Bella POV

I glanced nervously at Sahil while we ran into a secluded part of the forest with the wolves. Everyone noticed how Seth stared at Anika, except for Anika and Sahil. We hadn't explained imprinting to them, because we all thought it wouldn't be of significance to them. But now, it was. I was afraid of how Sahil would react, because I saw how protective he was of his daughter. I was sure he would react in a similar way that I did when I found out that Jacob had imprinted on Renesmee. Sahil wasn't paying much attention to what was behind him as he ran ahead and discussed our diet with Esme. When we finally reached there, all the wolves got into order, as did the vampires. Seth's face in wolf form looked almost in pain as Sam made him move away from her. As the last bits of chatter died down, we started. I battled a few times with Zafrina, Benjamin, and Kate. I lost to Benjamin and Zafrina, but I smiled in triumphance as I pinned Kate down.

"Wow, Bella, you've improved," she said, smiling slightly as she got back up.

I smiled back. "No way, Kate, if you could've used your power on me, I would be the loser."

She grinned as she playfully threw snow at me. We laughed together, and I was glad she was feeling better over Irina's death. I knew that had been hard on her and Tanya.

"Hey, Bella, wanna try to beat me?" asked Maggie. She and the rest of the Irish coven had arrived just a few minutes ago, following our scent from the house to here.

"No, thanks, I think I'll take a break," I said, not that I needed to rest. I sat down in the snow and leaned back as I smiled at my friends and family having fun. But there were some members missing. Edward and Carlisle would be returning early tomorrow morning, there return changed to an earlier date. Jasper and Emmett would be returning either late tomorrow or early the day after with the rest of the nomads.

"Bella?" asked someone. I looked up and saw Anika.

"Yeah?" I said.

She bit her lip and nervously twisted the end of her braid. "Um, I know I don't really know you, but...I was wondering...what it was like? Giving birth to a hybrid?"

Of course she would want to know the amount of pain she caused her mother. I wonder if Sahil had even told her how badly it hurt.

"Well," I said. "When I was pregnant with Nessie, my body was constantly in pain. She grew...rapidly. In less than a month, I looked nine months pregnant. When she started to eat her way out...the pain...was excruciating."

She looked down, avoiding my eyes, but I could tell she felt guilty. "Don't worry," I continued. "I would have done everything to keep Renesmee alive. Even if it meant having a painful death."

She cleared her throat. "Thanks. I didn't know her but I wanted to know how it was like."

"No problem."

We were silent for a few moments. Then, she said, "Can I ask you something else?"

"Go ahead," I said.

"Why does that wolf keep staring at me?" she said, looking at Seth as he watched her out of the corner of his eye as he practiced with Alice.

I stifled back a laugh. So she hadn't been as oblivious as I thought. "It's kind of complicated," I started. "See, this is how wolves kind of find their...soul mates? No, that's not the right word. It's how wolves find their imprints. It's how they find the one person they would do or be anything for. If you need a friend, or a lover, or a protector, that's who they'll be for you."

She was quiet for a moment. "Did Jacob imprint on Renesmee?" she asked.

She was much more observant than I thought. "Yes, and Seth imprinted on you."

She didn't say anything, but her hazel eyes observed him carefully. "Why?" she asked after a while.

I shook my head. "I don't really know the details."

Her voice got quieter. "But I don't even know him."

"I know," I said. "He just has too see you."

I didn't notice that Sahil was right behind us. "Who has to see her?" he questioned, protectively putting a hand on Anika's shoulder. We both were silent.

"Well?" he demanded.

"Dad…" she started. "See, I don't know how this happened, but you see that wolf there? Well, he imprinted on me?" she said, saying it like she was unsure.

He frowned at the unfamiliar word. "What's that?" he asked me. Anika and I glanced at each other nervously.

This was not going to go well.