The Imperfect Imprint {Jakeward}

"It's a pack thing, it stems from the pack magic. For each wolf there is an imprint. It can happen anytime, any place, and it can be any one, at any age," Sam started to explain to the three curious faces sitting at the table.

"When you see them, it's like everything stops. Suddenly nothing else matters, only them. Their safety, their happiness," I added, staring into Edward's eyes. "You love them. Not always in the same way, but always in the right way. In the way they need."

"Like soulmates?" Scott asked. When I glanced at him, it looked like he was realizing something.

"Or like mates," Derek said quietly, and Stiles head snapped around to look at him quickly. The he was reaching for his hand, giving it a squeeze and earning a small smile in response. Good thing Paul's not here to see that, I chuckled in my mind.

"Yes, but it's not always romantic. Quill's imprint, Claire, is four. For now, he's her protector," Sam said. Quill was smiling a faraway smile, making it obvious that he loves the girl, even if it's not in a romantic way yet. "A pack member's imprint immediately becomes part of the pack. They are protected at all costs and not to be harmed- ever. To loose ones imprint... it's only ever happened once in pack history."

"That part makes sense. But won't Quill be way older by the time she would even know what's going on? And doesn't she have a choice?" Stiles asked, trying to riddle it out. I could tell he was smarter than he looked.

"We can choose when, or if we want to stop aging," Embry added.

"No way," Stiles breathed in awe. "That's incredible! So you- you guys can essentially be together, literally forever!" He said excitedly, looking at Edward and I.

"Thats the idea," Edward grinned. I leaned in and laid a gentle kiss on his cheek, which only made his smile widen.

"Does it happen often? Imprinting I mean," Stiles addressed Sam.

"Not always. Some wolves go their hole lives without meeting their imprint. It's happened," he shrugged. Everyone in the pack was avoiding eye contact with Leah at the moment, who we all knew desperately wanted to imprint herself.

"But does she have a choice?" Derek repeated the question.

"Of course," Sam answered bluntly, his brows furrowing at the alpha.

"The imprint works both ways," Edward stated. "Jake and I hated each other before. And- we were both straight. But everything changed for both of us when he imprinted." His hand rubbed my thigh unconsciously.

"That doesn't seem like much of a choice," Derek scoffed. I bristled at the statement.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" I asked in irritation, hackles rising.

"I'm just saying that it doesn't sound like much of a choice! What if the other person is with someone else? Or doesn't want to be with the wolf? What then?" He demanded, jaw clenched. Had he figured out that Paul imprinted on his emissary? Edward squeezed my leg and I knew that was a yes.

"Der!" Stiles glared, slapping his arm.

"He would have a choice regardless," Edward was looking at him steadily. "But it would be extremely painful for the wolf to be rejected by his imprint. I would assume it would be just as painful for the werewolf to be rejected by his mate."

"Are we missing something?" Scott asked awkwardly, glancing between them like Stiles currently was.

"Yeah- all of Der's thoughts. I'd pay to be able to see into sourwolf's head," He mused. Derek's eyes broke away from Edward to frown at him. "What?! I know for a fact that you think a hell of a lot more than you say."