the moment jacob imprinted on you, it hit him like a collision.
one second he was walking through the woods. the next, your laugh cracked through the trees and he froze. the world tunneled. everything else faded.
and you, you, suddenly became the center of his universe.
for days after, he couldn’t stop staring at you.
not in a creepy way, but in the i-don’t-know-how-i-ever-lived-without-you kind of way. the pack teased him mercilessly for it.
“jake, dude. seriously, you’re smiling at your phone like she’s gonna text by telepathy.”
“shut up, paul.”
jacob was terrified to tell you about the imprint at first. not because he didn’t want it. god, he wanted you. but because he didn’t want you to feel pressured.
“you’ve got a choice,” he said, quietly, eyes locked on yours. “even if the universe picked you for me… you still get to pick me, too.”
when you finally admitted you felt it too. that inexplicable pull, that comfort in his presence, the way his arms felt more like home than your own bed, he physically exhaled in relief. then pulled you into the tightest hug you’d ever felt.
jacob is fiercely protective of you. not possessive, but primal. the moment anyone makes you uncomfortable, he’s beside you in a blink, tall and broad and unreadable.
“everything okay?”
just those two words. calm, low, and absolutely threatening.
his wolf instincts are always on when it comes to you. you could be across the field at a bonfire, talking to someone else, and he still notices the way your shoulders tense or your fingers fidget.
he’s always watching, always tuned in to your energy.
you calm his wolf better than anything else. when he phases back after a bad patrol, he finds you. buries his face in your neck. breathes you in.
“you keep me human,” he whispers once. “don’t even know if you realize it.”
physical affection is nonstop.
jacob is a furnace and he’s always wrapping around you. laying his head in your lap, pulling you into his hoodie, holding your hand under the table like he needs the anchor.
and when you’re not around, he wears your scent like armor.
the first time you get sick or hurt? jacob panics.
he’s at your side in seconds, flustered, pacing, asking if you need anything, until you tug on his shirt and say, “just stay.”
so he does. he stays until you fall asleep. and then longer.
imprint fights hit differently.
not because you argue often, but because when you do, it hurts. like a soul-level tear. he can feel your pain, and it drives him mad.
he’ll give you space if you ask, but he paces, restless, desperate to fix it.
“i hate when we’re like this. i can’t… breathe right without you.”
the bond gives jacob this uncanny ability to know what you need before you do.
he shows up with your favorite snacks after a long day. hands you his hoodie when you’re just starting to feel cold. pulls you into his chest the second your anxiety spikes, even if you haven’t said a word.
he’s so gentle with you. for someone who’s built of muscle and heat and power, he holds you like you’re made of light.
jacob kisses your temple like a promise. runs his thumb along your jaw when you’re tired, like he’s reminding himself you’re real.
sometimes you wake up and find him staring at you, eyes warm, voice still raspy from sleep:
“how’d i get so lucky?”
and when you say you love him. genuinely, freely, not because of the imprint but because you chose him, he breaks. full-body stillness, eyes wet, voice cracking.
“you mean that? you really… love me? because, god, i’ve loved you for so long, i don’t know how to be without you anymore.”
jacob black is so touchy once you’re together.
he always has a hand on you, wrapped around your waist, fingers laced with yours, a casual arm draped over your shoulders, even when you’re just standing in line somewhere.
it’s instinctive. protective. warm. grounding.
he calls you “babe” most of the time, but sometimes, when he’s sleepy or worried, he murmurs “sweetheart” under his breath like he doesn’t even realize it’s slipped out.
he builds you things. shelves, little wooden carvings, a custom seat for the back of his bike. he never says it outright, but he wants to leave his mark in your space. proof that he’s there, and not going anywhere.
you always know when something’s wrong because jacob shuts down. his jaw clenches. he gets quiet. he’ll go on a run to clear his head, but when he comes back, he always wraps you in the tightest hug, like he needs to feel you breathe just to calm down.
you once told him, half-jokingly, that you liked wolves. now he brings you random little wolf trinkets and says things like “thought you’d want something that looked like me,” with a cocky smirk and that damn dimple.
the first time he got really hurt on patrol, he tried to hide it. didn’t want you to worry. you found out anyway and lost it on him, tears in your eyes. he was stunned into silence.
the next day, he showed up with a small first-aid kit and asked if you could keep it “just in case.” he never hides injuries again.
jealous jacob is very real.
even if someone just looks at you the wrong way, his entire body tenses. you’ll grab his hand and squeeze it to ground him, whispering, “you’ve got nothing to worry about, jake.” he just kisses your knuckles and glares at the guy over your shoulder anyway.
the pack knows not to make any comments about you around him.
once, paul made a teasing joke, and jacob had him pinned to a tree in seconds. “say something like that again, and i’ll send you to the fucking hospital.”
he loves when you sit in his lap. like… loves it.
especially when you’re both hanging with the pack and you settle there without thinking. he gets all smug and wraps his arms around your waist like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
he’s surprisingly insecure at times. not because of you, but because he worries he’s too much. too intense, too broken, too wrapped up in the world he didn’t choose.
you always make him look at you when he spirals, pressing your hand to his chest and saying, “you’re more than enough. and you’re mine.”
jacob leaves your favorite snacks in your bag or car when he knows he’ll be gone for patrol. they’re always labeled in sharpie:
“for my girl. don’t forget to eat.”
“miss you already :(.”
“my pretty girl, i love you.”
jacob is so softly obsessed with you. the way you talk with your hands. how you hum while brushing your teeth. the little crease in your brow when you read. he memorizes it all.
sometimes, when you’re sleeping, he stays up just watching you. he brushes your hair back, traces the curve of your cheek with his finger, and whispers, “you don’t even know what you do to me, do you?”
when you say “i love you” out of nowhere, he melts. no matter how many times you say it, it still stuns him.
synopsis: "just the tip" and full nelson with jacob
warnings: p in v smut, real big creampie, full nelson
word count: 1.52k
[kinktober masterlist]
"nice and easy sweet girl," jake cooed as he held your hips with one hand, his other hand guiding his cock to nudge against your entrance. the feeling of his tip breaching your entrance had you whining and sitting up to escape the stretch, but jake's hand remained firm on your hip.
you'd just started getting used to the feeling of him in cowgirl and missionary when he threw a new twist at you - reverse cowgirl. "jake i can't-" you whimpered, looking over your shoulder at him only to see his eyes softening at he looked up at you.
he honestly wasn't all that concerned about you being able to take him from this angle; he knew you could, but he was more than aware that you'd need a hell of a lot of coaxing to figure that out yourself.
"just the tip, yea, sweet girl?" he smiled up at you, his pointer finger reaching down from your hip to press down on your clit, the action resulting in you letting out a shaky breath, desperately trying to keep yourself up so you wouldn't take more than the tip of his cock on accident.
jake absolutely could've been doing more to support you and keep you in place but he figured you'd eventually give in and start to slide down his cock - whether it was because of the burning in your thighs or because of the pleasure coursing through you, either way, he knew he'd be getting what he wanted.
"so good for me," he cooed, rubbing tight, slow circles against your clit that had you whining and sliding your hands over your thighs in a desperate attempt to gain some control back, "already drippin' down me, sweet girl," he mused, his gaze dropping down to where your pussy was throbbing around the tip of his cock, your nectar glistening as it rolled down his cock.
a quiet whine escaped your lips as he rolled your nub between his fingers, "such a smart girl," he praised, and you suddenly became much more aware of the fire deep in your womb, spreading more and more as your orgasm built, "gettin' me all nice and wet so you can take me," he hummed in approval as another gush of your slick came rolling down his cock.
"jake-" you whimpered, voice catching in a whine when he applied a bit more pressure to your nerves, the action providing just enough stimulation to have your orgasm creeping up on you, "jake please-" you begged, fingers tightening against your thighs as you fought to keep yourself upright as the pleasure tightened deep in your core, threatening to snap at any moment.
"just like that sweet girl - let it out for me," jake encouraged, applying a bit more pressure to your clit that had your thighs shaking as you came. a loud moan escaped your lips, your orgasm washing over you in waves as your thighs gave out.
jake took full advantage of the situation, continuing to gently rub at your clit to work you through your orgasm as he helped you sink down his cock the rest of the way. your walls throbbed around him as you rode your orgasm out, and, if you weren't so lost in your own pleasure, the stretch of having him so deep inside you would've burned more than you could handle.
instead, the stretch faded to the back of your mind as the pleasure washed through you, the waves slowly fading in intensity as you came back to him.
jake slid one hand over your naval, the other sliding up your chest to roll one of your nipples between his fingers as he eased you backwards, "my good girl," he murmured when your back met his chest, your belly bulging against his hand from how tightly his cock had been nestled in your canal in response to the new position.
the more you came back to your senses, the more you became aware of the way he had molded your canal to a shape perfect for his cock, "jake," you whined, movements slow and groggy as you tried to roll off of him and find some reprieve from the gradually intensifying stretch.
jake held you in place, his hands sliding down your thighs until he found the backs of them, "take a deep breath sweet girl, let me do the work," he murmured, tugging your thighs back until they pressed tight against your chest, giving him all the leverage he needed to have you completely at his mercy despite him being underneath you.
"oh my god," you whined, head dropping back against jake's chest when he pulled his cock back, drawing his hips into the bed until only the tip remained, giving you only a moment's reprieve before he was sheathing himself back inside you, his cock punching all the air out of your lungs.
you swore you could feel him in your throat, every part of you molding to better fit for him and him only. by the time he was done with you, you were confident you'd only know his name with the way he had you melting around him.
moans and whines began falling from your lips as he held you tight, balled up against his chest, your pussy completely exposed and at his mercy as he bullied his cock in and out of your channel.
"oh fuck jake i-" you gasped when he hinged his hips to push just that much deeper into you, kissing your swollen and pink cervix, ripe just waiting for his seed to coat her.
"jus' gotta lay here and take it, sweet girl," jake's voice had gotten significantly tighter since his cock had fully sheathed in your pussy. you numbly nodded along, trying to relax back into him, but every punch of his cock against your cervix had you jolting in pleasure.
"gonna cum in you, paint this pussy white so everyone knows she's mine," jake gritted out, his thrusts increasing in tempo and roughness as he battered your hole, both of you running out of breath as he fucked you within an inch of your life.
"oh you like that," he let out a dark chuckle when your walls fluttered around him at his words. you managed to focus your eyes for just a few seconds, looking down at your belly, between your spread thighs that were pinned to your chest, to see a distinctly jake-sized bulge shifting in your belly, appearing in time with his thrusts.
