Discovering Me

Heros vs. Villians

So many of the injured are being rushed into the clinic. Doctors and nurses are running around with supplies. Family members are in tears not knowing what is going to happen to their injured family members.

“Lexi! Thank goddess you’re alright. You scared me when you ran off like that.” My mom came running over to hug me. “Where’s your brother? Please tell me you found him.”

“I was so close, mom.” I sobbed in her arms. “So close, but I couldn’t get to him. I really tried so hard to get him…”

“What happened? Lexi, what do you mean? Did something happen to him?” Now, hysterically in tears, my mother is shaking me.

“Mrs. Colette, why don’t we sit down over here.” Keenan ushers us to the closest unoccupied seats.

“Keenan dear, you have an injury. Let me get some supplies to clean you up. Lexi, are you okay?” she says, starting to lift the shirt I’m wearing to try to inspect my body for injuries.

“Mom, mom. I’m okay. Just a little bruising and a few scratches. But EJ… I don’t know who took him. I don’t know where he is now. I tried to get him back to the packhouse but the rogues kept stopping me from getting close to him.`` Still crying, I tried to explain.

“Alpha Donnie and his team of trackers are looking for him and the others that were abducted. Lexi exerted a lot of energy siphoning and I would say was a great aid when it came to defeating the group.” Keenan explained.

“I’m just glad to see you’re okay. I pray that Alpha Donnie finds your brother sweetheart. You both have a lot of foreign smelling blood on you. What kind of rogues were they?” She asks, wrapping her arms around me.

“Mom, they were the ugliest rogues I’ve ever seen. They were huge and mutated looking.” I say.

“Yes, I’ve never seen anything like them before.” Keenan stated.

“Please tell me you stayed away from them, Lexi.” She says concerned.

“She killed like 5 of them. Siphoned the life right out of them. Which reminds me. We need to transfer some of the energy before she has a power surge.”

“That sounds serious. How does she do that?” Mom asked

“It’s the opposite process as siphoning. She just needs a source to push the energy to. That’s why we’re here.”

“I think I understand. Come with me. I have a few patients to check on. I am sure you will find someone in need.” Mom said.

We followed her as she did her rounds and I was able to find a few individuals to use most of that excess energy to help others.

“Lexi, you’ve done enough here. You should probably get to bed honey.” Mom says, wrapping me in a hug. “You’ll need your energy to look for your brother tomorrow.”

“Mom, I really don’t want to be home alone since you’re here and dad is busy helping with the Sycamore Coven making healing potion.” I said, leaning into her hug.

“I understand. Keenan, would you be able to stay with Lexi? Or maybe you can go to the packhouse and stay on the couch of your suite until I get off work in a couple of hours?”

“Sure, either is fine. I actually need to leave now, anyways, so let’s get you out of here and to bed.” Keenan said, now guiding me out of the clinic.

“Okay.” I yawned. “The packhouse is the closest we can go there.” Exhaustion is starting to kick in.

We walked into the packhouse and I didn’t make it up the stairs before exhaustion kicked in. I sat there on the floor of the packhouse as today’s events played in my mind. How can a day that started off so pleasant end up being so horrible?

“Come on. Let’s get you to bed.” Keenan said, lifting me up to carry me the rest of the way.

“I feel so lost,” I said, leaning into his arms.

“I promise it will get better. You just need some rest.” He says, as we approach his suite. “I can take the couch and you sleep in the bed.”

“No. Can you lie with me? I have already lost one brother.” I said, clinging to him.

“Sure, but I think we’ve passed the point of a brother-sister-type relationship. Do you want to take a shower or something? You can put on some of my clothes.” He asked, setting me down so that I was standing.

“I honestly don’t have the energy for that.” I answered.

“Good me either.” He said as he guided me to bed. He wrapped his arms protectively around me and lulled me to sleep listening to his relaxing breaths.

*****

The next morning, we were woken up by knocks on the door. Keenan got up to open it.

“Good morning Gamma. I hope you have a pleasant night's sleep. I’m sorry to wake you but we need to get going so we can resume our search.” I heard Beta Charles say from the door.

“Yes, of course I’ll get dressed and should be ready in 15 minutes.” Keenan said, and I thought he had closed the door, so I sat up.

“That should be fine…wait! Lexi? What are you doing in here?” I heard and, horrified, I looked towards the door. This looks bad. “Please don’t tell me you’ve become one of those females..”

“What type of females would you be talking about, Beta?” Keenan asked.

“The type that hops from ranked pack members beds. You had a proper upbringing. You should value yourself more than this.” He says, walking into the room. “First the young alpha, now a gamma….this is not what Alpha meant when he said to make sure his needs are taken care of!”

“It’s not what it looks like, Beta. I was just so tired and distressed after losing my brother and helping in the clinic…” I started to explain.

“So what you decided sleeping with him would ease the pain? You sound just like your friend. I mean what should I expect…birds of a feather…” He said in a very harsh judgmental way.

So appalled I couldn’t even reply. I just got up out of bed and pushed past him.

“What you’re not even putting on clothes?” I heard Beta Charles say as I continued walking. As soon as I was out of the packhouse door, I shifted and allowed Sierra to take us home, only to be greeted by my dad.

“Lexi, honey what’s going on? Beta Charles just told me he found you in the Gamma’s bed.”

