With junior year over the next big thing I was looking forward to was my eighteenth birthday. Technically my body was frozen in place, I didn't even look eighteen thanks to the growth-spurt. Even so, my crazy family still insisted on throwing me a small birthday party.

"We haven't had a real birthday party in forever!" Alice told me when I refused.

Esme pled with her, "Please Cate!" I looked at my mother, she knew I couldn't say no to her, when she saw my defense go down she smiled triumphantly.

Edward smiled brightly as he walked in, "I just got off the phone with Bella, she's going to keep you entertained while we set up. Be back here around eight," he told me.

I nodded, as I walked out the door Jasper and Emmett were teasing me, "Not a second later young lady!"

I walked to Bella's house saying some small hellos to the townsfolk who knew me. I stopped getting weird looks shortly after the Phoenix incident, I'd convinced Carlisle to start telling people I'd had a "special eye surgery" which would explain my blue eyes. I was so excited I didn't have to wear those itchy contacts anymore. When I arrived at the Swan residence, Bella was waiting for me with a small smile on her face, "Happy birthday Cate," she gave me a hug. I'd completely overlooked the fact that it was the first time she noticed the temperature difference between me and my family, "Wow, you're hot."

I laughed, "Thanks, haven't heard that from a girl before."

"No I mean you're really warm, I thought-" she put her hands over mine confused.

I quickly came up with another lie to topple on, "Uh...it's cause I lived in Alaska when I turned. My body had to cancel out the cold so it made me warm..." I bullshitted just praying she would accept my weird logic.

Having nothing to dispute my claim she obviously had no choice but to let it go, "So, why exactly are you celebrating your birthday if you're not aging?"

"I mean, I had a big growth spurt just prior to turning...so might as well have my birthdays anyway, ya know to catch up to how old I look," I shrugged before nudging her as we walked around town comfortably, "You'll be eighteen soon enough."

She groaned, "Don't remind me."

"What's wrong? You don't like your birthday or something?" I wondered.

"I just don't like that I'm actually getting older while you, Edward, and your family stay young and beautiful forever!"

I gave her a skeptical look, "Bella, you're acting like at eighteen you should be preparing your will. It's not that old! Look at me! Do I look old to you?" I put my hands up.

She laughed, "You look like you're at least twenty, but even so! You're not going to look any older! I'm going to look wrinkly and my hair is going to turn grey."

I sighed, "What a morbid conversation to be having on my day of birth."

"Sorry Cate," she looked at the ground guilty.

"It's okay Bella. But you know, you should enjoy being human more. You're always hanging out with me, my brother and my crazy family. You should try getting together with your other friends. Like Angela or even Jacob!"

She gave me a skeptical look, "Why would I do that when I have you guys?"

"Bella, you need to keep your connections with your old friends. What if we have to leave? What are you going to do, sit around and sulk every day?"

"You're not leaving," She snapped, "Edward promised he wouldn't leave me so I don't know why you would even say something like that it's just not ri-" she rambled until I stopped her.

"Okay I'm sorry! Forget I even said anything," I put my hand up in surrender, "I just wanted to make sure you're not overly dependent on us."

"I'm fine."

I didn't believe her but accepted her answer to avoid an argument, I wanted to diffuse the tension, "Bella, we've gotten pretty close yeah?" I asked. She nodded unsure of where I was going with my question, ever since the Phoenix incident I've found myself pretty protective of her. Not just because she's with my brother, but because she's actually a caring person and she didn't see me as a frail being like the rest of my family. Everyone else saw me as the youngest, an uncontrollable werewolf. But Bella didn't-mostly because she didn't know I was one. She saw me as a strong creature, one who could take care of herself. It made me feel good. I asked her a question that probably sounded really shallow and dim but remember I'm still a teenage girl so pardon me if it's something I think about, "Do you think I'll ever find someone that will love me as much as my brother loves you?"

She was baffled, "Why are you asking me that? Of course!"

I shook my head, "I don't know. I'm the only one in my family without their mate."

Bella put her hand on my shoulder, "You will. One day," she paused before sending me a smirk, "What about Jacob? You guys have gotten really close!"

