I shook my head to try and understand what he was saying. "What does imprint have to do with this?"
He waited two seconds before saying anything. "Well Paul has imprinted on you and I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to live without you."
I shook my head in disbelief. "Why would he imprint on me though?"
Jacob shrugged in thought, "Well you are my daughter and one of our theories on imprinting is that we imprint on the person who has the strongest chance of passing on the wolf gene."
I stared at the floor, trying to get a grip on all that has happened. "What now?" I asked him, I surely didn't want to go back to my mother's house. I was more than furious with what she had done to me and my father.
"Well you can stay at my place until you feel like going back with your mom." My dad offered getting up from the couch.
I agreed and we said goodbye to everyone. He said his house wasn't far from walking distance so we went out into the night making our way through the reservation. "How old is this Paul guy exactly?"
"He's frozen at seventeen, but he's about a year older than me in real life."
Listening to the hoots of owls coming from the forest I could sense eyes watching me. Maybe after the whole kidnapping thing, I was paranoid but somehow I felt like someone was watching over me.
Jacob's POV:
Well after getting Lizzie settled I made my way to the pack meeting.
Is she alright? Paul wanted to know when I made it to the clearing we always met up at.
Paul, hold off on imprint stuff for awhile. She needs time alright? I told him. He nodded his muzzle and paced back in forth. The others showed up soon enough.
What's the plan Jake is she staying here? Embry wanted to know.
As long as she wants, is that an issue for you? I wondered daring him to try and tell me she didn't belong here.
I have no problem but perhaps Paul has some say in this.
Paul isn't her father and he has no say in this whatsoever. I growled.
Paul growled back at me while I resisted the urge to beat him up. Now Jacob I know you don't like the idea of him being with her but its going to happen. Paul's imprinted on her.
Yeah well maybe he's going to have to suffer. I seethed angry at Paul coming an even inch toward Lizzie. I knew how Paul thought, it was all about sex with him and I didn't want Lizzie to get hurt.
I wouldn't hurt Jacob. I care too much for her.
I ignored him and we continued talking about how to patrol the lines better since we may get other packs angry with us for killing off Jason's pack. Paul harassed me to allow me to talk to Lizzie tomorrow and I finally gave in as we walked to where my house is.
"Can I crash here for tonight?" He asked me.
I gave him the death look and he chuckled. "I was only kidding; damn you've become so over protective."
"Treat her with respect or I'll make sure your testicles get ripped off, got it?" I replied angrily.
He nodded. "I know, I wouldn't even think of doing anything like that. She's still a bit young or wait isn't she technically the same age as you?"
I shook my head at him and went into the house. I checked on, Lizzie first she was still asleep in the small bedroom. She looked so much like her mother but she had my hair and eyes. I sighed why did Melina have to hide my own kid from me? Then I remember vaguely of how afraid she used to be of the 'La Push Gang'. I sighed as I finally got her into bed with me and I remember how much she moaned. I went into my room then. That part of my life was over; I never had another fling with a girl after my Melina.
Sleep wouldn't come to me no matter how much I wanted it to. I got a phone call just then, the sharp ring making me jump in surprise. Who called this late, other than the pack of course?
I picked up the phone quickly hoping that whoever was calling wouldn't wake up Lizzie. "Hello?"
"Jacob, its Melina. I want my daughter back."
I sighed. "She doesn't want to come back to you yet. I'm sure she's already made that clear to you."
"I don't care. She's just a child. Plus you don't have custody over her. Now just give her back, I don't want this to be difficult."
I wanted to yell at her but I resisted the urge. Sure I loved her but I can't believe she was being unfair to Lizzie's feelings. "Melina she is hurting right now. Just let her stay and when she wants to come back I'll buy her a plane ticket."
"You can't take care of her. You know nothing about kids. She's my daughter."
"Yeah well she's my daughter too. It's not my fault you never wanted to tell me. I mean how could you do that to her? To me? To yourself?"
I didn't get a response until after a brief pause of silence. "Because I was scared, I wanted her to live a normal life. I wanted for me to live a normal life."
"Why didn't you at least leave me a note or something? I wouldn't have minded all that much. I get it that we were just teenagers but still. I would have at least liked to know I had a kid."
"I know it wasn't fair to you. It wasn't fair what you did to me? You manipulated me or tricked me into having sex. I felt pressured but you didn't seem to mind at all, as long as you go what you wanted."
I nearly growled at that. "I thought you wanted it too. You sounded like you enjoyed it."
"Look Jacob, I wasn't a stupid girl. It didn't take me long to figure out the meaning of the legends and how you fit them perfectly. The whole gang did and I left once I found out. I had Old Quil verify it for me. I didn't want Lizzie getting mixed up in that sort of life."
