Chapter Four

~Beauty and the Beast~

The fine sand felt soft beneath my toes as I slid my feet through the velvet grains, lifting my legs to watch it shimmer over my skin and return to tranquil bed of sand. The turquoise water of the ocean splashed gently against the rocks and glistened beneath the light of the moon. Tonight was a full moon- I almost laughed at the irony, but my wolf-friend beside me seemed in no mood to laugh along. I studied Paul silently, noting how he frowned furiously and rubbed the back of his neck when he was nervous about something. Remembering things like that was very useful when meeting new people- I didn't want him to hate me before he even knew me.

I switched my gaze back to the water and watched the peaceful waves lap against the sand. It was a calm sight, and the gentle sounds set my mind at rest. It calmed me enough to break the anxious silence and I spoke with the softest voice I could muster as to not irritate him. It was odd because only a moment ago, he seemed ok.

"Tell me about this treaty then; Jacob didn't get very far with explaining" I chose not to watch his reaction to me mentioning vampires because last time, I hadn't been very happy with it. This wasn't the time to be getting upset about things I would have to start getting used to. Although I had decided to watch the waves once I had finally asked him to explain, there was a sudden buzz of emotions radiating off Paul- mostly irritation and anxiety. I wasn't too bothered about his slight irritation because from what I had heard, it didn't actually take a lot to tick him off. That being said, I did wonder what he had to be anxious about- it's not like I would have gone straight to those royal vampire lot and complained of a dog infestation in LaPush! Jeez, that sounded like something Rosalie would do!

I heard a heavy sight from Paul and decided that now was a good time to draw my attention back to him, seeing as it appeared he was about to talk. Maybe I was slightly pushing the boundaries, but the awkward silence was beginning to exhaust me and he was starting to remind me slightly of Edward who also chose to clam up at the most annoying of times.

"Paul, just tell me" I sighed, running an exasperated hand through my hair, "I promise I won't run crying"

I felt more at ease when I heard a quiet chuckle escape his lips, and my hopes lifted when he turned do he had a leg on each side of the log.

Once again, my eyes were caught by his intense gaze bit this time I managed to pay attention to the words spilling from his mouth at the same time.

"It was during the early nineteen hundreds when we first discovered the Cullen's on our land. They were feeding from animals, which was a very unfamiliar sight for our ancestors. They didn't quite know where they stood if they caught leeches feeding on our land without a human in sight. Naturally, it was our instinct to kill them regardless but the elder leech- the doctor- stopped them to say that they didn't feed on humans. They proved it with their eyes and we discovered that they had taken a liking to a neighbouring village. Our ancestors made an agreement with the Cullen's; they could stay in the area, but if any of them were to harm a human, we could kill them. We also have a border separating our land from everywhere else. If they were to cross the border into our land, they'd be nothing but ashes in seconds" I remained silent throughout his explanation, "And that's the treaty- although I think my in-depth explanation still leaves you with questions" he smirked.

I didn't reply at first- I wasn't completely sure what to say to be honest…But stupid me for putting my foot in my mouth, as usual. "That's silly" I huffed, "The Cullen's would never bite a human, let along on your territory"

To my own ears, the "Treaty" really did sound ridiculous, but to the people of LaPush it was a way of life and it threatened their existence. Unfortunately, I hadn't thought of that until after the words were out of my mouth.

"I'm being silly am I?" he spat, his eyes darkening considerably and fists trembling, "It was to my understanding that they were planning on turning you into a leech as well, therefore they would have bitten a human on our territory and broken the treaty." He continued, eyes narrowed and voice low and threatening.

I found myself almost frightened of him but part of me knew he wouldn't hurt me, or at least…not intentionally. I rested my hand on the back of his clenched fist, frowning with worry when he clenched and unclenched his teeth- trying to stay in control of his temper. The trembles became more violent and his hand suddenly shot out to grip mine with ferocious strength before pulling away suddenly and standing quickly to turn his back on me.

"Bella" he hissed, "stand away for a moment, if I phase I'll hurt you."

