Alix's POV

I woke up.

I was so bored it wasn't even funny.

I was in my bedroom now. It sucked not seeing the morning or afternoon sunshine. I didn't do the dark. I hated it, not seeing anything.

Sighing, I stuck a ear bud into my ear again and blasted my iPod on high. I really wanted to just get out of my head for a bit, if that wasn't too much to ask. Really my thoughts were so confusing and crazy that I couldn't bear to listen.

I sounded like a crazy person now.

Then my ears perked up, listening to something other than the music.

Someone was in the house.

Oh jeez.

Why now? I really didn't feel like kicking butt today.

I turned off the 'Pod and set it down on my bed quietly. The person was shuffling around the kitchen, opening cupboards and raiding the fridge it sounded like.

What a fatty.

I eased myself out of my room snuck down the stairs, careful to not make a sound.

I glanced to the side and saw Jake's Slugger baseball bat lying in the corner. I grabbed it tightly and made my way to the kitchen.

I could only see the back of the intruder's head. He looked very fit and strong. He could take me down easy if I were just human.

Which I so wasn't anymore. Yay me and my freaky deaky life.

Inching towards the guy, I raised the bat slowly...slowly...

WHAM!

I shrieked as I swung the bat down, intending to split his head open or at least knock him unconscious.

Instead, the dude had lifted his hands and caught the bat mid-swing between his huge hands and had tugged it out of my grip.

"Alix...really? A bat? I thought I taught you so much better. The chainsaw is much more suitable." The guy muttered.

I grinned. "Dad? You're back?"

Dad turned around and smiled back at me.

"Actually, I'm here to take you somewhere else. Leah's ecstatic and wants to see you. Seth does too." He told me.

My face actually went pale.

"But doesn't that mean that....the clones will be there?" I whispered to him.

Dad rolled his eyes. "Oh come on. They're angels. I don't know why you and Jake still hold the incident against them. They're just babies."

I shuddered anyway. I still remembered the last time we babysat the twins. Somehow, they had managed to almost blow up the kitchen and destroy my bedroom all in one night. It still gave me nightmares. I had to have my bedroom quarantined it was so bad.

"Just get dressed and stuff and we'll be on our way." Dad instructed me as he went back to hunting for some food.

I was climbing up the stairs when the doorbell rang.

I heard dad answer it and sigh.

"Pop, what are you doing here? The power go out again?" Came dad's muffled voice.

Granddad laughed. "No. I hear that my granddaughter's in trouble. Just wanted to see if she needed some protection."

"Yeah, well she's got me and my pack to take care of her. She'll need more than an old senile man to protect her." Dad laughed too.

I rolled my eyes and continued up the stairs. Granddad would leave in a bit, I knew. And dad would take me to Aunt Leah's and Uncle Seth's after.

What to wear?

I mean, not that I cared or anything. I'd just as soon go in my PJs if it was left to me, really.

But if I did care, I had to make sure it wasn't anything pretty or valuable. I was bound to leave in a mess and all with those demons.

Ugh.

Bella's POV

I was crying like a...like a hormonal pregnant woman watching Oprah.

Oprah was sympathizing with a young couple who had a troubled child. He had an aggressive behavior and ADHD and diabetes. It was the saddest story on today's show. I hoped my child would come out like that. The young couple were trying so hard to make their child happy but it seemed impossible. Plus, they had triplets on the way which they were happy about but would no doubt make life harder.

"Oh no! Poor them!" I sobbed, while digging into a carton of Cookie Dough ice cream.

Elias came through and stared at me.

"That's...that's my favorite ice cream! You're eating it all up!" Elias exclaimed.

I glared at him and hugged the carton tighter to me.

"Too bad." I hissed. "I need it."

Elias scrunched up his face but I knew he wasn't going to cry.

"Mommy!!" He screamed and ran away.

He was going to tattle.

Claire appeared a few minutes later and shook her head at me.

"Bella, really? Ice cream? That's not healthy for the baby sweetie. No matter how much you want it." Claire said softly, taking the ice cream out of my hands.

She glanced down into the container and looked up at me in disbelief.

"I was hungry and emotional." I defended myself.

I knew that the carton was pretty much demolished.

Elias would be pissed at me.

Claire sighed and set the carton aside.

"Hey, you want to do something today other than this?" She waved vaguely at me and the TV screen.

"No."

Another sigh.

"I'm sure the baby's bored. How about we practice...."

