Bella POV

I was actually a lot better at staring down vampires than I would have thought. I was beginning to wonder if I should sign up to be a vampire slayer or something. Victoria could probably sense some fear on me though, since she sneered at me. I didn't even know what to say. Hey girl. Sorry about James. If it makes you feel better, the rotten vegetarian vamp who killed him left me. Wanna have a single party? No? Oh you want to eat my heart? Oh ok. That's cool I guess.

She was looking at me like she wanted a little more than to eat me though. She wanted pain.

Excellent.

"So what can I do for you? Some red wine perhaps?"

Her sneer turned to a smile. "You are a clever one. I think I have all I want right here. Let's take a walk. Or would you rather I stop by your house later tonight?"

"As much as I love slumber parties, I'd say now is just fine." I tried to keep my calm even though I was pretty sure my future was quickly becoming quite grim. My fear jumped when I saw Embry walk in. Before I could even work up a panic, he stepped right in front of me. Had he grown? He towered over both Victoria and I.

"Get out." He said to Victoria, and I felt the panic move to shock. He was looking at her like…he knew.

What was more surprising was Victoria looked…surprised and listened. She backed up a few steps so she could see me again.

"You can't hide behind those who are more than you forever little pet. I'll find you alone soon." Was all she said as she left.

I couldn't believe it. Without thinking I tugged Embry towards the back door, muttering to my boss that I'd be back for my last round in a minute. No one seemed to notice the weirdness, or if they did, I didn't notice their reaction. I was too shocked.

"Bella, we shouldn't talk about this here."

"Um we'll talk about it wherever, just talk. What the hell was that? How do you know her?"

"I don't."

"Try again."

He relented a bit. "It's a long story."

"I'm waiting."

He sighed and looked around. "Sam and Paul will be here in a minute. Jared is tracking her, I need to go help."

"Help..what? How? Embry…do you know what she is?" I had never dared to reveal so much, but I swore Embry knew.

"Just like you do. She's a vampire."

Hearing someone else say it was a splash of cold water to my face. I didn't imagine it all. I wasn't the only one who knew. They really were real…and here.

They all were.

"How…how do you know what she is? And what did she mean that you're more than me?"

"I can't tell you that." He looked guarded again, and suddenly far older than nearly seventeen."

"Bullshit Embry, I'm your friend. Do Jake and Quil know? What does this have to do with Sam, Paul, and Jared?"

"Bella I want to tell you, and I wanted to tell Jake and Quil but I can't it's a…." He trailed off as the back door opened and he turned towards it.

Morgan froze at the door as she saw us. Her eyes locked on Embry starring at her, and her friendly smile turned to confusion. "Uh hi Embry?"

I nudged Embry to get him to answer, and then I saw his face. It was that face. The one Sam had when he looked at Emily the night Harry died. I knew Embry and Morgan had an unspoken crush, but that look….it was more. Something big. Before I could say his name he took a step towards Morgan, reaching as if to catch her. Off in the woods there was an animal cry louder than the others I had heard. Usually it had been a comfort to me, but now it sounded sad. In unison Embry was alert and without a word took off running towards it.

"Bella?" Morgan said sounding shaky.

"I have no idea." Was all I could say. I suddenly had a feeling it had something to do with Jacob and Quil though. In fact I was sure of it. "I'll find out though. Do me a favor and clock me out ok? I'll call you."

"Ok. See you later."

"And Morgan, be careful ok. Weird people came in today. Don't go anywhere alone." I said as I took off for my truck. I didn't know where I was going, hell I didn't even know if I was safe. She said she would find me alone, and I didn't doubt here. But the feeling that something was wrong was nearly making me shake. Jacob..Quil…the others. What if Victoria found them instead of me? Her eyes had been more towards black than her usual color. That meant she was hungry.

I drove towards the woods and the border of La Push. What was I even looking for? And that's when I heard it. The wolf again. Only more this time. And that's when it hit me.

It had taken me a while to figure out what Edward was. I had to see things, and feel things. I had the book Jacob gave me with the legends. All those things, plus Edward's confirmation settled me knowing what he was. With this…it came in a snap.

