Chapter 9 – His; But Not His
It had been a couple of months since Paul came back to LA Push. Paul had officially re-connected with the pack and was patrolling again. But he was also working for a huge construction company in Port Angeles as their contractor; he was drawing up their plans for future builds. Olivia hadn't seen hid nor hair of him. But she knew he was out there in wolf form. Her and Seth had been fighting as of recently.
Seth was annoyed that Paul was always thinking about her, but on the other hand he couldn't blame Paul; she was his imprint. Seth and Olivia didn't plan on falling for each other. They'd been talking for a year prior to when they started dating. They both even tried to avoid each other for a while, but it didn't help. Neither of them knew if Paul would ever come back. Seth knew there was still a part of Olivia that loved Paul, but he wasn't sure how strong that part was.
Seth hated that him and Olivia were fighting. They'd just barely come to terms with their feelings of love for one another. Now suddenly four weeks later and Seth was getting pissed off at everything Olivia was doing and he couldn't understand why. Leah would pick up Jr on Saturdays and allow Paul to get to know his son until Sunday morning and then Jr went with Leah as always so Olivia could have the day off until later Sunday night.
Seth was currently sitting in the living room as he watched Olivia folding the clothes.
Olivia could feel Seth's eyes on her as she sighed heavily. "'Okay what's going on with you? You've been really weird for the last four weeks and we've been fighting like a cat and dog would; kind of like mortal enemies, like you guy's with vampires."
Seth glared at no one in particular. "There's nothing going on with me. I've just got a few things on my mind."
Livy rolled her eyes as she tossed the folded towels back into the basket. "Well that's a heap of bullshit and you know it. Seth ever since I've been letting Paul have Jr on Saturday's you've done nothing but fight and argue with me about the price of eggs in China. I can't keep him from seeing his son. I know Paul wasn't here and no I don't need you to remind me of that for the hundredth time in the last four weeks. I know he wasn't here. No one knows it better than me. I didn't ask for him to come back."
Seth stood up as he growled slightly at the mention of Pau's name. "Of course you wanted him to come back you're his imprint for God sake. You should be with him instead of torturing me. I know you're forcing yourself to be with me instead of running to him, which is exactly what you should've done the first day he was back."
Olivia stood up as she glared at Seth. "Look I don't know what the hell is going on in your head, but clearly you're not thinking properly. If I wanted to be with Paul you wouldn't be standing in my living room acting like such a jerk right now. If I wanted to be with Paul he'd be here instead of you. Whatever kind of shit you've got going on in your mind you need to get your head on right. Seth I would've never told you I love you if I didn't. It's not exactly a phrase I toss around lightly. Shit it took the both of us a year of dating before we even uttered those three little words four weeks ago and we haven't said it since."
Olivia took a deep breath and could feel the tears pricking her eyes. "Now if you want to continue acting like a jerk there's the door I refuse to let my son see you talk to me like this and he'll be home any minute." Olivia could feel the tears as they slid down her cheeks as she whipped them away furiously and walked past Seth to put away the clean laundry.
Seth's hands were balled into fists at his side as he took deep calming breaths to bring his temper down. It was the fourth fight he'd started with Olivia. He shook his head negatively as he tried to clear his thoughts.
And here came the guilt…
Seth felt so guilty when he picked fights with her. It seemed like no matter how many times she defended being with him because she loved him he never believed her and he couldn't understand why. He loved her as much as she loved him but for some reason he felt like every word that came out of her mouth about Paul was a lie. Even though all he had to do was look in her beautiful indigo eyes and he could see her love for him shining through.
Seth walked through the house and found Olivia standing in the hallway as he walked up and stood behind her. He loomed over her and knew she could feel him behind her. "I'm sorry Livy. I don't know what's been going on with me lately." He admitted in something above a whisper so she could hear him.
Olivia wasn't even touching him, but knew he was close enough that she could feel the heat coming from his body. "Damn it Seth. I know it took me a little longer to even accept going on a date with you and even longer when you moved in to admit you was more than just my roommate and my feelings had grown stronger. And I even realize that it took me forever to admit I love you. But if you keep this up I don't know how much more I can take of the fighting. Don't you think I know when you're picking a fight with me it's because I know you don't trust that what I say is true? I'm not the smartest person in the world Seth but I'm smart enough to know how to read you like a damn book. Now if you love me and you want to continue this relationship the way we have been for the last year then do something about the fighting. If not then by all means leave. I refuse to stay with someone who is going to fight with me all the damn time."
