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written-within-the-stars · 30 days ago

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You Are Not Alone - Part 3 - Together

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❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I didn’t miss the way she smiled at Embry and Leah’s shared taunt. And whispered to her. “You’ll get used to that… it happens a lot with pack mates. We spend a lot of time in each other’s heads.” I was made aware again that the only packmate I had here was Sam.

Call scoffed then. ‘Oh please!! You and Fuller are the worst for it… and it started long before you were packmates.’ I just chuckled at him… because I couldn’t lie. It was the truth.

She squeezed my hand, and I brushed my thumb against the back of hers before I went to do what I had promised. Ness was sat in front of two screens typing faster than I had ever seen anyone else type… new windows popped open, and sections seemed to highlight themselves. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Jacob claiming his winnings off of the vampire and I smiled to myself. My cousin had bet on me!

‘I told you….’ He said softly, not disturbing the intellectual work going on. ‘My cuz has always had his priorities straight.’

Emmett rolled his eyes, and I turned my attention back to Nessie. “Anything we can use yet Ness?” I asked her.

‘Everything is theories… Grandfather couldn’t test anything because he clearly wasn't going to expose a shifter to the venom. But he does talk about drugs… and he was cautious about the venom… it reacted almost intelligently to drugs and chemicals in en-vitro testing. Almost like it had a will of its own.’ She never looked away or even slowed. I was stunned at her words… intelligent venom? I must have made a sound to that effect. Because then she stopped and turned to me.

‘My grandfather is a scientist, but he also has a poet's soul… because it’s a flowery way of saying that the venom is actually more closely related to a retrovirus. Only instead of replication at the expense of its host like a retrovirus does; this one works to fortify its host to be impermeable in every possible way.’ She explained. ‘He had non-medical theories too based on a few metabolic studies he did on Jacob when I was a baby. But they still have draw-backs.’

“Nothing we do here is going to be risk-free, what did he think would be the most successful?” I asked, trying to guide her focus through what was likely a century's worth of research done in less than ten years. I glance at Harper seeing Edward sitting at a very respectable distance from my soulmate… I wondered if that display of lack of self-control had prompted it or if he was just being considerate.

‘The main theory was to prevent its spread, but that only works on a limb. He talks a lot about a person-to-person reciprocal transfusion… but that could potentially make the other party sick too by exposing them to venom. But the theory is that there is the immune system of two shapeshifters fighting the venom.’ I glanced back waiting for The Black Pack’s third to offer himself up as tribute again. But it seemed like he had learned his lesson.

“What if it wasn’t reciprocal… if it was just a transfusion from another Spirit Warrior?” I asked and she shook her head.

‘I mean it would help… but mostly to replace blood volume and Leah’s blood volume is normal again because of the transfusion last night… What we need is a boost to her system to fight the venom faster than it can replicate.’ Ness explained. I still wasn’t sure I was following her entirely. So, she continued.

‘The Warrior’s immune system is the only thing we know that is capable of destroying vampire venom. And Leah has just proven that… by… well… by not dying or turning.’ She was cut off by Embry laughing.

‘Nice one Clearwater! Look at you doing science just by surviving.’ He held out a hand for a high five and Leah left him hanging, with a glare. I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. ‘Oh, come on! That was funny!’

Jake shook his head… “’Bro…. no… just no!’

‘Anyway!’ Nessie continue. ‘This theory means two bodies are fighting the venom and lessening the viral load in the blood of the bitten party… They would need to be matched by blood type too. So…’ Nessie’s gaze drifted.

‘So that would be me…’ Seth's voice came from his spot next to Leah, his arm tightening around his imprint protectively. When Leah glared he cleared his throat. ‘In theory…’ He added.

‘In theory.’ Nessie’s smile was directed at Kenzi. ‘Unless our science nerds can come up with some way to modify these or come up with something new now that we have an actual test subject.’

‘Ness…’ Jake gently called out his other half.

‘Sorry… research mode... you know what I mean right, Leah?’ She asked.

‘Test subject sounds better than patient in my opinion.’ Leah shrugged in the way she did.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

In the little time I’d been a part of his life and world, I couldn’t miss the closeness between Collin, and those he classed as his family and friends.

From his cousin Jake.

To his uncle the chief of the tribe.

To the cousin sister and her husband who helped with taking care of Nova.

To his best friend.

However, more so I couldn’t help reevaluating how they had all interacted with me too. Each of them had been so kind, careful, and welcoming to the new vet in town. So, to understand these small oddities, such as completing one another’s sentences came somewhat easily.

Edward had stopped scrolling the results on the screen, going silent for a few moments. ‘Hmm… Interesting.’

His head cocked to the side, I could see undoubtedly, this man… vampire… he was most definitely reacting to another person in this house.

Sitting still, my brown eyes observed him as he listened to whatever had caught his interest. Once again, noting the fact that his skin gave the impression of smooth marble from here, the light shone on his eyes with the faraway look in them. The colour reminiscent of nothing I had seen before.

‘Maybe… maybe we are going about this the wrong way?’

Once again, the muttering of a man thinking aloud, or… I turned my attention around the room. Unable to determine if indeed he was in deep conversation with anyone. However, I couldn’t see another person speaking to him.

“I’m sorry, but who are you speaking with right now?” Finally coming out to ask.

‘I apologise.’ His velvety chuckle rang in my ears. ‘Sometimes when we are in the company of those who know what we are, I forget my conduct. Esme would be mortified with me right now.’ Another chuckle as smooth as melting butter.

The vivid image came to my mind. Of a golden apple, sweet and succulent. Drawing me towards it, offering me all the pleasures of an unseen garden…

A flash of warmth hit me in my chest…

And just like that…

A heavy door closed with a bang on my contemplations…

It rammed me out from the place I had been moving towards. Taking it all out from my senses by that intangible tug towards my soul. A soft sound of singing, of a warning, of staying away, and just like that. Some part of me felt the hidden poison in the persona. As though there were a sheer curtain drawn over him, and somehow, I could see past the beauty. I could sense warnings, telling me to be aware. This person was not my safety, that place… Could only be found in the arms of one. And he was where my true pleasure would be found!

As I came away from that place unsure why I had gone there? I didn’t have any attachment with this man. Nor did I want any!

‘Harper? Are you okay? Edward questioned. Taking the slight nod, I gave as his sign to continue.

He began clarifying what he overheard between his daughter, and Collin across the room. As the room began to speak, Edward and I turned our backs to their conversations, giving us the space we required to contemplate.

Uncertain of the amount of time which had passed, the conversation behind us continuing. We both exchanged a look before, both saying…

“Dialysis!”

“Exactly!”

“Why didn’t we think of it before?”

So, now we were speaking in the same mirroring way as the others?

‘What do you think?’ Edward asked. ‘It’s the same as a blood transfusion.’

“Yes… and No…” My mind began working with clear set of tasks listing out the points of their compilation. “I can’t see it harming Leah, or anyone else.”

‘And we won’t need a lot of blood to begin with.’

“Hmm…” Nodding my head.

‘Hello?’ The voice from behind making us both turn around at the same time. ‘Okay, that’s just spooky.’ Emmett’s hand waving in our direction. ‘Stop it. And explain.’ He was smirking.

“Something in the vicinity of haemodialysis? You know… A dialyzer filtering machine is used to remove waste and extra fluid from your blood, and then return the filtered blood into your body. Before starting haemodialysis, we would do a minor surgery. So that we create a vascular access site in Leah’s arm. Would it stay in place long enough?” I began.

‘We would need to work fast. However, if we use the blood of someone who is compatible with Leah, it will mean her blood would mix with the clean blood -- at the same time, without endangering the other person.’ Edward continued. ‘And if it is... Warrior blood, their healing properties will express the healing and extract the venom.’

“It’s a no-cost solution.” I finished off, my gaze darting over to Leah, Kenzi, and Seth.

‘What if we add human blood to the mix?’ Everyone in the room turned to follow the sound of the voice. Sue stood at the door, working her fingers. ‘I want to help my child.’ She was trying very hard to hold herself together.

Kenzi rushed over to her mother-in-law’s side, squeezing her arm.

‘No. Not happening Ma. No one is taking anything from my Ma, or my Kid.’ Leah’s voice range louder than I had heard it before.

‘Stop being so stubborn. You heard what Edward and Harper said. Giving some blood will not risk our life, but it will give you a fighting chance.’

She crossed the room with Kenzi, and all those who had been around Leah’s bed took a step back. Kenzi took a step back too.

‘You are not born to die for us. You were born to protect. And sometimes you forget, I am your mother, Usdi. I was born to protect you.’

Sue cupped Leah’s face, whispering something in a language I did not know. It made the mother and daughter touch their foreheads.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

There was a spike of adrenaline in Harper’s scent, that had me looking over to see her composing herself next to the vampire who seemed lost in his own world. When Harper spoke everyone stopped to listen, it made me proud. They respected her… and of course, that was never in question… but they respected her for her job too… because in reality, we needed a combination of both a vet and a doctor.

I could see Call take a step back as Harper described the treatments he was all too familiar with, Jake’s hand came to rest on his shoulder. I moved to stand by Harper as she explained and Renesemee stepped away from the computer to stand with us.

“Can you give her more blood when she hasn’t lost any since the transfusion last night?” I asked Harper but Edward answered.

‘There are potential side effects from increased blood volume…’ He started.

‘Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure and sometimes a cough or fluid in the lungs…’ Embry recited them as though he learned them by heart. ‘Mom is on dialysis, and she’s needed a couple of transfusions…’ He explained, probably for Harper’s benefit. Everyone else here knew… Though maybe not Emmett.

‘Yes… those are possible in humans. But we have good reason to believe that a Spirit Warriors system is more than capable of handling all of those side effects if they occur, and we can manage them by slowing the transfusion rate or stopping it and allowing her advanced healing to restore a balance.’ Edward answered.

Leah was instantly on guard when the mention of a family member donating blood was raised.

‘Sue, I completely understand that you want to help your daughter… But the blood of the Warriors has unique properties that fight the venom. Human blood saved her life last night… but this calls for something with a touch of the mystical.’ He explained and I knew that would make Leah feel better but still… Seth was the best chance of a match.

‘Then we will test the pack… What’s her blood type?’ Embry had his phone out and people started to protest. And he was mad. ‘No, let’s try it her way and then if it comes to it we can try to talk sense into her. Let’s start with Fuller they are first cousins.’

My phone buzzed in my back pocket, and I knew it was him texting the pack's shared group chat to ask who knew their blood type. ‘This is pointless, it’s a blood donation. The imprints do this all the time, Leah you even encourage them to do it… they’ve been donating today to make up for the…’ Seth glanced at Nessie. ‘For last night.’

Embry got closer to Leah, than was generally good for your health. ‘Leah… I know that you have your reasons. And I’ll back you on this by seeing if anyone else in the pack has your blood type. But you have no idea what it’s like to sit by and watch a family member get sicker and sicker and be told you can’t help because you aren’t a match. Seth could be… don’t take that chance away from him before he can even try.’ There was anger and sorrow in his voice, and it made me reach out for Harper…. For my lifeline, my strength.

Sue had her daughter’s hand and reached across the bed for ‘Bry’s. ‘You know he is right, Usdi. We are Protectors, Guardians, and Healers, we mustn’t take for granted what the Spirits have sent to us. Strength and knowledge and the magic in our blood that must not be taken for granted.’ She muttered to her daughter in Quileute, words that brought tears to my eyes.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

“My god…” understanding dawned on me now. Why the sentiments in Embry’s voice felt sorrowful, he knew what this all meant with firsthand experience. His mom… I felt my chest tightening, prickling with sensations of loss. I understood it all on a personal level.

The palpable tension in the room made everyone’s emotions run high, the pressure of which made many eyes glisten with tears including mine. Collin’s hand slipped into mine, easing the tremble in my heart. However, when I saw his tears, my heart broke into a billion pieces like the stars in the sky. Clasping his arm and hand tightly, ensuring he knew I was right here with him. I listened to the goings on in the room.

Hearing the heart-wrenching snarl from Leah at the mention of using the other pack members for blood, made me step into Collin’s side. I’d never heard Leah this way or seen her in a place of need. She was always the one with the answers, she was the silence in the room, who acted while others discussed the next steps. Now her shaking voice made tears flow down my cheeks.

She told us it wasn’t about the blood; this was about protecting them all from any form of contamination. She moved, rushed to stand so fast that I felt Emmett more than saw him setting her back into her bed. Whispers from his lips were so low and so fast that I couldn’t keep up with them. And a language I didn’t speak, which sounded so beautiful to my ears flustered me since I couldn’t understand her reasons.

At the same time. I felt privileged to witness all of this firsthand. With my glance meeting Kenzi who stood beside her new family. We knew in that moment; that we both shared the same sentiments. To say that these people who had welcomed me were friends was not a justified name for the relationship, I found myself observing. They were all family, maybe not by blood, but by the connection from a divine equilibrium. One I found myself respecting.

Jake let go of Ness and took a step forward, his hand on Emmett’s shoulder asking him to step away. The tall muscular man took the stool beside Leah, keeping himself in her eyeline. I saw the stiffening of her body.

