Bella

"Bella? Bella? Can you hear me?" I open my eyes to see Jacob kneeling over me. My head is reeling and my stomach lurches as I try to sit up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, take it slow. You're ok."

"Um..." My head feels as though it were just trampled by a herd of elephants, "What happened?"

"Well, at the risk of making you pass out again, I told you that you're my imprint."

Suddenly, everything comes flooding back to me. All the stories, the rush of emotion, and the wish. "I-uh..."

"Bells, any idea why the imprint bond just happened?"

"Well, when you were telling me the stories and then expaining how the bond is for you, I felt like my heart was breaking for you. And then... I uh- kinda wished..."

"Wished what, Bells?" I couldn't bring myself to respond but he asked again, "Bella, what wish?"

I looked at the sand embarrassed, and then almost at a whisper, I said, "I wished I could be that for you. I wished I could take the burden off your shoulders. I wished I could help you."

Jacob sat back on his haunches and just looked at me, "Wow. Um... ok."

"Um... what does this mean exactly? Am I going to sprout a tail and big paws now?"

"I uh- I'm not sure. Like I said, we haven't exactly seen this happen before. It's all been legend until now." Then he stands up and starts pacing, "Of course, we will have to go to the tribe council about this... and I have to tell the pack..."

I jump up, "Wait. The council? The pack? No, no, no... I can't... I don't even know what this all means."

"Bella, you don't understand, the first time I phase now, the whole pack will know."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the pack can hear each others thoughts... well, we are more like in one room. We can feel each others feelings, see images in each other's minds, hear each other's thoughts... It's all pretty invasive, actually. You don't even know the number of times that I have caught Sam thinking about Emily when I have phased to start patrol..." He shivers. "But I would never bring it up to him... He'd kill me. But, the point is, they'll know something happened, and if I don't tell them, they are going to be pissed! In fact, they may be pissed anyway."

"Why, because I used to be with Edward?"

"That may be part of it, but mainly because you aren't Quileute. And as a mate of the pack, you'd be expected to move to the reservation so that we can more easily protect you. But especially since you are MY mate."

"Jacob, Charlie would never let me move onto the Rez. I'm still in high school!"

"You graduate in two months. You are already 18. You can tell him that you need some space after the whole Edward thing, and that you found a place out on the reservation. You can do this after we talk to the elders and get them to approve the move. Then you can tell him that we are together..."

"Wait, Jacob, I do love you, but I don't know that I am ready for that... not yet." Suddenly, Jake takes a step back, and his face falls. But before he can walk away, I step to him, "Jacob... I don't understand what all of this means. I mean, it's all happening so fast. I just found out about you, now, it's happening to me too? Or maybe not? I just don't know what to do. Or say. Or even think. I am so confused. Please, don't give up on me, I just need time."

Jacob wraps his arms around me and I find myself returning the hug. "Believe me, I understand what you mean. It's fast for me too. I don't know, I just have been waiting for you to see past Cullen... I just don't want to lose you before I even have a chance with you."

Suddenly, I understand what he needs from me, "Jacob Black, I accept all that you are and all that you will be. I accept all of the responsibilities and duties that may come. I promise to be by your side, protecting the pack and humankind. You are mine and I am yours. From now until the Great Spirits call us away. Even then, I hope I may stay with you." With those words, I feel the imprint bond finalize. Before, it was movable and pliable, but now, it is unbreakable and strong. I pull away and Jacob gasps. "What? What? What's wrong?"

"Um... Nothing's wrong... but uh... I think we should get out of the open..."

Now that we are separated, I notice that I am burning up... from the inside. I thought it was just the heat from Jacob, but now, I notice it is radiating from inside of me. He takes my hand and we start running toward the woods. All of a sudden, I feel the heat expanding just about the time we make the cover of the tree line. "Um... Jake?" I say just about the time I feel my clothes start shedding. Next thing I know, I am down on all fours, staring at chestnut brown feet. I look up just in time to see Jacob taking off his clothes. I look away to give him privacy, but before I know it, there is a voice inside my mind.

Jake says with a laugh, "Well, I guess that answers that question... Paws and a tail."