Chapter 10

KPOV

There was a knock on my window and I jumped up and nearly threw my book across the room. I stumbled to my window and opened the curtains hoping it was Jared or Seth. I raised my eyebrows. It was Leah.

I opened the window, "I'm so glad to see you! We haven't talked in days! You can come in you know," I smirked, "Why knock on my window?"

"Hey Kim," she smiled, "I don't want to come in just because I don't know if I have this wolf thing under control yet. Can you come outside?"

I nodded, "Sure, sure." I stood up, grabbed a jacket and quietly went out the front door so I wouldn't wake my dad up. I walked out to the side of the house to where she was.

Even though it was below 40 degrees she was wearing summer clothes! Then I remembered what Jared had told me that they never get cold.

"You ok? How are you doing with…everything?" I asked her.

"I'm surviving," she smirked, "I didn't come here to talk about how I'm coping though. I have a big problem!" as she said this, her cheeks turned red a little and she glanced at the woods. I looked too but I didn't see anything.

"What is it?"

"We have a new member of our pack. His name is Connor," she swallowed and tapped her foot nervously.

"And?" I smiled a little, "What about him?"

"I-I think he imprinted on me," she almost whispered.

I jumped and down with excitement, "That's great! I'm so happy for you!"

"No it's…I don't know what it is yet. I'm freaking out! I'm not ready for another relationship yet. I'm still…healing," she looked down, "But I'm feeling drawn to him."

I smiled slightly, "That's what happens, Leah. You can't ignore it or run away from it, but you don't have to start out dating if you're scared. Just tell him you want to be friends for now. They will be anything you need them to be."

"What if he's not good with that?"

I rolled my eyes, "Leah, if he imprinted on you he will do anything to make you happy. Even just be friends if it kills him. Now I have to tell you something," I said nervously.

"What?"

"Did you…talk to Seth last night?"

"I wasn't home last night. I couldn't sleep so I went running all night. Why? Did he tell you he liked you?" she asked and I stared at her.

"You…knew? Yes he did and I tried to let him down easy but…he was really torn up about it. I feel so terrible," I looked down.

"Don't be," she put a hot hand on my shoulder, "I warned him no good would've come from it, but he didn't listen. Although I couldn't really say Jared imprinted on you and that's why. Don't worry about him. He'll get over it and come around, he adores you."

"I sure hope so," the look on Seth's face last night still taunted me.

JPOV

I walked into Emily's house with Seth right behind me. The whole pack except for Leah was there clustered around her kitchen table stuffing their faces on her cooking.

"Everyone say hi to the newest member of the pack," I said and everyone looked up.

Embry and Quil started snickering, "Just wait until Leah hears this," Embry chuckled.

"Seems we have a lot of new ones today," Emily grinned and offered me and Seth muffins.

"What do you mean? Another person phased today?" I asked looking at Sam.

He nodded with his mouth full of food, "His name is Connor Hayes, he's 19 and he is out in the woods looking for Leah. He imprinted on her and she freaked out and ran off."

Seth and I glanced at each other. That was not expected. I sat down at the table between Paul and Jake and started eating.

"So Sam uh are you going to teach me how to fight vampires and stuff? I can't wait to get started," Seth said grinning.

Sam shook his head, "You are the youngest we've ever had so far. I don't think you should be doing any fighting or hunting with us unless we really need you. I'll show you how to control your phasing, but your mom would have my head if you got yourself hurt or killed."

"What? Come on just because I'm young doesn't mean I can't help," he whined.

"We'll just see how things go, alright?" Sam gave him a look and he shut up. Then he looked at the rest of us, "There will be a pack meeting in the woods after Jake gets back from Forks. A strange vampire entered Bella Swan's home and he's going to see what he can find and report back to us, then we'll decide what we're going to do."

"Maybe it was just a Cullen," said Embry.

"The Cullens are back, and it wasn't them. Whoever it was, wasn't from around here, and it's weird he left her father alive," said Sam.

I wasn't even really paying attention to this conversation. There was a heaviness in my chest, the same heaviness I always got when I was away from Kim. I needed to get back to her. After a while Jake left to go check out Bella's house.

