"Can we talk?" Jacob asked as he peeked into Graces room. She had been training for two weeks and was finally learning her triggers and how to keep herself calm in the midst of them. Jacob was no longer affecting her as he once had but he was still being shunned by everyone.
"Go away mutt," Rosalie answered as she sat on the bed braiding Graces wet hair. Rosalie has taken to calling him names again and no one seemed to correct her. Jacob sighed and leaned against the door frame.
"I really need to talk to you Grace," Jacob ignored the blonde leech. They were never really close anyways. Her insults never hurt, not then and not now.
"I'm tired Jake," Grace sighed as she closed her eyes and felt Rosalie work her fingers through her hair. It felt like heaven.
"It won't take long. I promise I will be done by the time Seth gets back from patrol in an hour so you can have time together," Jacob was trying his best. He had to get on good terms again with Grace for everyone else to follow. He was missing Nessie.
"Once I hear his howl you leave," Grace opened her eyes and raised her left eyebrow at him. Jacob nodded before stepping into the room and clearing his throat for Rosalie to leave.
"Ugh, fine. Grace if he gets on your nerves too much just blow off his mouth," Rosalie sounded like she was joking but they both knew she wasn't. Rosalie ties off the end of Graces long braid before kissing her head, flipping Jacob off and shutting the bedroom door. Jacob crept to the edge of the bed and sat down. He could smell how much Seth is in this room with Grace when they aren't training or when he isn't on patrol. He could tell they were growing closer and closer every day.
"What did you want to talk about?" Grace knew it was a stupid question but she asked anyways.
"I want to explain my actions," Jacob licked his lips before taking a deep breath. It was now or never. "I lost my mom as a child. My sisters moved away and when one came back the most wrong person I could imagine for her, imprinted on her. I changed into a wolf when I was only 16 because of the Cullens being so close to my tribe..." Jacob paused and realized he was getting off track already. "When Bella moved back to live with Charlie I developed a crush on her. I knew I didn't imprint on her but I did love her. I watched as she chose Edward time and time again though. When they got married I dealt with it but when I found out they were pregnant...I lost it. But I also felt a need to protect still. I later found out that need was Nessie. When I...when I first saw Nessie everything changed for me," Jacob looked at Grace with tears in his eyes.
"But Seth imprinted on me too right?" Grace asked already knowing the answer. Seth imprinted on her when he was first allowed to meet the twins.
"Yes but...I...I was selfish in the fact that I sent you away due to the fact you had no known powers then and was growing normal. You had a shot at a normal life away from all of this," Jacob pleaded with wide eyes trying to get his point across.
"But I didn't grow up normal with Beth and Frank either," Grace shook her head and looked at her hands. They were sore from fighting with Emmett all day in case meeting with the Volturi led to a battle.
"Edward, Bella and I all thought that sending you away was the safest thing to do. I will admit holding Seth back was wrong. He hurt him. It made him turn bitter and mad instead of the happy kid I was use to. But, you have to understand something...Seth, Leah who is his sister and I all just broke apart our original pack to form ours. We had lost many people and family when we did that. My own sister hasn't talked to me since. Seth did lose his dad right before he imprinted on you but that's all and I thought that mine outweighed his. Looking back I know I was wrong and I apologize for putting both of you through hell but...Nessie hasn't spoken to me in two weeks so I'm begging you forgive me," Jacob rushed the ended when a howl cut through the night air. Seth was arriving. Grace sighed and bit her lip. She was annoyed with Jacob but she wasn't so angry anymore. Jacob had his reasonings and back then he was still a child so he made childish decisions.
"On one condition," Grace cocked an eyebrow and narrowed her eyes. If he was getting what he wanted out of this then so was she.
"Anything," Jacob nodded his head quickly as hope filled his eyes.
"You either get everyone to agree to or distract them while Seth and I just get away from training for a night. I need a break before I get overworked," Grace let her shoulders down. She had become so tense since she started these sessions. Jasper was hard on her as was Emmett. Edward and Carlisle were the two telling them to lighten up but they all knew it was in the best interest.
"They wouldn't really...deal," Jacob sucked it up and held his hand out for a shake. Grace took it and shook it once firmly. If he was getting what he wanted then so was she.
The next night came and Seth and Grace both sat quietly in her room. They were waiting for Nessie's signal that would be three knocks on the door. Jacob has convinced Nessie to distract everyone so the other two could sneak out. Grace of course didn't let Seth know this, he wouldn't be able to keep it out of his mind so Edward wouldn't find out.
"You're quiet," Seth noticed as he watched her get up off the floor and walk over to the window.
"Maybe I'm always this quiet and you're just always babbling," Grace teased as she opened the window and looked down. They were on the third floor but she knew both of them could jump and be perfectly fine.
"What are you doing?" Seth asked with a hint of confusion in his voice. He stood up to go and look outside with her. Maybe there was something there but before he made it completely over to her three knocks appeared on the bedroom door and Grace disappeared out the window. Seth panicked for a spilt second before he heard the door open.
"Coast is clear. Go idiot," Nessie whispered low into the room and quietly shut the door again. Seth nodded to himself before taking off and jumping out the window as well. He saw Grace already running into the woods.
"Wait up," Seth called out and let out a quiet laugh. This was the first time she was acting like her old self since she's been back. He missed it.
