Mira listened to the conversation play out before her. She felt like a silent spectator as she stood there. Her father practically handed her off like she was some kind of property once more. Only she offered her to someone she had already chosen. But the truth knowing that he would always be willing to offer her like she was a little more than gold to be bartered with stung like a sliver buried within her heart. It did not simmer in her blood as thoughts of Nolan did. Yet, for perhaps for the first time she saw her father for who he was. Not from the tinted glasses of a young girl. She saw the impossible situation he faced, that he had carved out for himself, like a consuming sickness that rose its head when in the face of a monumental choice. As if he couldn't help but choose wrong. Not always but in this moment when it mattered. Yet, he seemed to care enough to ask Tetradore to protect her, but she could see the pleading in his desperate eyes. The silent desperation that he wished something could solve it, like how he thought gambling would solve everything else. But it was also that same look he had given her when Nolan named his price when he could not make that payment or risk what was to follow. The price that apparently had not been settled as a new debt remained.

But it was difficult not to see the man that had once pushed her on swings, who took her out for the first time to use her telescope and gaze at the stars despite knowing very little of them besides the joy it brought her. But did she really know him? But how little that mattered to her heart. Because he was still her father and she was the same person that would do it all again just to keep those she loved safe. Mira remained quiet, absorbing it all. Trying to embody the stoicism that her boyfriend possessed and yet wholly failed. Despite the failed stoicism, she remained quiet. To speak her mind would only prove to be a hindrance at that moment. One thing for certain was... she was not alone to face it, not this time. She didn't need to face it like she had before. Tet was by her side, in her corner. How selfishly glad she had him here and now, even though she hated roping him within the tangled mess they found themselves within.

Instead of words, she chose to focus on how she could help the situation. She frowned gently in consideration, sternly asking for the only thing she wanted from her father at that moment. His phone. It was a small but successful mission. At least with that, she could help spin the narrative, even if they didn't hold a true element of surprise. Now they had the means to contact her once alpha even when instinct protested that she go the other way. Mira sighed softly, such a quiet sound that it came out little more than heated breath that she had been holding. She did nothing with the phone, not yet, not until she spoke with Tet in private, only slipping it within her back pocket of her for later. One problem solved with only a million to follow it.

A no-nonsense shout then cut through the tension like a knife as they were all summoned within. The sound near startling her senses to look toward the house where her grandmother had cracked open a window to call through the screen. The she-wolf knew what that voice meant. A moment of reprieve from the heaviness. A welcome one. Mira's father left the pair to make his way inside leaving the pair alone after thanking Tet. The she-wolf reached for Tetradore's hand without thinking, as if a hope to pull Tetradore from whatever dark thought shadowed his vibrant emerald eyes. She sought for touch. Something her species tended to crave in moments of uncertainty. After all, a pack was something that should be relied upon in moments like this. But her boyfriend was built differently and it showed as she failed to provoke a response. Words formed and fell from her lips, as she was seeking out some kind of confirmation from him, the pair taking a moment before heading inside. It was then that she offered a possible plan that Tet said he would think on. Never once, did his calm demeanour shift. Never once, did he betray his thoughts. It was helpful, especially when the lava inside of her threatened to run wildly within her veins. Yet, the price of that calmness came a cold distance that she had long accepted as his way. Respectfully, she allowed his hand to be free of hers, to allow the man his space. She could not blame him for it. "That's all I ask." She replied with a pleasant nod, she couldn't ask for anything more than that. Her molten gaze turned away for a moment, looking through the glass of the sliding door where she could see her family within. She let that warm smile find her lips, willing herself to live in that moment. No matter how short it was.

It was the promise of a home-cooked meal that caused her stomach to rumble, reminded that it had been neglected when the alluring scent of food struck her nose. How the memory of family dinners seemed pale in comparison to the actual thing! The woman had never been able to deny her grandmother's cooking, even on the worst of days. Surely, her boyfriend was hungry too and part of her enjoyed the chance to share this with him.

One thing for certain, dinner was like a veritable feast. It did not disappoint. Several dishes were available in the centre of the table, filled with colourful as it was flavourful and plentiful food. Yet what the Ramos family was known for was that no one went without and there was plenty of food to spare. Leftovers were always in abundance and it was often that those dishes made with love, tasting even better the following day. It was remarkable what her vovo could produce in such a limited time and it was clear she had pulled all the stops that she could. That was far more telling than anything else. Because how she cooked, was how she showed her love.

The couple sat side by side. Tetradore, remained quiet but polite, responding when spoken to but nothing more than that. He managed to finish everything from his plate. But, it was only during the lull just before dessert, when her family's attention shifted elsewhere that he leaned into her. His voice sent a warm shiver down her neck and along her spine with the weight those few simple words held.

He had an idea. Mira's golden gaze met his own, it was as if her heart forgot to beat. How she wanted to know what he had come up with... but now was not the time to discuss it. The perfect moment, if there was one, would be afterwards. She nodded gently before her family began to return with trays of dessert. "That is half the battle then." She said in soft determination and a smile before conversation picked up around them like the tide rising around them, enveloping them both. Clara said something to Mira that would normally make the she-wolf laugh. Only she tried her best to remain present.

The she-wolf attempted to engage her sister, asking her about life and whatever else. Tried to veer her grandmother off some heated tangent about how fruit tasted better when she was younger, letting her have a moment but was able to offer damage control before she took it too far. Instead, she got her to tell Tetradore one of her favoured tales of how she met her now late husband. Her father, however, was painfully silent but took in the sight of his family even when he looked so old and tired.

The deep crease within his forehead was like a veritable chasm running across his forehead that never smoothed. It reminded her of the distance that existed between them. Regardless, it felt priceless to the she-wolf to share a meal with her family. Allowing Tetradore to share that glimmer of that normalcy before the inevitability that loomed like an intimidating shadow overhead. For the most part, that had gone off without a hitch. It was difficult not to think of what was to come, but she tried. Oh, she tried.

After the meal, couple had a moment to collect themselves. A moment together to make a game plan before the time to act... couldn't be pushed back any more. Avoiding the risk of Nolan abandoning all else and finding her here.

----

Sometime later...(whenever we wish it to be)

Mira cast Aiden a glance, a long studious look her mind churning with possibilities. "Remind me of the plan again?" She needed to hear it once more, to make sure she could play her part perfectly.

That plan her boyfriend made. It would work. She thought with such certainty.

It had to.

mira ramos