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A/N: This is more of a filler chapter but sets the base for the coming chapters. Also for everyone who is waiting for Paul and Bella to get together, it is coming in about two or three chapters from now. So I hope you continue reading and I hope you like this chapter.
Part IV- Imprint
Chapter 10- The New wolf
Quickly rushing into the woods, I undressed myself before closing my eyes and getting the rage that lay deep within me, out. It was not even an effort these days. I just had to think about Cherry and her closeness to Paul and boom! I was shaking from anger with my teeth chattering in revulsion.
Oh, how just thinking of her annoyed me, I would never know.
As my shakes increased I could feel my bones squirm in their place to change and adjust to my other form and very soon, with a loud rough jump I landed on my four legs instead of two. I quickly shook my head clearing my mind before taking a look at my soft white fur, realizing that it had become longer than I had expected it to in the past few days.
Sigh! Long hair was a pain when you were a wolf who had to keep their fur short for convenience purpose. Removing twigs and washing out sand and dirt from my hair was never a pleasurable activity for me, so I guess a haircut was due soon, well after I figured out what this emergency was for which Sam had howled.
"Calm down" came Sam's loud frustrated voice through the mind link and immediately with that before I could ask what had happened and what the emergency was, almost like a dam had broken, my mind was flooded with panic filled shouts, confusion loaded questions and intense pleas for help.
"What am I? Why do I have paws and a tail? Oh God! How did I become this? Am I hallucinating? Will I ever be able to become human again? How do I wake myself up from this nightmare?"
"Calm down" said Sam in a composed monotone and I saw from his memories how just a few minutes back, when he had been on patrol, he had heard a new voice in his head signaling that someone new had phased for the first time today.
Crap! Who was this? Who had phased?
Memories of a confused, disoriented brown wolf running through the woods, hitting trees on his way in his panic, filled my mind. I could feel the fear and anxiety come off him and I would have found his antics of banging into trees comedic if he wasn't so freaked out and terrorized at the moment.
"Who is this?" I asked
"Who are you?" the male voice responded back stubbornly and skeptically "And more importantly, who is that idiot who is telling me to calm down? I can hear voices in my head. How the fuck can you expect me to be calm?"
Sam growled at him in warning on hearing the mystery wolf call him an idiot as I rolled my eyes. As if that one word with five letters was so important at the moment?
"I am Bella Uley, the alpha of the Quileute pack which you now belong to" I said simply, like it was normal day-to-day talk, though in all actuality this was normal day-to-day talk for me. It had been so long since I first became a wolf that all this world of supernatural and the baggage that came with it, felt surprisingly normal to me.
"Bella" he asked in shock "Is this you? How did you become this"
I sighed as I heard the confusion going on in his head "You will get all your answers but please, may I know who this is, so I know who I am talking to" I said politely. It was imperative to keep calm around a new wolf. Quick actions or loud noises felt like a threat to them and obviously, they were quick to anger too.
"It is me Jared" he wailed in a helpless tone "But… but why does your voice seem so unfamiliar in my head that I couldn't recognize it?"
"Oh" I said in a whisper "that is because our voices sound slightly different in our heads than when we use our vocal cords to speak them out. Because they are in our head still, they have a different timbre to it than otherwise. But that is not important right now. How did this happen? I thought you had gone to see the tide pools?"
He nodded his head as he stopped running. From the mind link I quickly recognized in which part of the forest he was and started running in that direction, giving Sam the message to do the same.
"Yeah, I was. But Quil was annoying me. He was getting on my last nerve as kept teasing me and Kim about us getting caught dry humping by my dad, who then ended up giving me an awkward painful sex talk which I would have rather died than listened to…"
I burst out laughing interrupting him, being unable to control myself any longer. Kim had called me two days ago with tears of laughter running down her face as she had told me of how Jared had called her up in literal tears to tell her that he was scarred for life and how he could not look into his father's eyes now, as his father had told him more than what was necessary in a sex talk, going as far as telling Jared his own personal bedroom details, which no child ever wants to know about, Period.
"Yeah so like I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted' he scowled "Quil was annoying me and the next thing I know, I was shaking like I was having a seizure and then after that the next thing I know, I have four legs and a tail"
"Shit" I muttered as a thought crossed my mind "Did anyone see you?"
We were doomed if someone had seen Jared phase. Secrecy was the most important thing in the supernatural world and one of the main laws for our survival. Just like vampires had to keep their identity a secret, so did we and not everyone was allowed onto this secret.