For a minute I was going to listen to him and move away, but how would that have made him feel? I wasn't scared of Paul, I had no reason to be and I didn't want him to think he was a threat to me. So I decided to take a step closer to him.

His eyes widened for a moment before he took an immediate step further from me, not quite understanding me as he struggled to control his anger and not phase. I shook my head sadly and touched his scorching, soft cheek tenderly- stroking my fingers over the dark skin with a small smile on my face.

"You won't hurt me, Paul. Calm down" I said softy, and he did.

Paul slumped onto the log, his trembling decreasing until he was completely stable.

My hand gently moved from his cheek to run my fingers through his sleek crop of dark hair, allowing my nails to scrape his scalp slightly. I heard him sigh before burying his head in my stomach, making me laugh at how similar he was to Jacob.

I continued to comb his hair with my fingers and smiling, almost missing the quiet rumble in his chest every time my nails came into contact with his skin. Maybe he was enjoying this more than I thought…

Suddenly, I felt two strong pair of hands come into contact with my waist, warmth burning through my clothes and shocking my flesh. I tried to relax a little as his hands remained there and the growling stopped, but gradually as his grip tightened and hands dropped to my hips I began to panic. My ministrations on his hair came to a stop immediately, but his grip on my hips stayed only to get tighter until a loud growl could be heard from his chest and my gaze flickered down in panic at Paul, who was now staring up at me with a dark, lust filled gaze which sent chills across my skin.

"Paul…" I gasped, "You're hurting me" I winced when his fingers began to knead against the skin on my hips, almost painfully.

"Paul stop it now!" I insisted urgently, trying to pull free of his hold but failing.

Luckily my second attempt at stopping him seemed to switch a light bulb on in his head and his hands flew from me immediately, shock written on his face.

He stared down at his hands in disgust, "I-I'm sorry, Bella. I don't know what came over me" he whispered, avoiding my gaze as I hesitantly returned to my seat beside him but making a bit of space between us now.

I didn't reply to him, only watched him carefully. He tried to control his breathing, hands gripping the bark.

"I need to tell you why I brought you here" he said through gritted teeth, "and it isn't going to be easy, Bella so just bear with me"

I gulped before nodding silently, not quite sure what was coming next. What ever it was, it seemed to be bothering Paul an awful lot…the dark look in his eyes told me he didn't really want to tell me anything. I didn't want him to feel he had to tell me anything, in fact I bet it didn't even have any to do with me anyway, Jake probably forced him to tell me. Why Paul had to tell me was a mystery though…I had only just met this guy? I couldn't quite understand my fascination with him, but he seemed sort of interesting. Well, as interesting as a werewolf could get.

"Have you ever heard of imprinting, Bella?" he asked quietly, still avoiding my gaze and running his hand through his hair.

I shook my head, frowning but remaining silent. Everything I had done so far seemed to annoy him enough to phase so maybe it wasn't a great idea to open my mouth. I didn't like the idea of annoying Paul, and it wasn't only because he had a temper on him, I just didn't like feeling I was getting on his nerves. It wasn't a nice feeling.

Paul took a deep breath before beginning his explanation.

"Imprinting is when…once you phase, and you see a girl she becomes your…your everything. It isn't just any girl though; it's not like a "first-girl-you-see" kind of thing. This is hard to put into words, but she becomes the centre of your world. She becomes your soul mate, the one you're destined to love and be with forever. The idea of imprinting is originally to produce the strongest offspring possible, to be strong defenders of humanity but along with that you fall for her. It doesn't always happen like that though, you might fall in love with this girl but it is her decision what you're relationship with her would be. It's not always love, but at the end of the day you would still literally kill for her and be killed for her. When you first see her, it's not gravity holding you to the earth…it's her."

I felt tears spring to my eyes, tears of happiness. It sounded like Paul had experienced this himself and I felt happy for him. It's unfortunate I couldn't ignore the small stab at my heart as I listened to him though.

Maybe he was telling me this because Jacob had imprinted and didn't have the guts to tell me himself. But why would he have Paul tell me this?

