Kierra

Leaning the wood frame against the wall next to my bedroom door and setting the bag next to it, I ask her if Maii was going to stay in animal form or go human. Following me into the kitchen where I start scrubbing my hands, she shrugs.

"Then have him stay animal for now so he doesn't accidentally change in front of her. Claim you found and are caring for him. We'll have all the guys come up so she doesn't get surprised by any of them."

She nods, calling down asking if everyone heard. A chorus of affirmatives sound, Bastion comes up the stairs shortly after.

"Want you up here, Imp. Be as honest as you can, but don't tell her where you came from or who had you. That will have her asking all sorts of questions that we can't answer."

He nods, looking at me warily. I sigh.

"Did I scare you?"

I get a shrug, but I can tell it's a yes. Words said in anger earlier probably didn't help. Drying my hands, I motion him over. He comes with no hesitation, so I have that going for me.

Kneeling down, I take his hand in mine and press it to my cheek, looking him in the eye. No words can help me here, so I show him. I show him how I feel towards him. My hopes and fears in the coming years.

Pale skin pinks as he smiles at me, his own feelings showing in his eyes before he locks it away under a mask. Tapping his nose with a fingertip before I stand, my eyes meet Xavier's. Feeling like a trapped rabbit, I turn and start up a pot of coffee.

Mom loves her coffee and it provides the perfect excuse to look away from eyes that I fear will look at me differently now. Bastion moves off to join Asher on the couch, picking up one of the animal encyclopedias on the way. The maned wolf comes closer and touches my arm. Wincing, I shy away.

"Not that I don't mind what happened earlier, but I don't blame you, nor do I hold anything against you. I can just imagine the learning curve you and your sister are going through with being connected as you are. I've never seen or heard of a bond like what you two share. Now that we all know what happens, we know what not to do."

His words are spoken softly, tone serious yet still holding his playful lilt. Looking up at him slowly, my gaze stops at his neck. The bite wound is obvious, but it looks like a large hickey more than an actual bite now.

Blood had filled my mouth from it, from both my upper teeth and lower canines sinking in. The upper punctures are further back where a short person can't see. Not with his height.

Reaching out, he leans over so I can see it better, turning his head to the side. My brows furrow at seeing the imprint, the holes closed but the indentations still there. Don't recall doing any sucking, but from the looks of it, I may have.

Mom is short, five feet exactly. Faline is technically half an inch shorter, but it's just easier to call her five-foot than 'four-foot-eleven-and-a-half-inches'. With the placement of his bite, unless he's sitting, she won't be able to see the overzealous hickey-looking mark. His hair does nothing to cover it unless he pulls it over his shoulder, and I don't see him doing that.

"If my mom asks about that, I didn't do it. Going to be hard enough explaining everything else."

A spark of mischievousness lights his eyes, but he nods. Tigger jumps up on the counter and paws at his arm. My eyebrows rise as I look from my baby to the man. I just get a grin before he picks up the fat cat and holds him.

"I guess becoming a temporary loincloth has turned you guys into buddies, hm?"

He shrugs, but his grin is wide. Pretty much everyone is barefoot...wait, make that everyone. Benjamin comes up from below with no shoes or socks either. Now those are some pale-ass feet. White-faced coyote trotting up with him has me wondering if there's another odd pairing.

Looking up to him as he reaches the top step, there's no wound to be seen. That's handy. Can hear a car pulling into the driveway from the road. The sound of the snow crunching seems almost loud.

With four chairs at the kitchen table, there's enough seating for everyone to be awkward. Xavier decides to sit on the floor over by the cat tree though, while Asher's in his spot on the couch with his head on Bastion's shoulder as he reads aloud to him about the Indian Purple Frog.

I love frogs, that one though... It's a special frog and downright ugly. Faline decides she's going to sit on the island counter while Ben sinks into the swivel chair at the desk.

"Feel like I should be clapping and saying 'places everyone'."

Get grins all around as Maii hops up onto a chair at the table, sitting in it like he's waiting for a plate to be set in front of him. Oh yeah, 1 young boy, 2 wild animals, and 2 strange males are going to be so easy to explain.

Piece of cake.

I groan and open the door, but it's not mom that's pulling up. It's my jeep with a very large lion in the driver's seat. Careful with how far I open the door, I move out a bit more.

"Orion? Didn't think you'd be back for hours yet."

Directing him to park inside the shed, I poke my head in and tell Benji he needs to move further into the kitchen until Orion gets his tall, wide ass through the door.

"My ass isn't that big."

"Might as well be with those shoulders."

Just as he comes in, another car comes into view.

Now, mom is here.

I groan aloud again, this one with a twinge of whine to it, causing the lion to look around. Black eyes linger on the male Vamp in the kitchen near my sibling.

"Did I come at a bad time?"

"Well, not 'bad' exactly. The one coming up my drive now is our mom."

His eyes widen and I nod. Benjamin gives up the swivel chair, taking place instead on the wall counter closest to the basement door. I'd complain about his butt being on my counters, but there's a lot of light bouncing around.

