CPOV

I watched Alexys warily as Quil, Embry, Jacob, Leah, Paul and Jared walked out. I could hear Alexys' heart thudding loudly. Leah smirked. I growled at her. Alexys looked back at me confused. I shook my head, still glaring at Leah.

"Alexys, this is Quil and Embry, but I'm guessing that you've already met Quil," Sam smiled again. He was being unusually happy tonight. Alexys nodded.

"Hello Embry, Quil," Embry smiled, Quil glared then looked away.

"Paul and Jared," Sam continued. Alexys nodded at both of them. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Paul's hands trembling.

"Leah and-"

As Jacob stepped out from the dark I felt Alexys' hand loosen.

"Jacob?" She finished taking a hesitant step forward.

Jacob frowned.

"Oh no, you can't be who I think you are," Jacob groaned throwing his hands up. "Oh joy, it is you," Alexys laughed and threw herself into Jacob's arms.

"You're just like I remember you, but I don't think you were this tall," Alexys smiled back at me.

"Sure sure," Jacob mumbled glaring at me. I frowned; everyone was staring at Jacob and Alexys.

"What's going on," Sam asked, breaking the short silence.

"Out of all the people Collin," Jake muttered, ignoring Sam.

"Jacob," I said slowly. Alexys was still smiling like a little kid in a candy store, staring up at Jacob like she'd known him forever.

"I never thought that any of my extended family would be pulled into this and look what happens," Jacob was still talking to himself. "And why didn't you call," he asked turning to Alexys. The rest of us were still staring at them, dumbfounded.

Alexys shrugged.

"Mom tried to reach Billy, but," Jacob laughed.

I took a few steps toward them. Alexys pulled herself away from Jacob and came to me.

"Collin, why didn't you tell me you knew Jacob," She asked her eyes narrowing. I frowned.

"I didn't know it mattered," I mumbled, still trying to make sense of the situation.

"Well duh, he is one of my only cousins after all," I stared her then at Jacob. He shrugged, still staring protectively at Alexys.

~MRS*SC~

APOV
I hadn't been sure of myself when the rest of the wolf pack had emerged from the trees. Now it wasn't so bad.

I sat wedged between Collin and Jacob at Sam's place. Both of them had a hand on me, ready for whatever danger that wasn't coming.

I rolled my eyes.

"Come on you guys, loosen up," I said trying to lighten the mood again. I had been trying all night to get Jacob to smile again. His face seemed to be stuck in a mask of disappointment and anger.

Collin had been calmer about the whole thing, but he was just as tense as Jake was.

I had called my mom to tell her I would be staying with Jacob and Billy tonight. She seemed glad that I would be out of the house.

I was happier near Jacob. He'd been like my older brother for as long as I could remember.

"I am loose," Jacob pressed out a smile. Everyone besides me and Sam laughed.

"Jake, I don't understand," I said tersely. Jacob looked at me.

"I didn't want you and your mom to be pulled into this Alexys; you two are the only other family I've got. You were the only human family I had left, everyone else is connected to a mythical creature and now," Jacob shrugged. I rubbed his shoulder soothingly.

"It's okay Jake, mom doesn't know yet," I tried to sound hopeful, but I knew this wouldn't cheer Jacob up.

He laughed; there was an edge to the sound.

"Yeah, but she will. They always find out," I frowned.

"Its okay Lex, I'll get over it eventually. Collin's a good guy, at least it wasn't Paul," Jacob smiled, his hand flying up to catch a knife thrown from the kitchen. He laughed.

"I still don't understand why you're so upset. I'm enjoying this," I clutched Collin's hand, smiling at him. Jake shrugged and got up.

"Yeah I enjoy it too, but did you ever think that maybe you'd be better off if you hadn't been pulled into this," I knew from the look in Jacob's eyes that he was talking to himself.

"No," I murmured even though I was sure Jake wasn't listening anymore.

