Woldblood

Chapter 12

After only twenty minutes of talking to everyone, I come to the conclusion that not all of the people present are wolves. Definitely the ones Leah says she works with- Quil, Embry, Jacob, Collin, and Brady- they all have that wild scent, that when I think on it, causes the small hairs on the back of my neck to rise.

But there are others present that aren't part of the pack, like little Claire, or Nessy, or any of the 'elders.'

I can understand Claire being here, somewhat, because she is part of the tribe even if she's a little young. But for the life of me, I can't figure out why Nessy might be present, except maybe the same reason I was invited.

"What's your connection to this group?" I ask, gravitating toward the senior girl who is clearly not pack. At least not pack in the wolfy sense. She might have been adopted in.

With wolfbloods, that happens occasionally. My grandparents used to tell me stories of the humans they adopted back in England.

"Jacob," she smiles, tilting her head at the older looking boy. He is talking happily with Sam, who I was told, is for some reason an elder.

"You guys dating?" I ask, clutching my drink close as I wearily look past the fire. The ring of logs is wider so that everyone can easily fit and move around in the circle, so I'm able to perch on one of the natural benches without freezing up.

Nessy's laugh is an ethereal beautiful sound. "Not yet," she smiles. "Mom says I'm still too young, but I'm not worried. I've got time."

"You're graduating this year, right? What do you plan to do after?"

"Probably meet up with the rest of the family," she shrugs. "They all moved away a few years ago, so it's just mom and dad that stayed here. We would have moved too, but mom wanted to stay for grandpa."

"How big is your family?" I ask, interested.

"Big," she smirks.

My attention is pulled away as Leah drops down beside me and passes over a full plate of burgers and hotdogs.

"Oh, yessss," I groan, accepting the offering as I place my cup of pop to the side. I place a chaste kiss on her jaw before picking up one of the hotdogs and shoving it in my mouth. "You are the best, babe." I mumble around the food.

She laughs at me as she digs into her own overflowing plate. "Don't talk with your mouth full, babe," she returns, talking with her mouth full.

I open my mouth, showing her my chewed food and sequentially making her gag and scoots a bit away from me. I snicker.

"You guys are adorably gross," Nessy shakes her head in exasperation. I shrug unrepentant.

"Oh, I think they're about to start," my girlfriend once again pulls my attention, and I instinctively follow her gaze to a man, about sixty or seventy, sitting in a wheelchair. I'm not sure how he got up here, considering we are on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, but I figure someone must have carried him.

When the man clears his throat, everyone around the bonfire immediately quiets like magic washed over the entire mountain. The only sound comes from the crackling of the fire that I've been doing my best to ignore.

I wonder how these wolves could be so unaffected by it. Do they not have the primal instincts? Are they not actually wolves at all, or just humans who can turn into wolves?

When the elder starts to talk, I really do believe that he could be casting some sort of magics.

Especially as I listen intently as he tells the stories of how the Quileutes, do indeed, have magic in their blood. When he tells the story of Chief Taha Aki and the spirit warriors, I finally understand what Leah and her pack are.

Not wolves by genetics at all, but by magic. Shifters. Spirit animals.

Magic seems so much more fantastical than werewolves. But then the man talks about vampires, 'cold ones,' and I'm reeling again. They can't possibly be real. Wolfbloods and magic, sure, it's how you are born- how you naturally are, even if most people would consider it on the 'super' of the natural side. Cold ones, as they are describing them, are decidedly not.

I don't know what to believe when the elder finishes his stories talking about the 'Cullens,' a treaty, and then a newborn vampire war that brought back the magic bloodline.

It would be very arrogant of me, not to mention foolish, if I were to believe some of these stories, but not all. It would also be very thoughtless to believe that wolfbloods, which are the origin of werewolf myths, are the only supposedly mystical thing out there.

After all, I am sitting with a pack of shifters, and I have a feeling that everyone present is already aware that these tribal legends are very real.

As I feel several pair of eyes on me, I have a feeling that these ghost stories are solely for me. That this is some sort of initiation.

As if whatever spell that had been cast over the group is suddenly broken, people start moving around, collecting trash, and getting more food. I glance down at my plate, just realizing that I hadn't taken a single bite since the stories started.

"Wow," I say in response to my girlfriend's questioning gaze. "He's a great storyteller. I got really sucked in."

Leah smiles slightly, looking slightly pale even with the orangey glow of the fire casting her face into sharp shadows.

"Yeah, I remember the first time I heard Billy tell these stories. It's almost like you can see them playing out as he tells it." She pauses, looking a bit sick. "You want to go for a walk?"

"Sure," I reply, studying her and wonder if this is when she is supposed to tell me that the myths I just heard are real.

We walk a little ways away from the bonfire and her pack until we are walking diagonal along the edge of the cliff.

It's quiet for a bit, and I take in a deep soothing breath of the ocean. The salt and sea-breeze surround me, along with my girlfriend's wild scent.

I've only known Leah for a little over a month, but I really like her. I can easily see myself falling in love with her; she's everything I've ever wanted in a girlfriend.

If she decides to tell me her secret tonight, maybe I should tell mine too. It's only fair. Besides, hanging onto mine even after she tells me hers can cause a lot of problems in the future.

We could be pack, the thought sends an excited thrill through me. I wouldn't have to run alone until my brother starts changing.

The more I think about it, the more excited I get about the prospect of telling her what I am- of not having to lie or hide anything.

"What are you smiling about," Leah breaks me out of my thoughts, and I glance over at her.

"Nothing," I grin. "I just really really like you," I admit, reaching out to take her hand and slide closer to her.

She thinks I'm human with no experience with the supernatural world. She doesn't know that I am already aware of what she is.

Her expression softens, and I openly watch as she bites her lip nervously. Maybe I should bring it up first? Or would that ruin whatever speech she might have rehearsed.

"I really really like you too," she tells me lowly, and in the most natural way possible, we both slow to a stop and turn towards each other.

I willingly sink into her as she leans down and kisses me properly the first time today. I can taste the ocean on her lips and s'mores on her tongue, and I fall a little bit more in love with this place.

I eagerly pull her closer by the hips, always wanting more of her taste and touch, and I forget about secrets and wolves, because nothing can be as magic as this.

She pulls away slowly, and I'm left trying to catch my breath and staring longingly at her lips.

What I wouldn't give to taste the ocean on them again.

"Wait," she whispers when I start to lean in again, and I pause reluctantly. "I need to tell you something."

I dart my eyes up to hers, and the anxiety in them reminds me of why we are up here on these cliffs. I can see the bonfire still glowing just a faint dot over her shoulder. We had walked farther than I thought.

"Yes?" I prompt her encouragingly, when she hesitates.

"I'm…" her eyes rip away from mine, darting skittishly towards the forest as she loses her nerve. "I'm glad you came tonight."

The disappointment is almost overwhelming as she takes my hand again and we start walking once more.

I hadn't realized just how much I was wanting her to tell me. I have a feeling though, that I might have to go first if we are both going to come clean sooner rather than later.


A/N: We are getting closer guys. Who do you think will go first? Leah or Ryan?

Please review.

~Silver