Author's Note: Ok, sorry for the delay. It was finished for a few days now, but I wasn't at home to upload it. Besides, it's hot like a frying pan here and I've got lots of stuff to do, babysitting the children I get some ideas about Pili from, for example... ;)
I have to announce that I won't be updating too soon, since whole july is stuffed with... uh... stuff. Camps with hundred children and all that.
I hope you enjoy this chapter (even though I'm suspecting some won't like it)...
I hope to update as soon as possible, but I can't give a prognosis. ;)

Chapter 16 - Unsettling

I'd spent the whole afternoon taking a nap on the living room couch. It did good to stretch my arms and legs. Mikala sat on the floor, playing with Kaili, while Rebecca rummaged something in the kitchen. I felt a little guilty for not helping her, but when I'd told her that, she had just sent me back to the living room. "Get some sleep, Lee. I can do this, if this is the only thing I can do for your mission..."

I'd nodded and yawned. "...Kay."

I felt better when I finally got back up. I walked into the kitchen to look for a place to help, finding the kitchen table set up nicely. Rebecca came in from the hall and noticed my mimics.

"Oh, we're having guests today, from the pack. Not really a pack meeting, but I think they're all curious..."

"Oh.", I replied. "Okay. Sorry I didn't help you, I didn't know."

Rebecca sighed, laughing. "Well, you can do the laundry, if that's okay. I didn't get around to doing it within all this excitement."

"Sure.", I said. "I don't want to misuse your hospitality or anything. I came here to help you with the children and the household, after all."

"Lee, you're doing great. You're doing so much more than I'd ever expected you to do. I am misusing your kindness."

"Let's call it even, then, okay?", I proposed. "Deal."

I backed out of the kitchen to go for the washing machine. That was truly enough work to keep me entertained for a while.

I was just being done with my occupation when the door bell rang for the first time.

"I'll get it.", I shouted towards the kitchen and crossed the hall.

"Hello, Leah.", I was greeted by Mano.

"Hey.", I greeted and let him in. "I think Rebecca is almost finished making dinner. If you're hoping to see my friends, they're entertaining Pili right now.", I informed him.

He laughed. "Well, that's a pity. But I think I have to wait anyway."

I led him into the kitchen and served him something to drink, doing my best to be a good host.

"Thank you."

I seated myself next to him. "Do you like it here, on the Big Island?", he asked, meeting my eyes. "Yes.", I replied, not missing a beat. "I love it. I love living with Rebecca's family, being with the kids..."

He smiled. "Yes. These kids are charming. Especially little Kaili." I nodded. That proved my theory that Kaili was absolutely irresistable.

"You seemed to be... reluctant to do this.", he stated, making it sound like a question.

"Oh.", I replied. Did I really let this show? I'd thought I had been quite composed... most of the time.

"Yes... I didn't come here to be a wolf again... I wanted to quit."

He looked at me. "Really?"

"Yes. I want a normal life.", I said firmly, not wanting to go more into detail.

The door bell rang again, and I rose to open, playing host again. This time, Ka Hiwa and Pua arrived. I'd noticed before that they were both pretty, but I'd not noticed how young they really were. When I had invited them into the kitchen, I decided to ask, though I wasn't sure if that met the matters of courtesy here.

"Ka Hiwa?" The young woman turned to look at me. "I was wondering if I could ask you something..."

"Sure.", she smiled.

"Well... may I ask your age?"

"Of course. I'm nineteen."

Oh. So she was really younger than me. "And.. how come you got the dog spirit?", I asked right away.

"Oh. Well... just as anyone gets it. My father gave it to me when he retired. Since I've got no brothers, it was my honor to be the heiress of my father's tribal heritage."

The pride in her voice made her look graceful and glorious. I wished it would have the same effect on me, but their mythical secret was so different from mine. I guessed I'd never really understand it, but it was fascinating me.

"It's amazing. Though most of the dog warriors are men, we are regarded just as high as they are.", Pua joined the conversation. "What's it like for your kind?"

I frowned automatically. "Well. I'm the only one."

Both looked confused. "The only woman in the whole pack?", Pua asked.

I nodded. "Yes. Not only now. I'm the only female Quileute wolf in our history."

Their eyes widened. "Why?", Ka Hiwa asked.

