Virals Pack: Reborn

Chapter 19: Accepted (Part 2)

A/N: Thank you all for your support! Good news, I am out of my writer's block funk! Unfortunately, I still have to deal with finals week, which I am smack-dab in the middle of. So I won't be able to post another chapter for a week or so. Lucky for you I had a flash of inspiration and wrote this up before I retreat back to my mountains of notebooks, papers, and study guides! Enjoy! Cover art 'Virals as Wolves WIP' by Thunderwolf2113

One word to describe Whitney DuBois: dramatic. The instant Tory led us into the house and announced I was there, she burst in and swept across the room to stand in front of me. 

"Why hello! You must be the new arrival! I'm Whitney DuBois, but you can just call me Whitney. I've heard so much about you, dear, I hope you've adjusted alright to Morris Island living. It's so strange at first, isn't it? But don't worry, we're practically one big family here, so welcome!"

"Ummm, t-thank you." I stammer, a bit overwhelmed by her tirade. 

"Okay, Whitney" Tory jumps in before Whitney can say anything else "We're going to go upstairs to do homework." With that, she drags us all upstairs and practically shoves us into her room before shutting the door. 

"So that's Whitney." I say, more as a statement than a question.

"Yup," Tory rolls her eyes, "that's Whitney." 

Hi blurts out "Well, we've got all afternoon. Got any other formal introductions that need to be made?" 

Shelton shakes his head "My parent's are at work, and they aren't big on introductions anyway."

Ben simply shakes his head, then looks at Hi "What about you?"

"Yeah, Hi" Tory questions "What about your mom? Morris Island sentinel, gotta have her meet the newcomer."

"Oh, uh, she already met Katrina" Hi admits.

Ben's gaze sharpens "When?"

"Oh, a little while ago" Hi shrugs, unperturbed "She came over to play some games with me and Shelton." 

"And this wasn't worth mention?" Ben presses

"Ben, chill" Tory snaps "You don't have to be so mean about her, quit being so hostile."

"Give me one reason why we should trust her, Tory. We don't even know her that well."

Tory and Ben continue to argue with each other, with Shelton and Hi occasionally commenting. I stand off to the side, feeling completely unattached to the conversation even though it's about me. It's like I'm watching the scene through a curtain or a glass wall or something. I'm merely a witness to the mayhem. I could probably slip out the door and they wouldn't even notice me, that's how cut off I am. 

I'm considering doing just that when I realize they are all looking at me. I snap back into full reality in time to hear Tory request"...about yourself."

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I feel awkward now for zoning out like that and missing the full question.

Tory patiently repeats herself "I said, tell us a little about you. Who you are, where you're from, why you're here..."

"Don't forget the most important question!" Hi interrupts "What's your favorite color?"

I pause, then begin to answer "Um...I'm Katrina Strider, I came from northern Minnesota, and my favorite color is green, but not just any green, the green that comes from sunlight shining through oak leaves." Like the ones on our oak tree back home I silently add.

"You're still skipping the big question, why are you here?" Tory looks at me, raising her eyebrows in question.

"I-I'm here to live with my aunt and her partner." I try to dodge the full answer.

"Why here, and why now?" Ben crosses his arms and stares at me. I shift my stance, unsure of how I wanted to answer. I know what to say, but I don't want to say it...

"Because Morris Island is awesome!" Hi tries to jump to my rescue once again "She must have heard about the charming group we have here, especially moi...."

"Enough distractions, Hi" Tory snaps at him. She turns to me "Now, answer the question please."

Her tone is insistent, demanding. I can see now why she is the alpha of the pack. I continue to hesitate, I really don't want to answer. But there's no way around it....

Hi moves to stand next to me. He no longer protests, there's nothing more he can do than provide moral support. Besides, he's probably as curious as the rest. Taking a breath, I start to shakily explain myself. "I ummm...I moved from Minnesota over winter vacation...." I trail off and Hi gently nudges me to continue, before the others get impatient. The nudge startles me and somehow my control over my mind slips for a second, and my thoughts overflow with unbidden memories from before...

No. I can't break down again, I don't want to break down again. I just want to be stronger....

Hi sits down, then grabs my hand and gently pulls me down too. He gestures at the others and they mimic us, and suddenly I'm sitting in a circle with all of them. Hi squeezes my hand, then looks me in the eye, urging me to continue. Words begin to come out of my mouth, awkwardly stopping and starting as I stumble through my explanation. 

"I'm Katrina, I used to live in Minnesota. I just turned sixteen in December. There, there was a fire...my house...it  burned down. My parents...my sisters...my family........I was the only one to make it out. There was...no one to take care of me. So I was sent here, to live with my aunt that I'd never met before. And that's....that's why I'm here..."

I sniffle and look up, trying to keep myself from crying. I find four pairs of eyes gazing at me with sympathy. Hi looks like he wants to console me, but doesn't know what to do. Shelton has a similar appearance, and may even be a bit teary-eyed. Tory looks sad and sympathetic. Even Ben looks regretful for his harsh words. All at once, in silent agreement, the four of them pull me into a big group hug. Hi and Shelton hug me tightly, Tory carefully wraps her arms around the three of us, and Ben puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. 

I was so caught off guard that an errant tear escapes and trickles down my cheek. A flood of emotions threaten to overwhelm me as I come to a big realization. For the first time since I lost my family, I feel like I'm at home.