Aaand, I'm back with another chapter!

I'm sitting watching K POP Videos while uploading this baby so, I'll have to cut this short.

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I stood in the middle, flanked by Stephen and Jacob, who kept so close to me I couldn't move without brushing up against him. I'd glanced at him out of the corner of my eye at least four times but he never looked at me or Stephen, his eyes always trained towards the thick wall of trees. I was exchanging a heavy look with Stephen when he stiffened and I turned to look at the trees rustling with movement.

They arrival could only be called dramatic.

Six shirtless boys walked out in sync, looking curiously at their pack member. Oh and did I mention they were mega huge?

It was easy to spot Sam. He was the biggest though Jake could easily come close second. His eyes washed over me before going to Stephen. "What have you done, Jacob?" he asked. His voice wasn't annoyed – he seemed more resigned than anything.

Jacob opened his mouth but before he could talk one of the taller boys pushed towards the front – looking furious.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he demanded.

Oh, hello Paul…

"What's your problem? She was here before!" Jake protested.

Right, I'd forgotten about that.

"That was for Billy. This is bigger than her!" Paul continued.

"Cool it, Paul." One of the boys muttered.

"I thought she was the main concern." Another said, maybe it was Embry.

"They're right. She is. So is the boy, besides they've always known." Sam said.

"She isn't as important as this tribe. If she'd never come here none of these problems would've happened in the first place." Paul said. I flinched back at that and Stephen and Jacob openly glared at Paul.

"That's enough, Paul." Sam said quietly, also frowning at him. He shuddered, his body quivering as he shook his head slowly.

"You can't talk about her like that." Jacob said.

Paul's lip curled in agitation and Stephen pulled me slightly more towards the opening of the beach.

Even Jacob took a step forward.

"That's great, Jake. Yeah, go ahead, protect them. As if we don't have enough freaks in the world already." Paul sneered.

Ok, low blow…

A caustic laughter erupted from my lips. All men turned their eyes on me as I glowered at Paul, still chortling. I pretended to wipe a tear from my eye as I took a step towards the big guy.

"That's rich, Paul. Really, that's a very nice thing to say about someone when you yourself burst out as a hairy animal." I said, matching his acidic tone.

"Um, Tulika…" Stephen said.

"Back up," Jacob agreed.

"Who do you think you are? I brought these problems here? Let me tell you, buddy, if it wasn't me bringing you all these troubles, it would've been someone worse." I hissed, refraining from saying Bella's name. I didn't think that would go down well with anyone here.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Paul demanded.

"I mean; that if Stephen and I hadn't come here you guys would have a whole lot more problems. We're not freaks, Paul. We're still humans."

"Hey, leave me out of this, please," Stephen called. We ignored him.

"Really, cause from where I'm standing, it seems you're the bigger freaks." He said finally.

He didn't look nearly as hostile when he said it. He was probably just stating a thought yet I couldn't help it. I wanted to, but I couldn't. It was like something had possessed my body and was moving it without a thought. My fist curled back and shot forwards, connecting with his jaw.

It was not nearly a strong punch. If truth be told, it was one of the lightest I'd ever thrown. It barely fazed my human friends but Paul's eyes widened.

"Oh, wow," a whistle went through the boys and Paul began convulsing, his body heaving as if he was having an asthma attack.

I should've backed up; I should've taken off running for the hills but I didn't. Instead, I just stood there watching in complete fascination.

Even as the boy exploded in fur, claws and fangs I could hear pounding footsteps.

Silver, gleaming fur, elongated and widened into five times Paul's size was shivering at my feet, lips rolling back as he looked at me intently.

"Tulika, move," I heard Stephen call and just as I took a step back, something flew over my head, changing shapes in mid air. One second, a boy had jumped into the air and then suddenly a russet brown wolf had launched itself at the silver one, sending it flying back.

I was so startled, I fell, landing on my back, immediately propping myself up so I could see what was happening.

Jacob's wolf was pushing against Paul's, guiding him away from me, deeper into the forests.

"Stay where you are," Sam ordered as he pointed me and Stephen to keep still.

By this point, I couldn't see Jacob or Paul. I could only hear distant snarling and yapping.

Sam moved from his spot, beckoning at the younger wolves.

"Take them to Emily's," he said, shoving the boys' shoulders. They were watching the action with rapt attention but jolted back to reality at their Alpha's command, nodding as Sam took off after the two wolves.

Even as he disappeared, Stephen was at my side, his voice soothing in my ear as he picked me up, his arms tight around me.

The rest of the boys gathered around us, wide grins on their faces.

"So, that happened," Embry said.

"You don't have to say it like you've seen that for the first time." Another said, his voice making it clear that this was a recurring event.

"Paul doesn't lose his temper every day. It's just, he's like very temperamental." Quill said.

Embry cast me an apologetic look. "He wasn't even mad at you. I guess your punch took his by surprise." His hand went to his torso and I remembered hitting him the first time I'd seen him.

If I hadn't been so shaken up, I would've joked about how hitting them was getting to be my repertoire for introductions.

I knew this was going to happen but it didn't help. They were just so…big.

