A/N: Unfortunately, Stephenie Meyer isn't Santa, so I can't request ownership of Twilight for Christmas. Sad times… Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight!

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I almost felt bad that Collin had to put up with me for however long it took to inform me on all pack knowledge and secrets. This didn't stop me from glaring at him whenever he tried to make a joke. The first lesson I had to learn was how to shift back. It involves taking all of yourself, back inside of you. The first few times, I felt embarrassment seep over me, and so I was unable to shift. Collin took the opportunity to laugh as I snuck behind a bush to shift back. I snarled, but tried to ignore him.

The shift back was less painful than turning into a wolf, but it was still an unusual sensation. I felt a final shiver run down my spine as I realized that I was back. Collin had already taken the opportunity to pull on his extra pair of shorts, but I was still naked. I dashed back to Emily's house before he had the chance to see me without clothes on. Collin would never let that go.

Borrowing some jeans and a green t-shirt from Emily, I found Collin, now joined by Brady Fuller, waiting outside. Brady didn't wait for me to even finish shutting the door before he began to annoy me. "So, little Avery shifted then? Fancy you're a big bad wolfie now?" he jeered. I felt anger radiate through my body again, and literally had to fight to control myself. I retorted angrily, as it would alleviate some of my inner rage. "What's to you Brady?" I said icily.

Making my way down the stairs, a look of disgust plastered to my face, I turned to Collin. "What's next?" I asked, my irritation at the pair of them clearly playing out on my tongue. "Well, I figured me and Brady could explain some of the pack knowledge to you." He said, his eyes glinting evilly. I felt confused. 'Surely Sam's already told me most of it?' I thought. I decided to voice my opinion on this matter. "What do you two think you know that I don't?" I said, acting as if their knowledge was inferior to mine.

Brady smirked and turned to smile at Collin. 'Oh no! This can't be good!' I thought. They were like a pair of twins, and destiny had them eager to annoy me at every possible moment. I scowled at their clearly malicious intentions. "Walk and talk." I retorted icily. Apparently, Sam hadn't been keeping me in the know. This irked me. Somehow, I'd always figured he'd tell me everything there was to know. I felt betrayed to know that this wasn't the case.

Collin and Brady spent the rest of the day explaining the happenings of the pack and everything that they could remember that I ought to know. I didn't say anything to either of them, although my inner monologue was going crazy as I reacted internally. 'There are vampires too? And we live near them?!' I thought as Collin told me how the story of the 'Cold One's' which I'd heard often enough, was actually relevant to some of our neighbors.

The growing feeling of shock and betrayal was starting to numb the impact of some of what they told me. I felt more anger towards my brother from keeping all of this hidden from me. Collin and Brady began to sense this through my quiet exterior, and began to speak less. It was almost as if they could feel the inner tension bubbling through me. More than anything I wanted Sam to be here. I wanted him to explain to me why I knew none of this, despite being his sister, despite being practically the closest to him and his pack. I knew I was owed an explanation. I just couldn't wait to get one from him.

As morning wore into afternoon, and then evening, and I still hadn't spoken to either of them, I felt one question peak on the tip of my tongue. It was more of a girl thing, and for the sake of being a girl, I asked it. "What do I look like as a wolf?" I said, my tone not icy or rage filled, but curious. This shocked both Collin and Brady, and it took Collin a few seconds to find his tongue again. "Well, you're sort of a light silver I would say, almost white really, a nice contrast to Sam. You have thick fur and large eyes." He said, and I could hear in his words that he was trying to avoid offending me in any way.

I huffed in reply, but didn't say anything else, and both boys remained silent. It was then that we heard a deep howl break the silence of the forest. I didn't need to see the wolf that was howling; I knew it was Sam. Brady and Collin shifted quickly and easily, tying their shorts around their legs. I took more time, but they both waited for me as I changed behind a tree and then shifted. Shifting into a wolf was more voluntary this time, and it happened with less pain, although I still felt as if my body was being molded.

