Seth Clearwater has been looking for his imprint since he was fifteen. But no matter how hard you wish for something, you just can't will that kind of connection into existence. Everyone he loved had found who they were meant to be with. Even his short-tempered sister had found who she would spend her life with. They were very happily planning their wedding which was set for the coming spring.

Jake had married Renesmee three years ago and they were living in Billy's old house by the woods where Jake could run the pack now that Sam had retired and stopped changing so he could grow old with his Emily.

The first shifter in the Quileute tribe had lived three lifetimes before he found his imprint. He had been a very old man long before his third wife came into his life. He had decided then to stop shifting and start aging with her.

Jake would never stop phasing. Because Renesmee is immortal he would keep changing to stay young and stay with her. The rest of the pack had already begun to control their shifting so they could grow old with their mates.

Seth was twenty-three years old and he was looking down the barrel of a very long life alone.

x

Amaya was a very long way from home. In fact, it had been so long since she had really been home that she'd almost forgotten where she came from.

It had been a very long time since she had been able to make a home. She just got settled when she had to take off again. She couldn't afford to relax. She wasn't sure she'd ever stop looking over her shoulder.

Amaya was twenty-two years old but she had seen so much in that time. Her blonde hair had begun to turn silver over the past year. The silver looked good on her and brought out the silver in her icy eyes. She was beautiful even with those startling eyes. Her figure was curvy and athletic. She was strong and lean. The majority of her scars were hidden. She wished she were a little more plain.

She shook herself out of her reverie and turned back to the box she was supposed to be unpacking. She didn't let herself dwell in the land of self-pity very often or for very long. It wasn't productive and she had the whole house to unpack. She finished the bathroom and moved on to the kitchen.

Amaya had been sorting through boxes all morning. She didn't always have time to pack her few belongings when she had to move on. She had bought so many dishes, bedding, clothes, and the basic necessities of living so many times over the last few years. She wasn't sure she didn't prefer shopping to packing.

There was no use fussing now that the job was nearly done. Her clothes were hung in the closet and her shampoo was in the bathroom. Once the kitchen was sorted it would be time for lunch.

The house wasn't big, with a combined dining and living area and only one bed and bath. But Amaya didn't need much. She'd rented the place on a three month lease because it was right on the edge of the woods and her closest neighbor was the town Sheriff.

She had arrived in Forks, Washington early the previous day and checked into the motel under the name "Anne". She wasted no time. She searched the classified section of the newspaper she picked up at the gas station.

Amaya went through the listings quickly. Three were immediately discarded as much too big for her and another that was situated right off Main Street. She called the number for the last two properties and arranged to meet the landlord at the first listing.

She drove to a community at the edge of town. The directions led her to a quaint little cottage a little distance from the other houses in the area. She pulled in and put her car in park. She surveyed the area before she got out to look around.

Her driveway ended in a little clearing that began level with the back of her neighbor's house. She surveyed the space with a calculating eye as a man came out the back door and started walking towards her.

Amaya was wary. She had spoken to a woman named Bella on the phone. She hadn't said anything about sending a man over.

"Did you call about seeing the place?" "I'm supposed to meet the landlord." "I'm Charlie Swan; my daughter and her husband own the place. I've got the keys to show you around."

Charlie had a way about him, slow and quiet, that put you right at ease. It had her scanning the tree line and checking that her knife and pepper spray were still accessible. But she followed him into the house.

He unlocked the door and led the way. He flipped on lights and then stood back and let her wander.

"All the appliances are new. Heater and stove are gas." She surveyed the rooms as he went silent. It would do.

"Do you have the paperwork on you or do I need to call your daughter back?" "Bella and her husband are travelling right now. I'll need your driver's license and social security number. Bella got me hooked up with real internet so I can check you out from home. Come on over and we'll get everything sorted."

She had been distracted coming in, trying to find the correct house number. She hadn't noticed the Forks police cruiser sitting in his drive. She saw it now as he ushered her into his home.

"You're a cop?" "Chief Swan, at your service." He didn't look at her as he replied, just went on with his business. His gun was hanging by the door, not at his hip. Amaya readjusted her evaluation of the man and the house. It was perfect.

"Anything I need to know about before I look you up?" She was quiet. It really depended on who he looked up: Amaya or Anne. Instead of replying she handed over her license and a randomly generated social. The license gave the name Anne Smith. All he would find was clear records and decent credit.

As he sifted through the records a woman with long black hair and native features came into the house with arms full of groceries. Charlie looked up and a huge smile lit up his face. "Hey Sue, let me help you with that." He stood and reached for the grocery bags but she pushed him back into his seat and walked on into the kitchen. She put everything on the counter and came back to introduce herself.

"I'm Sue Clearwater, Charlie's wife. Nice to meet you...?" "Anne." "It's nice to meet you Anne. Are you interested in renting the cottage?" "I'd like to live here, yes." "Where are you from?" "I've moved around a lot." "Do you have a job yet?" "No. I thought I'd start looking on Monday." "What sort of things can you do?" "I've done a little bit of everything." "How are you at answering phones and taking statements?" "I can take dictation and I type one hundred words a minute. Everyone can answer a phone." "Charlie, aren't you looking for a new office manager?" "Why don't you come to the station on Monday and we'll see how you do."

When he'd gotten everything pulled up and sifted through he looked at the girl he knew as Anne. She met his gaze and could see him turning something over in his mind. She watched as his decision became settled.

"You all alone Miss Smith?" "I suppose I am." "No pets?" "No sir, but I was only waiting to find a place before I looked for one." "Bella doesn't mind animals and we can put up a fence if you find one you like." "Does the town insist on a fence?" "Not so long as they're registered, caught up on their shots, and don't cause any problems. You got a man?" "No."

He nodded like she'd confirmed some suspicion or like he understood this girl wasn't going to talk anymore.

"Everything checks out on this end. I'll go over the particulars and give you a few days to decide. You pay all utilities and rent is three hundred. I take care of the lawn and any repairs. you send in a check to the address I'll give you every month. Not much else to it. You have one week to get the utilities put in your name."

He stopped talking like it was a relief. "I'll take it."

"If you two are finished talking business, you can finish putting the groceries away so I can switch the laundry before I make lunch. You're welcome to stay and eat with us, Anne." "Thank you Sue, but I've got a lot to do to get settled." "Moving is no reason to miss a meal. You'll stay. We won't make you talk about yourself, I promise."