Chapter Two

1 December 2044

I turned around quickly and instinctively bared my teeth and hissed at the most unwelcome guest. But when our eyes met something strange happened.

Everything seemed clearer and brighter even though it was winter. And this man in front of me was the center of all of it. All the things that held me to this world seemed to go up in smoke. Like they were thin balloon strings that were being cut away and replaced with steel cables that connected me to one thing.

Skylar, Aura, Kyrie

Snip, Snip

Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa

Snip, Snip

Alice, Jasper, Anthony, Ellery, Rosalie, Megan, Emmett

Snip, Snip

Mason

Snip

NO! I thought, I pulled Mason's string back with all my strength. I made a cable of my own. Not steel but titanium. And not one, but many.

I shook my head and glared at the intruder in front of me. Then I launched for him, immediately going for his jugular. He dodged and took hold of my wrists as I flew past him and kept them behind my back.

"Calm down, I'm just here to see your dad." He said softly. It infuriated me even more that he was touching me. I wrenched my hands free and elbowed him square into the stomach, he hunched over in pain.

I turned to him, kicked him in the chest and he flew into the house and crashed into the wall next to the stairs.

"What is going on here?" My mother's voice said from the living room doorway. I didn't stop, I walked to the wolf who groaned on the ground as he tried to get up.

"Leigh stop!" My mother shouted, I saw from the corner of my eye that she was holding someone back which was why she didn't stop me herself.

Then I was being held back, my arms were lifted up and my head pushed forward so I couldn't move them. My father then appeared in front of me blocking my view of the curly-haired intruder.

"Get him out of here Jake!" My mother cried.

I tried fighting Aura, the one who pinned me back as my father helped the wolf out of the house. I tried going after him but oddly I grew tired. My eyes were drifting closed and I couldn't stop them from closing. The last thing I saw was Kyrie at the top of the stairs, she was muttering something. A spell.

I woke up gasping. Everytime I slept it was the same dream of Mason being attacked while I was held back to watch. In the end I would turn into one of them and attack him too.

When I finally took note of my surroundings I noticed some people in the room. They were staring at me. Four in total, My mom, Kyrie, Aura and Mason was asleep on an armchair.

"Leigh!" Kyrie whispered relieved. Mason stirred.

"What...?" I asked groggy, my head felt like it was spinning as I sat up.

"I cast a spell on you. Sorry about the nausea, it's the only sleeping spell I've perfected... unless you'd like to wake up transparent." Kyrie let out a humorless laugh.

"Why'd you-" I remembered then what had happened before I'd been knocked out.

"Where is he?!" I asked trying to get out of my bed. All three of them pushed me back down.

"Oh no you don't!" Aura said as she forced me to sit.

"Aura, I have clearly warned them not to set foot on our property and they repeatedly ignore that warning! Your boyfriend started all this and now they think I'm not serious!" I pointed at Kyrie.

"He's not my boyfriend!" Kyrie snarled as Aura said "He didn't know!"

"Oh that's a good excuse." I said sarcastically. "Well how about handing them the memo before they come barging in here?"

"Leigh! He just got back! He was away for a really long time, nobody even knew he was in town yet, he just came to say hi to dad!"

"So nobody decided to tell him with your stupid wolf telepathy?!"

"He hasn't turned in a while, he planned on quitting... It takes a while."

"'Planned'?"

"Um..." Aura seemed to struggle with her words.

"How about you relax a little honey. You're probably still dizzy from Kyrie's spell. Sit tight and I'll bring you something to eat." My mother said as she backed to the door.

"I'm not-" My mother cut me off.

"Stay!" She glared at me and I kept quiet and she left.

Aura sighed then walked to the door. "Just stay here okay, I have to go downstairs." and she left as well. It was then that I noticed Mason was awake, he was rubbing his eyes. Our shouting probably woke him up.

"I'll leave you two alone for a while and don't you dare try to leave, I have Blaise outside the window." Kyrie said as she too left.

As soon as she closed the door I got up, I wouldn't stay in bed all day or night,I noticed outside the window it was dark.

"Didn't I hear mom say you have to stay?" Mason asked as he stretched.

"By 'stay' I think she meant in the room which I will do but I'm not staying in bed, I have to change." I said as I walked into my closet.

