A/N: Any wolves you recognize from The Twilight Saga belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Basically everything else, including past and present wolf pack members, imprints, wolf families, and additional characters in this story belong to the universe created by the amazing, brilliant, and wonderfully talented yay4shanghai!

Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed, it means the world to me! And thanks liljenrocks for the info on David and Trisha's kids and on Jesse, I really appreciated it!

As always I recommend you read the other spinoffs by liljenrocks, ari11990, AsagariMelody, Guzhong, and twihardcaligurl. They are fantastic and worth taking the time to read.

Also if you haven't already, check out intiMACYx33's new spin-off story called The Complicated Steps to a Simple Love. It's about Levi's cousin Eli Uley-Varn, Mark and Jordan's adopted son, and Ava Lynch, Phil's adopted daughter. It's already amazing and I promise you'll love it!

Thank you so much for being such a wonderful beta yay4shangai, you're truly amazing!

Sweet Dreams, Sleeping Beauty

4 July 2041

With a final glance at the destruction inflicted upon my room, I followed the two person demolition crew out. I made sure my door was shut tight so my parents wouldn't see the state I was leaving my room in.

I had gone into work today only to be sent straight home by my father telling me to take the day off and enjoy myself. Returning home, I found Beth and Sabrina already hard at work in an effort to tear my room apart, claiming they were merely searching for an ensemble that they could both agree on for me to wear today.

So for the last three hours they have gradually rummaged through my entire wardrobe. It's taken that long because they had very different tastes in clothing, so more often than not each would discard the other's suggestion immediately. Beth tended to go straight for an over-the-top dramatic, seductress look that would be more appropriate for a night club in L.A. than a family gathering spent with a day at the beach. Bree was being good about trying to balance that out with simpler, more conservative looks much more in line with my regular style, but also attempting to mix it up a little so it was trendy enough to suit Beth. She was also trying to find me something that would be more daring than I was used to or would do on my own.

My opinion was irrelevant, I was denied the right to veto anything and every suggestion I made was thoroughly ignored. They insisted that this was a condition of having lost the hand during last night's poker game, like they were rubbing salt in my festering wound. Loosing had left a bitter taste in my mouth that only got worse as I was forced to watch them sort through my closet until not a single thing was left hanging in there. Then continue watching as they repeated the process with my dresser, dumping the contents of each drawer on the floor in order to make it easier for them to look through.

I ended up applying some make-up and adding a little extra curl to my flaxen waves after hearing the countless command Beth issued for me to do so. I was a helpless puppet while she was in possession of my marionette strings or at least that was what she seemed to think. The only reason I gave in was because I wanted to, and resisting seemed like a pointless endeavor. Based on our previous encounters, we weren't likely to get close enough for him to notice anyways, but it did help pass the time while I waited on her and Bree and maybe this time would be different.

Sometimes I think Bree acts more like Beth's sister than I do. They sure fight more. At one point, Beth was launching shoes at Sabrina's head like they were missiles when she took offense to some comment Bree made about her fashion sense. Then, not ten minutes later, Bree was yelling at her for being too self-involved to care about what I wanted.

It was well past noon before they came to an agreement. I liked it more than I expected to, but it wasn't exactly practical for such a cool dreary day that would only get chillier as temperatures steadily dropped this evening once the sun went down. I had a feeling that if I tried to refuse wearing it, they would take measures to disable me before physically dressing me themselves and I doubted they would let me bring a coat either.

Grudgingly accepting the pair of black shorts Beth had worn to Chloe's party, I shimmied into them. They weren't as skin-tight as I feared, but they were even shorter on me than they were on her since my legs were longer. Next, Bree handed me a strapless white shirt that wrapped snuggly around me and tied beneath my breast, forcing them up and giving me more cleavage than I thought possible. I happily grabbed the final piece off my bed, a sheer button down shirt with the sleeves rolled to my elbows, but both of them insisted I leave it unbuttoned. I didn't bother wearing any shoes and they didn't try to force me to before heading out. They had both gotten ready while they ransacked my room.

From the moment we got there I was looking for him. My eyes not stopping as they rapidly scanned the beach, lingering only when landing upon one of the massive forms of one of the local copper skinned males, but quickly moving on once determining he wasn't Levi. I didn't contemplate what I'd do once I located him, just continued what was quickly becoming a futile search. I wasn't paying attention to anything else, not that Beth had already run off or that Bree was rambling on about something to do with Melody. I didn't hear a word she said until I felt the throbbing sting from where she pinched me.

