Bayaq's trick cost many Quileute's their lives, and the Great Alpha Female and Great Alpha Male could not figure out how to stop their new enemies. Q'wati said the only way to kill the Cold Ones were to rip them apart, but when the Great Alphas attempted to rip them apart, the Cold Ones kept reassembling themselves. Worried, they called all the other Alphas in hopes that an Alpha Male or Alpha Female could think of a way to destroy the monsters that drank Quileute blood.

Charlie was nervous. Her palms were sweating, her heart was pounding, and her breaths were coming out in quick uneven gasps. She supposed that she wasn't hiding her nervousness too well by the way that her boyfriend kept glancing over at her. But then again, who could blame her? In about five minutes, she was going to meet her boyfriend's closest group of friends, and his family, not just his mother, but his sister too!

What if they didn't like her? What if they thought she was conceited?

Charlie's hand nervously slid down to her Gucci boots. They cost about $100 per foot, and a lot of people have seen her in these exact pair and have jumped to the conclusion that she was a rich, ignorant, airhead. She certainly didn't want her boyfriend's mother to think these things about her. She should've stuck with wearing her less expensive low-key Coach shoes.

Over in the driver's seat, her boyfriend sent a reassuring glance her way. "I'm sure they're going to love you." He grinned at her before focusing back on the road.

"Seth," Charlie groaned, "it isn't about whether or not they like me; it's about if they think I'm good enough for you. We're from two completely different worlds, and what if nobody thinks I'm worth your time." Towards the end of her statement her voice grew quieter and quieter until she was sure that Seth couldn't even hear what she was saying.

"If they don't think you're good enough for me, then they're idiots." Seth's statement was enough to make Charlie smile. "Charles, I'm the one that's not good enough for you."

"Seth –"

Seth raised a hand to cut off his girlfriend. "You know it's true, Charles." The young wolf grabbed his girlfriend's hand as they pulled into the beach parking lot. "The thing is…. I think I'm in love with you and even though we're only in high school I'm pretty sure what I'm feeling is real. I don't care if you love me or not because eventually you will love me."

Charlie pressed her lips against Seth's enjoying the feel of his lips on hers. "I think I love you too, Baby Boy."

"Let's go, Mami."

The couple walked to the beach hand-in-hand and even though their hands weren't a perfect match, Seth was glad for the imperfection. To him, everything about her was perfect. He didn't long for an imprint where everything would be perfect; he longed for the girl that was right next to him.

The first person to notice the couple was Collin and Brady who had chosen to sit in the perfect spot so they could see anyone that approached the bonfire. The two were unaware that Seth was bringing a date, and they were twice as surprised when they saw the designer shoes she wore. Despite her attempts to dress the shoes down by wearing jeans and a white shirt, they stood out painfully.

"Hey, Seth," Brady muttered keeping his eyes locked on the girl standing next to his pack mate. "Who's your friend?"

"Didn't you two hear?" Jared interrupted as he slung his arms around the two pups. "Seth decided to bring his girlfriend. He hasn't been able to shut up about her." Jared pushed the pups away from him as he reached out to shake Charlie's hand. "I'm Jared, you must Charles."

"Yeah," she shook his hand awkward suddenly feeling twice as nervous as she did earlier. "Seth talks about you guys a lot."

"I hope he says good things." Collin piped up winking at the poor girl who turned several shades of pink. "Lord knows, he loves to talk about what good friends we are."

"Don't flatter yourself, pup." Seth teased as he gently tugged Charlie over to the rest of the pack. "Besides, I think it's time you met the family."

Charlie suddenly found herself being surrounded by a group of tall Native American men and several not so tall Native American women. She wasn't sure how to handle the attention besides muttering a few hellos and struggling to remember everyone's name.

A nice scarred lady named Emily talked to her and kept her away from the group of tall muscular men until the Council arrived. By then, Seth had taken her hand and was leading her towards a tall slim woman who was whispering very quietly to a man in a wheelchair. From what she knew, this was Sue Clearwater and Billy Black: the people who had been with Seth for his whole life.

"Hello, darling," Sue cooed Charlie as she pulled the young girl in for a hug. "I'm Seth's mom, but you can call me Sue."

