The rainbows and butterflies I felt at the lycan's mansion are long forgotten as we walk towards my parent's house. But Kairos' hands in mine help fill the void just a little.
"Whenever I misbehaved, my older brothers would just beat the shit out of me so I'd stop. Why didn't you try that with your younger sister?" Allistar's bizarre question breaks the silence. I whip my head behind me to stare at him. He simply shrugs while holding his mate's hand, acting like it's the most normal question in the world.
"You're seriously asking me why I didn't beat up my sister?!" I ask.
"I used to whoop Corban all the time! It's a valid question!" Cora chimes in.
"Hey! I used to whoop you too," Corban whines. She gives him a deadpan stare. He slowly inches away from her. Before he can run, she lands a sharp slap to his chest.
"Sure you did."
Corban just pouts while rubbing the area.
"I mean, me too! My sisters and I fought all the time growing up. Weren't you and Blessing like that?" Sabrina asks. I frown.
Normal siblings fight. Normal siblings talk to each other.
But Blessing and I were never like that.
Growing up, we barely interacted with each other. I was always left to my own devices while our parents fretted over her every move. For Goddess's sake, we lived on different floors of the house! There was a time when I had tried to befriend her. But she'd always been indifferent to me, opting to spend time with our mother instead.
Somewhere along the way, that indifference grew into hate.
"Sometimes you just gotta get beat up by your older siblings. It's called character growth," Allistar sighs with a nostalgic smile on his face.
"Your parents let you guys fight with your siblings?" I ask the group, the frown still plastered to my face.
"Yeah..." Corban trails off. "What do you mean by let? Isn't fighting a normal sibling thing to do?"
It is.
"Blessing and I aren't normal siblings, then," I mumble. Kairos squeezes my hand and bumps my shoulder.
"What do you mean by that?" He asks, urging me to go on as everyone else quiets down. I shift uncomfortably, but they're patient with me.
"My parents sheltered Blessing a lot growing up. We hardly existed in the same space, even though we grew up in the same house. The only time we really interacted was when I had to cater to any of her needs. There were times when she fought with me, but I wasn't really allowed to fight back. I guess I was never really allowed to act like an older sister in that way."
They go quiet.
"I've decided," Corban declares. "I'm camping outside your house!"
"What?!"
"Come on, Hazel Wren! It'll be fun! We'll sit around the campfire and make s'mores and tell scary stories, like the story of your life growing up with your awful family!"
"That definitely is one scary fucking story," Allistar chimes in.
"Corban, you're not setting up camp outside my house," I respond dryly. But my chest warms at his antics.
"I don't want to leave you in that place! No offense, Hazel, but your family sucks. Wouldn't it be better if I just camped outside your window or something?" Corban says. I just give him a forced smile.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'll be alright. They're not that bad."
Corban just huffs. I've only known him for a short time, but Corban feels like the brother I've never had.
Cora starts to bicker with him. Allistar and Sabrina join in. Kairos' thumb draws circles on the back of my hand. I glance up at him. He's rolling his eyes at something Allistar says about how getting bullied by your siblings is important for character development.
I'm not sure, but I think this is what a family should feel like.
Blessing and I never fought. We never bickered. We were never close enough.
The thought makes me heart-wrenchingly sad.
My parents' house comes into view. Unknowingly, my breath comes out sharper. Quicker.
Kairos seems to notice, and he pulls me a little closer, making sure his arm brushes against my side with every step.
I appreciate him. I really do. But I've hardly had time to process our new mate bond.
And it feels like nothing in this world can get this anxiety out of my stomach. It's like a living thing. A beast that ebbs and grows at its own will. And it's slowly been growing, feeding off everything that's happened in the past 24 hours. And I'm afraid it's going to break free soon.
We agreed that I'd go alone. The presence of five lycans would be a lot for three wolves to handle. Not to mention, one is of royal blood, newly mated, and feels extremely hostile towards those wolves. My family wouldn't be able to handle it. That didn't stop them from wanting to drop me off, though.
Kairos insisted on coming with me back at the lycan's house. But I forced him to let it go. I needed to do this on my own.
I could handle this.
Besides, my relationship with my family...
It made me feel bad, especially after seeing how the lycan's were with each other. My family felt wrong. I don't want him to see that. He doesn't need to. I'm not ready for it.
Because what if he starts to think I'm wrong, too?
My feet falter as we step foot on the driveway.
I was on this pavement. On my knees.
My eyes glance to the front door.
I walked through that door. And I've never been so hurt in my life.
The anxious beast in my stomach raises its ugly head at the thought.
I know they can't come with me. We agreed on it. I agreed on it. Wolf-shifters are uneasy around lycans. It's in their nature. The lycan aura is so dominating it invades all the senses. I used to feel it, too. I know why they can't come. I get it.
But the beast doesn't. It's pacing around in my stomach, its paws leaving a resounding thud with every nervous step.
