(Chapter Nineteen)

After a delicious meal, we all head back to the beach to start the bonfire. Sam lights the wood and we all grab seats on the surrounding logs. Seth takes a seat to my right while Quil grabs a seat to my left. Sam tosses a few more pieces of wood into the fire before taking a seat next to Emily.

"Anyone got any scary stories they want to share?" Quil asks.

"You mean besides the story of how your dad convinced your mother to sleep with him and create you?" Paul laughs.

Quil throws a rock at Paul, who catches it before tossing it over his shoulder.

"Don't get your ass kicked, Paul," Quil says.

"Bring it, Quil."

Quil stands up, "alright. You asked for it though."

Quil takes a running tackle at Paul who falls backward off the log after Quil hits him. Quil puts one foot on the log and flexes his muscles.

"And that's how it's done," he laughs.

We all laugh as Paul looks up at Quil from his spot on the ground. He shakes his head before standing up and dusting himself off.

"Just wait. You'll get what's coming to you," he says.

"Sure I will, Pauly boy. Sure I will," Quil says.

They sit back down and once we all settle, Jacob looks over at Sam.

"How about the Quileute werewolf origin story? I don't think Mia has heard that one."

I shake my head, "I haven't."

Sam shakes his head, "it really is astounding how in the dark you are about your own people."

I shrug, "my family is complicated."

Seth rolls his eyes, "you can say that again."

Sam clears his throat, "alright. Origin story it is, so Mia can at least know how we and she started."

"This is going to be good," Embry says.

"Embry, you already know the story," Seth says.

"So, that means I can't get excited to hear it again? Now shut up, Sam is starting."

Sam leans forward a little and we all follow suit.

"Legend says that there was once a great spirit warrior called Utlapa. Corrupted by the power that flowed through his veins, he wanted to enslave the neighboring tribes of the Hohs and Makahs. Unwilling to use the spirit warriors' power for such a purpose, Utlapa's chief Taha Aki banished him from the tribe. However, Utlapa only became further corrupted and enraged. One day, while Taha Aki was in the spirit world searching for anything that would pose a threat to his tribe, Utlapa possessed his body. He then cut his own body's throat to prevent Taha Aki from returning. Thus, banishing Taha Aki to spend the rest of his days in the spirit world and forcing him to watch as Utlapa did horrible things to his people. One day while Taha Aki was wandering the spirit world he encountered a large, beautiful wolf. An idea some formed and he asked the wolf to share his body with him, the wolf agreed. Once again provided with a physical form, Taha Aki rushed to the village and when he encountered a party of warriors, he began yelping Quileute songs. One of the warriors, an elderly man by the name of Yut realized that the wolf was under a spirit's control. Yut then disobeyed Utlapa's orders to not enter the spirit world and left his body to talk to the beast. Utlapa, fearing that his treachery would be discovered, killed Yut. Taha Aki became enraged and lunged to kill Utlapa. However, his emotions were too much for the wolf and it transformed into the magnificent flesh of Taha Aki's spirit. Utlapa was soon killed and Taha Aki set thing right once again with the tribe. From then on the descendants of Taha Aki take the form of a wolf when confronted with the scent of someone or something they feel will threaten their tribe."

"Holy crap, " I say.

"I know right. Crazy stuff," Embry says.

"That is freaking badass," I say.

Sam laughs, "glad you think so considering it's your history."

"So theoretically speaking...would I be able to wolf out?" I ask.

Everyone goes silent before Sam clears his throat.

"Theoretically, we don't know. The only woman we've ever known to wolf out so to speak is Leah. Since you're from a long line of alphas, you should be able to. However, the whole wolf-vampire hybrid thing is new territory for us, so we aren't sure how it would work," he says.

"What if I just tried to do it?" I ask.

Seth shakes his head, "It doesn't work like that, gorgeous. We only turn at will after our first turn and your first turn has to be triggered by something you feel threatened by or feel threatens the res."

"So, what were all of your triggers?" I ask.

"The Cullens," Embry says.

"Like their scent or something?" I ask.

