Reservations: A Twilight Fanfiction
Disclaimer: I do not own Stephanie Meyers 'Twilight'. If I did, I would have made it from the Shifter's perspective rather than the Vampire's if you get what I mean.
NOTE: I apologise for any confusion in regards to the first chapter of this story. After the second break ( '' ), the story does skip time and Carter is 16. This chapter she is 17. Now, on with the story. Oh, and I haven't really imagined Carter in too much detail. The basics are as follows: she's 5" tall (good old shorties), has olive skin (much like the Quileutes) and has long, black hair. Yeah, yeah, I know, completely generic but I'm not all that great on describing people.
It had been a year and a half before Paul Lahote shifted into a giant wolf, but Sam was ready for it. He replayed the memory of Carter assisting him in calming down and shifting back into a human, along with his own experiences and how he was able to shift back now.
"You saw my memories. That's about all there is to say. "
Sam had been worried about this one. Not only was Paul the first person he had to help, the boy was notorious amongst the residents of La Push as being a hot-headed, troubled teen. Anger was the trigger for shifting and Sam thought he'd have his work cut out for him with this one. Instead Paul sat beside him in the kitchen of his house, perfectly calm. There had only been a brief moment where the young man may have been surprised but he accepted what had happened almost immediately.
"Where is she?" Paul asked. He'd been fixated on the image of a girl beckoning the Alpha wolf to join her where she sat. There was something about her; he was eager to meet her.
"Who?"
"The one who helped you, where is she?"
"Carter?" Sam watched Paul, noticing a look in the young man's eyes. This was odd. He'd ask the Elders about this after they spoke to Paul. "She lives down in Forks with Chief Swan; they aren't related. She's my honorary little sister." He said, pride shining through as he said it.
"She helped you with your transformation but she isn't a Quileute, so not a Shifter. Why was she here?"
"You'll find out in a little while; the Elders will explain."
After the meeting with the Elders, Paul waited for Sam to arrive by the tree line of the forests down by First Beach. He almost phased when he laid eyes upon the Alpha's form.
"You put her in danger? You almost killed your 'honorary little sister'?"
Sam could understand why Paul was acting this way. The first few days after transforming made a person irritable and quick to anger. Finding out that the Alpha of your pack, the man you have to obey, very nearly took the life of an innocent was going to get most of the upcoming pack angry.
"You were told that story as a constant reminder that we, as Shifter's, must remain in control of ourselves at all times." He looked guilty as fuck at the moment and Paul stopped his form from trembling. "I didn't mean for any of that to happen. The Elders banned her from seeing me or any other Shifter."
"Sam! Calm down right now!" Carter yelled at him. They were at his house and Emily had been invited over. He had broken things off with Leah soon after he shifted, and though Leah's heart was broken, the situation between the two was infinitely better than the one Carter had read about in the original Twilight Saga books. "Get your arse out here now! Emily, be a dear and wait inside please."
"Sam you can't just expect me to say 'yes' to you! I will not hurt my cousin that way. We can't be together." Emily shouted, heading straight for Sam.
Carter looked to Emily and ran back towards her, tackling the woman to the ground as Sam shifted into his wolf form. She felt a light scratch against her skin as she landed with an 'oomph'. Emily screamed then, seeing Sam in his wolf form and scrambled to her feet, about to run back into the house before she let out another scream as she caught sight of Carter's back. Three rather prominent lines of red streaked the girls' back. They weren't bleeding profusely or anything but the shock of seeing the wound had Emily in near hysterics.
"Emily, get in the house now. Wait in there. We'll join you in a minute. If you wouldn't mind, there's some flour and chocolate in the cabinet, could you bake a cake? I feel like chocolate." Emily stumbled her way to the back door, a hand over her mouth as retreated from the giant wolf, leaving Carter to deal with the animal.
"Now you listen here Sam. What the hell did I say? I said 'Don't do it', didn't I? You went ahead and did it anyway!" Sam had slowly approached her, nudging her around and he let out a low, apologetic whine before howling. It looked pretty bad from his point of view. He'd just attacked his little sister. What kind of a monster was he? "Don't you even dare think about running off Samuel Uley."
He was on the ground now, rolling over and exposing his stomach; a clearly submissive gesture, trying to placate her, his conscience and his wolfs' distress at harming a Pack member.
