Hello, you beautiful people! I would like to thank each and every one of you who submitted reviews and who continues to follow this brainbaby of mine. I am very, very thankful for all of you. Let's dive right in, shall we? There is a new point of view in this chapter. Try and guess who (:

Jacob PoV

Somehow we got on the topic of imprinting.

The pack plus Bella was hanging out at the Uley's after school and running. Where else, right?

It was a concern for most of us. What if you imprint on someone awful? What if she's from Ukraine and lives a million miles away? Do you move to Ukraine and communicate through hand signals? What if you're in a relationship (Sam had the answer to that question)? What if- as it went down in one weird legend- you imprinted on someone a lot younger than you?

We were just speculating. The possibilities were interesting as well as worrying. There are more than a billion girls out there and any one of them could be your soulmate. It would be ideal to imprint on your friend or at least a girl in your town, but probability isn't really in your favor. I only know a handful of girls, and some of them aren't even human. The other guys know even less, being from one particularly isolated area.

"How do you know if you're ever even going to imprint?" Embry asked, "Do you wait forever or do you accept it and fall in love the old-fashioned way?" I thought of Uncle Edward. He never settled on a girl who wasn't his soulmate although Dad told me there were plenty of offers. He remained alone and gave up on finding love, but he never looked for any less than the best.

"I'll never imprint," Paul scoffed, "This wild stag cannot be tamed."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Never say never, Paul," Jared said with Kim on his knee, "True love doesn't wait for an invite." He proceeded to nibble on Kim's ear. She giggled.

"Whatever, man," Paul said.

"What if the girl is a total stranger? How do you break that ice? 'Hey, I know I look threatening, but it's cool because we're soulmates. I know that because I'm a werewolf,'" I said.

"Imagine that. Just passing a girl on a sidewalk and having to go through introducing yourself and making her fall in love with you like you love her," Kim said.

"In the legends, people almost always imprint on a member of the tribe," Emily said.

"I think it does that so that the gene will be passed on," Sam said.

"To make some pups," Paul said. Kim and Jared blushed underneath their dark skin.

"Thank you for that insight, Paul," Jared said dryly. His discomfort only made it funnier to Paul.

"I'm feeling a bit dense for asking this," Bella said, "But how does it feel? To be an imprint?"

Sam smiled at Emily and said, "She's your everything, what holds you to the earth-"

"-You'd do anything for her-" Jared continued.

"-And you just have to be in her life whether it be as her lover, friend, protecter, or even worst enemy. You just have to be a part of her-

"-Because seperation-"

"-Is worse than death," Sam finished.

"Wow," Bella breathed. There was fierceness in their tones that made the truth of their total devotion undeniable.

"Don't let them think they're the only ones who think like that, Bella," Emily said, "The girls sort of imprint too. Not in the love at first sight way, but we love them deeper than we would any other guy.

"I think I know how that feels," Bella whispered. I reached over and squeezed her hand. It was a reflex now, to comfort her.

"Isn't it supposed to be rare though?" Paul asked, "Two out of five wolves is irregular right?"

"Yeah," Sam said, "Harry has a theory that it's because of the bigger threat. There needs to be more protectors so there needs to be more wolves finding their soulmates."

"Wonder if it'll happen to all of us," Embry said. I knew his thoughts. He didn't mind being that infatuated with a girl. I didn't think I wanted to imprint. Not when I was this close to Bella. I didn't want to leave her.

Paul's PoV

My mind was whirring at the different possibilities of ways to embarrass my friend Jacob. He was at Bella's house despite being in Friendzone Level 9000. He was blind to that though so he thought that my teasing was hurting his chances. Like I'm the one standing in his way. Whatever stops the tears, Jacob.

I whistled cheerfully. Some kids playing soccer in the front yard looked at me like a madman as I walked by. What? Just because I'm seven feet tall and built like the Terminator means I can't carry a tune? Jeez.

I was walking around Forks. Jared found a trail and he needed someone to fetch the kid so he could get a whiff of it. Jake's been hanging out at Bella's house all week so I have walk all the way over here to retrieve him. I mean, I took a shortcut through the woods, I run faster than most cars, but it's still out of my way.

I found the girl's house quick enough. Her nasty car was parked in front of it. She was all proud of it because she bought it herself and all, and it's not like I have a car to brag about, but still, look at it.

Jacob has a car. He and his mom restored this insanely nice vintage Rolls Royce. That's not his car though. His parents bought him a new Viper that's only legal in, like, Japan. Not that I'd replace my parents with bajillionare vampires, but it's a damn nice car. He doesn't have access to it though which gives my petty self some comfort.

