Fox 27

The warmth that surrounded me was comforting yet annoying at the same time. An arm draped around my midsection and fur at my back had me trying to escape in seconds. With a groan at having to be so physical so soon after waking up I shifted into my kitsune and scurried from my captors.

Once at the edge of the bed I jumped down, landing gracefully on the floor below. With a huff I shifted back and strolled into the bathroom not giving my bed-mates a backwards glance. Once I was done with my own personal business I walked back into the bedroom and was taken with the sight before me.

Levi and Jason both had shifted some time after we fell asleep and were curled up together with Asher's arms wrapped around them both. Half of Alistair's body was draped across Tommy's as the older shifter held him in place with both his arms wrapped around Aly's smaller body.

It was hard to believe what had happened. Now that it did happen how would things work out? There was no way that things could go back to normal not with what we've shared. The talk that we would have after this would certainly be one for the books.

Turning my attention to the room as my stomach began to grumble I realized that I hadn't eaten for some time and I was currently starving. My eyes scanned the bedroom and noticed another door. It had to lead somewhere with food.

With one last look to my bed-mates I left the room in search for food. I'm sure everyone else would be hungry when they woke as well. As I walked through the door I was excited to see that they had a huge suite, with a kitchen included. With my fingers crossed I walked over to the fridge quickly pulling open the doors, overjoyed with the amount of actual food I saw.

Since moving to Rhyeal I had tried so many new foods from different realms and cooked by different species but there was nothing like the food from my own realm. As my eyes scanned the fridge I realized that all the components were there to make a few sandwiches for everyone. Anything else would require more effort than I was willing to put forth.

As I pulled everything out the fridge I decided that I would give everyone a few more minutes of peaceful rest before they had to get up. No doubt it was getting close to the time we should leave. Glancing over at the clock on the stove I dropped everything in my hands in shock.

"Oh my GOSH!" I shouted as I ran back into the bedroom leaping onto the bed and startling everyone awake.

"What happened?" Alistair screamed as Tommy hopped off the bed and shifted immediately, ready to attack.

"It's two in the morning! We slept for too long. Levi's parents must be having a fit! They probably called the cops! Oh my God we're going to be in so much trouble. Get dressed! Everyone get dressed!" I shouted.

"Oh shit!" Tommy cursed as he shifted back and picked up his phone.

"Language!" Jason called as he shifted back and pulled on a pair of pants.

"We don't have time for that!" I shouted at him for correcting Tommy as I scoured the room for my top. How could we have been so dumb? All this magic in the room and no one could set a simple alarm?

Each of us hurried to find some sort of clothing to don as inwardly we panicked at the repercussions we were to face. Ideally it would be best to alter their mindsets magically but Asher shut down that idea telling us that it could do major damage because the brain was a delicate organ to begin with.

As we racked our brains with ways to calm down Levi's parents we all managed to find clothes and get dressed. We all piled back on the couch so Asher could transport us back to Levi's hideaway and then from there at this point we were hoping to be able to sneak back into the house.

This was the first time in all my existence that I would be sneaking back into a house and I would be lying if I didn't say that I was a little excited to be doing this. But I was more so terrified of us getting caught and having to explain why we smell like sex at two in the morning.

"It's been quite entertaining to watch you all freak out but I've already handled the situation." Merula's cool voice sounded around us before she manifested in front of us on the couch. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her brows were furrowed as she glared at each of us in turn. "Everyone off the couch now!"

We all scurried to get off the couch and stand before her. Even Asher hurried to stand up as she waited, impatiently tapping her foot on the floor. I avoided all eye contact with her for fear of what I would see. Just because she was my mom didn't mean she couldn't destroy me with just one glance.

"Merula, listen we can explain." Asher spoke up trying to placate my furious mother.

"Please! Do explain why the children are in your room at two in the morning instead of at Levi's home?  I sensed the kids leaving the barrier I created around the community and followed Tae's magic until I found him here. I had to call Levi's parents and lie, telling them that we all got tired and since it was getting late we decided to crash here, in town.

Cano is out there all alone bouncing back and forth from one place to another trying to keep those bastards from finding us since I had to come back here to make sure you were okay. Also explain why I sense a bond growing. Explain yourself right this instant Asher before I start destroying shit!" It was clear she was furious as she paced back and forth in front of us, her eyes between the dark brown and the murky black .

"Mom..." I practically whined trying to calm her down.

"No! You can't do that!" She snapped her head in my direction. "If you do that I'll lose my angry and I don't want to lose my angry."

"Mom you have to calm down so we can explain everything." I pouted glancing up at her. It seemed like calling her mom softened her up a bit. She huffed, arms still crossed over her chest as she motioned for us to explain ourselves.

