Exposed

Mated

You can do this Ki. Just walk up and say hello. Ki gave herself a mini pep talk trying to get herself to go and talk to the wolves in the living room. She closed her eyes and imagined herself standing in darkness. Imagining herself surrounded by a pink fog, she turned on her kitsune charm. Opening her eyes, she stared straight at the wolves on the couch. She walked in determined and sat down next to Zack. 

"Hey," Zack smiled at Ki.

She smiled back at him, but turned away to introduce herself to the wolf on the other side of her. Zack watched them start an awkward conversation. He wanted desperately to ask about what Jae said the other day. He knew everyone else also wanted to know. They couldn't really be siblings, but Jae wouldn't lie about something like that. Zack watched a smile appear on Ki's face as she talked with Tiffany. He couldn't help but smile too.

"Ki," Zack started, catching the girls attention, "If you don't mind me asking, could you tell us what's happening between you and Jae?"

"Uh, nothing really. We're the same...We're trying to figure out how to get the pack out of this mess," she said matter of factly.

"That's great, but I meant regarding your relationship...He said he was your brother."

"Oh, that," Ki laughed cheerfully, "He is my brother. Something happened and I'd forgotten, but he helped me remember."

"How can you be siblings?" Tiffany spoke up, just as curious as Zack.

"I can't really explain that... I can't remember much. You know that Jae was in an accident when he was a kit-sorry, pup. Well I was with him and we both can't remember much," Ki lied with a smile.

"Okay, that makes sense..." Zack spoke, suspiciously.

"Any other questions?" Ki asked, hoping they would let it slide. 

Ki and Jae had both agreed not to disclose what was really going on. Ki would meet everyone in the pack, searching for their mothers reincarnated murderer. Kitsune can see souls; they hoped she'd be able to recognize the soul of their target. When they found him, or her, they'd take care of him. Well, Jae said he'd take care of him, Ki didn't know if she'd want any part of that.

"Just, let Jae know we'd all like to know what's going on."

"Of course," Ki smiled, getting up and walking out of the room.

Jae had gone to see his grandmother when they'd returned last night. He explained everything to her. The memories and their plan. She was disapproving of the thought of hurting one of their own. Jae sat in his office, feeling conflicted. He did have some sort of childhood here. He did kind of grow up here. Even if he was already over 800 years old when he came to live here. He felt responsible for this pack. His pack. He rubbed his hands over his face trying to clear his mind somehow. He wanted to protect his inheritance, but he also wanted nothing to do with it. Groaning, he stood and stretched his back. He turned his ears to the door as he heard someone outside.

"Just go in and ask him!" someone whispered.

"No, we'll just wait until he tells us. We shouldn't bother him!" another voice spoke in a hushed tone.

He heard the sounds of feet walking away and he sat back in his chair. He sighed, not knowing what to do with himself. They need me. I need them to a certain extent. I am half kitsune, I like being around others but I live just as well on my own. Maybe that's why I can't find my mate. Because I've too much kitsune in me. Shaking his head, Jae logged onto his computer and started to think of who Ki should try getting close to.

Ki sighed as she fell onto a lawn chair in the backyard. She'd met and made decent friends with Madison, Katherine, Kayln, Josh, Drake, Arther, Tiffany, and Danny today. She was exhausted. She closed her eyes and turned off her charm. She kept them closed, feeling the sun warm her up. 

"You made a lot of progress today," a voice said waking up Ki. 

Her eyes locked with his for a moment and then traveled down to his hand, which was offering her a glass of water. She took it with a polite smile. He sat down next to her, watching. She sniffed the water cautiously before taking a sip.

"So, you're trying to introduce yourself to everyone in the pack?"

"What? Where did you hear that?" Ki asked accusingly. 

The man held up his hands, "No one! I just figured. It seemed like that's what you were trying to do."

"You were watching me?"

"Uh..." he blushed trying to come up with an explanation, "Yeah, I don't really know how to make that sound less creepy."

"Well, you wouldn't have to worry about that if you didn't do creepy things," Ki teased, feeling relaxed.

"I know," he grinned, turning to her, "I just couldn't help it."

She felt a pang in her chest causing her to whip her head towards him. Ki's eyebrows furrowed as she stared at him.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" he asked,  rubbing his palm over his lips.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Joey," he extended a hand, "It's nice to meet you Ki."

With a nod, she shook his hand. Another pang surged through her chest at their contact. 

"What's happening?" she asked worried and retracted her hand.

"Uh, it's called a handshake," Joey chuckled.

"That's not what I meant!" Ki snapped.

"Whoa- Okay, sorry."

"I'm sorry, I just don't understand." Ki said mostly to herself.

"Well, if you ever need to talk or just want to talk, you can come to me. I know you have Jae, but I'll  always be here when you want me."

Joey stood with a smile, looking back down at a confused Ki, before walking back into the house. He walked through the living room, giving a hello to the wolves lounging in there, and into the hallway.  He stopped before Jae's office door. Taking a determined breath he knocked on it.

"Come in."

Joey opened the door and saw stress all over the alpha's face. For a moment, he contemplated telling him later, but then decided he should just get it out there. He closed the door and sat down in front of Jae's desk.

"Hey, Joey. How are you? We haven't spoken in a while."

"I'm well. And don't worry about it, we all know you're busy."

"How's the human girlfriend?" Jae asked raising an eyebrow.

"Oh-uh. That's over. You were right, it was just a phase. I shouldn't have risked putting the pack in danger for someone who wasn't even my mate."

"Don't worry, nothing bad came of it. So, what did you need?"

"I just wanted to tell you something. Maybe get some advice even. And, I guess, permission."

"What did you do now?" Jae sighed sinking into his chair.

"Nothing! I-uh...I found my mate."

Jae sat back up with a smile on his face, "Congratulations!  That must feel great. I'd like to meet her sometime. Is she from another pack? Or did she just turn 17? That'd be some age gap."

"Well, you already know her. She's part of our pack, but she hasn't been for long..."

"What?"

"Jae," Joey took a breath, "Ki is my mate."