Thank you to my absolutely ROCKING beta mama23keiki for beta-ing…Any delays on posting are all totally me (lol) because that girl whips my writing into shape and sends it back quicker than you can sneeze.

And as always, a huge thank you to the lovely and talented ohmistars for her help as well. Without her, Seth and Regan and their little story would still be floating around in my head instead of living their lives out on this screen!

Chapter 9 - Big things

Seth

I let the engine roar to life, and I looked over at her shyly as she sat in my passenger seat, gripping her purse. Say something you idiot! My mind screamed at me.

"So you live with Charlie and Mom, huh? He um…mentioned you at work the other day. It's nice to finally meet you." There. That sounded normal.

She glanced over at me through her wavy, brown hair that hung down around her face like a curtain. "Thanks," she replied softly, turning to look out the window. I struggled to think of something else to say, preferably something not weird or stupid sounding.

"So, do you like Forks?" I asked hopefully.

She looked over at me, and I fought to keep my eyes on the road as we drove. I tried to drive a little slower, just to prolong my time with her. Now that I had finally found her, I didn't want to give her up so soon, even if it was to Sue and Charlie.

"No, not really," she admitted. "It's always so…cold and rainy here."

I laughed. "Gosh, you sound just like Bells did at first," I said. "Well, according to Jake."

"You knew my cousin?" she asked, suddenly interested.

I nodded. "Still do. I see her every once in awhile," I replied.

"Charlie doesn't talk about her a lot…I was worried for a little while that something bad had happened to her."

"Bella? No. She just, um…got married young. Yeah…" I said carefully. I didn't know how much Charlie had told Regan about Bella. I realized with a tinge of sadness that if things worked out between us, she would be in on the entire secret – the wolf pack, the Cullens…everything. I was sad for a moment when I realized the poor Charlie would be the only person who didn't know what his daughter truly was.

I felt an unfamiliar twinge of pain in my chest as I avoided telling the truth to my imprint for the first time. My pack mates had always said that it was indeed possible to lie or tell fibs to their imprints; however, it wasn't always comfortable. The worse the lie, the more pain the wolf would be in.

"Oh. Well, I found a picture of her in my room this week, and I just wondered. She's your stepsister?"

I nodded. "Yeah, she is. After my dad died, my mom married Charlie, her father."

"Oh, I'm sorry about your dad," Regan replied, looking over at me. My heart swelled at her sweetness and consideration.

"It's okay. It was a long time ago, and Charlie is a great guy. I would know; I spend a lot of time with him at work."

"Oh. So…if Charlie is my uncle of sorts, doesn't that make us kind of related?"

Shit.

I laughed nervously, gripping the steering wheel. "Well, technically yeah, but…not by blood," I added with relief. Crap, the pack was never gonna let me live that one down.

Once we were phased and sharing the pack mind, there was no hiding secrets. Everything was laid out in front of you and everyone else to see and watch, just like a movie playing backwards.

I was more the desperate to change the subject. I didn't want my imprint to have the idea that we were related in her head long. Gross.

"I hope my mom isn't too bad so far. She can be kinda overbearing, but she means well."

Regan looked at me, and I had to once again remind myself to keep my eyes on the road. Even in the dark, I could see her vibrant green eyes as they watched me. Was she as drawn to me as I was to her? Did she just hide it better? Whether or not the imprintee is drawn to her imprinter is a bit of a grey area sometimes. Some of my brothers swear that their mates are as connected and drawn to them as the wolf is. However, other imprinters swear that it's just impossible to ignore that kind of adoration and chemistry. I had a feeling Regan wasn't going to make that easy knowledge for me.

"No, she's fine. Charlie is…interesting, but…no, they're both fine."

"Did you have a good first week?" I asked. "In Forks, I mean."

She shrugged, glancing out the window. "School is school."

Okie dokie.

"So, you don't like Forks…so why are you up here? Charlie said you're from Phoenix."

Regan shifted uncomfortably on the passenger seat, gripping her purse. "Yeah I…just needed a change of scenery," she said softly, her eyes darting up to nervously meet mine. I immediately sensed that she didn't want to talk about that, and I shut my mouth. I asked her a few more questions, and I got the sense that she was a somewhat private person, unlike me. I felt bad asking her so many, but I knew I would drive myself crazy if I didn't. All too soon, we were at Charlie and Sue's house, pulling up to the curb.

