Hello All! Sorry I haven't been posting new chapters but life is crazy. Anyway this is a new Chapter 23 that was completed on 4/30/14 so you might wanna read it again if you have previously!

Disclaimer - I do not own Twilight, if you recognize anything that means it's probably not mine. This is purely for entertainment.

"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
'Pack Mind'

Chapter 23

Bella P.O.V.

I wake up blissfully happy and completely sated…for now. I slip off the bed and out of the room after dressing. I walk into the kitchen to see Sue with a knowing smile on her face and her eyes glued to my hand. I follow her eyes and smile broadly again when I see the ring on my finger. "I really am happy for you two!" she half-said half-squealed.

I giggle and smile. "Thanks Sue, I'm going to go call my mom." She nods and I step out the back door breathing in the fresh air while I wait for her to pick up the phone.

"Bella!" she practically yells down the phone.

"Hi mom!" I chirp.

"Sooo…How'd it go?"

I smirk knowing I could play this one. "Not like I expected." That's true…I didn't expect her to propose too.

"What do you mean? Did she say no?" Renee asks hurriedly.

I giggle before answering, "No mom, she proposed to me at the same time as I was proposing to her."

Renee laughs. "I guess that really isn't quite what you expected huh?"

"Nope, you have GOT to see the ring she got me though…I love it!" I could hear her moving around on the other end of the line for a bit before she spoke again.

"Well Bells I could come out Monday after next."

I think for a moment…that's the day after Emily's wedding. "That's perfect mom!" I say enthusiastically…I'm really excited to see her again.

We talk for a few more minutes before I hear my Leah coming down the stairs. "I gotta go mom, Leah is awake…talk to you soon." I turn just in time to see her walk into the kitchen and I quickly find myself in her arms. "Morning Lee, my mom will be out again the day after Sam and Emily's wedding." She nods before giving me a quick kiss and sitting down to eat. I keep looking down and playing with my ring with a small smile on my face…one that gets larger when I see the ring I bought on my Leah's hand.

Leah P.O.V.

I smile when I notice my Bella keeps playing with the ring on her finger and couldn't help but do the same. I was going to be married to this amazing woman…I still couldn't be sure that I wasn't dreaming. I head out for patrol, leaving my Bella with the girls. I could hear the squealing start before I even made it out the door.

As soon as I phase I start my rounds and ask if I had missed anything. It was Quil who had information for me. 'There is something to the northwest. I could catch a hint of the leeches but it's smothered in something else. It smells almost like us but more feral.' I nod my thanks and head that direction. I have one of the better noses of the pack not to mention I am the quickest. I try following the trail but it goes straight out to the ocean.

The next couple weeks flew by and we went to Sam and Emily's wedding. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and I couldn't stop myself from picturing the upcoming wedding with my Bella. I could tell from the look on her face she was doing the same. After the wedding we spent some time with everyone before heading home shortly after Sam and Emily left for their short honeymoon. My Bella and I had a very passionate night from the high emotions of the wedding before drifting to sleep in each other's arms.

Bella P.O.V.

I yawn hugely while I stretch. My Leah looked so cute that I didn't want to wake her up but I knew I would have to if she wanted to come with me to pick up Renee from the airport. So I decide to wake her up nicely…I start kissing her chest and neck, refreshing the mark that I still didn't understand the reason for, before finally planting a sweet kiss on her lips. She kept her eyes closed but was smiling softly.

"Good morning beautiful." She whispers and I blush lightly.

"Morning…time to get up." She groans but slides out of bed and my eyes follow her naked body as she grabs a robe and tosses me mine. We both slip into the bathroom and take a quick shower with only minimal touching before grabbing a quick breakfast and heading to pick up Renee.

"So anything new out there?" I ask.

She shakes her head, "No, we still haven't figured out what that other scent is. It's driving everyone insane…that scent goes all over and makes it nearly impossible to know if the vampires are with them or not." I could tell she was frustrated and let my hand rub her thigh until she calmed down. Her smile let me know that it worked and I returned it as she rested her hand on top of mine.

We pull into the airport and head inside, it wasn't long at all before I saw Renee coming towards us with a huge smile. She pulled us both into a hug and then grabbed both of our left hands to look at the rings. It was already late by the time we got back to Forks so we dropped Renee off at the motel where she stayed previously and headed home.

Leah P.O.V.

I'm glad that my Bella's mom was happy for us. Renee seems really excited about helping to plan the wedding…I'm glad I get to avoid that part and I'm pretty sure my Bella is too. First thing this morning my Bella was sucking on my neck renewing my mark before I flipped her over to do the same, then we headed to get Renee. She spent the day with my mother talking about my Bella and I as well as the wedding. I heard Renee mention something about trying to knock sense into Charlie again before the wedding…every girl should have their dad walk them down the aisle.

Later that evening I had to patrol so my Bella had to take Renee back into town on her own and she decided to stay with Alice for the night. I crossed the mysterious scent a few times but it was much stronger than usual which means it was fresh. A couple hours old at most…there was something about this scent that bothered me so I decide to gather up the pack. I let out a loud howl and wait for the others to join me in the clearing.