"Yeah, that plus a few other vampires that came into the area for a bit," Quil says.

"Well, that won't work for me since I find the Cullens to be a threat. What about Asher? I see Asher as a threat, so why haven't I turned?"

Sam shrugs, "I don't know. You should have turned when first confronted with Asher. If not then, then definitely after you attacked us when he threatened Seth. It could be that the vampire part of you is repressing the wolf part."

I frown, "that sucks. I wanted to wolf out on somebody."

Seth laughs and kisses the side of my head, "don't worry, gorgeous. You are still a force to be reckoned with even if you can't turn into a wolf."

"I know, but it would have been so much cooler if I could go all wolf on somebody's ass."

"Maybe we can do some research into it and see if it has to be triggered in a special way or something. After all, Asher is able to turn into a wolf," Embry says.

"That's right. When he attacked me in the road, he was a wolf," I say.

"Well, there you go. We just have to figure out how to bring your inner wolf out," Jacob says.

"How do we do that?" I ask.

Paul smiles at me," I have a few ideas."

"I don't like that look. That look usually means that Paul is up to something and it's not good," Quil says.

Paul waves him away, "It'll be fine. Come on, Mia."

Paul gets up and holds out a hand which I take after a short look after a short look at everyone. He leads me further down the beach with all the guys following behind us.

"What are you up to Paul?" Jacob asks.

"You'll see!"

Paul stops and turns around to face me.

"Alright. You stand here and I'll be right back."

"Wha..."

Paul takes off into the forest and I look back at the rest of the guys. They all shrug and Emily smiles encouragingly at me.

"Where did he go?" Quil asks.

Before I can answer him, a giant wolf comes barreling out of the woods and runs into me. It sends me flying almost twenty feet down the beach.

"What the hell, Paul?" Seth yells coming after me.

I slowly get back up and brush myself off. I hold up a hand to stop Seth in his tracks.

"What. The. Hell. Lahote."

"You have to get angry. Really angry. You want to be a wolf then this is the way to do it."

"Tackling me twenty feet into the air is the way to do it?" I growl out.

Everyone except Quil freezes for the second time that night.

"Did you just... can you hear him?" Jacob asks.

I nod, "yeah. Quil and I discovered that I can hear you guys when you direct your thoughts at me."

Sam looks over at Quil, "and you didn't share this with the rest of the group because..."

Quil shrugs "didn't seem that important. We call all do it and she's one of us, so I figured it wasn't that big a deal."

Sam shakes his head and sighs before mumbling something under his breath.

"Can we focus here? I'm trying to help our girl wolf out."

"It's not going to work, Paul," I say.

"It will."

"It..."

Paul runs at me again and this time I crash into a tree at the edge of the forest.

"Protect yourself. Get angry."

"Paul..."

He hits me again before I can finish my sentence and this time I have to wipe the blood from the corner of my mouth.

"Protect yourself."

This time when I get back up and wipe my mouth, I'm pissed. This time when Paul tries to tackle me, I meet him halfway and send both of us flying back into the tree.

"I take it you're pissed."

I only growl in response as Paul gets back to his feet and bares his teeth at me.

"Now, it's getting good. Bring it, hybrid. Show me what you got."

I charge at Paul and he easily dodges out of the way.

"You're going to have to be faster than that to catch me, Wolfe."

I run at him again and he dodges again.

"Hey, Mia!"

I look over at Quil and he smiles at me, "hunt."

I cock my head at Quil, not sure what he means before it hits me. Instead of trying to fight Paul, I'll hunt him. Paul circles around me and before he can get any closer I take off into the woods.

"What the..."

Before Paul can figure out what I'm doing I hit him like a lion taking down a zebra. He hits the ground and I pin him down.

"Give?" I ask.

Paul gives me what I assume is a sigh.

"Give."

I let him up as Quil whoops from the sidelines. Paul disappears into the trees for a few seconds before coming back out. Rubbing his ribs, he shoots me a look.

"Did you have to hit me so hard?"

I shrug, "you said to show you what I got."