She suddenly turned to me, her big, green eyes expressive and panicked. "Listen…I uh…I ended up not going to the movies like I said I was tonight, and uh…erm…Charlie doesn't…"

"You didn't tell them you were going to a party, did you?" I asked, a knowing smile forming on my lips. Regan's face fell, realizing she had been caught.

Her expression was panicked as she glanced nervously at the house. "I…I don't normally do things like this Seth. I really don't…I.."

The sound of my name coming out of her perfect mouth again distracted me from all logical thought as it was.

"I won't tell," I said slowly. I sounded like a lovesick puppy. I was such a jackass.

We didn't have time to talk about it anymore. Charlie glanced out the window from his armchair, and soon appeared at the door with my mom, who looked equally confused.

"I letcha out one night and the cops bring you home," he joked sternly, watching as Regan slammed my Bronco door shut.

"Yeah, Seth gave me a ride home," she replied, looking over at me pointedly. I jammed my hands in my pockets, as she waited to see if I would rat her out for going to a party and drinking.

She shrugged as she walked up the sidewalk, avoiding both pairs of eyes. "Yeah, I was just um…was over there…" I trailed off, pausing at the bottom of the steps. I watched her walk up the steps and stand behind my mom, trying to control my expression. I'm sure I really did look like a lovesick puppy, but it was too hard to control. Regan stood next to my mom, who was gaping at me with an open mouth and wide, brown eyes. Charlie looked at her, then at me, then back at her with a questioning expression on his face.

"Well, erm…Regan, you'd better get to bed. It's late. Been a late night. Thank you, Seth," he said. "We'll talk tomorrow?"

I nodded first at Charlie, and then I looked at my mom. Had I been that obvious? Apparently, I had, by the way she was staring at me with that shocked expression like they just realized who Regan was. She was my imprint. Charlie gave us a weird look before moving to open the front door for Regan, who didn't toss me a second glance before darting into the house.

My heart sank a little, but I tried not to let it bother me. I looked up at my mom, who was still staring right at me. Her expression was relieved, but incredulous. When Charlie was inside, she looked to make sure he was gone. She had seen the expression of a wolf around his imprint enough times over the years to recognize the dippy look on my face.

"Really?" she whispered, knowing I could hear her soft voice from almost twenty feet away. I nodded, my eyes shining. Hers teared up slightly as well, and I had to laugh.

"Am I really that obvious?" I whispered, laughing.

She grinned, clasping her hands together in front of her mouth, nodding. "Mom…don't cry," I begged, brushing my hair out of my eyes. I had enough to worry about tonight without my mom breaking down and actually crying on me. Sue Clearwater didn't cry; she was tough and no-nonsense.

"Seth…this is a really big deal," she said, her voice laced with happiness. I grinned at her from the bottom of the steps, nodding.

"I know mom. And…I know," I stuttered. "Can you believe it? And you told me to give up," I teased.

My mom still stood at the top of the steps, holding her face in her hands to keep from crying. "I can't believe it's her," she said. "She's right here in front of us….I…I'm sorry we didn't introduce you sooner, I…"

"Mom, it's okay," I laughed.

"This is just such a big deal, Seth," she said, the emotion showing in her voice.

"I…I know…I've been waiting for her for over a decade. Believe me…I know."

"I can't believe it…it's her. That…that could be my daughter in law someday."

I nodded, the weight of the situation really crashing down on me. I felt like I was riding some sort of euphoric high….I never wanted to come down. I had finally found her, and there was no turning back now. Life was no longer just about me. Whether she knew it or not, Regan was now my number one priority. I would do anything to keep her safe and protected.

Suddenly, a concerned look crossed her face.

"But, Seth…baby, she's sixteen," she said.

I nodded. "I know, Mom. Listen, we'll talk tomorrow. I gotta go…uh…talk to some people," I said, giving her a pointed look. She nodded, glancing back into the house, and then back at me.

