Jason sat on his iPad, while Miranda was busy messaging her mother about seeing them on the weekend. Getting away from the stress that had only grown since Monday was a tempting offer, but Miranda didn’t want the hassle of the trip out to their house. With the way Braydon had been acting, it wouldn’t be easy to try and explain or at least make up excuses for his odd behavior.

He hadn’t freaked out like she expected; well not straight away. He simply got up, returned in human form a few minutes later and went to sleep. It had been two hours later he’d woken her when he had been mumbling to himself as he’d paced up and down the corridor. Letting him have his moment, Miranda was quick to get up when he ended up on her balcony, in wolf form, howling into the night. That was bound to get the attention of her neighbors and half the city.

Since then he’d acted like her personal security guard. He was up and ready to leave to walk her to work before Miranda’s alarm went off and had been sitting in the lobby making friends with the security guards on the front reception desk. Enlisting the help of Chad, he’d covered every inch of the city looking for some kind of sign of Nicholas still being around, only to come up empty.  It was the part of the reason Miranda why hadn’t refused the offer to go out for lunch today. If she didn’t think it was safe, she wouldn’t be pushing her luck.

“Someone is popular.” Jason mused, finally getting off his own device. It was good timing as their lunch arrived and Miranda put her phone back in her bag.

“Mum.” She sighed.

“How is everything going now?” He asked, genuinely interested.

“Good. I just hate the trip out to their place and she wants me there every weekend. It’s exhausting.”

“Yeah, I can relate. Mine just got back that Alaskan cruise and now I have to go suffer through holiday photos!”

Miranda laughed, and the pair carried on chatting like the old friends they were as they ate their lunch. For a while there it was as if no time had passed and other events or people hadn’t happened to interrupt their relationship. Since the visit from Nicholas, everything else was kind of put on hold. Miranda had no idea of the implications of his visit for completely different reasons to Jason, who was still extremely paranoid he’d come back. He wasn’t aware of who their threatening visitor actually was like Miranda, but he was putting his and Miranda’s safety as a priority, as well as the rest of his staff. Miranda also couldn’t tell him that there hadn’t been a sign or scent of Nicholas since Monday as Braydon had literally been on the hunt for his long lost Uncle.

It wasn’t just Miranda’s need to talk to Jason about what happened between him and Braydon that was on hold, as Jason had no choice other than doing the same with his investigation on Braydon. The only thing not diminished was the need to find out what the other man was hiding. The threats and actions from Nicholas only had Jason’s interest growing as he was positive he had been right about the wild man and nothing good could come from having him around.

Until the mystery of it all was solved, Jason kept a body-guard close by whenever he left home. It was this man Miranda saw when she looked towards the bar where he sat rather inconspicuously with a pot of tea, making small talk with the barman opposite him. Braydon was a little calmer that morning, and while he had decided not to go into work, incase Nicholas knew his schedule – Miranda decided the danger had passed for the time being. That meant it was time for other things that had still been bugging her and was the other part of the reason why she was now out at lunch with him.

 “Jason, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about what happened the other day.” Miranda started, deciding now was a good a time as any. Putting down her chopsticks, she reminded herself to stay calm. Yelling wasn’t going to do any good.

“With that Nick guy?” He asked, half interested between mouthfuls.

“No.”

Miranda raised an eyebrow as Jason slowed his chewing before glancing up at her; instantly cringing. He knew exactly what she was talking about and had thought he’d gotten away with it too. Clearly not.

“Oh.” His guilt was obvious.

“What the hell was that about?”

Silence engulfed the pair as Miranda sat glaring at him, while Jason awkwardly carried on trying to eat his sushi and tempura vegetables.

“I can’t do it.” Jason finally admitted.

“Do what?”

“This. Us. Andy, I know it was under the worst of circumstances, but the accident made me realise how much I want you! That I need you! I can’t be nice to him and pretend I’m okay with us just being friends.”

After that little outburst, silence once again took over and Miranda regretted bringing it up. The silence remained until they were done with lunch and they started the short walk back to work. They’d just crossed the road Miranda knew she wasn’t angry with Jason anymore. Instead she just felt guilty and some pity for him. What would have happened for them if the plane hadn’t crashed? How many times could she ask herself that, without really wanting the answer? She was happy now, and she hadn’t been for a long time.

