Notes:

This is my first published fanfic. Please be gentle. Constructive criticism is welcome, but please keep in mind I have a day job and writing/editing is not it. If you don't like it, stop reading.

All characters except for Michele belong to the marvelous Stephanie Meyer. I just take them out to play with for a while.

Have a wonderful day!

Tali

Chapter 1

Jared was walking angrily through the woods on his way to see the most precious one he knew. He was supremely angry with himself because he was breaking the rules and couldn't help it. She had grown into such a beautiful young woman and she was smart. Who in their right mind could resist? He sometimes thought she knew him better than anyone and that she could see what he was hiding. His frustration with the situation built until he thought he would explode. Then, the unthinkable happened.

He did.

January – One year later

Michele, also known as "Shelly" to her friends smiled as a familiar face walked through the front door. "Wandering the streets in the dead of nfight again? Are you looking for trouble or are you the trouble?" she teased as she pulled up a Word document for her history class on her laptop.

He walked over to run his large hand down her hair affectionately. "I was walking by and saw your lights on. It's late and a school night, what are you doing still up?"

She waved to her little laptop, "Just finishing up this last bit of homework. I probably shouldn't have been passing notes with Jake in class."

He lifted one dark eyebrow as he took a seat on the couch so he could face her. His dark eyes studied her closely as his wide mouth turned down in a frown, "You were passing notes in class? You should pay attention to the lectures. It's important for you to do well in school."

She looked abashed, "I know, but he was telling me about his friend Bella. He's worried about her. I am too if even half of what he says is true." She minimized the homework and went back to what she had been working on.

"Do you think he's lying?" her familiar asked. She had started calling him that years ago because he was her closest companion. He offered guidance, protection and moral support whenever she needed it, and sometimes when she didn't.

"Unfortunately, I get the feeling he's downplaying the severity of the situation. Or maybe he doesn't fully realize how serious it is. She asked him for motorcycle lessons and he agreed. He said she's a total klutz and spends more time in the ER than any three people I know. Only a sixteen year old male wouldn't worry that a nearly catatonic girl was suddenly putting her life on the line several times a week." She shook her head at the foolishness of boys. "He wants to introduce us because, apparently, neither of us have enough girlfriends."

"He does have a point. How many friends do you keep company with these days anyway?" he asked quietly.

She frowned at him. When he continued to just watch her she let out an exaggerated sigh as she answered, "Two."

"And why is that?"

"Because the rest of them still look at me like it was my fault." she replied promptly. "And who wants to be friends with people like that?" she finished rhetorically as she pushed her silky waist length black hair out of her face. Her bangs were long enough to hang just past her eyes but that didn't bother her as much as her hair falling in front of her shoulders and getting in the way when she typed.

He grimaced, "I do wish they would stop that. What about Quil and Embry? If you spend time with Jake you have to spend time with them."

"We're working on it but I think Embry might be interested in something more."

"Is that such a bad thing?" came the soft response.

Michele frowned lightly, "Yes. I don't think of him like that so it's awkward."

"Is there someone else you are interested in? I could put in a good word if you want."

She studied him closely as she sensed a conflict in that statement. "That's not necessary. He already knows all about me."

He smiled tightly, "Jacob, then."

She merely smiled in response. In truth she had never thought of Jacob in that way. He was her best friend, brother, and protector.

"Are you almost finished there?" he asked as he waved at the computer with one well muscled arm.

She typed a few more things and closed it down with a flourish and a silent sigh of relief. She would have been busted if she hadn't had the other document already open and ready to cover the screen at a moment's notice. She knew he was prone to wandering over at any time and had arranged her work area so that it was difficult to get behind her without her having enough warning to get something acceptable on the screen. Jared didn't know she had found an alternate source of income that was allowing her to build up her college fund. He would certainly not approve if he did. Not because he didn't want her to go to college, but because it was definitely not legal. It wasn't even in a gray area; it was flat out against the law. And the sheriff already checked in on her often as it was. "Yes."

"Then go get changed while I close up out here."

She nodded and went into her room to get her pajamas then the bathroom to change, brush her teeth, and braid her hair. When she was finished she padded into her room to find him on top of the blankets and already leaning against the headboard. He tugged the blankets back and she climbed in then scooted around until she her head was leaning against his chest.

"Jared?" she asked quietly.

"Michele?" he responded as he looked down into dark eyes that were framed by long lashes.

"Will you tell me where you went when you had to leave?"

When he became aware again, there was a voice. It was familiar and it was speaking soothingly.

"Where are you? I can help you."

