Imprint

"Mom," I called as I came downstairs, "I'm going out for a run tonight. I'll be back before morning so leave the garage door open for me to slink back in."

"Don't get spotted by anyone in the woods, sweetheart," she replied, "And give Alex some slack. He's still figuring things out."

"Mom he's twenty-six," I told her, "He should know that he needs to stop ignoring the imprint, before it's too late."

"Eliza," she sighed, "You're seriously going to live in Baltimore, away from the pack?"

"I need to be away from him if he fails to acknowledge me and the imprint," I told her, "I can't fake a smile around him or anyone else in the pack. I need to get away from him if nothing works out like it should."

"Fine," she sighed, "Just be careful tonight. It's the last night of moonlight before the new moon, you'll be at your weakest in your wolf form, baby girl."

"I know Mom," I replied, "Don't wait for me okay."

I got into the garage and stripped myself of my clothes before I turned. Thankfully I had turned so many times that I stopped feeling the pain. I didn’t feel my bones break and reshape themselves anymore. The transformation even got quicker now. I shook out my grey fur as I adjusted to my familiar wolf form. My vision was crisp and more vivid compared to my normal eye sight. I could hear all the sounds of the evening in such detail it was like I was one with everything. I could even smell the sweet cakes and pastries being made at the local bakery several blocks away from my house. I felt free when I was a wolf. Alex rarely turned anymore due to his career since he couldn't really afford being able to turn every night possible like me. Hopefully he wouldn’t turn tonight. I wanted to be free of him for the night so I could clear my head.

Now I can let my thoughts wander without worrying about Alex hearing them.

What about me Liz-be?

Are you seriously kidding me, Alex?

Why should I be kidding? I wanted to run to clear my head.

Great. Just copy me, Alex. Good idea.

Stop being so damn hostile, Elizabeth. Why are you so damn mad at me?

Because I have my reasons. Reason you won't find out.

I know that the imprint will tell me how you're feeling and if you're in danger. I'll figure it out on my own.

I'm surprised you haven't found it out already.I finally stopped running when I hit a clearing and found Alex laying down, alone. I lowered my body to the ground and growled at him. He looked like he'd been laying there most of the afternoon. He wasn't supposed to be a wolf right now. I wanted to be alone, free of him tonight.

Elizabeth, what are you do?

Why can't you stop hurting me? Can't you see I have to be free of you? I can't stand this anymore.

Stand what, Eliza? You need to talk to me. Make me see what's bothering you.

Use the imprint to figure it out.I ran past his brown wolf as quickly as I could. I needed to distance myself from him. I can't let him know that I'm in love with him. I don't want him to see that he's hurting me. Then he'll feel hurt and then his anxiety could act up. I cared about him too much for him to know about my burdens.

So I have to move to Baltimore even soon than I planned. I don't want to leave the pack, but I want to be away from him.

Notes

I couldn't just edit my chapters, the page would never load. So I am re-posting chapters two through five.