Author's Note: So, as you know I write from both Quil and Claire's pov. Traditionally, there is one Quil and one Claire in each chapter. But in the next several chapters you will be noticing that this is not the case, and the story will mostly be told from Quil, because I like his pov better. When Claire's story starts to become more interesting, she will be telling the story more, but for now her pov's are going to be short. Sorry for the wait, my computer had a virus. Things aren't perfect now, but at least my documents are okay.
Quil
The alarm clock read one in the morning. I let out a frustrated growl and hit my pillow. Fall asleep! Fall asleep! My phone screen lit up across the room and I dragged myself out of bed.
One new text message, it read. I opened it. It was from Eliza.
Claire caught me sneaking in. I was with Brady, okay? Can you pass on the message to him? I don't have his #
I smiled tiredly and replied:
Fine. So what's the story? Are you two secret lovers?
She texted back within a minute.
If Brady is okay with that story, then yes. P.S. delete this conversation.
I knew that Brady wouldn't mind the story that he was in a secret relationship with Eliza Young. He had had the hots for her for forever. Sure, the entire pack would know it was false the second either of us phased, but he still wouldn't care. I texted him.
You're in luck dude. Eliza lied and told Claire that she was with you tonight after getting caught sneaking in to the house. I think you two are secretly dating. Just go along with it.
Brady didn't text back, he must have been back out on patrol with Austin. I sighed and went back to bed. I knew I wouldn't be able to get a real night's sleep though, not with the condition I was in. My stomach was in knots and my head was throbbing. I was so scared to face Claire tomorrow. I had to tell her. Nessie was right about one thing, you couldn't fight the power of the imprint.
I must have managed to fall asleep, because the sound of three urgent howls ripped me away from my dreams. Three? Oh my god. This hadn't happened since the arrival of Mia. A new werewolf. Someone had phased. Oh god, like I really needed this right now.
I checked the clock, 9:30 in the morning. This better not take all day. I sighed, hopping out of bed and removing my pants before opening my window and dropping out. My room faced the trees (One of the reason's Embry and I had picked this house) so I phased instantly.
It was too late for me to worry about my thoughts, I just had to try and forget about Claire for the next couple hours, the last thing I needed was to get hounded about it.
No pun intended. Embry added, entering the line of thoughts. Austin and Brady were there too, along with Leah and the new guy (Who I didn't recognize from his thoughts). The others started to follow quickly. Danny. Then Nolan. Grayson. Collin. Mia.
Ugh, who's gonna be the sorry sucker to pull Seth and Jake away from Vampire Country?
Leah! Go get them! Seth is your brother and we can't do anything without Jake. Nolan ordered.
Excuse me? And leave Embry in charge? Have you lost your mind?
Wha– What the hell is going on? That was definitely Newbie's voice.
My name is not Newbie you cock sucking idiot, he growled.
I ignored him. Leah, just go. You're the fastest anyways and you know it. I groaned.
Fine, but don't let Embry be an idiot, you're both in charge. And remember, I'm listening. I saw her turn through her eyes and speed off towards what we all so kindly referred to as "Vampire Country" or sometimes "Leech Land."
Newbie, just stay where you are, we're coming. Embry ordered, clearly at least somewhat pleased that with Leah out of the way he was the highest ranking. And boy was Jake gonna be pissed when Leah showed up, he just couldn't get any, poor guy.
Like you're the one to be talking, Quil, Embry commented.
Oh, but you can? If I do recall, Eliza referred to you as being "So whipped" last night.
Eliza? Brady perked up, which caused the inevitable chain of events to start unfolding in my mind. Eliza coming, knowing about vampires, texting me to text Brady, (Brady smiled at this part) and then of course, Claire.
Even if I could keep it out of my mind, it triggered the memory of Austin and Brady when I phased. And phasing brought back the memory of why I phased and– Shit.
The entire pack, it seemed, was listening in on my mind. Even the Newbie. I smelled him now, we were getting closer.
Damn Quil. Mia exclaimed.
