~BOOK 2~ Paranormal: A Lycan's Fearful Past (Multi-Bandom FanFic)

"That is so not how it happened!" I exclaimed as Jack passed me a bottle of water. It had been a week or so since I'd met Jack and his rogue friends. They were not like others I've seen before, so civilized, kind, and caring. At that moment, Jack and I were sitting on the backyard porch of his house, talking about our childhood. "I was not bossy."

"Trust me, you were," He shot back, "I remember when we were playing with other kids, we'd make up rules, and when you lost, you'd put your hands on your hips..." Jack acted out the action standing and placing his fisted hands on each side of himself. He scrunched up his face, "...and let anyone have it." He explained as I laughed at his impersonation of younger me. Soon enough, the sun started going down and Jack and I retreated inside. The entire group was preparing dinner, and Anna was yelling at Arcadian.

"Will you stop eating everything before I finish cooking it!?!?!" He was grinning, as he put his hands up, but Anna on the other hand was glaring at him.

Lexi giggled as she brought out plates, meanwhile the boys were chopping up vegetables and cleaning them off. I rolled up my sleeves and started helping wherever I could. I wasn't apprehensive anymore, but comfortable. Jack started assisting Lexi. They headed to the dining room, and I could hear the plates being set on the table. Anna smiled at me as she put pasta in a large bowl.

I gave her a funny look, "What?"

"It's just strange," She commented, "You're not a rogue wolf, so why don't you hate us?"

"I did hate you all at first, but you guys took care of Jack." I was grateful because who knows where he would be without them. "Plus, he's taking care of you, you guys have become his friends. So if he trusts you, I'll trust you." I had full faith that my brother had chosen the right people to keep him safe.

"That's great," She responded.

"So tell us about yourself, Lycan Beauty," Killian or Kellen exclaimed. I couldn't tell the boys apart at times. They dressed, acted, and did everything the same way. It was their scent that helped me to identify them, but even then I could barely tell the difference.

"Well you all know I'm Jack's twin, I'm a Lycan, and I'm not rogue." I racked my brain to tell them more but it just wasn't coming to me. I didn't know what to tell them, I've never really told anyone about me.

"If we wanted the same information, we would have just asked Jack." Arcadian joked, walking up behind Anna and wrapping his arms around her. In return, she smiled up at him. "Tell us about you."

"Well I came from an old pack, but I've never really stayed in the same place for long. But when I came to Louisiana one hundred and fifty years ago, I stayed. I joined a pack and became their gamma. I helped rebuild parts of the paranormal world, remaking laws, and protecting anyone who needed it."

"Have you met your mate yet?" Kellen definitely asked, I could tell he and his brother were unmated, and I rolled my eyes, proudly answering , "Yes."

The small gesture between Anna and Arcadian continued, and forced me to recall the sweet moments between Bruno and me. I really hadn't thought about him lately, all I've processed is being kidnapped, escaping, and meeting Jack. It hit me in all one rush of how much I just wanted to be by his side again. I missed my mate, my wolf inside whimpered, and I could feel she missed him too. So I continued telling them about myself, I needed the distraction anyways.

I went on about my pack, going back to college, and meeting Rachael. In that moment, I realized that everything I had was home and I wished to be back there. I answered all of their questions as we sat at the table to eat, as if we were a family. We passed the food around, and joked with one another. It was perfect, I stopped moving and just stared at the sight of the beautiful scene. This was all I wanted to feel the lack of pressure, worry, and responsibilities. I adored how they took care of each other. Lexi flung a bit of sauce at Arcadian, and he glared at her as if he was an annoyed uncle. Anna grabbed a napkin, wiped the off the smudge on his face just like a loving and caring wife. The twins fought for the last dinner roll, like two normal brothers would. I glanced at Jack who noticed me observing everyone, and I smiled.

Finally, when we all finished, I boldly inquired, "So now that you guys know pretty much know everything about me, what about you all? What are your stories?"

Arcadian was the first to respond. "Anna and I were a part of a pack originally. I was a beta when we met," He conveyed as he grabbed his beer and took a swig.

Anna continued for him, "Our pack was taken over and we were the only ones to escape. It was almost ten years ago, but it's still fresh in our minds." Arcadian grabbed Anna's hand and she squeezed it, remembering the pain from the tragedy. "We met Jack a few months later. He gave us a safe place to live."

"Kellan and I were born rogues, Jack took us in," Killian answered next, "Our parents left us, so if Jack hadn't helped us, we'd probably be dead." Kellan nodded in agreement.

Lexi looked down as it was her turn, "My mate died, so without Jack, I would have gone crazy." She simply said, then stood up and walked out. Anna told me to just let her go cool off, that it was still a touchy subject for her.

"Your brother is truly amazing. Without him, who knows where any of us would be?" Anna added before she and Arcadian stood to the room, the boys doing the same thing not long after. That left Jack and I.

"They adore you, Jack."

"No," He smiled, "I did help each of them, but they helped me as well." I could see the pride he had about saving them. "They became my family." I nodded my head as I knew the bond between all of them was strong. "Maybe they could be your family as well." I heaved a sigh, flirting with the idea of running away forever, and living with them here in this small town. Jack told me they live in Cotton Valley, it was five hours from my home. No doubt it was perfect, but I had so much back in New Orleans.

"Jack, I want to..." His face lit up like a Christmas tree. "...but I can't. I need to get home. Our father is out there and he's planning something. I need to warn and protect my pack, just like you would protect them." Jack nodded. "But I just need to know-" Suddenly a searing pain shot through my brain. I grasped my head to hopefully make it stop, but it did nothing. Jack stood and rushed to me.

"Kenya?" He called as I started shaking and fell out of my chair. I took the fetal position as I spasmed. "Kenya!" Flashes of a house came into view. It was worn down, and the front door was all white. I'd seen it before. I saw images of Jack and I approaching the house with the others. I pushed the door in, a picture of the medallion my father mentioned making an appearance. In a flash, the vision ended. I gasped as Jack held me in his arms.

"Hey, you're okay," He cooed as I shivered in his arms. Anna and Arcadian appeared first, quickly coming to our side as they saw me in my condition.

"What happened?" Anna barked.

"I'm not sure," Jack responded in a shaken tone, "She grabbed her head and acreages. Then she just started shaking and growling. I didn't know what to do, so I just held her." I barely kept my eyes open as Anna checked me over, but she fully opened them.

"Oh my god, her eyes!" She exclaimed.

My eyes? What's wrong with my eyes?

I couldn't speak, everything was becoming hard to process and see.

"We need to get her back to the room upstairs." I let my head drop back as Jack and Arcadian lifted me. I could barely feel my limbs, so walking or moving wasn't an option. Both men dragged me out of the dining room and past the kitchen, then placed one hand each under my legs and proceeded up the stairs. Finally we reached the room for someone in need of medical attention. I groaned as Arcadian and Jack placed me on the bed. Anna went to a cabinet and grabbed something. Seconds later, someone pulled up my sleeve and a prick followed. Suddenly, my shaking stopped, but I felt faint.

"Kenya," Anna said, causing me to look to her, "Don't fight this, it's a sedative just so your muscles won't spasm, it'll make you drowsy. So just rest." I didn't argue as I let the all too familiar darkness take over.