The Alpha and His Hunted Kitsune Princess

New Friends Pt. 1

Piper smirked while Remi talked. It was nice seeing everyone get along. It nearly moved me to tears seeing Preston just slide in with the group that had been my rock. Karl and Preston seemed at ease with each other. Which was good since Remi dragged me to my room to talk.

Remi squealed, “Tell me everything.” I gasped, “Umm do you see this room?” Remi waved, “Yes, I set all your stuff up last night. Isn’t it cool?” I pointed there’s a small spiral staircase up to another bed. Why do I have two beds?” Remi waved, “This one is your bed, that’s practically a reading / study nook up there. Now, tell me everything. You called Preston your boyfriend.”

I grinned and we both started squealing and jumping around. I admitted, “We had a quickie in the car before getting her.” Remi fanned her face, “I am so proud of you right now. That place is TO DIE for!” I snorted, “I guess his sister in law runs it. She’s the girl boss type you talk about.”

Remi grinned, “I know. We want to be her friend.” I asked, “Is that recent?” Remi winced so quickly I barely caught it. Pain hit my heart. I knew it hurt my best friend that I didn’t remember everything, which gutted me to a level I didn’t understand.

If my body remembered things like how visceral I’d react to hurting Remi’s feelings, why the HELL can’t I remember anything?! It was so annoying. Remi answered, “Yes, we do want to be her friend, but it’s not new. We’ve been talking about Preston’s sister in law for years. Which is complicated to explain.”

I asked, “Why? She’s clearly semi-famous.” Remi snorted, “She had a whole thing going on. That’s not the point. THAT PLACE!” I grinned, “It’s literally amazing. The staff is kind of magical really.” Remi asked, “Are they now?”

I nodded, “Yeah, the waiter clearly had a chef in this tent where he somehow cooked this gourmet meal. The tablet they give you has all this stuff. OHH! We drove through a waterfall to the parking garage. It was an oddly bonding moment. Like we had this moment where we chose to go into the unknown side by side.”

Remi squealed again. I grinned, “The arrows led us to the dock that literally lit up everything. I can confidently say it was the most romantic evening of my life with no memories.” Remi raised her hand, “I can confirm.” I laughed, “I knew it!” We nudged each other.

Remi urged, “Come on, tell me more. There is no TMI between us.” Remi had said that to be before too. I said, “We attacked each other on the boat." Remi practically sang, “The boat of love!!!” I snickered, “Remi!”

Remi waved, "Honestly, who could blame you? You didn’t jump his bones on the boat, so I’m only mildly disappointed in you. The boat probably cried and the other boats made fun of its sexless voyage.” I snorted, “Remi!”

Remi shrugged, “Don’t worry, I’ll request the same boat so the boat can have its proper ride.” I rolled my eyes, “There was a driver!” Remi said, “Hey, I put you in an outfit with a slit, girl! You didn’t have to get naked. The skirt would’ve hid your bits and his.” I disagreed, “No, that monster in his pants cannot be hidden.”

Remi screamed, “NOW WE ARE GETTING SOMEWHERE!” I whispered, “They will hear you.” Remi waved, “They are doing guy talk. I gave Karl explicit instructions. They will be friends by the time we leave or I will get rid of his pillow mistress.”

I snorted, “You christened the whole apartment because of that comment, didn’t you?” Remi snorted, “I bought the man a top of the line pillow and he uses it between his legs and kept his deflated, practically no existent fluff pillow mistress. He loves that thing more than me, I’m telling you.” I smiled because she was joking. Remi demanded, “Now, tell me about his monster c**k. I’ve told you all about Karl’s.”

I snorted, “I don’t remember that!” Remi shrugged, “You will. More to the point, we were talking about Preston’s dick.” I snorted, “It’s like semi impressive it fit.” Remi giggled, “He didn’t bottom out then.” I groaned, “I don’t know what that means.”

