Disclaimer: The Twilight book series and all recognizable characters and situations belong to Stephanie Meyer I don't own any of that. But I do so love her stage.

**Please see the authors note at the end of this chapter for info and acknowledgements*****

Anything written in italics is a flashback, random thought, or text message depending on the context.

Adam's Lightfoot's Pov

The surveillance footage from the home security system focused on a cab as the driver came around to open the door. Dario slid out and reached in to help the female out. I froze the frame. I was looking at a real lupa! It's both startling and amazing.

Wow she looked...well she looked like us. I saw a beautiful girl with unique shifter features. She had the exaggerated height, the muscular build, abet more refined on her, and a wolf tattoo on her right arm. I couldn't stop staring at her picture.

Eventually, I typed her name into a search engine and combed through the image results looking for a match. On page three I found a picture of a man with the same tattoo cutting a ribbon with a small group of people. I clicked on the picture and it took me to the official website of the Quileute Nation.

On the home page was an article about the grand opening of a new community center in La Push Washington. I read the caption. Left to right: Sam Uley, Quil Ateara the third, Billy Black, and Sue Clearwater. This Sam Uley is a shifter. He and the Lupa must be tied to Pack Bishop in Upper Makah. I clicked on the upcoming events window and read an announcement of Leah Clearwater's graduation. I dialed Alpha Hemming's personal cell.

"Lightfoot? About damned time you called," his voice answered.

I got right to the point, "Everything is wrapped up, but we have some new… developments Matt. Coinin is about to phase." There was an uncomfortable pause. You and I both know Coinin should have phased in his teens, unless he inherited a dormant form of the gene. "Look Matt Ioana...," I began.

He cut me off, "What else Adam?"

I shouldn't have brought her up. I dropped my bombshell, "lpsa domina Lupus is one Leah Clearwater, a Quileute out of La Push Washington.

He whistled softly and said, "Good work Adam! Have you initiated contact with her?"

I shook my head even though he couldn't see me. "There's more to it, she may be linked to Pack Bishop," I replied, my voice trailing off.

He said "Adam?"

"Yes I'm still here. This doesn't look good. Upper Makah and the Quileute reservation are about an hour apart. I find it hard to believe two different packs could live in such close proximity and not be aware of each other," I said

"What did Bishop have to say?" he asked.

"I haven't spoken with him. I just identified Ms. Clearwater a few minutes ago," I admitted.

A couple of minutes went by before he spoke, "I want you to look further into this Adam. And for the record, I hope you're wrong."

"I'm already on it. I'll call you when I have something," I said before ending the call.

Coinin's Pov

Adam took the exit leading to the small private air park and drove along a road parallel to the airstrip. He turned into a small parking area near one of several hangers dotting the landscape. A sleek private jet stood just outside the hanger with the door opened. Three tall muscular men stood waiting near the aircraft.

Adam got out and waited for me before locking the car. We walked over and he introduced me to the pilot and co-pilot, a pair of twins with matching buzz cuts. The flight attendant who bore a strong family resemblance to them, introduced himself. They spoke with thick European accents. As soon as we boarded, the flight attendant raised the steps and secured the door. Adam stood near the cockpit talking quietly to the twins.

I spent most of the flight trying to get comfortable, crossing one leg and then the other, adjusting myself repeatedly. I started to drift off but the intense smell of shrimp mixed with spices, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, onions, and cloves made it impossible to sleep. I opened my eyes. The flight attendant was offering some type of stir fried shrimp entree. Adam's eyes lifted to me before he waved the food away.

I sat still waiting for the smell to subside. When it lingered I shot out of my seat barely making it to the lavatory before I emptied the sparse contents of my stomach. I splashed my face with water. The cool felt refreshing on my feverish skin.

I glanced at my face in the mirror wondering if I knew the man staring back at me. The overhead lights were unusually bright almost blinding. These changes to the intensity of my senses had been occurring randomly for the last week. I couldn't accept the only explanation I'd been offered.

A few hours ago in my room Adam pulled a chair up to the bed and straddled it facing me. He spoke quietly, "Coinin let me describe your symptoms. You have a slight headache and feel lightheaded. Sometimes your vision or hearing becomes sharper seeming to zoom in and out. Your jaw, arms, legs and tailbone ache. The fever runs through your body like it's trying to consume you, and none of your clothes fit."

"Is there a point to this?" I asked.

He sighed softly and said, "You have a genetic condition inherited from your biological father…you are a shape-shifter. Right now your body is changing to accommodate your first shift or as we call it phase. I wish I had more time to prepare you, but we didn't expect you to change. We wanted you to enjoy a normal life before bringing you into all of this."

"What gives Adam?" I asked. I rolled over and adjusted my pillow, "I feel like crap and you want to tell scary stories?

All he said was, "Coinin humor me."

I adjusted my aching body seeking comfort, "Adam get out!" I grumbled. Oh did I mention I've been having anger issues?

I heard him rise from the chair, "OK, but I'm calling in that favor that you owe me".

Ten years ago my mom announced that she was going to a conference and would be spending the night an hour away in the city. I decided to take her favorite car for a joyride with a few friends. We drove around all night. I thought that I was free and clear, but my mom noticed the extra 200 miles on her odometer and came down on me hard. She would have grounded me for the rest of my life if Adam hadn't smoothed things over with her. I thanked him and swore that I would return the favor one day.

"What do you want?" I hissed

"Let's go upstairs so you can watch me phase" he said. There was no humor in his voice.

