Leah Clearwater POV
I ran through the La Push forest with Quil at my flank, thinking about my mom. We had an uncomfortable conversation earlier in the day before I left for patrol, and I haven't been able to shake it from my mind.
The day started out as any normal day. I woke up at the buttcrack of dawn, got Seth up to brush his teeth and do his homework before he left the house, made breakfast for him and my mom and lightly went over my chores for the day. Seth had all but rushed out of the house to go see his bloodsucker besties, and I ignored the familiar quiver of anxiety in the pit of my stomach when he did. Before I could stalk out the door behind him, my mom stopped me in my tracks as she sat at the dining room table with a book in her hand and a cup of coffee beside her.
"Leah, wait." She folded the corner of a page in the book and placed it down on the table. "I need to discuss something with you."
"Can it wait?" I groaned, standing by the door. "Jacob is going to be pissed if I'm late."
"It'll only take a few minutes, babe." She gestured to the chair across from her. "Take a seat."
I groaned again internally and walked to stand behind it instead of sitting down.
"When was the last time you spoke to Emily?" She asked. She feigned nonchalance, but I could see the severity in her eyes.
I sighed. "Mom, I really don't want to rehash that right now." I turned for the door. "I've gotta go."
"Now you stay right there, young lady." She demanded, her tone hard. "I'm your mother, you can leave when I say you can. I don't care what Jacob says. Talk to me."
I let out another exasperated sigh and turned back to her. "No, I'm not speaking to Emily and I don't plan on doing it ever." I glanced out the window, impatient. "Are we done now?"
"This nonsense has gone on too long, Leah. It's time for you to move on. She's having a really hard time right now with the pregnancy and-"
"I don't want to talk about Sam's parasite of an offspring-"
"She needs someone who isn't her husband to talk to. She's lonely, Leah. She needs her best friend. She needs you."
I scoffed. "I don't care, Mom. She's the one who decided to have the damn thing, it's on her and Sam- and she's most definitely not my best friend anymore. Can we please not talk about this again?"
She sighed. "Fine, keep being this bitter shell of yourself." The corners of her lips turned down.
"I just worry about you. Maybe if you started dating again, if you met someone you liked-"
I spat the words. "What, I'd just forget about everything? Gone and forgiven, just like that?"
Her hard expression softened and her voice came out in a whisper. "Maybe you would be... happy again."
"Yeah, right." I turned around and stalked for the door, leaving her alone in the house and phasing in the trees.
I was feeling guilty about the way I spoke to her as Quil and I ran to the border of our reservation. We met up with Jacob earlier in the morning to cover plans, and then he went off to the bloodsuckers the same as Seth did. The thought made me sick. Quil was trying to give me privacy to think alone, but he spoke up anyway.
Come on, Leah. Don't be like that. The Cullens are nice.
Mind your own business and stay out of my head, Quil.
I don't know what your deal is, dude. Why do you have to be such a bitch all the time? The image of my mom's soft expression from my memory appeared in his mind. Poor Sue.
Get the fuck out of my head!
I sort of can't. But fine, I'll shut up.
He didn't think another word toward me as we whipped through the forest, but the image of his imprint Claire played through his head. A young, olive-skinned teenage girl, spinning around in a yellow dress as she giggled at him. A note of yearning, a pull of strings. He was missing her.
Ugh. Can you please stop thinking about your damn imprint for five seconds?
My bad. I can't help it. I could hear him try to take the image out of his head. It wavered for a moment, and then solidified into a vivid picture. You know how it is.
No, I really fucking don't.
But I did, I had to deal with it every stinking day. The thoughts and feelings of the other wolves with imprints were just as much my thoughts and feelings too, for as long as I was going to be a werewolf. As if pining for Sam and mulling over Emily's betrayal wasn't bad enough, I had to deal with all the mushy gushy feels of the pack on top of it. The love that poured from Quil's head nauseated me, and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it.
Things got a little better when Sam left the pack after he found out Emily was pregnant. He handed over his Alpha role to Jacob when he did. It was easier to go about my job that way, without dealing with his constant and commanding presence, his thoughts about Emily. Thoughts he used to have about me.
Your mom is right, you know. Quil interrupted my reverie. You'd probably be less of a bitch if you found someone.