We ran in unison, none of us being fast enough to outrun each other. Within a minute, we met up with Sam and Paul, who I recognized as a dark silver wolf standing next to Sam. Jared was still on his way. I felt exposed, what with five male voices invading my head. I wanted to tell them to shut up so I could think, but of course I couldn't without receiving a growl from either Sam or Paul.

Our thoughts went something like this:

'Good job on shifting Ave' thought Paul

'Jared get your butt here now' thought Sam

'I am, I was just with-' thought Jared before he was cut off by all of us

'Kim, we know!' we thought in unison

'I explained most of it to her Sam' thought Collin

'Hey! I helped' thought Brady

'Barely' I thought

Paul chortled, the wolf form of laughing

'Shut up Paul' thought Brady

'Aww, little pup trying to act mature? How cute' thought Paul

'Shut up Paul' thought Sam

'I'm a second away guys' thought Jared

Suddenly, Jared burst through the tree line and trotted up to us.

'Finally' I thought, receiving a glare from Jared

'Hey! You're late, you gotta deal with the consequences!' thought Paul in my defense

Paul winked at me.

'Shut up, we have more important matters.' thought Sam

'Yeah,' I thought accusingly 'like avoiding telling me anything about the pack, Sam!'

'Ooooh, she doesn't look happy Sam' Paul thought

'Shut it Paul, and I only told you was necessary at the time' thought Sam

'So nothing, I'm not an idiot Sam, although you clearly thought I was' I thought back

Sam growled at me, and I shut up. I hated the power he held over us in this way, and there was nothing we could do against it.

'I've got the news to Jacob, and he wants to meet tonight' thought Sam

'Aww, but I've got plans to go out with Kim tonight' thought Jared, and immediately we were bombarded with the two of them making out in a cinema

We all snarled at him

'Irrelevant, pack meetings are more important' thought Sam

'Well I've got nowhere better to be' I thought

'Same' thought Paul

Sam glared at me for my tone, but I could sense he was happy that I wasn't challenging him in my limited knowledge of pack life before phasing.

'My mom's not going to be happy about this' thought Brady

'Just make up some excuse' thought Paul

'Like that'll work. I'm an inch away from being grounded' thought Brady

I felt sympathetic towards him, and I was glad that I didn't have to deal with problems at home like he did.

'Brady, just say you went out to hang out with me' thought Collin

Brady nodded, but I knew he felt unsure.

'So when and where Sam?' I thought, turning back to him

'We'll all meet tonight at Emily's before heading to the border. Be there at 7, no later' Sam thought

We all agreed, before heading off. Jared ran back to cancel his plans with Kim, while Paul ran with Collin and Brady to help Brady with his mom. That left Sam and me.

'I'm still angry Sam' I thought before darting away.

I knew he felt bad, but he didn't say anything. I few moments later and I could feel his presence leave my mind, along with Jared's. I just kept on running, enjoying only one thing, my newfound freedom. Being a wolf meant that I could run anywhere, and the only barrier was my mind and the pack mentality. 'Pity' I thought icily. I ran until I reached the beach, and I saw that the sun was setting. Then I thought that maybe it would be better to head back to Emily's. I made the journey in less than three minutes.

Reaching for the door handle and I could already sense the tension inside. I was ten minutes late. 'Oops' I thought, as I snuck inside, wanting nothing more than to sink into a wall an never be heard from again. Five pairs of angry eyes glared at me like I'd murdered three people, not just arrived late. No one said anything, but they all walked outside, and I followed, feeling immensely guilty. Knowing that this wouldn't be happening if today was a normal day, I felt annoyance tug at my mind, but I pushed it away as I changed out of my clothes and shifted. I caught up with the pack, flanking Paul. It pleased me to know that at least I had risen ahead of Collin and Brady in pack order.

We reached the border line fasted than I had anticipated, and met Jacob's pack at it. Jacob and Leah stood at the front, while Embry and Quil flanked them with while a sandy colored wolf that I knew to be Seth stood apart from the group. Sam and Jacob shifted, while the rest of us remained in wolf form. I waited for the meeting to begin, while still holding in my anger and resentment at Sam and myself. Things today had clearly veered off plan.