"Well actually…" he hesitated
"Well actually what?" I said impatiently
He said a few jumbled words in one breath as I stared at him perplexed.
"You mind repeating that for me, slowly" I said in a tone that was more forceful than requesting
He sighed "I was walking home through a shortcut in the woods, because I wanted to reach home faster as I was not feeling very good, when I became this. But…"
"But what" I asked, a big part of me reluctant and afraid to hear the rest
"Seth saw me" he whispered "is that bad? I don't know what the kid was doing passing through that route as his house is completely on the other side. Though I quickly ran away when I saw him standing there"
"This is so not good" I said after a deep breath. The council was going to have my head for this, if this news got leaked out, though in my defense there was not anything much I could have done in this situation. Being an alpha did not suddenly make me a time traveler who could go back in time and stop Jared from phasing in front of Seth. But then again the council filled with mostly old coots would probably still have found a reason to blame me, despite of that.
"Sam, go talk to Seth and tell him everything, making sure that he knows how important it is to keep this a secret"
"Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly, doubt clear in his voice
"Sam, we have no other choice" I sighed "Tell him the truth before he blurts it out to someone unsuspecting, thinking of it as a mystery directly out of a horror novel"
"Okay" he said with a resigned nod. He too was not very happy about this but knew that we had no other choice but to tell Seth everything.
"And Sam" I added as an afterthought "He is just a kid, hardly twelve years old. Don't be too hard on him and don't scare him. He must already be afraid on seeing all of this"
He sighed, giving me a disbelieving look "Bella, you really think I will be rude to Seth. He is Lee's brother and even if he wasn't I know he is just a kid. Heck, he is younger than Embry and Embry is a kid in my eyes. I am not going to scare him or force him into being quiet. Don't worry I will explain everything to him"
I nodded my head as he changed his direction and ran towards the Clearwater house. I sighed. It was ironic. I had wanted the older Clearwater sibling, that is Leah to know the truth about us but fate had made it so that now the younger one was in the knowing, leaving Leah still out of the loop. And to think about it, the poor innocent twelve year old Seth would now have to bear the burden of knowing of this supernatural world and he would now know that the monsters of the night do exist. His innocence was going to be lost forever, unlike what any twelve year old deserved.
"So will someone now tell me how did I become this?" asked Jared impatiently
"You remember the Quileute legends?" I asked "The story of Taha Aki and the third wife"
"Yeah" he said confused as in his mind he tried remembering bits and pieces of the story "But what does that…. Oh No!" he screamed, a loud howl leaving his mouth, as realization stuck him.
"They are true" I said confirming his doubt on his newfound realization "We are shape shifters, born to kill vampires, who are our mortal enemies. But we have a treaty with a golden eyed coven of vampires, the Cullen coven and so we can't kill them as they feed on animal blood instead of human. They live in Forks and are indirectly responsible for us phasing. When they are around, the wolf gene in us gets activated and we 'phase', which is the word for our change, so that we can protect our territory. I was the first to phase a few months back because of my friendship with Jasper Hale who is one of the Cullens" I could hear the revulsion in his thoughts at me being friends or sharing a good relation with one of our mortal enemies but I ignored it for the moment "Sam was the next to phase, soon after me and now you are the third in the pack. We will have to go to meet Levi before we inform the council that you have phased as they have to be informed of every phasing that takes place"
"Wait, that was Sam's voice, before in my head" "And who is Levi?"
I sighed before answering "Yes that was Sam. He is the beta of this pack and Levi, he is actually Levi Uley, one of the three original wolves who had signed the treaty with the Cullens"
I quickly showed him my memories of my first phase and how I had met Levi, Ellen and Old Ms. Ateara and how I had found out everything about being a shape shifter.
"Were you unwell the past few days?" I asked curiously "Because I don't remember you being ill or running a fever?"
I knew that as every person was different and had different pain bearing capacity, every phase would be different but still I had heard nothing of Jared being ill or even getting angered at the drop of a hat which was a very usual symptom before the first phase.
He shook his head looking confused "No nothing as such. I was more irritable that usual and I had body ache but nothing more severe than that"
"Oh, I guess you were lucky then" I whispered, so far my pre phase symptoms had been the most painful out of all but the elders had a theory for that, that maybe because women were not supposed to phase in the first place, my body was not prepared for it and so it had been rejecting the phase resulting in me going through all that pain.