I didn't respond to him with my usual insults, and tried to focus on patrol. I wouldn't be happier if I found someone, even if it was someone I liked, because it wouldn't be real. Only imprinting on someone could be real, and that wasn't ever going to be a possibility for me.
We don't know why imprinting happens, but the elders and my mom have their theories. Some think that the purpose of imprinting is an evolutionary concept, to make stronger generations of protectors for the tribe. Some think it's to make the protectors we already have stronger. Others, like my mom, think it's just a wolf's way of knowing who their soulmate is. That imprinting is like a GPS pointing you to your life mate, a combination of all the theories together. I think it's all bullshit. If imprinting is for the purpose of any of those things, I'm doomed to a lonely life of wolf servitude.
I am the first and only woman to ever be a part of this life, which roughly translates to my being a freak. Imprinting could be used to make stronger generations, and that's where my hope is lost. When I first phased, I was forever frozen into the woman I was when it happened. Never changing, never moving forward. It isn't even remotely possible for me to have kids, not that I had ever really considered having them before all this. There's just something about considering what you can't ever have that makes you want it even more.
A few years after my dad died, I went searching through the country. I hit all the big cities, the rural towns, and the sprawling desert in the south. I looked into every single pair of eyes I could come across, hoping and praying I would imprint on someone. Just to get away from the sickly loving thoughts of my pack members, to escape from phasing, like Jared got to do with Kim, and Sam got to do with Emily. Eventually, I gave up and came back home. I accepted that I would never get to change, that I would never get to be someone other than the angry person that I am. Somehow, it's just easier that way.
Quil and I continued our patrol for a few hours, not talking at all. He could hear the anger in my head, but didn't comment on it, and I was grateful for that. As we stalked the cliffs above the rocky shores of the reservation, Seth phased in.
Yo sis! Still on patrol?
I rolled my eyes, hoping he could hear my irritation. When am I not on patrol, dummy?
Always so fired up. Seth thought to himself. I ignored him. A moment later, Paul and Embry phased in.
What's happening folks? Paul howled. An obscure image of the Cullens played like a projector in his mind. Any new bloodsuckers around to kill?
Not cool, bro! Seth howled in response. The Cullens are our friends, man!
Whatever, dude.
The image reluctantly erased from Paul's mind, and changed into a caricature of a vampire without a face. He felt pretty similar to the way I did about the Cullens. We respected the treaty, and were cordial with them, but we certainly didn't consider them our friends. We didn't kill them as long as they didn't kill us and that's all there was to it. The only real reason we tolerated it was because of Jacob's imprint on Renesmee, who was included in the protection of the treaty.
It's good y'all are phased though, I've got news. Seth said. An image of someone new played in his mind.
A young woman, maybe late teens to early twenties. Fiery auburn curls, wide crimson-copper eyes flitting from one corner of a room to another in quick, uneasy motion. Pale, rosy cheeks and a short curvy stature. She looked like she had been through war, her hair matted in knots and sticks on her head, eyes wide and filled with fear, her face covered in dirt and dried blood, ripped and mangled dirty clothing clinging to her stone body. She stood frozen and seemingly ready to crouch in attack at any moment, but she didn't look vicious. Her face was innocent, soft and sweet in appearance. She looked lost, and scared, more likely to scream rather than attack. We recognized her stance.
A newborn vampire. The pack mind, separate from Seth, cringed in shock. Our thoughts swarmed around in each other's heads.
A new vamp in town?
We have to protect the tribe.
I need to keep Claire safe.
Hunt it down!
No, guys! Seth exclaimed. It really isn't like that! She's with the Cullens. Look!
A new image played, a zoomed in version of the first one, of its eyes. Crimson still, but lighter colors of golden speckles were in its irises, almost amber. The mark of animal blood in its system.
We still can't trust it.
It's not part of the treaty.
It needs to be taken down.
It's not safe.
Stop! Seth howled in the distance. She doesn't want to hurt anyone! She's actually pretty cool. A collage of images played now, an interaction between it and Seth.
"Do I smell a bonfire?" The psychic said, appearing into the room.
"Yes!" Seth had replied, pumping his fist into the air. He grinned at the burly vampire beside him. "I'd love an audience to watch me beat your ass."
"Pfft, please." The vamp scoffed back. "I can handle your scrawny hide any day."
