Official Description:
If imprinting was less about finding that perfect some one, and more about finding that some one who makes you perfect, you never know who you might find it. Love might bring out the best in us, but first it brings out the worst. *AU* Post New Moon-OOC
I am a wolfgirl. I came into the fandom as a wolfgirl and thus I have remained. Imprinting is a pet interest of mine – any kind of compelled relationship, really – but I tend to have really strong feelings on the subject of how an imprint is presented in the fandom.
I say all that to say this: Through the Window is a remarkable imprint story.
This is not an imprint story that brings a sad, lonely werewolf together with a sad, broken Bella adding a huge dose of lust to yield speedy, smexy times. This is a difficult, painful, awkward relationship – one that is mutually felt, if not mutually acknowledged – that meets with a variety of reactions from within the Quileute Reservation and without.
Sam is entirely admirable throughout almost the entire story. Strong, caring, a good leader – he has earned the respect of the Pack and the locals in and out of La Push. He works hard, helps his momma with his little twin sisters, and manages young, hormonal shapeshifters with calm determination. He is responsible, puts others ahead of himself – in short, he’s everything an Alpha Male could be and so very rarely is, in fanfic.
Almost immediately, Sam starts referring to Bella as “Red” or “Little Red” because she’s got a red hoodie. He, of course, is the wolf of the ancient “horror story,” but unlike the wolf in the story, this Big Bad Wolf only wants the very best for Red. Even when it hurts them both.
The dynamic in the first part of their relationship can really be seen in this exchange:
“N..nothing,” she stuttered, pushing away from the counter, shaking her head. “I…I don’t need to be here. I…I hate you. I fucking hate you. Why are you doing this to me? How can you be so mean?”
“I think you like it,” I growled, circling around the counter. I was angry, mostly at her for being such a brat, and at me for making her nearly cry. “I think you like it when I call your shit. Every one…they walk on egg shells around you and you hate it, don’t you? All this fight; what are you trying to prove? That your tough? That your strong? You are strong, I can see that. But they keep treating you like your gonna break. Well, I’m not gonna,” I said at length, words running out of my mouth before I could even think on them. “You wanna play tough, Little Red, then we’ll play tough. But don’t complain when you get hurt.”
“I don’t wanna play with you” she snarled, looking away, back against the wall. “I hate you!”
Pushing away the sting, I watched her go, escaping out the back door to her truck. The urge to follow, to make her stay reared up on me like a fire, but I reminded myself that she would be back.
She belonged here, if she wanted too.
Bella’s OOC in her behavior, here, not gonna lie. She smokes marijuana, has a mouth on her like you wouldn’t believe, and seems to care nothing for anyone else’s feelings as she is wallowing in her own hurt. Sam refuses to take advantage of her, instead encouraging her to think and grow strong.
Even when it makes him crazy.
The bond of the imprint wears on him as it does on her, and leads them both to do things that are detrimental, but in the end, I have to believe that Little Red will wind up in bed with the Big Bad Wolf with a mutually satisfying conclusion.
Lifelesslyndsey will rock ‘em that way.
Through the Window is a work in progress as I type this review, but lifelesslyndsey updates with amazing rapidity, so don’t let that lack of a “complete” tag dissuade you from checking out this story. If you want to read about an imprint that is a trigger to a relationship rather than the end of one, if you like your men strong and your women feisty, if you want to see growth and community and the importance of personal responsibility and commitment…
You’ll want to read this story.
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