Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the sole property of Stephenie Meyer.


Chapter 1:

Anastasia POV

The sun's rays hit my face and legs, warming me from the outside as the loud crashing of the waves soothes the butterflies in my stomach. It's a rare sunny day in La Push, one that practically begs a person to get out and bask in the warmth. Lying out with my best friend Sierra at First Beach, I intend to do just that.

We have about a week left of glorious summer vacation before we start high school as freshman and though we should probably be nervous, we're rather excited. As "freshmeat," hazing from seniors should be at the forefront of our worries like the rest of our incoming classmates but we're pretty confident no one will mess with us. I have an older brother and he and his friends are what a person would call "popular." My brother Paul Chehalis and his best friends, fellow sophomores Jacob Black, Embry Call, Quil Ateara, and senior Jared Cameron are the best looking guys at La Push High School. Mix great humor, personality, and good looks and the result is those five guys. All the guys want to be friends with them and all the girls want to date them. But my favorite part about them is that they know they're popular and at the very top of every girl's wish list and it doesn't faze them one bit.

Being the kings of high school is usually enough to make any teenager's head grow to an unstable size but not those guys. A person would be extremely hard pressed to find a group of guys who could care less about what others think of them. Whether it's the head cheerleader or the nerd with the wedgie, they treat everyone with kindness and respect and that makes me proud to call them my brothers. Yes, Paul does have a quick temper but it's usually only a big deal with situations that involve me: he's very protective. And it is true that Jacob and Embry are smart-asses, but most know they're only joking. They're just not always bright enough to think before they speak. So pretty much as the sister and the best friend of the sister to the kings of the school, Sierra and I are going to be treated like princesses in that institution.

So unlike most freshmen, the thought of being hazed in high school isn't what has butterflies fluttering around in our stomachs. Sierra's excitement has to do with the potential sightseeing of all the "Hotties with Bodies." In other words, she can't wait to check out Paul and his friends on a more constant basis than she already does. "Hotties with Bodies" is just her secret poetic nickname for them even though it's about as obvious as my black hair in a sea of blondes. I guess the reason for my excitement is pretty much the same as Sierra's though, minus wanting to check out my brother of course. Paul and I are incredibly close and next to Sierra, he's easily my best friend. Him and I can talk about anything and everything and have always been each other's confidant. No, the "hottie" I plan on checking out is none other than Paul's best friend, Quil. Tall, dark, handsome, funny, kind, sweet, strong, considerate … pretty much he's perfection in the form of the ultimate forbidden fruit. But as the younger sister to someone he considers a brother, it goes against all laws of guy friendship for Quil to ever think of me as anything other than a sister.

At least that's what Paul tells me.

I sigh at my patheticness.

"Thinking about Mr. Perfect again are we?" Sierra laughs to my right. Ugh. It's times like these when I hate that she knows me so well. If it were almost anyone else I would be able to pass it off as a sigh of contentment but no, Sierra just has to know me as well as the back of her hand.

"No," I lie automatically. "Actually I was just enjoying the sun and the dwindling days of our summer."

Sierra whips her head to the left and shoots me one of her patented 'you're so full of crap it's unbelievable' stares, raised right eyebrow and all. I quickly change the subject.

"Besides, I'm too busy checking out that gorgeous guy heading our way to even think of Quil." I point down the beach in the direction of the woods.

As if he had called her name, Sierra spins her head in the other direction. I swear that girl is so boy crazy sometimes it makes me dizzy. For the most part her boy obsession works in my favor. This is especially true in situations where I want to distract her. Hence, why I latch on to the first guy I see. But I have to admit that even from a distance it's obvious this guy is very good looking. Wearing only low hanging cutoff shorts, Sierra and I gain a view of his dark sculpted chest and washboard abs — he clearly works out. His arms are long and clearly defined with muscles, his black cropped hair lies matted against his head in an unkempt manner. His walk gives off a vibe of confidence and even though I have all but decided Quil is the only one for me, watching this guy move toward us on the beach is a sight I don't think I could ever get tired of seeing. As if being cloned, suddenly three more guys emerge from the woods behind him and step in with his stride. All are wearing only low hanging cutoff shorts and their dark bodies are as visible and similar as the first. They too head our way, each only differing slightly in their height and walk. Beside me Sierra bursts out in laughter.

"HAHAHA of course you would be busy checking out that guy!" She holds her stomach and rolls from side to side, attempting to reign in her giggles, as her long black hair whirls over her round face in the wind.

