It had been weeks since the Cullen's left, since Sam found Bella alone in the woods in the middle of the night, weeks since I went out into the rain to search for her.

In that time Bella has been in, essentially a vegetative state. She doesn't talk to anyone, or even acknowledge anything. She sits in her room all day and night, looking out at the woods, as if she thinks Edward is going to walk out. What's even worse was her night terrors, she wakes up in the middle of the night screaming.

My mom tried to stay with Charlie a few times in hoping that she could help him with her. Nothing anyone has done helped, she just ignores them. I tried... I really did, I would sit with her at lunch, I would visit her at home, but I can only do so much, and its worse now because I've been getting sick a lot recently. A lot more than normal, sometimes it was just a cold and other times it was worse.

The first was the night after finding Bella, it was just a common cold. But after that I would be healthy for a few days and then get sick again, have a fever or cough or vomiting, pneumonia, hypothermia. It was worse now because it's now paired with achy muscles and bones.

I knew my mom was worried, I wasn't eating as much and loosing weight. And no amount of medicine seemed to be working. Which led my mom to staying with me and not seeing Charlie. At all basically.

It was November now and I have been consistently sick for last week. My mom says it's the flu, and has pretty much called in to school for the rest of the semester. I only know this because she showed up the other day with all my work.

Of course, being stuck at home all day means I had nothing else to do but my homework. And with all the times Mr. Berty focused on Romeo and Juliet I didn't have much work to do. A few papers, that I already did. Art was fun, but like everything else I was able to finish my project easily... it was the only thing I really could do.

The nights were the worst, wracked with night terrors of my own, cold sweats, violent shivers you name it. It was only a matter of time before my mom takes me to the hospital.

So like every other night, and most nights recently I propped a fan up hoping to stave off the heat that my body was producing and get some sleep. Some nights it felt like I was being burned alive, and it wasn't pleasant.

My eyes closed and soon a new picture filled my mind. Like the last few dreams.

I was in the valley, most of the times I was an eagle, flying high with an aerial view of the land. I had narrowed down the Valley, but I couldn't figure out why it was important to me. Every dream showed me the same thing with different people. All mauled with their heads ripped off. The Valley of the Headless men, it was the only place where the stories fit. Gold prospectors, nearly a dozen of them all were found mauled and headless.

But this time was different, I was in the woods looking out on a cabin. I looked up into the sky to see the full moon glowing brightly. Movement from beside me caught my attention, I turned and saw the wolf. My eyes remained trained on him I couldn't understand what the point of this was. What was he trying to show me.

'Look' I heard the masculine voice in my head, it was familiar. A sound I've dreamed of hearing again for years. I got over my shock when the wolf nodded towards the cabin. I watched in horror as a beast slinks out of the forest. It was covered in fur, almost like a wolf but its ears were too long, its muzzle too short and its teeth were too big. It also didn't walk on all fours but walked like a gorilla with front legs much longer than its hind legs. The beast was skinny with blood caking its fur. I stared into the piercing yellow eyes before the beast turned on the humans.

I moved to take a step, but the wolf stopped me 'This is all the past, nothing you do will change the outcome'

"I can't just watch this"

'it is vital for you to understand, Alex'

I had to turn my head when I heard the screams and smelled the blood. Soon the scent of rotting wood and sweat filled the air, a disgusting musky smell.

When it was over the beast looked to the moon, but was stopped by the sound of howling. From the woods more wolves emerged. These ones just like the wolf that was standing next to me. They looked like wolves, only giant. A pack of three surrounded the beast. Another black one, then a red and brown one and finally a grey one.

A fight ensued and in the end the wolves reigned victorious. They gathered the pieces and started a fire, burning the beast and destroying any evidence. The fire burnt so hot I could feel it from my spot.

I felt myself burn up and sweat pour off of me.

I woke up in a sweat. My body was too hot, and the sheets were suffocating. I looked at the clock to see it was too early to be up, but I couldn't get back to sleep like this. It was like my body was on fire.

My muscles ached as I stood up, I figured I could use a cold shower. Following through with that I stood under the freezing water longer than I should have but it felt good, so I didn't complain. When I got out of the shower, I only threw on some shorts and a sports bra before trying to get some more sleep.

Of course, the moment I laid in my bed I felt the sticky cold sensation of sweaty sheets. With a groan I tore the sheets off the bed and padded down to the laundry room to wash them. Why I thought I needed to do that 4 am I didn't know, but I did.

Once the items were in the washer, I reached up to grab new sheets but the ache in my bones was too great that I felt that trying to make my bed was a stupid idea.

So, I grabbed a few blankets and camped out on the couch. I fell asleep for maybe an hour before I woke up to a full body shiver. I grabbed the blanket on the couch and curled up trying to sleep some more. I was woken up by a gentle shake. With a groan I opened my eyes and looked up at my mom. "hey Al, what are you doing down here"

"had to wash my sheets"

She furrows her brows "did you get sick?" she asks her voice still gentle.

I shook my head but stopped when I felt the pain of a headache, throbbing behind my eyes. "sweat"

My mom nodded "I'm going to go get the thermometer okay."

I gave a noncommittal nod before I found myself dozing again. I opened my eyes when I felt a cool towel place on my neck. "hey sweetie, I need you to open your mouth, okay?"

I obliged to exhausted to do anything else. She pulls the item out when it beeps, a sigh escaping her mouth.

"Al, I need you to take this" I opened my eyes confused about what was happening. I thought she was only taking my temperature. My mom and aunt helped me sit up before handing me some water and medicine. I took it easily before leaning back against the couch. I wasn't sure what was happening because I fell back asleep.

My dream was similar to what it was before.

