Walking into the kitchen, Carolina jumped in shock at seeing her father sitting at the kitchen counter. The scene itself wasn’t anything surprising. Every morning when he was home he was always the first one awake and would be there to greet her. In true fashion, his dark hair was sleeked back and not a strand was out of place. His suit pants were paired with a more casual grey sweater and the faint scent of cigars still lingered on the fabric from years of him smoking.

 Paper in one hand, coffee cup in the other, he looked at Carolina with the same level of surprise not expecting that reaction to his return. Surely she sensed his presence?

“Dad! You’re back!” Carolina exclaimed, her hand darting over her chest as if to hold back her heart from escaping.

“Hello to you to Care!” He chuckled amused as she moved over to the freshly brewed coffee pot.

“Sorry, I thought you weren’t back for a couple more days?”

“Went a lot smoother than I expected it to,” he hesitated, noticing a change in his daughter.  “Are you alright?”

“Of course, why do you ask?” She smiled over at him, yet he saw through it.

“You forget how well I know you.”

"I'm fine, really. I just didn't sleep great last night. That's all." It was a tiny lie. Well a huge lie. She wasn't fine at all. The whole situation was taking it's toll on her as she was pining for a mate who didn't want her. It didn't make sense to the wolf, and even the human was struggling to sort out how to feel about it.

The pair moved out of the kitchen and onto the back veranda. The lawn glistened in the light of the rising sun with the sprinkles having been turned themselves on at five o'clock as they did every other morning. It was silent without the pups running around the place, and the neighbours were too far away to interrupt the serenity of the morning with any of their own movements. Not that many were up at this time of the day anyway.

"Ah, it's good to be home! There is only so much I can handle being stuck in those Alpha homes. No one offers decent hospitality these days, they're all too paranoid of pack less wolves."  Carolina's father groaned.

"Well we're glad you're back Dad." She sighed, frowning as she caught Braydons scent. Turning her head discreetly, the chair she sat on still had it imprinted on there; much like her father and his cigars. It made her stomach clench; the beast within stirring after a restless night. 

"You sure you're not coming down with something? You don't look well Care." The concern her father showed didn't help Carolina at all. Then the worst thing of all happened. "What is that?"

His face wrinkled with concentration as he stood, moving past Carolina's chair she saw his nostrils flare as he must have caught the scent too. 

"Who has been here?" He demanded. Moving around the yard, he didn't know how he had missed the unknown smell in his house. 

No wonder Carolina was so jumpy, and this time when he looked at her she knew she was going to be dealing more with the animal side of him than the human. 

"It's not what you think." She started, trying work out how to word it to avoid even more questions being asked. Or worse; telling him that her mate was in love with a human.

"Then start talking! " He growled, his rage growing at his own territory being invaded when he wasn't there. Carolina should know better than letting other shifters near the pups or more importantly, his house. Sometimes his work didn't make him too popular, so the threat of someone seeking to harm him or his family was a real one.

Carolina spoke before being able to think it through, her wolf eager to tell her leader the truth before the human could lie. "He's my mate."

"What?" He gasped, not expecting that at all.

"Hey! Manuel, you're home!" Oliver interrupted the moment, not sensing the mood until he had stepped outside and now he regretted interrupting.

"Yes. Ah, morning Ollie. Why don't you start breakfast before the others get up?" He suggested and needing an out, Oliver didn't protest. He disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.

"Your mate?" Manuel repeated, looking at Carolina with worry as he studied his daughter. She looked thinner if that possible in the two weeks he'd been away. Dark circles were appearing under her eyes and he could feel her stress.  "Then what's the problem?"

Carolina didn't answer, too embarrassed. When she finally did speak, it wasn't about Braydon. "I'm going to go help Oliver. You know he can't do much more than cereal."

Manuel was quick, swiftly moving ahead of her to block the door. "Look at you darling! What is going on?"

