A/N: Any wolves you recognize from The Twilight Saga belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Basically everything else, including past and present wolf pack members, imprints, wolf families, and additional characters in this story belong to the universe created by the amazing, brilliant, and wonderfully talented yay4shanghai!

Thank you everyone who reviewed, I love getting feedback and hearing what people think. I really hope you like this chapter and that it was worth the wait, thanks for sticking with me!

Sorry for the long wait, I've been really busy and working on Mel and Annabelle's stories instead, but I'll try to get another chapter of this up soon.

As always I recommend you read the other spin-offs by liljenrocks, ari11990, AsagariMelody, Guzhong, twihardcaligurl, and intiMACYx33. They are fantastic and worth taking the time to read.

Thanks to my beta, yay4shanghai, you are completely amazing!

The Beginning of Happiness

13 December 2041

'Don't run.' Krista's fearful plea froze me in place like nothing else possibly could have. I hadn't actually even considered running, too stunned by the fact that she was able to sign. For a moment, which lasted at least an eternity while I hovered suspended in time, I could do nothing except stare at her in awe. If she wasn't more breathtaking than the sweetest mirage I'd ever managed to conjure up of her, I'd swear I was dreaming or hallucinating.

As if that hadn't been enough already, I was further tethered to her with more invisible, though no less unbreakable cables, by her restraining grip on my cable knit sweater and the fear radiating from her eyes. I could have easily broken free from the weak grasp, but I had no reason to ever consider doing such an abdominal thing and her action made my heart soar, lightened by a significant dose of hope and love.

Her fear, however, was disarming. I had caused that, unintentionally yes, but it was still my fault she felt such an emotion at all. That meant it was up to me to dispel it and I wanted to reassure her, let her know how I would do anything she ever asked of me, but it was still too soon for her to believe that, I needed to prove myself first. I could start by promising not to ever run again and I knew I wouldn't. That would be an easy promise to keep and I would happily make it if that was all it took to banish the scared look in her eyes and replace it with the thrilled and nervous excitement I had seen when she first approached me less than a minute ago.

I didn't know how much sign language she knew, so I spelled the words out slowly, 'N-E-V-E-R, E-V-E-R A-G-A-I-N,' making sure to pause for a few beats between words. I watched her carefully and though I knew she had understood, her smile telling me as much—a smile I couldn't help but return, I was also able to decipher that she didn't care much for spelling words out. Knowing that, I decided to sign as I normally would and only resort to spelling if we came across a word she didn't know, that is, if we continued talking at all, but why had she learned if that was not her intention? I asked her as much, 'you learned, why?'

'For you.' No two words had ever touched me as those did. She didn't know me, but she had been willing to learn just for the chance to get to know me, despite the fact I had made no effort to communicate with her over the past several months.

In fact, I realized what a damn fool I'd been with my firm refusal of every single ulterior method of communication that had been suggested. My conviction that she would be unreceptive, possibly even unwilling, to take on the difficult situation I presented her with was apparently ridiculous as she so thoroughly showed me this evening. I don't know why I ever doubted her or us, as I'd been told so very many times recently, she's my imprint, my perfect match, so of course she would do this for me. I didn't deserve her, that much was obvious, but I couldn't care less anymore—there was no way I was letting her slip away now.

Shaking away that line of thought, I focused on the enchanting angel before me, though a wood nymph might be a more accurate description with her sweetheart neckline, fitted strapless dress in a deep forest green, the two white orchids in her hair and her dark brown heels. She was a vision, plain and simple.

Her expression had indeed changed, though not by reverting back to its previous look. This was completely different, a look I had scarcely let myself dream or hope to ever see from her, let alone to see aimed at me. Her eyes were molten desire, swirling pools of glowing green absinthe, promising something vague, undefined. Something I know I had never experienced before, though I longed to with every fiber of my being.

The temptation they, and she in general, presented me with became too much to resist and I reached out, reverently caressing the soft skin of her cheek, which blazed red from the winter's biting kiss, while telling her, 'you are amazing.' I had never managed truer words in my life.