"Ouch! What the hell was that for?" I snapped at her, rubbing the sore spot and glaring at her.

"Why aren't you more excited to be here? I know you wanted to come even if you won't admit it," she said casually, completely ignoring my ire. I bit my lip thinking about how to answer that and curled my toes into the firmly packed wet sand.

"Because…," I trailed off, stopping to sigh. I knew I'd have to be truthful here, she'd know if I wasn't, "because I just don't see the point of getting my hopes up when he might not even be here." She gave me an understanding look after I blurted that out.

"He will." She sounded so confident, adding, "I can—oh!"

I didn't hear the rest of what she was planning to say, because Melody had just swooped in out of no where. I gasped; trying once or twice before I succeeded in pulling in a mouthful of air after her impact had knocked it loose. It was like getting smacked with a two by four and now she had a smothering arm locked around my neck with the other around Bree's. I couldn't believe the heat coming off of her body. I thought I'd just imagined in the night before, but I guess I hadn't.

"Hi guys!" Her cheerful voice chimed, like bells ringing in my ears. She let go, stepping back with her sleek hair swinging a bit before settling into dark curtains framing the sides of her face as she granted us an endearing smile that exposed just a glimpse of her pearly whites, before merrily exclaiming, "you came!"

"As if I had a choice," I grumbled, but laughed seeing how that just made the devilish gleam in her eyes glow brighter.

"Come on. You have to meet my friend Jesse," grabbing each of our wrists lightning fast and enthusiastically dragging us down to the shoreline where a pretty girl our age was laughing as she lightly splashed a madly giggling younger girl.

Meeting up with them, Melody introduced us and as I'd guessed, the older one was Jesse. She gave us a huge friendly smile hello. Her demeanor was open and playful, emphasized by her bouncy ponytail and rolled up jeans soaked through in places from her previous activity. It helped me relax, but I was grateful Bree and even Melody were with me because I had no idea what to talk about right now.

The younger girl turned out to be her eldest niece, Sarah, and I watched as the adorable child smiled shyly at us from where she was standing partially hidden behind her Aunt's back. I could see the resemblance between them, especially in the smile. She was clutching Jesse's shirt and didn't say a word at first when we got there. I could relate. She went back to the water's edge after a minute or two, stomping on the foamy surf of the retreating waves.

"So… you're interested in getting to know some of the people around here, huh?" Jesse questioned teasingly after Melody told her she was showing us around since we didn't know anyone else.

"No!" I denied vehemently, my voice coming out several octaves too high and shaking my head forcefully. Then groaned, squeezing my eyes tightly shut and blushing immediately when I realized she had only been joking, but I had been too busy looking for Levi again to pick up on that before utterly embarrassing myself.

"Sure," Jesse chuckled, grinning mischievously and I heard Bree snort in accord from beside me.

"We actually had to drag her here… she lost a bet," Bree informed her proudly, thoroughly enjoying my discomfort considering the circumstances which brought me here. I could tell she was hoping to draw a retort from me with that remark and I was eager to oblige her.

"Only because Melody cheated," I declared indignantly, shooting Melody a menacing glare that only added to her amusement until her charming laughter rang out loudly.

"Did you actually see her cheat?" Jesse inquired thoughtfully, looking over the two of us. Damn. She had me there and I was forced to reluctantly shake my head. "Then you don't know if she really did, do you? Although, I'm inclined to agree with you in this case," she finished with a grin, watching Melody then winking at me.

"Hey now, you're not supposed to gang up on me. Oh, I think Annie just got here—you guys have to meet her," Melody said excitedly, changing subjects so fast it was hard to keep up. "Be right back!" She called back to us, already rushing away.

"You're having fun though, right?" I registered a new voice ask timidly as I watched Melody's progress. I glanced back to see Sarah peeking up at me again from a little behind Jesse, waiting for an answer.

"Yea," I told her truthfully and grinned when she smiled sweetly.

"Who's that?" I heard Bree ask, staring in the direction Melody had just run off in.

"Krys!" Sarah yelled running towards the man Bree had asked about.

He was only a couple feet away and examining him, I suspected he was the smallest guy I'd seen here all day and that wasn't saying much as I eyed his broad chest. I saw him scoop Sarah up and toss in the air then cuddling her against him for a second before setting her down and pulling a fluffy lilac towel from around his neck.

"Where have you been?" She asked grabbing his shoulder with one hand and holding out her left leg, but he just helped dry her legs off then wrapped the towel around her shoulders before answering.

