BOOK 2 OUT OF 5 OF THE IMPRINT SERIES
Aniya Majorie and Jacob Black strongly loathed each other, and their animosity escalated when Jacob phased. This caused his anger to become even harder to manage. Out of concern, Sam advised him to keep his dist...
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CHAPTER THREE
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Aniya was baffled by her own newfound openness. It was as if a switch had been flipped, releasing a side of her that she hadn't known existed. She found herself willingly engaging in conversation, even going so far as to show Emily some of her artwork—though she omitted the one sketch she had made of her, fearing it might startle the older girl.
Emily's surprise was beyond measurable when she saw her fiancé and the entire pack captured in Aniya's drawings, executed with remarkable realism. It took Emily a moment to recall that she had noticed this girl with Jacob on the reservation in the past, before he experienced his transformation. In fact, Emily realized it was about a week before she entered the realm of the legends that Aniya and Jake had been frequently together.
It seemed like the Rez thrived on sharing the latest tidings, and it came as no surprise to Emily that Aniya's presence hadn't escaped their gossiping tongues. However, a pang of sadness washed over her as she learned they were no longer friends. And what was even more telling was that she had overheard Jacob, albeit reluctantly, expressing relief at the fact that Aniya was not his imprint. Yet, Emily saw through his words, for every time he uttered them, his gaze betrayed him, looking far into the distance.
Emily, who silently observed Jacob's infatuation with Bella Swan, couldn't help but notice the unhealthy nature of their relationship. It was apparent to her that Bella would never cut ties with the cold ones, as she steadfastly remained in their thrall. The writing was on the wall; it was clear that Bella was destined to join the cold ones, not the pack of wolves. She was never destined to become one of the wolf girls.
"Do you merely think of them and then draw?" Emily inquired, and Aniya momentarily froze, the unexpected question catching her off guard. It was as if some compelling force compelled her to reveal something personal and insecure.
With a soft voice, Aniya leaned forward and shared her secret: "You might think it's strange, but..." she began, her eyes gleaming proudly and brightly, "I have recurring dreams about them, and I know deep down that they are real. I understand if it sounds crazy, but I have this inner conviction that they aren't dangerous. Instead, they are like guardians."
Despite her initial shock, Emily managed to suppress a gasp as she listened to Aniya's words and observed the conviction in her eyes. It was evident that Aniya held a unique connection with the wolves, far beyond the absence of an imprint. Emily sensed a profound bond that Aniya seemed to share with the entire pack, one that transcended the traditional imprints.
Emily's thoughts delved into the mystery of Aniya's connection to the wolves, but she was left baffled with unanswered questions. Not knowing how to respond without revealing anything about the tribe, she simply remarked, "That's actually amazing." It was a vague answer that Emily knew might not satisfy Aniya, leaving her in a state of puzzled curiosity about the tribe and their connection to this seemingly exceptional female.
Aniya's eyes sparkled with gratitude as she accepted Emily's response, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. "Thank goodness," she chuckled, "I was worried you would think I've lost it-" Her gaze shifted to the book in front of her as she confessed, "I hope my dreams will become less vague and start making sense of all this." As she looked back up at Emily, she added, "Thanks for listening to my rambling. Lately, my friends have been so engrossed with their boyfriends that I just feel like a third wheel."
Emily's heart ached as her face involuntarily dropped, her empathetic nature kicking in. "I'm so sorry to hear that," she replied with genuine sympathy in her voice. Her eyes filled with sadness, she empathized with Aniya's predicament of feeling like a third wheel among her friends. Emily knew how isolating it could feel when your closest companions were too preoccupied with their romantic relationships.
Aniya attempted to brush off her feelings and managed a smile, replying, "It's okay; it doesn't bother me. My friend's name is Juliet, and she's always been there for me, even when we were little. Just seeing her happy makes me happy."
As Emily heard Juliet's name, she felt an even deeper pang of sadness, now understanding that Aniya's closest friends included Maya, who were both mated to Seth and Embry.
The thought struck Emily then and there, how the world could be exceptionally cruel to someone like Aniya, who was completely oblivious to the realities that surrounded her. She held glimpses of their existence yet remained distant from grasping the truth.
Emily couldn't help but feel saddened at the thought, knowing that Aniya might remain in the dark, never fully understanding the truth that lay before her.
As Aniya continued to express her thoughts, Emily listened intently, her heart heavy with the knowledge that Aniya's friends were deeply immersed in the world of the wolves. Emily couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for the secrets she harbored, knowing that Aniya was unaware of the truth surrounding her friends' connections to the supernatural world of the legends.
