Summary: What happens when the Pack's resident hot-head and troublemaker is rejected by his imprint ? Will he succumb to grief or will he find solace in the arms of another ?
Disclaimer: All you recognize belongs to Stephenie Meyer ( including these two fiesty, gorgeous wolves - unfortunately ! ). The rest ? To my warped, hyperactive imagination ...
A/N: The Demon Spawn never happened. EVER ! I'm in complete denial ... In my AU she doesn't exist.

Warning: contains slash and strong language.

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Broken

Jacob's pov:

Shit ! I can't believe I've fucking imprinted ... And on Paul of all people. The guy's been the biggest pain in my ass since Christ only knows when, and I had to go and imprint on him ...

Hell ! This imprinting shit's totally fucked. It's totally fucked me up anyway. I never wanted this. To imprint. I've seen the pain and the suffering it can cause people. It seriously fucked up Leah's life. Completely ruined it. Left her devastated, heartbroken and a totally bitter, vicious-minded bitch. And honestly ... ? I truly can't blame Leah for her bad ass attitude and her reckless actions.
Leah never asked for any of the crap that imprinting brings, yet she lost everything that was important to her because of it. The loss of the man she loved to her cousin and best friend, triggered the wolf gene in her, making her a rarity - a female shifter. Unfortunately, the shock of her first phase led to tragedy - her father's death from a heart attack. It left Leah inconsolable and absolutely distraught. And to top it all, she then learnt because she was a wolf she'd become a genetic dead end. She'd never be able to have any children. So yeah, you could say I'm no fan of imprinting ...

I know I've said it before, but I never wanted to imprint. I always wanted a choice. To be able to choose who I fell in love with. Not to have that decision torn away from me because of some warped genes I happen to have. I feel that my right to choose my lover, my soulmate, has been stolen from me and that seriously pisses me off. It genuinely winds me up. There's nothing I can do about it. I'm completely helpless. I can't fight it.

But when I look down at my imprint - my Paul - lying broken and vulnerable in my arms, I realize I don't want to fight it. I've no wish ... no desire to fight it. All I want ... all I yearn for is just one chance. The opportunity to make my imprint happy. To help him forget his pain and heal his broken heart - if he'll let me ...
I never expected to feel this way about a guy. Especially Paul. But in such a short space of time - in a blink of an eye - he's become the most important person in my life. I need him. Want him. Desire him more than anything ...

My beautiful imprint looks so fragile. Delicate. Frail. Yet unbelievably alluring. Although I genuinely want to protect and care for him, I'm also extremely attracted to Paul and I've come to genuinely hate the pain and torment I'd seen over the past few weeks in his anguished, dark molasses-hued eyes.
The fact that he's tried to kill himself is seriously freaking me out. My feelings towards Rachel, my own flesh and blood, right now are positively murderous. I could kill her for making my imprint feel so worthless, that he felt suicide was his only option. I can only hope and pray that he has the strength and the will to pull through this, 'cos frankly, I can't imagine my life without him ... I don't even want to think about it. Paul dying isn't a fucking option. He has to make it. Not just for his own sake, but for mine too. I fucking need him.

If I lose Paul, I may as well take that goddamn cut-throat and be done with it ... 'Cos I don't think I could survive without him. I wouldn't want to ...

Leah's been arguing with Sam since she told him - and me - that I'd imprinted on Paul, about what our best option is. Seth, in his innocence, had suggested taking him to the hospital. A proposal that Sam immediately shot down in flames and he also accused Seth of being a moron for saying it. That wasn't a good move on Sam's part, as Leah swiftly rounded on him and gave him the most vicious and foul-mouthed tongue lashing that I'd ever heard her inflict on anyone.

" Well, what do you suggest then, Mr Mensa ? " she snapped furiously. " I haven't heard anything remotely helpful or sensible from that yap of yours either. At least, Seth's tried to fucking help, which is more than can be said for you. I thought Paul was meant to be your friend ? Instead of gawping at me like an old trout, why the hell don't you come up with something constructive, hmmm ? D'ya really want him to bleed to death ? 'Cos that's what's gonna happen, oh mighty Alpha, unless you come up with something like yesterday ... "

" I ... uh ... " Sam actually looked shellshocked by her tirade and seemed unable to string a coherent sentence together. He ran a tired hand through his cropped hair, his brow creased with worry. " Can't you do something for him, Lee-Lee ? "

She glared at him angrily. " Don't call me that ! Me ? What the hell d'ya expect me to do ? That's so typical of you men ... If you can't cope with something you just dump it on the nearest woman. Just because I'm training to be a nurse, doesn't mean I'm fucking qualified to do anything ! Besides, I've not had any tutoring on ingestion of tranquilizers yet. We've not got to that part of the fucking syllabus. This is something far too big and too serious for me to screw up ... The way I see it, we've only one option left - that's if Jake will allow me to do it- ? "

" Hey ! I'm the Alpha, Jacob has no say in this. It's nothing to do with hi- " Sam began heatedly, only for Leah to turn on him once more. She invaded his personal space and began to repeatedly and painfully prod his chest with a long finger, which left an extremely red and sore mark.

