I knew what he was. I read about shapeshifters and there was no doubt that is what he was. Shapeshifters never age till they stop phasing, Richie never really aged till he turned fifty. He was incredibly warm, like a furnace. There was no doubt I loved him unconditionally and whole-heartedly. From the very depths of my soul I loved him. But how could that be? How can anyone love someone this much? Unless, they had been imprinted on. I had a strong feeling that he imprinted on me. I mean really, shapeshifters can imprint on young children and even babies and Rich had been by my side since I was born.
Protecting was another sign. An imprinter protects his imprintee till the day he dies. Everything made sense now though I would never expose him to the world. I had to think of something, a way to show him that I knew without him reacting negatively. There had to be a reason he never told me what he was. A reason to keep me in the dark for so long. But I was determined to confront him, even if it created a new fear. Not exactly the natural human fear, of danger, but the fear of losing him.
