'Safe' Is Not A Word In My Vocabulary

A bunch of worried voices down the hall made my voice trail off. Claire was deeply asleep and didnt notice. I lifted my head just as a tall built black haired man and a black haired woman came in. They were obviously her relatives, and they sounded worried. I noticed the woman had three long scars down her face and my hand went to the pocket the note was being held in.

She immediately was at Claire's bed, she was crying a little and stroking her hair. I was about to make my escape and leave them alone when the man spoke to me. "Who are you?" he asked and I froze, his voice was strong and had the subtle edge of authority that meant only one thing.

Alpha

"Centhua, who are you?" I asked folding my arms across my chest. He blinked at the strange formal tone of my voice. "Sam, my fiancée Emily is Claire's aunt." I relaxed immediately "Oh, well I'll just leave you alone then." I said and started to walk off.

I left the room and started to go in the cafeteria's general direction when I heard "Sam, where are you going?" from the room behind me. I froze. "I just need to speak with her a moment, Ill be right back." I turned as soon as he was out the door and raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you?" I asked and he nodded. "I was just curious as to what you know about the fire, seeing as though you were the one who saved Claire." Wait hold up how did he know that was me? He answered as if he read my mind "You still have some soot behind your ears" He said and I grimaced. Damn, missed a spot.

He stared at me waiting for an answer and I sighed "Look," I paused for a sec,

"I dont really know much, I just got there right before the roof collapsed and the rest was pure luck, I ran into the house because I am an idiot and I have a weak spot for innocent children. The only reason she's alive is because I was at the right place at the right time."

"And the reason her mom is dead,"- he flinched-"Is because she wasnt." he seemed to believe me cause he backed off.

"Centhua" Edwards relieved voice made Sam turn his head. Edward came up behind him and wrapped me in a hug.

Sam stared.

"Are you alright?" he asked looking me over, I must've worried him with how I was acting earlier. "Peachy" I said pushing him away gently so he could keep a hold on my waist, he didnt seem to believe me.

His expression was calm but his jaw was stiff. I snorted "You really shouldn't worry so much bloodsucker, it'll just give you premature wrinkles." he chuckled and Sam stared at me, he didnt know I knew. "You would be worried about skincare wouldn't you..." he murmured as a rhetorical question and I grinned.

"Yeah, but maybe its a good thing, if you start looking your age maybe your little human will get grossed out and dump you." he threw a onesie at me "Brat" I grinned. Sam's eyes looked like they were about to fall out at this point and I turned to him. "Carlisle knows how to find me if Claire wants to see me again." I said and he nodded mechanically.

Then I turned with Edward not a step behind me, and went back to out wait the reporters.

XxX

Two weeks went by, I visited Claire every other day. Every time she would smile at me like I was her favorite person in the whole world. Then I would sing to her and tell her stories and play with her hair. She was like a little sister and what I said about softening was an understatement, I was growing an unhealthy attachment to the girl. But I couldnt help it, she was easy to love.

Occasionally Emily would be there and Claire would ask for a concert, being the weakling that I am I would give her one. "You have a lovely voice" Emily would say and I would turn red and hide my face.

Today was Claire's last day and she was being discharged. I beat Emily there in my car and gave her my number before they left. "Id love to babysit." I told her and she smiled.

I knew the real reason though, if that note was right then Emily would be the third target, and her little doggies might not be enough to protect her.

But that still left one question; who was the second?

Sam's POV

I was very nervous when that girl socialized with Cullen. It was obvious she knew about him, but what else did she know? These thoughts plagued me as I showed up for patrol. I could feel Paul, Embry and Jacob probing my mind curiously as they read my thoughts.

'She's hot!' Paul thought.

I had to roll my eyes. The guys silently agreed with him and snickered when she insulted Cullen. Jacob was smug.

'See Im not the only one who thinks they should break up,' he thought and I rolled my eyes again.

'Alright boys stop ogling and get to work.' I ordered, they all sighed mentally but complied.

Paul went to work, but his mind always strayed back to Centhua, and Jacob was thinking about her too, though not a graphically as Paul. I shouldn't have said anything.

Centhua's POV

I was on the beach, Claire had been released three days ago and she had called me a few times. She bragged about a boy named Quil who she said was one of her bestest big buddies from Emily's house. Her cuteness never ceased did it?

Well apparently there were alot of older guys at Emily's and I assumed that sense there was this strange alpha aura radiating from Sam, they were his pack. They better not hurt her.

And now I was on the beach, bored out of my mind. Why? I have no idea. Hmm...I thought as I looked up to the cliffs jutting out apart from the sky. Maybe I could go cliff diving...I've got my suit in the car...these thought were cut off when I heard a familiar squeal and my legs were knocked out from under me. I spit out sand and laughed before getting up and turning around "Claire!" I said laughing as she giggled hyperly.

"WAWA WAWA!" she chanted and I laughed again.

Jacob's POV

I went up to Quil to see him playing with Claire.

Ever since she started living with Emily and Sam those two have been inseparable.

Agh! Fuck imprinting.

Quil and I were talking so we didnt see Claire run off in the other direction until she started squealing. She ran forward and jumped grabbing onto this teenage girls legs. The girl fell, but she was careful to move so she didnt crush Claire.

"CLAIRE!" she said laughing. Claire laughed and chanted "WAWA WAWA!" I had to smile.

Wow, havent done that in a while.

Quil grinned too and started following Claire.

