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Important Chapter! Hope you like it!

"Breathe in for luck. Breathe in so deep. This air is blessed, you share with me. This night is wild, so calm and dull. These hearts, they race, from self-control." -Dashboard Confessional, Hands Down

KPOV

"So there's this thing tonight that I have to go to…" Jared trailed off. We were sitting in AP US at the back table doing partner work and I happened to be conveniently partnered with Jared.

"And…" I kind of thought I knew where he was going with this.

"And…I want you to come with me." I wanted to say yes almost immediately; the girl that was in love with Jared Taylor was screaming yes. The rational side of me wasn't having any of that.

"Well, where is it you would like me to go with you?" I asked reasonably.

"It's a bonfire on first beach and it's mandatory for some of us. I don't really feel like going but if you're with me it'll be better," he smiled at me. I couldn't resist. It was just a bonfire; we'd be going as friends. And, really, who could resist when he asked like that.

He looked anxious as I thought it over. "Yeah, I'll go with you. What time?"

"I'll pick you up at seven."

"Okay, I'll see you at seven," I said just as the bell rang, effectively ending our conversation. He left with a final wave and disappeared into the hallway, although his six-foot-something form was easy to spot retreating out of the side doors.

I was going to a bonfire with Jared Taylor. What was I going to wear…why did I care what I wore to a bonfire? Dear God he's turning me into one of those girls. I hate those girls. You know those girls, don't act like you don't.

I refuse to be one of those girls. I stopped at my locker quickly and headed to the barn. I had three to ride for Monica and my three. It was twenty to three now and I had to be home by six…that was six horses in three hours. There was no way that was happening. I picked up the phone and called Mina but there was no answer. She had been researching in the library with Paul…yeah, researching the inside of his mouth.

I was in a serious tight spot but I would be damned if I let Jared and his impossibly gorgeous smile disturb my perfectly attuned schedule. I called everyone and anyone who would be willing to ride Fiona and Jazz so I could ride whoever Monica had me scheduled for but no one could do it. I just needed them to go! This was incredibly frustrating; I was torn between wanting to call Jared and telling him we'd have to reschedule and skipping out on riding. I had never not ridden due to something other than being sick or indisposed.

I flew towards Split Tree, pushing my luck with the always wet roads. I pulled into the parking lot and sprinted into the tack room, people giving me questioning looks as I passed. I changed quickly in the locker room and ran to the whiteboard with our assigned horses on it.

But there was nothing written next to my name. Nothing.

I didn't want to get my hopes up yet so I hurried down East Barn and into Monica's office. She was sitting at her desk looking over some papers when I barged in.

"What's wrong?" Was her immediate response.

"I have no one to ride?"

"Nope, Corey and Finn are getting new shoes put on so I needed to use Niko and Twister in their lessons and I have someone here to try out Fiona so you don't have to ride her. Oh! I almost forgot! There's someone who's here to try Jazz!" I honestly could not believe my luck. I wasn't going to start asking questions, though.

"Do you have someone to take care of him?" I asked hurriedly.

"Yeah, I was going to do it," Monica replied while standing up. I nearly knocked her over I hugged her so hard.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are the best barn manager ever! Remind me I have to take you out to dinner soon because I really, really need to thank you! Okay, gotta go, bye!" I still couldn't believe this! I could ride two horses in three hours no problem.

"You're welcome?" Was Monica's confused reply but I was out the door running down the aisles already.

I was fidgety and nervous. It was 7:03 already and I was dressed and ready, trying not to act like this was a big deal. Because going to a bonfire with a really gorgeous guy that I've really liked for the past four years is not a big deal at all…nope, not at all. I had changed my outfit three times and I know I'm going to wish I had kept the first one on later.

I was happy though. I had found a flow-y white tank top and a pair of white wash jeans in the back of my closet that gave off a laid back yet pretty aura. I had done my nails in a light pink and my hair was down. I put a small amount of make up on and searched for a pair of acceptable flip-flops.

It was 7:08 now as I looked myself up and down in the mirror, assessing and analyzing my posture and mannerisms. I didn't want to be too laid back but I didn't want it to look like I was going to one of those dinners my father always went to with his law firm. I wanted to be just right and no matter how hard I tried to find excuses, I wanted to be just right for Jared.

