"You imprinted on my daughter?" 

Bella's voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief and anger, her eyes narrowing at Jacob. Kiara followed the rest of the family outside, her eyes darting between her brother and the newborn, having seen the sheer strength that she now possessed when she'd thrown Jacob down the stairs.

"It wasn't my choice!" Jacob yelled back, his eyes flickering to where Rosalie was standing behind Kiara with Renesmee wrapped in her arms. He knew that the baby was safe with the family, but it wasn't really Renesmee that he was worried about this time - it was himself as he looked at the thunderous look on Bella's face.

"She's a baby!" Bella's voice rose, a mixture of horror and protectiveness evident in her tone.

Jacob shook his head, his eyes pleading for understanding as he looked at Edward, who was certainly more smug than necessary but they all knew that this was just the vampires revenge for the wolf's constant meddling with his relationship. 

"It's not like that! You think Edward would let me live if it was?"

"I'm still debating it." Edward, standing at a distance, interjected with that same smug grin on his face as his eyes flickered back to Kiara who was now toying with stepping in if it turned violent. Jacob would be fine.

"I've held her once! One time, Jacob!" Bella continued to yell, slowly moving down the stairs in an offensive position. Kiara felt her spine tingle a little, her inner wolf uneasy as the vampire angrily approached a member of her pack (even though she did think Jacob deserved it a little...). "And already you think that you have some moronic wolfy claim on her? She's mine!"

Without warning, Bella's hand shot forward, striking Jacob hard across the chest. The force of the blow echoed through the forest, leaving a stunned silence in its wake as Jacob stumbled backwards and to the ground, causing Kiara to bristle and the smile to be wiped from her face. As Jacob hit the ground, Leah and Seth, in their formidable wolf forms, emerged from the shadows with low growls and whimpers at the sight.

"Bella," Kiara grumbled, the other Cullens turning to look at her as they almost felt the authority seep from her voice. The newborn made no acknowledgement of the alpha, instead continuing to advance towards Jacob.

"It's fine, Leah," Jacob reassured, his eyes only leaving Bella's furious gaze to look at his sister over her shoulder for a moment to reassure her too. "Kie, it's okay."

"You're gonna stay away from her," Bella declared, her voice cold and determined.

"You know I can't do that," Jacob replied, his own resolve unwavering.

In response, Bella unleashed another powerful punch, this time targeting Jacob's stomach. He crumpled to the ground once more, the impact causing a low growl to escape from Seth's wolf form this time. 

"Stop her, Edward," Esme implored, but Edward merely observed, a conflicted expression crossing his face.

"He said it's fine. She's amazing, right?" Edward attempted to diffuse the tension, his gaze fixed on Bella, as he grinned at his wife. Kiara shook her head, moving down the stairs despite Rosalie's low grumble of disapproval at the action.

Leah and Seth moved to stand beside Jacob, their low snarls showing that they didn't appreciate Bella's advances towards their pack mate. They hadn't seen vampire Bella yet, and this wasn't the ideal introduction that Kiara had been hoping for. 

"Do you remember how much you wanted to be around me three days ago? That's gone now, right?" Jacob's words were strained, the pain evident in his voice.

"Long gone," Bella spat, her anger still burning fiercely.

"Because it was her. From the beginning, it was Nessie who wanted me there," Jacob explained, his gaze shifting to the innocent cause of the turmoil. Kiara felt her shoulders almost slump at the nickname, knowing that there was a time and a place for that, and this certainly wasn't it. She knew Bella was going to be furious - and the way she tensed her body just proved that she was right.

"Nessie? You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness monster?" Bella's incredulous tone lingered in the air, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation.

Kiara watched as Bella's fury intensified, her eyes narrowing into slits. The atmosphere crackled with tension, the air heavy with the impending clash between vampire and wolf. With a sudden burst of movement, Bella lunged at Jacob once more, her speed and agility unmatched.

Seth lunged forward with a thunderous growl, his large frame colliding with the vampire's body before she was able to lay a finger on Jacob. The force of the impact sent him hurtling through the air, crashing against a sturdy oak tree as Bella slammed her hand against the smaller sandy wolf. Kiara's heart pounded in her chest as she bared her teeth, ready to launch herself at Bella and protect her fallen packmate.

Her alpha instincts surged, and in an instant, her transformation began. Fur erupted from her skin, bones reshaped, and in the blink of an eye, she had launched herself from the front steps of the house and slammed into the side of the newborn.

The impact sent Bella sprawling across the forest floor, a mixture of surprise and anger flashing across her face. Kiara snarled, her wolf from towering over the vampire as she stood protectively in front of Seth, Leah and Jacob. The Cullens looked on in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief at what they were witnessing, having not expected Kiara to have shifted and lunged at Bella so quickly.