That is also true, after prom night Jacob, Bella, and I would hang out sometimes and it was a blast. But I had this gut feeling he wasn't the one, and I also saw the way he looked at Bella. It was sad really, him liking Bella but her liking Edward.

"I wouldn't want to lead him on, he's a good friend though," I answered.

"Does he know that you're a..." she trailed off.

I shook my head, Jacob was innocent, he knew nothing of the supernatural world and that made him so much more likable and easy to talk to. I had to hide some things, and we could never really hang out by his house, but he was a big ball of light and energy. I noticed by the setting sun that it was getting closer to eight, I lowered my back to give Bella a ride back to the house, "Keep in mind I'm not as fast as Edward so don't judge me too harshly," I told her as I took off in a sprint.

~

We'd made it back to the house with a little over a minute to spare. On the front door there was a sign that simply said "Backyard". So the two of us walked round the house and were bombarded with twinkling lights and some amazing smelling food.

"Happy Birthday Cate!" My family yelled happily when they saw me.

I looked around at all their smiling faces, taking it all in, "I love it."

Alice walked up and hugged me, "I'm glad."

There weren't a lot of presents, but obviously I wasn't complaining since I'd already had anything I wanted. But still, Rosalie and Emmett gave me the cutest little wolf toy that looked exactly like me. We all laughed and it was even funnier that Bella had no idea what the joke was. Alice and Jasper gave me this silver arm bracelet that was basically a physical replica of my tribal tattoo, it was so smooth and cool I slipped it on my other arm and admired it. Edward and Bella handed me this little wrapped book.

"I'd bought it the day you and Edward saved me from those guys in Port Angeles, it's full of tribe legends. Mostly Quileute but I figured you'd like to read them anyway." she told me.

Edward finished, "Since you don't have any legends of your people written down."

I was touched, I unwrapped the book was marveled at the cover. It looked like a Quileute chief in formal headwear, and the cover was a smooth green. I would definitely be giving it a read. The final gift was from Carlisle and Esme. They gave me my gift and I had to hold back tears.

"I'd found it in your bag when you first came to us," Esme told me.

Carlisle put his hand on mine as I looked at the present, "We figured you'd like it."

It was the picture I'd taken from my house the day I left. They'd removed the creases from when I'd folded it, and put it in a beautiful frame. The frame was black with an outline that looked like the moon, there was a quote on it, the quote that my pack lived by;

I looked up at my parents, "It's beautiful," I brought the two of them in for a hug before looking at the rest of my family, "Thank you all. So much," we went on having fun for the rest of the night, playing stupid party games then watching some movies, of course I had to be funny and pick Bram Stoker's Dracula and Underworld. Overall, it was a great birthday, "Can't wait to see what we all do for Bella's birthday in September!" I beamed.

"No gifts please!" She groaned, "Let's just pretend my birthday isn't happening."

I shook my head, "No ma'am! Good luck with that!" I snickered. I was just glad my birthday went off without any incidents. The same could not be said for dear ole' Bella.

~

A little while after my birthday and I'd almost forgotten...almost...that it would also be the anniversary of the Yuit tribe massacre. When the day came it hit me like a truck when I looked at the calendar. At first I wondered why the date looked so familiar, then the feeling of sorrow washed over me like a typhoon.

I felt empty that day, I locked myself in my room and surrounded myself with what I had that was from home or reminded me of it. I felt guilty when my siblings came knocking at my door and I turned them away. Even worse when I heard Esme's hurt voice asking if I wanted to eat anything.

But I needed to be alone. There wasn't anything they could do that would make me feel better. All I could think about was my pack and my dad and how much I missed them. I wondered about those robed vampires, who they were and what I would do if I ever got a chance to meet them.

Downstairs I could hear the others whispering about me. But they knew that today was a rough day for me so for the remainder of the day they left me to myself.

It was sad but definitely needed, by the following morning I'd felt a bit better. We went on as if nothing was wrong. However deep down inside I felt like I was missing something; something my new family couldn't give me.

I just didn't know what that was.