Author's Note: I'm very excited about this story, honestly. I've read so many fanfics about Paul that it has made me anxious to create my own version of him — one which I hope features a more complex individual than just an angry, hotheaded wolf. Anyway, I hope y'all like him just as much as I do.
A bit of a short chapter, but it just felt right to end it there. The next ones will be bigger.
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, I'm merely a player. Don't sue me.
His paws hit the ground in a rhythmic motion, carrying him somewhere he still hadn't decided. He just knew he needed to get away to find some peace and think about what had just happened. Paul was thankful none of his pack mates were currently patrolling, so he had his mind all to himself for once. Perhaps Sam realized he wouldn't be in any condition to explain what he had experienced just yet.
It was the strangest feeling Paul had ever felt in his life. His thoughts were all over the place, making it difficult for him to even decipher what most of them were about. It was almost as if his body and mind were preparing and adjusting to the change of having an imprint. It tingled in the most awkward way possible, which made Paul feel distinctively weird.
His life — his carefully constructed life — where all things had purpose and reason, was about to become the Isabella Swan's controlled chaos. The thoughts were already popping into his head; the ideas were already forming. It wasn't as though he had a choice anymore. Much like becoming a wolf at sixteen and killing vampires who crossed his way, the imprinting was just another fated aspect of his life Paul couldn't hope to control.
The pull was settled around his middle, telling him the exact direction he would have to follow if he wanted to go see his mate. Paul had seen Sam and Emily, Jared and Kim… he knew exactly what awaited him in his future. He had first met Jared when he was a dumb kid with no friends; he grew up with the fucker. Better than anyone else he had seen how much Jared had changed after he saw Kim for the first time. The devotion, the need to be anything she could ever need, the constant worry, the possessiveness, the love — Paul saw it all.
He knew what it meant. However, no matter how much he tried to remember his disgust with the idea of being tied to a single person for the rest of his life, he couldn't resent the bond or her. His whole body rejected the thoughts of negative feelings about its mate.
He remembered all the times Jacob thought about her, suddenly eager to revisit the visions that caused him so much anger before. He could picture them quite vividly, thankfully. She was hurting, Paul knew. Bella hadn't gotten over the break up with the leach, the one she believed to be the man for her. Every single cell in Paul's body rejected the idea that Bella belonged with the bloodsucker — it couldn't be true if the fates bonded her to him in the way it had.
The feelings inside him were, however, confusing as hell. The imprinting made him feel protective and caring, but it didn't establish which kind of relationship they should have. That decision was entirely in Bella's hand, even if she had no clue.
For now, Paul wanted only to find her and soothe his worries about her safety. With the redheaded leech running around the reservation it wasn't safe for her to walk around La Push, even if Jacob was with her. He was too young, too new to being a wolf still. He wouldn't be able to keep her safe if it came down to it. And it didn't matter anyhow, Paul was the who should meet all the needs Bella could ever have, not anybody else — it shouldn't be Jacob's duty to make sure she was safe, it was his.
All Paul could think about was Bella. The image of her was burned in his mind, etched into his brain in a way that he knew would never fade. Even if he had only glanced at her for a few minutes he could recall every single one of her features in perfect detail. He could remember the way her wavy brown hair fell around her face in perfect contrast to her milky white complexion. He could picture her small nose and those pink lips — bruised from constant bitting, he guessed. But, most of all, Paul could, without any problem, vividly remember her chocolate eyes, sparkling in surprise and a hint of fear.
It wasn't the way she should ever look at him. Paul wanted nothing more than to sate every possible need she could ever have. He needed to comfort her and protect her in such a perfect way that she would never feel afraid or in danger ever again. It was nagging command Paul felt settling in his head, prompting him to go back and make sure she didn't need anything.
However, at the same time, Paul felt a rightness in his chest that allowed him to know he was doing the correct choice. No matter how much he wanted to turn around to wrap her around his chest where she would be the safest, it was clear that he had to take a moment for himself to sort his thoughts out before he approached her again.
For the time being, it was enough to know that she was with his packmates. They would protect her with their lives if it came to it. As an imprint, her safety was paramount to all others.
So Paul ran, knowing he needed to prepare himself to be whatever Isabella Swan desired.
When he returned to Sam's house, Paul felt her absence even before he opened the door. Bella was no longer on the reservation, he could tell.
As soon as he walked into the kitchen he was greeted by the sight of his incredulous brothers.
"Where is she?" he asked, the words coming out of his mouth before he could even process them or consciously decide to speak 'em. Paul needed to assure she was safe, that's how it was.
"She went home, Paul," his Alpha answered straight away, probably knowing how difficult it would be for him to focus on anything other than her until he was certain she wasn't in danger. "Jared followed her. He'll stay there until the end of his shift."
The pressure on his chest eased a little the second Sam mentioned Jared's name. Out of anyone in the pack, he was the one Paul felt most connected to. Jared was his brother; he would protect his mate with his life if it came to it.
"Fuck you, Paul," Jake said, glaring at him from his seat in the table.
Surprising himself and all those present in the room, he didn't explode at that. On the contrary, he felt a deep compassion for his packmate's sorrow. To lose Bella the way he had must hurt something fierce.
"I'm sorry," Paul said, leaning against the wall and not moving any further into the kitchen. "You know I had absolutely no choice in this."
"What?" Quil questioned, incredulous. "Did you just fucking apologize? Man, this day keeps getting weirder and weirder."
"You tell me," Embry agreed, nodding his head.
"I don't care for your freaking apology, Paul. Stay the hell away from Bella, do you hear me? She doesn't need this right now," Jake carried on, crossing his arm and frowning deeply.
"Jake," Sam said before Paul could correct his statement. "You know that's not possible. We understand that this situation isn't ideal, but you have to get used to the idea that Paul will always be in picture whenever she is concerned. The bond will allow nothing else."
The flash of pain on Jacob's face was unmissable, and it did make Paul flinch internally. He wanted to be able to say that he would change things if he could, but it would only be a huge lie. No single cell in his body wanted to give Isabella up.
"I don't think I can not love her," he confessed, his previous anger leaving him all at once, as he sagged on his chair. "She is just..."
"It will take ti-," Emily began to say, but Paul interrupted, needing to clear things out.
"No one said you had to stop loving her," he pointed out, knowing his next words would surprise everybody. "I certainly won't stand in your way."
Sam's head snapped up in a second, piercing him with a confused stare. Jake just looked shocked.
"Dude, are you sure you imprinted?" Embry asked.
Quil smiled a little at his confession, though. Probably understanding where he was coming from.
"You all know how this works, I'll be whatever she needs me to be," Paul said. "As of right now I feel no romantic feelings for her whatsoever. It's rather likely that she is in need of a friend rather than a boyfriend, so that's how I feel."
He looked at the window before confessing the next part.
"I just want her to be happy. If she wants to be with you, Jake, then that's what you should do. I'll help you in every way I can."
AN2: Don't forget to leave a review! It's lovely to hear what y'all think about the story.
