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 everyone who reviewed, I love getting feedback and hearing what people think. I really hope you like this chapter and that it was worth the wait, thanks for sticking with me!

Also, SweetlyBroken33 made me an awesome banner for this story, so I am going to set up a photobucket account to post that and a few other things later this weekend. Look for that on my profile in the next day or two!

As always I recommend you read the other spin-offs by liljenrocks, ari11990, AsagariMelody, Guzhong, twihardcaligurl, and intiMACYx33. They are fantastic and worth taking the time to read.

Thanks to my beta, yay4shanghai, for always being so supportive and helpful, you're wonderful!

The Power of Knowledge

6 November 2041

I checked the address I had written down earlier with the one on the mailbox before going up to the door on the yellow house with the white shutters and knocking twice sharply. Surprise was one way of putting it when one of the many overly large, russet-skinned men that seemed to inhabit La Push answered the door.

"Um, is Jesse here or do I have the wrong house?" I asked him, confused because I hadn't expected her to already have company when I asked to speak to her.

"Come on in, she's just trying to convince Sammy to get off the phone with Fynn because it's time for bed." He said chuckling a little and ushering me in. I nodded like that made sense to me even though it didn't and tried not to worry about him being here, because it was too late now. "I'm Seth by the way."

"Oh, uh hi, Krista," I told him as I walked in, realizing he was Jesse's boyfriend. She'd told me all about him when we'd hung out before, but I hadn't met him formally.

"She's in bed, although I don't know how long that'll last." Jesse announced coming into the room then, saving me from trying to make small talk. "So what did you want to talk about? Is something wrong?" She asked me sounding concerned as she sat down next to Seth on the cream sofa.

I took a couple deep breaths then started, "well, umm… you see, I was uh, wondering if everything was okay with Melody." I wasn't really sure how or what to ask now that I was here, but I wanted to make sure her absence wasn't because something had happened to her, which I quickly explained, "I—I haven't heard from her in a while and I wanted to make sure nothing had happened. I was worried."

"She hasn't been around lately, but I think she's fine," Jesse replied. If Jesse hadn't seen her either, maybe she wasn't avoiding just me, but everyone.

"Oh. Then did I do something to upset her? I would never—" I started to say, needing to make sure I hadn't upset her somehow anyways, but Jesse cut me off.

"Of course you wouldn't. She's not mad at you or anything like that, promise," she insisted with a grin.

"Then what's going on?" Jesse and Seth looked at each other for a moment when I asked that, communicating something I wasn't privy to.

"Did Mel ever tell you about what happened to her brother?" Seth spoke up asking from beside Jesse. So far he'd just been quietly watching us.

"Levi?" I asked puzzled by his question. He chuckled lightly before his face took on a more somber expression that looked a bit out of place on him.

"No… their other brother, Devlin." I was intrigued and when I shook my head he explained. "They were triplets, very close, but there was an accident and Devlin was killed. It was five years ago this past August and they saw it happen. They've never really gotten over it, but this year was a little rougher than usual on them."

"That's horrible. Are they okay? Can I do anything to help," I asked after taking a moment to process what he'd said and the two of them smiled sadly at me. It made sense for why I hadn't seen them though. I can't imagine loosing either of my sisters or Bree.

"No, they just need some time. They'll come around sooner or later," Jesse said casually.

"They? No, I—umm, well I…" I fumbled to reply then gave up and trailed off at Jesse's pointed look, calling me out on the lie.

"Levi isn't really use to letting new people in, but if you're interested in him at all, don't give up." Jesse advised me frankly.

"Don't worry, things will work out. Levi's a great guy and he likes you. He just needs to work past some things right now, so give him a little more time." Seth added when I just stared at them perplexed.

We didn't talk about it anymore after that. They had unraveled part of the mystery Levi presented. Not all of it, but enough for me to be content, for now. I stayed and talked with them a bit more, but left when Jesse's brother, David, and his wife Trisha got home. Bree was waiting for me when I got back.

"How'd it go?" She asked, immediately pouncing on me with questions when I walked into my room.

"It was good. Did Beth tell you where I was going?" I asked a little surprised that she already knew and that she was here tonight. She'd been sleeping at her house a lot more lately because it was easier to stay out late and for Baz to sneak in.

"Yep, so what was going on and what are you going to do now?"

"You know…" I trailed off staring at her in bewilderment like she had just claimed to be a talking kangaroo.

She just rolled her eyes at me, explaining, "please, Kris. I know you better than anyone. Mel doesn't seem the type to just disappear without reason and you needed time to figure out that you didn't want to lose her and Levi. I've been waiting for you to do something about it."

"Oh. I'm surprised you haven't been pushing me yourself," I said slightly astonished as I sat beside her on my bed.

