Salvation
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
AN: Enjoy. I apologize for the delay. I have been busy and now for everyone to enjoy.
Imprint
Ben's POV
I woke up from a very erotic dream in which Leah was the main attraction I couldn't wait to grow up and become a professional man and marry her. I wanted to show Leah that she was the driving force behind my life and that she was the most important goal that I have ever set for myself. I did everything to please her. I wanted Leah to be proud of me. I really wanted to see her smile at me with such happiness and I knew that having an education was something very important to her and my parents.
My new relationship with Leah was still innocent, even after our talk a few months ago, I couldn't shake the fact out of my head that I was in love with her. I didn't understand why she didn't feel the same way about me. I was the imprintee and she was the imprinter... According to the rules that my dad had explained to me... She was to become anything that I wanted. I wanted her to be mine, my lover, my woman and my life. But to her, I was only her little brother. I pushed the thought aside and concentrated on my Physics homework. I studied for an hour, but watching my brother sulking in front of my computer screen was so fucking depressing.
"What the fuck is wrong?" I asked annoyed, as I threw my pencil on the bed and sat up, pressing my back against the headboard.
"Marie Black," he mumbled, pulling up another picture of my birthday party, where they were still together.
"What about her? I thought that you imprinted on Brittany?" I said nonchalantly, as I picked up my Physics book and started skimming through the chapter pages.
Byron groaned and continued to stare at the picture that was being displayed on the screen. "I did and I don't want Brittany! She's a little girl and I do care about her, but only because I was forced to like her. I hate this! I want Mary!" he complained dejectedly, as he ran his hand through his face and sighed.
"She belongs to Emerson!" I said irritated.
It had been almost eight or nine months since he imprinted on Brittany. I knew that he cared for her, like he said, it was due to the fact that he imprinted on her. He was always checking on her after he finished his patrols. She tried hard to stay away from him and her actions were making him crazy. The other thing that was making my older brother so depressed was the fact that Marie and Emerson started getting along and were starting to date.
"I know, but I want her back. I love her." he said angrily.
"She is with Emerson... they started dating." I reminded him. Byron turned around to face me and threw the wireless mouse at me, but I quickly caught it.
"I know and it hurts me. I can't forget her. My life is a fucking inferno. It's a mess! Brittany doesn't want to have anything to do with me. She fucking ignores me at school. I try to get near her. You know, I'm trying to embrace this fucking imprinting shit, but the girl, she is just like her damn mother. Just like Haliee Christina!"
"I'm sorry." I said, closing the Physics book and placing my pillow on the back of my neck.
"What are you sorry about? You have Leah! She's always been the only person that you ever wanted. She cares for you. Your life is fucking awesome. She won't hurt you."
"I-"
"You don't know what I am fucking going through," he said in a low voice, swiveling the office chair around. "I'm in hell. I'm so fucking tired of my life. I hate being a wolf. Dad's always telling me that things will get better... but they haven't."
"I don't know what to say to make you feel better, bro. But I trust Dad's words. Things will get better with time."
"Just, just shove it, Benedict. Your life doesn't have any fucking drama." he sighed and pressed the ON button of the radio and the music began to boom throughout the entire room.
"I-" I began, but quickly closed my mouth.
"I have to live with the knowledge that my Marie is with Emerson. That what we had in the past is gone and now, I can't even have a future with Brittany, because she ignores me and doesn't want to have nothing to do with me. Marie is with Emerson, the guy that was supposed to be my best friend! He is probably touching Marie, kissing her in the places that I used...Ugh! I can't see my life without her. I need her. Benedict, help me get her back." he said sadly.
"How?"
"I don't know!" he said, looking despondently at me. "But we have to do it! "
"I don't know how, Byron. Why don't you try spending time with Brittany. She is your soul mate, she is bound to break and accept you." I said, trying to reason with him.
"What if she is already in love with him?" he continued asking, raking his fingers through his hair anxiously. "I should ask her to runaway with me."
