A/N: This is my updated version of Sacred Legends, after having visited La Push and read Breaking Dawn.
Disclaimer – All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No copyright infringement is intended.
Thanks to Heartbroken1, Whippit, 1DRTWINS, Birdee18, my brother Daynen, and my daughter Nita for my Beta on this chapter!
Chapter 1 – Imprint
I have always enjoyed my home here in La Push, the small Quileute reservation on the Pacific Ocean in Western Washington. I love the beaches with the calming sounds of the waves, and the cool mist of the sea spray. I love the green of the forests, the ferns, and the moss. I've always loved these things, but now I could enjoy them even more. Now I could run as a werewolf, a protector of the tribe. The freedom of running as a pack of wolves with power and speed was exhilarating, and really burned up some calories.
Those assigned to the first shift had just finished our early morning patrols and were definitely ready for something to eat. As we dressed, I turned to Embry. "Hey, race you to Emily's for some breakfast," I challenged.
"Quil, you want to put your money where your mouth is?" Embry taunted back at me pulling on his cutoff jeans.
"Sure, I'll bet you five bucks I'll beat you to the kitchen!" I gloated and readied my stance.
"Go!" We heard from behind us, not thinking about who had begun the race, I leapt forward and sped through the woods toward Sam and Emily's place. I knew I could take Embry in this kind of a race. My muscles were more developed than his, and it gave me the advantage in this type of a race. I was even a little surprised that Embry had suggested the bet considering all of the times he had lost to me recently.
As we exited the woods and rounded the end of the drive for the last straight-of-way to Emily's, I could tell I was a good three feet ahead of Embry. I could also tell that we were going to have to be a little careful getting to the kitchen as there were people out in the driveway in front of the house.
I put my head down and pushed myself as hard as I could the next twenty yards, trying to widen the gap between Embry and me so I could have time to maneuver around the people and furniture near the front door. Although I had Embry on all-out speed, I knew he had a slight advantage when it came to agility in avoiding obstacles. As I neared the end of the twenty yards, I looked up to quickly analyze my path to the door. I was so stunned by what I saw that my brain shut everything down. I froze in place, and Embry immediately plowed me over from behind. I lay on the ground and lifted my head to see what had taken over my entire system.
There in front of me was the most adorable creature I had ever seen. I was instantly taken in and riveted to this angel; everything else around me became a blur of greens and browns. The urge to protect this innocent, heavenly being took over every cell in my body.
Still lying on the ground, I lifted up onto my elbows for a better look. I scanned over her black, silky hair that wisped towards her shoulders. Her wide, chocolate-brown eyes were an exact match to the color of my own eyes, almost as if they had been designed together. Her nose and lips were so delicate and tiny they almost appeared too small for face. Her round chubby cheeks held dimples so deep that I was sure I could get lost in them. As I stayed there stunned by my little angel, she sat staring at me, grinning as wide as her mouth would allow. I felt an almost gravitational pull to be near her, but as I stood to move closer, I was instantly laid out on my back with the wind knocked out of me.
"I totally won!" Embry taunted from his perch on my chest, "You so have to pay up!"
I didn't really process what he said. All I could think about was seeing if my angel had been hurt or frightened by this latest brawl. I struggled to sit up and look for her again. Feeling too much resistance, I got frustrated and suddenly focused my energy into throwing the obstruction off of my chest and out of my way.
"Dude, what is your problem?" Embry yelled from across the yard.
I glanced over to see I had thrown him a good fifteen feet away from me before my eyesight immediately returned back to the angel, my angel. She was rising into the air; I stood, unconsciously moving with her actions.
"What is wrong with you boys? You could have hurt Claire!" I heard Emily's voice scold, and in that instant my vision began to clear. I realized that my angel's name was Claire, and that she was being held in the arms of Emily. "Quil?...Quil?...SAM!!" I vaguely heard Emily say as she began to enter the house taking Claire with her. I followed in behind them unable to remove my eyes from Claire's.
"Sam! You need to get in here NOW!" Emily yelled, as she paced behind the couch.
"What is it Emily?" Sam asked as he sweetly and innocently kissed her on the cheek.
"Quil!" She said as she nodded her head in my direction. "I know that look. How could he…How am I…You have to fix this," Emily stammered at Sam. She was clearly agitated, but her train of thought was too difficult to follow in my dazed state. I did clearly notice her pacing though, as it interrupted my line of sight to Claire each time she turned.
