A/N Many Thanks to those that take the time to review. I really appreciate them.

gabby871: Thanks for your suggestions, great minds think alike but you'll have to wait a few more chapters until one of your suggestions comes into play!
Silver Moonlight-81 and LordXeenTheGreat many thanks for your continued support. :)-J

Chapter 11: Bites!

"So who has bitten each of you?" it sounded like such an impertinent question.

Alice started, "In the years we spent travelling to find the Cullen's we had a few unavoidable run ins that, even with visions, we couldn't avoid without bigger consequences. I got a couple of scratches the one Kate gave you but travelling with Jasper they didn't survive long to do more than that. If they had any powers we had no indication of them."

Edward went next, "I had a couple of incidents during my time alone, disputes over me in their territory. Like Alice I had a couple of scratches but I avoided the worst of them by reading their minds. A woman was thinking how she was going to change her appearance so she could return to a bar without being recognised, another could heal the bite marks on his victims so he left no evidence. That's all in know of."

Jasper took a shuddering breath, I sent him a wave of peace to help him. He looked up at me in shock, I don't suppose he gets emotional help like the others have become accustomed to.

He was calmed as he started, "Maria may have had a power similar to Victoria's as she managed to avoid capture in the most unlikely circumstances. I trained and killed thousands of newborns and many of my scars are a result of their strength and volatility. Maria expected me keeping them alive for their useful fighting window. I was under orders to keep an eye out for useful powers to aid the war. Very few had powers or if they did they didn't show up in their newborn year.

One could make his skin feel human temperature, one could predict coin tosses and simple games, another could flip the coin in the air controlling which way up it landed, one could soften metal enough to open locks on doors without breaking them; none made it past their newborn year as they didn't manage to make tactical use of their power.

We had one that could create fire but he couldn't control it. He was very unpredictable but Maria was determined he could be an asset. He burnt with a building he was in.

We had a remote viewer but he could only view those he had met and only the present, he was killed on one of his reconnaissance missions to meet some of the targets. One could send a realistic image of himself up to about 100 yards but his body was vulnerable, that was how he died.

Of those I fought against in other covens, I didn't noticed any powers in those that got close enough to bite while we were fighting but...

Oh, and don't forget Peter's freaky sense of knowing things and being in the right place at the right time!"

Eleazar had a mad scientist gleam in his eye, "Do you want to try for some of those powers?"

I didn't think I'd get away with the 'no', I was so tempted to say, so I went with, "Okay, but first," he was looking like a child that had their favourite toy confiscated!

I turned to Carlisle, "I phoned Sam last night to let him know we were at the house. I didn't want them to worry if they came across our scents. I asked him to come by some time today so I can update him. I think they should know about all our guests and my powers," I hoped I hadn't over stepped by bring Sam in.

I could see Eleazar looking concerned about more people knowing about me but Carlisle beat me to the punch, "Sam is the Alpha of the shape-shifters in La Push that we have the treaty with. Bella is good friends with them. We worked together closely trying to keep Bella safe while she was human."

Eleazar gave me another evaluating glance and nodded thoughtfully.

We went outside to practice. I reminded them how much Esme dislikes damage to the house to clinch the deal.

I tried the remote viewing and the projection ideas first. Alice decided to sit a distance away with Jasper, Emmett, Peter, Charlotte and Kate playing simple games that Jasper remembered playing in his army days, in hope I might be able to influence them or use a power and watch them. Rose sat with Emmett but wouldn't join in.

Carlisle and Eleazar were making helpful and not so helpful suggestions on how to trigger a power. Edward stayed with me to try and keep me calm. Well that worked until Eleazar came up with the idea that if I was less calm the powers were more likely to trigger.

Edward went to join the others in their games which wasn't too bad, until Tanya returned. She squeezed herself in between Edward and Peter.

I was getting more and more agitated as she giggled. Her hands kept walking onto Edward, first flicking his hair from his eyes when the wind caught it and blew it into his eyes. Then a hand on his forearm when he won a round. The final straw was a hand on his knee that slowly crept up his thigh.

I stood shaking in anger, still trying to get over there without moving. A cracking, shattering pain convulsed throughout my body as I leapt to stop her. I stopped dead in shock when I realised my white hands were no more, I was on paws, large snowy white paws at that.

I yelled, "Edward," but it came out as a growling yelp. They were all staring at me in shock. I called with my mind, "Edward help, please."

