For those of you who have read A Stranger In His Land, this is the sequel. As you know, I wrote that story as an entry to the Quileute - La Push - Challenge and was limited on the amount of words I could use. But there was so much more to this story, so I've begun this sequel. I hope you continue to follow the trials and tribulations of Tehya and Sam as they learn about life and love together. Thanks to everyone who has read A Stranger In His Land and don't forget to vote for it when the voting opens up on December 9th.

Chapter One

Alone Again - Naturally

Tehya's POV

Life is strange. Sometimes when you think you have things figured out something happens that changes you forever. It's like a grain of sand that gets into the oyster shell. The oyster fights against the change, but over time it adapts to the new thing in it's life and works around it until there is a beautiful pearl to show for all it has gone through. These were my thoughts as I sat at the small desk in the back of the La Push Clinic.

It had been almost one week since Sam had taken me to the gathering at the council hall, I recalled as I left the clinic and walked to my little house. It was Friday and we had just closed for the day. I had tried to keep myself occupied all week, but it had been very difficult and not having seen Sam, well it was beginning to take its toll on me, whether I wanted to admit it or not.

I walked into my house, closed the door, locking it behind me, and slumped down on the couch. As I closed my eyes, it was like rewinding the hands of time and going back to last Saturday night. We were at the gathering, Bella and Kim were on each side of me, Billy told how that Sam and the others were wolf protectors and I came face to face with the realization that the man I had fallen in love with was not exactly who he seemed to be.

When the room had finally stopped spinning and I had gotten a grip on myself, a feeling of betrayal filled my heart and I felt alone again. I was hurt that Sam hadn't told me the truth from the beginning, and felt like a stranger, feeling so out of place, like I had no business with these people or with Sam, yet my heart ached with the connection I felt to him.

He saw the hurt in my eyes, and I saw the uncertainty in his, as he came and dropped down in front of me on his knees. He looked so weak. Yes the big brave wolfman looked so weak, kneeling before me and I felt sorry for him, but at the same time felt a sense of self preservation. I had to look out for me, because I was alone in this strange world, or so I thought.

Kim and Bella could tell I was taking the news very hard, but they stayed there offering me support and trying to talk to me, telling me everything would be fine and I would come to accept and understand the things I had been told in time, but I couldn't listen. I just stared at Sam and wondered how it was possible that a human being could turn into a...a wolf. It was beyond me to grasp or come to terms with.

Sam had tears in his eyes as he reached out to touch me, but I had pulled away. I was afraid, afraid of the unknown. He offered to take me home, after I couldn't find words to even talk with him, but I said no and asked if Bella could take me home alone and come back for Jake. I just had to get out of there and think things over.

Bella had agreed and I could tell she was disappointed in my behavior, but she also understood completely where I was coming from. My legs had felt like weights when I got out of her car. She offered to come in with me, but I told her I just wanted to be alone.

After I got inside and locked the door, not that it would do any good if someone or something wanted to get inside, but it made me feel somewhat secure, then I fell apart. I remember collapsing on the floor and sobbing for hours. I hadn't had the strength to even move.

I was harsh on myself and Sam with my thoughts, why hadn't I just died in the crash, why hadn't I just listened to Russ and gone back to California, why had Sam basically lied to me? It went on for hours as I found myself sinking deeper and deeper into self-denial and depression.

It must have been midnight or later, when I woke up freezing. I got up and made my way to the couch, pulling the throw over me and went back to sleep. I couldn't even bear the thought of sleeping in my bed because Sam and I had slept there the night before. I woke up every so often during the night and with every hour that passed, my chest became tighter and it throbbed even more. I was physically ill, but I refused to believe that it was because Sam and I weren't together.

The next day I tried to get up and make myself go on with my life, but it was too difficult. I wound up taking a shower and lying on the couch most of the day. I couldn't eat, the thought of food just made my stomach churn, so there I had remained all day long, feeling sorry for myself, regretting having come to La Push, you name it I had thought it.

That night I got up and forced myself to go to bed. I had tossed and turned until I was absolutely exhausted then I snuggled up on the pillow Sam had slept on, burying my face in it as I inhaled his faint scent that remained. It was enough to calm me, and I soon fell asleep as the silent tears ran down my face onto the pillow.

On Sunday, I got up and ate some toast and jam and drank a cup of hot chocolate. I took a long hot shower and got dressed, trying to think of something to keep me busy so I wound up at the clinic, rearranging the cabinets and stocking the shelves with the new supplies that had arrived the Friday before.