Olivia felt Seth's hands as they gripped her upper arms and pulled her back against his chest. "I'm sorry Olivia; I swear it won't happen anymore. I do love you and I want it to work."
Seth turned Olivia around in his arms so she was facing him; a frown was marring his face when her red eyes stared at him. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers softly. "I promise, no more fighting." Seth brushed his thumbs under her beautiful indigo eyes getting rid of the remaining tears that were weld up.
Olivia pulled back slightly as she looked up in Seth's eyes. It was the first time she'd actually looked into his eyes in the last four weeks since he'd started picking fights with her. There was something there that she had missed the last four weeks; something that wasn't there four weeks ago before the fighting between the two of them. Seth's eyes weren't carefree and loving anymore. He had a natural spirit inside of him that was always so happy and loving and suddenly it was missing. His deep brown eyes gave away so much about him, she was surprised she hadn't seen it before now.
Seth's eyes flittered between Olivia's; the look on her face matched the look in her eyes; as if she'd just realized something. "What is it? What's wrong Livy?"
"You imprinted." It was a statement not a question.
Seth's mouth fell open as if to object to her accusation. "W-what?" He stammered.
Olivia's head tilted to the left slightly as her eyes squinted as if she were looking directly into his soul. "You imprinted." She extracted herself from Seth's arms and backed up. "Tell me I'm wrong." She watched as Seth shoved his hands into his pockets as his brown eyes fell to the floor which seemed to suddenly find his sneakers more interesting. "Seth…when did it happen?" So took his silence as admittance.
Seth shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about." Oh but he did. He knew exactly what she was saying to him because it was all true. He had imprinted. But it wasn't on Olivia because clearly she was already someone's imprint. Maybe it was why he had been so annoyed and pissed off as of late.
"Please don't lie to me Seth. I already told you I can read you like a book." Olivia crossed her arms over her chest as she watched Seth shuffle from one foot to the other like a child being scolded. "When did it happen?" She asked again.
Seth frowned. "About six weeks ago…I never wanted this to happen Olivia you've got to believe me. Everything between us was going so great. We were both so happy. Now it all seems like it's falling apart. I've been annoyed with everything and everyone around me and took it out on you the whole time. I was so pissed because here I was taking care of someone else's imprint when I should've been taking care of my own. "
Seth sighed heavily. "Don't get me wrong, I did fall in love with you Olivia; I fell in love with you a few months ago. But as soon as I imprinted I should've told you. I realize the imprint can be ignored, but I already tried and look how far that got us? Fighting all the damn time and I know the fault was mine. I tried to ignore it for six months and I ended up hurting three people you, me and my imprint. I know that she knows something is wrong I can feel her pain. Just like Paul can always feel yours."
Olivia frowned. "I should've known for us to go from everything perfect to everything messed up it would have to be you imprinting. I'm surprised I didn't catch it before now."
Seth's frown matched Olivia's. "How did you…" The questioned died on his lips when she looked up at him as their eyes locked.
Olivia smiled sadly. "The look on your face; four weeks ago you still looked at me like I was the sunshine in your life. Today when I looked up at you the look wasn't there. It was gone. It was replaced by something different; something that told me you weren't mine anymore. And I'm okay with that Seth. You'll never realize how much you've helped me the last almost two years. The first year we just spent talking and hanging out and having fun getting to know each other. Then last year feeling all the love in your kisses and the way you'd hold me. It was nice to feel wanted again; even if it was for a little while."
Olivia pushed up on her toes as she kissed his cheek and ran her fingers through his hair. "Go on and be with her. She's special and she's your soul mate. You're going to love her for the rest of your life."
Seth pulled Olivia into his arms as he hugged her tightly. "Let's stay friends Livy."
"I wouldn't want it any other way." She mumbled softly as she watched him walk out of her house; not before he promised he'd be back for his things later that night.