"Billy, am I the last of my kind?" I choked out. Billy looked at me for one second and then smiled like he knew something and I didn't.
"Bella, there is also something special that I learned of the Kanuwats. Whenever a member of the tribe is separated from them, the member of the tribe that is separated is able to contact the chief through her/his mind. You have to concentrate really hard, though. Do you want to try and contact your father?"
There was a knock at the door. "That won't be necessary." The man at the door was extremely handsome, AND TALL! He looked to be about 6'7'', 6'8''. Somehow, his features were familiar to me. His black hair flowed down to a few inches past his shoulders. His jaw line was tight and he had lips…like mine. His body was very muscular, but it wasn't like he was a wrestler it was just…big. He wasn't wearing a shirt. Just like Jacob, he wore cut off jean shorts.
Jacob stood suddenly, in front of me like he was protecting me. I reached out touching his arm, and he instantly relaxed. I stood and took Jacob's hand in mine, leaning into his side. The man at the door looked at me in shock.
"Kalina." The man simply said. Sudden warmth washed over my body and involuntarily, I closed my eyes. Flashes of white wolves and people who looked like the man at the door went through my mind. Of course, I knew the man at the door! It was my brother, Kan Lee.
"K-Kan Lee?" My brother smiled and opened his arms for me to enter. I ran into them, squeezing my arms around his waist as tight as I could. Tears ran down my cheeks. I haven't seen him in 18 years! Kan Lee rubbed his hands on my back in a soothing way.
"Oh, Kalina, we have all missed you so much." I pulled away, looking into his eyes.
"We? Tell me, brother. How many family members are left of ours?" Kan Lee looked at me in confusion, and then his expression turned into understandment.
"You really don't have that much confidence in us, do you?" Everyone in the room laughed.
"Yeah, she didn't really have that much confidence in us, either." Sam said, off to the side. The whole room laughed even harder. I pulled out of his hold and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the couch. He sat down and I sat down next to him.
"Please, Kan, I need to know who all is alive." I pleaded. Hopefully everyone, I thought. Kan Lee noticed the concern on my face and sighed.
"All of your brothers are still alive," I sighed in relief, "So is father and mother." Mother was alive? Oh, thank God! She was the one person I remember the most.
"Mother is okay?" My voice when up in happiness. He nodded and a huge smile spread across my face. I stood and jumped around in circles happily. Everyone chuckled. Charlie was at the door, and he looked back at me.
"Charlie, where are you going?" I asked. The room fell silent. Walking over to my adoptive father; I reached out and touched his arm with my hand in concern.
"You don't need me anymore, Bells. You have a whole family waiting for you." A tear fell from his face. I looked into his eyes, and I could tell he didn't want to do this.
"Charlie, I know for a fact that you don't want to do this. You don't have to. You can still be a part of my life." Charlie raised his hand to stop me. I closed my mouth and waited for him to respond.
"I may not want to do this, but it's for the best, honey. Maybe, once you've settled in with your true family, then you can come back and see me. Sorry, Bell- I mean, Kalina, I really got to get back to work." He turned to leave, but I reached out and grabbed his arm. He turned and looked at me.
"Charlie, I will always be your Bella. Don't you ever forget that. I love you." I realized that this might be the last time I see Charlie for a long while. A tear fell down my face. Charlie smiled and gave me a warm hug before driving out of the driveway in his cruiser. The pain of him leaving shot daggers at my heart. I had to be strong for him.
I felt hands wrap around my waist from behind. I turned and Jake pulled me to his chest in a soothing way. That's when I broke, and cried rivers of tears into Jake's warm chest. I felt him pick me up bridal style in his arms and move me back the couch. He squeezed me to his chest and I had to remember that we had people in the room. I looked at Kan who was watching me and Jake's embrace with wonderment. He grabbed my hand in his.
"Kalina, is this your imprint?" Kan's eyes flickered from Jake and I. I blushed. I was in love with Jake, but he wasn't my imprint.
"Well, I don't know about my imprint, but I'm definitely his girl." I looked into Jacob's eyes as the smile I loved so much spread across his beautiful face. Even on Jacob's lap, his head still was above mine a good few inches. He leaned down and kissed me fiercely on the lips; a little too passionate for company. I pulled away, giggling.
"Kalina, that is no way to act around guests," Kan looked at me sternly, then smiled, "But I'm glad that you're happy." I reached over and gave Kan Lee a warm hug.
"Can you believe Bella actually dated a leech?" I heard Embry say to Quil. Kan Lee fell silent. His face went totally blank and then turned to a face of hurt betrayal. I touched Kan's arm in concern.
"Kan, I can explain, plea-
"You were with a vampire, Kalina? You loved the very creature that almost killed our mother? How could you!" Kan Lee stood from the couch and started to pace in the small space there was in the living room, due to all the amount of people in the room. I got off of Jacob's lap and wrapped my tiny arms around my brother's waist. He turned in my hold. Looking up into his eyes, I saw hurt and betrayal written all over his face. I was determined to make him understand.
