Lauren is out hiking with her mom, dad, and her little siblings because her dad had an adventurous streak suddenly and he invited her to tag along. She doesn't mind because she could use the exercise, if she's being honest.
Lauren ventures off to pick some berries she read about being eatable and she comes across a huge, bear-sized white wolf. The wolf growls until it meets Lauren's eyes, Lauren not even seeing the solid black wolf coming up beside the white one. The black wolf looks at the white one with a tilted head.
"Holy shit, Angela was right," Lauren mutters. "Bear-sized wolves. But she only said black. Not a beautiful white." She hesitates before lifting a half. The white wolf easily nuzzles her hand and Lauren grins. "Ooh, you're soft!"
The black wolf seems to back up slightly while Lauren lets the white wolf.
*****
"What happened?" Abel asks when Sam comes back to the pack house with Leah Clearwater.
But Leah and her little brother, Seth Clearwater, shifted after their father, Harry, died of a heart attack because of the trauma of the loss. Abel felt bad for Leah because he knows the story between her, Sam, and Emily. Seth, the adorable bisexual he is, has a crush on Abel but he knows he's in a relationship, so he doesn't flirt.
"Leah imprinted," Sam says.
"Oh, my God, that's amazing!" Emily gushes and Leah blushes.
"On who?" Abel asks.
"Your best friend and roommate, Lauren," Sam replies.
"Ooh, you go girl," Abel gushes. "Lauren's the bomb."
"Really?" Leah asks.
"Oh yeah," Abel says. "And no worries, she does like girls. I think she likes them better than guys sometimes. Being gay, I can't agree with that, but more power to her."
Leah smiles a little. She looks between Sam and Emily. "I'm sorry, guys, for my bitterness," she says calmly.
"Don't worry about it," Sam urges. "You didn't understand imprinting then. Now,r at her you decide on friendship or more, that's up to you. But now that you've imprinted, you're allowed to tell Lauren, Leah. But first, I think you should tell Sue that you imprinted."
Leah and Seth are the kids of Harry and Sue Clearwater.
"That's a good idea," Leah says as she glances at Seth. "Seth, he's taken, stop staring at Abel." She had a liking for Abel as soon as they met because of his energy and his vibe he gives off. She can see them becoming friends, especially if Lauren decides she does want Leah after she tells her about shapeshifting werewolves. "I'll talk to Mom today. Maybe you can bring Lauren down when to come again?"
"How about you tell your mom today, and I'll bring Lauren in a few days?" Abel offers. "Give you a chance to work out what you want to say?"
Leah smiles and she nods. "Yeah, yeah, okay. Thank you."
Abel's cell rings. "Lauren?"
"Your cousin has lost her mind," Lauren snaps.
"I know she jumped from that cliff, a friend got her out and did CPR," Abel responds and Leah listens to Lauren's voice. "What did she do now?"
"She took off to Italy to save Edward because he wants to kill himself with Alice Cullen," Lauren says. "Emmett wants to talk to you, by the way. He wouldn't divulge about what, that stubborn idiot."
"He is stubborn, huh?" Abel sighs and he watches Jacob storm inside. "Bella's eighteen now, Lauren. She doesn't really need permission. But Uncle Charlie will ground her since she still lives under his roof."
"You're okay with her going?" Jacob snaps and Leah quickly steps between Abel and Jacob when Jake goes to approach the gay human.
"I gotta go, a friend's being a dick," Abel says and hangs up. "As I said, she's eighteen, Jacob, and neither one of us are her keepers. Apparently Edward is. That's one thing I can say about Emmett; he's not my keeper, and he doesn't pretend to be. He lets me do my own thing. He doesn't get jealous."
"Lucky," Paul grumbles. "Rachel is."
Paul imprinted one month ago when Lauren stopped flirting on Rachel Black, Jacob's sister, when she came into town to visit her father during a college weekend. He and Rachel started dating two weeks ago.
"It'll get better," Sam says. "She knows your past and your reputation. Once she realizes that you're not that Paul anymore, she'll not get as jealous and she'll trust you more. Trust me. That's how my brother Alex in the Mekhi tribe was. He had the same reputation before he met Everette."
Alex is Sam's older brother. He was born on the Quiluete reservation and when he turned nineteen and tot married to a Mekhi tribe girl, he moved to her reservation. His wife is Everette Littlestone-Uley, the daughter of the Mekhi chief.
Leah nods gently. She remembers meeting Alex a few times before he moved away for he Mekhi tribe in New Mexico, which neighbors Albuquerque. She moves to sit beside Abel and she keeps stern eyes on Jacob to be sure he stays away from Abel until the human leaves and learns from Emmett that the rest of the Cullens are returning to Forks after Alice and Bella manage to rescue Edward from committing suicide at the Volturi because he thinks Bella is dead.
