Chapter Nine - The Gift

Her tight hold around me eased the tension in my gut. I took my time with the bike on our route to my parents. Plus, I enjoyed hearing her laugh at each sharp turn. She was secretly a daredevil, I could tell. I reminded myself that I would have to take her to the cliffs off La Push for enjoyment.

She released bubbles of giggles when she saw the miniature red house. "This is where you grew up? I love it, Ephraim. It's so cozy and quaint."

"If that's your code for tiny and old, it is. But I was never bothered by it. A lot of great memories here with my parents, especially playing soccer with my gramps in the yard."

She couldn't stop smiling and I caught on to her sincerity. There wasn't anything about her that I couldn't resist.

"Come on, I'll take you out back. My Dad built a picnic shelter for my Mom since she loves to entertain. I'm sure that's where the party will be."

"Party? I thought it was just dinner?"

"You don't understand my Mom. When she invites a guest over, the entire clan gets invited."

Ephraim could tell Ashling felt a little uneasy. Why wouldn't she be? She was in Quileute territory and the only vampire on land right now, but there would be hell to pay if anyone tried anything on her.

"Hey, don't worry. I've got you covered."

"I don't think your human powers are going to be able to save me from a pack of wolves."

"You're right, but that's the advantage of being son to the queen."

I took her hand and directed her to follow me. We walked to the backyard and I heard her gasp.

"Ephraim, it's so different back here. So elegant and such an enchantress forest."

"Yeah, my Mom spends too much time with DIY projects."

All the lights provided a warm glow of a path to the picnic shelter. The fragrance from the wild flowers created a welcoming aromatic vibe. I couldn't stop staring at how Ashling's eyes lit up at each turn, but the lighting did look amazing against her porcelain skin. I decided to pluck a wild lily and without her seeing it, I placed it behind her ear. If she could blush, she would have.

"Thank you. It's lovely."

"Not as lovely as the lady wearing it."

Her dimples deepened with my remark and she couldn't hide her grin.

"Come on. Let's get roasted and get this over with."

I could hear the sudden silence and all eyes directing at me, but more so towards Ashling. I pulled her closer to me.

"I'm ok, Ephraim."

My mom came out of nowhere, "Let's not be rude to our guest. It's not like she bites, well, at least not tonight."

Leave it to my mom to break the odd silence. She walked up to us and gave me a hug.

"Ashling, I'm so glad you were able to come tonight. I was afraid Ephraim was going to talk you out of it."

"Actually, he did. How did you know he would?"

"He's my son. I know everything about him including all the right and wrong decisions he'll make."

There, it's starting already. I rolled my eyes and pulled Ashling's hand so we could converse with someone else. Unfortunately, that someone else was my Dad. I bumped right into his massive steel body. I guess that was the only thing I was looking forward to if I ever phased into a wolf.

"Dad."

"Hey, why the rush?"

"Dad, this is Ashling. Ashling, my Dad."

"It's so nice to meet you, Mr. Black."

"Likewise. I hope we won't scare you away. Sorry for the dramatic dinner, but Nessie has a way of turning boring into dramatic."

"Nessie?"

I rolled my eyes again, "That's my Dad's nickname for my Mom."

"Aww. That's so endearing. Are you going to bestow a nickname on me, Ephraim? I'm sorry, Mr. Black, I'm a hopeless romantic and find that so captivating."

"Not sure Ephraim has the romance blood running through his veins."

"Thank you for the forewarning."

My dad and her were both laughing at my expense. I couldn't believe this. I was supposed to be protecting Ashling tonight from my parents, and she was ganging up on me.

"Appreciating all this conversation in front of me."

Ashling wrapped her arms around my shoulder and pouted her lips, "I'm sorry. It's appealing to learn so much about you within ten steps into your home."

"Sorry, Dad. We're going to sit by the bonfire for a bit."

He stepped aside and directed his hand out towards the bonfire. "Please enjoy yourselves tonight. Ashling, it was a pleasure meeting you."

"Thank you, Mr. Black. Same here."

Ashling and I headed towards the bonfire, and I could hear my parents mumbling to each other. Ashling chuckled at their conversation. I realized she could hear what they were saying.

"So what are they saying?"

"Don't you think it's rude eavesdropping?"

"You listened."

"It isn't eavesdropping if you can hear it clearly. Besides, you probably don't want to know."

I stopped myself from walking any further, and she almost ran into me. I looked at her, "It's probably something I've heard before. It's always the same thing. Let me guess, they were talking about you with me and imprinting."

She bit her bottom lip and looked down at the ground then at me, "Actually, they said you don't realize how easy you've got it."

I don't know how many times I've already rolled my eyes tonight. What was that supposed to mean? Each time they kept warning me, now they say it's going to be easy. I took in a deep breath then we finally finished our way to the bonfire.

It was the usual gang. Sara immediately embraced Ashling and went a hundred miles per hour talking about how much I've changed since meeting Ashling.

Emma still didn't trust Ashling, but I didn't care. She kept her distance from Ashling. Paco decided to join us too. I missed that crazy guy.