The other legends. The tribal protectors were the myth of La Push. The werewolves. When the cold ones were near, they changed. As Sam, Paul, Jared, and now Embry had changed. I pulled over at the edge of the boarder as I began shaking. This was really happening. This was really true. Nearly all of it made sense.

Before I could even think it through, I was turning off the truck and running towards the sounds of the howls. I didn't think of Victoria, I only thought of the boys. And as I thought of them, I saw the cause of the howls, looking for them as well.

"Laurent."

"Bella." He sauntered over to me and for a moment seemed to forget all else. "Imagine the luck."

"I thought you left them."

"I came back. It seems just in time to find you. Won't Victoria be pleased?"

"Yes I'm sure she'll be over the moon. Happen to see any werewolves come through here?"

I could tell I caught him off guard and he paused from advancing on me. "You know? Just what kind of human are you?"

"The weird kind." I thought about backing up and attempting a run, and when I turned slightly, I saw him behind me. A russet colored wolf. Jacob.

I don't know how I knew it was him. I just did. I knew Laurent saw him, but he didn't do anything. He kept his eyes on me as if gauging my reaction and trying to figure out which was more important, Victoria's wishes or his own safety. He didn't seem intimidated by only one wolf, but I could tell he knew werewolves could kill vampires. What I didn't know is how much control werewolves had. In the movies, they forgot who they were and who they cared about. As I somehow knew this wolf was Jacob, I also felt he knew me. So as he got closer to me I backed up until he was right behind me. Now Laurent seemed to realize something was up.

"You know the werewolves."

"It's not just vegetarian vampires I run with it seems." I said and saw three more wolves emerge behind Laurent. I couldn't tell which ones were which of those three, but as Jacob took the steps to put himself in front of me, I saw the two wolves behind him and realized they must have been Embry and Quil.

Laurent growled and must have thrown himself at me. I couldn't quite see him because he was so fast, but because of their size I could make out Sam, Paul, Jared, and Jake lunging for him as either Quil or Embry bumped me so that I fell onto their back, and both wolves ran off with me. I wanted to tell them to go back but I told myself four wolves against one vampire would be enough.

I realized they were taking me away in case Victoria showed up. I wasn't sure where they were taking me, but I did discover something new.

Riding a werewolf is fun.

I should have been scared. I should have been angry. It was happening all over again. I tripped over something that shouldn't exist. And it left me the only normal one in the bunch. It must have been my curse in life to be observant to supernatural things, but to not be so myself.

That's a world of fairness.

I banked my worry away as the two wolves slowed and stopped outside of what I recognized as the back of Sam Uley's house. Must have been their little headquarters. The wolf I had been on lowered down to the ground and when he did I noticed a slight imperfection in his light brown fur on his right front leg, and realized it matched a birthmark Quil had. I smiled at him.

"Hey Quil. Guess that makes you Embry." I said to the other. "Can you guys switch back, so I can talk to you? The both of you have some explaining to do."

They looked at each other for a minute and then Quil stalked off to the trees and Embry sat on the ground. Even then, his wolf form was nearly as tall as I was. I followed his example and glared at him. "Really? A werewolf? And you were gonna try and keep it from the three of us? Smooth. Now you made them join you."

He made a noise that sounded like a laugh and I could have sworn his eyes rolled.

"We didn't join him, he's not cool enough." Quil said and I turned to see him in his regular form in a pair of old shorts and a dirty looking tshirt. "He's going to stay like that though, so we still have contact with the pack. We can read each other's minds as long as we're in our wolf form."

"Super, more telepathy. The pack of what?"

"That's what we call ourselves Bells." Quil said and sat next to us.

"Oh. Well that still makes it sound like a cult."

"It's not."

"I know. I read about it once. Kind of pieced it together. "

"Is that how you found out about Edward?" Quil asked in a lower voice.

I sighed. The block was certainly getting holes in it. "Yes. He told me, but I had guessed it. Who told you guys?"

