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Chapter Seven

Once we had gotten back to our house, I changed while Embry made me some eggs and toast. The old jeans and turtleneck I slipped on immediately helped me feel better. Now at least I wasn't assaulted with the reminder of my injuries every time I walked in front of a mirror. Embry gave me two more Tylenol and glass of water before he reluctantly left to fill an afternoon shift at the garage. I know if I had needed him to stay he would have, but honestly, I just needed some 'me' time to digest all of the insane information that had been dumped on me in the last twenty-four hours.

Lying on my back in my borrowed bedroom, I stared blindly at the ceiling as my brain slowly processed through the days events. The mental list of facts rattling around in my head was pure fantastical lunacy. Had I seriously just stepped into the Twilight-Zone? All my life I grew up knowing crap like this didn't exist; it wasn't real. If this was all some huge April Fools joke it would be easier for me to accept.

My brothers were werewolves, and all of their friends were werewolves. They all turned into giant wolves in order to protect humans from vampires. Vampires really existed and I had nearly been eaten by them this morning. Jacob had been able to find and save me because I was his imprint, and we were deeply and irrevocably connected. I was his mystical soul mate, and he was now and forever unconditionally devoted to me. Groaning, I rolled over and slammed my head into my pillow.

Embry didn't have an imprint –yet – so his input had all been based on what he had witnessed through the minds of his wolf brothers. The horror story I was now thrown into got a lot better with telepathic werewolves, right? Of course Embry had mentioned this tidbit of information just in passing, as if it was no big deal. They only share thoughts while phased (in wolf form), and it's more for coordinating attacks on vampires than swapping memories. Right. Anyway, Embry tried to describe Sam's imprint on Emily, but he didn't give me details and frankly it wasn't really my business. Knowing that Sam dumped Leah because of the powerful hold his imprint held over him didn't help relieve my mind.

This imprint thing had destroyed a beautiful loving relationship just because —genetically— Emily was a better match for Sam's wolf. It didn't seem fair. From what Leah had said, the devastation of it had taken her years to overcome, and I'd feel horrible if I did that to anyone.

I didn't need to piss off Jake's vampire ex-girlfriend with our supernatural romantic connection if they still had feelings for each other. Through his laughter Embry told me I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Jake couldn't look at Bella the same way now he had imprinted on me, and Bella, well, she was married.

According to Embry, Jacob and Bella hadn't really ever been together. He gave me the short version of their not-so-much love affair. Basically before Bella became a vampire, she fell in love and dated a vampire, and then her vampire boyfriend left her. She went into this several month long horrible funk, full of nightmares, malnutrition and intense depression. Jake essentially came in and rescued her from herself. Even though he had been crushing on Bella since they were kids; she never returned his feelings. Anyway, to make my twin's long and convoluted story short, Bella used Jake because he made her feel better, and then when her leech —which is wolf pack speak for vampire— came back, she dropped Jacob like a bad habit. The two times she kissed him while back with the leech meant nothing to her and neither did the huge epic battle the wolves fought alongside the bloodsuckers in order to protect her. She married the vampire and was turned so she could have her happily ever after —forever. Their whole relationship sounded like some messed up supernatural soap opera to me. What a disaster. No wonder Leah had wanted to punch Bella in the throat; I kind of did too, but then again, her being a bloodsucker, I'd probably just break my hand.

According to Embry, Jake had taken Bella going vampire as a personal failure, which explained his over reaction to 'not protecting me' this morning. When he had finally been able to get away for a few weeks, I had to show up and literally rock his universe and plant myself in the middle of his supernatural romantic angst-filled drama.

Rolling back over I continued to stare at my ceiling, going over everything in my head yet again.

The imprint thing was designed to essentially be a mating objective, yes, but I really felt like there was more to it than that. It was effectively just the powers in the universe forcing you and your destined soul mate together. I had seen what Emily and Sam, Jared and Kim, and even Paul and Rachel were like together. They were all clearly happy and genuinely, deeply, and passionately in love. All of the interaction I had witnessed between the other imprinted couples was nothing short of absolute devotion and adoration. What girl wouldn't want to have that? It was terrifying to think I could have that, did have that…I physically shook my head. What happened in the past wasn't anything like what Jacob and I were, or what we had the potential to be. He hadn't been my forever soul mate, and he had been nothing but human.

