miranda had never had Braydon talk to her in that tone before, or even acted all Alpha male - ordering her around like she was less than his equal. It was because in this moment, Braydon wasn't the one in control.

Other times when his wolf had come to the surface, he'd either shifted and gave in or still had some kind of leash on it. Now Braydon didn't and staring into his eyes, Miranda knew no matter what she wanted or thought, it was all out of her hands. His mind was made up.

Seeing Braydon as wolf, but still contained in the human skin was almost terrifying and it was a harsh reminder of just what she had got involved with. The wolf was protecting his mate and he had made his point. Miranda was only human. What if they attacked again and it wasn't Rory in the car? She didn't have a shifters speed or strength. She didn't have the transform into something more lethal, she was just who she was.

Miranda stopped trying to stare Braydon down, feeling completely useless. She no longer fought against his hold and  instead she moved her hand to rest against his chest. Closing her eyes, the feeling that seemed to run up Miranda's arm and into her own body, left her breathless. It was rage, pure raw emotion and she could sense the resolve in it to keep her safe; an instinct to protect.

Meeting his gaze once more, the muscles under Miranda's hand tensed as Braydon wasn't sure what she was doing. He had been prepared for a fight, more arguing, something, but instead she submitted to his will. Miranda decided she wouldn't make it any harder than it had to be, even if she hated the stupid plan.

"I understand." There was still a fierceness in her tone that told Braydon, while he had won this round, she wasn't done just yet.

"Thank you," he answered cautiously.

"But-" Miranda started, making him groan as he knew there had to be something else. "I don't like it. I have a really bad feeling Braydon!"

Rather than hold her in place while proving his dominance, his arms ended around her waist as he buried his face into her face against her neck. 

"Think of it like this, once I sort out Nicholas, it'll be over." Braydon promised.

"I wish I could believe that," she muttered softly, slipping out of his hold.

Miranda went and gathered her things before going upstairs to get ready for what ever the night would bring, while Braydon couldn't think of anything to say that would make her believe him.

 -x-

"Since the pups have no ties to any pack, there is no ground for them to refuse us access," Dean's second in command, Nicola, told the car of shifters, "As juveniles, they can accept either offer at refuge. If the pack show the slightest hint of aggression towards us, we are in our rights to defend ourself. They need to make the first move!"

Braydon barely listened as she went through the ins and outs of what they could and couldn't do as to avoid bloodshed. The look Miranda had left him with wasn't one of confidence and even now, with the miles only growing between them, he was filled with her anxiety of him going. The white lines of the highway seemed endless as he imagined what their night could have been, but it was a small price to pay for their freedom in the future. 

 "Are you even listening?" Cody nudged Braydon with his elbow and the snarl he replied with wasn't appreciated by the older shifter. "Keep your mind in the game. Do you think I'm happy about leaving Bianca right now?"

"No, sorry." He mumbled, releasing a deep breath as he tried to do as he was told.

'Focus!' Braydon's wolf urged him, yet it wasn't just Braydon who needed the scolding. The animal was just as restless about it all as the human. 

Problem was, the second they hit the city and the wolf and human reconnected as one, they knew they had just been played. It wasn't just anxiety Braydon was plagued with, but fear and rage. It hovered in the back of his mind like a tune he couldn't get out of his head and the worst part was, it wasn't his feelings; they were all Miranda.

Of course the pups would be used against him, against them. Miranda wasn't going to be going with him to get them. That wouldn't be safe on her behalf and they all knew about their alliance to Bianca and further on from that - to Dean. Braydon doubted Carolina really was going to the airport when she left the house and now Miranda was in the danger he had tried to keep her away from. The pups were only a distraction.

Braydon sat straight up in the chair, and a glance towards Cody told him he wasn't wrong on what his instincts were telling him. If something was happening, Cody and Bianca as mated shifters would be able to communicate much clearer between each other than what he and Miranda could. "Stop the fucking car, we need to get to Deans!"

"What? But the-" Nicola turned around from the passenger seat at the front, while the driver made no sign to slow down.