And then I heard it. The door bell. It never sounded so foreboding. The full weight of apprehension fell onto my chest and I felt those clichéd butterflies. My butterflies weren't fluttering though, mine were freaking cage fighting.

I grabbed a blue sweater from the hook in the foyer and opened the door slowly. I couldn't think of anything to say except for "Hey."

"Hey, you look…just, wow," Jared smiled at me. I glanced quickly over him as he did me and I smiled at him wearing my favorite light ones that hung low on his hips and he only wore when he went to a party. I loved those jeans; mostly because when he would play football on the beach at some summer festivity that Mina had invited me to, he would throw off his shirt and I got to see the gorgeous 'V' that led down from his abs to the…nether regions. But I was getting ahead of myself. He was also wearing this tight white tee-shirt that showed off his pecks gloriously.

"Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself," I smiled back.

"Come on, I'm late, and Sam might kill me…or worse." He took my hand and we headed towards his old black truck. He opened the door for me like a true gentleman and I could almost feel myself beginning to swoon. I held it in though and buckled myself in as Jared hopped in the driver's side.

"I'm really happy you came with me. It's going to be boring, the elders just tell old stories and we make burnt food but if I have to suffer through that, at least I have company."

"Sure, sure, make your innocent friend suffer through that with you, real nice Jared," I joked with him.

"Alright so maybe I'm exaggerating a little but I make no promises. There might not be anything actually edible and I'd rather not poison you just yet."

"Yeah, you're right; you're going to have to save that stuff for next week. This week you can just bore me to death." He laughed and we were nearly to the beach so I just smiled and let a comfortable silence hang.

"Now I must warn you, you might meet some scary people but don't worry, I'll protect you."

"Yeah, okay, Macho Man. I think I can handle it. You should probably save the scary people for after the food poisoning, though." He laughed and took my hand again. I couldn't help but smile at the feeling of his ridiculously warm hand enveloping mine.

We walked a ways down the wooded path that led to the beach and finally reached a break where the sand met the dirt. There were people gathered around a fire but it wasn't quit dark yet so I could make out some familiar faces.

There was Sam Uley sitting next to Old Quil and Billy Black who was seated next to the Harry and Sue Clearwater, all members of the council. Then I saw Paul sitting on a log a little down from Emily Young, Sam's fiancée. There were a few others scattered about that I didn't recognize. Jared walked over to Sam and Emily and they stood up immediately.

"So this is the Kim Jared's been talking about all week! Nice to meet you," Sam's stony face broke into a grin that made his whole face look a whole lot younger. I looked over at Jared as I shook Sam's hand and his face had the most adorable red tinge to it.

"This is my fiancée, Emily." Emily smiled at me and shook my hand as well.

"Nice to meet you, Emily."

"Yes, nice to finally meet you, Kim. Jared has not stopped talking about you. Would you like something to eat; you'd better grab something before the boys eat it all, they're like savages," she laughed in a motherly way and I was instantly attracted to her. Jared blushed a little darker.

"Trust me, I know. I've never seen someone devour three trays of cafeteria food each faster than Paul and Jared have." She laughed and I smiled at the good start we were getting off on. Jared began talking to Sam as Emily led me over to the tables of food. I got a good glance at her face up close and nearly shuddered at the thought of what happened to her. I didn't stare though, everyone knew what happened to her and it's not like I hadn't seen her before around town. She even came down to Split Tree with her nieces once.

"So tell me, what do you think of Jare-Bear?" I laughed at her nick-name and tucked it in the back of my mind for later. I didn't know how to answer her question, though. I couldn't just tell her I've been in love with someone that I made up in my mind that was essentially Jared for more than four years.

"He's…I don't know. He's just Jared, you can't really explain him." I smiled.

"Oh, come on Kim! I'm dying here! I haven't had a good girl talk in a long time! All my friends and family are up in Neah Bay on the Makah rez.! Please, I'm begging you!" I couldn't help but laugh at her need for some company and conversation. Sam doesn't exactly look like the talkative type.

"Alright, alright. I don't know, we've always hung out in the same circle of friends. We just never actually hung out. But if you want to know a secret, I've had my eyes on him for at least a couple of years." I tried to make it sound like I wasn't totally in love with him and give Emily something to go on at the same time.

