*Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable, all those rights go to Stephenie Meyer. As all song rights go to the listed artist. I only own any original characters.

A/N: First, as always, I want to thank all of you who have reviewed, read, and added this story to their favorites and to their following list. All of your support means so much to me. Thank You!

The words come pouring out
Can't stop the rain, wish you could take it back
But it's too late, it's too late

Why do we say things we can't take back
Why do we miss what we never had
Both of us fell to the ground
love was so lost, it couldn't be found

What would it take to forget who's blamed?
I'm tired of crying out at the sound of your name
Why don't we turn this around, love ain't the enemy
Don't you want to be lost then found

Song- Lost Then Found

By- Leona Lewis, Ft: One Republic

Her body was soaked as the rain poured over her exposed form, leaving all her uncovered flesh riddled in goose pimples as her body instinctively fought off the cold rain. Yet Bella didn't feel a thing. While her body reacted on the outside, on the inside everything was numb; to numb to feel, to numb to care about the rain, the cold, and her well-being. Her only focus was the horizon ahead that she locked her gaze onto through her black curtain of soaking wet strands.

"Haven't you heard it's rude to stare?"

"Didn't take you for a hypocrite," came in an amused chuckle behind her.

Bella huffed in annoyance; yet couldn't argue with the logic as her eyes stared out into the void before her. She could feel the sand shift next to her, causing her to groan mentally. She did not come here for company; she came here for solitude and was almost sure she would have it as the rain poured down, keeping others indoors and at bay.

"Could not have chosen a better place to wallow, child? My bones are much to old for sitting in the bare sand at my age, a chair or maybe even a log would have been appropriate, less far for my old bones to travel for a rest."

"Well, nobody asked you to sit down. Now did they?" her tone nothing short of clipped.

"True. However, child, nobody told me that I couldn't."

Bella couldn't help the slight one sided smirk that graced her lips at the man's words. A bit of annoyance filled her, as she again remembered you can't argue with logic.

"Quil Sr. the third. A mouthful, I know. So most call me Old Quil."

"I know."

"Know what?"

"Your name," she sighed, all the while keeping her eyes locked onto the horizon. "While it appeared that I was blind, deaf, and dumb these past few days, I can assure you I was well aware of my surroundings."

"Hmm- well I suppose living a life of always having eyes on the back of your head would do that, if that was such the case you would have come by?"

"Fishing for information won't work. I'm not one to take the bait."

A loud laugh echoed. "I assure you I am quite the fisherman. Just need the right kind of bait to set the hook."

Silence quickly found them as the girl had no retort. Old Quil really did hate sitting in the sand and to add the rain to it only made him sink deeper into the grains. 'Should be a fun trip back up,' he snorted to himself. A breeze found its way in between the buttons on his slicker causing him to shiver a bit before he pulled it taunt again. In that moment he looked up from under his large yellow hat, feeling the cold through his layers caused him to look to see how was she handling sitting here in nothing but a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. His eyes roamed her quickly; he could see her exposed flesh was that of a goose as it fought off the cold yet the girl didn't shiver, didn't flinch only continued to stare out through the black veil pasted to her face at the sea.

She made no effort to change her focus, as he watched her. 'Girl is so hot under the collar. It's shocking there isn't steam rising from the mixture of temperatures,' he chuckled to himself. She truly had her mother's tenacity, strength, stubborn nature and temper yet under it all she also had her mother's caring and loving heart. But for Bella that part of her now was buried so deeply; but pain, betrayal, and loss can do a lot of things to a person especially when it came down to survival.

"You have so much of your mother in you," he sighed as the thought of what her mother's stubbornness had cost so many people.

A dark amused chuckle filled the air for a moment before silence filled the void for a moment. "Wouldn't know. It's hard to know someone who is dead and gone, especially someone you killed by just taking your first breath. But it's fine, I suppose," she paused for a second. "As long as I'm not anything like Joshua, I could care less," she ground out as anger seeped out with every word.

"Ah yes, your father-"

"HE IS NOT MY FATHER! NEVER GRACE THAT MAN WITH SUCH AN HONORED TITLE," she snarled.

