recollect himself, before opening them again. His gaze was gentler this time, soft, "the imprint becomes stronger. I can almost hear you, if you call for me. Depends on the wolf and its imprint though."

Natalia bit her lip. Right, of course there was going to be something supernatural about it. When was it not?

"Your wolf clearly wants it."

The words fell out of her mouth before she had the chance to stop them.

Surprise filled Jacob's face, "I—" his jaw flexed, "no."

"Your eyes," she took a step closer. "They turn gold when—when you want it."

"We're not going to bond Talia," his teeth grated through his mutter, clearly from frustration.

"Why not? If that's what your wolf wants, then..."

"Then nothing," he snapped, "no. We're not having this conversation. I—" he inhaled sharply, then exhaled through his mouth and looked away, "we're not doing it until you're ready."

"Who said I'm not?"

"Well I'm not ready."

"Have you never done it?"

Jacob almost choked on his spit, "of—of course I have," he said roughly. A terrible thought swarmed through him then, "did you?"

"No."

Was it selfish of him to be happy about it? That no other man had touched what was his?

Maybe he was. A little.

He didn't care.

"Then, what's the problem?" She was almost too relaxed about it. Almost cocky.

Jacob bristled, "no. We're done here. Let's head back."

And he turned, grabbing her hand tight and pulling her along the shore while ignoring the way his heart thundered through his chest.