D: Disclaimed

Taha Aki's story credits go to Twilight Saga Wiki.

Chapter Five

A week had come and gone. Days dragged and time stood still. My parents wouldn't peep a word until Jacob came to admittance for whatever secrets he yet needed to spill. Yet, Jacob had only stopped by to check up on me. He no longer tried to come in my room to bother me, but I knew he still came by the sound of his voice and the musky smell I had grown to know.

As I stared at the boy in the mirror, he was trapped in a man's body. His dark wavy locks were no longer fixed, strands of his hair pointed in every direction. His honey hued eyes were now dark as the nights, not from the thirst for blood, but because of the mixed emotions that plagued him. His face was now paler too while he stood in his grungy pajamas.

I could've sworn the man looking back at me, was no longer I.

Loneliness found me once again. Moping had become a routine and seclusion became my best friend. I no longer wanted to go home nor did I want to leave this room. My family would hold their answers just the same as Jacob would.

"You have to figure this all out yourself." I spoke to my reflection.

It was the truth though. If I needed answers, I had to go to the source of it all. Sam. He held onto information that had belonged to me. Without further contemplations whether I should go find him or not, I raced through my room in a blurred speed and changed into a pair of joggers and a T-shirt.

No one was home today; I think it was because my grandparents were trying to give me the space I had begged for. I grabbed the keys from the hanger and went into the driveway to unlock the car only to be used for emergencies. Right now, it did feel important and I was sure that grandpa would understand.

Turning the ignition, I shifted the car in gear and pulled out of the driveway. My destination was the La Push reservation, and my mission consisted of finding Sam and demanding he tell me the big secret being withheld from me.

Each car I passed, honked and shouted at me for my reckless driving, something I believe I inherited from my father. My mother had always said that he drove like a maniac, and for my first time actually driving in a distance as such, I believe I was doing a good job at that.

I slowed down as I came near the secluded community, finding the citizens walking about on this gloomy day. I hadn't known where Sam lived or where he actually was, so I decided to stop by the gas station and ask where I could find the man. The cashier was a teen who hardly knew Sam, but that didn't mean he didn't know where the man had lived. He kindly gave me directions and I was on my way.

Each house I passed seemed to resemble the one before, most of them looked similar in ways, just different colors. I had come to the driveway with the mailbox labeled 'The Uley's,' just as the teen had said. As I pulled in, the place seemed deserted, but I could see Emily outside in her flowerbeds with her son playing next to her.

She smiled and waved as I parked the car. Her son was now in her arms as she approached me.

"What a surprise to see you here Sebastian." She giggled, "what brings you here?"

"I came to speak to Sam." I put my hands in my loose pockets, "is he home?"

"No, I'm sorry," she said, "he should be home soon. Why don't you come in for some tea and muffins?"

"Sure." I nodded and followed the woman and her child into the house.

I smiled as the child giggled at the sight of me. He cooed as he reached his hand out to me. I kept my distance though. I've never been this close to an infant, and I didn't know my own strength in order to be cautious with the baby.

"What kind of tea?" She asked as she walked to the open kitchen.

"Water will be fine actually." I replied still in awe of the child.

"So, how have you been?" She asked as she handed me a glass of water and walked back to the kitchen to retrieve the muffins, "I didn't expect to see you without Jacob."

"We're sort of not on speaking terms." I admitted.

"A fall out?"

"I guess you can say that." I took a drink. "It's actually part of the reason I need to see Sam."

"I see." She smiled and slid the plate of muffins closer to me, "please, enjoy."

I had gotten into a brief conversation with the native woman. She was a stay-at-home mom while Sam did the odd jobs here and there down at the reservation. I commented on her beautiful home and she had informed me that Sam had built it for them in his teen years. They've been in love and happily married for several years now, it's now; they decided to finally start the family that they dreamed of.

After about twenty minutes of conversing, Sam had walked in with a surprised expression on his face. He said a quick 'hi' and went down the hallway, informing us that he would be right back.

"So," he gave his wife a kiss on the cheek and looked at me, "what brings you here?"

"I actually was hoping to speak to you in private if you don't mind," I shrugged, Emily received the hint and stood up and told us she would leave us be while she went back to tending to her flowers.

"What seems to be bothering you?" He asked, now sitting across the wooden table from me.

"I really don't know where to start." I admitted, "but I guess I will begin with what I came here for."

"And that is?" He asked biting into a muffin.

"The word imprint." The mention of it caused him to choke for a moment.

"Imprint?" He coughed to clear his throat, "what do you mean?"

"That's the thing," I shrugged again, "I don't know. I've been hearing the word a lot lately, and I don't know what it means."

"Where did you hear it?" He asked.