"Like I said, I know you. Would my pushing you have made you admit it any sooner?" She didn't wait for me to say anything, already knowing the answer. "Exactly. It took Beth and a heavy dose of guilt to goad you into action."

"Hey! I have been learning sign language this whole time," I informed her, a little disgruntled that she thought I'd been doing nothing.

"Well, I didn't think you were spending all that time locked in here doing something else with your hands," she teased, laughing at my incredulous expression. Reaching behind me, I grabbed a pillow and smacked her with it to shut her up.

We only talked for a little while after that, just long enough for me to tell her about what Jesse and Seth told me then she'd left to meet Baz and I'd gone straight to sleep feeling relaxed, like I'd just spent a day at the spa.

~x~*~x~

15 November 2041

The last few days had been easier since I spoke with Jesse and Seth and I slept better than I had in a while, although I couldn't quite shake the feeling that it wasn't entirely because of what they said to me. Then again, maybe it was simply that everything had actually succeeded in driving me insane. Tonight I'd let Bree talk me into getting pizza with her and Baz.

The second I walked in I felt him, my eyes instinctually seeking him out and hungrily drinking in the sight of him as I'd longed to do for months. He was even more perfect than I remembered.

It was like my gaze triggered something in him because his head immediately turned towards me, moving so fast I swear it blurred. Our eyes barely had time to meet before Bree was dragging me to an empty table by the arm I had linked with hers, oblivious to the inner havoc my insides were currently undergoing at the intensity of his gaze on mine as he followed my progress with a predatorily desire that made me feel trapped.

My speeding heart raced faster and louder than Thumper's foot in Bambi when I realized I was relieved he was looking at me like I was the prey he was hunting for his next meal, because right then, all that mattered was that he was here and his eyes were glued to me. I quickly offered to order for us and left my jacket at the table, heading up to the line at the counter, eager for an excuse to get closer.

I was staring at him again, our eyes locked shamelessly; and didn't notice Nikki and Kai standing beside me until they spoke.

"Now he… is hot! Think I should introduce myself? I wonder what it would take to have him drooling all over me," Kai said to Nikki while sizing Levi up. I couldn't help wondering if he would go for someone like her as I looked her over myself, Nikki catching my eye in the process.

"Not much, but Kai, I think Krista saw him first," Nikki told her with a nod in my direction making Kai look at me as well.

"Well, well. So you actually are interested in guys. I was beginning to wonder." She mocked and I ignored her, looking away hoping that would be the end of it, but they didn't drop it.

"I guess that's a yes. Looks like you've got some competition, Kai," Nikki joked.

"Yea right. Do you honestly think he'd ever go for you? Well, do you?" Kai asked me disdainfully.

"Probably not, Kai," I admitted with a sigh, mortified and blushing scarlet, the feelings making me nauseous. The only thing keeping me there was the fact that Levi and Mel were across the room and had no way of knowing what was currently being said and because he wasn't looking over at me anymore.

"Of course not. You've never had a boyfriend. You wouldn't know how to get a guy or what to do with one once you had him, especially not one that good looking," Kai taunted arrogantly.

"She's right, Kris. You should aim lower. You've never even kissed a guy after all." Nikki said sympathetically, backing up her friend, but still trying to be nice, which was more than Kai was doing.

"Thanks for the advice, but I wasn't planning on trying anyways, so you don't need to worry," I claimed feeling totally defeated. Maybe I was just setting myself up for disappointment.

"Worry? I wasn't—" Kai started, but was cut off by Levi suddenly standing in between us.

I looked up at him in surprise a split second before he pulled me to him and kissed me. It started and ended so quickly, too quickly, I barely had a chance to enjoy the velvety softness of his thick lips or taste the combination of my coconut lip gloss and his orange and tomato when my lips parted under the pressure of his and his scalding tongue just briefly slid along my own.

The heat was intense, nearly overwhelming. His arms held me captive against his lithe body and I was thankful because they were the only things holding me upright as the blood rushed to my head leaving me dizzy. I nearly cried out in grief at the loss of his lips when he pulled back to look at me, but my head was spinning so fast I was incapable of uttering a sound.

He let go and I grabbed onto his shirt for balance, afraid to try standing on my own just yet. Looking into his eyes I was mesmerized when I saw that they weren't solid black as I had originally thought. Though they nearly were, thin bands the color of coffee beans radiated outwards from his pupils, streaking through the black. It didn't register that his eyes were filled with fear until after he'd turned and barreled through Nikki and Kai where they were watching us with flabbergasted expressions.

