37

It only took four days to plan a party. Mother rented an unsold house that was on the more lavished side of Forks. I think she wanted it here, because if the Volturi came, Alice would see them. She worried they would try to attack while most of the lionesses are giving birth. This could severely weaken us and leave us open for an attack and Mother was thinking about involving the Cullens for help in standing guard.

But now was not the time to think of that. Everyone was at this modern styled home, talking and conversing. Many of the Quileute elders were invited and Sue Clearwater and Billy showed up. Since Ness was invited through Jacob, Mother loosely invited the Cullens. And surprising enough, they all showed up. The house was large enough for us all to talk and listen to music. Mother was dressed in a yellow dress with a gold belt. Her hair was braided back with gold ribbons imbedded in her braid. She wore gold eye shadow and striking black eye liner. Most of the lions, were dressed up. Sam and his pack were somewhat off to themselves watching the Cullens closely. It was strange how separated everyone was.

I was in a white flowing dress with my hair pinned back. I moved over to Carlisle who had a cup in his hand. I cleared my throat catching his attention.

"Are you really drinking something?" I asked and he gave a pleasant smile.

"For appearances. Water." he said and I nodded looking at his family. They had their shoulders somewhat to the rest of the crowd. They were nicely dressed for the occasion which I was happy for. They took this part seriously. I just nodded slowly looked at them.

"Thank you for all coming. It means a lot to me." I said. Esme walked over to me gently taking my hands.

"Thank you for having us. We honestly didn't think we'd be invited." she said and I looked down at her cold hands over mine and I looked at her again.

"I have learned that even though it seems like common sense we should all be enemies life seems to believe otherwise." I said and turned to look at Jacob as he was dancing to the music with Ness. They laughed happily together. "Jacob imprinted on a human laced with vampire genes. Paul imprinted on me, a lion." I looked at Paul as he was in a nice white shirt and black pants. He was laughing with Quil and Jared. Carlisle continued smiling warmly.

"Yes. It appears we were all meant to be in everyone's lives." he said and I nodded.

"I wouldn't want it any other way." I said and smiled at the couple before turning and moving back over to my family. As I was in the middle of the room I looked around noticing still the division of the room. This was Paul and my party. I wanted us all to get along. And how else would we do that? I turned and noticed the karaoke machine in the corner of the room, on but not being used. I then looked at my brothers to see they were relaxed not trying to cause much attention to themselves as they were being mindful of the Cullens existence. I then walked over to Paul and his friends and he smiled at me placing his hand on my back. I smiled lovingly.

"I am going to kick things up a bit." I said and he looked at me curiously and I just grinned and turned moving over to my brothers, stepping out of my heels which my mother definitely noticed.

"Vitanja, those are nine hundred-dollar heels." she whispered, but I ignored her and moved up to my brothers who looked down at me with arched brows.

"I came here to party and you are both disappointing me. I want people dancing." I stated and the twins tilted their heads at my sudden command before looking at each other as if having a conversation in their minds. They both shrugged and looked at me.

"Fine." Micah said.

"We'll make your party awesome." Leo said as he moved over to the karaoke machine. Micah placed his hand on my back and pushed me toward the large box as well.

"But you're helping." he said and I grinned in happiness watching as Leo played with the music. His eyes gleamed at the title he saw and he immediately pressed play and placed the mic to his lips.

"Come on and jump!" he started and the bass began to play followed by chanting of na na na na na. I smirked. Flo Rida. Oh he was good. The loud music alerted everyone as my family now looked at me.

"Children! Nothing too wild!" Mother called out, but Father was just smirking with his glass of wine in hand.

"They are our children." he said. The Jump song flowed through the room causing all eyes on us and my brothers began bobbing their heads to the music. My cousins began to smile and began to shift to the middle of the room.

"Jump jump jump." Micah started and I picked up my own mic and began.

"When I say jump, you say how high. I ain't never seen nobody-ody get so high. Like a bird, like a plane, this party-arty insane. This party-arty insane, so jump jump jump jump!" I sang widly and Micah Leo jumped into the middle of the room of dancing young teenagers.

