Sunday night had Braydon and Miranda in front of the TV watching Superman. Against Braydon’s better judgment, he had agreed to leave the apartment. His main fear was running into other shifters, but they made it the whole day without seeing one.  Miranda didn’t know how he hadn’t gone crazy being cooped up inside for so long and wondered if getting him the games was a good idea. Rory was going to be starting back at work full time tomorrow, which would take away his gaming friend and since she had arranged with Jason to start back part time after next week, Miranda wanted Braydon to be able to go out and be part of society.

She had no idea what Braydon was going to do while she was at work though, and sitting in front of the TV shooting imaginary people or aliens to save the world all day wasn’t going to be an option for him.  While Miranda’s mother would be more than happy to baby-sit him, Miranda didn’t want that either. Part of Braydon coming back to reality with her was so he could move on and start his new life.  The trip around town and lunch in the park was to start getting him used to being back in civilization and for the most part he did well.

Braydon had only a handful of freak out moments, and just like how he had helped Miranda on the plane, she was able to help him through it with a few stop and breathe directions. Problem with that all was, now he had some fresh air and conquered his first fear of the unknown; he was itching to go out again. There were no telltale shifter scents in the air, so maybe they didn’t like living in the inner city. His own home had been in the country, not quite rural, but with plenty of room around them. The animal part of him was missing the wild, the freedom, but with his mind being reminded of how to be human, Braydon was adapting well.

Instead  of staying out, they reheated one of the many meals Helen had left for them and settled on the lounge. The best part of the day was it had just been the pair of them. Jason would be out of town for the next few days for a family event and a business meeting while he was there and Miranda’s father had a talk with Helen about giving them some space. As a compromise, Miranda promised to visit them the following weekend.

“I just don’t get it. If he is all Superman, why aren’t the people from his planet the same?” Miranda asked her millionth question about the movie, making Braydon roll his eyes and throw some of the popcorn that sat between them at her. “What?”

Considering she had seen the movie before, Braydon was left explaining the majority of it to her. Some things you don’t forget and a childhood full of comic books was apparently one of them.

“Just watch the movie!” He groaned, tempted to rewind the part he just missed.

“Sorry!” She mumbled sarcastically, throwing a piece back at him. Sure he was acting annoyed, but deep down he loved this time alone with her.

Discreetly looking at Miranda out of the corner of his eye, Braydon’s smile only grew. She sat with a handful of popcorn being loaded into her mouth non-stop and her face was frowning in concentration.  Seconds later she practically threw what was left in her hand over the coffee table in front of them as she pointed to the screen.

“Now what’s happening? I thought his Dad was dead, but then he was there in that ship and now this?” She yelled rather dramatically.

“I thought you said you have watched this before?” Braydon teased, deciding to watch it later when she wasn’t around.

“I lied, I saw bits of it. It didn’t interest me so I never paid attention and played Angry Birds on my phone instead.” Miranda admitted guiltily.

“So everything you told me about Batman was a lie too?” Faking his astonishment, Miranda saw through the act and grinned sheepishly.

“You’d probably wanna watch them in the order they come in that box set. I may have also included some of Spiderman in my retelling!”

“I was curious as to how Batman was captured in a spiders web before being handed over a Dr we weren't suppose to know was actually The Hulk." Braydon smirked thinking of some of her retellings. He knew things like that had to be wrong, but he had enjoyed listening to her talk so didn't say anything at the time.

"So what else have you lied to me about?” Shaking his head, Braydon failed at stopping his laugh now, which only resulted in more popcorn being thrown his way.

“Um, I wasn’t lying about three-d movies, I’ll take you to one of those when something good comes out. But hey, do you blame me. It was a hostage situation, you could have wolfed out and ate me for all I knew!”

“You didn’t know the wolf thing then.”

“It was women’s intuition.” Miranda argued and once again, she wondered how she had become so accepting of it all.

“And that’s why you hid under the bed?”

“Oh shut up and watch the stupid movie!” She huffed, choosing to ignore him.

