Chapter six. Astonishing. Quil Ateara

I sat beneath the stars, Claire curled into me, her breathing steady. She had become more and more comfortable with my second form, her fingers gripping the depths of my dark fur and stroking it with the pads of her fingers.
"You know," Claire whispered sweetly, rolling onto her stomach in one, fluid motion, "you still owe me a date, Mr. Ateara."
I made a choking sound in the back of my throat and she laughed. Beautiful, she was, beyond belief. So soft and fine, I couldn't keep myself from staring, mesmerized by everything she did, every move she made, every thing she said.
I was still in denial that she was truly mine, and to think about it made me warmer inside and out. Just to see her smile, or hear her laugh made my world a much brighter place.
"Hmmmm." She sighed, through slightly parted lips, rolling back onto her back, leaning her head on my stomach and staring up at the clear night sky.

It had been almost two months since we had become, as you could say, official. The way Claire acted or talked to me had barely changed at all, she hadn't changed at all, despite the kisses and cuddles I longed for when she wasn't in my arms.

It was a rare occasion that we got time alone, which made it all that much more special when we did. I love her, in all meaning, she's my everything, I thought as I watched her rip apart a delicate blade of grass, concentrating on its destruction.

I barked a laugh and caught Claire by surprise, interrupting our deathly silence. She jumped and shrieked and her reaction made me laugh even more.
"Quil!!" Claire cried and I dodged away from her playful slap directed at my head, "that was so not funny!"
I lay back down next to her, cautiously, and she leaned into my side once again, resting her head into my fur.
My sensitive nostrils told me Claire had used her vanilla hair shampoo today. She smelt almost edible, but I shuddered away from that thought. Even is I knew I would never touch her in anyway to hurt her, no matter what form, Sam had thought the same.

Though, no one had judged him for that, and the same would go for me, but I couldn't bare the thought of not being the one to protect her from such evil, but to be the one who dealt it, I would not be able to live with myself.

I watched her grow up, saw her innocence, bravery and the way she strived to be unique. Claire was unlike anyone I'd ever known. He beauty was much more than the kind on the surface, it was far more complex than that and shone in so many ways. She was so full of life, and eager to learn more about aspect of life. Claire cared so much about the people around her, she never thought badly about anyone unless she really had a reason to. I admired her so much and I loved to see her smile, it was the light in my darkness.

Why should she, a creature of such beauty, be subjected to love me. I wondered, if she'd any other choice, who she would love. That person would be the luckiest alive to have a heart of someone so pure and kind.
But, it was me, she loved. Me she kissed and hugged. That made me the happiest and luckiest man alive. I looked over at Claire, her bright eyes were closed and her breathing was deep. She had fallen asleep in the comfort of my chest. I nudged her gently with my wet nose, the vanilla scent stronger against her skin.
"Mmmm?" she tossed restlessly and her eyes fluttered open, "home time?" Claire mumbled, still half asleep.

I stood up swiftly and she collapsed onto the ground. Rolling my eyes I managed to slide her onto my back and I ran as fast as possible, without moving Claire too much. I felt her tiny hands instinctively grip clumps of my fur as I ran through the forest, dodging the huge trees with ease. It was full moon tonight, ironically enough.

Once I saw the opening leading to Claire's house I slowed, easing Claire off my back gently, trying not to wake her. I changed my form, the bones in my body adjusting, then grabbed the pants tied to my calf and wrenched them on, glancing at Claire to make sure she slept on.
I pulled her into my arms and cradled her against my chest, kissing her forehead gently. I climbed the tree outside her window in quick, fluid movements, leaping gracefully into her room and landing on the balls of my feet. I looked down to see that she was still asleep, comfortable against the heat of my burning skin.
Triumphant that I had managed such a task, I lay Claire on her bed, taking off her shoes and Jacket before slipping her under the covers. I lay on top of the quilt covering her bed, my arm draped over her, careful so she didn't over heat.
"Good night my Claire, my angel."

Early that morning I crept silently to Claire's window, sliding it open gently, only to then swiftly make my way to the frosty ground below.
It was a crisp, Monday morning and Claire would be waking to her alarm clock in around an hour. She had been very restless last night, it kept me awake for most of it. Claire was a fairly deep sleeper, which was really quite dangerous, I thought. She'd sleep through anything, a fire alarm, or a break and enter. The limits were truly endless, and it scared me half to death.