“I’m sorry Jason.” She admitted softly, not for the first time either. Miranda’s hand rested on his arm, and his hand fell over hers.

“I know.” Jason mumbled. He hated all of this. He wasn’t used to rejection and especially not from Miranda. Years of having her undivided attention now seemed like a distant dream. “Doesn’t mean I like it! I just-“

“Aundy Andy!” Emma’s little voice floated above the noise of the rubbish truck on the other side of the road and turning, Miranda soon had a small weight hanging from her legs.

“Hey Emmy!” She scooped up the little dark haired girl, while Jason looked at Abby who was running over to them.

“Where’s my friend?” A cautious look was served at Jason and Miranda tilted her head slightly.

“Your friend?”

“Yeah, Uncle Baydon?”

Jason groaned as Abby joined them, finally closing the zipper on the hot pink, princess backpack she’d been struggling with on her way over. “Hey guys. Emmy, what did I tell you about running away from Mummy?”

“I saw Andy! She wasn’t at Rory’s house cause she’s here!” Emma answered, wiggling free of Miranda’s hold. “Can I give this to Uncle Baydon?”

“It’s not his house, it’s where we work!” Abby mumbled under her breath; her daughter oblivious to anything her mother was saying now as she reopened her backpack and pulled out a piece of paper.

“Can I give this to Uncle Baydon?”

Miranda took the drawing from the little girl and all the adults peered over it curiously. There was something in black, with Miranda’s first guess being it was perhaps an elephant. Two people, clearly girls thanks to their telltale triangular shaped, red dresses stood side by side. The bigger one had yellow hair and the other had black. At the top of the page, someone who was obviously not Emma had written, once upon a time.

“It’s you and me and Baydon chasing us. Remember he was going to get us like the wolf got Red Riding Hood and he isn’t a bad wolf like that one because we had ice-cream to eat, not grandma’s, and look I put it here and-“Emma pointed out the numerous other bits of doodling on the page as she told everyone her story, which revolved around her afternoon of playing with Braydon.

Miranda loved the irony of the fact the little girl had drawn Braydon as a wolf, but kept that to herself.

“We should be getting back to the office.” Jason rudely interrupted.

“Sorry, of course!” Miranda turned back to Emma, “maybe you can come with your Mum on Thursday and give it to Braydon yourself? I’m sure he’s going to love it!”

“Yeah? I guess I could.” Emma looked up at Abby and her mother nodded. “Don’t tell him. I’m going to make it better and a surprise!”

“I won’t I promise!” Miranda made a pinky promise before turning her attention to Abby. “Actually, we’re home all weekend if you wanted to come over?”

“Can’t. Grant has his brothers thirtieth Saturday night.” Abby groaned.

“Ok, well I’ll talk to you later anyway. Bye Emmy!” Miranda waved and the group split up.

“So the kid is drawing pictures for him now?” Jason didn’t bother hiding the scowl on his face.

“You don’t even like kids Jason, and he’s been around when I babysit for Abs.” There was no hiding her own agitation now, especially as he scoffed at her words.

“Is he really someone that should be around kids?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Miranda reminded herself to calm down as her voice went a little higher. Instinctively her hand strangled the leather strap of her bag where it hung against her side, imagining it as Jason’s throat. He frustrated the hell out of her and the snide comments that kept coming as they walked pushed her to breaking point.

She was done.

“I’m not doing this anymore Jason. I guess we’ll keep our relationship strictly professional from now on. I tried to be nice, I tried to understand and be your friend, but I’ve had enough.”

Pushing past the bodyguard, Miranda was on a mission to get back to her desk and as Jason grabbed her wrist to pull her back, she jerked her hand free.

“Miranda, Andy, please!” He begged pathetically, secretly hoping this was nothing more than one of her mood swings and once she’d calmed down it would be forgiven, forgotten and moved on from.

“What Jason?” She snapped, not caring about the people who looked their way.

“It doesn’t need to come to that. I am sorry and-“

“And what? You’re going to tell me we can be friends or whatever you think I want to hear and if I give you that chance, again, but what then? You’re going to try bullying him some more? Convince me I made the wrong choice?”  She roared.

“I, but I wasn’t, I didn’t mean-“

“I don’t want to hear it.” Miranda kept walking determined not to say something she could end up regretting. She knocked shoulders with a couple of people as she passed, making no effort to walk around them and continued to ignore Jason calling after her. There was no doubt now about taking Gray up on his offer.

