A.N.

Hi, and welcome to my latest multi-chapter. I have the next three chapters already written, and am expecting one per week to be released, also on AO3 under the same pen name.

For context on the story, this is an Alternate Universe, it will be wolf pack centred, and Bella will be an imprint. On whom, I won't tell you yet, you have a few chapters to go.

This isn't a place for Edward/Bella lovers, but I also don't want to bash characters, I want to twist them a little and play.

I hope you enjoy

Chapter 1

"Are you sure you want to go? It's not too late to change your mind?" My mom asked for what might have been the thousandth time since I decided to move in with my dad.

"Mom, I'm sure." I reassured her as I continued to pack the few sentimental items I had in my room in our little house in Phoenix. "It's been too long since I've been in Forks, I miss my cousins and haven't spent more than a week with Dad since I was fourteen."

"It's just so dreary there!" She exclaimed as she lounged on the pile of pillows on my bed.

"I know you don't like it in Forks Mom, but I want a change, and I want you to be able to go out and travel with Phil, stop worrying about me." I tried to soothe her. "You remember that I actually love it in Forks right, and have family there?"

She sighed before adding. "I'll just miss you so much."

"I know Mom, but I'm only a phone call away, and you can always email me, and Phil will keep you plenty occupied."

It had been the same conversation every day for the last two months. Since I finally picked up the phone and called my dad and asked if his lifetime offer of a place to live still held true.

Of course, it did, and I never expected otherwise, but I finally felt now like I was ready to make the change.

School was going well when it came to the academics, but absolutely terrible when it came to the social side, and we had moved so many times in my life living with Renee, that I finally wanted the stability of knowing where I was going to live for more than the six months of Renee's employment contract or our lease, or the length of her current relationship.

I craved the stability that Forks had always promised. Even if it came with a side helping of rain and fog.

Ever since Renee packed up and left Forks with me in tow, when I was just a year and a half old, I had spent all my summers in Forks, and every second Christmas. And that was still more than I had spent anywhere else. And I had family there too. Well in La Push, but close enough.

Charlie's Aunt Molly had been married to Old Man Quil until she died five years ago, and because of that dad had practically grown up on the little Reservation just out of Forks, and all his friends lived there. And of course, that left me with family there too, my cousin Quil was nearly sixteen and surely was about twice the size he was when I saw him last. And then there was Jacob too, not technically my cousin, but we had grown up as if we were, and I still called his dad Uncle Billy.

So, Forks was going to be good for me.

Somewhere to put down some roots and have a connection to before I ran off onto college and had nothing to hold me too anywhere anymore. Before I turned into Renee.

That was my worst nightmare.

Having no real connection anywhere, falling in love with the idea of stability and the man who promised it, and then disappearing again two years later when things weren't exciting enough.

Finally, the last of my few belongings I wanted to keep was packed, my Forks appropriate clothes were in my suitcase, and I was ready to go, ready for the multiple legs of flying to head north, up to the edge of the world.

…

Arriving hours in Forks was even less awkward than I could have hoped. Charlie and I were both people of few words so the quiet ride back to the house was great, just catching up slowly, and then when we got to the house, I was pleasantly surprised it didn't look exactly how I remembered it.

The house had been painted somewhat recently in a rather fashionable light grey, and the garden was beautifully kept, even if it was the middle of winter and barer than I usually saw it.

Inside, Charlie had recently updated the kitchen, getting rid of Mom's old yellow painted cabinets, and everything was now fresh-looking wood. Everything seemed a little fresher, repainted.

"You didn't repaint everything just for me, right?" I half joked as I helped Charlie get my heavy suitcase up the couple of steps at the front door.

"Course not." He fakes huffed. "Your old man needed some more hobbies and with all the TV shows on renovations I thought I might give it a try."

"Well, you've done a fantastic job." I complimented.

Eventually we dragged my suitcase upstairs, and while I worked on settling in, Charlie ordered a pizza.

My first morning in Forks dawned cold and bright, it was the last Friday of winter break before school went back on the Monday, and I needed to work out how I was going to take myself shopping to supplement the tiny wardrobe I had.

Luckily Charlie seemed to be a step ahead of me there, and as I was finishing my bowl of oats and a coffee, I heard the unmistakeable rumbling of someone pulling into the driveway. Charlie called me out, saying he had a surprise for me.

By the time I stumbled out to the little porch, I could see two of my favourite people getting out of a red monstrosity of an old chevy truck.

"Jacob! Uncle Billy!" I called, not able to run up to them as I was still in socks and there was ice on the path.

"Long time, no see Bells!" Jacob called as he helped his dad out of the passenger side and into his wheelchair and then to the steps, where I quickly got out of the way to let Charlie help get Billy into the house. Clearly Charlie was going to ignore the fact that 15 year old Jacob had just driven the truck here.

Once we were all in the house, I was able to hug them both, and I was shocked at just how big Jacob had gotten.

"You onto the 'roids or something?" I joked as I squeezed his bicep.