"you want that? want everyone to see just how good i'm fucking you? want them to see how pretty your pussy looks with my cum stuffed in you?" you couldn't manage a coherent response, though the way your toes were curling and the loud moan that escaped your lips told him all he needed to know.
"fuck i'll take a picture when i'm done with you, show everyone just how well i fill you up," jake gritted out, his hands tightening their grip on your thighs to pin you even closer to him. his balls tightened, drawing up as your womb throbbed, both of you teetering on the edge of orgasm.
"jake please-" you gasped out, tears rolling down your cheeks and thighs in response to the onslaught of sensory overload - all you knew was you needed to cum and have jake fall over that edge with you.
you mind chanted his name over and over until it was all that was left, your world whiting out as you came undone rather suddenly, your entire body tightening as the pleasure hit you like a freight train.
if you thought your earlier orgasm was strong, you couldn't have been more wrong. being pinned against jake as you came forced you to succumb to the overwhelming pleasure coursing through you, his thrusts somehow picking up as he chased his own release.
it didn't take him long, and he was a man of his word, his cock shooting ropes of his release into your channel, the sheer volume of it combined with jake's heavy cock forcing some of it to seep out of you and down your ass and onto his naval.
"take it all," jake groaned as he rode out his orgasm, rolling his hips against yours as his release slowed from a stream to a trickle.
you rolled your head into the crook of his neck, whining as his grip on your thighs softened. his fingers gently massage the muscles there, helping you unclench them, before he was slowly lowering them back down so your legs could rest on either side of his.
"did such a good job takin' me," jake murmured, his warm, calloused hands sliding over your belly to hold you close to him. one hand gently ran over your naval to feel the still present bulge there even as his cock softened inside you.
you hummed, glowing from his praise as he pressed his lips to your temple, "i love you," he whispered, gently squeezing you a bit tighter to him.
you giggled, tilting your head up to press a kiss to his cheek, "i love you too."
Can the trend where the girlfriend grabs their lover's phone while they are eating, making their lover was grabbing their food with the pack.
I Was Grabbing Your Phone, Not Your Food!
Pairings:Twilight Wolf Pack x Female!Reader (Featuring: Paul Lahote, Embry Call, Jacob Black, Jared Cameron, Quil Ateara, Sam Uley, Seth Clearwater, and Leah Clearwater x GN!Partner)
Summary:You’re just trying to grab your boyfriend’s (or girlfriend’s) phone during a meal… but the Twilight wolf pack members instantly assume you’re after their food. Chaos, dramatic overreactions, and a lot of laughter follow in this playful trend-based scenario.
Warning:Pure fluff and humor! Mild language, possessive food behavior, and dramatic wolf-sized appetites ahead.
⸻
🐺 Paul Lahote
Paul’s mid-growl, hunched over his plate like he’s defending treasure. You reach across the table toward him—
His fork freezes. “Back up, baby.”
You blink. “What?”
“I love you, but if you touch this steak again—”
“I was grabbing your phone.”
He stares. Then clears his throat, all sheepish.
“…You can have the phone. Just not the steak. Never the steak.”
⸻
🐺 Embry Call
Embry’s got three tacos stacked in front of him. You casually reach across the table.
He gasps dramatically, snatching his plate and scooting back like you just declared war.
“NOT THE CRUNCHY ONE, THAT ONE’S MINE!”
You hold up his phone, confused. “I wasn’t even touching your food?”
“…Oh.”
He leans forward slowly. “I panicked. It’s muscle memory. You’ve stolen my fries too many times.”
⸻
🐺 Jacob Black
Jacob’s halfway into devouring a giant sandwich. You reach near his tray—
He grabs your wrist with lightning speed, eyes wide. “Don’t do this. Not like this.”
You burst out laughing. “I was just grabbing your phone!”
He lets go immediately and grins. “Oh, my bad. Reflexes. Sandwiches are sacred.”
⸻
🐺 Jared Cameron
You lean over the table, arm out.
Jared immediately turns his whole body to shield his plate.
“Babe. Babe. BABE. Please. Don’t do this in public.”
You blink at him. “It’s your phone I’m grabbing.”
He pauses.
“Oh. Then carry on. I thought you were about to start a war for the last mozzarella stick.”
⸻
🐺 Quil Ateara
You reach for his side of the table. Quil yells, “I SEE YOU!” and tries to block you with a napkin like it’s a shield.
“YOU ALREADY TOOK TWO FRIES, THAT’S ENOUGH.”
You hold up the phone with a confused look. “Quil… I wasn’t stealing food this time.”
He lowers the napkin slowly.
“Oh. Then my bad. Proceed, my queen.”
⸻
🐺 Sam Uley
You reach across the table and Sam raises a calm eyebrow but subtly pulls his plate closer.
“You sure you want to do this while I’m eating?”
You roll your eyes. “Relax, it’s your phone.”
“Oh.”
He slides it over instantly. “Thought we were about to relive last week’s muffin incident.”
⸻
🐺 Seth Clearwater
You reach toward him, and sweet Seth instantly looks hurt.
“Wait—you want my garlic bread?”
You hold up his phone with a confused laugh. “No? Just this.”
His whole body relaxes in relief.
“Oh thank God, I thought I was about to cry.”
⸻
🐺 Leah Clearwater
Leah is absolutely focused, tearing into her burger like it’s her sworn enemy. You casually reach toward her phone sitting next to her plate.
Before you can even touch it, she slaps your hand away—fast.
“Try me,” she warns, not even looking up. “Touch my fries and we’re done.”
You blink. “I was grabbing your phone, not your food!”
She finally looks up, pauses, then shrugs.
“Oh. Okay. My bad.”
…Then pulls the fries closer anyway.
“Still. Hands off just in case.”
Disclaimer:
I do not own Twilight or any of its characters. All rights belong to Stephenie Meyer. This is a work of fanfiction written for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Didn’t feel like doing a whole fic today so while we wait for the poll results have this ^^ in a very twilight mood rn & wishing for autumn
Jacob’s touchy. Too touchy sometimes. He can’t be within two feet of you without curling a possessive arm around your waist, a bicep across your shoulder, a large hand ruffling your hair. PDA doesn’t exist to this man, he’ll sneak up behind you and fold you into his huge body in the middle of a shopping centre if he feels like it, which is all the time.
Being with Jacob means you’ve learnt to just accept that part of him, he has his reasons and in all reality you don’t particularly mind anyway. He’s like your own personal heater, radiating waves of warmth, blooming like rays of sun wherever he makes contact. He enjoys the closeness, the subtle intimacy of feeling your soft skin on his own, calloused hands tracing the contours of your body like he’s memorising every inch of your skin, every mark, every blemish.
It’s bad in the summer, where the heat is crawling under your skin, eveything hot and sticky and uncomfortable. He still clings to you like he never wants to let go, heavy arms slung around your waste in bed even though your drenched in sweat from the heat outside and his own. He groans and grumbles something incoherent as you complain and try to push away from him, drawing you back against him effortlessly.
The pack members tease him relentlessly, obviously, his thoughts are 90% you and they have to hear all of it. They’ll tease you too, though not as much as Jacob looms behind you, arms firmly around your waist or shoulders, glaring them down like they’ve started the next world war by coming a bit too close to insulting you. Ever the protective saviour, touching you becomes just another way to keep you safe and content.
You could probably give up on coats in the winter at this point, Jacob radiates pure heat for miles and he’s hardly too far from you. Always grabbing onto you ‘in case you get frostbite’ he insists, though you’re confident he’s just too embarrassed to admit he enjoys having you close. His warmth permeates the frosty air, travelling through your body like waves of heated comfort, fighting off the cold that bites into your nerves. His arms rub up and down your arms like you need the added friction, before they settle around you and his head lands on top of yours with a chaste kiss.
He acts like your own personal weighted blanket, despite the fact if he put his full weight on you, you’d probably be crushed under him. It’s comforting, having his weight on you, especially when you sleep, assuring he’s there, folding you into his arms like second nature, like you were made to fit in his embrace. You argue his touchiness continues into his wolf form, the huge creature never too far unless he’s on a hunt or some activity with the pack, if he’s in the vicinity but phased, you’ll find a needy wolf trailing you like an obedient dog.
A/N: Before you read this, I want you to know that my native language is different. So I am very sorry for any mistake. Nevertheless, I hope you will like my story and enjoy it.
Summary: Y/N just wanted to protect her sister from trouble. What she hadn't counted on was that her life would change completely.
Annoyed, Y/N exhaled as she walked after her sister, who was a few months older than her.
Bella had burst into her room that morning to tell her, all worked up, that she wanted to confront Jacob. Then she’d left Y/N’s room—or rather, stormed out of it. Y/N looked around in confusion, jumped out of bed, and grabbed the first thing she could find to wear so she could chase after her crazy sister.
“Bella!” Y/N stepped in front of her sister just as she was about to knock on Jacob’s door. “Did you even think for a second before you made this decision? Maybe Jacob doesn’t want to be the rebound for your stupid vampire boyfriend anymore?”
Bella rolled her eyes, shoved Y/N aside, and knocked on the door. Jacob’s father opened the door and tried to stop Bella from coming inside, but she simply pushed past him. “I’m so sorry,” Y/N muttered, doing the same thing as her sister.
“Damn it, Bel…” Y/N trailed off when she realized Bella wasn’t inside the house anymore, instead heading toward the four men standing outside.
She quickly ran after her. When she caught up to her, she tried to pull her sister away. “Bella, please, let’s just go. You can’t always make such a scene!”
Bella, however, tried to break free from her grip and continued to yell at Sam Uley.
“Yes, Bella, listen to your sister and get out of here!” The man Sam was trying to calm down spoke up. Bella didn’t like his tone, she finally broke free and punched the man.
Y/N spun around in shock, “Paul, no!” Sam pulled her aside at the last moment. Still in shock, she fell to the ground and stared at the massive wolf in front of her. Horrified, she screamed and tried to crawl backward, bumping into Sam’s legs in the process.
The wolf looked in her direction, which made the young girl even more panicked; he didn't notice Jacob running toward her, just as he had lost interest in Bella. Now he seemed to be focusing solely on Y/N. The wolf whimpered once, as if he could sense her fear, and lay down on the ground in front of Y/N, his ears flattened.
Confused and overwhelmed, Y/N looked up at Sam. “Please tell me a six-foot-tall wolf that was a human just two seconds ago hasn’t just laid down in front of me… and while you’re at it, I’m hallucinating, right?”
“Well, I guess the wolf is out of the bag!” “Not helpful, Embry!”
