Imprint.

Sixteen

Gage sat down on the porch beside me, setting two sodas between us. Neither of us said much since we left Carter's which was understandable after everything that happened. Carter was angry at Dean who was mad in return. Bentley imprinted on a girl who  imprinted on him back. The girl did not like having me around, even though I didn't like Bentley like she did.

She was the first girl in the pack so none of us knew what to expect. None of us knew her before she was bit. We didn't know what made her tick. We only knew what she was like as a werewolf.

I wasn't expecting her to be so jealous when she first saw me. I didn't know she would react the way she did and it made me glad Carter was there to step in. I knew he hated being an alpha and taking charge. He didn't like controlling people he considered brothers.

"Victoria."

I looked over at him, almost forgetting he was sitting there beside me.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"You seem distracted."

I shrugged and took a sip of the soda to distract him from my problems.

"You can tell me if something's bothering you, V."

Gage and I didn't know each other very well. I'd never met his family, didn't know what he was like outside of being a werewolf in Carter's pack. And he didn't know me outside of the pack, either. He didn't know what I was like in high school or college or what my hobbies were.

What if our differences tore us apart? What if his imprint on me wasn't strong enough to keep us together?

"Will you stay the night?"

He nodded. "Of course."

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Gage was in the shower and I promised him I'd get him something to wear by the time he got out. I didn't want him to be stuck wearing his dirty clothes again. So I stared at my closet full of Will's clothes, trying to find something that wouldn't remind me too much of Will. I knew Gage wouldn't want that any more than I did.

I stared at the shirts, trying to find something that would look good on Gage. There were several blue shirts with the school logo on them. Will's wrestling shirts. I shoved them to one side and kept looking, not letting myself get distracted. There was a gray shirt in the middle that was plain enough I could give him. I pulled it out and sat it on the bed.

The shower stopped and I grabbed a pair of shorts quickly, tossing them on top of the shirt. I took a deep breath, hoping to calm myself down. I didn't need Gage thinking there was something wrong with me.

The door opened and Gage stepped into the room wearing just a towel around his waist. His hair stuck out in different directions and beads of water dripped down his arms. I knew the boys had muscles but I wasn't expecting Gage to be so... ripped.

He pulled the shirt over his head, shaking his wet hair out. "Do you want me to sleep on the couch?"

I shook my head and held out the shorts.

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

"I'm not."

He slipped the shorts on and threw the towel over his shoulder. "You'll let me know if you are?"

I nodded.

He nodded. "Good." He took the towel back to the bathroom and it hit me how similar everything was. We were sleeping in the same bed, using the same shower, he was wearing Will's clothes... Everything was too similar and I didn't think I liked it.

He walked back out and stopped just outside the door. "Victoria?"

I looked at him and tears filled my eyes. I hated comparing him to Will. I hated comparing our situation to what Will and I had together. Sure, there were similarities but I was a different person than I had been back then. Gage wasn't Will and I couldn't keep thinking or hoping or wishing he was. I had to love Gage for Gage.

I went to him and wrapped my arms around him. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"You should be with someone that doesn't have as much baggage as me."

"That doesn't bother me, V. I like that about you."

"Why?"

"I like being the one you come to when you're sad or angry or you just need someone. I know you can't change what happened but I want to be here for you."

"Do you want to be with me?"

"Of course I do-"

"Is it you or the imprint?"

He pulled my face up. "The imprint has a little to do with it but it works off real emotions. I like you, V. Me, not the imprint."

I hugged him again before leading him over to the bed. "I promise you I'm not as boring as I seem."

"You get it from Carter."

"Oh, shut up."