Chapter: through the Ages Part 2 ( Sam age 13)

Samuel watched over the boys wrestling and a shred of jealousy filled his heart when he looked at them. Quil, Jacob, and embry all of them were going to phase one day, Sam just hoped it wasn't for a long time.

Even if he was jealous, it didn't mean he wouldn't wish this on anybody. At age 13 he now looked sixteen. His body had gone through all sorts of weird changes. Changes he didn't want to think about. Because of his growth, there were plenty of things he couldn't do. Like staying in school for long. Eventually, he had to be transferred out and homeschooled by the elders. That meant he didn't play with people his age, or barely play at all. He was the future alpha, future chief of the tribe, he didn't get the privilege to play.

"hey?" a voice called out to him.

Samuel looked up into the eyes of Jacob black. He would be destined one day to be Sam's beta. Just like Billy black was to his father.

"you've been sitting there for a while. Want to join us? Quill thinks he can beat you."

Samuel had to look around to make sure Jacob was talking to him. No one ever talked to him. If anything, they took extra caution to avoid him. And if they did run into him, they bowed their head in submission and kept it moving.

"Sure." Samuel agreed.

….

"What the heck is Jake doing?" Quil asked Embry as they sat in the sand, watching Jake talk to Samuel Uley.

"he does know who he's talking to right?"

Embry shrugged.

" you know Jake, he never cared about status. He's going to treat people like their normal."

" But this is Samuel Uley we are talking about! Our future chief! I mean look at the guy he's 6 ft and looks like a 16-year-old! He shouldn't be with us!"

Embry once again shrugged

"Just lay off Quil. I don't think Samuel's that bad."

The two preteens stopped talking as Jacob and Samuel approached them.

Embry greeted him first.

"Hey, Samuel. How's it hanging?"

Samuel stared at him in confusion.

" how's what hanging?" Samuel questioned as he looked around.

Embry shook his head.

" uh never mind."

Jacob was quick to break up the awkwardness as he playfully shoved Samuel.

" come on Samuel, show me what you got!"

Samuel cocked his head to the side, yellow eyes blinking back at them.

" come on then pup." He growled.

Quil wanting to show off was quick to dive straight for him. However, Quil tripped and landed face-first in the sand.

Jacob was next, actually tackling their future alpha. However, the victory was short-lived because Samuel had Jacob in a headlock.

Jacob was quick to surrender, but then embry swung at Samuel's legs, leading Jacob, Samuel, and Embry to tumble into the sand.

"Those were some quick moves alpha.." Embry complimented as he lay on the sand.

"yeah, you gonna have to teach us those." Jacob laughed as he punched Samuel in the shoulder.

Quil looked at the three men on the sand and grimaced. With a frown on his face, he left the three behind.

"Does my presence offend him?" Samuel questioned as he stood to wipe off the sand.

"yeah. He's just intimidated." Embry admitted.

"thank you for your Honesty. Embry."

"no problem, chief uley." Embry joked as he gently shoulder-bumped him.

Embry had no clue why but he suddenly felt the need to be close to Samuel, to touch him and be assured of his presence.

To his surprise, he felt a blazing hot hand reach over and cup his neck.

"I'm here."

Embry felt something shift and electrify in his body. but as soon as Samuel removed his hand, the feeling was gone.

"Samuel." A deep powerful voice called.

The three boys turned to see, Chief Joshua uley, standing on one of the shorter cliffs.

"come." He ordered.

Without looking back, or saying goodbye Samuel followed his father.

….

The father and son walked quietly through the reservation. Any passerby craning their necks in submission or throwing their palms flat up as a sign of surrender.

"what were you doing with those pups?" his father asked.

"we were …playing…father." Samuel said slowly so as to not anger his already temperamental patriarch.

"playing… hmm. Listen here, and listen to me clearly." His father commanded, forcing Samuel to straighten up and look at him.

"you cannot play with your subordinates. That will lead to your downfall. Do you hear me, boy?"

Samuel swallowed hard.

"yes, sir."

"Good, now come with me, to the birthing hut. We have a child to bless."

…..

When a woman in their tribe was giving birth, men were not allowed. It was women's work, as his mother called it.

Women were the life-givers of all humanity, while men helped produce them.

However, whenever it came time for women to give birth, she did it in the birthing hut, surrounded by the women of their tribe and the female elders to guide them.

His mother was the head of their birthing center and helped bring almost every newborn Quiletute his age into the world.

Today was no different. But that meant the chief of the tribe had a job. When all children were born, they would be under the chief rule and reign. And it was their job to bless the mother and child.

Without a word, he and his father entered the hut. Samuel stood back against the wall and observed the ritual.

The room went quiet upon their presence. Every man and woman bowing their heads in reverence.

A woman with long black hair lay on a mat, a cool rag on her forehead. A newborn was latched to her exposed breast.

There was no shame when a child entered the earth.

With tender hands, he rarely saw. Samuel watched as his father got done on one knee, and laid a hand on the small child's head.

He said a prayer in their native tongue and then did the same to the mother.

As soon as he stood, his voice rang out into the hut.

"Congratulations. The child will serve our tribe with honor."

And just like that it was over. His father gestured for him to walk out.

From the corner of his eye, Samuel saw his mother. She was holding a bowl of water, a look of resentment and anger in her eyes.

As soon as they left the hut, his father spoke.

"you did an excellent job today on your patrols. Not a scent in sight. The elders have also told me that you have been excelling in your studies. I am only going to allow this once and only once. But you may go back and…join the boys at the beach. "

Samuel felt excitement run through his veins. Just as he was getting ready to run off, his father called out to him.

"Oh, and Samuel… remember your place."

Just as Samuel made it back to the beach to see the guys wrestling around, he could t help but think.

Man, I like birthing days. It makes dad …nice.