Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer and the Quileute people belong to themselves.
TRIGGER WARNING: There's a prejudiced character who performs microaggressions and calls other cultures by names that may be considered offensive, though they were once common… There is a reason for this so please don't be disheartened. If this offends you, skip to the first page break (EQUINOX) or DM me for a summary or dialogue.
"This doesn't make any sense," Dr. Gerandy took off his glasses and put them back on like somehow that would change what he was seeing.
The Newton boy had been admitted to Forks Community Hospital after a suspicious incident that occurred while he was on a camping trip on the Indian reservation. According to the story told by his so-called friends, the boy seemed to have fallen while hiking a trail. Conveniently, none of them had been with him at the time. It didn't escape Dr. Gerandy's notice that the hulking young Negro who'd seen him last had a crudely bandaged fist "hit a tree" indeed.
The most troubling part of this whole incident was the boy's wounds. Sure, he had the typical injuries consistent with the sort of fall the kids who brought him in had described- concussion, broken leg, dislocated shoulder, cuts, and bruises- but there was something else. The boy was littered with bite marks. There were chunks in the meatier parts of his flesh that had been chewed through completely. Something was eating this boy alive.
"Nurse!" Dr. Gerandy summoned. He was less than impressed to see that Sue Clearwater had answered his call. "Oh, it's you."
"What do you need, Doctor Gerandy?" Sue held him in equal disdain, but she kept her composure.
"Take a look at this for me. Will ya?" He thrust the boy's palm toward her so she could see the clearly defined incision. "What does that look like to you?"
"It's a bite mark."
"Yes, but what kind?"
"It almost looks human… but it's too small for the teeth to be so well-defined."
"Exactly," Gerandy dropped the arm unceremoniously and waved off Sue's look of concern. "He's on morphine."
"He's a person."
"Start him on a round of antibiotics and run a blood panel for me. Check on his wounds to see how they're developing and keep an eye on his BP. It was a bit elevated earlier and I'd rather not have to give him mag, or anything that would sedate him when he's already unconscious," Gerandy brushed past Sue as she began tending to their patient. He stopped and turned around at the door.
"Hey, you're one of the Kill-yets, right?"
"Quileute," Sue grit her teeth.
"I just don't have your accent," he blew away her correction.
"Do you have a question?"
"The boy was found at the-" he considered attempting the word again and decided not to try, "Indian reservation. Do y'all have any animals up there that might leave a mark like that?"
"Not that I know of."
"Hmmph," Gerandy shrugged, "I guess we'll just have to ask Newton if he wakes up."
Sue glared after Dr. Gerandy before turning back to Michael with softer eyes.
"You will wake up."
-EQUINOX-
After Mike's parents arrived and they learned that his condition had been stabilized, his friends dispersed. Austin and Ben volunteered to watch the store while Tyler took Jessica and Lauren home, though the other three agreed to fill in the Newton family's later shifts. Collin had ostensibly come along to make sure Mike was alright -really he just wanted to stay close to Nerissa- and he declined Tyler's offer to drive him back to La Push.
"I'm good. I have a friend out here who can take me home." Translation: I'd rather run back in wolf form so I can check in with the Pack.
"Alright, well, thanks again, man," Tyler slapped hands with Collin and clapped him on the back before turning to his little sister "C'mon, Reese."
"Actually, I think I'm gonna hang out for a bit," Nerissa blushed. "I can walk back later."
"I can walk you home."
"Okay, see, I'm fine. You guys can go."
Her brothers exchanged a suspicious look. Ben raised an eyebrow dubiously while Tyler gave Collin a hard look up and down. Lauren wagged her eyebrows encouragingly, Austin mouthed "get it, girl," and even Jessica managed a watery half-smile. Nerissa waved them off and dragged Collin away while he reveled in the attention from his imprint.
"What do you wanna do?" Nerissa asked.
"Well, I am starving," Collin shrugged.
"I know a place."
"It's a date."
"It's not a date."
"So says you."
Nerissa rolled her eyebrows and led him to the ever-popular Sue's diner where they grabbed a booth by the window. Nerissa ordered a fish platter while Collin ordered half the menu. The waitress's eyebrows rose higher and higher as she wrote down each item on her pad.
"Okay, will that be all?"
"For now," Collin handed back the menu. "And we'd like one check, please."
The waitress scurried off to the kitchen with high hopes for her tip.
"Seriously?"
"I'm a growing boy. What more can I say?"
"I'm talking about the check."