Sam knelt down next to Y/N, gently wrapping his arms around her waist, which didn’t sit well with Paul. He jumped up and began to growl, but with a stern look from Sam and a command to go into the woods, he quickly fell silent, glanced back once more at the trembling young girl, and disappeared into the woods.
Sam turned his attention back to Y/N. “Are you okay?” She blinked at the man, let him help her up, and shook her head. “Is that a trick question?”
Jake came over to Y/N’s side and helped steady her. “Take both of them to Emily’s. We’ll explain everything there.” Y/N nodded silently and watched Sam follow the wolf into the woods.
“Can you make it to the car on your own?” Jake looked at her searchingly. Y/N shook her head, as she was still trembling. The dark-haired man nodded and lifted Y/N into his arms.
“I’m sorry, Jake.” He looked down at her, confused. “What are you sorry for?” “I wanted to stop Bella.” Jake laughed. “You know her. It would have been a miracle if you’d managed it.”
“Who do we have here, and what happened to that poor girl?” Emily stood at the entrance, looking around questioningly. “That’s Bella and Y/N Swan. Paul transformed in front of them, and Y/N’s been in a bit of a state ever since.” Jared looked at her with concern.
“Sit Y/N down on the sofa.” Emily gestured toward the living room and followed with a cup in her hand. “Drink this; you’ll feel better afterward.” Y/N took a sip and smiled; the warm cocoa warmed her up, finally allowing her bones to relax. “Thanks,” she murmured quietly to herself.
“Do you need anything else?” Jake looked at her questioningly. “Answers would be great.” Embry came over and draped a blanket over her. “You’ll get them, but it would be better if you talked to Paul first.”
Just then, Sam and Paul walked in. Sam went over to Emily and kissed her.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” Paul said, looking at her with a slight smile as he sat down at the table. Y/N, infected by his smile, smiled into her mug. “You don’t have to be sorry. Bella needs to learn not to jump on people all the time.” Bella gasped, “I just thought…” “And that’s usually the problem!” Everyone started laughing; Jake nudged Y/N, while Bella glared at her.
Y/N snuggled up to Jake. She was cold, and now that the shock had worn off, she was getting tired.
“Jake, maybe you should take Bella and Y/N home.” Sam looked at the girl, who was almost asleep. Paul, who had been focused on his muffin, watched as Jake picked up Y/N and disappeared with Bella. He wanted to follow them, but Sam stopped him. “Give her time; she needs to process what she saw today first.” Reluctantly, Paul sat back down, but watched after the car longer than it was even visible.
Y/N had woken up in her room but couldn’t fall back asleep. No matter how many times she turned over and closed her eyes, she couldn’t get Paul out of her head. The way he’d looked at her in his wolf form, and just as much in his human form. As if he’d known her his whole life.
Her train of thought was interrupted by a noise at her window. Confused, she sat up and heard it again—like small stones hitting her bedroom window.
Y/N got up, walked over to the window, and opened it. “Paul?” “Can I come up?” Confused, she nodded, taking a step back.
With an ease that left Y/N speechless, Paul jumped into her room.
The young girl cleared her throat slightly, looking at him more closely. She raised an eyebrow. “Hey, do you have a problem with a T-shirt?” Confused, Paul looked down at himself, but quickly began grinning at her. “Am I distracting you?” Y/N blushed and looked away. “A little.”
“Why are you here, Paul? Surely not to show off your bare chest to me again?” The young girl sat down on her bed.
The black-haired boy shook his head as he sat down next to her.
“I’m here because I couldn’t sleep without knowing how you’re feeling. "To be honest, I’m not exactly sure myself. I’m confused. I knew vampires existed, and now there are werewolves too? It’s a lot.” Y/N paused, thinking carefully about what to say next. “But what interests me most is why you reacted that way to me? You were so angry at Bella, and I thought you were going to attack her, but then nothing happened. It was as if all your anger had vanished.”
Paul turned to Y/N, gently took her hands in his, watching her react to his touch. When he noticed that Y/N didn’t tense up, he continued,
“I suppose Jake told you about us.” Y/N nodded slowly, looking her companion straight in the eyes. “But he left out one detail, since it’s my part to explain it to you.” Paul took a deep breath. “We wolves imprint. You can think of it as a soulmate bond. From the moment of our imprinting, we no longer feel bound to the ground by gravity, but by our imprint. We would give everything for her, just as we would be everything for her. A friend, a brother, or a lover. The most important thing is that we’re with her and can protect her.”
Y/N nodded, studying Paul’s features. He seemed almost shy, and although Y/N didn’t know him that well yet, she suspected that this was a trait Paul Lahote wouldn’t describe in the slightest under normal circumstances.
“And you’re telling me this because I’m your imprint?” Paul nodded. “Y/N, that doesn’t mean we have to fall in love with each other. I can be anything you want. I just want to ask if you’d be open to the idea of getting to know me better, so we can see where the imprint might lead.”
The young girl swallowed. She knew a lot would change. Fear crept into her; was she ready for this? Was she ready to let a stranger get so close to her?
Y/N looked closely at the man in front of her. But what could possibly happen? She was his imprint, and Y/N had the feeling that Paul would do anything to not hurt her.
After the evening Y/N made her promise to Paul, a new life began for the young Swan. She spent every free minute with the wolf pack. She slept most of the time at Jacob’s place, in a room Billy had set up for her.
It even got to the point where Billy spoke to Charlie, saying it would be best if Y/N attended school in the reservation. Charlie wasn’t thrilled at first, but he hadn’t seen his daughter this happy in a long time, so he agreed.
Paul and she began to get to know each other better and better; they even went on dates. Y/N also didn’t go into shock as easily anymore whenever she saw one of the boys or Leah in their wolf forms. She even started to love it when she could run through their fur.
Y/N was sitting on the beach in La Push, lost in thought, when Paul called out to her. Smiling, she turned to him and looked at him questioningly. “Are you coming to the bonfire tonight?” Nodding, Y/N laughed as Paul picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
“Paul!” she cried out, tapping him lightly on the back. They weren’t a couple yet, but every day Y/N realized more and more how she was falling in love with him.
However, along with this feeling, fear also spread through her. She couldn’t get the thought out of her head that maybe Paul only liked her because of the imprinting.
“What are you thinking about?” Paul sat down next to Y/N by the fire. She had been staring absently into the flames the whole time, asking herself the same question over and over again. “Nothing.” She closed her eyes. Y/N didn’t even believe her own words—so how could she expect Paul to? Paul nodded, unconvinced, stood up without a word, and held out his hand to Y/N.
“We should talk.” His tone was serious, which made Y/N pause; he hadn’t been like this toward her during the weeks they’d been getting to know each other. With slightly trembling fingers, she took his hand and let him lead her toward the beach.
The two walked side by side along the sand in silence.
Abruptly, he stopped and stood in front of her, letting go of her hand.
“Now that we’re alone, are you going to tell me what’s wrong? Since last week, you’ve been lost in thought the whole time, you seem to be pulling away from me. Did I do something or…,” Y/N didn’t let Paul finish. “That’s not it.” “Then what is it?” “I’m starting to fall in love with you, Paul…”
Paul was silent for a moment, “And what’s so bad about that?”
Y/N took a deep breath. This was exactly what she’d been afraid of. Telling him what was going on inside her, but Paul took the words right out of her mouth. Because from her reaction, he could see what was wrong. “You’re afraid my feelings aren’t real because of the imprinting, aren’t you?” The young girl didn’t dare look him in the eyes, nor could she stop the tears that were welling up. Paul ran his fingers through his hair, desperate about the situation and wondering if he’d done something wrong.
Y/N heard him breathe in and out. She knew he needed to calm down.
“Y/N…” Paul gently cupped her face so she had to look at him. “The imprinting has nothing to do with my feelings for you. Nothing is forcing me to love you. Nothing is forcing me to think about you all the time. Nothing is forcing me to want to be near you 24 hours a day.”
“Paul, I’m scared. I need time to understand…” Paul let go of her, took several steps back, almost as if he’d burned himself on her skin. “So you want some space?” Y/N nodded; she knew it wasn’t fair to him. But she was confused and overwhelmed. Paul said nothing more, looked at her for one last moment, then simply turned around and disappeared.
“Fuck!” Y/N covered her face with her hands and began to cry. Emily, who had been sent by Sam—he must have heard Paul’s thoughts—placed a hand on the young girl’s shoulder and pulled her into an embrace. “I know,” she murmured as Y/N began to cry harder. “I want to go home.”
Three days had passed and she hadn’t heard from Paul. Even though that was exactly what Y/N wanted, it still hurt her. Y/N was lying in the bed she had at Billy’s place, eating nothing and barely sleeping, just staring at the wall and wondering why she was putting Paul and herself in the wrong. When it was obvious that they both had feelings for each other.
“Y/N, this can’t go on any longer!” Jake stood in front of her bed and looked down at her sadly. The young girl hadn’t even noticed how he’d come in.
“Go away!” Jake rolled his eyes and pulled the blanket off her. “No, I’m not leaving. First of all, you stink, and second, I can’t stand hearing you cry and sink into self-pity anymore!”
Y/N turned toward him and tried to get her blanket back. Jake, who didn’t want to let Y/N crawl back into her hole, grabbed her, threw her over his shoulder, and stomped toward the bathroom. He turned on the shower and placed her, fully clothed, under it.
“Jacob Black! What’s this supposed to achieve?!” Y/N turned off the shower and glared at him. “I can sense how bad Paul’s doing, and I can see how bad you’re doing! Go take a shower, and then we’ll talk!” Jake slammed the bathroom door shut behind him.
“Better?” “Better,” Y/N mumbled, taking the sandwich Billy held out to her.
“So what was the problem between you and Paul?” “You must know—aren’t you two linked or something?” “We can block each other out; the ‘link,’ as you call it, isn’t 24/7. We just know that Paul isn’t doing well, and you obviously aren’t either. So what’s the problem?”
“I’m the problem, okay!” Y/N pushed the plate away from her and stared at her hands. “I’ve fallen in love with Paul.” Jake gave her a confused look. “Isn’t that actually a good thing?” “It is, but…”
Jake gave her an impatient look. “Y/N, spit it out!” “I’m afraid his feelings are only there because I’m his imprint!” Billy and Jake both stared at the young girl, speechless.
“Y/N.” Billy took her hands. “Just because you’re his imprint doesn’t mean his feelings aren’t real. Because when a wolf imprints, it can also just form a deep friendship between them and their imprint. Falling in love is solely their own decision.”
Doubtfully, the young Swan looked at Billy. “How sure can you be of that?” “Very sure. While the bond does have a pull on us, making us want and need to protect them, everything else is up to us,” Jake interjected.