We were barely speaking, yet it felt as though a million thoughts, emotions and memories were being communicated with every glance now that our eyes were unguarded, freely exposing our deepest thoughts for the other to discover. There was no need to hide anything now and I suddenly didn't want to, nor did I want her to and luckily she didn't. Her eyes and face were unbelievably expressive, like a map of her soul and I was fortunate enough to hold the key, which allowed me to read her with an unprecedented ease.

The array of emotions crossing her face was captivating and I was so absorbed in watching them that I almost missed the gentle tugging of my navy sweater. I was thankful I hadn't when I raked my eyes down the luscious contours of her inviting body and saw what she had to say.

'Kiss me.' Two simple words, like her 'don't run' from before, only these had had an even more powerful affect on me for their unexpectedness. They hit me with the force of a freight train, straight in the gut, or possibly lower… my addled mind seemed to be initially mistaking my body's reactions, taking a few extra seconds to sort things out.

The end result was the same, however. I was so bowled over that I almost didn't believe it and I could tell that it wasn't what she'd planned to say, but instinctively I knew that once it was out there, she'd meant it anyways. Something, probably the wolf in me, recognized that she wanted me to, nearly as badly as I already wanted to. She was giving me an opportunity to redo our first kiss and I intended to make it everything the other should have been. It was a blank slate, though I still hoped that like a blank slate, you'd still see what was there before because I didn't want to forget the previous kiss, I never wanted to forget any interaction I had with her, I just wanted to improve the kiss. I wanted to make it perfect, to set the tone of our relationship.

I was getting ahead of myself, just because she wanted to kiss me didn't mean she wanted forever with me, and that was fine if she didn't. As long as she was happy, I was as well, but I secretly hoped I would be enough for her to never want anyone else. I wanted to use this chance to show her how I could inspire intense and wonderful emotions within her, the same as she did for me, and have her somehow intrinsically know that it wasn't possible for anyone else to ever complete her as I could.

Taking my time, I tenderly traced the outline of her lips while maintaining eye contact and moving towards her with a distinct deliberate intent that caused her breathing to speed irregularly, evident by the heaving of her breast, which strained against the fabric of their green encasement. With the hand cradling her face, I angled her chin upwards as the other encircled her slender body, guiding her to me where she pulled me down to greet her eagerly waiting lips.

My lips moved timidly at first in my inexperience. Gradually, it became about learning her lips and the sensations ignited by joining them with mine, the perfect satiny texture, the give of their rich plumpness and the sweet coconut taste. I explored the cavern of her mouth like an adventurer seeking hidden treasure and I felt sure I found my reward when it caused her heart, which was thumping against my chest to race at the speed of a hummingbird's flapping wings. She was irresistible and when I realized her enthusiasm rivaled my own, I needed her closer, as close as physically possible.

I pulled her harder to me, eliminating the unneeded and unwelcome space between us and her arms locked around me as if she wanted to put as much of herself in direct contact with me as I did with her. She fit against me in a way I didn't know was possible, every curve settling into the crevasses of my body like she was made just for me or I for her and I realized again that that was precisely the case—she was my imprint and I was made for her.

When it ended, I saw that Krista looked like she was covered in a light dusting of powered sugar, which combined with her rosy cheeks made her appear positively delicious. I wanted to sweep her back into my arms, taste her again and never let her go, but I realized she wasn't wearing a coat and must be freezing right now.

'We should go in before you catch cold. Come with me?' I signed it so quickly I knew there was no possible way she had followed along, even Taylor would have had trouble, but almost immediately she smiled and nodded, somewhat unsurely but a nod all the same, then trustingly took my outstretched hand. That, more than anything else so far this evening, touched me in a way which caused me to melt into a garbled puddle of love struck goo at her feet.

Eager to continue where we left off, I quickly led her around to the front of the house using my body to block the wind from where I felt her close behind me, absorbing the heat radiating from my body. The instant I opened the door, all eyes turned towards us. I felt Krista step closer, further out of sight, apparently embarrassed by the extra attention. Not wanting to stop and endure their questions (I was absolutely positive they'd all been watching out the window once Solace returned to tell them what was happening) or subject her to their scrutiny, I urged us forward. My nosy friends and family parted like the Red Sea to let us pass. I was probably walking too fast for her, dragging her in the wake of my long strides, but Krista was smiling when I glanced behind me, heading for the stairs.