‘Don’t. Don’t you dare, Jacob Ephraim Black?’ She snarled, letting her lips twist and lift in a wolf-like manner. This time, however, I could see she had spent what little energy she had gained, so it lost her desired effect.

Jake lifted his hand, letting it hover over her arm asking without speaking for permission to touch her. When he sighed, setting his hand down on the bed beside her, I knew that the permission hadn’t been granted.

‘Fuck Leah… I’m not going to. I just want to talk.’ Confusion filled me; however, I kept it to myself. What had she seen that I hadn’t? What did she think Jake would do?

‘You know I hate that shit as much as you. Have a little faith in me would you.’ He continued.

‘Leah, you aren’t fucking here to have all the answers. You most definitely aren’t thinking straight, that’s for sure. As my beta, my friend, my protector, I need you. I need you to make it out of this and come back to my side.’ His lips curled up as if he knew the next words would be welcomed.

‘You know if anything happens to you. You are leaving me to deal with the husband and wife… And I can’t! I mean I can. But. It’s more fun when you kick their arse.’ He winked at her.

‘So, let’s just look at the facts. With Edward and Harper keeping me true, if I stray off the path, okay?’ Once again, he waited before going on. ‘We are all a mix of O+, with some with a little A or B something… in there.’ Edward nodded his head, and Jake whispered loudly. ‘The joys of the tribe being small, with only a few mixtures from the outside, means we know the pool we are working from.’ This information I pulled to keep it safe for a later time.

‘You and Seth, you are both O-. How do I know this?’ Jake tapped the side of his nose and chuckled. ‘Because I remember your da Harry, telling my dad, the both of you were special. You were here to protect the tribe; you were blessed by the spirits of our ancestors. But… This also makes you a universal doner, great for the world, but at the same time, it’s a bitch for you. The only saving grace here is your warrior and our healing! You know the donor blood that Ness took for you… will need to be returned once you are up and about.’ My mouth dropped open. Of course, now I understood why Ness had needed to help herself to the blood she came with to my apartment in Port.

My eyes moved to her at the same time as she turned her gaze towards me, as though she knew, the girl winked at me. All judgments were forgiven without any apologies.

Jake took Seth’s arm bringing him forward into Leah’s eyeline. ‘Just like ‘Bry said. Your kid is the only one in this room. In a 100-mile radius who can, and who wants to help you.’ Seth nodded his head, corroborating with what was being said.

‘So… Stop with the stubborn pain in my fucking arse. And let your kid do for you, what you would do for everyone and anyone who needed it.’ I couldn’t help but admire the way in which this man spoke. Truly open and nothing but honest.

‘We will keep everything safe, just as we did for Harper when the venom was close by. We will make sure anyone who is here, they aren’t in any danger.’ Edward spoke, jolting me out of my trance.

“I could take Seth upstairs if it helps. This way you know he is at a safe distance away from here?” Hearing the sorrow in my voice, my eyes turned to me. “I’m okay.” Finding myself saying it without thinking. “I can do this, or… Edward could…”

Letting them know I would step up, but also step back if that was better.

Leah’s eyes were on her brother, with the two coming to some agreement.

‘Jake darling…’ Sue whispered reaching over to him. ‘We need to speak about your language. But not right now.’ Seeing a grown man flush, rub the back of his head where Sue smacked him, she then kissed his cheek.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

My heart raced a little… I knew that Harper’s empathy extended beyond her speciality… she felt for everyone; including this man she’d met twice. I knew I needed to explain the hive mind to her better than I had. So that she would understand how we so deeply felt each other's emotions. Most of us were good at regulating it… but Embry never really seemed to think he needed to. He was all about feeling your feelings out in the open. It came from his mom.. but we all knew she kept herself locked down and in control.

Leah responded like I expected. Everyone in the room knew that her objection extended beyond family. I stepped slightly in front of Harper… I couldn’t help it. I knew that this was Leah and she would never hurt anyone, especially not an imprint. But who knew what her self-control was like with vampire venom in her system? We had no precedence for this.

Seth moved towards his sister when she tried to get out of bed, he gently moved Kenzi closer to me and I took Harper a few steps to the left to keep my friend's imprint close; so, he could focus on his sister. Kenzi came the rest of the way to stand next to me. It seemed like the instinct for the imprint to stay close to a Protector in a potentially dangerous situation was universal… not just with the women that had been around us for years. In reality, Kenzi hardly knew me… but here she was, seeking safety with me and her sister.

I was so shocked that Emmett spoke our language that I missed most of what he had said.

My hand tightened on Harper’s a little when Leah growled those words at Jacob… Would he? He never used his gift like that… I glanced sideways. I knew that Sam would… he believed the ends justified the means. But he only ever did what he truly believed was right… and he was normally right… other than… I looked at Nessie. Edward's jaw twitched, and I redirected my thoughts. No one could blame him for not wanting to relive that. I didn’t want to either.

Call rolled his eyes at the husband-and-wife comment. Everyone knew they meant him and Quil. Of course, Jake knew the blood types of his pack. I could see the defeat entering the eyes of The Black Packs Third… we all knew his blood type because he had spent so long obsessing over it… and again… he wasn’t a match. My heart broke for him, even though I was sure he knew the chances of matching her was a thousand to one.

When Harper spoke I held her closer, but what she was saying made sense. Nessie had already moved to gather supplies for Harper's idea. Edward smiled at his daughter. ‘My favourite nurse.’ He whispered to her.

I leaned close to Harper. “That’s a good idea, sweetheart,” I said in a low tone. Seth caught my eye and then flicked his to Kenzi. I gave him a nod and then he looked to Harper and nodded too, the silent agreement passing between us. “I need to stay here.” Now I looked to Kenzi, leading Harper’s gaze to her sister, who was clinging to her imprint again and far too preoccupied with him to notice my glance. “I’ll just be one shout away. “I promise.”

Seth kissed his sister and his mom and then led his imprint back to us. ‘Ready when you are, Doc.’ He told Harper with a solemn smile… he wasn’t worried about the procedure. But he was worried about how his soulmate would react to the separation. ‘Stay here baby.’ He said to her, touching her cheek.

Her eyes went wide. ‘Why?’

‘You don’t need to see this… and someone needs to keep this lot in check while Harps is distracted. I need someone to run this show while we're gone.’ He smiled.

‘Wait… no… I… You said it wouldn’t hurt.’ She shook her head, and I saw her nails press into his arm a little.

“It won’t Kenz…” I stepped in to spare him. “But remember how mad you were when I told you how I tried to show Harper my advanced healing and it upset her so much? That didn’t hurt either but none of us like to see something like that when it comes to our soulmates.”

She nodded but her eyes were still wide. I took her arms, and she slowly released him, nodding so much it was like she was trying to convince herself this was the right thing to do. ‘Stay with Collin baby. I’ll be back before you know it.’ He cast me a pleading look.

“I’ve got her,” I said so low that only the supernatural creatures in this room could hear. I turned to Harper and kissed her temple. “You should go, sweetheart. Stay close to Seth.” I whispered to her. My guts wrenching a little at the idea of leaving her side… but I knew it was what Seth needed, to do what he had to.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

We left the others downstairs and sat at an immaculate dinner table, on the first floor of the Cullen home. Floor-to-ceiling glass opens out of breathtaking view over the vast forest space. Trees as high as mountains, with dark clouds dropping rain. The scent of earth is what I could pick up more than anything else. And of course, cleaning products bombard my nose.

‘It’s Ma…’ Seth broke the silence. ‘She needs to be doing something when she is upset or stressed.’ He continued. ‘You should have seen our home when we went to war, with the vampires. She was wearing the surfaces down.’

But my eyes widened at the; When we went to war. Part of his conversation. Something must have been tweaked because then he rubbed his face.

His body language changed in the blink of an eye.

‘Sorry Harps… I know. I know you’ve been dropped into all this. It’s not how Collin or any of us would have wanted it to happen. Please trust me when I say. Everyone is heartbroken, no one more so than Leah.’

He clasped my hands. I didn’t even know they were shaking.

‘I know Kenz and you had a good talk. You both needed it. But you and me…’ his eyes were like his mom, and his nose like his sister. But the pain I saw on his features made me squeeze his hands.

“It’s okay… Seth… none of this can be helped. It wasn’t something we could stop.” His lips turned into a grimace. Telling me he didn’t agree.

“May I ask you something?”

‘Of course. Anything! Ask away.’

“When you came to work with me, those nights, the hovering around the clinic in Thompson.” He was nodding, telling me he remembered those times. “Was it all so you could learn the emergency care aspect of my work?”

His face when blank. ‘Spirits, Harps. No. Not at all. I mean… if I had half a brain cell, that would have been a good idea, now that you are saying it. But…’ He shook his head.

‘No. You know why I didn’t want you on call at Thompson at night.’ He didn’t have to say the reason. We both knew.

‘And I told Will, I’d look out for you. I wasn’t going to let your Da follow you around in his truck all night. So…’ he shrugs.

“So, you made yourself a nuisance, instead?” I asked.

‘Yeah. I didn’t lie to you. I did want to spend more time with you. It was important for me, for Kenz. For our love for you.’

I let go of his hands so that I could begin the procedure to fill a few bags of blood from him. Seth’s gaze kept roaming towards the stairs and I knew that he was thinking about his fiancée. And of course, my mind went to Collin. That invisible string intact, told me he was safe.

“She is safe, you know this better than I do. Your sister is not going to do anything.” His eyes jumped back to meet mine.

‘As much as I know it, sis would skin me alive if I didn’t take all precautions. She’d be the first to knock me upside the head.’ We both smiled in agreement.

“Seth?” I whispered a little as I stuck him, and he didn’t even flinch at it.

‘Hmm?’ He watched me work.

“What did your sister mean when she was angry at Jacob? She didn’t want him to do something?”

He scoffed. ‘She knew Jake wouldn’t. She’s had to listen to him numerous times speaking about how he didn’t like it.’

“Like what exactly?” Did they all talk in riddles?

‘Oh. Yeah. Well. Jake is our Alpha.’ I nodded; this I knew. ‘And Sam is Collin’s alpha.’ Again, I nodded. ‘So, alphas have the ability to make their pack listen to them. No matter what we do if the alpha of our pack gives us a… Well…. A command we can’t disobey it.’

This was new? Or had Collin told me? My days and nights, the conversations all mixed together. “They can take away your free will?”

‘Well… Uhm… yeah I guess… but… Jake isn’t like that. He wouldn’t.’

Leah’s anger now became clear. She didn’t want decisions about her body and her life being made for her.

“Something is off with her.” I didn’t mean to say it to him, but I could be my true self with Seth. “Leah. Not the venom, or her injury. Something else seems off about her.” I told him in quick succession, my eyes on the deep red blood flowing from his arm into the blood bag.

‘Yeah, I’ve noticed it too.’ He dropped his head. ‘But I know my sister. It’s best not to point it out.’

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

Kenzi paced the room rubbing her hands together and busying herself pouring glasses of water for everyone from the pitcher in the corner. Even the vampires. They both just thanked her and took the glass even though they couldn’t drink it. Then she started adjusting the pillows Leah was lying on and asking her if she was comfortable and if she needed anything. Leah told her repeatedly she was okay, and she didn’t need to fuss.

After an urging look from Embry when Leah’s patience started to strain I approached her and put my hand on her arm. “Hey Kenzi…” I said, kindly. “Why don’t we go make Seth a smoothie for when he’s done? Give him a nice energy boost… lots of iron?”

She looked at me… her flicking to the door her soulmate had walked through and then back to me again. ‘Oh… yes. That’s a good idea.’ Then she whirled back to Leah. ‘But what about Leah? Don’t you guys need us…’

‘Don’t worry, Kenzi. We’ve got her covered.’ Embry smiled at her. ‘Go with the Pup. Make sure he doesn’t mess up the kitchen. We’ll make sure she stays in bed and behaves.’ He smirked at me… knowing I was likely the cleanest out of both packs.

“C’mon, let's go. We’ll both feel better if we aren’t standing around waiting.” She took my arm, and we headed to the door.

‘I’ll come with you, show you where everything is.’ Bella smiled and walked through the door in front of us. I was happy to follow her, knowing she would take us on a route that wouldn’t let us cross the path of Seth and Harper. I wasn’t sure that Kenzi could stop herself if she heard his voice.

I could the conversation they were having, and I couldn’t help but feel… I don’t know… robbed maybe? That Seth had all of this history with Harper and I… I was still only scratching the surface of her. I knew it was foolish. I knew that I had plenty of time to get to know her, but it was that illogical feeling that I should know her better them anyone, even though I had only been in her life a matter of weeks.

I was shocked at how well-stocked the kitchen was. “Wow… you guys didn’t skimp on the grocery shopping.” I chuckled, looking at Bella.

‘Renesmee is very familiar with the pack's eating habits.’ She smiled and found a blender stashed in a glossy white cabinet. She flicked her eyes to Kenzi whose eyes darted around, like Seth could walk around a corner at any moment but I could still hear him talking to Harper.

Harper… I felt that tether, tug again.