I padded quickly into the forest and started my short walk home. I was hungry and I hoped dad would be up and making his daily morning fry. It seemed no matter what I ate, I kept a reasonably fit body, pact with muscles. Really nothing to complain about. It was the same for everyone else in the pack. Probably due to some weird wolf gene or what not, or the amount of effortless running we did while in the forest.

Didn't really care, point was, I could eat to my bloody hearts content and not gain a morsel of fat. Though, It was pretty hard to fill a pack of fully grown werewolves up.

I let myself into the house, and I could hear dad whistling and as I sniffed the air I could smell the most delicious scent. Even taste the bacon and eggs in my mouth. Drooling slightly, I called out. "Dad, make extra, I'm starved!"
I heard him laughing in the kitchen, "Same as always then, never nothin' wrong with your appetite, boy."
"Hah, It'd be a worry if there was!" I laughed, trudging down the narrow hallway to my room. Dad had pulled back the dark blue curtains that hung from either side of the one window, so that the warm light streamed onto my un-made bed.
"There's new shoes out here for you, Quil." Dad yelled. It'd have to be the fifth pair I'd been through this month.

I opened my closet and pulled out my last remaining black hooded sweatshirt, slipping it over my head.
My messy black hair swept to my shoulders, which was as long as I intended to grow it, so it wouldn't become an inconvenience while I morphed.

"

Come and get it, Quil!" and with that I sprinted down the hallway and into the kitchen, taking my seat as the chair scaped along the tile floor.
We both ate in silence for awhile, till Dad set his knife and fork down on his plate and leaned in toward me.
"What've you got planned for the day, boy?" He asked, watching as I scoffed down the remainders of the eggs an hash browns, "seeing Claire?"
I contemplated for a second, pushing my plate away and giving a loud long burp before answering, "Yeah, might take her out after she's finished school.."
Dad raised his eyebrows and cocked his head to one side, "Out to dinner?"
"Mmmm," I mumbled, "I owe her big time."
He shook his head in disbelief and began to clear the table.
"What about you? any plans, old man?" I inquired, chuckling as Dad walked past and smacked the back of my head.
"OW!"

Dad had his turn to laugh now as I sat slouched in my chair, rubbing the back of my head. "Your grandfather is holding a council meeting at noon today, and of course, I am expected to attend." he explained, rolling his eyes as he put the dishes on the bench and I lumbered after him to put the salt and pepper shakers away.

Both my grandfather Quil and dad were on the council. Everyone in the small, reservation knew about La Push's dirty little secret. If it weren't for them, Sam, the first in the new pack to begin the change, wouldn't have made it through the first month. He had no family support like the rest of us did, no one who had any idea on what he was going through.

"Well," I said, cracking the bones in my fingers and yawning loudly, "I think I'll go give Jake a visit, see how he's hanging in."
Dad made a tuttering sound from where he stood at the sink washing the last of the glasses, "That boy is too hard on himself, it was that stupid girls own foolish choice that lead her astray like that, not his."

At that moment, I hoped my eyes burned a deep hole in his back. I had never thought of the Cullen's as a threat or dangerous toward us or humans. Infact, I found the way they chose to live their immortal lives admirable.
But, I wasn't about to put up a fight with my dad, who stood about an inch or so taller than myself, and defend the Leeches.

Sahera Ateara was a tank. Not literally, obviously, but he might as well have been. My father was bulkier and broader than me, his scalp was bald and his skin a dark tanned tone like my own.

I left the house soon after that, spending the rest of the warm day at Jakes. When two forty five finally came around I began to walk toward La Push's pathetic excuse for a high school, then waited outside patiently, listening for the bell to go off.

When it did a sea of kids began pouring out the gate, yelling and shouting, happy to be out of school. Every now and then I would see a familiar face, La Push was too small to not know everyone, but none of them mattered when Claire came into my view, grinning like mad as she bounded toward me in an elegant way. She was dressed for summer, in a Ramones tee shirt and small, small white shorts. Claire's long tousled hair was drawn back off her face with an immense amount of bobby pins and the hair that was out fell around her slight shoulders in loose curls.