She pointed in my direction sternly. "You! You call me tomorrow, mister. No excuses, it's Saturday, and I know you'll have time. "

"Yeah, Mom, I'll have time. I gotta go," I insisted, jumping into my Bronco. I grinned at her through the window, finally allowed to bask in my relief and happiness. She gave me a hopeful smile before darting into the house. I pulled away from Charlie's, resting easy in the idea that I would go home to the Cullens, drop of my truck, phase, and run back up to Charlie's house. It wasn't my night to patrol, but…I wasn't ready to leave Regan just yet.

I raced all the way home, pushing the gas pedal on my poor Bronco way further down to the mat than she was meant to go, but tonight was an exception. I needed to phase and get back to her. What if she needed me? What if something happened? I just couldn't take that chance. I texted Jake as I drove up the Cullen lane.

JAKE – 5 MINS, PHASE? EMERGENCY – GOOD ONE. SETH.

I knew he would get the message. I ran inside the house, folded some ham inside a few pieces of bread and ate quickly, washing it down with a gallon of milk. I was going to need to have food in my stomach for a full night of…well, running circles around Charlie's house.

I stripped off my clothes and tied some sweats to my ankle just in case, and ran outside. I barely made it out the front door before my body exploded and I hit the ground on all fours. Jacob sat in wolf form in the driveway, picking my brain before I even had a chance to wag my tail.

You went and imprinted on some jailbait, eh? You know, at this point we should make a club, he laughed.

Come on Jake, this is serious. I…I imprinted man. On Charlie's niece!

Jacob guffawed in his head. Wait, so you imprinted on someone who would show up at a family reunion?

It's not like that, you jackass, and you know it. She's Renee's niece, who isn't even blood related to Charlie, which wouldn't matter anyway, because I'm not blood related to Charlie. We're related by two marriages. Get a freaking grip and help me.

What are you so worried about? So you have to wait a few years. Big deal. Literally, join the club that I already decided we're making, he laughed.

I stamped my paw impatiently. Jake, I pleaded. Really man, what do I do?

What do you think you do? Nothing. You've seen what Quil does, what I did. I can see what happened…he trailed off, scanning my memory of what had happened. You just thought she was pretty, right?

I nodded, unsure of where he was going with this.

Right. You didn't have the urge to like…mate with her, did you?

After initially wincing at the phrase 'mate with her,' I thought a moment, trying to remember. No, I would have definitely remembered that. I certainly did not want to do that with her.

No, of course not, I replied. I just thought she was like…the most beautiful thing ever.

Okay…I could have told you that. It's nothing sexual. That's not strange. I guess in a way…it's a lot like Quil and Claire. She's fifteen, and yet he still only sees her as a friend. Little sister, what have you, Jake replied, twitching his tail.

I looked nervously in the direction of Forks, fighting the urge to leave and go running up there.

It's fine, Seth. Please don't worry about this. You'll be fine. You don't wanna do anything bad with her, so you're alright for now. It's not like that; I can see it. If it was bad, trust me…I'd tie you up and make you wear a pink collar until her eighteenth birthday.

Thanks, Jake.

When you need to worry, you'll know. Or you might not.

What the hell does that mean? I demanded. He sighed, rolling his wolf eyes at me.

You might just be her friend. Big brother. Protector. Yadda yadda…

That never happens.

No, but it could. Old Quil said so.

Pray for me, I grumbled. I glanced nervously over my shoulder again towards Forks, and Jacob could feel my impatience.

Just try to relax. She's only sixteen; you have plenty of time to win her over before you have to worry about all that other stuff. Take Quil and Claire. Just…roll with it like he does. Nothing ever bothers Quil, and nothing used to ever really bother you, Seth. Just relax and try to be happy that you've imprinted. Either way, it's an amazing thing, bro.

I nodded my wolf head, scraping at the rocks under my feet in the driveway. You're right. It was amazing…like…l didn't even know her name and I would have…I think I would have taken a bullet for her right there, just like it was nothing, man.

Jake let his large tongue hang out of the side of his mouth in a wolfish grin. I know how you feel. I was going to kill Nessie, remember? Instead I spent that first day learning how to hold a baby and reading her stories in her new pink bedroom. Things change, Seth. She won't be sixteen forever.