I guess a part of me has always known Sierra is a little on the crazy side but it's now official because she never laughs when she spots a hot guy. Usually she's too busy fixing herself up and batting her eyelashes to think of anything funny. Maybe this guy isn't very good looking after all, maybe I need glasses. Or I'm dreaming.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I sit up and turn to stare at my friend.

"Stacy, you're such an idiot!" She continues to roll around on her beach towel, her laughter only decreasing slightly as she tries to regain her speech. "That's Quil!"

I plop back onto my beach towel and puff out an angry blast of air. Well, at least he's not within hearing range.

Paul POV

"Hi, you've reached Stacy's phone. Sorry I missed your call but leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can! Have a nice day!"

On the one hand, I can't help but smile as I hear my baby sister's voice over her voicemail because even through the phone it's evident what a kindhearted person she is. But on the other hand, I couldn't be more furious with her.

How many times must I tell her to keep her phone on and charged at all times? I didn't buy her that phone so it could sit at the bottom of her bag like loose change. Why doesn't she understand that there are things in this world lurking in the dark, just waiting for a chance to grab her? If she needed help, she wouldn't be able to call me with her phone always on low battery. Granted she doesn't know that vampires are real and the chance of her being able to get to her cell phone before one of them grabs her is slim. And there's usually a pack member watching her at all times but still! I only want her to have the best possible chance of receiving help if for some reason I'm not with her.

I can feel the tremors begin in my fists at the mere thought of a disgusting leech even laying eyes on my sweet little sister. Shit! And here I've been doing so well at managing my temper lately. An uncontrollable growl erupts from my chest and even through the red haze I can sense the crunching of the house phone in my right hand. Whatever, we have spares in the kitchen drawer for a reason.

The sun hits my already too-warm skin as I burst through the back door, preparing to phase when I reach the seclusion of the woods to see if any of my pack brothers have seen her around the reservation. Knowing her, she's with her best friend Sierra at the beach. Overall, I really like that girl. She's funny as hell, doesn't take crap from anybody and unlike most 15-year-old girls I know, she's happy with being a little on the chunky side. She's always been a great friend and influence to Anastasia and I don't think I could have chosen a better friend for her if I'd tried. The only thing that irks me about Sierra though is her "love" for me. While I'm flattered she finds me attractive, it's the little comments I'm not supposed to hear that get to me.

As a result of being a wolf, my pack brothers and I not only have super strength but also super hearing. Now not only do I get to hear how Anastasia is turning guys down for dates (something I'm extremely happy about), but also how Sierra wants to take a can of whipped cream and a bottle of chocolate sauce to my body. Another "gift" of being a wolf is that all the members of the pack are joined in one mind when in our wolf form and can hear each other's thoughts. As a result of this invasion into my mind's privacy, my pack brothers now call me "Sweets."

Great, now I'm trembling for an entirely different reason.

Upon reaching the seclusion of the woods I take off my shorts, tie them to my leg and take on a form more liberating than anything I've ever experienced. The freedom, the speed, the strength and the close family ties of my pack are indescribable. While the telepathy thing can get annoying at times, it has also helped to bond us together as a family and keep us stronger as one. The first time I phased, I thought someone had spiked my water bottle and I was on a freaky drug trip. It wasn't until I heard Sam and Jared's voices in my head, telling me what I was and who I must now be, that I realized something bigger than a spiked drink was going on.

I join Embry, Jake and Quil in one mind upon phasing into my wolf form and it's like I'm looking through their eyes. From their hiding spot amongst the trees I can see my little sister sprawled out on her back on a bright blue beach towel. Wearing a sunset colored bikini, her black hair flows out behind her and my favorite smile is on her face as she talks animatedly to Sierra. Wait, a BIKINI? My God, does she want me to kill every male on the reservation? First on my list are my pack brothers who are ogling her like a slab of steak.

Too bad shaking as a wolf can't turn me into an even bigger wolf.

Furious, I hastily make my way to their spot. I know they can hear my growls, see the trees whip by in a blur of greens and browns and watch as I picture the myriad of ways I plan on murdering each and every one of them. But in true jackass style they continue with their internal conversation as if I can't hear them.

'Man, Stacy is like a fine wine, she only gets better with age.' Jake. I've always known he was a dumbass, I just didn't know he was suicidal too. Well if anyone is going to deliver him his demise, it'll be me handing it to him on a silver platter.

'Just keep thinking like that asshole,' I shout back through my mind. My feet pound against the forest floor, making large imprints in my wake. 'I'm coming.'

'HAHAHA yeah I would be too if you'd stop cock blocking me!' Embry. I should have known that son of a bitch would spew out something as vile as that. 'I'm willing to spew out more than just words Sweets, just give me one night. Whoops, looks like Quil's already there in his mind.'