"He's right. I just felt Bianca then! Stop, NOW! We can get our own way there. You and you, come with us. Nic, call Dean. Go get those pups, and take them somewhere safe!" Cody commanded, clearly the most dominant one in the vehicle. 

Instantly the van swerved to the side of the road and Adam followed his cousin out. The duo that Cody had singled out from the back, did the same thing. The group of five ran down into the tree line that lined the road. It was likely that they would be seen during their journey, but their wolves were eager, and being able to go cross country, the hour drive could be done quicker on all fours.

At least for Braydon and Cody who had plenty of motivation to get there as soon as they could.

 -x-

Dean led Bianca, Connor and Miranda down the fence line to the guest house by the pool. Already the growling wolves tainted the otherwise quiet evening air and flicking the latch on the gate in the back corner, Dean passed Bianca the revolver and a box of bullets before doing the same to Connor.

"Go down three houses and when you see the red light, go into their garage. It's a humans house, but I pay them to keep their silence and to keep one of my cars there. The keys will be in it. There is a phone and a few essentials too! Go!" Dean told them and while Miranda blindly followed, the duo didn't waste time with goodbyes or thank yous. It was all business and survival.

Bianca flicked off the safety as they moved away from Dean's complex, keeping away from street lights and anything that might give them away. Both she and Connor were dead serious, hardly showing any signs of fear unlike Miranda who couldn't stop her hands from shaking or from looking over her shoulder in fear of being followed.

Connor swiftly moved behind her to keep her moving, and focusing on Bianca, Miranda wondered if she'd actually shift into a panther or something feline as she moved with slow, purposeful steps with the deadly grace of an assassin. Despite the rather large baby bump in her middle, if Miranda hadn't seen it, she'd never have guessed the woman was seven months pregnant now.

No one spoke as concentration was etched deeply into the shifter's faces and getting into the car, Connor took the drivers seat, while Miranda was moved to the back. 

"Those bastards, if I could shift, they'd be dead right now!" Bianca hissed through gritted teeth, going through the glove box she found the phone and another gun. "Can you shoot?"

"Yeah!" Miranda nodded, yet when the heavy, silver pistol was put into her hands, she wasn't so sure the skills her father had taught her would come in handy now. 

"Where are we going?" Connor asked, starting the engine.

The chug of the old engine vibrated through each other their bodies and Bianca went quiet for a minute. "Home."

She dialed a number and told Jay what was happening as Connor pulled out into the street. Avoiding Dean's complex, they took the long way around and silence engulfed the car as they left suburbia hitting the highway.

"You okay Andy?" Connor asked, glancing back in the review mirror.

"If this was set up here, what do you think is happening at the house?" The sight of the fighting wolves stuck in her mind and the thought of seeing Braydon falling limp to the dirt as Wolfy made her want to throw up.

"They know what's happened, they're coming." Bianca told her calmly.

"Okay." Miranda weakly answered, getting the handle comfortable in her palm as she managed to open the barrel and confirm it was loaded.

Once again the car fell silent and the feeling that filled Miranda, had her holding her chest. It didn't hurt, yet the pressure didn't exactly make sitting there very comfortable. Despite that, Miranda felt stronger, determined and as Bianca glanced back at her, she frowned.

"Are you okay? What's going on?"

"I- I don't know. I just, it feels like the seatbelts too tight or something!" As if to prove the point, Miranda pulled the belt off from across her, unable to stop herself from thinking about Braydon.

All Bianca did was close her eyes and when she finally looked back at Miranda, she smiled. Gone was the human eye, the slightly more amber pupil of her wolf was there instead. "It's Braydon's wolf calling to you. He's letting you know that he is there."

"What?" Miranda gasped, not quite sure what they meant.

"We feel it all the time, like a constant presence in the back of our mind and under our skin. You're human, yet your bonded with Braydon, so this is his way of trying to connect to you. If you had a wolf, she would be the one sensing it and be telling you, kind of like passing the message on, but instead, you feel it!" Bianca explained, "Close your eyes and focus on it. Embrace it, don't be scared."