Remi explained, “Where he couldn't go in further, but his d**k wasn’t all the way in.” I answered, “No, he fit.” Remi squealed, “Yeah, he did! Girl.” I explained, “Things got freaky in the hot tub.” Remi cackled, “GIIIRRRRLLLL, yes!”

I added, “Then I had him chase me in the house. I had a lead and the man caught up to me the second I jumped on the bed naked.” Remi gasped, “You made him chase you?! I’m so proud right now. I’m taking credit for that because you’ve seen Karl chase me around.”

I pointed out, “He has so much more room to do that here.” Remi agreed, “That he does. The dorm really cramped our style.” I laughed, “I don’t think it did.” Remi wiggled her eyebrows, “You’ll find out you’re wrong. Anywho, monster d**k caught you then…” She trailed off intentionally.

I winked, “Then ate me out like it was his job.” Remi had told me all about s*x. Remi fist pumped, “Yeah, he did.” I admitted, “At one point, I thought I’d have to explain to the authorities that the billionaire drowned in my juices.” Remi busted up laughing.

I exclaimed, “I’m serious!” Remi was wheezing she was laughing so hard. I continued, "Everything he does is so sexy. My ovaries have a mind of their own. He does this growl, that just I swear I gush.” Remi winked, “You know I get it.” Yeah, Karl growled.

I pointed out, “That does literally nothing for me.” Remi growled, "Because Karl is mine.” I replied, “Believe me, I’m fully aware. I’ve never seen Karl as anything other than a brother really.” Remi grinned, “Yes, I know.”

I told her, “He doesn’t look at me like I’m broken like most people do.” Remi snorted, “You’re not broken. Your mind is taking a temporary vacation. It’s rude because no one agreed, but I blame someone other than you.” Remi kissed my temple.

I added, “So, we barely kept our hands off each other. Preston’s recovery time is impressive. I managed to get dressed.” Remi groaned, “Ugh! Boring.” I snorted, “Only to have him take off my pajamas.” Remi rubbed her hands together, “That’s what I’m talking about.”

I said, “When I woke up I was dressed again, then I found this little bed that I re-arranged. Possibly like a crazy person.” Remi asked, “Rearranged how?” I explained, "Everything was in the wrong place, but I made it better.” Remi agreed, “Of course you did.” I whispered, “I want to go back and see it. Which is crazy, they probably put it all back.” Which bothered me on a deep level.

Remi waved, “No, they wouldn’t. That house is for the Conners, they’ll leave it how you arranged it.” I grumbled, “They will wash the sheets.” Which felt like it was making my skin itch. Remi took my hands, “They will leave it, I swear.” That relaxed me because Remi didn’t lie to me. I sighed, “I don’t know why that makes me feel so much better.”

Remi shrugged, “Sometimes things just make you settle.” I groaned, “I can’t have Preston taking me back there all the time, and I want to see it.” Remi assured me, “We’ll get it figured out and he will take you back. Whenever you wanted. If you need it, I’ll go with you.”

I snorted, “The security is literally crazy.” Remi assured me, “We could handle it.” I snorted, “No, we cannot. Girl boss sister in law of my boyfriend, is legit crazy.” Remi cackled, “I’m telling you we will manage. I’ll order us kick ass burglar outfits too. We’ll be sexy.” I replied, “We should be sexy since we’ll end up in a holding cell.”

Remi laughed, “We won’t. You’re Preston Conners girlfriend. They’d apologize for questioning you.” I busted up laughing, “Yeah, he’s talking about all kinds of serious things.” Remi grinned, “Yeah, he is.” I groaned, “The girls on the team are going to give me shit.”

Remi rolled her eyes, “They don’t matter in the scope of our lives, Piper. Me, I totally matter. I’m top tier. Those girls are people you’ll play with and never talk to again. Here’s how I know this. We played club ball with a group of girls, the same girls for years. Guess how many you still talk to?”

I answered, “Umm you.” Remi grinned, “That’s right, just me. Life moves on. You outgrow some people, never us though. You’re stuck with me forever and you’ll be happy about it.” I admitted, “I am quite happy about it. Plus, none of those people bothered trying to get me to remember them.”

