compensating for the constant vampire threat, pushing all of them toward paths that would result in a strengthened werewolf presence. Of course, that theory was dependent upon the truth of their first theory — that imprinting existed in order to pass on the werewolf gene. A theory that, in light of Jacob‘s imprinting experience, has been called into question.
The bigger concern was, of course, Claire‘s age; she was two at the time. Though there were ancient legends that told of such situations, the werewolves had discounted them as empty stories. That this myth could be true seemed more horrific than the rest of the legends they‘d come to accept. From the outside it looked depraved, as they were well aware. However, from the inside, there could be nothing more pure than Quil‘s feelings for Claire. That he would never do anything to hurt her in any way, mentally or physically, was mandated by the bond between them. All the wolves could experience the nature of his feelings for her, so they knew exactly how deep it was — and also how platonic it was. But they knew it was something that outsiders would not be able to understand, so they kept the imprinting as secret as possible.
Quil could only be content with his situation. As long as Claire was happy and safe, he was satisfied with life.
Quil could only be content with his situation. As long as Claire was happy and safe, he was satisfied with life.
FAMOUS QUOTE
The Uley Pack
SAM ULEY
NAME: Sam Uley
DATE OF BIRTH: 1986
QUILEUTE STATUS: Werewolf Alpha
WEREWOLF GENE SOURCE: Uley line
HUMAN HAIR COLOR: Black
WOLF COAT COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Brown
HEIGHT: 6‘6?
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Sam is very tall, with cropped black hair.
EDUCATION/OCCUPATION: He attended the high school on the reservation. He is currently the leader of the original wolf pack.
FAMILY MEMBERS: He is the only child of Joshua and Allison Uley. He has imprinted on Emily Young.
PERSONAL HISTORY:
Sam was raised on the Quileute reservation by his mother, Allison. The stress of providing for a family was too much for his father, who left when Sam was very young. Sam took on most of what should have been his father‘s responsibilities, and as a result, he was always mature for his age. He had been taught the old werewolf legends about his great-grandfather, Levi Uley, but like everyone else of his generation, Sam believed they were myths.
When he was a senior in high school, Sam became the first of his generation to phase into a werewolf. He had no idea what had happened to him. Totally panicked, he hid deep in the forest for two weeks. Finally, he calmed down enough that he turned back into a human while he slept. He snuck home and told no one about his experience. He wouldn‘t talk to his mother or to his long-term girlfriend, Leah Clearwater. He believed he‘d gone insane and was having delusions.
Sam‘s high body temperature and recent unexplained disappearance made the situation clear to Old Quil.
Sam lived in fear of another attack until the day Old Quil Ateara stopped by to see Allison and happened to shake Sam‘s hand. Old Quil had been taught to recognize the signs of a werewolf who has already phased, or is about to. Sam‘s high body temperature and recent unexplained disappearance made the situation clear to Old Quil. He called an emergency meeting with the other tribal elders, Billy Black and Harry Clearwater. They were the last surviving members of the tribe who had seen an actual werewolf transformation. That night they went to Sam‘s house and asked him to attend their council meeting. Sam respected them enough to go with them, though he assumed they were only going to castigate him for his strange behavior.
Instead, they were able to tell him exactly what he‘d just been through. He was stunned to realize that he‘d known the explanation all along. The elders gave him as much information as they could, but, as none of them had ever personally experienced being a werewolf, their instruction was incomplete. They told Sam that he could expect new werewolves to join him as they became old enough, and that he would have to keep everything he now knew a secret. They also told him that vampires were real, living just a few miles from the tribe, and responsible for what was happening to him.
The idea that his friends and family were in danger from real-life vampires made him furious.
Sam was relieved to know he wasn‘t insane, and comforted by the fact that at least three people understood. But being a literal werewolf seemed to him only slightly better than being insane. He took his responsibility toward the tribe very seriously from the outset. The idea that his friends and family were in danger from real-life vampires made him furious. He started practicing his phasing and trying to control it, but coming at it blind and alone, he made only slow progress.
His relationship with his mother and Leah remained difficult because he couldn‘t give them any information about what had happened or where he was now spending his time. His mother was somewhat reassured because he was with the elders so often; she felt he was in good hands, at least. Leah, on the other hand, refused to be placated. She demanded answers that Sam couldn‘t give. The relationship was very strained, but not broken. They loved each other too much to let a fight, no matter how serious, come between them. Hundreds of times Sam was tempted to just tell her the truth. The knowledge that she would never believe him helped him keep his secret. He swore to her that he was not involved in anything criminal, and also that there was no other woman. They still