"I swear that boy is oblivious! It's really hilarious; he cannot stop talking about you. And to think you guys have been friends with the same group of people for so long."

"I blame the Y chromosome. I have patience, thank God." She laughed and we proceeded to talk about this and that and I couldn't help but really like Emily. She was a lot like Mina-impossible to dislike. She talked about Jared in a motherly way, almost, and I loved her nick name for him. Jare-Bear. It really was putting some cuteness into his absolute sexy and it only attracted me further, if that was possible.

Emily and I had just finished eating and we were talking with Jared and Sam when Billy Black cleared his throat, silencing us immediately. It was weird that any member of the elders had that ability. A commanding presence about each of them, it seemed.

And then Billy Black started to talk, reciting the legends perfectly in a majestic voice that captured the attention of everyone on the beach. I only knew a few of the legends from what my mother used to tell me but I could tell this was different. There was an ancient manner that took over the air around the beach, excluding us and taking us into the stories like a time machine. And I was incredibly happy that Jared was the one sitting next to me.

Before I knew it, Billy's voice faded and the air became normal again. It was lighter and calmer. Jared nudged me from my revere and asked me to take a walk with him.

He led me into the woods, his huge calloused hand clasped around mine. My head was still reeling from the stories told in Billy Black's rupturing voice. My stomach was full and the warmth of flames made my body feel flushed. The heat was bringing about a friendly feeling of fuzziness that engulfed my whole body. Jared pulled me further into the forest, not enough for the voices of the bonfire to fade out but just enough that the silence of the wooded area was noticeable.

The fuzziness was accompanied by anticipation. Jared's pressure on my hand was growing as he led me further along the path that lay parallel to the coast line, pulling branches out of my way and steadying me on the uneven footing. I knew this path well, having traveled it on horseback and sometimes with Mina but it felt different with Jared somehow, like I didn't know where I was going in the darkness, that I would be lost if he weren't here leading me.

We reached a log on the outer edge of the path and he settled himself, my hand still attached to his. I sat next to him and played with his fingers so that they were laced through my mine and started to draw patterns on the large expanse between his wrist and knuckles. His hands were huge. He took a deep breath but didn't say anything. I knew he brought me out here to tell me something and it was obviously important so I gave him time to plan out what he was going to say.

We sat on the log for a few more minutes until he spoke. "What if I told you the legends were true?" He asked, his face completely serious.

"I'd say you need your head examined." Well that was extremely tactful...not.

"Okay that's expected but you need to hear me out and not run or ask any questions until I'm done," he said. Done with what? Why the hell couldn't I ask questions? If I was going to need to ask questions, I wasn't going to remember them all if I had to wait until the end of what he was indicating to be a long speech. He took another deep breath.

"You know how in the legends the men could shape-shift?" I nodded. "Well, I'm a descent of Taha Aki and because we are threatened by the 'cold ones'- I'll explain about them later-I can phase into the form of a wolf and I exist to destroy them. I belong to a pack, the alpha being Sam, and we exist to protect the tribe, just like the spirit warriors did. I know it's a lot to take in but I'm telling you this for a very important reason."

I was momentarily stunned by his proclamation. And then my body was engulfed with fury, all traces of the earlier warmth and excitement gone. "Are you fucking kidding me? That's just low, even for you. I know you seem to think that you're better than everyone because you know how to throw a fucking football but to think that you are allowed to get a laugh at my expense is absolutely unacceptable, you ignorant asshole,'' I raised my voice at him and stood immediately, hoping to channel rage into my words... I wasn't exactly threatening at my 5'3'' stance but maybe my words would bring shame and humiliation instead of intimidation.

The least I could do was wound his ego and maybe insult his intelligence. Had this whole week been planned out with him and his friends because they were bored? Was this amusement to them? That was the only logical explanation. I knew this was too good to be true.

I was overwhelmed by the urge to hit him really hard. I mean really, was he serious 'Oh, I'm a werewolf'. Fucking idiot. I knew that I was strong, wrestling around with 1,500 pound animals does that to you, but Jared was ripped... I definitely could not do any damage and I probably couldn't out-run him. I had wrenched my hand away when I stood and I wound it back and slapped him hard across the face. Too bad I hit a freaking cement wall. "Mother Fucker!" I screamed. He winced like he was in pain. Good. I hope he felt that, because I sure as hell did. He was trying to get some words in now. "Wait, Kim, no! It's not like that, I'm telling the truth! What kind of jerk do you think I am?!"

