Jared's reaction was swift, and the air in the truck seemed to constrict further. He slammed on the brakes and turned to face her. His eyes widened, and he drew in a deep, unsteady breath, as though he were preparing for a battle he hadn't anticipated.

"Kim," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "How..? Never mind," he sighed, rubbing a hand across his chin. "Would it be ok if we... if we sat down somewhere to talk about this?"

"We're already sitting," she spouted.

"Yes, but... somewhere more-"

"Private? There's no one else in the car, Jared. Unless you don't want to tell me?"

"No, I do... let me just park, we're still in the middle of the road." He started the car and moved off the road, parking on the side. He squeezed the steering wheel and sighed. "An imprint is... It's a complicated thing. It's when a wolf finds their soulmate, someone they're drawn to on a profound level. It's more than just love; it's like an unbreakable connection, a bond that transcends time and space. When a wolf imprints, they can't help it. It just happens, and they can't imagine being with anyone else."

"OK?" she prompted, waiting for him to start laughing, to tell her it's all a joke, but his face remained dead serious. "But, seriously now, are you joking?"

"I wouldn't joke about something like that," he mumbled, taking her hand. "This isn't something you'd invent."

"It sounds... ridiculous. Surreal."

"It is real, alright," he muttered, defeated.

"So, what does it mean? How does it work?"

"It's... well, like love at first sight, sort of. You see that special someone, your eyes lock and a bond just... settles into place. Like... you tie each other to this planet."

Kim listened intently, her heart quickening. "Is there something else?" she asked, her eyes searching his.

Jared hesitated. "It's just... Kim, I need you to understand that an imprint is permanent. Once it happens, it can't be undone. And it's more than just attraction; it's like a destiny, a calling. I didn't tell you about it before because... I didn't want to overwhelm you." When she didn't say anything, he took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering. "Kim, I imprinted on you."

"You... You imprinted on me?" Kim's voice quivered.

Jared nodded, his expression filled with genuine concern. "Yes. I didn't choose for it to happen, but it did. And I'm so grateful it did-"

The anger within her boiled over, and she pulled her hand away from his grasp. "How long have you known?"

"I- I don't understand?" He floundered.

"How long have you known that you imprinted on me, or whatever is the correct expression?"

"I... I knew the moment it happened."

"Which was when?"

"History class. When you dropped your pen," he said quietly.

The moment came back to her with such clarity - his wide, confused eyes, staring at her like she'd hung the moon; then the brilliant, dimpled smile, the tugging inside her stomach, the lightness of the room around them. Her insides clenched.

"That was months ago," she gasped. "So, what? You didn't think I should know? You didn't think it was important to tell me about this before we got together? You let me believe that we were building something real, something special, without revealing the truth. But now I find out that I was chosen for you? That it's not about... love, but about something beyond our control?"

Jared winced. "It is real! I know I should have told you earlier, Kim and I'm so sorry. But-"

"Sorry isn't going to change the fact that you kept this from me. I deserved to know!"

Jared's face contorted with a mix of regret and anguish. "I understand that, Kim, and I wish I had told you sooner. But... I chickened out, ok? We were having such a great time and... I didn't want to lose you. I didn't want you to run away because of this. It doesn't change how I feel about you."

Kim pulled away from his touch, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "Would you even like me? Would you even consider me if it weren't for the... whatever mojo caused all this?"

The pain in his eyes was evident, and he reached for her desperately. "Of course I would! I did! I do! It just isn't exactly easy to just drop something like this on someone - I thought I was protecting you! Please, let me make it right. Let me explain what the imprint means for us. This doesn't have to change anything between us; if anything, it's a confirmation that we're right for each other, that we belong together!"

Kim's voice grew cold, her eyes distant. "You should have trusted me to make my own decision, to understand. Instead, you made that choice for me. You took away my agency in this, Jared. And you made a fool out of me. God, I'm so stupid. Sophie was right," she whispered. "You probably still wouldn't know my real name."

He flinched. "You're not being fair; it happened one time, and I still didn't know you well; I apologized for that already and I meant it."

She squeezed the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. "I need some time to think. I need to figure out what this means for me. I need to know if I can trust you again."

Jared's heart sank as he watched Kim retreat from him, the rift between them growing deeper with each passing moment. "Baby, we can work this out. It's... it's a good thing, I..." He trailed off, running his fingers though his hair.

"I need some time to process," she repeated and reached for the door handle.

"Baby, come on, I'll drive you home, it doesn't have to-"

"It's close enough, I'll walk."

"Kim, don't-"

But, she'd already opened the door, grabbed her things and stepped out in the cold evening. "I'll be fine."

"Baby-"

She slammed the door shut, cutting off whatever he'd wanted to say. As she walked away, her steps felt like lead, the evening air cold against her skin. She walked, only half aware of her surroundings, of the sound of Jared's door slamming, locking, his footsteps quick behind her. He reached her within seconds but he didn't say anything else. He just walked a few steps behind, following. She didn't dare turn around and face him. Not with her eyes stinging like that, not with her chin trembling.

They walked like that until her house came into full view, the porch light already on, and then she heard him stop. She knew he waited until she was at the front door, the way he always had. As she slipped into the house, she turned and chanced a look in his direction, but he was already moving, the back of his hoodie disappearing into the nearest trees. The tears finally spilled, leaving two hot trails on her cold cheeks.

As she clicked the front door shut, a heartbreaking howl pierced the silence; so loud, she had to cover her ears.