"I told you it's a date. You do know, you're the one who decided to come out with me," Collin smirked.
"Whatever."
The bell over the diner's front door rang loudly as Sue entered. She scanned the tables looking for Charlie- they had a standing lunch date at the diner for as often as their schedules allowed. Sue spotted another familiar face first: Collin with a girl she'd seen with the group who brought Michael in after the fall and suspicious bite marks.
"Did you imprint?" Sue's whisper was loud enough for his supernatural ears.
"Oh!" Sue pressed her hands to her heart when he nodded. "Does she know? Can I meet her?"
Collin laughed and waved her over.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet," Collin explained as the older woman walked over. "Nerissa, this is Elder Sue Clearwater- she's basically the Pack mom- and Sue, this is Nerissa Cheney-Crowley, my imprint."
"Hi."
"Congratulations to you both," Sue grabbed their hands warmly and gave Nerissa's a reassuring squeeze when she read the girl's face. "You've got a good one here."
Sue linked the imprints' hands and went to join Charlie at his table. There was a parfait and a peanut-buttered English muffin waiting for her.
"Thank you, Charlie."
"Figured you missed breakfast. You were out before I even got up."
Sue sat down and kissed him, then dragged her place setting over to Charlie's side of the table so she could sit beside him. Once settled, Sue rested her head on Charlie's shoulder and closed her eyes with a sigh. She detested working the 3-11 and loathed it all the more when the shift dragged into a 12-hour shift as it had today.
"Rough day?"
"You know it."
"You wanna sleep it off at my place?" Charlie shifted to dig out his keys but Sue shook her head.
"There's some Council business I have to take care of."
It had been two years since they'd gotten together and they were still dancing around a lot of things. Neither had the key to the other's house though they spent more nights together than apart and they'd also never bothered to put a label on this evolution of their friendship. When asked, all they said was that they enjoyed one another's company. Beyond their relationship, there was also the unaddressed matter of the Pack. Charlie had seen Jake phase and, though he'd assumed that the young man's friends also wolfed out and that this was the secret his own friends were keeping, Charlie never brought it up. Sue, who knew what Charlie knew and had an inkling of what he suspected, also never brought it up. Sue had a don't ask, don't tell policy and Charlie accepted that.
"Hello, I'm Angela, I'll be taking over for Stacey, can I get you anything?"
"I'd like to try the hibiscus green tea, please."
"Iced or hot?"
"Iced please."
"And for you?"
"Coke- diet if you have it."
"Make that a cherry coke. You've been doing good," Sue patted Charlie on the leg.
He blushed and kissed her temple gratefully.
Sue stifled a chuckle. She knew that Charlie was making an effort to be healthier for her sake. She'd been deeply traumatized by Harry's death, especially since she'd done everything in her power as a nurse to keep him healthy. Sue shared this with Charlie in the early days of their relationship and, though he hadn't said much at the time (he'd always been a man of few words) Charlie took it seriously. He started incorporating exercise into his daily routine and swapping out his fatty favorites for healthier options. Today, for example, he'd ordered a turkey burger instead of beef and a garden salad instead of chili cheese fries.
"You two are so stinking cute," Angela gushed. "Sorry, I just love love."
"How long have you been working at the diner? I didn't realize you were back in Forks." Charlie cleared his throat and changed the subject. He was getting more comfortable with PDA, but it was still awkward to get caught by one of Bella's friends.
"Yeah, my mom's not doing so well, so I decided to take a year off… but this is my first week and, hopefully, my last."
"Need me to handle someone for you? I am the chief, you know."
"No, I'm good Charlie. I'm just filling in at the diner while I wait for my other job to pick up."
"What do you do?" Sue asked.
"I'm a vet tech. There's a new veterinarian clinic opening up—"
"Here?" Charlie scratched his head trying to recall whether he'd ever seen a vet on the Olympic Peninsula.
"Yeah," Angela reached under her apron to fish the business card out of her pocket. "Lucas has been rehabilitating wildlife mostly, but now he's opening up his own practice. We're just looking for a place to set up a clinic."
"Well, I hope you find what you're looking for," Sue offered warmly.
"Good luck," Charlie added with a gruff nod.
"Thanks. I'll be right back with your drinks."
Angela wondered if Bella knew about her father's romance, but of course, she'd never ask. For one thing, much like Charlie, she wasn't the type to butt in (though her questions were always brewing) and she also didn't want to bring up Bella in case she was a sore subject for the Chief. Angela hadn't seen or heard from her old friend since the Cullen wedding two years ago. She'd reached out a couple of times— to ask about the honeymoon, after her then-boyfriend Ben came out as bi, when her mom got sick— but she hadn't heard anything back and, from what Jessica had shared, no one else had either.
