Sundays are the saddest of all days. I used to love them though. My dad and I had a long running tradition where we'd go kayaking or hiking or just driving around the rez to spend time together. That kind of ended when I started high school though. My Sundays were swallowed with endless homework, community commitments or school events. Nothing good ever happens on a Sunday anymore.

Maya knew things were off when she slept most of Saturday day and into Saturday night. The rain helped but she had no desire to do her homework, let alone pull herself out of bed. Maybe it was getting drenched and the subsequent shock of the day, but she was still trying to come to terms with everything.

Keye and Becks had been exceptionally supportive as she knew they would be.

"What the actual fuck. That's completely...I have no idea what to say My." Becks said after Maya had told them about the council meeting, the imprint, and how she had felt which solidified that this might actually be real.

"It's fucking creepy is what it is. What are you some child bride?! I can't believe the council supports this. You remember Tiff Turkey?" Keye said hurriedly. She'd been a blast of chaotic energy throughout the whole conversation.

"Thats not her name Keye," Maya said, her voice monotone.

"It is her fucking name, she thinks she slick, I know what she was doing in that utility closet with Kyle Corning during the spring fling. That girl got basted like a turkey!" Keye retorted. Maya covered her eyes with her hand, still in her towel from the shower.

"Didn't you let Hurley Chast motorboat you in that utility closet sophmore year?" Becks said nonchalantly. Maya let out a laugh. She was grateful for the distraction.

"That's not the POINT! The point is, Tiff Turkey saw those guys roughing up some weird dudes outside of town. They were at that grungy nightclub we've always wanted to go to. These guys were very sketchy. Sam and his disciples showed up out of nowhere and hassled them out of there quick! Tiff said she got a mega weird vibe from Sam and his crew." Keye concluded.

"What's your point again?" Maya said suddenly after a brief pause.

"That they're WEIRD, okay?! You can't be caught up in weird shit. You're going IVY LEAGUE BABE. What if it's actually a gang?! This imprinting thing sounds like some backwards Caligula nonsense."

"Oh gross," Becks said, making a joking gag noise. "Keye, don't freak her out. That's not what this is. From what I remember from the stories, the imprint is just supposed to be a bond thing. Gives the warriors purpose and incentive to protect the tribe. Ties them more closely to the land and calls them home, like in the hunter/gatherer days."

"What...does that have to do with me now? We're way past hunting and gathering, so what, I'm just randomly tied to this guy I don't know for life? Also, can we please talk about the fact that none of the imprints in our legends are just friends with their imprinters?!"

"Yeah, that's a tough one. They do always end up together..." Becks said calmly.

"You need to skip fucking town. Can you like graduate early and just go move to wherever the fuck and lay low for a while? You're technically 18 so..." Keye said, she was starting to sound frantic. She had a point—Maya was legally allowed to leave but she wasn't going to run. Why should she? This was her town too.

"Ha! Like my parents would ever let that happen. And anyway, that's not even an option. Chief Black said we have to have some kind of relationship. Full stop. And Paul looked pissed about it." Maya paused and then said softly, "Do you think I'm the first imprint in history to have their imprinter not like them?"

"Impossible, you're adorable." Keye said quickly.

"Yeah, I don't think it works like that Maya. The whole point of the imprint is that you're soulmates right? And you said you have like this...physical reaction to him that's not lust, it's something else right? That's gotta mean he feels that too. There's no way it's one sided."

"Unless he's fighting it." Maya said. She groaned again and rolled over. Why did she even care?! If he didn't like her that made her getting out easier. Maybe it was the imprint or maybe it was the fact that she was thrilled at the thought that someone liked her like that and she'd never felt like this before, but she wanted him to like her at least a little bit. Maybe then whatever this weight was in her stomach would go away and she could breathe easier again.

"Just...feel it out. Give it a chance and maybe it won't be as bad as you're thinking." Becks said reassuringly. Keye snorted in rebuttal.

