(I've had a few requests for a sequel to Stranger in a Strange Land, so here it is...at least a beginning. I welcome suggestions in your reviews, because I'm not sure myself where this is headed!)

It was dark in the deep forest. Leah gripped Nahuel's hand tightly as they followed the well-used trail for miles. Animals screeched, hissed, squawked, and bellowed their irritation at the disturbance, but without exception they scattered before the supernatural couple. After a few hours' brisk walk, the forest floor gradually became more easily visible, and they finally emerged from the forest onto a wide beach.

Leah blinked. The scene before her was surreal. After walking for hours without a sign of civilization, there stood before her a sturdy two-story house, right on the beach. "Are those dolphins?" she asked softly.

Nahuel followed her gaze and nodded, smiling. "What did you expect, Leah? A hut in the forest?"

She didn't answer, but it was obvious his guess was spot on. "Come on, there's someone I want you to meet," Nahuel smiled. They walked in the front door into a roomy, comfortably furnished living room. Leah could glimpse an informal dining room around the corner and a large kitchen straight ahead. A curving stairway presumably led upstairs to the bedrooms. She nodded to Huilen, who was busy cooking something that smelled delicious.

"I met your aunt in Forks," Leah reminded him.

Nahuel grinned. "Yes, but you haven't met my sisters." A lovely, petite young woman with a long black braid and dark brown eyes glided down the stairs, a welcoming smile on her face. She extended a warm hand and looked up at Leah.

"I'm Jennifer, Nahuel's youngest sister. So nice to finally meet you, Leah."

Leah shook her hand and returned Jennifer's smile. "It's nice to meet you too. I had no idea Nahuel had sisters."

"We don't socialize much," he explained cryptically. "Actually, Jennifer's the only one I keep in touch with regularly. She lives with our father and two other sisters, and Huilen and I don't visit there. It's a long story...for another day."

Jennifer took up the introduction. "All three of us are hybrids, half vampire like Nahuel. The women who gave us life were human, and our father is vampire. Nahuel is the only one of us who is venomous, however."

"You all speak amazingly good English," Leah noted.

Jennifer's laugh was musical. "We've had a long time to practice. I'm the youngest at 112. Our father has dreams of adding to our family some day..."

Nahuel cut her off. "That's a bone of contention within our family. I'm sure Leah doesn't need to be bored with that old argument," he stated firmly.

Jennifer let it go. "I've never met a wolf girl before," she said softly. "In fact, I had no idea you were coming. But of course Huilen knew as soon as you stepped off the plane. I'm on my way home, but I wanted to wait and say hello."

They waved as she backed her Jeep out and headed down the beach. "Don't worry. There's a road of sorts a couple of miles south," Nahuel whispered to Leah. "Now come in and let me show you the rest of the house."

She followed him upstairs, where there were three bedrooms and a bathroom. "This is the guest bedroom," he indicated a large, sunny room with a double bed. "The closed is fully stocked, and I see you're traveling light." He smiled. "I suspect my sisters' clothes will fit you except for the length. I'd stick with shorts." He chuckled. If Jennifer was any indication, they were a good six inches shorter than Leah.

The remaining two bedrooms were obviously Nahuel's and Huilen's. Hers did not contain a bed, which shouldn't have surprised Leah. She knew vampires didn't sleep, but it still looked odd. Nahuel's room was neat and masculine, and Leah smiled at the rumpled sheets on the king-sized bed. Apparently he had rushed out of the house this morning.

"I've been teaching my aunt to speak English. It helps us pass the time while she's puttering around the house." He chuckled. "She spends a lot of time cooking for me, and you'll find she's very good at it."

"If that heavenly smell is any indication, I think I'll agree with you." Leah suddenly realized she was famished. Nahuel led her back downstairs. Huilen had disappeared, but a sumptuous dinner was laid out on the dining room table with two place settings.

Sure enough, the food was delicious as well as plentiful. They loaded the dishes in the dishwasher together, and Nahuel asked if she'd like to go for a swim. She hesitated, and he laughed. "No need for bathing suits around here, Leah. I know you're not shy, and there's nobody but the three of us for miles. Even the sea creatures are afraid of us."

They shed their skimpy clothing and walked onto the beach hand in hand. The water was warm and wonderful. When it was waist deep, Nahuel turned to Lean and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. "I've missed you every day, Leah. I was so afraid I was ruining your life, I...I made a bad decision. I never should have left you."

Leah smiled and kissed him softly. "I have to admit I was angry and upset for a while. But then I decided not to waste any more time on those emotions. I missed you too." They sank down in the warm water and swam gracefully, side by side. There was no need for further conversation.