“He was sent to earth as a baby, so adjusted to our planet over time as he grew. Those guys just turned up and haven’t had the time to get used to our conditions.” Braydon quietly ran over a few other important details that had so far confused Miranda.

“It kind of makes sense now, thanks!” She blushed slightly, feeling stupid, yet catching is gaze all she saw was something that made her stomach do backflips and her heart beat a little bit faster.

“You’re welcome.” Braydon half smiled, shifting his position in the lounge so now his legs were stretched out in front of him.

Picking up the bowl of popcorn, he helped himself and Miranda crawled closer beside him, easily finding her place curled up against his side as his arm fell over her shoulders. Even with his shared wisdom, Miranda lost interest again and by the time the credits appeared she was fast asleep against him.

Finding the remote, he turned off the TV and gently moved Miranda forward so he could easily pick her up. Still asleep, she tucked her head in against his shoulder and taking her to her bed, he carefully tucked her in. He was about to leave when her hand caught his, and she pulled him back towards her.

“Stay, just don’t wake Wolfy,” she mumbled.

Braydon hesitated before moving into place beside her. He had yet to sleep in the guest bed, and it was the first night he climbed into hers as a human. Curling around Miranda protectively, he was finally able to hold her in his arms once more. Even at the hospital he had missed this. A few nights of such close contact had left him craving it. Surely Miranda felt the same if she wanted this now and then it was all ruined as he thought of Jason holding her how he was.

The thought stirred up his wolf too, and Braydon held her a little tighter causing Miranda to press herself closer against him of her own accord. Scared he would wake her and she’d send him away, he let out a heavy sigh, focusing instead on the sound of her breathing, the smell of her hair and how nice she felt against him.

-x-

 Come morning, Miranda woke the familiar sight of Braydon’s bare chest and following her arm, cringed as she realized she was hanging half way over him. Reluctant to admit it, she had never slept better and she was loosing a battle with her body, as she wanted to move before he woke up

Moving her leg from over his, she paused to find no change in Braydon. Slowly she began to roll backwards, sliding her arm carefully back to her side. How she managed to find herself in this position – again, was beyond her. At least when he was being a wolf if she woke up using him as her pillow or with his head on her stomach it didn’t feel like this; so intimate and natural. It felt right.

‘No, it’s wrong!’ She scolded herself, trying to think of Jason when instead her eyes drifted up to Braydon’s sleeping face. He looked so peaceful, content and she was positive he hadn’t slept in human form since coming to her apartment.

“Stop. Staring. At. Me.” Braydon groaned, rubbing his cheek, which was prickled with the regrowth of his beard. In a swift movement he rolled onto his side facing Miranda; his arm curling around her back to keep her close.

Startled, Miranda looked around nervously – resisting the urge just to settle back down beside him. This whole thing would have Jason flipping out, but it was innocent with Braydon. At least that was what Miranda tried to tell herself as the feelings inside told her it was anything but that.

The more time they spent together, the strange bond she felt pulling her to him seemed to strengthen. She wanted to ignore it, reject it, only the rest of her being wasn’t listening to the logical section of her mind. It was the same part that still told her wolf shifting werewolf creatures didn’t exist and Jason was the man of her dreams.

Braydon opened one eye to look down at her; a tiny smile forming as she blushed at being caught looking at him again, “I said, stop staring!”

His punishment was quick and severe and left Miranda kicking, squirming and squealing beside him as his hands caught her waist and he began to tickle her.

“Not. Fair!” Miranda screamed, helpless to his attack. He was quicker and stronger than her, though once it got to the point where tears were streaming down her face and she could take it any more, he backed off, sitting up on the bed looking proud of himself. “Jerk!”

‘You’re just-“ Braydon didn’t get to finish as Miranda launched a pillow at his head and rolling out of bed, she ran to the bathroom as Braydon gave chase. In seconds he had lifted and thrown back onto the bed. “Say you’re sorry!”

“Never!” She declared, carefully reaching out to pillow that had fallen beside them and grabbed the corner of it; she threw it against his side. “Take that!”

