Paul's POV

It was Embry and my turn to patrol the woods tonight so needless to say I was a little shocked to see Jacob pulling up to Embry's house in a fit of rage. He parked his speeding car, got out and slammed the door shut with way too much anger. Uh oh, this was going to be a pleasant evening.

The door flung open slamming against the wall threatening to come off the hinges.

"Are we going or what?" wow, yeah, Jacob was pissed.

"What the hell happened to you?"

If looks could kill I would have died a thousand deaths right there and then. I decided maybe it wasn't such a good idea to pick on him…then again, what better time?

"So I heard Bella's back with the mind reader. That must have pissed you off. Tell me something Jacob, how's it feel to know that you just weren't good enough for her?"

In less time that it took for me to blink Jacob fazed and threw himself on top of me.

"Hey bro, I know you want a hug but dang, relax, you could have just asked." I said trying to hold back my laughter and failing miserably. He snapped his jaw at me. "Ok, come here my little puppy; let Uncle Paul give you a hug." I teased him. He bit down on my arm and that was the end of the humor. I wasn't going to miss out on a good fight so I fazed myself. Words were no longer necessary and I almost regretted transforming. All of Jake's heartache flooded over to me. I could see Bella leaving with the tiny vampire through his eyes and I felt what could only be described as the internal bleeding that Jake felt.

Sheesh Jacob, is it that serious?

He raked his claws across the back of my head. I smelled blood and that was it for me. We rolled around the little living room of Embry's house.

"Ok, if you two break anything I will be forced to kill you both. Let's go, I'm sick of smelling the sickly sweet vamp smell on the Rez – it's irritating."

Embry transformed and nudged himself between the two of us.

Stop it you two! We need to be on alert. It's a wonder why we haven't found the red head already. We have to be attentive and I can't be with you two going at each other throats every second you get. Can we save it for tomorrow?

I reluctantly agreed and we were on our way. We walked around the woods for hours on end. Occasionally we'd get a whiff of her here and there but for the most part, nothing...

After a while of a whole lot of nothing we all drifted off into our own thoughts and of course It wasn't long before my thoughts of meeting the next Sports Illustrated cover model turned into desperately sad thoughts of Bella.

I thought you were mad at her Jake.

I am. It doesn't mean that I stopped loving her. The last I heard she was back with the bloodsucker. I guess I just have to move on.

You're doing such a fabulous job there kiddo.

Shut your pie hole Paul – you've never been broken hearted.

You're a sad little puppy Jacob.

Screw you Paul.

The rest of the night continued on like this until Embry stopped us.

Do you guys smell that?

Ugh. Yeah that's definitely her. Jake, she's moving closer to your house…why would she do that?

Oh no! He barred his fangs and growled fiercely.

Bella's there!

We all sprinted toward his house anxiety filling us all thanks to him. Honestly though, I didn't like her much but the last thing I wanted was for her to get hurt. I would never admit this to anyone but if Jacob loved her then she was part of the family and I would die protecting her if that's what it came down to.

Thank you Paul, that means a lot.

Damn these shared thoughts! – We slowed as we rounded the part of the forest that led out to Jacob's house. It was pitch black and hard to make out anything, even with the wolfy night vision. One thing was for sure, she was close. The place reeked of her.

Paul you head out to the shed. Jacob you follow me out to the other side. We need to close in on her. We cannot allow a pocket for her to escape again. Directed Embry

I ran toward the shed but didn't make it. There was a flash of red and when I looked down at the fire that seared across my chest I saw even more red…blood – a lot of it. The pain was so great I couldn't stay on my feet. I fell to the ground – hard.

PAUL! Shouted Jacob and Embry through our connection.

I looked around me in fear that she might come back. I was caught off guard. How could I not see her coming? I dragged myself into the shed panting. The pain was getting sharper. It wasn't healing as quickly as it normally would.

Stay in there Paul. Embry and I will look for her.

I didn't even have the energy to respond. It was quickly getting harder to breathe.

"Who's there?" it was Bella. Oh crap! I had to get to her before Victoria did. I tried calling out to her but I couldn't. The air was quickly thinning out of my lungs.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" she whispered. She was getting closer. It took everything I had just to let out a little whimper.

She saw me.

"Oh my God, Paul!" she practically screamed.

Ugh, I just wanted to shut her up. She was going to get us both killed! She got back up and it looked like she was about to leave. I couldn't let her out there. Not now, the red head was going to kill her. I gathered as much strength as I could to change back to my human form only it took too much energy out of me and I just lay there helpless. This was not me. I was strong, I was fierce. I wasn't a coward who hid in the middle of a fight cause he had an injury. Granted, I never had an injury that got worse rather than heal but it was all the same to me.

"Um…yeah, let me grab a tarp." She said uncomfortably. Why in the world would she need a tarp? And then I felt it over my waist. Oh, yeah, I was naked. If I didn't die here Jake would certainly kill me.

I'm only going to kill you if you don't get her out of there NOW. She's coming straight for you.

I panicked. Not for myself but for Bella. Poor Bella that didn't know what was about to happen. I grabbed her wrist trying to get her to focus.

"Just…leave…get…out of…here…NOW." I forced out, each word followed by a gasp.

"Shut the hell up Paul, seriously can't you put your pride aside for even a second? You're bleeding to death here."

Jake, I'm going to strangle her if we don't get out of this alive!

Paul, she's coming! Watch out!

"Move." I growled at Bella.

"Wha- ?" she began to protest but I had forced every cell in my body to cooperate with my brain. I tossed her to the side and positioned myself on top of her. I realized that I was still a man and quickly fazed back into a wolf.

