Laylani sighed as she trekked up the steep hill along side her older brother. Why was she going to this thing anyway? It's not like she was Quileute… well, not full anyway. She was half white. Maybe her experiences in life had helped her to think that just because you were different that you could not be accepted. She really needed to go into this with an open mind and a positive attitude. Her mother always believed optimism was what got you through life; if you were optimistic about something; it was more likely to work in your favour than if you were pessimistic.
Putting a half real smile on her face she looped her arms through Paul's and pulled him along faster, now eager to meet the tribal elders; how exciting!
Paul laughed as they came into view of everyone at the bonfire. He could practically see their thoughts. Oh my, he looks so happy. Is that really Paul? He looks like he did before the change! He laughed to himself at that.
The introductions went smoothly; well, as smoothly as possible with a werewolf pack hanging around.
Quil was anxious about the new arrival, until Claire deemed Laylani beautiful and clung to her leg; then he was all smiles.
Jared accepted Laylani right from the get-go. He had never seen Paul so happy, even before his change. Kim took Jared's views, of course.
Collin and Brady were happy there was some 'fresh meat' as they had been muttering about since they found out about her, and although she was gorgeous and the both of them laid the compliments on, Laylani let them down gently, after finding out they were both thirteen. Even being rejected, they both liked her immensely.
Embry was a gentleman, blushing slightly as he does; when he got a good once over from the beautiful girl, but held back on the flirting at the look he got from Paul.
Seth was excited, bounding over and wrapping the poor girl in a sweltering hug, introducing himself and asking Lani all about herself in a very fast sentence.
Leah was snarky as always, making a snide comment about Laylani's heritage, to which Lani threw right back at her, stunning the whole population and getting a very brutal death glare from Leah.
Sam welcomed her graciously, especially after she had looked straight through Emily's scars and deemed her 'the most beautiful girl she had ever had the honour of meeting'.
The elders were harder, Billy liked her straight away; he could see his old friend Nayeli in her daughter a lot.
Old Quil reserved his judgement for later, as first impressions could very well be wrong.
Sue Clearwater was obviously torn between the varying reactions of both of her children; she was gracious the girl took Seth's personality in stride, as many often don't, but a little mad about her comment to Leah. Although, if she was honest, she would take Seth's side over her daughters, simply because Leah liked no one now-a-days. But she chose her daughter this time and greeted Laylani in a slightly cold manner, which got a glare from Paul that triggered a fierce growl from Leah and a hurt face from Seth.
--
After all the food had been spooned out and gobbled up, everyone sat facing the elders, as the two males recited the stories of their tribe.
Lani listened intently to the stories. She wished it was all real. She had always loved Disney movies, with their magic and how everything ended in a 'happy ever after'. Maybe if it was real she could get her happily ever after. Too bad thought.
"Did you like the stories?" Seth asked in a hushed whisper.
Lani looked at her knees she was hugging to her chest, so she did not notice as everyone leaned in to hear her answer. "They're amazing. Especially the imprinting… it was beautiful. I wish it were all real." She murmured.
Seth choked out an odd laugh and turned away, busying himself with nothing too important.
"You look tired," Paul commented to his sister.
"Yeah, I guess I am," she replied, laying her head onto her knees. "But I don't –"
Paul's brow furrowed as she cut her own sentence off. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing… it's just… I banged my head on the wall yesterday, and the bruise was enormous… you know, the kind that take a few weeks to heal? But it's gone… like it was never there… How strange…"
Paul's eyes darkened as he thought about the implications of what had just been said. "Yeah… strange." He echoed.
--
Billy was watching Paul interact with his sister from the other side of the circle when he saw it. His son. Jacob… In La Push!
His eyes watered as the younger Black male walked up the hill, in the same direction as the wind. It was this wind that alerted the pack to his presence, all of them stunned. The human's caught on a lot slower, only turning around as Jacob reached the top of the hill.
"Hope I'm not late," he called, without any real cheek.
Suddenly everyone swarmed him, hugs and kisses, tears and prayers all blending together.
Lani moved back, and over to Billy Black's side, as she noticed up on these hills he needed a little help getting around, and he looked like he really wanted to go see this boy – or man, whichever. "Need help?" she asked politely, not sure how she would be received.
"Yes, please, Lani." He replied without looking away from the group.
Smiling, she walked around and grabbed the handles and pushed him forward towards the others.
The group of dark skinned people parted like the red sea for the old elder, giving him a straight pathway to his son.
Jacob fell to his knees as soon as his father was close and embraced him, tears leaking, and taking comfort in his father's old smell of tobacco smoke and peppermint. He listened with a heavy heart as his old man said the same words over again. "He's back. Thank you god for bringing back my son."
He lifted his head and smiled at his father, getting one in return.
Behind his father, slightly, in his direct sight he could see someone he didn't know. Focussing he saw a very beautiful girl, giving her a scan over he came to stop on her eyes, when it happened.
His mouth fell open slightly and his eyes widened as he felt all the strings connecting him to his life snapping, like somebody was cutting them away. Snip, Snip, Snip. His dad, his sisters, his mother. Snip, Snip, Snip. His mechanics, his home, his werewolf side. Snip. Bella. And then, after floating without an anchor to life, a steel cable slammed into his heart with the force of a hurricane. Her. The cable was her. No. Not cable. Cables. It was a million steel cables. And they all belonged to her. This beautiful girl, standing in front of him. She tied him to his earth. He adored her. Cherished her. He was in awe of her. This angel… His angel. Yes, that one. The one looking at him like he just licked the ground and screamed in a different language.
Then he just realised what this feeling was; Imprinting.