“Okay… I’m going to teach you my super-secret iron-boosting recipe. So, the next time Seth goes on a pizza and beer kick you can sneak in a ton of goodness.” She laughed and I told her what we needed. We gathered spinach, kale, oranges, lemons, pineapple and coconut water.

I heard Harper and Seth talking about Leah not seeming like herself. I exhaled. They weren’t wrong.

‘You miss her, don’t you?’ She asked as she washed the greens.

“Like a vital organ,” I admitted, juicing the lemons. She wrinkled up her nose.

‘If you describe that to Harper I recommend a much less graphic descriptor.’ She gave a small laugh, and I felt like I had won a prize.

“How about like hydrogen misses oxygen when they are boiled?” I asked her with a grin. She tilted her head and thought about it for a second.

‘Oh my gosh…’ she laughed and nudged my arm with her elbow. ‘Yes… exactly like that. You are perfect for each other.’

I moved on to juice the oranges next. Kenzi started removing the stalks from the kale. “What was it like for you… When you went home, after you met Seth?” I asked. “I know that you didn’t know anything then… but how did it feel? “Then I added quickly. “If it isn’t too personal to ask.”

‘We’re practically family Collin, nothing is too personal.’ She worked next to me. ‘It was strange… I was sad and I didn’t really know why… I thought that maybe it was the travelling, you know… vacation food and drinking more than I would, things like that. So, I tried to sleep more and be healthier… but I was just sad. I don’t think I could say I missed him… at least I didn’t know I missed him. I was just down, and I didn’t know why. But I thought about him a lot.’

I nodded. “I wanted to go with her… To Port… but I… I thought it would be… to intense to ask. I mean it’s not like I know anything about her work… I was afraid it would look clingy or…”

‘It's not your fault this happened Collin. But I will tell you one thing. You need to follow your instincts. Seth and I learned that early… if either of us is unsure or anxious we do it together or we do something else entirely.’ She told me, peeling oranges that were to go into the blender whole.

“But it wouldn’t have happened if I was there. Leah would have stayed home… and that vampire… it wouldn’t have known we existed, it would have caught my scent and moved on because it was repellent to him.” I explained the details I hadn’t told Harper when she was crying last night.

‘Theoretically…’ Kenzi said. ‘But even if that is exactly what would have happened if you were there; it’s still not your fault you weren’t. It’s hard. I know… But you can’t be together twenty-four hours a day. It's just not possible. What ifs and blaming people won’t change anything. This is where we are, and we are a family so we will pull through.’

I smiled; I could see determination replacing her anxiety. Bella was grinning in the corner. We added everything into the blender and poured in the juices and coconut water too. I added hemp seeds at the last minute and blended the vibrant green concoction. Kenzi started to clean the space she had worked in and looked at the counter in front of me and glared… ‘How is that possible?’ She scoffed. ‘Not even wolf coordination can keep the juice from dripping on the counter.’

I just shrugged. ‘It’s a talent.’ I chuckled.

Kenz hugged my arm. ‘Thank you for the distraction.’ She said quietly. Bella brought us a tray with a large pitcher and several glasses and straws on it. I thanked her and then patted Kenzi’s hands where she held onto my arm. “Yeah… you too,” I said quietly.

‘Can I ask you something?’ She asked and I nodded.

‘How come they all call you Pup but only some of them call Seth, Pup?’

“Oh…” I laughed; I tipped the contents of the blender into the pitcher. “Um… well Seth is technically one of the OGs. It was Sam, Jared, Embry, Jake, Quil, Leah and Seth… then there was a gap… no one knew phased for a long time.” I explained. “But Seth was fifteen…”

‘The youngest.’ Kenzi nodded. She knew this part.

“Well… until Bray and I came along,” I said it like a boast. “We were thirteen. And all the kids after us are Pup too. So, some of them only call Seth Pup sometimes…”

‘That's why they call you twins?’ It sounded like a question.

“It’s a bit more than that. We aren’t related, he’s Leah and Seth’s first cousin and I’m Jake’s but we have the same birthday… same year… I’m an hour older. But my mom went into labour early and Brady’s mom is her best friend, so the stress and worry of how early it had sent her into labour too. But he weighed eight pounds, and I weighed two and a half.” I heard my mom correct me in my head that it was 2.3. She looked at me the way people always did. “So, we were the twins… then we phased the same day as well. So, the packs dubbed us twins too. We’ve always been best friends. I honestly can’t even remember the last time I went a whole day without seeing him.”

‘A different kind of soulmate.’ She smiled. ‘Like me, Harps and Jenna.’

I nodded. “Exactly.” I took a breath and lifted the tray. “Okay. Let’s bring this up. I don’t think it will take much longer.”

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

‘What about you, how are you holding up?’ Seth sat still while we continued with gathering enough blood for his sister.

“Me? I’m…The truth is I don’t know. Sometimes it all feels so real.” Pushing the frames of my glasses up my nose. “Then it all comes across as a dream, I don’t know. Sometimes like one I will wake up from. And find this gaping hole in my chest.”

He nodded his head listening. ‘Yeah, I know that feeling so well. Even after all this time, I still remember that first day when you three drove away, and it felt like… like my world had just come to life, and boom. It all shattered.’

Biting my lips, because I recollected that day too. “Seth…” I didn’t think of it until now. “Is it normal for me to recall that day as clearly as it only happened yesterday? I remember looking in the mirror and seeing you standing in the middle of the road. Your eyes… they didn’t leave the car until I turned off.”

‘I shifted right away. I didn’t even wait until I was in the woods. Sis was so mad at me; she’d been riding to work that morning catching me running down the road after your car and into the woods. She hadn’t seen Kenzi; she didn’t know what happened. So, she came running after me. She shifted mid-leap to get in front of me and whatever danger I was running towards. Only when she let her walls down, see Kenzi and what took place in my mind… She ran with me… No questions, just becoming my silent guardian. We followed you for miles and miles down the 101. When you stopped to look at a beach or went to the National Park, we were there making sure you were safe.’

I didn’t know any of this, so I took it in.

‘It wasn’t until you hit the I90 past Seattle... that’s when Leah stopped me.’ He shook his head. ‘She was right too. But I couldn’t see my life without Kenzi.’

We went silent for a little while. Both of us were lost in those thoughts, but me. I saw Collin, and the drive to the spot where he felt it was safe for me to see his animal form, within the protection circles. A way for me to speak to him and understand him. However, I didn’t need it. I felt safe. I felt…

When I gazed up at Seth again. His lips were curled in a smile, as though he was listening to a conversation somewhere, however, his eyes still seemed lost in thought.

‘You know that thing you are doing?’ His voice and question startled me.

“What thing?” I asked.

‘Since we have been up here, you’ve been rubbing your chest like something is missing.’ Right away my hand stopped, and it indeed was resting over my heart. I didn’t even know I was doing it. I’d been rubbing over that place where I felt the connection to Collin.

‘Yup, you don’t even know it. But some part of you even back then knew. It knew this was your home too. Some part of your soul is connected to our lands, our people, our history, and our spirits. They would have recognized you, even if we didn’t.

They would have been calling you. ‘When I think about it. Maybe that’s why when Ma and Leah came to Thompson, you were asking so many questions about our tribe, the people, and the culture.’ Now I found my mouth a gape as I considered the past interaction with the Clearwater family.

‘Knowing now what we do, I’m going to say. Yeah. It’s normal for you to recall that day too. Let’s face it. If the pup had come across you then, things would have been so different for the both of you too. But it wasn’t your time. Maybe the Spirits saw this. And that’s why they didn’t allow for your paths to cross.’

My heart swelled with love for this man. He always gave me the truth and never shied away from the facts.

‘So, sister of my wife… sister of my soul… You are home now. Not the orphan you once told me you were. Something you never were. You have a colourful family of all kinds. And we all love you.’ My eyes glistened with tears when Seth sat forward and kissed my forehead. ‘You were never alone, Harps. You always had Kenz, Jenna, Dam, Carl, and me. But now… Now you have so much more. Give them all a chance to prove it to you.’ I closed my eyes nodding in agreement as I couldn’t trust my voice for a moment or two.

“You called her wife.” Smiling like the full moon on a dark night. It was the first time he’d done that with me.

Seth rubbed the back of his neck. ‘It’s how I feel about her… Feels right… even if I have to wait, for her to be ready to take that last step with me.’

The final bag full, I sat astounded at the vanishing puncture wound on his arm, disappearing before my eyes. “That... is never going to get old.” Joking a little, he laughed hard.

But then both of our heads turned towards the opening where we saw Kenzi standing with a tray in her hands. My eyes wandered past her, looking for my soulmate. The one who my heart yearned to see.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I smiled, hearing the conversation between the two… hearing how deeply and purely he already loved my imprint and that jealousy from before… the bitterness that he knew her so much better than me… it all melted away. Because my beautiful, perfect, selfless, clever and kind soulmate was loved, she was loved in a way she needed desperately right now, and I had never been more grateful for Seth Clearwater than I was at this moment.

And that was saying a lot because there was a time in my life when Seth was literally the coolest person in the universe to me. But it had nothing to do with the fact that I was madly infatuated with his sister at the same time… at least, I didn’t think so.

My heart hurt a little to learn she was afraid that all of this could disappear like waking from a dream… but I took comfort in the fact that this was forever, and I would learn to let her know that there would never be a single moment in her life from that first day forward that she wouldn’t be loved deeply, passionately and tenderly in every way a person could be loved. I would make it my mission to put that fear to rest.

I felt it in my own chest… how it might have felt to watch Harper drive away like that, not knowing where she was going or if I would ever see her again. A hollow, dark pit… a gaping hole… just like Harper had said.

I handed Kenzi the tray, letting her present this small prize to her Protector for the sacrifice he made to help heal his sister… even though it was unlikely he felt any weaker now than he had before the donation… the iron boost I had told Kenzi all about? Sure, it was a good thing, but wholly unnecessary. For Seth… it was entirely necessary for Kenzi.

I stepped into the doorway watching Seth slip a blue hospital drape over the bags of his blood as he smiled a blinding smile at hiswife as he had put it. Hiding it from her so she wouldn’t see the quantity. But then immediately my eyes locked on Harper’s. I smiled and that tether between our souls pulled taut.

‘What is all this?’ Seth asked Kenzi. Even though he would have heard it all already.

‘Smoothies… a lot of iron and green stuff. It’ll help you get back to normal in no time.’ She rushed forward to set it on the table and poured him a glass. She handed him the glass and hugged him from behind kissing the top of his head, he leaned back against her. Whispering thank you’s so softly it felt like intruding on a private moment. He didn’t tell her; he would be back to normal in about an hour… maybe less.

I came to crouch next to Harper’s chair. From here I could glimpse the bags of crimson under the drape. “Hey, sweetheart,” I whispered. “I knew this would be a snap for you.” I gazed up at her and rested my hands on her knees.

‘He missed you; you know?’ Kenzi and Seth were watching us now. ‘Didn’t you, Pup?’ The word sounded awkward in her mouth and made her laugh. I never looked away from my whole universe.

“I did…” I admitted… no shame but my ears still flamed.

I felt a tiny foot nudge my less tiny foot. ‘Tell her how much.’ Her best friend prodded. Seth laughed.

‘Dude! Don’t do it… Hey!’ He laughed. Kenzie must have nudged or poked him because I didn’t hear a slap.

‘You hush! Nosey Parker.’ She scolded with nothing but honey in her tone. ‘Go on Collin… tell her’.

My cheeks burned now. “I missed you…” I said, my heart racing “Like H-two misses O when they reach the evaporation point.” I had time to work on my line after I told it to Kenzi. She laughed and Seth groaned but there was nothing but affection in both sounds.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

Being a witness to their love story from the first time their eyes met, didn’t make moments like now any less precious. My heart still filled with the joy, love, and happiness Seth brought along with him, when he followed Kenzi home to Thompson.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit at first I was dubious about this big, barely together man, who came across the country, to be with a girl he saw for all of ten minutes. However, now… now it all makes sense.

And now, I had my own story on its first encounter with what people would deem fantastical. Pure joy filled me at seeing the tenderness between my two friends who were family, but my eyes; they truly only saw one face. Collin….

I had to swallow back the need to jump up and run to him. Because what was I doing feeling like a teenager with her first crush!? And then there was Kenzi who didn’t think twice about letting go and being in the moment.

Their voices became nothing more than whispering in my ears because Collin became the central point of my being.

His smile, the way his lips moved as he spoke. I could still feel the swell on my lips, the burning sensation that I felt when he kissed me like that….

I stopped my train of thought straight away. Knowing they were meant for just the two of us.

I found myself lost in the way he took me in. My heart skipped a few beats when he called me sweetheart (would I ever stop reacting this way to this man? I hoped not!).

“I had a very understanding patient, this one didn’t want to bite, kick, or lick my face.” Replaying the sentence should have me blushing. However, it was Kenzi and Seth. They knew what I meant. Something has changed in the time we have been apart. The way Kenzi teased, the way Collin let her.

My heart blossomed. They were the two kindest people I knew, of course, they would get along. I did not doubt it. However, they seemed to have connected. Which I couldn’t believe made me so happy to see.