"Sam was the first to change so he was the first to know. When he did, the tribal elders were the ones who kept him for those two weeks and taught him what he needed to know."

"Like what? Or am I not allowed to know since I'm not a member of the tribe?"

Embry did his little cackle again and I nudged him. I nudged a werewolf. There's an entry for the diary.

"You're honorary now." Quil laughed. "I don't think anyone else has ever guessed this much before. They told him what had happened to him, that he could phase into a werewolf and the reason he phased was because there were vampires around. They told him about the Cullen's and our treaty with them."

"They never mentioned a treaty."

"No I guess they couldn't tell you everything, or they didn't think it mattered because they did the treaty years and years ago, and there weren't wolves here anymore when they were. For the first time it looks like it was them leaving that triggered the new pack, adding the red head and mister dreads to that for the rest of us. Anyway, since the Cullen's didn't hurt people, they signed a treaty with our tribe and the pack from back then, stating that as long as they didn't bite a human, or come over our boarder, we would leave them be. And as long as they are in Forks, we can't go there in our wolf forms."

"Makes sense." I whispered. I didn't like that I felt relief from that. It's not like they would come back, so what did it matter that they were protected from the pack? "What else? When did you and Jake change, I just saw him earlier today. He said he was going to get you to find out what was up with Embry." I turned to him. "We thought you went to the dark side."

"I had already found Embry, still in his human form and I smelled the vampire through the woods when Jake showed up. I phased first. Then Embry took off to see where the vampire was headed, while Sam phased back to calm Jake down, and I got a crash course on werewolf 101. Then Embry came back in wolf form and we were chasing down the red head when we realized you had followed. Jake didn't phase until he saw you with the one with the dreads."

"Oh jeez." I felt bad now for worrying them. I also felt bad for being the reason for everyone phasing, not just Jake. "I have to tell you guys something."

"What?" Quil looked concerned and Embry stiffened.

"I'm the reason they're here sort of. Victoria and Laurent. Although I'm guessing Laurent is being taken care of quicker than she is. It's a long story but basically….Edward…" I forced it out. "killed Victoria's husband to save me. Apparently I smell like a steaming plate of chicken parm to vampires, and James wanted me as a chew toy. She's back to finish what he started I guess."

"That's not your fault."

"It's why you're all phasing. Now you have all this responsibility to deal with and you're only kids."

"Not anymore."

I shook my head. "You're sixteen. You shouldn't have to know this stuff or be these 'protectors' when you weren't even done being stupid kids yet."

"Aw don't worry. Embry will remain a stupid kid for the next ten years at least." Quil smiled. "I think it still needs to sink in for the three of us, but it definitely explains a lot. 'The Cult' and how we've been feeling and all."

"What's with the staring thing?"

"Huh?"

"The staring thing. Sam did it to Emily, and then broke up with Leah, and when we were still at the diner I swear Embry did the same thing to Morgan. Is that a werewolf thing?"

Embry made a strange noise, and Quil blinked. "Wow, you really do notice a lot."

"I don't know if that's a good thing."

"Me neither. Um. They imprinted."

"Are we on an episode of friends now? Are you going to tell me they found their lobsters?"

"Yes actually."

I stopped chuckling. "Excuse me."

"Imprinting for us is when we see our soul mate. It only happens after we've phased, we could have seen them our whole lives, but the first time we see them after we've phased, that's when it's all clear. We find our soul mates."

"I'm going to gag now."

"Well that's the basic definition."

I turned to Embry. "I told you didn't I? I told you that you had a thing for Morgan. You really need to start listening to me."

Embry growled at me, but I couldn't have felt more comfortable. I really was some kind of a freak. I had been at ease with these boys for months, and now that had multiplied knowing they were something different. Freud would really have a field day with me.

"Wait…" It suddenly hit me. "Are you telling me Sam imprinted on Emily? Leah's cousin!"

Now Quil looked grim. "It's not something we can control. Just like humans can't control who they fall for, it's no different. It's just more instant for us and clear. Sam didn't want to do that to Leah. He hasn't even looked at Emily since. It's been very painful for him."