That's what scares me.

Whatever man, he laughed. You'll do fine. You're a good guy, Seth; I know you'll be alright. Now, if you don't mind, I've got an imprint myself, so…

I snorted in my head, twitching my tail as I got the jist of what he was saying. Yeah, yeah, go…I'll be fine.

Go run circles around Charlie's house. I know that's what you want to do! He laughed, standing up and shaking his fur. I rolled my eyes, but shot him an appreciative glance.

Thanks, Jake.

No problem, Seth. Now go, please, you're making me anxious.

I gave him a wolfy bark and stood, shaking the bits of gravel off my own coat. Jake turned and trotted toward the cottage where he lived with Renesmee, and I bolted towards Forks at full speed. Even though I patrolled with him sometimes, and he was still our Alpha, I missed seeing Jake in human form. Like the rest of us, he really hadn't aged a bit; he was really almost thirty-one, yet he didn't look a day over twenty-three or twenty-four. For the most part, he stayed secluded in the cabin and around it with Renesmee, who still looked to be about eighteen or nineteen. So, the two of them tried to stay out of questioning human eyes as much as they could for now – we all knew that they would have to leave eventually, only to return when everyone they knew here was long gone.

I was saddened to think about it, but I quickly pushed the thought from my mind as I raced to Charlie's house. I didn't want to be distracted on my first night of patrolling for my imprint, and I wasn't ready to exactly announce it to the other members on patrol that night either. Luckily, it was just Quil tonight and I did a good enough job of blocking my thoughts from him as I dashed into Charlie's lawn. I wasn't ready to explain myself just yet. I laughed at myself in my mind though. Here I was, not three hours in, and I had already devised a perimeter in my mind of points to watch around Regan's new home with Charlie and Sue. It wasn't that I didn't patrol those areas anyway, but now I would just…double my efforts.

I looked up in the darkness at Regan's window, or Bella's old room. Part of me was excited to call Bella and tell her that my imprint, the most special girl in the world, was using her old room. I knew that news would make my old friend happy to hear. I spied the window closest to where I remember the bed being, and strained my neck to get a better look. I couldn't see anything but the dim glow of a strand of white decorative lights that hung above where I was pretty sure her bed was. Oh well, I thought dejectedly.

I paused underneath her window, and that's when I heard it; the gentle thump, thump, thump of Regan's heartbeat.

I could also hear her breaths as she breathed deeply, signaling that she was asleep. The hackles on my shoulders lay down, and I finally felt myself relax. Now that I knew she was home safe and sound, sleeping peacefully, I felt like I could finally loosen up a little.

I made my way around the planned perimeter a few times, trampling down a path that I would use every night from now on. It was wide enough to spot danger, but still close enough that I could see the light from the house and faintly hear her heartbeat in her bedroom. Finally satisfied, I trotted up to a low bush near the line where the yard met the trees and laid down to get some rest.

I hadn't closed my eyes for thirty seconds when I felt the phone attached to my leg start to buzz. Glancing down, I groaned. Leah.

I knew immediately that my mother had already called and blabbed the news to my sister; call it a sixth sense. My ears flattened at the sight and I rolled my eyes before lying down again to sleep.

Leah could wait. Tonight, I had different things on my mind.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Well hey again! Hope you liked this one…No, Seth didn't forget about Brady. He's a little distracted right now, but he won't forget.

Also, you have had some questions about Seth's age and appearance. He's in his late twenties, but physically I imagine he and all the wolves look like they're between 22-25. I KNOW it says that somewhere in the books, or at least eludes to it…but I'm almost positive that it does. So no, Seth is NOT frozen looking like he's 16. In my mind, and in this fic, he and all the wolves look to be about 23 or 24. Several of you also pointed out that the age of consent in Washington is 16 I think? However…I'm playing it on the safe side for now. Regan DOES age, so please be patient : )

Hi to all my new readers and reviewers! There are a TON of you, and I'm loving it! I wrote and posted again so soon because your story alerts, author alerts, twitter and review love all inspired me so much. So keep the reviews coming, because honestly…that is the best creative juice there is : )

*does happy dance*