I let out a shaky breath.
"Give me your word, and I'm setting up camp, Hazel Wren. I got the ingredients for s'mores and everything," Corban cracks a smile. I manage to return a small one.
Although he sounds like he's joking, I don't think he is. If I asked him to, he'd stay. So would the rest of them. To me, their lycans feel like a serene spray of mist. Or a warm blanket. Kairos, most of all, his lycan feels kind, comforting and soft.
But their bodies are rigid. There's a tension in the air, and it's all directed at the house. I glance at Kairos. His eyes are set on the front door, his face tight, and his jaw clenched.
To me, they're home.
But I know that's not the case for my family.
"I'm okay. Thanks, guys," I give my packmates one last reassuring smile before turning forward. I force one foot in front of the other as I walk up the driveway. Kairos keeps his hand in mine and walks with me.
We approach the door. Kairos knocks on it, bringing me to his side. The beast gnaws at its paws as it waits for the door to open.
It does.
My father is the one to open it. I notice dark circles covering his eyes. Mom is behind him. She looks haggard. My eyes immediately go to the sofa behind them, and I half expect to see Blessing sitting on Maxton's lap.
They're not there.
Dad follows my line of vision and frowns. Mom awkwardly clears her throat.
"Hazel, honey. Come in," she says slowly, ushering my dad to open the door wider. They're noticeably uncomfortable. They hunch over.
I don't move. Kairos steps through first. I follow, unwillingly to let go of his hand, the one thing keeping the anxious beast at bay. I squeeze it, hoping to signal him to control his lycan. He seems to get it as they relax a little.
I glance at the sofa again. I finally notice Blessing sitting on the armchair next to it. At the sight of us, she cautiously makes her way over to stand beside my mom.
The beast is clawing at my insides now.
Kairos ignores them as he turns to me, cupping my cheeks with both hands.
"Please let me stay," he asks softly. I see my family watching out of the corner of my eye, but I hardly focus on them. All I can feel are his rough hands on my face, and all I can see are his beautiful silver eyes.
The beast in my stomach quiets down.
"I can handle this; don't worry about me," I respond as I take his hand in mine and give it a squeeze. He holds my gaze as if he's searching for something. After a few seconds of silence, he seems content with what he finds and gives me a nod before turning to them.
"This is a temporary arrangement," Kairos begins, breaking the stinging silence. "If I find that my mate is upset for even a second in this place, there will be nothing that stops me from taking her from here, law be damned."
To a non-lycanthrope, he'd seem polite, maybe a little stern. His voice is even, and his face is calm. But any wolf shifter can sense the underlying threat in his tone.
His eyes glow.
The Lycan is making himself known.
"Hazel needs time. I ask that you keep your interactions with my mate to a minimum until she's ready to talk to you. I also ask that you allow her to move freely. She must spend her nights here, but she is free to do whatever she'd like during the day."
This snaps them out of their stupor.
"Hazel is not a prisoner here. This is her home," Dad replies bitterly, his eyes fixed on our joined hands.
"Who are you to decide what my daughter can and can't do?" Mom spits out accusingly. Yara doesn't take kindly to her tone as I hear her let out a low growl in mind.
Neither do I.
"I chose those rules," I finally speak with a tone of finality. "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak to him like that."
Yara and I don't like how they're looking at him with distrusting and accusing eyes. I take a protective step in front of him.
Mom looks shocked. I've hardly ever talked back to her. Or defended myself.
But I'll defend Kairos.
"Hazel, honey. We didn't mean it like that," Dad softens. Blessing finally scoffs. Dad and Kairos send her a heated look, which shuts her up immediately.
I squeeze Kairos's hand.
"I got this," I reassure him again. He doesn't need to see this. He nods tightly.
"I'll come see you tomorrow," he answers lowly. He squeezes my hand again, making sure to brush his body to my side as he turns. He pauses at the door behind me, and I know he's considering staying. I give him another reassuring smile. He finally turns the knob and walks out.
The door swings shut.
The beast in my stomach is definitely awake now.
I avoid their eyes and turn to walk towards my room.
15 steps to my room. That's it. I can make 15 steps.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seve-
"What? You're friends with a lycan, and you think you're too good to talk to us now?"
My feet still at the sound of my sister's voice.
Ignore her. Seven. Take that seventh step.
I can't.
"I never said that, Blessing. I just don't want to talk to you right now," I force myself to reply without a shaky voice.
Seven.
"Really? You forced some poor lycan to be your mate, and now you think you can talk my parents like that?"
The beast shifts uncomfortably, starting to claw at my insides. Yara whimpers. We didn't force him to be our mate. Did we?
"I didn't force him," I whisper.
Eight.
"And what the hell was that? At the trial? What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Nine. That should be next. It should be.
But it isn't.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I accuse as I twirl around. One step forward, three steps back. I'm in front of her. "You called a fucking rogue trial on me! I could've been sentenced to death!"
