Twilight One Shots *Requests Closed*

The Wolf and The Sea (Part 3)

"You have to do this don't you?" Gwen sighed sadly as she rubbed her arm while avoiding Sam's eyes.
"Yes. This army poses a threat to the tribe and the town. We can't let the Cullens fight alone." Sam nodded grimly as he say across the table from his imprint.
"And they are after Bella?" Gwen mumbled and furrowed her brows.
"Yes."
"Is it the red headed one? The one who killed Harry?" Gwen gritted her teeth and felt hot tears threaten to fall.
"We don't know for sure. Carlisle believes so, but the others aren't sure." Sam's eyes narrowed at the sight of a tear escaping.
"I see. And you have to train tonight? With the Cullens?" She questioned and sighed when Sam only nodded.

Gwen stood up from the table and turned to return to cleaning the pile of dishes the pack had left behind. Sam wanted to reach out to her and hold her, but the two were barely on speaking terms at the moment. Sam gathered his hands into fists and marched outside where he could safely shift without hurting his imprint... Again. When Sam was finally gone Gwen lifted her eyes from the sink and stared out the window. Tears rolled down her cheeks freely now that no one was around to see them. It had been a weeks since her and Sam had held a conversation. Weeks since she had suffered a broken heart. And the whole pack felt the heart break she held as if she was a part of the mind link.

It all started on the day that Harry Clearwater had passed. The day that Gwendolyn learned of Leah Clearwater, Sam's ex fiancee. The day that Leah threw herself into Sam's arms and he couldn't tell her no. The day that Sam ignored the imprint and once again hurt his mate. This time by taking his former lover into his arms... And into his bed. Gwendolyn had come home early from shopping and found the two in the middle of their love making in the bed that Sam had given her to use. She had been so broken that she ran. She jumped into her car and drove all the way to Portland, Oregon. She ignored his and the rest of the pack's calls. She ignored Bella's calls, whom Jacob had begged to call her. It was only when Sue Clearwater called her that she answered.

She spoke for hours on the phone with the woman who had just lost her husband, learned of the wolves when her young son, Seth, had shifted, and had discovered what had happened between her daughter and Sam. The woman knew that Gwendolyn was hurting and she needed someone to speak to. The two found a since of family with each other. And Gwendolyn drove back to La Push to be there for the funeral.

At the funeral she was approached by a sorrowful Leah who had begged forgiveness. She had no idea that Sam had moved on and even though she loved him, she hated a cheater. The girls bonded over the betrayal and found themselves to become friends. Later that day when Sam tried to speak to his imprint Leah was so outraged by it that she herself shifted. Gwendolyn moved in with the Clearwaters and only came to Sam's house to help care for the pack members. It had been weeks since then and she had been successful in avoiding her boyfriend... Or ex at this point. She didn't know where they stood. She loved Sam. She really did, but she hadn't forgiven him for the... Incident with Leah. She had forgiven Leah though. Why? Leah didn't know that Sam was in a relationship. She was hurting and drunk and fell into her ex's arms. So it wasn't her fault.
No... It was the fault of a man who had betrayed her. The man she knew was her soul mate. If they were normal people she would have left him without a second thought. But she was his imprint. His soul mate. He was a shape shifter. A powerful supernatural creature. And she knew they were meant to be. So she stayed confused, pondering what to do.

A door opened and she turned to see a bashful Quill standing in the doorway.

"Hey there, Gwen... Can... Can I talk to you?" He blushed and stammered.
"Of course you can. Here have a seat. Would you like anything?" Gwen wiped her tears and gave him a sad smile.
"Can I have a cup of tea and some of those famous mint cookies of yours?" The young shifter asked and took a seat at the table.

Gwen smiled and started to brew a fresh pot of tea and placed a plate of cookies on the table before taking a seat as well.

"What's on your mind, Quill?" She asked and grew concerned when the boy looked ready to cry.
"I imprinted..." He whispered.
"Oh, Quill. Imprinting... Who is she?" She asked and placed her hands over his.
"Claire... Seth and Leah's baby cousin." He shook with sobs and buried his face in her hands.
"Claire? The little girl?" She asked in confusion.
"Yes! I imprinted on a little girl! A baby! God I feel disgusting! The guys are being ruthless. Leah nearly killed me on patrol this morning." Quill was shaking and Gwen went into her pack mother mode.

She stood from the table and walked around to bring Quill into her arms. He buried his face in her chest and when he crumpled to the floor she followed and let him curl into her arms. She held the crying boy and soothed him by humming gently in his ear. The two sat on the floor for hours as he cried and she calmed his fears. And that's how Jared found them when he came to collect Quill for their training. Quill with his face buried in her chest and drying heaving, as his tears had long since dried, and Gwendolyn softly singing and running her fingers through his hair.

As she stood on the porch and waved goodbye to the two shifters she looked at the charm bracelet on her wrist. It had been a gift from Sam once she had returned from the hospital after the accident. A gold chain with a gold wolf, a gold heart, and a wooden hand carved 's' dangled from it. She lifted it to her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

Maybe she could give Sam a chance. Let him try to redeem himself. They were soul mates. Destined to be together always. They didn't have a normal relationship. So maybe she could try. Now this by no means meant she forgave him. And she wouldn't forgive him anytime soon. But maybe she could start trying to.

And so when the pack approached the house the next morning and found their alpha's mate holding a tray of muffins and coffee cups... They knew it was a slow start to the repair of the imprints who lead them.