Chapter 9

Jared

It wasn't the nicest thing I'd ever done but I'd practically died of satisfaction when I saw the look on Tim's face. Today was my first date with Kim and nothing could keep me from smiling. From the first day I'd imprinted on her I'd wanted to tell her everything about me. I was positive that I'd be able to tell her soon. Kim had been very shy when she'd first agreed to go out with me. But slowly I could see she was warming up to the idea.

I shot out of the door and ran to her house feeling a bit crazy but way to happy to care. A million stars sparkled in the sky and I looked up and whispered,

"Thank you."

I got up to the door of Kim's apartment and knocked. When she answered the door she looked somewhat worried but happy. Something about that look pricked at my heart.

"Kim what's wrong? Are you feeling okay?" She looked up and started fumbling with her fingers. That kind of thing might drive some guys crazy but I thought it was very cute, endearing.

"It's nothing!" I gave her a skeptical look and she instantly shrank back. I felt horrible for making her feel small.

"I just don't really think you'd like to hear me talk about it now." I sighed Kim really didn't get it. I would listen to her any time any where.

"Kim I care about what's making you upset and it doesn't make a difference if you tell me now or two weeks from now." She looked down at the ground then back into my face without blinking. Her heated gaze was making my breath become uneven. THINK Morson you idiot Kim has something she wants to talk to you about.

"Well it is Tim…" Okay that kind of did press my buttons. I'd never really hated some one before and now that I do hate someone with all my heart I wished the feeling would go away. "Tim's kind of scaring me I keep getting all these really angry texts and email messages and he's always glaring at me in the hallways," She sucked in some more air, "I really want to be friends but he doesn't want that."

"Well, as much as I hate to say it," NOT, "I don't really see how he's going to go back to being your friend unless he wants to."

"I know," she sighed, "but I'm not ready to give up yet. I'm just a little on edge because he's never sworn at me before."

"He did WHAT?" My hands shook as anger boiled up through me. My insides exploding like lava. I could feel my control slipping. "K-Kim stand away okay. I'm sorry just run away." She did the exact opposite and took a step closer to my vibrating body. No, I wanted to scream, back away! The second she put her hands on my arms the shaking stopped.

"Jared?" She asked her voice quiet. I didn't respond. I'd been so stupid I could've seriously hurt her. She could have had scars on her face like Emily. What would I ever do if I hurt her? "Jared," she whispered. Her voice did such weird things to me.

"Yeah, Look, I'm so sorry Kim. I didn't mean to get all riled up. It's just when I heard the way he was talking to you I got so angry." She faintly smiled and then looked at me.

"So," she grabbed my hand, "does this mean the dates off or are we still going?"

"We're definitely still going."

Kim

The conversation had flown effortlessly between the two of us. Unlike two people who were trying to find common ground we'd always be able to find something interesting about each other. I was so hopelessly in love with him, I always had been. I didn't really even want to date right now I wanted to jump into a relationship and call him my boyfriend. Obviously that might be going a bit fast but I didn't care.

We were walking outside and the cold air might have been a problem if Jared's arms hadn't been around me. There was no need for voices as the snow softly piled up on the streets. I stole a glance over at the forest we were walking beside. My favorite kind of snow, the kind that clings to every branch, was everywhere. My heart beat increased as I though about leaning my head back into his shoulder. Would he push me away? Maybe he would back up and confess that this had all been a joke.

"Kim?" Jared asked as if hearing my heart's indecision.

"Yah," was my smart reply.

All of the sudden a very real and vicious growl erupted from somewhere deep within him. He all but threw me behind him as he lowered his body into a protective position. What was going on? Was I supposed to scream, run or call the police? I tried to look for what Jared saw and peered, as far as my eyes would allow me, into the forest. There, moving softly and agilely through the snow was a pale perfect being. I thought it was an angel until it turned around glowing blood red eyes blinking in the dark.

"Kim," Jared whispered to me low and quickly. "I'm really sorry you had to find out this way. Please don't be scared by what's going to happen." My eyes were fixed on ones of red. I started to inhale and exhale with an un-human speed. "Kim, I'm a werewolf. That's a vampire that is about to hurt you. All the legends from are tribes are true okay?" He glanced around his shoulder and gave me a quick smile. "Sorry."