Jacob huffed. "David, get off my leg. NOW!" The baby wolves were driving him nuts, and Leah had picked a great time to desert him. He wondered briefly how Sam was making out with his new pack members, and he hoped they were equally annoying. Yeah, right. All three of Jake's new pack members were fascinated with the size and sensations of their new wolf bodies. They were like kids with a new toy. Oh wait, they WERE kids with new toys!

He turned and swatted Henry, who was happily licking himself. "Henry, that's disgusting. Knock it off! All right, guys, that's enough for today."

He watched as all three shifted back to human form, clumsily pulling their shorts off their ankles and hiking them up their slim hips. Jacob smiled affectionately at his newest charges, though most of the time he felt more like a babysitter than their Alpha. They were obviously disappointed to return to their human proportions.

"When's Leah coming back?" This time it was Brian, at only 11 the youngest of the trio.

"I told you before, I don't know," Jacob growled. All three of the junior pack members lusted openly after Leah, and Jacob was relieved to get away from their prepubescent thoughts. "She went to South America to visit a friend, and she'll probably be staying for a while."

All three grinned. "Friend," David chortled. Unfortunately, they had seen, in Leah's thoughts, just what kind of friend Nahuel was to her. They were all distressed by her absence, but Jacob suspected that what they actually missed most was watching her phase back to human form, her tanned, lean body magnificent in their eyes. Jacob missed her too, but what he missed most was her infinite patience with the kids. Seth was a big help, but...

Seth interrupted his reverie. "The kids need to get back to school, Jake," he reminded. "Do you think they're ready?"

Jacob ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He could just imagine the chaos if one of them got upset in a classroom full of kids. "Let's wait till next week, Seth. Are you making sure they keep up with homework?"

Seth snorted. "Yeah, but it was easier when Leah was doing it. They'd do anything for her!"

"Well, Leah's not here," Jacob snapped; then he looked chagrined. "Sorry, Seth. I'm sure you're as aware of that as I am. I can't wait till she gets back from this damfool crusade."

When Leah and Nahuel got back to the house, they parted reluctantly. She found shorts and a tank top in one of the drawers and changed quickly, crawling under the soft cotton sheet. She could hear Nahuel moving around in his room across the hall. She remembered that he required very little sleep. No matter how long and deeply she slept, she would always wake to find him gazing at her.

Leah punched the pillow down, growling softly. She was so tired she could barely hold her head up, but sleep refused to claim her. Finally, she grabbed the pillow and trudged across the hall. Nahuel lay on his side facing the door. He scooted back and patted the bed, and she sank down next to him, her head automatically making its way to its accustomed spot under his chin. Her arm snaked around his waist and she was asleep in less than a minute. He smiled and kissed her hair, never interrupting her gentle snores.

The sun was bright when Leah opened her eyes. She blinked, disoriented, before she focused on Nahuel's smiling face. She stretched and purred contentedly. "Do you think we're really fooling your aunt?" she asked, smiling.

He shook his head. "No, she doesn't miss much. In fact, she poked her head in a few minutes ago to tell me she's going to the store. Wanted to let me know we'll be alone for a couple of hours." His grin widened.

Leah smiled back at him. "Oh, is that so?" She rolled over to face him, her finger tracing his lips before she kissed him tenderly. He touched her hair, kissing her carefully, ever mindful of the deadly venom produced in his body. They made love urgently, hungrily, their bodies instantly getting reacquainted and demanding satisfaction.

They spent the next hour making slow, comfortable love, the filmy curtains moving gently in the soft breeze as it cooled their fevered skin.

Leah lay beside him, her dark hair damp on her neck and his arms clasped tightly around her waist. "I never want to move," she sighed, and he chuckled deeply. He pushed her hair aside and breathed deeply of her scent before kissing his favorite soft spot below her ear.

Meanwhile, Sam was having his own problems with new recruits. Two of the wolf cubs were rolling and tumbling in the grass, nipping at each other's ears. *STOP!" His Alpha command came a heartbeat too late. The two tumbled down the side of the ravine, their frightened yelps echoing in the deep forest. As they splashed into the water far below, their heavy coats dragged them down into the chilly depths.

"Quil!" Sam called as he raced down the steep slope. He slid most of the way, raining pebbles and rocks onto the hapless wolves struggling in the water. He phased human and jumped into the icy stream, swearing softly and only seconds ahead of Quil. They each grabbed one of the soggy wolf pups by the scruff of the neck, carrying them to the shore where they coughed and sputtered.

Sam turned and spoke over his shoulder as he strode away upstream. "Rule Number Seven - don't fall in the water in wolf form or you'll drown!" He could only hope they were tired enough from their struggles to stay out of his hair for a couple of hours.