Chapter 7 – Imprint Time

Joren heard the front door open and close again as he glanced back and then abruptly stood when he saw it was Kaci. "Kaci…Are you okay?'

Kaci nodded. "Yea I'm okay I guess. I'm still a little out of sorts with everything. Well that and the fact that the last memory I have of you was you morphing into a rather large dog and charging at me, my father and your brother."

Joren frowned deeply. "Kaci, you have to know I wasn't upset at you. My anger wasn't directed towards you ever. I was just mad in general. I knew my turn to phase was coming. It's been coming for the last month. I wanted it to be me who imprinted on you. But apparently it wasn't supposed to be that way."

Kaci walked down the steps until she was standing in front of Joren. "So what do we do? Or what should we do?"

Joren shook his head. "I don't have any answers Kaci. I know we've only been dating for a month and I like you, but we both know were not in love, not after only four weeks of dating. Both our dad's made valid points tonight. I could be walking down the hall at school and imprint on someone and cause my imprint pain if a choose to ignore it. Just like I know it's killing my brother to not be near you right now; even though I can smell him. He's close. Not too close to freak you out or anything, but close enough to keep a watchful eye on you."

Kaci's sapphire blue eyes looked to the trees and could feel Alex's eyes on her even before Joren pointed out he was there. She looked at the ground for a few minutes before she looked back up at Joren. "So what are you saying Joren?"

Joren sighed heavily. "I'm saying I'm not going to be responsible for my girlfriend being in pain when she isn't my imprint. And I'm not going to be responsible for my brother hurting as well for me keeping him from his imprint. Clearly he imprinted on you for a reason. You were chosen for Alex for a reason. I know I could stand here and say I'd ignore anyone I imprint on just to be with you, but the truth is, I don't know what I would do or how I would feel about it. And I'm not going to stand here and lie or pretend to know."

"So you don't think we should continue dating?"

Joren looked down at Kaci as he shook his head negatively. "Honestly? No I don't. It's not really fair to anyone involved or anyone who will be involved in the future. I've enjoyed the last four weeks with everything we've done and the time we spent together. But we both know that whatever we had wasn't meant to be, otherwise I would've been the one to imprint on you. Believe me no one hates it more than I do that it wasn't me."

Kaci nodded fully understanding there he was coming from. He said a few things she would never disagree with because he made a lot of good points. And the fact that he stood there and told her himself, she had more respect for him.

Joren leaned down and brushed his lips against Kaci's cheek. "See you around Kac."

Kaci watched as Joren jogged off into the trees as her sapphire eyes turned back towards the tree line where she'd heard some rustling.

"Alex…" Kaci heard a whimper some from the scrubs nearest to the house. "I know you're out there. I don't know what to say to you. I barely know you. I realize we all grew up together, even with the age difference. I'm just scared right now and I need sometime. And I know you'll give me as much time as I need. This is all just kind of foreign to me. I'm going to go in and get some sleep. You should try to get some rest too. Good night." Kaci turned and went back into the house. This night went from calm too crazy in three seconds.

Alex listened to his imprint speaking to him so nicely. He would think after she had witnessed everything at the beach she would never want to see him again. The fact that she was standing there speaking directly to him even if he couldn't bring himself to come out and see her face to face and her still be nice was a testament to her character.

The old saying: God doesn't give you more than you can handle.

That was clearly evident tonight. It is the strength of the character that makes a person truly great. And clearly Kaci's character was truly strong.

Alex could already feel the pull to Kaci. Ever since he'd imprinted on her earlier, all he could do was hope she wasn't completely repulsed by him. She was dating his little brother. Not so much anymore, but still it was his imprinting on her that brought their relationship to an end. Maybe he could just ignore the imprint. He never wanted to be the reason by his little brother was un-happy.

'I'm not un-happy Alex. I'm a little disappointed that my now ex-girlfriend is my brothers imprint and that it wasn't me. But I'm most definitely not un-happy. Kaci is a sweet girl and I know you know that already. But just be gentle with her and give her some time like she asked for. I think if you give her the time she requested she might surprise you.' Joren couldn't help letting his brother know how he felt. 'I'm really sorry I attacked you. I should've understood, but it all just came as a big shock to me.'

'Joren I understand why you reacted the way you did. I just hope you understand there is no control over imprinting. IT happens without notice and it also happens when you least expect it. And when it happens to you; you'll fully understand what I mean. I also don't doubt you about Kaci. I have every intention of giving you as much time and space that she needs.' Alex confessed.

Joren agreed and phased back to his human self and went inside knowing he was going to get an even bigger talk from his mother than what he got from his father.

Alex's eyes turned back to the front door as it opened and he watched as Kaci stepped out onto the porch. She smiled softly as she walked down the porch steps and tossed a blanket down.

Kaci swallowed. "Alex…Come sit with me please? I don't care if you stay in your wolf form if it's more comfortable for you. Dad said I could stay out here for a bit."

Alex couldn't ignore that his imprint was asking to spend time with him. He would have to go out in wolf form since he shredded his shorts at the beach earlier.

Kaci watched wide eyes as Alex stepped out from the scrubs. His fur was actually more russet than brown which was complete opposite of Joren's. He was the size of a horse. He completely towered over her and she felt small.

Alex slowly walked over to her and suddenly noticed how small she really was. Alex lay down near the blanket she had spread out and she actually moved the blanket closer to him. He inhaled and her scent filled his snout. She smelled of fresh strawberries. He flinched slightly when her hand went out and ran her fingers through his thick fur.

Kaci couldn't believe how soft his fur was. He had a woodsy aroma to him. She leaned over and buried her nose in the side of his neck letting his soft hair tickle her face slightly as she sighed into the scent of him. His scent was relaxing her from head to toe.

"You smell like Heaven." Kaci blushed at her statement.

When she continued to run her fingers through his fur he couldn't help leaning into her hands and letting out a sound that actually sounded like a purr as it vibrated through his entire body.

Kaci couldn't help laugh when Alex's long tongue came out and licked the palm of her hand and then also her cheek. "You're just a big old softie." Her eyes locked with Alex's wolf eyes as she smiled softly. "You're really sweet Alex." His tongue came out and licked the side of her neck causing her to squeal out of surprise slightly. She heard him cough out a laugh at her reaction.

Alex watched as Kaci lay down next to him as she continued to run her fingers through his fur. He looked down again and noticed Kaci had fallen asleep and turned into his side, he could feel her shivering slightly. He leaned over her carefully as he gripped the corner of the blanket and pulled it over her body, tucking it around her body with his muzzle.

Alex heard the front door open and close and looked over as he watched Paul walked down the steps and over to where Kaci was laying. He squatted down. "She fell asleep huh. She can sleep anywhere as long as she's warm. I'll take her inside. Go ahead and go home, you can come back and see her tomorrow if she wants." Paul watched as Alex nodded and took off, before he carried her back inside and put her in bed.

Paul could only hope that with the coming days, weeks and months things worked out with Alex and Kaci. He actually didn't care who she ended up with; as long as she was happy.