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Chapter 10

Mel POV

We finally made it to the bonfire, after making sure that Kim was calm enough to talk and act normally. Couldn't say the same thing for the guys. Since Kim was ahead of me the guys only saw her so, Brady and Collin began hollering at whistling at her. She stopped dead in her tracks when that happened. Then she gave me a wink and told them ,"Jared's not gonna be thrilled with you dumbasses." I like the new Kim. She has attitude. The moment she spoke Jared turned his head around, squinted his eyes and recognition flickered in his eyes. "KIM?" At that moment, at first she hesitated but then she nodded. He all but sprinted to her side, grabbed her face and stood mesmerised. "But-how-when-why-huh?" was all he could blubber. She simply said, " I needed a new change. Don't you like it?"

"... Duhh- Uhuh," he nodded his head like a love sick puppy and couldn't keep his eyes off her as he scanned her from head to toe for about the hundreth time. He wrapped his arm securely around her waist and kept her close to him, while he frequently kissed her head. They both seemed happy and I stood back, watching them all around the huge fire. There were all the guys, Leah, Emily, Bella, Claire and some other old people I've never really met. I hesitated to keep walking. It looked kind of private and there were already enough people so maybe if I backed away slowly, I could go back home or something. I began retreating backwards when I heard my name being called. I think it was Embry's. "Where's Mel?" he asked Kim. She finally tore her gaze away from Jared's and finally seemed to remember me. She looked back to where we came and motioned me forward with a wave of her hand.

I hesitantly moved out of the shadows and moved forward until they could all see me. Apparently Kim got impatient with me strolling towards them and so decided that she walk to me. "What's wrong?" she asked with a frown on her face.

"It just looks like it's private and I feel like I'm trespassing or something."

She looked confused but said, "You aren't trespassing. This is just like a normal bonfire with some of the elders telling our stories. Now come on, cause Paul and Jacob are apparently fighting on who'll eat the most hotdogs and I want at least one before all is demolished, and I think you deserve a hotdog, at least." And by that, she grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to the group, even though I'm taller than her.

Jacob stood up and gave me a massive bear hug. "Hey shorty."

"Hey loverboy, how you doin'?" I asked.

"Awesome, but first thing's first, welcome to your first bonfire and so I would like you to meet the elders 'cause dad's been keeping me on the edge to meet you", he said, like it was a daily routine.

"Uhh okay," I mumbled, while he grabbed by the elbow and took me to where the old people where.

"Mel, this is my dad, Billy Black, Sue Clearwater, Seth and Leah's mom and this is Quil Ateara, Quil's grandpa," he said, while motioning forward so I shook their hands that they had offered to me.

"Hi, it's very nice to meet all of you," I said while shaking Quil's fragile hand. They all seemed to study, especially Quil.

"Child, what is that around your neck?" Quil's voice shook.

I looked down and grabbed the piece of cord which had the crystal.

"I..uh.. was in the woods and I found it in the middle of the forest..." my voice began to fade away, slightly shocked from the looks they were giving me.

Jacob's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion and looked at his father intensley. At first glance, the three elders had startled looks on their faces, but then worry washed over their features. Jacob called Sam, who has now joined all the others that had huddled in a circle.

I began backing away, heading to where Kim and I first came. "Uh Jake, I'm gonna head back to Emily's place. Goodnight."

I hadn't moved 4 feet when he grabbed me again by the arm. "Why're you going home? It's still early and you haven't even heard the stories yet." His eyes kept flicking from mine to where the elders and Sam were.

"Maybe I'm not welcome or something. This is your history, not mine. I'll see you tomorrow." I tried to yank my arm out of his grip, but all to no avail. "Let me go" I said with more force. He didn't budge.

"Jake, she said let her go" a deep voice rumbled closely in my ear and I turned around to see Embry slightly shaking, and with an emotion in his face and eyes I couldn't put my finger on.

Jacob slowly released me, nodding at Embry, why I don't know. He looked back at the elders and as I turned my gaze on them, I saw that they were looking at me too.

Sue cleared her throat and gestured with her hand for me to come forward. "Young one, can you come here please, for a little while?" I didn't hesitate and walked right up to them. "She has the strength and fierceness in her eyes," mumbled Billy. The others nodded at his words and contined to study me, as though I was some rare creature. Billy's gaze turned to Sam and Embry. "She needs to know now." I didn't know to whom he was referring to, but I started to get the feeling that it was me. "NO, she can't know now!" shouted an angry and trembling Embry, who was now being held back by Seth, Jack and Paul.

Sam stepped forward with an imperative look on his face and said, "She has to know now."

Embry looked into his eyes and seemed to accept Sam's decision.

This seemed to grab all the other's attention and as one, they all came forward with a questioning look on their faces.

Everyone sat down gracefully and Emily muttered to me to go sit between her and the-now-calmed-but-still-looking-angry-Embry. As I sat down I felt eyes assessing me but I decided to ignore it.

Billy cleared his throat and the atmosphere seemed to calm down and he began..

*The legends being told. I'm sure the majority know how it goes..*

After the stories were said, there was a sense of magic in the air, if it were possible. During the stories being told, I didn't realise but now I do. I was nearly on Embry's lap. My feet were touching his and if I were to just lift up my feet, they would be on his. Also I now felt his arm across my back, as though he wants me there. I looked into his eyes and they seemed full of fear and hope at the same time. "Hey," I breathed out as a whisper.

"Hey yourself," he whispered back hoarsely.

I couldn't take my eyes away from his and then his luscious lips. Oh god, they're so full and beautiful.

Old Quil brought me back to the present though.

He began by saying, "However there has been a story that none of you young ones have probably never heard of."

This seemed to grab everyone's attention and they listened intently.

"During Taha Aki's presence, there was once a young woman who had unbelievable talent at that time and even so now. She was the protector of the wolves. She used to help Taha Aki and his men fight, heal, give them strength, protect them and all the tribe. She had the power to have contact with the spirits of before them. She had the power over earth, fire, water, air, precognition (See future events) among other talents. She had the decision where she could decide whether she could live forever or age normally. Unfortunately for her, all got too hard for her to handle and because of drastic dangers and self-respect, she had to give up her life to save all the other's. She was the only one known to us and so she was known as the 'Protector' and was looked up to for her strength, courage, and her love and caring to all those around her."

We all stayed quiet, allowing everything to enter when Seth spoke up, "So she's like a superhero then huh? Too bad we don't have one."

Leah, Sue and the rest of the guys rolled their eyes at his comment.

"Oh no Seth, on the contrary. This evening, we have just found out that after all these years, we have one present with us today," Billy said boldly.

"Well, where is she?" said Jack, mystified.

Sue,Billy and Old Quil looked at each other, nodded their heads and turned their heads diectly towards me.

There she is," Sue muttered softly.