A/N: I'm baaaack! So I know it's been painfully long since I updated. I'm sorry. There's been alot going on and since graduation and school and whatnot is finally over, I'll be able to update more frequently. Starting now. This is the first of two chapters that will be posted tonight.

Oh. And if you can say romance, that's great, 'cause there won't be any. Not yet anyways. =D

And life went on. We started to train soon after we strung together the theory that my gift, like many others, was triggered by fear, a defense. It very well explained all of the people I had confessed when I was being attacked. So we did combat lessons; so that I could learn discipline. That hadn't gone so well, though.

"So you couldn't have survived all of those attacks without having some semblance of what to do," Emmett had told me as we all made our way to a clearing, "How exactly did you fight?"

"Well," I'd looked up at the graying clouds as we broke through the tree line, "At first, I only used strength and instinct until, in the heat of the moment, it would just happen. Just like that: confessed. But now…."

I'd reached down under my skirt and felt for the two cold hilts sticking out of each boot. When I pulled them out, everyone fell silent and stared blankly. Emmett rolled his eyes.

"Knives don't hurt vampires, kid," he'd snorted. I distinctly remember taking a delight in proving him wrong.

I'd raised a challenging eyebrow and advanced forward a few steps before reaching up and swiping the tip of the blade across his cheek. Venom and a bit of blood welled to the surface.

He'd flinched in surprise and pain as the rest of the Cullens gasped.

"How does it feel?" I'd asked him.

"Stings," he bit out. Then, "How is that even possible?"

"Turns out," I'd said cheerfully, "Venom can do much more than change a person into a vampire." I'd thrown one of the twin daggers in the air and caught it at the hilt. Emmett glanced at me and dropped into a crouch.

"Bring it on, Elektra."

And we'd known, from then, that it wasn't going to work. Because, really, who could be afraid of Emmett?

So it had become plan B. Somebody- namely, Emmett and occasionally Edward- would jump out of the most ungodly places, scare me half to death- no pun intended- and promptly touch my hand to see if anything would happen. It had been nothing in the passed week. I was starting to think they were just doing it for fun now.

I sighed in frustration at this as I ran a brush through my hair. I had a strange, obsessive-compulsive- as Heather had called it- habit of brushing my hair when I was feeling disconcerted. But no matter how much I did this, it always refused to sit perfectly for an extended period of time, as Rosalie's does.

Rosalie was as confusing as she was beautiful, and that was saying a lot. There would be times when she would be absolutely pleasant and then would return to her usual scorn in the next moment. My curiosity about her odd behavior was so great that I actually went so far as to get into her mind.

"Rosalie doesn't know what to think of you," Edward had told me after some coaxing, as he didn't like to reveal the innermost thoughts of others. "On the one hand, it's hard for her to regard you with distaste because she can't really find much to dislike about you. But on the other hand, she doesn't know who you are, where you came from, and the fact that you spent any amount of time with the Volturi doesn't help."

I was jolted out of my thoughts when I head the sounds of footsteps and voices from the front yard.

Just then, the front door opened and I heard a chorus of rowdy voices and…heartbeats.

Humans?

It couldn't be, because the scent- though it set my throat dimly aflame- was so utterly wrong that I actually tripped over the leg of a chair in my haste to get to the window.

And vampires. Don't. Fall.

"Jake!" I heard Bella cry happily, "You're back!"

Who are these people, I thought in bewilderment as I threw the window open. My mystification was so comical that I actually laughed at myself. Downstairs, all went silent.

"Is that the new kid?" A deep voice inquired. Everyone continued chatting as light footsteps came toward the stairs.

"Kendra," Esme called, "Why don't you come meet some friends of ours?" I shrugged.

"'Kay," I said, taking another gulp of fresh air before pulling my head back in through the window.

I smoothed my wind-tousled hair as I descended the stairs, glaring warningly at Edward when he smiled knowingly.

Lined up at the center of the room were four tanned, toned, tall boys. They looked so much alike, they could have been brothers.

I stopped in front of the first, the tallest. He towered over me, making me feel dwarfed with his immense size. Though he seemed laid back, his massive build, along with the air of authority surrounding him, unnerved me.

"I'm Kendra," I said with a small smile.

"Jacob," he replied with a grin. His huge size paired with a friendly demeanor reminded me of Emmett, which chased away any intimidation I'd felt because of it. He gestured to a beautiful girl with an ugly scowl, sitting at the far end of the room and said, "That's Leah."

I flashed her a smile, not daring to get any closer with the 'stand off' look she was giving me.

