A Twisted Anthology: A Twisted Design Book

Forever Home Part 5

Sunday at home went well. The twins actually holed up in their room with their toys for most of the day. A few times they came out for one thing or another.

Bobby and Dillon worked at the kitchen table, building models. I sat on the couch and read one of the medical textbooks from my shelves. Jean-Claude came out and sat next to me with a laptop. He worked on something while I read. It was a really nice, chill day.

After the littles went down for their nap, Bobby and I started packing our things up. I’d taken care of the twins’ clothes after breakfast. Jean-Claude planned to have us back to the orphanage in time for dinner. It would give Bobby and me time to do our weekend homework after dinner.

We took a different SUV home. It had a third row of seats, so Dillon was able to go with us. The drive was quiet and a little sad. I knew the twins didn’t realize we were going back to the orphanage. Bobby fiddled with his fingers and sighed as he looked out the window all the way home.

When we arrived, the twins realized what was going on. They screamed and cried and tried to cling on to Dillon and Jean-Claude when they hugged them goodbye. It broke my heart a little. I could see the pain on Dillon and Jean-Claude’s faces as well.

Bobby gave them hugs and put on a fake smile to try and reassure them. Miss Tye came out and carried the twins into the home. I stood in front of Dillon and Jean-Claude.

“This is the hard part. I’ve seen a lot of people go out on home visits and come back excited. Others who were more upset, because they’d been reminded of what it was like to have a family. We’ll have a decision by Friday, but it looks like my sister and brothers have already decided. Thank you. If nothing else, you reminded us of what it could be like with a family.” I told them.

“Maybe, if you’re still on the fence, you could come back next weekend. We can do this for as long as you want. Until you’re comfortable with the decision. We really want you to be our family, Kaysie.” Jean-Claude said.

“Griff wants you and the kids to come home with us now. He’s grumbling about leaving his pups behind and he hasn’t even formally met you.” Dillon chuckled.

“Arnou feels the same way. He says you and the kids complete our family. He doesn’t want to let you go. We already love you. Our wolves already love you. Lune Rouge is safe. It’s your home. When you’re ready to let us claim you, let us know. Call, text, anything. We’ll come straight over, even if it’s the middle of the night.” Jean-Claude told me before reaching out and pulling me into a hug.

Dillon wrapped his arms around both of us. It felt totally safe. Something niggled in the back of my head. It was like my pack connection was reaching out for them.

When werewolves in packs turned twelve, they got a connection to the pack that started with their family. It was when we first started being able to use the mind link. In the first few months, we connected to our mother and father, then any siblings over twelve, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Finally, we connected to the rest of the pack.

I hadn’t felt it react since my pack died. Maybe it was a sign from the goddess that this was our new family. I needed to assess everything while I wasn’t under the pressure of having them right in front of me. I needed to not be caught up in the emotion of it.

Pulling out of their hug, I smiled at them. “I promise, I’ll let you know my decision as soon as I have it.”

I picked up my bag and headed into the house. When I turned to close the door, they were still standing there, like they were making sure I got in safe. I caught Addy as she tried to get out the door.

“NO!!! I want daddies! Don’t go!” She wailed as I carried her away from the door.

Aaron sniffled in Miss Tye’s arms it looked like he hadn’t managed to get away when Addy did. I took him from her and headed up to their room. Bobby followed with all the bags. The other little ones who shared a room with Addy and Aaron scattered.

I sat on a bed. My sister and brother clung to me and cried. I felt like crying a little too. I hadn’t realized she had bonded that much. If Addy did, then I knew Aaron did.

“Bobby.” I said.

“Yeah?” He came and knelt in front of me.

“Are you feeling like this too? Did they feel like our family to you?”

He stared at me for a few moments before focusing on the ground. He chewed his lips like he did when he was worried about something. When he looked up, there were tears in his eyes.

“I feel like I’m rejecting mom and dad if I want them to be our family, Kay. But I do. And the twins love them. They aren’t this attached to anyone but me and you. Do you think the goddess gave us another family, like she’s going to give Richard another mate?” Bobby asked.

“Family is just as important as mates. I think, if the goddess was going to give us another family, we could do worse than Dillon and Jean-Claude. I need time to think about it. Can you give me a few days to come to a decision?” I whispered.

“I love you, Kay. You’ve always taken care of us and encouraged us. You grew up so we didn’t have to. I trust you to make the right decision for our family.” He replied.

I smiled at him. “Thank you for trusting me. Help me get them calmed down, then we can go down to dinner.”

It took a little while, but we got them to stop crying. Bobby and I took the littles down for dinner. I noticed all the pack born teen girls were swarming one particular table.

“What’s that about?” I asked Taylor, who was one of the kitchen workers.

“New pack born boy. He came in Friday night. He’s seventeen.” She whispered.

“Oh, they’re hoping he might be their mate.” I chuckled.

“Are you going to go try for it?” Taylor asked.

“No. I’m having enough trouble trying to figure out if I should accept an adoption offer. The last thing on my mind is my mate. I’ll have plenty of time for that after I have my wolf.” I replied.

“Right! You had that home visit with the head warrior of Lune Rouge! How did it go?” She questioned as she filled my plates.

“Pretty good. The twins loved them. Bobby bonded. I’m going to weigh the pros and cons before proceeding, but I’m already leaning toward yes. I think that might be our forever home.” I smiled.