"Our mother knows nothing of what we've become or what's happened in the last couple weeks. Would prefer it stay that way."

He inclines his head, moving to take the swivel chair, pulling at the lever underneath to raise it to its highest placement. Even doing that he still looks too big for the darn thing. Faline and I both have issues keeping a straight face as the long-legged, almost seven-foot-tall man folds onto the small chair. I shake my head as I laugh and point to the couch.

"I think you'll be more comfortable over there sweetness, mom can have the wheely-chair."

His black eyebrows shoot up as he looks at me. Ben laughs, leaning over with an arm on his leg, long goatee in three thin braids.

"Just go with it, she ends up calling everyone some weird name or another. Can't even say that it's one way you can tell she likes you since I've seen her do it to people I know she hates."

I stick my tongue out at him as Orion makes his way over to the couch. Every adult male here now is over six-foot. I suddenly feel small. Even Asher would be over six feet if he were human.

Glaring at each in turn, I start grumbling about long-legged freaks taking over my home. Resulting chuckles get ignored as mom starts walking up the porch. Smiling and glad to see her, I give her a hug before she even gets through the door.

"Now you know I don't like being out in this weather, move your butt."

And people wonder where I get my charm. The bundled-up woman looks downright comedic in all her winter layers while everyone else is in thin clothes and barefoot. Soon as she steps in, she stops and looks around, eyes wide.

"You send out for male models? Please tell me they're nude shots."

Choking as they start roaring in laughter, I get the door shut and blush bright red. If only she knew.

"Mom!"

"What'd you close the door for? I brought company."

Oh, good Lord, my house is going to explode... Wait, what?

"What?"

I look over to Faline who looks just as confused. Even though she just said something, the knock at the door makes me jump. Opening it cautiously, I peek out. Yet another over six-foot male with dark chocolate skin is standing on my porch smiling at me.

"Uhh, sorry, come in. Didn't know she was bringing anyone."

He smiles warmly and comes in. Looking out, I wait for anyone else to turn up. When no one pops up, I shut the door firmly. Coming back in, I look back to my sister who's eyeing the stranger.

"Take a seat...wherever. Didn't know I'd have a house full or I would've been prepared better."

Feeling awkward, I go to the coffee pot and get her a cup, knowing she'll be asking for it soon anyway. Ben being planted next to it, touches my arm lightly. Glancing up at him, he cocks his head, but I shake mine subtly.

My sister and I get really wary when she has a male in her life, knowing she gives her heart too easily. Right now she's still standing in the middle of the room, looking from the wolf on the couch to the coyote at the table. Once her friend really sees them, I can see him stiffen and start to sweat.

"That's a very big dog."

I roll my eyes, I hate when people do that.

"Wolf."

"What?"

Looking the dark-featured man in the eye, I say it slower.

"Wolf. Asher is a wolf, not a dog."

He looks a little confused, but I back off when mom shoots a glare at me.

"Kierra, Faline, this is Shaun. We've been dating for a few weeks now and I wanted you girls to meet him. Be nice."

Think that last part was a shot at me, so I raise my hands after giving her the cup. She smiles happily while I ask her friend if he wants one. He nods, trying to collect himself.

The wolf shakes him as well as all the other large males in here. Mom takes her hat off and holds her hands out for her youngest who damn near jumps into her arms. While the small woman complains about being smothered, I get the guy a cup.

Contemplate putting something gross in it, but if he makes her happy, then I don't want to be the one to ruin it for her. Handing it over, he moves to stand near the desk, back to the wall. Mom has dyed her hair black recently, so it catches my eye right away. She's usually going for a red-head look. When she catches me staring at it, she smiles.

"Like it?"

"Well... It's different. What happened to the red?"

She laughs, glancing around the room, eyes finally falling to Bastion who's watching her curiously.

"Felt it was time for a change. Been red for years, thought I'd switch it up."

I cock my head after nodding, holding my hand out for the boy. Asher moves his head so he can scoot off the couch and come to me. Faline's still wrapped around mom, eyes closed as she listens to her heart. Don't know if that's actually what she's doing, that's just what it looks like.

"Mom, this is Bastion. The wolf is Asher, Orion, Xavier, Benjamin, and Maii."

Pointing to each one so she doesn't get confused, the black wolf and lion cock their heads, the maned wolf stands and salutes, and the Vampire lifts a cup in acknowledgment. Can't tell what's in it, but I'm pretty sure it's empty. Maii wags his tail, but otherwise doesn't really move. Faline finally lets go and moves over to the small coyote, lifting him in her arms and holding him close, dipping her head into his fur as if giving him lovin's when in actuality she's hiding tears.

"Nice to meet you all. Sadly we can't stay, have to get going if we're going to make it in time."

I hold the boy in front of me, head had been pointing down till she said the last, then it snaps up with a scowl. She winces and holds out a hand, hazel eyes imploring. Since we're all constantly dying or doing some kind of crazy thing with our hair, I can see why that didn't get brought up on our side. Same with Faline's eyes.

But other than that first remark about the guys, she's said nothing about them, the animals, or the boy I have clutched in front of me. Something's going on.

"Mom?"