"Yeah, show me what you got. Not break my ribcage with one hit."

I laugh, "you'll be fine. You've got super werewolf healing besides I barely hit you."

Paul scoffs in disbelief, "you barely hit me? You barely hit me? Do you call that barely hitting someone? What do you call actually hitting someone?"

I arch an eyebrow up at him,
"annihilation."

The rest of the guys laugh as Paul just looks at me before shaking his head. Quil smiles at me before giving me a high five.

"That was badass. A whole lot better than earlier and I got to watch someone beat the crap out of Paul."

I laugh, "I did enjoy beating up Paul."

"You didn't beat me up. You tackled me like a freaking rhino taking down some animal who accidentally wandered into its territory."

"Actually, I believe the reference Edward used earlier was like a lion taking down its' prey," Quil says.

Paul rolls his eyes, "well excuse me for not knowing the correct analogy for what happened to my ribcage."

I laugh again, "really though. Are you going to be okay?"

Paul waves me off, "I'm fine. The only thing bruised is my ego."

"And your pride," Quil laughs.

"That's it, you little..."

Quil takes off and Paul chases after him, trying to grab him. Sam walks up to me and shakes his head.

"Those two. I swear you would think they're actual brothers the way they go after one another. What you did out there was impressive, Mia. Not a lot of people can take down Paul."

"Thanks. If you want I can teach you how to do it, so you can kick his ass too."

Sam laughs, "I already kick his ass, but I wouldn't mind learning a new trick."

We watch as Paul continues to chase Quil until he catches him. He forces Quil into a headlock and gives him a noogie. By the time everyone settles down and heads back to the fire pit since it's getting late, we decide to call it a night.

"Quil and Jacob, you guys have early morning patrol tomorrow," Sam says.

Quil and Jacob groan.

"Come on, man. We had early morning last week," Quil says.

Sam arches an eyebrow at him and Quil holds up his hands in defeat.

"And we will gladly have it this week too, oh great and powerful leader," Quil says.

Sam shakes his head, "just make sure that you do it. I don't want Asher slipping through because we weren't vigilant."

"Sir, yes sir," Quil says.

He and Jacob head home followed by Paul and Embry. Sam turns towards me, his arms thrown over Emily's shoulder.

"Mia, you are welcomed to stay the night if you want."

I nod and he and Emily head inside, leaving just me and Seth.

"I guess I should head out too," Seth says.

I give him a gentle kiss and back away but not before Seth wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me back to him. He presses another kiss to my lips and smiles.

"What time do you want to head to the Cullens tomorrow?" he asks.

"About that... I think it's best if you don't come with me tomorrow," I say.

Seth freezes before pulling away to look at me.

"You're kidding, right?"

I shake my head, "I wish I was, but Kai thinks it's for the best if you and Gabriel are not there. He knows about our connection and thinks you and Gabriel won't be able to stop yourself from jumping into action if you feel like I'm in danger."

Seth releases my waist and runs a hand through his hair, "and Gabriel agreed to this?"

"Yes."

Seth looks at me before sighing, "if Gabriel is okay with it then I guess I can be too. Just... just be careful and don't push yourself too hard. Tell them if you need a break or something."

I kiss Seth gently on the lips again, "I promise I will be as safe as I possibly can."

"That's all I ask."

He kisses me one last time before heading home for the night. I take one last glance at the beach before heading inside.

He watches from the shadows as they have their fun. Soon their fun is going to come to an end. Their whole world is going to come to an end. He watches her with a hunger he has never felt before. Soon, she would be his whether she wants to be or not. Tomorrow the first part of his plan goes into action but first, he has to set the stage.

Author's Note: Hey everyone,

So this chapter is a little bit on the lighter side of things. I figured it is important to have nice, little moments like these. Anyway, since we are a little more than halfway through the story, I figured I would to another little Q&A session. So, with that being said, shoot me your questions! Send a message, leave them in a review, email me at jrice07201996 , or jrice1996 , message me on Tumblr or twitter jjchantill. I look forward to your questions! All the love and happy reading-

Jess