Chapter One

After 13 years of being a 16 year old trapped in a 25 year old’s body a person could tire of his life, and currently as Jacob Black helped Emily set the table for a Pack Dinner that’s how he felt. Tired.

Jacob had lived this life far longer than he wanted. He was a werewolf you see but not one like you know, no he was different, he could change on command or by willing himself to do so and, occasionally, anger would release itself and he would go into a different form. The form of a wolf with russet colored, shaggy fur about as tall as a horse and about ten times faster and stronger, he could kill a vampire – and that took skill.

About 12 years ago, Jacob had run away for three or four years trying to escape the brutal feeling of rejection from his best friend and the woman he loved. In the end he had come back, refusing to say where he had gone and what he had done but before that it took him a full month to be able to phase back and another 6 after that were devoted to regaining his ability to not phase when the slightest of anger shook him.

Suddenly, Quil, a fellow werewolf and pack member came through the door pulling along with him his girlfriend – and Emily’s niece – Claire. Quil had imprinted on Claire when she was merely a toddler, Claire had grown up around the never-aging young man and they had become a couple less than two months ago but they were already inseparable. That’s what happens when you imprint, Jacob reminded himself to keep from glaring at the happy couple. He remembered how he had once explained imprinting: It’s like love at first sight, only stronger.

“Good people of Emily’s house!” Quil announced and everyone around Jacob stopped working and looked up, which was about four other people. “I bring news from Embry!” He announced again. Seth, a younger werewolf – yet admittedly more competent than Jacob at times – growled annoyed by Quil’s standoffish attitude. Claire noticed this and jumped in.

“His cousin’s coming tonight, he wants us to set an extra space.” She finished for Quil. Claire had grown from the toddling two-year-old Quil had embarrassingly imprinted on to a wonderfully entertaining and beautiful young woman who happened to blush more than anyone Jacob had ever known. More than Bella, Jacob growled to himself at that thought, but no one noticed because Emily was ecstatic.