Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight.

Author's Note: Hey, you guys--here's the next chapter up quickly! Why? First, because I got over the 100 review mark. YAAAY! Second, because some horrid jerk smashed out the window in my car, and I had to spend the day waiting for the repairman to come replace it. Also, I wanted to say that even though I'm not great about responding to reviews, I love reading them as much as the next person. I really take your comments seriously. Little note on the side--Estela's eyes are similar (though more mottled) to those of the famous "Afghan Girl" photo. I had a friend in Venezuela whose eyes were just amazing in the same way that Estela's are in this chapter. Wild and beautiful.

Chapter Twenty: The Wolf and the Jungle Cat

Alice grabbed [Estela] away from me at the same time that Rosalie shoved me into a different set of arms.

I looked up to see the dark eyes of Nahuel smiling down at me. I smiled back.

Over Nahuel's shoulder I could see Jake.

Jake looked pissed.

I rolled my eyes.

I was not going to be a jerk to Nahuel just because Jake (the traitor) was suddenly wrestling the green monster. Besides, I could not help but notice that Jacob looked surreally attractive when angry. His sharp jaw clenched and his almost-black eyes shot daggers at me.

It was yummy.

Besides, Nahuel was a treasured friend. Like Jake, he was so warm and comforting. He was the only male of my kind. He understood my half-vampire freakiness. Ever since we visited South America about two years back, I had been a kindred companion to him and his sisters—except Lican.

Lican could drown in the Styx for all I cared.

Nahuel's encounter with our family began his "change." By the time he returned to South America, the Volturi had already made dust of Joham. Then, when his aunt Huilen found a mate, Nahuel stopped hunting humans. He finally felt a chance for redemption—a way to show his devotion to the human mother he never knew. He also began spending more time with his half-sisters. This had not gone over well at first. Lican, the eldest, refused to forgive him for his role in Joham's death. His second sister Nulpi did forgive him but stayed with Lican. It was Estela, the youngest, who joined Nahuel in his new lifestyle.

Estela was the palest of her sisters—her skin had a lovely honey color. Of course, she was sublimely beautiful, as beautiful as Rosalie, if in a different way. I was accustomed to people waxing poetic about how my almond-shaped, milk chocolate eyes were just "enchanting"—but I knew better. Estela possessed the most beautiful eyes in the world. They were enormous, thickly lashed tiger eyes—a ring of indigo with a feathering of gold and green clashing against a deep brown in the center.

Wildy beautiful and she knew how to use them.

Estela had joined Nahuel with the caveat that they move to Buenos Aires. She was tired of living in the woods. She wanted access to clothes, money, and men.

Alice adored Estela.

The two women were in the midst of half-frisking each other as each examined the design, stitching, and detailing of the other's apparel. Alice's soprano-high voice was exclaiming in wonder over Estela's laced thigh-high boots. Only Estela would wear thigh-highs to run in.

Estela ran a high-end boutique in Buenos Aires that specialized in converting traditional ethnic clothing into modern fashion. Alice had assisted her with setting up the venture. The two could talk endlessly about the history of fashion and future trends and so on, on and on and on.

I turned my attention back to Nahuel. We walked to the porch swing at the end of the patio and sat. Mom had engaged Jacob in conversation—but I could see that he was monitoring me out of the corner of his eye. Stupid, over-protective imprint boy. I grabbed Nahuel's hand to "speak" to him.

How's urban life?

"Good. It is the life Estela necessitates." He paused and smiled. "I consider myself content. I gained my degree from UBA at last—history."

Nahuel! Why didn't you tell me? You should have let me know.

"It is a small thing. Not a difficult degree when you have lived a century and a half, but nevermind, there was still much to learn. I believe it was a proper start."

What's next? Are you going to do research or what?

"Presently, I believe my path is headed toward teaching. I will continue to stay in the capitol, but there is much I can do, so many of the Mapuche myths and histories have already been forgotten."

Nahuel, you have to tell me the myths again. I love hearing them. I replayed my favorites in his head. The gruesome wars between the goddesses Ten Ten-Vilu and Coi Coi-Vilu—and the tale of King Millalonco, child of the love affair twixt a beautiful Maphuche maiden and a sea lion.

"You know, I have often wondered about the origin of that story."

The celestial bitch fight or the seal baby?

"Lovingly termed."

You know I love them. Which one?

"The latter. A half-sea lion child? That seems more improbable to me than a half-vampire."

But then again, so many myths…

Nahuel finished my sentence for me, "Are based in truth. Yes. Your friend Jacob actually gave me a great deal of food for thought in this regard. He's a shape-shifter. I wonder if there used to be other kinds of shape-shifters."

I will say, I think a wolf would be preferable over the sea lion to the fair maid.

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow.

Wouldn't a sea lion be very slippery?

Nahuel—normally so intense and serious—burst into laughter. "Ness, please tell me you haven't taken to kissing the wildlife."

I wrinkled my nose at him, but I also blushed.

He looked at my face speculatively.

I decided now would be an opportune time to change the subject.

How's the whole not-drinking-humans thing going?

