Carlie

My mom and uncle Emmett were walking up to the house as we pulled in. There were a lot more cars here than I'd expected, and I started to feel anxious about going in. I hadn't expected to see the entire pack when I got back. I stepped out of the car and Emmett picked me up, swinging me around in his arms. Mom hugged me when he put me down.

"Is the whole pack here?" I asked them.

I was used to everyone being around, but I had a feeling they were all angry with me right now. I didn't want to face them all at once.

Mom nodded. "They are. Everyone was really worried about you."

"How angry is dad?" Neither of them answered and I knew he must have been livid. "And Gabe?" Still no answer.

I knew most of them would be kind even if they were angry, but I still wasn't ready to see all of them.

Quil laced his fingers with mine. "It's okay, kid. We'll face them together."

I shook my head and started to cry. I was overwhelmed. I couldn't see the five and the whole pack right now, especially if my brother was angry. Gabe's temper had only grown worse over the last few months, and I wasn't ready to face his wrath.

"No, I don't want to. I want to go to grandma's house." I told them. I looked over at Quil. "Will you take me?"

He smiled softly at me. "I'll take you anywhere, as long as it's okay with your mother."

"Sure, but me and Emmett are coming along." Mom responded.

Embry laughed at us and backed away with his hands up. "It's your funeral, man. I'll let Paul know."

"You sure you don't want to see your dad? I can get rid of the rest of those guys." Quil offered.

Quil was probably right that I should see my dad. He may be mad, but I knew he must have been worried too.

"I'll do it. I'll tell them to go out the back door. Who do you want to stay?" Mom asked me.

I thought for a second. I didn't want to see Will or Levi yet. "I really just don't want to see Will, Levi, or Gabe." I told her.

"I'm on it." She kissed my forehead. "You and Quil go wait in the garage, I'll tell Jake to take them for a run."

Quil ushered me in to the garage and we waited while my Mom asked the guys to leave. I could hear Gabe yelling, and I was glad I hadn't went in.

"What the hell? I can't see her but Noah can?" He screamed.

"Gabriel, do not scream at your mother. You'll see your sister later." My dad scolded him.

My phone buzzed. It was Will.

You don't want to see me?

I didn't know how to respond. I didn't want to hurt him.

It's more Levi and Gabe. I didn't think Gabe would leave if I let you stay.

I hoped that was enough to satisfy him. I wasn't exactly lying, Gabe would've been a lot more angry if I asked for Will to stay.

Good call. I'll see you later then?

I didn't want to see the five, but the res wasn't big enough for me to avoid them forever.

Of course.

I had to admit, I was afraid to see Will. I was afraid of him imprinting on me almost as much as I was afraid he wouldn't.

He didn't respond so I assumed he had phased and taken off with his dad, Levi, and Gabe. Quil led me in to the house. My mom wasn't kidding; everyone was here. Sam, Jared, Embry, Seth, Leah, and all of their imprints. Bree was here, too. I was glad that she was back.

Noah jumped from his seat and pulled me in to a hug as soon as the garage door closed behind us. He felt taller, and more muscular, even though I'd just seen him earlier in the day. My dad was right behind him, and he held me for a long time.

I hadn't realized how late it was. I glanced at the clock in the kitchen and saw it was after 1am.

"You're all here so late." I said.

"We'd be here anytime for you, sweetheart." Emily responded. "I think I owe you an apology. I'm sorry for what my son did, and what he allowed someone else to say about your family. There is absolutely no racism in this pack, you need to know that. We all love the Cullen's."

If only they knew that wasn't the part that hurt the worst. I knew he wasn't racist, but he also wasn't faithful and that was what really hurt. I slid my jacket off and Quil grabbed my arm, noticing the hole I'd dug in it when I was trying to get his attention. He called for Embry and I sat down while he tended to the small wound.

"I wish I could phase." I told them. "I was so scared at the airport and if Josh had taken me I had no way to protect myself."

"You don't need to phase or protect yourself." Leah told me. "We will protect you."

I felt hot tears rolling down my cheeks. "None of you were there."

"We weren't far." Embry reminded me.

"Only because Abby told you." I responded. "If she hadn't called you, who knows if you ever would've found me. They were going to let him take me."

Quil knelt in front of me and took my hand. "Carlie, I will always find you. You don't feel our bond the way I do, but I promise you, I will keep you safe."

Quil's statement didn't bring me any relief. I wanted to know I could keep myself safe in case they weren't here, especially since most of them were leaving soon.

"One of our friends from the Volturi is the greatest tracker in the world." Jasper told me. "He can find anyone, anywhere."