Sadly, Y/N exhaled, “Then I guess I really messed it up, didn’t I?” Jake shook his head. “Go to him and talk to him. He’s at his place; I can drive you there.” “But first, you’re going to eat something, young lady!” Billy gave her a stern, fatherly look and pushed her plate back in front of her. Smiling, Y/N took a bite of her sandwich.
“Paul?” Y/N knocked gently on the door of his house. When there was no answer, she stepped inside cautiously.
Jake had told her that Paul had been living with Sam and Emily until recently. But, with Sam’s permission, he had started building a house on a piece of land farther away that belonged to him and Emily.
As Y/N stepped inside for the first time, she took in the wooden house. It was small, but she could imagine living here with him. Still, she noticed that it felt cold. The interior was half-hearted. There was a sofa in front of a fireplace, but the fireplace wasn’t lit. The kitchen looked unused. She went up the stairs and looked straight into a bedroom. It was dark, with a mattress in the middle where she could make out Paul’s silhouette.
She cautiously entered the room and crouched down next to him. She looked at his sleeping face. Dark circles had formed under his eyes, and his cheeks looked sunken.
It hurt her to see him like this, because after all, it was her fault. Neither of them was doing well, and that was only because she had let fear get the better of her.
Y/N gently stroked Paul’s cheek. He flinched slightly but didn’t wake up. After a moment’s thought, she stood up and took off her jacket, as well as her shoes. She placed everything in a corner of the room and laid down next to him. Paul, who seemed to sense her presence in his sleep, immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. The young girl breathed in his scent deeply and immediately drifted into a deep sleep. A sleep that was long overdue for both of them.
Y/N opened her eyes, blinking. Paul had turned onto his side and watched her sleep. When he woke up, with the scent of his imprint in his nose and someone in his arms, he couldn’t believe it at first. Paul was convinced that after their time apart, Y/N saw him only as a friend and nothing more. It would have hurt him, but he would have accepted it. Anything was better than having no contact with her at all.
Carefully, almost as if Paul were afraid Y/N might shatter at his touch, he placed his hand on her cheek.
“What are you doing here?”
Y/N placed her hand on Paul’s wrist. “I’m here because I want to apologize.” Paul wanted to interrupt her, but she wouldn’t let him. “It wasn’t fair of me to ask you to keep your distance. It wasn’t fair that I didn’t listen to you, but let my fear get the better of me. I’ve thought a lot about the imprinting and us.” Y/N removed her hand from Paul’s and sat up straight in front of him; he did the same, leaning his upper body against the wall.
“I understand now. Your feelings are real; they have nothing to do with the imprinting. I honestly think it’s something else that’s worrying me.”
Paul, who was watching Y/N closely, leaned forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her onto his lap. “You can tell me anything; I won’t judge you.”
Paul began tracing light circles on Y/N’s hips.
“I’m afraid to get involved with you because you’re my first.” Paul paused his movements. “What do you mean?”
“You’d be my first kiss, my first boyfriend, and my first time. My first love. It scares me, Paul, to let someone get this close to me. Still, I’m excited and glad that it’s you, Paul.”
Paul was silent for a moment; he let his hands slide up from Y/N’s waist to her cheeks. He forced her to look him in the eyes. “What exactly do you feel for me, Y/N?” “I love you, Paul.” Paul began to smile, leaned forward, but paused just before Y/N’s lips. “May I kiss you?” The young girl smiled, “Only if you tell me how you feel about me.” Paul chuckled softly, “I love you too!” Paul pulled her close and kissed her passionately. He poured all the feelings of the past few weeks into that kiss, even having to break it for a moment to smile. “What?” Y/N looked at him, smiling just as much. “I was afraid the distance would drive us apart, and now you’re sitting on top of me, half-naked, if I may point that out.”
Confused, Y/N looked down at herself and only now noticed that she was sitting on Paul wearing nothing but shorts and a sports bra. He was wearing only boxer shorts. “I curse you and your heat! I was wearing more than this when I fell asleep!”
Y/N leaned down to kiss Paul again. He placed his hands back on her waist, his grip tightening slightly as Y/N moved to snuggle up against him, her hands in his hair.
“Y/N!” Paul’s voice was deep; he was slightly out of breath. Y/N looked at him innocently, aware of the bulge between her legs that was slowly growing. “Paul.” He closed his eyes. “If we don’t stop now, I can’t promise it’ll just be your first kiss!”
Y/N didn’t even think twice as she leaned down again to bring Paul’s lips to hers once more.
Paul’s hand rested on her neck, his thumb against her jaw. His lips trailed down to her collarbone, where he planted kisses. Y/N was sure everyone would know what had happened the next day, but she didn’t care.
When he reached her bra, he looked at her again. “Are you sure?” Blushing, Y/N nodded. Paul gave her another little kiss on the lips, then helped her out of her bra. “God, you look beautiful, ” he murmured as he lowered his lips to her breasts and kissed every inch he could reach.
Y/N tried to stifle her moans. She was embarrassed. But Paul didn’t like that at all. With a swift movement, he turned them both around. Y/N gasped in surprise. “No one can hear you here, Y/N; you don’t need to hide.” He pressed his lips to hers, but didn’t stay there long. He kissed his way down her neck, between her breasts, and along her stomach. When he reached her waistband, he grabbed it, sat up slightly, and helped Y/N take them off. Paul let his hands glide over Y/N’s thighs, gently pushing them apart as he did so. He studied Y/N’s body closely, every detail. “Fate has sent me a goddess.”
The young girl blushed, giggling.
Y/N propped herself up on her elbow, looked at Paul in confusion, her breath catching. Everything inside her tightened, but in a good way, one she had never felt before. “What are you doing? Paul grinned at her, “I’ll make sure you can’t hide your moans anymore!”
He took off his boxers and slowly slid between Y/N’s legs. He forced Y/N to lie back down.
Paul kissed his imprint deeply, taking her right hand in his. “Are you really sure, Y/N? We have our whole lives together to share this experience.” “I know, but I want it now, here with you.”
With a final, “I love you,” Paul gently entered his imprint.
summary: headcanons of how clingy your boyfriend gets when he finally has a day off, aka puppy coded!jacob black (request)
-swears that he is the manliest man ever who (even though he loves you very much) isn’t clingy or “mushy” when it comes to love, specifically he says that he is dominant and masculine when it comes to showing affection
-he’s a big fat liar lol, because the second he gets time off he spends it entirely with you, practically glued to your body and flat out refuses to let go; it’s cute at first and very nice and toasty in the wintertime, but the during the summertime it gets annoying pretty quickly
-when he gets like this, all clingy and cute, he’ll do the following things: pout without realizing, whine like puppy, huff before every sentence, hold onto you and lay some of his weight on you (he’s still considerate enough to not crush you), grab your arms and wrap them around him and holding them in place
-it’s impossible to get away from Jacob when he gets like this, all puppy like and mushy, considering he is a werewolf and is insanely strong compared the the average person/humans in general, but you can annoy him the living hell our of him
-you get the mischievous idea when he began to demand that you be the big spoon, saying things like “don’t you love me? if you really did you’d be the big spoon for once, let me feel the love” it takes lots of self control to not burst out laughing at how seriously pouty he sounds as he says it
-you tease him by demanding he be the big spoon, quoting his exact words from the day before when he said he wasn’t clingy and needed to protect you while you slept by hugging you from behind; gets even more desperate for affection and attention from you that he resorts to throw a small tantrum
-it was embarrassing for him 100% and he will be thinking about that moment any night he struggles to fall asleep, but did it work? yes, yes it did; you gain three things that, blackmail material against your boyfriend, bragging rights for giving Jacob the princess or puppy treatment, and finally the best day of your life for witnessing it all
-he spends the rest of his free day in bliss, getting headpats (I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, if Jacob is in his wolf form his tail will be wagging like crazy), back scratches, being held by his lovely partner that will giggle from time to time at his clingy behavior; overall an amazing (and slightly embarrassing day) that will happen again when he gets another day off
paul just being absolutely whipped for a quiet, antisocial reader | @sethsclearwater
Imagine | @/sethsclearwater
Paul’s girlfriend/imprint finding out about imprinting for the first time and being upset because she thinks it means he was kinda forced to ask her out
Emily’s cousin!reader | @/sethsclearwater
Imagine | @/sethsclearwater
clingy Paul | @/sethsclearwater
Grumpy | @/sethsclearwater
Colourblind | @come-on-darling-honey
based on this post of how the shift Paul and the others experience would give them physical attributes akin to a wolf, which is being colourblind. Which Paul finds himself in, until of course, he sees you for the first time in months on the first day of summer.
Little critters | @trumpkinhotboy
Being Paul Lahote’s Imprint Would Include | @inscribeddiatribes
Masterlist | @findmeinforks
I Don’t | @/findmeinforks
Understanding | @/findmeinforks
Not Letting You Go Easy | @/findmeinforks
Imprint, part 02 | @stylesluxx
in which y/n thinks it’s just the imprint talking
Waiting | @/stylesluxx
in which y/n is tired of waiting for paul
9:41pm | @/stylesluxx
in which y/n distances herself from paul in an attempt to protect him
She’s Always There | @fangurk
Masterlist | @clearwater-hoe
Home sweet home | @/clearwater-hoe
reader found out they were pregnant, decorating the nursery, first scan and bringing the baby home for the first time
Sharp accidents | @/clearwater-hoe
“They’re good for each-other.”“Are you hurt? What happened?”
Total Opposite (part 1) | @szchaql
(Y/n) Swan is Bella younger sister. She lives with their mother until Charlie request her to move to Forks to lighten up Bella, who currently in the stage of breakup after Edward left her.
Paul Lahote Masterlist | @fatiguing-thoughts
Pre-Phasing High School Boyfriend | @/fatiguing-thoughts
Disappearing | @/fatiguing-thoughts
Trust in the Tide | @thewulf
where Bella goes to the cullens house and drags her sister Y/N along with. Paul isnt happy about this at all and gets very possessive of Y/N.
Forever Yours | @/thewulf
reader is Bella’s (fraternal) twin sissy. She moved to Forks with Bella and the whole first book happens WITHOUT her knowing what’s going on. She’s just as in the dark as Charlie is….