"Yeah, the super buff, hot guy in his twenties who probably wants to impregnate you if you gave him the chance might not be so bad." Keye joked. Becks started in on Keye again but Maya had a sinking feeling in her stomach that what Keye said might be closer to the truth than she wanted.

Maya had spent the rest of Saturday locked in her room and vacillating between working on her English paper and Physics homework and getting up to pace her room. Her mother knocked on her bedroom door intermittently to check on her, but each time Maya proclaimed that she was fine and just working.

That night's sleep was fitful and the wolf was back again. It was starting to feel like a nagging presence and this time in her dream, Maya took a step forward. The wolf's eyes were trained on her feet at the movement and she wondered if it might attack her, but it stood there waiting.

Sunday morning, Maya made her way downstairs for some coffee and breakfast. Her parents were wary around her but seemed generally recovered from yesterday's news. Tom, Maya's dad, was chipper and asked Maya if she wanted to help him clear out his shed today. The day was cold and bright, but Maya still needed to finish her paper, so she excused herself after breakfast, intent on getting it done. Her mother gave her a knowing look as she went and heard Rish mumble something to her dad as she ascended the steps to her room.

Throughout the morning, Maya's phone buzzed annoyingly. Some were from Becks and Keye checking in, but mostly the same bothersome number that kept popping up was Jeremy's. The preview of messages on her lock screen filtered in over the next few hours from him:

Jeremy: Sundays, right? Aha...how are you holding up?

J: You take AP Spanish right? Como se…

J: Did you hear that Tara got into UW?

J: Sorry, you're probably still waiting on letters…

J: Where did you apply to again?

J: Are you okay? I don't want to bug…

J: After sending that I realized I probably am bugging you…

J: We could meet up to study if you…

J: Give me a call if you want to talk or go over the answers to…

After the tenth text message, Maya switched her phone to silent so she could work without the constant buzzing and lighting up of her phone.

Shortly after noon, Maya got up to take a break, grab some water and go to the bathroom. Her mom was in the kitchen seasoning steaks.

"Woah, fancy." Maya said absently referring to the steaks.

"Seemed like a good time for it," her mom shrugged and Maya nodded, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge and making her exit.

As she took a swig of her water bottle, holding the feeling of water in her mouth for a minute before she pushed open her bedroom door, she had the sharp feeling of tension buzz through her head. It was kind of like that feeling you get when you know someone is standing behind you and you're preparing yourself to not be startled by it. Maya hesitated and then pushed her door open quickly to see a handsome face peering into her second story bedroom window.

Immediately, Maya spit out her water. No amount of preparation could have anticipated this. She looked behind her down the empty hallway and then quickly shut her door before darting to the closed window and wrenching it open.

"Jeremy, what the FUCK are you doing?!" Maya said in a shocked whisper. He gave her a lopsided grin and pulled his body through the open window with a light grunt.

"Thanks," he said, getting his bearings in her room. He looked around curious, clearly not understanding why Maya was so shocked by his sudden presence.

"How the hell did you get up here!?" She glanced out the window and saw there was no ladder that her dad stored out in the shed propped against the side of the house.

"I do parkour, it's not that hard," he said, now moving around her room without permission. She suddenly realized he was shirtless.

"Jeremy, what the hell are you doing here? And where the fuck is your shirt?"

"Jeez, touchy." he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Aren't you freezing? I have a hoodie I think that would fit you, hold on," she said, turning to her closet. The shock was wearing off and Maya was switching into polite caretaker—another trait her parents had hammered into her.

"Nah, I'm fine, really." he said sitting on the edge of her bed now. Maya was a little perturbed at how naturally comfortable he was in her room. "Why haven't you been answering my texts?" he said, sounding a little put out.

"What?" Maya said.

"My texts, I've been trying to talk to you," he said. Maya rolled her eyes and then, ever aware of being rude she shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm working and my phone's on silent. I'm sorry. Was there something important?" She almost turned to grab her phone and check.