Kiara's gaze remained fixed on Bella, a warning to stay away. The tension in the clearing was palpable, the air thick with the unspoken threat of a clash between vampire and wolf. Bella, realizing the gravity of the situation, took a cautious step back, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the new adversaries before her.

Seth, recovering from the impact, shook off the disorientation and joined Kiara's side. He gently brushed his large head against her own, almost as if he was trying to snap her gaze off Bella and show him that she was okay. Leah's ears were flat against her head as she snarled at the newborn, who looked shocked as she realised what she had just done.

"Kiara," Edward warned, his voice low as he looked at the wolf. Rosalie was standing just behind him, having passed Renesmee over to Beverly as soon as Kiara had shifted and lunged for Bella. Kiara heaved, the anger still present as she snarled at Bella for attacking Seth.

"Seth, I'm sorry," Bella said, and Kiara could hear the genuine guilt in her voice. Good.

"He'll be all right," Jacob replied, looking to Kiara who was narrowing her eyes at him. He gulped a little, knowing that he was going to get an earful from her later about answering for Seth and putting the others in danger. "Bella, you know me better than anyone. All I want is for Ness... Renesmee to be safe. Happy. Look, nothing ever made sense before. You. Me. Any of it. And now I understand why. This was the reason."

Kiara's ears twitched as Jacob's words hung in the air, her anger subsiding ever so slightly. She glanced at Edward, who had a pensive expression on his face. The tension crackled in the air as she stomped off, her powerful strides echoing with her determination. The rest of them watched in silence, their gazes following Kiara's retreating figure, a mixture of emotions etched upon their faces.

Rosalie, her features softened with worry, made a move to follow Kiara, but Edward's hand gently clasped her arm, halting her in her tracks. His golden eyes met hers, silently conveying a message. The blonde sighed reluctantly and nodded, understanding that Kiara wanted to cool off by herself, even if it meant leaving behind the comfort of her pack mates.

_____

Kiara walked through the dense forest, her paws sinking into the damp earth with each step. The cool breeze rustled the leaves above her, creating a symphony of whispers that echoed through the trees. The scent of pine and moss filled her lungs, calming her racing heart.

Finding a secluded clearing amidst a cluster of towering trees, Kiara finally came to a halt. She stood still for a moment, her body tense and alert, before slowly shifting back into her human form. She stretched her limbs and flexed her fingers, enjoying the freedom that came with being human again. Unzipping one of the spare backpacks Alice had curated that she had picked up from around the treeline, Kiara retrieved a spare set of clothes - a simple t-shirt, underwear and a pair of worn shorts. No shoes - but she supposed that wasn't the worst thing to have missed.

Her mind was still reeling from the confrontation with Bella. It was both exhilarating and terrifying to witness the lack of control she had of her wolf surging through her veins when it came to her pack mates. She wondered if this was what Sam had felt every time one of them had been hurt - if this was how it had felt when she had been bitten and Jacob's bones had been crushed. 

She settled onto a fallen log, letting the tranquility of the forest wash over her. The sound of birdsong filled the air, their melodious tunes weaving together into a chorus that lifted her spirits.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a twig snapping behind her. Kiara's instincts kicked in, and she whirled around to face the intruder. Through the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy emerged Sam Uley, his tall frame and solemn expression revealing the weight of the recent events. He approached Kiara with a cautious step, his eyes searching hers for a sign of acceptance or hostility.

She felt her breath pause in her throat as she rose to her feet, bristling as she looked around to try and see if she could pick up where the rest of his pack were likely lurking nearby. But there was no one else. It was just Sam standing there, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and confusion. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart as they stared at each other.

"Sam," she finally spoke, her voice laced with caution. "What are you doing here?"

"You're on our land. You're a long way from the Cullens," Sam spoke, no threat in his voice. He wasn't telling her, he was asking her a silent question, one that she knew hung in the air the second he entered the clearing. Truth be told, Kiara hadn't even realised how far she'd ventured, and her eyes flickered around to confirm that he was right.

"I'm fine," Kiara replied tersely, keeping her voice steady despite the turmoil brewing within her. She studied Sam's face, searching for any trace of ulterior motives or hidden agendas. The forest seemed to hold its breath as they stood there, suspended in a fragile moment. "It's done. Bella's one of them now."

Surprise fluttered across Sam's face at that - he had assumed that Bella was dead after seeing how distraught Edward and Jacob had been during their fight at the house days prior. Sam took a step closer to Kiara, his gaze searching hers for any signs of deception. He didn't want to believe Kiara would try to trick him, but after what he had almost done... he wouldn't put it past her.

"And you're okay with this?" he asked cautiously, his voice laced with concern. "With her being one of them?"