I felt strong hands tugging at my shoulders and faint sounds of shock and laughter but could not be moved from my location near Claire. I was in a trance and she must have had me under some kind of spell. I knew I would do anything for her that was within my power.
"Outside, now!" Sam's order partially snapped me out of my haze enough to allow myself to be dragged out of the house. Once outside my vision began to clear, but my soul still yearned for my angel, Claire, inside the house. "Quil, what just happened?" Sam spoke, and I turned to look at his face which was a mixture of frustration and incredulity.
"I…I'm not exactly sure," I started as my mind began to process what had just taken place. I responded with the only explanation I could think of at the moment, "I think I've just imprinted on Claire."
Hoots and taunts came instantly from my pack brothers, who up until now, had been trying to decipher my unusual behavior. Sam cursed under his breath, something about werewolf and two-year-old baby. I turned to look at Jared standing in the doorframe and caught a glimpse of the two-year-old Claire in Emily's arms beside him. Emily looked angry, and the shock of how the situation looked to others suddenly hit me. I was sixteen and she was two.
"Sam, how could this happen?" I asked him, "Isn't imprinting about finding your mate? How could this…why?" I struggled to find the words I needed. I could barely comprehend the situation, let alone explain my questions about it.
"Let's go talk," Sam said to me. "The rest of you, go inside," he ordered to the others.
I followed Sam into the woods, phasing into my wolf form after looking over my shoulder to see that Claire had made it safely inside. The urge to protect her was so strong!
Once both of us were in our wolf forms, Sam's mind and my mind were open to each other. I was able to replay what had happened, and Sam could know how I was feeling as it occurred and after. I knew he would be able to explain it to Emily so much better than I could, I also hoped he could explain it to me.
I was drawn to her from the instant I saw her. It's like the whole rest of the world stopped and blurred at the edges. I feel the need to be near her, to protect her, to provide for anything she might need, like she is an angel from heaven for me to watch over.
Yes, Sam thought; this is definitely imprinting.
Why now? Why when she is only two? I asked Sam, hoping he had some information to help me understand.
Quil, you imprint the first time you see that person after you start phasing. You just happened to see Claire for the first time when she was two. His thoughts let me realize he was concerned about what kind of relationship I was expecting with Claire at this point. How do you feel about her?
I raced through my thoughts and feelings using images when needed to help explain both to Sam as well as myself. I feel like I need to protect her. I want to see her safe and happy. I don't feel romantic feelings for her which I'm thankful for; that would be gross! I knew that this knowledge would be there for any of my pack brothers the next time they phased and that they would understand. I could also see that this was going to be so much more complicated than the imprinting the others had experienced, but all I cared about was Claire.
Yes, you will definitely have difficulties that Jared and I never had to face. Sam thought. Let's go get some breakfast and discuss Claire afterward, he suggested. We both raced back, hoping that our pack brothers had left at least a little food behind for us.
As we entered the house, the feeding frenzy other people called breakfast was still on, and I quickly joined in after noting that Claire had been safely placed in a Pack-n-Play off to the corner of the living room. After inhaling three muffins, I looked over to the sink where Emily stood, deep in conversation with Sam.
She saw me looking their way and said, "Quil, we are going to talk after breakfast." Her tone reminded me of my mom's when she was getting ready to ground me; the thought of being grounded from seeing Claire made a lump in my throat so large that it was difficult to swallow.
My whole body rebelled against the idea of being away from Claire. I looked over to her again. She was watching me and she smiled as I looked into her eyes, her sweet dimples making her round face even more adorable. I stood up and began to walk towards Claire. I couldn't help but smile back at her. I picked her up and she grabbed my cheeks in her chubby little hands and giggled. I could hear comments and snickers from my brothers, but I ignored them. Joy swept over me, and I felt it was my mission in life to make her laugh.
A/N: I began this story as a series of volumes, mostly because I was afraid to start out a Quil & Claire story with Claire as a 2 year old, with a T rating. It seemed creepy to me. Since I have gotten so many wonderful reviews both on Sacred Legends & my other work, I have gained a little confidence. (I have channeled my inner Alice!) I also have been having some trouble with the story due to the volume set up I created, so now I am going back with a bit of re-writing and making it work better with Breaking Dawn, and it will become a single volume.
Please, read, review, and recommend to you friends! Thanks, AmberGlow2