"A really big one, and I can't believe I was so stupid to trust one of you. God, you are all just a bunch of self-centered, selfish, oblivious, arrogant morons!"

"Kim! Wait! Stop!" He was trying to grab my hand again, but I was already walking away. I hate Jared Taylor with an ungodly passion. And now my hand was throbbing. God-dammit.

Jared had tried to follow me and kept telling me his bullshit story. I bet he had a camera in his pocket or something that he could show to his friends later and they could all have a laugh about it. I finally told him that I would call the police if he didn't stop following me. He finally slowed from my speedy pace and slunk into the woods.

He actually looked really sad... like he wished he had gotten me to believe him... probably so he could tell me I was really a witch with super magical powers; my reaction to that would have been really funny. Yeah, he forgot that I wasn't part of his fucking bimbo filled fan-club - even though I swooned at the near thought of him - and actually had a brain that I utilized often. God I was so pissed.

When I reached the bonfire, I grabbed my bag and thanked everyone for having me. Emily gave me her number and told me to call her if I ever needed anything or just wanted to hang out. She really seemed nice enough and Sam looked like a no-bullshit kind of guy, so why was Jared such an ass? Before I got a chance to say goodbye to Paul he glared at the space next to me and sighed, jogging into the woods presumably to look for Jared.

My hand was still throbbing as I walked into the makeshift parking lot. I contemplated keying Jared's car but that seemed childish and immature... which I was totally okay with but my anger levels were receding marginally so I decided against it.

Split Tree was only a ten minute walk from first beach, barely a half-mile in distance. I walked with my arms crossed the entire time, scowling into the darkness. How could I have been so stupid? We had had a great time the past week. I bet that was all part of the plan. 'Let's see how long we can get Kim to think Jared's into her and then we'll try and get her to believe some stupid story about spirit wolves so we can record it and make her look like a fool!' I don't care how nice Jared's smile is or how dark his eyes, I was not one to be toyed with. I wasn't here for Jared or anyone else's entertainment. Just thinking about it made my blood boil. I needed to expend some energy before I hurt someone.

I needed to ride. I could ride Nova, an old friend; someone to enjoy myself on. I could ride Fiona who would probably not appreciate being ridden at this late hour. Or I had Jazz who was perfect for getting the hell beaten out of him. He was too hard headed to be a good boy and since he hadn't been ridden for a good long time today he was sure to be full of energy. Jazz it was.

I headed into South Barn and flicked the switch. The sudden light didn't seem to bother the horses and I was grateful that it was just me in the barn. I hurried into the locker room and opened the big wooden box that held my clothes. It was late, so I doubted that anyone was here. I changed quickly and threw my hair into my helmet, picked up my tack and made my way through the aisles of West Barn until I reached the last stall in the furthest aisle down.

Jazz was munching his hay happily, looking excited to see me. He approached the gate and lifted his head over, obviously wanting a peppermint or at least a carrot. I opened the wrapper of an old starlight mint and held my palm out for him to take. His ears perked forward even more, if that was possible. I laughed when he licked my hand, a 'more, please?' gesture. I opened his gate and slipped his halter on, running my hand over the name plate, 'Adrenaline Rush' it read.

Adrenaline rush was right, if you could stay on long enough to get one. Jazz and I had reached an agreement a while ago on who was boss, I still have the bruises to prove it. His head was already held high and I could tell he was gonna be full of himself when we got to the ring. He'd be upset that he didn't have an audience.

I took my time brushing off Jazz's dark grey coat and tacking him with my best stuff. He pranced to the ring, giddy and excited. Good. I was in need of a challenge right now, something to take my mind off of Jared and his stupid stories that were nothing but legends. I pulled the stirrups down and climbed atop the mounting block. I already knew what was coming. Before he could bolt, I placed my left foot in the stirrup, swung my right leg over, and put a tight hold on the reins. Jazz was not happy. He made it known by bucking all over the ring. It was going to be a long ride.

