Hay people hay! okay! Here's the next chapter! YAY! okay, please review, they make me so happy and want to write more. And that's what we all want, right? That's what I thougt. haha... okay, disclaimer, and on with the story!!! -Mooch

If You Talk, I'll Try To Listen

100 miles... Maybe 200... I honestly wasn't paying that much attention to how far I had run away from the Diamond's house. All I cared about was that I was as far away from the madness that this idiotic magic had put on me as humanly possible. Seriously... I was that dude's mate? What the hell is that about?

I only thought people used the word mate on the Discovery channel. Or when it involved animals... Oh... wait...

None of the other girls were in wolf form. Smart girls.

They knew that I needed time to cool off. Set things straight in my head. Only they didn't know that this might not be just an overnighter. This might take some serious one on one, soul searching crap. Damn. I really wasn't that kind of person when it came right down to it...

I realized that my pace had slowed considerably. I was now just trotting leisurely through the new green forest. It was way outside our normal territory. I had run North... Maybe I was in Canada... Hmm... come to think of it, I'd never been outside the continental U.S.

I slowly went into a walk, and I felt all of my muscles rippling in my body with each powerful stride. I looked around again. The sun wasn't too high in the sky anymore. It had to be near dinner time. I sighed, and stopped completely. Listening to the forest around me. To the West I could hear a brook, the water falling over all the different stones. To the North I could hear a very sharp wind whistling in the trees. To the East I could hear the very distant ocean. And to the South... Wait a second... To the South I could hear...

Suddenly something hit me in the side. I yelped, as I was pushed to the ground. I looked up and immediatly growled sharply. I pushed up and shoved the sandy colored wolf off of my body.

What the hell? Can't you leave me alone? I growled to him, even though I know he couldn't hear my actual words. He shook out his fur as he got up again. I could now see that he was indeed larger than me. Considerably actually. Well, I guess that was good in a way... I mean, I didn't want to be huge and manly, now did I?

He let out a soft whine, and I rolled my eyes and began walking away again. He easily caught up and kept pace with me. I looked over at him and he gave me a wolfy grin.

If that's how he want's to play it... I shook my head and let out a small sigh, then quickened my pace to a trot. He followed suit and fell into step with me again. I pushed into a small run, and before I knew it he was on my side again. I looked at him, and he looked back. I rolled my eyes, and shook my head frustrated, as I growled. I finally went into a full on sprint, leaving him behind me. Hopefully by now he would get the hint.

But NO! Right on my side, within seconds, he was next to me. Dammit. I hate him. With a passion.

The tree's cover suddenly ended and we burst through them, and before I could stop I was falling off a small muddy embankment. I yelped out as I fell, and then splashed into the cool water of the slow moving river. I kicked up to the surface and as my head came up I heard a very human noise. Laughter.

I paddled over to the muddy bank that I fell off and climbed up it slowly. I was dripping wet and I saw that Seth was doubled over on the ground in laughter, in shorts with a bare chest. I snapped my teeth at him, and he stopped immediatly. I shook out my fur and it fluffed up. I saw him shaking with silent laughter. I rolled my eyes and turned to leave.

"Wait. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed." I heard his smooth voice call from behind me. I rolled my eyes again.

More like you shouldn't have imprinted on me... I thought to myself.

"Come on. Please, can I just explain. I want to just talk." He said again. I let my tense shoulders drop down to relax again. I turned to face him, and then plopped down onto the ground. Laying directly in a patch of sunlight and looking expectantly at Seth.

Fine. Talk. I gave him a soft growl and put my head on my paws and watched him. He nodded and sighed.

"Okay... Well... Back in La Push there are three others that have imprinted. Sam, the other Alpha, and two of his members of his pack. That would be Jared and Paul. Then in our pack, Jacob and Quil both imprinted. So this makes me the sixth to imprint. And I guess it's sort of cool. It felt weird though... Like there was a sunrise in my stomach and suddenly all the strings that tied me to the earth were cut, and that's where you come in. Now it feels like you are the only thing that's keeping me on this earth." He said to me. I raised my head and cocked it to one side like he did last night. I saw his slight smile, meaning that he remembered.

"Yeah. That was my reaction at first too. But Jacob approved. Everyone else was a little shocked, but more happy than anything... And Leah... Oh god. My sister! I thought she was going to tear you to shreds... It was so weird though!" He exclaimed as he threw his head into his hands.

I thought about all of it for a second. It was slowly sinking in that I was supposed to be with this man for the rest of my life... Make little puppies with him... I shuddered at the thought. I gave another soft growl.

You better continue if you want me to stay entertained. I thought to myself. He looked up and smiled at me again.

"She was so understanding. And let me tell you that she isn't the most... understanding of the pack... you two will get along just fine." He muttered. I gave a sharp growl and he chuckled at me. I rolled my eyes again.

"But let me tell you that I don't expect anything out of you. I don't want to push anything on you. It wouldn't be fair if I pushed more stuff on you when you're just getting used to this one huge thing... so yeah... that's all I have to say..." He said and looked at me. I sighed again and we just looked at each other for a little while.

"You know... It's a lot easier to spill my guts to you when you're human." He said finally. I stood up and nodded my head. He turned away from me and put his hands over his eyes. So I was dealing with a gentleman, was I? I mean, really. Any guy of his age would've grabbed at any chance to see a chick naked... but then again... he was used to being around his... sister. Oh my God! How awkward is that!

I phased, and pulled on my still soaked clothes, and continued to chuckle at the awkward situation.

"It's all good." I said finally. He turned around and smiled at me. I ran my fingers through my wet hair and smiled back at him, still thinking about my joke.

"Can I hear the joke?" He asked, picking up on my laughing.

"I was just thinking... Isn't it awkward for you're sister to be phasing in front of you?" I asked with a snicker. Seth shuddered.

"Oh yeah." He said and gave me a smile again. I laughed out loud and then looked up at the sky. The sun was setting right now.

"I don't think we can make it back before night. Do you?" I asked him.

"Probably not... We should stay here for tonight. I know Jake won't mind. Will your pack?" He asked me as he stood up and walked near me.

"No. The girls can fend for themselves for a night... Well... at least I hope they can." I muttered and Seth laughed. I suddenly noticed how absolutely hot it was out right now.

"Dear god, it's hot out." I said slowly.

"I run on a good 108.7 degrees. I'm all set..." Seth smiled at me.

"Really? Well, let me cool you off then." I said to him.

"What?" He asked, but before I could reply I pushed him towards the edge of the shot embankment. My originally plan was to point and laugh at him falling into the water.... but that was before he grabbed me around the waist and we fell into the water together.

I came up to the surface, where he was laughing at me.

"I hate you." I glared at him playfully.

"I don't think you do." He countered. I just shook my head and paddled towards shore to dry off again. Because there was a new little tugging in my chest that made me realize that he was probably right. Dammit.

Alright... At least they worked it out... right? =) Okay, please review! it's my birthday on saturday, so incase i don't get another chapter out by then, please review in honor of it... or just because you want me to write more.... or just because you're a nice person and like to review... either way... PLEASE REVIEW! =) -Mooch