Adding One | @/thewulf
eader finds out she’s pregnant but is worried how Paul will feel because they’re still young and all the werewolf and vampire stuff is going on
Tickles | @readingwithlemons
Paul’s Lullaby | part one | @imaginingmanyfandoms
Awkward Situation | @chloe-skywalker
Bella slaps Paul and her little sister is their w/her Paul imprints on the reader and jacob isn’t happy about it
Lack Of Sleep | @/chloe-skywalker
Bellas screaming effects readers sleep to and Paul finds out
Paul Lahote’s Reaction to Having an Imprint Headcanon’s: | @imlostinsantacarla
“Jealousy” | @simplyy-imagine
The reader and Paul make up after a blowout caused by Paul’s jealousy.
PDA with Paul Lahote would include: | @/simplyy-imagine
When you found out about the wolves and having a soulmate, it seemed that for once in your life things were finally looking up. But not everyone is grateful for the imprint, and eventually all the resentment and anger comes out leaving you devastated and wishing that you never even met the asshole Known as Paul Lahote
The Right Track | @/pretty-restless-insomniac
After the night of which you and Paul’s arguements reached a new low, you deal with the aftermath in your own way. What will happen when your imprint appears and you must now face the anguish the both of you have suffered from a 'needed’ time apart.
Issues | @ineedmorefanfics
Fem!Cullen!Reader
Imprinting, part 02 | @wolfpack-imagines
Undercover | @shoot-the-oneshot
“you’re never going to let that go are you?” “I don’t believe you”
“Lash out” | @everlesslahote1
Jake made a couple comments that Paul didn’t like, what happens when you have to leave home at 2 AM to calm down your hotheaded husband
Sister Problems | @happys-crazy-queen22
Road trip to Fate | @volturiwolf
Boundaries | @samblackblog
A Paul Lahote short story, in which the reader finds themselves as Paul’s imprint and things spiral.
Dating Paul Lahote…. | @blackgirlfandomwriter
Imprinted | @pennylanefics
Our Daughter | @/pennylanefics
Change | @/pennylanefics
Love & Hate Masterlist | @im-a-wonderling
Sick of his life being dictated by the wolf inside, Paul Lahote is determined to keep one choice for himself and never imprint on anyone. But the universe has different plans, and when Paul imprints on a fierce doctor who has plans of her own, the two desperately try and find a way to break the bond. But is it even possible to break a kind of love so innate? Or will Paul and Y/N be stuck as each other’s soulmate?
Opposites attract | @it-was-all-a-beautiful-dream
Thunder & Lighting Series | @atlas-of-a-human-soul
In search of her father, Arya stumbles upon a life-changing secret. Little did she know she’d not only find family, but her soulmate as well. The problem? Her soulmate is already taken.
Imprinting on his high school crush who hated him was the last thing Paul expected to happen as he’s nearing his thirties. But what truly unnerves him is the sequence of their future he sees - unlike his pack brothers, Paul doesn’t see a happy ending.
Jacobs cousin | @refiwrites
The Imprint Saga pt. 1 | @fanficimagery
Imagine finding out the supernatural exists. You manage to keep a level head and even give the whole Imprint business a go, but your poor wolf had no idea just how stubborn you could be when you felt he or anyone else was in the wrong.
Meeting his friends pt 2 | @/fanficimagery
Imagine being Bella Swan’s cousin. Pt 1 | @/fanficimagery
Imagine being Bella Swan’s cousin. You’ve noticed the odd going on’s of those Bella tries to keep close, but keep your nose out of it. However, she drags you to La Push to confront one of her friends where you end up meeting their resident hot head. Only he’s not a hot head.. and it’s totally love at first sight. Or something
Be Somebody to Someone, part 02, part 03, part 04 | @/fanficimagery
You’ve lived your entire life in Forks, Washington without anyone paying too close attention to you. Then you befriend the new girl and suddenly you find yourself friends with the unexpected. And maybe even something more if a certain shapeshifter stops denying the Fates.
Endangered Masterlist | @randomwriting-misc
Vampires and wolves are not the only supernatural creatures to walk the earth, and they are certainly not the only ones in Forks, Washington when Charlotte Annabeth Swan, "Anna", moves in with her uncle after the unfortunate demise of her parents.
Lost control | @ravencrawls
you help billy around the house when bella storms in and confronts the pack out of his house and paul being super fluffy and clingy till bella slaps him in the face
Showtime | @wordofthewicked
A chance meeting one sunny afternoon on La Push brings you face to face with Paul Lahote. Your strange connection with him, and the fact that it was his soccer ball that broke your nose, you were wrapped up into an unseen world that lived in tandem with yours. How far are you willing to go for true love? How far are you willing to go to protect the people you love?
Bella Swan was a disaster when Edward had left. Deciding she needed a little help, Charlie Swan receives with open arms his younger daughter (Y/N) Swan. She helps Bella during her depression and becomes inseparable from her long-lost friend Jacob. What she didn’t expect was falling for a hotheaded short-tempered silver wolf.
The Pull | @elivanah-writes
Y/n, does her best to keep her friend Bella from doing stupid things, even if that means she has to get into a fight of her own with the big cocky hothead Paul. But what if that very man she dislikes imprints on her? Can they lay their difference behind them?
i can’t keep doing this | @leviathanspain
befriending the new girl in school was supposed to be a fresh start, but all it did was lead you back to square one
Destiny, part 02, part 03 | @lunajay33
Paul has just shifted to his new life as a wolf and feels empty without his imprint hoping he finds her soon, y/n just moved to forks to live with her sister Bella and decides to go to the bone fire to make new friends
Why Me? | @/lunajay33
Bella and Y/n are twins but when Bella and Renee moved away you stayed with Charlie always growing closer with the people around La push, but when Bella comes back it’s like everything is flipped around, Bella becomes distant obsessed with the cullens, you find solace with the guys at the beach but things change after the first year and suddenly you’re all alone, will anyone come back, will Paul your best friend, your forever crush come save you from depression
Paul phases and hurts the reader… angst asf | @daryldixonsdoormat
Second Chances | @the-wolf-moon-diaries
Enemies to lovers + soulmates + dating bet.
Paul’s Imprint | @blackbirdie1234
What being Paul’s imprint would be like.
Rowdy Neighbors | @prettypinkporkchop
you moved into your own home. Your life has turned calm and easy. One day, the empty house next door became occupied with Paul Lahote. His friends are always there and they're loud! They keep you up sometimes. You and Paul do talk often. He brings your mail to you on rainy days. He comes over to see if you're okay. He imprinted on you, but you have no idea.
A Werewolf | @thequeendesi
after growing up in Forks with your dad, your sister coming to live with you two, and the entirety of the Cullen drama, a wedding, and a life or death situation, your twin comes back home but different. And after seeing her, you become painfully aware of what really happened to her and leave only to realize you fit into her new world more than expected.
Secret | @fashionteahouse
distance makes the heart grow fonder | @ervotica
A study of wolves | @aliesbienish
A relocation to La Push brings more than just a new career.
PAUL LAHOTE HEADCANONS | @bambieyedoll
Ten Bucks On Her | @gabxbyr
One Night | @jogetsobsessed
Rocket in the Pack House | @forkshighschooler
Reader’s big heart for animals gets the best of them when they show up at the pack house with a baby raccoon that needs saving. The wolf pack panics, Bella thinks it’s adorable, and Paul tries to talk sense into you—except the little trash panda has already chosen you.
divider by: @cafekitsune & @strangergraphics
word count: 7.3k
synopsis: While Jacob spends every waking moment trying to save Bella Swan, you’re left wondering when your own relationship became an afterthought. Thankfully, Embry Call is there to pick up the pieces.
For the past month, the air in the Black household's garage had been thick with the scent of grease, gasoline, and a camaraderie that didn't include you. The space was constantly filled with the clink of metal tools and the easy laughter shared between Jacob Black and Bella Swan.
You sat on an overturned crate in the corner, a half-eaten sandwich forgotten in your lap. Jacob was bent over a rusted motorcycle frame, his face flushed with excitement as he explained the mechanics of a carburetor to Bella. She leaned in close, hanging onto his every word as if it were a lifeline.
"Hey, Jake?" you called out, your voice soft and tentative as you tried to bridge the miles of emotional distance that had settled between you. "Do you want to grab that movie later tonight? The one you said you wanted to see?"
Jacob didn’t even look up from the engine. "Can't tonight, babe. I promised Bella we’d finish mounting this block. Maybe tomorrow?"
Bella offered a small, apologetic shrug, but the gesture didn't reach her eyes. To you, it never felt sincere. Ever since Edward Cullen had vanished from Forks, leaving a wake of gloom in his departure, Bella had practically moved into Jacob’s garage. In the process, you had been effectively demoted from Jacob’s girlfriend to a silent background prop—an afterthought in your own relationship.
"Hey!" Quil’s boisterous voice cut through the tension as he swung into the garage, Embry trailing quietly in his shadow.
Embry walked past the busy duo—who barely acknowledged the newcomers—and immediately zeroed in on you. He pulled up a weathered plastic bucket, flipping it over to sit right beside your crate.
“Hey," he said softly, offering a lopsided smile that instantly warmed the chilly La Push air. "You look bored out of your mind.” he held out a pack of candy, “Want half my Twizzlers?”
"Hey, Embry," you sighed, forcing a weak, flickering smile that didn't quite hold. "No... I’m okay. Not really hungry."
His brow furrowed with a sudden, sharp worry. "Everything okay?"
"Just... the usual," you muttered, gesturing vaguely toward the center of the room where Jacob was now laughing at something Bella had whispered.
Embry’s jaw tightened visibly as he glanced at Jacob, a flash of fierce, protective frustration crossing his features. He looked back at you, his expression softening into something incredibly gentle, almost mournful.
"Come on," he said, standing up and offering you a hand. "Let’s get out of this damp garage. It’s too crowded in here anyway. I’ll walk you down to First Beach; the tide is coming in. You can tell me all about how much of an idiot Black is being, and I promise to agree with every word."
For the rest of the afternoon, Embry didn't leave your side. As the grey waves crashed against the shore, he talked effortlessly, shifting from complaints about a gruelling math assignment to a ridiculous, drawn-out argument he’d had with Quil over something completely trivial. He did everything in his power to keep your mind anchored in the present, far away from the image of Jacob, Bella, and those grease-stained motorcycles.
He was funny, intensely attentive, and he actually listened to you. Every time you managed a genuine laugh, Embry’s eyes would light up, a faint flush creeping up his neck. He’d had a crush on you since the eighth grade—long before Jacob had ever even noticed you—but he had buried it deep the moment you and Jacob became official.Standing on the sidelines, acting as the supportive best friend, was a specialty he had forced himself to master. But watching the quiet, persistent hurt in your eyes lately was rapidly testing his limits.
The breaking point came three days later.
