Interlude: Running – Sam p.o.v

She sleeps soundly. She's lying on my arm, her eyes fluttering in dreams.

I knew that she would be a part of me when I looked in her eyes the first time. That she would complete me and Emily.

It's not easy accepting a second imprint. I've fought it in the beginning, obsessing over the guilt I had with Emily. Luckily she completes me where I am not and suggested she be part of us.

A triangle, three pieces in a puzzle. Emily and Luce, the centers of my world. Luce is younger than us perhaps, yet so kins and giving I would like to keep her away from all that hurts her.

And yet she is more brave then I think. She faced down her vampirecousin when that one implied our relationship was not worth it.

She's put my mind and Emily's at rest. And when she flees, she does no go far, always at the edge, so we know she is still there.

And after tonight, she's mine. My wolf is relaxed, growling now that we have claimed what is ours. He's been hovering ever since Luce has been in our reach, wanting to love, to protect, to just be there.

Only lately he's been hovering, my wolf-side, more to claim her in a more physical way, but never close enough to grasp. Me and My wolf we understand each other. No victory or pride in scaring our beloved and coveted prize.

And now she has accepted all of me, wolf and man, without a doubt, with no fear.

She wakes, locks her beautiful eyes on mine, and I am lost again. She's standing, waiting, so trusting, so beautiful while I take my animal form.

She's never looked upon my wolf form with any fear, except in the beginning, but now she trusts me

Emily told me she's always wanted to sit and ride with me, it's a childish fantasy she keeps hidden and one I am more than glad to fulfill. When she realizes what I am proposing I can see it flit on her face, childish mirth, happiness and she brings the sun into with her, the sun that illuminates my soul. I feel the love I bear for her and i can't help but wonder how he can't not know what precious creature she is.

Her hands are a little cold, but not clammy. It's the first time she's seated on me, her touch in my neck and it is a pleasant experience. I've always been, still am, hesitant to let Emily or Luce approach me like this. I don't, will not repeat, what happened to Emily.

Yet, I'm not inhuman. Emily's touched me before, she's walked beside me, lain against me when she was tired and we were in the woods. But never has anyone ridden me. I feel a foot wrap around my body and then she is seated. Her weight is light, but just good enough and she seems to fit well.

With a small agreement of her side I start walking at leisurely pace through the woods. I can feel the usual, hear the usual, animals in the woods, rustling of the winds in the trees but now, now I have Luce's heartbeat, soft, relaxed on my back. I can feel her breathe in between my shoulderblades and I know she is lying on my back. Just walking with my imprint in the woods pleases me.

She is desired, wanted and entirely mine. She is an Alpha's imprint, and while my steps pound on the ground, the entire world will know it.

After a while she sits up. -" You can go a little faster." She whispers, voice full of wonder. - " I would like you to." My muscles relax under her weight and then I start through the trees in a slight trot. She's now sitting up, looking around and smiling. Excitement and happy feelings stir in my gut, sharing her smile.

-" Beautiful." She whispers and my ears turn to hear her voice. We wander through the woods, imprint and wolf when I suddenly can hear it.

Their thoughts come from far but I hear them, my pack mates.

I can hear them laughing, I see flashes of their patrols and I stop. I stand straighter, waiting for them to come through the underbrush.

Instead Brady and Colin roll down a rocky slope. I bare my teeth and growl a warning, making them clear to stay back. But they don't listen immediately, not yet having heard me, top unruly and excited. They yip and yowl as they roll down, their thoughts a waterfall of voices and flashes and pictures.

Their roll down the slope makes a tree crack and that is enough. They are almost at my paws when i bunch my body up , tense my muscles and bark loud and aggressively. -" STOP!" My voice in their thoughts and even in mine sounds like thunder in a clear sky.

The pups finally look up.

-" Whoa, Sam." Colin speaks through the our pack-bond, the words filtering into my thoughts. -" We were just playing, patrol is over." -" You're roughhousing is too dangerous for humans." I reply, eyes still going from one to the other.

-" There is still no need to be so aggressive?" The voice of Paul comes from above. The silver wolf appears, his face clearly disapproving. -" They are young, let them have their fun."

I growl slightly at my third-in-command, the hairs on my nose tight. -" Otherwise I wouldn't care." I say. " Playing is good of the pack's dynamics. It is however my concern when one of my imprints is with me."

-" One of you're imprints?" Paul asks stepping closer. I lower my head, revealing Luce on my back, who waves.

-" Luce? You took her here?" Paul asks, approaching. -" You reek of the Cullens." I say. Paul shrugs. -" Jake and the kid were at the border, as was her cousin." I turn when I hear Brady's footfall beside me.

- " Can we touch her?" Colin asks, tail wagging. I consider their question.

I look at them, my voice apologetic. -" I'm not sure that's a good idea. You don't know yet your strength." They look at me and then seem to nod their assent before turning their attention to Jared, who is addressing them. But Luce is of another mind because she is soon reaching to pat and pet Colin, who waggles his tail.

They're but 12 and 13, the youngest members of my pack, and even though they have a playful young boy side, they already seem a little older than their age mentally. I'm proud they are in my pack and I sent this through our link. They still for a moment and then look both at me, seemingly surprised but also happy. I turn and start on my way, Paul on my side, as the others run ahead of us.

-" How was your night?" Paul asks. For a moment an image flits through the link, Luce sitting on the stone and reaching, my breathe above her, and her hand reaching back to my black furred leg.

-" Something happened, didn't it?" Paul asks as another image flits through my mind. A naked Luce, eyes warm and liquid, hair crowning around her like a sea. It's enough, they know. And though Luce seems to bez embarrassed for a moment, Paul touches his nose to her arm and she sits up again. When she strokes my head, I know she's not embarrassed anymore but glad and happy we expressed our love in this way.

Only yesterday she told me she was glad I was her first and I told her I couldn't be happier I was hers, for she is ours now, and I will love her until the end of all that exists, and this gift is something she has given me and what I will cherish forever.

And she's told me it's a gift I have given her to be her first, and I know it's a gift we shared both and will remember always. I muse onto this until I feel her head on my neck and then hear her breathe in my scent and feel a smile on her lips, that I mirror by turning my head to her and moving my head.

-" So, I've got an idea." Paul interrupts my thought and then looks at Luce. -" You wanna race?" His huff towards me seems to be enough. Luce's eyes focus on him, wiggling on my back.

-" You so want to race!" She says, guessing his intentions. Paul howls in agreement. -" Can we?" She pleads.

I can't refuse her anything, and help me, I don't even mind.

-" You're on." I say to the gathered wolves good-naturedly. They all take a stance and then they are of. We fly though the woods, Luce still secure on my back. My paws pound loudly on the ground and then a laugh escapes my imprint.

Joyous, free laughter and happiness beats in my heart and I run faster, for she is my sun and my moon, like Emily, and i will chase and be in their light forever.

We run and run, the world passing by on this beautiful day when I can see Emily's cozy house in between the trees, at the edge of the forest.

We are soon in the backyard and while Luce and the boys fight, Emily approaches, a knowing smile on her face. Luce kisses me in between my shoulders and steps down helped by Emily, and turns to Jared and Kim while Emily scratches me behind an ear. My face quickly touches her.

My sweet sweet loves.

-" Team wolf?" Jared playfully quips at Luce.

-" Team wolf." She grins and kisses my wet nose. And warmth and love explodes once again in my heart.