She rolls her eyes.
"Don't be so dramatic, Squishy," she hisses.
"Blessing! Enough! Go to your room!" Mom orders. Pure shock runs across Blessing and I's faces.
Mom has never told Blessing to go to her room. Never.
She meets my shocked eyes with a scathing glare.
The beast in my stomach whines.
Turns out, not even a lycan's threat can stop Blessing's rage.
"You are such an attention-seeking slut!" She practically screams, shoving a finger into my chest. I stumble. "First, you tried to take Maxton from me! Why? Just because you're mates? Well, guess what? The mate bond doesn't mean shit when it comes to you. Because he chose me instead! Not you! Me! Then, you somehow tricked this lycan to mark you!"
I shuffle back as the anxious beast is howling in my stomach.
Seven. Eight. Nine.
"Blessing! Enough!" Dad yells at her, trying to pull back on her arm. Blessing keeps ranting, advancing towards me.
Ten. Eleven.
"But you know what Hazel? It doesn't matter! You don't deserve it! You've done nothing! You are nothing!"
I can handle this. Say something, Hazel. Say something.
Twelve. Thirteen.
The beast is frantic.
"Why do you get to have him, huh?! You're just some stupid, awkward, fat librarian! No one wants you! No one has ever wanted you! No one will ever choose you!"
I'm bleeding from the inside out. The beast is tearing up my insides. It's hyperventilating. I'm hyperventilating.
Say something.
"Blessing!" Mom is astonished. Blessing doesn't care.
"And you know what, he'll come to his senses and probably reject you too! Because that's all you're good for! Rejection!"
Fourteen.
The beast forces its way out through the flesh and blood and anxiety.
The beast is me. And I'm done. I lunge.
"SHUT UP!" I scream. Everything crawls into slow motion. I'm moving towards Blessing, who's still going on her unhinged rant. My fist meets her face.
All reason leaves the room.
It's just me and her.
We're on the ground. I'm straddling her, my knees pinning down her arms as she screeches. My fists bloody her face. She pries an arm out from under my knee and claws at my hair. I faintly hear screaming. It's us.
Hands try to pull us away. But with unknown strength, we find our way back to each other.
She's clawing at my thighs, my arms, my hair. I'm beating on her face and chest. Our hands are dripping in each other's anger. The air is thick with rage, disgust, jealousy, indifference, and hate.
My claws are out now, and they're going straight for her neck.
Something hoists me off her body.
Strong arms circle my waist, dragging me back. I faintly recognize them, but I don't care. We only have fifteen steps before we make it to my room.
One. Two.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" I scream, trying to claw my way out of his arms. He keeps me in place.
Three. Four.
"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU SO MUCH!"
Five. Six. Seven.
"YOU BETRAYED ME! YOU HURT ME! I hate you," My screams turn into sobs as I continue to try to fight my way out hysterically.
Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven.
"I hate you," I gasp, finally sagging in his arms. "How did this happen? How could you do this to me?"
Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen.
My parents look sick with grief. There are tears in their eyes. My mother reaches towards me. Blessing glares at me from the floor.
How could they?
"How could you?"
Fifteen.
Kairos slams the door to my bedroom.
Word Count: 2704 words
hey lol
*hides*
I'M SORURURYYY IM SORRRYRYY IM SORRYR I KNOW IM THE WORST!! I LEFT YALL HANGING FOR SOOO LONGGNGNG
I have no excuses for keeping yall waiting but I do have an explanation. so a couple of chapters ago I wrote about getting the stomach flu. which took me out. well guess what? then I got a cold. which took me out. then I got the actual flu. WHICH ALSO TOOK ME OUT. so I had back to back to back illnesses over the span of a month. idk why?? i have the immune system of a muffin apparently???
but after finally recovering, I got my period. lol. and then I kinda just felt down because i'd been sick and inside and not really doing anything for such a long time and my hormones were everywhere bc I was on period so then I just couldn't bring myself to write. i also had 300 million tons of work to catch up on for my day job too.
but finally. i had a mental break down where I cried about everything that has ever made me sad ever in my entire life for like 3 hours and now I'm cured!!!!! and reenergized!! and ready to go with a new chapter!
sometimes you just need to have a really good mental breakdown to fix your life lol (maybe I'm just weird tho idk)
but ANYWAYS. IM BACK YALL. i know it was a long wait and I'm a little rusty but I hope you enjoyed this chapter!!!! as someone with three siblings myself, I can also attest to the fact that sometimes u just need to fight and beat the shit out of them (I love my siblings by the way)
ALSO HELLO NEW READERS. THERES SO MANY NEW PEOPLE HERE SINCE IVE BEEN MIA!!! HELLLOOO!!! YOO HOOOOO WELCOMEEEEE
please vote and comment and let me know what you think!
also ramadan mubarak to all who celebrate!!
I hope you have a wonderful day jaanis!
love, libahrary