"Kim said it first a couple weeks ago." I replied, "then my mother coincidently mentioned it when she had told me to ask Jacob, but the thing is, he won't tell me."

He didn't say anything.

"What is the promise he made to you that keeps this information from me?" I asked again.

"You see Sebastian," he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, "there is so much that you don't know, but in time will be revealed. I can tell you what an imprint is, but that would reside next to our tribes histories."

"Would you mind explaining?" I asked hopeful.

"Well." He sighed. "Usually it was Billy that would tell our ancient histories while we gathered around a bonfire, but I guess I can step away from traditions for a moment to explain since the old man is no longer with us."

"Okay."

"Legends have it that our people descended from the mighty wolves." He began. "Their spirits combined with ours in order to protect our people. In the beginning, life as it was, was filled with peace and tranquility. But our leader Taha Aki became the root of it all."

"How?" I asked in curiosity.

"Well," he continued, "Taha Aki was a leader of the Spirit Warriors of the Quileute Tribe. He relinquished Utlapa –one of the spirit warriors- from his abilities to use the spirit and banished him from the people because he was angry with the man."

"But one day, when Taha Aki left to perform his duties, leaving his body as a spirit himself, then flying to the spirit world. He had suspicions that Utlapa followed him, and found out about Utlapa's murderous plan."

"How so?" I asked curiously.

"Taha Aki returned to his body as soon as he could, but found that it was no longer there. Taha Aki followed his body down the mountain, but Utlapa managed to take his place in his body. Taka Aki watched in despair as Utlapa took his place as chief to the Quileutes."

"Eventually, Taha Aki tried to destroy his body to save the tribe from Utlapa." I sat in awe, listening to every word Sam spoke carefully, "He then summoned the Great Wolf to try and kill the body, but since Utlapa was behind many warriors, he forced the wolf away. Taha Aki figured that the wolf had a body and therefore a soul, so he asked the Great Wolf that he would make room in his body for his spirit and share the physical form. Granting his request, Taki Aki managed to enter to the wolf's body. He returned to his village to stop Utlapa."

"Somehow, the warriors realized that the wolf was no ordinary animal and realized that it was in fact Taha Aki returning as the Great Wolf." He took a drink, "The explanation was given by Yut who entered to the spirit world where he discovered the truth. Taha Aki took care of Utlapa once and for all and destroyed Utlapa's body where he left it in the woods, before entering the spirit world. Since that day, Taha Aki was able to share the body of a wolf whenever he wished. He became to be known as "Taha Aki the Great Wolf" and "Taha Aki the Spirit Man"."

"But what does this all have to do with what you and Jacob are keeping from me?" I asked annoyed.

"Well," He sighed impatiently, "there are a lot of things you don't know because your parents had asked us to keep it until we felt it was ready for you to know, that and the conflictions we had faced years ago."

"What conflictions?" I asked.

"It's not a thing I can just blurt out Sebastian," he moved in closer, "there are steps you need to take in order to process all of this information."

"Well, can we start with the first step?"

"I've told you the story because it's true." I wasn't fully processing it, and I think her knew that too. "We're decedents from wolves. Your mother knew this, actually your whole family knows this."

"Do they think that you're wolves too?" I asked, almost smirking at the mad man.

"They don't think," He said frustrated, "they know Sebastian. We've been protecting these lands for over a decade now."

"Protecting?" I still looked at the man questionably. "From what exactly."

"The cold ones." He deadpanned. "We know what you are Sebastian; you and your family."

How exactly was I supposed to react to such admittance? I made sure my identity was kept hidden; there was no way that could know, unless my mother had told them. There were several connections that weren't there –if my mother knew who they were, why didn't she tell me? None of this was making any sense.

"We have the abilities to pick up scents, it's a very distinctive stench that your kind give off." He spoke.

"What are you talking about?" He had to be making assumptions; this had to be his way of finding out the truth –I couldn't give it to him.

"I think you do Sebastian." Sam leaned back again, "there are things that your folks hadn't told you because it ties to us. It was in our request to keep this hidden for our own reasons; reasons that only Jacob can tell you."

"When can he tell me then?"

"After I tell you the rest of the story." He shifted forward and took another drink. "Now, where was I?" He paused, "Taha Aki became conditionally immortal, and lived for roughly two centuries; marrying his first two wives that had died of old age."

"He was also around at the time of the Cold Man's attack. He had obtained the ability to restrain himself from phasing, which allowed his aging to continue. However, this came to a halt when he, along with his phased sons, fought the vampire's mate and all were killed except him."