I heard the bed springs squeak which meant that Mason had flopped on my bed. "How can you not want to stay in bed all day? It's all soft and way comfortable." he said, his voice was a bit muffled.

"Because I feel grimy if I do that." I said grabbing a loose t-shirt and a denim shorts. I left my closet and walked into my bathroom but I left the door slightly open so I could still talk to Mason.

"So..." He seemed to struggle to put words together. "W-What happened yesterday?" He tried to seem nonchalant but failed.

I sighed as I turned on the tap. I was trying to think of a way to put it. "Someone I really don't like showed up at the door."

"You don't like Seth Clearwater? How is that possible you don't even know the guy." He asked, his voice was a bit clearer now which meant he was propped on his elbow.

"So that's his name?" I said trying to keep my voice even while mentally putting him on my 'wolves to kill' list.

"See, you don't even know his name why do you hate him? Was he thinking something wrong?" He asked and I froze. Mason never mentioned my superhuman abilities, I never even mentioned them around him.

"Um.. no. I just don't like him okay?" I said quickly.

"Well.. He seems pretty cool, he even blew off the whole attack." Mason said as if he was talking to himself. I then heard the door open.

"Leigh, here's some food for you." I heard my mother's voice from my room. "I brought some for you too darling." I heard my mom say to Mason.

"Awesome" I heard him reply and more bed springs squeaked.

"Ellie? What are you doing out of bed sweetie?" I heard my mother ask which was followed by tiny footsteps.

"I had a nightmare mommy." My youngest sister Noelle said in her soft little voice followed by a short cough.

"But honey you're sick." My mother said. I knew she'd picked Noelle up.

Noelle Kaylee Black was only two now but she was very intelligent. She was human too, like Mason. Mason and I got wonderfully along with her. The only worrisome thing was that she was constantly sick. Nothing serious but she couldn't play like a normal kids her age could.

When I came out of the bathroom Mason was holding Noelle on his lap. She had a fever so my mother's body temperature made her unable to hold Noelle for long. Mason was the only one in the house who could aside from Anthony. But Anthony wouldn't be able to for long.

"Leigh!" Noelle squealed when she saw me.

"Hey Ellie. How are you kiddo?" I said as I sat down next to Mason. She smiled weakly at me.

"I'm fine, I just had a nightmare but mommy made me feel better." She said and then rest her head once more on Mason's shoulder. I could see she was sweating.

My mother waited until I ate all the food and then took Noelle back to her room. She had already fallen asleep again by then. Also, after sternly being told to, Mason reluctantly went back to bed too since we all had school later.

I followed my mother down and then I could smell him again. I tensed as I asked her, "He's still here?" She looked at me with guarded eyes, she also tensed in case I decided to go attack him again.

"Yes." She spoke slowly. "Your dad is talking with him."

"Why is he here?" I controled my voice so it wouldn't come out as harsh as I meant it.

"He hasn't seen your dad since before Kyrie was born. He's been around the country trying to stop phasing but he's having a little problem."

"And he thinks dad can help?" I sounded sarcastic. My mother just shrugged.

"He thought dad could help." She said as she turned around again.

"Why's everyone using the past tense? First Aura now you." I frowned at her.

My mother turned once again and looked at my sceptically. "You.. don't feel anything new?" she said slowly.

I knew this wasn't going to get me an answer so I read her mind instead. Could it be she doesn't know? If she's one too doesn't that mean she imprinted on him too? My eyes widened at her thoughts.

"What!?" I shrieked and I stood up from the bar-stool at once. My mother was shocked at my outburst then realised I was reading her mind.

"Leigh!" She said disapprovingly. I glared at her. "I did not!" I hissed.

"Leigh calm down." She said holding her hands up.

I laughed humorlessly. "'Calm down'?" I cackled. "Calm down? Really mother? You expect me to be calm when I'm supposed to be connected to one of them?!" I shouted, I hit the marble table top and it cracked.

"Leigh! Please calm down!" My mother ordered as she eyed the crack in the counter.

"Don't tell me to calm down! You saw what they did to Mason! You saw it! And now one of them is my soul mate? It this some kind of sick joke?" I asked.

"Honey it's not voluntary!" My mother pleaded. My father had rushed into the room now along with Aura. To my disgust so did the other wolf.

