A/N: I do not own Twilight, Stephanie Meyer owns.

Chapter Nine

-One Month Later-

(CPOV)

It's been a month since I first phased. Almost everyone else has phased now. We were only waiting on Charlie, who would be phasing any day now. Collin and Brady phased had only phased once each since I became Alpha, just to see how us new wolves were doing. We were a little bigger than my dad's pack. With seven males and four females, (when Charlie phased it would be five) we had twelve wolves in all.

A few more of us had imprinted also. Zack imprinted on Lacey. And Sam J imprinted on Ally, everyone thought that was funny since Ally was Leah's daughter and Sam J was Sam Senior's son. It was ironic and the pack loved it.

After we had gotten enough control, the Cullen's had been kind enough to teach us how to fight. I still had this nagging feeling that something was looming on the horizon that I wasn't sure we were prepared for.

Everything was calm on the reservation. Every now and then we caught the scent of a bloodsucker, but if it was a friend of the Cullen's they stayed off our land. That was until one night when I was on patrol with Zack and Harry. I suddenly caught the sickeningly sweet scent of a bloodsucker, and it wasn't a Cullen. I howled to alert my pack. Zack and Harry were by my side in a flash and we followed the scent. The rest of the pack soon fell into step behind me as the scent got stronger.

'Are we sure it's not a Cullen?' Lacey asked cautiously.

'Does it smell like a Cullen?' Her brother snapped at her.

'Matt, she's just being sure. And no Lacey it is definitely not a Cullen.' I told her. We reached the beach now, and the scent was unbearably stronger. We spotted three blond, female vampires standing on the beach by the cliffs. I phased back and slipped on my shorts and walked to face the vampires.

"Why are you on our land bloodsucker?" I growled. The one in the middle was tall, strawberry blond and had a look in her eyes that made me hate her even if she wasn't a bloodsucker. She spoke first, "My name is Tanya." She pointed to the girl to her right, who had straight, pale blond hair and said, "This is Kate." She motioned to her left at the last girl, whose blond hair was almost silver and said, "This is Irina. We're sisters from the Denali clan in Alaska. We know the Cullen's"

I nodded my head annoyed, "What's your point? And why are you here? The Cullen's tell their friends not to cross our border so we don't attack them."

Tanya smirked and said, "We just came ask you a question. What is your name child?"

I growled at being called a child and I said, "My name is Cody Black."

Tanya perked up. "Black? What are your parents names?"

I wasn't sure if I should answer but I did anyway. "Jacob and Bella Black."

Kate looked at Tanya and back at me. "Bella Black? Did she used to be Bella Swan?" I nodded slowly. Tanya smiled broadly and said, "Thanks, that's all we needed to know." And the blond bloodsuckers left. I phased back and listened to the thoughts of my pack.

'What the hell was that about?' Harry asked.

'I have no idea. But it sounds like I have to go talk to my parents.' I said to everyone. 'We can't all go, though. Someone has to patrol in case they come back. So, Zack, Nick and Jennifer take first shift. We'll fill you in afterward.'

The rest of us went toward my house and we phased back and went into my house. Mom and dad were sitting in the kitchen at the table. Dad stood up as we came in. "What's going on guys?"

I dropped down into a chair and said, "Oh not much. Just three vampires on the reservation. Say they know you, mom."

Mom looked up and said, "Who were they?"

I shrugged casually and said; "They said their names were Tanya, Kate and Irina from the Denali clan in Alaska. What could they want with you mom?"

Mom shook her head, "I have no idea, I never even met them. Edward talked about them a few times, but I never met them." Just as mom said that, her phone went off. "It's Alice." Mom said then answered the phone and put it on speaker, "Hey Alice. Do you know something about the Denali's being here?"

"Yes. I didn't see until a few minutes ago. They're angry with you Bella. Tanya blames you for Edward's death. She didn't know how Edward died until just a few days ago. They were here for a visit and Rosalie told them. I don't know what they're gonna do, though. I can't see you or wolves." Alice told mom nervously.

Mom sighed. "I should have known Rose would never get over what Edward did. Did she at least tell them the whole story, instead of her clipped, distorted version?"

Alice growled and said, "She told them her clipped, distorted version. You know Rose had to exaggerate to the holy heavens and Tanya was always obsessed with Edward. So as soon as she heard his death had something to do with you, she wanted revenge. I really don't know what to tell you Bella; I know you and Jake are both aging now for your kids and I don't know if your wolves are ready for a fight. We can't fight our family, so we are staying out of it. We can't take either side I'm sorry Bella."

"It's fine, Alice. We're ready." Mom said.

"What do you mean 'we'?" Alice asked, confused.

Mom sighed again. "I stopped aging, Alice."

My eyes shot to my mother's. Now that I looked at her, she barely looked thirty, whereas I passed for twenty-five. I looked more like her brother than her son.

Alice's voice went up an octave, "What do you mean you're not aging?"

"I don't know. I was aging, but I just stopped whenever Sam Junior phased. Jacob is still aging but I'm not." Mom told her.

I took a good look at my mom's face. She looked terrified. I knew it was scaring mom that dad was aging and she wasn't. She didn't want dad to age and look too old for her, she didn't want dad to die and leave her here and Immortal forever without him. I felt a pang of sadness for my mother. I didn't know what the Denali vampires were planning.

Mom hung up the phone and we were all silent. We didn't know what to say or do. Mom took a deep breath and said, "I really don't know what to do. The Denali's are picking a fight with my children because of Edward's choice to die. Maybe this is the reason I'm not aging. I just wish I knew how it would all turn out."

"I know." Said an unfamiliar voice.

A/N: Dun dun dun! Cliffhanger! Who can it be in the Black household? Find out next chapter. Okay, so last chapter, Ally was the first to review. She stalks my computer and waits for me to post so she can be the first to review. Be the first to review after her and I'll give you a preview of chapter ten. But, if you can beat Ally and be the VERY first to review, I'll send you all of chapter ten and a preview of chapter eleven.

Thanks to Ally, Curtis, fairytale romantic, and aya 163 for reviewing last chapter. And a special thanks to Rachel2w2 for going back and reviewing chapters 4-8, I really appreciate it! ~Ever Uley~