Chapter 3- How Can You Love Me?

Imprinting was like his way of saying he wanted me? He wanted me like for his mate? My mind reeled at that realization, in his eyes and in his mind he wanted me for now and always. I pushed the computer away and closed my eyes leaning back in the chair. All I could think was he wanted me...me. How could he want me? He knew nothing about me. Nothing at all, I was a mess and yet, he wanted me. Standing up I looked out the window into the darkness as a small smile crept over my face. He felt the same way for me that I did for him.

Then I remembered Christian. How could I tell him that I had fallen for someone else, someone I just met? I sighed and flopped back in front of the computer rereading the screen then another word caught my attention...shape shifter. What the hell? Then I remembered there was something he wanted to tell me. I had to know this was making me crazy. I grabbed my cell phone and stared at it, to call or not to? Fuck it to call.

Hands shaking I dialed the number then held my breath. As he answered I whispered softly, "Hello."

His voice was the magic I remembered as I listened, "Bella, is that you?"

"Yes, is it too late to talk?"

"NO! Do not hang up. I have been hoping you would call." His words were exactly what I was thinking, I almost laughed then didn't hang up.

Grinning I pulled the phone closer to me then I heard him shush someone in the background. "Edward? If it is a bad time..." I start but he cuts me off.

"I want to talk to you, can I come over?" I hesitate and he speaks again, "Is he there?"

"He?"

"The asshole you are dating."

"Oh tell me how you really feel and no he is not."

"Good I will be there shortly. I want to see you."

With that the line went dead leaving me to stare down at my cell confused. I went from feeling happy and loved to confused and unsure. I sighed then turned on my music letting myself get lost. The perfect song came on and made me think of him as I sang. "Once upon a time a few mistakes ago I was in your sights, you got me alone. You found me, you found me, you found me. I guess you didn't care, and I guess I liked that. And when I fell hard you took a step back. Without me, without me, without me." I frowned at that part of the song and danced across the room still singing.

"I knew you were trouble when you walked in. Trouble, trouble, trouble, I knew you were trouble when you walked in." Then I turned around and almost ran into him. "FUCK EDWARD!" I shook my head, "give me a heart attack, don't you knock?"

He didn't answer but leaned past me to turn back on my song. "So I am trouble?" He gave me a half smirk as I blushed.

"That was on random but you are trouble."

He stepped closer to me as the song played, "sing please."

As I sang he moved closer and closer till we were mere inches apart. "You will never be just a new notch in my belt but you are right about one thing, I am trouble Bella. You might be smart to stay away from me."

"Maybe I am not smart, I have questions for you."

"Like what?" He leaned closer then suddenly kissed my cheek. That caused a rush of heat in me, I gasped and felt myself turn bright red. I took a deep breath and turned my head to look at him, all I wanted was him to kiss me again but this time on my lips. As if he heard me he whispered to him, "Bella I can't kiss you." I opened my mouth to protest then shut it as he spoke again, "If I kiss you I cannot promise that I will be able to stop. You tempt me."

"Me? I tempt you?"

"Yes you, you really don't think much of yourself do you?" He shook his head at me and grabbed my hand. "Where is your bathroom?" I pointed down the hall. Pulling me with him he walked in quietly hitting the lights and pushing me in front of him directly in front of the mirror. "Look, look at her."

I gazed at myself in the mirror but then his eyes caught my eye, the deep green was gone and I saw a deep blue gazing back at me. I turned to ask him about it but then he growled at me softly, "Look at you silly, not me."

But his growl had the strangest effect on me. I closed my eyes for moment as it swept over me. It was as if his hand was brushing over my skin lightly, teasingly but he was still inches away from me. I peeked at him and whispered, "How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Did you touch me just now?"

"Oh Bella if I touch you, when I touch you baby you will know." He pointed back at the mirror, "look and this time at you."

I look at where he points as I hear a song in my head, I look back at him. How is he doing this? I look back at that mirror as he points again. The song in my head is In Your Eyes and as I gaze at myself it changes something changes. It is like I am seeing myself for the first time. I notice how bright my brown eyes are and how soft my skin looked. As I thought these things I felt his hand brush over my cheeks. It was as if we were both thinking the same things. The song chorus came on and I heard him whisper to me, "Now you see what I see, through my eyes."

I lifted my eyes to look back at him, his eyes were green again and I could not help it I turned to him breathless, "please." Without a word he shook his head, he knew what I wanted but he would still not kiss me. "Edward."