It's weird how much you learn about a guy from reading his mind.

I knocked on the door a few times. Bella answered and Jacob appeared behind her. He looked at me sourly.

"Did I interrupt something?" I asked, skeptically. Jacob bared his teeth, and Bella shook her head quickly which made his face fall.

"Why are you here, Paul?" Jacob grumbled.

"Jared found a leech scent. We gotta check it out," I said.

"Alright," he said, looking longingly at Bella.

"Be careful," Bella said. I rolled my eyes. We could take one bloodsucker. Jacob looked flattered that she didn't want him to be a leech's soft drink though.

"Maybe we'll get her this time," Jake said eagerly. Bella flinched.

"That thought doesn't make me feel better," she said with a grimace.

"It's my second time around with her. I'm sure there will be better results."

"You were nearly killed the first time!"

"Nearly! I have so much room for improvement!"

"Time needs not be wasted when there are vampires to kill," I said impatiently.

"Bye Bella," he said and the words just kind of hung there in ever-increasing awkwardity. I stifled a laugh because I found situations such as thus side-splittingly hilarious. Jacob looked like he wanted something more, and I knew better than he that Bella was not going to give it.

"Let's go, shall we?" I said to save my friend from further shame. He nodded and followed me out the door. Bella gave a twitchy wave and shut the door. I let my laughter free.

"Shut up, Paul," Jacob muttered. I lowered my guffaws to snickers.

"That…that may have made my day."

"Stuff it," he said. We were near the high school, and it was around three pm so a lot of cars and kids were out and about.

"I know a neighborhood that connects to the woods," Jacob said.

"Lead the way then," I said. He turned into a small neighborhood with houses meant for bigger houses than the ones Bella and most of La Push lived in. They weren't mansions, but they weren't small either.

When I walked, I had the tendency to not look in front of me. I looked around or at the sky or at my feet. That's probably why I was an easily distracted driver. I liked the backseat better anyway. Today I was observing the houses we walked past so I did not see the reason for Jake swearing under his breath.

"Language, Jacob, what would your mother say?" I said, facing him. He was looking ahead. I turned to see the source of his aggravation.

My body filled with a heat different than the one I felt when I got angry right before I turned into a wolf. Instead of fire, I simply felt warmed all over.

I had been wrong a million times. This is the most significant time; even beating out all the years I thought I was human.

I had painted this dream of partying and never committing to a girl. I knew it was a stupid ideal, but it made me feel cool and tough. It worked out well enough for my dad. Until he met my mom, got his heart broken, and was saddled with a kid. I saw what a child I was a mere two seconds ago for wanting that. My father wasn't weak anymore for falling in love or for mourning the loss of my mother even though she was alive. I had a new worst fear, and it was the same thing happening to me.

This girl was just. So. Beautiful. She had long blonde hair. It was nearly white, and this rare sunny day illuminated it in a celestial way. Her skin was fair which made her look even more like an angel. Her thoughts were elsewhere, I could tell. She was observing the world around, not looking ahead. She was a backseat walker just like I was. She turned her head from the houses on her left to the ones across the street but turned her face back to forward when she saw us.

I smiled at her but then stopped. I imprinted, not her. She doesn't realize that we're soulmates or that I love her without reason or end. Out of the corner of my eye which is primarily focused on greedily taking in every feature of my new world, Jacob is biting his lip so hard that I'm sure his mouth will fill with blood before even his supernatural body can heal it.

"Jacob? Jacob Cullen?" she calls. Her bow-shaped pink lips stretch into an "O." Jake can't run away because she has already spotted him, these circumstances for which I am so very grateful. I still can't help but feel unhappy that she hasn't noticed me yet. Which is ridiculous because I am still a stranger to her.

"Heeeeeey," Jacob said, trying to act casual.

My sun and sky runs towards us, or Jacob, and embraces him.

The hug seems to last hours. Every millisecond passes and my desire to rip Jacob away from her put in my arms forever grows and grows. My muscles have tightened, and my heart is burning with hate for my friend. All loyalties have been stripped and replaced with iron clad one to the girl wrapped up in the wrong person's arms.

Finally, they separate! I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding in.

"You're really warm," she observed.

"We've been walking," Jacob said.

"I can't believe you're here! What's the occasion?"

