So this is the fun part, I finally got Microsoft word downloaded :D Yay! So less mistakes, I mean, there will be a few slip up's now and then, but I'm confident that the Microsoft word will point out any mistakes. Even though sometimes it can be a bit screwy… :\ What I'm trying to say is that I'll probably update more often now that I don't have to Beta my own work – and even then it doesn't always turn out well :( Grrr…but I guess that's all I really want to say. By the way, just 10 more chapters and the stories done :D Tell me I'm not the only one excited from that news?

Sorry, by the way, this chapter was a little rushed. I didn't know exactly how to write it, but it's here. Sorry if it fails :P REVIEW? Please? :)

**PipTheOrphan**

And my own two hands
will comfort you tonight, tonight
Say when
And my own two arms
will carry you tonight, tonight

Fala's point of view-

"I cannot fathom why you'd want to hurt him," Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair as he glared at me, pacing in front of my bedroom door.

"I-"

"All he's trying to do is make you happy, Fala; all he wants is for you to accept him. Do you know what this does to the pack? You rejecting him every chance you get? It's making the pack weaker! He can't concentrate straight knowing that you could be sitting somewhere just hating him. He wants to know that you-"

"Sam! I get it, okay? I don't hate him; not completely anyway," Sam sighed, continuing his mindless pacing.

"I don't see what the big deal is; Emily had no trouble excepting this. Kim didn't either. And Rachel barely put up a fight. Claire's younger than you and even she understands this better! You're destroying Brady and my pack, I won't allow you to do that," I frowned, pressing my hand to my temple as I try to massage it, wishing that this stupid headache would go away. This is what I meant with imprinting, it brings drama, and unneeded problems.

Did he honestly think I wanted to hurt Brady? He didn't do anything bad; it wasn't like it was Brady's fault he imprinted. He couldn't help it. All I'm trying to do is point him in the right direction, towards the truth of it all instead of pretending everything was okay. Like this happened all the time, every day. And it doesn't. I've grown up with mom constantly telling Sam and me that fairy tales weren't real, that we had to work for things in life and that shit happens and we have to pull through it.

But this? I couldn't even grasp it. I didn't earn undying love, or to have a whole pack of wolves protecting me. I didn't work for all of this, it was just given to me, and I didn't want to accept it. It was like knowing a person for…maybe a day and then all of a sudden he gives you a car and an engagement ring. I wouldn't accept it, let alone touch it.

"So this is all about the pack? You wouldn't care that your little sister is being forced into a relationship she's never asked for…or that some boy thinks he can sweep her off her feet with one look? Well guess what, Sammy? You're fucking dreaming!" I yelled, balling my hands into fists and standing up. My brother is one of the daftest boys I know, he's so ignorant to everything, and walks around like he's some hot shit that knows everything. And he doesn't. If he thinks that Emily had no trouble except who he was, then why are there three scars stretched across her face?

I bit my tongue, keeping myself from screaming that out – next thing I know I'd probably have some matching scars to go along with Emily's. Who knows? Maybe something worse, maybe I wouldn't make it through an attack. So what would happen if Brady attacked me? I didn't want to die, I didn't want to look into the mirror and be reminded of the day where I had a choice. One of which resulted in me being physically scarred. I didn't want to walk around eggshells, fearing that, if I made a wrong move, that it could be fatal. That maybe, if Brady forgot how strong he was, I could be crushed.

"Fala…" Sam sighed, sitting down next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and giving my arm a comforting rub, "I know this must be confusing, but there's a reason Brady imprinted on you. Whichever that reason may be, you two were meant to be. There is no other guy out there that can make you any happier than Brady is capable of. And, for some reason, there is no other girl out there that can make Brady happier. It was bound to happen with or without the imprint – its fate."

There was something wrong with this conversation. I don't know about you, but I don't exactly feel comfortable with having a talk with my brother about 'fate'. What's even more screwed up is that he has no problem with this. This realization only supports the fact that Sam doesn't care about anything but his imprint. It was almost like the guys completely forgot they were still human and just acted on wolf instincts.

