Chapter Two

Is That Her

Paul

I'm so not happy to be here, I think as I reach the Swans' house. I have much better things to do than to be hunting down some leech-lover. Especially when we all know Bella ran off with that asshole, anyway. Fuck the rest of her family; she's in "love." I'm not sure romantic love exists.

I start to voice as much when Sam gives me a cold look. "Save it, Paul." he orders. And with him being the alpha of the pack, I reluctantly obey.

A worried looking Chief Swan answers the door and ushers us through the house into the backyard. About two dozen other people are there already, including Jacob Black. I resist the urge to make a face; Jacob's kinda a weird kid, and I don't like him.

That urge is immediately squashed when the scent hits me. Lavender, peppermint and vanilla. And along with the scent, a barrage of images: a tall brunette laughing with her head tilted back; wrestling the girl playfully to the ground, ending with both of us laughing; cutting down a Christmas tree; chasing after a little girl; laughing at a stupid joke; then, just her. I drink her in, her long dark hair, her turquoise eyes, the slight dusting of freckles across her nose, the way her eyes sparkle when she laughs. And then it's gone, and I'm staring into space.

"Paul! Come on man!" Jared calls to me. I snap out of it and head for the woods to phase.

Imprinting. I swore I would never do it. Swore that I would make the choice. I don't believe in this soulmate bullshit. Or, didn't, anyways.

Imprinting at the time had seemed like the most toxic concept ever. It seemed like you practically manipulated the person into falling in love with you. But now? Now I see.

When you imprint, you are saying you love him or her and will be whatever he or she needs. But if he or she just needs a friend, you'll be more than happy being that to him or her. You don't push it; you don't try to force the other person into something they may never want. Or, at least, that's how it should be.

I've heard the story of how Sam met Emily a million times. I've heard the stupid legends from the elders of the tribe, too. They say that when you imprint, everything changes.

Really, the only thing that changed about me is that I now feel the sudden urge to protect the girl. Which is stupid, since I don't even know her name. But if anything were to happen to her, I'm aware that as long as she wants me, I'll be there for her. Whether I fight it or not. And I intend to fight it.

I don't see the leech-lover anywhere, I think to Sam. Can I go home now, please? My sister wants to have a Hunger Games movie marathon.

No. Sam's authoritative voice answers. We keep looking; comb these woods.

We do keep looking. Until two in the morning, in fact. Long after I had phased back into human form. At long last, I hear static over the radio.

"We found her." Thank goodness; I can get the hell out of here. I turn and head back the way I came. I don't even bother to summon my usual hatred for Jacob Black; the guy who found her. I'm just relieved that I'll be able to crash soon.

And then, a very musical voice comes on the radio; this one I don't recognize. "We're on our way back." And I instinctively know that that voice is hers. I have to remind myself to breathe. Remind myself that I'm not going to feel anything for this girl.

That lasts until I see her in person. She's leaning over Bella, tugging off her wet shoes and socks. She chucks them over her shoulder once she's done with them and grabs a blanket to wrap Bella in. She doesn't even look up as she runs into the kitchen, returning a few moments later with a hot water bottle.

She rolls her eyes as she slips the bottle into the blanket. She then straightens up and sighs loudly. She climbs into an old recliner in the corner and flips the footrest out.

She lies there for a while before letting out a groan and forcing her eyes back open. A few seconds later, her eyes close again. It's clear to me that she's gonna sleep there.

I grab a spare blanket from the linen closet before returning to her side. I shake the blanket out and let it fall gently over her. The smell of peppermint, lavender and vanilla assaults my nostrils.

She snuggles more into the blanket, the corner of her lips quirking up slightly. I smile and remove her gun from its holster and set it on the table beside her. I ignore the small boxlike object clipped to her jeans, which is currently flashing and bleeping. I instinctively know not to touch it.

"You imprinted, didn't you?" Sam asks.

"No." I lie, glaring at Sam. He knows damn well that I intend to fight the bond with everything I have.

"Whatever you say, man." Sam says with an eye roll.

My sister Paige is lying on the couch when I get back. It's clear that she fell asleep while marathonning some movie series or other. The light from the TV dances across her face.

I scoop her up and carry her upstairs and into her messy bedroom. I tuck the blankets around Paige, and then head to my room across the hall.

My imprint's face dances in front of me as I drift, haunting me. I'm not sure if I can really fight the imprinting bond, but I intend to. She has the ultimate choice, after all, and I'm not gonna give her the chance to hurt me. I've had enough of that.

My dad walked out the family when Paige was five and I was seven, and I haven't heard from him since. And my mom is never home. She has a "very demanding job, Paul." Or at least, that's what she says when I ask her, yet again, why she failed to show up for Paige's awards night.

I sigh and stretch my arms over my head. It's definitely her, I decide as I bury myself back into my sheets. I've definitely imprinted. And I may not be able to fight it too much longer.

A/n: Hey guys! Updating again! I'm so proud because I've written eight chapters in under twenty-four hours. Can you tell I'm obsessed with this story? Please review. Thanks! Later!

Lauren.

Reply to Review:

Loves to Read Books: Thanks! I like writing Kelsey's POV. I hope you like this chapter, too. Please review and let me know.