No comment. But my thoughts commented anyways, telling Mia she could go you-know-what herself.
Damn Eliza is sexy when she's scary, Brady said appreciatively.
Never say that about any fourteen year old girl ever again. Leah shuddered.
Hello, I am fourteen!
Yeah, and you have been for like fourteen years! She replied. But I was ignoring them now, because something in my memories had triggered a memory inside of Newbie. This wouldn't have caught my attention if she wasn't there.
We all reached eachother at that point, meeting up with the Newbie in the middle of the forest. The new wolf had rusty orange fur, like a fox. He actually did look a lot like a fox in general.
A werefox. Collin chuckled internally.
Shut up. Newbie growled.
I couldn't stop thinking of that one flash in his mind. What was Claire doing there? What was my Claire doing in his mind?
Your Claire, huh? Newbie replied arrogantly.
Stop calling me Newbie you insufferable mother fucker. My name is Mason.
So . . . Mason, where did you come from? I've never seen you before, Embry asked, stepping towards Mason.
My mom and me just moved here from northern California. But my family is from here, if that's what you're asking.
You got a last name? Embry continued.
My dad's was Clark. But I go by my Mom's maiden name, Ateara.
I jumped.
Aww, relative love, how sweet. Mia smirked internally.
Makes sense, you got the gene from your mom. What's her name? Embry continued.
Mason looked at me nastily for a second and then gave a wolfy smile. Clarice, but she goes by Claire.
Hearing that name was like a stab to my chest, which Mason seemed to smile at.
Now enough questions, I have a few of my own ya know, like why the fuck I exploded out of my skin and grew a tail. Or maybe why I hear all you guys in my head?
Both Mia and Leah growled at the word guys. Leah was getting closer to Leech Land so she started howling the distress call.
I think we'll leave most of the questions for Jake, he's our alpha –our leader– and Leah is beta –second– Embry explained.
I'm not stupid, I know what an alpha and a beta are, Mason snapped.
Omega, I thought smugly, staring him down.
Quil, grow up, Mia thought.
Wait, wait, wait, wait! Your name is Quil? Mason asked. Then it flooded my head. More Claire. She was talking to the pathetic excuse of a wolf who went by the name of Mason.
Hearing her voice in his head made me cringe. "I've just had a really confusing night. My best friend Quil has been acting really weird lately. And then tonight he, well, I don't really wunna talk about it." In the memory, she looked awful. She was soaking wet and shivering with eyes red from crying. It made me sick to my stomach whenever I saw Claire in less than perfect condition.
I was ready to lunge at him, I wasn't even sure for what exactly. I just hated the guy. Absolutely hated him. But I was interrupted my Jacob's voice entering my head.
This better be really damn important, this is the third time in two days . . . he was thinking bitterly.
I'm sure you more than made up for it earlier today and I'm sure you'll be making up for lost time again when you get home, Leah commented in an aggravated voice. Jacob's mind was on Renesmee, who was now at the house by herself. He was very uneasy every time he had to be away from her, but the last thing a new werewolf needs is to be in contact with a vampire, so she had to stay behind. Oh god, now he was thinking of how he had made up for lost time earlier in the day.
Whoa, whoa! Naked woman in my head! Mason's eyes shot open wide. Damn, she's hot. Jacob snarled.
Seth joined in to the thought pool. Hey! How did we get a new wolf randomly out of the blue but not a new one when Annie came around years ago?
Speaking of Annie, what took you so long? I called you like two minutes ago! Leah scolded him.
Seth accidentally let out a flash on what exactly was taking him so long.
Why do I keep seeing naked women? Mason shook his head. Mason also noted, without trying, that Annie was hot, too. Seth didn't like that very much at all.
Jake, Seth, take it easy on the guy, he can't help it if he's a guy and reacts to seeing smoking hot naked women, Grayson defended.
Smoking hot, you say? Jacob asked.
No, I didn't say anything actually. It was all Nolan. Grayson replied quickly.
Yeah, blame it on me. Some best friend you are. Nolan (who was one of the older wolves at age seventeen) thought sarcastically.