“It wasn’t like that, dad. I cried myself to sleep in his arms last night. I was such a failure. I couldn’t get to EJ before they took him. I went to help mom but don’t feel like I did anything there. I didn’t even get a chance to explain before Beta Charles made it know that he thinks I’m a w***e because of that slut that I used to be friends with.” I vented out.

“Honey, you are not a failure. So nothing happened last night between you two?” Dad asked.

“Nothing happened last night,” I said. I’m not lying, we did nothing last night although there were plenty of other times.

“So, you’re not friends with Tia? You weren’t there when all of that stuff went down. Did you hear about it or something?” He asked.

“Yes, I heard about it, but that’s not why we’re not friends. She and her roommate gave me a date r**e drug to sacrifice me so they could get into some club. I guess they needed to sacrifice someone's virginity and I almost got r***d because of her. She and I will never be friends again.” I said, feeling uncomfortable now telling this to my dad.

“And you’re a virgin? Please tell me you didn’t get raped.” He asked, sighing, but I couldn’t deceive him.

“No, I didn't get r***d. Keenan just happened to be there at the right time so nothing happened.” I said, walking away towards my room. I could hear his sigh of relief before he continued walking behind me.

“And the other question?” I heard as I walked into my room to grab some clothes so I could take a shower.

“Daddy. Please, I don’t want to talk about this. I am an adult now and it was consensual. Just know Beta Charles has no right to call me a slut.” I said, closing the bathroom door and starting the water “I do not sleep around. Keenan was just there for me last night like he has always been there for me. I just need to shower, then I’m going to find EJ and once I know he’s safe, I’m going to leave. I can’t stay here. Maybe I can see if I can do some type of traveling work. I’ll be able to work as a healer when I’m done training, even security. Maybe I can become a trainer. I do like working with the younger ones. I don’ t know but I’m not going to be sitting around getting called a slut.” I rambled on.

“I understand, babygirl. I know you are an adult.” I heard my dad say from the door.

As soon as I come out of the shower, my dad calls me from the kitchen.

“Yes, Dad?”

“Lexi, come eat breakfast and I want you to get some rest and stay here with your mother. I know you want to go but I promise I will update you two if you find anything,” he sternly says.

“But dad..”

“No, buts young lady. I heard you when you came in. You are not a failure. You helped a lot last night and you need your rest. So you’re staying with me. No if, and’s, or buts about it.” Mom says, walking into the kitchen.

“Fine, but dad, please be careful. Those creatures…”

“Will have nothing on me.” He said, flexing his muscles and handing me a plate of food. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Now, I need to go get ready.” He said, exiting the kitchen. Leaving me with my mother who is sipping her coffee, just watching me eat.

“Just so you know, I heard the whole conversation.” She starts. “I’m relieved that nothing happened to you when you were with Tia. I know you are nothing like her and Lexi. I really don’t want to impose. I know you are grown, but please, please just tell me you are being careful.” She said in a motherly tone.

“Yes mom, we, me and only one other person, are being careful. He’s not my mate and we both plan on being with our mates. We use protection.” I said, knowing what she was hinting at.

“I can’t say I’m not disappointed that you choose to lose your chastity. I really don’t understand this arrangement, but it’s your choice. And, I like Keenan. He’s a good guy.” She says with a knowing smile.

“How did you know?” I was shocked and almost choked on my food. I didn’t think I said anything to make her think that.

“Well, call it mother's instincts, but you were never a good liar. When you told your dad you didn’t do anything last night, I could tell you were leaving something out. Then the way you said he’s always there for you. Plus, it’s pretty obvious looking at you two together. One would think you two are mates. At least, I know he’s someone special to you.” she said, now reaching out and rubbing my arm.

“Yes he is and always will be someone special to me.” I say, smiling, and she nods.

“I can’t believe that girl gave you drugs. She’s always been a wild child.” She said, shaking her head.

“Oh and you won’t believe the excuse she used.” I said, going to the sink to clean my plate. “She said she just wanted me to have fun and I was too uptight. Like it was no big deal. When she gave me the little bottle, I thought it was one of those little bottles of liquor from on the airplanes. She said it was liquor. The next morning I felt so sick like I did when…” I stopped, still not able to talk about the incident.

“Like you did when they sedated you? That was your system fighting the toxins. It probably had some type of sedative in it, so it could be effective for wolves. Baby, you have been through so much in such a short period of time. Obstacles you have been able to gracefully overcome. Lift your head up.” I didn’t realize my head was down but I lifted it to look her in the eyes. “ Baby don’t you ever let anyone cause you to put your head down. Things will happen. Don’t let it keep you from being who you are destined to become. I want you to go back to that academy and I want you to shine like that diamond you are meant to be.” she said, holding me in her arms.

“Mom, I can’t go back without knowing EJ is OK. Without knowing you are all okay.”

“No, I want you to go back no matter what. You know the superhero movies you and your brother like so much?” She asked and I nodded, not knowing where she was going with this. “You know the difference between superheroes and supervillains?”

“One’s good and the other is bad” I answered, confused.

“Well kinda. Both usually have a tragic story, right? That story affects the decisions of both sides. One uses it as a crutch to be depressed and destructive, the other uses it as motivation to make a change. Lexi, I have seen some great changes happening to you since you've been at the academy. I want you to go back because, baby, you are my superhero. Last night I saw it. You hold so much power in you. You could have used that power for destruction but you chose to heal. You helped so much and I am so proud of you."