I steadied my voice before speaking, my eyes focusing on the sand beneath my feet, "It sounds like you've experienced it yourself; I'm happy for you but why are you telling me this?" I said quietly, feeling my mouth become dry as my fingers clutched painfully at my skirt, tears threatening to spill over for some reason I couldn't fathom.

"I have experienced it," he said, sounding quite pleased with himself and when I turned to look at him, a small smile was twitching at his lips and his eyes looked at the sea with a dreamy gleam in them.

"Well, I'm very happy for you both then but I don't understand why I needed to know any of this anyway" I snapped before I could stop myself. I clamped a hand over my mouth immediately, my eyes wide and watching Paul as his head snapped round to study me with a shocked expression.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so…bitchy" I said disbelieving I had just allowed myself to speak ill of his imprint.

This was the worst move I could have made; trying so hard not to annoy him and one slip of my tongue ruins it again. Since when did I have such a temper on me?

"I have to go find Jake," I said quickly, standing abruptly and turning my back on Paul to run back to camp. I needed Jake to explain some things to me. Maybe I was wasting my time around here; if Jake had imprinted, Paul had imprinted, Edward had left me…

A great sob wracked through my body and I clutching tight at the jacket around me, hoping to feel the warmth I did when Jacob held me. Ergh, what was wrong with me? Why was I so bothered about Jacob suddenly? And why did I want Paul to tell me he hadn't imprinted? I didn't know him; I didn't want to know him!

"Bella!" Paul said, trying to convince me he was concerned by the expression on his handsome face…those deep, mysterious eyes…soft skin, husky voice…luscious lips..

I blinked hard, clenching my teeth and forcing myself not to look at his lips.

"Bella, I imprinted on you!" he almost shouted, "You're my imprint!" desperation seeped from his voice like poison.

I couldn't reply though, my mouth seemed to be fused into an 'O' and my eyes were transfixed with his. I couldn't process the words he had just said…they seemed jumbled up and false. Imprint? As if.

Who would imprint on me? I was nothing special and I was certainly not Quileute so I couldn't possibly be his "soul mate". What the tribe needed were strong, independent Quielute girls who could keep their love close and not have any threats attached. I was imperfect; a broken girl with a vampire ex. I was fucked up. I loved a vampire, my best friend and I suddenly this werewolf turns up and tells me we're destined to be together. Was their even such thing as fate?

"Say something" Paul whispered, his eyes dull and without the excitement they had when we met on the road. Oh, how I wanted to kiss him right now…but I was confused. I needed some time.

"Can we speak later, Paul?" I said quietly, avoiding his painful gaze and fiddling with my jacket, "I…need some time to think, clear my head"

He nodded in agreement and reached out to touch my hand gently, stroking his thumb over my knuckles and sighing heavily, "Ok" he agreed, a forced smile on his lips.

I nodded and turned to walk back to the camp, leaving Paul to his thoughts.

When I arrived, Jacob was waiting beside the camp fire for me. It seemed that everyone had decided to leave to give us some time to talk. Well, we had a lot to talk about. I gave Jake a shy smile before walking closer to where he sat.

Jacob glanced up at me when I drew closer, his eyes watching me closely, probably checking if I was ok. He stood up, a kind streak in his soft gaze. He understood.

"Jake, take me home please" I whispered, not looking at him but focusing on the creases in his shirt instead. I felt embarrassed at what had just happened and no doubt Jacob was aware of what had been said.

He nodded, a kind smile on his face and his hand outstretched for me to hold; I took it willingly and allowed him to lead me from the camp fire and towards his Rabbit, further and further from the arms of Paul.

My heart ached for him. I ached for his voice and touch. But I was confused; I didn't know what I really wanted. It was all too much to take in; I couldn't handle this at the moment.

We arrived at my house not long afterwards, both of us hungry and tired of so much drama. Whilst I went for a quick shower, Jacob ordered a pizza and when I finished, dressed and dried my hair I rushed downstairs.