You had just walked into the Black household when Jacob caught you by the arm, pulling you into the narrow hallway before you could even reach the kitchen. His expression was strained, and he shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, unable to hold your gaze for more than a second.
"Listen," Jacob started, rubbing the back of his neck, his knuckles raw from working on engines. "Bella’s coming over in a few minutes. She’s... she’s still really fragile, you know? With the whole Cullen thing. She feels kind of awkward and crowded when there are too many people around."
You blinked, a cold, heavy knot instantly forming in your stomach. "Crowded? Jacob, I’m your girlfriend. I live down the road."
"I know! I know," he said quickly, throwing his hands up in a defensive gesture. "But she just needs a safe space right now to distract herself. Could you maybe... just not come over when she’s here? Just for a little while?"
The slap in the face couldn't have been any clearer. The breath hitched in your throat. "You're banning me from your house so you can hang out with another girl?"
"It’s not like that!" Jacob shot back, his voice rising as frustration bled into his tone. "Why do you have to make everything so difficult? She’s falling apart, and she needs me right now!"
"And I need my boyfriend!" you shouted back, the sudden volume of your own voice startling you as tears of anger and humiliation pricked your eyes. "But clearly, Jacob, you’ve already picked your priority. And it isn't me."
You didn’t wait around to hear whatever hollow excuse he would try to piece together. Spinning on your heel, you bolted out of the hallway and slammed the heavy front door behind you, marching blindly down the gravel path. The thick La Push rain blurred the landscape into a grey haze, and you didn't see the tall figure jogging up the trail until you collided directly into a broad, solid chest.
"Whoa! Hey, careful—"
Large hands gripped your shoulders to steady you. You looked up through a veil of tears and into Embry’s startled face. The moment he registered your watery eyes and trembling lip, his entire demeanour shifted instantly.
"y/n? Hey, hey, what's wrong? What happened?"
The sheer gentleness in his voice broke the final dam holding back your composure. A sharp sob escaped your throat, the hot tears finally spilling over and mixing with the rain. Without a second thought, Embry pulled you tightly against him. He didn’t care that you were dripping wet or that your breath was coming in ragged gasps; he just held you, his body radiating a strange, intense heat that completely shielded you from the biting coastal wind.
"What happened?" Embry demanded, his voice dropping an octave into a low, dangerous rumble. "Did Jacob do this?"
You couldn't even force the words out. You just nodded against his chest, another sob racking your frame. Embry's grip tightened, wrapping his arms around you so securely that the rest of the world simply faded away. He rocked you slightly, pressing his chin to the top of your head as if trying to absorb your pain into his own skin.
"I've got you," he whispered fiercely. He pulled back just enough to shrug off his heavy flannel shirt, draping the oversized, remarkably warm fabric around your shivering shoulders. "Come on. Let's get you away from here."
For the rest of that evening, Embry didn't leave your side for a single second. He took you back to his place, made you a mug of hot chocolate, and sat quietly on the couch while you poured your heart out. He didn't offer any weak defences for Jacob's behaviour. Instead, he just listened, gazing at you with such tenderness that it made your breath catch, his thumb reaching out to gently wipe away a stray tear from your cheek.
Over the next week, this became your new normal. You and Embry were practically inseparable. He took you on long hikes through the dense, green cliffs, walked you home from school every single day, and made sure you never felt like a third wheel even when Quil tagged along. Wrapped in his undivided attention, you began to notice the subtle shifts—the way his eyes would linger on your lips when you paused mid-sentence, the way his hand would warmly hover at your waist when guiding you through a crowd. Amidst the wreckage of your relationship with Jacob, a tiny, unspoken spark was beginning to ignite.
Then, exactly a week after the blowout, Jacob showed up on your porch.
He looked utterly miserable. His shoulders were slumped, and heavy, dark circles shadowed his eyes. He practically begged for your forgiveness, swearing up and down that he had been a blind idiot, that he loved you, and that he would balance his time properly from now on. Wanting desperately to believe in the boy you had originally fallen for, you let your guard down and accepted his apology.
Later that afternoon, you were sitting on the grey pebbles of First Beach with Embry when you casually brought it up.
"Jacob came by the house today," you said, tossing a flat pebble into the crashing, white-capped waves. "He apologized. We... we're going to try and work things out."
Beside you, Embry went completely, terrifyingly rigid.
"What?" His voice was dangerously quiet.
"I mean, we never officially broke up, so—" You cut yourself off, turning to look at him, and instantly gasped.
The temperature around him had skyrocketed, and Embry was shaking. It wasn't just a nervous tremor; it was a violent, full-body vibration that seemed to rattle his very bones. His jaw was clenched so hard the muscles jumped, his skin was flushed a deep crimson, and a strange, low growling sound was vibrating deep within his chest.
"Embry? Are you okay?" You reached out, alarmed, to touch his arm, but he flinched away from your hand with a sudden, violent jerk.
"You're going back to him?!" Embry snapped. When he locked eyes with you, they were flashing with a wild, erratic sort of anger that sent a chill straight down your spine. "After how he treated you? After he literally threw you out of his house for her?!"
"Embry, please, it's complicated—"
"It's not complicated! He's a fool!" Embry roared, surging to his feet so fast he kicked up a blinding cloud of dark sand. He gripped his head in his hands, gasping for air as his chest heaved and his body continued to shudder violently. "He doesn't deserve you! He doesn't even see what he has right in front of him, and you just... you just let him crawl back—!"
"Embry, stop! You're scaring me!" you cried out, instinctively scrambling backward on the stones.
At the sound of your frightened voice, he froze. He looked down at you, his eyes wide, wild, and bloodshot, filled with a mixture of agony, longing, and fury. He looked as though he were about to literally burst out of his own skin.
With a choked, agonized sound that was half-sob, half-growl, Embry turned on his heel and bolted into the tree line, disappearing into the thick, dark woods at a terrifying, impossible speed that didn't seem human.
That was two weeks ago.
You hadn't seen or heard a single word from Embry since. When you finally built up the courage to ask his mother, she vaguely told you he was down with a terrible, sudden "fever," but the silence had stretched on endlessly. It left a hollow, nagging ache in your chest that you simply couldn't shake. You missed him terribly. You missed his easy laughter, his grounding warmth, and the simple way he actually looked at you—as if you mattered.
Because despite Jacob’s grand, desperate apology on your porch, absolutely nothing had changed.
You sat on the exact same overturned crate in the corner of the garage, the familiar, suffocating smell of motor oil and grease filling your nose. Jacob was currently laughing at something Bella had just muttered, his hand casually, comfortably resting on her shoulder as he guided her wrench to tighten a bolt. He hadn't spoken more than ten words to you since you had arrived an hour ago.
Your stomach twisted in a sickening, heavy wave of realization. Jacob’s apology hadn't been about fixing his relationship with you; it had been about clearing his own conscience. It was a selfish bid to erase his guilt so he could go right back to doing exactly what he wanted.
You looked down at your hands, feeling a profound, crushing exhaustion settle deep into your bones. You were so incredibly tired of being the backup choice. You were so tired of being invisible.
As Jacob’s booming laugh echoed through the rafters of the garage once more, your mind didn't even drift toward him. Instead, your thoughts pulled you backward, as they always did lately, to Embry. Your fingers unconsciously traced the hem of your shirt, and looking down at your lap, you realized you were still wearing the oversized, faded flannel he had draped over your shoulders the day it rained—the only tangible thing you had left of him.
You closed your eyes, thinking of hot chocolate, a comforting embrace that made you feel utterly safe, and the gentle gaze of a boy who had looked at you like you were the only person in the entire world.
Standing up from the crate, the clinking of metal tools and the murmurs of the garage faded into distant, meaningless background noise. You didn't bother saying goodbye to Jacob—you knew he wouldn't notice your absence anyway. Stepping out into the cool La Push rain, you pulled Embry's flannel tighter around yourself, finally ready to go look for the one person who actually wanted you with him.
You went under the guise of returning the shirt, but when you reached his house, you found him slipping out through the back door. You stopped dead in your tracks. He had changed. He had grown—impossibly so—and his long hair was gone, replaced by a dark cropped cut. He was shirtless in the rain, revealing a physique of lean, powerful muscle, and a bold, circular tattoo was stamped onto the curve of his shoulder.
“Embry?” you breathed, the name more a question than a greeting.
He froze. His entire body locked up, the broad muscles of his back tensing beneath the light sheen of rain already misting over his bare skin. Slowly, he turned around to face you.
Your breath caught in your throat. This wasn't the lanky, awkward boy who had sat beside your crate just two weeks ago. Embry had shot up several inches, his chest and shoulders filled out with a heavy, intimidating strength. The loss of his long hair made the sharp, hard lines of his jawline stand out with a newfound maturity.
“What do you want, y/n?” he asked. His voice had dropped an octave, vibrating with a depth that made your skin prickle.
You flinched at the coldness of his tone. You looked down at the soft plaid fabric clutched tightly in your hands, suddenly feeling very small and out of place. "I... I came to return your flannel," you whispered, your voice trembling. "You left it with me. Before you..." You gestured vaguely toward the woods, your words trailing off into the sound of the rain.
Embry looked down at the shirt, then back up at your face. As he took you in, his stony expression began to fracture. His eyes traced the faint redness around your eyelids and the damp hair clinging to your pale cheeks. He saw the way you were shivering, looking small and lost in the oversized fabric of his old life.
In a split second, the harsh tension left his shoulders, replaced by that familiar, fierce protectiveness that always seemed to ground you. The air between you was growing warmer by the second from the new-found heat he carried, and for the first time in weeks, the cold began to fade.
He knew Sam’s rules. He knew he was supposed to keep his distance, to keep the secret, to tell you to go home. But instead, he found himself crossing the distance between you in two long, impossibly fast strides. The heat radiating off him hit you before he even reached you—a wave of warmth so intense it felt like stepping toward a roaring hearth.
"You're freezing," he muttered, his voice a low, rough growl. His hands hovered over your shoulders for a fraction of a second, hesitation flickering in his eyes before he made a decision. He wrapped his large, burning hands around your upper arms, pulling you closer to his chest to shield your body from the biting wind. "What are you doing out here? Where's Jacob?"
Hearing the name made something inside you finally snap. The last remnants of your patience, of your agonizing willingness to be second best, evaporated into the mist.
"I left him," you stated, looking up at him with a clarity you hadn't felt in months. "He’s at the garage. With Bella. When he finally realizes I'm gone and calls, I’ll tell him it’s over. For good."
"You left him?" Embry's grip on your arms tightened, his dark eyes finally locking onto yours with an intensity that made your heart hammer frantically against your ribs.