"Let's go, Seth. You still need to talk to Kim," I reminded him. He nodded and we said thank you to Emily for the food and left. We didn't phase to get there because Emily's house was only two blocks away from Kim's. Everyone was neighbors here.

"I can't believe Sam is going to make me sit out of everything," he complained.

"He's doing it for your own safety. Just because you're a wolf doesn't make you invincible. We can still die as easily as humans can," I told him as we walked.

When we got to her driveway she was already running out the door and only stopped when she reached my arms. I smiled and hugged her tight feeling so much better. Then she pulled back and stared at Seth taking in his sudden growth spurt and shorts.

"Look Kim, I'm really sorry I-" he started and she cut him off.

"You're a wolf too? This is so unfair. I'm the only human," she crossed her arms and I chuckled.

"No you're not, the other imprints Emily and Rachel are human too," I said brushing a strand of hair out of her face. God she looked beautiful. I couldn't wait for Seth to leave so I'd have her all to myself.

"Anyway uh I just wanted to let you know I understand everything now, and I get why you said no. I'm fine, really, you don't have to feel guilty about anything. We're still friends aren't we?" he asked.

"Of course we are. We can just pretend last night never happened ok?" she smiled and leaned into my side.

"Ok," he grinned and started to step forward for a hug maybe and I held out my hand to stop him.

"Sorry Seth, but I'd appreciate if you'd keep some distance until you've had more experience keeping your inner wolf under control," I wanted to make sure she was safe.

He nodded, "Yeah sure, ok," he backed up, "I guess I'll be heading home now. My mom is probably worried sick, see you later, Kim," he waved slightly and began to walk away.

As soon as he left I grinned, picked her up and swung her around on my arms making her squeal. After I set her down I hugged her, "I missed you," I breathed in her sweet scent.

"I missed you too," she sighed.

I smiled, "Since your dad is home, do you want to come over to my place for a while? Or we can go to the beach or something but I need to swing home first. I could use a shower."

"You smell great to me," she pressed a soft kiss to my cheek and I chuckled.

"Will your father mind me taking you for a bit?" I asked pulling back to see her face remembering he was home.

She shook her head, "There has been a lot of fires in Seattle lately, an arsonist maybe. That combined with all of the disappearances there lately he's got his work cut out for him. He'll be going back tonight, he's just here for the day to get some rest."

I frowned a little at that. I knew about the disappearances, the pack had discussed it a few days ago. We all guessed it was probably vampires.

She studied my face, "Do you know something about the disappearances there?"

"We think it's vampires," I answered and she shuddered, "But I don't want to talk about that now. Let's go spend some time together before I have to go to a pack meeting."

She nodded and I took her hand and led her to the forest behind her house. I let her go, backed up a good 10 feet and phased. She always looked stunned watching it happen even though now she's seen it plenty of times. I got down on my belly so she could climb on my back, took two fistfuls of fur and then we were off. I was careful not to let her fall off as I headed for home.

LPOV

Leah? A male voice was in my head I didn't recognize. I knew it had to be him. Connor.

I turned to see a large but beautifully gray wolf staring at me. Our eyes met and something urged me to go to him. I didn't think anyone could find me way out here, he must have followed my scent.

Hi um I swallowed. Those eyes! I know why you're here, but I just need a little time to get used to this. I mean…I haven't really had a good love life so far. I'm pretty damaged. Why was I saying this? Was I trying to scare him away?

Sam already told me all about that, and I don't care. I'm sorry I followed you but…I couldn't really help it. I wanted to make sure you were safe and I had to be near you. He stepped a little closer.

I stepped back a step, my hind leg hitting a tree and he stopped, cocking his head to one side. I must've looked so dumb.

I know this must seem weird to you. Do you know what imprinting is?

I snorted, Duh I know what it is. I'm just not prepared for this. After what happened with Sam…well I promised myself I'd never make a mistake like that again. I don't want to feel that kind of pain ever again.

He nodded his head once I know you're scared. We don't have to rush things. We can be just be friends for as long as you want. You can set the pace, just please let me have a chance to prove myself to you.

