Inside the small cosy space that was once her childhood bedroom, it was impossible to escape the threads of nostalgia that tugged at her. It was as if she had stepped through time itself. The window sill she had once climbed out of still beckoned to her, the glow-in-the-dark stars upon the ceiling still very much the same, even her astronomy books and old-school horror movies were upon her shelf, untouched. So much remained the same but she was different. She was not the same innocent girl that used to fall asleep counting those stars and once imagined all the different galaxies in the universe just outside these walls.

Mira remembered how small she felt when looking up at the midnight night sky. How it used to scare her and fascinate her all at once. Unable to help but wonder if that sky would come down and swallow her whole. Some nights she wished it to when apart of that pack where she had learned to feel all kinds of things she would have never imagined. She slipped into the room as she mentioned those rules that had been placed upon her as a teen. It was almost funny to think of how many of them she had broken and not even for the reasons her parents feared.

She looked toward her boyfriend, those molten golden eyes like glowing embers rested upon him. It was quieter in here. Alone with him, which was honestly a relief. She could even see her boyfriend's demeanour shift too. He too seemed far more at ease away from her family and the world that existed beyond them. Although he seemed to look behind him as if to check that they were followed before the door closed softly behind them. His emerald gaze returned to meet her own before he moved with clear intent toward her. She felt her heartbeat elevate when he moved with that calm, confident authority that sent her body alight.

Suddenly, his hands were placed on either side of that window sill as he was mere inches away. He was suddenly all that existed. Surprise crossed her features, and she could hardly help but be lost to those emerald eyes, before stealing a glimpse of his lips as he spoke. Her lips curved upward into a grin at the mischief behind breaking those rules. Oh, she liked the sound of that. She really liked the sound of that. But what if they walked in? They could at any moment. Even as an adult she hardly liked the idea of that happening. There were some things her family didn't need to know or see. Yet how she was not exactly good at thinking so clearly when he was so close, with his attention only on her. Nothing else. That rare mischievous nature seemed to appeal to the she-wolf. "Oh, quite a few, I am sure." She dared before his lips closed upon her own. Those sweet kisses that stole all reason. The she-wolf kissed him back before his lips broke that kiss, one she wanted to protest before dipped to a seductive trail along the slope of her neck that ignited a trail of goosebumps across her flesh. It was so slow, so purposeful that she anticipated each collision of heated skin. Her breath hitched as his lips found that far too sensitive nook. "We broke at least two." She uttered barely more than a whisper.

She was hardly so fast to stop him, not even sure that she could. How she longed for these simple moments of intimacy. Did he? He was like another person within the city limits. Did he look forward to this too? She allowed her head to tip to the side, hardly immune to this tender closeness he offered as her hand reached to press lightly against his side. All the she-wolf wanted was to feel this and not the impending reality of the situation. In that moment with him, she was safe.

Three more attentively soft kisses and he paused. Was there something wrong? Her eyes blinked open to see a frown upon his features, as he looked upwards at the glow-in-the-dark stars that her younger self once meticulously placed. Of course, that caught his attention when he had just had his lips on her skin. She couldn't help but that soft laughter. Although it was probably for the best. "I am surprised that they still stick." It was once such a precarious balancing act to get those stars up there.

In a stark moment of vulnerability, Mira admitted that thought that she didn't think she could even say out loud. Those intensely vibrant emerald eyes watched her attentively as she spoke. She missed the feel of his enveloping warmth of those kisses she wished he hadn't stopped. The mention of her father seemed to bring a sigh from his very lips, his hand ran through his curly locks as if at a loss at what to say.

Damn. She had successfully killed the mood it would seem. He shifted then to lean against the desk, arms folded across his muscular chest in that guarded way that he so often took. He looked impenetrable, silent, guarded, and clear stoicism. As if he was not a man at all but an immovable mountain. She moved toward the bed to drop onto the mattress, the bed squeaking softly from her weight.

It was after some consideration that she realized how much her boyfriend didn't know about this place or her experiences. It was then that she offered him a chance... One that he swiftly shrugged away with the mention that he didn't want to bring up painful memories. While they once were painful. Life on the Ark had brought an acceptance of her past. The feeling didn't quite hold that once familiar sting it did. Once she was certain she could not speak of it... but now? "Really, it's not that bad anymore. I have made terms with it. But I think you're right. Maybe another time if you want to know more about it. Besides, my life didn't turn out not so bad, if you ask me." By the final sentence, she let a soft, warm smile to play upon her lips.

But she did give him an opening to voice his own questions. Well.. if the mood wasn't dead before.

It was extinguished now.

Tetradore's questions came with cold precision. The intent was clear. He was learning as much about his opponent as possible given the limited knowledge available. It was clear that he was attempting to prepare and yet some part of her knew that Nolan was unavoidable. She sat up straight, a firm resolve settled over her.

"You likely won't like those answers. From what I have gathered. The town is either indebted to him or bought. The pack grew a lot since I left. But from what I hear from my sister, they have gotten far more brazen too. Cocky. They act like they run the town. I think most people would be too scared to say otherwise. The pack has grown since when I was a part of it." Like ivy that spread, unchecked and wild.

"The pack mostly lives, as far as I know, just outside the main town, kind of hidden off the beaten path. The higher ranked got to live in the house and the others lived nearby. If they have grown, then I don't know where he keeps them all. It would mean he would need to expand, but I doubt its far from where he is. He likes to keep a close eye on everything going on." Her boyfriend huffed out a hot breath of air. It was hard to imagine that those were the same lips that had just kissed her moments ago.

It was the final question that caused a frown, as she toyed with the fabric of jeans upon her knee. How much was her father's debt? A sigh escaped her lips before she spoke.

"I don't know, Tet. No one knows besides him. It nearly cost us the house the last time. There is only one way to find out." Her lips pulled into a determined grim line. She rose to her feet. The idea of this knowing how her father would react to being questioned was not at all something she looked forward to. But.... it was the only way. There was no sense in trying to deny it or putting it off.

"It is unavoidable. I don't think he can keep his secrets any longer. He can't hide from me or this anymore as much as he wants to be an ostrich with his head in the sand.." It was all too clear that she wasn't exactly pleased with the man her father had become. But he was still her father. He had provided for them, had done so much for them. She couldn't just erase that they were blood and there were memories of fondness with him before it got messy. She couldn't just turn her back on those she loved.

"I'm sorry. I was scared when I asked you to come. I didn't realize I was asking you into a nearly impossible situation." She admitted.

"I just want this to be behind me." She willed her voice not to waver. Those golden eyes rose to the usually apathetic emerald eyes of her boyfriend, with the hope some part of him understood.

"Are you ready to meet my father?" This was going great.

mira ramos