"You're going to calm down, shift back, help me clean up and then we're going to sit and have a civilised chat with Emily. Understand? You better."
Sam shivered at the thought of how that day could have ended; namely in the death of not only his little sister, but his imprint as well.
"Will she be allowed back to Rez after we've all shifted?"
"Why are you so interested in her?" Sam asked. It was one thing to be curious but the look in Paul's eyes was still there; the one that Sam couldn't rightly describe. He'd almost say that he looked as if he might have…No way, Sam thought, no. He hadn't even met her. There was no possible way that….His train of thought was derailed as Paul answered him.
"She helped you, helped the Elders, yet she was banished from our lands. It's odd, isn't it?"
Of course it was odd. Sam had told the Elders that using the incident of Carter almost getting killed was flimsy at best. He'd argued with them for a good couple of hours until he was finally given the real reason as to why most of the Elders wanted the girl to stay away: Imprinting.
After Sam imprinted on Emily, it became a very real possibility that the rest of the upcoming pack members might also imprint. Carter herself had stated that they'd all find their own 'Happily Ever After' which posed a bit of problem in the eyes of the Elders. Carter had grown up alongside Sam, Jacob, Quil Jr and Embry: all of whom were listed as Shifters. The problem that the Elders saw was quite simple: they didn't want to run the risk of anyone imprinting on Carter. She may have been like family to some of them but she was still an outsider. More than that though, she ran with vampires and despite Billy Black's constant assurances, they just couldn't risk the Tribe any more than they had already.
"What aren't you telling me?" Paul asked.
"Nothing, Paul. We need to figure out a patrol schedule. We'll alternate with days and nights depending on what we've got. You finished school the year before last, correct?"
"I've been doing construction work; I'm a qualified carpenter."
"Would nights be a problem for you?"
"No."
"Okay then. I'll teach you the ropes this week; give you a test run the week after." Sam prattled on about the general rules of secrecy, their roles, and the expectations of them as protectors. This was going to be interesting.
''
Carter had just opened the door when she heard an unfamiliar voice.
"-angers."
"That's a good idea; a very good idea. Have you spoken to Sam?"
"Not yet Sir, I wanted to run this by you first. The Elders always speak highly of you and you are the Chief of Police."
"If you can get Sam on board and get permission from the Elders then I'll gladly assist. I'd recommend doing a…Carter, how was your day sweetie?" Charlie asked, completely aware that he just cut off a conversation with a 'werewolf'.
"It was good Charlie. I just helped Granny Tilly run the shop for today." She looked over at Paul who had now stood up and was looking at her intensely. "You must be Paul Lahote." She said with a smile, extending her hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I wasn't sure that I'd be able to in all honestly." She waited, hand out, as Paul just stood there looking at her. She tilted her head to the side and gave him an odd look, hoping that this was not happening and that Paul just had a problem or was currently having an absent seizure of some sort; not that she'd rather him have a fit, it was almost a preferable option to the only other possibility.
Charlie's eyes narrowed at Paul, who was still just standing there staring at Carter. He looked to Carter; silently asking her what the hell was going on before clearing his throat, effectively breaking Paul from his trance.
"The pleasure's all mine, Carter." He said, hand lingering in hers before he withdrew and took a step back.
"Would you like something to eat or drink? Charlie?"
"You'll make something anyway Carter. Go on." Charlie watched as Paul's eyes followed Carter, his head tilting as he followed her movements upstairs with his sensitive hearing. Charlie cleared his throat again. "Well, should we draft up a plan? I see no reason for anyone to disagree."
"Yes Sir."
Charlie and Paul devised schedules for the off days for himself, Sam and those that would be joining them soon. Paul had proposed that the Reservation, in conjunction with the Forks Police Department (FPD), set up a Forest Ranger's Station in La Push, complete with a recognised force of personnel who would scout the borders of La Push and Forks and generally act as a subdivision of the FPD.
"Okay, break time you two. What are you doing anyway?" She asked, a plate of food in each hand which she offered the men. "Oh, very nice. That's a cunningly little operation you've planned there; it'll be perfect." Carter said, briefly scanning the papers on the table top. "Did you want to eat here in the lounge room?" Charlie thanked her, taking the plate from her hands and made his way to the coffee table in the living room. "The lounge room it is." Paul covered her hands with his as he went to collect his plate, sending her a smile of appreciation, along with a husky 'thanks' as he followed Carter into the living room.
"When are you going to tell Sam?" Paul had hardly kept his eyes from her form but upon hearing that question, he did raise an eyebrow. "Sam would be here otherwise." She said in ways of an explanation. He swallowed a mouthful of food before answering.
"I was going to wait until Monday afternoon."
"Why is that?" Carter enquired. He looked to Carter and then to Charlie before a sheepish expression crossed his face.
"I'm not supposed to be here, at all. Sam is going to make me do a triple shift." He ducked his head, looking up at Carter before he continued. "I wanted to meet you."
Carter almost let an 'Awwwwwwww' but restrained herself. The young man was acting absolutely adorable at the moment. Wait, not supposed to be here?
"Did Sam ban you from meeting me or was it the Elders?"
"The Elders, though Sam advised against it as well."
"Why aren't they allowing you to help with the new shifters?" Charlie asked.
"Safety and all that, Charlie; nothing too important." He just looked at her, clearly not believing a word she was saying. He'd be calling Billy on Monday.
When the food had been eaten Carter went to collect the plates.
"Let me help you with them." He said, picking up his plate, along with all three glasses that had been used.
"No, you're the guest. I've got this, haven't I Charlie?" Charlie just shrugged his shoulders, again watching the young man with suspicion. I wanted to meet you echoed in Charlie's mind and he knew he'd be having a long chat with this boy soon enough. Martha, his handy-dandy shotgun, named by Carter of course, would definitely be making an appearance in the next few weeks if that look in Paul's eyes was anything to go by. He'd keep an eye on them.
"I appreciate the sentiment, I do, but I can wash dishes all by myself now. I've been doing this since I could move my arms in a co-ordinated fashion."
"At least let me dry the dishes then." He compromised.
"Okay, fine. You can dry the dishes. Here you go." She handed him a tea towel and began filling up the sink, a drop of detergent going in as she turned the faucet off. "So you work in construction at the moment, is that right?"
"Yes it is. You've got one more year of school left after this don't you?"
"I most certainly do."
"Have you got plans for after you graduate?"
"Not really. I don't have the money or the want to go to college, I have a job already down in Port Angeles and I'm going to be renting my own place in," she paused, mentally counting off the days, "three weeks' time."
"Where will you be living?" Paul asked.
"Between here and the La Push funnily enough. You'll be staying up on the Rez won't you?" He nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, do you resent the fact that you'll be obligated to stay in La Push?"
"I can see where you're coming from but no. I've lived there my whole life so far and, despite having some bad memories, I couldn't leave even if I wanted to."
She nodded and smiled before speaking.
"I could never leave the vicinity of Forks. I owe my life to Charlie and I think of Billy and the boys as family. Not to mention that Sam's my big brother."
They talked for a while longer, the dishes dried and put away long ago. Charlie had left the house, deciding to make a quick stop in at Billy's.
''
Sam had Paul bowing before him, his Alpha aura causing the young man to buckle under the weight.
"You disobeyed my orders." He growled, snapping at Paul. "Directly disobeyed an Alpha's order. Why?" Sam eventually sat in shock as the memory of seeing Carter calling out to him played before his eyes. He felt the strong pull Paul had felt the moment the younger man's eyes laid upon the girls' form, felt the longing, the need to meet her. He watched on and was briefly overcome with the feeling of complete devotion when Paul saw her for the first time and sent a smile his way, the feeling of completeness that far surpassed his own for Emily when Paul touched his hand to hers. "Enough!" Sam disappeared into the woods and both men shifted back to human form, getting dressed quickly.
Sam was standing at his full height, shoulders squared, one arm out in front of him as he pointed at Paul.
"You, you're in deep shit when the Elders find out." He pushed Paul backwards. "This was the one thing they didn't want happening. Fuck! They didn't want Carter anywhere near us because they didn't want anyone to imprint on her!"
Paul could understand the reluctance of bringing in outsiders, but if Sam's memories were anything to go by, Carter was a pack member; she was a Quileute by everything but blood. He then started to shake. The Elders were willing to risk the eternal happiness of one of their Tribesmen simply because the girl was not from the Rez. He would be without a soul-mate for all of eternity, he would be left with nothing but Sam's memories of the girl for as long as he lived; they would have had him die alone. His thought were constantly coming back to one fact: He would have been without Carter. He shifted, Sam phased and the two had roughed each other up as Paul vented his frustrations.
They returned to Sam's house where Emily was waiting anxiously. Sam had been gone much longer than she expected and she was getting worried. She let out a gasp at their appearances.
"Are you two okay? What happened?"
"We're fine. We miscalculated a jump and rolled down a hill or three." Sam said which was entirely true, he just didn't feel the need to tell her that Paul had jumped towards him in an attack and that they both ended up fighting each other in earnest.
"Come on. I've got dinner in the oven."
"Paul isn't staying; he's going to see Billy and the Elders tonight."
"Oh, that's fine. I'm sure Sam can eat it all anyway."
Paul nodded and waved a goodbye to the couple before making his way over to the Black's house.
''
To say Billy was surprised would be an understatement. Standing on his front porch was none other than Paul Lahote and he did not look all too happy about being there.
"What can I do for you Paul?"
"Did you agree with the rest of the Elders? That Carter should be kept away from anyone who shifts?"
Billy was taken aback but shouldn't have been surprised by the directness. What on Earth did Carter have to do with any of this though?
"No. I was the only one who voted against that decision."
"I went to Forks today."
"Paul, maybe this isn't the best time or place to speak. Can you wait until tomorrow evening when the Council is in session? You never know who might be listening."
"Your son's out of hearing range and is working on that car in the shed. He can't hear a word I'm saying."
"You went to Forks. Why did you go?"
"I had to meet Carter. Sam showed me his memories, of when he had first shifted; I needed to meet her." Billy watched as Paul spoke and he felt his stomach drop. He knew exactly where this conversation was going. Charlie had dropped by asking him to keep an eye out for Paul, especially if the man was around Carter. He now knew why. "I imprinted on Carter." The only thought Billy had was, 'Well shit'. It certainly summed up the entire situation nicely.
"We Elders will have no say then. We will revoke the ban and allow her to come back. We can't interfere with Imprinting. It's still light out; I'll call a meeting." Paul nodded his head. "We'll meet in two hours. During that time, I suggest you go and find Chief Swan. He'll be down at the station but I think he'd like to hear why you were gawking after his daughter while you were down there."
''
"Had an interesting night tonight."
"What happened? Is everything alright Charlie?"
"Yeah, yeah, nothing bad, well nobody was hurt; was a close call though for one guy."
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Carter asked.
Charlie was filing paperwork when he was called to the front desk.
"Paul? What are you doing here?"
"Billy said I should come by. There's been a new development in some Tribal matters." Charlie took the hint and guided the boy into his office.
"Have a seat."
"It'll only take a minute Sir."
"Okay then. So what's happening?"
"I imprinted on Carter." Charlie paused, head whipping up and looking Paul in the eyes.
"You imprinted on Carter?" He said, asking if he heard the man correctly.
"Yes Sir."
"That's why you were all…" He couldn't think of any words that properly described how awe struck the young man had been when Carter was in their presence. Paul nodded. "What are your intentions?" He then asked, all business.
"I would like to spend time with her, get to know her; let her get to know me like people usually do. I have no expectations of her; I don't expect her to love me instantly and unconditionally simply because she's my soul-mate. I would like to date Carter Sir."
Charlie had been told what this imprinting deal was many years ago and he knew that there'd be not one person on the whole of this Earth that would be perfect for Carter asides from the young man, who was now sitting, in front of him.
"You're not going to demand she live with you and propose after the first week of meeting her?" He asked, thinking back to Sam Uley and his handling of the imprinting.
"No Sir. She doesn't know me." He too thought about Sam and his unrealistic expectations of Emily when he'd imprinted.
Charlie clapped his hands together.
"I guess there's not much more I could want from you. You are her soul-mate after all, apparently." Charlie then picked up a shotgun from the floor under his desk. "You mess up, you hurt her in any way, and I'll shoot you somewhere that it can't heal, do you understand? That girl is like a daughter to me and I will not tolerate anyone hurting her. I'm completely serious. I don't care if you can morph into a giant wolf, I'll have you taken to the vet and put down."
Paul was quite impressed with Charlie at the moment. At least he knew that his Carter would be safe whenever she was at the Chief's house.
"Yes Sir."
"Someone came into the station and met Martha; just your standard crazy person looking for something that wasn't there."
''
"Thank you for your help. Who wants some food?"
The two Shifter's made their way into the kitchen of Carter's new home. It had taken another two months before she was able to move in due to an estate sale that had to be conducted in order bring in revenue for the real estate company; the previous tenants had left the house abandoned and there was money owing on the property.
"You could have just moved in with me you know?" Paul said as he put food on a plate, handing it to Carter before piling some onto a plate of his own.
"Three months and you thought I'd be moving in with you? I'd like to live independently for at least a year. How about this, I'll move in with you after I graduate. Does that sound reasonable?"
Sam laughed at the look on Paul's face but could sympathise with the Shifter. It did have a significant impact on them, as Shifter's, and it did hurt to be away from their soul-mates.
"I suppose that's reasonable." Paul said, dragging out the last word as Carter playfully hit him on the arm.
"What was the rush with getting out of Charlie's?" Sam asked.
"His daughter is going to call up soon and live there with him for her final two years of High School. I didn't want to intrude."
Both men just shook their heads and rolled their eyes.
"If it's any consolation," Paul began, "you can intrude upon me anytime." He wiggled his eyebrows at her and all three of them dissolved into laughter.
''
Isabella Marie Swan was due to arrive at the airport in Seattle in no less than four hours' time. It had been another three months and Carter was over at Charlie's preparing a dinner for the Swan family.
"Charlie, dinner's cooking. Turn it off in twenty minutes, that's all you need to do alright? When you get back, you won't even need to heat it up. This dish keeps hot for hours, you'll have no problems."
"Why don't you just stay here? It'll be dark before you're halfway home if you walk. I'd feel better if you just stayed the night."
"You're daughter's coming to live with you Charlie. It'll be awkward for her. She needs time with you. Now stop that. I'll be absolutely fine. I'll see you sometime during the week Chief! I'll come by for the footy next week. Take care!"
Charlie watched as Carter disappeared down the road. That little girl he'd saved all those years ago, it seemed like a lifetime, had grown up and was living in a place of her own, was beginning her last year at school and working. He couldn't believe it. He was disappointed though, that she wouldn't stay the night. He thought she'd get along fine with Bella but every time his daughter visited, the girl made herself scarce. It was a shame, really. He thought of Carter as another daughter and he knew she thought of him as family; she had, on a few occasions, referred to Charlie as her Uncle and it warmed his heart. He shook his head; she thought she'd be intruding upon father/daughter time. He'd drop by her place during the week. She'd be fine anyway; those La Push boys were always around, protecting her like a lioness with cubs.
''
"So how are my most favourite people in the world this dark, abysmal, gloomy day?"
"Much better since you dropped by Sunshine." Emmett said, a playful wink sent her way as Rosalie closed her eyes, trying to ignore her husband's stupid behaviour.
"I'm sure it is." Carter replied with a wiggle of her eyebrows. "Where's the rest of the family?" She asked, looking around and seeing that Alice, Edward and Jasper were missing.
She got her answer soon enough though when she felt a tug at her waist and was held against someone's body, an indignant squeak leaving her as she prepared herself to fight. She raised her arm, a fork in her hand, and was about to bring it down, hopefully burying it into her attackers torso.
"It's just me; calm down." She heard a velvet voice reply.
"Holy crap Edward, what the hell do you think you're doing? Let me go Goddammit!"
"Let her be, Edward." Emmett stopped his laughter when Jasper appeared by the table. "Now."
It was a while longer before Edward let go, and only because Jasper had forcefully squeezed his shoulders to the point of almost separating his arms from his body. Carter couldn't understand how any of the Cullen's were able to stand her presence since the imprinting. According to the boys, there was the scent of the Shifter present at all times on their imprintee. The vampires were able to smell it but, for the most part, Carter's scent overpowered any others if one was to concentrate purely on her and the smell of the forest.
"You're to explain right now. You see these marshmallows here?" Carter pulled out a bag of the aforementioned snacks, "I will roast these over your flaming corpse if you don't answer me truthfully, alright?" She hadn't thought it possible but Edward truly did pale slightly at her threat. Must be the animal blood, she thought. She was looking forward to Edward's excuse, almost grinning dementedly at the boy because she knew exactly what was wrong. It was Bella's first day and Edward was fighting off bloodlust. He couldn't say that, of course, because the Cullen's were still unaware that Carter knew about them.
"I…." He went to speak but closed his mouth and went to try again. "I…."
"I-I-I'm waiting Edward."
He looked to the table and then to Alice, hoping that one of them could think of a legitimate reason for his odd behaviour.
"I missed you." He then said and Carter started to laugh aloud. She eventually quietened down.
"Yeah, I wouldn't buy that if it was reduced to a quick sale and I could pay for it with a simple 'thank you'. The next time you decide to try and maul me in public, think carefully before you actually go through with it. These fluffy clouds of goodness need some toasting and I'm not afraid to set you alight to do so."
Jasper and Rosalie both were glowering at Edward. The two blondes would be worrying about Carter until they saw her tomorrow...If they saw her tomorrow. They knew she ran with werewolves, though the girl herself obviously was oblivious to that fact, and Carlisle had warned them about physical interactions with Carter and the consequences that may come about as a result of their scents lingering on her. The good Doctor pretty much summed it up with two words: Carter's death. Edwards' actions today, no matter the reason, would do nothing but land Carter in hospital. Jasper would have a 'talk' with his brother after school.
"I'll see you lot tomorrow." Carter said, saluting the Cullen's and walking off. The Twins had missed whatever she was saying, too caught up with thinking about what might happen to Carter after school hours.
"What the fuck did you think you were doing?" Rosalie scowled at him.
"I, Bella's blood; she's my singer." Alice nodded a confirmation but that didn't placate either Hale.
"You know she runs with the Werewolves yet you cover her in your scent? Those boys from La Push visit her every single day, Edward. What do you think will happen when they get a whiff of Vampire coming from her?"
"Carlisle has explained that anger is a trigger, Edward." Jasper said, continuing on from Rosalie's sentence. "They will phase the moment they smell you. How far away do you think Carter will be when they get the scent? What if they're standing downwind and don't smell her until she's right in front of them?"
Emmett listened carefully, now understanding the graveness of the situation.
"She could be killed." Emmett spoke aloud in realisation.
Edward stopped breathing at that and looked to Alice.
"I can't see her; I can't tell you." The Seer said apathetically.
"I'm sorry. I forgo-"
"Don't finish that word off Edward, else you'll find out exactly how sorry you should be. We'll let Carlisle know; have him call Sam." Jasper nodded to Emmett and the burly vampire took out a phone, sending Carlisle a text.
''
Sam held the bridge of his nose as he listened to the Vampire Doctor, Carlisle Cullen.
"I'll meet her at the school and drive her to Charlie's; she can shower there. I'll make something up. Make sure your boy doesn't go near her again. I can't say that I care about what he's going through. My sister could have been seriously harmed had she have come home today smelling like one of you." He hung up the phone and dialled the number for the Forks Police.
"Hello, I need to speak with Chief Swan please. It is important. Thank you." He waited until he heard the gruff voice of Charlie Swan. "Hey Chief, it's Sam."
"What's going on?"
"Carter's going to be borrowing your bathroom this afternoon."
"My bathroom? Did someone tip their tray on her again?" Sam look at the phone oddly before placing it back to his ear.
"No, no she just can't go back to her place until she gets the scent of vampire off of her skin."
"What?!"
"She wasn't bitten or hurt or anything else. It's just a precaution. One of the Cullen boys got a little touchy. Carlisle called me up. I can't risk Jared shifting when Carter's near him. He's still new to this; it'll set him off."
"Do what you need to Sam. Tell Carter I'll be speaking with her tonight though. I'll drop by the shop."
"No problem Chief."
Charlie was a very respectful individual and quite a passive person but right now he could honestly kill a person.
"Mother fucking Vampires." He said under his breath, refocusing on the paperwork he was filing.
Authors Note: So here is Chapter two. It's going to get rather dark and angst-y soon so be prepared. I hope you've enjoyed!