The pair of them spent the next ten minutes acting like children, throwing pillows and bouncing all over the bed until Braydon managed to knock Miranda’s weapon from her hands leaving her with no choice other than admitting defeat.

“Fine, I’m sorry!”

“I don’t believe you.” He retorted, grinning as foolishly as she was. Both were out of breath with wet cheeks from tears of laughter.

“What if I also take you out for waffles?”

“Deal!” Braydon agreed, and laughing Miranda wiped her eyes.

“I haven’t done that in years!” She went and sat back by the bed, fixing up the bed covers and pillows. “I forgot how much fun it was!”

“Same!” Braydon agreed, leaning by her to put the pillow he still held down.

From where he stood, it left them eye to eye and as Braydon’s eyes drifted to her lips, Miranda subconsciously licked them as her mind seemed to shut down and kissing him seemed like the only logical thing to do. Slowly she felt herself moving closer to him, while Braydon felt like a deer in headlights. His heart was pounding for completely new reasons and just as Miranda’s eyelids dropped, she pulled away and stood up, coughing awkwardly.

“I’m going to go get ready and we’ll head out soon.” She rambled, quickly disappearing into the bathroom. Locking the door, she stood in front of the mirror, struggling to recognize the girl staring back at her. Her face was still flushed with excitement and breathing heavily, desire for something she shouldn’t be wanting was only growing. Narrowing her eyes, she brushed back her mass of out control hair and taking a few deep breaths, forced herself to calm down.

“What are you doing Miranda! Get your shit together!” She scolded, leaving her reflection she turned on the heat and got focused on getting ready.

While Miranda was obsessing over what shouldn’t and couldn’t happen, Braydon was just as confused only he wasn’t being so hard on himself. He had always had, feelings, he didn’t quite understand for Miranda and once again he was reminded just how confusing this human part of him could be.

As promised, they headed to a local café and had waffles for breakfast. Three serves later, Miranda wasn’t sure if it was just Braydon eating or a pack and teasing him about it only ended up with Braydon stealing her milkshake too. With the day before focusing more on actual things, like pointing out food stores, chemists and other things Miranda thought he needed to know about, their Monday took a different turn.

They ran through the city like naughty teenagers, stopping in toy stores to mess around with new gadgets and an impromptu game of basketball until the sales assistant told them to get out. They went through department stores taking advantage of free samples and finding the ugliest outfits made up their own fashion show in the change room to the horror of the snobby stylist who had been trying to help them.

After lunch which consisted of only fried food, they took the ferry across the river and standing up on the bow, Braydon referenced Titanic again by declaring himself the king of the world.

“You really like Titanic don’t you? That’s kind of weird for a guy!” Miranda laughed, remembering their ‘don’t let go’ moment before boarding the plane. Miranda moved to lean against the railing beside him as they enjoyed the breeze on what had turned into a warm summers day.

“It was my Mums favorite movie, I always used to watch it with her before she died.” The light mood seemed to darken then, and stepping down off the first bar Braydon stared out over the water, lost in thought.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Miranda gently rested her hand on his arm - thankful he didn’t pull away.

“It’s okay, I just haven’t thought about her for a while.”

“Did you want to talk about it?”

“No,” he answered bluntly, and after a few minutes Braydon sighed, “She was really patient, kind. Everyone liked her; she made the perfect Alpha. Her temper reminds me of you a little, she was fine to a point and once it went to far she’d make sure you knew and that’s when you ran!” He laughed, remembering the trouble his cousin had got him into on more than one occasion. He was positive there had been steam coming out of her ears.

“I don’t have a temper!” Miranda protested, but didn’t really argue the point as she realized she kind of did.

“Sure you don’t.” He teased, before turning serious again. “If she hadn’t died, I wonder what my life would be like now?”

Miranda remembered him telling her about the fight between his Dad and Uncle, since he was no longer fit to lead them. That wouldn’t have happened, he would have grown up with his own kind; gone to school and all that follows. They would have never met.