Smiling, I tuned into the conversations now. Rolling my eyes at Kenzi, about to tell her to leave Collin alone. This girl always puts people in the spot when it comes to speaking your truth.

My hands automatically reach out to touch Collin’s cheeks, stroking his red ears, my lips beaming for him and him alone. Until I realised what was happening. And I laughed. From the bottom of my heart, filling with joy and….

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” Shaking my head. If he could see how my nerd soul sang. Laughing softly. “It’s a good thing we have no DNA helicase between us because I don’t want us to separate from what this is between us.”

‘I don’t get it…’ Seth stage whispered.

‘Hush… he is the perfect level of nerd for our girl. They get it. It’s all that matters.’ Kenzi whispered back. (Just not so much of a whisper.)

‘So... this is nerdy dirty talk?’ Seth asked.

“Would you both please stop.” Still not breaking eye contact with Collin. “Don’t forget I have troves full of all your moments. Do you want me to share?”

I would never! But they quickly became silent, with the odd giggles here and there.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I could see the moment of joy in Harper’s eyes. It gave me a moment of the same… that we could both appreciate a moment of happiness in this crazy situation was proof that we were destined for each other. I wasn't sure I would cope with a wounded warrior without her. The memories of the fear when Jake was hurt, they had nothing on this… he hadn’t been bitten.

Seth snapped his teeth at his imprint when Harper mentioned biting. Kenzi’s scent shifted… it was a little awkward. But I kept my attention on the beautiful woman in front of me. My heart raced when she said it was the nicest thing she ever heard… then her reply… I chuckled. I shook my head at Seth, my eyes on Harper’s as if to say, can you believe this guy?! But then I admitted. “Now we are pushing the limits of my high school bio. I was more of a chemistry nerd.”

Seth coughed. ‘Mathlete!!’ and I didn’t look away from Harper.

“He means Mathlete Champion. I can show you my medal.” I smirked. I was fourteen when I won it… but still. I was patrolling, going to school and I still kept my spot on the team.

My brows shot up at Harper’s comment and I leaned in and whispered in her ear, letting them both hear so I wasn't rude to Kenzi. “Tell me later?”

Then I reached for a glass of the smoothie I made with the help of her Spirit Sister. “Here, you should keep your energy up too.”

Seth snort-laughed and Kenzi shushed him. I wondered if he was thinking about how I whisked Harper away earlier.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

“Mathlete Champion?” My lips were curled in a sweet and interested smile. Every day I learnt something new about this man, which made my heart warm even more towards him.

Squeezing his arm. “We can work with chemistry and mathematics. Because we cannot have one without the other.”

Okay, it didn’t sound like a pickup line when I was saying it, however now I heard it aloud, my face blanched at the meaning which could be construed by it.

‘Yeah. Perfect together.’ Both my friends said at the same time.

I took the glass offered to me by Collin with the smoothie.

“I’ll even put it all in chronological order for you.” Winking at Collin and giving Kenz and Seth a bat of my eyelashes.

Bringing the glass to my lips, hoping to stop myself from saying anything embarrassing with witnesses so close to me. Until there was a knock on the wall and Bella stood smiling at the four of us.

‘I’ll take the tray down to the others. You guys rest up here for a while.’ There was a look she shared with Seth. I saw how his face dropped for a second and then he was back to smiling again. ‘Yeah, thanks Bells. I could do with a little rest.’ No… no he couldn’t. It was Seth, the boy who used to go all day working, and then still come over to help Dad move his creations from the workshop, and into his truck.

Bella moved gracefully through the room, slow, steady, like a ballerina taking centre stage. Taking the tray from the table, and then I saw how she quickly moved the blood bags with the covering into the tray too.

Now I understood. Bella had known how upset Kenzi had been. This all would keep her stress levels down.

“I should go too…” I began to stand. However, she placed an ice-cold hand on my arm.

‘Finish your smoothie.’ Her amber eyes said something I couldn’t understand.

“Oh.. yes.. of course.. I’ll finish this off first.” Shifting back into my chair. When it occurred to me. Maybe Leah would like a little privacy at this time. To come to terms with what needed to happen. And of course, we should give it to her.

“So... are we talking certificates? Or more like math medals?” Bringing the conversation back to the playful banter for Kenzi.

“Is there a wall dedicated to all things Collin Littlesea like a shrine of his greatness?” This time I smiled at Seth and Collin.

Taking another sip from the glass and pointing to it. “So good. This is exactly what us vets would order.”

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I flushed… but it was habit. I knew in Harper’s eyes it was a flex… even if it was the first and last time I was able to compete.

I knew that Kenzi and Seth weren't teasing… I mean they were saying the same thing at the same time… we were way cooler than that. I chuckled. Her next line turned that chuckle into a laugh. “You are such a Nerd.” I teased, my gaze on her, adoring every single detail of this woman.

I smiled at Bella, nodding a thank you for giving us a little time and taking the hint that maybe Leah would like some too. She kept the tray of blood bags covered for Kenzi’s sake and there was a split second when I thought that I should take the blood… but it was shifter blood… and not something that would tempt her… but maybe… it was still difficult for her because of the smell?

But she was out of sight before I could make the offer, and then Harper’s attention was back on me, and I felt my chest expand. I laughed again. “It’s a medal. The trophy is still on display at the school. I’ll show you someday.” I reached up and brushed my fingers against her cheek. I just wanted to touch her… if she was close enough to reach out I was drawn to her like a magnet. “But no… no shrine… well… not yet. But a man can dream, right?” I teased.

Her reaction to the smoothie made me proud. “I feel like I’ve been pumping you full of caffeine… the least I can do is try to balance it out with a little nutrition..”

Then I heard Seth chuckle. ‘You know… I have no idea why I never thought of it before… trying to set these two up…’ he was clearly talking to his girlfriend.

‘Could you imagine if we’d invited him to Thompson and they met sooner?’ Kenzi sounded dreamy and excited.

“No…” I said, keeping my eyes on her. This clever, beautiful, soulful woman… somehow deemed by the Spirits to be my one true love. “This happened exactly like it was supposed to. The perfect time, the perfect place. A perfect match… no matter the hills and hurdles… I wouldn’t change a single thing. We’ll get through them all.”

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

“I’m going to take that as a challenge. We need to work on a design for your shrine. It’s a must-have. Or so I hear.” Keeping to light teasing in my voice.

He brought those butterflies back to their existing state. My hand reached up to his, lacing our fingers once he was done touching my cheek.

The touch had my tummy rotating, taking twisting turns, as I rested our hands in my lap.

Listening to the four of them, Kenzi, Seth speaking about us while we sat here, and then Collin. My heart and face bloomed with a shy redness. “I agree. I don’t feel as though I would have been open to any of this. Or ready to allow anyone in.”

Kenzi went silent when I glanced over, I saw her drop her hands. Her eyes were on Collin's hand in mine. “It’s okay... I’m okay… being here… it was what I needed. And look at how you and Seth came back too. I wish Jenna, Dam, and Carl weren’t so far away from us.” Being as honest as possible. “However, I’m so grateful they came to see how things are here. To meet all these wonderful people who have taken care of me. And get a chance to meet Collin too.”

Sounds of movement came from downstairs, but I sipped on my drink. Not commenting on what it could be.

‘It’s okay. Edward is asking his brother to go take a break. And the big guy isn’t happy about it.’ He told us all.

“So…” I asked looking at all of them. “Can all of you hear so well? Or is it just a few of you?”

‘It’s all of them.’ Kenzi was the first to speak. ‘But.. Seth here.’ She squeezed his arm, kissing her fiancée before continuing. ‘He has the best hearing out of them all.’ Such love and pride in my friend’s expression, unlike anything I’d seen before.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

Before I could say anything to Harper about my future shrine, Seth chuckled. ‘Wait, isn’t your childhood bedroom exactly the same as the day you moved out?’ I shot him a sideways glance and he pressed his lips together to suppress a laugh, he turned in against where Kenzi's arms were draped around his shoulders. I heard him breathing in her scent and I knew that the girls wouldn’t.

“You ladies came all the way here from Thompson and the Spirits still didn’t think it was our time to cross paths… they had enough faith that we would find each other that they let Harper go all the way back there. This is our time.” I believed it, truly. No matter how much I longed to know her, as well as Seth and Leah did.

As I listened to the movement downstairs I wondered if Jake would send Embry home soon too… He and the larger Cullen seemed to have a weird dynamic. I was about to ask Seth if he had noticed it too… that they were like the same person only the opposite species, but then Kenzi mentioned Seth’s added ability. It was enough to distract me, and probably for the best… since ‘Bry would hear me if I did.

“He’s the reason why we had to get into the truck for some privacy,” I said as softly as I could. “Otherwise, I probably could have just carried you far enough from the house.” I took the chance to teach her a little more about the packs. “The Alpha’s have what we call the Alpha voice… the commands that we can’t break. Seth can hear further and more clearly than any of us. Leah is the fastest. Jared has the best eyesight. Embry is like a living map… and Quil has the best sense of smell. Which is probably why he isn’t here today. Jake is the true Alpha, so he is stronger than us all.” My gaze stayed on Harper. “The Ancestors always send us what we need. They enhance our natural strengths so that we can protect the tribe and keep the pack strong.”

It didn’t bother me that I wasn't on the list of pack members who were gifted with these extra talents. I was alive… The Spirits gifted me with a life long enough to find Harper, against all the odds. There wasn’t anything more I could ask them for. There wasn’t anything else I would ever need, not now that I had her.

I heard Kenzi sigh dreamily. ‘Is that what people see when they are looking at us?’ She was talking to Seth as though we weren’t there.

‘Nah…’ Seth teased. ‘I’m way hotter than Collin… but besides that…’ He chuckled and I heard their lips meet. ‘It's probably pretty close.’ I couldn’t help but remember our private moment together…

“I think we could give them a run for their money,” I said and winked at my stunning soulmate.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

Choking down the smoothie as I laughed into the glass thanks to Seth’s comments and seeing Kenzi pinch him on the side of his arm, without malice, more like a protective shield.. for Collin? So, I wasn’t incorrect in my observation with the two of them? There had been a change, a closeness, something I hoped would grow and build deeper still.

“So… your mom does have somewhere dedicated to your achievements, and Ana’s too I assume.”

Kenzi looked at me in confusion. “Collin’s younger sister. Ananya…” I told her as the conversation moved forward.

My gaze found its way back to Collin, I couldn’t help but reach out. My hand searched for his without hesitation. I didn’t want to think about what-ifs. I liked the now.

Smiling as I spoke. “That trip was all about these two.”

Nodding my head towards the love birds, who normally glowed from the way they felt about each other. And even with everything happening only a floor away. They still managed to find some solace in small touches and stolen kisses.

I Whispered to Collin, “This is our time…” Mirroring his words back to him. “Even though I was not expecting it at all.”

About to take another sip I stopped my face flushed a deep crimson as heat flared up from the depths of my being. My eyes darting from Collin to Seth, to Kenzi who just giggled shaking her head from side to side.

Had Collin really said that? He had! Could we give Kenzi and Seth’s first weeks and months a run? I didn’t know!

‘It’s okay Harps. Really. You both. Well, you both are in so much more control than we were when our… well… when our imprint bond clicked into place.. that’s what it’s called… imprinting… it’s so beautiful when it happens...’

She sat down on the armrest, Seth’s automatically moving to engulf her small frame between his arms. ‘I don’t know if you remember or not.’ She smiled at her fiancé.

“How you both went missing for three weeks? And then when I saw you. I was about to go and kill Seth?” Tapping my fingers on the glass.

‘Boy. Yeah. That was incredible. That was when I knew I’d love you like a sister. When I saw you were willing to murder me!’ Seth’s smile was still warm. ‘Good times.’ He chuckled and I huffed and laughed softly.

Sheepishly my glance found Collin’s again. He hadn’t seen that side of me. And I wondered how he would take the knowledge that I would say and do something to harm another person; if they hurt those I loved? Even when deep down inside fighting didn’t come naturally.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

It was so silly when my heart raced as she coughed to clear her throat from the mouthful gone awry… but here we were; my heart racing as I rubbed her arm soothingly. I just couldn’t help myself. But I didn’t miss how Kenzi pinched Seth for his comment.

‘I’ll have to get used to sharing your protective side with the rest of the guys.’ Seth said, but there was nothing in his tone to suggest that he minded… in fact, it looked like it delighted him.

“The bond is so much more than soulmates,” I explained to Harper. “The women we imprint on… because so far it has only been women.” I felt the need to clarify for our two-spirit Warriors because we didn’t know what the future or the ancestors held for us. “They are bonded in a sisterhood, and to the other warriors too. They feel… protective… sisterly towards them… in every way, including the annoyance of a little brother or sister. And they… you… truly become part of the pack. And all the guys. They will treat you as a sister too. I know you haven’t met them all yet… but anytime you see this.” I lifted the sleeve of my tee, showing her my tattoo. “They will know who you are, and they will help you if you ever need anything or feel unsafe. I know it would be very strange to trust a total stranger. But you can, they all know your face from being in my thoughts.”

As soon as Harper mentioned my sister to Kenzi, I instantly knew that not only would Ana love Harper, but she would also love Kenzi.