"Hi," Charlie made sure to stand straight and remember her manners as she smiled up at the woman. "I'm Charlie, but a lot of people call me Charles. Seth tells me that you run a store on the reservation that specializes in one-of-a-kind jewelry. He says that you made this necklace." Charlie pulled out a thin necklace with a very detailed carving of a wolf hanging on it.

Sue inspected it very carefully before smiling. "I did make it. I had no idea he planned on giving it away to a girl."

"It's very beautiful."

Seth wrapped an arm around Charlie's shoulder and pressed his lips against her cheek. "Jacob's here."

Asha stood tall next to Jacob and the presence of another Alpha and of another pack washed over the Quileute shape-shifters and they all froze. Some looked questioningly towards the Alpha while others moved towards their imprints. They did not mean any disrespect to Asha or her pack; they just did not understand if they could trust her.

Behind her, the rest of her pack stood silently watching and waiting. The silence seemed louder than the chatter that had filled the air earlier and Sue seemed to be regarding Asha with a stern look.

Suddenly, Bali managed to run out of Leah's arms and head straight towards his father. The moment the young wolf had wrapped his small arms around his father's muscular leg the tension seemed to shatter and the casual atmosphere returned.

Asha looked back at her pack wondering if they were dressed too formally for this affair when she noticed the attire that the La Push Pack was wearing. The men in Asha's pack all had on dress shirts with khaki pants and moccasins while she wore a white knee-length sundress with her chestnut colored UGGs. For a moment, she wondered whether or not they would "blend-in" but before she could voice these concerns to Jacob two young pups from the La Push Pack were standing in front of her.

"Hello, I'm Collin and this is Brady." The two wolves thrust their hands out and warily Asha shook each wolf's hand. "Let me be the first person to formally welcome you to La Push."

Asha decided she was unprepared for the greeting she received when both wolves bowed down awkwardly low to her. Nervously she glanced over at Dilwyn only to see him greeting a La Push wolf enthusiastically. A quick glance to her left showed her that Antaeus was already setting up strength challenges with the other wolves.

"I am the mighty Antaeus and I have not lost a match yet. Who dares challenge me?" He bellowed loudly causing a rather large La Push wolf to approach him.

"Collin, I think she's ignoring us." Brady's harsh whisper forced Asha to stare at the two wolves that had straightened out and were now watching Asha with a curious look.

"Maybe she's focused on Jake," Collin waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"I think I'm going to go stand with Antaeus." Asha took a hesitant step backwards before quickly moving over to her pack mate who was setting up an arm wrestling competition between him and another wolf.

"What is your name, young one?" Antaeus questioned the wolf loudly ignoring the chuckles of the wolf's pack mates.

"I'm twenty-eight I doubt I'm that young." He muttered.

"I am over a century old. You are young." Antaeus laughed loudly and the sound echoed around the bonfire. "What is your name?"

"Paul." The wolf took the toothpick out of his mouth and tossed it into the fire. "Are we gonna wrestle or what?"

Another La Push wolf knelt down next to the pair, and looked each one in the eye with mock seriousness. "I want a nice clean wrestle here. No spitting, fighting, cursing, or yelling, understand?" When both wolves nodded their heads, the wolf smiled. "One… Two…. GO!"

The minute Paul went to flex his arm; Antaeus had already slammed his arm down leaving a large uneven crack where the back of Paul's hand had hit it. The La Push Pack that had gathered to watch the contest all grew silent when they saw how fast Antaeus had won. Immediately, the silence was filled with shouts of who wanted to go next.

Paul gritted his teeth and stood up quietly as he stared down the older wolf. The two stared at each for a moment, but Paul broke away first heading over to the mounds of food sitting over at a table by the Council. Asha stared after the wolf for a moment before returning to the festivities.

Another La Push wolf named Jared had taken Paul's spot. He eagerly held out his hand determined to win, but he lost even faster than Paul had. One by one each La Push wolf challenged Antaeus until the only wolf left was the La Push Alpha.

Asha didn't know if it was just her, but Antaeus looked uneasy to be fighting against an Alpha. Jake had slid into the spot across from him casually without even looking like he was focused on the contest. The wolves stared at each other before Jacob placed his arm on the rock with one eyebrow raised.