"Maybe Jacob's right," Collin wasn't looking at me anymore. "This life doesn't seem like the thing for you Alexys,"

I frowned.

"The life where you're in is the life for me Collin. Whether you like it or not," my voice came out harsher than I had wanted, but it seemed to suit my words.

Collin glanced at me and smiled.

"Maybe," he murmured rubbing his thumb up and down the inside of my palm.

I sighed. Yup, that was the same Jacob from my childhood. The person that could make everyone else think the wrong things.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but," Leah paused in front of us. I glanced at Collin; his expression had suddenly turned hostile. "I just wanted to know how much she knows about us," Leah talked directly at Collin, not even glancing my way. I wondered idly what she had against me.

"Nothing," I answered when Collin didn't. Leah glared at me.

"Of course not and I'm guessing it won't stay that way for long,"

Jacob came back from the kitchen, a three layered sandwich in his hand.

"No, I'm going to tell her everything," Jacob said sitting at my feet.

"Jake, if it's about the stories, I already know them," I whispered, glancing warily at Leah.

"Oh, I know. You know the ones about werewolves, but do you know anything about imprinting or vampires?" I froze instantly glancing quickly at Collin.

He looked straight ahead, not meeting my gaze.

I looked back at Jacob.

"No, I don't know that much about imprinting and I know nothing about vampires," I shuddered involuntarily.

Jacob smiled.

"Then I'm going to tell you. Being the leader of the pack it is my job, but the imprint story," He looked at Collin. "That's his job," Jacob turned back to his sandwich.

I stared at Collin until he looked at me.

"There's more," I asked hesitantly. Collin sighed.

"Yeah, but if you don't want to hear it, that's fine," Collin looked away again. I wondered if he really wanted to tell me the story.

"I want to know Collin; you can't keep me in the dark,"

Collin looked back at me with wide eyes.

"I would never do that, I just thought that it be too much for you," I laughed.

"I've been under the glare of flashing lights my entire life. Nothing is too much for me," Jacob laughed.

"She's right Collin, she had paparazzi following her to school when she was six," Jake laughed again.

Collin sighed. "Alright, I'll tell, but when you want to leave just say so. Jake can drive you home," Collin whispered the last sentence.

"I can promise you this right now; I will never want to leave. Partially because I've missed my cousin too much and leaving him now would be devastating," Jacob snorted. "And because leaving you now would kill me," I shrugged.

Collin sighed.

"Okay, okay, it's a little bit more complicated than Quil said," Collin didn't look at me as he spoke. "Let's just say it's like having a maid for life, someone that will do anything for you. Except they don't do it because they're getting paid," Collin looked at me. I stared back, not able to look away. "They do it because they love you, more than anything else in the world. Without the other person they're useless, lifeless." Collin looked away again.

"So, it's like a lifetime of servitude," I smiled. Collin nodded, staring up at the ceiling. "Well then, I guess you're out of luck," Collin glared at me.

"What do you mean?"

I shrugged. "I've already dedicated my lifetime of servitude to Jacob, you were a little late, sorry," Collin frowned. Jacob laughed.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Jacob chuckled and got up. "No problem Lex, Collin can have it, you were never good at doing my chores anyway," Jacob ducked away from the pillow I threw at him.

Quil laughed as he picked the pillow off the floor.

"I can't believe I didn't recognize you," I muttered for what seemed like the millionth time that night.

Quil shrugged. "I knew you, how could I forget? Alexys, Jacob's favourite slash most hated cousin." Quil laughed again. I smiled. I had known Embry, obviously. He had always been the one who would persuade the other two to let me hang with them. Quil had been the one to give me noogies.

Quil and Collin's heads snapped up to look at the door. I looked too.

"Oh crap," Collin muttered pulling me to my feet.

I glanced at him, confused.

Quil went to open the door before Collin could get me out of the room. I stopped dead in front of the door staring at the three people standing in the rain.