A/N: Okay guys, if you're reading this, please actually take the time to read this. I'm really worried about the fact that it took me forever to update, so i feel like no one is reading and enjoying this. If that's the case, and i don't get enough reviews to make me feel like you're still enjoying it, I will cancel it. So just keep that in mind.

I want to do this story, but if no one is reading i could start back up on everything else that I've been neglecting. So if you want me to continue, let me know!

Why am I so damn nervous? I've already met these people; I've been hanging around with them for the past three weeks. But still, I had a nervous feeling in my stomach, like I was going to find out something bad.

No, not bad, life changing.

"Just relax, Claire." Nessie crooned from over the phone. Yes, I had resorted to calling Nessie. She still wasn't coming, claiming that her parents were coming down for a visit. I really wanted to meet them, but she said that it wasn't the time right now and that I should just go to the bonfire and enjoy my time with Quil. "You're just going to get there, hang out a little bit, eat some food and then listen to the legends. My advice is to wear something warm and ease up! Oh, and don't fall asleep during the stories, because they're important."

"Thanks, Nessie." I sighed and hung up. I threw on some dark jeans, a white t-shirt and a pink sweater. I straightened my curly hair for the first time in forever, and threw on some mascara. That was it, I didn't want to put on any lip gloss because, not being presumptuous or anything, I was hoping that I would get to kiss Quil again.

I debated on wearing my heeled boots, but I decided against it. It had rained last night and the ground was definitely still muddy, so I laced up my hiking boots and looked in the mirror. I looked nervous, so I took some deep breaths in order to make myself relax.

It was almost working, when the doorbell rang and my heart started leaping out of my chest all over again. I did the once over on myself before running downstairs, not wanting to keep Quil waiting. But my dad had already answered it, and Quil was standing in the doorway in a short sleeve shirt and jeans.

I gave him a shy wave. "Hi Quil, it's good to see you."

"Your hair looks different. I've never seen it like this before." He murmured, gently touching the ends with his fingers. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," I turned towards my dad and kissed him on the cheek. "Bye, Dad."

"You kids have fun. And Quil?" He gave him a hard stare. "Don't bring her back late, or there will be consequences."

I tried not to giggle, because he was dead serious, but I just loved the way he sounded like such an overprotective father. "Yes sir." Quil said solemnly. "Come on, Claire." He offered me his arm and I happily took it.

He led me past the car and I looked up at him, puzzled. "Are we walking?" I asked him.

"It's just up on the cliffs, not far from here at all." He murmured, sliding his arm out of mine and taking my hand instead. His hand was so warm and so much larger than mine, it made me feel really safe and protected. "So," he started saying, "what have you been doing for the past two weeks?"

The way he talked made it sound like he felt really guilty for avoiding me, so I didn't mention it. "Well, I mostly hung out with Nessie or my dad at my place, or I went to Uncle Sam's and hung out with the women." I scowled, remembering the time Harlow had thrown up all over my lap. "Not really the best place to be, but it wasn't so bad when it was just Emily and my cousins."

"What about the other guys?" He asked me softly.

I shrugged. "Just Uncle Sam and Jacob, but only with Nessie around. The others have lives, children, jobs and all that."

"Are you lonely?"

It seemed like a really weird question, considering all the people that I've been around but I realized that when Quil wasn't around, I did feel a bit empty. "I was pretty lonely, yeah." Noticing how I said was, he squeezed my hand even tighter.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize, you're here now."

"Do you want to come work for me?"

Random question was my first thought. "Where exactly do you work?"

"Jake, Embry and I own a small mechanic shop on the Rez. Kim is our official office secretary, but we're usually more swamped in the summer than during other seasons, and I'm sure she could use some help. It would keep you busy, for sure." He seemed hopeful, and I realized that I could spend more time with Quil taking this job, than not taking it.

"I'd love to." I smiled up at him. "Thank you for considering me as your first choice."

"There's no one else I would rather have there." He was looking at me, smoldering his beautiful eyes. Damn it, I wanted him to kiss me. I bit my lip. Please kiss me.

Just when I thought he was going to give in, he jerked away from my gaze and nodded towards the cliffs. "We're just about there, I can see the fire."

As we got closer, I could see a lot of people. "Who is all here?" I murmured.

"The usual boys and their respective others, sans Nessie and the children, plus Billy Black, Sue Clearwater and my grandfather." My palms got extra sweaty at the idea of meeting, or re-meeting, one of Quil's family members.