"Now now we gon' take it to the roofs. E'rybody with me got they own parachute. Why'ain't scared of heights when you sippin' on Goose. Party all night like I'm flyin' Jet Blue." he rapped and Micah joined him challenging him almost as he stole the next verse.

"Why'ain't never seen nobody get this loose. Shawty actin' naughty with her body, what it do. Jump to this man, bump to this man, stump to this man
Crump to this man, got another hit man." I merged into the group of lions, our hips were grinding against the air as I noticed everyone was smiling and having fun as if we were having one of our ancient celebrations. Everyone seemed stunned by what we were doing as if we were putting on a show.

All it took was us singing the chorus before my cousins sung along with me. Our hands moved to the ceiling and I turned to see Paul throwing off his jacket, rolling up his sleeves and moving to join me and with his charge, Jacob and the rest of the young wolves joined. Emily and Sam were getting down to the music a a little bit away. Paul moved behind me where my ass was grinding against his, his arm hooked around my hip and rolling his body with me.

"Aunt Rosalie, Uncle Emmett come on!" Ness yelled above the music and my brothers and I looked at the vampires waving them over to join the ocean of hot bodied animals. Alice just giggled with excitement and grabbed Jaspers hand and led him straight into our golden abyss. Rosalie and Emmett followed along as well and was embraced by the lionesses. They weren't close to any of the wolves so they weren't completely uneasy.

The start of our karaoke playing inspired many others to play and sing their own songs. Bella herself was singing New Americana, while Cleola brought out her inner Nicki Minaj with her Superbass. Lyra was trying to outdo her with Ciara's Ride. It seemed everyone was having a good time, even my parents who danced along to any song that was played. Now this was what we wanted. The music died down after a bit as Mother moved to the front clapping firmly to gain our attention and we all looked at her. She smiled warmly at us all and Father joined her side.

"Attention everyone. I just wanted to say a few words to the couple who will soon be together forever." she said, her eyes finding me and smiling. "My darling, it has always been my dream for you and all my children, to find the love of your life, to have a companion to make you whole. And it seemed you have found that very man." She looked down some biting her lip and looking up at me. "Had I had been stuck in the past and strictly followed traditions, I would have lost you. Africa will always love you. I will always love you. So I welcome you Paul Lahote, into our King family." I smiled lovingly at her and watched as everyone clapped around us. I looked at Paul and smiling before kissing him deeply.

"And now for my gift." Father announced and I looked at him stunned before shaking my head.

"Father, we said no gifts." I said with a light smile and he shrugged.

"Well I lied." he said before raising his hand to the ceiling. "I hope you like it. When you and Paul graduate school and are ready to have a house, this one will be here for you."

My eyes popped in shock and I looked at Paul to see his eyes were just as wide as dinner plates.

"What?" he blurted and Father nodded.

"Yes. This house is not just being rented. I bought it when we first moved here. So if you ever need a place to live, this is an option." he said. My entire body was frozen as the shock was still there.

"A house… you bought us a house." I said and I looked at Paul who just ran his fingers through his hair.

"Our own house." Paul said as if mesmerized and we began to look around.

"Alright Mom and Dad, if you're buying houses, I want a mansion as a present!" Micah said which was funnier to everyone who had been drinking. As the music continued playing, many were dancing and enjoying the fast-paced lyrics. Soon it slowed down so a few couples could slow dance. Esme and Carlisle moved delicately across the floor with Alice and Jasper. No one bothered them or stared with discomfort. Paul and I were dancing as well to Dividends by Prinze George.

"I can't believe your parents got us a house." he said. I honestly could. I grinned a bit.

"Yes it's quite a gift. I know it's further away though from La Push. So we can always use this house for something else if you want to find a place in La Push." I said. He winced and sighed gently pushing his head into mine.

"I hate that you're so understanding. I mean I want to live here- live anywhere you are. But I also have obligations to the pack. I mean the reservation is another part of us that bound us together as brothers." he said. I honestly understood more than he could ever know. This house was further away from my pride as well and I honestly didn't want to be away from the scent and comfort of my family.

"When the time comes to find a home, we will." I said and he smiled and leaned in kissing me softly.

"Won't you be my friend forever and always?"

