This Time Tomorrow

Part One


Embarrassment gripped Kim as she felt the familiar cramping start low in her gut. She clenched her thighs together as anxiety took over. Her back wriggled as another cramp pounded on her insides. She hissed through her lips, trying to be as silent as possible.

"You okay?" Not silent enough, apparently, as Jared had obviously heard her.

"Yeah." She answered automatically.

At least he was sitting in the living room, a good fifteen feet away, so she didn't have to lie to his face. She was most certainly not okay. She heard whatever he had been watching on the cracked television screen pause.

Jared leaned over the back of the couch, his entire body facing her. Huge as he was, he took up almost the entire space. She felt overwhelmed by his sheer presence as he stared at her with deep brown eyes. His wide forearm hefted its way over the couch and towards her. Kim couldn't tell if he had meant to move it or if the subconscious pull of their imprint had literally forced his hand.

Kim saw his nostrils widen, nearly impossible to detect if she hadn't known he was a wolf.

Using all her will, she hoped beyond hope that he couldn't smell what was happening inside her body. With her spine taunt, she leaned forward and pointedly grabbed her black purse, silently daring him to say something.

Kim stood and felt a hot gush between her legs. She walked to the bathroom as normally as she could, purse clutched to her chest, but another flow of liquid had her taking the last few steps in a sprint. She closed the door, locking it quickly, and bolted to the toilet.

Kim mouthed a silent prayer of thanks, relieved she had made it in time. After inserting her tampon and flushing the evidence, Kim scrubbed her hands in the sink until her skin turned a raw red. She dried them and then sniffed both hands hesitantly, realizing in the moment how stupid she was being. Jared's nose was a hundred thousand times more powerful than hers, and while all she smelled was the lemon soap, who knew what his would detect.

God, she hated this. She didn't want to face him. Her soulmate. She felt sick disbelief at the word. Two days ago he hadn't even known who she was, even though they had gone to school together since first grade. In all those years they hadn't exchanged more than two words.

Now she was alone with him in Sam Uley's house, of all people. The resident gang leader of La Push, she had been told before. She now knew Sam as the Alpha of the La Push Pack. The knowledge had rendered him even more terrifying in Kim's mind. Just accepting that fact had pushed Kim's mental capacity beyond anything she could reach. And then she had learned about the imprinting.

She thought she could handle it but she really could not. Kim took a deep breath, trying to focus her mind on her breathing and not Jared, who was probably starting to wonder what was taking her so long. It worked for half a second before-

"Kim? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" She called back through the door, grateful she was able to keep her voice even. She couldn't even have the peace of privacy.

She steeled herself, straightened her posture, and headed back out. She walked calmly to where she had been sitting, setting her purse back down on the table as nonchalantly as she could. She glanced through her lashes at Jared and saw his entire position had changed. He was now kneeling on the couch, his two forearms crossed over the back. A thick vein snaked its way up his arm to his shoulder, disappearing under the hem of his sleeveless shirt. His entire body emulated raw, supernatural athleticism.

Kim was extremely uncomfortable. She paused, glancing at the chair. If she sat back down, she'd have to stay longer- it would be the polite thing to do. But every fiber of her being wanted nothing more than to just go home and decompress. She was unsure of how to leave without upsetting him.

Kim could feel Jared's hot stare on her back and was surprised her shirt hadn't caught on fire yet.

"What's wrong?" He asked her softly.

"Nothing," Kim said quietly, her second lie to him that day. She knew he could hear her. She slowly turned around, readying herself to say her goodbyes.

The look on Jared's face stopped her short. His brow was furrowed and worn, causing deep lines to form where his skin was usually smooth. His head was pensively cocked to one side as he offered his hand out to her, giving her a half smile. The sad smile slowly evaporated as Kim didn't move one inch forwards.

His eyes found hers, searching into them deeply. Kim felt her cheeks coloring, not liking the way his stare made her feel stripped bare. She was certain he could read every emotion flickering like candlelight over her face.

"Why won't you tell me?" He whispered.

