"Wow. Done already?" 

Kiara turned her head away from the window to look at Emmett, the vampire smirking and folding up his newspaper as Edward and Bella entered the room. She tried to hide her smirk behind her hand, but the short look that Edward sent in her direction told her that the vampire was very aware of the amusement Emmett's words had given her.

"Where's Renesmee?" Bella asked, ignoring Emmett's quip as her eyes flickered across the room to see the little baby nowhere in sight. She looked over at Jacob and Kiara, knowing that wherever they were, Renesmee and Rosalie usually were near.

"Blondie stole her," Jake replied, his eyes not leaving the girl outside as Rosalie lifted her up in the air. Kiara smiled a little as Renesmee giggled, her gaze fixated on the loving look on her own imprint's face. Bella, too, couldn't resist a small smile as she looked at the admiration on the faces of the two wolves, momentarily forgetting the weight of their circumstances.

Emmett looked over at Kiara with a grin, the girl flickering her gaze to him in time to know that he was about to try and embarrass the vampire couple in the same way he had tried with Kiara and Rosalie before. Beverly looked up from the computer in the corner of the room, her eyes narrowing at her husband as she almost sensed his mood change.

"Break a lot of stuff?"

Even Carlisle had to stifle a smile at the suggestion, a sly smirk on Edward's face as he knew that a human Bella would have turned bright red at the suggestion. Instead, his wife stood with a smug look on her face as she shot him down - even Jacob smiling at the exchange that would have once boiled his blood.

"Emmett. No."

"I swear Em, if you keep asking people..." Beverly was cut off by the shrill of the phone in the middle of the table ringing. A hush fell over the room, all laughter ceasing immediately as reality came back to them with a harsh slap. Kiara shifted from side to side anxiously as the call continued on, knowing exactly who was at the other end of the line.

"Is that Charlie?"

"He's been calling twice a day," Edward told Bella gently, not sure how to break the news to her that she'd seen her father for the last time. Bella hadn't really realised it either until that moment - until she saw the looks on the twins' faces as they stared at the phone on the table.

"He's in pretty rough shape."

Kiara approached Bella cautiously, aware of the pain etched on her face. She placed a comforting hand on Bella's shoulder, offering silent support. For a moment, they stood there together, finding solace in each other's presence.

"Eventually, we'll have to tell him you didn't make it," Carlisle said, finally speaking up as he looked around at his family. He knew that the vampires all were expecting what came next, but he wasn't sure how much Rosalie and Kiara had discussed the move that would occur, and he knew that there was no way anyone would have had time to even talk to Jacob about it.

"He needs to mourn, Bella," Edward mumbled, giving her a gentle squeeze.

Bella felt her heart drop at Edward's words. Memories of her father flooded her mind, and she couldn't bear the thought of him having to mourn an empty casket after everything she had already put him through since she arrived in Forks. She glanced at Kiara and Jacob, who each wore a pained expression at the same thought, mirroring Bella's own emotions.

"Okay," Bella breathed, clearly unsure how to move on with this. "We'll do it tomorrow."

"I'll break the news, if that makes it easier," Kiara said softly, placing a comforting hand on Bella's shoulder once more. . "Charlie is family... I think he deserves to hear it from a friend."

"Thank you," Bella nodded, gratitude shining in her eyes as she looked at Kiara.

As the room fell into a heavy silence, Kiara felt the weight of her responsibility settle on her shoulders. She had always been the one to support Bella, to be there for her in times of need. And now, she had to be the bearer of devastating news. It wasn't fair, but life rarely is. Jacob had once said to her that life sucked, and then you died. She wasn't sure she really believed it, but she knew that was exactly how Charlie was going to feel after she gave him the next round of awful news in his life.

"I'm gonna miss this place," Emmett said, standing to his feet and ignoring how the twins' heads turned to look at him in confusion. Kiara could sense her brother tensing from across the room, his eyes narrowing as he looked between the vampires in confusion as they seemed to start preparing for something at his words.

"We'll come back. We always do."

