CASPER FELT like the world had turned upside down.
He might've been a newbie to the whole wolf thing, but after the explanation he'd gotten from Sam, and the snippets the guy couldn't help but think about even when concentrated, Casper knew exactly what had happened.
He'd imprinted on Leah.
And if she was a wolf too, she probably imprinted on him as well, and the look of horror in her face was a pretty good indication for it.
Casper tried to not take any offense to it, but as she turned around and stormed out of the house through the front door, he couldn't help but feel unwanted.
Or maybe only he had imprinted, and she might be his soulmate, and he wasn't hers.
"She probably needs some time," Sam told him, seeing the look on his face.
Casper nodded, but for the first time in a long time, he didn't know what to say, and to be quite honest, didn't trust his voice not to break.
He snapped out of it at entering the living room and seeing Evangeline, sporting puffy eyes, and standing next to Paul.
"Did something happen?"
"Paul and I talked, don't worry, everything is okay. I'll tell you about it later." She hesitated, not coming closer to him, Casper could see it in her eyes she wanted to, but something was holding her back.
Did she fear him, now? Casper found he couldn't really blame her.
Sam had told him what could happen if someone were standing too close when shifting, Emily's scars now having an explanation. The mere thought of inflicting something like that on Evie or Ollie, it made him sick to his stomach.
But her eyes were looking at him with the same affection as always, and he couldn't believe that was what was going through her mind.
"Are you alright?" Evangeline asked him.
He nodded, but he didn't think he was fooling anyone with lack the confidence behind it.
She smiled, apparently winning some war she was having with herself, and came closer. "Why did you never tell me you could turn into a wolf, and that Oliver might as well?"
His eyes widened, and he was left speechless. "What? You think I knew I could do that?"
Evangeline frowned. "Yes...?"
Casper laughed, shaking his head. "I didn't, it was a as much of shock to me as it was to you."
"Really? Oh God, was it like that for all of you?" At the nods of confirmation, she looked horrified. "You poor things."
"A warning would've been nice," Embry commented, chuckling.
Casper agreed, but now there was no going back. He wondered how it was for Leah, and what she felt being the only female in the pack. Casper had an inkling she didn't really like that.
But he wanted to ask her, talk to her, learn everything there was to learn about her.
He tried not to think about how she had looked at him, and how he might never get the chance.
Evangeline hugged him suddenly, her yarn sweater coming into contact with his bare chest and feeling a bit stretchy, but Casper didn't care about that as he hugged her back.
"You're still my cousin," she whispered, stroking his hair.
Casper nodded, but didn't say anything. He was glad at least he still had Evangeline and Oliver, even if Leah would never want him.
He did his best to ignore the pain and how hard it was to breath properly at the thought.
But even when asking the pack questions, and silently glaring at Paul, there was a pressure in his chest, and no matter her hard he tried, Leah was always somewhere in his mind.
It'd been a few days since the rather disastrous dinner, where everything went wrong before going a little bit right.
Evangeline had decided with Paul that on Saturday morning he would drop by her house and spend some time with Oliver, which was going much better then she had expected it too. Oliver was shy with strangers, kids and adults alike, but he'd taken a shine to Paul, much like he had to Claire, and as soon as he asked him to play some soccer with him(Casper tripped over himself, while Evangeline was too gentle and never managed to score), Oliver paid attention to no one else.
She and Casper, who was there for moral support, went inside to the kitchen, where the windows had a view of the backyard, and they snacked on the remnants of breakfast while watching the duo play outside.
"Are you coming down with something?"
Evangeline pulled her gaze away from where Paul and Oliver were still playing with the soccer ball and glanced at her cousin. "No. I don't think so. Why?"
Casper flashed a mischievous smile, then quickly suppressed it. "It's just that your eyes are watery and you keep clearing your throat."
She huffed a laugh, sniffling, blinking away new tears. "I don't know what's wrong with me." Casper raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes soft. "I suppose I'm feeling guilty," Evangeline admitted, unsure of how to put it.
She turned her attention back to father and son, just in time to see Oliver score a goal in the makeshift goalpost, and Paul excitedly cheer him.
"How so?"
"I kept them apart for so long," Evangeline shook her head. Paul had said he understood, but she couldn't help but feel the weight of her actions. "I hope he'll forgive me."
"Paul or Oliver?"
"Oliver, of course."
Casper tilted his head at her. "You don't care if Paul forgives you?"
Evangeline shrugged. "He doesn't have to, I'd just like for him not to hate me. That'd make things difficult."
At that, Casper let out a laugh. "Paul feels a lot of things about you, but I can say with guarantee none of them are even close to hatred. Quite the opposite."