His daughter was a beautiful, strong shifter. Why he wasn't being introduced to this mate now was confusing to him. Maybe their connection was still establishing. Finding each other was the first step so why did Carolina look like someone had died? Was it issues with his pack? Perhaps she had told him she wouldn't leave her home and the pups? He wouldn't mind if that was the case. He wasn't a pack wolf and despite knowing how much his daughter had wanted to join one, he would rather she didn't. He had a pack here for her, but if worse came to worse, he might be able to work something out on her behalf with the new pack. It's what he did after all.

"He doesn't want me." She mumbled weakly, finally admitting the problem out loud. Any walls she had in place cracked and the first, hot tear rolled down her cheek only to be followed by more until she fell into her fathers embrace and let it out. "He loves a human."

"What?" For the second time that morning Manuel was speechless. "That can't be right! If he is your mate, your bond will bring you together."

"I thought so too, but he fights it. How stupid is this, he wants us to be friends!" Carolina then told her father about Braydons past and his connection to Chad and the others. She didn't mention much about Miranda other than how loyal Braydon was to her and Manuel stayed quiet as she got it all off her chest. "What am I going to do Dad?"

It broke his heart seeing his daughter so weak. She was one of the proudest she-wolves he knew and for her to be reduced to, this, wasn't acceptable.  "We'll work something out sweet heart. I think you're right to keep him around. If he can resist the pull to you now, it'll only be a matter of time before his wolf breaks through and he won't be able to deny his feelings."

Carolina didn't know how long she keep doing that for. It was eating her up inside and just thinking of him leaving last night to go back to her had a fresh stream of tears falling. Yet if her father thought that it would work, she was willing to keep it up. Not all bonds were quick to be established, but the truth of that matter was that they always did. 

"So, when can I meet him?" Manuel asked, intrigued about this other male.

"Um, tomorrow he'll be here in the afternoon."

"Good, good. Now go freshen up, you don't want the others to see you like this." With a final hug, Carolina slunk off upstairs and Manuel was left on his own to think about the sudden turn of events.

-x-

Meanwhile Miranda led a tired Braydon around the farmers market. They hadn't spoken much that morning, and when Miranda tried to bring up mates, Braydon remembered something he had to do, like brush his teeth or hair. Out of options, he then dragged her out of the apartment, talking about needing coffee. Considering he didn't drink, Miranda knew he was putting it off. What was he not telling her?

"So, I think that's all we need. We can stop by that bakery on the way back home for some breakfast?" Miranda suggested.

"You're done? Already?" Braydon asked, suddenly realising he was holding one calico bags full of fruit and veg, while Miranda had the other.

"Yeah, there is only two of us to feed." Again she knew he was trying to put off going home, because then he'd have to talk. "So breakfast?"

Braydon took his time choosing from the selection of french patisseries; annoying the girl behind the counter with an assortment of stupid questions and in the end even she was getting snappy with him.

"Just pick something Braydon!" Miranda groaned, smiling apologetically to the girl.

"Are these actually made fresh each morning?" Braydon asked for the second time, "Could I get one of those croissants made up now rather than that one that's been sitting there?"

"No. That ones fine. We'll take it!" Miranda interrupted, pointing at the croissant filled with ham and cheese in the warmer.

Every step closer to home had him getting even more nervous. How much could he get away with telling her?

"So Chad got home alright last night?" Breaking into Braydons thoughts, Miranda could see his mind working in over time.

"Yeah."

"What time did you get home?" She knew, she just wanted to know what his answer would be.

"About nine or ten. I forget." He mumbled.

"Sure it wasn't more like midnight?" Miranda challenged, the look she gave him had him dropping his gaze from hers.

'Busted.' The taunting rush from his wolf only made Braydon feel worse. Miranda might not have been a shifter, but she knew when and how to assert her dominance. It was all in her tone and Braydon knew each and every phase of her moods.

Right now, he was in trouble. "Maybe. I don't really know. It could have been."

"God you're such a liar!" Miranda snapped, picking up her pace Braydon stood there for a moment before chasing after her. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"Don't! Just don't! When we get inside, you are telling me about this mate thing. All morning you've been avoiding it like Batman avoids kryptonite!" She huffed.