"She probably is," I said loudly. "She is falling for Emerson. Byron, you need to concentrate on Brittany. She is the girl for you. Destiny chose her for you. C'mon, bro, she is perfect for you."
Byron got up from the computer chair and began pacing around my room. "That's not what I want to hear from you, Ben. You have to say things that'll calm my spirit. You are my brother and you want to see me happy, right?" he asked aggravated. I nodded and looked down at my hands. "Then start acting like a brother. Tell me that you'll back me up when I try to get Marie back."
"I would, but if I do that, I'm just lying to you." I said honestly. "Marie is not yours. She is Emerson's. I'm sorry."
"Then lie to me!" he begged, his eyes watering with unshed tears. "Lie to me Benedict Collin!"
"I can't do that, By." I said, getting up from my bed and walking up to him. I stood beside him and placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder and forced him to look at me. I noticed that Byron and me were almost the same height. His green eyes held so much sorrow that it pained me. "I can't lie to you. I promise you that life will get better for you. I will not lie. I won't lie because you want me to."
"Do it, please." he yelled, slamming his fist against the wall of my room. "Please, Ben, I need her. I fucking need her. It's strange. I find my heart divided between my duty as a wolf to protect Brittany and my love for Marie. I need Marie with me."
"Byron," I whispered, shaking my head. "I don't know what to do."
"I'm going to get her back." he vowed.
I shook my head and pushed him. "Dude, Emerson will kill you. Is that what you fucking want? You wanna die, Byron?" I yelled.
"Then let it be that way." Byron said. "I don't give a damn anymore. I don't have a life!"
"What about Mom? Dad? Me?" I asked sadly.
"Life is not important without Marie. She took my heart with her, Ben. She is all I ever wanted. She was my first love. I chose her to be my one and only. She is what my heart and body need. Brittany is something that destiny practically shoved down my throat. Marie is my everything. She took all of me with her; my heart, soul and my life. She left me broken. I can't," he choked, ambling towards my bed. "She took my life."
"No, don' say that." I said. "You have your life. You have to be strong. You have Brittany. She is your soul mate. She'll fall in love with you. I swear."
"Please," he whispered, lifting his eyes to look at me. "She hates me. I can see the disgust she feels for me. I'll never be good enough for her. I can't see my future with her."
"You have to try, because I have a feeling that sh-" I stopped, when I heard the front doorbell ring. I could smell Brittany's scent filtering the room. Byron quickly looked at the door of my room and got up from the bed and walked to the window. He turned to face me and swallowed hard. He began to pace nervously around the room.
"Why is she here?"
"I don't know," I shrugged.
"She probably wants to see you. She doesn't like me. She likes you. I saw her kissing you on your birthday."
"I don't like her." I added quickly.
Byron smiled at me and then walked to where I stood and patted my back. "I know, Benny-boy. I know."
I smiled at my brother and ambled toward the door. "Stay right there, I'll get the door." I said, as I exited the room.
I walked through the hall and down the staircase and rushed to get the door. When I opened the door, I found Brittany staring at her father's SUV that was parked in the driveway of our house. Seth waved at me and I returned the gesture. I turned my attention to Brit and smiled at her. I was so glad to see her. I knew that she was the answer to my prayers. She was what my brother needed to get out of that horrible funk he'd been in for the last eight months.
"Brittany!" I said excitedly, as I hugged her. I pulled away from our embrace and noticed her staring at me quizzically.
"Um, hello, Benny!" she smiled at me, taking a few steps back. "I brought your brother some cookies." she said timidly, as she looked up at me from behind her eyelashes.
"You did?" I asked happily, taking her arm and pulling her inside the house. "Wow, I'm so glad. Come on in."
She nodded and walked inside. "Yeah, my dad told me that I should make an effort to get to know my imprinter." she laughed nervously. "And here I am."
"I-I'm so happy." I mumbled.