"Wait," Jacob snapped, Beverly raising an eyebrow at his sudden change of voice. It wasn't a secret that she didn't like Jacob, and she certainly didn't like the way he was looking at her husband right now. "Nobody said anything about leaving."

"Once people believe Bella's dead, we can't risk anyone seeing her," Carlisle explained, his eyes flickering to where Jacob had turned to look at Kiara, checking to see if his sister and alpha had know about this and not told him. Once he was satisfied that she too looked taken back by how quickly this was happening, he turned his steely gaze over to Edward and Bella.

"So you just disappear?"

Edward sighed as he looked right back at the boy.

"Jacob, we don't have another choice."

The twins exchanged glances, their worry evident. The rest of the family exchanged worried glances but remained silent, tensing a little as they watched Jacob huff a little in anger and frustration at the suggestion that they needed to pack up and leave this life behind.

____

"So they're really leaving?" Leah thought in their mind-link towards Kiara, her tail swishing as she was unsure how to approach the new topic of conversation as she watched Seth talk in hushed tones with Bree in the distance. The young wolf had taken it a lot better than the others - but Kiara knew why. Seth didn't mind following Bree to the end of the Earth, because in his eyes this was the perfect pack.

He didn't even consider the thought that Jacob or Leah might not want to leave La Push and Forks with them. Jacob would, of course, for the sake of his imprint but Leah had nothing that tied her to the Cullens except her loyalty to Kiara and Seth, and her hatred of Sam. Kiara wasn't sure that was enough to make her follow them across the world.

"Yeah," Kiara breathed, pawing at the ground as her and Leah headed off on their normal patrol line. Jacob had hopped straight on to his bike and taken off, while Seth had gone straight to Bree's side. The two shapeshifters had opted to run the line instead, avoiding the potential fall-out that would occur once Jacob returned.

Leah glanced at Kiara, her brown eyes filled with uncertainty. She had always been a fiercely independent individual, but this was different. Leaving Washington meant leaving her home, her family, and the only life she had ever known. She'd always wanted to leave after Sam had broken her heart, but this wasn't what she had envisioned. Not at all.

"Are you going?" Leah asked, her voice tinged with trepidation as they trotted along the familiar path. Kiara paused, contemplating her answer. She knew what it was, and so did Leah. It would just be the act of saying it out loud that would solidify everything. It wasn't a hesitation for her - but her responsibility to her pack held her back from throwing her heart into the ring.

"I don't know how I couldn't go," Kiara admitted quietly. "I mean... a part of me wants to stay, to protect this beautiful little pack that we've created over the past few weeks. But another part of me... I know that I can't be without her. And I know you think that's pathetic and sad, but I don't feel whole without Rose."

Leah nodded in understanding, her soft eyes filled with empathy. She didn't want to lose her brother and her best friend but this might be the perfect opportunity for her to find out who she was without her brother. If that meant she had to go back to Sam's pack however... she wasn't sure she wanted to do that either.

"How do you think Charlie will take it? First my dad... now Bella?"

Kiara didn't get a chance to respond, because an image of Charlie yelling suddenly flashed through their pack-link, the man scrambling in the dirt as he pushed himself away from a wolf that they both knew all too well.

Jacob fucking Black had just phased in front of Charlie Swan.

______

Beverly crossed her arms as they watched Bella try to take advice from the other Cullens about appearing human. Jacob was slouched in the corner, aware that everyone in the near vicinity wanted to take a stab at him for exposing Charlie to the supernatural world that they lived in.

"How was your brother able to tell Charlie on purpose?" Beverly muttered to Kiara as Edward told Bella to move her shoulders to imitate breathing. The wolf rubbed the back of her neck as she tore her gaze away from the painful sight of Bella learning to instead look at her imprint's sister.

"Sam had a gag order," Kiara admitted, shrugging a little. It had been second nature to them, and she had never even considered that his 'gag order' had been an actual alpha order that they had been wired to obey rather than just a small rule he'd told them all. "I hadn't even thought about it... and I didn't even think I'd ever need to."

Jacob cowered a little as Kiara sent him a harsh glare, having already screamed the forest down at his reckless action.