"Good. No errors since before you last visited. We continue to hunt onthe pampas and the surrounding jungles, as you might expect. Also, Argentine Angus is among the world's best, so we dine out for prime rib on the sporadic evening. And how are you, Nessie? You are six and a quarter years now, no?" His gaze swept from my toes and back up to my eyes.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jake twitch irritably.

"Indeed, I am." I grinned widely. "In fact, I don't know if you heard, but I started school."

"I heard, and I heard it has caused you some trouble."

My grin died. I frowned. "Yes, if that's what you call it…"

Nahuel held my eyes in an intense stare. "Ness, you have naught to fear. We will defend you." I felt the finger tips of his free hand gently graze the edge of my knee.

Hah! Nahuel was hitting on me.

I saw Jake jerk his head. His eyes bore into mine.

I pointedly avoided the traitor's stare.

Seemingly unaware of my interaction with Jacob and seeing that I had not withdrawn, Nahuel took the opportunity to tenderly pull me into his arms. I let him.

As Nahuel hugged me, I felt his warmth engulf me. It could not be ignored—my childhood friend was ridiculously fine-looking. It was nigh impossible not be attracted to his warm teak eyes, rich mocha skin, and sculpted form.

Still, a hug between friends was nothing to throw a hissy fit over.

Apparently, Jake thought differently.

He marched across the porch and sat in an iron wrought chair directly in front of the swing, speaking briskly. "I agree with Nahuel's former statement, Ness. You should be wary of dangerous men."

I stared at him—half flabbergasted, half seriously amused.

Nahuel was staring from my face to Jake's, trying to figure out what he was missing.

Estela, ever observant, decided to jump into the increasingly tense conversation. "Oh, Nessie! Too beeeautiful for your own good! All these big, strong men a'runnin' around after your loveliness!"

I rolled my eyes for the umpteenth time tonight. Estela never spoke plainly.

"Oh, and I must see that ring." She snatched my hand. "So prrritty." She purred, carefully going over the woven pattern. "It's from Jakey, no?"

I expected to see "Jakey" frowning at Estela's nickname from him—but instead he looked remarkably smug. Then, I noticed that Nahuel's lips were pursed as he examined the ring.

I didn't get a chance to respond. Jake cut in. "Yes, it is. I made it for her, and she accepted."

"Oooh, Jakey!" She skipped towards him and pulled his two hands into her own. "You will teach me the weave. I think I will die if I do not learn it! I could sell something similar to this in my store." She cried excitedly. "You've given me a fountain of inspiration!"

She paused minutely and lowered her head to the side thoughtfully, before a devilish grin overtook her expression. "Jakey, you absolutamente must present me to your sexy pack brothers. I've heard much about them. I'm so weary of having to choose between these weak little dumpling men and chilly, stony, self-deified vampires, and if your brothers are anything like you," she purred, "then I have much to look forward to." She moved her body closer to Jake.

Right. I no longer liked Estela.

Estela was dangerously close to having her prriitty little eyes gouged out.

To his credit, Jake gave a polite affirmative and stepped back immediately. Huh. Maybe the imprint thing wasn't so bad.

I departed from the swing and sat in the chair next to Jake's, puting my arm around his waist and pulling him towards me.

Estela's eyes twinkled in amusement. Horrid she-devil that she was, she was having fun with this.

Nahuel missed nothing this time, and he did not look happy about the current location of my arm around Jake.

"I don't know if you should entertain a visit to Jake's pack, hermanita. The odor might offend."

"Nahuel—don't be rude. We don't have the same nasal receptors that vampires do, and Jake smells musky, smoky, fiery…" she inhaled deeply.

Shrew. Witch. Harlot. Stop talking about my man!

"Either way, one should take caution among their lot. Control is always an issue."

Jake growled under his breath. "Sure, sure, because that's so much worse than venom-coated teeth."

"We are half-vampires," Nahuel countered. The "we" was definitely meant to include me.

"Your venom is poison."

Nahuel stood. He stared Jake fiercely in the eyes. "There's only one way to find out."

Jake stood and immediately began to shake. I knew he was about to take the bait when both Estela and I jumped in front of him.

"Down, down, mi perrito," she lectured playfully.

"Jake, drop it. Okay?" I pushed him into his chair.

His jaw was clenched, and his stare was fixed on Nahuel. I grabbed his jaw and forced his eyes to meet mine. His tremors gradually subsided.

Nahuel looked amused.

I realized the porch was perfectly quiet. None of my family and friends had missed the spat.

The sound of an approaching vehicle broke the silence. We listened as it pulled to a stop in front of the house.

Alice spoke, "Delivery."

I didn't wait for any additional discussion. I was ready to get away from the pissing contest.

"Got it!" I called as I left the porch and ran through the house. I opened the front door and walked down the front steps to meet the driver. He paused in astonishment as he realized I was standing in front of him.

"Delivery?" I reminded him.

"Oh. Sorry, miss. Sign right here."

I signed the form, and he handed me the package and headed back to his truck in something of a daze. Huh. Maybe I should stop him from driving?

But then I saw the writing on the package.

It was addressed to me.

I slid my finger along the seal and pulled out the item inside.

It was my mobile, the same mobile that had been left at the front of my Western Civ class.

I was staring at it, when it suddenly beeped.

I flipped it open.

I had a text message.