After the story telling I sat on the log watching the flames, thoughts of my past chilling my bones, the flames did little to warm my cold soul. I kept my eyes trained on Jamie who was peering at Embry with quite a bit of interest, feeling an odd protective instinct over the small pack.
I didn't shift my gaze as I felt the large alpha's presence beside me, his deep musty scent meeting my nose, I wrinkle it slightly, I noticed that shifters have a heavier scent then actual werewolves and I couldn't decide If I liked it or not.
He cleared his throat and I tilted my head in his direction letting on that I was listening, his chest rumbled in annoyed at my stubbornness and I felt my lips twitch up on their own accord.
"How do you feel about imprints?" He questioned, noting the seriousness in his tone I finally turned to face him, letting my eyes flicker over his expression, he didn't give much away.
I sighed, he obviously figured with how long I'd been alive so I would already know what imprinting was, he was correct. I knew that the great native ancestors and ancient magic, tied two souls together, and while I was not Native American nor did I necessarily share their beliefs, I also came from a long line of witches, I was actually the only children who showed any signs of inheriting the magic before the curse, and witches are all about ancestral magic.
I smirked delicately, giving him an honest answer, "I think you have a ridiculously high regard for fate mate." I watched his thick brows furrow as he listened to my answer, "I also know you don't mess with magic, it has a way of biting you in the arse."
"Paul," He started swallowing thickly, nervously, he nodding his head at the hot headed shifter who took that as a subtle clue to make his way over, "He imprinted on you." He said getting straight to the point.
I raised my brows letting that sink in. I watched the shifter as he walked over, he was tall, well over six feet, his russet skin was stretched tightly over highly defined muscles and radiating heat. His eyes though only brown which some might say is the plainest color ( Arabelle disagreed) seemed impossibly deep, and I had yet to see him smile but I imaged it was would be wolfish and alight with mischief not unlike my own.
I hummed, I could do worst, and if ancient magic bound him to a hellion like me then I could only image what his personality would be like, though I already got a glimpse of his temper and while still impressive it paled in comparison to mine.
Said shifter came to a stop in front of us and I was dimly aware of the chatter around us ceasing and I stood up toe to toe with him, I dragged my eyes from his toes all the way to the top of his head before resting back on his eyes, I let my pupil fluctuate just barely watching his own narrow in response to it.
"Hmm."
"Why didn't he tell me himself?" I question dragging my eyes off the shifter and back to the Alpha who only narrowed his eyes and me and tensed his jaw.
My mouth dropped open in a silent "Oh" my eyes alight with mischief, I trailed my finger tips up Paul's arm and over his shoulder watching his muscles quiver under my delicate touch. I let my eyes shift allowing just the slightest glimpse of deep gold and black before they took back their muted blue color, "You don't trust me." I tutted with a smirk.
"Arabelle." Jamie warned watching me closely.
I sent him a cold warning look that caused him to back down instantly, just because he was my one of my best friends did not mean I didn't still hold a grudge over the vervain around his neck. He knew not to cross me.
"Well that won't do will it love?" The question was silky smooth and charming but there was a playfulness to my voice that I knew Jamie recognized with the way he glanced around nervously.
"Since you all invited me to your little pack party I'd assume its only right that I return the favor." I grin letting my eyes momentarily meet every one of the shifters on the beach. "I'm having a house warming of sorts, Sunday night."
After all the shifter was now forever bound to a Mikaelson he'd obviously have to be put to the test, theres no telling if he could handle it.
After all I'm a firm believer in throwing the baby into the deep end to teach it to swim.
I grin hellishly, " It's formal wear only…do come."
…
I stood at the top of the large winding stair case, the center of my new home, watching Vampires, some scattered Human, and the odd Witch here and there all dressed to the nines and holding glasses of champagne wander through the house Sunday night, each one raising a glass to me as they came in hiding their nervousness well.
The shifters weren't here yet and I was a little put out by the fact that I was suddenly worried about them in a room full of vampires.
I suddenly felt a rush of cold air behind me, and my lips stretched into an impossibly large smile, I whirled around and straight into the arms of the hybrid behind me, "Niky!" I greeted knowing I was the only one in the world that could call him that and walk away with my tongue still in my mouth.