Braydon went to correct her, but right now she was like a volcano on the brink of exploding and he didn't want to apply that last bit of pressure to set it off. Instead of him being subjected to her fury, it was the kitchen that suffered the most. As Braydon ate his carefully selected breakfast, Miranda put eveything away in the fridge and cupboards. The room was an echo of slamming doors and containers being dropped or lids being slammed on and once she was done, Miranda felt a little bit better for it.

Finally coming to sit down with him, Miranda started to eat her own breakfast and the silence between them only made Braydon even more uncomfortable.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to get so worked up. I knew you were lying and I told you before I don't like Carolina, but I get it's a shifter thing and there's Chad and you're clearly not telling me something and-" Miranda started to ramble and Braydon reached out to take her hand.

"I'm sorry Miranda. I am. I won't do it again." He promised. 

"What is going on Braydon? What is this mate thing about?" Miranda almost begged him to fill her in. It couldn't be worse than him letting her find out about the fact wolf shifters actually exist. 

"Okay, but it's going to sound worse than it is!" Braydon started, not sure how he could actually explain it without Miranda freaking out. "Humans will seek out a partner. It's life. You date and fall in love and get married and have kids and grow old together."

"And shifters?" Miranda had a feeling it wasn't going to be the same amongst the species.

"We seek out our mate."

Miranda remembered that Chad had called her Braydons mate, "How is that different?"

"It's, well, you as humans get to choose. Mates are predestined for us." Braydon hoped he was saying this right. "We don't get to choose, not normally anyway. There is another shifter out there for all of us; a perfect match for what we need. Our wolf senses them first and-"

Miranda coulnd't help interrupt as she knew where this was going. "Carolina's your mate."

"Yeah," Braydon actually sounded surprised as he answered, "but it's not what you think."

"You said you don't get to choose. How the hell is this not going to be going how I think it is?" After everything they had been through; after developing feelings for him, Braydon had his perfect match in th form of Carolina Corbani. No wonder she had always acted so hostile towards her, after all this would make Miranda the other woman.

"Um, because it's different with us." Braydon started, "like I said, our wolf senses them first and usually if you find that bond with another shifter you follow it and let it turn into something more. You get to know the person and your wolf establishes the link with them and yeah. Then it turns into something forever. But I met you first. My wolf accepts you. I don't want her."

He didn't want his soul mate because of her? Miranda didn't know what to think now.

"You are what I want. I choose you as my mate." Braydon confirmed.

It helped Miranda understand why Chad called her his, but Miranda had so many other questions. If Carolina was supposed to be the perfect person for Braydon, why did he think she was the better option? Miranda thought about what Braydon told her about what she did with the orphans and outcasts; she helped shifters like Braydon. She could help him too, even if Miranda didn't want to admit it. After all, she was just a human.

"What does Carolina think about all of this?" If Miranda found out her soul mate was ditching her in favor of something else, she wouldn't be happy about it.

"We're going to be friends, and then I can still see Chad and the others." Braydon answered slowly, trying get a read on Miranda who had completely closed herself off from him.

"She's happy with that?"

"Not at first. We talked last night and she seems accepting of it. We're not just controlled by our wolf. We are human too." Braydon reminded her. "She knows her place. You come first."

Miranda wanted to believe him. "Are you sure?"

"Positive." He swiftly moved to her side and Miranda accepted his hug; holding onto him as if their lives depended on it. He seemed to positive about it, so sure in his decision and with their history, she chose to believe him.

"Please don't keep things from me. If you're going to be late home, tell me. If you're going to be seeing her, don't lie." Miranda whispered into his shoulder.

"I promise I will." The weight he'd been carrying on his shoulders vanished, relief filling him as it was finally all out in the open. 

Once he told Miranda about going back to Carolina's that afternoon, Miranda couldn't help feel nervous. Even he told her that once they find that person they have the connection to, the bond develops once they get to know the person. What happens if he gets to know Carolina and changes his mind? Were they only delaying the inevitable?

