tongue twister • paul lahote

ix

T H E C H A L L E N G E S that arose were difficult. Not often did an imprint undergo the change. Paul had a large trouble trying to deal with it. He felt lost, angry, and vindictive of the situation. At times, he took it out on his packmates. He did not wish to be this way, but in some ways he couldn't help himself. The pack was under a lot of stress trying to keep her hidden. It went against their nature to let her live as if she committed no crimes. It also went against their nature to kill her. An imprint was forced to be protected by their tribes law, under any circumstance. Santana would soon learn that she wasn't the only hardship of this law.

The Quileute tribe had to make a story about how Santana was found dead. They made a harsh lie about her body being unrecognizable. This made it easier for the town to understand why they couldn't have a funeral. Charlie Swan was having a hard time with this, wanting to give her a resting place next to her father. He felt for Billy Black. To his knowledge, the man was grieving a lifelong friend and business partner, and his daughter. The town made a beautiful memorial for the girl and her father. The entire population of the tiny town attended. Many habitants of the reserve showed as well, needing to keep up the charade. The boys did not have a trying time faking their tears; they were real and pain filled. They still suffered a grief strong for their friend. It just wasn't the same as everybody else's.

Jacob had the hardest time dealing with his emotions. He was furious at the world for making his best friend into a monster. He couldn't bring himself to visit her. He spent much of his time alone. The pack tended to Paul more so than him. They believed that no matter how bad he felt, it wouldn't compare to Lahote's feelings. Jacob had lost his friends mortality, but Paul was suffering the loss of his soulmate. Due to tribal rule, Santana Crowley was no longer allowed to step foot on the ground of the reserve. This was troublesome to the entire pack. They were used to her presence daily.

Now, to see her, they had to visit the Cullens house or meet in the woods. She wasn't allowed to show herself in public anymore. They couldn't risk someone recognizing her face. This was hard for them all, wishing there was an easier way. The tribe had a hard time being in the Cullens house. It was in their nature to attack them, to despise them. It made it hard for them to do so knowing they salvaged their best friends humanity. They debated moving Santana to a different region to ensure her safety and make sure she would be concealed. They thought that it was possible the Denali's would take her in, but they eventually came to the conclusion it would be too hard to move her to a group of people she wasn't comfortable with. She would be weary, and she would be separated from Paul. Now, the issue was Edward and Isabella's wedding. She wanted to help, to be a part of it, but she would have to undergo serious change to be seen in public. They were unsure if the risk would be too large.

"Please, I just want to be there. Edward is my brother now, and I have to be there to support him." She begged Carlisle. "I'm not safe anywhere I go, so we'll have to change the way I look, anyway."

"Yes, but newborn blood still flows in your veins, Tana. It would be unwise to subject you to such a large group of people so soon. You might be recognized, too."

"So we cut my hair, dye it. We change the way I look. I'm already different than I used to be." She tried. "I'm fine around the wolves, I'm sure I could handle myself now." He mulled over the thought for a moment. A significant time had passed since the she was found. Maybe her plan would work. If she was staying in the town, it might be safer to change her appearance anyway.

"Well, we can certainly change the way you look. We can start with that. Then, if it's passable, we can try to bring you into the town. We'll take it a step at a time. It's all we can do."

"If I do good, then I can go?" She shifted in her seat on the couch. Rosalie sat nearby. She had become close with Santana, grieving her mortal life alongside of her. Rosalie understood what it was like to become a monster without a say in the matter. Sometimes, she still wished Carlisle left her for dead.