Taking a deep breath, I made the only decision that there really was. I'd spent the last few months picking up the pieces of my own failed attempt at love. This choice was putting everything I had worked for at risk, but if what everybody said was true about this imprinting business, it would work out. It had to work out.

If I could learn that vampires and werewolves existed and were real, surely I could stretch that idea to include a fairy tale happily-ever-after ending for me. I had wanted a whole new life, right? I would be crazy to walk away from this; everything I had ever wanted was here. Love, family and a place I could belong to and be accepted. Worst case scenario, I'd gone completely insane and Embry could just check me into the Forks Hospital psych ward.

Carefully crawling out of bed I made my way into the kitchen. Oddly enough, my body didn't seem stiff or even sore anymore. Maybe I was just that at peace with my decision? At any rate, as soon as I reached the kitchen my stomach loudly growled. It had only been a few hours since I had last eaten, but apparently life altering decisions coupled with fighting for your life upped your metabolism. I even felt warmer than usual, but thinking of Jake for the last several hours had done nothing to help cool my internal thermometer. My face flushed, just thinking of him made my knees weak. I needed to talk to him and soon, but I was starving!

After I chugged down a huge glass of milk and ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich I picked up the phone and dialed the number Embry had stuck to the fridge. He answered after the first ring.

"Auto Shop, this is Embry." I rolled my eyes at his almost sing-song answer.

"Hey, twin. Is Jake there?"

"Cas! How're you feeling? Is everything okay?" The concern in Embry's voice made me smile, and I didn't even get a twinge of pain from my jaw in response.

"I'm fine, Em. I feel really good actually. I was just wondering if Jake was there…I need to talk to him." There was a short pause.

"Uh. Yeah…he's not here. Don't freak…okay?" My forehead creased with Embry's question. What now? I wasn't sure I could deal with any more surprises.

"Okay…Is he alright?"

"It's not that…it's just…umm…he's in the woods outside our house, and has been there for the last two hours."

"Oh," was all I managed to say. Embry's words didn't actually surprise me. I had felt him there without knowing what I was feeling. The last two hours I had felt calm and composed, and it was because I had unconsciously been tapped into my imprint bond. Ugh. Here I had been contemplating battling the imprint and it had been influencing me the whole damn time. No wonder it had been so easy to make up my damn mind and to surrender to fate. Go figure.

"Cassie? You still there?" Embry asked through the phone, which I had dropped to my side. Surprised I had been able to hear his question, I jerked the receiver back up to my ear.

"Yeah, I'm here. Sorry. I think…I knew he was here…I'm going to go. See you later." I hung up on him before he could respond. Now that my mind had confirmation that Jacob was just outside, I didn't fight the pull to go to him. I wanted to be with him. I needed to be with him.

I ran my fingers through my hair in an attempt to smooth it as I made my way to the front door. After wrenching the door open I crossed the driveway in just a few strides and I caught a glimpse of russet fur moving mutely through the trees in front of me. Jacob appeared seconds later clad only in his sports shorts. I stopped just short of the trees when I saw him; my breath caught in my throat as my heart started to hammer in my chest. Bella Swan was a complete idiot. How anyone could have chosen someone over Jacob was beyond me. Even in worn basketball shorts and bare feet he oozed pure masculine sex appeal. If I stood any chance of getting out my apology, I needed to keep my ogling to a minimum. He was watching me expectantly, and I felt my cheeks warm under his gaze. It was now or never.

"Listen, Jake…I'm so sorry about this morning." I kept my eyes on the ground in front of his naked feet. My courage gradually built as I moved my eyes up his strong legs, to his perfectly sculpted abs and chest, then to his strong jaw before I finally encountered his searching eyes. "I don't know what to think about this imprint stuff, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Give me another chance, and some time to accept everything, okay? This morning was just a lot to take in and deal with."