I moved to the next one, who was able to be distinguished from the others by his slightly curly hair.

"I'm Quil," he said. He nodded to the boy beside him, who wore his hair just a bit longer than the rest. "This is Embry." Embry and I nodded to each other, neither of us aware that it was a nod that declared war.

As the last, presumably youngest, boy was about to say something to Edward, I stepped before him.

"Hi, I'm—"

He turned back to me and the outside world seemed to disappear around us.

Those eyes. They were sienna colored, heavily lashed and so, very innocent. Lighthearted as a child at play. As if the world has been good to him and he knew of nothing else. I drank it in, wrapped myself in it like a blanket, actually fell into it, as it seemed endless. He hadn't said one word and yet the innocence was infectious.

A grin slowly grew on his face, eliciting one from me. Around us, the chatter of the room died into silence. Out the corner of my eye, I saw Bella shoot Jacob a disbelieving look, to which he shook his head.

"Kendra," he finished for me, making my cheeks feel a strange tingle, "I've heard. I'm Seth."

Seth. It fits, I thought.

But a billion questions bubbled on my lips about the boy and his companions, all of them leading up to—

"What are you?" I blurted before I could stop myself. I couldn't discern the small, slightly grim, smile that played on Carlisle's lips.

"We're…werewolves," Quil volunteered.

"Apparently, shape shifters," Jacob added. I narrowed my eyes thoughtfully, piecing it together.

"So, what you mean is, you shape-shift. Into wolves."

"Precisely," Edward nodded. I scrutinized Leah and the tall boys with incredulous eyes.

Werewolves. Part of me- the part that still and will always remain human- wanted to deny it and call them all insane. But despite that little part, it could only be true because, hey, vampires.

"Forgive me," I began formally, "But I was under the impression that vampires and werewolves were mortal enemies."

Rosalie and Leah sneered. Bella grinned, seeming pleased.

"Well, we're far from normal," Seth countered brightly.

Amen.

Jacob glanced at the clock and shifted uncomfortably.

"Uh, Carlisle." He glanced at the door, then back at Carlisle. Carlisle frowned.

"Kendra, you must know that though we have grown close, there was a time when we were not too fond of each other," he began what I presumed would be a story of great significance.

In the time that I've been here, I've come to have an immense respect for Carlisle's wisdom and principles. His decision to live off the blood of animals, his ability to treat even those who've wronged him fairly and his compassion to all who deserved it. I often wondered if the rest of them realized how lucky they were to have him not only as a mentor but a father as well.

"We've lived in Forks once before, when some of us met the wolves for the first time. They were not at all happy about us hunting on they're land, animals or not. So, as a compromise, we created a treaty that restricted us from hunting on the Quilute reservation so long as the wolves did not cross to our land.

"There were some revisions made to the treaty around the time of Renesmee's birth. Jacob was part of Sam, another wolf's pack. But when Sam wanted to launch an attack on us out of fear of what Renesmee would grow to become and the impact she would have on the humans of the town, he refused to go through with it and rose to his birthright, enabling him to part from the pack and warn us. Seth came with him to inform us and his sister, Leah," my gazed flashed to her, noticing her sienna colored eyes for the first time, "later joined the pack followed by Quil and Embry."

Carlisle gazed at me, his frown deepening. He was not displeased with me, only a bit concerned.

"We were advised not to change another human or the wolves would be entitled to launch an attack on us but were able to change Bella at Jacob's consent. But now we must go meet with Sam at the treaty line to inform him that you have joined us," he finished.

I looked around at every solemn face in the room. Seeing that this was necessary, I nodded cooperatively.

Rosalie hissed. "It's bad enough that I have to deal with these dogs but now we have to pay a nice little visit to the other ones, too," she snarled resentfully.

Jacob rolled his eyes as he opened the door. "C'mon, Blondie," he said in a patronizing tone. My eyes widened at his boldness for I knew how short Rosalie's temper was. But she only growled warningly and stormed after him.

As the rest filed out of the house, I turned to Seth.

"Should I be afraid?" I asked apprehensively. He shrugged.

"'Course not. Come on." I yelped when he grabbed my hand.

"My gosh," I exclaimed breathlessly, putting a hand on his forehead, "You're, like, a million degrees! Are you feeling okay?"

He removed my hand and patted it gently.

"It's a wolf thing," he grinned, "We better get going."

A/N: So. They've finally met. Tell me what you think really happened in that moment when they met. *Mischievious smile*

Your CuTii3Pii3 ;)