CHAPTER 22
THE IMPRINT

MARGO took at least a week to process the inevitability of her current situation. Instead of studying like she usually did, Margo found herself staying up past midnight most nights, laying in her bed and staring at the ceiling. She sometimes got nightmares of Jacob's shift, and it would occur over and over and over again. The small scar etched on her chin taunted her, a subtle reminder that her life had entered a realm of infinite possibilities. I mean, if werewolves and vampires were suddenly real, where was her fairy god mother? Surely, fairies had to be out there too.

Despite Margo wanting her space, Jacob stood outside her house every other night. But not as her Jacob. He stood out in the brisk air as his other form, keeping watch over his secret imprint's abode. He resided underneath Margo's window – where Jenny wouldn't be able to see – resting deep within the bushes, but Margo still saw him. His bright canine eyes were hard to miss.

As soon as Margo found out the truth about the Cullens, she slapped a big, fat "I told you so" sticker on Melinda's trig binder. Melinda was definitely not pleased to find out she was wrong this whole time about Margo's big mystery, and she didn't question the situation either. After finally believing in Margo's truth about Jacob and Embry, she was keen on believing anything nowadays. The two human girls weren't naïve by any means; they had finally opened their eyes to the reality of their town.

"So, if Edward is a vampire ..." Melinda's words trailed off, almost as if they got lost in the chaos that was their high school cafeteria. Students ran around in crowds, buzzing with the latest copy of the Feature. "Then that means that Bella Swan ... dated a vampire."

Margo's eyes darted across the room, spotting Bella sitting quietly with her friends. "Precisely," she answered. "It leaves me wondering now who exactly executed all those 'animal attacks' last year, because if it was all conducted by them, why had they never hurt Bella? It doesn't add up. But the Cullens are gone now ... for some reason. And oddly enough, we still have vampire problems in Forks."

"I thought the Cullens were the only –" Melinda lifted her fingers for quotations "– group of those things in town."

"Well, they were, but ..." Margo leaned her head in her hand and rubbed her temples. "I don't know. Maybe this is a reach here, but I think there are more of them. From what I've read, a Quileute wolf's phasing is caused by them crossing the scent of a vampire. Jacob could've only phased if there has been a vampire in town recently."

Melinda chewed at her bottom lip nervously. She looked down at the sandwich on her tray, suddenly not feeling hungry anymore. "I can't believe those words just came out of your mouth."

Margo closed her eyes for a moment and nodded. She didn't find her lukewarm pizza that appetizing either. She soon opened them again, replying, "Neither can I."

"God dammit," Melinda whispered, "am I gonna have to start wearing garlic perfume now?"

•••

The rest of the week dragged on for Margo. When she couldn't take the sleepless nights anymore, she headed down to the reservation on a crisp Saturday morning. The beginning of March meant spring was right around the corner, but Margo learned that spring in Forks just meant more rain. She was going to enjoy the change of scenery as much as she could.

The roads were slick with ice as she drove down. Piles of snow lined the rails of the one street that went everywhere in town. Jenny told her to be careful driving, but Margo couldn't stop her foot from pressing down on the gas harder.

Margo didn't know if she was either filled with excitement or just simple acceptance. The fact that her boyfriend was a shape-shifting werewolf was definitely hard to bear, and though she felt the week spent away from him was long, she accepted this reality fairly quickly. Well, she really had no choice but to accept it. How could she deny it when she saw him shift before her very eyes?

When she finally arrived at Jacob's house, Margo hesitated knocking on the door. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, and after heaving a long sigh, she knocked her fist on the door once. Almost instantly, the door opened, revealing Billy on the other side. He smiled warmly to Margo, already knowing the imprint his son made on her. Billy hoped Margo would also understand soon. Margo didn't know how to speak in that moment, and she noticed Billy staring at her chin scar. "So ... mono, right?" She finally blurted.

Billy's grin grew bigger, showing his white teeth. His eyes crinkled at the sides. "Mono has been going around," he replied. "It's good to have you in the know. Are you looking for Jacob?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "is he home?"

"No, unfortunately. He's at Emily Young's house, just across the way."

Margo's brow furrowed. "Who's Emily?"

"Sam's fiancé."

After Billy gave her a set of simple directions, Margo waved to him and hopped back in her van. Billy watched his son's imprint drive away, and he thought about the scar's implications on Jacob. It was small – nothing like Emily's scars from Sam – but he knew it would have the same effect on Jacob, nonetheless. His son was learning. It would all take time.

Emily Young's house was something out of a fairy tale. Lush greenery and trees were planted along the sides of her house, which was – technically – in the middle of nowhere. She was far away from the rest of the Reservation, and Margo just barely had cellphone service. Moss grew on the roof, seeping within the cracks of the foundation. Margo turned off her engine and eyed the fresh vegetable plants and flowers growing outside the house.

As if they sensed her presence, Embry and an unfamiliar boy ran out of the house, punching each other in the arm. Margo threw her keys in her pocket and stepped out of the van, earning a wide grin from Embry. "Welcome to the family, Mar!" He shouted, bringing her in for a hug that she wasn't prepared for. Margo stood as stiff as a board before finally embracing Embry.

"So you're the Margo Richards we've heard so much about," the boy beside him said. Once Margo was released from Embry's hug, she turned to him as he stuck out his hand. "I'm Jared, by the way."

