This chapter is dedicated to KLAW. I will miss you sooooooooooo much! I hope I can visit you soon. I LOVE YOU! Hope too talk to you and I hope you enjoy this! 333333

The next few weeks, things between Anthony, Mason, and I were awkward. Mason tried to talk to me a few times but I tried to ignore him. He must have told Anthony what I said because Anthony didn't try anything. At least I had gotten my point across to someone. Almost five times a day did Mason try to apologize. When he did this, it was really difficult to stay mad at him. His eyes were full of sorrow, pleading silently at me constantly. It got to the point where when I heard is voice I thought I would cry, for it not only hurt him but had also begun to hurt me. Eventually I had to give up. It was just too difficult to stay mad at him.

After about two weeks of being mad at him, I decided to apologize for freaking out. I followed him after school (I know, creepy, but it had to be done) hoping to catch up and talk about it with him. I walked a ways behind him until he got to the edge of the forest. Anthony was waiting there for him. Hid behind a tree to watch and see what was about to go down.

"How could you do that?" Mason was saying. "She's my imprint. You know that she is off limits."

"But I like her too. And until she says that she likes you, she's free reign." Anthony said.

"That doesn't even matter! I imprinted on her and she is meant for me! Can't you understand that?"

Were they talking about me? And of so, why did he say that I was meant for him? What in the world is an imprint? I had so many questions.

"It's not like it even matters." Anthony said. "She won't talk to either of us."

"You might give up with her but I," Mason pointed to himself, "will not stop hoping. Marianna and I will be together. I will never give up until that happens." He began to walk away.

My heart flew out of my chest. Mason said that he wanted to be with me. This big change for him was turning out for the better for me. "Mason?" I said and he stopped. Anthony turned in my direction with a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face.

"Uh oh." He said.

"Marianna?" Mason asked and I stepped out of my hiding place.

"Yeah, it's me." Anthony looked afraid and slowly backed away. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about being mad at you. I'm not really sure why I was mad. Maybe it's because I was in shock about the news."

"Really?" Mason looked disbelieving.

"Yes, I thought about it and the whole thing was stupid. I apologize for everything." I admitted.

"And you're not even scared?" He asked.

"About what?"

"About me having the ability to shift into a wolf!" He explained.

"Oh…not really I guess." The truth was that I hadn't really thought about it. Mostly I had just been caught up with the fact that they hadn't told me. A sudden realization and my curiosity got the best of me. "But what did you changing into a wolf have to do with changing your mind about me?"

Mason suddenly looked very awkward. He glanced behind him as if hoping help would be there but Anthony had gone a while ago. "Well, in a way I didn't change my mind about you. Back in Traverse City I always liked you, I just didn't show it." I could tell he was changing the subject.

"But what about my last day, the note?" I asked.

"You hated me. I had to make you think that I didn't care. I couldn't let you know that I was crushed because you were leaving and I might not ever see you again." His eyes twinkled.

"I didn't hate you! I never hated you! I actually lo… really liked you too." I wasn't sure if I could tell Mason that I loved him. He might not take it too well. "But wait, that still doesn't tell me what made things change. And don't avoid the question."

"I sort of…..." He mumbled the last few words.

"You did what?"

"I sort of imprinted on you…" Mason repeated.

"There's that word again, 'imprint'. What does that even mean?" I was beginning to get frustrated. Mason really sucked at the whole explaining thing.

"It's kind of hard to put in plain words." He began. "When a werewolf finds the one person who can best carry the wolf gene, they imprint. The imprint is basically the one that they are meant for." He blushed and it took me a while to understand why. Mason was talking about who could best pass their genes down to their children. He meant who could make their children have the ability to turn into a wolf. And apparently that was me… I was the one who was meant for Mason. I was supposed to have kids with him. Warmth crept up my face in realization and suddenly I found it difficult to look in his eyes.

"Oh…" I said in awkwardness.

"Yeah…" he said.

"So you mean we are supposed to-"

"Have kids, yeah." Mason finished. "You kind of wish you hadn't asked, don't you?"

"A little bit." I laughed.

"Come on we should go." He suggested.

"Okay." I said and he put his arm around my shoulder.

"Let me give you a ride home." He offered.

"But you don't even have a license." I pointed out.

He laughed that glorious laugh. "That's not what I meant. Close your eyes." He commanded.

I obeyed and a minute later a cold, wet nose nudged my hand. When I opened my eyes, right in front of me sat the beautiful, black wolf. He leaned forward and I took the hint. Reaching my leg over, I climbed on top of his back. Mason started running and I automatically grasped on to his fur. I tried to watch the countryside rushing by but it was just too difficult when the man I was in love with was right in front of me. And he was all mine. Mason had imprinted on me and not anyone else. I laughed in the rush of it all.

But all too soon did Mason stop. Reluctantly, I looked away from his face and up to me house. I climbed off and realize that my legs felt a little numb. I closed my eyes so Mason could get dressed. A minute later he had his clothes on and told me I could look. "How did you know where I lived?" I asked.

He looked a little guilty. "Stalker!" I gasped.

"Hey I'm not a stalker. I was just making sure you were safe. It's called being overprotective." He laughed when I stuck my tongue out. "Now go on. You'd better get inside. Your mom will be wondering why you aren't home yet."

When I suddenly wrapped my arms around him he seemed surprised. Soon enough he relaxed though. "See ya." I let go and went into my house.

"Where have you been?" My mom freaked. "It's an hour and a half after the bus got here."

"I just got caught up with stuff after school. Friend issues that I needed to take care of, that's all." I went to my room. "Call me next time you are going to get home late okay? I was really worried." She yelled.

"Okay." I answered.

I went to bed that night with conflicting emotions. Happy because Mason and I were friends again, sad because it was Friday and I probably wouldn't see him until Monday, and confused because I wasn't really sure of what just happened.