A/N: This story takes place many years after Breaking Dawn and focuses on the next generation of wolves. The Prequel in the series is Seasons of Change, which is now complete. Though After the Rain was written first, I have since returned to adapt this story for the series. Have you ever gone back and reread something you wrote and cringed? It could very well be my OCD, but I have returned to make further edits and to expand on some of the chapters.

If you are reading for the first time, I urge you to begin with Seasons of Change. But if you choose not to, I am including a small family tree for the sake of alleviating confusion at the end of this Prologue. Thank you for the suggestion Lori77!

M Rating for language

Prologue

"Jacob Black, get your paws off those cupcakes right this minute. Those are for dessert".

"Oh, come on Nessie. I'm hungry, and you've got us scheduled to eat in like two hours".

His wife had gone all out for this pack shindig. The little grasshopper had finally outdone its master, and Alice would be proud. It'd been a long time since the pack had welcomed this many new wolves at one time. Three wolves and one she-wolf had joined the ranks of the La Push pack, and Renesmee maintained it merited a worthy celebration. Cheveyo, the current Alpha, had tried to persuade his mother into organizing a simple pack bonfire instead, but the Black matriarch was having none of it. After all, three of the four honored wolves were her grand babies. Experience had taught Renesmee that unexpected events in the pack, were best met with full bellies and the comfort of each other's presence. But Cheveyo wasn't so sure…After all, the phasing of new wolves signified a prominent presence of their mortal enemy.

Genevieve, ever the trickster, stole a cupcake from her father's grasp and stuffed it in her mouth.

"You're getting slow old man".

And Jacob gave his oldest daughter a toothy grin, reaching blindly for another cupcake; unaware that his wife had preemptively shoved the tray of pastries into her son in law's hands.

"Oliver, do not let them eat anymore or so help you God".

With cell phone in hand she stormed off to the backyard, under the pretense of inspecting the two large tents illuminated by hundreds of twinkling lights. Her true motive for coming out back was leaning morosely against a tree. Attempting to go unnoticed as one could possibly go amid supernatural beings. Koli did not want to be there; had pleaded with his mother Genevieve, to be allowed to wallow at home. It had almost worked, had it not been for his father's interference. And the stench of guilt coming from his grandparent's home only made him angrier.

Maybe if he wrecked the tents before the pack started arriving, his uncle might be inclined to order his ass into the forest, where he was itching to be. After all, he was only a pup and control was not expected of him yet. But it was too late for that now…The sound of Remy Uley's truck pulling up the driveway with La Push's newest she-wolf in tow was hard to miss. Koli met his grandmother's sad gaze and tried for a reassuring smile. He loved her, but it was hard to get past the feeling of betrayal. His whole life was one big farce; every single member of his family had lied to keep him from the truth. She wasn't even his biological grandmother and he'd only recently uncovered this courtesy of the pack mind; all his dirty little family secrets splayed out for the whole pack to see.

He was a freak and couldn't for the life of him fathom, why his family would think he'd want to celebrate this. Renesmee closed the gap between them and wrapped her tiny arms around her grandson's waist as best as she could. One of her palms moving to cup his face in hopes of eradicating any doubt of her sincerity.

"I know you're angry with us, but we only wanted to protect you Koli. Because we love you. Your mother is mine in every way that counts and whether my blood runs through your veins is irrelevant. We're family…Never forget that".

Koli wanted to contradict her words but found it difficult with the sentiments of love being whispering into his mind. The bronze-haired woman reached on her tippy toes and placed a soft peck on his cheek before turning towards her home.

"Come inside and keep Keyla company. You know how much she loves being the center of attention".

Koli took a deep breath before following her inside. This was a house he had grown to love. A place he'd often associated with belonging; but now he wasn't so sure...His grandfather's booming voice placed a smirk on his face. The pride as he gushed over their newest she-wolf was evident, and Keyla would soon be squirming under his attention. Koli wasn't looking forward to tonight's ordeal, but he wasn't going to pass an opportunity to make fun of his pack sister's discomfort either. So, he gulped down the bitter taste of anger and betrayal, resigning himself to a night of insincere celebration…

"Momma, why do we have to wear these ridiculous clothes?"

"Because your grandmother has been planning this party for a week Hawk, and it's not going to kill you or your brother to wear more than a wife beater and basketball shorts for the night. Besides, Alice picked them out and it will kill me to have to listen to her whine for the next damn month if you don't wear them".

