The Journey
*This is part of a requested imagine. I might expand on this later, just not right now as I’m also currently working on my book and want to focus some attention on that. Thank you for reading!*
You knew your soulmate was a shapeshifter. Being a witch had its perks sometimes and one of those was finding information on your soulmate before actually meeting them. The powers that came with being a witch were pretty cool too, but you really just wanted to meet your other half. You knew he was a shapeshift, most likely canine, and that he lived on the west coast. You spent the last few months traveling the west coast but to no avail, you still hadn’t met him yet. You hadn’t even met any shifters to begin with. Plenty of vampires and some other witches, but no shapeshifters. You finally stopped in La Push, hearing a rumor from a vampire that their legends said they were descended from wolves. You figured if anyone were to be a shapeshifter, it’d be them. That’s how you found yourself at the little diner in the small reservation. You sat back into the booth along the wall so that you could see everyone that came in.
“Good morning,” a waitress came over, a name tag on her shirt stating her name was Kim, “How are you today?”
“I’m good, thank you, and you?” You really weren’t sure what you were going to do about everything. Even if you met them, would you really want to settle down?
“I’m good, thank you for asking!” She seemed pretty nice and peppy, “What can I get you to drink?”
“Water is fine,” she walked off and was gone for a minute before she returned with your glass, setting it in front of you.
“Are you ready to order?” She asked politely.
“Not quite, but I do have a few questions,” you replied, setting the menu down and looking at her, “It’s not about the menu, though.”
“Uh, sure, what’s up?
“Are there any hiking trails near here?” you wanted to know where the most popular spots were. Shapeshifters wouldn’t bother going near them, “I’m new to town and kind of wanted to go sightseeing, but I’m more of an animal enthusiast. I want to know where the animals are more prominent and the people aren’t.”
“Um, I’m not really sure, I guess,” she looked uncomfortable, like she was hiding something, “We don’t really get visitors out this way. There are too many dangerous animals around, like bears.”
“Any wolves?” you asked, watching as she shifted from one foot to the next.
“I mean, sure, but why?” her eyes were narrowed in thought as she looked at you quizzically.
“Well, I study them,” you were lying through your teeth but you had to find out if there were any wolves in the area that might be shapeshifters.”
“I’d leave the wolves alone,” she said sharply. You heard the door open and looked over to see a group of tall men walk in and make their way to a booth, some stopping and saying hi to Kim. She turned back to you, “We don’t like it when people mess with our wildlife here.”
“I just study their behaviors, it’s not like I get near them or anything,” you replied, wondering why she was getting so defensive. She kept looking over at the men, who looked like they were intensely reading the menu, which was pretty odd considering they look to be locals and they knew Kim.
“I couldn’t help but overhear,” one of the men joined Kim, standing beside her, “and she’s right. I’m part of the wildlife preservation team here. We don’t like people around the wildlife. It can upset the balance of nature.” He was tall and had a tattoo on his arm. Now that you looked, all of the men had the same tattoo on their arm. Weird. You silently cast a spell, reading their energy and realizing something seemed off. They weren’t completely human, but they weren’t witches or vampires either. Are these the shifters you were searching for? You had never met one before so you didn’t know what their energies felt like. “You understand?”
“I’m sorry?” you were brought from your thoughts at his words, not sure when you had zoned out and what exactly he had said.
“I said if I were you, I’d stay away from the woods,” he repeated, staring down at you, “It’s too dangerous.”
“And you are?”
“Sam Uley,” you stuck your hand out as if to shake his hand, he returned it but you felt him burning up. It was like his skin was on fire. He let go as quickly as he could.
“Sam. I appreciate the concern,” you started, looking over to the other men who were all focused on your conversation now before looking back at him, “But I can take care of myself.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, outsider,” he said before walking back to the table.
“Are you ready to order now?” Kim said, her face telling you she wanted to exit the conversation too.
“Sure, I’ll just have the pancakes and eggs, over easy,” you handed her the menu. When she walked away, you reached into your bag, pulling out your phone. You texted your coven leader about what happened, and how you thought they were the shapeshifters. After sending the text, you heard someone clear their throat. You looked up, catching the gaze of the most handsome man you had ever seen. He was tall and kind of gangly but looked like he was starting to fill out with muscles. You saw him freeze for a moment before he smiled brightly, sitting across from you.
“I’m sorry about them!” he reached his hand over the table, holding it out for you to take, “I’m Seth Clearwater.” You shook his hand, feeling a shock when you did, and let go quickly.
“______,” you replied, clearing your throat, trying not to show the touch bothered you.
“So, what brings you around these parts?” he asked, still smiling.
“Searching for something,” you felt like you could be honest with him, like he was pulling it out of you against your will.
“Something? Like what?”
“More like someone,” you muttered, looking down at your hands.
“Oh, someone?” he cocked his head to the side as he looked at you, “Who?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“I’ve been told I’m a good listener and catch on easily,” he looked like he was really interested in what you had to say.
“It’s complicated and probably will sound stupid,” you insisted, not wanting to reveal to him but at the same time the words wanted to come tumbling from your lips.
“Nothing you say could sound stupid,” he looked a little love-struck to you, and it kind of made you nervous, “I… I mean, I’m sure it’s not stupid.”
“Okay, I’m looking for my soulmate,” you replied quickly, the words coming out like vomit, leaving a bad taste in your mouth.
“Your soulmate?” he smiled again, humming to himself, as if he knew a secret, “That’s a little cheesy, isn’t it?”
“Maybe so, but that’s what I’m doing. My journey led me here, somehow,” you couldn’t believe that you were telling him all of this, but it felt so right. Maybe this was him? Maybe this was your soulmate? And maybe he felt it too?