Just before Braydon left Miranda went into her room, wanting to try and stake her claim the only way she could think of. Remembering the time she had bumped into Carolina, she realised it must have been Braydon's scent on her she smelt. When ever she was around Jason, more so if he had hugged her or touched her, Braydon always seemed to be able to tell so relying on that Miranda sprayed a little of her perfume on her skin and clothes. She felt a little guilty, not proud of herself for acting so possessive.  Leaving her room, she found Braydon in front of TV, watching the last of one of the shows he liked so much. 

Curling up beside him, Braydon held her close until Miranda shifted her position so she was left straddling him. All thoughts of leaving went out the window for Braydon as Miranda kissed him. He breathed her in, the light floral perfume mixing well with her natural scent in a way it drove him crazy. 

The kiss was deep, slow, passionate and with a groan, Braydon moved them so he was on top of her. His hands slid under the hem of her shirt, moving behind Miranda's back as he held her close against him.  Stopping for air, they were both breathless by the sudden change of events and as they relucantly parted, Miranda hoped she had sent a loud enough message to Carolina; mine.

-x-

 Carolina tapped the top of the steering wheel in nervous agitation. She had told Braydon she'd be there at eleven thirty and now he was five minutes late. Sighing she turned on the radio, fiddling with all the dials until she ended up turning it off. The silence was worse and hitting the on button, for the second time that day she nearly died of fright as the car door opening scared her.

"Morning." Braydon greeted, looking more at peace than she had ever seen him. Was he happy to see her?

"Hey!" Carolina greeted just as enthusiastically, feeling almost hopefully about their afternoon together. That was until the stench of the human woman filled the air around him. Looking closely, she saw how dilated his pupils were; the slight pink tinge on his cheeks and the goofy grin that his beard was starting to over take. She didn't have to think hard to work out the cause of it all and it was nothing she had any part in.

Carolina pulled out with more speed than intended, the squeal of the tyres making Braydon look at her cautiously, before carrying on with the pleasantries. "How are you today?"

"Fine." She growled.

Braydon didn't know what to say after that. At least with Miranda he knew her and her moods enough to work around them or calm her down. Carolina was more of a mystery and the car was silent except for the rap tune blaring out the speakers. To get one back at him, Carolina waited until they got out of the car to tell Braydon her news.

"My Dad got back this morning. He's looked forward to meeting you." She smirked, enjoying the way he instantly squirmed. "Have you had lunch? We thought we'd barbeque today."

"Lunch sounds good." Braydon mumbled, his good mood from earlier leaving him as he got tense. His wolf was curious yet hesitant about meeting the older shifter, and following Carolina closely he wasn't impressed with how she sprung it on him.

The second they were inside Chad was there waiting for him and the pair greeted each other with one of Rory's fist bumps. Carolina said nothing, carrying on through the house to get outside where the others were.

"Heads up, Manuel knows about you and Care." Chad whispered, holding Braydon back for a second.

"About us? About mates?"

"Yeah. He knows about Andy too!" The casual way Chad already had speaking about Miranda amused Braydon, yet the reality of the situation hit him seconds later and he was ready to bolt out the front door. 

"You two coming?" Carolina looked back, wondering what they were talking about. She was glad Chad had made a friend so easily, but she just wished it wasn't with Braydon. It only made it harder for her seeing how well he fit in despite him denying it was where he belonged.

Walking out onto the verandah, Carolina was all smiles. It didn't matter she was working in over time to keep her walls up in front of her father with Braydon around. He saw too much this morning and wouldn't let him think she was weak again. 

"Dad, this is Braydon Winters. Bray, meet my dad, Manuel Corbani!" She introduced, surprised to find Braydon not acting intimidated by her father. Most shifters did and considering what she knew of Braydon so far, this wasn't how she expected their first meeting to go.

Manuel stood at his full height, the flicker of his wolf showing in his eyes as he did a quick assessment of the one fate chose for his daughter. What bothered him most was the fact Braydon didn't lower his gaze; his handshake was too firm and he stood to attention as if he was surveying him.