Her eyes lit up, the way they always did when she saw me, as she hurried to my side and pressed herself against me.
"Whoa, public display of affection, divert your eyes!" I said, chuckling and hugging her closer to my chest.
"You love it." Claire said, pulling away and adjusting her back pack onto the other shoulder.

My pocket, at that moment, vibrated loudly. Mum had insisted I keep a phone with me at all times. Just because I could morph into a big, hairy, tonne beast doesn't mean her didums can't get into little situations. It was handy to keep in contact with Jake too while we couldn't hear each others thoughts.

Claire sighed and began walking. I grabbed her small, delicate wrist in my over sized hand and tugged her back, pressing the phone to my ear.
"Talk"
"Hah, nice." Came a growl from the other end of the line.
"Paul?"
"Yeah, dude, its insanely hot, and Embrys here. Meet at the beach?"
"When did Embry get here?!" I cried, Claire's grin grew bigger across her heart shaped face.
"This morning," Paul explained, "he is staying with me."
"Oh right."
"So, you keen?"
Paul seemed genuinely happy, and there was no need to break his good mood, "sure, why not." I agreed, my eyes locking with Claire's as I gave her a wide smile. Her eyes sparkled in the light and she smiled back, taking a firm grip of my hand.
"Aiight, dude, see you soon!" Paul half yelled into the phone with excitement.
I shut the phone off and stuffed it back into my pocket.

"Everyone's going to the beach, think your up for it?" I said, walking hand in hand with Claire down the street, the sun burning down on my skin.
"Sure, why not.." She said, repeating my words and giving a half hearted smile.

"What's wrong?" I asked, squeezing her tiny hand.
"Nothing, nothing, I just hoped we'd get a little alone time, is all." She answered quickly, smiling up at my to show off her gleaming white teeth against the rosy pink of her lips.
I instantly felt guilty, "I'm sorry, Claire, how bout this weekend, just you and me go into the city? No interruptions, and I'll take you up on that dinner?"
Claire's smile grew bigger, "Okay!"
"Its settled then." I said, smiling back and tapping the tip of her button nose with my finger.

We walked to her house, so that Claire could drop off her bag and get her bathing suit. The we picked up the car and drove up to first beach.
In the distance, I could already see Leah and Embry splashing in the water. It shone and gleamed down like crystals and the sand and stones were an array of brilliant colours.
As we walked down Sam, Emily, Seth and Paul all became visible, sitting on a piece of driftwood that had been lodged into the sand facing the ocean. Claire skipped and twirled as she sped toward Emily.
"Ahhh, its the young lovers." She exclaimed as I caught Claire before she tripped face first into the sand, because of a non - existent bump on the flat surface.
"Quil?!" A deep, gruff voice yelled out. Embry sprinted from the water. His hair still long, was tied at the nape of his neck and he hadn't changed much from his gangly form. He lunged at me, missing Claire by mere inches, tackling me to the ground.
"Embry!" I cried, hauling us both from the ground with ease. Embry gave me a big grin, he was almost jumping with pure excitement.
He turned toward Claire, who stood at my side, and as usual she was absolutely radiant with a happy, joyful glow.
"Claire?" Embry questioned, "Jeez its only been a year! look how much you've grown!"
"Its good to see you again, Embry." She said, in her sweet chiming voice, taking my hand in her own and giving it a sharp squeeze that was barely noticeable.
Embry noticed this though, "So, she knows?"
"Yep." I nodded, squeezing Claire's hand back.
Embry chuckled, "You're in on the secret now, there's no going back!"
The afternoon swept by, everyone happy to be together and having fun. But, I could sense something was off.

* * *

Claire Young.

I tied my hair back off my face, sliding pins in to hold it secure and in place.
Tonight was the night Quil had promised to take me out. I had no idea where he would be taking me, so, I had kept my clothing casual and simple, but nice. My skirt flowed to just above my knees and the black tank top fitted snugly to the curve of my torso. I carried my matching black jacket... In case the weather turned nasty like it usually did.

I looked at my watch and it told me I still had another hour to wait. With a sigh I lay back on my floor, staring up at nothing in particular, and enjoying the last of the sunlight on my bare legs.

