Are you still patrolling?
Leah yelled at me as I ran in our normal pattern crossing La Push and Forks.
Yeah, what's it to ya?
I'd had it up to here with Leah. She'd been riding my tail for the past 5 years.
Aren't you late for the Halloween bash at the Cullen's?
Crap.
I skidded to a halt, my paws digging into the soil. Nessie would kill me if I was late for Alice's party. She had been looking forward to it for months. That girl loved Halloween. Nessie said she had a surprise for me. I shivered just thinking about the love of my very long life.
Yeah I have to go. Tell Collin, Quil and Seth to do one more loop around the area before going home. I know Collin is dying to go trick or treating. I'll see ya later.
Leah barked a laugh at me. Go and see your little monster Jake. Happy Halloween. she took off into the trees.
I shook my head at her little jab and ran like a mad man towards the Cottage, where I knew Nessie would be getting ready for the party. Slowing up a few minutes later, I flew behind a tree to change back into my human form. I walked back around the big tree pulling my black shirt over my head. Walking slowly towards the front door, I could hear Bella and Ness laughing inside. They seemed to be having a good time. I opened the door not thinking, TWACK. A pillow hit me in the face! Right in the nose! Ow!
"Geez Bells, watch where you are aiming." I said loudly at my best friend.
"Sorry Jake." My girls said together in apology.
I crossed the room and grabbed Nessie's neat braid giving it a quick tug, before giving her a kiss. I took my seat next to her and wrapped her in my arms. Bella was watching us but I didn't really care. Spending all day patrolling, looping and looping around the area. I'd missed this girl. This imprinting thing was weird.
"Well I guess I'll see you guys at the party, you are coming right, Jake?" Bella stood and moved gracefully towards the door. I missed her clumsiness, but no matter what she was still my Bells. We nodded in agreement and she took her leave.
"Finally." Nessie attacked me, pushing back onto the floor. Her lips were instantly on mine. I brought her closer to me; she was so warm in my arms, so soft…all mine. Breaking the passionate kiss, I sat up to face her. Quickly getting to my feet, I grabbed her hand and pulling her up too, started towards her room. Her smile was infectious and I couldn't stop grinning like a fool.
Nessie was an adult now and she had been demanding her privacy. Emmett had taken the imitative and built onto the house. Her once small room had been redone with an addition of a loft, a massive closet, and bathroom.
Kicking the door closed with a resounding SLAM, I took Nessie into my arms and all but sprinted upstairs to her little retreat. The wide room was almost all windows, allowing for the light from both the moon and the sun to stream in. The tall trees surronding the property gave a sort of a barrier of privacy. Her room was simple, but very classy; a platform bed in the corner of the room surrounded by books, movies, and music…so much music. She was her father's daughter. The double doors opened up to a patio area with candles, flowers and a chair. It was her little sanctuary.
I maneuvered our bodies so that we fell onto the plush bed. Nessie giggled as we hit the bed. I loved her laugh. Her tiny hands pulled at my tight t-shirt and wrenched it over my head, causing my hair to fall around my eyes. I caught her mouth again, kissing her deeply and with all the love in the world. My hands gently stroked up her sides and rested on her back. I moved my hand so that it started playing with the edge of her shirt. I moved my hot hand along her belly, inching it slowly up. She sighed against me. Moving closer and closer together, both of us were highly aroused. I could smell it coming off her in waves and I'm sure she could feel it from me. I moved my lips to her throat and planted soft, feathery kisses there.
"I love you Ness, more than you know." Kissing her throat again and moving towards her collarbone.
"Why?" my love sighed against me. Why? I looked at her, shocked, and a little frightened.
I mean why are so drawn to me? I know that you have always been a part of my life, but I guess I want to know why." Her brown eyes were sparkling…curious little thing. I sat up. She mimicked my movement and sat with her back to the wall. It's now or never I guess.
"Well, I ah- you see- have I ever told you about the wolves, not the legend, but why we are the way we are?" I almost stumbled over the words to make this right, not to scare her off.
Freaky werewolf thing. She shook her head, understanding what I was getting at.
"Okay, ever since my people have been on this land, and The Hoh Rain Forest, surrounding it, there have been legends of the great wolves and the cold ones, vampires…" calm yourself, you can do it,…I had to will myself to continue, "After the great wolves first appeared to protect our tribe, because of the vampires that had traveled near our land, the need to protect our people was strong. We stayed with the tribe, keeping with traditions upholding our laws. When a wolf first phases it seems as though the atmosphere has shifted and with the pack it was an extended family. We were brothers, and sisters, in case of Leah. But one legend that was thought to only happen to a few members of the pack was that of imprinting. It goes that the universe would draw the pack member to their true mate, a soul mate. It was a way to continue on the line, the tribe, our blood. The pull to the imprint person is that of a million steel cables pulling the pack member towards that person. After the initial draw the two were inseperatable, the main purpose of the imprint was to keep the other happy and protected. But, if the wolf or the imprint was to be…. if something was to happen the pain of the separation would be too much for the other to bare." I held my breath waiting for her reaction.
She didn't say anything, she almost looked like a deer in the headlights, eyes wide and still.
Crap I messed up!
I took her small hands in mine and rubbed small circleson the backs of them.
"So let my wrap my head around this, you are going to imprint with someone and live happily ever after?" Tears were threatening on the corners of her eyes. What?! Had she lost it?
"I've already imprinted," I started softly, "you." I stroked her cheek. "I'll never leave you, never hurt you, and I'll always be with you. Forever. I'm in for the long haul, ever since I laid my eyes on you."
"Forever? But how?" She was looking at me with tears streaking down her beautiful face. I so wanted to comfort her.
"As long as I have a reason to phase, my aging slows. I can live a long and happy life, however long that is." I had to keep that reason…I had to protect my land and my people, most of all I had to protect my Nessie.
"Forever." She whispered. "Forever." I replied in the same hushed tone. Leaning closer, I caught her lips in a soft and gentle kiss, laying us down on her plush bed, our bodies interlocked, we shared the first day of forever.
************
Hours later, we were both tangled up in the sheet, just holding each other. I softly stroked Nessie's long bronze hair as she laid her head on my chest. Her breath so warm against my naked skin, I started to slowly drift off when she sat straight up.
"Shit, we are going to be late!" Ripping the covers off she moved towards the huge closet, digging in bags and dressers looking for something.
"You still want to go to Alice's party?" I asked my voice tired and husky.
"Sure, I mean it will be fun right?" She was still looking for her costume, I assumed, her voice coming from deep within the closet.
She came out a few moments later, the moonlight playing off the curves of her body. She held up the cutest little costume. It was white and red checkered and she had a red cape and riding boots. I clutched my sided laughing.
Little red riding hood? Oh that is too awesome!
She was looking at me with fire in her eyes, my laughing died down and I cleared my throat. Sitting on the edge of the bed I looked at her, standing in all her glory in the pale moonlight
Screw the party.
"Am I the big bad wolf?" Standing and moving towards her in a slight hunting crouch.
Her eyes raked across my equally naked body, I got closer and wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight.
"Very," she whispered, and the party was forgotten. I love Halloween.