"I came with Jared and Kim. We picked up Brady and Annie on the way," he said smiling warmly and tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear.

"Are they related?" Bree asked Jesse curiously.

"No, he's just a good family friend," she answered casually.

"They seem really close," I commented, hoping she'd elaborate a little.

"Yea… we're a close community." She said shrugging. It seemed like she was carefully picking her words.

"Weird," Bree muttered.

Weird wasn't really the word I would have used to me it was more interesting, fascinating to watch. They looked completely engrossed in one another, oblivious to the rest of the world. I was reminded of the last party I had been to here and seeing Melody and Taylor together or the other young couple I watched sitting near the fire, although Sarah was just a child and Krys definitely wasn't, so I couldn't really understand why this reminded me of that.

I decided to think about it more later when I watched Sarah whisper something to Krys and him answer too quietly for us to hear, joining us after that with him carrying her and her clinging to his neck. Just as they got to us, I noticed a cool damp breeze washed over me, making a violent shutter rack through me. It blew in off the ocean, and the salty air was abrasive. The sensation sent a series of smaller jerks down my frame and I pulled my arms in tight to suppress them.

We stood around talking for a few more minutes, but I let Bree do all the talking. I felt too awkward and was too distracted to even try. It was getting colder out now that the sun was setting and I still didn't see Levi anywhere. Pretty soon it would be too dark to see him unless I got lucky like last time and he stepped into the firelight somewhere. Bree noticed I was shivering and sent an apologetic glance my way, snug in her own sweatshirt and jeans.

"I think we're going to sit by the fire for a bit. Will you send Mel that way if she shows back up?" Bree asked Jesse.

She agreed and after saying goodbye, we headed towards one of the three fires blazing an eerie bluish glow against the fading day and lighting the darkening sky. The site was empty. As we ambled towards it, I could feel when we were close enough to penetrate the outer shell of warm air projected from the burning fire, like being enfolded in a bubble. My icy skin gladly absorbed the radiating heat and thawing readily. I sat in the almost dry sand against the flame-warmed driftwood.

We had barely settled in before Melody and Annabelle showed up. Taylor's sister, like so many others around here, was unnaturally beautiful. I couldn't help feeling intimidated by her, regardless of her funny, outgoing personality. Not too much time had past when we heard someone mention something about the kids getting into the fireworks a little ways from us.

"I'd better go find Beth and make sure she doesn't hurt herself," I told the others with a tired sigh.

"Stay. I'll go," Bree told me, using my shoulder to jump up and moving off before I could stop her.

"I'll help you find her," Annie offered jogging after her.

Melody and I sat in companionable silence for a while after that, both staring at the fire's hypnotic flames as the swirling yellows, blues, and greens morphed in an ever changing sea of shapes and patterns. The sounds from the party and ocean were muted by the snapping and crackling before us.

"Are you mad at me for making you come here?" Melody eventually asked, breaking the fire's spell.

"No, actually I'm glad I came."

"Can I ask why you didn't want to?" She inquired, tilting her head as she studied me and absentmindedly grabbing a handful of sand then letting it pour from her fist to form a pile in front of her crossed legs.

"To be honest, I was a little scared to," I said watching the grains of sand slowly leak from her closed hand, deciding to admit a partial truth to the girl I was rapidly growing to trust. "I'm not really good around strangers… never know what to say. I was worried I'd end up making a fool out of myself."

"You shouldn't be. Everyone here loves ya," she said sweetly.

I pulled my legs up to wrap my arms around them as I thought about that. It didn't make any sense, these people knew nothing about me and I hadn't even met most of them. I wanted to ask her about that, but before I could, we were joined by two others. Taylor and Levi.

Levi. I hadn't heard him approach and only caught a glimpse of his face just before he sat down, but it had been enough to know for sure it was him. I turned my head purposely more to the right, away from him. My face was glowing, you could fry an egg on it, and I desperately did not want him seeing it like that. Every muscle in my body was screaming at me, painfully tense and begging for relief, but I didn't release them, physically incapable of it at the moment. I could feel tiny gusts occurring at regular intervals and I envied him his unaltered breathing when my own was so labored, but I was afraid anything more substantial would shatter the moment. It had an unreal quality, easily disturbed, like a mirrored surface of a calm lake.

Melody was animatedly waving to draw his attention to her and the answering smile she gave him was enough to prompt my insatiable curiosity to look at him.