Miranda had just made it past the security desk in the building’s entrance when Jason caught up and stopped her quest to escape him.

“I don’t want to fight with you. Anything, name it. I’ll do whatever it takes!” Jason promised, frantically aching for her to believe him. He had never seen her so determined– sure he knew she was stubborn, but this all felt different and it scared him.

“What is Case two point four?”

“What?”  That wasn’t what he was expecting.

“I saw it in your draw.” Crossing her arms, Miranda was giving him his last chance.

“Nothing. It’s nothing, just some old info the PI already gave me. I got rid of it Tuesday morning, I promise!”

Miranda stared at him, narrowing her eyes as that tiny twitch appeared just under his left eye, not to mention his gaze never met hers. The way Jason said it wasn’t missed either; it is nothing, not it was nothing. Miranda nodded, pressing her lips tightly together before speaking slowly and her tone was so cold it sent a shiver up his spine.

“That is good to know Mr. Carpe. Thank you for lunch and if you need anything further Rory will be your point of contact. If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” Miranda swiftly turned on her heel and managed to get into the elevator before the door closed, leaving him standing there with only a body guard as company.

“Shit!” Jason cursed; pulling out his phone and quickly found the number he was looking for. There was only way to get her back and to end all this bullshit. To have a chance at doing that, he needed Braydon gone. “Tyson, its Jace. I’m calling about that favour you owe me and I need it for Thursday night.”

-x-

“I really appreciate you doing this for me!” Braydon glanced through the print outs that Carolina passed over.

“No problem. What do you think he wants?” She asked. Her concern was solely for Braydon; not the human.

“Jason, Miranda’s boss and well, friend I guess, had an investigator look for family for me. I can’t really say no because of the amnesia thing and well the guy must have managed to find something. He has no reason to stay around.”

“But he met Miranda.” Carolina pointed out, and Braydon grimly nodded.

“That’s why I’m not taking any chances.” He decided to leave out the part about what he and Chad had been up to so far this week in regards to his uncle.

Carolina sighed and leant back into her chair, wishing Braydon cared for her even an inch of what he did for the human. It was stupid how eager she was for his attention, and that is how she ended up helping him learn what he’d been missing out on by accessing her father’s files about his old pack. He’d been there most of the morning, hanging out with the pups and helping her move some of the outdoor furniture now the weather was starting to cool down.

She had missed him this week. Thanks to Nicholas’s little appearance, he hadn’t left Miranda any more than he had too and he even rejected her invitations to come over on the weekend before that even happened. Yet here he was, needing her help and as long as he needed something from her, she wasn’t going to turn it down.

Just like how it wasn’t lost on her how close they were sitting. Subtly she moved her leg out so they were now touching, wanting to feel near him; even if it wasn’t intentional on Braydon’s behalf.  The same accidental moments of touching had occurred all morning, from her tripping on the stairs to brushing by him when they were in the yard or sitting on the sofa.

While now of it may not have been intentional, Braydon was well aware of it. Everything Carolina did he noticed from the way she drummed her fingers against the mouse while the page loaded and fidgeted with the end of her ponytail whenever she looked his way.

He didn’t really like her hair tied back either, but was quick to remind himself it didn’t matter how he liked her hair styled. Just like it didn’t matter that the longer their legs were touching, the more he didn’t want it to be an unplanned action from sitting close together. His feelings were conflicted, he could sense his own wolf studying her; could feel hers calling to him as if it was a third being in the room with them. It was also why he’d been avoiding her. The more time spent together, the more aware of whatever bond fate had decided the pair of them should share.

“She is lucky to have you looking out for her.” The second the words left her mouth, Carolina regretted them and Braydon couldn’t hide his surprise, until she spoke again. “You do know this is nothing compared to what danger she could really end up being in if more of our kind know you two are together?”

“Like you or your father?” Braydon growled, not liking what she was implying.

“I was thinking about Alpha Winters because one, I’m never around her,” she spat, like the mere idea of seeing Miranda again was beneath her. “Two, my family is not a threat to you or her. If we were, wouldn’t we have done something already?”

Braydon shrugged, not so sure. Could they have had something with him turning up? He really didn’t want to start thinking like that.