"Just….wanted to see how you were," he said. Maya raised an eyebrow at him.

"What's going on?" she said finally.

"Nothings going on, I'm just...trying to be a friend," he said. He wouldn't meet her eyes and Maya had the distinct feeling that he wasn't telling the whole truth. She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.

"Jeremy...No offense but we've had very minimal contact until this imprint thing happened and you became one of Sam's crew. So fess up, what aren't you telling me?"

"I'm not not telling you anything," he said, and then gave her a sly grin which he quickly wiped off his face when he saw the angry one of Maya's.

"I swear to god, Jeremy. I will scream and get your ass kicked out of here so quick."

"Okay, okay. Jeez, chill. I've been asked to...to check on you. As a...favor," he stumbled over the word 'favor' as if it didn't quite fit what he was describing. Maya stared at him confused for a moment and then realization dawned on her.

"Oh my god, it's him isn't it? He asked you to check on me?!" When Jeremy didn't respond Maya let out a harsh laugh. "This is just great." Why was he checking on her? This made absolutely no sense. Yesterday, he wouldn't even look at her and now he has Jeremy doing his bidding for him? "Well, what are you going to tell him then?"

Jeremy took a moment to choose his words carefully and then said, nonchalantly, "That I checked and you seemed fine, and that you're bad at answering text messages."

Fine, he wanted to spy so would she. Maya sat down at her desk and swiveled her chair to face Jeremy.

"What's his deal anyway?"

"What do you mean?" Jeremy said as he hopped up off her bed and resumed his look around her room. Maya pulled her knees up close to her chest and let her eyes follow him.

"Paul," she said his name slowly, just feeling his name in her mouth gave her a weird sensation, "He seems...mad about all of this. You said it was because he thought he'd never imprint?"

"Yeah, I mean imprinting isn't supposed to be that common apparently. But we've also never had a pack this big before, so it makes sense that more of us would, I guess." Pack? That was a weird way to refer to their group, she thought. "Paul just thought that since he made it this far without imprinting that maybe it just wasn't in the cards for him. And then you happened and he's just kind of been...off since then."

"Off?" Maya said. Jeremy pulled a book off of her shelf.

"Yeah, like distracted, snaps a lot. I mean he was kind of a hot head before, but you can tell he's stressed and he loses it a bit more." Jeremy suddenly stopped and turned to face her. Maya swallowed hard. "Don't take that the wrong way, he's a good guy."

"A good guy," Maya was tempted to roll her eyes again, "Great. What else?"

"What else...uhhh, I don't know what do you want to know?"

"How long has he been in Sam's group? What does he do? Who does he hang out with? What's he like?" Maya couldn't help but let the questions spill out of her. They'd been plaguing her all night and Jeremy seemed up to offering some answers.

"Ahhh, shouldn't you ask him that yourself?" he said skeptically.

"You think he'd talk to me right now?" she retorted, annoyed.

"Yeah, you're probably right," he replied. She knew that was coming but it still kind of hurt. "Let's see...he's been in Sam's group for awhile, since he was 17 I think? So 11 years. Long time. Uhh, he doesn't really hang out with anyone outside of the pack, seems kind of a lone wolf," he smirked at this, like he was laughing at an inside joke. "And what was your other question? What's he like? He's…" Jeremy looked at Maya carefully, "I don't know Maya, he's Paul. My interaction with him is definitely different than what it's supposed to be with an imprint. He's kind of a jerk? But also super loyal and takes protection very seriously. I've only been hanging out with the guy for a month so it's not like I know him that well," Jeremy skirted. Maya's palms were sweating nervously.

She was having a hard time catching her breath again and Jeremy noticed.

"Oh jeez, Maya, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. He really is good and he'll come around. I just wanted to make sure you were okay—he wanted to make sure you were okay….Ah," he looked out her window suddenly as if he heard a call coming from outside. "Listen, I have to go, but please just text me if you need anything."