Kim jumped at the question, not expecting it. On reflex, Jared's body made a huge lurch towards her, as if he was about to leap over the couch.

Kim cringed away before she could stop herself, tucking her shoulders up to her neck. Her foot caught the stool and she tripped backwards, slamming her hand down on the table behind her to catch her fall. The noise echoed around the house, cutting through the silence.

Deep hurt resigned itself over Jared's sharp features. A low pitched otherworldly whine slipped through his down turned lips. Kim heard his back teeth clack together as he clamped his mouth shut around it. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood to full attention, her body instinctively reacting to her growing fear.

Kim didn't want him near her. Searching deep for any bravery that might possibly remain, she turned around, giving Jared her back, and started to shuffle her unfinished papers together into her folder. It grew increasingly hard to do the more her fingers began to shake. The folder was damn near to dancing as Kim shoved the last paper in roughly, no longer caring if any edges got bent.

She had been determined to leave on a good note, unlike last time. Kim had been fooling herself.

"You're leaving?" His wild half gasp sounded from a distance, startling her severely. "No, you- I mean, don't. Please," he nearly begged, "Can we just talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about," Kim said crisply, hoping he would take the hint and drop it, as he had every other time.

But her grace period seemed to have ended. "Kim, please," he tried again, "Please just talk to me."

"What do you want me to say?" Kim was annoyed now, feeling combative, wishing he'd let it go. "Huh?" She continued on relentless voice growing louder, "What, Jared! What can I say?" Kim's breathing was harsh and her chest was heaving while her frustration and other unexplainable emotions slammed themselves into her mental barriers.

Jared on the other hand, was completely still, hanging over the back of the couch. He had frozen at her raised voice; she had never been loud around him before. She saw his pulse, fast in his throat. The cushions sank down into canyons beneath each of his fingertips as he squeezed them as easily as a sponge. The fabric looked close to ripping.

Kim, horrified, couldn't help but imagine- What if that had been her arm?

Moisture gathered in her eyes, threatening to spill over. The tears made her eyes sting and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep Jared in focus in case he pounced. Kim could feel an anxiety attack brimming on the edge of her consciousness. She swiped at her eyes desperately and Jared's whole form blinked back to her.

Tortured couldn't even describe it. Jared looked like he was sent straight to the pits of hell, pain burning through each angle on his face. He swallowed thickly, roughly un-sticking his fingers from where they had pierced through the fabric.

She didn't have a clue, couldn't even begin to understand- "Kim," his voice was surprisingly gentle compared to how tightly he was still wound. "Kim, I would never hurt you." He assured her.

Jared's vow was lost on Kim. She had been hurt since the minute he imprinted. If it wasn't for the imprint, he wouldn't care about her. Kim felt that truth radiate around in her core and she spun around, clawing for her purse- she needed her car keys. It was essential to her survival that she left immediately.

Kim dropped her folder in her haste. Papers threw themselves out at every direction, pooling around her feet in a twisted puddle. Kim lurched down after them, madly grabbing at whichever papers her hands found first. Her face was beet red now as she uncontrollably shoved at a chair, trying to free the corner of her title page. The chair screeched against the tile floor and the sob that had been gathering in her chest finally poured wildly over.

Kim couldn't see anything through her whirling sobs. She hunched over on her knees, wrapping both arms tightly around her middle, trying to seal the holes of her soul. And that's exactly how Kim felt- like her soul had been ripped apart.

She choked back more tears, only to have the largest sob yet splutter out of her mouth.

A blazing hand on her shoulder made Kim yelp out and sent her scuttling on her hands and knees away from him. He had approached silently and she cowered at Jared's looming height, feeling completely overpowered by the sheer presence of him standing over her. Kim crawled forward in a panic until she was under the center of the table, snot running out of her nose. She sat, pulling her knees in and roped her arms around them, making herself as small as possible.

High pitched distressed keening from somewhere above her made her clasp a shaking hand over her mouth. Her shoulders shook from the force of her cries and she finally had to move her hand, wet with spit, to take in a wild gasp of air.

