Aleida stood their tensely. Any other moment this would have been a wonderful experience. The amount of power flowing in this spot would have made her feel safe and secure if she had learned how to control it.

In the heart of the woods, she could feel herself becoming stronger. The earth underneath her feet was firmer, the trees were taller and wider. The oldest power was always the heart of the land, and according to these woods, the oldest tree was a towering willow.

Looking to Embry, she sizes him up. It wouldn't be safe for him to enter with her.

"Do you see the circle in the trees?" she asked him. "The circle made by the trees and on the ground in the soil?"

Nodding in confusion, he goes to walk into the trees.

"Be careful!" she calls. "Don't go messing with things you don't understand."

Taking off her clothing, she walked into the circle and stands underneath the willow.

"Shift and call your pack. Whoever wishes to watch may."

Embry did as told. Shifting into a wolf and reaching out to is pack-brothers. Aleida was frighteningly serious. If his brothers wanted to watch whatever she dragged him all the way out here for, they could.

The conversation was definitely strange, but they all decided to come and watch. Paul having agreed as soon as he saw the image of a naked Aleida.

Aleida sat with her legs tucked under her. She tried to prepare herself for what was to come as the boys came to join them. She hadn't done something like this in many years, it could be dangerous if she did it wrong. That was why she came here, here she could use the heat to anchor her, to share it's energy so she didn't use her own.

"Are they nearly here?" she asked him. Seeing his nod, she continues to speak, mostly to herself. "It's beautiful, isn't it? The amount of energy that is in this one spot is astounding."

Aleida runs her hands over the grounds, letting the soil dirty her skin. "You can't see any of it, you can't feel it. The tremors beneath us, but I'll be able to show you soon enough."

By the time the pack had arrived, Aleida had fallen into a state of meditation. Her powers were not trained or controllable, this would be incredible hard and dangerous for herself. This is why she told him to stay out of the ring of the heart. The hearts power cannot leave it's ring, therefore being unable to reach the pack.

The pack watched the girl warily, Embry being the only one to have faith in her. They had no idea what was to happen, but Embry knew it would be great.

Aleida lifted her head slowly, as if it weighed a million pounds, her eyes glowing a faint green around the pupil. Rising to her feet as if in a trance, she sways lightly. Looking directly into the eyes of the wolves in turn, she raises her arm slowly.

Abruptly the ground starts to shake, not enough to worry the pack, but enough to awe them. Embry was overjoyed, understanding what she meant about the tremors in the earth. Watching her, she raised her other arm. She looked noticeably pained.

Moving at her command, the ground lifted with her hand. The earth forming an arc as she raised it above her head. With a slight flick of her wrist, the soil turned into a solid wall. Using the arm that was not yet lifted above her head, she made a fist and slammed her small hand into the ground.

The earth lifted and rippled, moving away from her in waves that couldn't break down the solid wall she created.

Embry's amazement quickly turned into horror as blood dripped from Aleida's nose. He watched in panic as her petite body dropped to the forest floor, the wall she created crumbling next to her.

Reacting on instinct, Embry shifted quickly. No longer caring about her warning, he took her clothed moved to the girls side. He made quick work of dressing her, an easy task due to the little amount of clothing she insisted on wearing. Picking her up swiftly and gently, he brought her back to his brothers. Moving towards Sam, he hesitated slightly before placing the girl securely on the back of the giant wolf.

He had no idea what happened, but he knew he was going to take care of her. She felt important. It was like he had adopted her as a family member.

Shifting, he followed Sam closely. Sticking to his side to ensure the safety of the girl.

The boys were not looking forward to facing Emily.

·····

Aleida woke with a pounding headache. Looking around, she found that she was laying on Emily's couch. She wad no recollection of how she had returned last night, or of what had happened after she passed out.

Hearing quiet chatter and the distinct sound of sizzling bacon, she jumped to her feet in a rush only to fall down back down in a heap on the floor. Letting out a soft groan, Aleida tried to push herself up into a more comfortable position.

"Ow," she whispers to herself. "Emily!"

Emily was at her side in an instant, snapping at the boys to help her up.

Once seated comfortably on the couch, she turned to Emily with a pout. "I wanted to get bacon, but I feel like I was hit by a tuck."

Emily shook her head and gave the girl a motherly smile; returning back to the kitchen to get ehr some food.

"How are you?" Embry asked, clearing his throat uncomfortably.

Aleida looked to him with fond smile. "Starving. My stomach is, without a doubt, eating itself at the moment."

Aleida pats the spot ext to her, inviting him to sit with her.

"I'm kinda cold. Which isn't good," she admits. "I normally never go all out like that to impress."

"What happened last night?" Embry wasn't planning to beat around the bunch on this. "You just collapsed. It scared the crap out of me."

"You should have heard his thoughts," Jared teased. "He sounded like a protective brother or something."

"Worse than Jake and the leech-lover," Paul adds in.

Aleida beams at their words. It has been what seems like an eternity since anyone has thought of her as family.

Turning to the boy, she saw the faint red tinge to his cheeks and decided to spare him the embarrassment.

"I always wanted a brother," she states. "Especially a shy, lanky one that doesn't mind staying with me when I sleep in trees."

Embry through his arm around her shoulders with a laugh. The other boys pouted at her, not finding her preference of Embry fair in the slightest.

"I'd sleep on the ground if you asked, " Paul grumbled.

Aleida let out a small giggle. "No you wouldn't."

Before he could answer, a boy similar to the other pack members and a pale girl entered the small cottage home.

She could only identify them as Jake and the leech-lover.

"Leech-lover?" she questions aloud, trying to gain confirmation in her suspicions. Paul was quick to laugh at her question, giving her a discrete high-five.

The pale girl froze, a sad expression replacing her previous solemn look. Jake looked ready to attack her. He clearly did not like the nickname. She clearly did not care.

"You are the bright teen that thought it would be a brilliant idea to fall in love with a creature that drinks blood?" Aleida criticizes. She remembered her previous conversation with Embry, she was aware of how much the pack hate vampires. She would trust i their judgement. "Do you not think your actions through or are you simply daft?"

The pack boys stifle their laughter, not wanting to get in trouble from their Alpha. Emily had a motherly look in her eye, the kind that said 'yes, you're very funny but also being very rude'. Sam simply didn't know who to stand by.

Bella stood in the entry, shocked to the core. She had no idea who this girl was, yet here she was scolding her as if she was a child.

"You don't understand.." she tried to defend herself.

Aleida narrowed her eyes at the girl, and used Embry to help her stand.

"No you listen to me little girl. You always respect your elders, especially if they are a superior species." Aleida said, holding her ground and effectively shutting the girl up. "The world is not going to tip-toe around you to ensure your feelings are protected. What you did was incredibly irresponsible. You put so many people in danger, including yourself. Had something happened you would not have been able to protect yourself."

Aleida slumps back onto the couch, the remainder of her energy draining. "You will stay out of my sight until you learn respect towards yourself and others. You might not be aware of old customs or traditions, but I have yet to see you display any sort of loyalty or respect towards anyone but those demon creatures."

Embry gently takes her hand in comfort. No one would be able to talk any sense into her when her peoples traditions were involved. Her kind came from the old world, they new what they were talking about.

"And you!" she continues as an afterthought. "This is our first meeting Jacob and it is not going well for you. First impressions are important, and you have ruined yours. From what I recall, your Father is one of the tribe elders. I plan to meet him soon so you better clean up your act because I am older than your elders."

Throughout her moment of telling the duo off, Paul continued to stare at her in awe. She was easily his new favorite person. To be able to tell someone off with such grace and class was legendary and inspiring. Paul jumped to his feet and faced the frozen teens standing at the door.

"Well you heard her! Get going before she uses some of her tricks from last night!"

Jacob was quick to usher her out the door. He was there. He saw how strong she could be and he wasn't going to get on her bad side.

"Sam, I think I'd like to meet the tribe elders today," Aleida said, looking at the man with wide innocent eyes. "If it's no big deal, do you think it could be arranged?"

Emily patted Sam's shoulder before bringing the girl her plate of food. "I'll make the call," she said giving her a small smile.

Aleida smiled widely before she started to stuff her face. She had to eat quickly or the boys would try and pick at her food.

·····

Aleida and Paul were whispering jokes to eachother.

She was being carried on his back, having still felt weak, and Embry having patrol, Paul was quick to offer his services.

He wanted to get to know her better. He wanted to be her friend as much as Embry had become since first meeting only a day or so ago.

The trio, Sam, Aleida and Paul, were walking to Old Quil's home where Billy Black and Harry Clearwater were going to meet them. Aleida had nearly pulled a tantrum when Sam suggested having the meeting at his house, the girl claiming it wasn't proper etiquette. The same almost occurred when they tried to drive, her insisting that it was to nice and that she wasn't going to get in that death machine on a day like this.

It wasn't long before they arrived. Aleida was quick to hit Paul until he set her down.

Shuffling up the front steps on wary legs, Aleida said a quiet blessing before knocking on the door.

Harry Clearwater answered, it being easiest to get it.

Bowing her head. Aleida thrust he hand out to the man. "I'm Aleida Underwood. I have come to present myself to the Elders to offer my blessing and knowledge."

Smiling at her, Harry shakes her hand firmly and invites her in.

Sitting among the other two present Elders, Aleida smiles widely. She loved meeting the oldest and wisest.

Old Quil, with a knowing look in his eyes, broke the silence. "What blessings do you bring for us today, old one?"

"I bring blessings on you and your children. May it also be potent and strong." Aleida states from memory, pleasantly surprised that he knew what she was and of the ways of the ancient. "May the Mother grant you mercy and grace, and the Warrior protect you with his dying breath-"

"-And may you always have the Fathers wisdom and strength," he finishes for her. "We are in the presence of one of the first blessed species. Old enough to rival the stories of origin."

"We came before the the myth of origin," She said hotly.

"Just so," Old Quil said with a small nod. "It is a blessing that she is before us today. They normally do not present themselves to others."

"We are normally not seen," Aleida tells him. "I was drawn by your lands magic, and had to see for myself. I ran into one of your protectors along the way. I believe in was done with purpose, that the Old Gods have a plan."

"Plan?" Billy asked.

"I believe a grave danger is coming. Your lands is preparing itself, it knows a secret." Aleida explains solemnly. "I offer my knowledge and wisdom, as well as my protection to the best of my ability."

Old Quil rises, his hand grabbing Aleida's gently and pulls her to her feet. "I offer you my knowledge, so you can train your gift like you were intended to. Control is the way of survival for your kind."

"I accept your gracious offer."

Billy chuckles softly and raises his hand to interrupt the two. "You both haven't explained what she was yet!"

·····

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