A mixture of emotions swirled within Kiara, and she let out a bitter laugh. Sam would have killed her. Paul would have killed her. She'd expected him to beg for her forgiveness on his knees when they reunited. Yet here he was, asking if she was upset that Bella Swan was a vampire? 

Kiara's eyes narrowed, her anger simmering just below the surface. She took a step towards Sam, her voice laced with venom as she spoke.

"Why should I be upset? She chose her own path, just like I did when I left you and the pack behind." 

Sam flinched at her words, his expression a mix of regret and longing.

"I never wanted any of this to happen, Kiara," he said softly, his voice barely audible over the rustle of leaves. "But you knew that...you knew why I did what I did."

"I know why you did it, Sam. But that doesn't make it right!" Kiara crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "You were ready to kill me because I didn't want to rip apart an innocent family. Being with the Cullens has shown me that there's another way to live, another way to protect the people we care about."

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice laced with regret. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"But you did, Sam," Kiara yelled, not taking his guilt as an apology. "You were going to attack Bree and Rosalie - knowing that they were imprints. The only reason you stopped your attack was because Edward reminded you of our law - and you knew what Jacob would do if you killed Renesmee."

Kiara's voice wavered with anger and hurt as she spat out the words, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Sam's face contorted with guilt, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. HIs shoulders slumped, as if the weight of Kiara's words had physically pushed him down. He looked at her with pleading eyes, his voice barely a whisper.

"I made a mistake," Sam admitted, his voice laced with regret. "I was blinded by my duty to protect our tribe. We didn't know that... Renesmee... wouldn't come out of the womb and kill us all."

"You're right - we didn't," Kiara snapped, biting her tongue a little. "Which is why Jacob was going to kill her as soon as she was born. I didn't care about her - I just didn't understand why we had to kill Bella first. But you didn't even want to listen to that, or hear us out."

"Kie..."

"You think an apology is going to fix everything?" Kiara scoffed, her voice dripping with bitterness. "It's too late for that, Sam. You can't take back the pain you caused me. Or Seth, or Leah, or Jake."

Sam took a step closer to Kiara, reaching out hesitantly as if seeking comfort or forgiveness. But she sidestepped his touch, her gaze hardening. Sam's shoulders slumped, defeat etched upon his face. He had hoped for forgiveness, for understanding. But he knew he didn't deserve it, not after what he had almost done.

"I understand," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper before he composed himself. "But I wanted to let you know... you can come home now. All of you. I won't - the pack won't harm you if you step on our land, and we're happy to respect the rules of the treaty."

Kiara's eyes widened at Sam's unexpected offer. The words hung in the air, a tantalizing temptation that stirred conflicting emotions within her. The pack had become her family, her refuge when she had no place else to turn. Her instincts told her to remain cautious, to question his motives, but deep down, a flicker of hope ignited within her. Maybe there was a chance for reconciliation after all.

"I know it won't be easy," he admitted softly. "But I also know what we had, what we lost... I miss you, Kiara. And I miss our pack."

Kiara's heart swelled with conflicting emotions—anger, hurt, but also the longing for things to be as they once were. The thought of returning to the familiarity of La Push was both terrifying and comforting. She had loved Sam like her own brother, had believed in the strength of their bond. But could she trust him again? Could she risk exposing herself to the vulnerability that came with being part of the pack? The bigger question... could she go back to no longer being an alpha and following someone else's orders?

She glanced at Sam, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and remorse. The wind whispered through the trees, as if it were urging her to make a decision.

A hard decision.

____

It was almost night by the time Kiara returned to the Cullen household. She noticed Rosalie, Edward and Bella standing by the window upstairs, Renesmee laughing and giggling at the three vampires as they passed her between each other.

Edward's eyes flickered down to look at her as the familiar grumble of her constant thoughts entered his head, sensing the on-going dilemma that she was now facing. If it had been any other person, he'd maybe have laughed at how she never seemed to have a single moment where her mind was calm. But it was Kiara - and it made him nervous when she was nervous. He liked her, but she was extremely volatile and now that they knew she had somewhat managed to have her cells bond with venom, he wasn't sure what to make of her.

Kiara walked upstairs, listening as Bella continued to ask questions about Renesmee to Rosalie and Edward. She could faintly hear the snores of her brother, and she knew that Seth and Leah wouldn't be far away either.

"Where does she sleep?"

"In my arms. Or Edward's or Esme's," Rosalie replied, her voice smooth. She lost concentration for a second, her senses picking up the scent of her mate entering the house. "Sometimes Jacob's."

Kiara's heart skipped a beat as she heard Rosalie's voice. The soft, melodic tone sent shivers down her spine, and like always, she couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull towards her. Kiara stepped into the room, her presence barely registering as Rosalie continued her conversation with Bella and Edward.