He couldn't help the small flinch at hearing her tone as it was deeply intense. While he knew she had no idea she had done it, he could hear it so clear. He could hear not only the light wolfish sound, but more importantly he could hear the alpha command she had issued. He knew her healing gene was active as her face and shoulder were nothing but a red mark now. He even knew her growth gene to accommodate her future form had started. But he had no idea, none at all, that she already possessed any of her alpha status without her transformation completing. Shaking his head he rid himself of the puzzle for now; after all, it was something that could be answered later.

Right now he needed to focus; focus on not just the here and now but the future as well. She needed to be here; she needed to find stock in this place that he could see she loathed. In reality it wasn't the land she loathed, it was the people and it's not like he could blame her. 'As they say, once bitten twice shy,' echoed through his mind.

As he watched her emotionless face he knew it was going to be an uphill battle with all the pain and hurt that coursed through her veins. He also knew if Sam didn't make an effort to stand down and let it happen naturally and continued to push, he would drive them further apart. An internal sigh echoed through his mind. He needed to push this lost sheep home and he hoped by pushing the lamb home, it didn't lead them all to their slaughter later.

A pulsing movement had his eyes jerking to see her flexing her left fingers from straight back to bending over and over in an attempt to sooth the aching bones. "Feeling the after effects of that knockout; are we?" he smirked.

"It was far from a knockout," she mused with a small chuckle.

"True, more like a TKO then?" causing her to shrug in response. "You know I have to say I'm surprised by your reaction or should I say response to Samuel."

Her head whipped to his direction showing her exotic eyes were still as cold as ice as they met his. "Are you saying he didn't deserve it?" she growled.

"That is not what I'm saying, Isabella."

"IT IS BELLA," she snarled.

Old Quil again heard the alpha command given. In this moment he was glad anger alone wouldn't allow her body to shift otherwise at this point he was sure he would have become a chew toy.

Taking stock in the warning for the future, he knew better then to antagonize her. Besides he couldn't disobey her wishes even if he wanted too, he could only guide her. "I am sorry, young one, please forgive me. Old habits from my generation to use formal names." He slightly smiled at the livid girl before him but he knew it was now or never to push the envelope, but there was a right way to do it. She was like he expected her; very well guarded, angry but more than anything she was confused, scared and ever so lost.

With a deep sigh he set forth pulling himself from the soggy sand and to his feet. As he finally rose to his feet and managed his balance with his long wooden staff, he looked back down at the girl whose eyes had returned to the raging sea; he didn't miss the irony of how the water's turbulence fit that of what flowed through the young girl's heart and mind.

"The moon is cresting-"

"So go if you are afraid of the dark."

"Oh, child, the dark does not frighten me; it's what lurks in it."

"I lived in LA; nothing, nothing here in the enchanted forest can scare me!" she snorted.

'If only you knew how right you were about the enchanted forest,' he internally chuckled. Pulling his thoughts back to the task at hand, he smirked at the girl. "True. I do hear LA has its mean streets. But a mugger or such has nothing on what lurks in these woods, child. Does your streets of LA have bears, cougars, and wolves?" He could see the contortion on her face as he mentioned what roamed the forests here; while the wolves weren't of any worry, it was still another predator man has used for years in their tales to strike fear. "Trust me, here there is no fighting back or talking your way out of it. It's all about tooth and claw and being eaten alive," he said eerily as he turned and walked away. "But feel free to stay and play with what lurks in the night, child. I on the other hand plan on going and staying indoors, where it is warm and animal free; maybe have a spot of warm tea while I'm at it," he threw back over his shoulder. 'Three, two,' a smirk crossed his lips as he heard the huff and then the footsteps, first running then slowing to a pace to fall in right behind. 'Step one, complete. Step two-' the thought of step two caused him to wince at what might come from it but it couldn't wait any longer. The future started now.

'Lions, tigers and bears, oh my, yeah right' she huffed to herself as she fell into step with the elderly man. As much as she believed he was playing her that little bit of her that was unsure of this woodland jungle won out and drove her to her feet. A lone wolf's howl caught her ear causing her cockiness and her balance to fade as she stumbled at the sound. 'Nope, it's more bears, cougars, and wolves, oh my,' she chastised herself at the realization that the old man's goading was very much real.

Her eyes shot again forward as she heard a soft amused chuckle. 'Yep, laugh it up at the city, girl. Ha, who am I to talk; I'd find the same amusement in his discomfort if this was the urban jungle,' rang through her thoughts. She hated to admit it but out of everyone here, she found some amusement in this old man as he wasn't like the others.