Their obnoxious banter and laughter cut off abruptly as they morph back into their human forms. No doubt they're on their way to mess with my sister and my nerves. Dicks. No matter, I'm on my way and when I arrive, they will be sorry.

I push myself faster and burst through the trees just in time to see Jake and Embry flee to the beach after Quil's retreating back. I phase quickly, throw my shorts on my bare body, and run after them in one swift motion. I catch up to all three of them just as they hit the sand.

"I should kill all you little bastards right now you know that? If it wasn't for Sam's Alpha command you would all be fur coats right now!" I shout at a volume that won't carry to Anastasia. Sure she's seen me angry before but I'm one stupid comment away from phasing and I don't want her to notice us if possible — she doesn't know what we are. "Quil, how dare you think of getting with my sister? I've already warned you once, you don't get another one."

At least Quil has the decency to hang his head and appear apologetic of his actions. A damn shame I won't be so lucky with the other two.

"And Embry I swear if you make jizz comments in reference to my sister again your monkey spanking days will be over. PERMANENTLY!" I poke him hard in the chest to highlight the anger of my words. "As for you Jake, well what you said just further proves you have no game."

"Aww come on Sweets, chill the shit out would you?" Embry laughs, shaking his head. He's clearly not affected by my anger. "You know we love you sister. We're just messing with you, having a little fun, raising your blood pressure a little. You know it's our favorite hobby next to leech hunting."

"Besides, you know anything we say is meant to be taken as a joke," Jake says, clapping me on the back as if to show his words mean no harm. "If you can't handle us when we make dirty jokes about your sister, especially since you know they're meant to be taken in stride, then how are you going to handle it when she starts high school with us next week and the guys actually mean it when they say things about Stacy? She may not realize it, but your sister has become a guy magnet! They're going to flock to her like leeches to a blood bank next week Sweets."

Damn, Jake has a point and from the grin gracing his poop-colored face, he knows he has me. In all honesty, I really don't know what I'm going to do about her starting high school with us.

As Anastasia has gotten older, she's only gotten prettier and more of a worry spot for me. With a slender 5'3" frame, long jet black hair that reaches to the middle of her back and hazel eyes, she's become a guy magnet much to my displeasure. She's one of the sweetest girls a person will ever meet but she also has a quick wit about her, something that keeps even us guys on our toes. I like to think she got that from me and I couldn't be more proud. But much to my shot nerves, she's also a little naive when it comes to guys and doesn't notice when some sleaze ball is blatantly hitting on her. At least not until I beat his ass that is, then she and whatever slime is trying to pick her up get the message.

I think her inability to distinguish a douche bag from a good guy is partially our fault.

The only guys Anastasia has spent a lot of time around without an adult present are my childhood best friends and other male family members. Her whole life she's been surrounded by guys that would hurt themselves before her so I worry that she has a somewhat warped vision of what some guys are really like. I think in her mind, all guys are really nice and wouldn't say or do anything to get in her pants. I guess it's my fault she doesn't have any real experience being around guys. I'm a little protective and because Quil, Jake, Embry and our other best friend Jared Cameron are like my brothers, they look out for her as if she was their own little sister. I don't know any guy who would be willing to go up against five big, strong and intimidating brothers to get to a girl. It's not like I don't want her to date and be happy — because I totally do — but she's too sweet and cute for her own good. It's going to take a really special guy to get my approval. Of course all this means is that I will have to reach the highest level of self control I will probably ever have to master in my life in order to refrain from ripping out the eyes of every guy in school.

In other words, I'm totally screwed next week.

At the moment the only thing stopping me from snapping Quil into tiny pieces for his mental images earlier is the loud laughter coming from Sierra a little ways down the beach from us. For as far away as we are, we shouldn't be able to hear their conversation but thanks again to our advanced hearing, we pick up on it very clearly. From the first sentence my stomach twists into knots: they're talking about boys.

"HAHAHA of course you would be busy checking out that guy!" Sierra laughs, holding her middle as she rolls from side to side, causing her longer bathing suit top to ride up.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Anastasia immediately sits up, confusion written all over her face. She turns to stare at her friend, causing her chest to move in her bikini top. The guys snicker and high five each other at the show. I mentally hang my head in fatigue; already tired from the mental bashing I'm sure to receive tonight during patrol.

"Stacy, you're such an idiot!" Sierra continues to roll around on her beach towel, her chubby body wiggling slightly with her laughter. "That's Quil!"

Anastasia plops back on her beach towel (more movement, more snickering), and huffs out an angry blast of air. I close my eyes in frustration as their conversation processes in my mind: she was checking out Quil. Again.