Disclaimer: Twilight, and those characters belonging to it, are property of Stephenie Meyer and I profit none whatsoever from using them for the fan fiction I write.

Aurthor's Note: Small editing of spelling and grammar, few dialogue changes. Again, partial first person POVs. As far as I understand it, it's only the wolf that feels compelled to love their imprint, though it makes sense the imprinted would be attracted to them unless their sexuality didn't lend them to that.

…

For the first time in my life, I was nervous standing outside the Clearwater's door, hand still poised to knock with last minute hesitation. How do you apologize for reacting poorly to your could-be-boyfriend's secret life as a wolf?

Sorry Seth, it's just - you know, wasn't all prepared for the GRRR. My bad.

Head shaking, I pulled my hand back, fidgeting. I can do this. Taking a deep breath, I counted to 3, smoothed my shirt's front, and knocked on the old wood door, feet planted firmly on the bare porch. From the corner of my eye, I saw the curtains part before the door opened less than a second later, Seth standing withdrawn in the doorway.

Lip chewing to keep the worried smile off my face, "Hey."

Resigned eyes swept over me, taking in the blue jeans and the green shirt that I had tried to bring out the color in my eyes to hide the fact I had not slept in a few days. Unfamiliar dark circles graced Seth's usually young features, aging him a few years and the guilt swept around my heart in waves, "Can I come in?"

Seth nodded, mussed hair motionless until he ran his fingers through it, thick fingers scratching it back as I passed him. Sue must have been out overnight because the living room was littered with at least a day's dishes, then again if the guys had been over, it might have just been a few hours...

I turned around once he had closed the door, trying to stop my inner ramblings from deviating from the path I had set myself on. "I wanted to talk with you about the other day."

Seth's posture straightened a slight stiffness through his neck and shoulders, lips pursing he crossed his arms rocking on his heels, "Alright."

Where had my Seth gone? This was not my friend, had my staying away done this much damage? I chewed my lip again before stepping closer and kept from craning when he started to step back, "Seth," I took grabbed his arm at the elbow to keep him in place, "I'm sorry."

Reaching to stroke his cheek, confusion swept over his face, the hard russet jaw clenching under my fingers, "I'm sorry for going when I should have stayed. I just... It's not easy, picturing you so... different."

He studied me, still wanting to step back but not wanting to shrug me off, "You aren't... scared?"

I took a second; it was a question I had been asking myself the past few days. Well... that and if I had somehow consumed shrooms while on the reservation and just imagined everything - but apparently that was a no or we would not be having this conversation. I shook my head, waves sweeping off my shoulders and behind my back, "No... Not intentionally anyway... Seth what I feel..."

That was all my younger man needed to hear because the rest of my words were swallowed up by his lips, my own mouth curving into a surprised smile unable to stop the rush of warmth that flooded my system at the touch.

…

Bella moved effortlessly in Edward's arms; her movements graceful, supple arms raised above her head as his fingers whispered down her sides. Blue tinged lips turned up in a smile, thick lashes dark against her pale cheek bones as he taught her to dance.

Their shadows moved in unison on the living room wall of their home as Renesmee slept soundly in her bed down the hall. Outside, under the star lit sky, the trees stood still - whispering to one another. Leaves rustled, twitching without reason, the vines that circled the old ones squeezing reflexively before letting go with a sigh.

From her window in the Cullen household, Alice faced out towards the landscape, her arms crossed and her back straight as she tried once more to look ahead. Things had been unclear lately. At first, when Carlisle had met Kady, it had seemed that things would be fine, that his singer's appearance would have no real effect on their family other than awareness. But now she was not so sure.

With Kady's involvement with the Quiletes, Alice's sight had disappeared and her vision of her 'father' was blurred now as well. Of course, Carlisle's decision had not changed but it was an incomplete picture with the other half of the equation missing. She needed it back if she were to protect her family.

Playing with the strands that brushed the nape of her neck, the pixie sized psychic checked in on her brother Edward and her sister-in-law briefly, then concentrated on her mate Jasper and her other brother Emmett. The two had gone off for the night to spar, far away from Esme's disapproving gaze, and Jasper's absence as always troubled her.

Just south of the Canadian border, where the Rockies ran through Montana, the earth shook, and the sound of thunder clashed in the sky amongst the clouds. Fast as lightning two figures blurred through air, bodies meeting again and again before tumbling down to earth once more to separate and stand still, pale statues beneath the moon.

Amber and gold, two pairs of eyes gazed into one another from across the clearing their fighting had created, both as sure of themself as the other that they would win. Left brow cocked high, the buffer of the two grinned, flashing a set of razor-sharp teeth as he growled. Hissing in return, the leaner one 's lips pursed together in a thin line as he took stock of his brother.

"Scared?" Emmett taunted, muscles flexing freely in the silver light, dusting his skin like crystals.