When she asked about my mother possibly having a shrine in my honour… I flushed. “I guess you’ll have to find out when we go for dinner.” She already knew she was invited. “But there’s enough happening today… we can talk about that later.” I chuckled.

I smiled when she said she wasn’t expecting it… she had no idea how right she was… no one was. “Me either… or I might have worn a far less paint-stained shirt when I went to the clinic that day.” I laughed softly and my skin hummed with electricity at the memory. “No one was expecting any more imprints even before Kenzi… this is the largest pack in our history… and we only know of two or three ever occurring..” Without taking my eyes off Harper I tipped my head toward Kenzi. “Thank the Ancestors for your trend-setting Spirit-Sister.”

I listened to how impressed Seth was at Harper’s potential murder plot. There it was the playful look in her eyes as they narrowed just barely… just enough that I could imagine her face when they had finally surfaced for air, and she was reunited with her best friend. The clinking of her short, neat fingernails on her glass gave a serious I mean Business vibe. My heart was gallivanting again.

I tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned in, forgetting we weren't alone for a moment as I whispered. “Has anyone ever told you…” My voice was doing the low, rumbly thing again. Even when I whispered? “That you are sexy as hell when you are fierce, Dr Jenkins?”

I heard a shuffle of fabric and feet and lightly creaking furniture as Seth moved. ‘And that would be my cue to go and check on my sister,’ Seth groaned.

Kenzi protested that he should stay seated for longer, but he insisted that he was fine, and I knew it was true. When he convinced her; they shuffled from the room. Kenzi asked him what I had said, then after a beat of silence asking if he would tell her later. Her giggle was all I needed to assume that Seth had nodded.

“Maybe not as in control as they are giving me credit for…” I laughed, my face and ears beet-red. “But still far better than any of the others.”

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

All it took to calm the moment for me had been Collin’s soothing stroke, it was an ointment to a discomfort I hadn’t even been aware of, with my reaction to answering a call. I shifted close listening to them explaining this life and the people I had yet to meet.

My gaze fell to his arm, and the tattoo… From where I sat, and my viewpoint I couldn’t really make out the definition of the circle. It was round, with black ink, partly filled with symbols, with lines, more circles, all coming together as one. Keeping my hands around the glass to stop myself from reaching out to touch it without consent.

Thinking to myself ‘Tattoo? Oh… Wow… Collin had ink on his body?’ The thought ran away, gaining a life of its own. Until I rained it back in so that I could follow the explanation. With this knowledge I began to draw the information I have gained from living and working here, thinking back to the people who I had crossed paths with. Had I ever noticed this tattoo? Yes.

Leah, I’d seen it on her bicep high up closer to her shoulder. Seth, his was on the same arm just a little lower than his sister. The two men downstairs… Sam and Jacob had them too.

Then my mind drifted further. The young boy in the coffee shop, who had smiled at me with pure joy, I felt as though I should know him from the way his eyes connected with mine. Then there had been my pizza delivery boy… At the time I found that interaction funny, wondering if the boy had mistaken me for someone else until he’d asked for Collin.

They will know who you are, and they will welcome you with open hearts. I was afraid on my first visit here. However, when Seth told me about them, and then they all tried so hard not to bombard me at once. It was so sweet, and heartwarming. Of course, it wasn’t until later that Seth told me his sister threatened everyone, setting rules as to how, and when they could meet me.’ Kenzi’s voice sounded wistful with Seth smiling his signature smile at her with doting eyes too.

My heart and tummy filled with a flutter. Thinking about Collin’s love for this extended family, and their love for him too. Then there was his own family. How would ‘Meeting the family’, go? Would they like me? Would they think Collin could do better? Would they understand how I reacted at first learning about this new world within a world? Only time would have the answers.

I found myself laughing softly once again. My hand squeezes Collin’s. “It’s a lot for one person to learn and not make mistakes. I’m sure I will trip up from not grasping the depth of the relationships fully at the start. I hope they will bear with me as I find my feet.” A playful smile came across my lips. “Spirit Sisters”, I liked the sound of this relationship, as well as the million questions as to why Imprinting occurs, and how the connections with the males are different to those of other genders. Collin and I had spoken a little about it before, however right now… Today… We had a lot to manage. These questions could come later.

That sound! Collin’s voice… Oh, Lord! My head turned to his touch. Where his fingers stroked my skin, heat pulsed instantly. But it was the sound of his voice in my ear. The rumbling … That was… My eyes dropped to my lap as I squeezed my legs together because that was hot!

Taking in a sharp breath of air, both my hands tightened around the glass in my lap, as I felt the desires from before bubbling and rising from within. Biting on the corner of my lip, my gaze shot up in time to see Seth’s back as he guided Kenzi out of the room, I hadn’t even noticed them standing or walking away. Yet my attention soon returned to the kind, sweet, sexy, man who had my chest rising and falling a little too fast.

“No…” Finally, I whispered “Maybe not…” my dark brown eyes peering up from below my lashes, hidden by the glasses sat on the bridge of my nose. “However, like I said. There may be a few slips. I would hope they will forgive us for them?” My gaze had moved to his ears, looking for and smiling when I saw that tell tail sign of his bashfulness. There he was…

This was my boyfriend… my soul mate!

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

She always listened so attentively, and I knew that she was taking in each detail I told her and filing away her questions to ask later, when we had more time. It was hot… even with all the stress around us I knew she was taking in all of the information that I was throwing at her and storing it away to analyse later.

I smiled softly. “I’m sure we’ll both have a few missteps from time to time. Especially as we get to know each other. But it's part of the adventure… right?” I heard it in her whisper that she liked that way of naming family that wasn’t your blood. Families had so many shapes and so many ways to form… Kenzi… Jenna… they were her family as surely as if they shared parents.

I pressed my lips together when she peered at me like that through her glasses… it was adorable and sexy all at once…but I knew I couldn’t steal her away again. At least… not yet. Maybe a little later.

I slipped my arms under her and lifted her up so I could take her place on the seat and settle her on my lap. “There won’t be anything to forgive but, they absolutely will tease us relentlessly.” I chuckled. “You need to stop smelling so good sweetheart. It’s already strange enough seeing you in Brady’s clothes… but that scent mixed with it…” I was teasing… mostly. “Not sure the wolf in me can handle it mixed with a certain scent. We’ll never be able to look at Bray the same way again.” I chuckled, kissed her cheek and held her to me, just wanting her all to myself for a moment.

I knew I had just had her all to myself. But it was different, I wanted to hold her, to make sure she was okay. I ran a hand up and down her back. “How are you? I know you must be tired; it’s been a long day… after a longer night… is there anything you need from me?” I pressed my nose against her hair. I would do anything I could to provide her with what she needed… especially here, with her world probably seeming so far away, after being cast into this world of what she had always believed to be stories.

Embry was upstairs chattering endlessly to give us a sense of privacy. “Embry is providing a distraction so you can speak freely.”

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

Nodding my head slowly. “It wouldn’t truly be an adventure if we didn’t make mistakes and learn from them.”

My arms flew around Collin's shoulders, the move had come without warning. The sound leaving my lips at being picked up and replaced in my boyfriend’s lap sounded so out of character for me. But then again, when was the last time, I’d been picked up like I were nothing more than a feather? The answer… Never!

The space between Collin and I shrunk making me very aware of my surroundings more than before. The closeness of our proximity, the warmth of his arms holding me in place, and the heat rising into my cheeks telling me I was thankful we were alone right now.

My eyebrows pulled together, and I brought the collar of the top he had given me to my nose. Sure, there was a scent to the fabric, but nothing like what Collin had just said. Not to my sense of smell at least.

“Do you think Brady will mind that I am wearing his top?” Meeting the man only a handful of times, I didn’t want to upset him.

Sniffing at the fabric again, confused at what Collin had picked up that I couldn’t.

Resting my forehead to the side of him I felt myself relax into the hold, the thoughts in my mind still flowing through knowing full well I would be able to untangle them all at once.

Turning my gaze towards the door, still wondering how Embry would provide a distraction, I didn’t question it.

“Honestly?”

Because saying I’m Fine seemed disrespectful and dishonest.

“I really don’t know.” This time I kissed his cheek.

“It’s a tangled mess. A lot to.. well… just a lot… you know?” My hand went to my tummy. “From all the butterflies to the near-death experiences I didn’t even know about, to a friend showing up at my door as a giant white wolf… To meet and learn vampires are real… To wanting my boyfriend like my lungs, need air.” The last part comes with a flush of a heated blush.

“It’s just.. a lot.” Taking a breath before asking him the same question. “How are you?”

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I smiled… because honestly… “I can’t wait to start making mistakes with you… learning with you.” By the Spirit’s I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. I wasn’t sorry though; it may have been corny as hell, but it was true. I flushed redder and my heart thumped.

That little sound she made when I lifted her… made My heart race for a different reason, and I vividly recalled the sounds she made when I had her pinned to the side of my truck.

I chuckled softly when she sniffed the hoodie. “The scents I’m picking up on aren’t something you will sense. But you will probably become familiar with mine over time. I can smell certain…feelings I suppose. Or the hormones that cause them, like fear and stress can smell the same because they are both caused by cortisol. Excitement… Arousal… even things like pregnancy and…” I kept going to try and cover that one in the middle. “Happiness or contentment.. serotonin smells sweet like it mimics the emotions that it triggers. But that’s all guesswork really… because I clearly can’t confirm those hormones are the ones being produced in any given moment.” And I was rambling again.

Then I finally answered her question. “No not at all, we’re all used to the girls stealing whatever hoodie or jacket is nearest them… but at this stage… it would probably amuse him. We… Um… the Warriors I mean… we tend to be possessive…” I really didn’t want to freak her out thinking I was going to turn into an Alpha male douchebag stereotype. “So, something like this.” I tugged the zipper a little higher. “Would normally be very difficult for one of us to cope with. Not the optics so much… but the scent of another male on their soulmate… even one of our brothers who we would trust with our other half's lives. There are instincts so deep in us that they override what we know to be true... just like humans, I suppose. Only heightened by a hundred. I won’t say it’s not difficult… but it's worth it to protect your privacy. And This will sound like extreme toxic masculinity but the fact that Brady prefers men kind of softens the impact. But he would deny that and say he loves all genders equally.”

I rested my hand over hers on her stomach… those butterflies. I knew them so well. I brushed my nose against her jaw and breathed her in, my wolf scrambling the untangle the hints of my Spirit Brother from her scent. “I know, sweetheart. You’ve been tossed into the deep end of our world. It’s not how any of us would have chosen for you to learn all of this… but you have been so unbelievably resilient through all of this. Between saving Leah to stopping me from shifting when you should have run… and then my um…” I cleared my throat and my whole burned red hot. “Mood shifts. You have taken it all in stride…” Then I took a deep breath. Remembering the situation upstairs.

“Me… Honestly… I’m scared. I’ve seen Warrior’s hurt… Jake was almost killed when I was only new to the pack… but he hadn’t been bitten. He healed fast… you could see it happening but This… Leah’s wound… I’ve never seen one of our wounds heal so slowly.” I poured my heart out to her. “She isn’t in my pack anymore but she’s… Leah… she’s always been there, at least for me because I joined after her. But pack divide or not I don’t know what we would do without her.” I stopped while I caught my breath. “I remember the day we split… Jake… he was first, and it was like a part of my soul was torn away, then Seth was gone, and we were… frantic… we didn’t even notice Leah left too until Sam…” My eyes burned as I recalled my Alpha’s emotions for the woman he had still loved at the time. “His pain… our pain… guilt… fear… it was… There were moments when I thought we wouldn’t survive the break. But we did… and now…” My eyes stung now. “You saved our sister Harper… you kept us from breaking apart even worse than the first time and you… you saved us all, sweetheart. You protected all of us by protecting her. And soon you’ll understand exactly what you’ve given us today. So, I’m scared, and I’m happy, and I am overflowing with gratitude. And a little hungry but I’m always a little bit hungry.” I added the last part to ease the heaviness of the moment.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

Even with the tiredness slowly creeping its way in, because staying still never seemed to help. I smile looking at the redness growing on his ears. A sure sign of Collin feeling awkward or embarrassed. Something about him I had liked from the first time I truly saw him. However, now it was my turn… I felt the rush of heat to my face, my mind ping-ponging the idea of Collin picking up a person's scent. Of course, this would be the case. He turned into a big wolf!!! Wolves are known for their ability to track and scent! My lips parted, and I licked them feeling the dryness as I stayed silent for a while, allowing the information to flow and settle before.

“Alphahole behaviour.” Slowly nodding my head. “ I heard Leah and Kenzi joke about it from time to time. I didn’t know it really was a thing.” It sounded so made up and from a world full of imaginary creatures. But here we were.

I blinked at the way my boyfriend had just outed himself as someone who would put his difficulties aside to protect my dignity. My heart flipped into somersaulting with this. And yes of course I knew there were also red flags in what he was admitting, however, the fact that he was aware of the pitfalls of his nature outweighed the possibility that he would be able to do those things too.

“Thank you…” I kissed Collin on the cheek. “For putting my needs before yours.” Making a mental note to make sure I didn’t forget how hard this was on the two of them.