The four chairs surrounding her made Kim feel claustrophobic. Jared's bare feet got closer to her as each second passed. Kim felt herself compulsively starting to sweat as she grew colder. She blinked through her tears and her brain commanded she focus- she needed to get a hold of herself so she could figure a way out.

Jared's feet stopped directly in front of her, his inhuman whines growing louder and more desperate, and she saw his calves shaking, blurring their form. As fast as she blinked, four paws replaced the two feet and what had been left of his clothes sailed to the floor in shreds. Kim stopped breathing. The click clack, similar to her dog's nails, sounded against clean tiles as the animal took his final step towards her. He paused at the table barrier. The whines were reduced to quiet whimpers.

A huge snout wormed its way under the table, pushing past a chair. It took everything in Kim not to scream. She could only watch, terrified, as a moist black nose twitched her way. The wolf was quiet now, panting deep puffs of hot musky air on her. His mouth lolled open, flashing Kim long pointy incisors larger than her thumb.

Her entire body was taunt, ready to flee at a moment's notice. Her tears had stopped, bone wrenching terror now replacing them.

The wolf took no care, lowering his entire body until his belly touched the floor, outside the boundaries of her makeshift sanctuary. This was the largest animal Kim had ever seen in person, larger than any bear she had encountered. Golden yellow eyes with pinpoint pupils stared up at her, standing out starkly against the dark brown of his fur, which lightened around his chest and neck. The wolf stretched out his vast size and propped himself up on his side. He whined long and low at her, before settling his giant head down on the front of his paws. The wolf hefted out a sigh and half closed his eyes.

Well, fuck. He was blocking her exit. The wolf's body took up most of the kitchen, fencing her in under the table where chairs sat all around her. Anxiety bloomed out, joining her terror. Kim didn't have the faintest idea of what to do. She sat in place, scared to move, until her lower back pleaded for release. She very slowly unclasped her hands from around her legs, putting both feet firmly onto the floor. Kim paused as an ear flicked her way, relieved when nothing else followed.

The wolf seemed to be relaxed, but Kim couldn't tell for sure. Anguish gurgled up noisily, gathering in her throat, churning there and nearly choking her.

The wolf raised his head, suddenly alert. Kim felt herself pale. The wolf whined once more. Lupine eyes that had been golden moments before now swirled with shades of dark chestnut brown. The temperature of the room dropped a noticeable degree and goosebumps broke out all over Kim.

As fast as the wolf had come, he was gone, leaving behind a tangled mess of tanned limbs. Arms and legs and chest and neck and finally, Jared's agonizing face. He was shaky, ashen, and panting, overwhelming distress emanating off of him in palpable waves.

Kim's mouth was wide open, gulping in air as she began to hyperventilate. She pushed herself back as far as the chairs would allow her to go, wanting to keep whatever safety the table was offering her.

"Kim, fuck, I'm so sorr-" His words cut off as Kim's yelp burst from her chest, only now taking in the fact that he was completely naked. Jared moved so fast it was nearly a blur to watch. His entire body vaulted as he pushed himself up into a crouch, balancing on his fists in reaction.

Her eyes snapped down to in between his legs, where a swatch of black hair revealed a full blown erection. Huge and angry looking, with a meaty purple head. It bobbed upwards, bouncing off his stomach. A tiny white bead leaked its way from the tip and raced down the side of his bulbous mushroom head. The entire phallus twitched towards her, as if sensing its mate were near.

And that's when Kim screamed.

She flung herself backwards with no hesitation, crashing face first into the closest chair. She scrabbled forwards, kicking out with her back legs, afraid he would grab her.

Her scream cut off as she pounded down the front door, losing her balance and tumbling down the front steps. She landed on her stomach, the wind knocked out of her. Her jeans ripped open at both knees, blood already making its way down her legs. She paid it no mind, not even registering the pain.

