He didn't mean to say it, but he couldn't hold it in anymore. Seth felt like she needed know why he wanted to always be near her. Why he was adamant about talking to her. She had said nothing after he blurted the truth about what he was feeling. Poppy looked at him with sad eyes then looked down at their feet.
"That's impossible." She sighs. "You don't know what I am."
"It doesn't matter what you are. I've already imprinted on you." Poppy shakes her head and tries to break free from his grip, but he doesn't let go. "I know you're something different than the Cullens." Her head shoots up to look at him in disbelief. "I saw you as a wolf. That was the first time I saw you and the moment I imprinted." He takes both her hands in his left palm and pulled them up to his heart.
"What did you see?" She asks.
"I saw you as a wolf and once I imprinted I got so scared that it was a regular wolf," he chuckles softly, "but then I saw you that day when you dropped off Bella. That's when it hit me hard… seeing you started something in me." It clicks in her head why she had that freak out.
"It all makes sense." She whispers. She felt a rush of emotions at once; happiness, fear, love, sadness. "You don't even know what I am Seth."
"It doesn't matter!" He shouts annoyed at the fact that she was trying to change his mind… his feelings.
"It does! I'm a hybrid… a monster that doesn't know how to control certain things about my own body. Isn't the point of your imprinting supposed to mean we'll be able to carry the gene line? I don't even know if I can have children. What's the point of this?!" Poppy felt herself losing the grip of her powers and tried to control her voice… but she didn't know what to do now. How was he able to imprint on her when her entire body was a mystery.
"That's not the only reason." Seth whispers. "It means we're meant to be." He takes his free hand and tucks a lose strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm still young so kids aren't even what I was thinking about. All I know is that I imprinted on you when I saw your wolf form, but I fell for you the night of the party. When you told me about how you love to read. When you told me that high school was overrated. When you explain how Shakespeare was making fun of love in Romeo and Juliet." Tears began to fall from Poppy's eyes, but Seth caught every one. "I love you for you, not because my ancestors choose you for me, but because the person you are." Saying this out loud made everything extremely clear to Seth. It was as if he was confessing to Poppy and himself. He had fallen in love with the strange he imprinted on.
Poppy looked up at him slowly exposing her face to the moonlight. Her beauty took Seth's breath away each time he saw a different angle. Taking her chin in his hands he slowly lowers his head to place a light, innocent kiss on her lips. She tip toes up and takes him into another hug, "What are you exactly anyways?" He asks. Laughing Poppy tightens her grip on Seth. They spend the night in each other's arms waiting for tomorrow to come.
Hand in hand Seth and Poppy show up to the battle grounds ready to face everyone. Seth had given her a heads up about the packs opinion on their relationship, so Poppy mentally prepared for almost anything. As they walked towards the group Jared was the first to speak up, "Well look who finally decided to show up." Everyone's gaze meet theirs then down at their entwined hands. Instantly Poppy tries to pull her hand away, but Seth holds tight. He simply keeps his goofy smile on while confidently walking to stand in between Carlisle and Sam. Carlisle looks at Poppy and flashes a gentle smile before addressing them all.
"Alice says they'll be here in a few minutes. Remember what Jasper and Poppy have taught you and we will be victorious. Seth you should go and switch with Jacob already." Nodding Seth pulls Poppy aside from the group causing his brothers to start with the teasing.
"Stay safe Pops. If anything happens to you I don't know what I'd do." She smirks at his comment.
"Don't worry about me; who was the one training you these past days." She places her hand on his cheeks, caressing it softly. Moving slightly he takes a deep breath memorizing her scent, like a loving puppy nuzzling into its owners hands. "You be careful. Don't try being the hero ok." He scoffs.
"Their sending me over there for a reason remember. I'm supposed to miss all the action." Poppy pulls his ear with little force.
"It doesn't matter just be careful. Remember what I taught you." He nods and grabs her hand, pulling it from his ear. He leans down and places a small peck on her forehead. Giving her one last smile he starts for the forest and shifts disappearing from her sight.
"Looks like you've finally latched on to my brother." Leah says from behind Poppy. Not knowing how to take the comment Poppy turns and smiles before going back to the pow-wow. She knew it was gonna be extremely hard for Leah to accept everything that's happened. Especially since Poppy was taking away her only brother, so she was planning on being patient.
Soon enough the Cullens were lined up waiting for the army to arrive. The atmosphere was tense as the family got into the right mindset. This would be the first time they've participated in a fight in forever. They knew with the wolves helping out there was no way that they wouldn't win. They needed to win this fight not only to save their family, but to save the town they called home. This was it. In a second they take off running towards the army headed towards them. As Poppy hears the first hit she's another person. Her moves are swift as she delivers hit after hit, taking down each new born in front of her; she doesn't feel the need to use her powers at all. Her grunts and battle cries become white noise as she hears the loud howls of the wolves once they enter the scene. They fight alongside each other, putting all their differences aside in order to defeat Victoria's army. As the rounded up the last of the new borns Poppy suddenly feels a tug on her heart. "Seth!" She cries. Being pulled in both directions, between her family and her love, she delivers a single cry that could be carried to the tops of the mountains. Suddenly Emmett's arms are around her and the tug is gone.
