None of Those Freaky Shifter Here

Jesse's POV:

We stopped at the edge of a cool green clearing. Not a man made one, a natural one. Boulders had collected in the area like a secret hideaway and I understood what Ali had meant. Everything was covered in soft wet moss. There were lots of hiding places under rocks and up trees. Dips in the ground made by tumbling stones had been filled with blankets of golden, red and orange auburn leaves. Trees with magnificent roots lifted above the ground created mazes of miniature balconies of overhang moss and fairy sized pools of rain water. Rays of sunlight seeped through the cracks in the firs, lighting up the small glade. The dew drops on the moss covered rocks glittered and sparkled and reflected rainbows everywhere. This place was truly magical.

I'm sure I'd passed through places like these hundreds of times when out patrolling and never thought of it twice.

Ali and Lin Lin had already started playing, running around massive tree trunks and hiding behind and under small hollows. They looked so happy and I didn't want to disturb them so I let them jump and crouch and hide and giggle and scurry.

I looked around for Fred. He had sat down in a dry patch of leaves under a tree by the side. I decided it was time to confront him.

I phased back and put on my clothes, that I had conveniently remembered to tie onto my leg.

"Could you phase back please, we need to talk," I asked him determinedly. He grumbled a bit and slumped off into the forest. I respectfully turned my back and watched the girls play.

"So what now?" I turned round and made a mental note of him.

He was native american with strong features. Possibly a foot taller than I was. He looked fairly threatening, even to me.

" I wanna get this straight. You're a shifter, but you're from Makkah. Does that mean there's another pack there?"

"Yeah there is. But lets clear the table first. You will not tell your ratty little pack about us. You won't come and find us. You will keep us a secret and I will you. You won't cause us any trouble. You won't press any more and pretend this never happened and we never met. I'll do the same for you. In return, we can talk one to one. Got that?" I gulped and nodded, he was leaning over me and glaring fiercely. I wasn't a good fighter but I was fast. I just nodded though. "We won't be telling the girls anything between us either.

"I want to start. Firstly, how do you know Ali?"

"I met her today at the beach."

"What a coincidence. You see, you're not telling me the whole truth. Teenage boys don't make friends with little girls. Who is she to you?"

He was getting on to me and I had to lie or the truth would cause a lot of trouble.

"She was familiar to me. She looks like my aunt. I just started talking. Is that so wrong?" I pleaded desperately. I really didn't want to get into a fight.

"Hmm.. depends, for all I know, you could be a pedophile." Now that was crossing the line. I had no intention of hurting my imprint. The mere thought made me feel so sick.

"No I'm not! I was simply on the same beach!? What are you? Her father?" Calm down Jesse, remember he is a lot taller than you.

"Fine. Next question. Your pack.."

"What about them?"

"Are they- big?"

"There's a few of us. What about yours?"

"Not many. Less than six. That is, because most of the lazy lot can't be bothered to do pack business. But we are expecting in the next few years that some will phase and actually do some patrolling." he laughed heartily, I could feel the ground vibrate. I stood back, staring at him like he was mad. The guy liked to laugh did he? Something about these Makkah people. They did like to laugh. the girls were constantly giggling. I thought that they must be very nice, jolly, funny people inside who liked a good joke and game. People in La Push were always very serious, especially the pack. Grumpy gits, they were.

"Well, are they all so joyful as you?" I asked him.

He sighed.

"Sorry, I have to keep on guard. We're not always so defensive. We're actually nice people."

"Really? Good for you. My pack are lazy buggers too." He laughed again, and this time I smiled with him. He nodded happily.

"Yeah, you're all right. Jesse was it?"

"Yeah that's right."

"Well, you're a good guy Jesse. I really wouldn't mind if you came to Makkah for a visit. You promised no trouble already. Not as wolves. Just Jesse and Fred and Ali and Lin Lin and pizza. How 'bout it?"

" I really have to get back. Sorry." And it really was getting quite late.

"C'mon, you don't get chances like this everyday. I don't want to be the only guy at dinner. C'mon, one time?"

"All right then."

I never thought, for all my life that I'd ever be sitting and having dinner with an enemy wolf. I would just have to remember that I'm Jesse and he's Fred. None of those freaky shifters here.