Evangeline felt a few her worries lift at that, if there was one thing Casper would never do, it was lie to her.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Are you?" Casper nudged her with his shoulder, a smirk on his face.
Evangeline nodded, giving him the side-eye. "It is. Raising a child is difficult enough without the parents constantly being at each other's throats."
"Ah, yes. A reality which I have a veritable cornucopia of expertise with." He inhaled through his nose, his large chest expanding with the breath. "But, that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" Evangeline wasn't paying full attention to Casper, being distracted by Oliver play-tackling Paul, the big man falling to the ground in a dramatic display. This sent Oliver into a fit of giggles, and she couldn't help the smile that rose on her lips.
"What if Paul wants more than co-parenting?"
Evangeline turned her head sharply, fear coursing through her body and twisting her heart. "You mean, what if he wants full custody?"
"No, not that at all." Casper put his hands on hers, the touch grounding her. "What if Paul wishes to make the three of you into a family? What if his intentions toward you are of the matrimonial variety?"
Something coursed through her, a similar feeling of fear, but not exactly the same as the one that had seized her moments before.
Evangeline shook her head. "No."
"No?"
"He doesn't want that."
Casper looked at her, his brows furrowed. "Don't be so sure about that, Evan."
Evangeline rolled her eyes, huffing. "Be serious, Cas. He just found out he has a son, aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself here?"
"This whole situation is far from normal, or have you forgotten about the turning into wolves thing?"
Evangeline hadn't, of course. It still baffled her that not only were supernatural creatures real, but her cousin and the father of her child were shape-shifting wolves. Don't get her started on the possibility of her son becoming one as well, she didn't like to think about that.
"Of course not, but that's even more reason for nothing to happen. Let him worry about being there for his son."
"Being there for Oliver also means being there for you."
"I'm not his responsibility, he doesn't owe me anything."
Casper opened his mouth to say something, but slowed it and shook his head. Taking a deep breath, her cousin sighed. "He may not see it that way."
"That doesn't make it so. Oliver is his. They deserve to know each other. But I'm not going to be with someone simply because he's the father of my child." Evangeline swallowed, her throat feeling thick. "I deserve better than that," she finished, voice so soft she knew Casper could only hear her because of his enhanced hearing.
She felt one of his arms go around her shoulders, pulling into a side hug. "That you do." He squeezed her, and Evangeline sneaked an arm wound his waist, hugging him back. "You deserve a prince."
Evangeline didn't respond, eyes going back to watch them playing in the backyard, but her mind was unfocused. She didn't say it out loud, throat too tight and emotions too raw to voice out that she didn't need a prince.
She'd happily settle for someone who didn't forget her.
His kid was great.
And yeah, maybe he was a little biased, but compared to other four-year-olds(or at least, what he knew of them), Paul thought Oliver had them beat by miles.
Paul could've kicked a ball with him all day and he still wouldn't be tired of it.
Evangeline appeared on the back porch, gazing warmly at them, and it made Paul's heart swell. Sure, it was probably directed mostly at Oliver, but Paul had no problem pretending to be oblivious to that and basking on her affection.
"It's almost lunchtime, it's time to come inside and change," Evangeline told Oliver, eyes focusing on the now dirty clothes her son was wearing.
"Already?" Oliver pouted, and Paul admired Evangeline's resolve because he was about ready to do anything the kid wanted.
"Yes, but you can play with Paul another time," she told him, and Oliver quickly recovered from his disappointment, smiling at her.
"Okay! Can Paul stay for lunch?" Oliver asked enthusiastically.
Paul's eyes shot to Evangeline, and it was clear the request had taken her by surprise. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.
As much as he'd love to stay and spend more time with both of them, she didn't look too pleased with the idea. Ignoring the tightness in his chest, Paul decided to spare Evangeline from refusing their son.
"Maybe next time, kiddo," he said, and Oliver frowned, but nodded understandably, increasing Paul's adoration of him.
Evangeline was flustered, realizing he noticed her reluctance, but Paul smiled at her, hoping to convey there were no hard feelings.
Paul ruffled Oliver's hair, crouching down to better look him in the eyes.
"See you soon."
Oliver surprised him by hugging him, and Paul felt like nothing in the world compared to that.
The fact Oliver liked him, even without knowing who he was, already made him feel on top of the world, but hugging his child for the first time made him think he might shed a few tears.
He didn't resent Evangeline, he mostly resented himself for the years lost if he was honest, but there was still a sense of loss when it came to it, that he never got to see his son's first steps, first words, first smile. He'd done all of that with Paul none the wiser, and it pained him more than he ever imagined it could.
But now that he was getting to know Oliver, there would be a different set of first things, like this, the first game of soccer or a hug, things that Paul hoped with all of him that wouldn't stay only firsts.