I smelled the bloodsucker in full force. She was so close, I knew it but she was nowhere in sight. I growled in her general direction and saw Jacob and Embry follow suit. And then I saw her standing there as if she ruled the Rez. She grinned at me, summoning me with her pointer finger. I growled louder and then she attacked me. I leapt up to meet her pushing off of Bella in the process. Jake and Embry didn't hesitate to join the fight.

I was hit again in the same spot by the evil bloodsucker and fell back. Just then Bella let out a blood curdling cry.

"Jake no!" she tried to go over to Jacob. Had the girl lost her mind?

I got up and flung myself at her. This girl was going to be the death of me. I turned around to make sure we weren't about to get attacked but all I saw was Jacob and Embry still in wolf mode - confused. They fazed back to humans.

"Where did she go?" yelled Jake

"I don't know…she…just…disappeared." Said Embry defeatedly.

I pulled myself off of Bella and Jacob came running.

"Bella!" he grabbed her in his arms and examined her head to toe.

"Paul get me the first aid kit, she's bleeding." said Jacob nervously.

I picked up the little white plastic box off of the floor and handed it to him. His hands were shaking and his eyes were glazing over with tears. I put my hand on his shoulder.

"It's ok it's just a scratch…and it was me not Victoria."

"I know. I…just…it could have been worse." He held her closer to him and buried his face in her hair.

"Embry, can you wake up my dad. We need to get a doctor out here to make sure Bella is ok…and Paul."

Embry nodded his head and ran inside the house flipping on all the lights in the process. Jacob picked up Bella silently and followed Embry. I just stood there in shock.

I leaned back against the wall of the shed unable to sustain my weight any longer. I slid down the side of the wall. I felt humiliated, but at least Bella was safe. Jake was right, it could have been worse and the thought of something happening to Bella scared the crap out of me.

I put my head in my hands and tried to calm my breathing, but as soon as I closed my eyes my thoughts were filled with Bella – visions of her being hurt by the trampy vampire blurred their way across my mind.

"No!" I yelled.

"No, what?" said Embry.

I looked up and he was crouched next to me. He handed me a pair of black sweats.

"Here, put these on. The doctor should be here any minute." There was a moment of silence between us but it was broken by Embry.

"I felt what you felt, Paul, when Victoria was coming at you and Bella. Just make sure you try not to think about it when the pack is together. I don't know if Jake won't kill you."

"I'm fine," I snapped at him. "If Jake would only keep his stupid thoughts to himself I wouldn't be feeling this way. I DON'T like her. I was just doing my job."

"Sure. Well, come on. Let's get you inside."

He put my arm around his neck and lifted me off of the floor. We walked into the house and Jacob was on the couch cradling Bella in his arms and pushing her wet hair out of her face.

My heart sunk. He had taken off her wet jacket, her shirt and her jeans and had replaced it with one of his shirts that fit her like a PJ. She had a blanket over her too and she looked so frail. He looked up at me when he saw me starring.

"Thank you Paul." He choked out; clearly he was fighting back tears.

"Yeah, man. No problem." I said, my eyes never leaving Bella's face.

Embry pushed me into a chair opposite the couch with a little too much force making my wound burn harder in my chest. I glared up at him and he met mine with one of his own. Luckily there was a knock at the door and the Doctor came in…it was the Cullen. Jacob growled and I stood up ready to kill him. I regretted it – the pain in my chest had me doubled over. The Cullen came over to me and I pushed him away pointing to Bella.

"Not me! Her first!"

"No," Jacob said. "She's fine, you're not."

"I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen. Call me Carlisle." he put is freezing cold hands on my shoulders and sat me back down. Within minutes I was patched up. Billy rolled into the living room then.

"Carlisle, thank you for coming. Our Doctor is out of town and we couldn't risk going to the hospital like this."

"I understand." was all Dr. Cullen said before he hurried over to Bella. He put some ointment on her chest and on her knees…how she hurt her knees I can't even begin to imagine.

The vampire was gone within thirty minutes once he declared all of us fit and Billy went back to bed. Apparently nothing fazed him anymore.

"I need to go tell Sam what happened." whispered Jacob once we were all alone again.

I stood up and walked over to him.

"I'll take her to your room. You go tell Sam. Embry you get the others together. I'll stay here with Bella until you get back."

Jacob nodded silently and let me take her. I lifted her up in my arms as I watched Jake hesitantly hand her over to me. He stood up and caressed her face and then kissed her forehead before he looked up at me.

"Keep her safe." was all he said as he and Embry raced out of the little house.

I walked over to Jacob's small room. Funny, it looked almost identical to mine. I laid Bella down on the bed and positioned myself at her side. I looked down at her and seeing her so helpless like she did now, it was easy to see the girl that Jacob fell in love with – hell, the girl that the bloodsucker Edward fell in love with. Poor Bella, she had all kinds of mystical creatures fawning over her. I imaged fairies, elves and witches getting in line to date her and I laughed silently to myself. She rolled over just then and put her arm over my chest. I froze. I felt like I was paralyzed. I took in a deep breath in and slowly let it back out in an attempt to easy my rapidly increasing beating heart. She shifted her weight completely so that she was laying on my right side and her head was on my shoulder. She mumbled something that sounded like "…cold…"

I pulled the covers over her and my eyes were like magnets to her face. My hand seemed to have a mind of it's own as well as it traced the lines of her face until it finally rested on top of the hand she laid on my chest.

"I will do everything I can to keep you safe." I whispered to her. "I promise."

I got up, not trusting myself to stay in the room with her any longer. I walked over to the door and closed it as silently as I could. I leaned up against it. I was in trouble. I was falling for the girl that my best friend was in love with who in turn was dating a vampire. I had a BIG problem.