Days into his journey, Jacob finally let his running slow. With a tough and earnest growl, he let go of his immediate wolf instincts and listened to the human side of himself. He had gotten all the way down to northern California. He kept himself deep in the forest where he found a creek, and decided to stop to take a break. He bent his furry russet head down towards the water and lapped some before heat shot through his spine and he was, once again, standing on two legs. This feels a little too weird, he thought to himself as he bent down to slide on the shorts he had attached to his left ankle. As much as he wanted and would have loved to stay in his wolf form, he needed the peace and quiet of being a human. Someone in the pack was constantly hounding him to find out where he was, if he was okay; basically that he hadn't left to kill himself and had some intention of returning. He leaned down to splash some water into his face, forgetting how hot it could be in the summertime in California. He debated what his next move should be, I suppose I should find out exactly where I am, he thought as he looked through the trees.

I cannot believe he actually stole my clothes, I thought angrily as I wondered around the spot that once held my belongings. All because he lost one stupid battle, though I had to admit his losses were definitely adding up. My little brother Alex had recently discovered the world of shifting two months ago and had recruited me as his personal trainer. I didn't see the purpose, it wasn't as though we would ever need to know how to fight, practically nobody knew our pitiful reservation existed, let alone held ancestors to mountain lions. I let out a sigh and let my paws lead me to the general direction of home, debating how I should get my clothes back. My mother would kill me if I entered the yard as a cat, and if I were naked my little brother would have the satisfaction of my embarrassment. Having this internal debate consume my head a bit, I found a large tree and phased back into my human self. Better to be embarrassed than to be in trouble with my mother. I stepped out from behind the tree as the dry wind blew through the forest. Immediately I was frozen. How did I not smell him before, I immediately thought with panic. I found myself face to face with a boy, well I could only assume he was a boy by his face, by his body, I was staring at a very large man.

The face I was staring into was just as frozen as I found myself to be. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest, so much for figuring out a way to avoid embarrassment. The boy continued to stare at my face with complete and utter 'awe'. I was sure minutes had passed before he actually blinked. His expression was one that triggered my memory sharply. However, I could not get past the fact that I was completely naked and without clothes to dress myself. I fidgeted in front of him and finally cleared my throat, "Um...hello? Is anyone alive in there?" I carefully waved my hand in front of his face without moving my protective arm from my chest.

With a few blinks the boy finally snapped out of his trance, the funny expression never leaving his face. "What? Oh, sorry, yes, um...what?"

I rolled my forest green eyes and let out a frustrated sigh as a gust of wind blew my dark brown hair over my shoulders. "Do you have a cell phone?" I asked him impatiently.

He stared a moment before answering, "No, I don't."

"Damn," I muttered, my brain searching desperately for a way to get clothing without having to trample through the forest naked. I certainly couldn't phase back now that this odd boy was here staring at me so hard.

I looked him over a minute watching him suddenly compose himself, the reality of the situation setting in. "Why are you naked in the middle of the forest?" He asked me, raising an eyebrow.

I glared, "Why are you half naked in the middle of the forest?" I shot back.

He let out a grumble that seemed to be a chuckle.

I sighed and shifted the weight of my feet to one side, "Short version? My little brother stole my clothes. Do you think you can help me retrieve them?" I asked, suddenly hopeful that his strange largeness would give my little brother a bit of a fright.

The boy had seemed to drift back to his funny expression before shaking his head a bit to snap out of it, "Of course, where is he? I'll go get them for you." He said, standing straighter as if he needed to battle my brother for the clothes. The two of them would get along famously.

I nodded my head in the direction of south, "he went back to my house, it's not quite a mile south from here, if you could just go get them for me I'd really appreciate it. I would go, but I really hate giving him the satisfaction of my embarrassment."

I waited too long for the boy to finally answer me with a nod before running off gracefully through the woods. I pondered his graceful run while I waited for his return. A boy. Half naked. In the forest. I walked over to the creek and dipped my toes into the cool current below. There was no way this boy was normal, he wasn't the least bit interested in the fact that I was naked. He gaze never left my face.

My curiosity flared even more when he returned not fifteen minutes later. The funny expression immediately took over his face when he spotted me once again. "That was awfully fast..." I muttered as he handed me a bag that contained my clothing, he didn't seem to hear me. "I can't believe my brother gave these up so easily," I mentioned as I casually slid into my jeans.