"Yea finding no sympathy there. I don't care if he can't control it. He could have handled it better."

Embry suddenly turned his head and then got up to go towards the trees, and now I stiffened. "Is it them, are they ok? Or is it her?"

"It's them." Embry said as he came out of the woods. "They took care of Lauren or whatever you called him. Vicky freckles has run over the Canadian border again. We'll have to track her when she come back. For now they're phasing back though, and coming here." He sat back down next to me and shoved me a little. "Don't rub the Morgan thing in my face; I have no idea what I'm going to do about that."

"I suggest offering her a ride, and no that's not a euphemism. That was actually fun. Why'd you prance off to the woods to phase, I want to see it."

"Ha, no. We have to take off our clothes and strap them to our ankles when we phase or else they'll rip. So unless you wanna see Quilly naked." Embry winked and I rolled my eyes. "Ah here they are."

I turned to see Sam, Paul, Jared, and Jake coming towards the house. I let out a sigh when I saw none of them looked hurt in any way. Jake came running right over to me.

"You ok?"

"I didn't fight a vampire, I just chatted two up so yea, I'm fine. Are you?" I looked at the other two with a bit less coolness than usual. "All of you."

"We're fine. A little surprised and disappointed." Jared shrugged.

"Why?" Embry asked.

"Surprised Bella is so ok with all of this." Sam said.

"And disappointed Black didn't imprint just now." Paul finished and smirked.

Jake threw a glare at him. "You've seen inside my head, you know it's not like that."

"About the surprise factor…" I interrupted. "I realize you…wolves…are all chummy now. Probably have a lot to talk about and get to know each other and all. I know you weren't counting on an outsider being around. I'm sorry for all the vamp trouble. At least there's only one now." I got up and brushed the grass off my pants.

"Where are you going?" Jake asked as him, Quil and Embry stood, all much taller than they seemed before.

"Home I guess."

"Not alone." All of them said.

"Guys…listen…I'm really grateful for the help. I know it's your job anyways, but still, thank you. But you guys don't have to protect me, and you certainly don't have to include me. I'm sorry I've invaded this much. I just wanted to make sure these three were ok. If the tribal elders get mad about Quil filling in the blanks for me, I'm sorry. I'll leave you to your pack business now."

"Bella, we may be surprised you guessed a lot, but we aren't angry about it. I doubt the tribal elders will be either. After all Harry was, and Billy still is, and they're best friends with Charlie. With everything you've done for the Clearwater's, and from what I've seen in these three's thoughts, it's clear you're someone we could use around this pack." Sam said, surprising me.

"Not to mention you've been behind enemy lines." Paul added, and I glared at him.

"That doesn't need to be talked about." Jacob said.

"We aren't ditching you. Unless you want to ditch us." Embry said.

"Or if you just want to ditch Embry." Quil added.

"Really?" Embry said to him. "Really though?"

"What, I'm pissed you got to know everything first."

Jake pulled closer to me, and spoke softer. "Bella it's not like them. We aren't going anywhere. It doesn't matter that you aren't like us. You get us. My best friend doesn't go anywhere."

My block seemed to have a few more holes than I thought. Because not only did I trust Jake was right, but I trusted the other five.

"Alright then." Was about all I could manage to say. "What does that make me?"

"The pack human supervisor. Keep our human sides in check." Jared laughed.

I rolled my eyes. "I think all this proves, even though I'm human, I'm not exactly in-tune to how we're supposed to act."

"Well let's go inside and figure out what we're going to do about this leech." Sam said. "Vampire girl can tell us what she knows about her."

Months ago that term would have bothered me. A week ago my stubbornness would have had me yelling at him for it. Today I felt like I was moving towards something new. I was becoming more certain that it wasn't the Cullen's that made Forks my home. It just was, because of the magic it held there. And I was lucky enough to be a part of it. Even if I wasn't quite like them. So instead, I smiled and went in the house with the pack.

The vampire girl ran with wolves too.

Authors Note: This chapter is dedicated to June Howard, my grandmother who turned 70 yesterday. I love you.