His Black Swan

6

Jasper adored Visha. Everything about her made him fall in love with her all over again. The bond between them was something he struggled to control, but for her, it was worth the world. So when his mate informed him she would be going to visit family on the reservation, he just kissed her and watched as she drove away. Unlike Edward, he trusted his partner and those around her to respect boundaries.

Leah Clearwater stood eagerly in front of her home when Visha arrived. The shifter rushed over to her friend. "Visha!" She screamed as she nearly tackled the girl in a tight hug. "I missed you, swan," was all she mumbled into the girl's neck; Visha calmly ran her hands through the girl's short hair. "I missed you too".

From afar, the rest of the pack watched wearily as the two embraced. Visha sensed them and looked up with a frown. "Why are the wolves watching us?" Leah stiffened and pulled away. "You can sense the pack?" Visha raised an eyebrow. "Bella and I have native family and Quil is our cousin, so why wouldn't we sense them"

Jared, who had been listening, cursed under his breath and repeated those words to Sam, who nodded. Of course, some of their relatives were being taken from them by vampires. Yet Visha just looked at Leah's hair with a frown. As her hands ran through it, her eyes glowed a bright silver and to Leah's shock, her long hair was back.

"V-Visha, how did you?" the girl looked at Leah and smiled. "Shifting is not the only ability our bloodlines carry".

Leah laughed and ran her hands through her hair with a smile none of the pack had ever seen on her face. "I missed it." Visha watched Leah blankly and then spoke, "Then why are you cutting it, yes you are the defenders, but you are Quileute. We are all taught the value of hair. Why are you forsaking the connections you have?"

Leah stared at her friend. "The Elders told us we had to?" The pack watched as Visha's eyes turned a vibrant gold "Did they hmm I'm sure they told you that you could only be wolves" When Leah nodded Visha frowned and pulled an ancient but beautiful book from her bag "I was bringing this for the tribe I ran into some native shifters when I was in Korea this book belongs to the Quileute Tribe"

Leah carefully took the book and started reading it "Wolves are strong, but the shifting spirits of this pack are weak, and they have abandoned the natives, for that I cannot stand them".

From afar, the rest of the pack listened as Jared repeated Visha's words and frowned. Had they been lied to? Visha raised her head, and her eyes fell on the pack. "It seems they do not trust their own blood?" The pack suddenly felt ashamed, but Leah ignored them and looked at Visha.

"V, what exactly are you?" Visha looked at her friend and smiled "Gumiho though in some ways I am more Kitsuné" Leah blinked in shock and laughed before hugging the girl tightly "Then we can run together" Visha nodded before looking at Leah and grabbing the book "It's bound to you so it will always come back to you".

Leah nodded and then looked at Visha "So explain," Visha laughed "Essentially my adopted parents wanted to fully adopt me my adoptive dad's mother was a pureblood Kitsuné and he had the gene while my adoptive mother descended from a pure gumiho line when they did the ritual, I became a hybrid of both. But to avoid the questions, I tell people I'm a Kitsuné"

Leah nodded and smiled up at the sky. "So you have all the tails?" Visha nodded. The two girls shared a smile before walking away, together leaving the pack in shock. "I have a feeling Visha is going to scream at the elders," Seth mumbled and Paul who was staring after the girls in shock nodded before turning to Sam "Hey why did you choose a romantic bond with Emily when Leah is so beautiful?"

Sam frowned when the entire pack now focused on him, and he sighed. He knew Visha would cause him problems.

Jasper didn't expect his mate to return with a female shifter, but he greeted the girl with a smile as Visha introduced them. Leah watched Jasper for a bit before smiling. "He suits you," she stated before looking at the ground. "I envy it".

Jasper shared a look with his mate before speaking. "Yet your happiness for Visha overshadows your envy" Leah was startled briefly, remembering that Jasper could sense her emotions. "That is true," she confirmed before smiling at the couple.

Visha watched Leah and frowned. "I think it is time you travel to see the world. your imprint, as you call it, may be out there," Leah laughed bitterly. "The elders will never let me. I shifted. I am bound to the pack". Jasper, for the first time, spoke. "No, you're not" Both girls now turned to the man, each curious about his statement.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Jasper spoke. "I fought on the wrong side of the civil war after I escaped Maria. I spent some time travelling and apologising to repent for my human mistakes and crimes. I have come across many Indigenous shifting tribes. Mates are sacred to them. Trust me, they encourage unmated shifters to travel. Your pack is the only outlier."

Leah, now shocked, sat down and opened the book she had been gifted as she slowly read the contents of the two mates sitting beside her. Hours passed as Leah turned page after page, countless tears running down her cheek as the lies she had been told had now become exposed.

As Leah read the large page, something inside her broke and the girl got to her feet. "I have to go home. I need to address all the lies and then start packing to leave" Visha hugged her friend tightly. "Call me if you need any help" Leah nodded and silently walked off.

It would be awhile before the couple saw the girl again.

Author's Note,

My apologies for the lack of updates this past week. A few issues in my personal life stopped me. I have always had a problem with the fact that wolves cut their hair when they shifted. The reason given was disgusting to me for those who are not aware hair is very important to Indigenous peoples for many reasons, including: 

Spiritual significance: Hair is considered a part of a person's spirit.

Cultural significance: Hair is a way to express identity, spirituality, and individuality.

Connection to ancestors: Hair connects indigenous people to their ancestors and heritage.

Connection to the Creator and Earth: Hair connects indigenous people to the Creator and Earth.

Strength and power: Some tribes believe long hair represents strength, power, and virility.

Indigenous pride: Long hair can represent indigenous pride and rebellion against colonisation.

Self-expression: Hair is a form of creative self-expression.

Sense of belonging: Long hair can promote a sense of belonging and self-respect.

Hairstyles: Different hairstyles can signify important moments in life.

Respect: It is considered disrespectful to cut someone's hair without their permission

So I thought it was important to bring awareness to this, as hair cutting is a significant practice in Native American culture, with different tribes having their own unique customs and beliefs:

Mourning

Cutting or shaving hair is a way to mourn and show respect for the deceased. The amount of haircut may represent the loved one who has passed away. Some tribes believe that the hair carries the deceased's energy and memories, and cutting it helps release this energy and heal.

New beginnings

Cutting hair can represent a new beginning, such as after a traumatic event or major life change. It can also be a way to part with past actions and thoughts.

Ceremonies

Some tribes have ceremonies for cutting hair, such as the Apache tribe's spring ceremonies, to welcome health and success. The Navajo tribe cuts their children's hair on their first birthday.

Sacredness

Hair is considered sacred and is never thrown away. Instead, it is saved or burned with sage or sweetgrass in a ceremony.

I am not Native American, however; I have a lot of respect for different cultures and I wanted to ensure that I made my stance clear on this.