Kim was in full on flight mode. Desperately trying to catch her breath, Jared's close yells pushed her upwards. His shouts, impossible for her to decipher, were hot on her heels as she ran as fast as she could down the rock driveway. She ran past his truck and then past her car, her keys inside, and took off down the private dirt road.

Kim barely had any clue as to where she was going. She didn't even know Sam's address. She had blindly followed Jared here, at the time not wanting to be in the same car. Stupid! So stupid! She admonished herself now. Her purse with her phone inside was still on the table.

A long howl sounded from somewhere to Kim's left, where the trees were thickest. Her legs were starting to burn, but the main road was almost in sight. Kim pushed herself even faster, panting vigorously, pumping her arms as fast as she could manage.

Almost there, almost there- two more howls, overlapping each other, forced themselves into the sky from directly in front of her. Kim skidded to a stuttering halt. She clutched her side, fighting against her body to pull air into her lungs. Her skull was pounding.

An answering howl from behind her rang through the air again. It was close. Looking around wildly, Kim saw Jared's figure slowly make its way out of the tree line to her right. He was wearing shorts this time, hanging loosely off his hips. He held his hands up in front of himself, as if he was under arrest. His muscles rippled threateningly.

Kim retreated back a few steps, whipping her head around as a branch snapped behind her. Her eyes bulged at the sight of the grey wolf. Kim choked down a wail, sidestepping and nearly tripping over her mountainous fear. The wolf sat himself down on his hindquarters, not making a move closer.

It did nothing to dispel Kim's attempts to bolt.

She darted a few paces back the way she had come and pulled herself into a rough stop a second later when yet another wolf emerged, seemingly out of nowhere. This one was monstrous. Pure jet black and huge. Big, if not bigger, than the grey wolf mere yards away from her. This wolf mimicked the grey wolf, sitting down in front of her path, effectively fencing her in.

"Kim," Jared's voice was pleading, calling out to her. Kim whipped her head around at him, where he was still making his way slowly towards her, palms up. "Please. I am so fucking sorry, baby. Please just let me fix this."

Tears flowed freely like rivers down both sides of her face. Kim's emotions run rampant through her like a hurricane. Even she couldn't identify what she was feeling, other than the fact that she was scared shitless. She shook her head with all her might, some strands of her shoulder length brown hair sticking to her wet cheeks.

Both wolves moved simultaneously in her peripherals, as if trying to herd her towards Jared.

Kim clumsily took a half step towards him, a half sob bottling itself out of her chest. Between him or either of the wolves...

Pain was radiating from her knees now, as well as her wrists, which had caught the brute end of her fall. She sniffled miserably when Jared finally approached her to within reaching distance. She was officially caught.

Alarm sliced through her. How would Jared react to her fleeing from him? Imprints weren't supposed to do that. He'd be furious at her, she just knew it.

"It's okay, Kim, I promise." Jared spoke with reverence. "I'm going to fix this, I promise. Please, please, will you come back with me?" His entire body was bowed before her, for once, not seeking her eyes. His hands trembled at his sides with veracity. Kim knew that meant his wolf was close to the surface, trying to claw its way out.

The grey wolf stood up, shaking out his fur. Even though the gesture was seemingly harmless, Kim was harshly reminded of his giant size.

She didn't have much choice. With a wolf on either side of her, she nodded her head mutely at Jared, swiping at her tears. She followed him, keeping a safe distance, back up the dirt road.

Kim was proud at how far she had ran. Walking back now felt like torture. Her legs were jelly and her knees were searing hot with pain. Kim took turns massaging both bruised wrists, keeping a watchful eye on Jared's broad shirtless back the entire time. His muscles flexed and bunched under her stare, as if he felt her eyes boring into him.

If only she could believe he would actually be able to fix things.

Jared went inside the house first and stepped back, holding the front door open for her. Terrible anticipation shivered down her spine. Kim took a shaky breath in, and stepped through the threshold.

His eyes narrowed at her shiver, of course he had noticed it.