"Where's you auntie?" the girl asked in a voice that made my stomach tighten. Woah, ok this is beyond weird. "Gwon gwon gwon" Claire sang "Claire pwaid with Qwil an Jay all day, Claire nebber gwoin home" she got up and ran to Quil, he scooped her up and the girl stood up and brushed herself off. She grinned at Quil "So your Quil am I right?" she asked and I realized for the first time that it was the girl who Sam saw insulting Cullen, I grinned again.

Quil nodded "Yep, Im Quil, this is Jacob, and your Centhua right?" he asked and she nodded before looking at me.

Her brown eyes met my black ones and my head spun.

There was nothing there in that moment, just her.

Bella was gone, washed away from my heart like rain running over the concrete. Centhua however was there, stronger and more permanently part of me than anything Bella had ever made me feel.

Like my other half.

My soul mate.

My imprint.

Her pale face and red lips were all I could see. Her mahogany colored hair blew around her and captivated me. Her eyes didnt leave me and I saw a smile forming on the corners of her mouth.I had resist the sudden urge to kiss her because Quil was here. Oh wait, Quil was here.

Shit.

Quil laughed suddenly and I turned to him. He was holding Claire and she was giggling to. I flushed and ducked my head down. Centhua turned red too.

She was so cute when she blushed.

Quil grinned at her. "I have to give Claire back to Emily, you can come with us if you want." he said and she thought it over for a sec. "Nah, I've got plans, maybe some other time." Claire pouted a little but Quil nodded and said "Sure" she smiled at Quil and then Claire "See'ya sweetie." she said and Claire, already over brief moment of disappointment, smiled and waved.

"Bye guys " she said looking at Quil and flashing her eyes to me again. I grinned as she walked away.

As soon as she was out of sight Quil punched me in the shoulder.

"Way to go man!" he cheered and Claire giggled again.

I smiled a small smile.

Centhua's POV

I was so giggly and hyper when I got home I wanted to scream. I felt like running and jumping like a five year old on a sugar high. I was so blissfully happy it was unreal.

I ran into my cabin like house, which was just a stones throw away (with vampire strength) from the Cullens place, and collapsed in my bed .

I found my imprint.

I just stared at the ceiling, a smile permanently glued to my lips. I couldnt believe this, after all the stuff Ive gone through, finally something positive happens.

But that got me thinking.

All the bad stuff that's happened to me...That's still happening to me.

I'd drag him into it. There would be a target on his head too.

Not him, not Jacob, they'd kill him.

Because of me.

"NO!" I suddenly snarled in defiance. He wont die because of me. I wont drag him into this life.

I was suddenly just a child, just a scared helpless child who lived in their own little fantasy world, because for maybe the second time in my life, I had no idea what to do.

Jacob's POV

I didnt really want to go home and face my dad but it'd be better than facing the guys. Quil would only be all to excited. And no doubt Id receive hell from Paul. I suddenly remembered all those perverted thoughts Paul had yesterday. I started shaking.

I quickly went in and shut the door, dad wasnt around.

Thank God.

That's one awkward conversation I dont have to have today.

Centhua's POV

I drove to Bella's house, knowing that Edward wouldn't be there. I knew Edward would find out soon enough but Id prefer not right now.

I sighed in relief when I noticed the truck there. Then without hesitation I jumped up the porch and banged on the door. Bella opened it and took in my expression.

"Cent are you ok?" she asked me and I bit my lip "Define ok."She wordlessly pulled me into her house and we went up to her room. I collapsed on her bed and screamed into her pillow.

"Cent, whats wrong?" she asked me and I couldnt lift my head. "I imprinted" I mumbled against the pillow I think she heard cause she was confused. "Um ok so?" she asked and I lifted my head to whine "Bella! This cannot happen to me! Did you ever realize exactly how many people try to kill me on a daily basis?" she winced and I continued "I cant drag my imprint into that!" she nodded in understanding but then bombarded me with questions.

"But I thought it was like gravity or something how are you supposed to stay away from him?" I moaned and buried my face in my hands "I dont know, but I have to try."

My life suddenly seemed so screwed up and complicated I just wanted to scream. But not from happiness this time. I hadn't realized I was crying.

I never cry.

"Shh" Bella cooed and stroked my hair. "It'll be okay" she murmured.

I wasnt as optimistic.

"So tell me what lover boys like?" she said hoping to distract me. I bit my lip again. She saw the indecision on my face. "Um I think you know already." I muttered, knowing she was tight with Jacob. Wow shes going to hate me in a second. Maybe I shouldn't have come....

"What do you mean?" she asked in a single breath. I didnt look at her eyes. "You know your friend Jacob..." I started and she looked at me, dumbfounded. But then it only took a second for her to understand. Her mouth popped open and her eyes bugged out.

"You.Imprinted.On.Jacob." her eyes were wild and she stressed the words making them into a threat. "Im sorry." I whispered feeling the pain in my voice. "My Jacob, you imprinted on Jacob and now your just going to forget about him!" her question took me by surprise.

"Wait, I thought you'd be mad about me putting him in the line of fire..." I trailed off and she continued her fuming.

"Well of course Im mad about that! But I know he can handle himself! Dont you get it Cent! He's in love with me! He's in love with me and I broke his heart, and now your going to break his heart too! Cent you cant do that! It'd kill him!"

I growled "Just being near me will kill him! Im on a hit list in case you didnt notice and besides, it wont bother him because Im never going to see him again."

She growled a low pathetic sound "The hell you are!" she said and I blinked in surprise "I'm sorry, but did you just tell me I have to see him again?" I asked and she narrowed her eyes "Yeah, I did."

Oh hell no.

I wordlessly got up and stalked out "I thought you of all people would know what its like, not wanting to put the people you care about in danger." I snarled not caring whether or not she heard me.

I hoped my scent led the vampires right to her.