Imprint.

Seven

"How could you not tell me you were back?" Mom asked, sitting across the table from me. Carter was standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. He, too, seemed adament aboutt he visit.

"I didn't want a lecture from you about how I was ruining my life."

"Victoria, college is the gateway to getting a decent job. Do you realize what you're giving up?"

I groaned and Carter walked over to the table. He turned a chair backwards and sat down beside me.

"Mom, she's doing fine."

"Carter-"

"Mom, don't. You don't know what's she's going through."

"This isn't any of your concern, Carter."

"Actually, it is. This is my house and she's my sister."

She held his gaze for several seconds before she sighed. "Why didn't either of you tell me you were home?"

"Because I knew you'd act just like this. I wanted to figure my life out first before I got any sort of lecture."

"I'm only looking out for you, Victoria. I don't want you to waste your life on..."

I stared at my hands in my lap for several seconds, carefully choosing my words, before I spoke. "This is my life, mom. I'm almost twenty. I'm trying to do what's best for me."

"You haven't done anything since Will died, honey. It's time you move on."

I got to my feet and left the room without another word. I went to the hallway and leaned against the wall.

Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time I moved on and lived my own life. But I didn't want to.

A door to my left opened slowly and one of the boys walked out.

"Victoria, are you okay?"

I looked over at Gage and I wanted to be mad at him but I didn't have the energy. "My mom's here."

He leaned against the wall, putting space between us. "Carter said you two didn't get along."

"I didn't tell her I moved back."

"I heard what she said... about Will. Did she really not like him?"

"She liked him. Just not with me. She said we were moving too fast."

"I'm sorry. And I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"It's not your fault."

"Well I'm the werewolf."

 I pulled my keys from my jacket. "Can I show you something?"

He looked at the keys then back at me. He nodded. He started to walk toward the living room but I shoved him back.

"Are you crazy? Take the window." I walked into Carter's room and shoved the window up. I climbed out it one foot at a time then dropped to the grass. There was a small drop from the window that was nothing compared to my window at my parents' house.

Gage jumped out after me then followed as I ran around the house to my car.

I turned it on and groaned. Why was I so poor? Why couldn't I afford gas in my car."

"What?"

"I'm out of gas."

There was a pause. "I can get us there."

I looked at him before my eyes widened. "No. No way."

"I didn't mean that. Humans can run, too, you know."

I put the keys back in my pocket and sighed. "If I see a single piece of hair where it doesn't belong, I'm killing you."