Remi waved, “Yeah, they suck. We’re where it’s at. We are the best. Now we have our men, you’ll get your memories back. Where I will be the star, not a side character, and everything will make sense again.”

I groaned, “I want it to all make sense now. Was it me or was my dad super careful in all his responses? Like he crafted them. That’s probably me projecting or something.” Remi disagreed, “It’s not projection, it’s a fact. Pernell did carefully answer you.”

I sighed, “You really don’t like him.” Remi grinned, “Loud and proud, girl. I dislike that man with my whole being. Karl is team we dislike Pernell because he’s always on my team.” I hummed, “And you’re always on my team.”

Remi agreed, “Yes, because you’re always on mine. That’s how this works.” I laughed, “What if you like someone I hate?” Remi shook her head, “Nope, that’s not how this works. If you hate them, I hate them more.”

I laughed, “What if it’s my fault?” Remi immediately replied, “They obviously provoked you and they are at fault. You could murder someone and I will find a way it’s their fault. Period. End of story. You hate them, I hate them. You need a body buried? I’ve got a shovel and will wake up at a moment's notice.”

I hugged Remi, “I love you so much. I’ll be here if you want to go for a morning track run. No track runs.” I gasped and touched my head. Remi asked, “Piper?” I questioned, “Why did I specify morning? I know it’s right, but not why.”

Remi answered, “My morning track run is when I was knocked unconscious and kidnapped. Then you and Hazel showed up and saved my life, like bad asses.” Right. I groaned and threw myself on a super comfortable bed. I admitted, “My memory is the worst.”

Remi agreed, “Yeah, your brain is giving your uterus a run for worst body part.” I snorted, “What?” Remi shrugged, “I’m just saying the uterus is whiny brat. It's never happy really. Pregnant, not pregnant the thing is angry. Your brain was all ‘hold my beer.’ Which feels very unnecessary when you think about it.”

I agreed, “The most unnecessary. How on earth did we pull this apartment?” Remi grinned, “Because Nathan McD talked to the owner of the college.” I asked, “How much does this cost my new stepdad?”

Remi answered, “Nothing.” I gasped, “What?!” Remi grinned, “The university is covering it.” I questioned, “Why on earth would they do that?” Remi laughed, “Well, rich people reasons.” I snorted, “So, we got this super nice apartment for nothing?” Remi nodded. I asked, “What are the utilities?” Remi answered, “Free. We live here for free, girl. Just like the dorms.”

I snorted, “This is a penthouse, Remi.” Remi squealed, “I KNOW! It’s making up for the whole senior year thing that was ruined.” I deadpanned, “Living in a penthouse was on the list your made of things for us to do for our senior year?”

Remi admitted, “No, but it should have been. This is a perk.” I laughed, “Because your petty has a tax.” Pain hit my head and I groaned. Remi whispered, “Piper.” I huffed, “I don’t know why I know that, but I know it’s true. Memories need to come back when I say things that make no sense but I know they are true!”

Remi cautiously said, “My petty does have a tax.” I knew that, I just didn’t know why the hell I knew that. I snorted, “Make Pernell was trying to wake up my brain when he said that.” Remi rolled her eyes, “He was not.” I asked, “He’s kind of weird, right?”

Remi shrugged, ‘That’s a word to describe him. It feels nice and I would like to be more judgmental about him really.” Karl called up that we were meeting in an hour. That seemed super early. Maybe my siblings wanted to see me.

Remi grumbled, “THE NERVE of that man. You should be the one setting the time. He’s being all impatient.” I reasoned, “My siblings probably want to see me.” Remi conceded, “Probably. That sounds reasonable though and I want to blame Pernell for being an impatient, inconsiderate ass.” I grinned, “So, you will continue to do so.”

Remi laughed, “See? Who needs memories? You get me.” I really did. On a level I didn’t quite understand. I admitted, “I do know I’d be literally lost without you. I know you want me to remember and I know it hurts you that I don't. Despite that, you never make it about you.”

