The Imperfect Imprint {Jakeward}

Chapter 5: Shock

'Do you want us to tell him everything? Or do you want to do that yourself when you get back?' Embry asked, knowing me better than almost anyone- except maybe Quill.

'Sam, could you tell him? It might be easier coming from you' I didn't know how dad would take it. He had been pack once, but he wasn't anymore. Maybe he wouldn't understand. Maybe he would be angry with me. Maybe he wouldn't want to look at me anymore. I don't know if I can handle that right now. Not with having to stay away from Edward too.

It's all too much. I had finally imprinted- been saved from my hopeless love for Bella- only for it to be an impossible option. No option at all really. Perhaps I wasn't meant to be happy after all. Stick to being miserable old Jake the rest of my life.

'Don't think like that Jake' Seth nearly whispered. I didn't answer him, just kept running north.

I let myself get lost in my paws hitting the earth, thump-thump, thump-thump. I felt the cool evening air rushing by my face and inhaled. The cold air felt good in my hot lungs, and the damp of night brought out the scent of earth and green.

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I watched Jacob's russet brown tail disappear into the woods, on the other side of the treaty lines. I cursed myself for not speaking more quickly, for not letting him know what I was thinking. He loves me. Jacob Black imprinted on me and he loves me. The words were so unbelievable that I wanted to laugh out loud. No one had ever hated me as much as he had. And now this. Even as a vampire with infinite space in my brain, I couldn't immediately process the idea.

But he wasn't lying. I could see it in his thoughts. I could see the way he sees me now, the way he cares. I had only ever seen that in his thoughts for Bella- but it was barely comparable. The way he feels for me now is much more intense than the way he had for Bella. Which was frightening, to say the least.

Bella. I had nearly forgotten her existence. That had never happened before, ever. I realized I was still standing rooted to the same place Jacob had left me. The need to go after him was almost overpowering, but I smothered it as best I could as I headed back to the house. I had no idea how long I was standing there thinking for, but it had grown dark and damp outside. Bella would be worrying about both of us now. I bypassed my curious family inside and headed for Bella's, trying to compose myself along the way. My feet wanted to turn around and pass the treaty line. They wanted to find Jacob and console him, make sure he was alright. But I forced them in the opposite direction- telling myself that it's Bella I want to see.

When I arrived at the edge of the forest, I saw that the light was on in her room- just as I knew it would be. I leaped up to her window in one bound and swung myself inside soundlessly. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, her brow creased with worry. This morning I would have felt the undeniable, overwhelming need to make her smile, to make that worry disappear from her beautiful face. Now, it was only a small inclination. Could the imprint really work both ways? And so strongly? I hadn't thought anything could make my love for Bella diminish, but I was being proved wrong.

Her face broke into a smile when she noticed my presence in the room, and she rushed across her small space to wrap her thin arms around my waist.

"Oh thank god," she exclaimed in relief. "I thought something had happened- you were gone for so long. Is Jake okay?"

I froze. What am I supposed to tell her? This isn't my secret to tell, if it is- in fact- a secret. 'Oh, Jacob just imprinted on me. You know, your best friend that was in love with you this morning? Well, he's in love with me now. And I'm pretty sure I might love him back.'? I can't. This isn't any of her business right now. It's something that Jacob and I need to work out before the rest of the world gets involved. So what do I say? I'm an excellent liar, I can do this.

My thought process had only taken a few seconds and by the time she looked up at me I was smiling down at her in a reassuring manner.

"He's okay love. He just needs some time, that's all." I cooed at her, petting her hair gently like I usually would.

It wasn't a complete lie. This was a huge shock for both of us, I had no doubt about that. We would both need some time to adjust and work through our thoughts. Right? That's why he had taken off, he needed time to relax. To understand. Quite frankly, so do I.

"Did he say what was bothering him? What was he thinking?" She asked quickly.

"I thought you disapproved of the use of my talents?" I asked with an amused smirk.

"Oh come on Edward, you do it regardless!" She scoffed at me.

"I didn't get anything from his thoughts, he managed to block me again. I didn't know he knew the names of all of the car parts in existence," I said with a chuckle.

She smiled at that. "Jake is a pretty good mechanic- for a high school student."

The smile faded and was replaced with a worried look again. "I'm worried about him Edward. Something had to have happened. The way he took off- it was weird. You didn't even touch me or anything. What is he so upset about?" She expressed her thoughts out loud.

"Who knows Bella? But if I know anything about the wolf, it's that he won't talk until he's ready," I said, touching her hand lightly.

I was making an effort to act as natural as possible. But touching Bella wasn't giving me the usual shock of electricity- of attraction. I felt nothing.

She sighed. "You're right. I just feel helpless- like I should be doing something," she said in frustration.

"For now, perhaps sleep is the best option," I said gently, using my eyes to their full advantage. She practically melted under my gaze, weakly nodding her agreement.

She curled up under her comforter and pulled me against her, the blanket the only thing separating our bodies. I resisted the urge to move away from her, running my fingers through her hair instead. When she fell asleep, I would go looking for Jacob. Even if I had to cross treaty lines to do it. I know we both needed time, but I had to know if he was okay regardless. I couldn't bear the thought of him hurting. He hadn't let me finish earlier, and had no idea how I felt. What if he actually thought I didn't want him?