"You are next, young Alpha?" Antaeus questioned as he rubbed his hands together nervously. "Are you sure you wish to challenge me?"

"I'm positive this is what I want." Jacob motioned for Antaeus to put his hand on the rock as well. "May the best man win?"

"Kick his ass, Jake!" The she-wolf in the La Push Pack cried out loudly. A large cheer followed her statement and pretty soon both packs were crowded around the pair.

The two started and Jacob was pushing Antaeus's arm down, and the La Push Pack cheered louder. Suddenly, Asha was joining in the yelling as Antaeus managed to push Jacob's arm back up. Soon the two were straining to push the other's arm down, but they were evenly matched.

"You are strong, Alpha," Antaeus grunted out as he strained to move Jacob's arm.

"As are you." Jacob replied. "But I believe that I am stronger." With a burst of strength Jacob managed to slam Antaeus's hand down against the rock.

"This is the first time in my whole life that I have lost." Antaeus murmured as he flexed his hand. "I think he has earned the name Heracles for he is the only one that has defeated me!"

"Nice job, Heracles." Jared's imprint, Kim, murmured into Jacob's ear causing him to flush deeply.

"Don't tell me that you're going to call me that from now on." Jacob groaned loudly.

"Of course not, Heracles." Seth teased causing a young African American girl next to him to giggle. Asha was pretty sure the girl's name was Charles or Charlie.

"Come one, Heracles, the bonfire is only just starting." Asha joined in the teasing as well. Besides, she might as well enjoy her time in La Push. She was going to be here a while.

A young girl somewhere in her early twenties sat in a large throne with a fine silk blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The throne was decorated with gold carvings and rare jewels, and she wore a large amount of jewelry. Next to her sat a young man that appeared to be the same age on a throne identical to hers.

"Milord and Milady," a young man not too far into his teens walked into the throne room before stopping a good ten feet away from the thrones. He wore baggy pants that were two sizes too big with a thin white shirt on that seemed to make his muscles stand out even more. "The Italian Pack has not followed us here."

The man seemed to think about this before waving his hand to dismiss teen. "Thank you, Achilles that is all." The young man, Achilles, bowed deeply before quickly hurrying out the room tripping over his feet twice.

"Neima, darling," the man cooed to the woman. "I told you that your Pack would not follow us."

Neima turned her glassy brown eyes towards the man before smiling. "I was wrong to doubt you, Kano." Neima's voice sounded light and airy as if she were breathing the words instead of speaking them. "I do hope you forgive me."

"Of course I do, my love." Kano brushed a strand of Neima's hair away from her face. "Didn't I tell you how much you would enjoy it here with me? Did I not tell you that your Pack would never find us? We are free to live our happily ever after."

"I know, but I wish to see my sister again." Neima pouted and Kano frowned at his mate's disappointment.

"Do not worry; she will be here soon enough."

Kano clapped loudly and a pair of male vampires wearing only a pair of baggy sweats walked in with their heads lowered to the ground. The two bowed to Kano and the king smiled greedily at the power he held over the Cold Ones.

"I want you two to lure Asha here. Tell her that her sister wishes to see her." Kano clapped his hands again and the pair walked out of the throne room leaving the Alpha Male and the Beta Female alone. "See Neima, I will handle everything."

Neima blinked as if she did not hear him and then blinked again. Her eyes cleared up a little and she glanced around the room trying to remember where she was. Each time she tried to think of how she got there all she remembered was fog.

"Neima darling, what is wrong?" Kano reached for Neima's hand, and she flinched away. "Oh dear, drink some of this Neima."

Kano reached for a pitcher resting by Neima's throne and handed her a glass filled with what appeared to water. The she-wolf stared at him before frowning.

"I do not wish to drink this."

Kano sighed and pushed the glass closer to her. "Please, Neima." Suddenly, Kano's pupils grew smaller and smaller until his eyes were completely brown. "Neima drink this." The she-wolf shuddered as the weight of his command washed over her. She shook even harder as she tried to fight it, but eventually her hand reached out for the glass.