Chapter 7 - Time Heals All Wounds

-8 Months Later-

Kiley could feel the warmth of the sun on her face as she moved around a little. As she blinked a couple of times trying to wake herself up. For the first time since the rape she'd been sleeping straight through the night without nightmares. Sam, Paul and Emily had went to her parents and told them they were scared she was going to do something completely off the charts and after some talking, they agreed to move Kiley into Emily and Sam's house so Emily could keep an eye on her and help her move forward from the rape. Her health and well being was the ONLY thing anyone was concerned about.

She'd started her senior year of high school with no problems. She still wasn't talking, in the 8 months she'd been there she'd had maybe a total of 10 conversations with Emily...but as far as saying anything else to the guys, it wasn't happening. Kiley slowly sat up and looked around the room. Her parents were constantly working so they really couldn't stay and watch her...Kiley actually liked staying with Sam and Emily, she got to see more of Paul because he was always there when he wasn't patrolling. Paul and Jared had been up patrolling by the Canadian border for the last 2 weeks. She missed both of them something crazy.

Kiley scooted out of bed and shimmied into her jeans and a red form fitting t-shirt as she ran a brush through her long hair. And walked downstairs and was met by Emily's smiling face, "How'd you sleep sweetie?" Kiley shrugged her shoulders. Emily walked over and looked in her eyes, "You miss both of them." Kiley nodded. Emily handed her a plate of breakfast food, scrambled eggs, bacon and toast with orange juice. Kiley walked out and sat on the porch steps as she ate breakfast. She loved Saturdays…Days she could be truly lazy. She finished eating and took her plate inside. She heard a couple of yelps as she smiled and Emily returned the smile, "You already know who it is…Go get them."

Kiley took off out the door and coming over the hill was Paul and Jared. She jumped off the porch and took off running, the first person to grab her was Jared as he hugged her tight and she kissed his cheek as he kissed the top of her head. Paul was a few feet behind him as Jared released Kiley and she ran over and jumped into his arms and he swung her around. She kissed his cheek as he kissed her cheek back, "You wanna go for a walk?" Kiley smiled as she nodded. Paul grabbed her hand as he nodded at Jared. Jared knew he was going to tell Kiley about the imprinting and explain it all to her. Jared nodded back and headed to the house.

Kiley could feel all kinds of emotions and feelings running through her body when Paul touched her as of late. Her heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest whenever he would touch her, hold her...anything really. Once they got to the beach, Paul sat down and Kiley sat between his legs as she looked up into his soft brown eyes, "Talk." Paul could feel his heart beat harder when he heard her voice.

The times he heard her voice was far and few between he couldn't almost wait to hear her having full conversation with him again, like she used to. He missed the sound of her voice when she would sit and talk with him for hours on end and laugh so hard she'd lean against him to keep her stable. She hadn't done much laughing in a while, but she still leaned against him...Half the time he went to visit her she would end up curled up next to him asleep on his chest, the constant 108 body temp was something she couldn't get enough of...Just a perk of being a wolf.

Paul cleared his throat, "So...Did I ever tell you what imprinting is?" Kiley shook her head no. Paul smiled softly, "Imprinting is when a shape shifter or wolf chooses their soul mate. And it can be anyone, any age, any skin color...it doesn't matter, the imprinting happens involuntary and without us knowing exactly when or who it's choosing. We know when it happens, because there's a warmth that spreads through us from head to toe. You with me so far?" Kiley smiled, "Completely." Paul sighed, "The reason you've been hurting so bad when I'm not around or haven't seen you when I was patrolling is because...I...Well I sort of..." Kiley touched his hand and he open and closed his mouth a couple of times as he looked down into her beautiful warm loving eyes. Kiley touched his cheek, "You imprinted on me...Didn't you?"

It was the first time Kiley actually said more than one word to him in 8 months. Paul swallowed hard as he nodded, "Yes." Kiley smiled, "When?" Kiley watched as his tongue slowly came out and swiped the middle of his bottom lip, "When you were 10. But I was basically whatever you needed me to be at each stage in your life...I knew once you turned 16 you'd start missing me more when I left to patrol near Canada and you wouldn't be able to get me out of your head...It's just a part of the imprinting. I have every connection to you that is imaginably possible. Just like Sam and Emily." Kiley blinked a couple of times, "Has...anyone else imprinted?" Paul shook his head, "It's supposed to be something that hasn't happened a lot, but almost everyone in the pack has imprinted. Me, Sam, Jared, Quil and Jake so far."

Kiley looked shocked, "Who did Jared imprint on?" Paul smiled softly and as if Kiley was reading his mind they both said the name Kim at the same time. Kiley chewed her bottom lip, "What about the others?" Paul chuckled, "Jake imprinted on Briar, but you can't tell her Ki. Jake as to be the one to tell her. Quil imprinted on Claire when she was two." Kiley smiled, "So this imprinting thing, since it chose me as your soul mate...Does that mean we get married or something? I mean what happens now?" Paul shrugged, "Whatever you want to happen. I mean you're not 17 yet so clearly were not getting married tomorrow...but you also have to let me know if this is something you're comfortable in accepting...An imprintee has never refused the wolf as their soul mate. But I would never force you into something you didn't want...So if it doesn't feel right, then you have to let me know now so I can start distancing myself from you...I know it sounds harsh, but once we imprint on someone they are the only person well ever truly be in love with...if the imprintee refuses us, it's almost heart breaking the pain that we have to go through, because as it is when you don't see your soul mate for a day or more it can cause physical pain to both people involved."

Kiley shook her head, "I would never refuse you Paul...You've been a big part of my life for so long. I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to you and you were suddenly missing from my life...I always feel like you're going to disappear and never come back." Kiley blinked and tears slowly slid down her cheeks. Paul could feel the pain, "Don't cry, please...I didn't mean to make you cry." Kiley sniffled, "It's not your fault...I know the last 8 months have been terrible and I could never understand why you stayed around...But I was so grateful you did...Because I honestly didn't want to live anymore. The fact that I knew I was going to see you kept me alive. And I know I haven't talked much, but I just felt like there wasn't much to be said."

Paul's voice was quiet, "I felt like you left me. I miss your voice...I miss the sound of your laughter...I think the one thing that kept me from completely losing everything was me coming to see you whenever I could. I had to be here for you and help you heal...There was no way on earth I was going to let you go through all of this alone."

Paul watched as Kiley moved around and sat on her knees facing him as close to him as she could and then threw her arms around his neck as she buried her face in the side of his neck. He wrapped his arms around her trying to calm her down...she had started crying harder and it was absolutely killing him. His hands slowly rubbed up and down her back. Kiley looked serious, "Promise me something." Paul nodded, "Anything." Kiley pulled back, "If you won't leave me...I won't leave you." Paul exhaled, "I think I can handle that." Kiley smiled softly, "Good."

Paul watched wide eyed as she leaned over and pushed her lips against his. Paul's eyes drifted shut as his hands came up and cupped her face and he pulled her to lay in the sand with him. He'd never expected her to accept the imprinting or kiss him for that matter...She was definitely full of surprises that day.