I own nothing.

Chapter 22

Seattle.

The pack were in the forest close to where Paul and Seth were being imprisoned. Jared watched Embry hug the man he considered his father. A cold hand squeezed his shoulder turning he smiled up at Jasper.

"I've been waiting for you to accept your feelings."

"Guess I'm just a bit slow on the uptake huh?" Jared chuckled.

"Oh I don't know. I don't think either of you were ready until now. You're a good man Jared with a big heart."

"When did you know?"

"Does it matter?" Jared shrugged. "The moment he smiled at you when he was just a child." Jared raised his eyebrows. "Your love was not instant it's been growing slowly but surely. None of this imprinting to help you on the way, but it doesn't mean your love for each other is any less."

"That's what scares me and Embry too. Not that he will admit it. What will happen if one of us does imprint? The love we have will be gone in a blink of an eye. I don't think I can lose him. Not again."

"No one can be certain of the future not even Alice. But Jared isn't the risk worth it. Even if it's just a few years or fifty isn't Embry worth the heartbreak that may not come?" Jared looked at Embry.

"Yeah he so is." he put his hand on top of Jasper's before standing up and going to his mate.

Edward and Quil were sitting together on a rock looking down on the city of Seattle. Their fingers entwined. Edward was watching Quil's memories of their life together. The first performance they did for the family together. Edward cringed at the wrong notes but at the time it was perfect. Quil looked at him and chuckled and shrugged.

"I was five give me a break." he nudged his mate's shoulder .

"You've come a long way love." Edward admitted.

"We both have." Quil showed Edward when they first made love.

It was a complete disaster, neither of them would forget their first time. It may not have been perfect but it was them. Edward had learnt that you didn't need to be perfect to love life and to succeed. The vampire may have taught Quil many things, but his mate had showen him more in his short nineteen years together. Carlisle had brought them together but love would keep them together.

"If we make it out of this alive," Quil said only to have Edward's finger to press against his lips.

"When love. When we make it out alive."

"I want to go to college. Leave the pack for a while."

"You want to give up your wolf?" Edward asked.

"No I will still phase. I want to live a life that I should have."

"Does this include me?" Edward asked frowning.

"I'm not alive without you Edward. You know for an old fart you're pretty stupid sometimes." he nudged his mate again who pretended to lose his balance his mate grabbing him and pulling him into his arms. "I love you old man."

"You do know that you're actually technically older than me now right?"

Quil laughed and looked at his pack and family. They were normal they were never going to be normal and he was okay with that. He wouldn't have had it any other way. Sam looked up at him and nodded making Embry smile. "Yep, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Jacob leaned against a tree his mate in between his legs his nose nestled in the crook of his neck and alpha's arms protectively around his mate's waist holding him close to him. His wolf rumbled with joy having his mate close to him. Not that they were officially mates but soon he would make him his.

"I was thinking," Brady said.

"Mmm," Jacob said kissing Brady's neck.

"The garden needs flowers in it."

"Okay."

"Lots of pink flowers."

"Brady why are you talking about my garden?" Jacob finally pulled away allowing his mate to turn and face him.

"Do you ever dream Jake?"

"I guess." Jacob shrugged.

"Well I do. Every single dream I have is the garden with pink flowers in it. Our cubs running around the garden chasing their cousins. You by the grill talking with your brothers."

"You really dream that?"

"Jake you need to stop and smell the flowers."

"I don't really like flowers."

"Is that why I don't get flowers, because you don't like them?" Brady asked.

"Are we going to argue?"

"I don't think so. Jake just promise me when this is over you take the time to be a kid. I've never seen you be relax, not really. I want to go on dates, eat ice cream at the park."

"Bray that isn't me."

"How do you know Jake you ever tried it?"

Jacob shook his head. He couldn't even remember the last time he had gone to the movies and just hung out with his friends without pack business getting in the way. He had no friends outside the pack and probably never will but he was okay with that.

"You going to show me?"

Brady smiled. "Yeah, so Jake you wanna go out on a date Saturday?"

Jacob pulled his mate into his arms. "Sure cub you paying?" Brady hit Jacob's arm before allowing the alpha's lips to meet his.

"I have a early birthday present for you." Marcus said coming into the cell where Seth was reading a book that for once wasn't about the Volturi. Quickly closing the book he jumped up.

"Really?"

"Of course you didn't think I would forget your birthday did you?"

Seth stepped back. Last birthday Marcus had placed a ring on Seth's wedding finger. No matter how much he tried to take it off the ring wouldn't budge it was like there was a spell on it. It was the family emblem almost like a claiming of him.