Miranda did what the shifter told her to do, and for a second it was as if Braydon was there holding her; so much so that when she opened her eyes, Miranda expected him to be seated beside her. 

"Judging by your smile, he's okay?" Bianca asked knowingly.

"Yeah. But what If he wasn't?"

Both their smiles disappeared then and Bianca turned back to stare out of the windscreen, "You'd feel that too."

Connor suddenly jerked to the left, changing lanes again as his driving was quite erratic. Now that Miranda thought about it, he'd been changing lanes and weaving through the traffic pretty much the whole way and it got Bianca's attention too.

"What are you doing?"

"We're being followed." He growled, glancing nervously back into the review mirror again.

"What? How!" Miranda instantly turned around and sure enough, as Connor over took a few more cars and hit the off ramp, the low placed headlights of a sports car followed. "That one?"

"Yup, I noticed it about ten minutes after we left Deans."

"That's why you weren't taking the usual route home." Bianca confirmed, and Connor nodded. "Okay, there is a gas station not far from here. We'll stop there and see what happens."

Getting out the phone, Bianca told the others what was going on and their next stop arrived much too quickly for Miranda's liking. 

"Bianca, you need to stay out of this." Connor warned, his eyes dropping down to where his nephew was hidden inside.

"Like hell!" She snapped.

"A, Cody will kill me if anything happened to you and B, think of your pup!" He retorted rather boldly, "Miranda, when we stop, I want you to go down the side, we're a few minutes ahead of them now and I want you to put this on!"

"Of all the times to be pregnant!" Bianca mumbled, knowing he was right.

He awkwardly shrugged out of his jacket and threw it back to her, ignoring Bianca's mumbling as he did so.

"You two need to steal a car or something and keep going, hopefully I can distract them long enough so you can get away."

"What about you?" Miranda asked, hating the fact they were all at risk now.

"I have a good trainer, if you knew half of what-" Connor started.

"Enough!" Bianca interrupted, "He can handle himself Andy, don't worry."

The second the car slowed, Miranda followed Bianca's lead and got out before the car was under the bright lights that lit up the fuel pumps. 

"Should you really be-" Seeing Bianca get out of the slowly moving car in her current state had Miranda instantly nervous. What would Cody do to her if anything happened to Bianca?

"Say it, and I'll hand you over. I'm pregnant, not disabled and remember that I'm a shifter, not human." Bianca snapped.

"Okay, got it!" Miranda awkwardly carried the gun at her side as the kept low and the duo crouched low behind some parked cars. 

Bianca carefully went to each one, and all of them were locked. "This isn't going to work. We need keys!"

Looking around, they were kind of stuck now and the sleek, red sportscar pulled up behind Connor who focused on cleaning the windscreen. He paid the car no attention and the two women watched, holding their breath as Carolina got out.

She keenly looked around, her head tilting upwards slightly before her attention went to Connor.

"Her car, we'll take that." Bianca pointed out.

"You're kidding?"

"No, she left the keys in it." Miranda had no choice other than to follow Bianca as she snuck around. "You're gonna have to drive!"

"You're a little far from home!" Carolina greeted Connor, moving to stand against the rear of the car.

"Just on my way back now." Connor answered cautiously, "Got a problem?"

"Where is your big sister? Didn't think any of you left her shadow!"

"Didn't think you ventured far from Daddy's either."

Carolina laughed at that, "You'd be surprised. Seriously, where is she or do I have to cause a scene to get her attention?"

 "This isn't a place you want to cause a scene, we're the only ones of our kind here. Bianca and Miranda are safe, they never left with me." It was a lie, yet Connor spoke it so confidently Carolina started to fidget.

"I could see you weren't alone, there was someone in the back!" She snapped.

"Decoy. I'll even show you to doll now?" Connor opened the back door, instead reaching for his gun that he'd left on the console.

"No! I don't trust you, so keep your-"

Carolina's demands fell on deaf ears as Connor pointed the weapon at her, keeping it hidden from human eyes and camera's against the side of the car. It was then he saw Bianca and Miranda creeping up from behind her and Bianca signalled at the car. 

