Mira stood in her adopted parents’ room at the bed-and-breakfast and watched as her mom zipped up her overnight bag.They were leaving early in the morning, so this was goodbye for the time being.
She wasn’t sure when she’d see them again.They were going to catch up to the Festival of the Revel and continue to follow Velastra, the star that had led them to Northern Ohio in the first place.
“A few months, I think,” her dad said.
“What?”Mira asked.
“You were wondering when we’d see each other again, and it’ll be a few months.Around Thanksgiving.”
She shook her head.“Did you have a vision or read my mind or something?”
He smiled.“I can just see what you’re thinking.”
“I am.There have been a lot of changes in a short amount of time.”
And that was the truth.Her world had been turned upside down several times in the last week.Then she’d heard from Leo earlier in the day that the pack-owned dealership had been targeted by the anti-shifter people, and things were looking grim.
“I’m losing you guys,” she said.“It’s the first time I haven’t been traveling with you in my whole life.”
Daphne walked over and put her hands on her shoulders with a gentle squeeze.“You’re not losing us; our paths are just diverging for a while.It’s what happens in families.We always thought that when you found your mate, you might settle somewhere.Nomadic life isn’t for everyone.”
“Besides, it seems like the gryphons are thinking about settling in the area, so you get to spend time with your biological family, which is something that we had always wished for you,” Gideon said.
Her phone buzzed, and she saw a text from Leo.
Would your family mind bringing you to the dealership?I can’t get away, and we can’t spare an escort for you.Unless you want to stay at the B&B?
I’m sure they can, don’t worry.I’ll see you soon.
She ended her text with a heart emoji and put her phone in her back pocket.
“I need to get on the way.”
“We’ll walk out with you.”
They headed down to the front room of the B&B and found the gryphons speaking with the rest of the psychics.She asked if the gryphons would escort her to the dealership, and they happily agreed.
She said goodbye to the psychics, hugging them tightly and wishing them well on the journey.She didn’t cry until it came to her parents, and then she did, tears flowing down her cheeks as the realization that they were moving on without her settled over her.
She was gaining and losing in the same moment.
Waving goodbye from Theron’s pickup, she settled in the seat and sighed.
“They took really good care of you all these years,” he said as he pulled away from the B&B and honked twice.“It sucks that we were kept from each other because of everything that went down when we were little, but I’m glad that you’re alive and safe, and that we can be a family again.With Leo, too.”
She brushed the tears from her cheeks and smiled.“I’m happy about all that, too.It’s just strange to feel things ending with them.They’re my family, and I already miss them, but I get you guys in my life, and I didn’t even know you were missing from my life until I met Leo.I can’t believe a Wiccan spell could do so much damage in the name of keeping me safe.”
Theron nodded with a hum.“So, are there any cute unmated females in the pack?”
She chuckled.“Yes.”
“Maybe one of them will be my truemate.I’d sure like to start a family.”
She could understand the feeling.She couldn’t wait until she and Leo had a family of their own.
“I’d like to shift with you and our family.I only shifted one time so far,” she said.
“Hell, yes.Name the time and place.”
