Fight night was full swing, the Ark was buzzing with a cacophony of sound from the fights and rambunctious shouts of those who watched them. It was energizing, at least her, that very feeling that she had come to associate with home and fond memories. But watching the sight of her boyfriend in the ring, she couldn't deny it still stole her very breath. He fought like no one else she had ever seen, his toned body forged from those fights and that expertise showed. He fought effectively and effortless, knowing when to hold back and when to dial it up. He was magnificent to watch in far more ways than just the obvious that it was impossible not to steal her notice. That plentiful showering of attention didn't stop when the fight was over either, many people swarmed the alpha, offering their greetings and praise that seemed ineffectual to capture even a droplet of his true attention. So very few was awarded with such a thing. Yet, it was the vibration and alerting ping of several messages flooding her phone, that drew her attention away. She reached for the phone that nestled in the back pocket of her form fitted dark blue jeans. Just what fire needed to be put out now? She wondered to herself, half expecting a message from a supplier or even pack. After all, they were the only beings that would typically message her at this hour. Yet it was not their names that illuminated her screen, it was her sister's.

A frown of consideration of the unusual occurrence as she moved to find a quiet spot in the back, a private corner that was mostly empty. Just quiet enough for her to hear the voice on the other side of the line after she pressed call button. She waited only a single ring before her sister's voice bled through the speaker pressed at her ear. How she enjoyed hearing the sound of her voice, familiar and yet older and far more worried than the girl she left behind. Dad was in deep with his gambling.. again. How Mira had hoped he had learned from the first time. Yet her sweet sister recalled those fine details, Mira had no doubt just who he was wrapped up with again. A wince from the lead-like dread that coiled within the brunette's stomach all but tightened with worry. Her sister was almost at that same age that she herself had made that fateful choice. Her sister had just gotten into medical school too, the school of her choice. Didn't he learn the first time, after losing one daughter?

That addiction would ruin their family.. or maybe, in some regard, it already had. Yet it didn't stop that feeling like she had to try salvage it. The more her sister spoke, the more she felt like she was sucked back in time.. back when the she-wolf was young and forced to make an impossible choice to save them. A choice that changed the course of her life forever.

Those words 'We miss you.' Stung like salt in the wound. A soft sigh left her lips as her sister continued on.
'Mom said she wants to see you and avo(grandma) too, it would mean a lot to them and I am leaving home for school. But... I don't know if I can leave them. Especially with what's going on with Dad.' Her sister's voice rang out. She didn't know how she was going to do it but that need to protect them felt as strongly as it did that night she stood up.

"Don't worry, I will take care of it." In a way, she always did for her little sister and always would, so long as she asked.

'Promise?' Once more, she sounded so young and full of hope. The young girl forgetting everything and squealed in delight before yelling to everyone in that house that she was returning.

"I promise, but shh, or half the town will hear you. I will get there as soon as I can. I love you, Clarabella." She heard an audible groan on the phone before a little giggle that reminded her again of the little girl she would always be.

'You called me that when I was little. My friends call me Claire now.' Then it was Mira's time to groan. Claire? 'Besides... when do we get meet your mystery guy? You guys are really an item right? You neeeever brought anyone home. Come on Mirs.' Really?
"I will see what I can do." After all, to spring this so last minute wasn't exactly fair to a man with far too many responsibilities. There was more than just her.. it felt selfish to want him there and yet... After a few more words Mira hung up the phone. To return home meant the possibility of running into her old pack, to that alpha. But it had been years since then, maybe she no longer mattered. Besides it was very clear where Mira belonged and it was not with Nolan or that pack she had left behind.

Mira's mind was swimming after that call. A heavy, burdened sigh fell from her lips as worry continued to knot her stomach. She eyed the time, before it changed to a rare anxiousness. She needed to go home and find out what was going on. She needed to put a stop to it, somehow. She had to go. She had to try. Maybe there was a way to untangle it all before it became something that could not be undone. But how this was going to work? She hadn't the faintest clue. The one thing she knew for certain was that she needed to talk to her boyfriend. How she wished she possessed his calm right at that very moment.

The she-wolf first checked his usual haunts, his throne, by the ring where the fights were still going on but Tetradore had already left, which likely meant he had likely returned to his suite. She made her way to walk down the familiar hallway to the room beside her own at the very end. The door cracked open was a rare surprise. Of course, that's when everything had to go wrong when he was in a rare good mood. But things rarely broke when you were expecting it. That room sparked the still potent reminder when they had shared that very space for those many months. It felt strange returning to how things were to that familiar distance. The one word that caused her chest to ache if she thought of it for too long yet was able to look beyond it.

How did she go from not giving a flying hell about labels to....this? This particular feeling she could not quite put into words. Mira slipped through the cracked open door, taking in that familiar sight of her boyfriend's room, perhaps wondering if that cracked open door was an invitation for her.

"Tet?" She called out. Only to be met with a reply, 'in here'. She drew toward the sound of his voice to find the sight of her bare-chested boyfriend, proudly wearing the signs of battle that decorated his toned figure. Those jeans hung distractingly off his waist, impossible not to draw her eye to the alluring v that was lost within the hem of them. He was the most attractive man she had ever seen. Yet it was the heaviness of his emerald eyes upon her, that gaze that always felt like it could pierce her very soul. His features rarely gave him away but it was like he knew something was amiss, even before she spoke a single word. It only made it clear when he prompted her with a softly uttered 'What is it?' For someone who hid his emotions so perfectly well, he certainly picked up on others so easily when he noticed them long enough. It wasn't like her to hesitate, but she did. Longer than she would have ever wanted to.

Did she really look all that obvious to cause the prompt? But she was standing there. Of course she had to be there for some reason. Mira drew closer, her shoulders drooping slightly even though she sifted through her own thoughts. "Do I need an excuse to see you? You were amazing in that ring tonight." Yet the look on his face didn't seem at all convinced.

Mira could not help as she looked over his injuries now that she stood closer, taking note of each one, those golden eyes flickered across his figure that wore the sign of battle with concern even know she knew he would heal by morning. She simply could not help it. He looked good a little roughed up but she didn't like seeing him hurt either. What a double-edged sword! Yet he wore the prominent dark curls that looked enhance from perspiration as they framed his face.

"But there happens to be something.." Which he already could tell. Her own molten golden eyes rose to find his vibrant stare. "I need to go to my hometown. I talked to my sister just a little bit ago and she is worried about my dad. He's been gambling again... Some of Nolan's pack came by the other night and last weekend she was approached when she was out with her friends. She is just about to leave for school Tet. Just like I was." How deeply this seemed to weigh upon the she-wolf among so many things, nor was she able to hide that distress that peeked through that usually confident demeanour that appeared shaken.

"I'm torn. I know its short notice and there is a chance I can't fix it but I feel like I can, without being noticed." How long it had been since she had seen her family for their own sake. Now that all seemed to be in vain. She crossed her arms, hands rubbing absent mindedly over her upper arm in a vague attempt for self comfort even though she looked cold despite the lava that existed within her. She frowned at the memory of having made the choice to give up her academic career in exchange for her family, her sister had a few short months.

"I know its short notice but Tet... will you go with me?" How there was so much more to say, so much she could only shove in a few short words. Hopefully they would be enough.

mira ramos