Remi replied, “I know you’ll remember me. Then my petty tax will come into play and you’ll just have to cross a bunch of things off the senior year list with me. It’s going to be perfect and it will make it up to me.”

Remi was tossed bags. I asked, “Did they throw those in the quietest manner?” Remi grinned, “Or something.” Then she began to go through clothes. Remi squealed, “This is so great.” I admitted, “I did not use all those, but gimmie that robe.”

Remi gasped when she saw it. I put it on and her eyes filled with tears. I asked, “Are you ok?” Remi wiped a few tears away, “Totally.” I was confused, “It’s just a fuzzy super comfy robe.” Remi nodded, “Yup. A beautiful robe.” I grinned, “It’s quite unique. I love the colors.” Remi nodded and handed me an outfit.

My friend urged, “Put that on.” I snorted, "This is a bit much for a dinner with my family that just got in contact.” Remi rolled her eyes, “Yeah, contact. Anyway, it’s not too much. Take a quick shower then put that on.”

I went into the bathroom connected to my room and actually snorted. I muttered, “This is someone else’s life right now. I’m living a dream.” The bathroom was immaculate. It was so nice it was a little crazy.

I showered and put on a strapless bra set Remi and put out with the clothes and thong. The shirt had to go first and it was a sleeveless top with a cute cut out pattern around my neck and color bone. The green color really made my eyes pop. The shorts were high waisted with a belt and a cut multi colored pattern.

I wondered what other clothes were packed for me since I definitely had not worn this. Remi was waiting in my room and had already changed. Remi added a little mascara to my eyes and grinned, “Perfect. Let’s go if we must.” I laughed, “Come on, you don’t have to say one word to Pernell.”

Remi grumbled, “I have so many words to say to that man, they just are not proper for company. Are you sure you want to go? We can ditch and go on a double date.” I laughed, “I want to see my siblings.” Remi groaned and handed me a super cute little purse and we went downstairs.

My eyes instantly found Preston. God, that man was so handsome. Karl drove us to the place. We were definitely here early because this place would be booked at night. Everyone was waiting at the table when we walked in. I could see them past the hostess.

My head swiveled to Preston when he said my siblings wanted to meet me. Did he mean again? Because surely they had met me. Right? Remi led me away before I could ask Preston what he meant by that. Nerves set in, but they weren’t necessary.

No one was upset I didn’t remember their names. My little sister immediately hugged me. Everything in me felt like they were home to me, but in the back of my mind I couldn’t help but note it seemed like Preston was right.

My siblings were acting like they’d just met me for the first time. That couldn’t be though, right? They were probably just nervous after my TBI. Everyone else was. I ignored the niggling in the back of my brain.

When we sat down Pen said, “Boy, I’m so glad you’re here.” I laughed, “Where else would I be?” Miska said, “He means in the family.” I laughed, “Well, I’ve been in the family for a while.” Pen agreed, “Absolutely a few months more than me, actually.” That really seemed to be a harping point with him.

Honestly, I kept glancing at my mom. Pernell kind of seemed like an asshole getting two women pregnant so close together. Was my mom just a stepping stone for him? Remi took a sip of her drink then rolled her eyes at Pernell, which made me smile.

Pryce asked, “How’s school? It’s about to start here, right?” I answered, “Yeah, I just transferred because my mom and Nathan McD got married.” Pio snickered, “Nathan McD?” I explained, “There’s another Nathan around here so my best friend and I call my stepdad Nathan McD. I have two stepsiblings. A brother and sister.”

Pascale said, “We are your brothers.” I nodded, “Yup. Mike is my stepbrother. He’s older than us all, actually Jane is too.” Not by much but she still was. Miska said, “Preston is so dreamy!” I grinned, “Yeah, he is. It’s been a whirlwind, but like mother like daughter I guess.”

Pio offered, ‘It runs in the family. Dad was like that with mom too.” Yeah, after knocking up my mom he ran off and met and knocked up another woman. Though Kenko seemed pretty nice, I wasn’t sure Pernell was at all.

