The Stars Shine So Brightly

Chapter Three:

I was scared. I had never been this scared in my life. Everyone knew vampires killed you and then drank your blood. Were they going to do that to me?

I tried to hold my composure, but I lost it as soon as Phoebe snarled "You aren't supposed to mate with humans!"

I shook even harder than before. I was scared of both of them, with their bright red eyes and dangerous attitudes. They were bloodsuckers, nothing else.

James sighed.

"Phoebe, we weren't doing anything! I was keeping her warm." He lied.

But it had been more than that. He wanted something else.

Phoebe glared at me.

"Stay away from him," she whispered.

I nodded. She didn't need to tell me twice!

*

As soon as Phoebe left, James threw me over his shoulder.

"You're leaving... Phoebe will kill you if I don't take you back now." James whispered.

Relief washed over me. I wast going back to La Push!

James pushed open the door and started to run.

The world blurred as it had the last time. It was nauseating. My hair flew like a whirlwind and then came to a stop. We had arrived.

It was eerily quiet as James laid me on the ground.

"Goodbye," He whispered. James smiled faintly at me before he turned and ran off. He was nothing but a fast disappearing blur, nothing to me now.

As soon as he was gone, I realized I missed him.

*

I had never seen anyone as angry as Jacob Black was when he saw me. His dark eyes looked deadly, and his lips were pressed into a thin, hard line.

But all that crumpled when I looked into his eyes.

Jacob engulfed me in a hug.

"Pema... please don't ever leave!" He begged.

I nodded furiously. If I had to stay by his side constantly to prove this to him, I would.

Jacob wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up. I rested my head in the curve of his shoulder blade, enjoying the warmth it provided.

Jacob carried me into the house where Quil, Seth, Paul, and Embry were all sitting on the couch.

"It's PEMA!!!!" Quil screamed.

They all surrounded me.

"Where were you?!" Paul cried.

Embry just hugged me and muttered "You're back!"

Seth hugged me for ages.

"Never leave me again," He whispered.

I wouldn't. Even though he hadn't been the friendliest when I arrived, he was being friendly now.

Quil kissed my forehead and yelled "SHE'S BACK!!!!" to no one in particular.

Billy, however, was a different story. He was angry.

"Where were you?!" He yelled.

I flinched.

"A v-vampire... kidnapped me! Please don't say I'm crazy!"

Billy's eyes widened. "No."

All the color had drained from Jacob's face.

"No!" He roared.

I cowered in fear. They were going to hurt me.

"Shh! Guys, we're scaring her." Embry whispered.

All eyes turned to me. It was eerily silent.

"Don't yell, please," I begged.

The guys turned away, and appeared to be having a conversation.

"Should we tell her?"

"I knew I smelled a leach!"

"Do you think she's okay?"

I interrupted them.

"Smelled what? Leaches... do we even have those here?" I asked.

Jacob swallowed.

"Pema, this is going to come as a shock to you. We- me, Jared, Seth, Embry, Quil, Leah and Paul- are all shapshifters. We phase into wolves."

I sighed. Nothing could scare me after meeting a vampire!

They appeared to push Seth forward.

"Tell her, NOW." Jacob barked.

Seth nodded meekly.

"Uh- well, there's something else you should know. All wolves do this thing called 'imprinting'. It's sort of complicated ... Anyway, after you phase for the first time, as soon as you see the right person, you imprint on them. Imprinting is like... gravity isn't holding you to the Earth anymore. It's her. Nothing else matters anymore. Just her. And you will be anything for that person." Seth said, his voice soft and low.

"And... what does this have to do with me?" I asked.

I was confused. Was Seth going to introduce me to his imprint?

Seth bit his lip.

"Where is she? Your imprint, I mean. Is she here? Is that why you're mentioning this?" I asked.

Seth sighed and took a deep breath.

"I'm looking at her."

Jealousy washed over me. What a lucky girl. Seth was perfect, impossibly perfect.

And now he would never be mine.

"Where? No one else is here."

Seth bit his lip again.

"It's you," he whispered.

My world fell apart.

*

It was impossible to be mad at him. And why would I be? It wasn't his fault, and I didn't mind.

Seth's face was expectant and slightly giddy. He was waiting for my response.

"Why me?" I asked.

Seth's big brown eyes widened beyond belief.

"God." Jared groaned, and then he slapped his forehead.

Quil looked like he was about to laugh, and Embry was still and silent, a slight grin on his lips.

Seth swallowed. "Because."

It was good enough for me.

I wasn't sure what to do next. I just stared at him, expecting an answer of some kind, maybe a question. But nothing came. Seth might have been waiting for me to speak.

"Good enough," I said with a grin.

Seth relaxed. He looked ridiculously happy. His face looked like it was going to crack into two pieces he was smiling so hard.

"Bye!" I said. I ran away, hopping slightly, and hid in the bathroom.

I undressed for my shower and hopped in. The warm water felt amazing on my achy, tired body.

I scrubbed as hard as I could to try to wash the vampire off me. I didn't want to smell horrible to the boys.

I stepped out of the shower and started to dry off. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. I wasn't so bad, but I wasn't great either.

My eyes looked too large, and too brown. My skin was dull and plain. My nose was too big, my lips too small. My face was heart shaped, which I found cute. But that was about my only good quality besides my hair.

Seth could do so much better.

But he loved me, even with my okay face and scarred body.

And I loved him back.