“Also… you do know you just outed your best friend to me.” Giggling because I assumed Brady’s gender fluidity was common knowledge if Collin spoke so openly about it.

Pressing into his chest, feeling him so close didn’t help me. My mind flashed to being pinned to the side of his truck. From his breath on me, to his hands moving… No! No… No! These memories were not helping the situation we found ourselves in right now!

The mood changed as Collin recalled past events. Seeing a glimpse into something that pained him, hurt my heart too. And I hadn’t even known him or these people. But my heart wanted to engulf him and protect him from the hurt this caused. So, I did the next best thing. Wrapping my arms around him I hugged him to me.

I may not agree with the fact that I saved Leah, because, in my eyes, I hadn’t done enough. I didn’t know enough to save her... I just kept her alive long enough. Still, I was thankful for the guidance which made it so I could be of some help to bring her back here with all her injuries.

Kissing his cheek again before I then moved to stand up. Once on my own feet, I held my hand out towards him and sat in the armchair.

“Come on Mr Littlesea, I may not have All the answers. And I may disagree with some of what you said. However, I do know there is food in the kitchen. And some people who love you one floor away. Let’s feed you, and then… let’s go see how Leah is doing. Edward surely has made progress in the treatment process.”

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I couldn’t help but laugh. “So many of the girls use that phrase… One day someone will tell me what it actually means.” All I knew was it came from books with lots of fairies and sex. Wait?? Does Harper read sexy fairy books? “But it is definitely a thing, and Uncle thinks I will need to work hard to control mine because of my bloodline.” I returned her kiss by placing one of my own on her nose. “I always will, Harper. I just might need a lot of patience and understanding from you sometimes. Also, a lot of reminding that I’m your boyfriend and not your…. Alphahole.” I added the last word hesitantly. The chuckles from upstairs told me I had definitely used it in the wrong context. I wasn’t mad at them. Tuning out the sounds around you was hard… but after a vampire encounter, it was ten times harder.

I laughed then. “But did I though? You met Brady… That’s normally all most people need.” I smiled at her, thankful for the lightness in the air now.

The room upstairs fell silent as I processed my fears out loud with my soulmate. I knew there was a lot of guilt on both sides about how it was handled and the pain it had caused. She hugged me and my arms enveloped her, I buried my face into the soft place between her shoulder and her neck. My heart rate began to creep back to normal. Here all I could smell was Harper. My Harper. My girlfriend. My sweetheart. My Soulmate. My Everything.

Then she was slipping away and at the same time not going anywhere, I could still feel her embrace wrapped around me. I smiled up at her. “You’re kinda my hero…. You know that?” I blurted, honestly… intentionally. I took her hand and even let her feel like she’d pulled me to my feet. It was a move that took years to perfect and honestly, I didn’t think any of us truly had.

I knew she didn’t believe everything I had said about her… but I wasn’t going to spend precious time trying to convince her of things I could only convince her of over time… consistency, loyalty, honesty, trust… these were the things that would prove the truth in my words, and I had all of those things in spades. One day she would set all that doubt aside, and I would still be right here when she did.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

Collin stood. Our fingers entwined, his sweet face before me, and I still had a sense of missing him. How was it even possible? From his heat to his arms around me, from his face perfectly hidden in the crook of my neck, to the way we seemed to fit. I missed it all. And yet. We were walking towards the kitchen together. These were moments when I felt lost and found at once.

Then I heard what he said. His hero? he must be jesting with me. A blush over my cheeks, because the heat of it radiated from the spot on my nose where Collin’s sweet kiss had been placed.

“I would tell you, however, I need to see if I am breaking any girl book nerd codes before I do so. Also, I may need to find out what it actually means too.” It wasn’t the fact that I was some book snob, I just didn’t have the time to dive into anything too big. And the world the term came from would require some commitment from me.

“No…” Smiling my teasing is still in play between us. “No, but I wasn’t really looking so closely at Brady at the time too.”

I met Collin’s close friend when Nova had been rushed in. And maybe now with some of what I learnt from Collin; I saw the situation in a new light. I’d not necessarily been able to notice anyone since I first caught sight of this man. Let alone wish to uncover a person’s sexuality.

I let my eyes wander the house. “This place really is amazing. It’s clear there was love in the planning of all the spaces.” The walls of glass, with the open plan architecture, gave a light and bright feel to the space. My eyes settled over a state-of-the-art kitchen, accented in white, which had everything in its correct place.

“I’ve faith in you Mr. Littlesea, and if not, I could always pack my bags and hit the road.”

The moment the words came out of my lips, my feet froze in place. It was an off-the-cuff comment, with no meaning of desire to see it through. However, I found it hitting me like a ten-ton lorry with no grip on its wheels.

“Maybe that was a bad joke.”

Whispering it to whatever it was pulling on the invisible tie between my boyfriend and me. I shook myself in an attempt to remove the unwanted gut-wrenching sensation trying to take hold.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

Would it be a bad idea to wrap my arms around her while we navigated the hallway? She felt so far away, even with her hand in mine. It would probably be easier to just pick her up and carry her there… I tilted my head thinking about it. A throat cleared upstairs… Edward… Damn! He was listening… wait… was that a yes to my thoughts. A cough… vampires didn’t cough… Oh! OOOH! It was a no.

Embry commented on Edward talking in code. Then a half-hearted slap, followed by a thwack and Leah thanking Jake, while ‘Bry declared injustice. I laughed, thoroughly distracted from my dilemma. I smiled at her… okay so she didn’t read sexy fairy books. Or at least not this particular sexy fairy book… My wolf snapped his metaphysical teeth. I needed to stop thinking about the sexy fairy book.

Of course, Harper’s priority was Nova when she met them all… That must have looked weird… all of them showing up for one dog. And Even if Harper hadn’t been my imprint it would have happened the same way. It was the bonds we all shared, What mattered to me mattered to them. “Yeah, I’m sorry they all crowded into your office like that.” I chuckled. “It's hard not to care about the thing your pack brothers do… but that was tame… ever seen a dozen dudes and a handful of their partners travel sixty miles for a six-year-old’s talent show?” I chuckled.

She was clearly fascinated with the house… And I found myself again wondering if this was the kind of home she wanted… Not this big. I knew her well enough to know that excess wasn’t her style, and this house was made in mind of housing seven vampires that never slept and had a huge range of interests… and were occasionally stuck here because of the sun. But the aesthetics... was this her style? Her home was entirely different, it was warm… cosy without being cluttered. But was that just because of her housing assignment?

Then she…. My heart stopped… mind stopped…. The whole house went silent only, Kenzi whispering ‘What happened?’

Was I about to vomit? Could I vomit?… when was the last time I… ‘Jake.’ A brisk whisper.

‘Give him a minute.’

I wanted to drop to my knees and beg her not to leave. Not to leave me behind, to beg her to take me with her. Anywhere. It didn’t matter as long as she didn’t leave me behind. I would go anywhere she wanted me to go. Was my heart still beating? It had to be, right? The ache that came into sharp focus confirmed it.

‘Jake!’ Someone was holding someone back. I was definitely going to be sick.

‘She’s okay.’ Seth… to Kenzie I guess? ‘They’re okay.’

I was not okay.

Joke.

It’s a joke.

Not just because she said so.

She would never hurt me… hurt anyone on purpose…

She was teasing it was… she was… it was… It was fine… we were… fine. Only… My eyes moved over her… She wasn’t fine. I stepped into her and put my arms around her. I felt like my body was tense… so I was careful… Normally I trusted my body around her… It had been shocking how easily it had come to me… not hurting her… knowing how tightly to hold her hand, to hug her… and today touching her like I had… kissing her like I had. There was no holding back it was… just right. But now… I was worried… I didn’t want to hurt her because my stupid alphahole brain wanted to cling to her and never let her go.

Carefully, I held her to my chest, wanting to make that look on her face go away. “Harper…” I whispered. Her name was like a breath of relief. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Then I realised she would have no idea what I was apologising for.

‘That kid is something special.’ Came from upstairs followed by a restrained laugh.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

Everything else was forgotten. I wanted to tell him to never apologise for the people who truly cared for Nova and him. Tell him how it made me smile learning that he had a support system in place for Nova. That they wouldn’t be alone when the puppies came. It gave me hope and made me realise more so, how much of a brat I’d been when I first spoke to him. Tell him how he and Nova were so lucky. For him to be proud of all his friends and family. But nothing came out of my lips.

My heart was still sinking, when I wanted to smile. To ask about this six-year-old’s talent show. I wanted to know everything about him, and then some more… However, I was still sinking.

Free falling must feel like this, I thought to myself, when you jump from a cliff without knowing what would happen. When your heart kept falling without finding someplace to hit. Like a roller coaster that had passed its stopping point, and yet kept going.

The Collin who stepped into my space and engulfed me wasn’t mine... well… he was… but… no… Had all those emotions played out for him? Had he witnessed the turmoil performing havoc in my mind, or had I hurt him without meaning to? Why did I think this? Because of the way he felt when my arms closed around his waist. When I rested my head on his shoulder. My Collin wasn’t there. This Collin was stiff, hard, holding back? Why was he the one apologising to me?

“I… I… Sorry… I’m so… so… so sorry, Collin. I didn’t think… I… my mouth…. My head…” And now I couldn’t string two words let alone two sentences together! And I was an intelligent woman god damn it!

My throat thickened when I attempted to speak into his shoulder. My arms moved up his back gently but then gripped onto the fabric of his shirt.

“I’m so sorry. Please come back to me. I… I didn’t mean it. I promise you it’s not even a question… anymore.”

Sure, I didn’t understand why or when I had decided that this would be home from now. But right now, at this moment, I knew in my heart of hearts. This realisation was true. My home was… wherever… Collin was!

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

Her arms wrapped around me. She held on and buried her face in my shoulder. I was blissfully distracted again by how she fit against me. Her head came to the perfect height for her to lay her head on my shoulder. I held onto that thought, struggling to not let it slip away, this perfect detail that so many might overlook, but not me. There was nothing about Harper that I missed. Which was why I knew that those words… they were a tease, we did that… joked about the silliest things.

But terror… that is what it was. Fear like I had never known before had gripped me. But then she was speaking… apologising. Asking me to come back to her. I inhaled a long, loud breath. Had I stopped breathing?

I unlocked my posture and held her like I always had… from the first time I had wrapped my arms around her. I wasn’t afraid… not of losing her, not of hurting her. Even if tears were burning my eyes. “You have nothing to apologise for, sweetheart,” I whispered. “Nothing… at all.” I could feel her breath on my skin, the scent of her filled my senses and… Hell… Brady. I tensed again but only slightly. I pulled back only a little. My fingers were on the zip of my brother’s hoodie. “Do you mind if I…” the question went unfinished as I pulled it down and slipped it off her shoulders, I hung it on what looked like a piece of modern art that I was sure cost more than my truck.

“I just need to clear my head, I’m sorry.” It seemed like neither of us were able to keep from apologising for things that were outside of our control. This time when I wrapped my arms around her I buried my face into the curve where her neck and shoulder met. Just Harper… that was all I could smell now. Just my Harper. “I keep letting my mind spiral out of control.”

I knew logically I was far from out of control or Jacob wouldn’t have held Embry back from coming to pull me away… He would have gotten here first and done it himself. But it felt like a lack of control to me.

“I know that this is another topic we should probably talk about when there isn’t a crisis happening… but you can question it, Harper.” I kissed her temple. “Just… please… not without me… My home is where we can be together, and we can both be happy.”

This really wasn’t the time for this conversation… and I hated it. I felt selfish too… Leah was hurt and all I wanted to do was dissect every thought and feeling I had in vivid detail with Harper. To lay myself bare and open up every part of myself to her. “By the Spirits… I wish we had time… To talk about all of this. To explain everything… I feel like all I’m doing is telling you half of everything we start. It’s not the way I wanted this. And I’m so sorry. I swear it’s not that I’m keeping things from you. I want to tell you all about… all of it. Things like how I would follow you anywhere if you let me but I just…” That was it… tears slipped free, and I kissed her neck where my lips brushed against her skin.

She deserved so much more.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

My mind reeled into a free fall. He was back. My Collin. I felt the shift in his posture giving me relief to breathe once again.

“I know,” I whispered softly as he pulled himself into me. The hoodie has been hard on him, I saw it now so much clearer than when we were outside. He had given it to me to save me from embarrassment. However, I should have questioned its impact on him.

“I know. It feels as though we start something and then we have to stop. It’s okay. I understand that this is far from ideal. We have to think about Leah right now. This. You and me. We can take the time we need once she is healed.”

Then I felt them. Dampness on my skin. I had made him cry? My beautiful soul of a boyfriend... I broke him! “Collin!”

My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach, my face flushed as I moved myself to cup his cheek and bring him to my eye line. “Please… Collin… forgive me…” Tears sprung free from my eyes now seeing them in his. Using my thumbs to wipe his tears away.

“We… You and me… here… right now… this is where we are.” Bringing his face to mine. I kissed his tears away. “Please… don’t be upset like this..”

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

“We’ll find the time to talk about it all…” I whispered. “And get through the mental list of questions I know you’ve been keeping.” I smiled against her skin.