"I have a few questions though" he said "What is imprinting? And will I also be able to change back into human again? How soon, if so"
I nodded my head "Yes, we change forms and you also will be, once you learn to control your emotions, mainly anger, you will be able to phase back and forth effortlessly" "And imprinting" I sighed, not knowing how to explain something so complex yet at the same time so simple "Imprinting is basically the wolf's way of finding their soul mate. It is said to be a gift from the spirits to the shape shifter but I really don't know how true that is" I said as I thought of Sam and his imprinting fiasco "One look into their eyes and you know who your soul mate is, as you imprint on them. They become your reason to live and it is like gravity but everything is pulling you to them instead"
Memories of my imprinting on Paul filled my mind. It had been so long since I had imprinted on him that night in the woods. Time really did fly, irrespective of what pace you wanted it to go.
"Wait" "You and Paul?" he asked confused and shocked before his expression changed "Though it does make sense. You both have shared something special since we were all kids. But why didn't you both tell anyone that you are together? Why keep it a secret?"
"Because we are not together, we are just friends. He doesn't know about shape shifters and imprinting yet"
"I don't understand" he said confused "But haven't you imprinted on him"
I sighed "Imprinting just points you in their direction as if telling you that this is who you are meant to be with. It is not instant love or even liking. There is just a pull towards that person that is difficult to ignore. You decide how to pursue it, if you want to pursue it in the first place. Like see in Sam and Emily's case. Sam has imprinted on Emily but he is trying his best to fight the imprint as he loves Leah instead. He is stuck in a constant war between man and wolf"
"Sam and Emily" he frowned as his eyes widened in surprise "But I thought him and Leah…"
"Yeah" I cut him off "Apparently the spirits don't care of whether you are in a relationship or are engaged to someone. You can imprint on anybody known or unknown, liked or disliked"
"Sounds like a curse instead of a blessing" he commented
I nodded my head in agreement. After seeing how hard it was for Sam and Leah, I was not sure how much of a blessing or how much of unneeded meddling it was.
"Wait" he said suddenly as I could feel trepidation fill him "Kim" he whispered "What if I don't imprint on her? I can't and won't live without her" "Wait… does she… does she already know?" he asked suspiciously "You both tell each other everything right?"
I sighed "Yes, we do but not this. This can only be shared with other pack members who are obviously in the knowing, the imprints and the elders of the council and I don't want to dishearten you but there may be a chance that you don't imprint on Kim. It happened with Sam" I finished in a whisper, as I shuddered thinking of the probability of this occurring. Kim and Jared were perfect for one another but so had Leah and Sam been. Sam's not imprinting on his childhood Love Leah had affected me so much already, could I bear seeing my best friend's heart break too? She was an almost sister to me. I did not wish to see her vulnerable and heartbroken and so I really hoped that when the time came, Jared did imprint on Kim. It would save them both the heartache that was destined to come if he didn't.
"No" he shouted, as if the idea of even being with anyone other than Kim was unimaginable "I don't want anyone other than Kim. I need Kim, only Kim"
I could see in his mind how he had started running in the opposite direction, towards Kim's house to see her.
"Jared Stop" I called out
I could hear the chanting of her name in his head as he gave himself over to his instincts and ran as fast as his legs would lead him, in the direction of her house. There was only one thing on his mind, the urgent urge to see Kim and know from his own eyes that she was alright. He wanted to be assured that she was his imprint and he was not going to be bounded to anyone else for life.
"Jared Stop" I commanded in my alpha voice, successfully stopping him in his tracks "You are a new wolf and have no control over your anger. Even I want you to see her and possibly imprint but you need to calm down and learn to phase back for that"
I did not voice it out loud but a part of me was even scared that his anger would overpower him if he didn't imprint on Kim and unknowingly and unwillingly it would put Kim at a risk if she was nearby.
"How did you do that?" he glared at me "Why do I feel compelled to listen to you?"
"Because I am your alpha and it is hard to ignore when I command something"
"So does that mean that when you tell us do something, we have no choice but to do it?"
I nodded my head reluctantly. I hated this shit. I really did not like having so much power over anyone and would rather not have such a power.
"How did you become the alpha?"
"I was the first to phase and so unknowingly became the alpha as the first to phase always becomes the alpha. I am also the first woman to phase. Before me they thought that women could not phase. But I proved them wrong" I said, pride seeping into my voice and thoughts.
