The last few days were a mess. Being with Jake was great and he had helped me through so much and I truly did love him…but wasn't your imprint your true love? I know all the different theories on why the wolves choose their specific mate: stronger bloodlines, to balance the wolf, to make the wolf stronger, to give the man a center and not lose himself to the wolf. The elders have a lot of theories. Are the gods trying to tell me to be with Paul? Am I supposed to be his other half? I obviously am if we're imprints, right?

But then why did Quil imprint on a three year old yesterday? Claire is Emily's cousin or niece or something like that and she was visiting for the day. She's a beautiful little girl, full of life and laughter; but to stick her with an imprint this early in her life? Did the gods think this was funny? If it's a joke, it's a sick one. Quil and Jared had just gotten off patrol and strolled into the kitchen where Emily and I were preparing the last of lunch. Claire, sitting at the table, looked up from her coloring book of animals. Her eyes almost passed through Jared to Quil, and when I saw his face and his expression I wanted to scream. Or stab him with the knife I'd been using to cut up lettuce and tomatoes. Claire didn't change one bit though, she just smiled and went back to coloring.

I did corner Quil in the hall and threaten him with the knife though. The boys all had a laugh at that when they found out. It earned me a proud smirk from Paul, and an unbelieving grin from Jake.

Emily had cancelled her doctor's appointment this week because she really did want Sam to be able to go. I told her I understood completely. What I didn't tell her was that I was glad she wouldn't be able to question me about everything that happened that afternoon I had my imprint freak out.

School had started back as well, but there wasn't much to talk about on that front besides starting to get ready for final exams.

Right now, I was sitting on the couch in Sam and Emily's living room reading Wuthering Heights. For once, the house was completely silent. Emily had gone to the Makah reservation to see family, so that left me here alone.

Well, alone before Paul came in and sat in the armchair across from me.

"Now you know," he said. "Now you know and you can choose whatever it is you want us to be."

He sounded so solemn and resigned… To hear Paul like that scared me. Where was the big macho guy that I had slapped- oh my god, he imprinted when I slapped him! Blush covered my face, as I rushed to apologize.

"Calm down, I was actually impressed once I had time to cool off. I was more worried about your hand."

I covered my face and shook my head. "But you didn't know me and I slapped you!"

He was sitting beside me now.

"But I did know you. Through Jacob's thoughts. And trust me, I was glad you slapped me because it showed you had fight in you and weren't going to crumble under the Cullens."

Looking over at him, tears started to fill my eyes. "But I did crumble…I jumped off that cliff…"

"No, you almost jumped, and you got help after that. You could have gone back to wasting away but you fought."

A fire was burning in Paul's eyes that I couldn't bear, so I looked down.

"Why didn't you tell me I was your imprint?"

He paused, weighing his words.

"Because Jacob makes you happy."

I guess I understood that… "But then why were you so mean?"

"Because I wanted to see that fire again and see you fight back. I wanted to push you and help you realize how strong you were."

I laughed, "You know I told my therapist you were an ass. I actually ranted about you for almost a whole session once!"

Paul laughed too and shook his head.

"The price I pay for helping you."

He had thrown his arm on the back of the couch and, without noticing, I had leaned into it. I yawned; lazy days always exhausted me. Paul yawned as well- the guys were still running extra patrols while keeping watch for Victoria.

We talked about anything and everything that afternoon until we both fell asleep.