"This is your fault!" I shouted to him. He opened his mouth to speak but I didn't let him. "Reverse it! Take it away!" I shouted at him, tears then clouded my vision as I realized that I didn't want to hurt him even though part of me did. I wanted to protect him from the danger but the danger was me.

"Please!" I begged as I fell to my knees. "Please take it away." I cried as tears rushed over my eyelids. Aura was at my side. She held my head to her chest.

"Shh, Leigh, it'll be okay." She whispered. I just sobbed harder. I then felt another presence at my side, I knew it wasn't my mom or dad. It was the wolf, Seth Clearwater.

Even though my eyes were filled with tears I could see him clearly. He looked apologetic.

"I..I'm so sorry." He whispered to me, strangely a tear escaped his eyes too.

When I looked into his mind I saw that he wasn't thinking about now, instead his thoughts were focused on another girl. His memories of this girl rushed through his mind. She was very pretty, golden blonde with wide green/blue eyes. She smiled happily at him as she pulled him to a park, an ice rink, a dance-floor. His mind was filled with thoughts of her and a looming air of sadness. His thoughts focused on their day at the park.

(A/N: Written in Seth P.O.V)

"Come on!" She squealed as she pulled me along the vibrant grass. She pulled me a ways then stopped as if she realised something. "Oh wait!" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small black scarf. She held it out to me.

"Put this on." She smiled.

"Why?" I asked quizzically, I didn't take the scarf so instead she ran behind me and put it over my eyes before tightly tying it.

"Julie!" I complained as she giggled, she took my hands once again and pulled me again. She pulled me for a few minutes, I counted fifty steps before we stopped.

She then let go of my hands, a second later the scarf was lifted from my eyes. In front of me was a blanket with a picnic basket on it.

"What's this?" I asked as I turned to face her.

"Its a picnic dummy." She smiled.

"I can see that, whats it for?"

"God you are clueless." She hit her forehead with her hand. "Can't a girl just organise a surprise picnic for her boyfriend without being questioned on her motives?" She huffed with her arms crossed and rolled her eyes.

I smiled at her and put my arms around her waist. "Well, you know I can be slow at times." I leaned down until my forehead touched hers. "Thank you." I said and kissed her.

I realised I was being selfish. I was worried about how this affected me, I had no idea how he felt. He had to give up someone he loved. I saw by his thoughts that he truly loved her. And here he was apologising to me. Next he remembered the ice rink.

"Come on!" She squealed exactly the same as she had that day at the park. Her eyes were wide with excitement.

I walked awkwardly on the ice-skates she'd forced me to put on. She then pulled me to the ice.

"I'm going to fall." I told her looking nervously at the ice.

"You won't!" She said smiling. "I'll hold your hand." She took my hand as she let me onto the ice.

As I predicted, the second I touched the ice I slipped and fell. I let go of her hand quick enough so she wouldn't fall too. She burst out laughing.

"Ha! I'm so sorry, haha! I didn't mean to laugh!" She said as she tried muffling her laughter with her hands.

"Yeah, yeah." I muttered. She held out her hand and helped me up.

"Steady there, take hold of the railing for balance." She said. I did as she said. The railing helped though I felt dumb. Even little kids were skating without the railing. I watched Juliet skate happily beside me, she caught me looking at her and smiled.

"I feel dumb, I'm the only one using the railing." I complained after my second revolution of the rink.

"You wanna skate in the middle?" She asked kindly.

"I'll fall again." I said as I stopped skating, she stopped too.

"You just need some practice, everyone falls in the beginning."

"I still feel stupid." I muttered. She then skated until she was in front of me. She put her arms on my shoulders and leaned up so she could kiss me. I lowered my head until out lips met. Her hands slid to my forearms. Before I knew it she drew her head back and smiled up at me. I gazed at her for a time until she looked around.

I followed her eyes and I was shocked to see we were in the middle of the ice-rink. I was skating with her easily. She must have pulled us to the middle of the rink as we kissed.

I gazed at her in adoration and whispered, "You're amazing" before kissing her again.

I cried fresh tears, this time for Seth's memories. I should have stopped reading his mind, it was making me feel terrible and guilty but I couldn't stop it was like I was punishing myself.