"Nah, they just feed us good up on the res, not like you, you look scrawnier than ever." He jokingly poked me side, and it was just like the last time I had seen him. Even if he had to be nearly six foot tall now.

We all made some small talk for a few minutes before Charlie turned to me.

"So, Bella, what do you think of your new truck?"

I was shocked beyond words, and instead just pulled Charlie in for a quick, uncharacteristic hug before stuffing my feet into the boots I had left at the front door and running out to see.

Of course, I forgot about the ice and fell flat on my ass.

I could hear everyone laughing at my expense inside, and sat for a moment to regain some composure, and then took Jacob's offered hand as he made his way over to me.

I turned to look at Charlie, where he stood watching in the doorway.

"Is this for real?"

"Absolutely kiddo, you need some way to get around while I'm at work, couldn't leave you walking through the rain every day."

I continued to thank Charlie profusely as Jacob showed me the ropes and told me all about how he had essentially rebuilt the engine, and the thing was good to last another half a century.

I just thought it was perfect, the perfect indestructible, not fussy, car for me. The type of thing that would take a beating and come out the other side without a dent and leaving a trail of destruction in its path.

And it would be perfect to take me to Port Angeles today for my shopping trip.

And after mentioning it to Jacob, he of course was happy to accompany me, so I didn't have to brave shopping in an unfamiliar town by myself. Of course, he made me promise that I wasn't going to take three hours to pick a single pair of jeans, but the glare I sent him was enough to remind him that I wasn't his older sisters.

…

Monday came quickly and saw my first day as a student at Forks High School.

There certainly was a part of me that wished I could be in school with Jacob and Quil, but there were two issues there. First, they went to the La Push Tribal High School, and no matter my family ties, I certainly wasn't a member of the tribe and couldn't attend. And secondly, they were only sophomores, and I was a junior. Jacob was a year and a half younger than me, Quil a little more again, and we likely wouldn't even have any time together.

So, Forks High it was.

Thankfully, my nineteen-sixty-something truck fit right into the parking lot, with a couple of minivans, and then just two very high-end cars that didn't fit in at all. This was a part of the world where the wealthy stood out like a sore thumb, and the rest of us were the normal ones. A very different world to the schools I usually ended up in with Renee. Usually, it was those of us who caught the school bus who were singled out.

I briefly spoke with the receptionist in the admin building, who was lovely, though she seemed incredibly flustered and like she had the work of about five people to complete. So, when she offered to highlight the map of the tiny school for me, I politely declined and told her I would figure it out.

Forks High School certainly wasn't a difficult school to figure out. There was a collection of five small buildings, each with a handful of classrooms, then a gym and a cafeteria, all surrounding a central courtyard area, then a sports field and all surrounded by forest. I don't think I could have gotten lost if I had tried. And of course, I wasn't left completely alone, there was a certain appeal to making friends with the new kid, the shiny new toy, and I found myself the target of one particular group.

They all seemed nice enough, from the bubbly girls Jessica and Lauren who were in my English and calculus classes, Angela who they introduced me to before government, the boys who's names I forgot in my Spanish class, and then they all demanded I sit with them at lunch. There I met Mike, who reminded me of a golden retriever, and who I learnt my last two classes were with as well: biology and gym.

I ate a salad and a sprite, not sure yet what was to be trusted in the new cafeteria, but it was nice to not have to sit alone on my first day, and hopefully this could be the start of me actually making some long-term friends, of actually being in the same school and same area for a while.

And then with the ring of a bell, I was off to my biology class.

It wasn't a class I was exactly looking forward to, I had a love-hate relationship with it. It was the last available space in a science class that fit with my schedule, and I was good at biology, but I knew I would be bored. I had pretty well finished the entire years' worth of the junior syllabus before I left Phoenix. It was a place filler really. Mike walked me to the class, and just before we walked in, he pulled me to the side.

"So, the teacher has everyone in assigned seating here, and unfortunately the only space left in the class is next to Cullen." He said, as if saying that name was going to make me recoil in horror.

"Who's that? Do they smell or something?" I asked.

"No, he's just real weird is all, we all get weird vibes from him." He responded.

"I'm sure it's not so bad." I reasoned as I stepped inside the classroom, not wanting to be late on my first day.

The teacher was energetic and friendly, at least he appeared he was going to be putting some effort into the classwork and I might be able to be interested, but even he seemed a little sympathetic when he pointed me to the only available seat.

Next to a man I could best describe as being a Roman or Greek god incarnate.

He was wearing subtly designer clothes, and his skin was whiter than mine, and looked like polished marble. His coppery hair stood up in different directions in what seemed to be careful nonchalance, and his face looked like it could have been painted by the Renaissance master.

He looked slightly puzzled as I sat beside him, and I decided to play nice. I turned slightly towards him, ready to introduce myself.

And his face had changed. No more did he look slightly puzzled, he looked murderously angry.

The phrase 'if looks could kill' instantly came to mind and I found myself recoiling slightly.

Unfortunately, the teacher was calling the class to attention, and I had no other option than to sit at the high table beside the maybe-serial killer.

