The Twilight Series belongs to S. Meyer, no copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing with the characters.

Natural (adjective) having a normal or usual character

Hiding a secret from my children with their preternatural senses was hard. Just as it had been hard to act normal after I found out. It was too tempting to rest my hand on my slightly swelling belly – fear and joy coursing through my veins as I contemplated what the future would hold.

Somehow I did it, falling back into the routine of my life while I squired away what money I could. I lied to my dad and said I'd applied and been accepted to Peninsula College in Port Angeles. Told him I needed the money he and mom and saved for my education signed over to me. I'd always been responsible and trustworthy – so why would he doubt me now?

That's probably how I'd managed to build my house of cards so high. When you're quiet and unassuming, no one expects you to do anything other than what you're told. Sure, there was a crack or two, but none of them large enough for them to know who the real me was. Only one did and he'd never tell a soul about the fire and passion which burned inside me.

For over 3 years I'd managed to keep Jared at bay, telling him I wasn't ready. I had my supposed virginity on my side. After all, I'd been 15 when he'd imprinted on me. I wasn't like Emily or Rachel who had boyfriends in the past.

In the beginning, when I'd still had my blinders up. We'd kissed and held hands. We'd be each other's first, so there was never a desire to rush physical intimacy between us. It wasn't until after Nessie was born that I began to chafe at Fate's manacles.

First, it was Quil who had his future stalled by a toddler. Then Jake – the heir to the pack – future chief of the tribe – was suddenly tied down to an infant. We didn't know that she'd be a fast growing at first. The little bit the imprints heard didn't include that information.

I just kept thinking that Fate had it all wrong. How could it be right for Quil and Jake to have to watch their friends grow up and start families while they waited for their soul mates to grow up? And what did it mean for those of us who were already imprinted and our children? Were our future children simply vessels for the rest of the pack to imprint on – continuing the awful cycle of phasing for years?

It wasn't right. It was unnatural and it made me question everything we'd been told about the legends. Someone had it wrong. Somewhere they'd mistranslated a word and it had screwed up the entire story. Imprinting wasn't about a soul mate – it was about being a protector.

So, their job as our wolves was to protect us. Simple as that. It would have saved Leah from heartbreak. Rachel could have finished her degree. Emily wouldn't have to be the pack mother. And I, well, I could be with someone who knew my name and who I was.

They'd gotten it wrong. I was sure of it. And once those glasses were off, suddenly it didn't seem so fairytale-like anymore. Leah would forever be bitter, unsure of whether she'd ever get to be a mother. Jake would never have the girl of his dreams; instead he'd have the carbon-copy of her. And poor Emily, she'd have her ruined face forever. The stares of strangers had to burn holes into her every time she went out. Her sins were written on her flesh and Sam's spilled over into the side glances at Leah – his pained expression every time she struck out at the pack in anger.

Embry couldn't look at his friends without wondering if one of them was his brother. He was one of their fathers' dirty little secrets. Quil would be stuck as a teenager into his thirties – the same boy who'd flirt outrageously with any female, young or old, that crossed his path. Seth had to grow up in the space of days. Taking his father's place as the man of the house as held the family together.

Brady and Collin – they just needed to be kids. They shouldn't have to learn how to fight and kill vampires. Their days shouldn't be spent training and patrolling. Nor should they worry that someone would anger them and they'd scar the person for life.

It was so wrong. I began to hate Jared. If he'd never been born – I wouldn't be an imprint. Then I wouldn't have to live with the guilt by association as children, some as young as 10, phased to protect Jake's imprint. Seven more futures ruined by Fate's decree.

I pulled away from Jared, the imprints, and the pack after the battle. It was too much to bear at only 17 years old. This wasn't the happy-ever-after I'd imagined. They'd made it through the confrontation with the Volturi unscathed, but we'd all seen what could happen when Jake had been injured during the newborn battle which hadn't even been a year prior.

We'd all aged decades in barely 2 years. Our final few years before adult responsibilities had been stolen. The thieves arrived under the guise of eternal youth and everlasting love. Their promises false and assurances were riddled with lies. We'd tasted the forbidden fruit, opened Pandora's box, and now we'd all pay the price. The sins of a few had stripped us bare, leaving us exposed.

FF_9072904_10 06/07/2013 6:41AM