He stood and walked across nervously, "Bella?"

I nodded and sent, "Yes, it's me. Can I hurt Jake? Please."

He laughed at me, "No, you think it's his fault?"

I nodded as I sent, "Remember, I mentioned him accidentally biting me when he was first phasing."

He turned to Carlisle and Eleazar, "Could that be the reason?"

They both looked confused. Edward turned to me, "Are you only sending to me?"

I lowered my head nodding, "Sorry, I just reacted. Could you get me some clothes so I can try and phase back."

Edward called to Alice, "Can you grab her some clothes?" then turned to Carlisle and Eleazar to fill them I on my theory.

I retreated back into the trees and thought human thoughts, as I had instructed Jake for his first phase. It wasn't as painful going back but I had to wait for Alice to bring me the clothes.

The clothes didn't fit properly, I must have gained another couple of inches taking me up to 5' 8" and gained slightly more muscle and shape.

I walked out of the trees to gasps, "I thought I was supposed to remain unchanged after becoming a vampire," I complained.

Edward came halting to me, "Wow, you look even more... wow!"

Alice bounced at my side, "She needs a complete new wardrobe, who wants to shop?"

Thank goodness I can use newborn status to avoid that.

Eleazar got a new toy, "Can you change into anything else?"

Carlisle went into doctor mode, "Are you all right? Was it too painful?"

Shock or shaken might have been more accurate, "I'm fine, I think. I need to feed again."

Edward started uncertainly, "Do you want.."

I just grabbed his hand and set off running.

Just the act of running calmed and centred me again. We ran to Edward's meadow, to our meadow. I collapsed down.

"Don't you need to feed?" Edward asked me concerned.

"Yes, but not urgently. I needed to get away to give me time to deal with all this," how could I be a Wolf too.

"What triggered your phase?" he asked me.

I dropped my head, hiding my face in my hair. Old habits die hard. "I was jealous of the way Tanya was touching you, I got angry," I admitted.

He reached a finger under me chin and gently raised my face, "If you had listened to my thoughts you would have heard me mentally cussing her and trying to think of ways to get away from her without hurting her feelings. I won't allow her to do that again, your feelings are more important to me than hers."

He chortled, "Now you know what I went through knowing how much time you spent with Jake. Every hug he gives you sends a knife of jealousy through me even though I can read his thoughts to know he thinks of you as a sister and you tell me you think of him as a brother. I just see another man with his arms around you, I always want it to be me."

I laughed, "Thank you, I don't feel quite as bad now. Oh no, how much teasing is Emmett going to give me about being a big bad wolf."

"He still owes you all those favours, you might be able to use them to stop some of the teasing," he laughed knowing nothing could stop Emmett from teasing others.

We sat laughing and joking. It was in the middle of a tickling fight that broke out that we realised I could shape-shift into more than just a wolf. I had extended my arm by at least a foot to reach to a ticklish spot on Edward's ribs.

The giggles continued as I practised. I popped back to my normal shape without difficulty. I could change all aspects of my appearance. I changed into every animal I could imagine, including many mythical ones!

I stopped suddenly and looked at Edward, "Do you thing the telepathy could come from the wolves?"

He became serious as he thought, "It sounds as likely as anything given today's events. Do you think you should hunt and we will head back? The wolves are coming sometime today aren't they? I can't wait to see their reaction."

It was the thought of Jakes reaction that got me moving. I relish undisturbed time with Edward but this could be fun!

I grabbed a deer on the way back. It was such a shame just to bury perfectly good meat. I was sure Jake would appreciate some venison.

As we got closer to the house I felt to see where everyone was. All the vampires were back in the house. The wolves were approaching the house.

I had an idea. I opened up a mental channel to Edward. He loved the idea. I stepped behind a tree to strip and phased into a wolf. Edward grabbed my clothes and bundled them up.

We waited until all the vampires and wolves were together outside the house. Edward placed my clothes just out of sight in the tree line. He jumped up onto my back and I ran forward towards everyone.

The looks on their faces was an absolute picture. I just wish I had a camera. Even those that had seen me like this earlier were in shock.

Edward jumped down and I shifted into a griffin. I took to flight. I tried not to think about the lack of aerodynamics for this shape or the physics of the short wing span compared with the weight of the body, but! Arghh, too much went though my mind as I flew a loop over them shifting into a dragon but the aerodynamics of that was just as unlikely. I landed back in front of them and did a few more shifts. I walked into the woods for the final shift back to my normal shape which needed clothes.