“Could you ever go back?” Miranda asked hesitantly. If he did, she wouldn’t stop him.

“No. He might take me back now, but it would harder than before. He’d want me to know he was boss and make sure I wouldn’t think of challenging him.”

“Then why didn’t he just let you stay in the first place?” The whole thing was confusing to Miranda.

  “Because in the aftermath of battle, I could have responded with my own challenge or plotted revenge for my Fathers death if I had stuck around.”

“You were just a kid!”

“They don’t see it that way. Now they know who and what I’ve grown to be, they’d be able to set me in my place beneath them. I was too unpredictable to keep around, plus most already held some kind of fear towards me because I was the freak who shifted early and since I am a submissive wolf, I ran.”

‘We were young, we are stronger now.’

The tingle of his wolf beneath his skin told Braydon enough. He had already flexed his own less than submissive attitude with the shifters at the hospital. He was happy to run alone. He’d never fit in with a pack and he didn’t want to, choosing to be human above all else.

“People always fear things they don’t understand, things that are different. You are not a freak, you’re special and they were just too blind to see it!” Miranda spoke so adamantly, Braydon found himself nodding along agreeing.

“Yeah, but try telling that to a thirteen year old boy who was best friends with the voice in his head.”

“I just did, only I spoke to his twenty three year old man version so hopefully he listens.”

 The rest of the trip went by in silence and getting off on the other side, the musky shifter scent hit him hard.  “We need to go back.”

“Why?” Miranda asked, looking around, as Braydon grew tense. She noticed the way his pupils expanded, making his eyes look more canine than human and understood. “Others?”

“Yeah, I don’t want to risk running into any.” ‘Especially with you here,’ he thought to himself.

Rather than argue or try to talk it over, Miranda simply nodded and they went back onto the dock to enjoy another ferry ride. At least now he knew where not to go and wondered why none of them were in the main part of the city.

“You okay?” Miranda finally broke the silence when they were nearly back to their side of the shore and Braydon nodded.

“Yeah, fine.”

“Good thing you’re not a woman because fine, never means fine!” She laughed, trying to lighten the mood back to what it had been.

It worked and while the rest of the week went by much the same until Friday at lunch when Miranda refused to order for Braydon, determined to make him choose something for himself. All week the majority of what he had ordered when they had gone out was from what she had said.

“I’ll take the ceasar salad with salmon, thanks!” She ordered, and looking at Braydon the waiter was ready for his order.

“Um, what were the specials today?” He asked again.

“Just a Vegetable Lasagne for lunch.”

Braydon cringed. Ever the meat eater, he didn’t want salad like Miranda or a vegetarian dish.

“Ah, a burger. Please.”

Miranda raised an eyebrow at seeing how Braydon was struggling. Was it his nerves at being out playing up or was it something more. The way he kept trying to focus on the menu had her intervening before the waiter could ask his next questions.

“The Ego Burger please, hold the chilli.”

Braydon looked at her thankfully, yet she didn’t miss the guilt in is eyes as he focused on his water glass as the waiter took their menus.

“Hey, Braydon, look at me. What’s going on?” She asked softly.

Braydon didn’t want to tell her and so going back to his, I don’t want to talk it moody silence, Miranda had picked up over their week together, he was in so many ways still that thirteen year old.

“Braydon.”

“I can’t read it!” He blurted out roughly, his face heating with embarrassment.

“Read? Like, do you need glasses or-“

“No. I can’t make out the words. I can see them, it was just hard cause of the paper and the writing to try and sound it out!” Still snappy, he was only getting more defensive.

So much made sense to her now. Whenever they looked at something with words, he always took his time. On a few occasions she thought he must have just zoned out or be trying to keep calm before answering. He was struggling to read.

“It’s okay Braydon, I can help you with this. My friend has a little girl at school and we can get some of her reading books if you like?”

“I don’t want kids books.”

Miranda sat back in her chair, letting him sulk as he continued to stare at the water glass. Thinking back to when she had mentioned adult classes to him, it was so he could finish high school. Now he might need to go for more than that.