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"Sam Uley. Who are you?"

"Sam?" he was surprised. Sam had disappeared for months not too long ago. They didn't have more than a passing acquaintance and Jared had wondered where he had disappeared to.

"Yes. I understand what happened to you because it happened to me. I'm here to help."

"What happened?"

He could hear the wry humor in the voice as it responded, "Werewolves are real."

"You know I can't. It's been over a year, are you ever going to stop asking?" he responded, ignoring the brief flashback.

"Nope. You were gone for so long. Eventually you'll let something slip and I'll figure it out." she replied.

"Until then." came the soft response. He remembered the long months he had to spend away from her to make sure she was safe. It had been a physical pain to be away from her for so long and that had made it much more difficult to learn to control himself. But I did and that's all that matters.

"What about Sam?"

"What about him?"

"He treats me differently than he used to. He used to barely acknowledge I existed but when you came back, he was . . . not nicer exactly . . . maybe sympathetic? Why? Did you tell him something?"

"I didn't tell him anything intentionally. You know I rarely speak of you to others but he's very perceptive. Has he spoken to you?" Way to go, man. Technically, you're not lying to her so you shouldn't feel so damn bad about it. I hate lying to the axis of my universe. It's so awful.

"No. It's just a feeling I get when he's in the vicinity. He knows where you went."

Jared shrugged noncommittally. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he really wanted her to figure it out so he could stop hiding things from her. Too bad it was taking so damn long. It really was a difficult thing to guess when you really had no good clues to go on. It was not easy to keep secrets from the axis of his world, but Sam had told him he couldn't tell anyone.

"I had no idea you and little Michele were so close." Sam said as they ran through the forest at lightening speed.

"No one does." he replied tightly. "They would just interfere. We have no secrets from each other."

"You do now." his alpha replied.

Jared nearly hit a tree in his distraction, "You mean I can't tell her about any of this?"

"No. We can't tell any non-wolves but the council. It must be a secret to keep the tribe safe."

"But-"

"It keeps Michele safe, too." he interrupted.

Jared subsided, "She's going to know something is going on. She's too smart by half."

"If she manages to figure it out on her own, there's nothing we can do about that. Just don't tell her."

Jared bowed under the weight of the command and Sam halted, looking startled. "Are you all right?"

The younger wolf gained his feet, "I think so, but if you would not order me around like that, especially where she's concerned, I would appreciate it."

"What do you mean?" Sam asked, confused.

"You just gave me an order that I can't fight. My throat locks up at the thought of telling her. Look, she's my responsibility. You can't interfere with that. I'll keep our secret, but you have to keep hers and you have to let me take care of her."

"Why do you think she's your responsibility?" Sam asked, still curious. He watched the thoughts race through Jared's mind as if it were his own. He saw her mother taking him aside not long after they met and hinting something powerful was between them. They were only twelve and fifteen when she more or less gave her only daughter to him. What a strange thing to do. "I see."

Jared growled as he tried to turn his thoughts away from Sam's question, "That's none of your business." He stared intently at his feet and started mentally singing the national anthem, in his native language.

Sam chuckled, "I won't pry. As long as you aren't doing anything you shouldn't be it's none of my business. You have her mother's blessing and that's what matters. Are you ready to get some sleep?"

Jared couldn't stop the associations that flashed through his mind at that statement and Sam was again surprised to see that Michele figured prominently in Jared's thoughts. She spent a lot of time screaming herself awake.

"When was the last time you got a full night's sleep?" Sam asked.

Jared gave a wolfy shrug and concentrated on translating Michele's favorite songs into his own language instead. "Not prying." he hinted.

"I'm sorry. I'm just surprised that two kids were able to keep so many secrets from the entire tribe."

"We're not kids. Haven't been for a long time." Jared replied quietly. "How long before I can check on her?"

"When you can stop phasing accidentally it should be safe enough. It's okay to run if you think you're going to. It's better they think you're crazy than to hurt someone by accident."

This time Jared watched as Sam phased and clawed his beautiful Emily because she was too close. It was horrible to feel the guilt, shame, and horror at what he had done. "Man, I had no idea. I'm sorry."

Sam glanced away, "You see why it's important to think safety first and all else second?"

Jared nodded solemnly as he realized he would have to be in control of his thoughts and reactions before he could see his Michele again.

"You know Jake thinks you three are some kind of cult or gang or something. Is there any truth to that?" Michele said quietly, bringing his attention back from its wandering path.

"No. We're just friends."

"You act like a gang though. Not a bad one, but one that's protecting its territory."