Before Maya could say anything else, Jeremy was hopping out of her window. She let out a startled cry and rushed to the window, sticking her head out to see Jeremy land softly from the drop and jog off around the side of the house.

Her gaze lifted to look out over the bay that backed her house. The cold wind whipped at her face and Maya found that her brain was stuck on one thing that Jeremy had said.

He's kind of a jerk.

Paul was a jerk? Her soulmate was a jerk? Great..

The evening was quickly encroaching on Maya's study time. She finally wrapped her paper just before dinner and went to wash her face. Since she had practically been wearing the same outfit since yesterday, Maya changed into a light pink sweater, her white bralette peeked out of the deep V of the neck line. She pulled on some heather grey soft sleep shorts and brushed her hair out before fixing it up in a high ponytail. Her hair was so heavy that it gave her headaches. She toyed with the idea of cutting it short like Becks' but hadn't mustered the courage yet.

Just as she finished putting some face lotion on in her bathroom mirror, Maya heard the doorbell ring. They rarely had people show up at the house unannounced, let alone on a Sunday. Maya ignored it and smoothed some nourishing oil across her cheeks that made her soft brown skin glow in the light.

"Maya!" her mom called from downstairs. "Can you get the door please?" Maya fixed the cap on her oil and shuffled out of the bathroom and down the stairs to the front door.

"Got it!" she called over her shoulder as she pulled the door open. The cold air rushed over her exposed legs but Maya immediately burned hot from the visitor standing on her doorstep.

Paul Lahote stood towering on her porch. He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt and dark wash jeans with shiny brown shoes. He had pushed his shaggy black ink hair back away from his face and the stubble she saw yesterday was clean shaven away. His eyes instantly connected with hers and Maya felt her heart fall clean through her. This was the closest she'd ever been to him and her eyes moved from his eyes to roam around his body, taking in the large sinewy arms, broad shoulders, and wide hands. His skin was a warm shade of red brown, like he's out in the sun a lot. Her eyes rested on the line of his mouth, his lips looked soft and full and Maya felt a rush pull through before she instantly snapped back to the present and got a hold of herself.

"What are you doing here?" she breathed. His mouth parted slightly as if to respond. His eyes had never left her even as she had stolen a glance to take him all in, but before he could respond, Maya's mom was behind her at the door with a smile on her face.

"He's here for dinner. Paul welcome! Thank you for joining us," Maya was speechless, her mouth hung open in shock. "Maya move please, let Paul in, it's freezing." For the second time in less than a minute Maya had to get a grip. She turned sideways and pressed her body against the doorframe so Paul could come in.

"Thanks," his voice was low and soft and he gave Rish a warm smile. She pulled him back toward their dining room. Maya stood frozen in the doorway as the icy wind licked at her legs. She looked down suddenly, mortified at what she was wearing and before she could run upstairs to change she had a change of heart.

Why should she care what she looked like? She wasn't trying to reel him in, get him to like her. It seemed like he pretty much already made his mind up about her anyway. Maya decided to use this unwanted intrusion to figure out if he really was a jerk and hopefully, get some answers.

She closed the door and padded toward the kitchen.

"Maya, can you please bring the pitcher of water to the table? Please please sit!" her mom continued to Paul in their dining room. Maya saw her father coming in from the back with steaks in hand. He wore a smile and seemed genuinely pleased to see Paul. She pulled the pitcher of water from the fridge and gave a great sigh, steeling herself to be in front of him again and walked into the dining room.

As she emerged from the kitchen she noticed Paul immediately looked at her but just as quickly he fitted his gaze back to her mother. She felt that familiar magnetized pull in her body toward him and wondered for a second if he felt it too. Setting the pitcher down, she hesitated to choose a seat. Should she sit across from him? That would offer the most physical distance but she was more likely to catch his eye that way. If she sat off to the side of him, it might look like she was trying to be close to him which he clearly didn't want.

