A/N: Sorry- what I posted was all garbled.. let's hope this works better...

ENJOY!

Holding the bundle like a baby, I started on the path Ellaene had showed me earlier and sent a fervent prayer up to the Divine Ones for their help and guidance. As I walked I kept a steady conversation with Ellaene. I had no idea if she could hear me or if she was even conscious. I didn't like the idea of her feeling like she was all alone.

The sun was getting low in the sky and my pace was slow. Add in the slight incline and less than smooth terrain and I felt as if I was barely moving. Several times I had to stop to let my arms rest and catch my breath. A wolf was a lot heavier to carry than I thought, but Ellaene was worth it. It was with thought in my mind that I picked her back up and trudged onward.

I crested a small hill that felt more like Mount Kilimanjaro when I came into a large clearing. There were scattered small fires. I wondered if I had found the outer limits of the pack's territories. "I think I found the pack, Ellaene," I whispered into her ear. "Can you hold on a little longer?" Ellaene twitched minutely and I prayed she had heard me.

I made it past the clearing with the fires and stumbled up on a very worn path. There were several that diverged off the main path. Figuring that the main path was the safest bet, I followed it. Less than half a mile, two wolves and two men walked out from a thicket of trees.

"Stop right there," ordered one of the men. I followed his command.

"I need your help. I have an injured wolf shifter. She is badly hurt. Please help her."

The man who spoke nodded to the other and he along with one of the wolves came over to where I had laid Ellaene down. "She only just shifted for the first time a few days ago. She was coming here to seek answers when we were attacked by susfera."

Wordlessly, the man opened the blanket and gasped when he saw Ellaene. "We need to bring her and this human to Carlisle." He looked at me. "You look exhausted, I'll carry her. I promise she and you will not be harmed." Knowing that Ellaene would've trusted them, I nodded and watched as he picked Ellaene with reverence. "Follow me."

I was amazed at how quickly he moved with Ellaene in his arms, as if she weighed nothing. Ten minutes later and a few less traveled paths, we arrived in a huge field. Log cabins dotted the landscape. Children and adults roamed freely. Wolves of all shapes and sizes walked among the people. Sometimes they would stop next to a person who would talk to them. The two men and wolves headed toward the largest of the cabins, set to the back of the encampment.

I paid no attention to the other people and wolves, my focus stayed on the person who was holding Ellaene. The other man opened the door to the large cabin and yelled, "Carlisle!" To a small kid who was playing on the floor, he barked an order. "Go get Doc Em. NOW!" The kid nodded and bolted out the door. Carlisle burst through a different door followed by a woman.

"What's going on, Mike?"

"I found this human carrying this wolf at the crossroads. He said that she was a recent new shifter and was coming here to talk to you when they were attacked by susfera. You need to see the wolf, Carlisle."

Carlisle walked over to where I was crouched near Ellaene. Warily I watched Carlisle's face, trying in vain to figure out exactly what was going on. If I had to fight each and everyone of them, I would if they dared harm one hair on Ellaene. Carlisle knelt down by see, seeing my protective stance, he placed a soft hand on my shoulder. "You will not be harmed, human." I nodded but didn't not alter my position.

Gently Carlisle moved the blanket to see Ellaene better. Like the others, when he saw her, he gasped. "It can't be," he whispered. Looking up at me he asked her name.

"Ellaene."

Carlisle didn't reply as the front door of the cabin burst open with small kid from before and huge hulking of a man. "I heard I was needed, Carlisle. What's going on."

"There's an injured female wolf. Was attacked by susfera. Where would you like to work, Em?"

"Bring her into the living room. Susfera wounds need to be cleaned out so they don't get infected." Without asking, Carlisle scooped Ellaene and brought into the living room, laying her down near the fire. Like all others before him, Em gasped when he saw Ellaene. It was starting to grate on my nerves that no one was telling me what was so fucking surprising. "Is it? Could it be?" Em asked Carlisle.

"I don't know. I'm going to talk to the human while you work on her, Mike will assist you with anything you need. Follow me, human." Without looking at me, Carlisle left the room. I froze, uncertain where I should be. Em touched my leg bringing my attention down to where he was kneeling on the floor.

"She'll be fine, I promise. She is among friends, human. Go talk to the Alpha." Sensing no deception, I gave him a terse nod and went through the door Carlisle had disappeared into.

The room turned out to be a kitchen and the heady aroma of coffee made my mouth water. Carlisle was sitting at a center island while the woman I had seen before was pouring coffee.

"Would you like some?" She smiled and it put me at ease.

"Please and thank you ma'am." I sat down across from Carlisle. We were silent until the woman came over with a tray of three steaming cups of coffee. She served me, then Carlisle before placing a cup before her.

"I'm sure you're confused about what's going on," began Carlisle. I bobbed my head as I sipped on the warm liquid. "To be honest, I'm just as confused. Before I ask you a few questions, let me assure you once more that you're safe and will come to no harm. I'm Carlisle Cullen, Alpha of the Custos Pack. This is my mate and alpha female, Esme. May ask your name?"

"I'm Edward." I held my hand out and Carlisle shook it.

"Can you tell me what you know about the wolf? How did you come to be with her?"

Sending up a prayer that trusting them was the right thing, I told them my tale; the plane crash, Ellanee helping me out, healing by Alicena, and our travels to the Guardians. They were quiet, asking only a few questions. I explained what happened when Ellaene first shifted and how many other times she has.

"She told you her name was Ellaene," asked Esme.

"Yes, the first time I met her." They went quiet, both lost in thought until Esme grabbed her husband's arm.

"Dear, it could be her! Think of how old she was when she went missing. Ellaene could really mean Bella bean, especially if she was injured. After all this time, it could be her. I'm going to check on her." Esme left leaving me with Carlisle.

"Care to explain?"

"Twelve years ago, my enforcer, Charlie and his family went on a trip. Their daughter, Bella, had just gone through her first shift. It's a momentous occasion, one that is anticipated and celebrated. His daughter wanted to go camping to celebrate. With my blessing they left, they never came back. When we went to search for them, we found two bodies, Charlie and his wife Renee. Bella was never found. By the amount of blood we assumed that all three of them were killed. I believe that the girl you call Ellaene is really Bella. Her father gave her the nickname of Bella bean as she was such a skinny child."

"Why do you think Ellaene is her?"

"I saw Bella's first change, and her fur was the same color as Ellaene's. Normally a wolf's fur matches their hair, with Bella it matched…"

"…her eyes," I finished. Carlisle nodded.

"Tell me, Edward, are Ellaene's eyes grey-blue?"

I could only nod. "Is that uncommon."

This time Carlisle nooded. "Bella's were the same color. They were like that as Renee sought help conceiving from a fairy. The magic affected Bella's eye color."

"Well that's quiet the twist." I sat back in my chair.

Carlisle chuckled. "I would have to agree." He finished his coffee. "Let's go check on her."

A/N: We have answers! I would love to hear your thoughts!

WVG