We got there last and the party was in full swing. Paul and Embry were having a "who can stuff the most hot dogs in their mouth at once" contest. I wouldn't be surprised if Paul won, considering how much he talked, but Embry seemed determined not to lose. I shook my head, especially after seeing the glint in Quil's eyes, indicating his inner desire to join them.

My aunt was leaning against Uncle Sam's legs, roasting a marshmallow over the roaring fire and seemingly enjoying the peace and quiet. Well, peace and quiet from her kids. The people here were anything but quiet.

It was a really nice, homey environment, even more so because I was still holding Quil's hand. He immediately led me over to a small cluster of people, who I recognized to be the Tribal Elders, Billy, Sue and Quil Sr.

Quil Sr. wasn't looking so good, and I could see the worry in his grandson's eyes. I was surprised that he was still standing… Well, standing being a loose term, seeing as he was sitting in a wheelchair. He had to be at least 90. Quil introduced us, and he took my hand from Quil's and held it tight. "Welcome home, Claire." He said with true warmth. "I'm so glad you came back before I left."

"Grandpa…" Quil muttered weakly.

"Oh you know I'm not going to last much longer. I'm ninety three years old, son. I'm basically a sack of bones." His grandfather was obviously just teasing, but I saw the way it affected Quil after his eyes got tight. I took my hands and rubbed his arm gently, until he slowly relaxed.

His appreciative smile shone down at me and my heart fluttered. "Let's go make our rounds." He murmured and I followed without a peep. I was happy to see Jacob, I had missed him and I gave him a tight squeeze around the waist when we made it to him.

"Hey Squirt." He rubbed my head affectionately. "Glad to see you're feeling better. Nessie says you've been a real moody bitch lately. You on your period or something?"

Leave it to Jacob to ruin my perfectly good mood. I openly flushed and Quil smacked him over the head. "Next time, just don't talk." He grumbled and Jacob laughed wholeheartedly before going off to roast a hot dog. "Are you hungry, Claire?" He asked me.

"Not for a hot dog, but I wouldn't mind roasting some marshmallows." He nodded and let go of my hand, but without thinking, I panicked and grasped it back.

"Relax Claire. I'm just going to get us some marshmallows and sticks. I'll be right back. Go sit down next to Emily."

I sat down beside my aunt, who was sitting by herself while Uncle Sam chatted with Quil Sr. about something. She smiled at me. "Hey Claire, how are you? Are you excited to hear our legends?" Truthfully, I was. All day, Nessie had been reminding me how important it was to listen, so I had a feeling there was something specific that I needed to look out for. Quil sat down next to me, handing me a marshmallow and a stick.

"Better roast up fast, Claire, they're preparing to start the legends." He told me and I looked around, just noticing now that the atmosphere had settled. Everyone was sitting around on a log or a chair, quietly waiting. I stuck my marshmallow in the fire so that it lit up, then I blew it out, removed it from the stick and took a bite.

To my surprise, Quil burst out laughing. It almost startled me, because I don't think that I've heard him laugh since I got here. Apparently, no one else had heard the sound in a really long time, because they were all staring over here in awe. "That is honestly disgusting, Claire. How can you eat a burnt marshmallow?"

I swallowed, an involuntary smile hitting my lips. "Well, once you get past the crispy shell, the inside is perfectly soft." He stared at me for a second, and then stuck his own marshmallow in the fire. I watched his face as he popped it into his mouth and his eyes scrunched up.

"Gross." He muttered, swallowing it.

I giggled, but closed my mouth when Billy started talking. "Welcome, family." He murmured in a low, but strong voice. I was immediately mesmerised. "We are gathered here today, to welcome back one of our own. Claire," he started, and I blushed and ducked into Quil's side as everyone's eyes turned to me, "welcome home." That was the second time someone had said that to me, and it made me feel even more at ease. They were right, I was home.

"I'm sure everyone here is more than familiar with the stories that I am about to tell, but with all respect to Claire, I'm sure you will be quiet and attentive." Quil Sr. was speaking now, and his voice was raspy, but had an authoritative ring to it.

(A/N: I'm sure we all know the legends by now, so I'm not going to waste any space or time putting them in here. If you don't know them, you can definitely google them.)

I couldn't move, I was still lost in the stories that I just heard. I was vaguely aware of everyone scattering, leaving and Quil's eyes on me, watching me, waiting.

Werewolves.

Is that what I was supposed to be paying attention to? Is this the big secret? No, it couldn't be…

But it all makes sense. The height, the heat, never aging, they all "work" together, my mom is afraid of them and Nessie claiming that the wolves are more annoying than dangerous...