My soul ached as the silence seemed to stretch between us. I desperately needed him to forgive me, and I took several dragging steps toward him. This imprint business was far more intense than I remembered it being this morning; the air separating us virtually crackled with the energy and emotions flowing between us. The very essence of my being was tied with Jacob's; there was no way I was ever going to back out. In every beat of my heart I knew I had made the right decision.

Jacob slowly released the breath he had been holding and his whole body visibly relaxed.

"Whatever you need, Cassie, you have to know, I'll do. We'll work through this together. I promise. I don't ever want to hurt you; I don't think I can. I should have explained the imprint a bit better than I did; I'm sorry." He was being sincere, and I completely believed him.

"Okay. I am really sorry for my over-reaction." A small genuine smile blossomed on my face.

Jacob smirked as he gently pulled me into his hard muscular chest.

"It's alright. You didn't over-react; it's a lot to deal with. Trust me; I know how it feels to have your whole world turned upside down in a single instant. You did have me worried there for a bit, though." His voice was muffled as he spoke against the shell of my ear causing me to shudder against him.

Slipping my arms around his waist I breathed him in. Spending every second of every day snuggled into his chest could definitely be a "happily ever after" I'd be content with.

The world seemed to slow down; it was like I was having an out-of-body experience. I could smell the trees and earth around me, and I swear I could even hear the insects moving around us, through the dirt and trees. Maybe being this connected to someone made you that much more in-tune with the rest of life on the planet.

Jacob's breath moved my hair as his warm fingers ghosted patterns over my lower back. After several minutes, he pulled back just enough to look into my face. Jake's hands shifted, moving slowly down to my hips then up to my arms, and my neck until he was gently cradling my face. His dark smoldering eyes dropped to my lips and my eyes slid closed.

Jacob's lips were just as perfect as I remembered them, and as he kissed me everything else faded away. My body didn't hurt anymore. It was like it had never happened. Apparently not wanting to hurt me Jake began to pull away after his chaste kiss, but I wasn't planning on letting him go. Weaving my fingers into the short dark satin hair at the base of his neck I tugged him back to me. This time when our lips met I sucked his bottom lip between my teeth and nibbled. He was like oxygen to me; I needed him. He wasn't going to get away from me any time soon.

Jacob's chest rumbled against mine as he pulled me completely flush against his body. Releasing his lip I dragged my pierced tongue over it. Jacob tasted absolutely amazing. Sighing, I laid my head on Jacob's shoulder, and my foggy brain began to wander. Had I grown? I didn't remember my body fitting so perfectly into Jacob's last night. Did this imprint thing just make our bodies more in tune with each other? That would be fantastic if it did.

Jake's warm hands had moved back to gently surround my hips and they were holding me firmly against him. Closing my eyes I focused on the electricity that seemed to hum between us. If Jacob's hands felt this amazing touching my body with clothes on…I blushed at the direction my thoughts were heading, but as soon as I felt the heat creep into my cheeks Jacob jerked away from me.

"Are you okay, Cassie?" Jacob asked, concern etched on his face.

"Yeah. I'm fine," other than you catching me thinking borderline dirty thoughts, I'm great. "Why?" My blush refused to go away. In fact, it felt like my skin was getting hotter.

"You're burning up," Jake said gently placing his palm on my forehead. When his skin contacted mine he didn't feel hot or even warm; His palm felt almost cool against my head.

My shock registered on my face, as the world around me slowed to a crawl. Stumbling back from Jacob, I dropped to my knees. Why was I suddenly so weak? What was going on? Was I going into shock now, a half a day after my attack?

Jacob was kneeling in front of me before I could process his movement. My wide-startled eyes met his anxious ones. I needed to focus. I could handle this; I just needed to think.

My chest burned and it felt like a huge weight was crushing me; just breathing had become a challenge. I had been feeling fine. Hadn't I? This didn't make any sense. I had everything under control and was perfectly happy with the decisions I had made. Why was my body suddenly freaking out!

Placing two fingers on my neck I took my pulse. My heart rate was bouncing off the charts; I could barely keep count of its hammering rhythm.