‘We can trust her.’ The otherwise silent creature had Braydon believing Carolina. He was tired. Stressed. At least some part of him was thinking straight.

“Bray, there is a reason why we don’t take our dealings with humans much further than a general friendship. She’s already in too deep! How what we are hasn’t come out yet is beyond me!”

Again he shrugged, acting more like a sullen child receiving a lecture on what is right and wrong. Braydon made sure to keep all trace of emotion from his face, not offering Carolina anything to go by as whatever he had felt earlier left him and his walls returned. He couldn’t help but wonder how she would react if he told her Miranda did know; everything.

Hesitantly Carolina took his hand, and a brief moment of calm passed between the pair of them. Sighing heavily, Braydon put down the papers and pinched the bridge of his nose. Why did everything have to be so complicated?

“I say it because I care. You know my feelings for her, but at the end of the day, I don’t want to see you hurting. Annoyingly, if anything happens to Miranda – we’re both going to suffer.” Carolina admitted.

Somehow Braydon found comfort in that and knew the wolf had . “Thank you, I think.”

With a final squeeze, she let go of his hand and when Carolina went into the kitchen, Braydon followed. Her house had become nearly as familiar as Miranda’s. He liked it more now that her father had gone again and seeing Amber and Chad making sandwiches, Braydon didn’t think he’d like being around shifters again until he met this pack of misfits.

“Wanna stay for dinner?” Chad asked curiously, looking between Braydon and Carolina. All day he’d been serving similar looks, well glaring at them. Neither adult noticed, to focused on each other.

“I can’t. I better leave soon anyway so I’m back in time for Miranda finishing work.” Braydon refused to leave Miranda to walk to or from home alone. Jason had offered to send a car to pick her up, but Braydon hadn’t liked that either.

He also hadn’t told her what he was doing with Carolina today.

Despite whatever threat Nicholas could possess, things had never actually been better between them and he knew it was because Miranda thought he was simply going to his classes or to work with her Dad and not coming here. While he felt guilty, again, he also knew Miranda had enough going on without the further complications being around the she-wolf added to the mix.

“Oh right. Bring her too then?” The young shifter offered.

Carolina dropped the knife and Braydon tried to look anywhere that wasn’t Carolina as the awkward tension seemed to explode around them. Amber elbowed Chad, but he ignored it, looking at Braydon as if he was challenging him to do something; Braydon just didn’t know what. Whatever it was, as the minutes ticked by, Chad only ended up shaking his head and that was enough to tell Braydon whatever he was waiting for didn’t happen.

Picking up his plate, Chad walked out leaving Carolina focusing too hard on making her sandwich “It’s nothing personal Bray, I just don’t want to put the pups at risk. What if Ollie shifts in front of her or something?” Carolina quickly mumbled, her cheeks changing to a more rosy shade of pink.

The reality was, having Miranda invade her home, not just her life was something she couldn’t handle. It was bad enough Chad had a soft spot for her, and she didn’t want the others to know, or worse, like her too.

“Yeah, I know.” Braydon looked towards the door Chad disappeared through almost shamefully. “I better go anyway.”

“Okay.” Knowing it was probably for the best, Carolina walked him out and made sure to hug him goodbye. A flicker of satisfaction warmed her to her core as she could detect her own scent on Braydon, rather than usually more dominant human one.

With Braydon gone, Carolina went back into the kitchen to find Amber looking at her with a different look of sadness than what Chad had on his face. “What?”

Rather than answer her, Amber simply walked around the counter and gave Carolina a hug before joining her pack mates in the living room. Unable to bring herself to care enough to go and talk to them, Carolina instead went to the fridge. She pulled out a bottle of wine and poured herself a glass before going back to her father’s office where information on Nicholas Winters still remained on the screen. There wasn’t much she didn’t know, since she had already looked into Braydon’s past after he told her about what happened to him.

She’d barely scrolled down to the pack details when her mobile phone rang and she answered it by the second ring. There was no denying every fibre of being felt disappointed at the fact it was work and not Braydon calling. “Dean Evans, how are you?”

“Well thank you Miss Corbani. We have just received notice from Mr. Carson they have extended the scholarship for next year.” Her boss told her.

“Wow, that’s great news!” Carolina faked her enthusiasm, not caring about work at the moment.

