Teeth.

The vision before me was a rather large wolf. A head the size of those eighteen wheeler trucks. A mouth open wide, and gleams of drool dripping from its jaw.

There wasn't anything more I could do as I plummet from uncertain heights. I was heading right into the lions den. Wait, that isn't right. I was about to be swallowed by something I should have conquered.

Was this beast my fear? Could this torture I am about to endure all be in my head or am I about to be swallowed up by this creature and float for an eternity?

Whoa there my dramatic, princess. Center yourself! Be ready for anything!

The echos of my fathers voice knocked me out from the clouded vision of overwhelming uncertainty soon to take over. I was feeling a sense of defeat until that old man kicked some sense into me, just as he always has. Thank you, dad. Sometimes, when you're being a prick? That's when you know I needed some tough love and it got me through.

"Fuck you, ya dark ugly." I rose a my hand up to my mouth and took a bite out of my thumb. That tacky metallic touched my taste buds seconds after the fresh wound spurts open from my sharp teeth. I used that wound to cover my arm in these strange markings. It was like my body knew what to do on its own when in this situation.

Up and Down, a loop and swirl. Some slashes, a bud and whatever that last circle was.

Each one entangled together to make up what appeared to be one solid word. I couldn't make out the language, it was certainly nothing I've come across in my seventeen years of freaking living.

"Ahhhh!"

It was hurting! The hell?!

I felt those tingles moving from beneath that tattoo i had given myself. It was almost like my blood was being absorbed back into me but my body was seeing it as a toxin. Sharp prickling grew into tiny armies of ants that were covered in shards of glass and they were crawling under my skin.

I hurt so bad that I started to scratch. Hard. I needed it to just stop. My eyes are starting to blur my vision while I'm digging my nails into my flesh. It was hurting so bad.

Keep this up and you'll bleed to death.

Whoever that was is right.

I needed to stop. Trying to think past all the pain was really hard. I don't understand how any human or not can do something beyond curling up.

Yes! That was it! I hunched myself into a tight ball as this pulsating heat spread out from the rune one my arm. After my blood had dried, it was as it something was now puncturing my entire arm. It was burning and itching. I wanted to throw up from the sudden rush of heat that pooled in my stomach.

"Urrrgghhh" Nothing could make this feel better. I was so hot. I was—

Snap…Cr-aaack!

"AANGGHH!" My eyes were bulging out from their sockets. This pain came from one of my feet. I didn't want to look, but it hurt so fucking bad I need…I need to check. It's like some weird compulsion to make sure its broken. With antagonizing struggle I was able to uncurl my body enough and see my feet.

"Oh…Gods…" I let out a sobbing gasp. Both of them were broken and facing the opposite way. The bones had snapped at such odd angles. How could I walk again?

If this was what happens after I let my body go on auto pilot? Never. Again. I thought that shit was going to protect me! Not harm me! I hate this! I want to go home.

I want Esme!

The beast below me let out a grumble that could mimic a humans form of chuckle. Damn thing was enjoying this little show. I was tender now, I bet. With my bones snapping in various places. Tears running down my cheeks. My voice cracking from how often I let out an ear piercing scream.

What sick creature wouldn't take pleasure from the fear filled prey that will soon be touching its tongue, sliding down its throat and joining the other souls its devoured.

I do not want to be part of those many few.

I do not want to become something that was over taken.

I do not want to be any other soul but my own.

I do not want to be anyone but… me.

I Am. Grace. Parker.

"I'm happy to hear that, my little cub"

Softness. Warmth that doesn't lick at your skin and leave a scar, but the kind that touches you and leaves a pleasant settling over your mind and body. A safety. This type of butterfly feeling in the pit of your belly.

Pain. That traumatic experience of bones breaking from under my skin. Erased. The air that was sweeping along my body as I was falling towards certain doom. Erased. The dread in my soul for I knew soon my death was to come and I was about to join so many others. No longer.

Instead I stood somewhere in the forest where a person of whatever genetics, called home. They had a table setup a few feet away from where I had found myself. I noticed that there were four seats. Each seat had a dinning set and napkins set before them. No one else has arrived for this tea party? Am I early? How do I know its a tea party?