I held her a little tighter. She knew I was upset, and it was hurting her… But she had already said everything I needed to hear. I just needed my body to catch up. Then she was holding my face and wiping my tears away… it made me smile… and I was sure I looked like a wreck. Crying with a smile on my face. “There’s nothing to forgive, Harper. You didn’t say anything wrong.” Then she was kissing my cheeks and I lifted my hand and set one on the back of her neck guiding her closer to touch our foreheads together. “You’ve said everything I needed to hear already, sweetheart… It’s just the… whole raging hormones and primal animal thing. I remember seeing an imprint cry for an hour because her boyfriend told her dress was a strange colour. It's all part of the rollercoaster.” I pressed a kiss to her lips, soft and sweet. “I promise, I’m okay… My biology just needs to catch up. That’s all.” I kissed her again.

I smiled… with no tears this time. “This is exactly what I needed… you and me… here… right now.” I used her words, to show how grateful I was. She always said exactly the right thing. Even when I was about to phase in the Cullen’s driveway… she never faltered.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

Each kiss he placed on my lips, awoke those beautiful butterflies that had become a part of the norm with Collin’s presence. He looked perfect in my eyes. With the tears, and the smiles adding to his perfection.

Of course, I heard and somewhat understood what he meant by his body needing time to catch up with his mind and emotions. Because I had to face it... I found myself in the very same dilemma.

Some part of me was still upset that I had the power to bring tears to this precious person’s eyes, and he had the same over me. And then the butterflies telling me to feel excited and happy about his closeness and kisses.

“This I can give you. Us.. you, me and Nova.. we can do this part. And the rest...” I wrapped my arms around his back. Drawing myself into his chest so he could feel my closeness the way I could his. “We will work it out.” Kissing him back once more. His lips made mine tingle.

I didn’t hear them until there was a throat clearing from somewhere behind us.

‘I am really sorry to interrupt.’ The male voice attempted to sound soft. But failed. I straightened my shoulders, before turning just enough to see Jake smiling like a proud parent.

‘Collin.. Carlisle and Esme are close. They didn’t want to show up without giving you and Seth some warning. Unlike their sons.’

Jake smirked and the shift of his eyes behind him told me I was missing part of a conversation somewhere.

Slowing I stepped back away from Collin, allowing my arms to drop to my sides. Jake throws a banana at my boyfriend with a wink.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I laughed softly. “You really are incredible… Do you know that? I mean not to even mention everything last night. Just dealing with a grown man who cannot control his emotions.” Okay, I was exaggerating… I mean I was definitely on a rollercoaster right now, but I had seen worse in my years with the pack.

She was holding onto me… showing me that she had me… through all these ups, downs and twists. I kissed her again and again, not even able to tell who was initiating them anymore. Each one settling my soul. Then Jake was approaching, and I realised when Harper pulled away I should have warned her someone was coming. But when Jake said Carlisle was coming I grinned like I was that twelve-year-old boy and the coolest doctor in the hospital had taken a personal interest in my case all over again.

I caught the banana Jake had thrown at me. He shook his head. ‘Still with the hero worship?’ He teased.

“He literally saved my life!” I defended myself. But I knew they all got it, and it was true too, even before my wolf was healing me. I turned to Harper and explained. “Dr Cullen was one of my doctors before I joined the pack. He’s really cool.”

‘Pops gets really cool and we get the puppy almost wolfing out on us.’ I heard Emmett scoff upstairs… but the chuckles all told me he did it with the goofy grin he seemed to have so often.

As Jake turned and walked back the way he came, he lifted the hoodie from the statue I had hung it on and grinned back at us… ‘You just smell like your normal self now… So, I’m gonna take this with me and you can steal your boyfriend's clothes if you get cold.’ He winked again, just for Harper this time and headed back down the hallway. I peeled the banana and broke it in half handing her the half still nestled inside the peel… “Do you still want to grab something to eat, or do you want to head up before they get here?”

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

I couldn’t help the warmth growing in my heart, Collin literally lit up at the mention of the name of the patriarch of the Cullen family arriving. Then to learned this person had a helping hand in saving the life of a child, who now was a big part of my life. I could feel the swell of gratitude I felt for him. And I’d only met him over a screen on one of the most difficult nights since moving to Washington State!

I felt a thrill at the thought of wearing Collin’s hoodie. And all at once, my face burnt at the reality of this moment. Genuinely grateful to learn my… well… ‘scent’ has returned to its normal state, however at the same time. The fact that Jake mentioned it in such a casual manner. Something I would have to come to terms with.

“I… Uhm… yes…” Biting my lips at the thought of becoming one of those girls who stole her boyfriend’s clothes.

Would he like that? Guys liked it.. well, some did. Seeing their girlfriends In their tops? Then my head thought about how I would feel. Being engulfed in something he had worn. Smelling him as I curled up to watch a movie, or read. Or…..

My eyes flickered to Collin, clearing my throat before dropping to the half a banana offered to me. Taking it from him, nestled into his warmth. Pulling the peel down a little further. Readying it for a bite.

“Oh. This should do me for now. But you were hungry? Should we grab you something quick?”

I didn’t like the feeling growing inside my chest. Having him go without food. I didn’t like it.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

She was flustered at Jake’s words, and I smiled… had I pictured Harper in my clothing? Definitely! Had I pictured it in front of everyone… I tilted my head, watching her blush… actually yes. I had. Of course, I had pictured it when we were alone too. But yeah… the idea of slipping my jacket around her shoulders at a pack gathering, or when she was walking out of work as the evening got more and more chilled. On a date… or a walk…

So yes… I liked the idea of my girlfriend wearing my clothes… did it mean I fit a little in this Alphahole category that the girls were all talking about? I was okay with that… at least this part of it, anyway.

When her cheeks burned red I smiled and lifted my hand to stroke the heated skin. “So beautiful,” I whispered when I swallowed the bit of banana in my mouth.

Then I moved on to her question. “’Bry and Jake have been up there all day. I guarantee Nessie has been bringing in food to keep them from getting cranky. I think we should head up so you and Edward can put together everything you learned for Dr Cullen when he arrives.” I wanted her to feel prepared and relaxed. I knew I had made her first encounter with vampires… or the first she was aware of anyway… very stressful. I didn’t want that for her again, not with people as genuine and caring as Carlisle and Esme.

“I’ll just steal theirs when they aren’t looking.” I kissed her temple as she tucked herself into my side. My arm came around her shoulder and I breathed in that scent… the one that was just Harper. The way she smelled before was incredible of course. But this… this I liked too… it was the basis that everything else was built on, it was how she smelled the day I met her. It was the scent I recalled when I missed her or thought about her. The scent I would recognise from miles away.

I rested my forehead against her hair… grinning again because… seriously? Could she be more perfect? She was even the exact right height for me! “You still smell amazing,” I whispered in her ear with a goofy chuckle and then led her, with my arm still around her back upstairs. The final piece of the banana in my hand disappeared into my mouth.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

Eating the last of the banana Collin shared with me as we climbed the steps side by side, I gave myself a moment to lock these memories away. Knowing that I would look back on them in time wondering how much of all of this I had retained. At the same time seeking composure to ease the blush on my cheeks. Because… Truly… Who wouldn’t blush when their new boyfriend told them they smelt nice?

I stole one final kiss from Collin’s cheek, whispering “You are perfect, for me.” Into his ear. Unsure who else could hear, and not ashamed of declaring this fact. He had proven himself several times in the last 24 hours.

Uncurling myself from around him. I felt the loss of a part of me straight away, which I knew was ridiculous. He was right there, standing next to me. However, that invisible thread seemed to stretch out, knowing what I was about to do. The Harper who belonged curled into the side of her boyfriend had taken a seat, allowing the Harper who had her mind in the situation ready to face whatever was awaiting us.

I could hear whispers from inside the room, which quickly disappeared as soon as we stepped inside. Everyone looked busy, every person with a task or a conversation to have. My glance moved to Leah straight away, noting the way her eyes seemed to have drifted to the windows. The storm had come in, the rain hitting the glass, rolling down making its own form of art.

“How are things in here?” I asked, now my gaze was on the blood. They were amid the transfusion, which explained how Leah was choosing not to look at what was happening. I hoped she understood the need for this step. The necessity outweighed the risk; however, her conscience would need to come to terms with it.

‘We aren’t dead yet.’ The tall one smirked from beside Leah’s bed. I couldn’t help but wonder if he had moved at all since we had left.

“That… uhm… is a good thing.” I smiled.

Kenzi moved to the table, pushing the tray sat on it forward, a glint of mischief in her dark eyes. Following that look, I could see she was attempting to catch Collin’s attention. So, I left them to it.

My hand found Collin’s, squeezing once before letting go to cross the room, I pushed the rim of my glasses up the bridge of my nose. ‘Yup… I can see how the pup can lose it with that move.’ Embry huffed, the sound of ruffling coming from behind me where he stood on the other side of the bed.

I paid no mind, going to stand beside Edward Cullen as he and Ness spoke in low tones, which became louder as soon as I came to a stop. “Is there anything I can do to help? I used to collate data for my mentor all the time to present.” Offering my skills to them.

‘The data you gathered before is being analysed, we are amassing the last of the research Ness found in the medical archives. Which I can guarantee Carlisle will know right away.’ The way he spoke about his dad made me smile. I knew that there was love in words, and Edward clearly loved and respected his father.

“He was amazing last night,” I told Edward and Ness once again. Because I couldn’t express my gratitude enough.

Both shared a knowing look with Ness smiling. ‘He really is, he cares for everyone greatly.’ She added.

‘Carlisle has a way to make you feel like you are the only person that matters. It’s a good feeling when your bones are broken. He has the best bedside manners.’ Jake joined in from behind us.

Listening, I moved to discard the banana peel into a bin under the desk, I went to wash my hands. “I can see how that is true. Really if it wasn’t for him. I’m not sure how I’d have managed.”

‘You got lucky. If you got this one.’ Jake pointed to Edward. ‘Not so easy-going.’ He winked at Edward who just shook his head.

‘I see you are still working on your standup routine, Black. Maybe hold off on quitting your job at the garage just yet.’ The vampire smirked.

‘Oh…. Burn!’ Emmett added.

‘Stop it, children. Play nice.’ Bella rolled her eyes, however, didn’t move from the stool beside Leah. My eyes ping-ponged around the room, following the teasing. If it wasn’t clear before (which it was) there clearly was a deep history of comradery.

‘Only after Bella kicked Jacob’s backside for giving our baby a nickname.’ Edward answered my unspoken comment.

‘Hey. Ness loves the name, right baby? As does everyone.’ Jake grinned when she skipped to his side, his arms automatically moving to engulf her. I couldn’t help but glance at Collin, smiling a little. ‘Keep it up Jake, I can feel Bella’s readying herself for a rematch. And in case you forgot. You lost the last round.’ It was Leah’s low voice this time. Making everyone turn to look in her direction.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I was glad to see her eat… I knew the smoothie I had given her was packed with nutrients… but she’d had a lot of coffee today and not so many calories to keep up with the level of activity that she was doing. And on no more than a couple of hours of sleep too. I really needed to start taking care of her better than this.

Then she kissed me on the cheek and told me, I was perfect for her. The flash of heat ran up my neck, into my ears and cheeks in a millisecond. I was not sure if it was just because of what she said or Kenzi’s squeal when Seth told her what he had heard.

‘You have no idea how huge that is for her too….’ She was whispering.

‘I know… it's big. I didn’t just meet her yesterday!’ Seth chuckled.

I couldn’t help but feel a rush of pride… in myself, in us… and in Harper for how easily she let herself be open with me. I followed her back to the room upstairs. There was tension… Leah was struggling with this. And I wondered if maybe Embry was too… we all knew how conflicted he was about having to wait for something awful to happen for his mom to live. Blood wasn’t the same but... to Leah, it seemed to be. Everyone went quiet… because they were whispering about us… nothing bad or even things we didn’t both already know… there were also whispers about Carlisle and Esme. Emmett and Edward had spoken about the fact that Carlisle had Edward visit the hospital during my last illness… they knew the tribe members with the gene were phasing and Carlisle had a theory that exposure to their kind triggered the gene. A glance at my chart would have easily identified me as the Chief’s nephew. But the findings were inconclusive. I knew Edward was the only one with the control to be in a hospital like that. Nessie now too, I suppose.

Had the Cullen’s simple proximity been what saved me?

Then Kenzi pushed a tray towards me and smiled. She’d saved some food from the other savages in the room. “Thanks.” I smiled and picked up a sandwich, it was packed with deli meat… not really what I would normally go for… but I just really wanted something that would make me feel full right now. Also, if Embry and Quil’s diets were anything to go by… shifters could stay fit and healthy on nothing but TV dinners, frozen pizza and takeout. A little processed meat wasn’t going to kill me.

My thumb automatically brushed across her hand when she squeezed mine. I smiled at her and nodded, letting her know she was ready for this and I was right here if she needed me. Embry’s comment about the way Harper fixed her glasses caught me off guard and before I knew it; I had flung a shelled, hard-boiled egg that was sat in a really pretty salad arrangement straight at him.