"None of you are getting it. You don't know how it feels to be defenseless. I'm not worried about you finding me, I'm worried you'll find me too late." I explained.

Emily looked at me sympathetically. "I know how you feel. Bella and Kim do, too. We're normal humans."

"Carlie, have you listened to the legends?" Bella asked me.

I nodded. I'd heard them hundreds of times throughout my childhood, though I'd never known they were real.

"There's a story you don't know. Before I was with Jacob, I fell in love with a cold one named Edward. When we were together, I managed to catch the attention of a tracker who decided he wanted to kill me." She chuckled. "I guess I've always been a bit of a danger magnet. Edward and your uncles Emmett and Jasper killed the tracker, but he broke up with me a few months later. The tracker's mate was still out there. She was the one that assembled the army against the pack and started the war. There were months between him leaving and when I started seeing Jake. So, I know how you feel. But I promise you, Josh Uley isn't nearly as strong as the vampires that were after me and you have a lot more protection than I did at the time. We will not let anyone hurt you."

I hadn't ever heard about Edward before. "How did you know Edward, uncle Emmett?" I asked. "Was he a good vampire like you?

He shook his head. "Edward was our brother, but he turned in to a very bad guy after Bella decided she wanted to be with Jake. He's not around anymore, though. He had joined the army that came for us, and he didn't make it out of the fight."

My mom looked uncomfortable as we talked about her brother. I understood why they hadn't said anything. It made me feel better to know that family wasn't a hard stop for them if one of us was endangered. So I didn't have to question if any of them would protect me from Josh, being that he is Sam's dad.

Bella looked at my dad. "Can't you force her to phase?"

"I was thinking the same thing." My dad said.

"No guarantee it will work, though." Sam commented. "She's not showing any signs like Levi was. I'm willing to try if you want me to, though."

Quil started to shake. I don't think the rest of the adults noticed, but I did. He must not have liked the idea.

"Carlie, will you and Noah go outside while we talk please?" Quil asked.

I was angry. They weren't listening to me, and now they wanted to exclude me from the conversation completely.

"No." I responded bluntly. "This involves me, and I deserve to be a part of the discussion."

I had never seen Quil look angry toward me before, but he did in that moment. "Fine. I'm not going to let that happen."

Dad stood up and approached Quil. "She's my daughter. It's my decision."

"As long as Jake is okay with it, you mean." Embry said in Quil's defense. "Our alpha can shut this whole thing down, no matter who's kid she is."

"It's none of Jacob's concern." Sam argued.

Seth shook his head. "It's Jake's pack she's joining, so it is definitely his concern. He wasn't too keen on you forcing Levi to phase so I wouldn't count on his support."

Jake walked in the room at the perfect time and everyone got quiet as he approached my father and my imprint-er. He was usually a very happy go lucky kind of guy, but everything about him in this moment was seething with alpha energy. Noah tensed up beside me as we watched Jake move toward them.

"Is there a problem here? Do we need to go outside?" He asked.

Neither my dad nor Quil responded to him. They were both breathing heavily and staring at each other. I wondered if one of them would throw a punch at the other, and I hoped they wouldn't.

"Are you both deaf?" Jake asked. "What is the problem!" He was yelling at this point.

Quil was trying to slow his breathing, but I imagined it was difficult with his alpha screaming in his face. "Paul and Sam want to force Carlie to phase. I won't let them do that."

"It isn't up to you." My dad growled. "She's MY daughter! I decide what's best for her!"

Jake stood between them and pushed both of them back from each other. "It's actually not up to either of you. This is my pack, my call."

"Does nobody care what I want?" I asked as I looked at them through tear clouded eyes.

Quil's expression softened as he saw the tears streaming down my face. Jake's didn't though, and he responded to me.

"We all care, Carlie. If you phase naturally, we'd welcome you with open arms. But what you did today showed me how immature you are, and you're not ready for the responsibility that comes with being a part of the pack. Gabe isn't either, but I didn't get to decide if he phased or not." He looked at my dad and frowned before continuing. "I'm sorry, Paul, but I won't let you do this. Please don't make me order you not to."

My dad burst out the back door and exploded in to his wolf. Emmett came to my side and rubbed my arm gently, whispering to me that I'd be okay.

"Can't you just bite me then, Emmett?" I asked. "Mom isn't helpless."

Quil went out the back door too, phasing in to his wolf before he made it outside. My mom left the room and sat some clothes outside for him and my dad to change in to when they got back since they ruined theirs.

"No can do, kiddo." He responded. "If I bit you, the pack would have to kill me. Besides, I'd probably kill you if I tried. It's really difficult for a vampire to stop once they get a taste of human blood."

