I Didn't Want An Imprint (Paul Lahote x Reader)

The Movies

READER POV

It had been a few months since Paul told me all about shapeshifting and the legends of the tribe. I had heard everyone's shapeshifting stories at least twice by now, but I never grew tired of listening.

I found myself hanging out with the pack more frequently, actually, everyday after school before some would head off to their shifts of vampire hunting, which Paul told me was the reason for the sudden increase of new pack members. The shock of werewolves and vampires at this point had worn off, and I was beginning to get use to the routine.

I also became closer with Kim, who I learned was imprinted on by Jared, and Emily, who was imprinted on by Sam. I looked forward to our daily gossip sessions over a plate of cookies and tea. I felt like I had a found where I fit in, and the thoughts of Texas and the life I had left behind slowly became a thing of the past.

Even school became as easy as breathing. I was excelling in all of my classes and held my head high walking through the hallways. I would still dedicate my lunch period to sitting with Chaz and his friends as to not give off my secret of being friends with the pack, and I think Chaz enjoyed my presence, which I noted by the way he would constantly flirt with me and compliment the same way I wore my hair every day. Chaz was handsome, kind, smart, and heavily involved in school activities, including the debate club, the soccer team, and student council. He was kind of..perfect, and I didn't mind his little crush on me.

'But I don't have time for a boyfriend', I would constantly remind myself. Between being an imprint, learning the traditions of the Quilettes, trying to spend at least one day at home without running off to Emily's, and staying on top of school work, I felt like I was already in over my head.

Paul and I had grown our relationship over the past few months, from never speaking, to being the best of friends. Maybe even more so than my friends back in Texas that I had known my whole life. We knew practically everything about each other.

I learned that his favorite color was green, but not just any green. Forest green to be exact. He said it reminded him of being in the woods where he found serenity and silence. Even aside from the vampires they would chase through the thick trees, he still said it was his favorite place to be. I also learned that Paul was as soft as a teddy bear once you broke down his walls of bad-assery. Obviously throughout the time I took to get to know him, my feelings for him became different. I actually really liked Paul, and constantly fought off daydreams of being his girlfriend and being the perfect imprint couple. But, alas, Chelsea was still, surprisingly in the picture.

I had decided to sit with the pack one day at lunch while Chaz and his usual friend group were on a debate field trip in Seattle. I could feel the daggers of her dark brown eyes beating into the side of my head as I kept my focus on a conversation I was having with Kim. Every so often, I would turn to face straight ahead at Embry and Quill as they tried to stump each other on riddles, and would laugh at their confused faces and bickering. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Chelsea trying to get under my skin by kissing Paul or snuggling in closer to him, but I kept my cool and didn't break the entire 45 minutes of lunch. I was proud of myself. I did, however, want to pull her hair out once I saw how uncomfortable Paul would get by her sudden and aggressive PDA, but I held strong and figured it was just the imprint in me wanting to run loose and save him.

Another week had passed after that day at lunch, and I was heading out the front doors of the school ready to enjoy the long weekend thanks to the teachers needing a catch up day to grade papers which meant school was cancelled on Friday. The pack had decided on a beach day for Saturday, and I promised my grandparents that Sunday I would cook dinner. That meant tonight and Friday, I was free and could relax.