"T, hey, buddy, you with me…?" Stephen asked, turning me towards him, his hands cupping my face and he peered into my face. "Yep," I breathed. "You're not going to throw up are you?" he pressed.

I was about to scoff but I paused, checking with myself once before shaking my head.

"So, anyone want to place some bets here?" Quill suddenly called.

The boy whom I didn't recognize – maybe Jared – rolled his eyes. "Jacob's going to get it today." He said. Embry and Quill began to argue immediately while I turned disbelievingly towards Stephen who was shaking his head.

"Hey," I called and the boys looked at me. "Aren't we supposed to head towards Emily's?" I asked.

"Oh right," they grinned sheepishly and walked towards the Rabbit.

"Wait," Quill said, turning towards me with his hand up in the air, "You absolutely sure you won't puke over us?" he asked.

"Get in the car, Quill." I said and Embry and Jared grinned as Embry lugged a heavy as a truck arm over my shoulder, nearly taking me down with him. "She hangs with monsters on a daily basis, bro. She'll be fine." He said, opening the back door and cheerfully guiding me in.

Stephen kept a tight grip on my hand as we got out of the Rabbit in front of a small gray house.

I was glad for his support. If it hadn't been for him, I was sure I would've wanted to just go back into town by now.

"Hey," Embry stopped us at the door. "Don't stare at her, ok? It bugs Sam." He said. "I know," Stephen and I said together and smiled softly at each other as Embry muttered a 'oh right, I forgot,' under his breath then went in.

The front room was mostly kitchen, a small dining and seating area squashed into opposite corners. As expected, a tall slender girl, Emily, was at the stove, oven mittens on as she pulled out a tray of muffins.

I was expecting the scars so I didn't give much of an indication as she lifted her beautiful Indian princess face towards us with a glowing smile. Her face was coppery satin on the left side and a gruesome array of long thick jagged cuts on the right.

I smiled as wide as I could at her.

Somehow, seeing her in the flesh was a lot more demanding of respect than just reading about her.

Even if I was in a relationship with a vampire – and I knew it had its own dangers and consequences, hell, I'd died out of that – I was still pretty sure it couldn't get this horrible. Emily had stuck with Sam even after he had taken her beauty down with him and she didn't resent him for it. I could see the sacrifice in her loving him.

I myself had sacrificed my family, friends and normal life for this world.

"Oh, you're Tulika, aren't you? And…Stephen," she said, her face stretching in a curious smile.

I looked at Stephen to make sure he was not staring to see he hadn't even glanced up at her; he was staring at the muffins. I forgot we'd had nothing to eat and the morning light was beginning to break over the horizon.

"You must be hungry, have a muffin." Emily said her face now amused as she saw Stephen. "Thanks Emily, you're great." Stephen said, taking two muffins, handing one to me.

Emily smiles as she began mixing eggs and I sat gingerly in one of the chairs just as the parade marched in.

Sam immediately went to Emily while I looked around to see Jacob, laughing and shoving at Paul, now human and fully clothed.

Paul walked over to me and clapped me on the shoulder, sending me face first into the table. "Sorry," he grunted in good humor and I gave him a tired smile, rubbing my shoulder as Stephen leaned over me.

"You want to get out of here?" he asked.

I nodded fervently.

"Fine, then can we please assess this situation again? T and Stephen know about us and are willing to help." Jacob said, listening in and coming to sit beside me.

"Jacob, we cannot ask them for help. We will not be baiting them and we will need to discuss anything we want with them with the Cullens." Sam said evenly.

"Hang on, what about Bella and Charlie? What about Ben? They're connected to us and can be hurt just as easily." I put in.

Stephen let out a low groan at that.

"Don't worry. Charlie and Bella and Ben are completely safe and protected. Our patrols cross all your areas and if there is any sign of trouble we will take it down." Jacob reassured me.

I didn't know how I felt about that but Jacob reached out, gripping my hand in his larger one, his eyes intent on me.

"Ok," I said softly and he grinned wolfishly before standing up, pulling me up with him.

"I should get you guys home now." He said, not bothering to look at his pack mates as he walked out with Stephen following. I paused, looking at them, "You'll be careful, right?" I asked.

All of them laughed before Sam nodded. "You don't have to worry about anything." He said.

I sent them an absent wave as I left too.

"Don't be scared you two, we're always just a holler away." Jake said jokingly as he stopped the car in front of the Swan house. I pretended not to acknowledge that. "You can't keep this up forever, Jake." I whispered as Stephen with a quick look at us went inside, probably to let them know we were back and to find some food.

"We're not planning to. Once we get her, she's dead meat." He said, his voice dripping with relish.

"I'm warning you, Jake. If anything – at all – happens to any of you," I began. "You're free to hunt us down and hurt us. See you later, T. Go on, get inside now." He said.

I gave him one last glance before going in.

Stephen was talking with Bella in hushed voices in the kitchen and Charlie still hadn't come back so I headed straight up to bed. It had been a long and early night.

There's that, folks.

Jesus, I love writing the pack!

Ok, Ok, My Boyband is calling me! Ciao, Saranghae (I love you)

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