While she didn't like his defense of her brother on the beach, he had showed her what nobody else had. He hadn't showed her pity and he hadn't treated her as though she was an invalid. From the moment on the beach that first night, he seemed to be the only one who was truly watching out for her; and seeing her discomfort, he never pushed for information. Did he fish? Yes, but he never pushed it; and she never took the bait he cast her way. He never asked about her quick healing, in fact to her surprise he had kept to himself always making it appear as if her shoulder was more injured then it was, all to keep up the ruse of her secret.

The biggest shock came to her when he had thrown the policeman out of not only her room but his house when he threatened to have her arrested until she told them her story. He was the only person, who seemed to have any want or desire to side with her (well, him and the boy that found her). Bella avoided his name; acting as if she didn't remember it. It was much easier this way to pretend he had made as much of an impression as the other new people here. She didn't want to admit a draw to him. After all she had been through, she couldn't take another bout of loss and pain by letting someone in that would break her with lies. 'They all did,' she growled to herself as she thought of all the people who she had let in close to her heart. It was just easier to pull the door shut tight while locking and throwing away the key, when it came to the strange draw for the boy and the coaxing of the soft voice that always tried to guide her.

She couldn't follow so blindly anymore. Bella knew now she needed to guard herself better; after all he seemed like the do gooder type anyway. He saved the day, helped a wounded stranger, got her medical help and vanished without a goodbye. 'I'm sure he is enjoying his medal of honor along with the praises from the adults, but none more than the ones probably coming from Samuel.' She sneered with a twinge of pain as it almost hurt her to think of the boy in a negative manner, causing her frustration. 'He is the boy scout type,' she scoffed and she was the pick your pocket type. Her frustration grew at the strange draw to someone so different. 'Get your shit together, Bella,' she snapped at herself as she re-enforced the door and the lock around herself allowing the twinge and draw to dissipate.

Shaking her head, she hoped it would remove him and the subject from her mind; she hoped to remove it for forever but for now would do.

While refocusing, she caught sight of the thick brush that ran along the trail they so carefully weaved through. The wet leaves made the forest sparkle in the moonlight. While the scenery was so different from the architectural wonders of the urban jungle that buzzed with lights and sounds, she always thought that the city seemed so full of life but this place was amazing; it seemed to breathe life. Even Yosemite had nothing on this place in her mind yet at the same time being here was so draining and confusing. Her emotions were running wild and she felt so conflicted.

While in a way this place called to her, deep down she had always wondered about her brother and where he was and if he missed her; getting the answers this place seemed to give didn't seem to do whatever Manny thought it would. While Sam seemed happy for her to be here, he also seemed unable to see her for who she was now. He continued to see her as nothing more than his broken baby sister. She knew she is far from perfect, as her soul is littered with fractures. But she was far from as broken as Sam and that nurse woman had made her out to be. They all just went with the worst of her. In a way she couldn't blame the nurse for being freaked out at her appearance as it's not everyday someone shows up covered in blood and riddled with a bullet wound.

She can't play stupid and believe she wasn't going to be questioned; it was one of the main things she worried about on her drive here and all those hours alone in the truck right outside the border. What she didn't foresee was everyone not giving her time to breathe. Sam jumped on her demanding answers to her condition and how it happened, and to where she had been, demanding to know things she wasn't sure how to answer even if she could.

What hurt her the most wasn't even the cop they had called on her; that just broke any chance of trust by showing that they would use the law to force her to speak before she was ready, before she could even form answers in her own mind none the less. No, what

hurt the most was Sam with his words and questions. Never once was it really concern she heard in his voice, it was anger and never once did he truly ask where she was or what happened, every time he had asked it was a demand, never in care or true concern just a demand for an answer. The demands plus the police made her skeptical of his true intent; did he just want her to admit to something because maybe there was a reward out there for her capture as she walked away from two crime scenes that involved a family she was tied to.

When she was six she never would have thought Sam would do anything to hurt her, but she learned something very differently the day she turned seven when he walked out on her for the first time, then again walked out on her for a second time a few weeks later. He proved to her that he was out for himself and would do what was needed for him to survive no matter the cost to her. That's why she couldn't answer him, or believe anything he said or anyone else said on his behalf; they were all their own family group and she was the outsider. And if there was a bounty on her head, she could be their ticket to some quick cash. She needed to stay away from her brother, she needed to get stronger, find a ride and figure out her next move.