Jared stalked out of the room, leaving Kim alone in the kitchen. She pulled out a chair closest to the door and gingerly sat herself down in it, hissing through her teeth. Kim stretched out both of her legs ever so slowly, feeling her knees protest the movement. She looked down at herself and grimaced. Her right knee had absorbed most of the impact, skin so torn to shreds it was completely gone in one particularly deep gash. Bits of dirt and gravel were stuck inside and around the wound. Blood was still oozing out and what skin was left looked puffy and swollen. Her left knee had fared better, if only slightly. Bruises were already beginning to form.

Jared came back into the kitchen, holding a first aid kit. He shuddered at the sight of her. Kim could only imagine what she must look like to him. Wide bloodshot eyes, tangled windswept hair, bleeding from multiple injuries...she didn't even want to know what he thought of her in that moment. She was his imprint, and she had Ran From Him. She had done the one thing she knew for certain to never do.

He placed the kit on the table and opened it wordlessly. His fingers plucked out antiseptic and several large bandages. Jared kneeled before her fluidly, so that they were the same height. His lips pulled back from his teeth as his eyes roamed over her knees, taking in the damage.

"Can I-" He swallowed loudly, overcome. "Will you let me help you?"

Kim blanched in her seat. His hands were still trembling ever so slightly and he looked up at her, clearly distressed. Vulnerability shone through his eyes, "The wolf-" he cut himself off, choking, rocking back on his heels. His pecs jumped under his skin.

Kim felt her heart wrench unexpectedly. "What?" she mouthed. The only sound Kim heard was the rushing blood gathering in her ears. Incomprehensible emotions gathered tightly in her chest. Mostly, Kim felt overwhelming sadness. She felt so hopeless and lost, her heart was aching.

Jared blinked his eyes back to her, his torment laid bare before her.

From some unknown place, Kim found herself nodding her head, ever so slightly. "Okay." She acquiesced, voice thick.

Jared didn't give her a second to change her mind. Long hot trembling fingers were on her legs at once, his touch gentle. Kim flinched back, the heat too much for her ruined knees, which felt warm enough to be steaming. "Shhh," Jared crooned, trying to comfort her, "It's okay."

He inspected the damage with a hawk- or rather, a wolf's- eye. He made another soft crooning noise as he hooked his index finger through the hole in her jeans at her right knee. Without asking, in an instant the material shredded under his careful ministrations, leaving a clean tear. The fabric bunched at her shoe, exposing her knee and below to Jared. He ignored Kim's weak mumbling protests and repeated the act on her left.

The hairs on her legs stood at attention under his eyes roaming eyes. Kim's fingers itched to cover her skin, growing increasingly uncomfortable the longer he stared. Fresh blood trickled its way down her calf, no longer being absorbed by her ruined pants. Jared snapped out of whatever spell he had been under.

Jared winced sympathetically. "Ouch." He took a closer, more inspecting look. "I think it might be better if I'm able to rinse everything off first."

Kim couldn't help but agree. Dirt seemed to have lodged itself into even the smallest scratches. "Okay," she resigned herself. "Where, the tub?" She asked, heaving herself out of the chair.

Stinging pain made standing hurt badly. Kim buckled her knees to try and ease the tension off of her joints and stooped low to untie her shoes. She made it only a few hobbles towards the bathroom before Jared's two large hands gently grabbed her around the waist.

Kim sucked her stomach in abruptly, trying to squirm herself out of Jared's steadfast hold. His arm made no movements and Kim gave up, disheartened, after a final squirm. She was no match for his brute strength. He shuffled closer to her now, so close Kim could smell him. Earthy and musky and raw. It shouldn't have surprised Kim when he lifted her, but it did, sending a squeak out through her lips.

His soft muttered crooning noises dripped down to her, and his breath,- not unlike the wolf's- puffed heavily against her chest, flowing under her shirt collar. Jared scooped an arm underneath her knees and huddled her fully against himself, easily baring her weight.

Kim's thudding heartbeat felt like a stampede in her chest. This was the closest she had ever been to him; the longest they had ever touched. Kim could feel the hard ridges of his abs, the steel plane of his chest. Jared walked to the bathroom as if he were a machine. Kim felt like a captured bride and all she could do was loop one arm around the back of his neck and just hang on.