Impossibly fast, he ran forward. My arms extended wanting to protect him, keep him away from, this dangerous creature in front of us. One second he was there next completely un-clothed and then BAM…he was a wolf. A gigantic wolf, we're talking almost small house sized. Gray, silver fur erupted from Jared's body turning him into this frightening but almost wonderful animal. The wolf went right in for the kill charging the vampire, or what he'd said was a vampire, into the forest. I collapsed to my knees unsure how to take this all in. Was my boyfriend a werewolf? Obviously what just happened proved it. Was the creature a vampire? I don't know.

It surprised me that I was brave enough to stand. Most girls would've fainted or run away screaming if their boyfriend had just turned into a giant werewolf to chase a "vampire." But plain Jane Kim just stood there, staring un-intelligently at the snow. He emerged from the forest no shirt a sculpture carved by an elite artist. From where I stood I could easily see his breath and the heat that came from his boiling skin.

"So," he began lamely.

"So…you're a wolf." He looked around to make sure no one was listening. "Is it dead?" I asked. His brow furrowed till he figured out the meaning of my question.

"Yeah, don't worry, Paul, Sam and I took it out." I chocked at the thought. Sam and Paul were also wolves? "Kim?" Jared reached over to help me stand. I arched back now unsure how I felt about him touching me. Now that I knew he was not human.

"I'm sorry I just need to…think."

"Okay." His patient look bore into my soul. It unnerved me to see him observing me with such intensity. Werewolves exist, my boyfriend was a werewolf, and vampires exist. I'm pretty sure he was expecting something more intelligent to ring from my mouth. He looked confused when I asked,

"So if I throw something and say fetch will you go get it?" His left eyebrow arched and then a grin appeared on his face.

"Yup, well, for you I would."

"So you're a mystical fairytale creature. Obviously changing doesn't have anything to do with the moon," I said as I looked up at the glowing crescent orb. "Silver bullets," I questioned.

"No," He scoffed. "The only thing that can inflict any damage on us, besides the occasional vamp, is our imprints."

"Blue prints?" That sounded weird.

"No," he laughed, "imprints…you."

Screech! Wow, suddenly I had been dragged into this. I was an imprint and I could hurt Jared. But why would I ever do something like that?

"Why would I hurt you though?" Jared's eyes took on a passionate gaze,

"Well we're not made to hurt each other actually it's exactly the opposite. Kim an imprint, like you, is a wolf's soul mate. I know this is a heap of stuff to take in right now. But the second I saw you that day in class I knew you were the one. You replaced gravity and my whole world spun around you."

…

"Am I supposed to have an adequate response to this?" I questioned him.

"No I guess you don't have to. I just want to make sure that you know I would never hurt you intentionally. But being a wolf besides getting all the great healing powers and extra strength has its draw backs. You know when I get angry I…shake?" I nodded my head unsure where this conversation was going. "Well when we start shifting it becomes harder to hold in our emotions. If I get to angry I turn into a wolf. If you were standing to close…if I ever lost control in front of you…Kim you need to promise me if you ever see me like that you need to run away. I could seriously hurt you.

Are you frightened of me…of what I am?" The look on his face was heart wrenching but my stupid lips wouldn't form any words. I stumbled forward feet catching due to numb legs. He caught me as I fell into his chest.

"I don't think so," I whispered, hoping he'd hear me now that I knew he had wolf ears.

"Good," He smiled as I leaned down to kiss me.

Jared

I hadn't known why that vamp had been so close to town but all I could think about now was that Kim knew. She knew I was a wolf and was amazingly okay with it! I leaned down, forgetting myself and kissed her. Lights blew up in the already darkened wintry sky. Kissing her was more intense then anything I'd ever felt before and I'd be more than content to continue kissing her for the next day. Again the whole scene played back in my mind. I would do and be anything from her protect her from everything and love her for my whole life. Kim and I would be together now.

NOT THE ENDING! I would never end this as lamely as that. Don't worry!