Imprinted Fate
Leah Clearwater had always prided herself on being the tough one, the one who didn't need anyone. While the others had imprinted and found their missing pieces, she had resigned herself to a life of being alone. And she was fine with that.
Or so she thought.
It happened during one of their routine visits to the Cullens' house. The pack had come along, mostly because Jacob had promised Renesmee they'd visit, and Seth was always eager to see Esme, who treated him like her own son. Leah had been dragged along because, well, someone had to make sure her little brother didn't embarrass himself.
And that's when she saw him.
There was a stranger in the Cullens' house.
She didn't know who he was, but something about him made her stomach tighten. He was standing by the grand piano, speaking with Carlisle about something science-y that she didn't care to understand. The warm afternoon sunlight streaming through the Cullens' floor-to-ceiling windows bathed him in a golden glow, making his bronze-toned skin even more striking. But the moment her eyes locked onto him, the world tilted. The sounds around her dimmed, the very air in her lungs froze, and suddenly, nothing else mattered. He was the center of the universe, and she—Leah Clearwater, the queen of snark and bitterness—was helpless against it.
She imprinted.
Oh, hell no.
The stranger must have sensed something shift because he turned to her, his deep brown eyes locking onto hers with quiet intensity. It was like gravity itself had altered, pulling them together in a way that defied logic. He took a slow step forward, as if drawn by an invisible force.
Leah couldn't look away. Her breath caught, her heartbeat thundered in her chest. His gaze held something she couldn't name—recognition, intrigue, an understanding neither of them expected. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring them to this exact moment, and she had no idea how to handle it.
His expression softened as he studied her, his lips parting slightly like he was about to say something. His fingers twitched at his sides, as if resisting the urge to reach out. Leah felt an unfamiliar heat creep up her neck, an anxious flutter stirring in her chest. It was unbearable. Overwhelming. She needed to get out.
Her heart pounded. Her breath hitched. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind, none of them making sense. And before she could do something reckless—like stay—she turned on her heel and bolted.
As soon as she reached the edge of the forest, she let go.
The shift was instant, her body exploding into sleek gray fur as she phased mid-stride. A piercing howl tore from her throat, raw and frustrated. She didn't stop running, pushing her legs faster, needing to put as much distance between herself and that… that situation as possible.
But she wasn't alone.
The pack had followed. She felt them before she saw them—Jacob, Seth, Embry, and Quil, their thoughts merging with hers through the pack bond. They had sensed it the moment it happened. There was no hiding from them.
Leah, you can't outrun this. Jacob's voice echoed in her mind, steady but firm.
Leave me alone! she snapped back, but there was no real bite behind it. They knew. Of course, they knew.
Seth's thoughts were gentler. Leah… you imprinted. We all felt it.
Leah growled, but the fight was slipping out of her. She couldn't deny what had just happened. The pack had experienced the pull through their connection, the undeniable shift in her very being. She had imprinted. And there was no running from it.
Slowing her pace, she finally stopped by the riverbank, panting heavily. The others circled her, their eyes filled with understanding.
Jacob and Seth phased back first, standing in the clearing in their human forms. Leah hesitated before doing the same, her hands clenching into fists as she faced them.
Jacob crossed his arms. "So? Are you going to keep pretending you don't know what just happened?" His tone wasn't teasing—it was understanding, but firm.
Leah scowled. "I don't want this," she hissed.
Seth placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice softer. "None of us got a choice, Leah. You know that better than anyone. But… maybe it won't be as bad as you think."
Leah scoffed but didn't pull away. Her mind was a storm, her emotions warring against each other. But before she could respond, a new voice entered the conversation.
Inside the Cullens' house, Renesmee tilted her head slightly, watching the way Nahuel had gone silent, his gaze still fixed on the door Leah had disappeared through. A knowing smile curved her lips. "Well, this is unexpected."
Nahuel finally looked at her, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something—curiosity, uncertainty.
Renesmee crossed her arms. "I guess we're fellow imprintees now."
Nahuel's brows lifted slightly. "Fellow imprintees?"
Renesmee nodded, her smile softening. "Leah imprinted on you. Just like Jacob did on me."
His posture tensed slightly, realization dawning in his golden-brown eyes. A mixture of emotions crossed his face—surprise, wonder, and something deeper, something Renesmee recognized. She had been in his position once, struggling to understand the inexplicable bond imprinting created.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Cullens exchanged glances, processing what had just transpired.
