Everything you recognize belongs to the brilliant SM on temporary loan per prior imaginary agreement


Through the eyes of another's pain


"You know Dr Cullen is a vampire?" "I was at the bonfire and I pay attention to the elders when they speak. Where were you?" "Respecting your wishes and not being anywhere near you?" "Inexcusable. I was in the same room being treated by a vampire! Are you kidding me? Could I have been in any more danger? Aren't you supposed to protect me?" "He's harmless as vampires go." "He screams death." "All vampires do. How do you know that?" "I have no idea. I just do. I always know when death is around."


"I'm sorry you had to go through that without me. If I had known that you were aware of them I would never have left your side." "I'll forgive you for it this time. You were trying to do what I wanted. What else have you been doing besides watching me hike up and down cliffs and run on the beach?" "Working and running patrols. I run a garage with Jake and Embry and Quil."

I thought about him covered in grease underneath a car. I shivered involuntarily.

"Are you cold? Do you want to go inside?"


I had never dated before. The man beside me was a man in every sense of the word. I thought about the stories I'd heard when we'd first met. They had shocked me then. My dreams had been...most interesting ever since. But I was untried and untested and blushed at the very idea of even kissing a man.

I dyed my hair funny colors and stayed out past curfew because a curfew was set. I did not play with fire. Paul Lahote was fire. And he was stoking a fire inside of me.


"No. We have some catching up to do. It's been almost two years since you imprinted on me. We hardly know anything about each other." "I know that I would have chosen you with or without the imprint." "How could you possibly know that?"

He blushed. "I watch Collin and Embry and Quil's memories of you. I like the way you handle them. You're not afraid of anything. They think you would be if you knew the truth of what we are. But today you proved them wrong. You didn't even flinch when you saw me. You clung to me." "You're really soft."

I blushed, "Sorry, that's not really a manly compliment, but you are soft. And you saved me from another trip to Dr Death so..." "Dr Death?" "The vampire." "Nice nickname. Nobody else has come up with that one." "They aren't a very creative bunch are they?" "Apparently not. That's something else. You always make me laugh." "You said earlier that I was too young." "Yeah but I'll be young forever if I don't stop phasing. This just means I get more time with you. Quil's been with Claire since she was two. He's gotten to see her grow up, be there for all the big events. He's been her first for everything. I'm so jealous of that bastard."

"Isn't that kind of weird? To imprint on a baby?" "Not really. We're whatever our imprint needs us to be. If they need a father or a brother or a friend or a lover. It's always the imprint's choice. Whatever she needs is what we are. Quil's just been happy to see her happy. Now she's growing up and she's starting to feel differently about him. She's moving away from that big brother stage and the best friend stage into boyfriend territory. He's being cautious and giving her the space and time that she needs. He won't push her into anything and he'll make sure she's really ready before they take the next step. She'll never be more protected or loved."

I thought about it for a minute.

"I guess it's okay then...so long as he didn't want to...when she was little..." "That would be disgusting and we would have killed him. That's Emily's cousin we're talking about. Sam wouldn't have let him live." "That's right. Okay then. So...what are we?" "Whatever you want us to be." "Can't you tell?" "I'm as confused as you are, as decided as you are. My wolf knows its way around a little better, that's why the awkwardness isn't there when I'm in that form. The human me is as dimwitted as ever." "That's not very kind." "I'm not always a kind person. You won't have to worry about that. You're pretty much perfect as far as I can tell."


But you don't know what's wrong with me. You don't know that I forget who I am and the people that love me. You don't know that I might go blind or slip into a coma and never wake up.

That was a story for another day. Her mother walked onto the porch with Emily trailing her.

"Amaya, dear, please come inside now. Dinner is ready and I don't want you to catch a cold." "I'm fine mom, sitting next to Paul is like sitting by a fire." "Now please."

Instead of going back in and letting her come in at her own pace, her panicked mother held out a hand impatiently and waited for her daughter to shakily get to her feet and take the proffered limb. She did not move any closer to Paul than necessary.

"Paul, would you like to come inside and get something to eat?"

Paul glanced at her mom and then at Emily and back to his imprint.

"I don't think that would be-" "I'd love to" "It's settled. Mom, have you met Paul? Paul, this is my mom, Amy Song."


Amy didn't seem able to look at Paul directly. Paul seemed to understand that Amaya was testing her mother somehow and him as well. He didn't know what to do.

"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Song. I hope we can get to know each other much better in the future." "I understand you think you're supposed to mate with my daughter. You do realize she's only fifteen?"

Ah, so that was the problem. Paul sputtered. Emily stifled a laugh and Amaya glared.

"Mom!" "Mrs. Song I assure you-" "I think that's enough for the moment. Everyone get inside before the food gets cold."