She wouldn't be put back in foster care or go to juvey. She needed to realize that Manny was wrong; this wasn't the safest place for her. Hell, he wasn't even the safest place for her. She felt as if her heart caved in from the realization and pain that she didn't know how much of him was the truth and how much of him was a lie. He said he loved her, she was his mi niña, yet how much could he care for her like a daughter when he put himself and her in that kind of danger that could kill them all.

She wasn't stupid; that night wasn't tied to any car thefts. No, it was to gang, almost mob related. Manny said it was better for her not to know, safer. 'BULLSHIT,' she ground out. He risked them all; and she deserved to know what she was to hide and to run from so she knew what to look for. But like Sam, Manny thought he knew what was best for her 'I was trying to protect you.' Again, 'BULLSHIT,' rang through her mind. If they cared anything at all there would have been no lies, they would have given her the truth and let her decide from there. All she knew now was that she needed to guard herself better. Everyone wanted to keep the truth from her in what they claimed was best for her to protect her. Well now she would do the same, she would protect her heart and fractured soul and the best way to start was to plaster the fractures shut and to stay away from Samuel and all others who could possibly tear down her walls that guarded her fractured soul in hopes to keep it from shattering.

As the determination cemented itself, she felt herself stumble backwards as she ran into something in front of her. "I always thought they said some people couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time, but you, my dear, prove you can't think and walk at the same time as you obviously never heard me say we were here."

Bella was about to retort when her eyes caught the large two story white home in front of her. All the lights were on and the front porch was aglow with a soft light. The house was so bright it was as if it was attempting to call a moth home. Her brow furrowed; this wasn't the home she stormed out of earlier. That home was simple almost a shack compared to this place. Her eyes flicked to the hazel ones before her in question.

"This is Sam's house, Bella"

Anger shot through her as her eyes again darted to the house, right before the fight or flight kicked in. This is the last place she wanted to be. She fought hard against her fight or flight instinct. As her blazing eyes turned onto the man again and to think she had only moments ago somewhat praised this man, had given him a benefit of the doubt and had believed he in a way understood her. When all along he was one of them, trying to push her into sharing, into accepting her brother and submitting. "Why did you bring me here?" she gritted out between clenched teeth.

"Because this is your home, Bella. It's where you belong."

"THE HELL IT IS!" she snarled as she turned on her heel to make her get away when she was stopped dead by a boney hand wrapping around her wrist; causing her to yank, squirm and fight in anyway possible to remove the hold he had on her. 'How in the hell is he still holding on; he is old and mostly bone,' she mentally screamed out in frustration.

"Bella, stop this. You cannot over power me. I might look frail but I assure you I am quite capable."

"FUCK OFF, OLD MAN!"

"Gladly, when you go inside," he bit back.

"Won't happen," she screeched as she yanked again. She thought she had made some progress when she felt his hand slip down from her wrist and cup into her left hand. But

again his grip became iron like, but it also pressed something sharp and cool into her palm causing her to stop her fight for a moment in shock as to what it was pulsed through her mind. Allowing Old Quil to pull her to him, quickly the old man wrapped both hands around Bella's upper arms.

"Bella, will you listen now?"

She nodded as she squeezed the object in her hand again, trying to reassure herself it was real.

"Bella, you need to understand me. I am not against you; in fact I am on your side. By bringing you here I am not condoning anyone's behavior or treatment of you these past few days. However, Bella, you cannot stay any place else. Things here on this land aren't like in the white man's world as we have a different set of laws; and here the oldest member of your line, most of all when that member is a male, is able to decide the best place for their family members under tribal law." He could see the confusion in her eyes and realized he had forgotten she knew nothing of her heritage. He doubted she even knew she was native and considering Joshua didn't teach Sam much, he was sure Bella knew absolutely nothing. He would make sure she was well versed and he would arrange fires for her to learn of her heritage along with the other children; and while the others grew up here and have heard them before, it never hurt to go over them again and again. "I know it is all confusing, Bella, and I swear, child, I will make sure you learn all that you were deprived from," he stated calming and reassuringly.

"That's fine but I'm not living here. Not with them," she bit out.

"Them?"

"My brother and the grandmother, who couldn't even see me before she signed me away. Or since I arrived"

"Bella, your grandmother has passed to the spirit world. Sam lives here alone now."