Everyone silent! Jacob ordered. We all let our minds quiet for a minute or two. Jacob and Leah arrived shortly, followed by Seth a few seconds behind.
What's that burning horrible smell? Mason cringed.
That would be Seth, his girlfriend is kind of a vampire. Jacob nodded towards Seth's large sandy brown body.
Vampire? You mean vampires are real too? Mason sounded surprised.
Yeah, that's the reason we exist. We kill vampires. Protect the tribe. But we have a peace treaty with a coven of vampires in the area, because they hunt animals instead of people. They stay off of our land though, except for my wife, Renesmee, and Seth's girlfriend, Annie. Jacob explained.
Wait a minute. So the leader of a pack of vampire hunters is married to a vampire? Mason asked uncertainly.
Ironic, huh? Embry asked.
I could feel Jacob's annoyance, he said this on a weekly basis. Nessie isn't a vampire. She's half. Basically, her dad knocked up my friend Bella while she was a human and he was a vampire, and after she had Nessie, Bella turned in to a vampire.
Wait, so are you married to a vamp or the Loch Ness Monster? Mason asked.
Jacob snarled.
Hey, touchy. Innocent question. Mason said calmly.
Can I kill him, please? I asked quietly.
Quil, Jacob warned, the alpha in his voice coming through. I backed off a bit, sitting on the ground. Many of the others did the same, there was really no reason to stand.
Okay, so Mason. As a new wolf, it is incredibly important for you to control your anger. The littlest thing can set you off, and then you phase. I'm sure you know this by now though, seeing as how you are currently in wolf form. What made you angry? Jacob asked.
It was my Dad, I was at the cemetery smoking a cigarette, talking to pretty girls, his mind flashed to Claire again and the anger flared up inside me. Anyway, I was just walking around and then I came across my Dad's grave. He didn't speak after that, but his memories of his father shone through. A drunk and a drug addict who used to abuse his Mom and neglect him. I just couldn't believe someone actually buried him. He doesn't deserve it.
The story was sad, but I still hated his guts. Why did he keep thinking of my Claire?
Claire, Claire, Claire. We get it. Danny groaned.
Damn you're possessive. Great guy too, making her that upset. You must be so proud of yourself. Mason commented.
I was shaking with rage. And his comment on me hurting Claire also made the sickness in my stomach even more known.
But she's even pretty when she's broken. Maybe I'll just have to put her back together again. I don't mind girls that are damaged. Especially not in her case, she's fucking hot in her own way. Mason continued.
I couldn't take it anymore, I lunged.
Quil, stop now. Jacob's voice was thick with Alpha. I had no choice but to back off.
And you, Mason. Stop trying to piss him off. Jacob narrowed his eyes. Jacob thought briefly that he was like an even worse version of Paul. Seth laughed internally.
Much worse.
I'm not trying to piss him off, it's my mind. What does it matter if I like Claire? She doesn't belong to him . . .
Actually Man, she kinda does. Embry replied. It's called imprinting. If you try to take his imprint away from him, he has every right to kick your ass. Or worse.
Jacob and Embry went in to further explanation of imprinting, and immortality, and werewolf powers. Every now and then someone else would add something. I wasn't one of them.
I sat in the back, fuming. The others just ignored me, except Embry, who would shoot me an apologetic glance from time to time, Jake, who would check on me to make sure I wasn't going to attack, and Mason, who liked to throw me cocky looks every chance he got.
I knew he was crazy if he ever thought he would live to see the day where Claire chose him. This guy didn't even have one appealing quality, except maybe his appearance. (Which I wouldn't know considering I'd never seen the guy)
I'm sexy. It felt like Mason had whispered it in his ear, which he hadn't of course.
You know who's sexy? Brady gave away the answer to the question instantly as a picture of Eliza appeared in his head.
I wish she would have pretended she was sneaking out to see me, then at least she'd have good pretend taste. Danny added.
Focus, let Quil continue his little moping session, Embry scolded. I growled.