'What is it Leah?' asks Jared once everyone arrived.

'That weird scent…found it again only a couple hours old. There is just something about it that bothers me.' About the time I finished that sentence there was a howl in the woods…but it sounded off. Not quite like ours so we all turned to go towards it. I make it a few steps before I was hit with a white hot pain in my chest…only one thought running through my mind before it fell to darkness. 'Bella.'

Bella P.O.V.

On the drive to the Cullen's I was feeling a little off…something just didn't seem right. I glance out the window of my truck to see a full moon rising and a shiver travels down my spine. Just as I turn back to the road something blurs across. I slam the breaks and skid to a stop. 'What was that?' It looks almost like a disfigured wolf walking practically upright. I crack my window to get some fresh air while I try to keep my heart from pounded out of my chest. That's when it hits me.

It was a foul stench that set my nose on fire. Behind the burning there was a slightly earthy smell. I quickly roll up my window and shoot off towards the Cullens. 'Maybe Carlisle can help.' I think to myself. My body kept getting warmer and I threw my coat on the seat next to me. As I pull up to the Cullen house Alice shot out the door and was at my side in an instant as I stumble out of the truck.

"Bella! Bella what's wrong…" her eyes glaze over for a moment then her face turns to one of worry. "Bella I can't See anything around you…it's all blurry." I look at her questioningly. That's how she describes my future when I'm around the wolves but none of them are anywhere near here.

I double over in pain and she reaches to grab me hissing when she touches my skin. "Bella you're burning up…let's get you in to see Carlisle." I nod trying to keep my balance and not pass out from the pain. Alice ignores the heat emanating from my skin, picking me up and running into the house, up the stairs, and to Carlisle's office. I hear them speaking but can't make out any words. The pain is too much and everything fades black.

Leah P.O.V.

When my eyes open again I realize I'm home in my bed…I still feel the pain in my chest but it's not throbbing anymore. 'Something is wrong with my Bella.' I hear voices downstairs and rush down to see Mom, Dad, Old Quil, Billy, Jacob, and Jared sitting in the living room. The moment I enter all eyes turn to me. Mom walks up to me tentatively. "Are you alright honey?"

I nod then shrug. I wasn't sure what was going on, the only thing that I did know is that I was out for a few hours and that something was wrong with my Bella. That's when I notice the somber look on everyone's face. I start to panic. "What's going on?" I almost scream and I start shaking slightly.

Mom pulls me into a tight hug and says the words that cause my world to crumble. "It's Bella."

My legs collapse and mom can barely keep me up. I feel two sets of arms help me to the couch, Jacob and Jared. "Please someone tell me what's going on."

Mom comes over to kneel in front of me. "She's sick Lee, real sick."

"Where is she? I need to see her." I plead.

"She's at the Cullen's, we can head there now, we were just waiting on you. Do you have Renee's number?" I nod and hand her my phone. "Let's go." Mom, Jacob, and I go…the rest stay back to give news to the others…almost everyone on the res loves my Bella.

We pick up Renee, who looks shaken and worried, and then head to the Cullen house. Esme is waiting for us on the porch when we arrive. She leads us to the living room which was set up like a hospital. There was a machine monitoring her pulse, though most of us could hear it ourselves. When Alice saw us coming she moved from her spot at my Bella's bedside so Renee and I could be there. I sit down and look her over.

My Bella's face was covered in sweat and she grimaced in pain. I couldn't be sure but it seemed like she had grown a couple inches since I last saw her…which makes no sense as that was only hours ago. Not to mention I can see definition in her muscles that I swear wasn't there before. When I grab her hand I notice it is almost the same temperature as mine…which is way too hot for a human.

As soon as I notice this I snapped my head up to Carlisle and he nodded knowing what I just learned. "Why?" I mouth to him. He just shrugs, this annoys me but I just focus on my Bella. Carlisle walks out of the room and I turn to Alice with a questioning expression.

"He's running blood tests, his equipment is in his office." She tells me and I nod. Good. A bit later Carlisle appears with an inquisitive look.

"What is it?" I ask with confusion.

"Her blood…the chromosome count isn't normal for humans." He says with an almost excited look on his face, without any regard for who is in hearing range. Luckily Renee had just left to use the restroom.

I try to figure out what he means but my mind just isn't working right now. "In English please?" I ask as politely as I can at the moment.

"Okay. How much biology do you remember? Did you study chromosomal pairs?"

I nod. "I think so, we have twenty-three, right?"

The blonde doctor nods again. "Humans do."

"What about you?" I question.

"Twenty-five," he answers quickly. "But you Leah, have twenty-four. At least your ancestors did. You are not true werewolves but shape-shifters who just happened to become wolves." I nod in understanding. "I believe the extra pair is the shape-shifting gene. The one that you have…and the one that Bella has."

I am so absorbed in trying to wrap my mind around what I was just told about my Bella that I almost don't notice when groans and opens her eyes. I use a washcloth to wipe the sweat from her forehead. "Hey baby." I coo softly.