"Because... I'm an abnomaly. I don't even know why.", I admitted. "That's all. No glorious ceremony, no choice. Just that." I felt the bitter edge creep into my voice I'd thought I should have lost while I was having the best life possible now.

"Oh. I'm sorry, Leah.", Pua told me sincerely. "It's hard, isn't it?"

I sighed. "Yes. But... I've got a wonderful life here now. I'd planned to quit my wolf being when I came here. I wanted to live a human life here."

"Didn't you have a life when you were at home?"

I shrugged. "Well.. it was kind of hard since my... my boyfriend left me and I became a wolf."

Both girls gave me a half-hug as a normal reaction at that explanation.

"Besides... I don't age, and it's odd when there is no change with your body at all..."

"No change?", Pua repeated. "So... you're not even having your regular menstruation cycle?"

Only a woman could easily draw that conclusion. No guy would ever grasp the whole problem at one subtle hint.

"Yes.", I sighed. "Not that I wanted to have children so much, but I hate... feeling like a genetic dead end."

Ka Hiwa nodded. "I can't imagine what it's like... it must be terrible...", she said silently, her hand stroking my back absent-mindedly.

It was comforting to discuss these things with other women instead of with my pack brothers. It was an absolute difference.

Someone next to me cleared his throat. I turned and finally was aware of Mano sitting next to me, having listened to our conversation. I blushed, though usually, I wasn't blushing that easy.

"Sorry.", I stammered. "Er... I didn't want to make you listen..."

He laughed and winked at me. "I don't mind. It's quite insightful, though."

Without thinking, I smacked my hand to his shoulder. "Ouch.", he exclaimed, staring at me.

I couldn't hinder the blush to deepen. "I'm sorry... knee-jerk, reaction. I've got a younger brother...", I apologized. My explanation seemed to amuse him further. I gave up on being awkward and laughed with him.

My fun was interrupted by the door bell. I went to let the new guests in. It had to be time for dinner soon. The boys hadn't come home yet. I hoped they wouldn't miss the time, displaying rude behaviour on their first evening. That was what was to be feared when letting adventurers on the loose without a babysitter. I laughed to myself.

It wasn't the whole pack today, according to the number of dishes on the table. There were seven visitors, though. Keli'i had arrived with his wife, followed by Ikaika and Luana. This made the kitchen feel a little crowded, but there seemed to be enough space for all of us.

Rebecca seemed unconcerned that Seth, Embry and the kids hadn't come home yet. She decided to open dinner anyway.

"Welcome.", she simply said. "I hope you enjoy this meal, and I hope our friends from La Push can tell us good news later." She smiled at me and handed the salad bowl around the table.

The back door opened and we heard the feet of our brave adventurers in the hall. Embry was the first to reach the kitchen. He looked around and was surprised by the lot of people stuffed into the room. "Hello. I'm sorry for being late. My name is Embry Call." He turned to Rebecca and added: "We escorted Pili's friend home."

She nodded. "All right. Sit down and help yourself. There's plenty of food."

He thanked her and sat down. Seth and Pili came in, being less polite, just sitting down.

Seth came to sit across from me and I tried to meet his eyes. But he was already digging into his plate. I'd give him a severe lecture for it later, he could bet on that.

I spent the meal talking with Mano sitting on my left and Ka Hiwa on my right. It was easy to be with them, I liked having friends here. Well, after all, Rebecca was my only human friend at the moment, while all of the others belonged to the supernatural word, but that was fine with me.

I realized something in the air all of a sudden. A silence that didn't take in all of them, only the space around where I sat. I looked over at Seth and the stare in his eyes made my insides turn out.

I knew it. I'd seen it before, that look, from a different pair of eyes, on a different face.

The way Seth looked at Ka Hiwa across the table mirrored exactly the way Sam had stared at Emily when he first saw her. Like the center of the world had shifted.

Unthinkingly, I shoved my chair back, hurried for the door. I felt the eyes on my back as I fled, but I didn't care. I started running through the hall, out the door into the garden, leaving the estate behind me.

When I reached the forest, I flung myself down on the floor without thinking about it.

There were no words for all the thoughts that whirled through my mind right now. I couldn't even explain why I'd overreacted. Well, I knew, but it made no sense. None of it did.

I closed my eyes and tried to get a grip on myself, but it was all spinning around in my head, drifting...