That had kept me busy most of the day and when I finally took a break it was almost five o'clock. I had worked there most of the day. As I walked back home, I took in a few deep breaths of the cold crisp air, trying to clear my mind, but the thoughts and memories soon rushed back again.

After eating a bite for dinner, I took another shower and lay down. I wasn't going to let myself cry that night, which was a plus, but I couldn't keep the images of Sam and I out of my head, so I just relived everything and tried to look at what all had happened objectively.

The next morning I got up, dressed, and made my way back to the clinic. Myla knew I had been in on Sunday when she saw all of the things I had done. She asked me how Sam was and I tried my best to avoid her, but I knew she could sense something was wrong and it made me angry to think that she might have a thing for Sam, even though I told myself I didn't care anymore, but I knew I was lying.

It was mid morning, we had seen a few patients already, so I didn't even look up when the door bell rang again. I was busy doing paperwork. Then Myla told me it was a visitor for me and I looked up to see Bella standing in the door.

She asked if we could talk alone, so I told Myla that I was going to leave for the rest of the day, considering I had worked the day before and asked Bella if she would drive me into Forks so I could look for a car. She agreed and we were quickly on our way. We hadn't talked much and were just leaving the city limits when I spotted a small used car dealership just off the main road. I asked if she could pull in for me to look which she did.

We got out and started looking around at the small lot, I quickly spotted a small red Toyota Camry and noticed that the price on the window was something I might be able to work with. We were just about to look inside of the car, when a tall, nice looking Quileute man stepped out of the small office.

"Hello, ladies. How may I help you today?" he asked.

"I'm needing to buy a car and I was interested in this one," I replied, as we made eye contact.

He smiled and offered to show it to me. He went about the usual, cranking it, opening the hood, telling me all about it. I asked if I could drive it around the block and he said sure as he held the driver's door open for me. I asked Bella if she wanted to come, but she said she would just wait in the office. So I climbed in and the man got into the passenger side.

I thought it was odd that he wanted to tag along. Most places where I had looked at cars let you drive it alone. But as we took off, I figured out why he was going with me.

"So, you're new around here? I'm Damon Silva, what's your name?" he asked, offering me his hand, as I waited to pull out onto the street.

"I'm Teh...Tealisa Morgan and I just moved here a few weeks ago. It's nice to meet you," I said, shaking his hand, but he held onto mine a few more minutes than I was comfortable with, so I started pulling it away as I pulled out onto the street.

As I drove around a couple of blocks, he told me about the car, and I started negotiating with him. By the time we got back to the lot, he had knocked $500.00 off the purchase price and offered to throw in new floor mats. I told him I was on my way to the bank in Forks and if everything went well, I would be back later to purchase the car.

When we got out and he offered me his hand again, I shook it saying, "now don't sell this to anyone else before I get back," as I smiled.

"You don't have to worry about a thing. It'll be right here waiting on you," he said, with a grin.

I found Bella, and she and I got back on the road. I told her I was going to try and buy the car and she said that I must know what I like when I see it. That's when I felt the tug in my chest again. It took her a few minutes to start talking, like she was trying to choose the right words, then she let me have it. I sat there quietly and listened as she told me how much I was hurting not only myself but Sam as well.

She told me that Sam had been grieving, even if he had tried to put on a brave front, and that she knew I had too. I wondered how she knew so much about me and Sam, but I didn't say anything, I let her finish. Then it was my turn to talk and let her know how I felt.

I told her that the love I felt for Sam hadn't changed, but that the fact that the man I loved turned into a wolf was a little unsettling, but that the thing that hurt most was his lack of honesty from the beginning.

She rebutted my feelings and turned it around saying if he had looked into my eyes when I first woke up from the plane crash and told me that he turned into a wolf that I would have probably had a nervous break down. I reasoned with her that she had a point, but that he could have told me a little later.

We continued our discussion all the way to Forks and I was ready to get out of the car by the time we made it to the bank. The more I listened to her, the more I knew she was right and it bothered me immensely.

It didn't take long to go through the loan application process and within an hour I had been approved, they had called Mr. Silva and verified the sale and I was presented with the necessary paper work to give to him, so he could come back to the bank and pick up his check.

When we got back to the car lot, I thanked Bella and told her I would see her soon, as I went inside to take care of the business on the car. Mr. Silva, or Damon as he insisted I call him, was waiting and eager to complete the transaction. The moment I had signed everything, he looked at me and asked me if I was single.

I said yes all too quickly and immediately felt guilty that I hadn't said I was involved with someone, but at that time I was confused and not sure where I stood on anything, so when he asked me to go out with him for dinner, I accepted.