“Congrats, then. We were all praying for you while you were gone.” Taylor grinned.

I thanked her and went to go sit down with my family. As I was going past the buzzing table, the crowd moved aside as a boy pushed through them. He rushed out in front of me, making me stop in my tracks.

He was tall, like Dillon and Jean-Claude, about six feet. His hair was a dark brown that looked like it had a red tint to it. His deep blue eyes stared into mine.

“What’s your name?” He asked.

“Kaysie. Excuse me. I need to get to my family.” I said hurriedly.

“Don’t leave me, Kaysie. I’m Brendan. Can I come sit with you?”

“Umm. I guess.” I replied and moved around him.

I sat down and handed out plates. Bobby sat next to Aaron and I sat next to Addy. We helped them eat while working on our own plates. Brendan just stared at me.

It wasn’t that I didn’t know what it was. A year ago I watched a pair of mates find each other here. They were both seventeen. Queen Bellamy had found them a house and paid their bills as long as they finished school.

That boy looked at the girl just like Brendan was looking at me. I didn’t have time to deal with a mate when I was trying to work things out for my family. In a normal pack, you weren’t supposed to tell someone they were your mate until their wolf came in and you knew for sure. I would just ignore it and live my life.

If he really was my mate, Brendan would wait for me. I was only sixteen and I had more important things to focus on. Like stopping my sister from throwing her veggies across the room.

“You smell like men.” Brendan growled.

“My prospective parents are a gay couple.” I said, blocking Addy’s attempts at flying peas.

“I don’t like that. Maybe they were faking so they could get you to go with them.” He said.

I snorted. “The walls in their house weren’t soundproof. I may not have my wolf, but I can hear better than a human. They were definitely mates.”

“Turn them down.” Brendan ordered.

Looking up at him, I raised my eyebrow. Who the hell did he think he was talking to? Who the hell did he think he was, aside from my mate? Just because you’re mated to someone, doesn’t mean they can order you around.

“I’ll do what’s best for my family.” I told him.

He glared at me and I stared him down. I may not be ranked blood, but my parents raised me to know what was and was not okay. Giving orders without learning anything, was the habit of a bad leader and a selfish person.

My sister and brothers deserved a chance at a family. Telling me to turn them down without finding out if anyone else was affected by that decision, was selfish and a level of possessive that I didn’t want to deal with.

“You’re my mate. You will do what I tell you.” He insisted.

“I’m their big sister and I will do what is best for them.” I hissed before standing and picking up Addy. “Come on, Bobby. Let’s get the twins in a bath before bed.”

I turned at walked out of the dining room. I hoped they would forgive me for leaving a mess instead of cleaning up, like I normally did. I couldn’t be around him for another second.

Bobby helped me get Addy and Aaron cleaned up and in bed, then we went our separate ways. He was in the boys under twelve room, I was in the girls twelve to sixteen room. The seventeen year olds had their own rooms because their wolves could get uneasy.

The desks were empty in the study room as I went past. I went to my room to gather my backpack and went back so I could work on some of the stuff that would be due in the morning. Most of my teachers would understand missing work when I told them I had a home visit.

 All the teachers in the rogue school knew I was an orphan. They gave us some leeway when it came to homework if we had home visits. I was still going to try to get as much of it done as possible.

I was almost finished with my math work, when someone moved a chair close to me and sat down. I looked up. It was Brendan.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t prepared for what it would feel like to find my true mate. Give me another chance. Please, don’t reject me for that.” He whispered.

Brendan looked like he was actually remorseful. If he really was my mate, I didn’t want to have a bad relationship with him. I sighed and nodded before turning back to my work.

“Thank you. Can we talk?”

“I have homework to finish. Maybe tomorrow.” I suggested.

“How about after lights out? We can sit on the back porch and talk. Miss Tye said that it’s open to people who have their wolves, since it can make sleeping hard when we don’t have a connection.” Brendan suggested.

“You’re doing remarkably well for a pack born orphan with your wolf.” I said softly.

“Probably because of how old I am. Miss Tye said that Queen Bellamy will be coming in a couple days to admit me into her collective. She wants to get it done before I start getting crazy.” He chuckled.

“I’ll probably be in a pack by the time it’s a concern for me.” I said, closing my math book and pulling out my science book.

“You’re still planning on going with those men?” Brendan growled a little.

“I was on the fence, but your order not to actually made me start thinking. They were the only people in two years who wanted all four of us. I know my siblings would be safe, because no one would attack Lune Rouge, and it would give us a huge family we can lean on as we grow. Most of all, their wolves want us. For most couples, their wolves grow to love their adopted children. They care for them like any wolf would care for any pup, but they don’t love them like family right away. Jean-Claude and Dillon love us.” I smiled.

He was silent for a few moments. “I’ll… I’ll let you get back to your homework. Will you meet me on the back porch? I want to talk to you about the future. We have a lot to go over. I want to know everything about you.”

“I can only give you until midnight. I need to be up by five to get to the bus on time.” I told him.

“That’s all I need, for now. We’ll find time for each other.” He shrugged.

I worked until lights out. I got almost all of my work done and was pretty proud of myself. After putting my things away and changing into my pajamas, I put on my fuzzy socks and slippers, wrapped a blanket around my shoulders, and headed to the back porch.

It was dark, the moon was barely a sliver. I looked around, trying to find Brendan. There was a tap on my shoulder and I turned, only to be met with a fist and darkness.