unbroken (unexpected series)

Chapter 36

"It's like a cycle... you get angry and hot, then you get cold and that burns and you get colder." Rainy nods, thankful. "Would you mind if Jack, he's my Beta, he's been with me since I shifted. Do you mind if he tests your blood?"

"No... that... that'll be okay..." she says but her eyes fly over to Kayla then back at me, I can only snort, "She grows plants... I'm not sure testing her blood would make it any simpler... you on the other hand..." my relaxed answer calming her I see Chris poke his head out, glancing at Rainy first, "Hey Kayla..." he waits until she looks at him, Bens soccer ball in her hand, "You ready for some lunch?" I bit my lip when she shakes her head, "Hey Chris... why don't you join us," I offer and the relief on his face would make one think I offered him water after being in the desert waterless for days.

Oakley POV

I didn't need to go to study with Kiley and Tera but once I was invited I figured that this was my new start, I shouldn't stay by myself, they weren't just like me, but they were my age. Back home most of the people I spoke to were older, I had study groups but everyone was practically 20 years older than me in them, so this was new for me in some ways. Once Kiley arrived Mrs. Ryan left the kitchen after the tense conversation that just occurred.

I knew with her hearing, with all of theirs in fact that whatever I asked would be heard but I just didn't understand what was wrong with Connor, "Hey... Tera..." she looked up from her work, waiting for me to continue, "What did your brother Connor mean that I'm not the first person that Kieran hurt?" Kiley stopped writing, her eyes darting between Tera and I, "I – I thought you said you fell?" she asked confused.

Nodding I didn't look away from Tera, "No... I did... Connor said that Kieran pushed me, though."

"He wasn't there," she said point blank, but I was waiting on Tera.

"Kieran... I don't remember much from when we were younger before he was taken but when we came home he could already shift; he doesn't speak about what happened, no one does really. We know that they probably ran tests on him, but he doesn't like to be touched, remember I told you?" I nodded, "well he attacked us when we touched him, but then we stopped. We realized he didn't like it, so we stopped," she said biting her lip after. From the look Kiley was giving though, waiting for the rest, told me there was more, "and?"

She looked behind her, then straight up at the ceiling, "When we came here on the island..." she tapped her pen on her worksheet, "Do you remember the day you and Ben came down on the beach?" I nodded again. "Well do you remember seeing two twins? The two girls? Blonde hair, brown eyes? They were wearing identical top and shorts?" I rested back thinking of everyone I had seen, until the two she described came back to me. They hadn't spoken much to me, they seemed older as well.

"Yeah... I remember..."

"Well... they were here for four years, but there isn't just two of them, there are three. All identical, Taryn, Meadow and Jade Pascal," she paused. Playing with her pen, I wanted to break it, so she could just tell me, "well they all just turned 16, we had been on the island for about two months and Taryn – well Kieran attacked her. Tore into her real bad," I heard a growl in the house ignoring it I waited for the rest.

"Uhm Dominic, Justine – Kiley's sister – and a few of the other older kids went camping at the lake. Anyways uhm... Kieran scratched her up, and bit her hand, uhm, she lost a finger and he clawed at her stomach real badly, she was almost going to die, didn't think she'd make it but Marlon kept giving her his blood. It's not a cure but since he's sorta the Alpha even though he's really a Beta – I mean before Luna and Gabriel came here," her eyes widened as though I was going to tell Chelsea or think she wasn't loyal to Chelsea.

"Marlon fixed her up, but she was in a coma for about a month or so, when she woke up however she began shifting..." she glanced up at the ceiling again while I just stared at her blankly waiting for how this involved Connor. Then I shot my eyes over to Kiley who had the same turned down lips, and clouded eyes on her face as Tera.

"Taryn and Connor are mates... she has some pretty bad scars..." I rested back, "What did she do? What did Kieran say when-" I stopped realizing they probably never heard his side of things, did they? I heard the growling again; thudding rolling down the stairs, and Tera glanced behind her hand shook slightly around the pen in her hands, even without advanced hearing she knew someone was coming. And quicker than she could answer, Connor was in my face once again, the whole family coming down, "What do you mean what did she do?" Oakley calm down, Byrdie warned me.

"Exactly that... Tera said you touched him and he attacked you. So what did Taryn do to him to make him attack her?" I said in a sort of 'duh,' tone. "I mean I'm sure this girl has common sense enough not to agitate someone... I'm sure others knew better than to poke at Kieran physically... he didn't attack me-"

"Of course he wouldn't-" Connor snapped back, his jaw seemed to snap shut, and instead of speaking, his glare back. "I was on the beach and Tera told me once about Kieran and I went up that mountain and he didn't rip me to pieces. I kept my distance, so does she lack common sense? Or is she one that would go seeking an alligator or poke at a sleeping bear-" his glare turned black.

"Connor! No!" Mr. Ryan shouted, but it was too late. Connor's fist was going to connect with my face, already unsteady with my walking cast I flinched, gripping the table, and my right hand flew forward. Connor couldn't seem to follow through with his fist, but before I could stop myself, the tingling in my arm began, the air around me felt heavy, usable. The gust of energy coming from my hand didn't release as last time, instead it wrapped its self around Connor like a thin film pushing him back as he shook violently. The light sound that accompanies a flickering light bulb, the sparks around me, the Ryan's and Kiley stood arrested. It was quick, seconds, but as soon as Connor went to his knees, I let my hand fall to my side with a gasp, stumbling back, looking at everyone with wide eyes and open mouths. My head spun, and I fell back, thankfully into my chair, as the silence and vibrant colors I seemed to be seeing slowly edged off.

As confusion wore off, anger rolled in full force, "You're as stupid as your mate," I sneered at him still on the floor gasping, twitching. Turning from him, I stood wobbly, Tera actually came to my support, "sorry," I murmured when she touched me and removed her hand quickly at the static-shock. Eyes wide, she nodded, and quickly I packed my things up, flinging my bag on my back I hopped over to get my crutches, making way to leave.  In my haste to get out, instead of heading to the front entrance from which I entered, I rounded for the back door, stumbling and knocking into a hard chest. Stunned I looked up, into bluish gray once again, this time however less hostile and more... I would have to guess guarded. "Sorry," I took a step back awkwardly, as he moved aside to let me pass, he threw a look behind me, before his eyes darted back to mine.

Hey – hey – Oakley dear – Kieran?" Mrs. Ryan said shocked whatever she was saying to me long forgotten when she laid eyes on Kieran. It was just the sort of distraction I needed and took, making my way back to the main path and then home. Half way there I noted a step behind me, I sniffed wondering if it was Kieran but came up with nothing. Stopping I glanced over my shoulder and saw Kieran behind me, my brows scrunched up in confusion.

But that went away quickly, the fight back there fresh in my mind, "What did Taryn do to you? You wouldn't just attack unless you felt threatened right? So what did she do?" I asked nearly angry all over again, frustrated as well without knowing why.

"Well?" I asked exasperated.

I lifted a brow, as he cleared his throat, "She jumped on my back while I was getting supplies..." he said matter-of-fact. "Okay," I answered turning around hobbling my way home.

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