I closed my eyes and hummed the tune I'd had stuck in my head all day, but, suddenly, the light and sun vanished. I opened my eyes, only to see a massive figure standing over my head.
"Oh!" I yelped in surprise, Quil grunted back, and I could instantly tell this wasn't a pleasant call, "you're not supposed to be here for another hour? what if I had been naked?"
He didn't laugh at my joke, just grunted again.
"What're you doing here then?"
"Leah imprinted."
"Yeah, I know."
Quil hesitated, "You knew?"
Now I hesitated, "..yes?"
"Didn't you think to tell me?" Quil half shouted, and as I result, I flinched and his anger disappeared as quickly as it had come, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Claire."
I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled at him. I knew he was just under stress, Quil never lost his temper with me if he didn't have a good reason to.
He sighed dramatically.
"She's run off," He explained and my heart began to thump in my chest, my eyes growing wide, " I have to help with the search.. I'm going to have to postpone our date."
Now, it was my turn to sigh as I stared up at the ceiling again.
"I'm sorry." I heard him whisper as he lay next to me.
"Not your fault," I whispered back, taking Quil's hand gingerly in my own, "don't be sorry."

We lay in silence for awhile, our hearts beating thuds were the only things I could hear. His hammered with consistency, slowly, but not too slow. It could have been the single, most beautiful sound I had ever heard.

"I have to go now, Claire." Quil said gently, stroking his hand against my cheek. It burned as if he had a hot, raging fever.
He searched over my face, his brows pulling close together, full of concern, "I'll be back later tonight, get your school work done."
I smiled at Quil, "You sound like my mom."
He chuckled softly, taking his hand off my face - which now burned red hot - and gliding toward the window, "I love you." He said tenderly, and without saying another word, he leaped from the sill he crouched upon. I heard a light thud as he hit the ground.
"I love you too." I whispered into the darkness.

I spent the rest of the night doing my biology homework, not that I actually gave a toss about how thick cardiac muscle was, or whether it was voluntary or involuntary in movement. But, Quil had asked me too.. and it passed the time quicker than it would have if I had done nothing.

Mom and Chloe had gone out to the Clearwater's for dinner, thinking I'd be out for tea with Quil. So, naturally, I had to fend for myself in the kitchen. I ended up making fried chicken. The food sizzled and spat in the pan as I tossed it and turned it, making sure it was cooked all the way through.

Once the food was settled on my plate I sat on the living room floor, reaching over to snap the television to life. It flickered, then the news appeared on the small box.
I had already read the paper this morning. The only headline that caught my eye said..

LIFE SUCKED FROM WITHIN

The eye catching front page was.. almost haunting. Of course, that was exactly the effect they wanted. As I read further, I realized they were dead right..

47 year old Jaime Greensworth was found dead this morning in Port Angeles, behind a dumpster in an alleyway just off Jares street. His body looked beyond untouched, aside from the huge rip down the victims throat..

I stopped reading for a second, acid like bile rising in my mouth. Was the graphic detail really necessary? I thought, clutching my throat. Once I had recovered I carried on reading the small print down the page.

.."The situation is disturbing," Officer Dalender reports, "all blood drained from the body entirely. Not a drop spilled, though, the gash in Greensworth's neck is deep and would, should, have made a god awful mess."
The information is disturbing, Greensworth family are absolutely mortified by what has over come them. Mourning their loss, they had no comment when we tried to talk to them.
Police suspect that we could be undergoing a situation very like what happened not so long ago. A huge amount of deaths dealt with the same way, but were stopped abruptly. The person who was behind the killing was never caught, but after this very recent, troublesome news, the case is officially re-opened.
"The victims neck almost looks as though he has been bitten and ripped, this burst a very vital artery, which would have caused alot of blood to be spilled," Medical consultant, Dr Jaraney told us, "scary thought, as there was no blood found at the site of death."
There is always the thought, maybe he was moved after his death. Though the body shows no evidence of being dragged, it could be possible...

I stopped reading after that again. Whoever the reporter had been, really had it in for the gory details. I felt a wave of sympathy for the mans family. But, my main concern was what had been the killer.

I knew, and it made sick inside, my stomach knotted and tightened as I thought of the enemies of my home town, of my people, so close to us. A chilling shiver ran down my spine. I suddenly craved Quil's comforting embrace, his warm skin and sweet, husky scent.

I tried desperately to push away the thought, but it was impossible. Quil was permanently etched into my mind. I stared out through the light, netting curtain into the dark night. My thoughts on the wolf pack I loved so much, and the wolf I loved so much more.