Jacob sat on the sofa, two boxes of pizza lying in his lap already eaten.

"Where's Charlie tonight then?" he asked.

"He's sleeping, which means we have to be quiet" I replied smiling.

I laughed at the sight of my hungry friend, eyeing my box of pizza.

"Jacob, I probably won't eat all of it so have as much as you want if you're still hungry" I smiled, taking a seat beside him.

Not long later, we both sat with full stomachs on the sofa. Jacob had his arm slung lazily over my shoulders, flicking through the channels with little interest. A small smile graced his lips when I shuffled closer to his side, my legs hung over his without a care. I took a deep breath, inhaling Jacob's earthy scent and enveloping myself in his warmth. I felt so comfortable around Jacob; more comfortable than I felt around anyone, even Edward.

Now I thought about it, I couldn't quite understand what I loved about his cold skin and stony lips. He was a living corpse; not changing, not moving forward, stuck cold in a body of a seventeen year old boy. What had made me want to become that?

My eyes snapped to Jacobs peaceful face; he seemed unfazed by recent events. I expected him to make a fuss about Paul, but he hadn't even mentioned it. It wasn't like Jacob not to make a scene.

"Jake" I said softly, "have you imprinted yet?"

I felt him stiffen beside me, his eyes flickering around the room but not meeting my gaze.

"I won't mind if you have" I added quickly, noting how his arm tightened around my shoulder.

"No, I haven't imprinted" he finally replied, his eyes then glancing down into mine and holding my troubled gaze.

I nodded quickly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear and focusing my attention on the blank screen. I could feel his burning eyes on me as I spoke the words tugging at my heart.

"I don't think I want to be an Imprint, Jake. Especially when I only just met Paul"

He didn't say anything for a long time. The silence was haunting. I had probably been out of order saying that about one of his brothers, but Jacob was someone I always talked to. I knew I could tell him anything, even if it troubled him as well, we'd work around it together. Just lately, our hearts had been closed off even more than ever though.

I felt Jacob's heart beat thumping slowly in his warm chest. I pressed my ear up against it and closed my eyes, the slow thud calming me and giving me the friendly reassurance I needed. I felt a small tear leak from my eye and soak into Jacob's shirt. He must have known I was crying because his once tense arm soon curled around my body, holding me tight against him whilst his thumb drew soft circles on my side.

I swallowed a painful lump in my throat before whispering, "Somehow, before Edward, I always thought me and you would be together one day. It was expected of us and now it isn't possible…and I don't want to lose you" I felt a sob erupt from my chest and my trembling hand rose to clutch tightly at his shirt, pressing my face closer into his chest.

I heard Jacob sigh before raising his other hand to lift my chin and wipe the tears from my eyes, which were shining with tears yet to be shed. My face scrunched up involuntarily, another wave of tears hitting me as I saw the pain radiating from his gaze and enveloping me in a blanket of broken dreams.

He swallowed before speaking in a low, hushed tone. "Bella" he started, his voice faltering, "Imprinting isn't necessarily romantic. It can be sisterly love you feel or just love for a friend- at the end of the day, Bells" he paused a moment, stroking my cheek tenderly and leaning forward to graze a gentle kiss on my forehead before whispering, "I haven't given up hope."

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to prevent my thick tears from muffling my speech. "You'll imprint one day, Jake" I replied sadly, my eyes dropping to the damp patch in his shirt which was gradually beginning to dry already due to his hot temperature.

"Imprinting is "fate"…what if we were supposed to break apart?" I continued, the truth weighing on my shoulders like a ton of bricks.

My attention was snatched when his fingers began to trail slowly down my cheek, across my jaw and gently down my neck, resting on the space above my collar bone. The heat of his fingers seeped through my skin; so different to the ice cold feeling of Edwards hands against my skin, chilling me to the bone.

"I will never hurt you, Bella" his lips were inching closer and closer to mine. I could taste his breath on my tongue- warm and sweet- and I didn't pull away. This was good, the right thing to do- I was supposed to be with Jacob! If I hadn't met Paul, then I could be with Jacob- Paul was just holding me back, getting in the way of my happiness. I knew Jacob like the back of my hand; I didn't know Paul for shit!