Once their food arrived, they still ate in silence until Miranda got a call.

“Miranda Wright speaking.”

“Hey Andy, it’s Rory. You’re starting back Monday right?” Something sounded wrong, and Miranda hated being reminded what was happening Monday.

“Yeah, what’s going on?”

“Well, you really-“

“Actually, no. I don’t start till Monday and I don’t want to think of work till then. Can it wait?” remembering the talk with her Mum, she didn’t want to fall into old routines.

“I guess, but-“

“Alright, we’ll wait until Monday!”

“Fine. I’ll see you Monday Miranda, oh and Jason said to tell you he wont be back until Sunday now.” Rory sighed, hanging up.

“What was that about?” Braydon asked, also hating the thought of Monday.

“Who knows? It must be gossip otherwise he would have been more insistent.” Miranda went back to her salad, ignoring the part about Jason and started telling Braydon about the trip they’d be taking out to her parents tomorrow to spend the weekend there.

-x-

In a rather devious act, Miranda walked them the long way to the train station. Seeing the sign of the local community college, she smiled slightly and started to move in that direction, stopping outside the window.

“Braydon look! Remember how I said about doing some classes so you can finish high school, this is one of those places!”

Braydon looked at Miranda suspiciously. Her tone was too high and he could sense how nervous she was.

“So?”

“Well, maybe we should look inside?”

Holding her breath, she nearly passed out in the time it took him to nod and follow her in.

“Hi there! Can I help you at all?” The elderly lady behind the counter looked up from her magazine, smiling at the pair of them.

“Yes, hi!” Miranda smiled back, seeing the brochure for adult education on the wall. “We were just enquiring about these!”

“Certainly! We have day and night classes, covering the basics. There are also some extra tutoring sessions for math, reading and writing…” The lady spoke to Miranda about all the different sessions and how there was a special program for adults struggling with illiteracy.

Braydon had tuned out, dumping their over night bags by Miranda’s feet, the shifter scent had him intrigued more than worried. Rather than the canine musky odor, this was different. Walking down the corridor on creaking, wooden floorboards he paused outside a classroom where the scent was strongest.  Peeking through the glass panel of the door, it was the woman at the front of the class that held his interest, and he knew without a doubt she was the shifter he could smell.

“If we’re talking about their house, will it be t-h-e-r-e or t-h-e-i-r? Paul, care to take a shot?” 

Braydon didn’t hear the answer, nor did he care. She was softly spoken, yet held herself with confidence. Her hair was as black and shiny as the feathers on a raven and her sun-kissed skin glowed. If he thought Miranda was beautiful, this woman was in a completely different league. As if sensing being watched, the woman turned towards the door, her large almond shaped eyes were the deepest shade of chocolate and catching his gaze, Braydon couldn’t move.

“So what do you think Braydon? Did you actually hear any of that?” Miranda headed over to where he stood, knocking his arm he jumped in surprise and looked down at her half in annoyance for interrupting him and shock that she had managed to creep up on him. “What?”

Miranda peeked inside to find the woman reading out the next problem to her class and frowning looked back at Braydon. “You okay?”

“I’ll do it.”

“Do what?”

“What ever you want, all the classes.” He mumbled, not even looking at her now as the woman looked back to him.

“I was just going to put you a basic refresher before actually starting classes. They’ll be able to help you with your reading and writing before moving into something a little more full on. Are you really okay with this?” Miranda frowned, not sure he was even listening to her again.

“Yeah, I am.” He finally answered, knowing he had to see that woman again.

“Cool. I’ll go sign you up then! This is great Braydon! I’m so proud of you!” Miranda hugged him, making him turn away from the door as she led him over to sign up. “Oh look at the time! We need to go or we’re going to miss the train!”

With a final look back down the corridor, Braydon let Miranda guide him to the train-station though anything she said about train passes, tickets and the schedule was lost on him as the eyes of that woman stayed fresh in his mind.