The day I met Claire changed my life forever. It was a sunny day, which was unusual for La Push, where it seemed like the land was covered in a constant rain cloud. I was emerging from the woods with my pack brothers, laughing and talking, just like we normally would on the way to Sam and Emily's house. The glorious smell of home cooking was becoming more and more present as we got closer to our alpha's house, which had become more of a second home to all of us since we first phased.
We all squeezed into the comforting house and plopped down on couches and chairs, all chattering about different things. I heard noises of two little girls playing from the other room and for some reason was drawn to it, but chose to ignore it.
Suddenly a little head bobbled into the living room, in the direction of Emily. Emily turned, and picked up the little girl, mumbling baby talk to her. Now talking in a normal voice said aloud to the pack, "I'm watching my sisters daughters for the weekend while they are out of town." It seemed like nobody was really paying any attention to Emily and the little girl except me, and I couldn't understand why. "Everybody, this is Claire, Claire, this is everybody." Emily said in a now louder voice. All the heads in the room turned to the little girl and a chorus of 'Hi Claire' erupted throughout the house. Claire shyly tucked her head into Emily's shoulder and murmured "Hi evwerybowdy" in the smallest voice possible. Everyone around me chuckled and laughed, but over all moved on.
Claire jumped down and started walking in my direction to go back to the playroom, when she tripped right in front of me. Emily was already on her way over, but I immediately held out my hand to help her up. She turned to me, blinking her large brown eyes in my direction. As our eyes met, all of the noise and movement around me seized and it felt like Claire and I were the only two people in the world.
She was so beautiful. Her brown hair was sticking up all over the place looking adorable. She was wearing bright blue overalls with a striped tee shirt and crocs. The blue contrasted beautifully with her copper skin.
It felt like we stayed like that for a while, but suddenly Emily said suspiciously "Claire.. This is Quil." Claire just looked over at Emily and nodded, and quietly said what sounded like it was supposed to be Quil, but sounded more like 'Twil'.
Emily's eyes suddenly widened, and she called out for Sam. All of the sudden I felt heads turn and eyes on me. Sam came over to me and said "Quil, what's going on…". I couldn't really answer at the moment so Emily said in a quieter voice, "I know that look, what am I supposed to do.. I can't just.. Sam!" Sam seemed to have copied the face that Emily had previously had, like something had clicked in his brain. He said in his loud, booming voice, "Quil, outside, now." It snapped me out of my daze and immediately my legs were walking out the door.
Once I was outside, my mind cleared a little and I was able to think about what had just happened. "Quil, what just happened?" Sam said, and I turned to look at him with a confused and frustrated look on my face.
"I don't exactly know.." I thought hard for a second. "Wait, did I just.." It clicked.
I had imprinted. On a three year old.
"I think you did." Sam said in a sure, yet subtle way as he could see I was trying to figure everything out. "Phase." He ordered. "What? Why?" I asked.
"So I can see what your intentions are with my niece." he answered simply. "What?! Do you think I'm some creepy pedophile who is in love with a three year old?!" I almost yelled at him.
"I can't be sure of anything until I see for myself." I phased, bitterly and he saw what I felt for Claire, and how I just wanted to be around her, and I loved her like her own father would.
"What does this mean?" I asked him when I was back to my human skin, in almost a frightened way. "Well, I don't really know, this has never happened, nobody has imprinted on anyone this young before," he answered me with a puzzled look on his face. "I guess we just figure out a way for you to spend as much time with her as her parents allow."
"Her parents!" I forgot completely about her parents. "What if they think I'm creepy and want to take her away!" I said, completely scared that I would never get to see Claire.
"Calm down Quil" Sam said in an sympathetic tone, "I am sure we can explain to Jeff and Molly what happened, and everything will be okay." I nodded, calming down a little bit. Still, telling a three year olds parents that a sixteen year old loves their daughter is nerve racking!
All of the sudden, I heard Claire crying from inside the house, and my heart broke into a million pieces. Sam looked at me, nodding his head, silently telling me I could go in the house and follow what every instinct in my body was telling me to do.
He followed me into the house and everyone looked at me suspiciously, like I was going to grab Claire and run at any second. "Calm down guys, it will be fine." Sam said and everyone noticeably settled down a little. Emily rushed over as Sam said "Quil imprinted on Claire, and right now, all he wants to do is be with her." Emily's expression softened, and she gave me a quick hug before she brought me over to Claire.
"Claire, like I said before, this is Quil. He is one of your Uncle Sam's friends" she said sweetly. Claire nodded and reached up for me. I looked over at Emily and she gave permission with her eyes. I slowly reached down and picked up this small angel. She lifted up her hand and placed it on my cheek, sending warmth through my face. "Twil." she said again, this time with certainty.