Exposed

Zack

"I hear she's being staying in his room."

"Her scent is always all over him!"

"He says they're not mated, but that doesn't mean they aren't mating."

With a horrified look on Ki's face she started walking backwards away from the voices. Jae's hand stopped her and pushed her forward again, towards the living room. They entered the room, causing the wolves to turn and look at them. They smiled at Jae before turning back to the TV. He sat us down in between a blonde boy and girl. They looked like twins. Ki shifted awkwardly, as Jae leaned back and rested his arms on the back of the couch. She could feel the heat of his body radiating onto her, and she felt a little less uncomfortable. At least he'd be there to defend her from any more rumors or rude comments.

"Jae, stop!" the girl beside him squealed.

"What?" he faked innocence.

She squealed again, moving to get away from his tickling fingers.

The group laughed as he attacked her, bringing a lighthearted atmosphere to the room.

Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Ki turned around. The blonde haired boy smiled at her.

"Hi, I'm Zack. It's nice to meet you," he introduced himself, extending a hand.

Shaking hands, Ki responded, "I'm Kiwa. Ki for short. It's nice to meet you, too."

Jae had a little smile on his face, noticing Ki making friends. The room grew silent except for the sounds on the TV. Ki started to grow impatient. She wanted Zack to talk to her again. The only person she's been able to talk to was Jae and even though he's great, she desperately wanted to talk to someone else. A phone went off in the room, and Jae fished through his pocket. 

"This is Jae," he greeted the caller, getting up to step out of the room.

There was a large empty space between her and the blonde girl after Jae left. The air that flooded the area where his body used to be, cooled her right side. She shivered, feeling lonely without him. Suddenly, she felt an arm around her shoulders and she found herself resting on Zack.

"You look cold."

"Uh, yeah...thanks," Ki said embarrassed, feeling the girl on the other side of her staring.

"So, Kiwa, that's an interesting name. I've never heard of it before. Is it a kitsune thing?" Zack inquired.

With a laugh, Ki said, "I don't think it's a kitsune thing. Well, actually... it's probably a Japanese name."

"Let's check," Zack suggested, taking out his phone and typing in 'Kiwa japanese meaning'.

"It says Kiwa means 'born on the border'," he said, handing his phone to Ki.

"I guess that makes sense," Ki thought aloud, "Kitsune are the connection between the living and the spirit worlds. According to Buddhism, anyways."

"Oh, are you a buddhist?"

"What? No, not at all. I've just been researching kitsune a lot recently," Ki explained.

"Most werewolves don't really follow popular religion. If anything, most religious werewolves that I've met believe in pagan gods and natural forces. But Buddhism, I don't know, something about it always intrigued me," Zack said.

"It's for the most part very peaceful and loving. You must be really stressed with everything going on, so, you taking comfort in the peaceful religious teachings of Buddhism isn't all that strange...Though it does have its demons, so to speak, if you delve deeper into the topic."

 Zack chuckled, shaking his chest and with it Ki. She looked up at him trying to figure out where this sudden laugh came from. The expression on her face gave away her confusion, causing Zack to explain.

"You seem nervous."

"I am not nervous. I'm just confused."

"You speak very formally when you get nervous," Zack smirked.

"What? We've barely spent anytime together. You can't have possibly deduced that in the few minutes we've spoken," Ki defended herself.

"You're still doing it."

"You're still, physically, very close to me!"

"Does it bother you?"

"Yes. No. I don't know."

"Does it make you nervous?"

Ki opened her mouth to say something, then stopped. She glared at him playfully, crossing her arms. This made Zack laugh and try to pull her in closer to him.

"Zack, just give it a rest!" the blonde girl Jae was previously sitting next to scolded. 

"Relax, Zahra. We're just having a bit of fun," Zack said, still holding onto Ki.

"Just keep it in your pants. I know she's new meat and everything. I know you like to bang everything with a pulse, but she's not worth it. Especially if she's slutting it up with our alpha. He'll probably kill you," Zahra glared at Ki.

"Okay, wow. First," Zack said, positioning himself to look at Ki, "none of that is true. I don't have the urge to 'bang everything with a pulse'. I have the urge to have sex with beautiful women, like any normal man. Second, they said they weren't mates. There's no reason to delude yourself into thinking they're sleeping together. And even if they were, that wouldn't give you the right to brand her as a slut!"

"It's okay," Ki said to Zack, stopping his parade of words, "I'll be in Jae's office if anyone needs me."

Ki sat up off the couch, removing herself from Zack's hold. She noticed the other two girls trying to stay out of the conflict that just arose. Zahra sat with her arms crossed, glaring at Zack and then Ki. Ki smiled at Zack, and then walked out of the room and into the hall. She walked silently and thoughtlessly. Opening the door to the office, she quickly stepped inside and then closed the door. She leant against the door thinking, 'they're never going to accept me as one of them'.

"What's wrong?" Jae asked, seeing the obviously upset expression on Ki's face.