Long story short: Life is crazy. Hence the long wait again.

Short story long: Brisbane, Australia, just went through recent severe flooding, meaning I couldn't get home for more than a week and I had no access to my computer. I'm hoping to have the next chapter written over the next week and a much quicker update! To anyone new reading this or anticipating updates, I appreciate the endless patience and support!

"Miss Mira!"

As Lucien, one of the three-year-old's in the school came running towards her, Mira couldn't help but think back on the first time she'd been here, riddled with anxiety. She'd almost run back out of the door, in truth; her pride and stubbornness were the only reason she had not.

From that day, it had been non-stop. She spent her mornings down in Myles' gym, before heading over to Kiva's. There, she'd either help with the garden or get an impromptu less in modern medicine. In the afternoons, she shadowed Mrs Ashford to the school. Her nights, she spent watching the sun go down from the lookout, before heading back to Myles.

All of it—routine, certainty—was a total parallel to her life before. Sometimes, she struggled to believe it was her life now.

Bending down now, Mira met Lucien at eye level, raising an eyebrow. "What's in your hand?"

"It's me!" He held out lump of black and white play-doh, with feather stuck all over. "See?"

Without the knowledges that Lucien was a hare shifter, she wouldn't have been able to see at all. Still, she smiled wideIy. "It's wonderful."

"Can I make one for you, too?"

At that, her grin dropped. For a moment, her heart ceased beating. While she'd gotten more comfortable around other shifters thanks to the interaction with these children, the reminder of what she was—or wasn't—remained ever-pressing.

Covering the reaction, she asked as evenly as she could, "Do you think you can make a coyote?"

There was no waver in her voice, and for that she was glad. As time went on, she was finding little ways to honour her father's memory, rather than bury her grief in denial. This was another chance to do so. No matter how small the step, progress was still progress.

Lucien stared at her for a minute longer, blinking rapidly. Then, leaving his "hare" still in Mira's hands, he shouted intelligibly, turned and dashed back the way he'd come. Mira watching him disappear around the corner, getting to her feet.

Left on her own, she glanced around the wide, high-set hallway. The space was sparsely furnished, aside from the hanging racks along the grey walls and the in-built shelving unit adjacent to the door. Three oversized photo canvases of the mountains hung on the walls. Children's bags and jackets were piled up on the shelves.

To the right, she heard voices from behind the ajar door. One she recognised as Mrs Ashford. The others were likely educators she'd yet to meet. Heading in that direction, Mira removed her own jacket, hanging it over one of the empty hooks.

Before she could open the door, Mrs Ashford was there. "Hey. How were the roads?"

"Slippery," said Mira, "but otherwise okay."

Slowly, she was getting used to driving. She'd always known how, but it had been more of a matter of the opportunity never being there. Now that Myles had given her access to the car he didn't use, she went out in it daily. The conditions here, were the problem. A snow storm overnight, whether heavy or light, changed the surface of the road so dramatically.

"Where do you need me, today?" she asked, entering the small office space. Noticing the two other women standing by Mrs Ashford, Mira smiled politely. "I'm Mira. Nice to meet you."

At they both stepped forward, holding out their palms and introducing themselves, Mira studied them. In their thirties, if she had to guess. Their grins were friendly, if not a bit reserved. They were dressed far more formally than Mira or Mrs Ashford, in pressed trousers and blouses.

Mrs Ashford cocked her hip on the side of the large desk, leafing through paperwork. "She's my dau—" A cough. "She's our newest pack member, as I'm sure you've heard. I'm helping her find her role in the pack."

Mira knew what she'd been about to say. By the fates, she and Myles were mated, which technically had made Mira family from the beginning. That kind of pressure however, was overwhelming when she and Myles were still figuring things out.

Or, well, she was.

His patience, now that she was able to look back on the situation with hindsight, was hard to believe. He'd been raised on the idea that when he found his fated, everything would fall into place like a fairy tale, after all.

Instead, he found her.

How long had it been since their "trial" had started? Nearly two weeks now. Two weeks that had gone by so quickly. Each day broke her resolve that much more.

It was the little things. The domestic things had only gotten more so. Like waking up in the same bed, wrapped in his arms so tightly, drawing warmth from each other—or, him, rather. The occasional kiss or touch... simply because they could. The moments they bickered over the simplest of things, like how to hang washing properly.