"His third wife sacrificed herself to give him enough time to kill the vampire. After this, Taha Aki never rejoined the tribe or changed back to a man again. He lay for three days beside the body of his wife, growling whenever someone tried to touch her, and then he went into the forest and never returned." He then finished with, "It is unknown if he is still alive today. "

I really had set myself up. The reasons of why I had been kept from here were clear as day, and now –if Sam is what he says he is- I'm in for the worst of the worse. Sam's destiny included ridding me –and Jacob, he was the anchor to this all.

I shoved my chair back in a panic and stood up, staring at the man across the table that looked shocked. I had to get out of here if I wanted to make it out alive. He already said he knew what I was, so to me, it didn't matter if I had proved his theories. I skimmed passed him and out the door in a flash.

"Sebastian?" Sam shouted from behind me, "where are you going?"

I didn't reply. I reached the car and watched as the man stood at the porch confused. I didn't have time to react when the knock on my window startled me. Jacob seemed worried to some point, but it didn't faze me. Without thinking about it any further, I started the car and quickly back out of the driveway and headed back down the highway and back to Forks.

What was the purpose of leaving me here? Why would my parents put me in the line of danger? None of it was making any sense. I kept thinking of the worse. The bloody tears that trickled down my cheek were enough to prove that I hadn't been so lost in my life. Did my parents and family care enough for me to know about all of this; that they were pretty much setting me up for a death sentence? Was I a mistake rather than a miracle? Did my family even want me after all of this?

Once again, none of this was making any sense.

By the time I reached the house, my shirt was bloody and my cheeks were as red and chapping from the drying tears. If I was such an important part of my parent's life, why leave me here? What was their motive?

"Sebastian Masen Cullen!" Grandpa Charlie stood on top of the stairs, "where the hell have…" He stopped midsentence and grabbed me, realizing the tears still streaming down my face, "what's wrong? Who did this to you?"

"It's nothing grandpa." I turned away and walked passed him.

"It has to be something," he followed me in, "you have to talk to me Seb, I've been worried for the past couple weeks, one day you're good, the next you're just so detached."

"I said it's nothing." I shouted slamming the door in his face.

I've never yelled at my grandpa, neither of my grandparents actually. But, life as it seems, has taken a full turn and now I needed to figure out my next step. Should I run? If I had, my parents would find me and bring me back here, or worse, hold me for the rest of my existence. Aunt Alice wouldn't understand the freedom I desperately needed.

Never in my life had I wanted to hit something, or someone. It was an uncontrollable rage from the deceit. The more I thought of it, the more it angered me. Being alone no longer helped, and neither were the constant inner debates I was having with myself. I needed something to numb the frustrations, the emotions waving over me like a plethora of ocean waves drowning me inside and out. I couldn't breath, I couldn't think clearly with my clouded thoughts.

I needed to flee.

Opening the window and not looking back, I kneeled forward on the ledge and jumped forward to the old tree in front of my room. I skimmed down the tree and reviewed my surroundings, already thinking that this was a stupid idea. Wolves invaded the forests, and I couldn't just walk through town with blood all over my face. By now, I'm sure aunt Alice had caught up with my sightings before I had. Without any options, I needed to get through the tree lines and far from here.

The further I ran, the more ridiculous I had thought my plan to be. Where was I going? I had no money, nowhere else to go –or even an idea of what was beyond here. I've never been outside the boundaries of Forks. We could be on some island for all I knew, seeing that the ocean hadn't been far from here.

I knew I was lost by now. I shouldn't have stopped in the first place. This forest looked but all the same, trees grew above me to the point I could hardly see the skies, hills surrounded me, brush that looked the same as before, and silence had been broken by the birds cawing in a distance.

Then a howl.

I had dreaded this moment. This could be my last breath, and I hadn't had the chance to experience the life I desperately wanted to live. Panic had settled and I kept running, blurring through the tree stumps, up and over hills, through rocky ridges and passed meadows that were unfamiliar. Fate hadn't been in my favor the moment I had reached the edge of the cliffs and face to face with the ocean.

Howls echoed and I knew then more wolves were coming then I had expected. I had to turn and find another way, but before I could reach the tree line once again, I was frozen in my footsteps with the sight of two wolves slowly appearing through the brush. Both larger than any wolf I thought would be –though I hadn't really seen a wolf, I was sure they weren't as big as horses, these ones were almost.

The first was a sandy brown color, its face with a soft expression –far from threatening. Following the wolf was the second, grey, almost white as the fur blended, giving it a feminine look. Neither gave off the predator persona, each looking more concerned rather than having the urge to dismember me.

"I didn't hurt anyone Sam!" I panicked, holding my hands in front of me with my palms pointing up, slowly backing away.

The first wolf shook its head, the second watched me intently for my next move.

"I wont tell anyone." I did my best to negotiate, "I promise. If you let me go home, I'll pack my things and leave as soon as possible."