Bella's eyes darted between Renesmee and Nahuel, her expression cautious but not unkind. "That was… unexpected."
Esme, ever the nurturing figure, smiled warmly. "Leah's strong. She'll find her way through this."
Carlisle nodded in agreement. "And if she has questions, we'll be here to help."
Jasper, sensing the storm of emotions surrounding Nahuel, offered a slight nod of understanding. "She's overwhelmed. She'll need time."
Emmett grinned, breaking the tension. "This is gonna be fun."
Rosalie rolled her eyes but smirked. "You just like drama."
Edward, standing beside Bella, regarded Nahuel for a long moment before speaking. "Guess it runs in the family."
Nahuel took a slow breath, his fingers twitching at his sides. He turned back to the door Leah had fled through, his expression unreadable once more. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as alone in this as he thought. Nahuel was a few steps behind her, his expression unreadable, but there was something curious in his gaze.
Leah stood by the riverbank, arms crossed tightly over her chest. The sound of rushing water filled the silence, but it did nothing to quiet the storm raging in her mind. She could feel the weight of everything pressing down on her—the absurdity, the irony, the sheer cruelty of fate.
Imprinting had already wrecked her life once. It had stolen Sam from her, ripped her heart out, and left her with scars no one could see. He had been her world, her future, until one day, with no warning, he looked at her cousin and everything changed. Their engagement had ended in an instant, not because of a choice, but because of some stupid, mystical bond that dictated their lives.
And now? Now it was happening to her. After all the pain, all the bitterness, she had sworn she would never fall into the same trap. And yet, here she was.
"Leah," Jacob's voice broke through her thoughts, his tone calm as ever. "You can't just run away from this."
"Believe me, I'd love to," she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. "But I knew the moment I phased, I was bound to imprint on someone. Doesn't make it any easier to deal with."
Jacob couldn't help but grin. "It's not like you didn't know it was coming, Leah. We all go through it."
Leah let out a deep sigh, glancing at him. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. Imprinting's a thing. Doesn't mean I have to like it."
Jacob shrugged, his grin still in place. "Nahuel's not so bad, Leah. You could've gotten stuck with someone a lot worse."
Leah raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "I'm sure that makes it all better."
"Give it time," Jacob said with a knowing smile. "Imprinting's a lot to take in, but trust me—it'll all make sense eventually."
Leah scoffed. That was what everyone had told her back when Sam had imprinted on Emily. They had expected her to just accept it, to move on like it didn't shatter her entire world. She wasn't about to fall for that line again.
Seth arrived just in time, sensing the tension in the air. "Hey, Leah!" he called cheerfully. "So... you and Nahuel, huh?"
Leah groaned. "You too, Seth? Everyone's in on this now?"
Embry followed Seth, grinning. "What can we say? You're the last one to get hit with the imprinting bomb."
Quil, ever the dramatic one, clapped his hands. "Ooh, this is gonna be fun. You've got a whole new journey ahead of you, Leah. Embrace it!"
Leah stared at them, a mix of disbelief and irritation in her expression. "Really? Is everyone just going to act like this is no big deal?"
Jacob crossed his arms, his smile turning reassuring. "We get it, Leah. Imprinting's huge. But you're not in this alone. We're all here to help however we can."
Seth grinned, his usual optimism showing through. "You're not alone, Leah. And hey, look on the bright side. Nahuel's like Renesmee—half-vampire, half-human. It's kinda a big deal, right? You and Jacob are like the trendsetters now."
Leah blinked, her expression changing from frustration to confusion. "Trendsetters?"
"Yeah!" Seth said, almost too excitedly. "You and Jacob both imprinting on hybrids? You're setting the standard. Not many people can say that."
Leah couldn't help but let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Great. Just what I needed—my life turned into some weird trend."
Jacob chuckled along with her. "Well, it's not your average day in the life of a werewolf. But I guess that's just the way things go."
Leah gave a small nod, still processing everything. As much as she hated the idea of imprinting, she knew Jacob and the pack would be there for her. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
Later, when Leah had finally stopped sulking long enough to return to the Cullens' house, she found herself lingering near the treeline, hesitant. The golden light of the setting sun cast long shadows over the yard, making everything feel strangely surreal. She wasn't ready for this. She wasn't ready for him. But there was no avoiding it.