Which was exactly what Braydon was doing. The shifter was older than him, and he could feel the dominance he was projecting his way. Braydon felt his own wolf come forward, not backing down from the unspoken challenge. Both human and wolf knew now wasn't a time for him to be seen as someone who could be treated as a lesser wolf. If this guy knew about  Miranda, Braydon was going to make sure that it clear he couldn't be pushed around. If any threats were sent her way, Braydon wouldn't hesitate in defending her from him or Carolina.

"Nice to meet you sir." Braydon held Manuels gaze, yet spoke clearly with respect. He didn't want any trouble, especially not here and now, but he wanted to make sure his own presence was felt.

"Like wise, Brendan was it?" It was a low blow, and the wolf saw it as disrespectful.

"Braydon." He corrected, resisting to release the growl that brew within his chest.

The young ones subconsciously grouped closer together and Carolina wasn't sure what to do. Braydon was asserting his dominance in such a way he was the one suddenly controlling the situation. Had he reacted differently to Manuel, things might have already turned even more hostile.

"Right." Manuel smiled a toothy grin and turned back to his grill where the sausages were starting to turn black from brown from the few moments of neglect.

"Did you want a drink?" Carolina offered, breaking the tension that remained now their introductions were over.

"Yeah, thank you." Braydon answered, moving around the table to sit by Chad yet his eyes didn't leave Manuel.

Things went a little smoother from then on. Everyone ate and drank and conversation was left to neutral topics. Braydon spoke easily with the pups, since they shared a lot of the same interests and even Oliver started to warm to him a little. The whole time Manuel was assessing the situation, like a wolf on the hunt. Braydon hated it, but let it go. While Carolina and Oliver cleaned up inside, the others all drifted apart with the twins going into the games room, the girls out in the yard to read and as usual Chad stuck by Braydon.

"Chad, would you mind getting me another drink?" Manuel asked, yet all three knew the true meaning behind his words; leave us.

With a nod Chad disappeared inside and now it was just the two of them, Braydon wondered where Manuel would take it.

"So Braydon, it shouldn't be a surprise to you that Carolina has told me everything."

"Not at all." He answered calmly, sitting back in the chair rather comfortably. 

"I understand your decision to stick with the human. Miranda isn't it?"  Manuel prodded, finally seeing Braydon tense as he clearly hit a nerve.

"That's right."

"I met a human once, beautiful little thing she was too." He said almost wistfully, looking out over the lawn for a moment before turning back to Braydon. "They're not like us Braydon. We're part animal; the needs we have is something they can never understand or fulfill. Why do you think we even have mates?"

"It's different with us." Braydon growled, wondering where he was going with this.

"I'm sure you're not the first shifter to think that. Look at Chad, the runt has a human mother and what happened to her?"

"If you are even thinking of threat-" He'd kill him now if he was even implying anything like that to Miranda.

"I'm not threatening her, calm down!" Manuel smiled rather smugly, pleased with the reaction. "Do you want your pups to be runts like him? If she would even survive the pregnancy that is and if they do manage to shift, will they survive that? What if they can't? Would you wolf be content to know it has weak young? And how could you tell her your pups are different to her kind? How would you do that without giving away our secret?"

Braydon was speechless. 

Completely speechless.

"Didn't think so. Like I said, I understand the attraction you might have to a human woman. They're weak, fragile. We can keep them safe, protect them. Does being around her make you feel more powerful? I know about your pack chasing you out. Do you stay with her because you know she won't do that to you?"

Rage burned within Braydon's chest. His wolf had his blood tingling, aching to shift and shut the old shifter up. Yet he only sat there, gripping the armrests of his chair - praying he didn't break it so it wouldn't be obvious how much his words were getting to him.

"Is that why? Well guess what, she is human, they turn on each other in the blink of an eye so don't be surprised when she does that to you too. They all do in the end. Don't confuse your true feelings with that of your animal instincts to protect your toy. You're the only one who will get hurt and where will go then? To your kind and you'll be lucky if Carolina is still waiting for you."

Carolina walked out with Oliver and Chad at that moment and looking between the pair, the death glares were enough of an indication she wasn't the only one faking what was really being felt underneath. The two teens stood behind Carolina in fear, and the forced laugh that Manuel let out did nothing to ease the tension. "Just think about it son."