Nikki stumbled a bit, but Kai was knocked flat on her ass. She glared up at me like it was my fault she was sitting on the floor. I looked at the door Levi disappeared through, but he was already out of sight. Then I heard the beautiful tinkling of laughter ring out like harmonious bells. Turning towards the source, I saw Melody walking over, gasping for air as she laughed at Kai. She reached me just as Kai stormed off pulling Nikki with her. Mel's laughter died down with the girls' retreat and her uncertain gaze settled on me.

"I need your help," I implored meeting her eyes determinedly.

"Sure, anything." She said earnestly not pausing to think at all before promising.

"Good, you owe her," Bree spouted angrily at her with a stony glare and arms crossed defensively as she moved to stand beside me. I elbowed her before she could add anything else.

"I'm sorry," she whispered sadly, looking down as she spoke.

"It's fine. I understand." I assured her honestly. She looked up a little surprised, but smiled charmingly all the same.

"What do you need?"

"Help signing. I've been trying to teach myself, but I want to practice an actual conversation because I know that'll be a bit different than just learning random words." Her smile grew as I told her this and she was practically jumping up and down by the time I finished, rapidly nodding.

"I'd love to help! I'm so excited you're learning, Levi is going to absolutely die when he finds out," she exclaimed beaming her brightest smile at me.

"Please don't tell him," I begged, not really sure why, but knowing I didn't want him to find out just yet.

"Alright," she sighed. Her cheerfulness being expelled with the gush of air accompanying that single word, but some of it came back when she said, "but let's get started tonight. The sooner you learn the sooner you can tell him yourself."

~x~*~x~

13 December 2041

I let Beth style my hair and apply my make-up for the party tonight, not really paying much attention as she did. I was nervous. That was the understatement of the year, nervous didn't even begin to cover what I felt right now. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, when I'd let Melody talk me into it, but now that it was happening I was a nervous wreck.

Mel came by my house almost every afternoon to practice for a while after that day in the pizza place. Bree was trying to learn too, saying she needed to be able to yell at him if he ever hurt me, which made Mel laugh hysterically.

Once I got over hating the attention talking with my hands drew, I wasn't that bad at it. I still got distracted and occasionally had a hard time keeping track of what was being said or what I was trying to say, but I was rapidly improving. It was easier if I didn't have to spell anything. My spelling was already atrocious and it was easy for me to get things jumbled up when I tried to spell words, which was extremely embarrassing. It was one of the reasons I wanted to practice with someone else and get used to trying to have a conversation before considering attempting to talk with him.

Then Mel had shown up about two weeks ago enthusiastically informing me, "my brother is being a stubborn ass. You'll have to make the first move, but don't worry… I've already got everything worked out."

My first instinct had been to defend him, insisting he couldn't be, but she'd just laughed, swearing he was then explained her idea, telling me about how Jesse's birthday was the day after mine and we were going to have a joint party to celebrate and that I should talk to him there. She assured me Jesse was excited about doing it and that she'd talked to Emily, Jesse's mom, and already worked out all the details.

Talking to Jesse put any doubts I had to rest and Mel made me realize that it might actually be fun to surprise him by being able to sign when I saw him there. She'd also promised I'd be good enough to do it then and that it didn't matter if I wasn't because I at least needed to try, so that I could finally put her brother out of his misery, whatever that meant.

Once I got to the party it was actually pretty fun. He wasn't there yet, so I had a chance to relax a bit. I stayed close to Mel and she introduced me to some of the people I'd seen, but hadn't gotten a chance to talk to before. After maybe an hour I worked my way over to one of the windows in their family room, periodically looking out in hopes of seeing him approach so that I had a chance to prepare myself before I made my move.

About twenty minutes ago, I'd looked out and found Levi, but he wasn't heading inside. Checking again, for at least the tenth time since, I saw he was still out there. At first I'd thought it would be better to wait until he came in to try talking to him, but the less than subtle looks, pretty much every person in the overcrowded and overheated room were giving me each time I looked outside the window I was stationed in front of, lead me to believe I wouldn't get any privacy trying to talk to him in here. With that firmly in mind, I grabbed Mel and headed out back dragging her along with me.

"Need a pep talk?" She asked grinning once we were outside.

"Yes, please." I begged blushing a little at the fact I was being ridiculously nervous about what I was planning to do. I was so distracted that I'd even forgotten to grab a jacket before running out of the house.

"You really don't have anything to worry about," she rushed to tell me, reminding me of something I'd been meaning to ask her about, but hadn't managed to yet. This seemed as good a time as any.

"Can I ask you something," I asked tentatively biting my lip and fidgeting a little.

"Of course," she said surprised, leaning back against the house.

"Why are you so sure? You have been since I first met you and it doesn't really make sense," I said uncertainly shaking my head a little and tucking some hair behind my ear shyly as I thought about all the times she encouraged me to be with Levi.