"No of course not forgive me." Seth said lowering his eyes.

Marcus turned and left the room. Seth figured he should follow him when he didn't shut the door behind him. They were heading towards the dungeon. Seth's heartbeat increased was he really going to let him see his Paul? He tried not to get his hopes up but he couldn't help it.

They passed a few leeches who were curious to see the shapeshifter they were there to guard. It was rare to see him out of his cell and if he was out running they would slip out quietly during the day when they were normally busy. When they got to the door at the top of the stairs Marcus turned to Seth and handed him a key.

"I will allow you one hour." he turned away without saying a word.

Seth looked at the key in his hand before looking at Marcus's retreating back. "Thank you." Marcus waved his hand and kept walking.

Unlocking the door with shaky hands Seth made his way down slowly his wolf on full alert. He lifted his nose to find his mate. Every time he had come down here Paul had been in a different room or in the main open corridor.

The stench of death filled his nostrils. He held back a scream as he smelt his mates blood. Running down the room he came to the last cell and opened the door. His eyes widened as he saw his mate hanging from the ceiling his toes only just touching the ground. In quick strides he went and lifted Paul up.

"No, no, no please be alive." he cried out.

Paul took in a deep breath. Warm arms were wrapped around his legs. His aching arms suddenly felt light. He tried to open his eyes too look down, believing it was just a dream.

"Seth?"

"Paul oh god." Seth cried.

"Hey cub." Paul coughed.

"What has he done to you?"

"Seth what are you doing here?"

"I don't know. I don't know."

"Remember the promise you made me?"

"No I'm not leaving you. If you die I die too." Seth shook his head taking in Paul's scent. It wasn't right there was something tainting it. He saw a plate of food sitting on the floor and a half drunk bottle of water. They were poisoning him.

"Seth please. You know I'm dying. I love you so much." Paul whispered.

"Don't say that! You're not dying you can't." Seth sobbed. "You're my mate. I want to have your cubs, our cubs you can't die on me you hear me. I'm your imprint and you can't deny me anything."

"I would give you the world if I could cub, you know that. Please just listen to me." he again coughed.

"Okay."

"Run cub run just get out away from here as far as you can. Get to Emmett and Rose."

"I'm not leaving you." Seth sobbed.

"Tick tock, tick tock." Marcus said at the door a whip in his hand.

"Marcus please let him go. I promise I will let you change me just let him go." Seth said not letting Paul's legs go.

"Is that what you really want?" Marcus asked.

"Yes. Just let him go."

"Tomorrow you come of age. If you willingly bare your neck to me and give yourself to me I will let him go." Marcus said running his fingers over the whip.

"I will do it now if you just let him down. Please Marcus he's dying." Seth sobbed.

"NO!" Paul shouted.

"I love you Paul remember no matter what I will always be in your heart."

"I would rather die than let the blood sucker touch you cub." It took all of Paul's willpower to kick his legs pushing his mate away from him. Seth stumbled to the ground Paul's body swinging dangerously.

Marcus dropped the whip onto the floor and went to Seth and held out his cold hand. "Perhaps he would like to watch you make the change."

"No please just let him go." Seth sobbed. "You promised to let him go."

Marcus laughed and took Seth's collar off. "I think I will let him watch."

Paul closed his eyes. His wolf was clawing weakly to get out now. The urge to phase was going but he was still there, he was still wanting to fight to protect his mate. A scream from above them sounded. Marcus hissed before he sunk his teeth into Seth's neck.

A hand swept the dirt off the tombstone.

S. H. Clearwater

The man sighed and sat down crossing his legs Indian style.

"Sorry I haven't been for a while. Things have been busy. The pack well, wow they have grown. I miss you. I wish I could hold you in my arms and tell you I love you. I was a fool not to tell you more often."

"Anyway thought I would tell you everything now we are finally alone."

"Sam and Leah are happy. The cubs are growing and Nathan is already doing patrols with the pack. Ally is your typical teenage girl wanting to wear make up and make the boys chase her. Samuel is so like his father its scary. We are waiting for him to phase he can't be far off. He's almost as big as Sam."

"I guess you know all this already."

"After you passed so much has happened. I've seen enough weddings and happy couples to last a life time. Each and everyone organised by Alice. The next one grander than the last I reckon, but each one perfect for the happy couples."

"No surprise Quil and Edward were first to marry. Quil followed his dream of going to college. No doubt the first of many. I miss them. They haven't been home in a few years. They have invited the pack to go visit them any time we want. I don't know if I want to ever set foot on a plane again. Still don't think it's natural." The man chuckled. "When Quil played for the president he was offered so many record deals, but of course he turned them all down. Much to Carlisle disappointment. Still the proud papa he is."