I didn't have a destination in mind when I'd moved us inside, but now I was dead set on finding some privacy for us and that would be easiest in one of the empty rooms upstairs. Hurriedly pulling her through the first open door I came upon, I shut it behind us and turned to face her, absently noting the two twin beds proclaiming the room to be formerly occupied by Mark and David when they'd lived here years ago. That was forgotten though when my eyes fell upon Krista's upturned face and broad smile, her features all clearly displaying happy amusement.

Overcome by the knowledge I'd made her smile in such a way, I swept her up against me as I'd wanted to outside, spinning in circles with her legs dangling several feet off the ground. Her arms banding around my neck and the vibrations I felt from her chest pressed high against mine let me know she was laughing at my antics, which caused my heart to swell and my body to tingle like my skin was calling for more of her touch—a continuous supply if at all possible.

Tilting my head back to see and confirm the reality of it being her in my arms, though I knew no other could make me feel this way, I found Krista grinning down at me. My breath caught when I noticed how her emerald eyes sparkled, I was certain she'd never been more beautiful than she was right then and I was fairly sure I'd expire on the spot when she leaned down to kiss me. It took a great deal of concentration, which I somehow managed to scrounge up from some unknown locality, to remember how delicate her body is and not squeeze too hard.

I was disappointed when after some indeterminable amount of time she pulled back abruptly, looking towards the closed door that was now slowly opening to reveal my uncle Mark, whose knowing grin irked me more than I'd like to admit. His rotten timing was not appreciated now that I finally had Krista where I'd spent six months longing for her to be.

Reluctantly, I set her back on her feet while shooting an angry glare at Mark, to which he responded by laughing. Everyone seemed to be deriving a great deal of amusement at my expense lately and no one seemed affected by my ire, apparently I just couldn't portray a fearsome individual or formidable foe.

'What?' I signed shortly, unable and honestly not bothering to hide my annoyance when forming the jerky hand motion. Mark just continued laughing for another minute before sobering just barely and grinning unabashedly.

'Use it well,' Mark signed with a wink before throwing one of Jordan's notebooks, which had a pen wedged into its spiral wire bindings, at me. I looked up at him in surprise, wondering how he'd gotten it, but his rumpled appearance and incorrectly buttoned shirt made it easy to figure out the answer to my unasked question. Since he and Jordan welcomed Hazel into the family they'd had to find their… tender moments where they could, though I could smell that they hadn't had sex and I seriously doubted they ever did at such a public event. 'She is still learning.'

'Thanks.' Despite my annoyance, I was touched that he'd gone to the effort of getting this to help me. He might not be the Alpha any longer, but he still got the urge to help others out when they needed it, particularly family or those he considered to be.

He started to walk back out after giving Krista a nod of acknowledgement and I vaguely wondered when they'd met and how he knew that she was learning at all, but he just smiled at me when I raised a single eyebrow in question. It also had me curious to know how many people were in on it and keeping it from me. One glance at Krista was all it took to realize that it didn't matter, I was just happy she did know.

That was all forgotten with Mark's parting shot. 'And stay out of that bed… I've already lost one as a casualty to another couple's blooming love,' he teased nodding at the bed we were standing beside.

'Bye now,' I signed giving him my fiercest scowl as he backed out with his hands held out like he was warding me off, but he was grinning all the same. I was worried he had embarrassed Krista with that comment, though I needn't have—she really was prefect like that.

'Your uncle is funny,' she signed carefully once the door was shut, moving to sit on the forbidden bed anyways. I nodded taking a seat beside her as close as I dared. We might have kissed, but this was our first real conversation and nerves gnawed at my insides till my stomach twisted painfully and I fought to ignore it. 'What was he talking about with the beds?' She looked genuinely intrigued and I grinned wondering what she'd think of the tale.

'This was his and David's room. David and Trisha had sex in his bed once and broke it.' Her surprise was apparent and I watched as her hands seemed to flutter before her briefly, but her expression turned uncertain and she began worrying her bottom lip with her bright white teeth. I guessed she didn't know how to say what she wanted to, nerves scattering her thoughts too much as they were for me, so I offered her the notebook Mark had given us and was rewarded with a luminous smile when she took it. I'd have to thank him and apologize for my rudeness later.