"Yeah, right, loser fangs. I bet even Callie could handle your inflated ego. Aren't newborns stronger than mature vampires?" Seth quipped. He turned to the newborn and paused for a moment. "You could take him, right?"
It seemed to study the burly one for a second, looking him up and down.
"Hmm..." It hummed, a small smile on its stone face. "I think I could do it."
"Ha! If you guys are so confident, we can make it a triple combo match!" The burly one exclaimed in response.
The newborn narrowed its eyes at him. "You're on."
Its small figure combined with its words were comical standing beside Emmett as it glared at him. I could almost laugh at its expression.
Her name is Callie, not it. Seth announced, annoyance in his thoughts. The Cullens are hosting a bonfire tonight in the clearing. Me, her and Emmett are going to have a three v three situation going on. He snickered through his teeth. You guys should come watch me beat them up.
All humor was gone then when I realized the rest of the pack were suddenly excited.
I kinda wanna see that...
Maybe Claire will be fine...
You're gonna get your ass kicked, dude. I'm down!
Hold the fuck up. I demanded, stopping all other thoughts in their tracks. Seth, you are not fighting a newborn vampire we know nothing about! It could kill you! It could-
It's just play fighting, sis. Seth whined. It's not like we're going to tear each other's heads off. I'm trying to prove myself here, man!
Prove you're an idiot! No. Absolutely not.
Please, Leah? Pleeeeeeeease? His thoughts begged.
I rolled my eyes, knowing he was going to do what he wanted no matter what I said. If you get yourself killed, you're the one telling Mom.
Deal. Seth was grinning then, thinking of strategies now. He really was looking forward to it.
Aw hell yeah! Finally some action around here! Paul exclaimed.
Shut the fuck up, Paul.
Seth ignored me. The bonfire is at seven in the clearing. Paul, let Collin and Brady know?
I gotcha.
Thanks.
Seth, go home and let Mom know what's going on. I demanded. I doubted he would actually tell her.
Why? He whined. I was right, as usual.
Because I know she's gonna feel the same way I do about this. Maybe your dumbass will actually listen to her.
Yeah, right.
I sighed. He wasn't going to tell her.
Just go check in please.
Fine, but she's not gonna hear a thing!
He made his way to our house, bounding out into the trees in front of him. A few moments passed and then he was phased out.
Well, this should be interesting. Paul thought as he ran toward Collin's house.
Ha! Ten bucks on the newborn. Embry barked.
You're on! I'm betting on Emmett. Quil snickered.
Deal. They thought in sync.
I rolled my eyes again, ignoring them. A moment later, Jacob phased in.
You guys hear the news?
Yes. My thoughts seethed in his direction. Would've been nice to hear from you. I can't believe you're letting my little brother fight a newborn!
Hey, I didn't know anything about that until like five seconds ago. Besides, the kid's not so little anymore. Alice called Ness and told her about it. I could hear him mull over the conversation he had with his imprint right before he phased. She was excited that someone new was around. A bonfire will be fun!
I scoffed. Am I the only one worried about the danger here?
I'm a little nervous about it too, but she seems cool so far. Nessie wants to be her friend. It'll be good for her. Besides, the Cullens have already accepted her into their family. I trust them.
Ugh! I'm not going anywhere near the bloodsuckers.
You don't have to. You, me and Quil will take patrol tonight.
Aw man! Quil exclaimed. But I wanna go!
Tough luck, man. Sorry.
Whatever, at least I can watch Seth get pummeled through the rest of the pack.
A deep growl rumbled in my chest.
Sorry, Leah. Jacob half-sincerely apologized. I was just poppin' in to check on things, though. Embry, help out on patrol until it's time to meet in the clearing. Nessie is waiting for me. I'll meet up with you guys later.
'Kay. Embry replied. Nothing better to do anyway.
Quil and Embry and I continued with patrol, my thoughts seething in irritation and worrying for Seth.
After a few more hours of patrolling, Jacob traded out with Embry. Him and the others joined some of the bloodsuckers in the clearing to help prepare the bonfire. As Jacob and Quil and I roamed the reservation, we focused intently on the others in the pack as they put branches into the thick, teeming pile. We all listened very carefully for the arrival of the newborn.
All except for Seth, of course. He was giddy with anticipation, imagining images of victory in his mind. He had no thought of anxiety, more stage fright than anything. I tried to worry for him quietly, but knew he could hear me anyway.
