The sky is getting darker. The ocean waves move like in a waltz, in a violent way. So absurd. The beach is empty, grayish. The wind comes to blow and stirs the ocean. I am sentenced to death. As I get off the bus near the Push, I know that I know that the dismay can be seen on my face. Niklaus. A hybrid more than ten thousand years old will learn about my existence within two months by coming to take revenge on Katherine. After that, he could use me for an odious sacrifice supposed to release his werewolf abilities ... Since when has my life revolved around such legendary and sordid stories ? I do not have any chance to survive. My mother will never get over this and I would break her heart. What if I put the pack in danger ? Obviously, their role is to protect the city and its inhabitants, they will want to take part in this fight. What if Niklaus attacked the entire reservation ? The pained face of Jared stands out in my mind and this desperate vision never leaves me. According to what imprinting implies, as I understand it, he can not live without me. It is a cruel curse. My heart aches with terrible pain. It is only now that I realize it is raining. The storm finally explodes and many drops escape from the sky. My eyelids are dry but the heavens cry for me. Looking up, I can see the boys far away, Jared, Sam and Paul, coming down the cliff. They certainly spent the afternoon jumping. Paul and Sam wave at me and head in the opposite direction while my boyfriend runs straight towards me.

- Hi, Kim ! Jared exclaims, taking me in his arms, spinning me around.
- Hi.

He must quickly feel that my body is tense against his and notices my morose expression. The tall guy, simply dressed in shorts, black sneakers on his feet, keeps his arms around my shoulders but wrinkles his nose. As if the smell disgusted him. My smell ? I sniff myself, afraid of smelling bad. I don't smell anything unusual.

- What happened ? Pronounces the deep voice of the Quileute.
- I was with my mother and, you know, her schedule is quite unstable at the moment so ultimately we didn't spend the day together and then um ... I'm jabbering, searching for words and mainly trying to save time. Jared's brows furrow and his grip loosens. He takes a few steps away from me.
- You went back to the cave. You smell the dirty vampire. He interrupts me, getting straight to the point and looking so disappointed.

I don't even need to answer, because it was not a question. I can only stare at him for long seconds, hating to see this expression of disappointment that he had never had towards me.

- I'm fine, you don't have to worry. I mumble, trying to reassure him.
- You promised me not to go back. You lied to me ! Jared raises his voice.
- I called you because I wanted you to come with me, but you didn't answer ... I protest, poorly.
- Because I was on patrol ! It could have waited ! And I thought you were staying with your mom so I didn't check my phone ! Jared adds.
- Okay, but it was my only opportunity without my mom knowing so ...
- Without her knowing what ? How dare you come out of her house that she uses as your fucking prison ?! You lied to her okay, you had no choice but you fucking lied to me ! Jared exclaims, as my eyes widen.

He trembles, slowly, then more and more. I feel like my heart is going to fall into my chest. It is beating so hard, I feel like my anger explodes at the same time as the storm that's begins.

- My mother only wants to protect me !
- That's it, you are lying to yourself, deep inside you are so tired of her that you've become a liar ! Jared contradicts me, openly criticizing my mother for the first time.
- And I wouldn't have to lie to you if you let me express myself, if you trusted me ! Fuck ! You see, I can be as disrespectful as you are ! Jared, you're just a dirty selfish person and a bastard who always wants to decide for me ! I scream, and tears blur my vision along with the raging rain.

Jared looks so angry. His tremors are increasing, I'm afraid he is about to phase. Suddenly I think of Emily's beautiful but lacerated face. I know I should walk away but I am overwhelmed by my emotion. My emotions. Anger, guilt and fear are a dangerous mix.

- I needed to see her ! She was telling the truth, Jared ! Katherine told the truth. She's terrified even though she can defend herself, but I don't have a chance. Niklaus will come and he will kill me ! I'm going to get us all killed ! It was like if I couldn't tell anyone about it, I felt so lonely ! I scream again, feeling the tears rolling down my cheeks like heavy pearls.

He hates me, with all of his anger. The conflict seems even more immense than the cliffs that surround us. Conflict takes up all the space in my heart and in my field of vision. Oxygen is becoming more and more rare, I feel like I'm going to faint, I feel cold. I am completely mad. People who love me make me feel crazy, and immature, like I'm always making the wrong decisions. Paradoxically, even though Jared should be even angrier and transform, his figure calms down, slowly. He finally rushes towards me and pulls me into a hug again.

- It's fine. I promise you. Everything will be alright. I ... I'm going to be better ! I beg you, forgive me. The teen begs me, pain poisoning his voice.

These are the last words he says before we went to my house.