He caught it and, of course, the thing exploded in his grip… making Emmett jump back. I was thankful that Harper had gone to stand closer to Edward. ‘Rookie move bro’. Leave the Pup alone.’ Jake said while his third in command licked squashed egg off his fingers and offered Jake some.

‘I mean… the kid has control. Paul broke one of my ribs once because I looked at Rachel for too long… And all I was doing was trying to figure out if her hair clip was a bat or a bird.’ Embry shrugged and winked at me. ‘Sorry kid.’

I remembered that story… it was before my time, but the clip had actually been a flower.

Jake’s attention had turned to the other conversation in the room and I only knew my heart had started to race when I noticed it slow down. I wasn’t used to this… it wasn’t like me at all. I’d thrown something at my friend over a completely innocuous comment! I mean… It wasn’t like it was a chair or something… Then I started to look around at all the things that I could have reached for… Chairs… metal trays, a large wooden bowl… knives… okay… out of all that I picked an egg… that was… good… right?

I finally got pulled back into the conversation when Leah spoke. She still looked like her mind was miles away, or like it wanted to be.

‘My name is awesome…. Opened up a whole lot of aliases for me.’ Nessie beamed at her mom. We all knew that legally, Renesmee Cullen didn’t exist. It was something the Volturi could track too easily so when she needed to use a fake ID she had a few different names she used. All of which could be shortened to Nessie or Ness. No one was paying any attention to what I had done. Seth even came to stand next to me, not even trying to put himself between me and his imprint.

Tires crunched on gravel in the distance. ‘Grandpa is here!’ Nessie clapped her hands together. ‘I’ll be right back, excuse me.’ She said to Harper and I knew she was trying to be polite and not flit away like we would normally expect from her. She opened one of the glass panels, it pivoted on a centre axis (that I really wanted a closer look at) and she dropped out of the window like stepping off a curb.

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

“Of course..” Turning to the side to give Ness room to get to the door, however, my lips dropped open when she was the one to turn and leave via the windows.

‘My girl loves making an entrance.’ Jake did take his leave to follow via the door. His warmth pulsated from the laughter and smile. ‘You’re going to be jumping and leaping soon Leah, doc will make sure of it.’ His parting words. But she didn’t react to them.

The others expressed their own feelings and comments, to the conversations which were taking place, and I went to look over the covered wounds on Leah.

“Is it okay if I open these up, Leah? I’m sure Doctor Cullen will want to have a visual of them.”

Bella stood up to give me room to work, she went to join her husband. Who had been looking into the distance? ‘Harper. Before you do that…’ he stopped me from pulling the trigger. Making me turn to glance over at him.

“Yes?” I asked.

His amber eyes were on Kenzi, Seth, Collin, and then me. ‘Carlisle feels it would be best if he and Esme meet the two new members of the imprints outside.’ Edward smiled at Seth first, who nodded his head.

‘Come Kenz. Let’s go outside.’ Taking her hand in his. He kissed her knuckles and then led her out. Before I could voice my thoughts. Edward smiled at me. ‘He and Esme would like to make this experience as positive as possible. They don’t want to test the boys any more than is necessary. That’s all.’

A flashback to when Bella, Emmett, and Edward arrived made my heart race a little.

“Yes, of course. I.. Uhm, I understand.” Did understanding a situation mean you were concerned about the outcome? Yes, a little. However, I had faith in Collin. In myself. That nothing untoward would take place.

My gaze moved to meet Collin’s. “Collin respects your mom and dad greatly, I don’t foresee anything taking place that would warrant any immediate concerns. However, it’s right to do this meet and greet in a place that is open and with no constraints.”

‘Yes, exactly.’ He agreed, his gaze moving to Collin at the same time as mine.

I walked back to stand beside Collin. Smiling at the warmth I felt in his vicinity. “Shall we?”

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I didn’t know why but the idea of seeing the wound on Leah again gave me a spike of anxiety and a glance at Call told me I wasn't the only one. We weren’t used to this… we healed… we all healed… By the Spirits! Leah had healed from worse… minus the venom, I was sure of it.

My ears, my neck, my face… Damn… my whole body burned crimson and I looked around the room my eyes darting from vampire to wolf… wolf to vampire and then solely on my soulmate. When they mentioned the encounter yesterday… or this morning? Damn… time was blurring. “I’m sorry,” I said softly. I was speaking to the room even if I was focused on Harper. “I’m really sorry about that. I didn’t mean… I couldn’t…”

‘Pup…’ It was Embry. ‘Breathe… it’s okay. Everyone gets it. You pulled back mid-shift… I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you… I couldn’t do that. Even Jake and Sam would struggle. What happened out there is a win kid. You’re a badarse… but Doc…’ He grinned at Harper. ‘You’re a bigger badarse for stepping up like that. Just… let him phase next time… his brothers will have his back if he does, okay? You’ll give us all grey hair.’ He chuckled.

I couldn’t help but smile tightly and nod at his words, my eyes moved to Leah briefly… her look conveyed... approval? Like she agreed with what he said. But… I couldn’t quite believe them.

But Harper’s words… settled my soul. She should have been terrified of me in that moment and she showed nothing but complete faith in me. My attention was still solely on her. Now my smile spread…

“Okay…” Then I said to the room. “But I do need to apologise for the swearing… that was… just rude.” I was serious.. and also not. Embry exploded into laughter and then explained to Emmett that I was actually serious and he joined in.

Even Edward chuckled. I took Harper’s hand. “You don’t want me to take you out of the window?” I teased. Making my way to the door with her. She was exhausted… we could get to the fun stuff on a day she could enjoy it. “Next time?” I asked with a cheeky tone and a tilt of my head.

We met Seth and Kenzi at the top of the steps, Jake and Ness on the driveway nuzzling each other and whispering about warning people before jumping out a third-story window. A car approached slowly. They pulled in, past my truck and Harper’s car… probably in a show of leaving us an easy road out.

Ness squeaked and ran to her grandparents. I whispered to Harper. “They don’t look much older than their granddaughter… but they’ve been around a lot longer than her.”

‘Renesmee, darling.’ Carlisle spoke in his silky, soothing tones. ‘We’re trying to keep everything calm and peaceful, remember?’ The giddy ball of hybrid energy was instantly tamed. Even her typically wild heart calmed down.

She led her Grandparents over to us. The four of us descended the steps, Harper’s hand in mine... ‘Grandpa… Grandma… I would like you to meet my two new Spirit Sisters.’ She looked at me, clearly overheard me using the phrase with Harper earlier. “Harper and Kenzi. And you already know the boys… Ladies, this is Carlisle and Esme Cullen.”

❂ Harper Lee Jenkins ❂

“I… I… Uhm… I am so sorry.” Now it was time for my blush to intensify with Embry’s eyes looking at me with a sweet smile. The crinkle at the edges makes him look younger than I first thought.

I pushed the rim of my glasses up the bridge of my nose. Making him laugh with a shake of his head, this time his eyes darted to my boyfriend.

It wasn’t until I dropped my gaze to our entwined hands did the thought occurred. I didn’t like hearing Collin questioning himself. And all at once I love that he did. We should all be open to learning, and that wouldn’t occur if we didn’t ask; ‘What could I have done differently.’ I did it every day at the practice. It had become a habit which didn’t need any explanation.

I also realised I wouldn’t change a thing about how we had both reacted. I recalled the pride Jake and Sam had shown in Collin, how they were impressed by his restraint. And me? I listened to my heart. Something I’d conditioned myself to stop doing. It was this man beside me who had reopened that sleeping part within, and now I didn’t want to close it off.

When I honed back into the conversation my lips curled up into a smile. Collin Littlesea apologising for using profanities. So Cute!

“From the windows?” Gaze on Collin my heart dropped, my hands feeling sweaty, with my mind racing zero to sixty in two seconds. Darting a look to the same window Ness had exited. However, the surprising part of it for me was the excitement and thrill that shot to life too. Was that something I could do too?

‘I think the doc likes the thrill too.’ Emmett teased laughing as Collin guided us out to join the others.

The chill of the breeze came rushing into my face and chest as we stood at the top of the stairs. I found myself moving closer to the heat radiating from Collin without even thinking about the action. As we stood waiting for the introductions.

“Thank you for the warning,” I whispered to Collin, I really didn’t know what to expect from the grandparents, but with Ness’s parents looking as if they were the same age. I could only imagine. I felt a cold soft hand slip into mine, entangling my fingers into hers I squeezed. Telling her I always supported her, and always will. Kenzi may have lived in this world longer than me, but it didn’t mean she didn’t feel the anxiety or fear as I did. She was my sister. Not by blood but by choice. And we knew we would face all this together.

Kenzi’s hand slipped back out of mine when Seth stepped forward with a big smile on his face. He didn’t hesitate for long, just enough to dip his head and whisper into his girlfriend’s ear, as soon as she smiled, nodding in agreement with whatever he said, they were down a few steps in front of me.

I saw the young couple with Ness, my feet frozen in place once we came to a standstill.

‘They are so young.’ Thinking about it for myself. Because I was certain I didn’t want anyone to hear. My politeness refusing to speak out of turn. It was only right for Seth and Kenzi to meet the Cullen family matriarchs before me.

At first, it was the eyes, unique to this family. The amber glistened even as the rain drizzled over us. When it was the porcelain-like skin, not a blemish to be seen. They moved like their sons, but more elegant in a way I couldn’t quantify. If I wasn’t witnessing them through my own eyes, with the knowledge I had ascertained over the last twenty-four hours. I wouldn’t believe it.

Carlisle had one arm lightly draped around his wife’s back guiding Esme. She had a gentle welcoming demeanour. The two moved instinctually, knowing just where to stop, the soft smile, open body language.

I could see Esme wanted to step up and hug Kenzi, however she stopped herself. Telling her how beautiful Kenzi was. How lucky Seth had been to find such love. She cupped Seth’s cheeks whispering something to make him shyly shift and nod. Carlisle stood to the side, taking in the conversation, he gave them his all. Smiling, as he squeezed Seth’s shoulder.

It felt as though this were a reunion of close family members. Those who are happy for your happiness, and who are joyful to share moments with you.

And then their welcoming eyes and smiles were on Collin and I. “Good afternoon, Doctor Cullen and Mrs Cullen.”

I took the initiative to hold my hand out towards Esme first. She looked to her husband who nodded, then Collin smiling before taking it. She didn’t shake it. Just held it in her cold hand Patting it with the other.

‘Please. It’s Esme. And this is Carlisle.’ She moved to the side giving her husband space to come before me.

‘Dr Harper Jenkins. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance face-to-face. I must thank you, your quick wit and ability to work under pressure saved the life of someone we all hold dearly in our hearts.’

My lips moved; however, I was stunned into silence. He was the reason Leah was alive, without his guidance, and his ability to talk me through the details I would have been lost. And yet. Did he give me praise?

I glanced to my side at Collin, feeling my blush rushing over me.

❂ Collin Littlesea ❂

I smiled watching the entire interaction… but I saw it all from the edges of my vision or in the reflection in Harper’s eyes. I smiled seeing that familiar fluster that Carlisle seemed to cause everywhere he went. He had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room… or… well driveway… but still. I chuckled a little when Harper looked at me before speaking. “Don’t worry, Harper. The Doc has that effect on most people. I’d tell you it wears off…. But it never did for my mom.” I laughed.

‘Ridiculous… your mother is completely infatuated with your father, Mr Littlesea.’ He stepped cautiously closer, waiting for a sign from me that I was okay with it. I extended my hand to shake his and he asked after my family. He had become familiar with us during my lengthy and frequent hospital stays. I filled him in on how everyone was… there wasn’t much to tell. Our lives were…in the words of my mother pleasantly boring since the incident with the Volturi.

‘It is so good to see you looking so strong and healthy Collin.’ Esme smiled. She frequently visited the children’s ward at the hospital…

‘Yes… your recovery continues to be a singular event in all the data I have collected on the Spirit Warriors.’ His curious mind never stopped.

‘This is the part where he asks you for another blood sample.’ Esme teased her husband.

“Of course… If it's okay with Sam.” I told him… And I looked at Harper. I would need to make sure she wasn’t around for it… or maybe she should be. Would it be good for her to understand how these things might impact her? I shook my head. Of course, it would be… but after everything she had been through in the last twenty-four hours, it might not be the best time. She had endured so much already.

‘Perhaps… But first.’ He gave me that same dazzling, empathic, understanding smile he had given Harper. ‘May I borrow your clever, young imprint so that we can go and see our patient?’

I nodded and looked at Harper, smiling before I leaned in to kiss her cheek. “I’ll be right behind you,” I whispered. Everyone would have heard… but at least she would know it was meant for her alone.

The Cullen patriarch led Harper inside, telling her all about how her expertise with canine medicine was going to be invaluable in their efforts to heal Leah. We all followed, I put my hand on Seth’s shoulder… things were about to get serious again and it was his sister in that hospital bed.

Last night Leah’s life was saved.

Now… the hard road to a full recovery began

#twilightrp #twirp #au #harperleejenkins #storyline #collinlittlesea #imprinting #imprint story #notapupanymore #uptightvet

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