He spun me around breathing in my scent, in an act of affection reserved only for myself, "Ari" He greeted the smile evident in his voice.
He held me out at arms length and I did a show of spinning slowly in circle, "You look absolutely sinful sister." He complemented, "And you look positively devilish brother." I teased matching smirks on our lips.
I studied the look on his face for a moment before commenting, "You smell like cheerleader."
He grabs a glass off of a tray as it passed us sending me a shit eating grin, "Why I have no idea what you're talking about."
I smirk at him, "Caroline finally crack then." It's a statement not a question.
He presses his pointer finger to his lips a fake scandalized expression over his face, "A gentleman never tells these things, especially to a lady."
I snort rolling my eyes at him, "Well then it's a good thing you're not a gentleman."
He raises his glass to me, "And you are no lady." I laugh in amusement for a moment before giving him a look.
He sighs like it's a hassle when I know he's dying to tell me anyways, " Fine, yes Caroline did finally crack as you put it, but only with the promise of never laying eyes on me again."
I sigh shaking my head at him, he sends me a look and I shrug back, we're experts at nonverbal communication, seconds later we nod together, "Worth it."
He smiles at me gesturing to the crowd of people below us, "Shall we get this show on the road then?"
I shake my head, "Not quite yet, which reminds me." I said turning to toward the people and letting out a loud whistle, they stop cold turning to face me, "Yes your attention for a moment. There will be a pack of shifters arriving any minute now."
I paused while a murmur went through the crowd.
I clear my throat and give a tight smile, "Keep your hands off them or I will remove the appendage from your body." Niklaus choked on his champagne in an surprise fit of laughter and I smiled sweetly, "That is all."
When I turn back to Nik his whole face is red in sheer amusement, his blue eyes are watering just slightly and he had champagne dribbling down his scruffy chin. I raise an eyebrow, "Charming."
"Your awfully protective over a meaningless pack of shifters." He hinted watching for my reaction, I sniff looking away from him, "Unless…..don't tell me one of them imprinted on you…"
I scowl at him and he howls in laughter, "That poor bloke,"He gasps through his laughter, "God bless the fool stuck with you forever."
"Yes, God bless him." I hiss, "That means you let this one keep his heart, yes?" I said leaving no room for argument.
His laughter dies down some seeing the look on my face, "Relax dear sister you know I'll do anything you ask of me. I won't lay a hand on him."
"That's all I ask. Now come stand next to me and look presentable."
…
"Are we really gonna do this?" Jared asked no one in particular adjusting his tie while they all gazed up at the large house, the light from it warm and inviting spilling into the street that was lined with cars.
"She's Pauls imprint." Sam said gruffly looking absolutely ridiculous in his suit if you asked Seth who was snickering at him, Paul stood next to Sam trying to ignore his nerves, it was such a foreign feeling for him, he noticed a few people in suits eventer the house and glances down at his own.
It was simple jet black slacks and matching blazer and a deep red dress shirt, with the top view buttons undone and a pair of newish leather biker boots, because that's about as formal as he gets.
"This is ridiculous," Jacob complained pulling at the collar of his white shirt in annoyance, "Shes a vampire, can she even have kids?"
Paul growled at him, and Quil snorted, "Tell you what, when we get in there we'll let you be the one to ask the Hybrid that." He clapped Paul on the shoulder in a show of support before heading toward the house leaving the pack no choice but to follow.
When they entered the house, all the chatter ceased, the crowd stopping to stare at them, but Paul wasn't paying attention, his eyes were glued on the stairs. At the top stood Arabelle, she looked breathe taking and he suddenly found it physically hard to breath while he gazed at her.
She wore a strapless dark red lace dress, that hugged her body like a second skin, it clung to her shapely hips and tiny waist, and its deep sweetheart neckline accentuated her impressive cleavage. She matched it with a delicate necklace, just a lone diamond on a dainty gold chain, the large blue stoned ring still sat on her right hand.
Her light strawberry blonde hair was in voluminous curls all pined to one side and shining where the light hit them. Her muted blue eyes stood out against her dark makeup and her blood red painted lips were pulling into a devious smirk.
He then noticed the man that stood next to her, His strawberry blonde hair was a shade darker then hers, just slightly curly on its own, he wore a pair of black slacks and a matching black button down it was paired with a dark red bow tie and a crisp white blazer. He the same pair of blue eyes and an identical smirk stretched on his stubbed cheeks.