"No. I'm not practicing breathing or giving birth and pushing. And don't give me any of that 'it'll be fun' crap. I'll bite you." I grouched at her. I knew I wasn't being terribly fair but I couldn't help it. Claire knew what it was like. It wasn't that long ago when she was big and expecting.

Claire held up her hands.

"OK OK." She said and backed away.

Score.

Mmm.

I was still hungry.

Sam's (the girl) POV

I sighed.

We weren't getting anywhere.

So I decided to dismiss my pack. I didn't want to keep them for nothing.

I had no clue who the lone wolf was no more than I did in the beginning. Great. That's excellent.

"Wait Jake." I said, reaching out to him.

He paused and turned around.

"You will let me know if you find out who the wolf is, right?" I demanded.

Jake nodded and went out the door to join Quil.

I narrowed my eyes at them as they disappeared into the surrounding woods. Do I follow?

No. I trusted Jake. If he knew, he would've told me.

Plus, that annoying prophecy was getting under my skin. It looked like it was going into action. First this wolf that no one knows and then everything else would mess up. And dad would not be pleased if the same thing happened to me the way it happened to him.

Two alphas.

Ugh. I shudder to think that could happen to me.

Only, this time, the prophecy said the true alpha would knock the current alpha off the throne completely. Meaning, I wouldn't be alpha, period. I'd just be one of the pack, a position I did not want to be in.

I rubbed my arms as goosebumps rose on my skin.

I would find this person and force them to join my pack.

Or kill them.

Jacob's POV

We arrived at Leah's safely and quickly.

Alix wasn't too happy about that.

Huh.

I knocked on the door and glanced at my stone faced daughter.

"Please be nice." I begged her.

Alix frowned even more at the door.

Finally it opened.

Leah smiled at Alix.

"Come on in. We have so much to talk about."

I let Alix enter first and then I went. Leah almost slammed the door on my foot.

Oh, I'd get her back.

One of the babies ran into the hallway with their thumb in their mouth.

It was Haydn, one of the youngest. He ran to Alix and latched himself onto her legs.

Despite herself, Alix smiled down at him.

"Hey little man. Good to see ya." She reached and picked him up, settling him on her hip.

Haydn giggled and buried his face into her neck. He was so cute and also very shy, unlike his brothers Kane and Blaise. Aina was outgoing too.

"Hi Alix." Haydn mumbled.

Alix rubbed his back and soon Haydn's blue eyes closed shut.

"You want to put him up?" Seth came into the room with a smile.

Alix shook her head.

"You can. I think he's slobbering on me." Alix wrinkled her nose.

Seth laughed and took his boy from her arms.

"I wonder if Aina and them are still awake." Seth mused.

As if answering our question, Blaise and Aina came running into the hall screaming and laughing. Looked like they were playing It. Kane appeared and they both squealed.

Kane was It.

Kane laughed maniacally and chased after his sister.

"Oh God." Alix groaned. If it was one thing she didn't like, it was hyper children.

It was like they were on drugs they were so hopped up.

Leah put her fingers to her mouth and blew.

"ARGH!" I covered my ears. The whistle was so shrill and high pitched, it felt like my ears were bleeding.

But that got the kids to stop.

They stared wide eyed at their aunt in silence.

"What did I say about running in the house?" Leah frowned at them.

"No running." The three of them said in unison.

"Sowee." Aina muttered. The boys said the same in their tiny voices.

Leah nodded in approval.

"Now, I think it's time for a nap or lunch. You decide." She told them.

Kane raised his hand just because. "Lunch!" He shrieked.

Blaise looked at his twin for a second before deciding.

"Nappy." He said quietly.

"Lunch!" Aine trilled happily, like she was singing.

Seth took Blaise's hand and led him upstairs while Leah went with Kane and Aina to prepare their lunch.

Alix looked at me and I looked back.

"So, when is that talk coming?" She asked.

Jake's POV

"So how did you do it man?" Quil asked when we were far enough away from the Uleys.

I was asking myself the same thing.

I shrugged.

"Dunno. It was like, I felt the weight of the command but I lied anyway. And then, it lifted. It was like I pushed through and it didn't matter."

"The prophecy." Quil said slowly.

I nodded. "That's what I was thinking a little. Sam's definitely not the real alpha. I think it might be my sister."

"Alix. Oh man, this'll go to her head." Quil whined.

I grinned at him widely. "We'll keep her head level."

"Should we tell her though? Or let her find out." Quil wondered.

"Let's ask my dad." I decided.

We turned into wolves and quickly ran through the woods. I knew my dad would be at Leah's house talking to his pack.

I hoped he knew what to do with something as important and huge as this.