“I thought you’d be impressed since you did so much last November for this year’s applicants. Because of the work you did, I thought it only fair that you represent the department and accept the donation.”

“Really?” She asked, starting to pay more attention.

“My wife and I will be there and I know, Mrs Cants helped you a lot as well and I’ll be phoning her next.” He told her.

“It’s this Thursday isn’t it?” Instantly her mind began to run through all the things she’d need to do. It wasn’t some tiny ceremony, Tyson Limited put on an event to rival a royal wedding including as much media coverage as the Oscars.

“Yes. I know its short notice.”

“That won’t be a problem. I’d be honoured to go!” With something to look forward to, her mood slowly started to improve. If nothing else, she’d get to dress up and drink free champagne all night.

“Great! I’ll have Harriett call you over the weekend. She booked some limousine, town car, thing for us so we can pick you up.”

“Thank you Dean, that’s very generous of you!”

Hanging up, Carolina instantly started to search online for somewhere to go to find a dress and a few hours later when they were all sitting around the dinner table, Carolina told her family the news. The only one who didn’t seem happy for her was Chad so when it was just the two of them doing the dishes, she decided to talk to him about whatever was going on.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” The pup didn’t even look at her as he obediently began drying the plates as she put them on the dish rack.

“You don’t sound it.” He didn’t answer. “Is it something to do with Braydon?”

Chad stopped, and she sensed his change in mood instantly. Clearly she had found a sore point.

“I think you should leave him and Miranda alone.”

“I am!” Carolina defended.

“No, you’re really not. We all think it’s kind of pathetic, like how you act so desperate around him. Unlike the others, I don’t care if he is with a human. If he can love someone else, so can you.” With that he walked out.

The sting of his words lingered in the air behind him, hurting her more than she’d ever admit. Deep down she felt the ache of the creature within her. The wolf barely stirred even with Braydon around now, making it so much harder for Carolina to keep her head held high. Chad was right, she was acting desperate, but she didn’t know what else to do.

No matter how hard she tried to make herself believe she was okay, the worse it became and Chad just served the final blow, probably not even knowing how much damage he had done. Forgoing the glass, Carolina got the bottle of wine and leaving the dishes half washed, went to sit outside where she only had the moon for company since she couldn’t have the one person she wanted with her.

-x-

Meanwhile across town, Miranda had just finished telling Braydon of what happened that afternoon between her and Jason. Braydon tried to remain passive about the whole situation yet, the second Miranda went into the kitchen he couldn’t stop himself from smiling. While she talked about her run in with Emma too, Braydon half paid attention, more focused on his thoughts and conscience.

He hadn’t had much of a look through the information Carolina had given him yet, but he knew he should tell Miranda where he went today. If she found out before he could tell her, it wasn’t going to end well. So as she came back in, he smiled and nodded as Miranda told him about Jason leaving early; most likely to avoid her.

“So how was your day? What did you end up doing?” She asked, holding a couple of menus from local take-away outlets. They never cooked dinner on a Friday.

“Um, well, I went to see Carolina.” Braydon watched her closely, yet she didn’t even flinch at the mention of the she-wolf.

“Oh? And is everyone there okay?” Miranda dropped the menus and realised that in by wanting him to stay away from Carolina, there was also a bunch of kids to think about.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t they be?”

“If Nick was in town and they’re a pack-less group, couldn’t he have been a threat to them too?”

Braydon never expected her to say that. “Carolina’s dad has a good arrangement in place with nearby packs, and since the city is neutral ground, anything he did to them would have severe consequences.”

“That’s good then.” Picking up a pizza flyer, Miranda moved on from the subject and Braydon was impressed by her reaction. Telling her was clearly a good thing.

It was then his phone beeped and seeing Rory’s name on the screen, Braydon was surprised to find a message asking them to meet up. “Rory wants us to go out tonight.”

“Oh, he said something this afternoon about going out for drinks. I wonder if that girl will be there?” Miranda thought out loud.

“Did you, um, should we go?” Braydon replied hesitantly.

“Why not? All we do is sit at home in front of the TV!” Starting to feel the urge to be social, Miranda felt a little excited.

“What about my Uncle?”

“Good point.”

Another message from Rory, begging for some company had Braydon’s hesitation weakening. “Maybe for a little bit, I mean he was after Jason wasn’t he?”