An hour and a half later, Jazz was finally tired and I was ready to drop dead. I had managed to stay on and get some hardcore training in and my body was feeling it. I was barely paying attention as I walked Jazz back into the barn, heading for his stall. I only noticed Jared when he cleared his throat; I nearly jumped out of my skin. He had a habit of doing that to me. "Jared! What the hell is wrong with you?!" I shrieked. Yes, I am ashamed to say, I shrieked. He looked angry. Good. I hate him.

"Well, since you don't believe me, Sam said I have to show you."

"Wait a minute, Sam is in on this?" I asked.

''Of course! He's the alpha, I told you that!" There was absolute truth burning behind his words, something that was hard to ignore. Goddammit. Before I had time to protest, Jared bounded across the aisle and threw me over his shoulder. Oh, that did it. "Jared Taylor, you put me down this instant, you insufferable, arrogant, conceited, cocky, self-important son-of-a-bitch!" I nearly screamed. He brought me out of the aisle and past the row of turn-outs, to the edge of the forest line.

"Now, I can guarantee that you're tired and want to go home, so if you can just listen to me and let me show you before coming to uneducated conclusions, then we can get passed this and I can tell you why, out of all of the girls in the whole of the world and beyond, you get to know this." The 'uneducated conclusions' part pissed me off... more than I already was. I crossed my arms and raised my chin, indignant.

"Fine, you want to make an idiot of yourself, Jared, go right the fuck ahead, but so help me God, if this is some sort of joke, you're going to need a lawyer."

" Fine," he said, looking relieved, "but you're going to be eating your words. Now, don't move," he said, almost excitedly, jogging into the tree line while taking his shirt off.

"You have 20 seconds!" I yelled after him, making sure he knew that I would not sit here and wait for any significant amount of time for him.

...12, 13, 14, 15- I finished counting when a huge figure, the size of a bear, with shaggy, deep brown fur came walking slowly out of the forest edge. I almost lost my composure. This creature. Huge. And walking towards me. He was horse sized, I laughed at that. Only I would compare a freaking bear to a horse. I wasn't worried about his size. I was worried about the canines sticking out of his muzzle. Those were freaky.

The wolf, I guess it was- judging from the shape of his head, took my laugh as a queue to come a little closer. His tongue lolled out his mouth and he took a tentative step forward. He looked like an old dog I had, Spanky, with his ligh fur. I was comforted by my association and I took a step forward as well. The wolf, now fifteen feet away, bounded over to me and stuck his nuzzle under my hand, asking to be pet.

I could believe in this creature, but I could not believe he was Jared. Something about his animalistic behavior was making him a comfort to me but I still couldn't find Jared in the huge wolf. I looked at his face and his features; the sharp nose, the intimidating canine teeth, the dark fur. I finally met his eyes, really looking deep into them, and I could finally see something in them that made me realize that this was really Jared. They were far too intelligent to be animals; they were kind, like a horses, but held a certain all-knowing presence. It snapped something within me, and I felt the need to talk with him... if this was actually him.

"Go... be a human again," I said, not quite sure how to phrase it. He turned too quickly for my eyes to see and was gone before I could blink. I waited patiently again for him and he came out of the woods a few seconds later. His head was lost in his shirt and he was stumbling blindly over to me. It was comical to watch him, just a normal teenage boy, with such a huge secret. If the legends were accurate, he also had a huge responsibility.

"Told you you'd be eating your words," he grinned down at me. I was still trying to gasp the situation with little success. "You're right, I owe you an apology, and I'm sorry, Jared. I guess it was just so ridiculous and I know how you and your friends like to make fun of people so I jumped to the wrong conclusion," I responded, trying to sound genuine; even when I was, it always came out wrong.

"I understand," he said, taking my hand and leading me back into the barn. "I know how it sounds, and I knew it was going to be difficult, I just figured I would come right out and say it and then I would show you."

"I need you to tell me more, help me understand better. It still seems that wolf and you aren't connected."

