12. Eating as an Act of Communion
" I cant believe you really haven't told her yet." Paul said.
"Shut up Paul." Jared threatened darkly.
"Haven't told who what?" I asked sitting back down.
There was silence as Jared glared viciously at Paul.
"Jared, what don't I know? I'm getting a little tired of people telling me I don't know something." I asked him upset. His mouth was mashed in a line of grim determination.
"Fine. Paul tell me." I demanded.
"It'd be more fun if I showed you." Paul said mischievously then before I or anybody could act he had me out of my chair and outside. Once clear of the house he kissed me as a shaking Jared came running out after us.
I tried to protest by banging my hands against his chest. At one point I even tried screaming but he took that as an invitation to play tongue wars with mine. I froze and tried to make myself puke. I succeeded in doing so right after he pulled away before I could finish Paul pushed me towards Sam who was standing off to the side but still in between Jared and Paul. Jared was shaking incredibly badly, the only other time I'd seen him shake so badly was before he phased while Paul stood there smirking. Sam tried to shield me with his body as Jared exploded out of his skin. Jared charged for Paul who only phased when Jared lunged in the air towards him. It was hard for me to keep track of what happened after that as they moved at the supernatural speed.
"Please don't let him get hurt." I begged Sam without even realizing I'd said it out loud. Sam nodded at me before instructing me to go inside with Emily. Shaken, I walked to where Emily was waiting just inside the door.
"I don't get it Emily." I said as soon as she'd wrapped me into her arms.
"I was going to let him explain but Paul had to be an ass." Emily said as she guided me to the couch.
"You remember the tribal stories, right? And the one about the third wife and imprinting." Emily asked me slowly. I nodded, remembering everything about that night painstakingly well.
"Imprinting is like a bind where a wolf finds his soul mate. He no longer needs anything but her. For her to be happy. In order to do that he'd be a best friend, a brother, a shoulder to cry on, and eventually a lover and husband."
"Yeah but what does that have anything to do with me?" I asked confused.
"I imprinted on you." Jared said appearing in the doorway looking ashamed.
"Oh..." I said in a small voice. "So then why did Paul have to show me?"
"Seeing you with any other man makes me insanely jealous and he figured if he kissed you then you would connect everything." Jared said, clenching his hands into fists in agitation.
I moved swiftly around the couch to him gently put my hands on his face, forcing him to look at me. His shaking stopped as I did so.
"Jared, I love you." I said softly.
"I love you." Jared murmured back before wrapping me up into a kiss.
"See. It worked." Paul told Sam as they walked in together. We broke apart and Jared punched Paul.
"Still so touchy." Paul complained, as he touched his jaw.
"You kissed his imprint against her will. I would have done more to you if it had been Emily but he was more concerned about her." Sam explained.
"I just think people should be thanking me." Paul grumbled before heading back to the food.
"Building a shrine in your name. Putting your name up everywhere." I added along sarcastically.
"Thanks munchkin." Paul said with his mouth full.
"Don't call me that." I threatened him darkly.
"Aww... What's wrong oompaloompa?" Paul teased me.
"I wouldn't. You'd be surprised how much I can torture you with and I'm sure at least Jared would be interested finding out what I've got on you." I repeated, clenching my hand around the fork I was holding. Jared just watched looking a little dazed.
"We can read each other's minds in wolf form. Whatever you think you've got on me, I bet they already know." Paul scoffed at my palpable anger.
"I'm sure I know things they don't. After all I've known you for forever and you were best friends with my older brother." I continued.
"Fine." Paul conceded.
"Now you have to tell me." Jared begged, looking at me excitedly.
"Why?" I asked, picking up a quesadilla and taking a bite.
"Whatever you know must be bad or he wouldn't have backed down. I really want to know." Jared breathed out quickly.
"No fighting at the table." Emily said absentmindedly as she and Sam were totally engaged in their own little world.
"Well I guess I could tell him..." I deliberated enjoying the look of panic that always frozen on Paul's face.
"You wouldn't dare." Paul muttered darkly.
"Think about it Pauly. It wouldn't be my fault. Because of the imprint I would be compelled to tell him. Especially when he asks me." I smiled evilly.
"I hate that damn imprint." Paul said, slamming his fist down on the table making everyone jump.
"Paul! What did I say about not fighting?!" Emily yelled.
"I'm not fighting." Paul said before grabbing some more food and storming out of the house.
"Seriously though. Please tell me. I've been trying to get him to shut up like that for months now. His face was priceless." Jared told me.
"Just remind him of it next time he bugs you. Then if he doesn't stop, tell me." I compromised, not exactly wanting to give up his secrets just yet.
"That'll work for now, I guess." Jared conceded.
"Are you threatening the boys?" Emily asked finally breaking out of her own little bubble with Sam.
"Noo..." I said slowly.
"It's just Paul after all he did make her puke." Jared smiled encouragingly.
"Well. That was just one of my tactics to get him the hell away from me." I replied meekly.
"We just won't tell him that." Jared smiled mischievously.
"It'll knock down his reputation with the ladies for a little bit." Sam laughed.
"And what reputation is that?" Emily asked.
"Obnoxious with anger management issues?" I guessed.
"You'd be surprised how good he is. We would know. It's all he thinks about on patrol." Jared said gesturing between himself and Sam.
"Sad but true." Sam nodded as Jared's hand worked its way underneath the table to gently squeeze my knee. Blushing, I looked up and smiled.