Chapter One

She was illuminated by the orange flames. Her pink lips parted to give way to her breath as she sang softly, giving herself completely to the music. She was her own universe, orbiting around the bon fire. Spinning round and round, drawing anyone nearby into her gravity. Her long hair, dark as black can be, fell in loose curls down her shoulders. When she moved, he moved.

Paul couldn't keep his eyes off her. He was caught in mid sip of his beer when his eyes—wandering the gathering that formed yearly at the beach—landed on her. It was the way she moved, like the waves that crept up the shore. Ebbing and flowing. Her eyes closed, seemingly guided by the music that flowed from the boom box propped on a stump. She was the verb of movement in perfect view. Her arms stretched out, reaching, her fingers softly skimming the breeze blowing at the damp part of her neck. The scent of her caught him off guard, and for a moment he closed his eyes and savoured an unusual sensation that burst inside him.

Who are you? He thought.

A hand slapping his shoulder brought him back to reality and the music had stopped. She was gone.

"Hey Paul, what's up with you?"

Paul glanced over his shoulder and scrutinized the childish face, stretched cheerfully into a smile. "Nothing much Seth, just enjoying the party." His deep voice was barely audible as a new song came on.

Seth leaned against the tree beside Paul as they watched people sing and dance to the new beat. They don't move like her. No one moved like her. The night air was still comfortably warm for the beginning of September. The sky was clear, revealing the brilliant stars, dusting the heavens above. He could feel himself subconsciously looking for the girl, with a flowy skirt, and cropped yellow top, a chain of daisies braided into her hair. Who are you? He thought again.

"Can I-?"

"No, you're fifteen." Paul finally brought the cup fully to his lips, quenching his thirst.

With a tilt of his head, he finished his beverage with one gulp and crushed the cup in his fist. He kicked up at the sand absentmindedly, tossing twigs and stones away to the beat of another song. Seth examined the man. He was muscular. Though he wasn't bulky, since he was one of the tallest guys in their group. A sharp, strong jaw, straight, pointed nose, and eyes that seemed to stare past you. He knew many on the beach found Paul handsome, in a threatening way. Even with the physical allure, it was his ill-tempered personality that kept everyone at bay. Did it ever bother him? Did he care that other people tip-toed around him, or was the pack enough for him?

Seth's face lit up and he waved over Paul's face, directing his gaze to a group of equally tanned men. If he weren't a part of his tight-knit pack, he would have thought what surely everyone thought. Clones of clones. They all had similarly cropped, dark hair. Although styled differently, from afar they probably blended together in a mass of lean muscle, and caramel skin.

"Couldn't find a spot closer to the party Lahote?"

Paul ignored his Alpha. Clenching and unclenching his jaw. He was transfixed in his thoughts. Who was she? Where'd she go? Seth gave the men slaps of the hand and embraced each one. Although Paul never admitted it, he enjoyed the company of the young man. He never pried too much into his thoughts. Never asked more than Paul was willing to say. Which was never much. Their voices seemed to irritate him. He scratched behind his ear, whether to drown out their laughs or his own thoughts. He could feel his own dark cloud loom over him, never knowing what brought on these moods, but never tried enough to get rid of them.

"Hey, I-uh-, I'm going to get another beer."

He walked closer to the people congregating by the fire. The music grew louder as he walked up to the keg buried halfway into the sand. His fingers gripped his crumpled plastic cup and he wondered why he crumpled it in the first place. As carefully as he could, he tried to smooth out the creases. It was no use. There was a crack. A rumble vibrated through his chest.

"Here."

An olive skinned hand held out a full cup of beer. Paul froze, and looked to his right to see who the hand belonged to, though he could smell her. He looked down at her, a quick smile flitted over his face as he stared into her round eyes, twinkling back at him. Her thick eyebrows raised, as she nudged the beer closer to him.

"Um, thanks." Was all he could manage.

There was something about her. The soft smell of bergamot, or the way their fingers brushed as he took hold of the drink. Something squirmed inside his chest. He was breathing a little heavier. He couldn't place what he was feeling. Nerves?

Her gray eyes watched him playfully as they both brought their cups to their lips. With a quick smile and a pat on his arm she turned and was swallowed up by a crowd of Fork's high school citizens.

"Wait-," Paul spluttered on his beer. What's your name?

Paul had downed his beer and grabbed another before he headed back to the group of rowdy boys, sitting by the line of trees. Drowning his embarrassment in another gulp, he flopped beside Seth and ruffled his hair. There was no point in pursuing. But his heart was still pumping heavily with every thought of her.

"Who were you talking to over there?"

Paul leaned back on his elbows; his face expressionless as he regarded the young man across from him. Short, black hair, ink tracing intricate patterns on his shoulder, and the traces of boyish charm near the jawline.

"Who knows Jake?" Paul quipped. But seriously, who knew?

He shook his head, trying to clear all thoughts of her and listened in on the conversation. It was mostly light. Quick chirps from everyone, little digs here and there as for the first time, everyone was able to relax. It did feel good to have everyone around again. After several weeks of tension, sides being chosen, wolves at the ready, Paul felt at peace. He laid down on his back, the soft sand cushioning his heavy head from the booze, and soon drifted off with the sounds of his brethren laughing.

A scream rang through the night. The trees bowed to the wind. The scent of blood in the air.