Jacob was worrying about Nessie, waiting for her to arrive with impatience. He thought of her face from the last time he saw it earlier. Bright, clear brown eyes, wide with excitement and anticipation. Flushed, rosy cheeks, warm under his touch. Full lips parted slightly, and silky bronze hair fixed in an untidy braid.
Please! My mind shouted desperately at him.
Jacob retracted the thought immediately, embarrassed.
Sorry. Can't help it.
Right. I scoffed with disgust. Fucking imprinting.
I ignored the way his thoughts of the way he loved Nessie twisted in the pit of my stomach and returned my attention to Seth. He was helping the mind reader pile more branches into the foliage, and preparing to light it until the sound of five vampires running towards the clearing alarmed us, and the pack went dead silent from its usual chatter. We waited for their footsteps to grow closer.
Three of the vampires greeted their mates and began helping, while Nessie and the newborn stayed at the edge of the trees. The pack continued with their activities—pretending not to notice their arrival- and listened carefully for their next move. The newborn stood staggered and still as stone, staring nervously at the pack in the clearing.
"Don't worry." Nessie whispered to it. "They won't hurt you. They're cool guys, I promise." She grasped the newborn's hand and pulled it forward into the field. It nodded its head up and down in a stiff motion, like a doll moving its limbs, seeming to gaze far away.
"Uh huh." It replied back.
Ha! I'll show the bloodsucker who's cool! Paul muttered, disdain in his thoughts.
Shut up and listen. Jacob commanded, annoyed by the distraction.
Paul responded back to him sarcastically. Gotcha, boss.
"It's about damn time!" Emmett boomed in the direction of the newborn's arrival. "I was beginning to think you were too chicken." I cringed at how easily he antagonized it.
It narrowed its eyes at him, a coy smile on its lips. "You wish."
"I'd be careful if I were you, Uncle Emmett." Nessie teased. "I'm not betting against Alice."
Emmett frowned at the psychic. "I thought you can't see with the wolves around."
The newborn stared at Alice and Nessie in fear. Alice shrugged, and when Emmett looked away, Nessie winked at it. A joke, maybe?
"Alright!" The mind reader called out to the field. He stood near the bonfire next to Seth, igniting an ember on a stick in his mouth. "Light it up!"
I worried Seth would burn himself, but he whipped his head to the pile, releasing the burning stick from his jaws into the foliage with ease. With a great, gusting force, the pile of trunks ignited into explosive flame.
"We got a bonfire, people!" Emmett hollered. The pack, except for Quil and Jacob and I, raised their snouts up into the air and all howled to match his energy. I rolled my eyes. I realized that the others were suddenly buzzing with excitement, much more than earlier. While they feared the newborn and were weary of a lapse in control, they were eager to see how it would do in combat. Was this newborn like the ones we fought before?
"That's what I'm talking about!" The burly vampire replied with a roar.
Ten on the new vamp. Embry reminded Quil.
Nah, bro. Emmett's got this in the bag! Quil replied. Look at how small she is.
As Quil made this comment, the pack glanced inconspicuously at the newborn, and realized with joy that he was right. Standing across from Emmett's large bear-like stature, it looked like a small child beside him. We were happy about this, because that meant a slightly less difficult fight if we had to take it down.
"Now," Emmett paused severely, narrowing his eyes at Seth and the newborn. "Let the battle begin!"
Everyone gathered in the clearing, positioned for the match.
Quil and Jacob and I sat very still on the forest floor of the reservation as we witnessed the fight through the minds of the others. When Seth geared for attack, I braced myself and locked my shoulders in place. If I moved a muscle, I was going to head directly to his side, and that wouldn't be a good move. But as the fight went on, I began to relax. The newborn didn't make any advance on him, seemingly focused on its bigger opponent.
I was grateful when Seth didn't last for very long— taken out by Emmett rather than the newborn- but didn't relax any further. The pack remained silent as we watched it and Emmett move from one part of the arena to the other, their limbs moving in white blurs that would've been hard to follow with human eyes. They threw a few words back and forth, but we didn't pay attention to that, because we were too enraptured in the scene before us.