He offered to drive me, but I felt more comfortable in driving my new car, as I followed him to a small restaurant in town. We got out and went inside, but I felt like everyone was staring at us, so I asked if we could sit in the corner away from everyone else.

As we talked and he wanted to know more about me, I found it difficult to mention anything since I had come to La Push, that didn't in some way involve Sam. It wasn't long before I was actually clutching at my chest, as I felt the need to be near him become even more evident.

I had no clue as to why I had agreed to come with Damon, except that I thought I might be proving a point, but to my great disappointment and I guess relief, I quickly saw the point that was being proven, that being I needed to see Sam again.

When we had finished eating, I had been quick to leave and go back home, thanking Damon for a nice meal, as I went to my car. He asked if we might see each other again, but I told him I didn't know and left it at that.

Sam was the only thing I could think of and by the time I made it back home, I was missing him terribly. I took a shower and lay down in the bed, but I couldn't smell his scent anymore and it was cold and lonely that night as I let the tears take me into sleep.

The next few days were the same. I went to work, came home and got ready for bed. And it wasn't until today, actually just a little while ago, sitting at the desk at work, that I realized what I must do. I pulled myself up off the couch, grabbed my purse and keys, and left to go see Sam.

I knew I was not expected, and my mind began to play tricks on me as I pulled up at his cabin. What if I found him with someone else? What if he was making lo... I couldn't even think the rest of that thought. The thought of me finding Sam with someone else hurt like nothing I'd ever felt before, and it hadn't even happened.

Sam's truck was outside, but there were no other cars. I walked up onto the porch, listened, but I couldn't hear anything inside, so I knocked softly, but when there wasn't an answer, I reached for the door knob with a shaky hand, turned the knob and pushed the door open.

The place looked just as I had remembered it over the past week when I would let myself think back on the time I had spent here. There was a fire softly burning in the fireplace, and the smell of Sam was everywhere. I breathed in deep trying to capture the fragrance that I had been missing and that had come to mean so much to me.

I felt like a stalker or an intruder, as I slowly walked through the house, looking for signs that someone else had been there during the week, but everything was just as it was when I left last Saturday night.

Being back there, I felt a sense of peace, even if Sam wasn't there right then, it felt comforting being closer to him than I'd been all week. I was so tired, so I lay down on the couch and waited for Sam to come home. But I couldn't fight the exhaustion and soon fell asleep.

When my eyes fluttered open several hours later, I saw Sam sitting in the chair by the fireplace, just like the first time I had awakened after the crash. He was asleep, slumped against the arm of the chair. I could see in the soft fire light that he had dark circles under his eyes and looked so tired. My breath caught in my chest as I looked at how perfect he looked. I wanted to touch him, to hold him, but after all that had happened, I didn't know what to do.

So, I just lay there, watching him sleep and as I did, I thought of how gentle he had always been with me, never giving any indication that he would or could ever hurt me, just like I had thought the night at the gathering, I was certain of that. But, it was still so difficult to comprehend that this stunningly gorgeous man, sleeping soundly before me, could turn into a creature other than human.

I fought the urge to go to him, knowing that after this past week, we had a lot to work out. And, for all I knew, he was finished with me. I'd hurt him, according to Bella, and he may have decided I wasn't worth the effort. I fought the lump that was forming in my throat and pushed it back down.

I didn't want him to wake up, especially to the sound of me crying, so I calmed myself. I knew regardless of the outcome of morning, he needed the rest and so did I, so I closed my eyes and went back to sleep, noticing that the pain in my chest was gone and I felt fine for the first time the entire week.

When I woke up again, I noticed sunlight just beginning to peek through the window of the cabin. The fire was blazing, freshly replenished with wood, and the smell of coffee and food filled the air. I stretched and sat up, rubbing my eyes. Sam wasn't in the chair, but I could hear him in the kitchen.

Well, this was it, I thought. It was now or never so I might as well go get it over with. I had to find out where he and I stood. So, I quietly got up off the couch and walked into the kitchen. He had his back to me, staring out the kitchen window, as he appeared to be sipping on a cup of coffee.

"I was surprised to see you here when I got in last night," he said softly.

"I...I came to see you, but you weren't here, so I just let myself in and then I lay down to wait for you and I must have fallen asleep," I said, as my words came out jumbled and my nervousness was evident.

"You know you're welcome here anytime. Are you hungry? I've made some pancakes."

"Um, sure, I guess," I said, as I walked into the kitchen.

This was more awkward than I thought it would be. I was suddenly feeling like I might need to leave and go back home, but then he turned around and looked at me and my heart melted as I saw his face again. It had only been a week, but it was like I hadn't seen him in ages. Aside from the dark circles under his eyes, which worried me, he was perfect.