She stepped onto the porch, her arms crossed defensively as she exhaled slowly. The door opened before she could knock.
Nahuel.
He stood in the doorway, framed by the warm glow of the Cullen home, his dark eyes searching hers with cautious intensity. He hesitated for a second, then stepped onto the porch, the wooden boards creaking softly under his weight. His movements were measured, careful—like he was approaching a wild animal that might bolt at any second.
"Hey," he said, his voice deep and smooth, but tinged with uncertainty.
Leah swallowed, forcing herself to meet his gaze. He was watching her with something unreadable in his expression, something that made her stomach twist in ways she didn't want to acknowledge.
"I... don't really know what's happening," Nahuel admitted, his brows furrowing. "But I know it's something."
Leah let out a sharp laugh, her arms tightening around herself. "Something? Yeah, that's one way to put it."
Nahuel took another step forward, his movements slow, deliberate. "I don't understand imprinting," he said, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. "But I feel it—something strong pulling me toward you."
Leah's breath hitched. The way he said it—like he was just as unsettled by this as she was—somehow made it worse. Her fingers clenched at her sides before she forced herself to relax. She had spent years thinking she was cursed, that she would never get this connection, and now? Now she had it, and she had no idea what to do with it.
She sighed, tilting her head back to glare at the sky like it had all the answers. "Well, get used to it," she muttered before meeting his gaze again. "Welcome to my life."
Nahuel's lips quirked, like he almost smiled, but there was something softer in his expression now—understanding, maybe even a hint of relief. He wasn't running. He wasn't rejecting this. And for the first time since it happened, Leah felt a little less alone.
Unfortunately, they were not alone.
About twenty feet away, a bush rustled. Leah's head snapped toward it, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. A low snicker gave them away.
"Did she kill him yet?" Emmett's voice carried through the trees, barely suppressed amusement in his tone.
"I swear to God, Emmett—" Rosalie hissed, probably elbowing him.
"They're still just standing there?" Seth whispered, sounding a mix of eager and impatient. "Come on, Leah! Say something romantic! He's clearly into you!"
"I will throw you all in a lake," Leah deadpanned, making no effort to hide her eavesdroppers' presence.
Nahuel turned slightly, finally noticing the small group that had been not-so-subtly spying on them. Jacob, Seth, Embry, and Quil were crouched behind some bushes, with Emmett, Rosalie, and even Carlisle observing from the Cullen porch, looking far too entertained by the situation. Alice was perched on a tree branch, holding what looked suspiciously like a bag of popcorn. Jasper stood nearby, arms crossed, wearing the exasperated patience of a babysitter watching toddlers cause chaos.
Renesmee, standing close to Jacob as always, sighed dramatically. "You guys are the worst at subtlety."
Bella, standing beside Edward, shook her head with an amused smile. "Well, at least Leah finally imprinted. I'd call that a win."
Edward chuckled, shaking his head. "They're just making it worse for themselves."
Esme, ever the motherly figure, just smiled warmly. "Let them be. Young love is always fascinating to watch."
Jasper smirked. "Fascinating, sure. But mostly excruciating."
The moment they realized they were caught, Jacob shot up. "Wow, would you look at the time! We should, uh—leave them to it!" He grabbed Seth by the back of his shirt, yanking him backward.
"Wait, but I wanna see what happens next!" Seth whined, trying to dig his heels into the ground.
Embry elbowed Quil. "Dude, you owe me ten bucks. I told you she wasn't gonna punch him."
"Yeah, yeah," Quil muttered, fishing into his pocket. "I was so sure she'd at least shove him."
Alice groaned, tossing a piece of popcorn at Jasper. "Ugh, you guys ruined it! They were just about to have a moment!"
Jasper caught the popcorn mid-air and popped it into his mouth, grinning. "I could feel it. There was definitely going to be a moment."
Leah groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "I hate all of you."
Nahuel, still processing the absurdity of the situation, looked between Leah and their audience. He turned back to her with a small, amused smile. "Is this... normal?"
Leah exhaled through her nose, trying not to laugh despite herself. "No. This is worse than normal."
Nahuel chuckled, and for the first time since this whole mess started, Leah found herself smiling back. Maybe—just maybe—this wouldn't be so bad after all.