"No I want too Bella, more than you know but we are not ready for that yet." He stared at me then pushed my face back to the mirror. Tell me what you see."

"I see me."

"Bella. Tell me."

"I see a beautiful girl with a sad heart. She wants to be loved." I whispered to him. "She wants so much but she is afraid to ask for it."

"She deserves all that she wants."

"You talk like you know what I want. I swear you read my mind Edward."

"Maybe I do, and Bella you do deserve to be happy and loved. I wish you saw that."

"I can try but only if you answer some questions for me."

"You want to know about what I told you last night?"

"YES!" I nodded, "I looked it up, you imprinted? On me?"

"The first moment I saw you I was drawn to you but then you looked up at me. I have heard many talk about imprinting but I was never expecting it and as I saw you...it just happened." He hesitated.

"You saw what I saw, the images?"

"I did, I saw you as you stood before me then suddenly as you would be in my arms years later. It was images of us together and happy, in the future."

I whistled under my breath and started at him, his face was pale. "But what does it mean?"

"Wolves mate for life." I held him mumble then I leaned back to eye him.

"Did you say wolves?"

"I did."

"Edward, you are not a wolf."

"No not at this moment."

Then it suddenly all made sense, shape shifter, wolf and him. I turned from the mirror to stare at him, "what the hell are you?"

His eyes flashed bright blue at me and he pushed me back against the sink. I was in shock, suddenly it was as if I could see a flash of the wolf inside him. When he spoke his voice was deep and dark, "I am not the one you want me to be, and I am a monster who doesn't deserve you but wants you regretless." His hands ran down over my arms as our eyes locked, "I am part wolf but that is not all. I want so much to share all I am with you but it might make you turn away from me, I could not stand that. Bella, please just close your eyes. Trust me."

Nodding I closed my eyes and then I felt his lips brush over my cheeks again. Then I heard a noise and realized he was sniffing me, taking in my scent. His breath brushed my ear as he spoke, "I never planned on you, and I thought I had found the one for me but now, now all I see and all I want is you."

His words make me swoon and I leaned hard again him breathing fast then he growled again lightly. I shuddered as once again his growl seemed to caress me and leave me wanting more. I felt his lips brush against my neck and just as I was going to beg him to kiss me I felt a burning sensation. He bit me...hard on the neck and as I opened my eyes I cried out in pain. He let me go and backed up staring at me in horror with my blood still glistening on his lips. "Bella, forgive me. I told you I was a monster."

Then he ran off, I ran after him but he was too fast. The door slammed as I called after him, "EDWARD! No please come back, I don't care...I...I..." The words faded on my lips and I just sank to the floor there in shock. I had just been bitten by a man who I was completely fascinated with and he might be some kind of monster. Holy fuck is all I could think. Standing in the doorway I stared into the night wanting him to come back, my mind was still a mess. All I knew was that he was not human. What the hell was a shape shifter?

Sitting at my computer I type in shape shifter and try to read but it is so hard to focus. My heart is still racing and I can still feel his presence like he never left. I look behind me and gasp to see him there. "Edward?"

"I could not go, I just, I need to touch you."

My heart jumped again and I felt still as he moved closer to me. His eyes were bright blue again, "Stand up Bella."

I obeyed without thought my eyes locked with his and I whispered to him, "your eyes?"

"I know, they are blue now. Hold still."

Holding my breath I close my eyes as he moves closer. I feel him sniff my neck then his arms come around me hugging me tightly. I cannot hold still anymore. I hug him back till I feel him gently push me back. "Now I have to go before I hurt you." He smiles at me and kisses my forehead. "Dream of me."

I hear his words then he disappears again but this time I feel more at peace. I turn back to my computer reading until my eyes start to water then I head to bed. Lying in my bed I close my eyes and see him. I dream that same dreams again reliving meeting him again but this time it continues on to the next day. I see him and call out to him. "Edward" He doesn't hear me and starts walking with another girl. I see them walking close and then he reaches out to hold her hand. My heart drops and that is when I wake up wet with sweat and tears in my eyes. What is happening to me?

Under the hot water of the shower I try to push him out of my mind but instead he is all I can think about. All day long at work I think of him and finally at lunch I give in to it and pull up my cell to text him. "So I dreamt about you last night, did you dream about me?" I hit send then try to eat waiting for a reply. My lunch hour ends and nothing. No reply, I swear to myself and force myself to get back to work.

After work I head out to my car flipping through my messages and still no reply then I noticed someone by my car, oh fuck me. It is Christian. He eyes me coldly and then points to his car, "get in, we need to talk."