"Ashling, this is Paco. He's my somewhat bodyguard."

"Bodyguard?"

Paco gave Ashling a hug as if he'd known her his whole life. "It's so nice to finally meet you, miss."

I tapped him on the shoulder, "Paco, what's wrong with you? Cool it."

Ashling thought it was odd too. Either way, we all sat and caught up on the fiasco that happened at the pub. They were intrigued at the notion that I handled two vampires alone. I didn't have an explanation, but having vampires as enemies meant one thing, Quileutes would begin phasing into wolves.

It wasn't something I wanted to hear. It wasn't something I wanted as my fate. With my quick temper, I grabbed Ashling's hand and we left the bonfire.

"We'll be back."

I paced myself as fast as I could towards the house with her dragging along.

"Ephraim, where are we going?"

"There's something I want to give you. It's in my room."

"Okay." She was confused but came along since she had no choice.

Once inside my room, I dug through my top drawer and found the small box. I carefully pulled it out and handed it to her.

"What is this, Ephraim?"

"It's a gift. That's all. I want you to have it."

She gently pulled the lid off the box and smiled at what she saw. "It's beautiful."

She pulled out the bracelet and handed it to me so I could clasp it on for her.

"The details are so ornate."

"I, ugh, tried to make it different and unique cause I thought it should match the person."

"Wait? You made this? Ephraim." Her eyes lit up which made them twinkle.

"You don't have to say anything. Just keep it."

"I don't know what to say. Thank you."

I heard my Mom calling us for dinner, so we stepped outside to join everyone else. Her cooking was always splendid, but then I realized Ashling couldn't eat anything. Somehow she knew and held onto my hand, "It's okay. I'm fine."

Ashling went ahead and sat down at the table while I finished grabbing my plate of food. Emma noticed the bracelet on Ashling. She got up from her chair and pointed at Ashling's hand, "Where did you get that?"

Ashling didn't realize Emma was talking to her, but everyone followed where Emma's finger was pointing and noticed the bracelet.

"It was a gift."

"From who?"

"Ephraim."

"It doesn't belong to you. That's now how the bracelet works."

"What are you taking about?" Ashling seemed confused.

I got to the table as fast as I could before everything would get out of control.

Sara stood up and got in between Emma and Ashling. "Emma, it's up to Ephraim to decide who to give it to."

Ashling wanted to know the truth, so she asked Sara. "Just tell me the truth please."

That's when I heard my Mom jump in.

"Quileute shape shifters are destined to imprint. Meaning their one true love is already selected for them without their consent, without their control. Once it happens, both will feel the pull and never cease the bond. The bracelet binds them together. It may seem like a small token of affection, but the maker of the bracelet created it just for the one they've imprinted on."

I interrupted my mom, "And that's if a Quileute turns into a wolf. Not all Quileutes do therefore forfeiting the bondage of them belonging to someone."

I looked at my mom with disappointment, "How could you do this? This was the reason why I didn't want to bring her here. You can't just leave me alone."

I grabbed Ashling's hand and we started leaving, but my Mom had more to say.

"Ephraim. Let's talk about this in private."

"I'm not going to involve Ashling in all this."

We kept walking but she was in front of our path already.

"This does involve Ashling."

"Mom, I don't want to say this, but you've lost it. You're really going to use her to get to me?"

We both walked passed her, but my Dad was leaning on my bike with my keys in his hand. Damn it.

"Hear us out, Ephraim."

Ashling took my hand and with her strength she stopped me from walking further. She stared at me with her innocent eyes. I'm sorry I ever brought her here. She quietly whispered to me, "Maybe we should listen. The last thing I want to do is disappoint the Queen."

"She's just my Mom, Ashling."

Ashling nodded her head. She was in disagreement with me. Giving in, I took a step back and faced my Mom.

"Alright. Say whatever it is that you have to say."

My Mom's breathing got deeper and my Dad came to her side. "I think it's best if we all sit down inside."

It didn't bother me where we would be, but we walked into the house and sat in the living room. Ashling felt nervous and still held onto my hands. The guilt I felt was overwhelming. She didn't deserve this.

My parents looked as if they've been waiting for their confession to come to fruition.

"Ephraim, your Dad and I have been constantly on you about imprinting because we already knew it was going to affect you one day. I know you don't remember, but as a baby you've been able to communicate with us by providing us with visions of the future."

"What?"

"As you got older your powers subsided. For us, it was a good thing because we weren't familiar with all your gifts and one gift in particular, we feared it may cause you harm. Your grandmother died because of that very same gift. So to protect you, we cloaked your gift. Somehow, whether it's coincidence or meant to be, your power diminished."

"What does this have to do with Ashling or imprinting?"

"Ephraim, you introduced us to Ashling years ago."

"What?"

"Not physically in person, but through your visions as a baby, you showed me who she was and who she would become."

"Become what?"

"Ephraim, Ashling is your imprint."

A/N: Thank you to those who have remained to read. I apologize for the late posting but I'm still here! I'm also more active too so please be patient as I will continue this story. I adore this story and hope you will too. Please vote if you like this chapter. It would mean the world to me!

-kl