"They are looking at adopting since Edward can't have kids. We know they will make awesome parents. Jacob said there is a young teenager here who is pregnant and the chances that the baby holds the wolf gene is fairly strong. So if you see the big guy ask him to bless them with a cub for us."

"Jacob is a changed man. You should see him now. He lives life to the full and he smiles more than he frowns. He's a great dad to his cubs. Yeah who knew that Brady was so fertile. Running joke that he's starting his own pack. Brady is pregnant again. The flowers are from their garden actually. Jacob seems to have a green thumb. If he isn't with the cubs he is in the garden. Now Sam in no longer in the pack Jared took over beta. He's the best choice even if not everyone agreed at first."

"Ephraim is alpha in the making he has the cubs following him around like puppies." The man chuckled. "Then we have the triplets. Sarah, Mitchell and Corben. they are the trouble makers and always up to mischief. Jade is the baby of the family and much to Jacob's horror Nathan imprinted on her. Poor guy thought Jake was going to rip his head off. Might have done to if Brady hadn't stopped him."

"Brady is amazing. When Jake was injured he stepped up and took control of the pack. He is now officially the alpha of the submissives. I guess it explains why Jake imprinted on him. I wish you got to know him more. I bet you would have loved him. We are having a birthday party for him tomorrow not that he wants to remember he is 40. God can you believe how old we are all getting?"

"Embry sends his love and promises to come visit soon. When he lost their first cub we thought we might lose him. He took it hard even Jared couldn't get him to eat for a while. Brady was the one who forced him to mourn the right way. When he fell pregnant again Carlisle kept a close eye on him and was ordered to bed rest. Of course the pack rallied around and made sure Jared didn't starve to death. I even managed to teach him how to cook Mac Cheese. Embry still says he can't even look at it without wanting to throw it at somebody."

"Their cubs are beautiful. Neither have phased yet though. I think Embry and Jared are hoping they never do. Belinda and Jade are best friends so means that she hangs around the pack. Jasper Junior is a real bright kid. He is already talking of going to college and being a doctor like grandpa Carlisle. If anyone can do it he will. His name sake said he can go and stay with him and Bree when he heads off. We will all miss him especially his parents."

"The fear of imprinting happened but it was Jared on Embry. No one knows why it took him so long to imprint but it's just as strong as anyone else's."

There was a rumble of thunder and the man stood up. "I better get home the others will be worried about me." The man kissed his hand before placing it on the tombstone. "I love you."

He pulled his hood up over his face and with his head down walked back to the reservation. He never saw the wolf who was hiding in the trees. The wolf phased and slipped on his shorts. Taking the same position as his mate he sat down.

"I'm glad he finally came to see you. He took your death hard, he really did." Paul shook his head. "He's getting better though. Coming back was hard. He thought the pack would reject him. Of course they wouldn't do that to him. They love him just like me. He is my everything. The reason I walk and breath. We went through a rough patch there for a while. When he left for the year I thought I would die of a broken heart. I almost did, but I knew in my heart he would come back to me."

Paul looked out over the cliffs. "How are Rosalie and Emmett?" We think of them daily you know. They gave their lives for us all. If only they picked up the phone their deaths could have been avoided. I feel I let them down. Rosalie and Emmett especially and of course you. If only my wolf was strong enough. I hated him for so long. Jake made me go on a spiritual journey where I could become one with my wolf again. " Paul wiped his tears away.

"Dad." Paul turned around and smiled at his son.

"Well I best be off." he stood and kissed the stone just like his husband did.

"Why you at grandma Sue's grave?"

"I don't know. Guess I wanted her to know your papa was doing okay Harry."

"You really think so dad?"

"I do. I know he misses nanna Rose and grandpa Emmett and blames himself but it wasn't his fault. Besides they would've helped him with his new life."

"Talking of the terrible two they went hunting with dad. Asked me to go get some milk." Harry said holding up a bottle of milk.

"Don't talk about your brother and sister like that. Em's and Rose are…" So what are you and me gonna do for dinner kiddo."

"Nice save dad. Admit it they are annoying. You know that they are spoilt by papa. Let's go visit the Uley's I say."

"Harry he loves you to you know?"

"I know dad."

Paul put his arm over his youngest shoulder and they walked home.

The end.

Well that is it. It probably sucked the ending. Seth is now a wolf/vampire if anyone is wondering. I tired and failed many times to put the fight in. I rather just let you use your imagination. Thanks to all those who supported me throughout the story.