This is a sequel to Unusual Imprint and Broken Imprint. Tala and Nina are Felix and Leah's twins, who are fully grown. Rosalie and Emmett adopted hybrids, Liam and Arian, and there is reference to Broken Imprint where Arian, Tala, Nina, and Renesmee were kidnapped as children-which is a part of Broken Imprint's story line.
Prologue, Tala's point of view:
"I can't do this," I said. "I can't do this, Embry."
"Can't or won't?" he asked, folding his arms across his lean chest.
"What do you mean by that?" I pressed my mouth into a firm line.
"Either you can't or won't be with me?" he nearly shouted. "I'm tired of waiting for you to make up your mind."
"I can't, Embry," I whispered.
"Why not?" His voice was firm.
"Because …" My voice trailed off before I whispered, "I can't."
His eyes narrowed at me, stinging me. He turned and stormed out of the room, the walls rattled as he slammed the door, shattering my heart into a thousand pieces. What had I just done?
Nine months earlier:
I ran through the trees, green and brown just a blur as I pushed my body quickly through the forest. Taking a deep breath, I smelled the earth, the pack, and the sweet scent of vampires that I identified as my family. Pressing my nose to the ground, I tried to identify any new vampires as I ran through our land. As usual, the familiar scent of the land, pack members, and family could be found.
Hey, kid, Uncle Jake thought, I need you to run north.
You go it, Uncle Jake! I thought.
You make me feel old when you call me that, he thought back.
You are old, Uncle Jake, I replied.
He snorted and thought, I can still beat you, kid.
I rolled my eyes, as I moved north, my muscles burning as I forced myself to run faster. Over the next half an hour, I ran, growing tired until Uncle Seth phased and relieved me of my watch. When I approached my house, I phased and pulled on my clothes; a pair of shorts and a tank top. I let myself into the house, the smell of breakfast being cooked. When I entered the kitchen, Dad stood at the stove, flipping pancakes while a large stack was on the counter next to him. My mouth watered at the sight. Daddy was the best cook, and he usually made extra on the mornings I had patrol.
"Hi, Daddy," I said, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge and draining it.
"Hey, honey," he said, smiling at me as he poured more batter onto the pan. "How was your patrol?"
"Fine." I shrugged. "Slow, and I have no idea why Uncle Jake still has us patrol, honestly."
As Daddy put the last pancake onto the plate and turned around "He needs to keep the family safe."
I sighed, briefly remembering the fight that happened between our family and the coven Arian was from originally, and I shuttered as I remembered phasing after my sister, cousins, and I were kidnapped-there was a lot of emotional and physical trauma from that experience. Luckily, we were safe and their coven was destroyed.
"I'm sorry," Daddy said, wrapping me in his arms.
"It's okay," I replied, hugging him back. "I'm safe now."
"I just don't want you to get those nightmares again," he admitted.
"And if I do, I'll handle it," I said.
"I miss the days where you'd run to your daddy after a nightmare," he said.
I smiled up at him. "I know," I said, "but you'll always be my daddy and I'll always be your little girl."
"Thanks, kiddo." He kissed my cheek.
"I'm going for a quick shower," I said. "Don't let Mom eat all of the pancakes."
"I won't," he replied, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
Smiling, I went upstairs and took a hot shower, which soothed my aching muscles and washed off the caked on mud that covered my body. Even though I tried to be careful, I always seemed to get covered in mud. By the time I came downstairs, Mom and Dad sat at the table as Mom cutting into a large stack of pancakes with plate of bacon beside her.
My plate, which was piled high with food, sat at my spot. "Thanks for breakfast, Daddy," I said, kissing his cheek.
"You're welcome," he replied as I sat to Mom and started eating and filling her in on my patrol.
"Ugg," Nina, my twin sister, said as she came into the kitchen, her hair in a bun with her pajamas on. "I don't know how you can be morning people."
"I'm technically a night person," Daddy joked, making Nina and I roll our eyes at his 'dad joke'.
"It's a good thing you make great coffee, Daddy," Nina said, pouring herself a large cup before sitting down.
"Are you sure you aren't hungry?" Daddy asked her, and she shook her head as she took a sip.
"Still full from hunting the other day," she admitted, sitting next to Daddy. "Plus, I'll be eating at the bonfire tonight."
"Thank goodness you made extra, Daddy. I'm starving from patrol," I said, putting a few more pancakes onto my plate.
"It's a good thing your sister 'eats' mostly blood," Daddy said dryly, eyeing my twin.
"Can't help it if I have better taste." Nina smirked at me, and I stuck my tongue out at her.
"Now girls," Daddy said.
Smiling, I finished off my pancakes, glancing at the clock as I realized how little time I had left before I had to be at work. Stuffing the last bite of food into my mouth, I stood, taking my plate to the sink. "I'll see you guys later; I have a class to teach soon," I said, pulling out my phone to text Embry as my parents and sister said their goodbyes.
Will you set up the mats for me? I texted him.
Yes, already here, was the reply.
See you soon, I told him by the time I laced up my shoes. Grabbing my keys, I got in my car and drove to the gym Embry and I opened six months ago, and I loved working here with my best friend. I quickly opened the front door and put my keys behind the front desk when I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me as I stood.
"Morning," a deep voice rumbled into my ear.
Smiling, I turned in his arms and leaned up to kiss my boyfriend. "Good morning," I replied.
"And it is," he smiled at me, showing off his white teeth as his dark brown eyes sparkled down at me, "and it's a good thing too because I'll have to put up with your scary sister and brother-in-law will be there." Even though we set up the cover for my parents, calling them my sister and brother-in-law, it was still jarring to calling them that. There were a couple of close calls being around people outside of the family.
I laughed as I pulled away from him and pulled out my yoga mat from underneath the front desk. "We've been dating for four months now, and they still scare you?" I asked and he nodded. "I guess I'll have to make it up to you then."
"That sounds like a plan." He winked at me before leaning down to give me a kiss again.
"Tala, I have you mats set up," Embry said as he walked toward us from the room that was set aside for classes.
"Thanks. I'll see you later, Chris," I said to my boyfriend.
He nodded, and I could feel his eyes on me as I walked away, making me feel smug.
"You hurt her, and I'll break your neck," I heard Embry say softly just as I went into our class room as I shook out the yoga mat.
I frowned; it wasn't like Embry to be protective of me.
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