"How can a thirteen year old-"

"Because things are different here, child. Like I said we live under a different set of laws. I understand it is confusing but in time it will be less confusing."

"Oh yay, a male dominated society. I look forward to the history lessons," she bit out as she squeezed the object in her hand feeling it about to puncture the palm of her hand.

"I suppose it seems that way, but I swear it isn't as bad as it used to be as the old laws aren't enforced like they were. Well, not unless someone calls upon them. And I know Samuel has or will call on his right as the elder male of the family to have you live here with him; and they will force you, Bella. They will physically remove you from my house and bring you to him. So it's better to just accept it now then fight it, Bella."

"I won't live here," she snarled.

"Yes, you will if you want what is in the palm of your hand and even more," causing her eyes to dart to his as she tested out the truth in them. "It is yours, child, but you need to stay with your brother. I know you're angry, and you're scared and you have every right to be, child," he sighed as he watched the war in her eyes. "Bella, you and Sam were lost for so long and there were so many hurtful words exchanged and so many lies. But now you are here, however it is you managed to find what guided you here, and I'm not going to push you to share what did guide you. While others might, you don't have to say until you are ready. You are a strong girl, you won't be broken down easily that's for sure.

You might not believe it yet but there is so much you can learn from your brother and so much he can learn from you over time. But I know one thing for sure, Bella, and that is both you and Sam deserve answers when the time is right, and you both deserve the chance to find each other again. Maybe you won't ever fully find each other; maybe you two are to lost but you won't know until you try, Bella. It's not for Sam but for you; otherwise you will always wonder about the what ifs, if you run from here and from him."

Bella's eyes flickered back to the house again. She felt so torn and while she was so angry she wasn't stupid to know the old man's words were true. Where else did she have to go right now? A warm bed was always better than a fire escape and a warm freshly baked pizza was better than anything pulled out of the dumpster.

"All I have to do is go in there and try and I get-" she asked as she again squeezed the object in her hand.

"Yes, I am not one to go against my word."

"When will I get?-"

"Tomorrow."

"Alright," she mumbled again, squeezing the object in her hand tightly. With all her strength she started to walk forward towards the lights that she was now certain was to call her home.

"Told you it only took the right kind of bait when you fished," he chuckled causing the girl to throw a middle finger over her shoulder as she made her way up the steps, which only caused the man to laugh harder as he started to walk away.

Bella paused at the door, again debating her options. Trying wasn't going to be easy. Hell, Old Quil never said she had to make it easy either. He didn't expect her to just up and forgive, which she had no intention of doing; but maybe he was right, maybe she would find something if she tried. 'If, is the key word,' she smirked to herself as she realized that word was her trump card. Pulling herself from her thoughts, she eyed the white chipped paint on the door; she had no idea how long she had been standing there, but she knew she needed to bite the bullet and knock on the door. Squeezing the object in her left hand again, she finally let her fist fall forward and hit on the wooden surface.

As the sound of footsteps made their way, she could feel anger boil along with a nervousness making her heart pound. As the bolt slid and the knob began to twist she quickly shut her eyes in hopes to will herself to stay put.

"Bella!?"

She heard her name come from him as if it was a prayer, causing her eyes to open and face the brown eyes before her. Before she could fully register it, she felt herself pulled forward and crushed to her brother's chest as his arms wrapped tightly around her holding her in place as if she would disappear. She didn't know everything he was saying as it was all static to her.

"You're here; you came home," finally cut through the static.

She wanted to deny it but she didn't say anything; just like she didn't fully return his embrace as her upper arms were tightly held by her side, her forearms were slightly bent forward and pulled behind his back in what would appear an awkward hug due to the momentum from her brother pulling her to him. 'Try,' she reminded herself as the metallic object slipped from her palm a bit. Catching her eye from over his shoulder, caused a slight smile to form on her lips. 'And if all else fails when it's done, she can run,' her inner voice declared as she pulled the truck's key fully back into her palm. As she settled into a resolve to try, try to know her unknown heritage, try to know some answers, try to know these people, try to know and understand her brother but most importantly try to rebuild her '53 Chevy and a part of herself in doing so.

Next Chapter will move forward a few weeks and will bring in the boys Embry, Quil, and Seth but most importantly Jacob into play. So defiantly some Jacob and Bella interaction.

please, take a moment and review as they are very much appreciated; however, as always, flames are not.