"The feeling is mutual. Now come closer and I'll consider not shooting right now!" He offered, trying to distract her long enough for the pair to get in.

 "You're not going to shoot me, you would have by now otherwise!" Carolina dared to mock, just as Bianca opened the passenger door. 

"I woudn't be so cocky if I were you," Connor warned.

It was then Miranda started the car, and Bianca slammed the door shut. Instantly Carolina was at the drivers side and before Miranda was able to slam the car into reverse,  she was instead being yanked out of her seat and thrown to the concrete.

Bianca was there in an instant, and she was right when she told Miranda minutes before she was only pregnant and not disabled. Carolina had none of the same abilities as the lethal she-wolf, leaving her with no chance of defending herself and Connor was quick to take over.

"Are you okay?" Miranda struggled to her feet, and looked Bianca over. 

"Are you?" She asked just as quickly, knowing how fragile humans can be.

"Maybe."

Connor held Carolina in place, the well trained shifter once again proving to Carolina how out classed she was in these kind of battles. Hearing Carolina's protests, Miranda narrowed her eyes in on her rival and every ounce of strength she had went into slapping her across the face.

"That was for the pups!" Miranda yelled, slapping her again, "That was for kissing my boyfriend at the gala!"

Carolina merely gasped in shock as Miranda's palm stung her face, helpless to defend herself.

"This is for nearly killing one of my best friends and for hurting my mate!"

Miranda didn't slap this time, opting to punch instead as the fear from nearly loosing Rory only added to her strength. She could have been using a baseball bat or iron pole, and none of it would have hurt Carolina as much as hearing Miranda call Braydon her mate did.

"And this, this is because," Miranda paused, flexing her first as she didn't realise punching people actually hurt that much, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry your mate chose me, and that we've all been put into this situation. We didn't ask for any of it, and I really am sorry!"

All three shifters stared at Miranda like she had just grown a tail.

"What?" Carolina asked, completely dumbfounded.

"I get it, why you're doing this, and I don't blame you. It literally killed me inside when I ended it with Braydon, but knowing and feeling what I do now, if he was to leave me, I, I don't think I could come back from that. You're his kind, following an instinct you have no say or control in, and I can't imagine this is easy for you, but you really need to let him go. He is mine now."

The words still stung Carolina, yet deep down her wolf knew Miranda was right. It was why there had been the unbalance between human and wolf since Braydon left as one couldn't let go and one didn't want to accept it.

"Bianca and Braydon are with chosen mates, I don't doubt you won't be able to do the same one day. You're a good person Carolina. You helped the pups when no one else would, you're smart, strong, independant and beautiful. This, here and now, isn't you."

Connor let Carolina go, and instantly Bianca pulled on Miranda's arm so she was moved closer to her.

"You're right. It's not, and now you've made what's about to happen that much harder." Carolina looked at her human rival with a sense of defeat. 

She was a smart, strong, independant shifter - beautiful too and she would never submit to Miranda. Even if she was currently under the watchful gaze of Bianca and Connor, at gun point, and the battle for Braydon's affections was seeminly over.

"What's about to happen?" Bianca demanded.

The two vans that had pulled up in the carpark behind them went un-noticed until the first shifter stepped at and whirling around, Bianca didn't hesitate in pulling out her gun and taking Miranda's as the few curious humans that had so far been keeping their distance ran for cover. 

While Carolina didn't stand much of a chance against Bianca or Connor, she did have the advantage over Miranda and swiftly pulled her against her as a shield. Her arm was tight around Miranda's neck and her threat of snapping it wasn't lost on either Connor or Bianca.

"Drop the guns she-wolf!" Nicholas demanded, joining the party like a King entering court. Tiny red dots flashed onto Connor's head, while a couple were trained on Bianca. "We just want the human. You can all go free."

"Take her and it will be the last thing you do!" Bianca growled, desperate to shift, yet it wasn't possible in her current state.

"I don't think you're in any condition to make threats!"

"Hurting her isn't going to get Braydon to do what you want! He won't ever forgive you Carolina!" It was an obvious truth, and Bianca's words were noted by Carolina.