"Well..." I began, clearly the mouthpiece for the group at this moment. "You left and we got bored so Levi had a hideout and we went to check it out and talk some more about everything and then Levi and Tommy were acting up and then Asher was all like 'You gotta be more in control of your familiars Alistair.' and so he was showing him how to do that and then one thing led to another and then we ended up waking up at two in the morning completely naked." I explained all in one breath.

"One thing led to another?" Merula growled out. "That better not mean..."

"Mom..." I tried again but it didn't seem to work this time.

"Kids, cover your eyes because I'm about to murder them. I'm going to rip them limb from limb and then I will bathe in their blood." Her once sweet voice turned into nothing but a snarl as she shouted the last part.

"Too much honey." Cano's calming voice echoed as he appeared beside her.

"Do you know what they've done?" She snapped turning around to face him with a pointed glare.

"Yes, I'm aware. They're all technically adults though. They can make the connections they want and as long as Asher didn't force them into anything there isn't anything that we can be mad at them about. Take a deep breath." He commanded.

"But-" Merula started to protest.

"No. I said take a deep breath. The kids are safe and Levi's parents think they're sleeping here with us so let's take some quiet time to ourselves and do just that. It's been a long day. We can all talk in the morning." Cano interrupted her.

Thank God for him being the voice of reason. I was actually terrified to face my mother. I wouldn't be able to stand there and let her rip them limb from limb and with the way she was looking it seemed like that was exactly what she was going to do. The feral look in her eyes dulled some with every breath she took until she closed her eyes and took one deep breath.

"Fine. Let's go but we will most certainly be talking about all this later." She fixed her eyes on us with a glare.

"I know mom. Good night." I barely managed a smile as I waved at her disappearing form.

"Thanks now I get to deal with an angry Merula." Cano glared at us but mainly Asher.

"I'm sorry. It just happened. We were trying to hold off and work through the connection but it just sort of happened." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Make sure you guys have a good explanation in the morning for all of this." He frowned as he shoved his hands in his pocket. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight dad." I shouted just as I thought he was going to leave. His eyes popped open wide at me using that word and I'm sure that I had him on my side now as he cracked a genuine smile before disappearing.

We all let out a sigh of relief. My hunger vanished as I stood there too many thoughts flashing through my mind to really focus on one thing. My parents knew what happened and they weren't too happy about it. How could they want an explanation when I didn't even really know what happened? One thing had honestly led to another and before I knew it I was part of an orgy of sorts.

"I'm wide awake now." Alistair pouted.

"Me too." Tommy groaned.

"Not me! I'm going back to bed." Levi yawned as he began to disrobe again. As he kicked off his pants and tossed his shirt to the side I glanced at everyone else in the room as their eyes were glued to his naked form. It was one thing for him to disrobe like that back when we were just students at the Academy but now...now it was much more.

"Yeah, I think I'm going back to bed too but I don't know how tired I am yet." Tommy growled as he quickly shed his clothing as well and hopped back into bed behind Levi. Laughter filled the room as we all jumped back into bed and after shifting and some cuddling we soon fell back asleep.

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The sunlight poured into the room bringing a new day and new challenges. As soon as we woke back up Asher made sure that Levi called his parents letting them know that we were alright. Betty could be heard yelling at Levi all the way from the other room as the rest of us ate breakfast together.

"So I think I'm grounded for the rest of the time here." Levi came in with a pout.

"Well what did you expect?" I laughed before taking a large bite out of my buttered toast.

"I don't know! Ugh..." He sighed.

"Well we leave in a week so it won't be that long." Alistair laughed.

"You're going to Alistair's after this?" Jason questioned.

"Uh huh..." I mumbled past some eggs.

The rest of breakfast was relatively quiet with a bit of light chatter here and there. Tommy and Levi were back at it like nothing had changed between them except for the playful smirk that was exchanged between the two every so often. To be honest our relationship with them was practically the same, the only difference being that we were a little closer now. I felt like I could trust them more with everything.

We were all laughing at something that Jason had said when a knock on the door silenced us all. At least my parents hadn't simply appeared in the room. Asher got up and opened the door letting both of my parents into the room. The atmosphere in the room seemed to get thick as soon as they stepped foot into the room.

"Good morning." Cano greeted while my mother stood there, arms crossed, glare focused on us. A round of 'good mornings' sounded from the table as Asher came and sat back down.

"So have you come up with a good enough reason for me not to completely demolish you." My mom questioned no good morning for any of us.

"Mom, I know you're worried about us but we made the decision and we're sticking by it. Asher was simply trying to help us out and if we're being honest with ourselves there has been a bond forming since we met them. There's just something that draws us together." I explained with as much confidence as I could muster.

"Now that doesn't mean that we're all in one large relationship and that we'll have nothing but orgies all day everyday-"

"Not at first anyways." Levi interrupted, receiving a glare from all of us.

"I'm hoping that you don't hold it against them or us." I finished.

