We had been traveling for a couple of days and I found it extremely odd when we pulled up in front of a big house but i didn't even have time to question it before i was pulled out of the car and trapped in a hug.

"Your c-crushing m-me!" I rasped and was instantly freed. Mom smiled sheepishly me. "Sorry i missed my baby girl." I smiled. She was the only one who could get away with calling me that. It had been to long since I've seen her and of course she looked the same.

Bright green eyes that reminded me of emeralds, Long black hair pulled back in to a ponytail. She was the same height as me 5'8". "I've missed you to mom! How have you been?" She took my hand and instant relief spread across her face.

"Garrick and his pack killed again... I'm a free woman now..." She smiled sadly. Sad because someone else had fallen victim to their ways but the smile was because she wouldn't have to give up her only daughter to that bastard. It upset me that i couldn't do anything to get back at those dogs other than leave. That was enough to piss Garrick off.

"Crystal i have to warn you to behave yourself. This is home to the Sheriff of area 9. My maker resides here with him and his nestmates. You must be on your best behavior." She warned me. "If one goes to take a bite?" I asked. "Well then... we would have to let my Sheriff handle it but i will allow no harm to come to you."

I went to follow mom when i noticed dad wasn't following. "Dad are you coming?" He shook his head. "I'll let you girls have some time to yourselves. I need to get things settled. We still have to have a place to sleep." With that he waved and drove off. Oook... I followed my mother inside and much to my annoyance appeared to become the center of attention.

Every pair of eyes was on me. A hispanic woman approached with a warm smile. "She's beautiful Alexa." The woman stopped just in front of us but a good distance away, i guess she thought i would be afraid. Normally i would have made a comment but mother had told me to behave and i didn't want to upset her.

"Thank you Isabel." Mom smiled before looking at me. "Crystal, Isabel is my maker. She's family." I smiled at the woman and wondered idly if in some weird way she was somehow considered my grandmother.

"It's nice to meet you. I apologize my scent must not be all that pleasant right now. My father and I left home rather quickly and haven't stopped any where for a couple of days." She laughed. "That's alright dear. Your mother explained some of your circumstances and left some for you to. It would seem you've had quite the childhood."

"I suppose so..." A movement out of the corner of my eye drew my attention and i saw a man wearing a cow boy hat standing near the couch that had been placed in the middle of the room as some sort of divider i would guess. I tried to hide my amusement and probably failed miserably. Isabel caught my gaze and looked towards him.

"Forgive me, i was excited over finally meeting Alexa's daughter." She said to him and the other younger looking man sitting on the couch. "Crystal this is Godric. He is our Sheriff." She motioned to the younger man. "It is nice to meet you Sheriff." I wasn't sure if i was allowed to call him by his name so i just called him by his title in till told other wise.

"And this is Stan." He chuckled. "Don't i get a better introduction then that?" She thought on it for a second. "Mr. Baker?" She asked with some what of a wicked glint in her eyes. "Stan is fine." She laughed.

My phone went off and i answered it as quickly as possible. It would do no good to step outside anyways they would still hear everything perfectly. "Hope I'm not interrupting?" Dad said. "But you wouldn't unless it was important. What's wrong?"

"Your mother might kill me." He said. My eyes flickered to her as i asked why. "I bought you pepper spray, a pocket knife, and a handgun." I froze. I understood what that mean if he was arming his teenaged daughter with weapons. "He's not gonna give up is he?" He sighed and i knew a no was coming. "No."

"Dad i don't want those mutts coming to Texas. Mom is here, others are here. Doesn't matter if it's his area or not Garrick will still kill." Mom took the phone from me. "You right about me killing you Jacob. Crystal will not touch either of those weapons! She could accidentally hurt herself!"

I heard the buzzing of my dads voice on the phone but i didn't even bother to try to listen. Garrick was coming, for some reason i had thought that he wouldn't track me to the ends of the earth. I had to get out of Texas. As long as i was out no one would get hurt.

"I'm going to step outside before i do something that is likely to embarrass my mother. Most likely I'm staying out there." I whispered fast and bolted out the door just as fast. I didn't care what they thought about me, i knew how useful a human was to a vampire but for my mothers sake i would do anything to make sure everything would be ok for her.

"Crystal!" Mom grabbed my arm just as i got out the door. "I really don't want to cause a scene but mom i just found out the mutt that literally wants me to be his bitch is not giving up. I need a minute to process this and i don't think i should do that in front of your nestmates." She debated on this for a moment.

"Not outside." She said firmly. "We both have some explaining to do now. If Garrick is coming to Godric's area he is not going to stand by and watch as this wolf murders our kind and yours." Ok... though it stung that mom had said 'our kind and yours' i ignored it and would do what i had to.

"Alright. What do they want to know?"