"Jacob, my heart is beating way too fast." I choked out. Tachycardia; could be a symptom of stress meltdown, or a panic attack. Okay, I knew that, but it'd been at least three hours since the vampires had attacked me. Why was this happening now?

A panic attack would possibly explain my shortness of breath, tight chest, and high body temperature. Maybe I was just really slow in processing the stress of being attacked because I had been too busy thinking of Jacob and imprinting. From what medical knowledge I did have, this wasn't how these types of things worked, though.

"Cassie, what are you feeling?" Jacob's normally calm voice was slightly tinged with panic.

"I just need…to calm down." I managed to gasp out. Muscle tremors had started in my hands, so I clenched them into fists futilely trying to contain the spasms from moving up my arms. I forced my eyes back to Jacob's. He had moved closer to me so he could loosely encircle my feverish body with his arms. My arms trembled and shook, ricocheting off his torso and arms like pin-balls.

"Jake…if I start seizing, make sure I don't hit my head and go…get help…I'll stop breathing…" I managed to whisper out as my breath wheezed out of my lungs. This didn't fit a panic attack, was I having some sort of an allergic reaction? My throat didn't feel inflamed or swollen and I wasn't having any other symptoms. I had never reacted to Motrin or Tylenol before. My arms continued to violently shake as I felt my body's temperature rising. What could be giving me a fever? Was my temperature high enough that it was causing my body to seize? That was possible, but I had never once had a seizure before. What the hell was going on?

Jacob pulled me fully against him so that he cradled my head with one of his huge hands. He wouldn't let anything happen to me; he'd protect me. That thought blew like a soothing breeze through my overworked brain, and I almost managed to suck a full breath into my burning lungs.

Minutes had passed since I had dropped to my knees, but it felt like an eternity. My muscles ached with fatigue. Everything from my skin to my joints, including my bones, felt like they were burning in some invisible fire. The ground behind Jacob violently came into focus and I nearly threw up. My head spun with vertigo even though I knew I wasn't moving. I closed my eyes focusing on my pounding heartbeat and the deafening rushing of blood in my ears, willing it to slow down. I had to calm my body down before my heart gave out.

I distinctly heard Jacob, followed by Embry, speaking, but they sounded far away and disconnected. My overly sharp hearing of several minutes ago had apparently faded. Their conversation sounded like it was taking place underwater, garbled and completely unintelligible.

My frazzled and unfocused brain zeroed in on a lone wolf's howl echoing in the forest behind us. I couldn't even control my thoughts to rationalize why or if it was real; the wolf's bay reverberated in my soul, and I was immediately flooded with a new command over my body. Willing my body to calm down, I replayed the howl over and over in my mind.

Suddenly, in one instant, as if a switch had been thrown, I was fine and completely back to normal. The tremors stopped, my heart slowed, and the burning flames that had been consuming my body vanished. Exhaustion hit me like a freight train, and I couldn't force my eyes open. All I could think was how much I wanted to curl up on the forest floor and sleep for days.

I could feel Jacob's presence around me. He continued to hold my body gently against his, both cradling and supporting me. Had he been the one to hold me together? I allowed myself to hang limp against his muscled torso and my head dropped to his shoulder. Jacob seemed to want to pick me up, but I think he was afraid to move me just yet. The hand that had been cradling my head moved to gently comb through my hair before it came to rest securely on my lower back.

Sam had appeared next to Embry. It had been Sam in wolf form I had heard howl. How I knew that it was Sam didn't matter; it was him. I just knew it, just like I knew both Sam and Embry were standing roughly eight feet directly behind Jacob, watching me. It was like I could sense them without seeing them.

The smell of the forest, damp pine and underlying rot, had become so potent it threatened to burn my suddenly overly sensitive nostrils, and I fought to focus on Jacob and my brothers' scents.

Sam whispered to Embry, but I heard him like he was speaking directly into my ear.