He chuckled, "And you would know all about gangs having grown up on the Rez and a stone's throw from one of the smallest towns in Washington."

She poked his side, "I can read. And I occasionally watch the news."

"We're not a gang. We're just protecting the tribe."

"From what? The smallest town in Washington? I hear the crime rate has been nearly zero for more than ten years. What is there to protect us from?"

"Think about it for a while and I'm sure the answer will eventually penetrate your thick skull. Now quit asking questions, little girl, and go to sleep."

She snuggled into his warm chest and remained quiet for a time. Just when he thought she had drifted off she spoke again. "You know that I know something changed you and that I'm going to find out eventually."

His brows puckered as he shifted her so he could look into her face, "What do you mean something changed me?"

She frowned sleepily, "You're different. I felt you change. You're not the only one keeping secrets, Jared."

He sighed and put her back on his chest. "Is yours about your feather?" he asked.

She kept an eagle feather her mother had given her in a glass case next to her bed. Her mother had often told her that when it was time the feather would let her know. Time for what, she had no idea. She was told it was part of her heritage and as long as she had it her mother's family would watch over her. Michele wasn't sure about that since circumstances clearly said otherwise, but it had been a gift from her mother when she was a baby and she treasured it. She sniffled a little bit at the thought.

Jared tightened his hold on her, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't. I was just thinking she was so adamant about it all the time. It's just a feather, but she acted like it was something sacred, precious, almost a part of herself."

"Tell me the story again." he requested.

She shifted to a more comfortable position and kicked the blankets off. He was so warm that she couldn't stand to have them on for long when he was with her.

"Let's see. Long before the time of men, there were the Gods. They paid little attention to earth for it was just a little planet with a lot of water and some animals. Not very interesting at all to ones such as them. One day the Thunder-bird spirit decided to visit and see if there were any creatures worthy of his hunting skills. He travelled over the mountains and to the oceans and there he found humans. Specifically he found Irya. She lived with a tribe in the desert and was the most beautiful woman in many generations. Many, many men from all over competed to take her as their wife. She was a good woman, not shallow like many of great beauty are and that made the competition even fiercer. She would be a good wife and mother to whomever won her affections.

"The moment Thunder-bird spirit saw her he loved her, for he could see the beauty of her soul more clearly than that of her face. He changed his form to something that would please her and introduced himself. The more they spoke the more deeply in love with her he became until, finally, he asked her to become his wife. She agreed because she loved him as deeply as he loved her. He went to the tribal council to request to take her as his wife and they were hesitant. She was very valuable to the tribe and they had hoped she would find someone within their tribe to marry. Once the Thunder-bird spirit realized this he offered to join their tribe instead of taking her away. In truth, there was nowhere for him to take her. He couldn't take her to the Heavens with him because these delicate mortals couldn't survive such a trip.

"The council agreed and a date was set. There were many disappointed suitors, but most took it with good grace. They could see that the couple was almost balance personified and knew it would be a blessing on the tribe. Only one suitor felt it was a bad match and plotted ways to prevent it. His name was Asoka and he was the second son of the council head. He thirsted for prestige and power and had thought she would bring some of that to him. After much deliberation he decided to murder Thunder-bird spirit the night before the joining.

"It all would have gone according to plan except that Irya and her betrothed had been secretly sharing his quarters at night. When Asoka crept into Thunder-bird spirit's tent he saw a lump under the blankets and plunged his knife into it several times before checking to make sure he was dead. He was horrified to see Irya had been the one in the blankets instead. Thunder-bird spirit had gone to meditate before their joining and returned in time to see Asoka exit his tent. He saw the stain on Asoka's soul from what he had done and released his human guise to destroy Asoka. Other members of the tribe heard the commotion and one of the women started screaming when she entered the tent and saw Irya's dying form.

"Her screaming caught Thunder-bird spirit's attention and he rushed into the tent. Some of the men tried to stop him, not understanding that he hadn't been the one to hurt her. He changed back into his human form immediately so he could see to Irya. He pushed them out of the way without causing harm and went to her side. He saw her blood flowing from her many wounds and couldn't bear the thought of her dying. 'Iyra,' he said, 'I can save you but if I do, I can't stay here with you. You will have to come to me and then return here. We cannot live together. It will make you part of me and you will change.' Irya nodded her agreement. She would rather have whatever time with him she could have than none at all. Thunder-bird spirit leaned down and kissed her deeply. The ones crowded in the doorway gasped as the blood returned to her body and the wounds healed themselves.