Leah came over and kneeled in front of me. "Why don't I teach you how to fight tomorrow? I might be a wolf, but I kicked your dad's ass tons of times before we phased."

I chuckled at her. I could see why my parents had missed Emmett and Leah so much. They both knew how to lighten the mood.

"I think we should call it a night." My mom suggested. "Noah, you're welcome to stay over. I'm sure Gabe will be back any minute."

Noah agreed and followed me back to my bedroom. I needed to change in to my pajamas, and Noah went to Gabe's room to borrow some from him. When he got back, we laid down together to watch mean girls, but he fell asleep almost immediately. I stayed awake, mostly because I was afraid to fall asleep. I had bad nightmares anyway, and after today I didn't know what I might see in my dreams.

Mean girls was my comfort movie. Most of the guys didn't like it, but Noah loved it as much as I did. Gabe always complained through it, and Levi refused to watch it after the sixtieth time we saw it. Will never really complained about anything, though I didn't think he really liked mean girls either. Quil absolutely loved it too, just like me, or at least he claimed he did. We wore pink together every Wednesday.

I heard the front door open and close and a lot of people walking. I assumed my dad was back with the guys. I pulled the cover up over my face and closed my eyes, so they'd at least think I was asleep. I heard someone walk in my room and stop. I wasn't going to look to see who it was. I knew it wasn't my parents or Quil, any of them would've kissed my forehead and left. I waited, hoping they would leave and I could finish my movie, but they didn't. It was at least five minutes before I heard my brother stomp in the room.

"Get out. You don't get to look at my sister. She's half pale face, remember?" Gabe growled lowly.

I hated when Gabe was angry, but I knew it had to be Levi that was in my room. I dreaded discussing what had happened between the two of us with my brother.

"Gabe, I didn't know she heard us. I just want to apologize."

"Well watching her sleep isn't helping your case. Go sleep in my room."

I heard Levi walk out and my brother climbed in between me and Noah. He pulled the cover up and wrapped his arms around me. My parents told me and Gabe that we held hands in the NICU, and he had never grown out of holding my hand when we were scared. He usually only hugged me or held me like this when one of us was really upset.

"I know you're awake." He whispered. "Don't worry, I won't tell. Let's just finish the movie together."

I pushed the cover down and smiled at him. He got up and shut my door and talked to me like nothing out of the ordinary had happened today. He didn't mention the pack, or vampires, or Josh Uley. He just talked to me about school and our parents and normal things.

Quil walked in my room about half an hour later and scolded us for watching his favorite movie without him, but he fell asleep in the big pink recliner in the corner of my room ten minutes after he sat down. Gabe fell asleep as the credits started to roll, but I was still afraid to go to sleep.

I crept out of my bed and in to the hallway. Quil and Gabe didn't wake up, and I peeked in Gabe's room to see Levi and Will were both asleep too. I didn't have to worry about Noah, I was convinced it would take a nuclear explosion to wake him up. He was the heaviest sleeper I'd ever seen. I thought some ice cream might make me feel a little better, so I walked quietly to the kitchen. My mom kept the house stocked with a variety of flavors of ice cream and toppings because it was my dad's favorite snack.

I was almost done making my sundae when I heard the sink come on in the bathroom off of the living room. I froze. I knew logically that it didn't make sense for Josh Uley to sneak in my house and turn on the bathroom sink, but I was still afraid from our encounter earlier in the day. The minutes that passed felt like hours. I could've screamed and I would have six wolves by my side in seconds, but I knew I could be overreacting. Someone else in the pack may have stayed over. After what felt like an eternity, my dad emerged from the bathroom. He saw my face and instantly started apologizing.

"I didn't mean to scare you, honey." He said as sat down on the kitchen counter.

I chuckled at him. "Mom doesn't let me sit on the counter."

He laughed too. "Well, mom is in Canada so she won't know if you do it right now. I won't tell on you if you make me a sundae too."

He was lucky I hadn't put up all of my ingredients yet. I got another bowl down and he rattled off what he wanted. When I was done assembling his massive sundae, I climbed on top of the counter next to him.

"Did you say mom is in Canada?" I asked. "She was just here a few hours ago."

"Well, we really aren't that far from Canada. I guess we didn't show you how fast vampires can move, though. Wanna go see Carlisle?" He offered. "He can show you. The guys all saw in training."

"Right now?" I asked. "It's the middle of the night!"

His face twisted in confusion. "They don't sleep. Did I not tell you any of this?"

"No!" I responded.