"Does it matter?" She asked quietly tilting her head a little and her eyes assessing me intently.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"I mean… is there anything I could tell you that would change how you feel or make you not want to talk to him?"

"No," I answered immediately, not even needing to think about it. "So there is something then?"

"There wouldn't need to be for me to see that no one could ever be better for my brother than you," she said sincerely smiling kindly.

"You really think so?" I asked, touched by her words.

"Yes, I do… now go talk to him already. I'm sure he'll appreciate being saved from Solace," she said laughing a little, her eyes shining in excitement as she pushed me towards the side of the house. I took a deep breath to pull myself together and started walking that way, wondering how she knew he was still outside or that Solace was with him. It also didn't escape me that she never actually answered my question, just evaded it. "And Kris," she called making me stop and look back at her. With an impish smile she told me, "ask me again in a week if he hasn't told you by then."

Well that was interesting, I thought walking around the corner of the house in a daze, but the second I saw him I forgot all about it. Continuing forward, I saw Solace smile and say something to him before slowly walking away with a barely detectable limp.

It was like I was caught in a tractor beam, being pulled forward as I made my way over to Levi. He turned around just as I reached him. His ebony hair was wild like he'd been tugging on it recently and shoulders were hunched slightly like they often were when I saw him, but every time I looked at him, I swear he became even more gorgeous and I couldn't help smiling at the shocked expression on his face.

'Thank you for coming tonight,' I signed carefully, not knowing what else to say to get started. His jaw dropped as he gaped at me and his eyes widened into perfect circles showing a great deal of the whites of his eyes. I'd seen this expression on him before and scared, I added, 'don't run,' reaching out to grip his thin navy sweater when I finished, hoping to hold him in place if he had been thinking of doing so.

He stared down at me intently, his hands moving slightly then pausing. I looked back down at them, focusing on seeing what he was about to say. 'N-E-V-E-R, E-V-E-R A-G-A-I-N,' he spelled out slowly, making sure I had no trouble understanding what he was trying to say. I grinned up at him in relief and he returned my smile with a brilliant one of his own then slowly asked, 'you learned, why?'

'For you.' I answered simply. His expression was awed as he looked down at me. No one had ever looked at me like this before and I was blown away by the emotions it invoked within me. I couldn't even begin to describe them.

'You are amazing.' He signed with one hand, shaking his head slightly as if he couldn't believe I would do something like that for him and his other came up to lightly cup my cheek.

His hand was so warm. It instantly sucked the cold I hadn't noticed seeping in from my skin. I was standing so close his whole body seemed to radiate a degree of warmth I basked in and his eyes were smoldering as he stared at me. That more than anything reduced the affects of the frosty winter night and it did crazy things to my stomach, making it hard to concentrate.

I tugged on his shirt with the hand still holding it, trying to make him look down again so I could say something. It took a moment, but finally his eyes traveled along my body and I shivered at the action, until he was looking at my free hand again. Whatever I originally planned to say was gone, erased from my mind.

'Kiss me,' I commanded him instead, signing the first thing I thought of.

His eyes flew back up to meet mine, but I knew I had said the right thing when his look turned even more heated. Maybe that was what I'd planned to say all along after all, because I realized that now that we could talk, we didn't need to. I already knew everything I needed to about him just like he was already in possession of the intrinsic knowledge of what made me, me. The rest would come later, in due time. Right now, I just wanted him.

This time was completely different than the first. He moved slowly, sliding the thumb of his hand still holding my face across my lips, catching on the bottom one slightly as he stepped closer. He kept his eyes locked on mine as he used his hand to tilt my head further back, wrapping the other around my narrow waist, reaching far enough around to grip my hip with his large hand. My hands ran up his chest, my arms just long enough from me to grip the back of his neck and guide his head down to reach mine.

The touch of his pouty pink lips felt like being immersed in a dream of fluffy clouds, gentle and soft. It was slow and timid at first as we hesitantly learned the feel of the others' lips then gradually morphed into more, hungrily tasting the other when our lips parted and our tongues became involved. His sweet tasting mouth was hot and delicious and I explored thoroughly, seeking more. Nothing else could ever possible taste as good.

I tried to pull his powerful body closer, but I wasn't strong enough to move him. Instead, he tightened his arms, moving me flush against him and straightening so I was lifted until my toes barely brushed the ground. I felt secure and safe in his arms as if I was right where I belonged. This was everything and I couldn't believe I'd waited so long to experience it. I'd wasted so much time, but he was worth it.

When our lips finally broke apart I saw that it had started to snow, the flakey puffs of white sprinkling the night darkened sky, disappearing before they reached Levi, vaporized when they hit an invisible barrier surrounding him like a space shuttle trying to reenter Earth's atmosphere. It was an utterly cliché moment, but completely perfect nonetheless.

~*~ ∞ ~*~