Bella P.O.V.

I felt lost in the blackness until I felt a hand grab mine and it ignited a spark inside me. It was my Leah…I would know that touch anywhere. I had to get back to her. I pushed and fought the blackness until I could see a light. I ran towards it and then in a bright flash I knew I was back.

I managed to open my eyes but groaned at the bright lights. When I'm finally able to see again I turn to look at my Leah as she wipes the sweat from my forehead. "Hey baby." She says softly and I sigh leaning into her hand as it moves to cup my cheek.

"Hey." I croak out. I knew I was in pain but I didn't know much else. "What's going on?" I ask my Leah.

She shrugs. "We don't know for sure Bells…it seems like almost your entire body has changed…you've gotten a bit taller and your muscles are more defined. Not to mention your body temperature has gone way up."

As she rattled off my symptoms I heard Renee gasp. I look up to see her staring at me disbelievingly from the entrance to the room. "Mom? Do you know something?"

"They were just stories…legends my grandmamma used to tell me." We all chuckle dryly…we know all about legends turning out to be true.

"Please…" I breathe out through the pain. "We need to know, no matter how…crazy it sounds." She nods slowly and takes a deep breath before she begins.

"There is an old story my grandmamma used to tell me about her youth. She was born into a clan of Romani...they are called gypsies by most today. Her mother had been a slave and escaped into the woods where she came upon their camp. They took her in and eventually she fell in love with one of the men there."

She clears her throat. "From them my grandmamma was born and she lived their lifestyle until she decided to travel here to America. She always told me stories when I was young about how most of the clan could change forms into giant tigers. Supposedly centuries ago there was a Romani woman who believed her husband to be unfaithful. Every full moon he would leave for three days. Once, she decided to follow him. He traveled for a few hours and she followed him all the way to a cabin in the woods where she found out he was indeed with another woman.

She went home that night and devised a plan. The Romani woman was a powerful witch and put an amria, a curse, on her husband so that during the full moon he would change into a monster. A manusruv or manwolf. She followed him the next month and watched as the moon rose and he became the monster. He tore to shreds the woman with whom he had been unfaithful. After that night, every full moon he became the manusruv and terrorized the villages in the area killing many. The witch did not mean for this to happen so she tried to undo the curse but she couldn't. That left only one option she had to create a kintala, a balance.

She gathered some of the local men and women who volunteered to fight the manusruv and she gave them the ability to change forms. They became an enlarged form of the strongest animal in the area. The white tiger, with this form they were able to eradicate the manusruv but unknown to them he was able to infect all of those who were not killed by his attacks. Since that day every descendent of those men and women have carried the gene to change forms should they ever cross paths with the 'children' of the first manusruv. As the years passed they became known by another name…the"

"Children of the Moon." Carlisle finished for her. Everyone was enthralled by the story and the legend of how the 'real' werewolves were created. Everyone began murmuring about the legend when a thought hit me.

"So that's what that was…a werewolf." That got everyone's attention. I quickly explained to them about what happened. "On the way here I saw…something run across the road. I pulled over for a minute to catch my breath and cracked the window for some fresh air. I smelt something weird in the air that was almost painful to my nose and I started feeling really warm so I got here as quickly as I could."

Leah P.O.V.

As soon as my Bella finished her story chaos broke out. People were getting loud and I could tell it was bothering my Bella as she now had her head under the pillow. I did the only thing I could think of…I whistled. Quite loudly, and as almost everyone there had super hearing it shut them up real quick. They all turned to me and I looked pointedly at my Bella who was practically writhing with her head covered. Everyone's expressions quickly changed to contrite and they all murmured their apologies.

I began running my fingers through my Bella's hair and she relaxed until she fell asleep. I kissed her forehead and just sat watching her. A few minutes later I felt someone's presence and I quickly realized it was Renee. "Hi, Renee." I whisper.

"Why is everyone so calm about what's happening to Bella?" I sigh.

"Because many of us down at La Push are like her…except we become giant wolves."

She chuckles dryly. "I guess that explains the joke about legends huh?"

I nod slowly and let out a yawn. "Yeah, our change is triggered by vampires." I say without thinking…I didn't even realize what I said until I could hear Renee practically choking.

"Opps…could have broken that to you a bit better eh? Vampires, Werewolves, Shape-Shifters…all real." She nods slowly and I can tell she's trying to take this all in. I sigh watching my Bella, her face still grimacing in pain now and then. Apparently she burns out the morphine so fast that it isn't doing much good.

Renee clears her throat and I turn to her again. "So…you turn into a giant wolf that hunts vampires?" I nod. "Do you get a lot of them here?" I shrug

"Not too many…but there is a family of 'good' vampires that live here. They drink animal blood instead of human."

I notice Alice look up at that and give her a questioning glance. She nods giving me permission to tell Renee. "You're in their house actually." I chuckle as she whips her head around to look at the Cullens. I sigh and lean my head forward on the edge of the bed.

Renee pats my shoulder and whispers, "Get some sleep…you look like you could use it." I smile softly and murmur my thanks before sleep overtakes me.