Seth Clearwater Imprinted With Trouble

Chap. 17

Seth POV

We all just kind of stood there, staring at the section of the clearing where the Volturi disappeared. A wolf, a little girl, and a vampire. Just kinda… staring off into the woods. I can’t say much for what Carlisle was feeling, but I’d bet it’s about the same way I was feeling: dazed and confused. Relieved but almost… empty, like there was supposed to be something much bigger, grander, as if the world was gonna explode from the power of it. And instead, well… I can only imagine its worse for him because he and Aro were once—friends? acquaintances? Admittedly, it was a rather long time ago, but I don’t know if there’s a way to get over someone you know turning into a vegetable.

And Clari.

I took a step towards her, fully intending to join her at her side, to plant puppy kisses on her cheek, to do anything to make sure that she knows that she wasn’t as alone as her shadow made her look, when she turned and looked at me. Her lower lip quivered and her nostrils flared. My heart, which was soaring because she would never be taken away from me ever again, broke a bit. Without thinking, I shifted. I held open my human arms and she leaped into them. Her hands circled my neck as she hid her face in my collar bone. Her little body shook with silent sobs.

“Oh Clari,” I murmured helplessly. “You were so brave. Thank you, thank you so much. You protected us. You did what you had to, even when you didn’t want to, and it saved us. Thank you.”

She sniffed and pressed her face harder against my skin. “I w-wuv you, Sethe,” she warbled. I squeezed her gently and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too, Clari. Let’s go home.”

She stiffened slightly, then relaxed. She nodded her head. “Home,” she agreed softly.

“Home,” Carlisle whistled softly. “Well. This will be interesting to explain to our family—all of them. I imagine they will not believe us at first. They’ll probably be waiting for an army to descend upon Forks,” he laughed quietly, oddly. Like he was a little off—emotions rioting and all that. “They might even insist on leaving again.”

“Really, Carlisle?” I said dryly. “You’re not really helping here—“I nodded at Clari, who was still sniffing and sobbing quietly—“which is unusual. Like, really unusual. The first time ever, really. How about you go and get me some pants? I left some at the edge of the clearing. In case I’d have to shift. Where we were waiting. I’ll calm Clari a bit. Just uh. Go get me some pants.”

Carlisle nodded once and blinked. He let out a breath like he’d been holding it for a while. Whatever, I thought, kind of surprised at the irritation I felt at him. Another new thing. I hoped he came back a little more composed, because there’s no way Clari’s gonna be able to relate the entire story to the Cullens and the pack, and I’ll probably leave out key details. You know, according to Alice and Rosalie and Emmett and Leah and Jake and—well, everyone.

I held Clari for a few more minutes. I rubbed her back. Kissed her forehead. Murmured soft “I love you”s into her ears. Hugged her tightly. Eventually she stopped crying. Her hands released their death grip on my neck. They laid limply on my shoulder. She turned her face to my neck and placed a gentle kiss there. I finally smiled. She was a little better now.