"Good for you" he said indifferently, though not as much rudely as his thoughts went back to Kim and he once again started running in the direction of her house.
"Jared stop" I said sharply "You are not to see Kim or even be around her till you don't learn to calm yourself"
I knew it was wrong of me to order him like this but what other choice did I have. I could not put a human life in danger.
"What do you think her reaction will be when she sees a wild wolf in her yard, trying to get close to her? She will freak out and get scared out of her mind. Do you want to see her fearful of you?"
I knew it was mean to put it like that but it had worked for me. The fear of my family thinking of me as a monster and being scared of me had kept me away from them for the first few days. Jared was luckier in that way, at least he would have someone to guide him on how to phase back and he could return to his human life much sooner than me.
"I just want to see Kim" he snarled at me, showing his teeth in a clear move of a threat as I snarled back in warning. I was the alpha of this pack and I would not mind showing him his place.
"Back down Jared, I am still your alpha. Don't forget that"
"Yeah?" he snarled "In that case I don't want you as my alpha. I don't need someone who is best friends with a bloodsucker to tell me whether I can see my girlfriend or not"
"Well tough luck" I growled out in anger. He was pissing me off "Because the only way you can change that is if you challenge me for the position of the alpha"
Levi had once told me that the alpha could be challenged for their position if the pack was not happy with his rule. It was a simple animalistic fight and whoever pinned down the opponent first, forcing him to surrender, would become the new alpha. Of course it was not a fight to death but it was still a fight of pride and self respect. Which alpha would want to lose and take the position of the wolf who had challenged him, in the pack? It would be demeaning as hell and Levi had once told me that centuries back one alpha who had been challenged and had lost, had been forced to take the place of the wolf who was fifth in line from top when it came to power control, with the Alpha, Beta and third having the most power. That alpha had then finally quit the pack, going rogue instead of living with that demotion and embarrassment.
"I don't want to be the alpha" he said shaking his head "I just want to see my Kim"
"That is the only option you have if you don't wish to listen to my commands or you can try convincing Sam to fight a mutiny against me but I doubt that that would work out. So you either suck it up and be a grown up about it or challenge me and become the alpha yourself" I growled out. Yes, I was angry but in my eyes I had a valid reason for being so. I was not a tyrant from any angle and none of my commands or decisions had even pointed towards this.
"In that case, bring it on" he responded with his own growl "Because I don't need someone to tell me what I can and cannot do"
I sighed. A part of me had still hoped that he would back down. Though I hated him challenging my authority, I still did not wish for it to lead to a fight where either of us could be hurt. Wasn't that the job of a leader, to make sure that their team was unharmed?
He smirked listening into my thoughts "Are you afraid that you will lose and I will kick you into submission?"
"No" I said with a loud laugh, as if even the idea of that occurring was preposterous "I am more afraid that you will end up with several broken bones and a bruised ego on top of that"
"Ha ha" he said sarcastically "We will see"
I rose my eyes at the confidence in his voice "If you are so sure then bring it on. But be prepared to lose because I am much more experienced than you" I warned him, in a last attempt to calm him down.
He laughed again telling me to bring it on and I was sure of one thing, if nothing else I would fight to crush his overconfidence.
X-X-X-X-X
"The rules are simple" I said through the mind link as Jared and I faced each other in an open clearing a bit far from La Push, the perfect open place to fight without worrying of anyone seeing us or of us damaging any personal property or the nature around "This is not a fight to death. We are not here to kill one another. The minute one of us surrenders the other will back down, no matter how strong and in control your instincts to finish the opponent are at the moment and we will not fight dirty. No using your mind to manipulate the other. Is that understood?"
He rolled his eyes "If you are done with your speech, can I get this done with so that I can go and see Kim"
I shook my head in surprise "It is good to be confident Jared but overconfidence is more harmful than beneficial and I would still say that keeping you away from her or from any other human at the moment is for your own good. If you hurt the one you love, you will have to live with that guilt for life. Learn how to phase back to human and control your anger and you can see her"
He scowled "The point here is that I don't want someone else ruling over me and telling me when I can do what. I would rather be my own judge than let someone else decide"
He is was being unreasonable and stubborn but I decided to talk to him in the language that he would understand "Fine then let's get this done with"
He nodded his head as he crouched to pounce on me and I too got down on my own crouch to attack and fight for my position in the pack as the alpha.