"Catch me if you can," Grace called back before inhaling deeply and taking off. Edward has showed her earlier in the week how to tap into her vampire side and speed her self up. Now running normal felt boring. Seth and Grace darted through the forest. They weaved through trees and jumped roots. Seth even showed off a bit but climbing trees and jumping from them.
"Where are we going?" Seth asked when he heard the sound of river coming up. It was the river that separated La Push and Forks. He didn't want her to cross and one of the other pack members find her. He wasn't sure if it was the same pack as before or new but either way they might see her and just assume vampire. Unfortunately before he could do anything Grace leaped into the air and landed on the other side.
"No, no Grace come back!" Seth shouted before jumping over himself. He could not allow her to get hurt. She had no idea of the danger she was in. He ran quickly to keep up with her but it was too late. He caught the scent of the others.
"Grace! Stop!" Seth shouted and finally Grace slowed down and turned with a confused look.
"What's wrong?" She asked while walking towards him as he also slowed. He quickly grabbed her though and shoved her behind him just as three wolves showed up. He recognized one as Quil, the chocolate fur and kind eyes gave him away. He recognized Collin but the third he didn't know.
"Stop! She's not a vampire!" Seth held his hands out in front of him as they all stared each other down. Grace stood quietly behind Seth wondering what was happening. Jacob and Seth live with vampires. Why were these wolves trying to attack instead?
"Quil, tell the others to back off. Phase out and talk to me. I don't...I don't have the pack mind with you anymore," Seth shook his head and still held his tense stance. He was ready to turn and grab Grace to pull her into the river with him if he needed to. Quil did as he was asked though and backed into the woods. The others stayed and eyed the couple down. Quil came back out in a pair of cut off shorts. He hadn't changed one bit except now he had a bit of a tougher look on his face, not so much boyish.
"Long time no see Seth," Quil spoke with a smile though. The smile told Seth that his tough face was only an act.
"Twenty years now, right? How is everyone? How's the pack? Who's the pack? How's Claire? You guys married or what now?" Seth relaxed a little and chuckled. He reached a hand behind his back and held it out for grace to grab which she did hesitantly. Grace slowly stopped forward and stood beside Seth. The wolves growled but Quil snapped his fingers to hush them.
"She's no threat. This here is Seth Clearwater and his imprint Grace Cullen. Seth was once apart of this pack and then abandoned us to follow Jacob Black," Quil informed they wolves who were whining and flopping on the ground.
"I did the right thing," Seth nodded. Grace squeezed his hand tightly before staring at the others in front of her.
"I know you did, kid. You always do the right thing," Quil shook his head and snapped again letting the others go into the woods and change themselves. "The pack is good. Not as large as before but we're doing good. Some imprinted and stopped phasing and others stopped phasing because they wanted a normal life. Others are still phasing because they have nothing better to do. Embry and Collin are still apart of the pack but other then them and myself we have four others. I'm about to stop phasing though because Claire and I are getting married next month and that was apart of the deal. No more phasing Embry becomes Alpha then," Quil talked while the other two boys came back out now in their own shorts. Collin went over and hugged Seth tightly. He had missed his friend.
"You missed so much man," Collin patted his back before turning to Grace. "You ended up with this one? Good luck," Collin rolled his eyes and laughed before going to stand with his pack again.
"This is Adam. He's the one who spotted you," Quil nodded his head to a boy who was shorter then the others. Seth knew that indicated that he was still young compared to the others.
"Good eye but she's only half vampire. No threat," Seth looked down at his imprint who was silently watching.
"You all have the same tattoos," Grace tilted her head as she looked at left bicep of every man.
"We were brothers once," Seth's voice sounded far away. He missed his old pack. He missed Sam who acted like a dad and he missed Embry who always called him annoy. He missed his Emily's baking the most though.
"We still are at heart man. We have to get back to patrol though. Get on the other side though incase any of the other young ones catch sight," Quil winked at Grace before waving goodbye. The other two waved before turning themselves and following their alpha.
"I never thought I'd see that man again," Seth whispered before bending down so grace could climb on his back. She did so gently and held on tight as he backed up and ran to get a good start before leaping across the river again.
"You were close?" Grace asked while leaning her head on his warm shoulder.
"He's the one who taught me all about true love and being what you need for the other," Seth blinked as he walked slowly in the woods.
"One day kid you may imprint," Quil told Seth as he munched loudly on an apple. Seth rolled his eyes and grabbed himself a muffin. Imprinting was the farthest thing on his mind.
"No thanks," Seth laughed before digging into his treat.
"Look, it's not as bad as it seems. You just take care of them by doing whatever they need. Now, if you excuse me a little girl needs me to play Prince Charming in the back yard," Quil winked at Seth before tossing the apple core into the trash can.
"Why were they attacking like that at first?" Grace asked as she began to twirl a piece of lose hair on his neck.
"Because...because that is our job. We kill vampires," Seth said lowly like he was ashamed of it. Which he was. He use to think he was doing the right now but he now knows that he was wrong. The just pack just killed senselessly without questioning what the vampire was doing.
"They would have killed me?" Grace asked now alerted to the fact that she might have enemies.
"Yes or no. Half vampires were never a thing before you and Nessie," Seth shrugged simply. He wasn't sure how to explain this to Grace but he did know that he would protect her until the day he died.
