Chapter 5 – Remembering The Past

Kim knew Jared followed her to make sure she made it home safely. She caught a glimpse of his brown fur flying through the tree line next to the road. As soon as Kim made it into the house she knew he took off through the trees. Kim sat on the couch as she suddenly remembered four years ago when Paul disappeared. Jared was on patrol practically twenty-four-seven. Not to mention he lead out a search party to find him.

He spent more time in wolf form than human. He was extremely distant with Kim and everyone else. Jared also grew closer with Olivia while she was pregnant. Kim wasn't jealous though because she was just as close to Olivia as Jared was. The night Olivia went into labor Kim and Jared both stayed the night at the hospital with Leah.

Kim couldn't help remembered the day Olivia confronted Jared. Olivia was pissed off at the way he had been treating

"Jared what the hell is going on in your head? You've all but alienated Kim." Olivia growled as she walked around Jared as he stood in the middle of her living room with his head down and his hands at his side in fists. "Why would you even do that to your own imprint? I would've thought you would treat her differently than Paul did me. You've seen his work first hand and yet you still kept distancing yourself from her for the last two years since Paul disappeared. I realize you miss Paul but believe me you don't miss him anymore than I do. Kim is your imprint and your fiancé she loves you and I know you can feel how much pain she's been in because of you the last two years. Why would you choose to ignore that?"

"I honestly don't think it's any of your business Liv." Jared snarled at her.

"You watch your temper with me Jared Cameron! I may look weak because I haven't had sleep from nightmares and watching over my son, but I am far from it. Kim is one of my very best friends and if you haven't noticed which I know you haven't because you're too worried about be a selfish little prick. Kim has been staying with me. You don't even go home anymore so how in the fuckin world could you possible know she was missing." Olivia watched as Jared's had snapped up his eyes wide.

"What do you mean she's staying with you? She has a home with me. Why would she need to stay here?" Jared could feel himself losing his temper fast and his body began to tremble slightly.

"Jared you WILL control your temper. My son is sleeping in this house!" Olivia warned him. She watched as Jared closed his eyes and took a couple of calming breaths. "You ask why she would need to stay here when she has a home with you." Olivia exhaled heavily. "Jared, do you even know how long she's been staying here?" His silence was deafening, but answered her question. "Exactly; this is exactly what I'm talking about. Kim has been living here for the last three months. And of the last ninety days that she's been here, do you know how many times she's cried herself to sleep or woke up calling your name. Would you even like to take a guess?"

Jared's silence again was deafening. Olivia shook her head. "You're so not going to like this answer; One hundred and eighty times, which breaks down to twice a night for three MONTHS. Not even close to my record which is seven hundred and thirty; once a night for two years." Olivia had been continually pacing a circle around Jared as he continued to stare at her living room floor; she finally stopped in front of him as she touched the middle of his chest over his heart. "Do you even still love her Jared? Or are you going to continue being a selfish prick?"

Jared shook his head as he looked up at Olivia. "How can you ask me that Liv? She's my imprint of course I love her. I just never realized my selfishness was getting in the way of my brain functioning properly. I can't believe Kim was missing from my life for three months and I didn't even know it. How did I even do that without noticing it?"

Olivia reached down and took Jared's warm hand in hers. "Listen to me Jared, no matter what happens today, tomorrow, a month from now or even a year from now. You're life will continue. Whether Paul shows up out of nowhere or if you do or do not get married to Kim you're life will keep going. I hate to see you like this because of your best friend and I also hate to watch my son grow up without his father. But that is out of our control right now. We can't do anything about it. All we can do is keep going; keep living our lives with or without Paul."

Jared heard footsteps as he looked over Olivia's shoulder and watched as Kim stood in the door way of the living room with her arms crossed over her chest. Tears were already streaming down her cheeks as she stared at Jared. He could feel his heart breaking as he watched her silent tears. He walked closer to her and she backed up and his heart fell into his stomach. "Kim…" It came out as a whisper.

Kim shook her head. "No Jared. I packed everything and left your house three months ago and you didn't even know it; you didn't even miss me." More tears slid down her cheeks. "I've been in love with you since I was thirteen. You imprinted on me when we were sixteen and at the time I figured it was impossible, but I fell in love with you more. And then you asked me to marry you the night of graduation. I couldn't wait until I would be Mrs. Jared Cameron. Now I don't even know if I'll ever be Mrs. Jared Cameron or if I want to anymore."

Jared took another step towards Kim as she backed up again. "Kim you can't be serious. Please tell me you're not serious. Please tell me you still love me and want to get married. Please…"

"Jared I'll always love you, but only you can make the decision for us to get married. I've been waiting for you so it's up to you. When you're ready to make me your wife and stop looking to Paul for answers when he's not even here to give them to you; then you let me know. Until then I'll be here with Olivia and Jr."

Jared frowned he could feel tears pricking the back of his eyes. "Kim, what can I do to convince you I still want to marry you? Tell me what I have to do and I'll do it. Let's get married tomorrow or tonight or right now. Let's go get married right now." Jared fell to his knees as his long arms shot out and his hands gripped Kim's curvy hips and pulled her to him as he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her t-shirt covered stomach. "Tell me what I can do Kim, please…Anything whatever it is I'll do it. I swear on my life."

And make it up to her he did. It took thirty days, but Jared begged Emily to help him pull together a perfect wedding. It was just close friends and family and of course the pack and imprints. It was on the beach and it was a beautifully small ceremony. And neither of them could've possibly been any happier.

Jared had actually blind folded Kim; Olivia helped her change into a beautiful white dress that served as her wedding dress and then Jared walked her through the trees and talked quietly back and forth. He stopped her when they were at the front of the alter in front of the minster, he reached around and untied her blindfold and Kim was completely speechless. But not speechless enough that she couldn't repeat her vows.

Kim looked at the ring on her left ring finger as she smiled to herself. Since the wedding they had completely repaired everything between them. They'd finally decided to start working on a family. They both had seen how happy Jr made Olivia and were ready to have a little more happiness in their life. They were Jr's God parents along with Leah and Embry and each couple loved every minute of it.

Indigo eyes watched as her son napped in his racecar bed peacefully. She couldn't get over how big he was getting. Four years, it was absolutely amazing. Every day he looked more and more like Paul. Even the deep sleeping he had inherited from his father. Paul could fall asleep and have five tornados and five fire trucks with siren's blasting come through the bedroom and not wake. Jr was the same exact way.

Olivia was brought out of her thoughts when a knock on the door echoed through the house. Olivia jogged down the stairs and got to the front door before the visitor could knock again as she pulled the door open and wasn't really all that surprised to see Jared staring back at her. She pushed the screen door open and stepped out. "Jared…Are you okay?"

Jared shook his head no. "I'm more concerned with you and how you're doing since this lovely new Paul development."

"I don't really think I'm doing all that good right now bud." Olivia confessed as she stepped up and wrapped her arms around Jared as he leaned down and hugged her back. "How about you?"

"I'm not sure yet." Jared mumbled.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"

Jared and Olivia jumped apart by the irate sounding voice as both pairs of eyes turned and saw Paul standing there seething with anger.