“Yeah and um, if your wolfy senses get tingly and he’s around, we can leave?” Miranda felt her smile widening when she knew Braydon was in for going out.

“What do I wear?”

Braydon’s question had Miranda bursting out in laughter as he looked completely lost at her reaction.

“I mean it. Do I have to wear a suit?” He cringed.

“Oh no, no you don’t have to wear a suit.” Miranda moved to sit on his lap, before gently pushing his hair back from his forehead where she then kissed the now visible skin. “You’re too cute sometimes.”

He half smiled, blushing a little as she cuddled him. He didn’t want to go out anymore. Leaning his head against her chest he was greeted by the steady beat of her heart and as his mobile beeped again, he growled as Miranda moved to get his phone.

“The suspense is killing me. Are you coming or not?” Miranda read the text out.

“Not.” Was all Braydon said in response, flipping her over so she was left pinned underneath him. Cold fingertips brushed against the warm skin hidden under her shirt, moving over her hip he waited for the sound of her giggles as he knew where she was most sensitive. Miranda didn’t disappoint as despite her best efforts she couldn’t hold it in, squirming as he tickled her.

“Not. Fair!” She managed to get out in breathy gasps between laughs.

His hand boldly went higher, gauging her reaction as he did so. Rather than wiggling to get free now, her back arched as he found the rough, lace texture of her bra and Miranda only urged him on. For whatever reason he expected her to tell him to stop and even though they both clearly enjoyed it, he often felt more embarrassed than anything else.

Braydon was like an awkward teenager when it came to this side of his relationship with Miranda. Touch, hand holding and especially kissing were all things he knew he liked and while he knew what was next, the feelings were there, just not the courage. He had seen her practically naked, and she didn’t hesitate now about letting him see her in her underwear whenever she was getting dressed. It didn’t help he went bright red and would turn away, despite how much he wanted to look.

He was wanting to do so much more than look now. Like a child unwrapping a present, her shirt was quickly discarded. Miranda helped with the task, amused by how clumsy, yet eager he was. It reminded her of being sixteen again and going to second base for the first time. At least now the fear of her first boyfriend’s parents coming home early to catch them wasn’t there.

Well, no one was there to catch them in person. This time the sound his phone made wasn’t the beep of a message, but Rory was calling – impatient for an answer.

“What?” Braydon snapped, his breathing irregular as he held the device so hard in his hand it was close to being crushed.

“Woah. Chill!” The surprise at the greeting he received was obvious as Rory answered. “You two coming out or not?”

Miranda nodded, smirking as Braydon rolled his eyes at her. There was no hiding how annoyed he was at the interruption. “Yes.”

“You okay?” Rory dared to ask.

“Text me the details. We’ll be there.” Hanging up Braydon resisted the urge to throw the phone across the room and looking at Miranda, dropped his head to rest on her bare stomach. “Why did you say yes?”

“It’ll be fun to go out! We can have a few drinks, get some dinner and maybe dance? The last time I went out was a good month or two before the accident and that was for an old school friend’s hens night and well, it didn’t end great.”

“Why?” Braydon mumbled against her skin.

“Um, well, I was late to the party because Jason had a big deal going on with some people in London at the time and Abby pumped a few rounds of shots into me as soon as I got there and well, I never really liked the woman anyway and words were had.” Miranda mumbled, eager to change the subject.

“Oh.” Thankfully Braydon didn’t ask any more questions, well not about that. “So why can’t we go out some other time?”

“It’s Friday night, let’s not stay at home for once!”

“But-“Lifting his head, Miranda bent forward to claim his lips once more.

“But, a few hours of being social won’t kill you!” She slipped out from underneath him and picked her shirt up on her way past it, while Braydon wasn’t so sure about that if that pressure in his pants was anything to go by.

“I’ll get something out for you to wear!” Miranda called out and the second he heard the door to what had once been his room opening, he leapt up off the sofa and sprinted as best he could to stop her from going in.

The papers on the bed had been the first thing Miranda had noticed, curiously looking them over she saw Nicholas’s name and a photograph in the same second Braydon ran in behind her.

“What is this?” She asked, picking one of the pages up only to have Braydon snatch it from her and roughly gather the others before she could look at them. “Braydon! What the hell?”