I leaned into him resting my cheek on his shoulder. I inhaled him once more, my body feeling nothing but content. We could dance forever, and it wouldn't even tire me. Emily and Sam interrupted us to let us know they were heading out.

"We got you something," Emily said happily as Sam was pulling out a polished brown box. He opened it and Paul and I looked over to see two old steak knives with our names engraved on each handle.

"Wait a minute… are these the knives we used on our first date?" Paul asked and Emily nodded. She wasn't lying. Our scent was still on these knives.

"Yeah. Mateo gave them to us. He says he's never seen a pair demolish a bunch of meat like you two did and apparently you all brought him more business after that night so he wanted to give you the steaks but we decided to engrave them." Sam said. I smiled sweetly a the two and hugged them both. The smell of aggression and canine genes no longer ringing warning bells in my mind.

"Thank you both." I said. Paul moved to place the gift somewhere and I waved at the couple good bye. As they passed the side deck, I noticed a familiar wolf standing alone again the railing. Leah. I moved outside and embraced the cold beside her.

"I'm not out here moping. I'm just enjoying the moon." she said and I noticed the wine in her hand. I nodded.

"Then I shall enjoy it with you." I said and she just glanced at me with a soft darkness before looking up at the moon.

"You know I really am happy that Paul found his imprint. He's not as hot headed and brash as he used to be." she said. I nodded giving a gentle smile before looking at her now.

"I am sorry that you are Maverick." I said and she titled her head.

"What?" she asked and I inhaled some looking up at the moon.

"He loved someone who ended up loving someone else. And he had to watch while she loved someone like you." I said softly looking at her and she winced and looked away scoffing.

"Yeah well we can't all have a happy ending." she muttered. I stared up at the endless sky for a moment thinking of what he has to go through, what she may never feel. But was that really bad? She would not follow someone forever because her genes tell her to.

"You know you should consider yourself lucky." I said, and she looked at me curiously.

"What do you mean?" she asked dully. I turned a bit to her.

"You haven't found your imprint, you being the first female wolf, no one knows if you even can. You are lucky." I said and she frowned leaning back from me.

"Why would you say that? I say I'm happy you both found love and you say something shitty like that to me!" she snapped, her body shaking some and I just smiled at her.

"It means you are free to love whomever you wish." I said, and I watched her eyes soften and her stare become light and gentle. Her shaking stopped. "Paul, Jacob, Sam, Quil, Jared… without the imprint, who knows if they would want the women they are with. Who knows if Paul would still want me. His genes say yes, but we will never truly know. But you do. You are free to love and stop loving whomever you want. That's something no one else in your pack will ever have." I said and her eyes widened some as she took in my words and looked away.

"I guess I never thought of it like that." she said faintly as she looked back at the neighborhood around us. She looked to be deep in thought over my words. I remember Paul and I discussing children and how things would be if we had a daughter who could shift into a wolf. Her menstrual cycle could stop like Leah's. I couldn't imagine a life like that for my daughter, let alone Leah. It hurt me to think about it, but I knew it something I had to prepare for. I placed my hand on Leah's hand and she almost jumped looking back up at me.

"If Paul and I ever have a kid or kids and something ever happens to us… I would like for you to be their godmother." I said and her eyes focused on me hard. She seemed completely stunned, her eyes watering a bit.

"Godmother… why me? Why not Emily or your mother or cousins?" she asked. I shook my head.

"Because in time, they will not be here to watch them grow. My babies will be a part of La Push and Africa. But they will only ever truly know our pack. I know you will protect them." I said seriously and watched as the raw emotions poured over her face and she looked away letting out a soft cry as she covered her mouth. She finally looked back at me and nodded.

"Yes." she whimpered and I smiled and leaned in to her, hugging her gently and I felt her arms wrap around me. I glanced over her shoulder to see Paul watching with love in his eyes. I knew we never discussed godparents, but I don't think he'd be against the idea.

Author's Notes

Hi all hope you're enjoying the fic. I want your thoughts on something. Do you think Paul and Vitanja should get married before volturi drama or after? I feel it's cliché to have the marriage at the end. Regardless the plot will still happen whether they marry before or after the volturi become a problem. Let me know your thoughts. Since 4th of July is basically here, my updates will be slow. In the meantime I will use this slow of updates to hear from you.