"Okay, well you can feel my skin, right? Wolves run at a toasty 108, 109 degrees," he said, holding up his hand, still linked with mine. "And we can run really fast, and we have amazing sight and hearing. It's really incredible, Kim. And the fighting is great for my youngin' self," he was getting really excited now. "Oh! And we can phase at any time, like, just 'poof' and I can turn into a giant fur ball!" He said, throwing his free hand up for emphasis. "As you can see, I have a fantastic body, not to be cocky or anything, but freaking look at me! And that's not even the best part! But we'll get to that later. Patrols suck, but running is fun. Sometimes it feels like I just want to explode and I can't keep myself under control, but keeping calm has become easier. Oh! And when we're all wolves, we can read each others minds, which made for a very awkward couple of weeks..." he babbled.

Silence...

"Any questions?"

"...The fighting?"

"... Well, that's the reason we exist, you heard the stories. 'The Cold Ones'…vampires."

"...Vampires." This wasn't making sense at all. Giant wolves, vampires, what was next? Witches and fairies? Where the hell was I?

"I know, weird right, I was like 'what the fuck?! ' when I first phased, but since I could see inside Sam's head, it was much easier to believe after I had calmed down. It only took me three days..." he said the end sarcastically.

It was hard to take all of this in, but I felt like I knew more and that was comforting to me. I liked knowing everything about everything. It was a slight draw back, but helped me keep myself on the ground. Information was like oxygen, I needed obsessive amounts of it to function. Whatever, it makes me good at school.

"Now, I have to tell you why, you, dearest Kim, get to know all of this," He said. We were now in the aisle and Jazz was waiting patiently for me at the cross ties, ready to be brushed off and put back in his stall. Jared slid down the wall next to me and watched me for a few moments, waiting for a response.

"Why do I get to know?" I asked cautiously, almost afraid of the answer.

"Well, us wolves have this imprinting thing going on, like Taha Aki's third wife. I could live forever if I wanted to, our bodies don't age if we keep phasing, that's why Taha Aki was able to outlive his first two wives, but I have been lucky enough to find my 'third wife' so to speak. It's called imprinting, like I said."

What does that even mean?

"...And you're my imprint..." My thoughts didn't even know where to start.

"I'm not explaining it right. It's like you're the imprint, like a stamp, I guess, forever claiming me. I'm yours, totally and completely, one-hundred-percent Jared is all for you, Kim. When I looked in your eyes in AP US, It was like you just took this huge rubber stamp that said 'Kimberly Morgan's' and that was it." More babbling. More information. Feeling better.

"What do you mean you're all mine?"

"Well I can be whoever you want me to be, a brother, a friend, a confidant... or more. I'm your personal, well, person; I'm completely attached to you. I think you're beautiful, I think you're smart, I think you have a set of balls that are bigger than mine, and I think you should give me a shot. Remember, I'm form fitted to you, so even if I didn't want to, I couldn't stay away from you. But I don't. I want to be right here with you, I want to learn all there is to Kimberly Morgan, and I want you to want the same thing." He said, looking up at me. I could almost feel the confidence building in his voice.

A friend, a brother, a confidant, or more... He's all mine, I could be all of his. He wants to know everything about me, more information, like oxygen, for him. He wants to be here. He's forced to be here. He doesn't get a choice. That's not fair.

"But you're forced, in a way; you have no choice but to need to be here?"

"Yes, and I wouldn't have it any other way." He wants to be here more than he's forced, I told my self, justifying wanting to love him back-being selfish and accepting him being here, instead of letting him go and pushing him away, making him see reason like I should; going against believing in falling in love, not being forced into it. I wanted him to be here, I wanted him to be a brother, a friend, a confidant... and more.

________________________________________________________________

"I can't remember when the earth turned slowly, so I just waited till the lights come on again, I lost my place but I can't stop this story. I'll find my way but until then I'm only spinning."

My phone went off loudly on the night stand next to me. I groaned lightly and stretched my arms above my head before getting out of bed. It was my day off but my dad was coming for dinner, like he did every other Sunday, to check up on me. I checked the clock: 9:30. It usually wasn't a problem to wake up but Jared and I didn't go home until around three in the morning.

I fully understand this werewolf thing now. I knew what happened to Emily and how the wolves themselves didn't necessarily dislike what they were, but they didn't want the same fate for their friends. Jared and I talked for three hours in the barn and he walked me home. He kissed my forehead when we reached the door and said he'd see me tomorrow.

