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"𝐍𝐨, 𝐧𝐨 𝐧𝐨! 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞!"
Mia's voice cracked with disbelief, her eyes wide as she stared between the two boys. Paul's words echoed in her mind—imprint. For a moment, she thought it had to be a joke. But no one was laughing.
The forest around them was still, heavy with the weight of what had just been said. Embry looked like he'd taken a punch to the chest, his jaw clenched, shoulders tense. Paul, on the other hand, was uncharacteristically silent, his earlier smugness replaced by guilt as he realized what his outburst had just unleashed.
Mia's breath hitched. "How could you do this to me? This can't be real. There has to be a mistake!"
Her voice trembled as panic clawed its way through her chest. The warmth she'd felt with Embry—the flirting, the excitement, the safety—it all now felt like a trap she didn't see coming. The word imprint wasn't sweet or romantic in that moment. It was terrifying.
She wrapped her arms around herself, taking a step back. "You deserve someone better. I'm not..." she trailed off, unable to finish the thought. Her insecurities were boiling to the surface—fears she never dared say aloud, not even to Jay. Being someone's forever felt impossible when she didn't even know who she was yet.
Embry moved toward her, slow and hesitant, the pain in his eyes more than Mia could bear. He looked like he wanted to comfort her, to close the space between them, but she shook her head, stepping away.
"I—I need to go."
"Mia, wait—please," Embry said, his voice rough with emotion.
But she was already turning, needing to get away, needing space to breathe. She didn't know where else to go, so she headed straight for the only place that felt remotely safe—Emily and Sam's house.
Her legs carried her on autopilot while her mind spiraled. This wasn't part of the plan. Graduate high school, maybe travel a bit—not get imprinted on by a boy with eyes too soft and a heart too kind. And definitely not while a vampire was on the loose.
As she reached the Uleys' property, she was met with Sam storming out the front door, flanked by several tense-looking wolves. He stopped in his tracks when he spotted her, his expression shifting slightly.
"Mia, inside. Now. Don't come out until I get back. I mean it, Kahele."
Without argument, she obeyed. It wasn't worth fighting him right now.
Inside, Emily was already waiting in the kitchen, and the second Mia saw her, the dam nearly broke. Emily rushed over, wrapping her in a hug that smelled like baked bread and something floral. Mia didn't even realize she was shaking until Emily started to gently shush her, running a hand down her back.
"It's okay, sweetheart. You know those boys won't let Laurent get anywhere near you," she whispered soothingly.
At the name Laurent, Mia stiffened. No one had mentioned him until now. Of course. They must've gone out after him. Her stomach twisted at the idea of another fight brewing, more blood spilled. Sighing heavily, she sank onto the couch, burying her face in her hands.
"Bad things keep happening to me," she mumbled. "I think I might actually be cursed."
Emily let out an exaggerated sigh. "You're not cursed. You're just dramatic."
"I am not dramatic!" Mia protested, slapping a hand to her chest with mock offense, then immediately cringed at how ridiculous it looked. She groaned and dropped her head again.
"Okay, okay, maybe not dramatic. But definitely stressed. Want to talk about it? I made a salad."
Mia looked up with a frown. "Do I look like a rabbit to you?"
She earned a gentle bop on the head with an oven mitt.
"Alright," Mia grumbled. "But you can't tell anyone. Not even Sam. And this isn't like when I told you I killed his fish and begged you to keep it secret. This is serious."
Emily sat down across from her, arching a brow. "Mia..."
"I'm Embry's imprint," she blurted.
The words hung between them like a dropped plate. Emily's eyes widened for a beat before her expression softened.
"You thought it was just a crush, didn't you?" Mia asked quietly.
Emily nodded slowly. "I did. I mean, the way you two looked at each other... it was cute. But I didn't think—well, that."
Mia buried her face in her hands again. "I blame Jacob."
Emily gave her a knowing smile. "He didn't even do anything."
"Exactly. That's why I blame him."
Emily reached across the table, gently tugging Mia's hands away from her face. "Listen to me. Imprinting doesn't mean you have to fall in love tomorrow. Or even at all. Some imprints become best friends. Some are like siblings. What it does mean is that someone's soul saw yours and said, 'That one. That's who I'm meant to protect and stand by.'"
Mia blinked, her chest tightening.
"Not everyone gets that," Emily continued, her voice soft. "Sometimes people's soulmates are born in the wrong era or halfway across the world. Some never meet them. That's why, when it does happen, it's kind of... beautiful. Messy, yeah. Complicated? Always. But special."
Mia stayed quiet, turning Emily's words over in her mind.
"I think you should give it a shot," Emily said gently. "What's the worst that could happen?"
