Exposed

Progress

"Kiwa, where are you going?" Helena asked, jogging to catch up with Ki.

"I'm going to look for the first alpha."

"You figured out who it was?"

"No."

"Then you know where he is?"

"No."

"Well, then how are you going to accomplish anything?" Helena criticized.

"Sitting in here isn't going to tell me who the reincarnation of the first alpha is. My best shot is to take the stories I've learned and try to match them to the wolves in the pack," Ki snapped.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help. Running around wasting time and energy isn't going to end in success. If we can figure this out before you run out on us again then everything will go a lot smoother."

"I'm going to find Joey," Ki stated, passing through the center of the den.

The room grew oddly quiet. Stopping, Ki turned around to find the other foxes staring at her.

"What?"

"Why are you looking for Joey?" Helena asked cautiously.

"Because its Joey. He knows the pack better than I do. . . and you know. He's my mate, so - "

"Ki, he's not your mate," Dorian spoke up.

"Not this again," Ki rolled her eyes, turning away.

"I know you've grown fond of him, but the longer I've known you two are supposedly mated the less it makes sense. Ki, it's not in our nature. We don't have mates."

"Then, what about my parents? You're saying they weren't in love? Why would they go through all the hardships they endured if they weren't?"

"Foxes are capable of love, but not of being mated to a wolf. I'm sure your mother loved your father and vice versa, but they were not actually mated."

Ki didn't know what else to say. She had always assumed that her parents were mated. Why would you choose to struggle if it weren't for something chosen by the fates like your wolf mate? She knew in her gut that Joey wasn't purposefully lying to her. He truly thought they were mated.  Could it be possible that he's wrong? 

"So, what are you saying? That I can't trust him? Joey, I mean," Ki asked the room.

"We don't know why he thinks your his mate. It might just be part of the chaos. We just don't want you to rely on him for everything when there's no stability."

Joey believes that Ki is his mate. Ki accepted that. They were officially mates. Or maybe they were just dating? Or maybe it is just part of the chaos. Why Joey? What does Joey have to do with anything? He could've been mated to anyone and not actually be their mate to cause chaos. 

The foxes in the den tensed as they watched Ki stumble back. Her vision went blank. She rubbed at her eyes in a panic and when she opened them she saw a wolf. The name Marina resonated through her mind as she stared at the wolf. It started to fade and when Ki blinked she saw the worried face of Helena.

"Ki, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"What happened just now?"

"I figured it out. It staring all of us in the face. We were just so preoccupied we couldn't see it."

"What're you talking about?"

"Foxes can travel between the physical and the spiritual world. The first alpha is being brought back over and over again because the pain he could never get over. The loss of his mate," Ki explained.

"Okay... "

"I can channel his mate, Marina. Once they reconnect this'll be over. Their struggle will end and so will ours. Now, I need to find Joey."