A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews. You're awesome, but don't stop. I had a really busy weekend, so sorry for taking so long to update. This is a shorter chapter, but I hope you enjoy it none the less.

Chapter 4 - surprise, surprise

PPOV

As Paul jogged through the narrow streets of the reservation, music blaring in his ears, he thought about how things had changed since the day he came back home. He remembered how strange it was, when he was supposed to be so happy to be near his friends and family and having found a job that he loved. But instead, Paul had been angry. All the time. He'd felt at some point like he was losing his mind. He remembered the terrible body aches and fevers he'd experienced as well, not knowing what the hell was happening to him. He hated feeling isolated.

Paul only phased for the first time when he came back from Seattle, to work at Forks hospital, after he and Bella had broken up. Apparently, there were some nomad Vampires in the area one night, shortly after Paul had come back, and that was all it took for him to phase. That was how Billy and Sam had explained the sudden onset of the 'wolf fever' to him. Sam was close by the night Paul phased. He had guided him and explained everything to him. It was a relief to know that he wasn't alone and that he wasn't a freak. Billy had been very lenient toward him, cutting down Paul's patrolling time to twice a week, because of Paul's hectic schedule. Not that there was a threat, but Billy wasn't one who wanted to be caught off guard, though. Not by the cold ones. Billy was a very fair Alpha, but he was strict as well. He didn't take bullshit from anyone and the pack were very intimidated by him.

Paul stopped at the edge of La Push beach, his breathing ragged. He idly glanced toward the big house close by, wondering who had bought it. The house had been on the market for almost a year, nobody even coming to look at it, as property on the reservation wasn't really sought after. It was a close knit community of mostly Native Americans and it was rare for an outsider to come live here. Paul didn't think on it for too long. He was busy admiring the beautiful sunrise before him. It was low tide and the water lazily edged up to his warm feet, stinging his heated skin as it made contact. Even for the wolves, La Push waters were never warm. Paul backed up a little, finding a dry spot of sand and sat down to enjoy the peace and quite that could always clear his mind, no matter what troubles he faced. This was his spot. This was the place he'd ran away to many times, especially after he'd returned home, years ago, when thoughts or dreams about Bella had still plagued him frequently. Recently, he'd been coming here to get away from Grace when they'd had a particularly nasty fight. Which was becoming more and more of a regular thing. Things between them were turning sour really fast and he knew that their relationship wasn't going to last very much longer. He sighed. He would let it run it's course and hopefully she'd give up and move on soon. Paul leaned back on his arms, sighing as he tried to clear his mind. The wind whipped through his unruly hair and cooled his heated skin slightly. He closed his eyes and soaked up the peace and quiet.

Later that evening, Paul found himself on a couch in Sam's house, everyone there, except Leah, Seth and Quil. The guys were busy watching a lame action movie, while the women were cooking up a storm. Paul's stomach grumbled once, as the smell of a chicken stew assaulted his senses. He was hungry. In fact, since the phase, he was always hungry. One of the perks of being a wolf, though, was that he could eat as much as he wanted, without gaining a single ounce of fat. The wolves all looked like russet skinned gods, especially to the outside world.

"Guess who's back?" Quil said excitedly as he burst through the front door and marched up to an empty couch, plopping down unceremoniously.

"Shady's back?" Jared teased.

"No, seriously. Guess." Quil huffed.

"Just tell us." Sam sighed.

"Bella."

"Bella Swan?" Embry asked.

"Do you know any other Bella's?" Quil asked sarcastically. "I saw her and Leah in the liquor store."

Everyone was now looking at Paul. He kept his head down, avoiding the curious looks that he knew his friends were giving him now.

Minutes ticked by in complete silence. No one said a thing. "What?" he asked finally, when he couldn't take it anymore.

"Got anything to say about it?" Jared asked, lifting a brow.

"Why would I?" Paul tried to keep his heartbeat in check, trying not to betray how he really felt. She was back. What would that mean for him?

"Hello? You dated for five years."

"And?" Paul countered, fighting hard not to show any emotions.

"Whatever." Jared gave up.

What was Paul supposed to say? That his heart still sped up every time he thought of her? Or that he missed her so much some nights, that it physically hurt? What did it matter anyway? So he kept his head down and ignored the stares he still felt on him. This didn't change a thing.

"She was the one who left me." Paul said, later that night, when he and Jared sat on the porch, looking out at the woods. "Not the other way around. So why do you all assume that getting back together with Bella is up to me. Or that there is actually a chance that we would get back together?'

"We don't. I guess we're all just hoping. You were so good together. Almost like she was your imprint."

"Yeah." Paul sighed, defeatedly. "I remember. Though, sometimes I wish that I could forget. At the risk of sounding like a complete pussy, it still hurts thinking of her."

"Are you going to go see her?"

"Nope." Paul answered determinedly. "What good would it do? Besides, I have a girlfriend."

"Oh, please. Don't use that bullshit excuse. You and I both know that it's not gonna last for long. YOU DON'T LOVE GRACE!" Jared said emphatically.

"You're right, I don't." Paul rubbed his hands over his face in frustration. "But if I do break-up with her, it doesn't mean that I'm doing it because of Bella. It'll be for me."

"Fine. Just get out of that toxic relationship. If you really admit it to yourself, you aren't so busy that you don't have time for a relationship. You just make sure that you keep busy, to avoid Grace."

"When did you become so wise?" Paul chuckled. Jared always saw through him. It sucked at times. He was the only one to whom Paul couldn't lie. He could never hide anything from his friend, despite trying.

"I've always been wise." Jared teased and laughed with his friend, having had enough of the heavy conversation tonight.

When Paul got home later, he found Grace in bed with a book. She didn't seem mad, as she smiled up at him, which was surprising. And nice. At least this meant they weren't going to fight for once.

"Hi." She greeted him. "How was it?"

"It was okay. Just a movie and dinner. Not anything to write home about. What did you do all evening?"

"Nothing much. Just made something quick to eat and then got into bed with this book." She waved the book she held in one of her hands.

Grace pulled the covers from her body, revealing her naked body to him. An invitation. "I've been hoping you wouldn't come home too late. I need you."

Paul hesitated. He was torn. On the one hand he was tired and he didn't want to give Grace the idea that he was still invested in this relationship, but on the other hand he really wanted to take her and fuck the shit out of her curvy little body.

Grace licked her lips and rubbed her long, tanned legs together in anticipation. She lowered her hand toward her sweet spot and started rubbing it gently, teasing him. He felt weak as his cock sprang to life at the sight of her. How was she able to persuade him so easily, when he felt nothing for her. There was only lust coursing through his veins right now.

He rid himself of his pants first, allowing his cock to spring free, bobbing up and down. He stroked himself as he watched Grace moan and writhe as she sped up her ministrations on her clit. He could smell her wetness and he saw the moistness on her fingers as she dipped them into herself a couple of times before she continued to rub herself.

"Please." She pleaded, looking up at him with pouty lips and heavily lidded eyes.

He removed his shirt and crawled onto the bed, grabbed her legs and yanked them open. He nipped at her inner thigh, making her yelp in surprise. He slapped her hand away, instead thrusting two of his own fingers into her wet and ready slit. He pumped his fingers in and out of her, now sure that she was ready for him. He positioned himself at her entrance, rubbing the tip of his cock against her slick, heated lips, ready to give her what she wanted, but he looked into her blue eyes he realized that it wasn't the chocolate brown eyes that he wanted to see. And for the first time in his whole fucking life, his dick went limp, like the fucking pussy that he was.

'Fuck my life!' Paul thought.

A/N: Please review. xxx