"Kan, you must understand. I had no idea that I was part of a tribe and was to become a werewolf. I was a human and had no idea of what Edward's kind did to our tribe. Please, you must forgive me, brother. I really thought that I was an only child of divorced parents. Besides, if I did remember anything of our tribe, it wouldn't be much. I was only just hours old when Billy took me away from our family. The only true memory I ever had of our family was mother. As time went on, I tended to forget about her. I am so deeply sorry if you feel betrayed." My eyes were pleading, and I felt the warm tears gathering in the corners of my eyes. Kan Lee looked down at me with a hurt expression, but after a few moments it turned to understanding.
"I forgive you, little sister; although, you're going to have a hard time saying that to father." The air was suddenly lifted by the room's soft laughter. I dug my head deeper into my brother's chest.
Sam finally spoke. "Kalina of the Kanuwats," I looked at Sam happily and he smiled, "I thank you for saving my brother Jacob." I nodded and looked back at my brother's shocked face.
"You saved someone?" his eyebrows rose. I grinned.
"A vampire was going to kill my Jacob, so I stopped her and let the rest of the pack kill that leech." I explained. I felt Jacob's hand on my back.
"Yup, and she's got some roar, too. Very powerful, I hear." My brother looked down at me admiring. As if I had made a bet against him, an evil grin spread across his face.
"You want to go for a run, little sister?"
"Sure thing." I laughed as my brother ran out the door. It was the most beautiful sight seeing my brother phase into his wolf. His jeans were shredded, but I'm sure Sam had extra pairs. His white fur did have a faint glowing tint to it and his eyes were a remarkable blue. He was bigger than an average size horse. I wonder how tall father was.
Kan Lee looked at me with a confused expression. I realized that I had not phased yet. A hand touched my back. It was Jacob; he was confused, too.
"Bells, honey, are you going to phase or what?" Oh no, I thought. I've forgotten how to phase!
"Jake, I've forgotten how to phase!" I cried out. Jacob gave me a knowing look. He put his hands on my shoulders.
"It's okay, honey. All you have to do is focus in on something that makes you really angry or upset." As he said that, I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on something that made me angry. I thought of that leech that tried to kill my Jacob. All of a sudden, my hands started to shake, and the shaking ran all through my body. Jacob stepped back a few feet.
"Bella, that leech is after me, she's going to hurt me." I heard Jacob's pained voice say. That broke my control. Once again, I screamed and I felt my clothes starting to shred. I knew I was my wolf form, because an enormous roar sounded from my lips.
'Kalina, that was very impressive.' Kan Lee said in my thoughts. I turned and watched as the rest of the pack phased.
'Nice, Bells.' I heard Quil say. I barked my thanks to him.
'You just make me love you even more every day, honey.' Jacob thought. I went over and playfully licked his face with my big tongue. The low rumble that came from Jake was his chuckle.
'Okay, Kalina, you ready to go see father?' Kan Lee asked. I snapped my head at him.
'Now? Oh, brother, please may I bring Jacob?' I pleaded. Kan looked at me and then at Jake.
'Fine.' He said after a moment.
'Alright, you guys ready to head out?' Kan asked. Jake nodded and I did the same. We said our goodbyes to the rest of the pack and once we were ready, we ran through the trees as our wolf forms. Jacob never faltered from my side as we followed Kan.
'We are almost there. I have an idea. I'll tell you, Kalina, when we are about a few feet away from the perimeters of the tribe. I'll run in and phase, put some jean shorts on and tell father I have a surprise for you. When I whistle, that your cue to come out of the trees in you human form and have our reunion with our family. Got it?' I nodded my big wolf head.
We ran in silence after that. A few minutes passed and Kan Lee suddenly came to a stop.
'Alright, this is it.' He said. I nodded and he ran off into the forest. I was starting to get nervous, a low whimper came out of my mouth. Jake rubbed his fur against mine.
'Don't worry, Bells. They'll accept you. You are their daughter after all.' He reassured. I let out a low breath. I can do this, I thought.
Deep in the trees, I heard the signal. Kan Lee whistled and I knew it was my cue. I phased back to my human form and as I stepped into the tribe perimeters I felt myself…change. My hair felt like it got thicker and I felt myself grow a little taller. I heard Jacob gasp behind me.
"Bella, umm, wow." I turned and found that Jacob had phased back, too. His eyes were wide as he stared at my body, looking me up and down.
"What, Jake?" I asked a little curious.
"Come here. I'll show you." I followed Jacob's orders and walked over to him. He grabbed my arm and placed it against his. I gasped. My skin color matched his. He gently grabbed a few strands of my hair and compared it to his hair. Exactly the same color.
"Jake! What's happening?" I asked sort of freaked out and sort of excited. Jacob grinned.
"I think you're finally the Bella you're supposed to be." Jacob gave me a hug and then released me. I sighed and turned around. As I got closer to the opening, I heard an older man's voice. His was more majestic than Billy's. It had a power to it that was so surreal.
"Kan Lee, what is going on?" I heard the powerful voice say.
"Father, I know you will be happy with this surprise." So the powerful voice was my father! My heart filled with joy and I walked faster towards the clearing. Jacob let go of my hand and stepped a few feet back to give me some space. The clearing was just inches away now. I stepped on a twig and it made a loud cracking noise. Damn it, I thought.
"Who's there?" My father demanded. I looked through the branches and sure enough my father was standing next to my brother, followed by seven other large men behind him.
With a deep breath, I stepped through the trees.