The wolf shook his head again, staying in one spot. The other didn't seem to care one bit of the actions taking, but that didn't mean that it wasn't ready to pounce at any moment. As I watched the pair, another wolf came through the bushes, a much larger one in fact. This wolf appeared to be bulkier than these two, fur that had matched the forest with a brown, almost russet color.

It confused me when the fear I had been burdened with me began to slowly fade. But why? Could this be Sam? Was this his strategy to end me, to gain my trust then kill me when I least expected it? The calmness frightened me more than the actual fear I had experienced, I couldn't trust this monster if that meant that he could deliver my last breath.

Just as the massive creature approached me slowly, I witnessed the other two slowly disappear into the forest, leaving me be with the timid beast in front of me. If I can escape and run home without being caught, at least I can figure out a way to get out of here, even if that meant I had to call my parents.

Abruptly, the wolf crept up to me with a soft expression, its eyes burdened with sorrow at the sight of me. I couldn't understand the canine's ambitions. The more the wolf came closer, the more I began to panic again. I was now face to face with the giant, the wolf's head rose higher as it looked down at me. His massive head neared my face as it began to sniff. It was then I had remembered the blood that stained my face, and I knew that it must have expected it to be from one of my so-called victims.

Before the wolf could take any more actions, I leaned back slightly and swung my right hand as hard as I could, sending the large creature across the clearing. It was a bold move, but it had stalled a few seconds for me to make my escape. I really wasn't looking forward to the pack of wolves that could be ahead of me, but if I played my cards right, I knew there would be possibilities that I could make it home.

My fist hurt, but the pain subsided at the sight of the large pack of wolves hiding in the forest's belly. I didn't have a second to count how many there were, just that the odds of me getting out of here alive were slim to none. I'd need a miracle to throw all of them off my path. That was until I looked up. They could climb trees. That much I knew, so that would be my only hope.

The moment my feet left the forest's floor was the exact moment I had felt a sharp pain in my ankle. Behind me was a small wolf with several different patterns all over its fur. I shrieked in pain as soon as the wolf released my foot from its sharp fangs. As I clasped onto my wound, the same large wolf that I punched knocked the smaller wolf over, sending the smaller wolf to slide across the forest floor and sending dirt flying in different directions.

The larger wolf barked and snarled at the smaller wolf, threatening the poor pup to stay down. It was a clear display of dominance, I was sure of it. But that didn't take my sight from the now surrounding pack of wolves that had formed a circle around me. Each a different size, most just as intimidating as the brown wolf, but not as big.

"I said I'd leave." I slid back with my hand still clasped on my ankle. "I mean no harm to anyone Sam, neither have I fed off of any humans."

The moment I had spoke was the same time one of the smaller wolves came into the center and dropped a bag in front of the wolf that I was sure to be Sam. The larger wolf nodded before the smaller wolf retreated to the circle's line. I couldn't understand the wolf grabbed the packsack with its jaws and practically stood back.

Right before my eyes, the wolf had changed from a furry creature into a man with the bag now in his hands covering his crotch area. But what shocked me the most was that it was Jacob. My eyes must've been bulging from my sockets as the sight I had witnessed. It was one thing to be told about this, and it was another thing to actually see the change happen, let alone that it being Jacob.

"Jacob?" I murmured, slowly inching back against the tree behind me.

He reached into the bag and pulled on the pair of shorts in his hand. Was it so wrong that I was the only one who couldn't take my eyes off of him? He didn't seem to mind the second I had caught the smirk on his lips. In embarrassment, I turned quickly as he chucked the bag back to the wolf that gave it to him.

"Leave!" He ordered.

As I was about to stand up and do so, the pack of wolves left in a crowd and disappeared one by one. Jacob's hand was now on mine.

"Why'd you run?"

I didn't answer, but retaliated with another swing of my arm and knocking him back a few steps. His hand rubbed his cheek the same moment he looked at me confused.

"Because you fucking scared the shit out of me!"

A/N: I haven't had the time to reply to any questions, and I apologize for it, but I hope this chapter has answered some of them at least. I'm guessing you all get the idea of what comes in the next chapter. I will say that I don't think this story will have some sort of suspenseful plot twists, just the challenges the pairing will face to be together.

As always, the shoutouts, jfreakinf, ASH186, lytebrytehybrid88, Demon2Angel, FreeSpirit15, LrafaelxD, Shalette, Guest (BlueAnchor)[For both reviews], Matt.H, sportsallstrs2, Hank's Lady, and of course SoundShield11. Of course thanks to the ones who favorited and alerted as well.

Much Love,

TurnItUp03

P.S. 'Playing the Pack' will be updated sometime this week. I'm just working out the kinks before I find it suitable to post.