She sat on the edge of the tub as Jared fiddled with the water temperature. The lukewarm water felt cool against her skin in comparison to how Jared's hands burned her. Awkward silence filled the air, only disturbed by the sound of running water.

As Jared gently rinsed out her cuts, a different type of pain started to form in Kim. Stabbing guilt weathered itself inside Kim's chest. Thick fat tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes, landing in her lap, one after the other. Kim rubbed a tear off her cheek, trying to stop the onslaught.

Jared's hand wrapped around her lower back and hesitated behind her, before carefully touching her for a fleeting moment, before he tore it away."I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he hushed over her, misunderstanding her tears, "I'm almost done, please, I'm so sorry."

He was tender, caring. Still.

"Why-"Kim bit her tongue immediately, horrified.

"Why, what?" Jared asked her lowly. His deep voice was hard for Kim to hear fully over the water. He switched to her left knee. "Almost done," he murmured, reassuring her. Kim sat in silence, shoving back tear after tear, looking pointedly at anywhere but Jared. And he was hard to ignore. She kept having to wrench her eyes away. They were being drawn to him as if he were magnetized.

"Why...?" Kim trailed off, no more than a whisper. Silence stretched on. Kim was just starting to think Jared hadn't heard her over the water when he spoke.

"You know why." Jared's face was absolute steel.

Kim shivered dangerously. Her entire body felt like an arrow of alertness, pulled taught on a string.

"But-But I ran." Kim stuttered, trying to get some clarity. Her entire face burned with shame. She knew her cheeks would be flaming red. "Imprints aren't...supposed to do that."

Jared yanked the water off suddenly, angling his body away from her. The move surprised Kim and she fell off the back of the tub, legs caught at the knees. Viscous pain hissed through her legs, settling under her heart, which felt like it was about to break.

Kim saw his shoulders shaking and felt her gut wrench when she heard him suck in a breath through his nose. She was halfway to reaching his shoulder before she yanked her hand back, overcome by just how inappropriate it felt to be touching him in such a vulnerable moment. After only two days, she had finally reduced him to tears.

A thought that left her mind whirling and made her heart ache. She hadn't asked for this, but in that moment, in finally dawned on her that Jared hasn't asked for this either. Kim felt like she was being sawed in half. She hadn't even offered him one iota of trust.

"Do you know why?" She jumped at the question from the floor. Jared repeated himself, his bloodshot eyes locking with hers. "Do you know why you shouldn't run?"

Kim could only shake her head.

"It's agony for the wolf." Jared spoke directly to her soul. "To have your-" He shook his head, pain etched over his features. "To have my imprint," he spoke with vengeance, "run from me...and you're hurt?" Jared held his face in his hands. He spoke through his fingers, "It's unbearable. The wolf doesn't understand. I don't understand." Jared lifted his head up and Kim's breath caught.

He looked miserable. She had done that. Guilt rebounded through her bones, hitting her full force.

"What can I do, Kim?" His voice was pleading. "I can't stand that you're scared of me." Jared bared his teeth before smoothing it over as Kim's heartbeat sailed on. "I can tell you don't like me, and it's killing me." He ground out. Jared widened his arms out, shaking now, like he was going through withdrawals, showing her the physical evidence of his truth. "Tell me what I have to do and I'll do it, I promise."

Kim scooted back away from him, still half spilled out of the tub. "Let me leave." Kim spoke to her ruined knees, unable to look at his agony for a second longer, "Just let me go home. I'll come back tomorrow, but pl-please," her voice broke. "Please, just let me go home."

A sorrowful whine slipped from his lips. Jared's physical being looked crushed. "If that's what you want."

"It is." Kim assured him quickly, not daring to hope. Would he actually let her go?

Jared blinked slowly, once, twice, and finally stood up. "Okay."

He stepped over her, bloody knees and scared eyes, and walked out of the bathroom without another word, leaving her behind.