I wondered what else they hadn't told me about vampires. I knew very little from the legends, just that they were also called 'cold ones' and used to be considered our enemies. I guess in a way they still were, just not my family specifically.

"Well we aren't driving. I'll phase and you can ride on my back. As soon as we finish our ice cream, that is."

I was afraid, but I agreed. I needed to start facing some of my fears at least. After we finished eating, I went to our game room to change clothes. I had a treadmill in there and I kept some workout clothes in the closet. I changed out of my pajamas and in to a pair of leggings and a tshirt. My dad met me by the back door and brought me a hoodie to put on. I hadn't thought about the wind being cold as we ran to my grandparent's house.

Dad disappeared in to the trees and came back as his wolf. His coat was gorgeous, and it made me wonder what all of the others looked like. He laid down next to me so I could climb on his back. I started off sitting on his back as he walked but when he started to run I leaned down and wrapped my arms around his neck so I wouldn't fall off. It was exhilarating. I wished I could run as fast as my dad could. I think I'd do it all the time.

When we arrived, he leaned down by the steps so I could get off of his back. I wasn't used to the sheer size of the wolves. My dad was tall as a human, but he was still massive as a wolf. It would take some getting used to. I went inside the house and there was a small girl I didn't know sitting on my grandma's couch. She had blonde hair and bright red eyes. I was instantly afraid, but I didn't tell her. Dad was right behind me and I knew he'd be inside any second.

"Hello, Carlie." She greeted me. How did she know my name? "Your family is out, they should be back any minute."

Dad burst in the front door and greeted the girl. He ran to the kitchen and emerged with an apple in his hand.

"Sorry, running takes a lot out of your old dad. This is Jane, she saved the whole tribe right before you were born."

Jane smiled at me, but something just seemed off about her. I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Jane, I was trying to tell Carlie about vampire's abilities. Not just gifts like yours- speed, strength, that kind of thing. Can you help me show her?"

She chuckled at him. "Are you sure you don't want me to show her my gift?"

"She has enough nightmares as it is."

Nightmares? Gift? What could she do? "No, I want to see. She's on our side right? She could protect me if Josh came back?"

"I'll just need a volunteer, then." She said as she turned to my dad.

He groaned. "Fine, just let me finish my apple first."

Her expression stilled and she stood, looking directly at my dad. "Pain." She muttered.

My dad fell to the ground, screaming in agony. His face was turning red, and he looked like he couldn't breathe.

"Stop! Please, stop!" I screamed at her.

She blinked and my dad pulled his hands to his chest, gasping to catch his breath.

"I told you it was scary, Carlie." My dad said between breaths.

"I went easy on your father." She assured me. "It will be much worse if I ever cross paths with Josh Uley."

My dad led me outside and we sat down on the porch steps together. "Jane is the scariest of our friends, but we have some other cool tricks in our arsenal. She's going to show you what all of the vampires can do now, though."

Jane moved so fast, it was like she became a blur of color instead of a person. My grandma's car was parked in front of the house and she picked it up like it was a single sheet of paper. I was amazed. I didn't know how I never knew what my mom was, but even as I scoured every memory I had with her and my grandparents, there were no clues. They acted completely human in my presence.

We were still outside when everyone came back from their hunt, and a young guy that looked like Jane but with dark hair came to sit next to me.

"Hello, Carlie." His voice sounded like velvet. "My name is Alec. I see you've met my sister. Do you want to see what my gift is?"

I looked up at my mom and she smiled softly at me.

"Does it hurt?" I asked him.

He chuckled. "No. I'll show you. Just relax."

Mom sat down on the step in front of me and held my hand. Alec lifted his hand and a black smoke started to pour from it. As the smoke washed over me and my parents, all of my senses were disabled. I couldn't see, hear, smell, or feel anything. It was almost peaceful. As soon as it came over us, it went away. I blinked as the world came back in to my view and Alec was smiling at me.

"Told you it wouldn't hurt." He smiled at me. "I hope you know you have nothing to worry about. Jane, Demetri, and I will be your protection detail while we're here.'

Another strange man walked and kneeled in front of me.

"I'm Demetri. I'm the most skilled tracker in the world. There's nowhere you can go that I won't find you."

"See, honey?" My dad wrapped his arm around me. "Josh Uley won't stand a chance. You don't need to phase."

I smiled at them. "Thank you, all of you."

"You have nothing to thank us for." Jasper said to me. "We're your family. That's what we're here for. Why don't you go get some sleep?"

I nodded and walked in the house. I had a bedroom at the house, but couldn't make it up the stairs. I collapsed on the couch and sleep overcame me almost instantly.