Manuel got up then, yawning. "I'm feeling a little jet lagged. I'll be upstairs in my room should anyone need me."

Carolina smiled and hugged her father as he passed and the two teens, crept around the table towards Braydon and away from their leader. Looking at Braydon, his face was flushed and Chad saw how white his knuckles were from where he was gripping the chair.

"Braydon, wanna check out our new Nintendo?" Chad managed to get out, though his nerves were obvious as he approached the pissed of shifter.

Letting out the breath Braydon didn't know he had been holding, it took him a minute to answer. No one moved, not even Carolina as a slither of regret for bringing him over hit her.  The tornado that was raging war under his skin was obvious, and through the rage, Carolina sensed Braydons confusion. Against her better judgment she approached him and took the seat at his side.

"Hey Chad, why don't you and Ollie go set it up. I'm just going to talk to Bray for a second." She smiled, setting the pups at ease as they hurried inside. "I'm sorry for what ever he said that go you upset."

"Don't be." Braydon snapped and getting up he followed after the duo without another word.

Carolina didn't know what to do. She never should have told her father and had she had the courage, she would have gone up to his room and demanded answers, maybe even an apology. Seeing her mate so distressed didn't help her own uneasiness and eventually she went and joined them in the games room. The guys handed her a controller and as they all raced cartoon cars against each other, it was the most time she had spent with Braydon that involved them just being together. The talk was kept to insults and challenges regarding the game and as the afternoon progressed, the whole pack of misfits joined them.

For the first time in a long time Braydon considered that maybe, just maybe being around his own kind wasn't so bad. At dusk they shifted, and as they played around in a game of tag he realised Miranda would never be able to join them. As good as it all was, it would never compete with being with her and Manuels talk fell on newly deaf ears.

Once Carolina got Braydon home, she had hoped to see some kind of hesitation or reluctance in going back to the human after their day. Instead she only saw how happy he was to be back and after saying good bye, she sat in the car to get control of her emotions before she got back home. Instead she saw the man with the camera across the street and since it was pointed at her, she didn't hang around any longer and went straight back home to tell her father.

Braydon walked into the apartment anxious to see Miranda. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, touch every inch of her and as he heard her talking in the living room, moved quickly and swiftly. Yet the sight of her sitting on the floor with Emma doing a brightly coloured puzzle had him frozen in place.

Miranda looked up and smiled, causing his heart to start beating even faster. Was this what their future could hold? Would they have Miranda's golden hair and blue eyes? Would they be shifters like him? All the worries from earlier returned, with Manuel's questions that sounded more like accusations bouncing around his head.

"Hi Emma!" Braydon greeted, and the little girl looked up at him with a cheeky grin before running over to hug his legs. Braydon easily lifted and gave her a hug, quite fond of the little girl. 

"Uncle Baydon! We are making a puzzle!" She exclaimed.

"Really? Can I help?"

"Yes!" He put her down and moved to sit beside Miranda, amused at the Red Riding Hood puzzle that was half put together. The big bad wolf was behind a tree as the red caped girl walked by, and Braydon was amused by that. "Do you Little Red Hood? She is going to her Nanna's."

As Emma told them about the story behind the puzzle Miranda whispered to Braydon. "Sorry, Abby needed a sitter and since I don't seem to work weekends anymore I said we could watch her. Hope you don't mind."

"Not at all." He kissed her forehead before focusing back on Emma.

"Do you like this one Uncle Baydon?"

"I do, Red Riding Hood is one of my favourite stories." He told her seriously.

"Mine too. And I like the wolf. I don't think he looks bad."

"Not all wolves are Emma, unless..." Braydon paused dramatically.

"Unless what?" She asked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.

"Unless they want to eat you!" Braydon moved forward to grab her and instantly picking up on the game, she squealed and got up to run away. 

"Quick Andy, the big bad wolf will get you too!" Emma playfully screamed as she grabbed Mirandas hand and the pair ran off down the corridor with Braydon giving chase as big bad wolves apparently do.

---

Ok enough talking, more action. Daddy wolf is back now, so lets get things moving!! :)