" Bullshit, Sam Uley ! Jacob has the only say in the matter. Paul's his imprint. His soulmate. Jake's the one who's responsible for his welfare. It's entirely up to Jake what he wants to do. How he wants us to handle this. It has nothing to do with you. So back off, you arrogant fuckwit ! You're not fit to be this Pack's Alpha - you clearly haven't the brain for it ... " Leah left Sam fuming in the middle of the bathroom and Seth gawping at her in awe. She crouched down beside me and sighed softly.

" Jake ... Hon ... I know this is tough. That you're scared and worried sick about Paul, but I need your permission - your blessing - before I do this. Ok ... ? I know you don't want anything to do with those goddamn bloodsuckers and I don't blame you ... I don't want anything to do with those leeches either. But Carlisle Cullen's our only hope, if you want Paul to make it. Will you let me call him ? Allow him across the boundary ? For Paul's sake ... ? "

I couldn't speak. I knew how much this decision had cost Leah. How badly she hated the Cullens. Yet she was genuinely willing to push her hatred and mistrust aside for the sake of her pack brother. She was prepared to do it for Paul - someone who she always had a heated and volatile relationship with. And for me. Proving to me that she was a true friend. Someone who genuinely cared deep down for others. Despite her reputation for being a bitter harpy. And a cold, vicious and vindictive bitch. When it came down to it, Leah's heart was definitely in the right place.

With a slight nod, I gave my consent and felt her gently and reassuringly squeeze my forearm.

" Thanks, Jake. You know you've done the right thing ... I'm really proud of you, y'know ? " she murmured softly. " There's a good chance you've probably saved Paul's life with that decision ... " And with that remark, she spun gracefully on her heel and sped downstairs to phone for help.

*****

I don't know what Leah had told him, but Dr Fang turned up ten minutes later. And he didn't come alone.

" Mutt ... "

I reluctantly tore my eyes away from Paul's face and gave a faint grin before replying, " Blondie ... "

Rosalie Hale swanned into the bathroom looking every inch the beautiful ice-queen that she was. And she was not empty handed. She carried a large case and a box full of dressings.

" Jacob. " Dr Cullen greeted me, his enigmatic, golden eyes flickering briefly to the unconscious man in my arms. " Bella misses you. Wants to see you. She insisted on coming- "

I growled softly in anger when he mentioned her name. After the way she'd treated me lately, I didn't want to see her. I felt like killing her.

" Don't worry, Mutt ... I put a stop to that. Threatened to break her miserable, scrawny, little neck if she even came close to you, " Rosalie smirked with satisfaction. Somehow or other - much to Leah and Seth's astonishment - Blondie and I'd always got on well. Our bickering was our way of showing affection for each other. Turned out we both had a mutual interest in cars and all things connected with them. Naturally, we bonded because of it.

" Rosalie ! " Carlisle admonished her.

She elegantly shrugged her slim shoulders and replied coolly, " What ? She treated Jacob appallingly, Carlisle, and you know it. She deserved everything she got. And I'm not sorry for the way I went about it either ... She can't go around treating people who care about her like that. To be so selfish. So manipulative and so cruel. Her behaviour's worse than mine ... and that's saying something. So long as she's happy and gets what she wants, it's to hell with everyone else and their feelings and opinions. I hate her ... "

Rosalie began to move closer to us and suddenly found Sam blocking her way. He glowered at her, his large body full of tension, but she was far from intimidated by him. If anything, she glared defiantly at Sam.

" What are you doing here, leech ? " Sam demanded, clearly furious at the lack of respect she gave him. " Only Dr Cullen was given permission to cross onto the Res. "

Rosalie gave him a bored look and calmly drawled, " I came here for the Mutt's sake. No one else's. I don't need your permission for that. I'd have come anyway, because despite what everyone thinks, Jacob's my friend. And he needs me. So, I suggest ... Fido, that you get out of my face pretty damn quick. Frankly, you and your posturing and demands bore the hell out of me. "

Sam growled furiously and looked as if he were about to rip the stunning blonde vampire's head clean off her shoulders, when thankfully, Leah - of all people - decided to intervene.

" Sam ... " she said reasonably. " I think you should drop this. For crying out loud, you idiot, Blondie's right, you need to drop this and this attitude of yours. She's here for Jake. To help. Isn't that all that matters here right now ? We need her. Hell ! Have you forgotten what's important here already ? Paul needs her. He needs them both. They're his only hope. And I for one, am glad they've bothered to come ... They could have so easily refused to help, but they didn't ... So quit being an ass, Uley, and let them both get on with what they came here to do. "

Leah turned from him and gave Rosalie a faint, yet genuine, smile. " Take no notice of him, Blondie. I never do. He's just a jerk with the IQ of an amoeba. He's so full of piss and wind that it's over-inflated his ego ... As far as I'm concerned, if you're able to help in any way, then you're most welcome ... "

Rosalie actually returned Leah's smile, recognizing at once a kindred spirit. They both eyed each other with mutual respect and awe. Sam meanwhile, remained where he was, silently fuming. He refused to move and clearly wanted to annihilate Rosalie, who was becoming more impatient and riled with every passing second.

" Back off, Cujo, " she finally snarled, " and let me get on with what I came here to do- "

" Make me ... " he taunted her. " Just make me ... Just give me an excuse - that's all I need, leech ... "


T. B. C.