"I would say don't look so pained, Bella, but I feel it actually helps you look like your normal human self. You always looked vaguely in pain," Kiara called out to Bella, turning her attention away from Beverly as Edward turned to glare at the alpha wolf with frustration written across his face. Alice also looked at her in annoyance, while Rosalie tried to hide a smile that had formed on her lips.

"Kiara?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up," Edward replied, before Bella interrupted their bickering as she sat down on one of the armchairs in the room. 

"Okay. I got it. Move around, blink, slouch."

Kiara's ears perked up as Seth howled from outside, signalling that they were out of time. Carlisle looked to Kiara, motioning for her to join him as they went to greet Charlie at the front of the Cullen residence. She knew that Jacob had told Charlie that Kiara was his alpha, another thing she couldn't help but wonder why he thought that was a good idea.

Kiara took a deep breath, trying to compose herself as she walked alongside Carlisle towards the front door. She couldn't afford to let her frustration with Jacob cloud her judgment. This was a delicate situation, and she had to handle it with grace and diplomacy. A tiny piece of her head was even chanting 'WWSUD': What Would Sam Uley Do?

As they approached, Kiara saw Charlie standing outside the Cullen residence, his face a mix of confusion and concern. She could tell that he was trying to make sense of everything he had witnessed, from the giant wolf to Bella's sudden disappearance. The poor man looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown. Kiara didn't blame him.

"Charlie," Carlisle greeted him warmly, extending his hand in a gesture of friendship. "Hello."

"Doctor," Charlie greeted, his pained expression reminding Kiara that he was, in fact, related to Bella. She hadn't always seen the similarities, but that look was definitely genetic. 

His eyes widened when he saw Kiara approach, a realisation dawning upon him. He had always known there was something different about Kiara, but now it all made sense. Charlie seemed to struggle for words, his anger momentarily overshadowed by confusion. 

"You turn into an animal, too, don't you?"

"Do you really want to know?" Kiara replied, a sparkle in her eyes that caused Charlie to groan in frustration. His mind wandered to Billy, knowing fine well that the man definitely knew his children were running around as oversized dogs in their spare time.

"Noted. Where's Bella?"

Carlisle motioned for Charlie to follow him as they headed into the house, pausing to look back at Kiara who had taken the car key from the dish at the front of the porch. The alpha and the leader of the coven looked at each other for a moment, an understanding in his eyes as he realised that seeing Charlie had convinced Kiara to do the one thing she had been putting off.

Kiara rolled her shoulders as she looked down at the car key in her hand, knowing that while Bella had to face her father upstairs, it was time for her to do the same.

_____

The dense forest lining the road to La Push seemed to watch in silent anticipation as Kiara Black maneuvered the bulky jeep with a practiced ease. Emmett's love for excessive horsepower was evident under her foot, and she couldn't help but smirk at the thought of his reaction if he could see his precious vehicle now, coated in a fine layer of grit and sand from the dirt roads.

"Okay, Bessie, just a little further," Kiara muttered to the jeep, patting the dashboard affectionately, having overheard Emmett call the jeep by the name that morning. She could almost hear Rachel's teasing voice in her head, calling her out for speaking to inanimate objects again. The thought warmed her despite the chill in the air. Rachel... she missed her older sister so much. She just hoped she had missed Kiara too.

Kiara's grip tightened on the steering wheel, her knuckles mirroring the ivory clouds overhead. A week—it might as well have been a lifetime since she'd last stood in front of her father and sister, hours before declaring her split from Sam's pack. To defend vampires, no less. The Cullens were not just any vampires, though; they had become her unexpected allies, her friends. But loyalty to blood and loyalty to the heart often clashed in her world—she knew that all too well.

"Will they understand?" she whispered, more to herself than to the humming engine. "Or will they just see me as a traitor?" Her heartbeat pounded against her ribcage, echoing the rhythm of the tires crunching over the gravel drive that led home.

Home. The word tasted bittersweet on her tongue.