Sheepish, Mira tucked a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. "I've had a hard time adjusting," she said, shrugging one shoulder. "I'm sorry we haven't met yet."

"There's nothing to apologise for." Ryali shed her jacket, draping it over the back of a chair. She tipped her head towards Mrs Ashford, expression expectant. "Class A are with Lauren, ma'am. I'm covering their lunch break in half an hour. Is there anything you need me to get done beforehand?"

Simply known as Class A, it was for the younger children. A day-care of sorts, while their parents worked. Class B was more of primary, basic education. Class C, was the older students studied their advanced, specific classes. Each Class was divided into its own area of buildings, although students across all the area could come and go outside of class if they were old enough. Each Class averaged fifteen students. The administration office, where they now were, was within Class A's area for safety reasons.

Mira only helped out the younger children. Understandable, given she was in no position to educate beyond basic literacy.

"I have some paperwork to go over," said Mrs Ashford. "I'd appreciate the help to get it done faster."

Paperwork, Mira had learned, was something neither of Myles' parents enjoyed. It was a large reason that Myles had taken over the background runnings of the pack, although it wasn't well-spread knowledge. He didn't mind it. Or so he said. Mira suspected he was lying about that.

"Of course, Ma'am." Ryali edged around the desk, towards the filing cabinet. "I'll get started right away."

"Thank you, Ry." A pause. Mrs Ashford held out one of the three thermos she'd brought. "Mira, can you take this to Lauren for me?"

That was her unofficial cue. From the moment she gave Lauren the coffee, Mira was free to decide how she chose to help. There was no expectation of what or how long she stayed. Mira liked to help out as much as she could, seeing as Mrs Ashford paid her a set amount regardless of the fact. Something Mira had unsuccessfully tried to argue. Cheating her way to that money felt wrong.

Assuming the children were doing crafts, based on the gift Lucien had left her with, it would be no hardship. She was curious to see what his "cougar" would turn out to be.

"It was nice to meet you both," said Mira, as she turned to leave.

Isla raised her hand in a half wave. "By the sounds of it, we'll be seeing you frequently, so don't be a stranger."

*

Staring between the endless options of pasta, Mira debated texting Myles out of desperation to ask him about his presence. She didn't. Instead, she reached for the packet at eye height, figuring that pasta was pasta, spaghetti or penne or whatever else it may be.

Dropping it into her trolley, she crossed the item off of her list jaggedly, before moving down the line. Bolognese sauce was next and she headed down the end of the aisle, keeping an eye out for the jars and others who were passing.

Slowly, she was repaying her debts in as many ways as she could. To everyone she owed them to. Taking on the main responsibly of buying groceries, with her own money, was one way of paying things forward to Myles.

Something that had seemed fairly straight forward. At the time. Now she was realising the challenges. Like finding where everything was—and then deciding which type to buy. Then there was the awkward, short interactions she had with other pack members. Budgeting was another issue, but one she had quickly adapted to. That she didn't have to be so frugal was quickly becoming the issue to cover that.

Rounding the corner, she made a note to come back for the milk by the back wall on her way out of the store—

As her trolley hit something solid, Mira gasped. The echo of tin hitting tile was loud.

"I'm so sorry," said Mira on a rushed out breath. "I didn't see you. Are you okay?"

"No harm done," came the reply in a smooth, masculine voice. "I don't think we've met. I'm Adrian."

Mira glanced up. Adrian was staring at her with a quirked eyebrow that was pierced, the corner of his mouth lifted. He was no older than she was, tall and broad. His short hair was cropped to his skull. In a tank top, she could see the long tattoo of thick vines spanned from wrist to neck. A jacket hung over his arm, black like his heavy boots.

"Mira," she said. "Again, I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying any attention."

"Neither was I, babe. No harm done."

Babe? Mira decided not read too far into that. "It's nice to meet you. I'll leave you to your shopping."

Skirting to the right to the free aisle space, she glanced down at her list and the remaining items to buy. Half an hour at most before she could go, if she had to guess. By the time she got back to Myles' she'd have time to put away the cold and head out for a walk.

"Wait." A palm landed on her upper arm, halting her mid-step. "I've been meaning to introduce myself for a while now. Surely you can spare a couple of minutes to talk?"