“Um…”

Miranda snatched a page back, reading over it quickly it was a list of names with deceased alongside them and dates. It was almost like a tally sheet, and at the top in small print it was a list of alpha challenges that Nicholas had won.

“I didn’t want you to know anything more than what you already do about Uncle Nick. I was curious and I went to Carolina and we got talking about it all and so she went onto her dads computer and got this stuff for me.” Braydon blurted out, dropping the pages back on the bed in defeat. “I just needed to talk to someone who understood the life I came from and knows how packs work.”

The look that passed over Miranda’s face wasn’t one he knew. It wasn’t sad, or disappointed or even angry. It was like the trio had got together and created something new. He didn’t like it. “This is all just werewolf stuff then?”

“Yeah. That’s a list of challenges he’s had for his Alpha position in the last ten years. There are details on the pack, their businesses and things they’re involved in. Just stuff about Uncle Nick as well. I wanted to try and read up on him, know your enemy and all that.” Braydon answered obediently.

Miranda nodded, biting the corner of her lip slightly before putting the piece of paper back with the others. She opened her mouth as if to say something and Braydon had a number of idea’s what that could have been, yet without a word she walked to the wardrobe, getting out a few things. Miranda threw them at Braydon as she went past and going into her own bedroom, she shut the door.

He followed, holding his fist up to knock, but held back and called out to her instead. “Miranda?”

“Get ready Braydon,” came the almost hostile reply.

It wasn’t until a few too many drinks later Miranda bought it back up. “Despite what you say, I’m always just going to be ‘the human’ to you aren’t I?”

“What?” Braydon was enjoying the band and his cider. Rory had taken his almost girlfriend to dance and sitting beside Miranda, he wasn’t sure where she was going with this.

“It doesn’t matter that I know what you are does it? I’m never going to be completely in the loop about what goes on and annoyingly it’s probably better that way. She is one of you. I can’t compete with that.” Deep down Miranda didn't like what that could lead to. No matter what she said to him, or what he did share with her, his first instinct would be to go to Carolina and the other shifters. 

“What do you want to know? I’ll tell you anything.” He promised.

“It’s not that simple Braydon.” Because even when he did, he didn't tell her everything.

Understanding, kind of, Braydon had no idea what to say to her and seeing her face as she moved in closer against him, Braydon didn't like this new look that he couldn't read. Needing the reassurance everything was fine, his arm snaked around her shoulders and kept Miranda close. Kissing the top of her head, the pair said nothing else as the music kept on playing and for now, the world kept turning.

The tipsy buzz had worn off by the time they got home and into bed. Braydon was more than comfortable in the warm, soft bed with Miranda sprawled out on the top of him. How he had lived so long without the creature comforts of civilization was beyond him. "Good night. I love you."

All he got back, like most nights was a content sigh from Miranda, followed by goodnight. For some reason, that bugged him tonight. 

"Why don't you say it back?"

"What?" Miranda mumbled, more asleep than awake. 

"You never say I love you back." Braydon pointed out. 

He felt her stiffen, yet relax just as quickly and after a few moments of silence, he realised she was in fact asleep.

"Miranda." Rolling his arm, he gently tried to nudge her awake, desperate for her answer or better yet, to hear her say it. Was it because she didn’t really feel the same things he did? "Miranda, do you love me?”

All he got was a mm sound. Was that a yes? “Why don’t you tell me you love me?"

Miranda yawned loudly, pushing her head harder against his shoulder. "Cause."

"Why?" He pressed, wanting to know.

"I love Braydon, but I'm scared to tell him. What if he goes?" Miranda mumbled slowly.

"Goes where?"

Braydon felt like he was doing something wrong, like eavesdropping on an important conversation and in some ways he was. He couldn’t stop himself though, and rolling onto his side he was careful not to wake her. The light from the windows had Miranda’s skin looking silver, and he could see everything clearly now and not just her face, but that look that been haunting him too. "With her."

Fear. It wasn't as simple as a fear of spiders or heights; it was something more. Something he didn’t want to even consider because deep down, he had the same kind of worries only with Miranda leaving him.

"He won't." Braydon promised.

"Maybe."  Was all Miranda said, before her breathing completely evened out. The problem Braydon had now, was that he was wide-awake and by the time he did fall asleep he had an idea on what he could do to prove to her he wasn't going anywhere.