𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐔𝐓
you make me smile so easily

THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS were spent training with the pack. It was tiring for the humans, but they held up their own, and was having a blast while they were at it.

Emily was currently making them a dinner to satisfy their appetites and also prepare them for what is to come. While she and Bella were inside cooking, Maddie was outside with the boys.

"You're an idiot!" Maddie laughed loudly and threw a fry at Seth's head who fell backwards off of the log he sat on in shock. She giggled loudly and the boys boomed in laughter as Seth looked up with narrowed eyes.

Paul walked over to them, giving his pack members a look before he turned to the redhead who looked up at him with shining dark brown eyes. He nodded towards the woods. "Can we talk for a minute?" He gulped, looking nervous.

She eyed him for a second, seeming whatever was going on in his mind, was serious. She nodded and stood up, putting her plate of food on the log she had been sitting on. "Lead the way," she softly said and followed behind Paul into the woods.

After walking a few minutes into the woods without anyone saying anything, Paul came to a stop, his back turned to her. "I have something to tell you... Something that may shock you."

"What is it?" Maddie was an impatient person, so she was growing agitated the longer Paul said nothing, keeping his back turned to her. "Paul, what's going on?!"

Paul sighed and turned around, something unreadable swimming around in his eyes. "My people... we have this thing, this uncontrollable thing that we do. We can never control when it is to happen and on who."

She crossed her arms. "What are you talking about, Paul?"

"It's called imprinting," He said, biting his lip. "It's basically soul mates... actually, it is soul mates." He took in a shaky breath. "It's so hard to describe. It's not like love at first sight, really. It's more like... gravity moves. When you see them, suddenly it's not the earth holding you here anymore." He kept eye contact with her. "She does. And nothing matters more than her. And you would do anything so her, be anything for her... You become whatever she needs you to be, whether that's a protector, a lover, or a friend, or a brother."

The redhead furrowed her eyebrows, trying to process what he was saying to her and why. "So... you imprinted on someone?"

Paul nodded. "You."

Maddie stumbled back, her eyes widening in shock. Her breath got caught in her throat. "No." She shook her head, not wanting to believe that she was bounded to someone.

Paul went to take a step forward, but Madelyn was quick to punch him in the face.

"Ow! What the hell?!" He shouted and held his nose with one of his hands as he winced in pain. "Why did you punch me?"

She pursed her lips and glared at him. "I don't want the universe telling me who the fuck I am suppose to be with. Okay? And, honestly, I don't know why it chose you." She didn't see the hurt look that was shown in Paul's eyes. "Its not the fact that you're a terrible choice... It's that you're good."

"What?" He mumbled, confused on where she was going with this.

"I am not a good person, Paul," she told him, finally meeting his eyes. She wanted him to see who she really was. "You know some of my story... I'm a hunter, Paul. You're something I am suppose to hunt. I am dangerous, I have killed. I am not good for you nor will I ever be. My life is messed up. It's dangerous and wild and chaotic, and—"

"So, what you're saying is that I am in danger if I am with you?" He questioned, his eyebrows furrowed. He let out a booming laugh when she nodded. "I am a shifter, Madelyn!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands out. "And yes, you might be a hunter who is suppose to want me dead, but I don't care!"

"Do you not hear yourself talk?! I have killed werewolves before, you should hate me! I am a... a monster!" Her voice cracked as she thought about how she has killed multiple monsters that probably didn't deserve it. She remembers when she was taken over by a demon and made to kill dozens of people and monsters. She remembers her time in hell. "I have done so many terrible things you couldn't even dream of! I am a monster! I don't deserve to live!"

"Don't speak about yourself like that!" He screamed, shaking, his whole body tense. He took in a breath, calming himself. He did not want to hurt her. "You're not a monster." He took a step towards her and placed the palm of his hand on her cheek, wiping away a tear that she did not know had fallen. "You're unique, different, beautiful. Just because you have done bad stuff doesn't mean you're a monster." He gave her a soft smile. "If you're a monster, so am I."

"I'm not what you want," she whispered, closing her eyes.

Paul sighed and closed his eyes. He knew what he was about to do would hurt a lot, but he had to, especially after seeing Maddie act the way she was. "It's okay if you want to reject me," he hesitantly spoke which made the redhead snap her eyes open in surprise.

"I..." she trailed off, biting her lower lip.

"I can see how much this pains you and how much you don't want to be forced into a relationship. Trust me, I don't either, but I'm glad that it was you even if you don't want to be with me." Even though it hurt like a son of a bitch to say these things, he had to. He didn't want to make it seem like she was being forced into something she didn't want.

"... I understand it must hurt saying those things," she hesitantly spoke, sniffling. She was feeling his pain. "I don't understand how this happened. Why the thingy chose me." She sucked in a shaky breath. "But I can't deny that I haven't felt the same pill you've mentioned. Anytime I'm near you, it's like..." she shook her head, not being able to find the words. She swallowed thickly. "It'd be wrong of me to not give you — us — a chance."

After all — excluding the first time they met — they have gotten along decently well. If anything, Maddie considers him her best friend which says a lot. And he wasn't a bad person, that she could tell so far, so she had no real reason to turn him down.

Paul opened his eyes and sucked in a shaky breath. He had hope shining in his chocolate eyes that warmed Maddie's heart. "So... you're not rejecting me?"

She shook her head. "I'm not... but, if this thing isn't something I want, then you're going to have to let me go." She offered him a small smile. "We'll figure this all out after the newborn fight, okay?"

He nodded and pulled her into a hug.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, thinking about their whole conversation, dreading the upcoming fight, and soaking in one another's warmth.