Raven plopped down on the couch next to her brother, offering words of support.

"I think you both look very GQ"

"That's exactly my point. We're supposed to be celebrating our initiation into the pack. When Luca phased, Remy and Mila had a bonfire and called it a day. Why did you let grandma plan this monstrosity?"

Lahote came running down the stairs, carrying Ezra on his back, and depositing the youngest Tso-Black on top of Hawk.

"Speak for yourself man, I feel kinda pimp in these clothes".

"You would…Hoping to catch someone's eye Hote?"

Hawk knew it was a low blow and felt a pang of guilt as a pinkish hue began to creep up his twin's cheeks.

"Momma…Hawk isn't playing nice"

Isis was moving through the house at inhuman speed; hissing about ungrateful children and lost pumps. Never a good sign in their household. Solace ordered his children out of the house, and into the Range Rover, sensing his wife's growing distress.

"Baby, you look perfect. We're already late and Ness has called five times in the last 20 minutes."

Solace threw his wife over his shoulder. Ignoring her squeals as he held her in place by her shapely behind and grabbed a pair of black pumps by the door, on his way out.

This had turned out better than Koli could've possibly imagined. It had all gone to shit in a matter of minutes, and none of it remotely involved him; steering the focus away. Sebastian Littlesea crouched defensively in his grandfather's living room, while his uncle Cheveyo attempted to restrain a very pissed off Remy Uley. You see, Keyla and all her voluptuous beauty had just imprinted on the brooding wolf, and Remy was having none of it. Collin had escorted his human wife and daughter outside for their protection in case either wolf phased and WHAM, a second imprint in a matter of five minutes.

Lahote had made his way over to one of the tents, hoping to get details on the commotion inside; took one look at Shye and three more people's lives were forever ruined. Koli couldn't even feel appalled for his best friend because he was fully aware of the torch Lahote carried for Shye. She, on the other hand, was devastated and had spent the last ten minutes struggling against her father's arms to break free. All the while, calling out Ethan's name... A broken howl from the forest spoke of pain and sorrow. Brady must have found his son and Ethan was now aware of the imprint.

Imprinting…it was a fucking curse. And Koli would gladly spend the rest of his life avoiding eye contact with any female outside of his family if it would save him from the chains of bondage. But the night's madness hadn't ended there; taking a more dreadful turn for all. Cheveyo's concern had been warranted…wolves didn't sprout up like weeds. The phase was triggered by a surge of emotion or looming threat. And though Koli's temperament leaned towards surliness, he was convinced it'd been triggered by the latter.

And as he stood helplessly on and watched as his Alpha faced a most impossible choice, understood he'd been right. The gravity of the life they were sentenced to, never clearer. Growing up around the pack had felt like being in the presence of super heroes. But even the mightiest made mistakes...and the pack's blunder had just cost Vida Salazar her human life. For what could be the danger in taking a walk inside the woods, when you had a pack of wolves watching your back? And as his aunt writhed on the forest floor in agony, while their Alpha wrestled with the decision of allowing the change, Koli recognized the look of horror on the faces of each of the newly phased wolves.

Humans lost their lives when they failed to protect their borders. And joining the supernatural came with a heavy price…a price their young naive minds might have not truly understood until now. For Koli, phasing hadn't brought the joy and pride he'd once imagined, especially after learning of his muddled origins …And as he took in the chaos around him, realized he might not be alone in his sentiments of doubt…

Playlist

Eyes Wider Than Before- Scott Matthews

Anteros- Anteros

Will Calls (Marfa Demo)- Grizzly Bear

Family Tree

Jacob Black + Renesmee Cullen

Genevieve Black + Oliver Ojibe= Koli Ojibe-Black

Cheveyo Black (Current Alpha) + Vida Salazar=Jahir and Maya Black

Isis Black + Solace Tso = Lahote, Hawk, Raven and Ezra Tso-Black

Embry + Isla Call

Soonie Call + Seth Clearwater= Caleb and Rumor Clearwater-Call

Sam+ Emily Uley

Remy + Mila Uley=Luca and Keyla Uley

Brady + Anna Fuller

Ethan and Ellie Fuller

Collin + Michelle Littlesea

Sebastian and Shye Littlesea

Jared + Kim Cameron

Kris Cameron

Quil + Claire Ateara

Alex Ateara