Jasper Alexander Benson
Although it was just by a scant few minutes, he was born the first child of Mr. and Mrs. Benson, with a twin sister following not long behind him. It was just the two of them only for two years before their younger sister came along, and from there the siblings just kept on coming. So despite being loved by his parents he never got much attention from them after he turned five. After all, they had other kids, toddlers and newborns specifically, that they had to take care of. While he's still a touch distant with his parents Jasper is very close to his siblings now that he's nineteen years old. He graduated high school at the top of his class, and yet has been unable to go to college thanks to helping around the house: cooking, cleaning, taking care of his younger brothers and sisters... Things that his working parents need help with. Some would think that he'd be bitter, and while he is on occasion (especially with dear ol' mom and dad,) affection usually wins out over it.
It only made sense that he'd be the first of his family's new generation to figure out that he could speak to animals, and as a little boy he had no problem with it. As far as he knew, it was normal. But as he got older and met others his own age he found out that it was most certainly not normal. After playing it off as a joke when it slipped one day in third grade he rushed home, absolutely positive that he'd lost his mind. Or maybe he'd always been crazy: he'd been talking to their little at-home zoo for as long as he could remember. After two years of suffering and constant panic and paranoia he snapped at home one night. It was only then that his parents actually explained anything to him. It helped, knowing that the rest of his family could do it too, and while it was still a little unnerving he became more comfortable with that fact over the years. Now, spending most of his spare time at home, when he's not doing chores or helping out his siblings he's taking care of the family's wide variety of animals.
R e m u s
Remus was born in the woods far from his current home, the runt of a litter of six. But despite his small size he was fairly clever from an early age, always managing to get a good feeding even with his siblings all clamoring to get fed as well, and taking early to hunting with his father, the Alpha of their pack. He was quick and learned well, always proud of what little he could do: taking out a squirrel, biting the hind leg of a deer his father was preparing to finish off... It was a good life. He got to play with his brothers and sisters and even got quite a bit to eat once he could chew and ingest meat.
But unfortunately hunters moved into the area, seeking to take out the 'dangerous beasts' that prowled the woods. The wolves, at first, were none the wiser; until Remus' mother was caught in a trap and killed. The hunters were on them at once, and a bloody battle ensued. Two of the hunters were badly injured, but all in all their guns finished off the beautiful animals that they'd come to kill. The only ones left were the young pups, who were captured and sold online to the highest bidder. Almost instantly they were all split up and sold, and their homes were awful. No human outside of a zoo would know how to care for a wolf. Two of his siblings died in the first few months, another two a few months later; it only left himself and a sister he hadn't seen since they were taken. Eventually he was rescued by the SPCA and was taken in by the Bensons, who told him that his sister had been taken in by a local zoo and had been accepted by the pack there.
He never questioned being able to speak to the humans that he lived with. In fact, they treated him absolutely wonderfully. They fed him well and made sure he had lots of water, unlike his last home, and they never hurt him; in fact, all they showed him was love. Eventually he became quite fond of one of the boys, and has since taken to becoming his little shadow whenever possible, following him around the house and even into the neighborhood when allowed. He doesn't like being leashed, but understands that it's necessary so people don't 'freak out' as Jasper put it.