As the familiar outline of her father's house came into view, her breath hitched. There, on the awning, sat Billy in his wheelchair, as if he'd been waiting for her arrival since dawn. His eyes, dark pools reflecting years of wisdom and unspoken pain, widened slightly at the sight of the Cullen jeep. The action caused her stomach to churn, worried at how he was going to react once she stepped out of it and came face to face with him.

Kiara felt the tension in her shoulders release as she stepped from the jeep, a mix of relief and apprehension swirling through her. The cool sea breeze from the shore travelled across La Push and tugged at her black hair, carrying with it the familiar scents of pine and saltwater that she'd missed more than she cared to admit.

"Rachel!" Billy called, his voice carrying a timbre of mixed emotions that made Kiara's stomach flip as he never took his eyes away from his youngest.

One beat, two beats, then the front door creaked open, and Rachel stepped out, the afternoon light catching in her hair like the first drops of summer rain. Kiara's hand instinctively went to her own raven locks, a subconscious mirror to her sister.

"Kiara?" Rachel's voice was a blend of hope and uncertainty, a melody that tugged at Kiara's very core.

"Hey, Rach," Kiara called out, her tone casual, as if she hadn't just altered the course of her life forever. Her converse hitting the ground with a determination that belied the turmoil inside her as she walked towards Billy and Rachel.

"Nice ride," Rachel remarked, her eyes scanning the jeep with genuine curiosity.

"Emmett's idea of a chariot," Kiara replied with a roll of her eyes, trying to keep the mood light even as her heart raced.

"Figures," Rachel chuckled, but her laughter didn't quite reach her eyes.

In an instant, Kiara was engulfed in the arms of her sister, their embrace fierce and unyielding. Tears pricked at the corners of Kiara's eyes as she held on tight, the pent-up worry of the past week melting away under Rachel's touch.

"God, I've missed you," Rachel mumbled into her shoulder, her voice thick with tears. "I was so worried."

"Missed you too, Rach," Kiara whispered back, her own voice unsteady. She pulled back just enough to look at her sister, taking in the features that mirrored her own—same tan skin, same stubborn chin.

A throat cleared behind them, and they turned as one to face Billy. Kiara's eyes flickered over Rachel's shoulder, aware her father was yet to move from his spot. His eyes—so much like their own—were bright with unshed tears, but his smile was steady.

Kiara took a deep breath, letting the scent of salt and pine fill her lungs, anchoring her to this place, to these people—her people. She walked towards her father, each step purposeful, each stride closing the distance between who she was and who she was becoming.

"Hi, Dad." Her voice was steady, but it carried the weight of a thousand unspoken apologies.

"Kiara," Billy said, his gaze softening. "You're here."

The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable but heavy with history, with the understanding that some wounds needed more than time to heal—they needed to be seen, acknowledged, and ultimately, forgiven.

"Come here, Kiara," he said, and there was no hiding the pride in his voice.

She knelt beside him, careful and gentle, and his arms wrapped around her with surprising strength. It was a hug that spoke volumes, conveying forgiveness and acceptance without a single word. She breathed in the scent of fire and leather that clung to his flannel shirt, a comfort she hadn't known she needed until this moment.

"Did you think I wouldn't be proud?" Billy murmured against her hair, his voice steady and sure. "You and Jacob, you've both shown such courage."

Kiara felt a lump form in her throat, and she fought to keep her voice even. "I wasn't sure. We went against the pack... against tradition."

"Traditions change, Kiara," Billy replied, pulling back to look into her eyes. "And sometimes, we must stand up for what's right, even if it means standing alone."

Her heart swelled with love for this man, her father, who had always been the bedrock of their family. In his eyes, she saw not only acceptance but admiration. It was more than she could have hoped for.

"Thank you, Dad," Kiara managed to say, the words barely a whisper. "That means everything to me."

"You're my daughter. Brave, strong, and loyal. Always were." Billy reached up, cupping her cheek with a rough hand. "My daughter... alpha of the Black pack after all this time."

"Who would have guessed it?" Kiara joked, standing up as she wiped away at the tears in her eyes with her sleeve. "I'm sure you had Jacob pegged in for the role long before you thought about me taking the mantle."