I angled myself so I was as far as possible from him, and subtly began to sniff myself. My hair smelled of my usual strawberry shampoo, maybe I had forgotten deodorant today? No, I couldn't smell any odour.

There had to be something else.

I was relieved my thick, nearly waist length hair was down today, I allowed it to fall over my left shoulder and let it become a screen between us, so I couldn't see his glare as I tried to pay attention at take notes.

At some point in the class, I heard such a strange noise, like a crunching sound. I couldn't place what it was in the classroom setting, it was like someone biting into crackers right next to my ear, but Mr Serial Killer Stare, definitely wasn't eating. I resigned myself to talking the best notes I could, really focusing on my handwriting and everything, and then running from the classroom as soon as the bell went. As if I was excited for final period gym class.

Luckily, Mr Death Glare, seemed to have the same idea, and was out of his seat before the bell even started to ring, and opening the classroom door before it had finished.

The teacher dismissed us and in a bit of a haze, I packed myself up and walked to my locker, gathering my change of clothes.

Now I have never claimed to be the most coordinated person, or even slightly good at sports, but after that miserable attempt of a biology lesson, my thoughts were everywhere except where they should be in the current P.E. lesson. Volleyball was today's poison and I managed to not only be hit in the face multiple times, but the single time I did manage to hit the ball, I hit it straight into the back of the head of Mike.

And here I was thinking maybe I could make a friend out of Mike. Might have just ruined those chances though.

I quickly changed and made my way through the small crowd of students and back to the admin building where I was to hand back the slip signed by all my teachers to confirm I had indeed attended all my classes today. In my rush, I didn't see the person swinging the admin door open as I reached for it, and without me even realising the door was moving; it slammed into my face.

I stumbled back and landed straight on my ass and grabbed my face. The edge of the door had hit me on my forehead and cheekbone, right across my right eye.

The smarting pain had me dazed, but while still holding my face I looked up to see who it was on the other side of the door.

All I could see was Edward Cullen pushing his way through the crowd away from me, almost impossibly quickly.

The other students seemed to part around him and allow him such an easy way through.

And then I lost sight of him as the lovely receptionist from earlier hurried out to see if I was okay.

I of course tried to insist I was fine, but it was quite the knock to my head, and I could feel the burning pain that told me it was already bruising and swelling.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

Fortunately, I talked the receptionist out of needing to sit in the sick bay, and she settled with me sitting on one of the brown vinyl chairs in the admin room with an icepack to my face while she finalised my paperwork, and then called my dad to let him know what happened. She gave him all the details, and then passed the cordless phone over the small counter to me, letting me know Charlie wanted to speak to me.

"Hey Dad," I answered.

"Bella, you okay?" He responded.

"Yeah, I'll have a nasty bruise for a few days, but I don't think anything serious is going on. I feel alright, just embarrassed to have done this on my first day." I answered truthfully.

"Yeah, well by the sounds of it that Cullen boy wasn't being too careful, was he?" He spoke. "I might have to have a word with his father about being more considerate of others."

"Oh my gosh, Dad please don't." I huffed, embarrassed he was even considering this. "I didn't see him, and he didn't see me, it's fine." I insisted. "Anyway, I'm feeling fine now, so I'm going to head home, and we can talk about it after dinner."

"As long as you feel okay to drive, Bella?" He asked.

"I feel fine Dad, I just want to go home and keep icing my face so I can keep the bruising and swelling down."

"Alright, well I'll be home about 5, and if it looks bad, I'm taking you to the urgent care." He spoke.

"No worries, Dad, I'll see you then." I ended the call and handed the phone and the icepack back to the receptionist. She tried with everything she had to keep her face neutral, but I could tell it really didn't look good by her expression. Looks like my first trip to the Forks Hospital was on the cards.

I left my school bag on the dining table and went straight to the small downstairs bathroom to check my face out in the mirror. Charlie had updated the laundry room at the back of the house, so that now it was a small bathroom with a walk-in shower, toilet, and basin, and the washer and dryer were under a wooden topped bench, with a tall cupboard beside it for the vacuum and mop and such.

It wasn't luxurious, but it was fantastic we no longer needed to go all the way upstairs every time we needed the bathroom.

And in all honesty, I was feeling a little woozy, and thought perhaps the stairs weren't the greatest idea right now.

Inspecting the damage, I could see why I had freaked out the school receptionist. I really needed to learn and remember her name. But the right side of my face was puffy and red with swelling, and already starting to bruise in a very deep purple. And along the top side of my eyebrow, I could see my skin had split and was all weepy looking, though thankfully not bleeding more than the dried blood in my eyebrow. Probably because I had ice on it so quickly.

I knew Charlie would be taking me straight to urgent care, so I didn't bother getting changed or going upstairs, I just grabbed a bag of frozen peas from the freezer, wrapped them in the tea towel, and planted myself on the couch in front of the TV.

I checked the time, it was only 4, and decided I needed to tell Charlie I probably did need that ride to the hospital. I better not let him freak out when he sees me and I haven't told him.

What a great start to school in Forks.