"Please, this isn't about that anymore. This human knows too much about what we are and needs to be eliminated. Braydon should have expected when he chose to reveal our secret to her!" Nicholas growled as the two dominant shifters faced off against one another. 

"This isn't permanent. I will hunt you down and-" Bianca protectively held her stomach, desperate to rip him apart now with her bare hands.

"I wouldn't if I were you. You wouldn't want your pup struggling to survive without it's parents close by to protect it would you? Just because you have built up your little packs defense with a strong reputation and impressive allies, doesn't mean you're invincible!"

"Bianca, let them take her. He's right, she's not worth it. One human we hardly know over the safety of your pup and our family? Come on, let's just go home!" Connor spoke up, going to Bianca's side he showed all the signs of submission to Nicholas. "This isn't even our battle!"

Bianca opened and closed her mouth as they were surrounded by Nicholas's men, all of which had guns.

"H-he's. Right. Go!" Miranda managed to choke out as tears streamed down her face.

"But-"

"You have until three, I suggest you leave." Nicholas dared to smirk, loving the position he had Bianca in now.

With a final look at Miranda, Bianca let Connor take her to the car and the second it started to pull away from the gas station, Nicholas turned to one of the vans, just as the distant shrill siren of police cars warned them off the company soon arriving.

"You lot, kill them." He ordered.

"NO!" Miranda began struggling, no longer willing to play along. Her nails dug into the soft flesh of Carolina's arm and with a hiss the she-wolf let her go. "You can't do that! Let them go!"

"I don't believe any of what he just said! With wolves like that, the only way to ensure they don't come back to stab you in the back is to make sure you don't fuck up when you kill them! Now, get her tied up and in the car, we need to go!" Nicholas went to get into Carolina's car and as the pack went to get Miranda, she spat out her final blow.

"I take it all back! You're nothing like the person I thought you were! This isn't grief, I don't have any sympthay for you at all, you're just a disgusting, evil excuse of a she-wolf. How or why would someone like Braydon, ever be with you Carolina? You'll nev-"

It didn't matter what else Miranda had to say because the gag they put into her mouth before dragging her over to the other van had her silent. Yet she had been able to say enough as Carolina stood there knowing every word of it was true. 

Miranda should have taken that gun and killed Carolina on the spot. She should have kept punching her until her nose was broken and her face unrecognizable, but she didn't. Instead, she had understood and believed that Carolina could recover from all of this. No wonder Braydon fell in love with her, had chosen her.

All the human had done was show him kindness and an understanding Carolina never did. She only saw him as mate, not as the person who had been scared and suffered and just expected him to conform to what she wanted. And sure she had the pups in her care and knew their stories, but she expected them to just get over it, rather than work through it. She never really tried to see it from their angle, just her own and that didn't leave room for acting weak or dwelling on their fears.

Had she been too hard on them this whole time? 

"Carolina! We need to go!" Nicholas called and shaking her head to clear her mind, Carolina obeyed.

Problem was, the line between right and wrong had been crossed and she was a long way over the wrong side. Miranda was right in saying this, here and now, wasn't who she really was. She hadn't been herself in a long time; not since meeting Braydon and she really didn't deserve him. 

Without even knowing it, Carolina had left behind the anger and depression. She knew there was no point in trying to bargain now and she was no longer in denial. Without knowing exactly when or how, Carolina had finally entered stage five of the grieving process; Acceptance.

She accepted she'd lost her mate.

She accepted that it was out of her hands as clearly, no matter how much she wanted it to be otherwise, nothing she could ever do would bring him back to her. Braydon had told Carolina months ago that he was sorry he didn't meet her first, that he loved Miranda and that the human was home to him, and she accepted it now, that he was telling the truth. 

Following the van that currently had Miranda tied up inside of it, the trio of police cars went flying past to the gas station they'd just left. As the car filled with the red and blue glow of their lights, Carolina accepted that everything that was happening now, was wrong. Gripping the steering wheel with determination, she accepted the challenge to make it right again.

Only problem she now had was time was running out and Carolina wasn't sure what to do next.