"She sat up and hugged him tightly for a moment before transforming into a large eagle. She was frightened of the change, but he picked her up and cradled her against his chest. 'Don't worry. This is how you'll get to me. I'll show you the way.' He led her outside and gently put her down before transforming into his true form. The pair flew away into the heavens as the tribe watched. The next day they were startled to see Irya step out of her tent and go about her day. When asked about her marriage she held out an eagle feather on a leather string. 'We were married last night.' She wore the feather everyday and the tribe thought she must have changed it periodically because it was always in pristine condition. She passed it down to her first born daughter the day she was born. What is most interesting is that thunderstorms and rain followed her from the day she returned forward. They lived in the middle of the desert but it rained that morning and many, many after. The rain followed the tribe for many generations until her many greats granddaughter was exiled because she wouldn't marry the chief's son. It's said that she met a Quileute when she was sick and exhausted from wandering and he brought her home and joined with her later. She never told anyone about her family's secret affinity with the rain, their ability to see into the souls of men, the peculiar protective energy that was always around them, or that all of Irya's female descendents could change into eagles."

Jared considered the story for so long that she thought he had fallen asleep and she nearly had as well before he broke out into soft chuckles.

"What?" she demanded sleepily. "You don't like the way I tell it?"

"It's not that. It's that sometimes old stories are more than just stories."

"If you say so." came the sleepy response.

He hoped she remembered this conversation in the morning.

----------

A few days later Michele smiled as Jake slid into the seat next to her in their Geometry class. They had several classes together and she always felt better when she was around him. Now that her familiar was back, she was sleeping better and much happier, but she knew Jake had helped a lot in the awful months a year ago when Jared had been away. She was as much back to her usual self as she could be and was glad to see there was no more than the usual amount of concern for her in his dark eyes once more.

He was much better at math and science while her fortes were English and history so they traded off tutoring sessions. They were a few minutes early and everyone was talking in small groups or shouting across the room. She took a moment to admire his beautiful face. It was much more adult than it had been even a few weeks ago and she wondered that he lost the last of his baby fat so quickly, and boy had he grown. He must've gotten three more inches since the last time she noticed. Something caught at the edge of her mind and she tried to bring it into focus.

He caught her staring. "What?" he asked. "Do I have something on my face?"

"N-no. Sorry." she mumbled as she turned her face away and let her black silk hair glide between them.

He reached out with one massive hand and took her chin in his callused fingertips. "Hey."

She blushed, thankful her copper skin would hide the worst of it. She averted her gaze and felt his fingers tighten ever so slightly.

"Shelly." he murmured. "Why won't you look at me?"

Her eyes moved to his beautiful face again. "I'm looking at you." she said slowly, keeping her voice even by sheer will. When their eyes met time seemed to stop for an instant before the teacher's nasally voice broke the mood and they turned towards the front of the class. What was that about? she wondered. It's all Jared's fault for putting such a weird idea into my head in the first place. Idiot doesn't even know when someone's talking about him.

Jacob shifted his seat slightly so they were closer together while they shared one book. She spent the rest of the hour unusually aware of him sitting next to her. She could feel the heat coming off him in waves and wondered how he could be so warm and not be ill. That vague something tugged again, more firmly, but still just out of reach.

Finally, class was over and they gathered up their things without looking at each other. She risked a glance up at him and saw him looking down at her with a puzzled expression.

He caught her looking and smiled sheepishly. "We still on this afternoon?"

She grinned, "Yep. We have a math test at the end of the week."

Jake scrunched his face in mock disgust before grabbing her hand and pulling her out the door. "Come on."

They walked hand in hand and Michele relaxed. Jake was always so cheerful and open and she loved to spend time with him. His smile was like the sun breaking through the clouds and she looked forward to it everyday. She could almost see the purity of his soul just by looking into his eyes. It was much more comfortable than with most people. It was like they were tainted. Or maybe she was. Either way, she couldn't bring herself to spend a lot of time with most people she knew. It was just too uncomfortable.

She had worried that the girl from Forks would take him away from her but he seemed to enjoy spending time with both of them and had mentioned wanting her to meet Bella again. She was having a really rough time since her boyfriend left and wasn't coping well. She had heard Chief Swan talking with Billy about it a few times while she and Jacob did their homework. She couldn't fathom how much the girl must have loved him for her to be nearly catatonic when he left.

"-about today?" she heard Jake say.

She blinked up at him. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"I want you to meet Bella. What about today?" he repeated with a grin. "I think she needs more friends and you two would get along well, I think."

Michele shrugged. "Sure. I can't stay very long because I need to work, but I'd love to meet her."