The world seemed to stop spinning. The steady, rhythmic patter of the La Push rain died out, replaced entirely by the loud, erratic thumping of Embry’s pulse. He didn't blink. He just stared into your eyes.
He was trembling, but it wasn't the violent, explosive shaking from two weeks ago. His gaze swept over your features—the curve of your jaw, the dampness of your eyelashes, the quiet determination hiding beneath your exhaustion—as if he were seeing you for the very first time.
"Embry?" you whispered, your voice catching. "What's wrong?"
He couldn't answer you. He couldn't even catch his breath. The invisible strings that had tied him to his mother, to his friends, to his duty on the reservation, all snapped cleanly in two.
It wasn't gravity holding him to the earth anymore. It was you. Everything he was, everything he would ever be—his strength, his loyalty, his very breath—belonged to the girl standing in front of him in the rain.
It’s you, Embry thought, a wave of awe washing over him. It’s always been you.
"Embry, you're staring," you said softly, shifting slightly under the sheer weight of his gaze. You weren't afraid, but the intensity in his eyes was unlike anything you had ever experienced with Jacob. Embry was looking at you like you were the sun and he had spent his whole life freezing in the dark.
The sound of your voice seemed to snap him out of his initial trance, but the burning look in his eyes didn't dim for a second. A shaky, ragged breath finally rattled through his broad chest.
"I'm sorry," he breathed. He didn't drop his hands from your arms; instead, his grip shifted. His touch became impossibly gentle, as if he were suddenly terrified that the slightest fraction of his new, terrifying strength might break you. "I didn't mean to snap at you when you first walked up. I just... I've been through a lot the last two weeks. But seeing you here..."
He trailed off, his eyes dropping to your shivering frame. Without another word, he reached down and took the damp plaid flannel from your hands. He didn't care that it was wet from the rain; he shook it out and carefully draped it over your shoulders, wrapping it around you like a cocoon before bringing his own massive, warm hands over the outside of the fabric, rubbing your arms to generate heat.
"You shouldn't be out here in the cold," he murmured, his face just inches from yours. The heavy scent of him completely enveloped you, instantly chasing away the lingering memory of gasoline and rust from Jacob's garage. "Especially not over him. He’s an idiot, y/n. I've told you that before, but he really is the biggest fool on this entire reservation if he let you walk away like this."
You swallowed hard, fighting a sudden, fierce flush at his words. The raw sincerity in his voice made your heart skip a beat.
Suddenly, a long, mournful howl pierced through the heavy La Push fog, echoing from deep within the forest. Embry tensed instantly. The muscles in his shoulders locked, and his head snapped toward the tree line.
“I—uh—I need to go do something for a bit," he said, turning back to you, his eyes darting anxiously between your face and the woods. "But do you want to wait here? Inside? I’ll try to be back as soon as I can, and then we’ll talk, yeah?”
You blinked up at him, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “I don't want to intrude…”
"You could never intrude," Embry said instantly. His voice was fierce, leaving absolutely no room for argument or doubt.
He didn't wait for you to hesitate any further. Reaching behind him, he grabbed the doorknob and gently guided you backward through the threshold, ushering you into the small, warm entryway of his house. The contrast between the freezing rain outside and the dry warmth of the kitchen was immediate, but it still didn't compare to the sheer, magnetic heat that had been radiating from Embry’s body.
He lingered for a fraction of a second, his large hands resting gently on your shoulders as he looked down at you, searching your face. Another howl pierced the air—closer this time, vibrating through the windowpanes. You felt a physical shudder ripple through Embry's frame, a sudden, tight tension bunching the hard muscles of his jaw. His eyes flashed with a frantic impatience, but the moment his gaze landed back on you, he forced his expression to soften.
"There's hot chocolate in the upper cabinet by the stove," he said quickly, his words rushing out as he stepped backward toward the door. "Make yourself some. Get warm. Use any blanket you find. Just... please don't leave. I'll be back, I promise."
Before you could even nod, Embry turned and slipped out the back door, closing it firmly behind him.
Moving instinctively toward the kitchen window, you watched him sprint toward the tree line. Your jaw dropped, and the breath caught completely in your throat. A cold spike of worry shot through you, especially after hearing that haunting, primal howl. You knew Embry was caught up in something big but you didn't know what. Yet, looking out into the empty, rain-swept yard, you realized something else: you trusted him completely.
You stood entirely alone in the quiet kitchen, the steady hum of the refrigerator the only sound breaking the silence. Wrapped in his oversized flannel, you could still smell him.
Slowly, your mind spinning, you moved over to the stove. Finding the hot chocolate where he said it would be, you set a mug to heat, your thoughts frantically replaying the last ten minutes. Embry’s sudden, massive growth spurt. The mysterious tattoo. The impossible, physics-defying speed. And most of all, the way he had looked at you right before the world seemed to stop. It felt like he had been looking into your very soul, anchoring himself to you in a way you couldn't even begin to understand.
By the time you finished your mug, sitting curled up on his living room couch with a thick wool blanket pulled up to your chin, nearly an hour had passed. The rain outside had picked up, drumming a heavy, rhythmic beat against the roof.
It was about another half hour later that you heard the back door click open.
You sat up, pulling the blanket tighter around your chest, your muscles tensing in anticipation. Heavy, muffled footsteps sounded in the kitchen, followed by the faint rustle of a wrapper, and then Embry stepped into the living room.
He had changed from his mud-splattered cut-offs to a pair of dark, low-slung sweatpants, but he was still shirtless, his copper skin glistening slightly with a fresh sheen of sweat and rain. His short hair was damp, sticking up in messy, dark tufts. He looked utterly exhausted, his broad shoulders slouching slightly under an invisible weight, but the exact second his eyes locked onto you sitting on his couch, a wave of pure, unadulterated relief washed over his face, erasing the strain from his features.
"You stayed," he breathed, a small, breathless smile tugging at the corner of his lips as if he had half-expected to find an empty room.
"I told you I would," you said softly, your heart doing a strange, nervous flip against your ribs at the sheer emotion in his voice.
Embry walked over, his massive movements heavy but entirely silent. He didn't sit on the opposite end of the couch to keep a polite distance; instead, he sank down right next to you, the cushions dipping significantly under his new weight. His furnace-like warmth immediately penetrated through your layers of blankets, chasing away the last remnants of the coastal chill. He looked at you, his eyes scanning your face with that same intense, magnetic focus from earlier, before he quietly pointed to the empty mug resting on the coffee table.
"Did you get warm enough?" he asked, his voice low, raspy, and incredibly intimate in the quiet room.
"Yeah. The hot chocolate helped," you murmured. You swallowed hard, gathering your courage as you looked at the sharp, mature line of his new jawline, then down at the striking black tribal tattoo on his shoulder. "Embry... what is going on? You're different. You're completely different than you were two weeks ago. And that howl... what's happening to you?"
Embry’s small smile faded, replaced by a solemn expression. He rubbed a large hand over his cropped hair, looking down at his own massive palms for a long moment before looking back up to lock his eyes onto yours.
"I know it looks crazy," he said quietly, his voice laced with a raw vulnerability that made you want to reach out and hold him. "I know I look crazy. I want to tell you everything. I swear I do. But..." He paused, his dark eyes searching yours, filled with a sudden, aching caution. "Before I explain the mess my life just became... I need to know about you. You said when Jacob calls, you're telling him it's over. Do you really mean that, y/n? Or are you just angry right now?"
“I meant it, Embry,” you stated, your voice firmer than you ever expected it to be, cutting cleanly through the low hum of the rain beating against the windows. “I deserve better than a guy who treats me like his last thought. I’m done waiting for Jacob to realize I'm in the room. I’m done competing with Bella for a single glance from my own boyfriend—well ex. If he wants Bella Swan, he can have her.”
You let out a ragged breath you felt like you’d been holding in your chest for the past month.
“I mean it. It’s over. I’m completely done with him.”
Embry swallowed hard. The muscle in his jaw twitched, not out of anger, but from an overwhelming, suffocating wave of relief. Hearing you say the words out loud, watching the absolute finality settle into your features, had him relaxing.
"You do," Embry whispered, his voice incredibly deep, rough around the edges. He shifted even closer, the sheer heat radiating off his bare chest completely enveloping you on the couch. "You deserve so much better than that, y/n. You deserve someone who looks at you and doesn't even see the rest of the world. Someone who treats you like you're the only thing that matters. Because you are."
The sheer gravity in his tone made your breath hitch. It didn’t feel like a sweet line from a boy who had carried a schoolyard crush; it felt like a vow. An absolute, unbreakable truth.
He reached out, his massive, burning hand hesitating for a fraction of a second in the air before he gently, reverently cupped the side of your face. His skin was incredibly hot against your cheek, but it was the most comforting, grounding thing you had ever felt. His thumb brushed just below your eye, tenderly tracing the delicate skin where your tears had dried, erasing the last remnants of Jacob's hurt.
"I've hated him for weeks," Embry confessed softly, his gaze burning into yours, completely stripped of any remaining defences. “I know he’s supposed to be my best friend, but every single time I saw you sitting in that dark corner, looking so small while he completely ignored you... it was killing me. I wanted to drag you out of there. I wanted to confess to you then."
"Why didn't you?" you asked quietly, instinctively leaning your face into his palm, unable to resist the magnetic pull of his warmth.
"Because you were his. And I was just... Embry," he said, a self-deprecating, bittersweet smile touching his lips. "But things are different now. I'm different."
He took a slow, deep breath, his hand sliding down from your cheek to rest gently on your shoulder, right over the edge of the blanket. He looked down at his own massive arm, at the striking black tattoo stamped into his skin, and then back at you.
"You asked what's going on with me," Embry said, his expression turning solemn, a sudden weight settling over his broad shoulders. "Why I changed." He leaned in a little closer, his gaze locked onto yours, terrified of how you would react but completely incapable of lying to you. "There are things about La Push—about our tribe—that people think are just legends. Old stories told around campfires to scare tourists. But they aren't stories, y/n. They're real. And two weeks ago... it happened to me."
He paused, looking down at your hands clutched tightly over the blanket.
“The legend of the protectors, of being able to turn into a wolf... it's all true.”
You stared at him, your mind racing as pieces of a bizarre, impossible puzzle suddenly began to fall into place. The massive growth spurt, the terrifying heat rolling off his body in waves, the haunting howl. If anyone else had told you this, you would have thought they were losing their mind. But looking into Embry’s fiercely honest, vulnerable eyes, you wanted to believe him.
