I stare at the picture Nico had drawn and try not to blush beneath Dr. Vance's assessing gaze.

"It's a good thing, Martin," she says. "Look at how happy you are."

I look up and frown at her. "I just don't want him to get the wrong idea."

She quirks a brow. "Who? Nico, or mister long-blond-hair?"

Looking back at the drawing to hide the heat in my face, I shake my head. "Nico. I don't want him to get attached."

"Why not?"

I consider my answer. It's been a week since Sky 'moved in,' or at least since he started parking his van in my yard, and the kids have adapted well. Too well, possibly, as evidenced by Nico's drawing.

It shows a row of figures standing in front of a house, holding hands. I recognize, in order from right to left, myself, Miguel, Flora, Rio, Nico, and... Sky.

We look like a family.

"Martin," Dr. Vance continues when I don't gather my words fast enough, "this is a good sign. From what you've told me, all the kids enjoy Skylar's company and have welcomed him into your home — into your family. That means they're ready to move on when you are — whether or not your new tenant is more than a friend."

"I met the man three weeks ago," I scoff.

She nods. "And you're right. While their acceptance of someone new in your life is encouraging, you don't want to confuse them. It's important for children to have clarity — don't underestimate their capacity to understand and handle things. Uncertainty and sudden change will be a lot more damaging than the knowledge their father is — or is not — in a relationship."

"I'm not."

She shrugs and takes the drawing back from me, slipping it into a file. "Adults like clarity, too, Martin. Flora says Skylar eats meals with you, helps around the house, and gives her and her brothers rides to school. From what you've told me, that's more than your ex-wife ever did. Would it be so bad to have a partner?"

I frown. She smiles.

"Here's the good news," she goes on. "I don't think the kids need to see me regularly anymore. Why don't we cut back to once a month check-ins and see how it goes? If something changes, you've got my number. You've done an excellent job with them, Martin," she says, softening her tone a little. "Now, maybe it's time you give some attention to yourself."

As I gather the kids from the waiting area and corral them into the elevator, a confusing mix of feelings trouble my heart. Maybe Dr. Vance is right — at least about needing clarity — and clear boundaries seem like a good place to start.

〜〜〜

Sky's not around that evening, however, having business of his own to attend, so I have plenty of time to practice what I'm going to say to him. Something about 'keeping things professional' or 'not giving the kids the wrong idea.'

How they'd have gotten such an idea in the first place would be a mystery, except for the fact Sky has unequivocally made himself at home. On the one hand, I've gotten more work done in the past week than I have in months, thanks to him. I'd forgotten what it felt like not to have a to-do list the length of a football field. On the other hand, our arrangement isn't permanent, and sooner or later he'll find somewhere better to live, and he'll leave. In the meantime, I didn't want the kids getting too attached to having him around.

We'd been fine before he showed up, and we'd be fine again when he was gone.

Perfectly fine.

I've just managed to convince myself of this as I prepare for bed that evening, when Flora enters my room, looking upset.

"What's up, sweetheart?" I ask, setting aside the shirt I'd been folding. "You okay?"

She shakes her head and sniffs back tears. "I think there's something wrong with me, Daddy."

A spike of alarm shoots through my heart and I'm instantly at her side. "What? What do you mean, 'something wrong?'"

Her voice quavers. "There was... blood in my pee."

Oh... shit.

"Daddy? What is it? Is it something really bad?"

I realize I've frozen, probably with a look of stark terror on my face. Forcing myself to relax, I smile.

"No, sweetheart, it's not something bad. It's perfectly normal. It's..."

Gods, how do I even say this? Did Elena never talk to her? Don't her friends talk about this stuff? How can she not know what's happening? I swallow and take a deep breath.

"It means you're growing up. That's all. You're ready for your first Shift — first full moon after first blood, for girls."

Her expression relaxes. "Will it stop?"

"Um..." My mind races for an escape route, and finally glimpses one. "You know what? Tomorrow we'll go visit Chloe and Grace at the farm, and they can tell you all about it. Daddy doesn't... know that much about the girl side of things."

She frowns at me. "But Chloe and Grace aren't Wolves."

"Uh... Well, it's the same for human girls, too. Just without the Wolf part."

"Are you sure it's not something bad?" She sniffles.

"I'm sure. Does it hurt?"

She shakes her head.

"Good. Hey, I'm gonna pop down to the corner store and get you a few things, okay? I'll be back in no time."

Grabbing my wallet, I'm halfway to the street before I remember I'm in my underwear. Racing back to my room, I throw on some clothes, reassure Flora one more time, and take off again just as Sky pulls up and parks by the garage.

"Martin?" he calls as he disembarks from his van. "Where's the fire? And why is your shirt on inside out?"

I stop and look down at myself as he comes over.

"It's Flora," I say, running a shaking hand through my hair. "She's... um... not feeling well."

"In what way?"

Gratified by the genuine concern in his voice, I grimace and confide in him.

"She got her first period. She had no idea, and I... I just thought she'd learn about it at school, or something. Anyway, I have to go buy some... some things."

"Some 'things'?" He lifts his brows at me. "Any idea what sort of things?"

I stare at him, no doubt looking as lost as I feel.

He pulls out his phone and beckons me over. "Come on. Let's handle this calmly and rationally, like real men. We'll look it up on the internet. Ah, this looks promising — 'How to prepare for your first period.' Perfect."

〜〜〜

After a quick education and a furtive trip to the corner market (thank the gods for self-checkout) I return with a bag of items for my daughter. Among them is her favorite candy bar, several articles having recommended a celebratory treat as part of one's 'self care.'

With a bit more reassurance and explanation, she cheers up and even grows excited — a Wolf's first Shift is a rite of passage and a crucial moment in a young Wolf's life.

I, on the other hand, can't help feeling I've let her down. Wolves develop a little slower than humans do, so I'd thought she had another year or so before I had to think about it, but I should have prepared her better. I should have talked to her, or at least had someone else talk to her, to make sure she knew what to expect. She'd been frightened — if only for a few minutes — and fear is something I never want to see on my kids' faces again.

In the meantime, now I have something else to think about.

A Shifting is a big deal. The whole Pack will want to come and see Flora's wolf-form. What color fur will she have? Will she look like her mother, or like me, or completely different? Mom and Dad will want to be there, too: Flora will be their first grandchild to Shift. I can't cheat them of that.

Which means I'm going to have to face my family.

But maybe, I think, as the sound of Sky singing softly to himself drifts up through my open window, I won't have to face them alone. And if some of them happen to get the wrong idea and stop worrying about me... well, all the better.

Boundaries and clarity can wait.