Brady was out of the conversation now too, because all he could think about was Eliza in a bikini. And how maybe he should say that in order to be a fake secret boyfriend Claire would have to catch the two of them making out . . . or worse.
I tried especially hard to tune out Brady at that point. Besides, Eliza reminded me of Claire. And I was thinking enough about Claire without her coming at me from other people's heads. What time is it? I wasn't trying to make it a question for the other wolves, but they treated it like one anyway.
Oh gee, let me just pull out my cell phone. Mia's thoughts were heavy with sarcasm. Oops, left it with my other body. I shot her the evil eye, which she pretended to ignore.
I was on edge. Was it past noon? Was Claire waiting? How long had I been here? It felt like hours. What if Claire wasn't there even if I was on time? What if she hated me?
She totally does, Mason commented. I growled again, fiercer than I had growled at Embry.
Get out of my fucking head.
I'd love to Princess, but unfortunately it could be days before I phase back. Mason almost sounded like he was bragging. Because that was really an accomplishment? Who can be a hotheaded werewolf longer? I mean, seriously . . .
I really get under your skin, don't I? He taunted.
If you were smart, you wouldn't end up alone with me. Just a warning. I threatened back.
He didn't speak back, but I saw the thoughts in his head of me, who he referred to as Princess, being too much of a pussy to do anything. This of course made my memory of Eliza calling me a pussy come back up, like mind vomit.
He laughed bitterly in his mind, Even Brady's little sexual fantasy agrees with me.
Jacob, I warned him.
Fine, you can go. He allowed.
Thanks Man. And I was off as fast as I could back towards the rez.
All I was able to do was worry. About Claire, about the time, about what would happen if I was late, about what would happen if I wasn't.
I still heard everyone in the packs' minds, Mason too. (He was and never would be considered a part of the pack to me.) They were back to werewolf talk, but all of Jake's thoughts had the hints of Renesmee in the background. Those two were so sickeningly dangerously madly in love that it was often hard to be around them together. But it was even harder to be around them when they weren't together, because then they were always so depressed. But even though they were annoying to be around, everyone in the pack (minus Seth) was jealous. We weren't jealous because Renesmee was undeniably gorgeous, (well not me and Embry anyways) but we were jealous because of the love they had. They were sure that they would love eachother forever and would never let anything come in between them. And we all wanted that.
I phased the second my house came in to view, I needed to get some clothes on and check the time. I hopped through the window, looking at the clock before anything else. 1:36. Fuck!
I threw on the first pair of pants I touched, not bothering with a shirt. I quickly checked my phone, eleven missed calls. And two texts.
The first one, sent at 12:29 read:
Where are you?
And the second one, sent at 1:07 read:
If you didn't want to talk to me you could have just called me or canceled or something, I'm so done with this game of yours
I dropped my phone instantly and flew out the door, hoping on everything that was good in the world that she would still be there.
Claire
It was a secluded part of the beach where no one went. It was in the north, where the water was rougher and there wasn't as much beach. Quil and I had made it "our spot" back when I was only seven years old. I was hoping that Quil had simply forgotten that this was our spot, and was sitting on the sea cliffs waiting for me or something.
It was almost 1:40. He was more than just late, he was a no show. The idea of this was heart breaking. What I must have looked like to anyone if they passed by at that moment, a teenage girl, sitting all alone on the beach, looking like she was going to cry.
I knew it was getting pathetic, and that I should leave while I still had the littlest shred of dignity, but I couldn't. No matter what he did, how mad or sad Quil made me, I would wait for him forever.
Oh god, I'm so pathetic.
I felt a drop of rain hit my nose. Perfect, fucking perfect.
Then the rain started pouring down. How cliché. I thought the drop of rain followed by instant downpour was something that only happened in cheesy romance movies.
"Claire I am so, so sorry," Quil's voice whispered in my ear. I jumped, turning around to find him there. Shirtless. Oh god. Don't get all mushy now, be pissed off at him!
The rain slid down his muscles, damn it was so sexy. This was going to be a very difficult conversation.