"It's fine, Ben. I won't harass you anymore. I thought that I liked you, but to be honest. I don't anymore. I stopped liking you when my dad told me about Aunt Leah imprinting on you. That kinda weirded me out." she said, as she stood in the middle of the room and looked around the living room. "So, where is my soul mate?" she asked tensely.
I nodded and pointed up the stairs. "Yeah, sorry about that. He's upstairs, sulking."
"I'm not sulking!" Byron yelled from upstairs.
"He's not sulking." I muttered.
Brittany giggled and smiled at me. She held on tightly to the cookie tray that she had in her hands and shifted on the balls of her heels.
"What kinda cookies are those?" I asked, as I walked closer to her and took the lid off the cookie tray. She smacked my hands and giggled. "Ouch."
"They aren't for you, Benedict. They are for Byron and they are assorted cookies. My mom taught me to bake cookies a while back. I felt anxious this morning. I was angry, but making cookies helped me relax for a bit. My dad told me that if I felt restless it was due to the fact that I was feeling what Byron was feeling. So, he convinced me to come here. I hope he likes them." she said, looking down at the tray.
"Brit," I said happily.
"Yeah?"
I bit the inside of my cheeks and sighed. "Do you, well, do you feel attracted to my brother?" I whispered.
She shrugged and gave me a crooked smile. "I think he's cute. I've seen him playing basket ball with his shirt off. I think he's cute... OK, he's a hottie." she blushed.
"You do?"
"Yeah, I like those green eyes of his and the fact that he is older than me!" she continued and her blushed got darker.
"OK," I said rattled, as I scratched the back of my neck.
"I like them old, Ben." she giggled timidly. "So, where is he?"
"Um, in my room, I guess." I said confused.
"OK, should I go up there alone? Or would you come with me?"
"I'll go with you. Of course, if that's what you want." I said, as I started to walk up the stairs.
"Fine, let's go." Brittany said excitedly, as she followed after me. "Should we bring him some milk?"
I stopped on my tracks and turned to her. "I think that's a great idea. He's not eaten in a while. He's lost a lot of weight." I said, walking around her to reach the kitchen. Brittany followed me and placed the cookie tray on the kitchen counter top.
"So, he lost weight?" she asked, looking down at her hands.
"Yeah," I said, as I opened the fridge and got the gallon of milk out.
"Oh, no, is it because of me?" she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "I'm a horrible person."
"No, it's the whole wolf thing." I lied. "Here," I said, handing her a napkin to wipe her tears. "You didn't do anything wrong, Brit."
She sniffled and wiped her tears. She gave me a weary smile and then directed her gaze to the gallon of milk that sat on the kitchen counter. She chortled and pointed at the milk.
"The whole gallon?" she asked surprised. "Wow, you guys eat like my father."
"I guess." I nodded and knitted my eyebrows. "Yeah, he eats a lot! You know the werewolf metabolism."
"We need a glass for him to pour his milk."
"I'm a step ahead of you, Brit."
She nodded contently and walked to the counter and grabbed her cookie tray. "You carry the milk upstairs, please."
"Sure,"
"So," she paused, walking in front of me towards the living room. "What about you? My dad says that you are also growing up fast and you are starting to show signs of becoming a wolf."
"I am?" I asked surprised, stopping in the downstairs hall. "I haven't noticed. I mean, I don't know."
"Yep," she said, bobbing her head. "I heard my dad and yours talking about you yesterday. Uncle Brady is happy that his children are going to be werewolves like him. He is also certain that- never mind."
"OK," I said nonchalantly, as I began to amble to the living room and then up the staircase "If I phase, I could imprint on Leah. That would be so awesome."
"Maybe... or on someone else." Brittany said seriously. I growled, stopping dead on my tracks. I would never want to imprint on someone else. Leah was the only person that I wanted or needed.
"I doubt it." I said annoyed. "Wolves mate for life and Leah is it for me. She's always been it for me. So, I'm sorry if I sound like a dick when I tell you that imprinting on someone that isn't you aunt is ludicrous..." I said, walking in front of her and stopped by my bedroom door.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to annoy you."
