Dear Readers,
I hope you've liked the story so far. I'm definitely going to keep up with the story as inspiration hits me. If you have any questions, comments or hopeful wishes for what the story turns into just let me know! Enjoy! Beautyandthebooks.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight characters. Just the way I change the plot!
I stood there, very aware that I was on four legs not two, staring at Sam who was several feet away. More of the Pack came from the living room with bewildered looks on their faces. They all stared at me like I was a mutant. Did they not just tell me that they all turned into wolves as well? Was I weird among wolves too? I thought to myself.
No, Hon, your just too gorgeous for words, said Seth. Wait a second ... was I hearing Seth's thoughts? That would be a positive, replied Seth to my question.
Calm. I must be calm. I felt myself start pacing back and forth over a stretch of grass trying to breathe. I was in wolf form and had absolutely no idea how to get out. Seth? Where are you?
Behind you, Sweetheart, he said/thought. I felt something nip my butt and I made the human equivalent of a squeal. I quickly stumbled before managing to turn around. Seth was there ... I think. I'd never seen him in wolf form but I could bet my life that it was him. I walked slowly towards him and he smiled at my caution. He nuzzled me before looking behind me with amusement. I turned to see what was wrong.
Everyone was still staring at us. I looked over at Seth and asked, Isn't this normal for them? Why are they looking at me like I'm a mutant wolf? It's killing my self-esteem.
Hon, usually we build up to the Change. Like maybe weeks. Yet you seem to have been home about five days and you're already Changed. What the hell happened today? he asked with loving curiosity. I couldn't stop looking at him and an image of him in human form crossed my mind. I could hear Seth laughing in my head at my seeming lack of control when it came to my thoughts.
I thought about shaking hands with Edward Cullen today and Seth let out a cough-like laugh, Yeah, that'd do it.
How should I have known? I asked with a whiney edge. I hated how people kept shoving it in my face. I wasn't exactly focusing on not turning to a werewolf this morning! I let out a breath while Seth quickly calmed me down. We looked over to Sam who was staring at me slightly crossed eyed. I was slightly miffed. Why does he keep staring at me like that?
He's probably waiting for you to freak out. Little does he know that you already did. We should probably change back. Let's go to the edge of the woods, I'll get you something to put on after I change. Seth nudged me with his snout and we walked into the woods. I went behind a bush and Seth tried to walk me through it. Think of walking in human form and feeling you hands. Once you start to feel the Change, just give into it.
Easier said than done, I thought but still tried. I closed my eyes and focused on changing back to human. I imagined myself kneeling in the woods and the feel of the dirt on my skin. I felt something in the bottom of my stomach. I did what Seth had suggested and gave into it. I felt my muscles flex and my skin expanded and then I was left kneeling in the dirt with Seth less than five feet away ... and I was naked. I heard Seth shifting and I looked over the top of the bush to see him sporting cutoffs.
"I'll be right back," he said and went off in the direction of the house. I heard more footsteps than I would have liked coming towards the woods. I quickly saw Sam and Jared before I was blinded by Jared throwing the shirt he had been wearing at my face. I guess we both really didn't like the fact that I was without clothes while there were up to at least five guys within several feet of me. For once, I was not the least bit upset that he was being overprotective.
I quickly pulled on the faded grey t-shirt. It came down to mid-thigh on me which was perfect but enough to get me too the house without having everyone stare at me like they had been five minutes ago. I came out behind the bush smiled weakly at Jared who was now only wearing cutoffs since I was wearing his shirt.
"I think we need to have a sit down just the two of us," said Sam with a serious look on his face. I gave a short nod but Jared made a quick threat that I was talking to no one until I had on both a shirt and pants. I whole heartedly agreed and went quickly into the house to change. Into clothes. Not a wolf. Just to be clear.
When I came out of the house, I was pointed into the direction of the beach. I followed the quick path out there and found Sam sitting on a log. He was looking out onto the ocean with a searching gaze, like he was searching for a solution of sorts. I walked over and sat down. After a few minutes, I set my gaze on the ocean as well, waiting for Sam to talk.
"You know, I was planning to go away to college," he said with something in his voice, maybe it was longing. "I planned to get away from La Push. Meet new people. Marry Leah."
I opened my mouth to say something, anything but nothing came. I closed my mouth and thought about what he'd said. To me it was common knowledge that Sam had been headed to college at Washington State which was as far away as possible yet still in the state. I'd also known that he was probably going to marry Leah. They'd been high school sweet hearts. Around here if you stayed together long enough, it just made sense.