But she's so quiet and tiny compared to him! I'm shocked he didn't break her instead if they were going at it that hard! I watched as she wrote it, so her effort was useless when she tired to cover the words up afterwards, looking slightly surprised and flustered by what she'd bluntly written. She hesitantly glanced up at me, but relaxed and shrugged when she saw I was grinning at her. She put the notebook aside and bit her bottom lip, giving me a lopsided smile with her head slightly tilted as she studied me intently. 'I guess you are all that big and strong.'

'I won't hurt you,' I signed while staring into her eyes intently in order to convince her of my sincerity, hoping my rushed promise would prevent the forthcoming thoughts I assumed she'd be having now after acknowledging the significance of that truth in relation to herself.

Before this moment I hadn't believed I wouldn't hurt her, especially unintentionally. It had been like a looming black cloud, tainting every move forward I attempted with her, but making that adamant vow caused me to be certain in a way that was wholly unfamiliar to me prior to this. My vow was like a scientific law rather than a mere theory, proven to hold up and be true no matter what, like the law of gravity, not just true with a few exception or until it failed a new test.

This conversation actually succeeded in removing a huge burden I had been carrying around by pointing out yet again how ridiculous I was being with regards to my terrifying fear of harming her because of her size and fragile body. Many of the imprints, Trisha, Claire and Annabelle among them, were similar in size to Krista and they never got hurt when interacting with their wolves, even when it involved a vigorous round, or should I say multiple rounds, in bed. That knowledge helped me relax enormously, which left me open to better appreciate her response.

'I know.' She hadn't needed to even think before replying.

'How?'

'I just do.' She felt it, the imprint. Seth had told me, actually I think everyone had at one point or another, but it was different getting the confirmation straight from her even if she didn't fully understand the connection or the importance her words had had for me. When I continued staring at her, too awed to know what to say, she took that to mean I wanted her to elaborate and she added, 'I can feel it, with all of me. I see it too, in everything you do. And I hear it in how your family talks about you.'

Her simple explanation floored me even more and I couldn't resist kissing her, drawing her closer to me till she rested in my lap. I marveled in her eager response, immersing myself in the sea of emotions she invoked. There weren't words to describe my joy at finally being able to touch her whenever the urge became too great to ignore or I just felt like it. It was even better that she felt comfortable enough to do the same with me.

~x~*~x~

'You are getting good.' I signed a few hours later. Our time had been spent discussing whatever came to mind as we got to know each other during the random intervals between intermittent make-out sessions. We were sitting facing each other in the center of the bed, me cross-legged and Krista with her legs to the side because of her dress.

She tired to sign most of the time, only using the notebook when she didn't know a word and always having me show it to her afterwards. I loved teaching her new words and being able to shape and position her long slender fingers, amazed by how I could enfold her cool small hand completely within my own. She really was getting better the longer we sat here. Once her nerves dissipated and she stopped over thinking every gesture, the motions came to her very naturally and we were able to fluently converse in a remarkably smooth manner. I would have cared if it hadn't, but this was a welcome surprise. She didn't have the speed my mom and Melody had, but I could tell that would easily come in time after a bit more practice, which I was more than eager to supply her with.

Talking to her was so different from talking to anyone else. For the first time I didn't feel like information was being unwillingly pried from me, but that I was offering it freely. More than that, a torrent of cascading words flowed from me like a waterfall rushing to get out. I wanted to tell her every one of my thoughts, I wanted her to know and understand me. It actually felt like there was a driving force, something primal within me, the wolf I guess, demanded I reveal my very soul to her and that I search hers out as well.

It was after midnight and I knew the party was over, only a few guests including Seth, Paul and Rachel were still around. We hadn't rejoined the group, both agreeing that we'd prefer to spend the night isolated in this room than mingle with the others, and by that I mean be interrogated on everything that's said between us as well as take a fair bit of good natured ribbing for having wasted so much time needlessly agonizing over how this would play out. I was prolonging our departure for as long as possible, dreading the end of the night when we'd have to goodbye. Without a doubt I'd watch her from my tree, but that just wasn't the same as being able to freely touch her.