Not so casually, the boy tore his gaze away from me, "Well, you know, I had to threaten him a little. I was only kidding, but I think he is seriously expecting a fight from me..." He seemed bewildered by this.

I had to laugh, "That would be my brother, anything to prove himself these days," I told him as I slipped my shirt over my head. Once I was fully clothed I closed the space between me and the boy, "thank you for getting these for me." I told him, I held out one hand towards his, "My name is Cayleigh Tocho."

"Jacob Black," his enormous hand enveloped mine. He turned to me and smiled, I couldn't help but catch a breath at the sight of the grin on his face. He was absolutely gorgeous.

I found myself oddly at ease around Jacob as we let go of each other's hands. Before the thought could cross my mind twice, the words slipped through my mouth, "What are you." I seemed to demand more than ask, I immediately blushed, not believing I just said the words out loud.

"A wolf." He answered instantaneously. He mirrored my dumbfounded grimace that was on my face. "You're not freaked out?" He asked me curiously.

"I'm a mountain lion," I immediately answered, again, without thinking twice. I clapped my hand over my mouth, "What is going on." I spoke against my palm, my face still holding all of my shock.

"I think I imprinted on you."

I was suddenly frozen; all comfort that was once washing over me vanished. I had, of course, heard of imprinting, however, it wasn't the first time those words have been spoken to me. The first time it happened was almost exactly one year ago; and six months ago he was killed. My eyes immediately filled with tears. "This can't happen, I'm sorry." I blurted out, clutching to my stomach to keep from vomiting. I turned and ran full speed in the direction of my home.

Of course he followed me.

"Woah, woah, woah!" He said roughly, grabbing onto my arm to stop me as we reached the clearing into my backyard.

I instantly yanked my arm from his grasp. "Don't touch me!" I snapped at him, glaring at the trees behind his face, I couldn't dare to look.

He held his palms in the air as a sign of surrender, "I'm sorry," he said, "but you looked like you were suddenly in a lot of pain. I just...I never meant to hurt you," he told me, his voice was on the verge of desperation.

It took all of my strength to keep the tears locked inside. I told myself that I was finished mourning. "It's not you," I told him, my voice tight with restraint, "this just can't happen, I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken. I think you should just go." Without looking back, I ran up and into my house, barely noticing my little brother who was storming out as I entered. I ran straight into my bedroom, locking the door securely behind me before the tears plummeted out in a gush of sobs. How was this happening? Why me? Hadn't I been through enough? I could hear my brother yelling at Jacob in the yard, but my brain couldn't seem to care. I collapsed onto my bed, sobbing as I stared at the picture sitting on my night stand. "If this is your doing, I hate you even more," I spat at the picture before burying my face into my pillow and letting the tears have their way.

Six months ago...

"Babe, you are going to love what I've got planned for our anniversary this weekend. I am so stoked." Jeremy told me excitedly in my kitchen one late afternoon.

I slid my arms around his waist, resting my cheek on his chest, "I'm going to love whatever you give me. You know it doesn't have to be anything but you." I told him lovingly.

"Oh gross, I told you guys to cut that shit out when I'm in the room!" My older brother, Michael, grimaced as he pulled more food out of the fridge.

Six months ago Michael came home from college to help me into the transition period of learning that I was a shifter. He brought along his best friend from a neighboring reservation close to our own to also help me. What he didn't expect was his to friend to imprint on me, and for us to be inseparable ever since. Michael and Jeremy were three years older than I was, which cause some more issues amongst our families. Despite the fact that it was inevitable that we be together, my parents were not very happy. I was only eighteen at the time but, as with most shifters, my growth spurt set me at a pretty even bar with Jeremy. He was my entire world and I would later find out that he had planned to propose to me at our six month anniversary dinner; it was only three days away.

Jeremy ignored his best friend, grabbing my chin and pulling my face up for a tender kiss. I sighed happily against his lips, always feeling breathless as he kissed me. He turned his attention to my brother who was stuffing his face with food, "are you ready to go? We have to get back to school before out next final." Michael nodded, his mouth too full to answer. He playfully messed up my hair as he grabbed his motorcycle jacket and headed out the door. Jeremy paused, leaning down to kiss me before he left, "I love you," he whispered before slipping on his own jacket and following Michael out the door.

It would be the last time I'd see either of them.

The next night, on their way home, they both were struck head on by a drunk driver. It was so stupid. We all thought we were so invincible because we were shifters. Stupid descendants of lions, wolves, and bears. But never standing a chance against the ignorance of humanity.