What I hadn't known was that because he changed he couldn't have done any of that. He didn't go to college and he didn't marry Leah. I knew he had broken up with her and I thought he was an ass for doing it when I found out. Especially when I heard that he immediately started dating Leah's cousin. I'd hated Sam for a while out of my love for Leah. When Jared had told me the other day casually that Sam had imprinted on Emily, I felt horrible. It's not like I'd hurt him or anything but my thoughts towards Sam had never been truly kind. Guilt flooded me. I looked over at Sam but he was still staring straight ahead.
"I had to come to terms with what we are. Protectors. I had to give up my dreams of moving away and living a different life. I know I could have been different but I've learned to be thankful for certain things."
"Like Emily," I said. It made sense to me. Seth was entirely worth whatever I would go through as a wolf. Here we sat, both imprinted and both werewolves. It seemed odd. Before this moment I'd never really talked to Sam before, about anything that mattered anyway. Whenever I would see him we'd always make polite conversation but never really talk. Like now.
"Like Seth," he commented with a wry tone. I smiled at that. I looked over at him and he was smiling too. Seeing him like this made me start laughing. He looked over at me with a smile on his face and eyes slightly confused. "What's so funny?"
Seeing Sam when he was smiling made me think to a time when I was scared of him. I'd been in eighth grade and Sam had just graduated from high school. Looking back now, Sam had probably realized his dream of going to college wasn't going to happen. He'd probably recently Changed. And I remember that I was scared of him. Not in the actual sense where I thought he'd hurt me but in the sense that I felt like he was angry and reckless. I just remember knowing that something was different about Sam that didn't meet the eye. I guess now I knew I was right.
"I just remember a couple years ago you used to scare me," I said, making sure he heard the amusement in my voice. His face turned more serious and he met my eyes for the first time. He looked concerned.
"Why?" he asked, surprised. I smiled, feeling chagrinned. Never, had I expected to talk to Sam Uley about why I had been frightened of him when I was twelve.
"Just so you know, I was twelve so I get a pass," I clarified before I elaborated. "I wasn't scared that you'd hurt me or anything. It's just I remember one day I saw you walking by and you just had this look on your face of hatred. I heard a couple days later that you weren't going to college so I chalked it up to that. But I will never forget that look on your face. For a second I was conceited enough to think that you hated me. Of course, it was after a couple minutes I knew that you probably were angry at something else."
"Why'd you assume I wasn't angry at you," he asked and then smiled clarifying, "I obviously wasn't, but what made you think that?"
"Because," I huffed, "To most people around here I'm just one of the Melanie's, Ashley's, and Jared's kid sister." I said looking out at the ocean. It was true. There were four kids all together. Mel and Ashley moved out of state for college so they missed the wolf boat. I never realized how much it had bothered me but there it was. Jealously rearing it's ugly head. I had a lot of friends but I never considered myself overly popular. But my siblings? They were superstars in school. I just never really measured up to everyone else's expectations – that if I was a Howe I must be amazing. When I was younger I hated the beginning of school. I'd always have a teacher that had taught Jared or one of my sisters. I didn't want to, but every time a teacher looked at their class list and said, "Oh, you're a Howe, I knew your *insert sibling name here*," and I wanted to hurt them.
I liked to think that I was special, smart but I'd always be dragged back to being someone's sister not Kiera. I looked back over at Sam and we seemed to understand something in each other. Like comrades. We recognized that we were both kinda messed up but that was okay. Sam nodded his head and he got up.
"Well, Kiera," he said, putting emphasis on my name and I smiled. "Going to be a busy night. I hope you don't mind but a lot of people are going to be paying attention to you tonight."
I looked at him with a sinking suspicion and he smiled. I sadly asked, "What are we doing tonight?"
"Well, we're having a bonfire. We have a new pack mate that needs to be welcomed." I looked up at him and smiled. Sam Uley was not exactly what I had expected him to be. And if I had any guy that was going to be my Alpha? I guess I could have been worse off. I looked back towards the house and saw Seth sitting on the porch, talking to the guys. I felt myself smile and turned back to Sam.
"I think I like what my future's turning into," I said with a smile and Sam smiled back. He knew exactly what I was talking about. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me back to the house.
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Kiera," he stated with a wry tone to his voice. I couldn't help but echo his sentiment. I could get used to this.
Let me know what you think about the chapter!!! Please R&R!!!
Beautyandthebooks.