I stared at him. Could this really be happening? Could something actually be going right since Sam became a wolf? I hoped it was a yes. I nodded my head, I'd like that.

I'm so sorry about your dad. I knew him and he was a good man, he lowered his head.

I did too. I missed him. Thank you.

I'm here if you ever need someone to talk to about it. I know what it's like to lose a parent. My mother died a few years ago. I was told it was a bear attack, he shook his head, now I know it wasn't a bear.

I'm sorry, I looked down. We already had things in common.

It's all good. It was a long time ago, his tail wagged slightly, it's nice to talk to someone who understands, who's been there.

I nodded, It's nice for me too. It really was.

KPOV

I sat on Jared's couch, waiting for him to get out of the shower. I checked my breath. I was a bit nervous. I was planning on trying to push things a little further than kissing when he got back. He looked so handsome today. Sometimes I think that this is all just a good dream and I'm going to wake up at any time. If it was, I don't want to get up. Every day that passes I love him more and more. He's just so perfect in every way and is always concerned for me.

When he came out all shirtless, damp and smelling like soap, my desire for him got worse and I blushed deeply at the impure thoughts of him that entered my mind. I couldn't help but imagine how great he must look without any clothes on. Calm yourself! You're acting like a cat in heat!

He noticed my look and I looked down embarrassed. He sat next to me and put an arm around me grinning. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?" he pulled me gently to him and I exhaled sharply.

"You look much better than me," I looked up at him and our faces were close, our noses almost touching. Staring into his eyes I noticed they were dark with desire too. His breath on my skin was giving me goose bumps.

"You are so…wrong," he whispered against my lips before kissing me. I kissed him back feverishly trying to get him to let go and lose control a little. It worked. He pulled me into his lap so I was straddling him. I threw my arms around his neck, anchoring myself to him while his hands were on my waist holding me a little tighter than normal. Our kisses grew deeper and more urgent and I gasped when he lifted my shirt a little to caress the skin there.

He pulled back with a worried face, "Did I cross a line?"

"No!" I said a little too quickly and pulled his mouth back to mine. Now his hands had gone up my shirt and were on my bare back making me shiver. I put my own hands on his abs, tracing over them and he groaned.

Then he pulled back all of sudden, "Wait," I stopped and gave him a funny look, "I need to calm down before I hurt you by accident."

I laughed, "Jared, you would never hurt me."

"I could accidentally if I lose control," he gently lifted me off his lap and pulled me into his side.

"That's…kind of what I wanted," I said a little disappointed. He stared at me and I blushed and looked down.

"Kim, I can't. At least not today. I need to talk to you about another wolf thing first," he said and I was confused. I'd thought he'd already told me everything.

"You see…only with imprints, we do this thing called marking. It occurs when…well you know," he blushed a little, "Anyway I'm going to have the urge to bite you on the neck," as he said this his fingers brushed along the area between my shoulder and my jaw and I shivered, "Right about there," he smiled provocatively, "And it will leave a permanent bite mark that will mark you as mine. You will smell like me to other vampires, like a wolf but my scent specifically. It's a form of protection when I'm not with you." He kissed my cheek.

"And um…why can't you do that now?" I asked hoping we could just pick up where we left off.

"It's hard to explain. But I need time to prepare or something so I don't feel like I'm going to lose it completely when you are just sitting in my lap," he smirked, "Like every night or so we can try to go a little farther each time building up to it so I don't screw up and hurt you. If I hurt you," he shook his head at the thought, "I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Like what happened to Emily, Sam has to look at her face every day as a reminder of that one split second he could've killed her. It tears him up in the worst way."

"I get that," I nodded, "You're just trying to be careful but I'm a little confused. I thought you guys only change when you're angry."

Jared chuckled, "It's not just anger that triggers it. That's just the main one. It can happen just from nerves or overwhelming emotions like fear, sadness, and even love," he smiled at me.

"Oh," I nodded and curled up into his side. He kissed my forehead and we watched T.V like that until he had to go meet the pack and he took me home.

I love all the reviews everyone :) thank you all just for reading. Next chapter will be the last so I can start on the sequel to this one about Seth and his imprint. Who is she? ;) you gotta wait and see.