"I'm just visiting friends," Jacob said, gesturing to me. She finally gives me a long look. Then she smiles, just a tiny bit, and although it is substantially smaller than her smile when she saw Jacob and is no doubt just for etiquette's sake, it makes my heart flutter. I didn't understand what it meant to have your heart flutter, but now I do. It's like your most vital organ of the cardiovascular does a leap in the air, flapping its wings like a kid who jumps off furniture, thinking he can fly.

I sound like such a pansy, such an imprint, but even my own pride matters less than the girl who just gave me a tiny smile.

"I'm Paul, Paul Lahote," I said, extending my hand so far out to her that I bow a little. I feel like one of those Victorian men from English class movies, but I realize that from the girl's tall but not as tall as me height, I look like a bear who is reaching down to paw at his prey. She takes the hand anyway and shakes it a little. And let me tell you, her palms are really really soft!

Jacob's giving me a look that is half-confused and half-angry.

"Gwen, Gwen Hawling," she said, mimicking my tone. I laughed way longer and louder than I should. She quirked her lips and turned back to Jacob.

"I can't believe it's you. It's like you guys disappeared into thin air!" she said.

Jake chuckled. "We tend to be like that. How have you been?"

"Fine, fine, not too heartbroken," she teased, "Jeez, Jake, when I said I would start going after tall, dark giants, I didn't expect you to turn into one."

Jacob laughed, and I am trying to make sense of her words.

Gwen. Oh, Gwen. She was the ex I had teased Jacob about. The one Victoria and her mate had held over Jacob's head so he would come to save her. Although Jacob told me she was never in any real danger, my vendetta for Victoria is so much stronger. My eyes stare intensely at the woods, and for a brief moment, I have the pleasant fantasy of her red head in my mouth. My hands start to shake, and Jacob looked at me, panicked.

I shook my head. I was angry, but I was not about to turn into a wolf. Not with Gwen right here. Her life would never be in danger, ever.

Once I gained control of my bloodlust, I analyzed the second half of her sentence. So she likes them tall, dark, and giant, huh?

"Jacob, have you seen Bella?" Gwen asked with concern in her eyes. I am falling in love with her more and more with everything she said. Now I knew she was compassionate and caring for the people around her.

Jacob nodded. "We've been in contact. I know how she…is." Gwen nodded back at him.

"Is your family here?" she asked.

Jake shook his head. "They're in New York. It's just me."

"How long are you staying?" she asked.

"Um, indefinite," he said, and then he caught how weird that sounded and added, "St. Frank's has this ridiculously long and early Spring Break so I have a while to stay here."

"And your mom is okay with that?" Gwen asked with half a smile.

Jake laughed. "Sort of," he said which made Gwen laugh. It was a beautiful sound, her laugh, very warm and genuine. I felt outside of the conversation though which was a problem because I had already decided that I never wanted to be away from Gwen Hawling.

"Um, Gwen, could you keep my coming back on the DL?" Jacob asked.

Gwen shrugged. "Sure, Jake."

"You're amazing," he said. Hey! That's my line. I mean, I just decided that it would be.

"I long ago learned to not ask why but to simply go along with the mysterious workings of the Cullen family," she said. She is so cool.

"It's really nice seeing you, Jake," she said, "Everyone misses you. Especially Devon."

I didn't know who Devon was, but Jacob frowned sadly.

"You should invite him to the bonfire tonight," I blurted. Jake looked at me like I was crazy, which I was. Gwen smiled. There wasn't a bonfire tonight, not until I ended my sentence with the word.

"I could call him," Gwen said.

"It's at First Beach in La Push," I said, "I am assuming you will be present as well." I tried to smile in a way that was, well, dazzling. I think I failed miserably because she laughed.

"It would be my honor," she said to me. I smiled in the way that made me look completely goofy. I didn't care.

"I'll see you there," I said.

"Uh..yeah," Jake said.

"What time?" Gwen asked.

"Eight," I said. We should be done hunting vampires by then.

"Sounds great," Gwen said, "I have to go home and talk to my mom and Devon, but I'll see you there." She walked between us and down the sidewalk. I watched her until she disappeared inside a white house with a red door. I love white houses with red doors. At least now I did.

Jacob punched me in the gut as soon as she was gone. "What is the matter with you? Do you enjoy adding heaping supplements to the already massive pile of stress on my plate?"

I was smiling like an idiot through the pain. "I had to, Jake," I croaked.

"And why is that?" he snarled.

"I imprinted on your ex-girlfriend," I said weakly.

Then he hit me again.

I have this thing about loose ends so of course Paul couldn't imprint on a stranger. Do you like Paul? Are you happy Gwen is back? Please review and let me know. (: