Sam POV

Our paws hammered against the soaked earth. A multitude of pelts moulding with the wind. It wasn't long before Clara came around that more members of the tribe had been shifting. So far, Embry, Seth, Leah, Paul, and Jacob had transformed and joined the pack. The sight of them transforming was quite the shock to the leader.

"There it is," Embry huffed. The scent so familiar to us hitting our nostrils.

"It's Clara's." Running up beside Embry, Seth's tan pelt flashed.

"But it smells kind of… different." Another whiff and my nose couldn't deny it. It smelt similar to ours, yet it wasn't.

"Could she be a shapeshifter?" Paul's muscles flexed against his grey fur. His eyes fixed in front of him. "She does share Hoh blood, but they aren't shifters."

"Unless her parents had relations and one was a shapeshifter, someone from our tribe, even then it is close to impossible." Seth reminded his pack mate. "Leah is the first shapeshifter in the tribe's history. It wouldn't be entirely impossible."

Embry perked up. "Maybe it's something from her mom's side? Maybe we aren't the only gifted tribe." His ears gave a small flick. The scent that came next flooded my senses, it was like crashing into a wall. An oncoming torrent of a strong, pungent aroma. It was only then we saw it.

The fur seemed to glow, eyes a flair of smoldering coal, yet the surroundings a calm shadow. The green envy of the bush bringing out the midnight of a thick, rough pelt. The danger an elusive storm. Thick, brazen claws possessing the damp hearth, marking it and ultimately staining them almost black.

A black bear.

Its mighty roar howled through the air as it stood on its hind legs, towering over a frail and terrified girl. Clara. Her blood curdling scream pierced the ears of me and the pack like a siren. "Scare it off!" I growled, surging forward with a deep growl. The pack moved like one, streaks of colors and a tempo of threatening growls and a symphony of barks. The bear's attention moved from the girl, its attention drawn to the circle of wolves closing in. The girl quivered at my paws, little did she know we were her friends. And I wouldn't let anyone my darling Emily cared for be harmed. The bear's cry sounded as the circle closed.

We needed to open the circle, chase it out. At once, like my plan was beamed through their heads, an opening was made for the bear to escape, my pack snarling and yipping at the creature, whose size they either matched or were larger than. The bear gave another yowl and ran, leaving the pack and the girl unharmed. Letting out a breath of air, my tribe mates relaxed, the fur along their backs becoming sleeker.

"A… pack of wolves…" A frightened and wondering whisper escaped the girl's soft lips. Leah trotting towards her.

"We should just tell her." She grunted. "She is like family, everyone thinks of her as part of the tribe." Seth stalked up on her left flank.

"She's right, Billie is even going to tell her the tribe legends, and seeing wolves much larger than they should be is bound to cause suspicion. She's smart. At least this way she won't feel left out."

I stood there, the pressure from my pack all around me, with this tiny creature shivering at my paws. Her native features showing through her DNA, the scent of chamomile and lavender mixed with the salty stench of fear. I could hear it, her heart beating a thousand times per minute. But would this really be the best course of action? So many different choices can influence the future, which one would be the correct one? Steel grey eyes bored into my dark ones, flickers of white dashing through the pale iris. If the elders trusted her, was it safe? Or should they wait until the legends are told?

A/N: Sorry I was gone for so long! We had a log of family drama, but that is over now and I don't have to deal with certain people in my life anymore, for the most part anyway. I would like to give a shout out to all my reviewers: .7334, brankel1, jh831, natashar, Farewell Pittsburgh , leward1992, and many more for their support as well as those who reviewed and gave their support on the other account of mine where I first posted this story! Thank you so much again, and please tell me what your thoughts and feelings were about this chapter. I'll be updating more frequently now that I am free!