"A wolf?" you whispered, your heart hammering frantically against your ribs. Under any other circumstances, you would have scoffed and told him he was losing his mind, but this was Embry. He didn't have a malicious bone in his body, and he would never lie to you like this. "That's why you disappeared? That's why you're so... hot?"
A small, genuine laugh broke through Embry’s serious demeanour, the familiar, boyish charm you loved instantly lighting up his sharp new features. “You think I’m hot?”
"Embry!" you huff, playfully smacking his arm to try and ignore your burning cheeks.
He chuckled softly, easily catching your wrist mid-air. His grip was entirely gentle as he guided your fingers up toward his right shoulder, pressing your palm directly against the smooth, dark ink of the tribal tattoo. Beneath your touch, his skin felt like a literal furnace.
He grinned, though a trace of that bittersweet emotion lingered in his eyes. “Yeah. Our body temperature stays around 108 degrees. And yeah, that's why I had to leave. When you first shift, you have absolutely no control. Your temper triggers it. Two weeks ago on the beach, when you told me you and Jacob were working things out... I lost my mind. I was so angry, so sick to my stomach at the thought of him taking you for granted again, that the sheer rage triggered the shift.”
You let out a shaky breath, looking from his intense gaze back down to the tattoo under your hand. “I want to believe you, Embry, but you know this sounds completely insane, right?”
“What if I prove it to you?” he asked, the playful grin fading into something earnest.
You raised a brow, your heart beating a little faster. “How?”
He held out his massive hand, palm up, waiting. “Do you trust me?”
Despite the sheer craziness of what he was saying, you didn't even have to think about it. You already knew the answer. Yes. Yes, you trusted him more than anyone else right now. You placed your smaller hand into his burning palm and let him gently pull you off the couch, leading you toward the back door.
The cool, damp air hit your face as you both stepped onto the porch. Embry suddenly stopped and cleared his throat, a rare, sheepish flush creeping up his neck.
“Uh... stay right here on the porch,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “When we shift... our clothes... they kind of tear to shreds. So I need to get out into the yard and...”
Your eyes widened slightly, and you quickly cleared your own throat, looking anywhere but his bare torso. “Oh. Okay... staying right here. Not moving.”
Embry offered a reassuring nod and jogged out into the yard, vanishing behind the thick trunk of a massive tree at the edge of the woods.
You stood on the porch, shivering slightly despite the oversized flannel still draped over your shoulders. The heavy scent of rain-soaked pine and wet earth hung thick in the air. The wind picked up, rustling the dense canopy above and sending a scattering of cold droplets onto your face. You wrapped the plaid fabric tighter around yourself, your eyes glued to the spot where Embry had disappeared.
Your heart was a frantic, drumming rhythm against your ribs. Part of your mind was screaming at you, insisting that this had to be a joke—a bizarre, elaborate coping mechanism for whatever severe illness had actually kept him isolated for two weeks. People didn't turn into wolves. It was a physical impossibility, a total violation of every law of nature you had ever been taught in biology class.
But then, your palm still tingled with the memory of his skin—that impossible, scorching heat. You thought of his sudden, massive height and the drastic physical changes that had occurred practically overnight. The sound of wolves howling and how he didn’t seem afraid to run into the woods.
Above all else, you trusted Embry. With your whole heart, you trusted him. He had never lied to you, never dismissed you, and never made you feel like an afterthought. If he asked you to stand in the rain and believe the impossible, you would do it.
The woods fell quiet again, save for the rhythmic patter of raindrops hitting the leaves. You pulled his soft flannel even tighter around your shoulders, breathing in his scent to keep yourself grounded.
A sudden, sharp rustle of ferns broke the silence from behind the tree.
You blinked, leaning forward over the porch railing. "Embry?" you called out, your voice a tiny bit breathless. "You okay?"
For a second, there was nothing. Then, a low, deep huff of air echoed from the shadows of the trees, sending a vibration right through the damp ground beneath your feet.
The sound didn't come from behind the tree where Embry had stepped, but from a dense thicket a few yards deeper into the shadows of the woods. You stiffened, your breath hitching in your throat as the leaves parted.
Your entire body froze as you stepped backward, your eyes widening to the size of saucers. Emerging from the thick undergrowth wasn't the boy you knew.
Your mind blanked, completely unable to process the sheer scale of what you were looking at. It wasn't just a wolf—at least, not any wolf that existed in textbooks. It was massive, the size of a horse, with a heavy, muscular build that looked entirely designed for power and speed. Its coat was a striking, sleek grey, dappled with dark spots along its back that mirrored the exact shade of the overcast sky above. The animal moved with a quiet grace, its enormous paws sinking into the soft mud without making a single sound.
Every human survival instinct screamed at you to run, but then the wolf lowered its massive head. Its ears flopped slightly back in a remarkably submissive, familiar gesture, and those deep, intelligent, velvety dark eyes locked onto yours. There was no mistaking them. The earnest, protective gaze that had comforted you on the beach, the look of absolute devotion that had made your stomach flip in the kitchen—it was all there, shining through the gaze of the predator before you.
"Embry..." you whispered, the name slipping from your lips in a breath of pure awe.
Hearing his name, the massive grey wolf let out a soft, high-pitched whine. He took a slow, deliberate step closer, keeping his head low to the ground to make himself look as small and unthreatening as a horse-sized wolf possibly could. The heat rolling off his thick fur hit you in a wave, instantly cutting through the chill of the rain.
The sheer absurdity of the situation faded, entirely swallowed by the realization that this was him. This was the boy who had shared hot chocolate with you. The boy who had held you on the beach while you cried.
Slowly, you stepped off the porch. Your trembling hand reached out from beneath the sleeve of his flannel. You held your palm open, waiting.
The giant grey wolf didn't hesitate. He closed the remaining distance, gently nudging his massive, wet muzzle directly into your hand. His fur was incredibly soft, but beneath it, his skin was scorching hot. A shaky, amazed laugh bubbled up in your throat as you closed your fingers, burying your hand into the thick, dense fur behind his ears.
Embry let out a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated right through the soles of your shoes—a canine version of a purr. He leaned heavily into your touch, his massive eyes closing in pure, unadulterated contentment as you stroked the top of his head.
"You really weren't lying," you breathed, a brilliant, genuine smile breaking across your face as you looked at him. "You're just a giant, overgrown puppy."
The wolf opened one dark eye, giving you a look that felt distinctly like an affectionate, Really? before stepping even closer. He rested his massive, heavy head right against your shoulder, his radiating warmth wrapping completely around you in the rain, finally claiming the place he had wanted to be for years.
The two of you stayed like that for a few quiet minutes, your fingers buried deep in his incredibly soft fur while he soaked in your touch, leaning his massive weight into your side. Finally, he pulled away with a soft huff, giving you one last lingering look before melting back into the shadows of the trees. A few moments later, the brush rustled again, and Embry walked out, back in his dark sweatpants.
“So, now you know,” he said, running a hand through his short hair, his posture suddenly turning incredibly nervous.
You stepped closer to him, a soft smile breaking through your lingering shock. “Embry, that’s... insane, but amazing. You turn into a giant wolf. If the ladies around here knew, you'd become some kind of supernatural heartthrob.”
Embry let out a loud, breathless laugh, the tense line of his shoulders finally dropping as a deep flush crept up his copper neck. Even with his intimidating new height and the fierce tribal tattoo stamped onto his shoulder, he still looked exactly like the boy who used to blush whenever you caught him staring at you in the school hallway.
"Oh, yeah, definitely," Embry joked back, his deep voice rich with amusement as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Nothing screams 'heartthrob' quite like tearing through all your favourite clothes and smelling like a wet dog half the time. I'm sure the girls will be lining up around the block."
"Hey, don't underestimate the appeal of a guy who can act as a literal human space heater," you teased, stepping directly into his personal space. The rain was beginning to pick up again, but the sheer heat radiating off his bare chest was more than enough to keep the chill at bay.
Embry’s laughter slowly subsided, his expression softening into something incredibly warm. He looked down at you, his dark eyes tracing your features with that same intense, magnetic focus from before.
"I don't care about any other girls, y/n," he said softly. Then, he paused. His expression turned deeply intense, his pupils dilating as he stared down at you. That same supernatural stillness from the kitchen returned, trapping you entirely in his gaze. "There's... something else. Something I need to tell you."
You went quiet, sensing the sudden shift in the air.
"The elders call it imprinting," Embry continued, his voice dropping to a low, reverent whisper. "It doesn't happen to every wolf, but when it does... it changes everything instantly. It’s not like a normal crush, or even regular love. It’s like the universe suddenly pulls the ground out from under your feet, and it's not gravity holding you to the earth anymore. The only thing keeping you anchored, the only thing keeping you sane, is one specific person."
Your breath caught in your throat as his words sunk in. Your mind flashed back to the way he had stilled the exact moment you told him you were completely done with Jacob. The profound, soul-deep look that had passed over his face on the porch.
"Embry..." you breathed, a realization washing over you in a wave of sudden warmth that had absolutely nothing to do with the temperature of the air. "Is that... did you...?"
"The exact second I looked into your eyes after you told me you left him," Embry whispered, reaching out to take your hand. His grip tightened with a fierce, possessive tenderness. "The last strings tying me to everything else in the world just snapped. It's you, y/n. It’s always been you. I don't belong to the pack, or to this house, or even to the earth anymore. I belong to you."
He stepped even closer, completely shielding you from the falling rain with his broad frame.
"Whoever you need me to be—a friend, a protector, or something more—I am yours," he vowed, his eyes burning with an absolute devotion that made your heart soar. "I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never feel like an afterthought ever again."
The raw, unfiltered honesty of his confession brought fresh, sweet tears to your eyes, but for the first time in weeks, they weren't born from pain. The hollow ache that Jacob had left in your chest was suddenly filled to the brim with Embry’s heat, his devotion, and the absolute certainty that you were finally exactly where you belonged.
You didn't say a word. Instead, you leaned forward, closing the final inch of distance between you, and buried your face into the warm crook of his neck. You wrapped your arms tightly around his broad, muscular shoulders, holding onto him like he was the only solid thing left in the world.
Embry let out a low, shaky sound that was half-sigh, half-growl, and wrapped his massive arms fully around you. Lifting you effortlessly from your feet, he carried you back inside, sinking down onto the living room couch and pulling you completely onto his lap. He held you so securely against his chest it felt like he wanted to press you right into his skin, burying his face deep into your damp hair as he breathed you in, grounding himself in your scent.
Outside, the La Push rain continued to pour, washing away the ghosts of the past and the cold neglect of the garage. But inside, wrapped securely in Embry's arms, you had never been warmer.