JARED POV

The rain hits the window with a loud bang. It was one of the evenings where my girl opened up to me the most, and I made her cry. I am the worst boyfriend ever. She was still sobbing when we walked through the door. It took at least an hour for her to calm down ... The human being I love most in the world, the very essence of my existence is suffering and I can not do anything about it. My anger turned into worry. I hugged her, covered her with kisses and listened to her. She needs to talk to me, or these kinds of situations will happen again and she might get hurt ... I might lose her and I will not be able to live with it. It is as if she thought she could not trust me, that I would reject her. Her words haunt me. As soon as I blink, the portrait of her crying and screaming at me imposed itself. I almost lost control but the memory of Sam and Emily brought me back to reality. A bastard. A dirty selfish person. A dirty selfish person. A dirty selfish person who always wants to decide for her. Instead of her. This is the complete opposite of what imprinting is supposed to be. I must help her, love her, protect her but above all support her and be what she needs. Kim needs me to help her break free, not keep her in a cage. I failed in my task and I only have myself to blame. I just didn't know how to do things any other way. Once in the comfort of her room, Kim ended up explaining her journey to me.

She took the opportunity to go to the cave by bus, with blood to feed Katherine. The latter explained the situation to Kim. Niklaus, an original hybrid, will come at the end of December, at the end of the year, if we don't get our hands on the one who will report her. This traitor that we will find with the help of a witch named Penelope, on the opposite side of the country. Otherwise, this Niklaus will come to take revenge on Katherine and discover the existence of Kim... The human doppelgänger he needs. He will use her for a sacrifice and the thought alone makes me want to hunt down every vampire to find and torture him. I do not care if it is an original. I am not afraid. I'm just afraid for Kim. For our sake, I try to be rational. We have two months left, because it is October. To be sure about what the other leech is saying, I first need to do my own research ... Then we will follow the plan. New York, the witch, the traitor, and everything will go back as it was before. Kim is showering while I stare at the ceiling, lying on her bed. The smell of the vampire on my imprint's body drove me crazy. I was afraid that she had been attacked again before I realized that she was fine, the only possibility being that she had returned to that damned cave... The sound of the shower diminishes, and I hear Kim coming out of the shower.

- I love you. I throw it to her, like a lifeline, without waiting for her to return this confession. I love her so much that I don't expect anything in return.

As I look at my love, still sitting on the bed, I see her in her purple bath towel. Her wet hair look black because of the water, and her towel barely covers her tiny body, her skin looks so soft ... In silence, Kim approaches me and surrounds my face with her delicate hands. She looks into my gaze with her big, tear-reddened eyes. I am ashamed of having made her feel alone. My hands grip her waist.

- I love you too. She whispers from the tips of her lips, extremely low, and I feel a breath of vital energy pass through my body. Soothed, I place my head against her stomach covered by the towel.
- I will protect you through everything. Even if it has to be you and me against the rest of the world, we'll get through this, if we have to leave, we'll go to the end of the earth, if I have to defeat an army of hybrids, I will. I would do anything for you. I declare and each of the word is as sincere as the last one.

Her fingers play with my hair and I slide my hands to her hips rather than her waist. The only sounds come from the wind and rain creating a violent storm. My body is burning with desire. Kim's body lowers and she sits on my lap. She is adorable, holding her towel tightly. Naturally, our lips meet to exchange a languorous kiss. I hope she understands the infinity of my devotion. It goes beyond love. This is my center of gravity. One of her hands stays in my hair while the other caresses my bare chest. It goes lower and lower, I feel like I'm going to burst into flames. I caress her thigh, higher and higher. I hear her moan against my mouth and a smile splits my face. I intensify the kiss and move Kim under me. I take my time to observe her, between two kisses. Her dark hair surrounds her soft face and spreads across the blanket. I look at her as if it was the first time I saw a woman in my entire life.

KIM POV

Burning. This is how I feel. Desire followed fear, a desire without limits. I love him, I want him, I told him. Lying underneath, I feel pleasure from Jared's caresses between my thighs. I would like to make him feel the same satisfaction. We exchange a knowing look while pink rises to my cheeks. Is that what being in love is like ? My towel is about to slip when I hear the door of the house slam. Someone came in and it was certainly the wind that slammed the door on this stormy evening. I glance at my alarm clock and give Jared a panicked look. I can't say which one of us is more disappointed.

- It is my mother. I whisper, putting my towel back as it was and getting up from the bed. Jared takes his time, like if he needed to recover from his emotions.

If she finds me half naked with a shirtless boy in my room, I'm dead. I hear her moving around the house. For a moment, I go back to being the normal teenager I am supposed to be and I am even more afraid of my mother than of an immortal hybrid.

- Sorry but you have to go, she doesn't know yet and she's going to freak out. I add, dismayed, before Jared steals another kiss from my lips. I can't help but smile at him.
- Don't worry. It's fine. He says, tersely, and opens my window. He gives me a smirk so charming that I feel like I'm melting, before throwing himself outside. What if he got hurt ? I hastened to check and he landed perfectly, like a cat.

Being a werewolf can help sometimes.