"We're done." He says softly.
"The Volturi, they're coming!" Alice cries. Jasper and Emmett finish throwing their leftover limbs in the fire and go to their mates. The smell from the fire is like sticky sweet candy which causes Poppy to wrinkle her nose in disgust.
"How long?" Edward asks as he, Bella, and Seth make their way to the field.
A few minute," she answers, "Maybe ten."
"The pack needs to leave. The Volturi won't honor our truce with the wolves." Poppy goes to Seth as he emerges from behind the boulder in human form. Suddenly a new born appears surprising everyone, but Leah is the first to attack.
"Leah don't!" Poppy shouts running to the fight. The new born is ready to snap her neck when Jacob leaps and takes him down. As he tumbles with it, the new born is able to get his arms around Jacob's waist and crushes his sides. With a piercing cry Jacob collapses on the ground and shifts back into his human form. Sam and Paul catch the new born and tear him apart; they throw his parts into the fire before shifting and coming to Jacobs's side. Poppy is the first to look at his condition before Carlisle takes over. "His right side is shattered." She says.
"Yes, the bones on the right half of his body are shatter." He states.
"Jacob you idiot I had it!" Leah yells. Sam puts his hand up to silence her.
"I need to reset the bones before his healing starts." Carlisle says examining his whole side.
"We need to get them out of here. We're not going to win a fight with the Volturi." Edward says looking up at Sam.
"We'll take him back to Billy's." Sam says. Nodding Carlisle lets the pack come in and scope up Jacob.
"Carlisle…" Poppy whispers. She hadn't since the Volturi since the day she left and was at a loss for words on what to do.
"You should go with the pack. Get my medicine bag from my office at the house and start working on Jacob. I'll be there as soon as I can." She nods and without hesitation sprints back to the house. To be honest Poppy didn't know if the Volturi knew she was alive or not. They never made an effort to find or contact her. All they knew was that she left and she never came back. Being in front of them would bring back memories of that night; the night that changed everything. As soon as she gets to the Jacob's house she rushes in without warning.
"What are you doing here?" Leah shouts. Ignoring her Poppy goes to Billy and stretches her hands out.
"Hello my name is Poppy Hale. I'm one of Carlisle's kids and a doctor of many years. I'm here to help your son." Slowly he takes her hand and shakes it. He glances at Seth and smirks slightly. "Carlisle will be here any minute, but Jacob can't wait much longer." Nodding he leads her to a room in the back of the house. Jacob's body is completely drenched in sweat as he shivers in pain on his twin bed. Kneeling down beside him Poppy opens Carlisle bag and starts by giving him some morphine.
Seeing her work Seth is completely amazed at how skilled she is. Even though his mind was clouded with fear and worry for Jacob, there was a special spot reserved for thinking about how beautiful Poppy is.
"I need to start the resetting." She whispers to herself.
"What does that mean?" Billy asks. She looks up gently at him and begins to pull her lose hair up in a ponytail.
"Jacob's bones are healing the wrong way. I need to break them and put them in the right place." Billy can't help, but show the sadness on his face as he thinks about how much pain his only son will be in. "After that I'll be able to bind him so his bones heal properly." Standing up Poppy places a gently hand on Billy's shoulders. "I think it would be best if you waited outside." She looks up at the pack and Seth. "All of you." Nodding they all head outside, but Seth is a little hesitant until he sees how easily Poppy's attention goes from them to Jacob. Instantly Carlisle is there helping Poppy. The sunsets to Jacobs screaming as they work hard to put his bones back together. Once they're finished Carlisle makes haste and exit the house.
"The worst is over. We gave him some morphine, but his body temperature will burn it off quickly. I'll come back to step up a drip." Carlisle announces.
"Thank you." Billy says looking at both Poppy and Carlisle, "Both of you. Thank you so much." Carlisle shakes his hand as does Poppy. Leaving the porch they pass Bella who has the most pained look on her face.
"He's asking for you." Carlisle tells her. Looking back at Poppy, Carlisle takes his medicine bag from her, "Let's go home." She looks back and sees Seth starring at her with sad eyes.
"See you later Seth." She smiles and makes a text motion to him; he smiles gently as he waves. The couple knew that now was not the time to be lovey dovey. Poppy didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable especially since she'd just come from entering the house unannounced. She wanted to give a good impression of herself to the people in Seth's life… which sounded crazy, but to her old school way of thinking made completely sense. As Carlisle pulled out of the driveway Poppy counted the seconds till she would see Seth again.
This a little authors note! First I love all of you who read this and all of you who comment! This is just a heads up that now this story is going to be transitioning to the Breaking Dawn novel. There are gonna be chapters that will lead to Breaking Dawn so just heads up to get into the right mind set. OK again I love ya'll and please continue to support this story!