'What?' Her nose scrunched and her brow crinkled adorably with her confused question.

'At signing,' I clarified. 'I still can't believe you learned for me.' It wasn't as hard to admit that insecurity as I'd figured it would be. Our conversations had stayed fairly light up till now, but this really hit on some strong emotions.

'Why not?'

'It is hard to believe you would have an interest in me when you could have anyone and without all the trouble.' I searched her eyes as I signed that, feeling constricting bands contracting around my chest while I looked for any indication that she wasn't really interested, that I was too much of a hassle for her or that she'd rather be with someone else because her needs were more important than mine—there were none. The bands quit tightening, but remained while I waited for in suspense for her reply.

'No,' she paused too stunned to continue, shaking her head to rid herself of the apparently mind boggling blow my words had dealt her. 'You—you don't see yourself clearly. I would never want someone else and it is not trouble if I can be with you.' I felt the bands shatter with that acknowledgement and I gulped a deep lungful of refreshing air then another immediately afterwards.

'I… you have no idea what that means to me... I only want you.' I didn't know what else to say, but apparently that was enough because her face shone with enough happiness to make me feel like the world had tilted on its axis leaving me lightheaded with my mind spinning wildly.

We sat just looking at each other for a few minutes, both content with the idle moment, using the time to process the evening. Eventually, I signed, 'I can give you a ride since your car is at my house.' She'd left her car there earlier before riding over with Melody and Taylor. I borrowed Sam's truck since I hadn't driven myself. He just shrugged, unconcerned, and waved me off when I promised to return it first thing in the morning.

At my house we ended up kissing beside her car for about ten minutes before she broke away. 'I don't want to go home. This night has been perfect,' she signed biting her bottom lip adorably and reaching out to grip my sweater, a gesture I found more endearing each time she did it.

'Don't.'

'What?'

'Stay here—I don't want this night to end either,' I signed then brushed a strand of her hair that had come loose back behind her ear, hoping she'd agree to my request, my heart pounded while I waited for her to decide. The nervous excitement I felt at the prospect was reflected back at me from her eyes letting me know she wanted to and would say yes, especially after she grinned a minute later.

'Alright, let me call home real quick.' I led her in while she spoke with her parents. I knew my parents were here and that they could hear us, but thankfully they stayed in their room.

She was off the phone by the time we reached my room. I was a little nervous to be showing it to her. The only girl, besides Mel, to ever be in here was April Crawford, Leah's stepdaughter, and that had been one of the several times she'd snuck in here to make out with Dev during a pack party. I stood in the center of the room while she looked around, but she didn't really. Her gaze fell upon the black walls and she reached out and gently touched the space beside my closed door with the tips of her fingers then came to me.

Krista stood on her toes and moved to pull me down the remaining distance for a sweet and very tender kiss. The tight pain that was always present in my chest eased a fractional amount. She was like a balm to my broken, frayed soul, the understanding in her action healing more than any amount of time or love from my family ever could. When she pulled back, she didn't mention it and there were no questions asked though I knew she was curious and I was tremendously grateful.

'They didn't mind you staying with me?' I questioned to ease us past the previous moment, stepping backwards so I could see her and motioning her to follow as I led her to my bed to sit down.

'I said I was at Mel's. I just didn't mention I was with you, not her,' she signed with a carless, faux-innocent shrug.

'Will they be mad if they find out?'

'They won't find out, Bree will help,' she assured as she sat next to me. My heart sped at the proximity.

'You two are close.' It was a statement, but she responded anyways.

'Like family. I'm all she has,' she signed with a warm smile. I could feel the love she felt for her friend, her words were unnecessary to explain it because their bond was apparent in every inch of her being and every expression on her face as she thought of her. I could only wish to generate a similar response one day.

'I want to get to know her then, for you.'

'You mean it?' Her eyes rounded indicating her amazed disbelief for a split second before she smiled widely, the edges of her kiss-swollen lips curling upwards. I wanted to tell her that of course I meant it, that it was the least I could do for her and that I wanted to do so much more, but instead I just nodded.