Shifters were tactile. Myles was a glaring example of that. Scent, touch; all of it, he was borderline obsessed with. Mira didn't understand the instinct herself, something that had to be from the human side of her genetics. Still, she didn't begrudge him because she didn't mind it—unless he became too overbearing.

Adrian was another story. Maybe he saw it as nothing more than a casual touch between pack mates, but that didn't mean she did. Or that she was okay with it.

Smiling tightly, she stepped away. As evenly as she could, she asked, "What did you want to talk about?"

With the hand that had just been touching her, Adrian scratched at his beard, eyeing her with sharp focus. "I want to offer my intentions."

"Pardon?"

Adrian didn't hesitate, saying, "As a potential mate. I'd like to be considered. I'm—"

Frowning, Mira took another step back. "Is this a hazing ritual or something?"

"What?" Adrian's eyebrows ascended to his forehead. "Babe, no. I'm being serious. Why wouldn't I be?"

For the longest time, Mira was at a loss for words. She could only gape at Adrian, unnerved as if all eyes were droned on her. All of the conversations she'd had with Kiva, Myles and his parents hadn't prepared her for this—whatever "this" was.

"I'm in a relationship," she managed eventually.

Said relationship was complicated, but that was none of his business.

"With Myles Ashford, yes, I'm aware." He crossed his arms over his chest, standing taller. After a quick glance around like he was checking their surrounds, he added quietly but harshly, "Has he forbidden you from taking another mate? If you need to get away from him, I don't care who his parents are. I'm not afraid of him."

The bite in his tone caught her off guard; his reaction seemed entirely genuine. She didn't doubt for a second he'd do as he warned.

His words... made her think. About something she'd never considered before for even a second. She'd assumed when she and Myles agreed to trialling their relationship, that exclusivity had been an obvious ground rule. On both ends. He'd kicked out an ex of his, after all.

Mira hadn't even pictured her life involving a long term relationship before she'd found these pack lands. It simply hadn't been possible. Even if she had allowed herself to consider the prospect, the idea of anything other than monogamy was off putting. For a single reason: one relationship and all its issues was enough to deal with. Why would she want to multiply any of that?

Was Myles expecting her to take another mate? Better yet, did he want her to?

Mind racing, Mira pulled out her phone, tapping her most recent conversation. With an eye on Adrian, she typed out, SOS.

The reply was instant. Where are you. And who do I need to murder.

Vara wasn't joking about that.

Someone's offering to be my mate. I don't even know him, typed Mira. What the hell do I do.

Tell him you're in a relationship.

Adrian was staring at her. Waiting for a response. Mira swallowed, fingers ghosting over the keys.

I did!, she wrote. He threatened Myles!

You animals are weird, came the reply.

Mira couldn't agree more to that. She needed to talk to Myles about this the second she had the chance. In the back of her mind she asked herself if this was normal and she was simply overreacting. Then she decided she didn't care if it was the case. Nothing about this situation was remotely comfortable..

I know! Help. Please. He's watching me. It's weird. What do I say.

Seconds felt like hours as she stared at her phone.

Tell him to back off, Mi. You're not interested. A pause. Tell him your best friend is fae and she's a pyromaniac. I'll come after him.

Despite herself, she had to crack a smile smile at that last part. Vara in her life should have been impossible, especially considering where she'd been before all of this, deathly afraid of all fae. Now, she couldn't imagine it any differently.

"I'm flattered, really," began Mira, smiling tightly, "but my life is complicated enough."

To her surprise, Adrian's bravado fell away in an instant. Taking a step back, he inclined his head. He didn't seem the least bit embarrassed about the rejection. "If you change your mind, the offer stands."

"I'll keep that in mind," she said, bold-face lying.

"I'll see you around, then, I guess." Lifting in his hand in a wave, Adrian pivoted slightly. "Have a nice day, Mira."

"You too," muttered Mira.

In his wake, she stared at the empty space, replaying what had just happened in her mind. Still in disbelief, she texted Vara again. He's gone. What the hell just happened.

Minutes later, her phone buzzed. Don't ask me. He's lucky he made a quick exit before I had to get involved. A pause. Are you still on for drinks tomorrow night?

To that, Mira didn't bother with words. Instead, she sent a series of emoticons. Then, she refocused on her grocery list. The sooner she got out of here, back to her own space, the better.