SOPHIE'S POV

I was relieved when we finally got home. I was terrified that Paul was going to shift inside a moving vehicle, killing Jacob and me in the process. As soon as the truck stopped, I realised I couldn't get out until someone moved. And neither of them did for a while. "Guys?" I asked cautiously. They both immediately turned to look at me. "Aren't we supposed to be getting out of the truck?" I asked. They both then leapt out of the truck to help put my stuff in my new room. I sat in there alone for a while. I didn't want to go inside yet. I was too afraid of facing the truth. Whilst deep in thought, I heard the door open beside me, causing me to swiftly turn my head. My father smiled at me.

"Hey Soph." He smiled. I returned the smile gladly, trying to pretend for a moment that I wanted this. He didn't buy it.

My father sat beside me. "I know you didn't ask for this, Sophie. But neither did the others. You have to live with what you get." I understood what he meant, but I really didn't need a lecture. Not now.

"I never wanted to be a wolf. And I still don't now." I stated. Without another word, he left me sitting there.

None of them understood. They all took it in their stride. Found a way to love it. But when I shifted for the first time, I was afraid of myself. I had no control of my anger. Who knows what could've happen had I hurt someone? I would've hated myself. Finally, I climbed out of the truck and headed inside.

My room was the same as when I'd left when I was eleven. There were purple walls with plain furniture. Above the desk was a cork board which I had stuck random slips of paper of using pins. Even though I lived here longer, I never felt like this was home. For some reason, I didn't fit. A piece in the wrong puzzle box. In LA, I felt safe and as if I belonged. I stared at the boxes around the room, before clambering onto the bed. Curling up with a pillow, I shut my eyes and cried.

JACOB'S POV

I sat with the rest of the pack, stuffing our faces full of food. I glanced at the couples in the room, and sighed inside. I wish that Sophie had acted on our imprint, like the others. I know she had only just arrived, but I know she felt it too. I noticed Paul across the room, glaring at me. "What's your problem?" I asked. Paul rose from his seat.

"You imprinted on my sister." He growled. Everyone looked over at me.

"Yeah." I confirmed his fears. "And she imprinted on me too."

I watched the vein on his forehead pop out. Luckily, Rachel placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. He turned away from me to face Rachel. "Now you know how he felt." She reasoned. Paul just shook his head.

"I only just got her home, and he has some damn claim on her. She's my baby sister!" He yelled, facing me again. There was an icy silence, as Paul and Rachel sat down. I followed by also taking a seat. The guys then all started talking, distracting from the situation.

I felt an ache in my chest. I immediately shot to my feet. "Something's wrong." I stated. None of the guys reacted. Except Paul. "Yeah. You imprinted on my baby sister." He was such a child. He couldn't even let me and Sophie be happy. Finally, Sam spoke up. "You are in pain when your imprint is in pain." He explained. My mouth formed an 'o' shape. And then I bolted from the house.

I got to their house in barely any time. Mr Lahote wasn't home, so I opened the door and let myself in. I knew she was here. And I knew she could tell I was here. I watched as she wandered out of her bedroom, tears streaming down her cheeks and mascara smudged under her eyes. Her hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders, messy from where she had obviously been lying down. Her chocolate brown eyes were narrowed. To me, I had never seen anyone so beautiful.

"What do you want?" She asked. I began to step forward, but she backed away.

"I wanted to see if you were okay." That answered rewarded me with a scoff and an eye roll.

"Look, I get that you feel you have to look out for me. But you don't." She explained confidently. This hurt me. So I turned away. But before I left the house, she spoke again.

"I'm sorry"

My ears were burning. Did she just… apologise? That was not a Lahote quality.

I turned back. "I know you are freaked out by all of this. But I will be here for you." This seemed to relieve her.

She smiled slightly. "Friends?" I nodded. It was a start. It gave me a chance to get to know her. To understand her. And it gave her the chance to be more comfortable here before being a part of the pack.

"So… friend. What now?" She asked.

I grinned. "I have something in mind."

SOPHIE'S POV

We sat on the floor of my room, playing cards against humanity. I looked at the black card and laughed. 'I got 99 problems but _ ain't one'. I watched Jacob carefully. He was also watching me with caution. He finally placed at card down. 'Morgan Freeman's voice'. I laughed at his choice.

"Very nice." I complimented. "But I can do better."

This awarded me a raised eyebrow of curiosity. So I placed my card down. 'An erection that lasts longer than four hours'. Jacob immediately started laughing. "Okay. You win." He had won 3, I had won 7. It was nice to just hang out as friends, no pressures of being together. Though… The imprinting had made me all fuzzy around him which annoyed me.

"Can I ask you a question?" He asked.

"You just did." I joked. "But okay."

"Why are you so against being a wolf?" I sighed at his question. I wasn't surprised he asked me. None of them could really get it.

"My mom and dad always told me about the legends and how they were true. Paul was always fascinated and wanted to be a warrior. I was just scared." Jacob's eyes widened in shock. "I was scared that people were give those kinds of powers and the fact that they could abuse it and kill people." I looked up at him. "I know you guys protect the innocent, but tell me that there hasn't been one day, one incident, where an innocent got hurt because of the wolves." He looked me dead in the eye and no words came out. "I knew it." I whispered.

Jake then grabbed my hands, forcing me to look at him. "I know you're scared of us. I know you're scared of yourself. But please just try and understand." He attempted to explain. "We are not bad people. We have been thrown this like you and-"

"I know, but you guys have accepted it. You've come to terms with it and embraced it." I cut in.

"No, we haven't." This shocked me.

"We have all accepted it, yes. But we don't love it. We just do what we have to do to help everyone else." He was sincere in this, which was stunning.

I looked at him, confused. "But I thought… I figured you guys just loved being wolves."

He smiled slightly. "Love having anger problems? Love having to cut our hair? Love having this crazy gene which turns us into animals? Not really. But we learnt to control it because we wanted to use what we'd been given in a good way."

I was impressed. These guys were like me. I didn't even think about them. I was just being a selfish child, not realising the good I could do with this… thing. But I still couldn't bare to shift. Not yet at least. I leant over and kissed Jacob's cheek. His face froze in shock. "Thank you." I smiled.

"Now, best out of fifteen?" I teased.