Irene

Chapter 11

Irene POV

I made my way back to Emily's house when I bumped into a warm chest. I looked up and saw Paul looking at me with worried eyes. "Paul-"

I was cut off when he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly. "I was so worried about you Mira; you have no idea just how worried Emily was when she heard the news."

I felt like I wanted to cry again but I knew I wasn't able. I gently pulled away from him and looked down. "How is the rest of the pack doing?"

"They're better now that you've come back," Paul responded. "Come on, Sam wants to see you."

I took hold of his warm hand and followed him back to Emily's. Just as we arrived the pack came out of the house with worried looks. Except Sam. He had a small smile on his face when he saw me holding Paul's hand. "Hi Mira."

"Hello," I said as me and Paul came to a stop in-front of the pack. "Why did you want to see me?"

"You were literally turned into a vampire two days ago," Embry responded, "I think it'll be good for us to check you out first before letting you hang around Emily and Kim."

I nodded in understanding when something caught my surprise. Kim? Who's Kim? Is she a new shapeshifter? Is she a girlfriend of one of the pack members? Is she Paul's ex-girlfriend?

So many questions ran through my head that I didn't notice Sam coming up to me and sniffing me. I quickly looked up and was about to go into attack mode when I heard heartbeats. I looked around and saw all the pack members hold their breaths. What were they doing?

"You don't smell like them," Sam said causing me to look at him in confusion. Smell like who? "You don't smell like other vampires."

Vampires have smells. I thought they would smell like dead corpses. "So, what do I smell like?"

"Like the forest," Paul answered causing me to look at him and smile at him. "I think she has enough self-control to be around Emily and Kim."

Sam looked a bit unsure first before finally nodding. We soon followed him into the house, and I was immediately greeted with a familiar hug, Emily. "God, I thought I lost you."

I hugged her back, not dead tight but tight. "You didn't, I'm still here."

I felt Emily smile before letting me go and introduced me to Kim, Jared's new girlfriend. I don't know how but I immediately hit it off with her. For the rest of the day, I chatted with the girls as the guys played games and ate.

When it was becoming late, I said my 'goodnight' before leaving with Paul. We walked through the forest calmly, enjoying the peace the forest brought. "What it's like? Being a vampire, I mean."

I looked at Paul in wonder as to why he would want to know. "I don't know, I'm still new at this but I feel powerful. Like I could do things I couldn't before. But I have a feeling that Carlisle is going to help me controlling myself, especially with feeing. But I have to admit, that bear didn't have a chance."

Paul looked at me in wonder before laughing. "Wow, I have a badass imprint."

I looked at him in confusion. Imprint? "What's that?"

Paul looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Paul? Paul what's an imprint?"

We suddenly arrived at a meadow, Paul sat down on the log and held his head in his hands as I sat down next to him. "Irene, I'm going to tell you something now. But! But promise me you won't freak out."

I looked into his pleading eyes and sighed, "Alright."

Paul sighed in relief before speaking. "It's not something we can control. Imprint is part of being a shapeshifter, and we have no control over who we imprint on."

I sat quietly as I listened to him explain. "It's not like love at first sight, really. It's more like... gravity moves... suddenly. It's not the earth holding you here anymore, she does... You become whatever she needs you to be, whether that's a protector, or a lover, or a friend."

I felt like my heart wanted to break into pieces. "Paul...what are you exactly telling me?"

He put his hand on my chin and made him look into his eyes. "You're my imprint."

I felt my whole world stop and before I knew it, I had my hand stroking his cheek gently before leaning in and gently kissing his lips, giving away my first kiss.

I pulled away before I felt myself being pulled back and my lips met his again for the second time.

What a night.