Charlie's police radio crackled to life as Angela walked away.
"Charlie Charlie, this is Delta Sierra. Do you read me? Over."
"Delta Mike, this is Charlie Charlie. 10-4."
"We've got a 10-91 at the station."
"10-101?"
"10-106, but it's a 10-18."
"Roger that. I'm en route."
"10-4."
"Duty calls," Charlie explained as he stood from the booth, pocketing Angela's card and exchanging it for a fifty-dollar bill.
"Stay safe," Sue wrapped him in a quick hug.
"I'll see you later?"
"I'll make dinner."
Deputy Steve was pacing anxiously outside the station when Charlie arrived.
"Chief!" Steve rushed over to the cruiser as he launched into his explanation. "We got a call from these hikers. Apparently, it'd been stalking them through the woods, so they shot in self-defense. It took three rounds- three- before it dropped."
Steve led the way over to his truck and opened it. All the blood drained from Charlie's face and bile rose in the back of his throat. There was a caged wolf panting heavily as blood pooled around it.
"Huge isn't it? Biggest one I ever seen. I'd'a put it outta misery, except what you said about managing 10-91s."
After witnessing Jake's transformation, Charlie had issued a memo for his deputies to notify him about any cases with wild animals, and especially wolves. Usually, it was just a sighting and they'd issue a warning for hikers to beware, but they hadn't caught one or shot one before. Jake's rusty color was seared vibrantly in Charlie's memory, so he knew it wasn't his godson, but something about the eyes told him it was no normal wolf.
"Thanks, Steve, I'll take it from here. "
"Alright, Chief. You want a shotgun?"
"No," Charlie balked, "I'll take it into a vet."
"Thing'll dead before you hit Lake Crescent," Steve peered dubiously into the cage.
"Give me your key. You can take the cruiser if anything comes up."
The two officers swapped keys and Steve shook his head as he watched Charlie closed the trunk back up. Charlie checked the address on Angela's card, flipped his siren on, and sped off.
-EQUINOX-
The phone was ringing. Rachel rolled over and tried to ignore it. Today was her day off and she fully intended to enjoy every single second of it. Answering the phone was not in her plans. The ringing finally stopped and Rachel sighed contentedly, burrowing into her warm blankets and willing sleep to return.
The phone started ringing again.
"PAUL!" Rachel groaned; she knew her imprint was in the house and she really did not want to have to get out of bed and answer the phone.
"I'm in with Billy, babe."
Rachel pouted and climbed out of bed, slipping into a pair of Paul's socks and slipping into one of the sweatshirts she'd adopted from him. Ever since Paul had imprinted on her, Rachel's body temperature had dropped so that she wouldn't overheat whenever he was around; unfortunately, having a permanently low body temperature meant that she was basically freezing when she wasn't in his arms.
Rachel shuffled over to the phone which was still ringing shrilly from its place on the bookshelf in the hall. She frowned at the unknown number as she lifted the phone to her ear.
"Hello," her voice was gravelly with sleep.
"Hello, this is Chief Swan from Forks PD. May I please speak to Chief Black?"
"Charlie?"
"Yes, this is Chief Swan of Forks Police Department. Is Chief Black available?"
"Um… yeah, I think so. Can you hold for a sec?"
Rachel picked up the wireless headset and went to go check on her father and fiancee. Paul was already holding Billy's door open as Billy sat in his wheelchair, hair pulled back in a wet braid. When Rachel made it over, Billy practically snatched the phone from her.
"Chief Black speaking," he barked into the phone as he rolled down the hall.
"So you heard?" Rachel asked, turning to face her shapeshifting significant other for the first time that day.
"Kinda hard not to," Paul wiggled his ears and wrapped an arm around Rachel's waist, pulling her into him.
"G'morning by the way," Rachel stood on tiptoe to plant a kiss just over Paul's clavicle, at the base of his throat. She may have been the average height for a woman, but Paul easily towered over the average man.
"You missed," Paul lifted Rachel so that she was at his eye level, "Here; try again."
Rachel gave him a proper kiss and, just as she started to really get into it, Paul pulled away.
"Don't go starting something you can't finish."
"Who says I can't?"
"Billy's making plans."
Rachel leaned her forehead against his and whined lupinely.