His bronze skin was radiant and his jet black hair looked soft and inviting. My eyes roamed all over him like I was taking inventory, and it wasn't until he handed me a cup of coffee that I realized I was very rudely staring at him.

"Here you go," he said, holding the warm mug out to me.

Our fingers brushed against each others as I took the cup from him, and I'm sure that I gasped when they made contact. The feeling of heat and energy pulsed through me in that short moment and he felt it too, his eyes closed for a few seconds, like he was trying to memorize the feeling so he could relive it later.

When I pulled the cup out of his hand, I switched it to my left hand and turned back toward the living room, as I brought my right hand to my face let my still tingling fingers find their way to my lips. I pressed them there and held them, like I was actually touching him. This was so odd, we both seemed to experience something similar, but nether of us made a move to do anything about it.

I slowly turned back to the kitchen to find him watching me with deep longing in his gaze. But he turned and started putting pancakes on our plates then set them on the table as he pulled out his chair and sat down. I followed, moving my plate across the table from him instead of sitting beside him, like I had done before. We ate in silence, both of us occasionally glancing at the other, like we wanted to say something but neither of us knew what to say.

I was only able to eat one pancake, my appetite was failing me, so I got up and started washing my plate.

"Thank you for the breakfast. It was good as always."

Then I felt his warmth like a wall behind me and I knew he was standing just inches from me. I shivered at the close contact, but I didn't turn around. I just kept scrubbing the plate in the warm water.

"Tehya, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, but I was afraid that...that something like this would happen. I wanted, no I want you to know the truth about everything, but I don't want to lose you because of it. I can't lose you," he whispered, and I heard his voice get thick as he choked back his grief.

"I'm trying to understand Sam, that's why I came here, but it's just so hard to comprehend that you are two different things, but that part I'm dealing with sort of, it's the dishonesty that I've had the most difficulty with. But I know why you didn't tell me and I forgive you. It's just going to take some time for me to be able to believe yo... unless you don't want me around anymore."

Then his hands were on mine, as he pried the plate out of them, and turned me to face him. He looked so tormented and it broke my heart to see that look in his eyes. He held onto my shoulders like he needed the support and I just stood there with my hands dripping in the floor.

"You have no idea how much you mean to me and I will forever and always want you around. You now know the truth about what I become but there's one more thing that you have to know. Then there will be nothing left untold between us."

My heart fluttered and I felt weak. I wasn't sure if I could take anything else in this crazy realm of his world. I wanted to hear what he had to say, but then I also wanted to run from there screaming and never look back, but I knew I could never do that, so I braced myself, leaning against the cabinet.

"I'm here, aren't I? Go ahead, it can't get any worse, can it?" I said, vehemently as my knees began to feel weak.

"As wolves, we have a way of finding our mate, the one who completes us and makes us whole, and it's called imprinting. When we see that person, the one person in this world that we were meant to be with, it's like we become joined in our hearts. The pain you've been feeling in your chest is because we are not together. Tehya, I've imprinted on you," he said, with a spark of hope in his eyes and voice.

I took a few gulps of air, thinking okay, so this is good in the respect that I guess he won't be looking for someone else anytime soon, but then on the other hand...

"Whatever happened to free will and falling in love with someone because you have grown to cherish them and want to be with them because they make you happy? So, you're telling me that you...you love me because you have to?" I shouted, as I began to tremble and started crying.

Here I thought all this time that he really loved me and cared for me and wanted to be with me, but now I find out that it was an order from the fates, or wolf powers at be, or whoever the hell they were, that he had to be with me. I couldn't take it. I just wanted out of the whole thing.

"Baby, it's not like that," he said softly at first, but then he saw my reaction and he tightened his grip on my arms and shook me slightly, "listen. Think back to when we first saw each other. I've already told you that when I first saw you I felt something for you and that you were special. You told me something similar. Remember? The imprint didn't happen until you got your memory back that night at Embry's. I know you felt it too, when you looked up at me. Think Tehya. Think," he said, desperately searching my face.

Thoughts were racing through my mind, feelings and emotions were tearing me apart, and I was so confused. I was sobbing uncontrollably and honestly didn't know what to do or what was going to happen next but then he took me in his arms and pulled me onto his chest, I struggled at first, then I felt him all around me and I just feel apart in his embrace.

But he just held me, gently rocking me back and forth and let me cry and as he buried his face in my hair and I could feel the hot moisture, as his tears mingled with my hair. There we were two people who had been broken and so lonely without each other, but in those moments as we held onto each other, like the other was our life line, we began to heal. Bit by bit, piece by piece, we began to heal each other.