And there was still a lot to look forward to, things Paul would be here for. Even if Evangeline didn't want him in her life, which as her imprint, he'd comply to no matter how much it hurt, Paul realized nothing, no bond forged by the universe, would keep him apart from his son now that he'd found him.
Paul headed toward his car, having said his goodbye to Evangeline, which did not involve a hug, much to his chagrin.
He heard the steps before turning around to see him, Casper calling him to wait.
Paul raised a brow at him, stopping.
"Have you heard from Leah?"
Paul chuckled. "I'm the last person you can expect to have heard from her."
Casper looked like a kicked puppy, and Paul could sympathize.
"I called her a few times, but she won't answer. Sam won't put me in patrol with her either," he said. "I don't know what to do."
"Give her time, Leah is not a fan of imprinting."
Paul couldn't help but find amusing that while Leah had coached him through his imprint, here he was, giving Casper something like advice. He probably wasn't the best person to do that.
"Yeah, I got that." Casper sighed, running a hand through his hair, which before was shoulder length, but now resembled the more closely cropped style the pack favored.
Quil had tried keeping his hair after shifting, but quickly gave up after seeing how unpractical long-ass fur on a wolf was, and no one had ever tried the same afterward.
"Talking about imprints, why haven't you told Evie that she's yours?"
Ah, Paul knew there was no way Casper wanted to talk to him just to inquire after Leah. It was no secret there was no lost love between the two of them.
"Not the right time."
Casper narrowed his eyes at him. "Really, nothing to do with not wanting to be overly involved?"
Paul inwardly cursed at however had let his initial reaction to imprint slip. He had an inkling it'd been Jake, the bastard.
"That was before," Paul countered, doing his best to keep any annoyance he was currently feeling at the baby alpha out of his voice.
"And what changed?"
"Everything."
Casper crossed his arms. "So, you now want to be with my cousin because she's the mother of your child?"
His annoyance was growing, and now a little bit directed at the guy in front of him. "What are you trying to get at?"
Casper took a breath, releasing it and shaking his head before answering. "Did your intentions toward Evangeline change from just wanting to be a friend just because Oliver is yours?"
"What? No!" Paul exclaimed. Yeah, finding out his imprint's kid was also his kid helped, it made him realize exactly what he wanted. But he liked Evangeline too, and he knew that even if Oliver turned out not to be his, he'd still want the same.
He hadn't thought that at first, not when he imprinted, but what he knew of her, made him want to know more. The imprint was a factor, but Paul was starting to think it was just the way to make him notice her and see the possibilities, that they'd be compatible. Seth's way of thinking, which before seemed to him like just wishful thinking, made more sense now.
He didn't love Evangeline, not yet. But he knew he could.
"So, you'd want to be with her even if that wasn't the case?"
"Yes," Paul answered, putting as much conviction into that single word as he could.
Casper was looking directly into his eyes, narrowed gaze boring into him.
After a few moments of silence, his expression softened and he smiled. "Good!"
Paul hadn't expected that level of change so quickly and was taken aback.
"Uh, why is that?"
"Because it means you're not a complete scumbag, and that Evangeline won't get hurt." Casper sent him a look, quickly reverting back to giving him the stink eye. "She better not."
"You've imprinted, so you knew exactly how I'd rather stab myself then purposely hurt her."
Casper shrugged. "Just making sure you know."
"Is this your way of saying you approve?"
"My approval is moot, Evie is the one that decides whether to give you a chance or not," Casper said. "But, I won't say anything against you, if that's worth something."
"Do you want a thank you for that?"
"Nah, but I'd appreciate a good word to Leah if you can."
Paul scoffed. "I'm afraid that'd have the opposite reaction than the one you want."
"Insult me in her presence then."
"That I can do."
Casper chuckled, but his face turned serious again after a few moments. "Look, honestly, even she might be loath to admit it, Evie is lonely. Her life revolves around that little boy, and although that is a very admirable quality in a mother, it's no way to live a life. I think you being around might change things."
"So, you are telling me to pursue her?"
Casper shrugged. "I'm not telling you to do anything."
As he said that, he wiggled his eyebrows, making Paul raise his in questioning. His kid had a crazy uncle, it seemed.
"See you at patrol tonight," Casper told him, saluting him and turning around to head back to the house.
Paul nodded, lost in his own thoughts, but just as he entered his car and ignited the engine, Casper's words processed.
He groaned, knowing that he was likely to get a black eye if he didn't filter his thoughts tonight, and Paul cursed Sam as he drove away.
driving school is killing me, I hate cars
well, i can't say when the next one will be up but I'll try my best to not keep you all waiting for too long
thank you for reading and have a great day wherever you are sz