"No," Billy interrupted with no hesitation. "From the moment you phased for the first time, I had hoped it would be you one day. I love your brother... but you, you've always been built to lead and not to follow."

Kiara smiled through her tears, a deep sense of belonging filling her. No matter how far she roamed or what battles she faced, this was home. And here, she was understood, loved, and above all, respected for the choices she made.

They'd came a long way from Billy begging her to reject the imprint. She would never forgive his actions for that, but she was ready to let go of her pain. Her father had made up for it, having finally realised and apologised for his mistakes. She knew some of the others (especially Rosalie) would never understand how she could go back to him after it all, but this was her choice.

The last rays of the sun streaked across La Push's familiar landscape, painting it with a soft, golden hue. Kiara's heart was still aflutter from the reunion as she stepped onto the porch, the worn wooden boards creaking beneath her weight. She caught the scent of cedar and salt in the air—smells that sang of home.

"Kiara," Rachel said, her tone cautious. "When Paul came back after the fight... he mentioned something about Jacob... about him imprinting on the baby."

Her sister's words punctured the warmth that had enveloped Kiara, a stark reminder of the complex tangle of emotions and obligations that governed their lives. Kiara's eyes fixed on Rachel's, dark like her own but filled with a worry that mirrored the confusion of the pack - of the tribe.

"Rachel," Kiara began, her voice steady despite the turmoil within, "it's not what everyone thinks." She moved closer to her sister, emphasizing each word as if it could dispel the rumors. "Jacob sees Renesmee as... well, as family. There's nothing romantic about it."

"Family?" Rachel's brow furrowed, her skepticism evident.

"Exactly," Kiara affirmed, her hand gesturing to encompass the bond they all shared. "It's not like me and Rosalie, or you and Paul. It's more like how you and I would do anything for each other. That's the kind of love Jake has for her - it's protective, platonic."

Kiara watched the tension ease out of Rachel's shoulders, the dubious lines around her mouth softening into understanding. Nothing but relief on her features, and Kiara couldn't help but share the sentiment.

"Come on," Rachel said, her smile returning. "We've got enchiladas in the oven. Your favourite."

They laughed together, the sound carrying on the cooling breeze, and Kiara followed Rachel toward the door, the warmth soothing her restless spirit. Yet, as her foot crossed the threshold, the gravelly crunch of tires on the driveway arrested their steps.

"Wait, Kiara..." Rachel's voice faltered, her face losing color as she peered past the porch. "I'm so sorry—I didn't think he'd come here now. If I'd known you were coming..."

Confusion flitted through Kiara's mind, quickly replaced by a prickling sense of anticipation. She turned, her gaze drawn to the source of Rachel's distress. The truck that had intruded upon their peace was rugged and familiar, a beast that had traversed these roads countless times.

And there, stepping out from behind the driver's side door, was Paul. His tall frame was silhouetted against the fading light, his posture rigid—guard up—as if bracing for a confrontation as soon as he noticed the girl that was standing beside his imprint at the front door.

Kiara's breath hitched. This was the first time she'd seen Paul since the fight — her mind instantly going to the arguments, alliances, and the ever-present tension between them.

Their eyes met, locked in a silent exchange that spoke volumes. Surprise flickered across his features at the sight of her, before a carefully neutral mask slid into place. But Kiara saw it—the briefest hint of something more, a question perhaps, or an unspoken challenge. She wasn't sure.

In that moment, everything slowed. The sounds of the ocean melded with the whispering trees, crafting a lullaby that seemed to hold its breath. Kiara's heart thudded in her chest, a drumbeat in tune with the ancient rhythm of the land they both loved and defended.

Kiara wasn't sure what scared her more: Paul being here, or the way he looked right through her.

----

hope you all had a good holiday season! i took some time away so haven't had a chance to write but happy to be back to keep going with this story! 

i'm going to be really sad once it's done - so if anyone has any suggestions on what to write next, let me know! i've got finnick from the hunger games and tara from the scream franchise fics that i'm also writing at the moment, but open to ideas!