Exposed

Lure

"Can you get the plates and things out?" Jae yelled to Ki over the sound of him cooking.

"Yeah, where are they?"

...

"Jae?" she tried again, but he still couldn't hear her.

With a sigh she searched through the cabinets, but couldn't find them. Ki walked away from the kitchen and into the living room, where some of the pack had gathered watching TV.

"Can someone help me, please?" Ki asked.

"Yes."

"Sure."

"I can."

"Coming."

A look of shock registered on everyone's face. All the males had responded almost immediately. They're faces showed they hadn't meant to agree and especially not so willingly. The last time she checked the only wolves she's spoken to were Jae and Lumen.  She hadn't made friends or even spoken to anyone else, so why were they so eager to help her? And why is it just the men?

"Okay...I need help finding the plates," Ki spoke slowly, noticing the angry faces of some of the women. All four men stood and began walking over to Ki.

"Wait! I don't need all of you to help me! It's just plates- You," Ki pointed to a man with brown hair and green eyes, "You come help me."

Ki walked back into the kitchen with the chosen man. He walked over the cabinets on the edge of the kitchen, right next to the wall. He opened the right door and revealed the plates. He grabbed a couple and smiled at Ki.

"Thanks," Ki dismissed him.

When she turned around she saw Jae watching her with a raised eyebrow.

"What?" she asked.

"Mikey seemed really eager to help you," he teased.

"Well, if you just answered me I wouldn't have needed to get help!" Ki defended her actions.

"I needed you to start talking to the rest of the pack somehow, but I didn't think it'd go like that," Jae laughed, spooning some eggs and bacon amongst other things onto the plates.

"Thank you," Ki said as Jae placed a plate in front of her, "I don't think he actually wanted to help though."

"What do you mean? They all wanted to help you. Looks like you're becoming a potential mate option," Jae stated casually.

Ki choked on the food in her mouth, spitting it out across the table. 

"Potential mate option? What the hell?" she choked out.

"Well the guys seem to be interested in you. You are pretty, so, it's not like it's too weird."

"I am not here for 'mating'. We normal people don't go around mating people!" Ki spoke, flustered. 

Laughing, Jae began, "Normal people? Meaning all the non-werewolves? I'm pretty sure they 'mate' for fun too. Also, you're not a normal person anymore. You're a kitsune."

"For your information, most of my friends and I do not go around sleeping with random people. It's something special...that you share with someone you trust," Ki explained.

"You don't know what mates are do you?" Jae figured.

"Like animal mates. Animals mate with whoever when they want to have children."

"Well, yes that's correct, but werewolve's mates aren't so disposable. Each of us has a true mate made only for us," Jae spoke softly, "And when you find them, you mark them, declaring you've found your life partner. The one you'll go to any lengths to protect and love. The connection between true mates is special. They empower one another. They make each other stronger."