"The vampires must have triggered the gene. It would make sense that it's happening so late if she had never been in contact with one before…it would delay the onset…"

My eyes snapped opened before Sam could finish. My gene had been triggered because I had come in contact with vampires. The supernatural wolf gene that Jacob said I carried, the same gene that turned my brothers into huge werewolves. Oh my God. I was going to wolf out and become a monster too. Why was I calm and not freaking out right now? A part of me kind of wanted to freak out. This was far more than just icing on the cake to my supernatural day from hell.

Jake stood up slowly, pulling me up with him before he gently stood me on my feet. His eyes scanned over my form before he took a step to the side and dropped his arms to sides. He stood just close enough that he was supporting me, without directly leading me. My heart swelled in my chest before I focused back on Sam.

"What exactly are you saying, Sam?" I managed to ask evenly, meeting my brother's wary stare.

Sam's eyes widened marginally, he hadn't been expecting me to hear him, as he straightened and took several steps towards Jacob and me. I moved to meet him, but Jacob matched my movement and trapped me in his arms before I could side-step him. I tensed for only a second before I allowed myself to melt backward into his chest. His strength was exactly what I needed to keep me anchored right now. Jacob had his muscular arms wrapped solidly around my torso and chest, I wasn't going anywhere. Whatever anxiety I had been feeling seeped into the damp earth at my feet the more I focused on Jacob. I briefly wondered if it would always be that way for me. Was I the center of his universe, too? Was I like his gravity? Sam cleared his throat and I refocused my gaze with his. Right. I needed to listen to Sam right now.

Sam's eyes looked aged and sad, as he took a deep breath before speaking. His voice was quiet and sullen.

"Cassie, look, I'm really sorry…It never occurred to any of us that you might be affected by this…I promise we had no idea…There is no excuse but it's only happened to one other female and quite honestly, we all thought that it was just a fluke…and with the imprint in place it could really change the dynamic of things. We can't be one-hundred percent sure until you do actually phase, but from what I just saw it looks like your wolf gene has been triggered." Sam stopped talking in order to roughly drag his hand over his face.

Jacob's breath on my cheek was distracting me and I suddenly wanted nothing more than to turn my head and slowly drag my tongue along his jaw.

What the hell was wrong with my brain? My brother is trying to explain how much more screwed up my life is going to become because I'm potentially going to turn into a huge wolf, and the only thing I care about is swapping spit with my mystical soul mate! I dragged a deep breathe in through my nose to clear my head. The forest combined with Jacob's scent instantly grounded me in a calm focus.

"Don't be sorry, Sam. I'm not…" Jake's arms tightened around me and I couldn't help but smile. It felt like this was right; coming here had been my destiny all along. "This is how it's supposed to be. If I am going to wolf out or whatever, though, I would like to be a bit more prepared. That was terrifying not knowing what was going on with my body." Moving my gaze to Embry's stunned face, I continued, "I'm still a newbie at all of this, so you'll have to patient with me; all of this is just a bit surreal."

My twin's mouth dropped open in shock, and I smiled shakily after finishing my brief pronouncement. Considering mentally I had done a one-hundred-eighty degree turn since this morning, I wasn't at all surprised. Frankly I'm not sure I had ever been so calm. Maybe things were so bizarrely out of my normal coping range I couldn't rationalize it enough to make it work in my brain, so I was just peaceably going with it. Whatever was going on, I had never felt more content in my life.

I think finding the purpose of my existence had been slightly delayed from falling into place like it should have because I hadn't been here in La Push. I didn't get to grow up here with my family; Jacob and I weren't able to meet and fall in love as teenagers. Yet somehow I had still managed to take the round-about way to get the same end result.

And I couldn't turn away from this if I tried.

AN:

This chapter was missing some serious love and sucking of face. *Sigh* I hope to do better next update.

I would love to know what ya'll think! Most of you figured out long ago that Cassie was going to wolf out. Sorry it wasn't a shocking twist in the plot liked I had hoped it would be!

Shout out of thanks to PTB's Robotprospektor, for sweet patience and kind educational words.

HUGE special thanks to Leanne Golighty for the nominations in the Gem Awards!

– Go read her lovely work if you haven't already! Oh yeah and feel free to go vote after 11/25/10 gemawards(dot)blogspot(dot)com

*hugs and wolfy kisses*