Chapter 1

I shuddered in my tank top from the prospect of the future. Mom thought I was cold, but I refused to put on a sweater. If my mom was going to force me into this God-forsaken frozen land, the least I could do was let her believe I was going to freeze for it and therefore make her feel worse for what she was going to do to me.

Actually, as we drove through the smaller town of Forks, I was pleasantly surprised. It was so cute, and awesome and adorable. Totally everything I had ever wanted; everyone here must be their own legends. I laughed at my own thought. My mother glared at me.

"That's right." I hissed, "I forgot I was your 'secret sin'."

Unfortunately, people would stare as we drove by. They must not get new people here often I mused, totally enthralled with the small clumps of city, and then the expanses of trees.

We drove past the school, and I snorted.

"Even Fortuna is larger than this dump!" I complained, though I was truly overjoyed.

My mom glared, mean as she was. It's not that she hated me, but that she wasn't ready to be a parent when I was born. She was a small woman, petite with to die for curly blonde hair and stunning blue eyes. Her skin was smooth and silky like milk. Mom's past was wild and littered with broken hearts and snuffed out, self-rolled smokes; her present was not much different, minus her children. She was nothing like me and because of that we never got along.

The 12 hour drive with her was almost unbearable and I was glad when she mumbled we were halfway there. The trees thickened; I could hear everything around me and the smell of forest. Not the city, not of pot and alcohol, but of my sweet pine. My heart thrilled in my chest.

She stopped, "Here we are."

Aghast, I stepped out of the small Thunderbird and onto the unpaved dirt road. The taint of salt stung my nose; the sky was brilliant grey, as if the sun was sleeping behind a thin mist. The wind kicking up snagged my unbrushed hair. For some odd reason I felt at home.

(Billy's POV)

I stared out the window as the car crunched to a grinding halt. My old heart was happy to again see my long lost student. I rolled my wheel chair around, to greet her, when the sight of something caught my eye.

Stunned, I rolled back around my eyes locked onto the figure with my old student. She was taller, her skin copper, her golden hair flashed with red and lighter blond as the wind pulled it this way and that. I could tell by her physical structure that she had Cherokee in her blood, and some other dark skinned-breed of human. Stunned as I was, it didn't match the electricity that flew from her eyes as she turned on me, meeting my gaze. Her bright eyes were blue against her dark skin, and were alive with such electricity and fire that I couldn't breathe for a moment.

I yelled for Jacob. If anyone could handle 'Wild Fire' knocking on their door, it would be him.

(END)

I knocked on the door, finally pulling my sweater over my head. Mom looked up at me, a smirk on her face.

"You know, there are a lot of cute boys here..." She grinned her grin, and I was horrified.

"MOTHER!?" I quickly lowered my voice, "I am not going to date anyone here just because you're not around okay? I said I'm waiting for a sign. Something obvious. He'll have to run me over with his car, and I'll do just that."

She made a pouty face, "You're no fun. You're young, enjoy it; have a boyfriend."

"I've had two." I pointed out, "And I don't want a boyfriend, I want 'forever'."

"Well," A strange, deep voice commented dully, "Isn't that sweet?"

I bristled, feeling my proverbial hackles rising as I sized him up. "Hello, can we come in?" Jerkwad.

An older man in a wheelchair rolled out, and Mom smiled. "Billy!"

"Carrie Ashon." His voice was full of reminisce. "Who is this lovely young lady?" I retreated further into my pull over.

"This is Kris. Kris, say hello to Uncle Billy."

I walked up to him and shook his hand, "Billy."

He seemed not at all surprised by my formality. The rude man who answered the door was standing behind him. I couldn't help but sneak a peek. His bare chest was sculpted and he was thin, but muscular. The perfect vision of a Native American. I felt myself blush. Contrary to what I felt earlier, I now was comparing myself to him. I had thinned out a little, but I had a small zit on the further corner of my chin, and I was still too fat; not enough muscle.

Pulling me out of my thoughts was the jovial laughter. I glared sharply at Mom as her false giggle trilled, slicing at my ear drums.

"Carrie!" Billy laughed, "I don't think you've met Jacob! This is my son, Jacob Black."

She smiled at him in a way that churned my insides. Billy assumed that a breeze had blown and we were getting chilled by the way I had shivered, "Come in, come in. Tell me all about your visit and why you've brought such pleasant company!"

