CHAPTER FOUR

The pack sat in silence, their gazes fixed on the female who was now perched on the couch. She had been studying her hands and legs intently, as though trying to come to terms with the strange, unfamiliar appendages she now had. The way her fingers moved apart felt odd to her, and the absence of her tail was disorienting.

Her eyes lingered on the soft, human-like legs beneath her, tracing the lines of her limbs with both curiosity and confusion.

Meanwhile, Quil sat next to her, perched on the armrest, trying not to look too nervous. He could feel the weight of the situation, the weight of what was happening between him and her, and though he was tempted to speak up about the imprinting, he kept quiet. He didn't want to overwhelm her just yet. She was already adjusting to so much, and adding that complication to the mix could make things even more confusing for her.

The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the occasional rustling as the woman, whose name they still hadn't fully grasped, tried to adjust to her new reality.

Quil couldn't help but notice how she seemed to focus solely on her appearance, almost as if she were in a daze, trying to piece together who—or rather, what—she had become. His thoughts were tangled, his mind still processing the imprint. He had imprinted on her, yes, and though he wanted to shout it from the rooftops, he couldn't bring himself to. There was too much at stake. She was still a mystery, and he didn't want to make her feel even more out of place than she already did.

Embry, who had been watching the situation unfold, leaned toward Quil, his voice barely above a whisper, though the words were meant to be more of an observation. "It's oddly adorable," he murmured.

Quil's eyes twitched at his words, a small frown tugging at his lips. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate Embry's sentiment, but it felt almost too casual for what was happening. Embry didn't know. He couldn't know the full extent of what was going on between Quil and the mysterious woman, but Quil could feel the pull, the connection, the bond that he couldn't yet understand himself.

His gaze flickered nervously to the woman beside him. She was still staring at her hands, completely absorbed in the unfamiliarity of them.

He sighed quietly, his thoughts wandering. If only she could understand the weight of it. The imprint was something profound—something that couldn't be easily explained. But he had to tread carefully. She had only just woken up from an almost total blackout, and everything around her was new and strange. He didn't want to bombard her with more than she could handle. He could sense her unease, and he didn't want to add to that confusion.

As if on cue, Emily knelt in front of the woman, her voice gentle but firm. "Hi, my name is Emily Young. What's your name?"

The woman recoiled, clearly startled by Emily's sudden movement. Her eyes widened, and she quickly pulled away, her body language tense. "Zahrasephenia Kanelamorus," she replied, her voice carrying an almost regal tone.

The boys exchanged puzzled glances. The name sounded foreign—long, complex, and strange—and they couldn't help but wonder if it was some kind of curse. The word "Kanelamorus" had a mystical, almost ominous ring to it. They all paused for a moment, uncertain of how to respond.

Jacob, unable to contain his thoughts, mumbled, "Wow, that's a long-ass name." He winced as Paul immediately smacked him on the shoulder, giving him an irritated look. "What?" Jacob shrugged, defensive. "It is."

The woman, still trying to make sense of her new surroundings, turned her confused gaze on Quil. "What does 'ass' mean?" she asked, tugging on his arm.

Quil blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the question. He had no idea how to explain something so basic. "Well... it has two meanings," he began, his voice unsure. "One refers to part of the human body, and the other... well, it's similar to that word you used earlier—'Bullshark.'"

The woman's brow furrowed in confusion. "So, it's a bad word?" she asked, her tone soft and uncertain.

Quil nodded. "Yeah, it's not a word you want to use around people who might not take it well." He chuckled nervously. "But hey, you're learning. That's what matters."

"Okay... but what is a human?" she asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Quil was taken aback by the question, but he didn't hesitate. He started to explain, trying to make sense of everything in a way she might understand. "Humans are... well, you and I are both kind of human. We're living creatures, we have emotions, and we experience the world around us. You're not like most humans, though. You were something else before, right? A... mermaid?" He felt awkward, unsure of how to explain her past.

He was so absorbed in explaining the basics of human life that he didn't realize the rest of the pack was watching the exchange in silence, their confusion growing as they saw Quil interacting so comfortably with the woman.

Sam, sensing their rising tension, raised a hand, signalling for the pack to be patient. "Just let them talk," he said calmly, though his eyes never left Quil and the woman. "It's better for her to gain our trust first. We'll get the answers in time."

Embry, still eying the pair from across the room, leaned toward Sam with a curious expression. "And she's comfortable with Quil?"

The question hung in the air, and then, as if everything clicked, Embry's eyes widened in realization. "Holy shit—he imprinted!" he blurted out, unable to contain his surprise.

The room went still as the rest of the pack turned their attention to Quil, their eyes narrowing with curiosity. Sam was the first to speak, his voice firm but understanding. "He did," he confirmed, giving Quil a pointed look. "I saw it happen."

The others let out simultaneous exclamations of surprise. "Wait, what?" Jacob gasped, his mind still processing what Sam had just said.

"He imprinted?" Jared asked with a half-laugh, folding his arms. "Well, I'll be damned. The first one out of us and it's Quil of all people?"

"Poor guy," Paul snorted, clearly finding some amusement in the situation.

Sam rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small smirk. He knew how the pack reacted to the imprinting bond, how it turned everything upside down. It was a powerful, uncontrollable connection, and the moment Quil realized the full extent of it, he would understand. Sam could only hope that whoever Quil had imprinted on would be able to handle the overwhelming bond. It was a lot to process, even for someone as strong as Quil.

Quil, still sitting beside the woman, felt a shift in the room. He could feel the weight of their eyes on him, their curiosity and surprise pressing down on him. But he didn't care. He could only focus on her, on the way she was slowly opening up to him, and on the bond that was forming between them. There was so much left unsaid, so much left to discover. But for now, all he could do was take it one moment at a time.