Jake tugged her along, his long legs eating up the ground while she all but ran to keep up.

"Jeez, Jake. Slow down. I can't keep up with your excessively long legs." Michele complained. "If you would just stop growing for a minute, I might have a chance to catch up." She was only 5'5" for heaven's sake, and he was six feet of legs as far as she could tell.

Jake stopped so abruptly she ran into his back and went reeling, almost falling on her butt. His hands shot out and he caught her effortlessly. She had an instant to catch the grin on his face before she went flying up with a screech and landed over his shoulder. He kept a firm hold of her legs and started walking at his previous pace.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, trying to twist so she could see more than just the back of him.

"Hurrying you along, slowpoke." he replied with laughter in his voice.

"Put me down." she demanded, blush firmly in place.

"In a minute. We're almost there." he replied carelessly.

She wiggled a bit trying to break his grip before looking down and deciding she didn't want to risk falling six feet to the forest floor. True to his word, a minute or so later they came to a stop and he helped her slide down his body and to the ground. When her feet hit the garage floor they were pressed against each other and he was looking down at her with that puzzled expression again.

He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear while looking at her that same way. He studied her for a moment longer before Billy called out a greeting to them and they broke apart while they returned it.

"Math first?" he asked.

She sighed, "Yeah. I'm having a lot of trouble with the proofs."

"You just need to practice. Get started while I clean these parts and let me know when you get stuck."

She nodded and got to work while Jake started spraying a small pile of unidentifiable car or motorcycle parts with cleaner. She wrinkled her nose as the smell reached her but focused on the first indecipherable math problem. They worked in companionable silence except for her occasional questions and his explanations.

The rumble of a truck sounded and she watched his face brighten. He left to collect Bella and Michele listened as she heard a car door slam and footsteps crunch across the yard. Her smile only faltered slightly as a lovely brunette walked into the garage, hand in hand with Jake. Most girls would take a hit to their self esteem when she stepped into a room. There wasn't any specific feature that stood out, but the whole package was put together very well. The girl smiled shyly then tripped over a wrench and nearly went sprawling. Jacob caught her as Michele stood gracefully and stepped over.

"Hi, Bella. It's nice to finally meet you." she said sincerely. She was a lot like Jake, bright and lovely and untainted. She could feel the pain radiating from her, but that didn't affect the purity of her heart. She felt things deeply and there wasn't anything wrong with that.

The girl smiled again, "Hi, Shelly. Or should I call you Michele?"

"Shelly. That's what all my friends call me, thanks to that one." she replied with a flick of her hand towards Jake.

Bella looked up at Jake, "How did you get Shelly from Michele?"

"I used to call her Michelie when we were younger and it got shortened to just Shelly."

"Ah. So, what are we doing today?" she asked as she glanced between the two curiously.

"I'm helping Shelly with her math homework for a little while longer and then she has to go to work. After that we can do whatever."

"Okay." Bella replied as she settled down next to Michele's books. "Would you like me to help? I'm in Calculus."

Michele stared at her, "How did you manage that? I swear I feel like I'm trying to read a foreign language every time I crack open a math book."

Bella shrugged, "I've studied a lot."

"I'd really appreciate the help, then."

The two girls bent over the math book and missed the smile that flashed across Jake's face. His two favorite people were in his garage with him at the same time. Michele tried to focus on her homework and not on the boy sitting a few feet away with a toothbrush and car parts, cheerfully whistling while he removed the sludge from his new toys. She glared at his racket once but he grinned back unrepentantly and continued.

Bella was a very good tutor and Michele realized she might have to give up Jake as a math tutor since, while he could walk her through the problems, he understood them intuitively and couldn't explain them fully. Bella on the other hand knew the how's and why's and could explain them very well.

All too soon it was time for her to go. She packed up her books and smiled at Bella. "Thank you so much. I think I understand them a lot better now. Would you be willing to tutor me again?"

Bella smiled in pleasure, "Sure. Just let me know when."

"Thanks." she replied with feeling before turning her attention to Jake. "See you tomorrow?"

He hopped to his feet and tugged her over for a hug. "Sure, sure. Who are you helping today?"

"The Clearwater's. They need their roof reshingled."

Jacob glanced up at the sky, which was covered with low clouds and threatened rain. "Be careful."

"I will be." she replied with a soft smile. She loved that he worried over her and appreciated it for the gift it was. "See you later. It was nice meeting you Bella."

"You too, Shelly." Bella replied with a smile.

Michele headed out into the forest at a light jog.