Adam was making me angry. I rolled over and lifted one eyelid, "Right Now?" I stalled. He had left the room.

"Yes now," he called back.

Adam and I have been friends for a long time. I didn't think he was delusional, yet he was asking me to believe he's a "shape-shifter". I rolled out of bed and stomped my way upstairs into the large sparsely furnished room originally designed to be a home theater. Various rugs were scattered around. Two wing-back chairs, a bookcase, and a floor lamp sat against the wall near a large window. Double doors on the far wall led into the master bedroom suite. Adam uses this part of the house. Dario and I rarely come up here.

He was closing the privacy shades when I came in. "Shh don't wake Dario," he said. He turned to face me pulling his polo shirt over his head before unzipping his jeans. "Lesson One: Don't wear your favorite clothes until you have control of your phasing. This looks easy, but it takes years to master," he stated.

"Seriously Adam years? You're not much older than I am," I snorted.

His eyebrows went up. "Listen pup, I'm old enough to be your great-grandfather. Now watch and learn," he retorted.

I leaned against the wall... OH CRAP! One minute Adam was standing there. The change was so seamless I almost missed it, just a blur and in his place stood the largest gray wolf I've ever laid eyes on. It stepped over Adams jeans which were laying intact on the floor. The wolf blurred and Adam was once again standing there. He picked up a pair of basketball shorts I hadn't noticed and pulled them on. He looked me straight in the eye. "Any questions?" he asked. It all seemed to happen in an instant.

I couldn't form any words so I just shook my head. He nodded "Good. You and I will be flying to Washington to be the guest of one Pack Bishop. Our flight leaves in five hours. Everyone on board will be shifters so there is no danger if you phase early. You still with me Coinin?" I nodded and he advised me to get some rest.

The plane hit a pocked of turbulence pulling me back to reality. I reluctantly made my way back to my seat and settled in. Adam handed me a glass of ice water with lemon slices. "Here sip on this and try to relax Coinin. We're almost there," he said.

We got into Port Angeles late in the afternoon. Adam rented a Jeep and we started the hour long drive, to a little town the name of which escaped me at the time Folks? Adam told me we would be staying outside of the town well away from any populated areas. The monotony of watching the paved road as the miles fell away lured me into sleep.

I roused when the Jeep slowed and came to a stop. We stepped out into the cleared area in front of a two story rustic lodge style house. A flagstone porch led to the entryway. Adam walked over and removed the key from an envelope that had been taped to the door. I pulled our bags from the back of the jeep. The whole house was decorated with an Early American theme.

The first thing I did was take a nice hot shower and lay down for another nap. I woke up feeling energetic and refreshed. Hiking is in my blood and I wanted to get out and explore the forest. I dressed in jeans, hiking boots and a warm shirt. I looked around for my backpack and checked the contents, compass, canteen, and dried fruit. I tossed my cell phone inside and went downstairs.

Adam looked up from his laptop when I entered the kitchen. Apparently he had gone out because two Styrofoam trays of take-out along with several grocery bags cluttered the counter. Without asking I opened one and devoured the grilled chicken sandwich and fruit salad I found inside. I opened my backpack and began to fill the canteen with water.

"OH we're feeling better," Adam said from behind me.

I grinned, he knew me so well. "I'm going for a hike, I won't be long a couple of hours," I told him.

He picked up the envelope that came with the house keys and took out some papers glancing at them. "Our nearest neighbors the Cullens live about five miles north of here. Just avoid that area and any hikers you run into. You still have a couple of days before you phase, but don't overdo it. If you start feeling sick call me on your cell phone and I'll come find you," he said. I didn't argue figuring it was in my best interest to listen him.

About an hour into the hike my senses sharpened when I caught a stench that didn't belong in nature. It aggravated the hell out of me and burnt my nose. Instinctively I began to follow it aiming to destroy the source. A white hot pulsing pain began in the back of my neck and spread to my extremities. Oh Crap, Oh Crap...

My arms folded at the elbow and froze. I watched my sleeves tear apart. And then my skin fell apart, I could feel my bones and tendons snapping, moving around reforming. I screamed. An awful howl filled the air as the pain gradually subsided. I realized it came from me. My whole body felt different. I looked down and saw two white paws instead of hands. My clothes lay shredded on the ground around me. Oh Crap, Oh Crap, I need to find Adam.

I felt disoriented as I started hearing voices in my head. "Who's Adam? Wait did we get someone new?" a disembodied voice asked. Just then I caught the odor again only now it was much worse. My aggression level rose accordingly and I automatically started tracking it. Sniff, Sniff find and destroy!

A second voice spoke in my head, "What the heck? He's tracking a leech". I heard another howl a short distance from me. The second voice spoke again sounding panicky, "That's one of the Cullens! Stop him Quil you're closer!" I felt a strange ripple just as the first voice said, "Brady get Sam I'm almost to him."

Two things happened at once a third deep voice joined the conversation, "No need Brady. What's going on?" A huge chocolate brown wolf with a lighter brown face jumped into the path about four feet ahead of me, "STOP!" said the second voice. He startled me so much I came to a skidding halt. It finally occurred to me this was a shifter and he was speaking to me telepathically. Well damn!

A/N: First of all I want to thank everyone for reading, following, and favoring this story. I would also like to say thank you to everyone who left me feedback. It means more than I can say.

For me personally sometimes reading dialogue gets confusing if its to bunched up together. I tried to space it out a little. Let me know if this works better for you.

Next chapter: Both backs are in for a few surprises and we get a glimpse of Leah. All for now and enjoy!