"I'm certainly not happy about this. I mean, you're only just eighteen!" She shouted throwing her arms in the air.

"Yeah but that just means we're old enough to make our own choices without others stopping us. I know that you want what's best for me but we already did this and that's the end of that." I huffed.

"But-" She began again.

"My love, leave it alone. I know you can sense the connection and there's nothing you can do about it. It grows even as we speak." Cano spoke up, interrupting her.

"Fine! But know this Asher, if you hurt my baby and his friends I will hunt you to the ends of the earth and destroy you in ways that have never been heard of." She growled, eyes changing to unnatural black color.

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Asher laughed.

"Glad we have that sorted. Now we're expected back at the house as soon as possibly. You three weren't exactly brought up when I explained where the boys were so I don't think it wise if you showed up with us." Merula smirked.

"How convenient." I laughed.

"Well it's true." She pouted and I had to admit it was interesting watching her act like a little kid in front of us. It was almost believable that she hadn't been through all the things she's experience.

"It's fine. We have some things we need to take care of anyways. I'm sure we'll see everyone later since we have a meeting with Levi's father later in the day." Asher explained with a smug smirk on his face knowing that it would irritate Merula.

"Of course you do." Merula rolled her eyes and I had to laugh at her annoyance. I'm sure once the initial shock is over that she wouldn't mind too much.

"Boys how about you go get ready for the day. No sharing showers." Jason instructed and the three of us groaned knowing that we wouldn't have any together time this morning. Collecting every empty plate we took it to the small sink, depositing them there. With a pout each of us walked to the room and showered, separately while Alistair conjured up some clothes for us for the day.

Once we were done Merula had already called for a car to come and take us back to Levi's home as to not arouse suspicion. Levi had shifted to make the ride an easier one, allowing me to carry him in my arms. The trio walked us down to the lobby where we said our tense goodbyes before climbing in the Uber and driving off.

The quiet ride took a lot longer than any of us wanted as we finally approached Levi's home. We requested that the driver drop us off a little ways off. With a shrug he did exactly that and drove off allowing Levi to shift before getting to his home.

As we walked I noticed Levi trailing further and further behind until he was at least two feet behind the rest of the group. A chuckle escaped my lips at the look of terror on his face as we approached the gorgeous home.

"It'll be fine pup." Cano commented from the front of the group as him and Merula strolled up to the front door.

"She'll probably murder me while we sleep." He muttered under his breath. "You know; hold a pillow over my head until I stop kicking."

"Well that's a bit extreme." Alistair giggled. "Mama Betty is such a lovely woman. I doubt she'd do that."

"You're right Alistair. I might do worse!" Betty shouted from the front step. Instead of wearing a flowy dress like last time she was showing off her body in a tasteful black two piece bathing suit showing off a nice body.

"Mom I already said that I was sorry." Levi whined.

"That's not the point! You allowed these nice people to pay for a hotel room for you three instead of calling us to come get you." She glared, one hand on her hip. When she was sure that he had enough of her sass she turned to Merula and Cano. "I'm sorry that you had to buy rooms for them last night."

"It wasn't a problem at all. They were probably just so wiped out from the trip that they crashed." Merula smiled.

"Still..." She hummed before turning back to the house at the sound of the door opening. Levi's father walked out in nothing but a bright red speedo and the groan that sounded from Levi had me covering my mouth, trying to hold in my laughter.

"What's that about boy? You know this is a nudist community right?" He questioned Levi.

"And yet it's still somewhat more disturbing when you wear things like that instead of simply going naked."

"Well if you'd prefer me to strip in front of your boyfriends." His father hummed as he tugged at the waist band of his speedos.

"No!" Levi shouted.

"I'm not daft boy." His father laughed. "We wouldn't do that we such new guests. We're not in the business of scarring anyone here. Just because it's a nudist community doesn't mean we don't have common courtesy." He explained.

"You should know better than that Levi." His mother chided. "Now how about we all go to the backyard? We have some food on the grill since it's a nice day and we can enjoy it in the pool while we all get to know each other a little better. And then later we can go out and get a tree to decorate."

"Sounds like a wonderful idea." Merula genuinely smiled. Cano looked down at her and smiled as well and the depressing thought popped into my mind. How many times had they been too busy running for their lives to enjoy Christmas or any real down time? Not to mention that this would be our first Christmas as a family.

This would be my first Christmas actually shared with people who cared for each other and I couldn't help the warmth that burned in my chest at the thought. It would have to be a special one and I needed to make sure of that. With a plan in mind I joined the group as they moved into the house to get ready to enjoy the day.

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Nothing too crazy this chapter (If you don't count Merula trying to bathe in the blood of others...) but hopefully the next chapter will be extra exciting and filled with nothing but good stuff. So go ahead and vote and comment!!!!!