"Julie, you know I can't dance." I scoffed as she tried pulling me to the dance floor. We weren't in a club, instead at a little bar where they also had dances like the tango and salsa. Juliet woke me up at 2am because she felt like dancing.

"How do you know you can't? You haven't even tried it." She said as she continued to try and move me but I held my ground. When she couldn't move me she straightened up and crossed her arms.

"Fine," She huffed and looked around the place. "I'll go dance with that guy." She said looking to a skinny guy, he looked around forty. He was also eyeing the women in the place. I stiffened. Juliet took one step before I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to me. She smiled.

"You are evil." I said as she led me to the dance floor.

"I know." She said as she put my hand on her waist and took the other in her hand.

"I don't know how to dance.. anything." I said grumpily.

"Its easy, I'll lead, just follow." She said as she took a step back. I followed with a step forward.

"Doing good so far." She said and I stuck my tongue out at her.

She took two consecutive steps to the side then one to the back. That was when I stepped on her foot.

"Ow!" She exclaimed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I said quickly. She smiled at me, it was a bit pained though. "Its fine, everyone has their fair share of foot stomping." She said as she took my hand again. This time I watched my feet carefully so I wouldn't step on her foot again.

"It's okay to look up Seth, just feel where to step. Let it flow naturally." She said as she stepped twice to the back, when I followed her she spun sharply around 180 degrees, walked forward thrice then spun back to me. Then she spun out until my arm was fully extended with her left arm outstretched and then spun all the way into me so that I was holding her again. She turned her head to me.

"So, having fun?" She asked happily. I chuckled. "Yes, yes I am." I said and she pecked me on my lips before resuming our first position.

I couldn't take it anymore, I had to get out of his head. I got quickly up from the floor, wrenching free from Aura and ran upstairs.

"Leigh!" My mother called worriedly after me. I got to my room, slammed the door and locked it. I then ran to my bed and cried into the pillow. I felt extremely guilty. I only thought about how this would affect me, I didn't think that he also might have had someone he cared about.

One memory of his though, made me feel as if a twenty ton metal slab fell on me.

"Where are we going?" Juliet asked. I was the one holding her hand this time leading her as she was the one blindfolded now. Her blonde hair bounced as she walked over the uneven terrane.

"I hear water." She said. She was right, I led her to the natural little waterfall that had formed in the gigantic park we were in. It was hidden from everyone else. Like she had once, I had set up a picnic by the waterfall.

"You can take it off now." I said. "Well that's really romantic." She muttered as she pulled off the blindfold. She then gasped at the sight in front of her.

"I-its a waterfall. Where are we?" She asked looking around her. Of course all she saw was the little meadow filled with flowers.

"We're in the park. Still in the city." I smiled at her as I held her from behind as she stared around herself in amazement.

"How did you find this place?" She turned to me, her eyes were bright with excitement.

"I have my ways." I said as I kissed her cheek. "Seth Clearwater, you just surprise me more and more." She said as her arms snaked around my neck.

"About to surprise you one more time." I said as I let go of her.

"You have a puppy in the picnic basket!?" She squealed. I narrowed my eyes. "Um no.. no puppy." I said awkwardly. "Oh.." She feigned disappointment. I cleared my throat and she focused on me again.

I nervously knelt down on one knee and her eyes widened.

Even though I cleared my throat my voice still sounded husky. My hands shook as I fumbled in my pocket for the tiny box.

"Juliet Luciel Everdean... W-would you do me the honour.. of becoming my wife?" I said as I opened the tiny velvet box. The ring wasn't big or anything, just something simple. Juliet had tears running down her face as she stared at me. A few moments passed and she still hadn't said anything. I started feeling uncomfortable.

"Um Julie, you have to say something." I said awkwardly, her eyes widened.

"Yes! Of course yes!" She said and leapt into my arms.

"Yes!" She screamed and I beamed. I quickly slid the ring onto her finger. She then took my face into her hands and gave me a long passionate kiss. "Yes." She murmured as she kissed me.

He was engaged. He was engaged to a smart, pretty, kind and fun-loving girl and now he was imprinted on me. An unstable vampire/shifter freak that can read minds and not to mention attacked him.

Juliet was the reason he wanted to be human and now I took that choice from him.