I didn't like how she described us. She made it sound like we were in an actual gang. It was if we really went around killing people. "Like it was our fault that we were born that way, it's the pack's job to protect the people of La Push."
I could hear her breathing stop. "Fine but if you get her into any trouble or if she gets hurt-"
I cut her off. "I will take care of her, I promise. Look as I said, I will send her back to you as soon as she wants to go home."
I could picture her smiling to herself. "Alright, take care."
She hung up before I could say goodbye. I ventured into the kitchen to find something to eat. I could barely figure out this whole mess. I had a daughter along with Paul as my future son in law if she chose him. Plus to top it off Melina hated me, still.
Lizzie's POV:
I couldn't remember much of my childhood. It was clouded alright and I never really thought much of who my dad was. I sat at the small table in Jacob's kitchen. I could call him dad, sure but it still sounded strange to say the word. I never really called Tammy's father dad. I only called him by his first name, Mike. I tapped my fingers against the wooden top of the table. I was bored being inside the house so I just got up and went outside to the back yard. There were trees everywhere. The air smelled like rain and I could tell by the clouds that it rained here a lot.
Vaguely I wondered why I didn't go back home. I mean I knew I didn't belong here. My mother must have kept this all a secret to protect me. I decided to wander into the forest. The soil from the ground was damp and muddy. My shoes were old so I didn't care whether they got dirty or not. I heard a growl. I jumped thinking about those guys who had kidnapped me. I turned to see a dog. It had a gold fur coat and barred its white teeth. I could tell he or she didn't have an owner since there was no collar on its neck.
"Hey, are you lost?" I asked the dog who backed away. I almost gasped to see a gash on the dog's side. I could tell the dog was a boy now, quickly glancing underneath him from a few feet away. He had his fur matted and he looked like he needed a bath.
The dog seemed to give up his bad boy side and bounded closer to me. He stepped closer and closer until I was able to reach out and pet him. I of course didn't. The Humane Society has taught me something, never touch a stray dog. He could have rabies or be aggressive. I wasn't afraid of the dog but I knew better to always be safe than to be sorry. I beckoned the dog to follow me by whistling as I walked back to Jacob's house.
He followed me which surprised me a bit. Most dogs don't trust strangers. I went up the wooden porch to go wake up Jacob. Before I entered the house I calmly told the dog to say which he obeyed by lying down in front of the first step of the porch. I entered the house and nearly jumped to see Jacob standing in the kitchen. He was already up.
"Hi," I said calmly.
He smiled. "Good morning."
"Um, I was wondering if you had a phone book. I found this dog and he's hurt."
Jacob nodded and went into the kitchen. About twenty seconds later he came back out with a phone as well as a phone book.
"I know some things about animals and people. Where's the dog?"
I pointed to the sliding door which led to the porch. "He should be right in front of the porch."
I found the number and dialed it into the phone. After a few rings one of the operators answered. "Hi, yes I'm calling because I found a stray dog in my back yard. He's injured." I went outside then to give the phone to Jacob. He stood puzzled.
I gave him the phone and I sucked in a quick breath. The dog was gone. No trace of him.
"Yeah sorry, my daughter saw the dog. He took off or something,"
I went numb; I knew the dog was there. He wouldn't have taken off. He trusted me enough to follow.
Jacob hung up the phone and looked back at me. "He was just here."
He nodded. "I'm sure he was he must have ran off. He'll be fine."
I shook my head. "He had a deep gash, he could die!"
I took off for the forest. I was determined to find out where the golden dog ran off to. Jacob caught my arm pulling me back. "I'll go look for him. He might have rabies."
I shook him off. "I've handle dogs better than you have. I'm a volunteer at the animal shelter back home."
He laughed slightly. "I think I might have better senses to find him. I'm a shape shifter remember."
I shook my head slightly. "Very funny, I found him over here." I said leading Jacob to where I had been exploring.
Jacob sniffed the air but shook his head. "I can't smell anything. He must have been elsewhere Lizzie."
"I know what I saw. He was here."
Jacob shrugged. "I'm sorry but there are no other scents besides ours."
I sighed. "Maybe your right, I must have gotten it wrong."
We went back into the house for breakfast. I ate silently trying to figure out why Jacob hadn't sensed the dog. The back door slid open and in came two shirtless guys.
One of them happened to be Paul. I still didn't know how I felt about the imprinting situation. It was weird all right. I glance at him quickly and noticed that he had nice abs and his eyes they were a dark brown. I liked the color. He looked way older than me too. I wanted to ask them if they had smelled a stray dog but I decided against it. I must have imagined the whole thing.
"Sam wants to speak with you," The guy next to Paul said.