"You said that the imprinter would be anything the imprintee wanted them to be, correct?" I asked, crossing my arms and shrugging his arm off from around my shoulders. Sam sighed and nodded, knowing exactly where I was going with this.

"Well, I want Brady to be a friend. Not a best friend, not a friendly fuck buddy, or a friend that happens to be a boyfriend. And God knows I don't want another big brother," I glared at Sam, making my point very clear as he watched me with disappointment wafting off of him in heavy waves, and frustration.

"Fala, you know that doesn't…it's a process. With Claire Quil was her protector at first – because that is what she needed, that was what every child has. Then he will be her big brother because she needs someone to look up to, someone she can confide in. Then she'll need a friend, someone she can trust completely, then, finally, a lover. That's how it goes…with you and Brady, you're supposed to…" I couldn't take it, I couldn't. Is this really what they thought?

No, I didn't blame them, because this is exactly what I thought too. Let's face it, the wolves weren't exactly 'ugly' or 'unattractive', it was unheard of that the imprintee didn't want anything romantic to do with the imprinter when she was old enough.

"But I don't," I finished, making Sam huff and slap a hand over his face before dragging it down slowly.

"Look, Fala, if you can't accept Brady, or take him fully or do something that will benefit both of you for the greater good…then, I- I think it would be best if you don't see him at all," I blinked, shocked at Sam's words.

This was his solution? He wanted to completely distance Brady and me, just because I wanted to be friends with him? I'm not going to lie; there was a part of me, deep down snarling at the thought of never seeing Brady again. It was almost absurd. Thinking that I wouldn't hear his voice, or see him smile…and, crap, this was after one day of the imprint. Maybe it was for the best? Before I got too attatched...before we got too attatched.

"…okay," I nodded, making Sam close his eyes, sighing loudly.

"You have to tell Brady yourself, Fala. Tell him…tell him you don't want to see him and that he's done his job so he won't feel like he's failed. Just…"

"Tell him to find someone else?" I suggested, making Sam nod reluctantly. By the way his face looked I knew that he didn't expect me to agree with him. He thought I was bluffing, but he was sadly mistaken. Sam slowly got up, not once glancing back at me as he exited the room, mumbling profanities to himself under his breath. One day, just one day and Sam has already told me to tell Brady that we can't see each other – not ever, because I refuse to go past the friend zone. But maybe I was just a crappy friend? No, it was too soon for that.

My brows furrowed, feeling my stomach clench tightly as I finally realized that this was it. Sam, my brother, Brady's alpha, has told me to tell Brady to cut the imprint. Which I don't understand in the slightest, yet, everything felt so final. It gave me chills. There was a quiet knock on my door; Brady's smiling face peeking through as he gave me an impish smile.

"Can I come in?" I could only nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. Sam was a bastard, wasn't it too soon? I couldn't even prepare a speech! How was I supposed to-?

"Sam said we needed to talk, and I-"

"Brady," I sighed, clenching my eyes closed as my fists curled, "we have to stop. No more imprint. No more friends. No nothing."

"What?" I pressed my eyes closed tighter – if that was possible – and took a deep breath. Willing myself not to look at Brady's face that was soon to be heartbroken. I'm not trying to be full of myself but this imprint stuff was serious, I've seen the way Sam handled Emily admitting she didn't want to see him, and I thought, what better way to say I couldn't hang around Brady then avoiding all eye contact?

"I want you to leave me alone, find someone else, and just forget everything." There was a quiet pause, making me hesitantly peek through one eye. What I didn't expect, however, was to see Brady staring at me blankly. No trace of anger, sadness, or even disbelief on his face. Just…blank.

"You sure that's what you want?" He whispered, not even glancing in my direction.

I could've sworn my heart shattered.

"It's what I need," I muttered, my eyes staring intently at his face, waiting for him to tremble, for him to scream, or just burst out into tears. He didn't…not once. Not a single shiver, not a sniffle, not a blink; and he left the room. Left me alone sitting on my bed staring after him, my mouth gapped open. Strangely enough, I couldn't bring myself to smile. It was over, Brady was gone…imprint forgotten. It was…done.

So why was it so hard to breathe?