"I promise" he whispered, then his lips met mine and the sensation I had been waiting for finally-… I couldn't feel anything. No spark, no tingle, no butterflies. I grew impatient. My hands ran through his hair desperately, pressing my lips harder into his until I felt him lean back- gripping my thighs so I was straddling him. I felt Jakes tongue flick against my bottom lip and I eagerly opened my mouth for our tongues to meet. I tried my hardest to trigger something inside me that would drive me to fall in love with Jacob Black and make mad, passionate love to him without feeling like there was a piece missing.

I froze when Paul's face appeared in my mind and I suddenly found myself craving the lips of someone else, other than Jacob.

I tore myself from Jake's embrace and stood up quickly, adjusting my clothes and feeling my cheeks burn with humiliation and guilt. Jacob gazed up at me with clouded eyes, his lips slightly swollen and desire adamant on his beautiful face.

I couldn't do this to him.

"Jake, this is wrong" I whispered, "I shouldn't have let it get this far"

Before he could reply, I lashed around and ran from the house and away from a stunned Jacob. Without thinking, I jumped in my truck and started the engine whilst pulling my phone from my pocket and calling Sam and Emily's home phone. Somehow, even though I hardly knew Emily, I knew I could count on her as a friend to go to when I needed help.

Reversing from the drive, I snapped my phone open and whilst speeding down the road I dialled the number. On the second ring, a familiar voice was heard from the other end.

"Hello, Sam Uley speaking" a deep voice said politely.

"Sam" I began urgently, "Do you know where Paul is?"

An awkward cough came from Sam before he replied gingerly, "Ah, Bella; I wondered when you'd come to your senses"

I should have been angry by the tone of his voice, but I didn't have time for his petty moods. "Look, I realise you and the pack aren't thrilled to hear Paul's imprinted on me of all people, but you'll have to deal with it" I said firmly, "please, Sam, tell me where Paul is"

Sam sighed but answered anyway, "Ok, he's gone back to his house. It's close to LaPush beach, just carry on going along the road that runs through the forest beside the beach and you'll soon find a log cabin. It's the only house there so you can't miss it"

A smile lit my features before I thanked him and hung up, driving crazy to my next destination.

My fist banged on the door of the log cabin, my eyes filling with tears for the hundredth time that night. My hand ached only after the third knock from smashing it on the wood so hard, but luckily I didn't need to continue knocking as the door swung open quickly revealing an agitated looking Paul.

My breath caught in my throat. My eyes widened. My hands clenched and unclenched. My heart sped like a humming birds wings and my tears stopped.

Why had I come here? If I had had a reason, I couldn't remember it. Was it to say something? Was there anything to say? After rejecting him so bluntly at the beach, how would he react to me just turning up at his door step?

The reality of the situation soon sunk in when his eyes failed to hide the shock he was feeling at finding me knocking on his door. I swallowed, our gaze glued to each other unable to move. His dark eyes crinkled slightly at the edges although I didn't know why. He might have been smiling, he might have been disgusted…he might have been upset but I wasn't to know because I couldn't bring myself to disconnect our intimate gaze.

This was the man I was destined to fall in love with, marry and even have children with. This was my soul mate standing before me. My fate the Quileute gods had chosen for me and not two hours ago was I denying my destiny and running from it. I was a coward. I had not accepted the inevitable.

In a sense, I had already cheated on him by kissing Jacob. No doubt he would find out, and I dreaded the moment he did find out. He would be crushed. As would I if I discovered my Imprint had shared an intimate moment with anyone other than myself.

My face scrunched up once again, tears now streaming down my face shamelessly. It didn't matter if I cried in front of Paul. We were supposed to open up to each other; have no secrets.

We were supposed to love on another without fail and as our gazes drew closer, I discovered why we had been chosen to live in harmony beside one another.

"Paul…" I whispered, throwing myself into his waiting arms.