"Well, you did."
"What the hell is wrong with you, Benedict?" Byron said angrily, as he came into view. "Brittany was just saying that what if you imprint on someone else."
"Shut up, Byron." I snapped, shoving the gallon of milk and the glass against his chest. "Shove it."
"I wanna see you try it." Byron said angrily, his body shaking furiously.
"Guys," Brittany said alarmed, as she took a few steps back. "Calm down."
"Sorry, Brittany." Byron said, giving her a weary smile. She smiled at him, but remained on her spot. "I, how are you? I haven't seen you in a while."
"I've been busy." she said timidly, as she raised the cookie tray. "I brought you some cookies. I hope that you like them."
"Yeah, you've been busy ignoring me, right?" Byron said irritated. He looked angrily at her and then his eyes softened, when he saw a tear fall from Brittany's face. "I'm sorry. I'm such a dick. I didn't mean to fucking offend you."
"It's alright," Brittany said, smiling sadly at him. "I've been a bitch to you. I mean, I've ignored you at school. I have my reasons, Byron."
"And they are?"
"Can we talk in private?"
"Sure," Byron said, giving Brit a crooked smile. "Leave Benedict."
"It's my room." I hissed.
"Too bad, get out. Brittany needs to speak to me." Byron said, staring at me contemptuously.
"Fine, at least let me get my Physics book." I said, pushing my brother and entering my room. I grabbed my backpack and shoved my Math and Physics book and my notebook and a few pencils. "I'll be back and you better be gone."
"Bye, Ben." Brittany said sheepishly, as she waved at me.
I shrugged and made my way down the stairs. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew that I needed to get the hell out of my house before I punched my older brother. I walked down the road, letting my feet take me to wherever they wanted to take me. Without noticing, I was already making my way up Leah's street. I laughed contently, when I felt the pull of my lovely Leah. She was near. I ran to her house, but stopped when I found her being held by a tall man. His arms were around her waist and her head rested on his chest. I felt my body shaking uncontrollably. Fury began to surge throughout my body. I was angry.
"Benedict," Leah called.
I took a step back and took off my backpack and threw it on the ground. My eyes were focused on her precious face. She looked like she'd been crying. I looked at the stranger and noticed that he was staring at us intriguingly.
"Leah," the stranger said calmly, as he took Leah's hand in his. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, wait for me inside, please, Elliot." Leah said, smiling sweetly at the idiot. He nodded and walked inside her house. Leah ambled towards me and stared sadly at me.
"Who is he?" I asked hurt.
"A friend," she whispered. "An old friend, Benedict."
"OK," I said, my hands balled into fists, as I felt my entire body trembling. "I have to go, Leah." I said between clenched teeth.
"Benedict, there's nothing going on between us! Calm down, please. Calm down, precious! You are it for me, Benny." Leah ordered me. It was too late, I couldn't control myself. "He's a friend, sweetie. He is just a friend. You are the only person that I care about."
"I have to go," I gritted, picking up my backpack and running towards the woods.
"Benedict," Leah yelled.
I could hear her steps behind me as she followed after me. I was trembling too much. I didn't like anyone touching my Leah. That idiot that she called friend looked too cozy and friendly when he hugged her. The image of Leah in his arms sent me spiraling out of control. So this is how it felt. The anger, the fury and all the madness jumbled together. I fell to the floor and began to feel the bones inside me shifting in position. I was phasing. I was fucking phasing. I winced in pain, but the pain was suddenly gone and I heard Leah's steps faltering.
I spun around and looked down at her. I don't know how to describe what happened next. Everything stopped making sense. My entire world was slowly shifting. I didn't matter anymore. My life didn't matter. All I cared about was her, Leah, she had become the center of my universe. If she was the sun, I was a satellite that gravitated around her.
"Holy fuck," she muttered, as she walked closer to me. "You've imprinted on me, didn't you, Benny-boy?"