The newborn was more skilled than any of us had expected. It moved with such grace that it was impossible to know what it would do next, as if it was dancing. Its curly auburn hair bounced and swirled like a wave of fire around it as it bounded for Emmett again and again, eyes wide and bright with excitement. The orange light that emitted from the bonfire seemed to only feed the exuberance of the fight, glaring off the scene in a way that was nearly cinematic. This wasn't the scared face of the stray vampire that Seth had seen earlier.
It was--She was... almost beautiful, a true force to behold as we watched her dance and weave in and out of Emmett's arms. She bounded deftly into the air again and again, and then back down to the ground without much noise. The pack and I were reluctantly impressed, but also deeply confused. This newborn fought nothing like the blood-thirsty newborns we remembered. She fought with skill, precision and strategy. She fought like a mature vampire.
Quil, this chick is making a run for your money. Embry said.
Quil frowned beside me. I know.
As if to confirm Embry's conclusion, the sound of an explosion reverberated through the field, and Emmett soared through the air to the bonfire, landing with a boom. She had punched him in face. The pack erupted in howls of laughter. Could newborns have humor too?
Quil, Leah, let's join them in the clearing. Jacob thought quietly. He was eager to be with Nessie again, and wanted to see her for himself. Quil and I asked no questions and followed him. I had to admit that I was suddenly very curious too.
The cowboy vamp--Jasper, flitted over to the source of my curiosity and raised her hand in the air in triumph, an exuberant grin on her face. "Callie is the winner!" Jasper announced.
The smile on Callie's face was something like I'd never seen before, and I was confused by the emotion that sparked in my chest in response. The pack, even Quil and Jacob, howled in the joy that matched that of her expression.
By the time Jacob and Quil and I had made it to the clearing, the others had gathered around the fire. Callie stood between Esme and Dr. Fang with their arms wrapped around her and pride on their faces.
"Jacob!" Nessie exclaimed, bounding to greet him as we walked into the field.
Nessie. Jacob sighed.
The pack kept their distance from Callie, but Seth stood across from her, trying to seem smaller so as not to scare her. He looked at her face with his head tilted down, his leg pawing over his nose like a dog, as he let out a small whine.
She giggled, looking at him curiously. "May I pet you?" Her voice came out small and soft, but more confident than I'd heard it before. I listened carefully to the sound of her voice now.
Seth huffed a signal of reply, nodding his head up and down to tell her yes. Hesitating at first and glancing wearily at Esme and Carlilse, she brought her hand to the top of his head, where it met her waist. Seth didn't make a sound, but tried to seem encouraging. Then she pulled her hand away, a small smile on her lips.
Okay, Seth. That's enough for one day. I said, the tone of my thoughts sounding strange to me, even. It's time to go home, Mom is probably waiting with dinner.
Seth groaned aloud. But I'm having so much fun! He whined. Callie heard it, and looked at him warily.
"What's wrong?" She whispered, concern in her features. Seth didn't answer her, but butted his nose to her stomach for a second and then pulled away.
Seth, come on. The closer he got to her, the more confused I was, because I was suddenly overwhelmed with the full force of anxiety as I watched them together. I knew Seth was fine, but I just couldn't shake it.
You should come say hi, Leah. It's cool. Don't be rude. Seth reprimanded. Just real quick and then we'll leave.
I sighed, waiting to get angry and yell at him to follow me home. But I didn't, and did as he said.
My feet moved forward of their own will. I walked slowly across the field toward Seth and Callie, waiting for her to meet my gaze so I wouldn't trigger an attack with Seth so close. But the closer I got, the greater my anxiety was. There was a vibration in my core now, a growing light. As I walked over to her, it hummed more strongly than ever, and then her eyes met mine.
In a forever moment of a millisecond, the world seemed to turn and change around me as it flipped upside down. I could feel a tug in my chest, strings pulling me closer to her. The anxiety I felt before bombarded me like a train now, the light overwhelmingly exploding like fireworks in my body. I realized that I hadn't been worried for Seth, but for her.
In that instant, gravity seemed to invert and wrap itself around her, leaving me to go nowhere but forward. The world— once so big and full of impossibilities— was now only made up of her. I was no longer Leah Clearwater. I was a wolf, a protector, a keeper, and she was my imprint. I was entirely hers and I would live for her now, and do so willingly.
The pack mind separated itself from me, and seven other minds thought the following words in sync.
Holy shit.