What do they mean by imprinting in twilight

It is implied that once a shape-shifter imprints he will be able spend the rest of his life aging alongside his imprintee once he is able to quit phasing. It is also implied that should the imprintee be long-living or immortal, the imprinter will live alongside her as long as he can phase regularly. It is unknown whether shape-shifters need to stop phasing and for how long before breeding. There are stages to imprinting, especially if the shape-shifter imprints on a child, or otherwise someone very young.

Meaning, their feelings for each other are changing into romantic feelings. Remember, this stage may or may not happen to the imprintee, but the imprinter will fall in love with his imprintee. They will not 'see' any other woman or man in a romantic way, at all. The reason for imprinting is unknown.

Sam Uley believes that a shape-shifter imprints on the person with whom he has the best chance to reproduce. How this applies to Seth Clearwater and Renesmee Cullen is debatable. Jacob Black, however, thinks that imprinting is designed to make the shape-shifter stronger.

While never stated directly, Billy's theory may explain Seth's imprinting on Renesmee; she may provide him with the greatest support, or, if they can reproduce, some vampiric traits such as hardened skin, perfect memory, or supernatural gifts may be transferred to their offspring, reducing their weaknesses in human form.

Thus far, only male shape-shifters have imprinted, invariably on a woman, and regardless of her age; while Sam Uley , Paul Lahote and Jared Cameron Jacob Black have imprinted on young adult or adolescent women, Quil Ateara V and Seth Clearwater have imprinted on young children. Unlike her imprinter, the imprintee can choose whether she'll accept him as her 'soulmate' or not.

It is however implied that a rejection is highly unlikely, since it is said that it would be very hard to resist the levels of "commitment, compatibility and adoration". It has also been noted that the imprintee feels incomplete without the wolf nearby.

But if she does choose someone else over the shape-shifter, he will be in deep emotional pain, though he will still respect her choice. Even though the shape-shifter has imprinted, it doesn't necessarily mean he won't suffer a little if it can't be helped, though he would instantly break the heart of his loved one before this imprinting. So far, it is known that only male shape-shifters can imprint. Convinced that the baby killed Bella, he was determined to kill her but when he saw her, that attitude was gone since he had imprinted her.

Since Renesmee, the imprintee, was young, the duo begin at stage 1, where Jacob will act as a protective older sibling. Stage 2 means they will become best friends and will slowly develop into romantic feelings in stage 3 as Renesmee is older.

Even if the girl rejects him, the shape-shifter will continue to love them unconditionally because she is a priority. A werewolf can imprint anytime during their life, regardless of previous personal feelings, and there are four stages to it.

He later explained to Bella that he was never actually attracted to her but to Renesmee, as she was inside of her as creepy as that sounds.

As for why imprinting happens, the reason was never revealed but members of the pack have their theories on this matter. Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant.