Sorry about the fluff… I promise this story will have NO lemon. Love ya Readers!!
Merriam explained about all her research on paranormal activity, and she informed us that Henry, her husband, was a paranormal investigator before he retired. They had moved up here so they could find werewolves, vampires, and some weird creature called a Gremmill.
"Merriam what's a Gremmill?" I asked after putting Gloria in a room full of toys. Jacob and I sat listening intently to Merriam's stories about other mythical and not so mythical beings.
"Oh, have you ever had a random article disappear?" We both nodded. I mean who hasn't? "Well Gremmill's are tricksters, they just love pulling pranks. You know when those articles go missing a Gremmill has hide it in his den, and when you don't need or want it or even have replaced it they place it in a drawer where you can find it. They all get a little laugh out of it. Some go to such extremes to play a prank that they hide a remote control until you just go crazy." She laughed happily somehow enjoying the idea of little creatures stealing my socks right out of the dryer, and never a pair just one of the pair that drives me crazy!
"There must be thousands of Gremmill's in my house…" Jacob stated simply.
"No Jacob the only parasitic beast you have in your house is Paul." We both laughed.
"Well have you anymore questions?" Merriam enjoyed my interest.
"Have you ever heard of the pack dynamics of Wolf Warriors?" She clapped happily.
"Oh yes! You see females shape shifters are extremely rare, so they are treated like queens. But you see almost all female shape shifters are like vampires, unable to have children. It's sad actually, the only recorded non-barren shape-shifter was killed by her pride, they were lions." Merriam added that last line with a hint of regret. I froze in my position; Jacob put his hand on my leg to calm me.
"Why… Why would they do that?!" Merriam wasn't surprised by my reaction.
"You see the others were jealous as you could imagine." She shook her head like we were discussing her favorite kind of chocolate! Jacob saw my arms shaking and pulled me into his lap calming me by whispering soft little reminders in my ear.
"Merriam, do you understand imprinting?" Jacob's head inclined slightly as he asked his question.
"Oh yes! This was the most interesting topic I ever studied. You see almost all paranormal beings have the uncanny ability to find the one for them. Wolf Warriors way is very unique I think. You imprint because the person you see in:
A good Breeder and:
Your one, your true love.
"You see how simple that is?" I let out a horrible cry of pain thinking of that poor women killed by her own friends and family. Would I end up like her?
"Oh darling is something the matter?" Merriam didn't see. Jacob rubbed my arms soothingly.
"Jacob and I imprinted! What if Leah feels like that women's family?" Jacob burst into laughter and Merriam looked confused.
"Leah is a reasonable person… Sometimes..." Jacob patted my back. Merriam was confused.
"Who?" She looked at me not Jacob for the answer.
"Leah the other female in our pack…" She smiled and patted my shoulder.
"It's ok darling. It's ok." She soothed. They were right I was over reacting.
"Any other paranormal beings you could tell us about?" Jacob asked as he leaned back, me still in his lap.
"Well I could tell you about vampires." She tried to make her voice spooky.
"Nah, we know enough 'bout leeches. I can't wait to get home and torture Edward…" Jacob chuckled.
"You know some vampires?" We both nodded. "Well do you want to hear about… Hmm… Werewolves? Real werewolves not you guys." We both shook our heads 'no'.
"I would like to know how you came across knowing we were Shape-Shifters." I said in a bit of a suspicious tone.
"Well I have read the legends and you see it's not hard to realize; the giant size, the temperature, and the appetite." She smiled at her success again. I looked at Jacob desperate for reassurance He kissed the crown of m head, and lower for Merriam to hear whispered.
"Or maybe she's just crazy..." I giggled quietly and smacked his shoulder. Merriam didn't seem at all concerned over what had taken place in our little transaction.
"Well youngin's I'm sure you need a place to stay for tonight, so let's get your bedding down. Separate beds or?" She gave us a suspicious look and before Jacob could answer I squeaked.
"Separate!" Jacob seemed a bit upset about my answer but kissed the top of my head and sent me with Merriam.
"Come on, deary. Let's get started… The little one is she yours?" Merriam seemed genuinely interested about little Gloria.
"No, she is visiting us." Merriam nodded and picked up Gloria who was munching happily on a fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookie. She nibbled cutely on the edge savoring every tiny bite.
"Waven..." Gloria whispered my name as she offered me part of the drool soaked cookie. I smiled at how adorable she was.
"No thanks Gloria, but Jacob may want some. Why don't you go play with him?" Gloria shrieked with joy as Merriam put her down and she rushed into Jacob's arms. I watched as Jacob and Henry talked and laughed.
"Raven, darling, I can tell you still have more questions for me." Merriam interrupted my thoughts as we laid down comforters and sheets.
"Well it still confuses me… It's not natural for you to be able to pick us out of a crowd so easily. I mean Jacob has been perfecting his incognito guise for around 15 years, so how is it that it was so easy for you?" I was surprised myself on how venomous I sounded; Merriam however seemed calm as ever.
"Oh darling, I didn't want to tell you until it was time but, Henry and I are soul searchers."
"Soul searchers?" My voice raised an octave. "Right time?" This time it cracked in terror.
"Don't be afraid darling it will all come to you in time." Merriam laughed and headed for the kitchen, but I was far from calm. I quickly made the decision that Jacob, Gloria, and I would be out of here and half way to Forks before I was calm, and before it was "time".
"Eh, girlie come over here." I heard Henry call.
"Yes sir?" He smiled at the use of "sir", but all he did was hand me Gloria and shooed us away.
"Gloria what did you do?" I whispered harshly at the quivering girl.
"He is a bad man…" My mouth dropped. We were definitely leaving soon. I held the quivering baby to me and kissed her head soothingly planning the entire escape in my head.
"Jacob…" I whispered urgently as I shook him out of dream land. He chuckled darkly and pulled me to him kissing me roughly.
"Why are you in my bed pup?" His voice was so thick and husky that a knife couldn't cut through it. I smacked his shoulder.
"We have to leave now!" I whispered covering his mouth because he was breathing to loud. When I removed his hand he just had to question my reasons.
"Why, babes?" His voice was now hushed and he flushed a bit red when he saw Gloria standing next to us.
"Because Merriam told me last night that her and Henry are "soul searchers" and that I would learn what it all meant when the "time is right", and I do not like the sound of that!" I whispered that all so fast I was amazed that he got it all. It enraged me when he waved his hand at me.
"Aw babes, don't worry Henry is cool and I'm sure soul searchers are a good thing." He yawned and laid his head in my lap nuzzling playfully.
"Jacob," I groaned angrily sounding like Gloria when she doesn't get her way. "I mean it the "right time" sounds like a horror movie line. Please listen to me. Even Gloria agrees!" Jacob pulled my face to his and kissed my forehead before looking me in the eyes. We sat like that for a good minute before he grabbed his shoes.
"Alright let's go, come on G. get your stuff." Gloria grabbed her bag as I scooped her up and we were gone. I don't remember stopping until we were safe at Brandy's house. Then we remembered our whole reason for coming home, Brandy- who was in wolf form- wouldn't come down from his attic and threatened about leaving the pack.
"Finally you two are here. Who's the kid?" Embry was staring at the tiny sleeping Gloria in my arms.
"Gloria. Here take her I'll get Brandy." I passed Gloria off to Embry and phased quickly. Jacob phased too and stood by me protectively.
Jake Raven go away!
Brandy you dope get down here!
Brandy we can't do that. I of course was the only one with enough sense to take a sweet loving tone and not an evil demanding alpha tone chided.
Babes he isn't going to listen to reason. He felt about Janet like I did Bella. Jacob whimpered gently at the thought.
Jacob shut up! I hissed before I trotted into Brandy's empty house.
Back off Raven… Brandy warned.
She is just some stupid girl Brandy ignore her. I was carefully climbing the stairs as I tried to comfort the little guy.
You're just some stupid girl! Should I ignore you!? Jacob growled at that statement.
Jakey shut up phase back and go take care of Gloria! My voice was harsh and he listened; now Brandy and I were alone.
Raven, please go away.
Brandy listen to me hun. There are thousands of girls out there and one of them is waiting for you. She can't live without you she's your Claire, your Kim, and your Emily. Do you understand? I had finally reached him and I nuzzled my nose into his massive side. He crumpled to the round and nodded to weak to tell me, but I could feel his relief.
After Brandy had recovered from his heartbreak I began looking up old legends with Bella.
"Soul searchers… soul searchers… soul searchers… Yes! Soul searchers!!" I jumped out of my seat and almost did a happy dance until I remembered we were in a public library. Bella giggled as we both began to read. I read aloud for unknown reasons.
"The soul searchers of the bayous are said to seek out immortal beings and save the communities from them. They would suck out the witches, vampires, werewolf's, or any other presumed immortals soul. They are still held to this day as saints among any of the old believers." My mouth dropped and gripped for Gloria, who was attempting to read Dr. Seuss's "Cat and the Hat". Bella looked at me in a shocked horror.
"Oh my gosh Raven! You saved yours and Jacob's lives!" She threw her arms around me, but I knew better than to rejoice.
"She knows where we live…"
Cliff Hanger! Ohhh… Brandy's little plight isn't that important but I needed it so I could bring Raven and Jacob home. Yes Gloria is adorable! I love that little gal but she plays a role later on. And bet that was a surprise Merriam the nice old southerner being evil… Cesar and Nessie aren't home yet if you forgot… ~Wink Wink~