I was standing on the edge of the river. I turned around in all directions and noticed a cabin in front of me. I smelt something sweet and heard some movement from behind me. Turning I came face to face with a red-eyed demon. His smirk was shot terror up my spine. He lunged; his teeth bared. I felt an intense pain throughout my body and heard the cracking of bones and something shredding.

I shot up from my spot on the couch, my breath coming in fast. I looked around noticing I was home and safe. I was covered in sweat, but I decided I would try to get something to eat when I heard my stomach growl and smelled cooking in the kitchen.

Padding over to the kitchen I saw my mom, heating something up. Breakfast I hoped. She must have heard me because she turned to look at me. "Hey, feel any better?"

I nodded "a little, my head doesn't hurt. But I'm hungry" I mumbled.

"well, an appetite is good" she handed me some juice before spooning some oatmeal into a bowl and setting it in front of me. "let's start with this"

She sat next to me and ate with me. When I finished, she took my bowl. "okay, I changed your sheets and I'm going to check you temperature again in about half an hour. Hopefully your fever will break soon"

I nodded "I think I should shower" I spoke a rasp in my voice.

"okay"

I stood up and wobbled slightly my legs sore.

"woah, Al. you really hit a growth spurt." I looked at my aunt before glancing at my mom. Only then did I realize I was taller than before, when I was the same height as them. Now I was looking down at them. "that may be why your body is sore. Sudden growth spurts can do that"

My mom and aunt shared a look, I couldn't recognize, but, before I could ask, they ushered me to my room for a shower. Like this morning I was in the shower far longer than I needed to be, but the warm water did wonders for my achy muscles.

After my shower I decided to draw a little, mainly the beast from my dream. There had to be a reason I was having the same dream over and over again. When I finished the drawing, I realized what the beast reminded me of.

It was just like those old movies with werewolves. I knew there was some truth to the dreams, as I was able to find the information to confirm it. But why was I seeing it?

I put the book away when I heard my mom coming up the stairs. I didn't want her to see the picture and assume that's what I was having nightmares about. She checked my temperature like she said she would, and I could see the concern written on her face.

"it's not dropping, is it?" I asked.

"it's really high." I caught the thermometer and thought it was a lie, there was no way I could live if it was that high. I settled that evening in bed just as the night before.

Only this night was worse, I was wracked with violent shivers and sweats. My body felt like it was burning from the inside out, it was too hot. I tried not to scream out, but I couldn't help it, everything hurt too much, so much that I couldn't even explain it.

Underneath the pain, was the antsy feeling I had, no antsy wasn't right it was like I was being stung by hundreds of bees. I screamed again not noticing that my mom and aunt were already watching me.

With violent shake I got out of bed and trudged downstairs, my body demanded it, the further I walked the better I felt, if I stopped it was worse.

I stood in the doorway trying to focus on anything other than the irritation and the pain "Al? are you okay?" my mom asked, her hand setting on my shoulder. But I couldn't answer because this pressure caused a flare of pain radiating from that point. I felt her remove the hand quickly with a gasp. I shook my head back and forth trying desperately to focus on anything. But all it did was make me angrier.

I was angry about being sick, about being stuck at home, about hurting, for not sleeping, for my stomach hurting from lack of food, my throat burning from the stomach acid, for everything. I could feel my body heating up and I felt the intense desire to run, to get outside.

I ran past my mom and out the backdoor.

Of course, she followed behind me. I mean I was barefoot and practically naked storming out into the November weather, in Washington. Not exactly asking to get better was I. But the cold air made me feel a little better, just for a moment though.

I kept walking chasing the relief I hoped the cold would bring, only it didn't happen. Because once I got 15-20 feet away from my home I doubled over in pain.

"Al?"

The pain flared throughout my entire body, I heard the shredding of clothes, and the cracking of bones before I found myself looking back at my mom. Her face was one of shock. I looked down at the mess that I left. In front of me was my shredded clothes, but more terrifying was the massive black paws that I was looking down at.

They were attached to me.

The anger, prickling, the pain, that I felt earlier was replaced by terror. I was afraid I would hurt someone. The fear only increased when my mom stepped towards me.

"Al?"

I stepped backwards inching closer to woods. I heard snapping behind me and jumped to look at the woods where the sound came from. I heard a low growl emanate from somewhere, and felt the rumbling of my chest. So, I'm assuming it was me.

'Alex?'

'Sam?' I looked out and saw another wolf, this one giant and black. And for a moment I was looking through his eyes. I saw myself from his perspective.

Standing where my shredded clothes were was a giant jet-black wolf, it was darker than Sam, like a shadow. My legs were longer and more muscular, and my fur was shorter and tighter to my skin except around my neck where it looked like a mane. Sam looked like the typical timber wolf whereas I looked more like one of the coastal wolves or the 'sea' wolves.

But the real tell was the bottle green eyes and grey discoloration around them. I looked back down at myself, my webbed feet, elongated toes.

'Al. I you need to think about being human again. Imagine yourself standing on two feet. Okay?'

I nodded my wolfy head. 'I'm going to leave and let Val and Eve handle everything. But tomorrow I want you to stop by the house. I'll tell you everything else.'

'Am I going to be okay?' I asked scared for the outcome of this. This was far from normal or natural.

'you are going to be just fine, I promise' with that Sam left. I turned to look at my mom, she was standing on the porch a pair of clothes in her hands. She still looked shocked but was not nearly as scared as she had been before.

I did as Sam said. I could see myself on two feet, my normal body, closing my eyes and pulling myself together again. It felt like the air was trembling around me, shaking out from me in small waves. I lifted myself up on my hind legs, catching the moment just right so that I was fully upright as I shimmered down into my human self.