I walked at human speed from the woods to the others. Shocked wide eyes and silence greeted me. I looked at Edward and we both just creased up in laughter.

For two that don't need to breathe with were both gasping for breath by the time we had laughed ourselves out.

I was still chuckling as I gasped out, "Hi Sam, Jared, Jake. How are things?"

Jake was first to respond, "Hi Bells, I can't leave you for two minutes without you getting yourself into more trouble."

"Jacob, it's all your fault. If you hadn't bitten me...." I had to give him some grief.

His face contorted in concern and guilt but I didn't let it go further, "Jake don't, there is no blame. As you said I can't go two minutes. Has Carlisle updated you on the craziness that is me?"

He nodded his head, "We thought so, then you come back and give us a magical zoo show, he never mentioned that."

"Errmm well, Carlisle only saw the wolf, the rest is new," I admitted.

"So that's another two minutes in the life of Bella Swan!" Jake laughed at me.

I laughed with him, "Pretty much! You know me too well."

Edward piped up, "She is even stronger and faster since she phased back for the first time."

Sam clarified, "That's normal for us following the first phase."

Irina looked at me with total incredulity, "How do you laugh? Vampire's aren't designed to change yet you are having new things every day. You are still only days old yet you don't act newborn, how do you cope with it all?"

I sobered and gave her the answer Gramps always gave me, "You always have a choice. The choice may be rock or hard place, but it's still a choice. If given the choice to laugh or cry, I'll take laugh every time. I may need some quiet time to keep coming to terms with the changes but I'll keep smiling for as long as I possibly can."

She nodded, "You really are an amazing woman, I'm honoured to know you."

I felt so touched at her generous words, "Thank you," I smiled. At last, she had withheld judgement on me, I think I have gained another friend.

Edward and I sat outside catching up with the wolves. Jake loved his homecoming. Sam and Jared complained he never shut up about our many adventures we had during our travels.

Edward growled a couple of times. I had to open up mind reading to find out the problem.

Jake was thinking about some of the adventures we didn't report back home.

"Jake, Edward enough. We came back safe. Accidents happen," I chided them.

"Accidents aren't jumping out of a white-water raft to go down the rapids on your back," an incredulous Edward spat out.

"Edward, you can go inside with the others," I threatened him, "I'm home safe now, it doesn't matter what happened, we walked away. No-one can accuse me of not living my life to the full before I changed." He scowled at that but dropped the subject. He no more wanted to leave me than I wanted him to go but it was the past and I had fun and came out the other side safely. I had to remind Jake I could read his thoughts to so not to push his luck or I would send him home, he let out an indignant humph but complied.

I had Jake in stitches laughing, shape-shifting can take pulling faces to a whole different level. Sam and Jared tried not to encourage our childishness, fighting so hard to keep straight faces but they couldn't manage.

I told them about my theory that my telepathy might be a wolf trait so we had a practise.

I was able to hold open a connection between all five of us. I could deepen it to cover all thoughts but it was nicer keeping it at the 'voiced' thoughts. We tested the connection and found, just like the wolves connections distance didn't effect it. I'm able to disconnect then re-connect using the hook and thread to find each of them.

Sam was still running back from one of our distance tests when Paul, Quil and Embry came on duty to run patrols. When they phased and connected to Sam's mind I felt their hooks connect to my mind.

Sam was amazed by the accuracy that I could find them, He decided I should be able to locate all the wolves, in case of emergency, so we made plans to connect at the next bonfire. I could connect to Sam then all the others as they go wolf so I could 'hook' them.

Edward noticed when he went out of his mind reading range he could still hear using the link. I shielded him after that, to keep him on a level playing field and from overhearing thoughts that they didn't really want to share.

Dusk fell and Sam decided it was time for them to go. I teasingly told him I wouldn't need a phone to contact him now.

My life has deteriorated to a 'look at me, look what I learned today' bragging-fest. I hate being the centre of attention in this.

When we went inside I gave yet another update.

The Denali's headed out for my house.

Alice decided a movie night was on the agenda so I curled up in Edward's arms and let film after film flow unrecognised in front of my face as I let my mind gently wander.

Edward and I kept a connection open so we could talk as the impulse took us without worrying about Alice telling us off.