I sigh. Will I ever learn? I get cheated on by my boyfriend and then I fall for the next guy I meet. I shake my head. How smart of me.

A rustle in the bushes informs me that Paul is coming back. But it's not the Paul I expect. A silver wolf comes into the clearing and cautiously approaches me. But I'm not afraid. I'm entranced. "You're…beautiful," I say breathlessly. He makes a noise that I sounds like a scoff and plops down next to me. I run my fingers through his fur. "And you're soft," I murmur teasingly. I scratch behind his ears, and me makes a purring noise. I lean against him and look at the stars that are beginning to show in the sky. After about an hour of just sitting there, he gets up and trots back into the woods. Paul comes back out as a human.

"What'd you think?" he asks nervously, sitting next to me.

"I think it's amazing." I smile at him.

Paul takes a deep breath and takes my hands in his. "Cara, I have to tell you something. There's another part of being a werewolf. We thought it wasn't common, but it's been happening to a lot of us. It's called imprinting." Then he tells me about how the werewolves find their equivalent of a soul mate. The way he describes it is incredibly romantic. "Like I said, we thought it rarely happened. Then Sam imprinted on Emily, Jared on Kim, and Quil on Claire."

"I know Kim and Emily, but who's Claire?"

"I'm not surprised that you haven't met her. Please don't freak out when I say this, but Claire's two." I try to control my expression, but I know my mouth is gaping.

"Let me explain," Paul continues. "Right now, Quil doesn't love her as anything more than he would a little sister. When she gets older, he'll always be there for her. And when she's old enough, then he'll start to pursue a more romantic relationship."

"What if the person they imprint on doesn't love them?" I ask.

Paul looks away sadly. "Then they're free to stay friends and find someone else. But that hasn't happened…yet." He clears his throat. His hands begin to shake. But why is he angry?

"Paul? What is it?" He looks at me, and I realize that he's not shaking in anger, but in fear.

"Cara, I wanted you to know that I've…imprinted too."

I feel like I've been stabbed. The air rushes out of my lungs, and pain fills my body. I automatically hate the girl. She doesn't realize how lucky she is…

I stand up and turn away, so he doesn't see the tears. "Well I'm glad you let me know," I snap. "I'm sure you two are perfect for each other."

Paul turns me around. He takes in my expression and tears and says quietly, "Oh, Cara…why do you think I told you that? Do you think I'm looking for approval by you for another girl?"

I feel hope rise in me. But I force it down and shrug. "I guess so..."

Paul cups my face with his shaking hands. "Cara, you're so…" he doesn't finish.

"I know, okay? I'm stupid! I'm stupid because I've only known you for two days and I've fallen in love with you Paul!"

He looks at me with shock, and another emotion I can't describe. Then he grins. "You are stupid," he agrees, "for not seeing that I love you too."

"But what about your imprint?"
"Well, I'm not sure," he says, letting go of my face. "I mean, I just told her I loved her, but she doesn't seem to be taking it well."

Instantly the tears stop. I'm speechless. He loves me. I've been imprinted on. Happiness, more than I've ever felt, soars inside me. But there's no vampire around putting this feeling in there. This is all me. Paul looks down in disappointment.

"I see that this is…too much," he says quietly. I'm sorry." He turns.

"Paul," I say quietly. He looks up sadly, rejection on his face. "I just said I loved you. What would make you think this is too much?"

His face breaks into a hopeful grin. He pulls me into a tight embrace. Then his finger is tilting up my chin. "Cara," he whispers. And then his lips take mine.

He is gentle with me, and I sense he's afraid to push me to hard. His lips are surprisingly soft, and before I know it I'm grabbing his hair, pulling him closer. His chest rumbles as he chuckles and pulls gently away. My face falls in disappointment.

Paul kisses my forehead, my cheeks, and quickly pecks my lips. "We have to get home, you silly girl. Don't think for a second that I actually wanted to stop kissing you."

I grin like and idiot and hug Paul close to me. Suddenly I am being carried bridal-style through the woods and towards the house. We say nothing on the way back, and I am content with just staring at him. Too soon we are in Sam and Emily's yard, and Paul sets me down. Embry walks up to us.

"You're dad is here," he tells me. "He wants to talk to you." The next thing Embry says is aimed at Paul: "Alone."

Paul frowns at this. I smile and squeeze his hand. "Go on inside. I'll be right there." Paul relents and goes in. Embry leads me into the backyard, where Dad is sitting on a swing, staring off into the distance.

"Don't worry," Embry says. "Jacob will stay out here with you guys. Just in case." I nod then walk up to my father. He still looks a little shocked.

"What all did Sue tell you?" I ask.

He looks at me. "Everything. Even about Paul." I look at the ground when he says this. "And don't worry, Cara. You say the word and we'll leave."

I gape at my father. "Wait, so you don't want to leave?" I am shocked at this.

He sighs. "This is a lot to absorb, but I do know one thing: I love Sue, honey, and I want to stay with her no matter what. But if you want to leave, then we will."

Once again, I'm grinning like and idiot. "Trust me Dad, I want to stay."

He stands, his face full of relief, and hugs me tightly. "Good." Then he pulls away with a grave expression. "But I will have to meet this Paul guy. Make sure he passes my inspection and everything…"

I sigh and laugh. "Sure dad, whatever you say. Now come on, lets go in."

We wonder back to the front porch. My dad walks in, but before I can, a hand is on my arm, pulling me away from the door. I open my mouth the scream but a large warm hand covers it. "Shhh! It's just me, Jake." He lets go of me and now I can see his sheepish expression in the darkness. "I just wanted to…apologize for earlier today. I shouldn't have suggested the whole bait thing. I really didn't mean it. I was just…mad that Paul imprinted on you. I was jealous, I guess. It seems everyone is finding love, but not me."

I take Jake's hand. "It's okay, Jacob. I forgive you. And I know you'll find someone to one day." He smiles sadly at this. "Besides," I add, "I'm just glad you don't hate me like Leah does."

Jake sighed. "Leah doesn't hate you…she's…jealous of you."

I scoffed. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"No really, she is jealous. I know from her thoughts when we are wolves. You have everything she wants. You're a normal human, and you have Paul."

I gasp. "Leah loves Paul?!"

He shakes his head quickly. "No, no! I'm just saying you have someone that loves you." He then tells me about Leah and Sam's relationship before Emily. I feel bad for my stepsister. "Try to give her a break," Jacob says, "She just needs time."

I nod my head. "Okay." I suddenly really want Paul to hold me. "Lets go inside now."

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