It was like some unseen force directed him to look at me as well because his head swiveled around to meet my stare a moment later. I was mesmerized by the look on his face. I can honestly say I never expected anyone to look at me with such passionate intensity, like I was the only person in the world he saw, and for a moment, I truly believed I was while his deep, endless eyes stared directly into my soul.

He was even more gorgeous up close. His carefully molded features selected and arranged to perfection. I longed to reach over and kiss his pouty pink lips, to taste his extra thick bottom lip. No sooner than I realized the direction my thoughts were taking, I was as embarrassed as I would have been if I'd said them out loud. The fiery heat scalding my cheeks alerted me to the presence of a telling blush and I hurriedly hid my face, groaning at its inconvenience and groaning again when I heard a male's amused chuckles. Thankfully Levi was looking away when I finally reemerged.

Melody was gently teasing me for a while after that and it actually helped me regain control of my emotions so I didn't pounce on her brother right then and there as a little voice in the back of my head was still urging me to.

I was touched by his kindness when he handed me a freshly roasted hotdog minutes later and couldn't help smiling in awe over this guy's amazing generosity, even more so when he made one for Bree too a little later when she got back. He didn't have to do that for either of us, but the fact that he had, especially making another for my best friend after he had finished eating was incredible. That alone would have had me falling for him if I wasn't already.

They were good too. I don't usually eat hotdogs, my mom has a thing about us only eating healthy food and I had never really liked them anyways, but this was delicious.

Melody spent most of the night pointing out who people were, even telling funny anecdotes about most of them. I barely heard most of what she said. I tried to ask intelligent questions about them, but usually just ended up asking her to repeat whatever it was she'd just said, not getting much more out of hearing it the second time than I had the first, only one thing really stood out.

"Those are your parents?!" Bree had exclaimed and I'd looked at where she was pointing, instantly understanding her disbelief. They didn't really look any older than Melody or Levi. Note to self, his family ages extremely well.

It felt like I was on display all night, with the crowd parading by to judge me. I wanted to believe I was being paranoid and I wish I could say I was, but anytime I looked around I found someone eyeing me or more accurately, staring at the pair of us. I did my best to ignore it and being so close to him did, for the most part, help me forget.

The crack of the first luminous red starburst startled me more than I expected it to. I've always hated loud noises, particularly the unexpected kind. They never failed to send my heart into a full on frenzy as it lodged itself in my throat. And tonight, each successive explosive bang was just as bad as the first.

The loudest one yet brought me in direct contact with Levi. When had we even shifted closer, I wondered? Then I felt him press more firmly against me. The touch of his skin was enough to drown out everything else. I barely heard the detonating pops over the thunderous roaring of my own heart beating and the rush of my pumping blood. His skin was remarkably hot, even more than his sister's, but comforting. It felt like home and for the first time all night I truly relaxed, even when every gentle caress made me feel more alive than I ever had in my life.

I was exhausted after the twinkling display of burning colors, drained after spending so much time this evening tense and hyperaware, but no one else was and there was absolutely no way I was leaving Levi's side before I absolutely had to. My mind was divided, a little more than half focused on every titillating brush of his skin on mine and the soothing heat I felt coming off of him, the remainder on the conversations around me. I had no concept of time in my dazed state, only feelings.

Eventually I moved, intending to slide further under the covers when I noticed the hardness of the surface beneath me, but hot and as smooth as satin. That was not what I remembered my bed feeling like. I froze, not moving an inch, not even to breath. There weren't any covers on me, just a burning band around my waist holding me in place and another heated object that was large and heavy resting on my upper thigh. And there was a rhythmic thumping in my ear. No. This can't be right. It was just a dream; that didn't really happen I tried to convince myself.

I'd been so tired when I got home I couldn't remember getting there or going to bed, that's all. And it'd just been a dream. An amazing dream, sure, vivid and realistic with surround sound even, but just a dream. I dreamt that I'd slept in Levi's arms, even waking up at one point with my legs cold and crawled in his lap where it was so warm. I hadn't seen the harm in doing that since it was just a dream after all.

Oh shit. In need of oxygen I sucked in a small bit of air only to have the scent of orange and pine fill my nose. A scent I'd notice at the fire last night and knew I'd never forget again because it was his. My eyes shot open and were greeted with the harsh, unforgiving, and unwelcome light of day, not to mention the sandy beach and immense ocean. It was real. I had slept on the beach and was currently lying on top of the perfect form of Levi.

