Imprint.

Seventeen

"You're up awfully early." Gage said, walking into the kitchen behind me. He approached the coffee pot and grabbed the cup I'd set out for him.

"I couldn't sleep." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, turning the sausages on the stove.

"I didn't hear you get up."

"Werewolves are heavy sleepers." I said with a smile.

He walked over to me and rested his chin on my shoulder. "Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

I nodded.

"You'll tell me if you're not?"

I nodded. "I promise."

He kissed my neck before taking a huge gulp of his coffee. "What do you want to do today? I'm off all day."

"Well I was going to clean today but I guess that can wait until tomorrow."

"Clean what? The place looks spotless."

"There's dust everywhere."

He shrugged. "I guess I never noticed it."

I rolled my eyes. "Well it's there and it's been bothering me."

"See, I knew something was." He said, laughing.

I put the food onto two plates then handed them both to him. "I wish dust was the worst thing going on right now."

"Maybe a day at the beach will cheer you up."

I wasn't all that convinced it would but Gage was trying. He wanted me to feel better and not be so depressed. I had to at least try, for him. For his sake.

I smiled and followed him to the table. I was just sitting down when someone knocked at the door.

With a sausage link in his mouth, Gage jumped to his feet and walked to see who was there.

Bentley and Audrey stood at the door. He was in a tank top and shorts. No shoes. Audrey had a bathing suit top and shorts on along with tennis shoes that looked older than dirt. She kept her eyes fixed on Bentley.

"Hey, what are you two doing here?" Gage asked.

"We were headed to the beach and we wanted to see if you wanted to come. Both of you." Bentley said, looking at me. I knew he felt bad for how Audrey had treated me. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He was imprinted with Audrey but he was friends with me. I was his best friend's sister. I was the alpha's sister. I knew he wanted to stay friends with me but I knew Audrey was his first priority. She always would be.

Just as I would always be for Gage.

"That sounds like fun." Gage said, clapping his hands together. He was just like a little kid. So excited over the littlest things.

"Are you guys hungry? I have extras on the stove." I said, walking over the the cabinet and grabbing extra plates.

"That sounds great, V." Bentley said, looking back at Audrey. Her expression was bleak. Her eyebrows were drawn and she was frowning. Her arms were crossed over her chest but I didn't think she was angry.

The two of them spoke quietly, too quietly for me to hear. Maybe Gage could hear. He didn't act like he did. He grabbed two more mugs and filled them with coffee. Audrey looked at me and said something to Bentley. In turn, he kissed her and pried one of her hands free. Then he walked her over to the table.

"How do you like your coffee, Audrey?" Gage asked, setting the cups in front of the two of them. Bentley reached for the sugar immediately.

"This is fine. Thanks." She took the mug in her hands and sipped it, watching Bentley as if she needed permission to talk to either of us.

"How's your house coming along?" He asked me, stuffing the food in his face like he was starving. Werewolves always ate like it'd be their last meal. Like it was their first one, too.

"Really good. I just need to clean."

"Clean what?"

Gage laughed beside me. I glared at him.

"You can sleep outside tonight." I said.

"Wouldn't be the first time." He turned to Audrey and stuffed another link into his mouth. "Did Bentley ever tell you about the time Carter kicked us out for beating him at cards? We had to sleep on the lawn all night. It rained, too."

She smiled, though it was barely noticeable. "Did he snore loud then, too?"

Gage grinned. "Louder than a train."

Bentley looked at me, his mouth full of food. "Back me up here, V."

I held my hands up in surrender, my face blushing. "Sorry. No can do. I snore really loud, too."

He sighed and took another bite. "Thanks, V."

I kicked him under the table. "For that, the three of us should just go to the beach and leave you here to clean for me."

He glanced between Gage and I then looked at Audrey, sadness filling his gaze.

I laughed and tried lightening the mood. "Hey, I'm only kidding. I know you don't know how to clean."

"He leaves clothes in piles on the floor." Audrey said, watching Bentley. A smile was on her face, though, showing that she was only joking with him.

"Gage does the same thing." I said.

She looked at me for the first time. Sure, she looked at me when we first met and when she came into the house. But she never truly saw me. She only saw a girl who could try and steal her imprint.

Gage stood up and carried his plate to the sink. "Are we going to go to the beach or bash on our imprints all day?"

Bentley choked back a laugh.

I stood and carried my plate over to Gage. I kissed him on the cheek and patted his arm. "We're only joking. You know that."

He pulled me close and kissed me. His heart beat picked up and his fingers felt hot against my bare skin.

I pushed him back, trying to slow my breathing. "We have company."

"It's not like they haven't done anything before."

"We can hear you." Bentley said from the table.

I turned and walked back to the table before Gage could touch me again, fully aware of how red my face was. "Are you guys done eating?"

Audrey nodded while Bentley chugged his coffee. She grimaced as he wiped his mouth on his arm. "Do you have to do that? You're always so dirty."

"That's a perk of being a werewolf."

She covered her eyes with her hands and groaned. "Great."