I walked around my bed and jumped when I saw Jared spread eagle on the floor, snoring lightly. It's a wonder I didn't hear him before, since I usually sleep in a very quiet house alone. He still looked tired so I didn't wake him. I skirted around his body and he twitched slightly but didn't move otherwise.

He looked peaceful, younger than his recently acquired twenty-something. He looked like a normal seventeen-year old boy... except the massive body.

I grabbed a pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt from the oak dresser that Jared was in front of, making it hard to open the draws while leaning over him. I looked at his face again, still peaceful. I swear I could watch him sleep all day. It was like being able to observe him at his most vulnerable, when the carefree smile and the loud laugh took a rest. He didn't look so tough and rugged like he usually did. I was lost in my daze of openly staring at his face that I almost tipped the dresser onto him. Snap out of it!

God I was becoming one of those girls, you know, the ones that have their hearts turned to puddles when they look in their boyfriends eyes and think everyone should eat rainbows and poop butterflies and say 'Thats Hot!' or 'OhEmGee'. I hate those girls.

It was hard to wrap my head around the imprinting thing. Jared had explained it thoroughly, don't get me wrong, but I had never had a boyfriend. My horses were always enough for me. And now, someone was in love with me, when we had only first spoken to each other six days ago. I tried not to focus on that. I also tried not to focus on the part that Jared didn't have a choice in this. I felt bad, here I was, 'well just look in my eyes now and I'm going to take away all of your time and effort because I'm your stupid imprint'.

I was scared too. Not for me, but for Jared. How was he coping with this? He had patrols in three hour shifts, sometimes four shifts in one day. And school? How was he going to keep his grades? He was only three weeks into this whole thing and now he had to deal with me as well? And don't even get me started on the vampires. I nearly passed out (because passing out is much more acceptable, in my book, than fainting) when he told me about the stupid leeches; yeah I hated them now... I didn't even know any of these vampires but I hated that they were the reason Jared had to exist as a werewolf. I hated that they took away his choices.

At the same time, life was offering me an 'out' so to say. I held Jared's heart and soul in my hands. He adores everything about me so there is no pressure to have to be what he wants or needs me to be anymore. I can be me, and that's what he is form-fitted to. Just me. That was a good feeling.

I had to, quite literarily, shove Jared out the door after breakfast. He finally woke around 11:30, smelling the lasagna I was making for Dad's Sunday visit. I had made three dozen chocolate-chip pancakes (his favorite breakfast food, as discussed last night) and refused to let them go to waste. I told him I would save some lasagna; it usually got thrown out at the end of the week anyway.

It turned out that he had to fill in for Embry for three hours last night, not that there was much action for any of them... yet. He just happened to be in the vicinity of my house when Paul phased to relieve him and decided he was too tired to go all the way to the other side of the rez., not that its more than a mile walk, and he wanted to check on me. I told him we have a guest bedroom, fully stocked. He said he felt safer when he was closer to me and didn't mind sleeping on the floor.

Everything had to be in tip-top shape, as usual, for Dad. The Lasagna was baking in the oven, the salad was in the fridge, I made iced tea and brought out a bottle of my dads favorite Port Wine. I made all of his favorites, not that my dad needed to be buttered up, but I only saw him once every two weeks and I'm pretty sure it's the only home cooked meal he gets. I put an easy listening CD on and went up stairs to change.

After settling on a turquoise baby-doll top, a pair of skinny black slacks, and ballet flats, I settled on the couch to read. I heard a knock at the door only a few minutes later. A pimply faced guy around my age was standing there with a bouquet of flowers.

"Um Miss. Kimberly Morgan?" he asked.

"Yes."

"These are from a Mr. Jared Taylor."

"Oh, thank you." I said grabbing the flowers from him and handing him five dollars from the side table.

The flowers were gorgeous. He remembered that my favorite flowers are Dahlias and he had them in every color. I smiled at the thought of him calling the florist and asking for Dahlia's. It's not like they were roses or lilies, easy and affordable. There was a small card that read "I love chocolate-chip pancakes, you love Dahlias." Well, I don't think it's necessary to say SA-WOON.

A/N: So? So? So? What are you thinking? I know how you can tell me! They're called reviews and you see that button down there, click it and tell me what you think, please! :)

what Kim's wearing...

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