Jasper snorted, the air rushing out in a quick unneeded breath, "Your attacks are slow and simple Emmett - you'd have to catch me before I could fear you."

Emmett flexed again, arms that wrestled down grizzlies tensing, the war veteran grinned before disappearing as he darted into action once again, the linebacker soon knocked off his feet.

…

The weeks following the newly imprinted passed quickly, time kept track only by the moon. The couple spent their days together for the most part, Seth explaining the new bond behind their feelings. Trying to examine the emotional tie from her own end, Kady could not determine any difference she felt she would not have experienced anyway; though she used the time during his rounds with the pack to occasionally over think or see Sue and Emily. It was in face on one of those days shared with the only other girl on the reservation to know the love of a Wolf that the identity of the 'cold ones' was revealed.

Kissing Kady's cheek, Seth leaned over the back of the wooden chair, calloused palms squeezing her small shoulders gently. The smile that graced her features was instantaneous, reaching her eyes to turn them a brighter shade of green. "See you soon," he breathed against her ear before heading out the door.

Watching after him, Kady blushed, not seeing Emily slide into the room from where she was waiting patiently in the doorway, "You won't have to wait too long... There runs have become shorter since their worry with the Cullens is over."

Kady turned back at the news, still smiling until the whole message sank through, "Something happened with the Cullens?" Puzzlement wrapped around the sound of her voice like a chord.

Emily cocked her head, brows rising on both sides of her face, making her scars seem tighter than before, "They didn't tell you?"

Fidgeting, Kady thought of the doctor who had come to check her out at the accident and his two sons, though she knew he had other children, "Did one of them... Was there an accident?" If the guys had hurt someone... surely Seth would have mentioned...

Emily realized how worried she was becoming, and she could not let her think one of the guys had done something wrong. She unfolded her arms, walking across the kitchen towards the stove, "How much did Seth tell you... about the pack?"

Kady took a moment, "Nothing, I mean..." She blushed, blood pulling in her cheeks from embarrassment, "After the shock and getting past everything... He just mentioned it was in his family's blood. That only a certain few of the Quileute's had the same gene to... change."

Emily sighed quietly to herself, the stories were really an experience to be had at one of their Bonfires but nothing was planned for months and she knew her new friend wanted answers now, "This pack has only been around a few years." Lifting the kettle from the stove she filled it with water and put it back on the burner, "Forks had just gotten a new Doctor, Carlisle, and shortly after Sam changed..."

…

Fork's perimeter did not take the whole two hours the pack spent checking its borders, and it certainly did not take the three and a half they had been gone. Seth, of course, had lost track of time, spending his first day with the Cullens in months.

While Quil and Embry had gone back to La Push, Jacob had headed to visit with Renesmee, and Seth, missing his friends, had tagged along. Now seated on the couch in the living room, sunlight sweeping in across the floor and warming his legs, it was hard to remember why he had been gone so long. As if sensing the pup's lost thoughts, Esme appeared from out the kitchen, plate in hand, "Hungry?"

Peering at her from half open blue eyes Seth grinned, sniffing, "Isn't steak a little extravagant for lunch?"

Smiling Esme pointed with one finger towards the clock on the wall, "Much closer to dinner now Seth." Handing him the plate she glanced out the windows, "Where's Jacob?"

Already digging in, he paused to look out the same way she had, "He took Nessie to see something outside," looking back at her he cocked his head, "I think she attracts butterflies."

A knowing smile swept over the mother's lips, "Ah yes..." Sitting down on the couch Esme crossed one leg over the other, elbow cushioning itself on her knee, chin cupped in her palm, "So how have you been?"

Seth's ears pricked slightly, picking up the curiosity. Esme was always interested in her children's, and children's friend's, lives and his own absence of late must have left a mystery for her. "Alright," he swallowed down another piece of the tender cut and leaned back in his seat, "More than really..." Seth grinned with the thought talking about his friend.

"You'd like her. I think everyone would," he sighed glancing up the stairs that lead to the second story where Carlisle's study was, "I would like for you to meet her if..."

Esme reached out, cold hand patting his knee, glassy fingernails shimmering slightly as they caught the light, "I know..." resituating herself, Esme looked in the same direction, "Carlisle is sorry that it has kept you away. You know you are welcome, both welcome, over Seth..." Esme's Amber gaze flicked back to him serious, "No one would let anything happen to her, the same as Bella, we really would like to meet her."

…

The walk back to La Push was a slow one, Jacob and Seth opting not to shift and run back but to rather talk about the possibility of Seth bringing Kady to meet the Cullens.

"Esme really does think they would be ok, Jake. Out of all of them Carlisle has the most practice - and an unblemished record." The youngest member of his pack rallied for the option, the time with the family absolving any hesitation he had previously.

Jacob sighed looking over at him, "It's not my call Seth, I can only ask that if you do you don't alone. They will be my family, but the risk is still there Seth," dark eyes focused on Seth's for a moment holding it, "You can't forget that."