He glanced between the two for a moment before it clicked in and his brain supplied the name.
Niklaus.
When the two noticed the noise die down they looked up, Arabelle's eyes locked on Paul and smirked, Niklaus followed his sisters line of sight to one of the tallest Quileute's in the room which was saying a lot considering he was pretty sure they were all at least six feet tall and waggled his fingers tauntingly.
Arabelle noticed them all shift uncomfortably at the attention rolled her eyes gracefully making her way down the stairs Klaus followed along carelessly behind her.
The crowd parted like the red sea for the twins leaving a path directly to the pack of shifters, Arabelle came to a stop directly in front of Paul, "Hello love." She purred curling her fingers around his belt loop, she plucked a champagne from a tray as it was passing and held it up in front of his face as an offering. He smirked taking it from her delicate hand.
The room watched on in curiosity and Arabelle rolled her eyes plastering herself to Paul side she turned to address the room, "What are you wankers looking at? Never seen so many tan people in one place before? Though that is understandable considering some of you will never step foot into the sunlight again." She grinned hellishly at a group of nightwalkers.
Niklaus snorted in amusement at his sisters speech making a shooing motion with his hand and watching as the room went back to their own conversation not wanting to anger the siblings.
"Well then." She sighed turning back to face the pack, "Quileute's this is my twin brother Niklaus, Nik this is the Quileute pack and this is Paul."
Niklaus grinned lazily, "Lovey to meet you all", before moving swiftly and getting an arm around Pauls shoulder dragging him down to his level, his drink dangling carelessly from his fingers, "Paul was it? You hurt my dear sister and I'll rip your heart out of your chest, and give it to her in a box wrapped in a pretty red bow for our birthday."
Paul shoved his arm off in shoulder in a move that made Arabelle raise her eyebrows in shock she hadn't seen anyone lay a land on Niklaus and live other then Elijah in years. Niklaus also raise his brow impressed at the shifter.
"It would cause me physical pain to hurt her." He growled.
"Good." Klaus chirped, "Glad it's settled."
"I'm Sam Uley, Aplha of the Quileute pack." Sam introduced himself to the newest Hybrid his wolf eager to assert his dominance not that Niklaus lets him have any. He just glances up at him with a smirk.
"I'm the Alpha male darling." He stated simply something dark in his eyes.
Sam visibly bristled though Arabelle couldn't decide if it was because of Nik use of the word 'darling' or his blatant disrespect of his position, it make her giggle and Paul glanced down at her in surprise at the sweet noise.
"Oh look," She began when a trio stopping in front of them, "It's the Salvatores. And you brought the doppelganger, how nice." She sniffed looking at Elena in distaste.
The gilbert girl rolled her eyes gripping Stefan's hand and leaning into his side. "Someones out to kill her again, so we had to let her tag along." Damon smirked winking at Arabelle when she laughed at him.
"Well, bloody hell I would do the world a favor and just let Nik kill her if I wasn't so fond of Stefan here. Nikys cause the untimely demise of so many of the men out little sister has been involved with, I'm quite fond of this one." She said with a pout tilting her head to look at him.
Stefan's lips twitched despite himself, while Elena glared at her.
"Oh! Matt darling there you are!" Arabelle called across the room to a blonde who looked like the classic all American football jock, which he actually was, "Rebekah had so many stories to tell me about you." She smirked watching as he laughed. "Excuse me for a moment," She said slipping out from under Pauls arm, "Play nice." She warned her brother as she moved toward the outside of they're little circle.
She stopped next to Stephan on the way out, giving a smirk at Elena while she spoke to Damon, "Have fun babysitting."
The gilbert girl scoff, turning away in a flourish, "I'm gonna go find Bonni."
Arabelle tutted shaking her head, "Poor girl, she thinks the world revolves around her, you really shouldn't spoil her so much." She teased Stefan.
"Yeah well Steffy here thinks, she just a princess." Damon mocks rolling his eyes as he tossed back his drink.
"Yes well that's all fine and good just make sure you remember," She said gripping Stefans tie in her hand and yanking him down to her height, pressing a red kiss to his cheek like a brand just because she could. Leaning back she smirked at the mark.
"I'm the bloody queen."