"Grace! The tea is ready!" A woman's voice came from behind me, startling me the sudden close proximity. I wasn't aware of anyone being there.

"U-Uh..huh?" I sputtered out.

"Huh? You're silly." She teased, placing her hand on my lower back. "Come on babygirl, lets sit down and drink some tea and eat some of those cakes before the others show up. Hm?"

"Y-Yeah, sure. I think th-the red one look good." I point down towards the bite sized decorative cakes that were on display at the table. This wasn't here when I was alone. Did this all appear because she arrived? Who is this…

My eyes widened. This tea party. The dress that woman is wearing. The teasing voice. The dark hair…

"M-Mom…?" I felt my lower lip begin to quiver.

The dark haired woman turned around to face me entirely. I let out the rest of the air inside of my lungs when I could finally see into her dark brown eyes again.

"Now you haven't called me that in a long time." Her smile, I couldn't miss it, though it was wide and gave you the impression that she was happy. It didn't reach her eyes.

How much of this was real? My mind can play some funny games. This was not the time to be playing them. Instead of a game, maybe this is heaven. I did fall into that monsters mouth. I felt myself breaking in mid-air.

I must be dead.

"You're not dead. You're unconscious and in a deep state of sleep while under the full moons influence." My mothers hands were resting against my biceps and she gave me a good shake. "You need to drink some of this tea, Grace." Her eyes were stern and pleading.

What weren't you saying, Mom?

"I-I.. yeah, uh. Let's have a tea party." I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. There wasn't time for me to be loosing my mind. If she's saying I'm only unconscious, then what the hell was all that other stuff that happened to me? That felt real.

My mother and I grabbed a couple cakes and took them with us over to our seats. I was going to sit on her right, but my mother insisted that I take the head seat on the opposite of her. I gave a shrug and didn't argue, I sat across from her just as she wanted. This seemed to place a real smile on her face.

I was happy. That was way better than the sad ass one I got earlier.

How much earlier was that? Five minutes? An hour? I'm super excited and freaking out a little over here.

I took a bite from the piece of cake and glanced over at my mother. She was humming while moving the tea cups to be in font of either of us. With this majestic grace I didn't know she had, my mother made two cups of tea out of this strange looking arrangement of flowers. The color wasn't off putting. The aromas were different, but not unpleasant.

"Here. Drink some of this. It will help with the pain." She grimaced. "I am sorry I could not get this to you sooner, my sweet girl."

"What do you mean?" I lifted the steaming cup to my lips and took a small sip of the tea. "Mm," I hunched my back and spat a little of the tea out. "H-Hot! My tongue!" My hand came upwards to fan at my mouth, as if that would be the cure to the pain from my silly quickness to listen to my mothers words.

My mother chuckled and with a tender reach of her hand, she tapped her finger against the corner of my mouth and the pain was…gone.

I blinked a few times before I swished my tongue around my mouth. I checked and everything was still there, but the pain was gone. How did she do that? Could I do that?

"Slow sips, babygirl." She tipped her glass towards me in an expression I've seen from my father, blew against the rim of her drink and then took a short sip. "You'll hate it at first but I promise that you'll find a way to make this tea your very own."

"I think all tea taste like dirt, mama." I prepared myself this round and mimicked my mothers moves when it came to sipping on my own tea fill cup. "Though this one has more honey. Was that for me?"

She chuckled, "Yes, I thought sweet would do better for you as an introduction to what will help you stay awake during the next full moon." Laying out some heavy information as if it were common knowledge. All with a calm demeanor.

My mother, everyone. Kamika N. Parker.

"I'm being controlled by the moon? That…I know I'm like easy going and shit, but-"

"Language, princess.." My mothers eyes were a vibrant shade of silver when they had opened and stared at me from behind the rim of her tea cup as it was being pushed against her lips. I took a rather large gulp to push down my sudden want to turn, tail and run. Those were a dangerous pair of eyes. I knew better than to disobey.

"Sorry, mama." I cleared my throat before continuing. "What I was trying to say is I don't get any of this. Like, I literally learned about vampires and shapeshifters less than a month ago."