I hummed, “Yeah.” Pen assured me, “It will make sense to you soon.” Remi snorted, “Sure, total sense. This is my in the know total sense face.” I nearly spit out my drink. Pascale chuckled, “Aren’t you fun?”

I asked, “Don’t you know that already? Remi’s my best friend.” Remi asked, “Yeah, don’t you? How could you have possibly missed something so predominant in my personality?” What in the weird tension was going on? My siblings brushed over Remi’s question and didn’t answer her. Which had that niggling in the back of mind feel like it was screaming. Was I really just meeting my siblings for the first time? No, that was actually crazy.

Preston excused himself, and the men at the table were all tense. I teased, “It’s just the bathroom, guys. Calm down.” Pio hummed, “Sure.” What? I glanced at Remi who rolled her eyes, “I know. It’s truly maddening that people call women the dramatic ones of our sexes.” I laughed.

Kenko said, “Piper, we’d love for you to come visit our home.” I replied, “Well, school is about to start along with the season. Maybe you guys can come to some of my games.” Miska squealed, “YES!” Pernell said, “You’re too young, Miska.”

I asked, “My sister is too young to attend my volleyball games? What age is appropriate then? I was unaware volleyball was age restricted." Because it wasn’t. Pen said, “I’ll come.” I grinned, “That’s great, but Miska should be able to come to. It’s just a game and she won’t be playing.”

Remi said, “Yeah, it’s just a game where we kick serious ass. Miska here should us girl boss out.” I asked, “Has she never come to my games? I thought I played year round.” Remi agreed, “We did play year round once I decided to play with you. I was a natural.” Clearly since she got a scholarship to college.

Remi added, “We don’t play year round now because we are in college.” I asked, “So, my sister has never seen me play volleyball? Is that what we are saying? Because our coach's niece brings her two year old to practice sometimes to say hi. Why on earth could my sister not come watch me play? Oh my god, have none of you come to a game?”

I pointed at my stepdad, “Nathan came to a practice where we scrimmaged each other, and he’s coming to an upcoming scrimmage with another college. You’re telling me you’ve never been to a game?” No one said anything. I gasped, “Mom?”

I knew I was getting hysterical for some reason. Mom whispered, “Piper, it’s ok. They just have different rules.” I scoffed, “For being a spectator for volleyball?” I looked at my dad, “Have you ever come to my games? Because I know it’s been hundreds of games. Club ball was all tournaments that were sometimes days long. There were pool plays and bracket play. And you’ve never seen one?!”

Pernell looked utterly uncomfortable. I muttered, “Oh my god. You didn’t come when I got hurt and now you’ve never seen me play volleyball. Not only that you don’t allow my siblings to come support me. Do I support them in their activities? Do you guys play sports?”

Pen answered, “Not organized like you do.” What? I looked at Remi who shrugged and sipped on her wine. Kenko said, “We’d love to come to some games.” I sat back in my chair, “I’d hate to ruin your routine of not showing up for me.”

Remi hummed, “Yeah, far be it for us to cramp your style.” Karl put a hand on her thigh and squeezed. This was actually unbelievable. I stared at the man who just decided to grace me with his presence. How was this my dad?

Nathan McD had been in my life a hot second and he’d already done more than my own father. Mike and Jane had looked at my game schedule and picked ones they could go to together and separately. Jane was excitedly talking about making posters, and my own family had never seen me play a single second of volleyball.

Pernell said, “Piper, it’s not a routine.” I disagreed, “It appears to be. Were you too out of touch to get sent a schedule of my games? Have I ever seen where you live? Or did you just call and check on me after you got my mom pregnant and ran off to start your own family that you decided I wasn’t a part of.” Because that’s what it looked like. Why was he even here now?

I asked, “Are you only here because I got a brain injury and you feel bad? Does this seem like some redo on being my dad because I’m going to remember everything eventually. That’s what everyone says.”