Chapter 3: Learning

Seth's POV

No lie, my imprint was absolutely amazing. She was smart and wasn't afraid to speak up to the pack and tell them what she knew. She was also beautiful and kind. I had watched her speak with the pack then carry her little girl into the children's bedroom. Then I watched her as she sat in the kitchen with the other imprintees, playing games and joking around. She seemed so happy. When she saw me standing in the doorway watching her, she excused herself and followed me to the porch and sat next to me on the swing.

As I watched her I noticed her blonde hair looked golden in the moon light. She was staring off into the woods. She seemed content. I shifted so I was facing her a little bit and waited for her to look at me.

When she did she smiled.

"So…" I said. "You know what imprinting means, right?"

"Yeah. Soul mates. You have to be what ever your imprint wants you to be. My dad told Aphrodite and me about it after she shifted." She replied.

"When did she shift?"

"A few months ago."

"And you guys just packed up and left LA?"

"We didn't have a choice. Dad said Aphrodite needed to be near the pack she belonged to. He said it was safer for her. The only way for her to come here was if someone came with her, to take care of her."

"He sent you. Why didn't he just come?"

"Mom didn't want him to. I came because Aphrodite wanted me to. I also wanted to raise my daughter here."

"I still can't believe you have a kid."

"She's my world. My little girl. I may hate her father but nothing else in this world matters right now but her." When she said this my spirits fell. She must have seen the frown on my face because she patted my knee and smiled.

"What can you do?" I asked her.

"Your asking about my powers?"

"Yes."

She looked toward the trees again before speaking. "I feel others emotions. Move objects. Sometimes I can pick up thoughts or see the future. I can do a lot." She looked back at me. "Every generation of Gypsies in my family a new power is added. That new power is their specialty. Sometimes it's dangerous especially if we turn."

"Turn?"

"Be evil instead of good. When my kind are turned it's a true danger. Possibly more dangerous than vampires."

"How?" I was confused.

"The powers I have could wipe out the entire vampire and werewolf race. It could wipe out my kind too."

I caught on to what she was saying. If she were to every turn to the side of evil she would be a threat, a danger to us all.

"You could kill me?" I asked

"If I chose to, yes. Will I? no. I'm still good and I don't plan on going evil."

We sat in silence for a little while thinking about everything she had said. I knew I had to protect her from everything. Not just because she was my imprint but because of the danger she could cause if she would to go to the other side.

I watched as she got up and walked off the porch, staring off into the distance. I knew there was no way she could see what was going on out in the darkness. She didn't have my eyes. I knew she couldn't see dark animal that was walking out of the forest near her.

That's what I thought anyway when I rushed to her side to protect her from the creature. It growled at me and as I got a better look I noticed it was a panther.

"Seth, chill. It's Sasha." Athena said pushing me out of her way as she bent to pet the panther.

I watched in amazement as the panther leaned into her hand and purred. "Sasha?"

"Yes. She's my pet and my totem." She replied.

"Totem?"

"Protector." She laughed as I eyed Sasha. "Go on, pet her. She won't bite."

Just as I reached out to pet the large cat, Quil, Collin, and Brady got back from patrol and the others came outside to see the cat.

"Whoa, what's that?" Collin asked.

"It's a Panther. Her name is Sasha." Athena replied as I pet Sasha.

She had soft fur and she leaned into my hand and purred.

Athena laughed when Sasha licked me. "That means she likes you."

Aphrodite walked over and started hugging and petting the cat.

When everyone went back inside except Aphrodite, Athena and I, I looked at Athena and asked "Why do you have her as a protector?"

"Every gypsy or girl born with gypsy in her blood gets a totem or protector at birth. Athena's is a Panther, mine is a wolf and Ashlyn's is an eagle." Aphrodite told me and Athena nodded.

"Do you all have them as pets?"

"Yes. They just roam the area we are in. They warn us when there is danger. Sometimes they live in our houses with us." Athena said.

"Oh."

I didn't know what to think of the totems. It seemed kind of cool but I wasn't sure how I was going to handle it. One thing that eased my mind about it, was that if I was away at least Sasha would be there to keep Athena safe if I was away on patrol or off at a battle.

"I think I'm going to go to bed." Aphrodite said. "Come, Sasha."

When Aphrodite and Sasha were both in the house I turned to Athena to find her staring at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Now you know about me." She said.

"Yes. But I'm still learning." I said as I leaned in to kiss her.

Right as the distance was almost closed, Sam came out to get me for my patrol. I sighed.

"That you are." Athena said as she walked back into the house.

Her smile was the last thing I saw before I phased.

We were running through the woods, tracking a scent we had caught the second we reached our border. Sam had called for the others and they were on their way. It was the scent of the vampire we were tracking earlier that day.

Leah was the fastest so she was the first to the clearing the vampire was in. Aphrodite was second. She was told to fall back but she wouldn't listen to her brothers or her imprint. She were straight for the vampire the same second Leah did. When they both made impact with the vampire there was a sickening crack. We all cringed, racing to the clearing to see who was hurt.

When I entered the clearing with the others, Sam, Brady, and Embry helped Leah finish the vampire while the rest of us rushed to Aphrodite who was limping around in the clearing.

Aphrodite, I told you to listen to Sam. Leah had him! I shouted at her

I was just trying to help. She whimpered.

Aphrodite, phase back. Sam ordered when they finished with the vampire.

I could feel Brady's worry through the pack mind. He could feel his imprint's pain.

Aphrodite, are you okay? Brady asked her.

Yeah, fine. She said before running behind a tree and phasing.

The rest of us phased too and waited for her to come back into the clearing. When she came, Brady and Sam went to her and helped her walk. She was limping. Leah approached her and looked at her leg.

"I don't think it's broken. It should heal fast." Leah said.

Brady sighed in relief.

"Let's get home." Sam said.

I couldn't agree more. But I knew once we got to Sam's, Athena would be waiting and god only knew how she would reacted to her sister being hurt…