"Margo," she introduced, shaking his hand firmly. For a small guy, he had a strong grip.

"Trust me, I know. Jacob doesn't shut up about you." Jared rolled his eyes, releasing a chuckle. "I think I know everything about you before we've ever met."

Margo exhaled a nervous laugh. "Well, that's comforting, I guess."

Embry motioned for Margo to follow them. "Come inside. Jake, Sam, and Paul went out for a run, but they should be back soon." Margo nodded and stepped behind the two, with Jared leading a sprint in front. Embry quickly spun around again before they entered the house. "Oh, hey. Emily, Sam's fiancé? Don't stare. It bugs Sam."

Margo crinkled her brow, but stepped inside nonetheless. Jared and Embry plopped themselves at the table, which was in the middle of the room and near the entrance. Margo hesitated before fully stepping inside the house, lingering by the doorway as Emily's back was turned. "Are you guys hungry?" She asked as the two boys poured themselves orange juice. "Like I have to ask."

When the woman finally turned, Margo finally understood Embry's statement. Carved against the right side of Emily's face were several scars, all mimicking a set of claws tearing down her skin. Her scars suddenly made Margo's look like a baby mark. Margo almost released a gasp, but she held it in when Emily smiled at her presence. "Who's this?" She asked the boys.

"Margo Richards, of course." Jared replied, as if it were obvious. "You know, Jacob's –"

"Girlfriend," Embry cut in. "Jacob's girlfriend."

Jared rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that."

"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Margo. Please, take a seat." Emily set a plate of homemade muffins on the table. The scent of blueberries made Margo's stomach turn. Jared reached forward to grab a few muffins, but Emily tugged at his arm fast. "Save some for your brothers! And ladies first – would you like a muffin, Margo?"

Margo half-smiled. "It's like you heard my stomach grumble."

"I did," Embry said, tapping his ear. "Heightened senses."

She took a seat across from the boys at the table. Emily set a plate in front of her as Margo grabbed a muffin. She ripped the pastry in half, licking the sprinkled sugar off her fingers. Emily took a muffin for herself and leaned against the wooden island in her kitchen. "So ... I'm guessing she knows?" Emily questioned.

"Apparently, she knows a little too much." Jared said, narrowing his eyes a bit at Margo. "Jacob said you did your research."

"I'm pretty resourceful," Margo replied.

Emily picked off a blueberry from the muffin she took. "Leave it to Jacob to find a way around Sam's gag order."

"He didn't say anything. I found out on my own." Margo placed a piece of muffin into her mouth and swallowed quickly, savoring the sweet taste. The small scar on her skin became more apparent with her next statement. "I mean, it wasn't hard to guess that he didn't have mono, like Billy told me, when Jacob turned into a wolf right in front of my eyes."

Embry chuckled loudly. "Jacob not being able to tell you upfront is all part of a wolf thing. Alpha's orders get obeyed whether we want them too or not. Oh, and did your research tell you we can hear each other's thoughts?"

Margo's brow shot up. "It actually did not."

"Would you shut up?!" Jared exclaimed, almost throwing his muffin into the air. "These are trade secrets!"

A pair of footsteps echoed in the doorway, and Margo half-expected to see her boyfriend, but was gifted with the sight of Sam Uley. "Welcome, Margo," he greeted, slapping a hand on the brunette's back that made her jump. "Knew you'd be here eventually. Jacob and Paul are still walking First Beach if you want to see them."

Margo so desperately wanted to ask Sam what he meant, but she allowed him to walk over to his fiancé with a warm smile. He stood taller than every male in the room, and Margo guessed he might even be taller than Jacob. The anger she felt towards Sam dissipated when Margo watched him plant kisses over Emily's face, and it quietly filled her stomach with emotions.

The happiness covering both Emily and Sam's expressions almost drowned out the bickering between Embry and Jared in front of her. Margo blinked fast, escaping her thoughts. She ate another piece of her pastry as she listened to Jared drone on and on. Margo thought Jared was quite annoying, but she'd keep that to herself.

"Trade secrets this, trade secrets that," Embry tsked. "She found out anyways, so it doesn't matter now. This weird chick runs with wolves now!"

Jared rolled his eyes dramatically. "She's only involved now because she's Jacob's imprint."

The home immediately became silent. Sam turned, still grasping Emily in his muscular arms. Embry widened his eyes towards Jared, who was shrugging his shoulders as if it wasn't a big deal. Margo looked at every pack member in the room as confusion racked her brain. Imprint? How was she an imprint? What did that even entail? The muffin casually dropped from her hands.

Embry then smacked the back of his friend's head. "Why did you say that?!" He exclaimed.

"I thought she knew!" Jared argued.

"Jake told us he was waiting to tell her, idiot!"

"I'm not an idiot!"

Sam slammed his fist on the table between them, eying each boy for a moment. "ENOUGH!" He ordered, standing back up in a normal position to release a sigh. "Stop bickering and –"

"Wait," Margo added, staring at Sam with interest, "what's an imprint?"

•••

A/N: I HATE CLIFFHANGERS BUT I HAD TO CUT IT OFF GUYS IT WAS GETTING WAY TOO LONG

Hooray for early chapter!!! I usually update around Tuesdays and Fridays, but this Friday I'm heading into the city for a three-day convention!!!! If you live in the Boston area, you might see me there ;---)