Chapter Five
Meeting The Family
Romina POV

I could not believe how beautiful my darling had become such a beautiful woman and so strong too, most Shifters who when they made the first shift would vomit or faint from the foreign feelings of being in a human body. I turned to her now and asked her, "Isabella would you like to meet the rest of the family?"

"Bella," she corrected. "I like to be called Bella, and I would love to meet the rest of the family." She said with an excited gleam in her eyes.
I chuckled and nodded leading her out of the house and to the clearing in front of it. I let loose a shrill whistle and saw Bella wince, "I'm sorry darling, you get used to it."

A small fox was the first to lope into the clearing, followed by a young fawn and small wolf stumbling over it's oversized paws. Bella chuckled and sat on the ground to be level with them. I sat down beside her and gestured to the trio and said, "Bella these are your cousins the little fawn is Aldonza; Dear, this feisty fox is Domitila; Little tame one, which is ironic because she is anything but tame." Domitila snuffed at me and Bella chuckled. "And the pup is Lupita; Little wolf."

Lupita walked up to Bella cautiously and sniffed her hesitantly. Lupita smiled at her toothily and licked her hand and barked happily loping back to her cousins then back to Bella. Her cousins smiled too and hopped to Bella prancing playfully. Bella chuckled moving her hand on the ground quickly for Domitila and Lupita to pounce at. Aldonza simply walked up to her and stepped into her lap, licked her cheek fondly, and curled into her lap letting her eyes flutter shut.

I smiled happily glad my nieces already loved her. Another set of feet could be heard coming from another house and climbing down some ladders. Bella and I looked up and saw my sisters and their older children following.

"Bella these are some of your aunts and cousins. On the far left is your aunt Amada; Beloved. Next to her are her daughters Ercilia; Delicate, and Fidelia; Faithful. Next is your aunt Guadalupe; River of the wolf, she is also Lupita's mother. Then there is your aunt Jacinta; Hyacinth flower, she is Aldonza's mother along with Jimena; Hearkening, the little one on Jacinta's back. Finally there is your great aunt Leticia; Happiness and your aunt Paloma; Dove she is also the mother of Domitila."

My sisters and nieces smiled fondly at their newfound relative as Bella nodded to each of them in turn. She pursed her lips for a second and said, "If you don't mind my asking why are all of you female?"

We turned to Aunt Leticia knowing that she could explain it better, "allow me to explain dear, we do give birth to males, but very rarely and when we do and they mature and are old enough to take care of themselves they leave often forming a band of other young males." (A/n think of a lion society) Bella nodded in understanding calmly petting Aldonza who was still in her cousins lap.

"Now dear, if don't mind telling us who you are, though I'm pretty sure we have a good idea already." Amada said glancing between the two of us no doubt seeing the resemblance.

Bella blushed a deep red and said "I'm Isabella, or just Bella. Romina is my mother." My siblings turned to me shocked and I nodded happily, my baby had come home safe. They just gawked at us for a minute and then my youngest sister Guadalupe launched herself at my wrapping us into a hug.

She pulled back and exclaimed excitedly "Oh Mina! She is so beautiful, she looks just like you! Same hair and everything."

Bella laughed and murmured to herself, "just like Alice." I wasn't sure who Alice was but if she was anything like Guadalupe she must be a handful.

I gently pried off my sister and stood up bringing Bella with me and grasped her hand in mine, then we walked toward our family and let them envelope us in a warm hug.

Ercilia and Fidelia were talking to Bella excitedly about how nice it was to finally have someone their own age to hang out with and not just the little ones. I watched pleased as she took it all in stride promising to tell them all she had experienced at her old home and also promising to play with her younger cousins.

"She really is beautiful Mina, just like you at her age." Amada said wrapping an arm around my waist. I had always loved my sister because of this, she always knew what I needed to hear, so I knew that Bella was going to be just fine here, happy even.

"Yes she is," agreed Jacinta said standing next to me.

"However," Paloma said continuing Jacinta's sentence like some twins do. "There is something you aren't telling us, am I right?" I sighed and nodded best not to delay this any longer.

"Girls get off of Bella for a minute and sit down, not you though Bella." I said indicating for her to come stand next to me. "Now I am going to tell you something very important and you are going to let me finish everything I need to say and then you may speak. Understood?" They nodded and sank to the ground.

"You all remember the prophecy correct?" The older ones nodded then explained it to the younger ones. "Bella is the one from the prophecy." My family gasped and looked at Bella shocked. "That also means that she is your new Alpha, as the prophecy says."

"What about Mom?" Paloma asked.

I giggled, "She has more than happily gone into retirement as an elder with Aunt Leticia." My sisters and Aunt chuckled with me remembering how Mom always complained about being too old to be Alpha and would rather be an elder like her sister.

"But wait," Aunt Leticia said looking at Bella worriedly. "Isn't she a first born?" I winced and nodded remembering the rules. "She goes back to her mate in three years, how is she supposed to be our Alpha if she is with her mate?"

"Mom and I already thought about that, Alpha's have much more power than us normal Shifters. She would be able to check in every now by flying or running down here, and then while she is gone and Mom and I will be her "Betas" or just basically making small decisions ourselves and leave the big ones to her. That and I think it's time we at least got a cell phone or something." I said ignoring the pointed looks I was getting from my oldest nieces at the mention of a cellphone.

"I get to go home?" Bella asked a bit of light coming to her eyes.

I nodded and told her, "In three years yes, once you are done learning how to be a Shifter and our ways and traditions." She nodded and the happiness that radiated off of her was almost palpable. I smiled, glad my beloved daughter was so in love.

Isabella POV

Three years, that's how long I had to wait to go home to my family, my beloved. I smiled happily, knowing that I was going to enjoy my time with my new family and then rejoicing when I could finally go home. Three years wasn't that long of a wait just bearable when it came to the one you loved most in the world.


Hey all Renee here, BACK FROM THE DEAD! No not really however my schedule has finally calmed down a little so I have time to write finally. Ugh. Anyway so many of you reviewed I was so happy! Man you would not believe how hard it was to write this chapter, took me forever to write it and I still e wasn't totally happy with it... Anyway REVIEW! THE MORE OF YOU REVIEW THE FASTER I WRITE! SO REVIEW! I love you all so much, thanks for reading,

Renee120 :3