Her brow shot upwards when I spoke about the shifters I Was able to stumble upon. The Tribe was one she had never come across during the time she was alive, but it was a known knowledge among those of the other world that we are not alone.

"I have met with mermaids, lion shifters and a fallen angel if you can believe that." Her eyes sparkled when she spoke about the past people who had come into her life.

"Oh! Shoot, uhm sorry but I have to tell you since I'm here. Sorry. D-Dad he uh, was attacked and"

"WHAT?!" My mother roared and stood from the table with a speed only another shifter could match. "I mean," She pressed her fingers against her temple. "Calm as a cow… Calm as a cow…." My mother took in some deep breaths.

"Mom he's going to live. My mate, she has a doctor in her clan and he helped. The guy is a miracle worker. Trust me." I made sure to finish the first promise and gulped down the rest of my tea, not wanting to be scolded for leaving the table without finishing. I rounded the table to be by my mothers side.

Her hand was up to keep a distance between us. "Mate? Wait, a clan? That would mean your mate is a…" She let a long sigh. "There is so much and so little time."

"Little time?" I frowned. "You mean I'll be waking up soon, right?"

The way my mothers expression softened was enough of an answer for me. It would seem that my downing that beverage was the whole point of this meeting. Since I decided to down the dump of dirt water…

I completed my task.

I could return home now.

What a load of bologna.

"You and I are going to have more time when we meet again." My mother reached out her hands to grasp onto mine. I felt her slide something like a piece of cloth into my hands and she made sure to tighten my palms around it. "If this doctor is a miracle worker as you say. Give this to him and ask him to plant it."

My mother leaned forward and placed a kiss to my forehead.

"Be ready, babygirl."

I had closed my eyes and like any rational person who hasn't seen their parent in forever, I took in a deep breath of her scent. It was always that mint-berry mix when it came to her. Something about it made me feel refreshed. Rejuvenated almost.

What does be ready mean though?

I opened my eyes and went to ask my mother what she meant, but I wasn't met with her warm embrace. No tea party decoration. There wasn't a table in sight. I was in fact in the forest during the dead of night. The sky was cloudy and the moon was bright overhead.

A Full Moon.

Vampires surrounding me.

Shifters backing up those vampires.

A small looking Esme with her hand held out towards…my….face…

Why did everyone look so much smaller than usual? What did those fearful expression mean as they never turned their gazes away from me.

"Grace?" The tentative voice from my mate was enough to hurt my heart. I melted at the sight of her frightful yet determined face. My chest lifted up and down as I sucked in some air and let out soft whimpers. "Oh baby, you've come back to me."

"Esme! I'm so fucking sorry! I-I don't know what's going on. I-I was tired and then…Oh fuck, this looks so bad."

I leaned my head down to press my muzzle into her awaiting palm. Without any further hesitation from my mate, Esme was wrapping her entire body around my muzzle. Sliding those lovely cold and slender fingers through my rough matted fur. I couldn't be happier to have her this close to me.

"Grace? Can you hear us now?" First person I heard speak in my mind was Jacob. He stepped forward first, then Paul and then Sam. They were sniffing the ground and the air, being cautious of me after what had happened prior.

"You were kind of scary out there, Grace." Came in the second voice, Sam. He tilted his head to the side. "How do you feel now?"

"They're talking. She's more alert now." Edward spoke aloud to those who could not hear the conversation going on between myself and the other shifters. It's only during this time that I'll be grateful that he can read our minds. Definitely need to find some kind of way to shut that off though. Maybe a teacher who uses some type of telepathy as well.

"I'm so sorry, you guys. I got no idea what happened right now. I have so much to share. I think it was like all a dream but that felt so…real"

As if thinking about my mother and there dream wasn't real enough. Those exact thoughts were soon shared with my wolf members like a movie. Her words about the tea I would need to drink. The pain on her face when she heard how my father was struck down by a vampire. The pain of my departure with the person whose love is what brought me into this very world.

"Shoot man." Leah spoke up with a sniffle, "I didn't want to fucking cry out here. You were given a blessing, Grace. Be grateful."

I couldn't agree more with her.

The best question must always be saved for last I guess.

"What the hell happened while I was blacked out?"