Chapter: Shadow dynamics.
Paul poured the kerosene on the wood and stood back as quill threw the match in.
"Well, that parts done. Hey did you hear? Seth fuller and Jordan Williams phased last night. five jaguars within two days. Crazy right?" quill said as they put more wood on the fire.
Paul just shrugged his shoulders. He didn't really care for talking, not much anyway. If anything, he was kind of irritated. New cubs in the pack meant babysitting duty. And the older ones like Jared and Jordan would irritate him to no end. All they did was complain, they constantly challenged Sam's authority and he had to put them in their place more than once and it didn't help that the elder jaguars like Joshua and Ephraim, would try to assert their dominance. It was why they only phased for emergencies or when Sam needed them because Sam would wind up having to put everyone in their place. The testosterone around here was getting ridiculous.
"oh Pauly!?" a shrill voice called
Paul cringed. Amanda Cameron, Jared's little sister. She was the Same age as Paul. He quickly dropped the wood headed away from the irritating female.
He hissed at quills laughter.
"hey! Paul come here and help me with this!"
Paul resisted rolling his eyes and went to help Connie black, Ephraim blacks' younger sister. He couldn't wait until the bonfire officially started, then maybe people would leave him alone.
Sam looked tiffany and Kara dead in the eye as he let his inner beast rise up.
"you are important people in this tribe, I love you and I respect you but If I ever see or hear of either of you disrespecting Marie in any way, we will have a problem. Do you understand me?"
Paul shivered as he overheard His alpha's voice. It was full of electric power. Ready to strike in a millisecond.
He knew he did the right thing by telling Sam what Kara and tiffany did. Cut it off at the root. His thoughts were interrupted when a warm body collided with his.
"bubba!"
Paul sighed and looked down at the very eyes that reflected his own.
"hey kiddo." He greeted his little brother as he picked him up. Tommy was three years old and Pauls half-brother from his stepmother and his father. They doted on tommy, but Paul was the punching bag. As long as Paul was around, they wouldn't touch tommy and that was all that mattered.
…..
Jared Cameron hissed and threw up the middle finger at one of his former friends.
He couldn't believe this. One day, he was enjoying a cold beer with his friends behind the school and the next thing you know he was covered in fur and on four legs. His hair had been braided and he was given a stupid tattoo. He was only a sophomore in high school! but no one cared. His parents thought it was an honor to be a part of the shadows, the whole freaking Tribe thought it was an honor to be in the shadows but not Jared. No freaking way, he had never wanted to be a freak like Sam, Paul and quil but now its wasn't just them. Brady, Collin and Jordan had phased as well.
Now, Jared's life was ruined.
Shaking his head, he stood up, and shook the sand off his clothes. Brady was coming towards him.
"hey man, its time."
Jared hissed but followed anyway. Further down the beach, most of the tribe was gathered. Lawn chairs and blankets had been thrown on the sand for the families in attendance. Their five full tables of nothing but food. Of course, the shadows had to go last because they ate the most. Their metabolism sweated everything off, which made them eat more.
He silently followed brady into the honor circle. The shadows stood in rank from oldest to youngest. With Sam in the middle bowing before Ephraim and the elders.
The Elders consisted of Harry, old quill, Ray and Connie black.
The only person not attending was Joshua uley. He was on patrol, making sure no one broke through their borders. But it didn't bother the older man, he would be able to hear it from where he was.
Jared resisted a scowl; Sam had warned him to get his act togather. After this day, Sam uley would be the official chief.
It irked Jared. Sam thought he was so perfect. A low hiss brought him back to the present.
"Good evening everyone! Today we are here, to start a new legacy. Two new legacy's actually. "
Their was a sudden pause as Ephraim ushered someone into the honor circle. Jared looked around in confusion. With clearer focus, Jared watched a woman with shoulder length Brown hair, brown eyes and pale skin. He could see she was also pregnant.
He recognized the women from last night dinner with the shadow but didn't realize shed be here too.
"Today, represents a day of joy and a day of great change! Today I, Ephraim black step down as chief and pass the torch to out very own Sam uley."
The crowd let out a roaring cheer. Jared rolled his eyes in agitation.
Ephraim proceeded to go through the tribe's customs and traditions. The Elders had encircled Sam and covered him in body paint and traditional markings. After that Ephraim transferred the chief's ceremonial cloak and headdress.
Old quil said some kind of prayer over Sam and then that was it. Sam was now the official chief. And just when Jared thought it was over and he could leave…it wasn't.
Sam and Ephraim both ushered the pale, pregnant girl in front of the tribe.
Ephraim took some body paint from old quill and after he whispered something to the girl, he began to mark her in paint. After he was done Sam spoke.
"People of la push, this woman you see standing before you is a member of this tribe. She Carries the black and uley name and is from here on out a member of this tribe! We present to you Marie Uley black!"
Of course, because their new chief and their former chief laid down the law, the people would accept it, even if they didn't like it.
Jared was glad he was paying attention because he would have missed the words Sam whispered to the girl.
"you belong here Marie. you are free and you are protected. So, live your life the way you want to. Whether I am with you or not…I won't hold you back."
Jared eyes bulged out of his head. Just what was going on here? of course, Jordan hissed at him because their part was next.
Ephraim and Sam both proceeded to introduce the Shadow and finally it was over.
The food tables were opened, and Jared was free, but he couldn't help but look over at his alpha and new chief.
Normally even before Jared phased, he would attend the tribal gathering alongside his parents, he was forced to go and every time he saw Sam, the older man would be with the elders or helping serve the people. instead he was farther down the beach his back facing everyone else and in his arms was ...her.
…
Joshua uley POV:
Joshua stayed phased for a while as he watched the ceremony From Ephraim's perspective. Without breaking his stride, he gave his Former chief the report, that everything had been quiet tonight. With that thought, Joshua phased and headed for the beach towards his son.
He stopped on the Edge of the trees as he watched His only Sam slow dance on the beach with Marie in his arms.
Lyin' here with you so close to me
It's hard to fight these feelings
When it feels so hard to breathe
Caught up in this moment
Caught up in your smile
I've never opened up to anyone
So hard to hold back
When I'm holding you in my arms
We don't need to rush this
Let's just take it slow
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
And I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight
I know that if we give this a little time
It'll only bring us closer
To the love we wanna find
It's never felt so real
No it's never felt so right
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
And I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight
No I don't want to say goodnight
I know it's time to leave,
But you'll be in my dreams
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, oh, let's do this right
With just a kiss goodnight
With a kiss goodnight
Kiss goodnight
The song ended and as much as Joshua wanted to be angry. He couldn't. His son, for once in his life...looked happy and so content. His eyes softened even more as his son bent down to kiss the brown-haired girl. She froze but then soon relaxed. The wind picked up around them and Joshua knew.
His son had found the one.
"Sam?" he heard Marie say
"yes, mi alma?"
"I love you." She declared.
Joshua's heart almost stopped.