God, shut up, just sit down, her brain shouted at her. Why was she overthinking this?!

"Maya, sit here." Her mom pulled out a chair next to Paul and the decision was made for her. Her father set the steaks down in the center and he sat at the head of the table across from Paul after shaking his hand and exchanging pleasantries. Her mother was chattering away about council stuff at Paul that Maya didn't even know if he cared or knew about. She sunk into the chair next to him and out of the corner of her eye saw him shift in his seat positioning his body ever so slightly away from her.

Maya internally groaned and the weirdest dinner ever ensued.

"So, Paul what do you do for work?" Her father asked in between bites of steak. They'd already blown through a host of topics including where Paul lived (just at the edge of the reservation close to the beach on Red River Road), if he had any family left in the area (he didn't), what he did in Sam's group (neighborhood watch stuff and mentoring), and if he enjoyed the bonfire gathering (he did, very much).

"I'm a private contractor...carpentry mostly. I do work in the area but most of my clientele is in the greater Seattle area," he said.

"You're being modest, Sue says your work is very sought after." Her mother interjected. So she was doing reconnaissance as well, Maya thought. To this though, Paul simply shrugged and said:

"It pays the bills." Her father chuckled and nodded, silently commiserating. Paul glanced sideways at Maya. He seemed to be trying to read her expression, but Maya kept her face smooth, feeling his eyes on her as she pushed the broccoli around on her plate.

"Maya, can you refill the pitcher please?" Her mother asked. Maya stood immediately and leaned across the table to grab the pitcher. Paul cleared his throat and averted his eyes. As she left for the kitchen she heard her mother continue,

"We're so proud of Maya, she's got big college plans and the start to this year has already been stressful what with school and waiting for her acceptances and the..uhh imprint. Everything's an adjustment, but we're just so hopeful for the future." Maya rolled her eyes as she slowly filled the pitcher at the sink—leave it to her mother to brag.

"The council seemed pretty proud of her at the bonfire." he replied. She could just see the light shining out of her mother's face now.

"Oh yes, the first ivy hopeful for our community. It's a big deal," her mother said.

"We want those things for her." Her dad suddenly interjected and Maya's eyes went wide. Oh god. There was a clear awkward pause. Should she make a run for it now?

"I do too," she heard Paul say firmly.

"Good," her father replied. Maya's mother quickly changed the subject as Maya came back into the room. Paul's eyes flickered to her again when she re-entered as if he couldn't help himself.

By the end of the night, her parents seemed to love him.

"I'll walk you out." Maya says, resigned. She hadn't said a word all night. Paul's eyes were instantly drawn to the sound of her voice. After a handshake with her father and a wave to her mother, Maya led Paul down the hallway to the front door. She pulled it open and he quickly exited. Maya followed him over the threshold and left the door slightly ajar. She crossed her arms in front of her body instantly cold in the frosty January night.

"Thanks for coming, I guess." she said, letting her eyes rest on his now. Her body relaxed the tension it had been holding in a great exhale. Can someone be simultaneously tense and relaxed?

"Something tells me you didn't know I would be coming by," he said gently. He was careful to look nowhere else but her eyes.

Maya shook her head, pursing her lips.

"Sorry about that," he tried. Maya shrugged.

"It's fine." His eyes looked around her face now and Maya had the feeling that he was trying to read her again, or maybe buying time. Her body ached to get closer, the cold was causing goosebumps to ripple down her body and her lip trembled slightly from the cold.

"I'll see you soon," he promised, backing down the stairs before turning toward his forerunner. Maya watched him go, holding herself in place on the porch even though she was freezing. When he turned on the headlights, the bright light washed over her body, lighting her up. She could just see him beyond the windshield. He was staring at her intensely, a look of fire in his eyes as he gripped the steering wheel.

Maya sucked in a quick breath of air and for a beat they stared at each other. Then, he flipped into reverse and quickly pulled down and out of the drive.

What the fuck.