"Sounds like you've been spending too much time with the pack. Are you sure you're all human?" Paul chuckled as he shifted her in his arms and she locked her arms and legs around him.
"Come on girl, let's get some lunch. Sounds like it's gonna be a long day."
Paul carried Rachel into the kitchen and plopped her on the counter. He handed her a loaf of bread and she started making toast while he rummaged around the fridge.
"What's going on?"
"Situation with a wolf."
"Did somebody get arrested again?"
"Nah, a wolf got shot. Doesn't sound like any of us 'cause I haven't heard anything, but Charlie's just lookin' out."
Billy's conversation died down as Paul finished frying the spam for their sandwiches.
"Alright; I'll be there within the hour. Thanks again for calling."
Billy ended the phone with a sigh and turned to his daughter and son-in-law-to-be.
"Paul, would you let Jake know what's going on?" Paul nodded, his eyes glazing over in that trancelike way that told his observers that he was talking to his Alpha.
"Do you think it's one of our wolves?" Rachel asked.
"Charlie's observations seem spot on so far. The wolf is larger than average and it survived a gunshot wound the vet was sure would've been fatal which suggests advanced healing capabilities like that of the shifters. We'll check it out to be sure."
"Dang. Are you heading out now?"
"Soon, I have to check my sugar first."
"I'll be right back. Don't leave without me!"
Rachel darted into her room and threw on some clothes, returning just in time to lead the party out of the door. She tossed a T-shirt and flip-flops at Paul as she passed; he couldn't exactly go out in public while he was half-naked.
Rachel clambered up into the truck and started it while Paul helped Billy in; she scooted over to the middle so he could drive and then they were off.
-EQUINOX-
Leah's skin was red and healing from the punishingly hot shower where she'd tried to scrub away the angst of the day. She was irritated that the mysterious creature had gotten away from her. She may have been the fastest wolf, but Sam was the best tracker in the Pack and he'd been slow to answer the call. Realistically, Leah understood that he couldn't just leave baby Kade alone since Emily was out teaching one of her classes, but she couldn't help being annoyed.
The fact that there was yet another imprint didn't make things any better… especially considering that Nerissa, the newest imprint, was a new kind of freaky mythical creature because really, how many of the damn things were there? What the hell was a selkie anyway? And what did it say about her dead-end genes if a wolf could imprint on a seal?
The she-wolf's head shot up as tires crunched across the gravelly driveway. She'd been too deep in her own thoughts to hear most of Sue's conversation with Billy, but what she did catch had her up on her feet and in the front yard before Sue could turn off the car.
"Leah, wait!" Leah paused as Sue scrambled to yank the keys out of the ignition and unbuckle her seatbelt. "Billy, I'll see you at the Tribal Center."
"What is it, Mom?"
"I know you heard about the wolf, but Paul's already out there, so can you just check in with him? I'd like to chat with you first."
As Leah followed her mother back inside, she barged into Paul's headspace and tore him a new one for failing to contact her immediately when Charlie called.
I already told Jake, so you can miss me with that shit, Beta. We haven't even been allowed to see the wolf yet. (a long scan around the lobby)
Let me know if there are any updates.
Sure, sure.
Leah felt Paul roll his eyes before he closed the mind link firmly.
"All good?" Sue asked when Leah blinked out of her daze.
"Peachy keen," Leah sat beside her mother on the couch. "What's going on?"
"I saw Collin earlier with a kid from Forks, the Newton boy-"
"Yeah, I was there when Judah found him."
"Do you know what bit him?"
"No, I don't even know what it looked like," Leah got up and started to pace agitatedly. "It was like chasing the redhead again- all I had to go off of was a weird smell and a random birdcall."
"Really? I remember Aunt Joanie saying something about a Makah legend with a birdcall… You should ask Emily about that. I'd do it myself, but I have a Council meeting."
"Sure, sure. Can you ask Old Quil about something? Collin's imprint shifts into a seal."
"What? No! I met her earlier and she seemed so-"
"Normal?"
"I don't know why I'm surprised by this sort of thing anymore," Sue shook her head with a self-deprecating chuckle, then sighed. "Well, I suppose the legends do say that the Transformer turned several different animals into people... I wonder what else is out there?"
"Honestly, I don't wanna know, but it doesn't look like I have much say in anything."
Sue stood and took Leah's hand, offering her daughter a sympathetic smile.
"I've got to go now, but lift your head, Leah Rose, you're the first for a reason. You are strong, you are capable, you are competent. Now, be confident."
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