I hissed out a breath, walking into the small house. It seemed small when we all sat down, Jacob nearly folding in on himself. I curled into a corner on the worn couch, staring at the trees, listening intently, though no one could tell I was.

"Well," Mom started, as if this was a pleasure trip, "We had an... incident this last week. Kris got a burning fever, it let up a little, but she's still very warm to the touch. Just this last day, before I called you, I went into her room, and a deer carcass was on the floor, and her, covered in its blood. She was naked, and I'm afraid that she's getting into some stuff at Fortuna..."

I fought the tears threatening to spill over my eyes. I had to remind myself to breathe. Anger was taking over me like a red hot fire, coursing through my veins, flooding my mind. How dare you?! I cursed her mentally, I'm out of control?! Who had to fish your sorry butt out of a toilet the other night, you were so drunk? Who put your children to bed and delt with your fists?

I was hyperventilating; I couldn't stop the hot course of tears down my face.

Mom looked at me out of the corner of her eye; her false mothering front defeated by the small wicked grin she gave me. "I think she's Satanic, Billy. I really don't know what to do about-"

I stood, facing Billy, Jacob. The look plastered to both their faces was more than I could stand. They had to think something was wrong with me. I couldn't tell them, though. They wouldn't understand. They lived on their simple reservation, they weren't changing into some freakish over grown dog, they didn't lose control.

They were not monsters.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, whipping out of the door in a speed that I should not have allowed to be shown in front of people like them. As soon as I was out of eye sight I kicked into fifth gear, the trees streaking by. I came to an empty spot, stripped myself, and felt the beautiful pain of the change.

My bones popped and muscles stretched. The worst part was when my muzzle grew. The worst part. This was different pain than that my mother or I inflicted upon me; it was righteous, complete, beautiful, whole. The finished picture was a golden brown wolf with a blonde belly. My muscles rippled as I ran with the wind, outraced the fastest car on the road, and lost myself in the only physical sport I could never before enjoy. It was freedom.

I stopped somewhere near the beach, the gulls harsh cries resounded in my ears, but wasn't as painful as my mother's laughter. My mind slowed, my hatred cooled.

And that's when they came. Thousands of them, thoughts and feelings, not my own were overwhelming me. I was drowning in a thousand other people's thoughts. And then came a semi-familiar voice.

Jacob.

Stay there. Don't move, I'll find you. He ordered.

I was worried, frantic. This didn't happen in Ferndale. I was alone and upset and never knew what happened to me. This idea of being with others was exciting, but very frightening. I began to play in the waves, pretending I didn't care just for something to take my mind off of my emotions, off the thousands of swirling voices in my head. I was shaking off my twentieth or so wave when this huge rust red wolf overtook me, pinning me to the ground.

I yelped, startled, twisting to gain my footing. He had me pinned quick, I couldn't wriggle my way out. So I stopped. I looked at him, my heart pounding. Here was a strong beast, pinning me down... somewhere the instinctual attraction of being out muscled crept in and my mind began to run away with the obvious thoughts. I shut my eyes tight.

No! No, bad brain. Shut up now, please. Please?! God, gouge out my brain. I only opened my eyes when the thoughts stopped. Thank you God.

Aww. That was kind of entertaining.

I glanced sharply up at Jacob. Was he reading my mind?

It comes with being a werewolf. We are a pack, a unit... We are connected. Every thought and emotion we have is shared with one another when we are in our wolf forms. It infects us as humans to an extent.

He was right. I could feel his emotions cresting and breaking upon my mind like the waves that were against my fur. He was angry, excited, afraid, but somehow distant, depressed. Nonchalant. As if life no longer had any meaning.

He got up. Let's get your clothes. I'll explain as much as I can. Then we'll get the others. If you're staying here you should know your new pack.

By the time we found my clothes, I knew everything, and then some. Bella wasn't just my best friend; she had been, in Jacobs's point of view, the only one in my life I could ever love. The tragedy that had befallen such a seemingly simple town was as epic as Romeo and Juliet. I couldn't grasp how something so heart wrenching didn't rock the world. I was beginning to develop a pre-prejudice against the living dead for what had happened to Jacob.

I dressed slowly, pondering what I had learned; Jacob's back was to me. And we walked back; the smells were so fresh and new. I was thrilled at everything. The earthworms, the dirt, the sea, the deer twenty feet away in a protective castle of thorns, nibbling on the sweet, dew fresh grass. I twirled around, stirring up more dirt.