'Are you busy tomorrow? We could spend the day together,' I suggested unconsciously leaning towards her, already missing the feel of her lips pressed against and desperate to touch her again. I don't know what I'd do if she already had plans. We'd just spent an entire evening together with hours of talking and rather than feel satisfied, I craved more, if that meant spending time with her friend then sign me up. I didn't care what we do or who was with us as long as I was allowed to be in her presence.

'Not busy—that would be great,' she signed and I released an enormous relieved sigh, not realizing beforehand that I'd been holding my breath while awaiting her answer.

She giggled and scooted closer, trailing a hand down my chest, which caused me to shiver. It was as if she had as much trouble not touching me as I did her and that thought made me grab her. I pulled her against me and swiftly covered her mouth with mine, sucking on her sweet lip for a moment before sliding my tongue between her lips. My hands gently ran up and down the sloping indent of her sides before settling on the swell of her hips.

Her hands slipped under my shirt to trail up my chest and my grip on her tightened, holding her firmly against me. It felt like flower petals lightly brushing my skin when she dragged her nails across my chest and I honestly felt like I had chills for the first time in years. I nipped playfully at her lip and felt her moan into my mouth arching towards me. If I were a starving man, one taste of her would be enough to keep me going for another year. She pulled back to gaze into my eyes and after a time, she caught my attention to sign.

'You feel so hot. Does this make it worse?' She reached out, her hand shaking slightly as she gave my sweater two tugs to indicate what her question was in regards to. I swallowed thickly before slowly nodding while I watched as the pulse in her neck quickened. When I met her assessing gaze, I became still, sitting like a marble statue while her eyes searched mine, but less than a minute later, it was me trembling as I lifted my arms for her to steadily lift my shirt and pull it over my head.

She'd risen to her knees to be able to reach and she was directly in front of me, my lips level with her collarbone, which I dipped forwards to kiss, my lips hungry to taste her flowery-scented skin. She stilled, not moving an inch as I let my hands meander up her body to cup her breasts. I felt how it made her inhale sharply, which caused her chest to expand and her breasts to push into my hands more and I responded by squeezing them gently. She brought her hands up to cover mine, holding them where they were as she dipped down to resume our kissing. I leaned back against my bedroom wall and she reclined on top of me.

I broke off after a time, afraid of pushing her too far too fast. Her innocence matched my own, so this was uncharted territory for both of us and I didn't want to rush the new experiences for either of us, they deserved to be savored.

We were both breathing hard and her smell was nearly irresistible as were her dilated, lust-filled eyes. In search of a way to distract us till our emotions had a change to calm down, I signed, 'do you want me to find something of Mel's for you to sleep in or do you just want a pair of my boxers and a shirt?'

'Yours… if you don't mind,' she signed nervously as her brow wrinkled and she bit her lip.

I nodded immediately, thrilled that she wanted to and quickly retrieved a set of clothes for her. While she changed in the bathroom across the hall, I slipped into a pair of boxers myself since I hadn't been wearing any beneath my jeans, habit from being a wolf. When she returned I realized this had been a bad idea for a break if the intention had been to calm my desire for her, because seeing her in my clothes the complete opposite, especially when she grinned shyly from the doorway, the light reflecting from her now loose hair making the long golden curls shimmer like rays of sunlight.

Forcing my thoughts away from how the too large shirt clung to her curves, curves I had just had my hands all over, I asked her about her plans for the rest of break. We spent the next hour or two talking, discussing school, where I found out her favorite subject was biology, the same as mine, but she was best at math because it came naturally to her, particularly statistics, though she found all of it boring, and plans for break, including her excitement over her sister Angie's expected visit.

'You're tired,' I signed after her third yawn in the last ten minutes and she nodded sheepishly. 'Sleep, I'll be here when you wake up.'

'Okay,' she agreed gifting me with one more kiss then letting me pull her to my chest, her head resting on my shoulder and our interlocked hands over my heart.

My other arm was around her waist and I moved it so she could see my hand when I asked, 'are you comfortable? Not too hot?' She shook her head and lightly kissed my shoulder to assure me she was fine. I stayed up for as long as I could after that, mesmerized by the feel of her gentle breathing blowing across my chest and her soft curves pressed perfectly against my body. This had been, beyond a doubt, the greatest night of my life—completely worth the wait.

~*~ ∞ ~*~