As she approached, Kiara's eyes never wavered from Rosalie's captivating gaze. The blonde vampire finally turned her head, her golden eyes locking onto Kiara's. Kiara reached out, her hand gently cupping the side of Rosalie's face. The touch was tender, filled with the weight of unspoken longing. She leaned in slowly, her lips brushing softly against Rosalie's. It was a gentle kiss, filled with unspoken promises and raw emotion.

"I was worried you'd got lost," Rosalie joked as she pulled back, wrapping her arm loosely around Kiara's waist as they moved back from each other.

"I wish I had," Kiara muttered, seeing the confusion in Rosalie's eyes. "I'll explain later."

Bella shifted awkwardly as she looked at Kiara. Since Kiara had left, they'd caught her up on everything that had happened from her 'death' to the moments that had lead up to Kiara protecting Seth against the newborn. Bella wasn't entirely sure what to make of it all - she was forever in debt to the alpha that had protected her child, but also a little on edge around her now.

"Bella," Kiara said, no harshness in her tone. "Happy birthday."

Bella looked at her quizzically, before their attention was drawn to where the rest of the Cullens had returned from hunting. She found herself smiling at the three couples and Bree, glad to see that the other newborn vampire was back. She hadn't really seen her since she woke, and it was nice to see that she had no problems being around Renesmee or the wolves.

"I stopped aging three days ago," Bella replied to Kiara as the rest of the family approached the room, blinking for a second before Alice had sped to stand in front of them with a large grin on her face. She looked between them all, a deep smile on her face before she looked back to Bella.

"Well, we're celebrating anyway. So suck it up!"

As Alice passed Bella a key, Kiara couldn't help the smile that grew on her own face. So that's what Rosalie had meant about Bella and Edward's wedding gift - a cottage just like the one that Rosalie had taken her to the night before.

Kiara's heart swelled with gratitude as she looked at Rosalie, who wore a mischievous smirk as she looked back at her mate. The promise in her eyes was evident, and Kiara couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of spending more time with her. She turned her attention back to Bella, who held the key in her hand, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on her face.

Things were looking up after all.

____

"We can go back?"

"If you want," Kiara replied, her arms loose at her sides as she sat on the porch step. Leah and Seth were standing in front of her, while Jacob was resting against the porch railings with his back to the trio. She'd dropped the news on them about Sam's offer, leaving out the part where she had almost considered rejoining his pack. "I won't force you, either way."

Leah crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowed in deep thought. The wind gently ruffled her hair, causing a few loose strands to sway with the breeze. Her gaze shifted towards the distant horizon, where the sun was beginning to rise over the tree tops.

"I miss my family," she finally said, her voice tinged with a mix of longing and hesitation. "But I don't want to go back to Sam's pack. Not after everything we've been through."

"Yeah, I feel the same way. It's like... we've finally found our own path, you know?" Seth replied, and Kiara smiled softly at the younger boy. "We've grown stronger together. Besides, Bree is here and you guys are here... I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Jacob turned around to face them, his expression serious yet contemplative. 

"I understand how you both feel," he said, his voice carrying a hint of weariness. "But going back means you can see your mom... see the elders and be with your families. I wasn't lying when I said I wanted Sam to take you both back."

Kiara sighed softly and looked out at the crimson sky, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She understood where Jacob was coming from - but this wasn't his pack. This was hers and the final decision would always rest in her plate. She knew she could never return to that life either, no matter how much she yearned for her family's embrace.

Just as Leah and Seth went to argue with Jacob, Kiara raised her hand and instantly silenced them both. She looked at them with a smile, feeling grateful that they didn't want to leave her, especially after everything they'd all gone through over the past few weeks.

"I won't make you go back to Sam's pack," Kiara started, seeing how Seth and Leah smirked in triumph while Jacob looked at her in surprise. "But there is one thing I'm making us all do - and that includes you, Jake. Alpha's orders."

They all stared at her in anticipation.

"We're going to see our parents, and we're going to tell them everything," Kiara breathed out, noticing how surprised the other three wolves looked. "We're going to tell them we're sorry, and we're going to tell them we love them. We don't need to be in Sam's pack - but I'm not letting you cut our your family for me, for us."

She cast a look back to the house, where they could hear the rest of the family joking about Edward and Bella being away for so long. She was sure Emmett was placing a bet about how much furniture would be needed replacing.

"I understand that now... the importance of family," Kiara continued. "I won't force you to see your mom, and Jake, I won't force you to see Dad. But I'm going to go later, and I'd love if you would consider doing the same."

The looks on their faces told Kiara the truth: they were going to visit La Push.