That wolf from yesterday, his eyes were the same as… They were the same as…

Quil's.

Oh my God, I'm right.

I sucked in a breath. Quil, sitting beside me, was silent until now. "Did you figure it out?" He whispered.

"You're a werewolf." I whispered back. "Holy shit, you're a damn werewolf."

I heard his giant breath and he yelled across the fire to my uncle. "She figured it out, Sam. Can you lift this stupid ban now?"

"Fine," he muttered his reluctance. "But Emily and I are going for a walk. We will be back here in a half an hour to take Claire home, got it? So you better have all your issues worked out by then." And then they were gone.

My uncle was a werewolf. My friends were werewolves. Quil was a werewolf. "How is this possible?" I whispered.

Quil barked out a sarcastic laugh. "Genetics, I guess. Bad luck."

"How long?"

"I've been a werewolf since I was sixteen." He mumbled.

Since he was sixteen… He was just a year younger than me. "I'm so sorry."

He looked at me, amused. "I think, Claire, that you are the first person who has ever said that to me."

"How old are you now?" I asked.

"I'm 31." Wow, he was old. "There's more, too." More, what else could he possibly have to tell me? "Vampires are real too."

I couldn't say I was exactly shocked, but I was curious. "Do I know any?"

His lips twitched up into a smile. "Nessie."

"What!" I exclaimed. My best friend was a vampire.

"Well, she's half. Her mother fell in love with her dad while she was still human, and she got pregnant and Nessie was the result. Oh, and Alice and Jasper, they're vampires too."

My head was spinning. "That boy that I met on the plane…"

Quil stiffened. "That is what I really wanted to tell you, Claire. The reason why I don't want you out on your own is because he is still here. He followed you here and he's hunting you down. When I smelt him in your bedroom the first night you were here, I almost lost it. I've been after him ever since, I almost had him so many times, but he just keeps slipping through my grasp. He's fast, that leech."

Not only did vampires and werewolves exist, but one of them was hunting me down. "Why is he after me?" I squeaked in a tiny voice. "I didn't do anything."

"Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks you smell absolutely mouth-watering. You're his singer, the smell of your blood calls to him and it's almost irresistible."

"So… He's going to kill me?"

Quil growled and I jumped. "No, he is not. As long as I'm around, nothing will ever happen to you."

"Why do you care so much?" I asked him. "Why do you care so much about me?"

"You're my imprint." He whispered, so quietly I almost didn't hear him.

Imprint… "Like the third wife?" I said and he nodded. "Since when…?"

"You were only two." He saw my face and scrambled to explain himself. "No, Claire, it's not even like that. I just wanted to be around you and protect you. For the two years that I had you around, all I wanted to do was be your friend, your protector. It was like, when I saw you, you were the only thing that mattered to me."

My heart was stuck in my throat. "She took me away." I murmured.

"And it almost killed me."

"All of the other girls are imprints too, even Nessie?" I asked and he nodded mutely. "Wow, I don't know what to say. Quil, I think I need some time to think." I stood up abruptly and craned my neck, looking for Sam and Emily.

Quil stood up in a panic and swept me around to look at him. "Claire, before I take you home, I need you to promise me something. You can have all the time you need to think about this, but please don't go. Don't run away from me, I need you."

The intensity of his words hit me in the chest, and I wrapped my arms around his waist. "I won't leave you." I promised him. "I just got you back, I won't leave you."

He brushed a piece of hair off of my forehead. "Come on beautiful, let me take you home."

"Wait." The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. "Will you kiss me?"

He was torn. "Claire… Just because you found out you're my imprint, doesn't mean that you have to be with me."

"I want to kiss you." I breathed out.

"You're not even eighteen…"

"Please." I begged him in a whisper. "Please, kiss me." He gave him, easily, and ducked down to meet me as I stretched up on my tiptoes. My arms locked around his neck and my lips crashed into his, anxious, urgent. I could feel his hands, pressing me tighter and I grabbed his hair in desperation. My mouth opened and a moan escaped my lips, and that's when he pushed me away.

"No more." He gasped.

Voices from behind me made us both jump. "Are you ready to go home, Claire?" Aunt Emily asked me sweetly. Sam's face was stoic, staring at Quil.

"I'm ready." I whispered. "Bye Quil."

He looked down at me and I could see his reluctance of letting me go. I knew what he was thinking, that I was going to go running and never come back, that he would never see me again. "See you around, Claire."