When Gravity Moves

Chapter 14- to a wolf

"Is this okay?" I ask doubtfully, tugging on the black vest that Alice said made me look 'charming.' The white t-shirt underneath is closer to something that I would wear, but the black slacks are the nicest piece of clothing that as ever touched my skin.

Alice turns back to face me, grinning at my assemble.

"It's perfect! Although..."

I follow her lowered gaze to my bare feet, which I shuffle nervously and scuff my toe through the dirt and broken glass.

"We'll have to fix that before you step on something, but we should head back and update the others on what happened. And maybe you could take a bath."

I grimace at my own smell even though I have grown slightly accustomed to the constant overwhelming pain in my nose. Currently, I can't smell any vampire threat, but as luck would have it, apparently they can't smell me either.

I bite my lip in thought. The red headed leech won't be fooled twice; not after I killed her coven mate and Alice killed her mate. I somehow doubt she will give up on revenge. No, Victoria will be back with a plan and more dangerous than ever.

"Bella?" Alice questions, placing her hand on my arm to draw my attention away from the smoldering dumpster.

"Let's go," I say. "This isn't the end of that particular vampire. She will be planning now and she knows that at least one shifter is protecting you."

I lead the way out of the ally and back towards her car. My eyes and ears strain double time with my nose out of commission, and my muscles are taut with the weariness of a second attack.

We are soon on the way back, silence stretching between us.

"I-" Alice clears her throat, glancing at me from the driver's seat. "I had fun today. Before the whole, um, attack thing."

I snicker, flashing my grin at her. "Me too. Though to be honest, that was kind of fun as well."

Alice's laugh is like bells. "You looked pretty cool when you ripped his head off. You should have seen their faces. It made my existence."

"I live to please."

We share another smile before she once again turns her attention back to the road.

"Can I borrow your phone?" I ask, noticing the device sticking out of her back pocket.

She hands it over without a glance and I quickly dial a familiar number.

"Hello?"

"Sam, it's me. Alice and I ran into trouble in Seattle and we're on our way back. We know what the red head leech is after now: Alice. Apparently the vampire she saved Seth from was her mate and she wants revenge. I killed her coven-mate in the encounter but she'll be back."

"That thing is after your imprint?" Sam growls, no doubt imagining Emily as the target instead.

"Yeah," my eyes dart to the seat next to me, "neither of us were even touched."

"I'll gather the pack and let them know. Don't worry, Bella, we'll keep her safe."

My face softens. "Thanks, Sam."

I click the end call button, wordlessly handing it back over to Alice.

"All good?" She asks.

"Yeah."

...

Jasper's POV

Something has changed. Jasper had been so sure that what he felt coming from the wolf was something unchanging, but he was wrong.

The devotion is still there, for sure. It is still so intense and bordering obsessive, the protectiveness and love he feels coming from her, but it's not the same kind as when he last saw her.

He doesn't quite understand it, these unpredictable and strong emotions, but as long as that protective instinct for his sister remains the strongest sentiment, he won't say anything.

He watches absently at his best friend's gesturing hands and the wolf shifter standing dutifully just behind her right shoulder, looking very serious. He hears the words that are being spoken, but the connection between the two new friends is far more interesting.

The way Alice's own endearments are being affected so drastically and quickly hints to him that this connection isn't being made quite the same way normal bonds are formed.

Still, he doesn't voice his observations, feeling that whatever he is witnessing, it isn't harmful or dangerous to his sister.

...

"I was wandering if, um, you'd like to ask me to girl's choice dance?"

I blink at the fumbling boy, baffled.

My eyes shift to his gaggle of giggling friends before back to his wide blue eyes. He's a decent looking boy- what most girls would call 'cute'. He has nice hair, I have to reluctantly acknowledge.

He shifts uneasily and offers a hopeful quirk of lips.

"No," I say bluntly. His tentative smile drops.

"Oh, uh, okay, that's fine. I'll just...go." He turns and walks away, head down and cheeks flaming, back to his waiting friends. They surround him, hooting and smacking him on the back.

"Well that was amusing."

I turn to my new friend, and roll my eyes at her teasing smile. "For you maybe. To me it's just sad."

"You broke the poor boy's heart." Alice links her arm through mine and tugs me into the slow walk to the parking lot, the destination we were headed when the boy nervously approached me.

"Somehow I think he'll get over it," I deadpan, opening the door absently for Alice before climbing into the passenger seat.

"Why'd you say no?" She asks, and by the tone of her voice, I conclude that she's asking me for real.

My eyebrows furrow. "You mean besides the fact that I'm gay?"

She glances at me, embarrassed for forgetting. I don't fault her, though. It isn't exactly a topic we have actually discussed in the few weeks of our friendship. The knowledge just kind of sits there untouched upon.

"I won't ever date anyone," I admit after a moment.

Her eyes return to my face, surprised and curious. "Why not?"

"Humans..." I start slowly, unsure of how to word or describe my thoughts on imprinting. "Humans are not truly monogamous. They fall in and out of love so easily and can take many mates throughout their lifetime. Wolves are better. There is no question of who we are supposed to be with, there is no choice or second guessing; when we meet our mate, it's instant. We just know, and there will never be anyone else to us."

"And the other person? I assume they wouldn't be wolf- what if they don't return the feelings?"

I bite my lip, trying to think of a way to better describe it. "For us, it's not like love at first sight, really. It's like... gravity moves... suddenly. It's not the earth holding you here anymore, she does... And you become whatever she needs you to be, whether that's a protector, a brother, a best friend, a lover. Quil- He imprinted on a two year old. He has no romantic feelings for her. He might one day, if Claire ever wanted more, or he might forever just be the best friend as she grows up, falls in love, and marries someone else- and he would be the best best friend anybody could ever have."

"That... sounds kind of sad."

"Maybe to an outsider," I admit.

"What about if they die? Can't they love someone else, even if it's not as much?"

All the blood rushes out of my face, leaving me dizzy at just the thought. I clutch the door handle tightly.

"No. An imprint means everything to a wolf. If that imprint dies... a wolf can't survive that. It would be in so much pain that it would eventually find a way to kill itself. It's why harming another wolf's mate is forbidden- the highest offense. By our laws, if the imprint is hurt or is killed, the wolf of the imprint has the right to challenge the other to a fight to the death."

Alice stares at me from across the consul, unmoving. We had arrived at her house a little while ago, but neither one of us move to get out.

I finally break her gaze and look out the window to the big house.

"Imprinting is supposed to be rare, though, and it usually works out. It's not a sad thing to most of us- it's a gift."

"Do you think it's a gift? Even if the imprint doesn't return the romantic feelings?"

"Absolutely."

A/N: Heeeey, guuuuys. So, I know it's been a while... but I did it? I don't know why this chapter was so hard to write, but here it is.

Sorry it took so long. Review?

~Silver~