"How could you not be so pleased by this?" I asked, astonished when Jacob just rolled his eyes, "It's like... being... being..."

"In love?" He whispered quietly. His self-pity was beginning to annoy me, but at least I understood.

"No." I hissed sharply.

His eyes narrowed. I barely understood about wolves, their hierarchy, but Jacob seemed to be the alpha... from what I could tell, anyway. I hadn't met anyone else yet. My arguing his word was like challenging him for the top spot. Not that I really cared, I was only here for a couple of days.

"It's like being at peace. It's a unifying feeling, this is." I took a deep breath, smiling like an idiot, "It's like flying on wings and soaring beyond the clouds. It's like holding Death's hand to the waltz."

"People don't talk like that."

I snapped to attention, looking at him, "Why not? Like what?"

"It's too... romantic, sounds like it belongs in some crappy book by William Twain, or Marshall Shakespeare, or whatever." He had his hands thrust into the pockets of a pair of grey sweat pants he had tied to his leg. I'd have to remember to do that.

"You mean William Shakespeare and Mark Twain?" I was struggling to suppress my laughter. The sheepish look on his face was just too much. "You're really cute." I decided to say, actually, he already knew what I thought of him, saying was just so much harder.

He got this alarmed look on his face. I allowed a sneer to curl my lips, "But hey! I understand. No one wants someone like me. We all want a Bella, don't we?" I was stunned at the cruel thing I had just said. It slipped out, I couldn't help it. He looked as though I had slapped him.

"I-I'm sorry." I whispered, "I'm not sure where that came from..."

"I do." He growled, trudging on. "We have this thing... werewolves do..."

I cocked my head to the side, listening, but silently wondering if I could jump high enough to land on the branch of the tree above me. "Like ninjas in those cartoons!"

He looked at me. "Sorry." I blushed, "I have these conversations in my head... and sometimes I finish them out loud..."

He shook his head, I could feel the anger radiating off of him. Was I that annoying? I skirted in front of him, looking up through my lashes, jogging backwards like a puppy to please its master.

"Are you mad at me?" I was slightly slouched; I was in a total physical position of subservience.

He paused, and I stopped, I imagined my tail wagging. He smiled lightly, "Nah, you're just an annoying pup. You've got us now though. You've got a pack. We'll teach you."

I straightened myself in shock. I think it was then, as he walked by, as my world slowed when he cupped my cheek. It was then that I realized he wasn't a disagreeable person; he was just jaded, depressed. I clutched his hand and kissed his palm.

Tears built behind my eyes, a couple leaked out. He pulled away, his eyes narrowed. I smiled at him, "I'm sorry."

He shook his head and sighed heavily. "Impressed are we?"

"Excuse me?" My eyes narrowed and we resumed our walk.

"Sam will explain it to you. We're almost back." There was an awkward silence, "So, your Mom... is she always-"

"Yes." My voice hardened, "She was not prepared for kids when she had them."

"And you are?" His eyebrow cocked, and I understood his implication. He got free reign of my mind, as I had his.

"Umm... well, no. And I am jaded because of that responsibility, but if I don't watch out for my brother and sisters, who would?"

He shook his head, and I was fascinated by the way he blended in with the forest, as if he belonged here. I smiled at myself. He did. So did I. It was always a part of me, so it must have been the same way with him.

"That doesn't mean you have to put up with her crap." I sighed as he continued.

Like I didn't know this? I did it because I had to, for my siblings, because I loved them. We were on the reservation now; Billy and Mom were talking beside the Thunderbird. Mom had this look on her face, I knew what was happening.

"Well, I'll be here for a while." I moaned, "Look. Er... listen."

Our keen ears picked up the last of their conversation.

"Of course she can stay here for a bit." Billy smiled; his voice was comforting in a way I hadn't realized before. "How long?"

"Just till the end of summer... can she come back in about August?" Mom's voice was sickly sweet. And she smelled like rotten mixed with perfume. Toxic.

"It'd have to be two weeks from September; it's the only time I have off to drive her and her stuff back."

"Of course." Mom looked at us and sighed, "They are so cute together."

Jacob stiffened, and I did too out of normal teenaged reaction, but I was a little pleased. I don't know when I had become so attached to my personal space heater, but I had. He snorted.

"Jacob!" I mocked devotion, "Please, let me have your babies."

I rolled my eyes as he laughed, and it was a beautiful sound.

Chapter 1: End