I debated pretending it was still a dream, even relaxing and closing my eyes again. Sniffing deeply and savoring his soothing scent while I listened to his strong heartbeat, the most amazing sound I'd ever heard. He was so warm and his body fit my contours perfectly, like I was supposed to be here. I wanted to wake up like this everyday.

Then I wondered what he would think if he woke up and found me like this. Would he be angry or even freak and run again? I didn't think I could take it if that happened. I sighed in regret, about to ease off of him and head home. Home. My parents. I am so completely screwed, I thought groaning as I leapt up, my mind spinning wildly in total chaos as I tried to figure out how this happened.

I spared a final glance back at Levi; thankful I hadn't woken him and had managed to escape that mortifying experience, doubly so after looking around to see my position had gone unnoticed by everyone. I couldn't think about him any more right now, I didn't have time to. I needed to concentrate on getting home.

"Fuck! Sabrina, wake up, right now," I demanded, spotting her asleep nearby.

"What?" She mumbled sleepily, sitting up to stretch her arms and yawn.

"My parents are going to positively murder us… they must be freaking out by now. We have to get home," and away from here before Levi wakes up, I added silently, searching and finding Beth.

"Hey, its okay… lets just get back so we can explain," Bree said as I roughly shook Beth awake.

"Its morning, we have to get home," I told her sounding panicked and she was instantly alert and trying to find her shoes.

"Would it help if I went with you to explain?" I heard Taylor offer. I hadn't meant to wake them up, but I guess with all my shouting it had been inevitable.

"No. Thanks, but we'll be fine," I told him, not bothering to look at him. It was sweet to ask, but having a cop show up with us might actually make things worse.

I took off for my car after that, positive the other two were following. I couldn't stop thinking about Levi the whole way home, wishing I'd gotten a few more minutes with him or that he'd been as aware of things as I was and as eager to repeat them.

"Do you want me to drop you off at your place," I asked Bree halfway home.

"If you guys get yelled at, then I will too the next time your parents see me… might as well save them the trouble of going through the lecture twice," Bree snorted in reply and I couldn't help but agree with her assessment. "Besides, I should have woken you up right away after I found Beth, but you just looked too comfortable," she said wiggling her eyebrows at me.

"Not now, Sabrina."

We pulled up to see mom getting out of the charcoal grey Yukon. She looked at us in the car then up at the house for a split second before whipping back to face us and furiously slamming the car door shut with a resounding bang. I winced, climbing out of my own car ready face her wrath and heard Beth and Bree join me, each flanking one of my sides.

"You've been out all night." Mom accused. She wasn't asking, just stating a fact she was suddenly very aware of.

"I am so sorry Mom! It was an—," I began, rushing to explain from the end of the driveway, not moving towards her any.

"It was my fault." Beth broke in determinedly.

"Beth, what—ah!" I hissed at her only to have her grab and squeeze my arm painfully.

"I lied to Kris. I, uh… told her I called and let you guys know we were sleeping there since everyone else was and that you guys were okay with it." She explained to mom, obviously improving as she went.

"No she didn't, Mom," I admitted with a sigh, ignoring the increased pressure on my arm. Turning to Beth and gratefully saying, "Beth, thanks, but really its fine… this was my fault."

"Fine! I was trying to help in case you missed that… considering you probably wouldn't have even gone if it wasn't for me," she said exasperatedly throwing her arms up and stomping her foot as she said it.

"You're lucky your father doesn't know about this." Mom said blandly, drawing our attention again, to find her watching our interaction with interest.

"Umm, why doesn't he?" I asked hesitantly.

"There was a flood in the storage room from all the rain we've been having. Nathan noticed it when he was locking up last night and your dad and I spent the night at the store moving everything out of there and assessing the damage." I noticed then how tired and dirty she looked.

"Is everything going to be okay?" The store was doing great, but it could only absorb so much loss and this didn't sound good.

"Yea, eventually… I think it's going to cost us though," she explained wearily, rubbing her face. "Look, you've never done this before and it's over now so I'm going to let you girls slide this time. Just please, don't do it again."

"Seriously?" Beth asked. I heard Bree hiss to shut up before smacking her.

"Yes. But the only reason I am is because you got lucky and I didn't spend the whole night worrying about you and I'm too exhausted to yell at you about it right now. Plus I have to get back to the store… I was just coming back to let you know what happened and tell you not to come in today. We have guys coming in to look at it and I don't want you getting hurt or in there way," she explained and then drove off again.

Well that definitely didn't go as expected.

~*~ ∞ ~*~