CHAPTER TEN

With an air of agitation, Serena abruptly slammed the car door and stormed into the house, a whirlwind of mixed emotions evident in her body language. She didn't utter a word to her siblings or father, her confusion and the recent imprinting ordeal weighing heavily on her mind.

During the tense car ride, both younger siblings faced a dilemma. Should they break the silence and potentially risk her wrath, or maintain the awkward silence and endure it? The fact that she had a reputation for a volatile temper only added to their inner struggle.

It's a well-known fact that Serena's temper rivals Paul's, often leaving even his anger in the shadows.

"Is everything alright?" Billy asked with concern, glancing at Rachel and Jacob who had witnessed Serena's door slam. The sudden impact had caused the delicate, antique vases on display to tremble from the force, and the siblings exchanged a worried glance.

Rachel replied with a mixture of caution and uncertainty. "Physically, everything is fine, but emotionally and mentally...it's another matter," she revealed ambiguously, careful not to trigger the risk of provoking her sister's wrath by delving into the conversation.

Jacob stood nearby, his eyes closed as he leaned against the wall, grappling with the unexpected development.

He fixed his gaze on Rachel, a concerned expression etched on his face. "Shouldn't have brought her there," he murmured.

Rachel sighed heavily, the guilt weighing heavily on her conscience. "I know, I feel terrible about it. It was a mistake," she confessed, remorse evident in her tone.

"Best if we wait it out now," Jacob empathized, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

Rachel acknowledged his words, the weight of guilt and remorse evident in her expression. "I really messed up this time."

Serena was pacing back and forth in her room, her frustration and disbelief evident as she muttered to herself. Repeating the word "imprinting" like a mantra, she desperately hoped it was all just a bizarre dream.

The realization of her being the chosen one to imprint Paul struck her as ironic, but the idea of him imprinting on someone else also roused a tinge of irritation within her. The conflicting emotions swirled inside her, leaving her momentarily confused and agitated.

With a weary sigh, she threw herself onto her bed, her face twisted in annoyance as she stared up at the ceiling. "What now?" she inquired, grappling with the chaotic array of thoughts in her mind.

Hours of incessant overthinking later, she succumbed to sleep. Her dreams were vividly filled with the image of Paul, making her jolt awake on multiple occasions, muttering curses under her breath.

Upon waking up in the morning, Serena found herself in a foul mood, still plagued by the memory of her restless sleep and the numerous dreams she had endured throughout the night. A realization dawned on her – it was all due to the imprinting she had been subjected to.

The realization of the connection between her mood and the imprinting weighed heavily on her mind. It explained the tumultuous dreams she had experienced, which were completely foreign to her. A mix of annoyance and resignation settled in.

With a heavy sigh, she reluctantly rose from the bed, her thoughts filled with the knowledge that rejecting the imprinting was possible, and that romantic feelings were not mandatory. However, the flames of the old flame burned fiercely within her, and the intensity of her desires left her feeling restless.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, cursing repeatedly.

The weight of the situation was evident in her language, her frustration evident in her muttered curses. "This is such a mess," she muttered as she ran a hand through her hair, trying to make sense of the conflicting emotions swirling within her.

Moments later, a gentle knock echoed, and the door creaked open, revealing Rachel. "Hey, Sis," she began to say, but her words were abruptly cut off as Serena abruptly seized her arm and pulled her into the room, swiftly shutting the door behind them.

As they sat beside each other, Serena's frustration and vulnerability surfaced. She turned to Rachel with a mix of urgency and exasperation, seeking guidance and solutions.

"Rach, I need your help," she began, her tone a blend of irritation and uncertainty. "What do I do about this imprinting situation?" She leaned against her bed, her eyes reflecting her inner turbulence.

"Rena, that question is more, what do you want to do?" She said, looking over to Serena who had hugged her knees

"I don't know how to feel about it..." Rachel took a moment, before speaking

Rachel replied thoughtfully, turning to face Serena who was hugging her knees. With a moment's pause, she posed a question, asking, "Given your contemplation, it suggests that you don't entirely hate what has happened."

Serena's shoulders drooped slightly as she pondered Rachel's words. "I...I don't know how to feel about it, Rachel. It's just so confusing, and I'm still trying to process everything," she admitted, a mix of bewilderment and uncertainty etched on her face.

The weight of her emotions tugged at Serena, causing her to feel overwhelmed. She fidgeted uncomfortably, contemplating the complex situation she found herself in. "This whole imprinting thing... it's thrown me off," she confessed, a frown forming on her face as she tried to make sense of her conflicting thoughts and feelings.

The whirlwind of emotions consuming her left her feeling uneasy, and she couldn't shake off the uneasiness that had settled within her. Rachel, noticing her distress, offered her comforting presence.

"It's okay to be thrown off," she said gently. "These things... they take time to process and understand." Rachel reached out and gently placed a reassuring hand on Serena's shoulder.

"Alright, so what now?" Serena posed a question, her brow furrowing as she absorbed Rachel's words.

Rachel chuckled softly, her eyes meeting Serena's with a reassuring smile. "Well, if you rejected him completely, you wouldn't be here asking me for advice, now would you?"

Serena pondered, realizing the truth in her sister's words. "You're right," she murmured, mulling over the realization that they never properly dealt with their unfinished business before the imprinting.

Seeing Serena's resolve to break away from her thoughts, Rachel nodded. "Alright then, how about we go do something to take your mind off things?" she suggested.

Serena agreed wholeheartedly, acknowledging the need for a distraction. "Yes, let's go visit the town," she agreed, a hint of relief in her voice. "It will be refreshing to get out of this place for a bit."