AN: thanks for the amazing reviews. I want to thank Jazzys-Confederate1861 for betaing this chapter and I want to give her the credit she deserves by saying that the Rosalie's line was her own addition in my story.

I have some ideas for two stories, Bella/Jared and Bella/Embry, I'm not sure which to write first, so if you have time can you vote on my poll and help me decide?

Seeing as I'm getting so many reviews, I find it difficult to send a preview to everyone (it takes me ages) so for this chapter you can ask me one question about the story that can have a yes/no reply and I'll answer it for you.

Suggested story: Sublimation by sfiddy, she has got few reviews as of yet, but the story is nice and well written, it's a Bella/Jacob fanfiction.

4. Paul

Paul waited until the sound of Bella's truck disappeared before going out of his house. He reached the forest and phased. He hated being a werewolf, but he liked the freedom to run. He was definitely upset, imprinting was the last thing he needed.

He had to put up his grades at school, protect the Res from a crazy red-headed leech and manage to not get angry in front of people lest he phased and revealed his tribe's secret. The worst thing was that he had lived with his anger for so long that he didn't know how to let it go, hell, he didn't even know if he wanted to let it go.

He arrived at Sam's house and phased back. He had mixed feelings every time he entered the house. Emily was nice and sweet, definitely wife material, but her scars made him uneasy. He knew that Sam had almost gone insane when he hurt her accidentally and the scars to him were a remainder that they were dangerous.

The thought that he could hurt his imprint in the same way almost took his breath away.

Sam looked up and said. "Hey Paul, what's up? You look pale is everything ok?"

Paul sighed and then sat heavily on a chair. He put his head in his hands. "I fucking imprinted!"

A squeal was heard. Emily came near him and hugged. "It's amazing! Oh, Paul, I'm so happy for you. When can we meet her? Do I know her?"

Sam calmed her. "Emily let the guy breath. You are upset, why is that?"

Paul looked up and snarled. "Because I imprinted on the leech-lover! It wasn't enough that in have a shitty family, now I have to take the cast off of a bloodsucker! And to top it all the girl has no sense of self-preservation! You should have seen her with her fiery doe eyes standing up to me! To me! Like I was a fucking overgrown teddy bear! People fear me and she doesn't!"

Sam and Emily chuckled. "Paul calm down. It's obvious that she doesn't fear you. You couldn't harm her even if you wanted, she is your imprint. Beside Bella Swan seems pretty sweet and caring. She hangs around with Jacob and Billy says she is a good girl."

Paul passed a hand through his short hair. "So good that she fucks corpses! And now she is probably fucking Jacob Black too!"

Emily gasped and Sam shouted. "Enough Paul! I won't tolerate that kind of talk in my house and definitely not about the woman you are going to spend the rest of your life with!"

Paul was enraged. "You must be insane if you think for a moment that I'm gonna stay with that girl! I want a way out. Talk with the Elders, do anything in your power. I can even stop phasing, but please, Sam, take me out of this shitty imprint!"

Sam came closer to Paul. "Now Paul, I know you must be shocked and upset. But why don't you give the girl a chance? You know how she suffered because of the leech. You saw through my eyes that the girl has a big heart. She loved a monster like him, she is much better off with you. Don't think that I don't know that you feel scared to have the responsibility of a woman on your shoulders."

Paul sighed. "I'm barely keeping my life up right now. How in the hell am I supposed to care for her? Beside she has Jacob, the guy is crazy about her. Why didn't he imprint on her? Why me? I mean you and Jared are good guys..."

Emily neared him again. "You are a good guy too Paul. You just hide it well." She tried to make him feel better with a joke. "Beside the imprinting gives you exactly what you need. You said she wasn't scared of you, that's good. Do you know many people that aren't?"

Paul started to feel a bit better. "No, I don't. The girl is tough, I have to give it to her. I put my full Paul the player act out for two hours and she really held out her own."

Emily looked at him almost horrified. "Did you try to seduce her on the first meeting?"

Paul smirked. "Well, that's me. If she is stuck with me then she better knows now what she is getting herself into."

Sam laughed. "I can't wait to phase and see what you did! It must have been priceless!"

"Sam! Not you too!" scolded Emily, but when she turned the guys smirked at each other.

"I'm going to call Billy and give him the news." said Sam.

After a moment he came back. "Billy is as surprised as we are. He said that Bella is there with Jacob. And it seems they are laughing like two silly teenagers."

Paul felt a new feeling rise in his heart. Jealousy. He wanted to be the one to make her laugh, she was his and no one else's. Then he shook his head, he was not going to think about her again!

Jared arrived half an hour later with a smirk to match Sam and Paul's one. "Guess where I was patrolling just a few minutes ago?" when Paul looked at him questiongly he went on. "I was near the Black's house and the leech-lover aka the Swan girl got there. Imagine my surprise when she started to rant about a certain friend of mine..."

Paul's eyes narrowed. "Spit it out!"

Jared laughed. "She told Jacob about someone hitting on her and embarrassing the hell out of her. She said and I quote -he is all barks and no bite- I think your are losing your touch mate." Jared foresaw that his last comment would set Paul off and he shot out of the door.

Paul stood up and followed him to wring his neck.

Sam and Emily were still laughing when Jared and Paul came back inside a bit worse for wear.

Sam smiled and said. "Well Jared, did you hear the news? Our Paul imprinted on Bella Swan."

Jared laughed. "Yes he told me, I can't believe how fate could be so funny. The girl looks so innocent, all blush and shyness. I wonder how she will deal with this mutt."

Paul shouted. "Hey! I'll let you know that the ladies never complained." And then he raised one of his eyebrows allusively.

Jared, Sam and a blushing Emily laughed.

Then Paul felt the weight of the imprinting fall again on his heart. "But seriously, what the hell am I going to do?"

Emily smiled kindly. "Just be yourself Paul. You say that she can handle you, then let her know you and see how it goes."

Paul sighed and nodded. "I guess I'll see how things go. She has to come to my house on Friday. Unless I scared her enough that she won't have the courage to be back." He sniggered remembering her blush and her blazing eyes.

Jared smirked and nudged his friend. "By the expression on your face I can just say one thing. You are so whipped!" And then run for the door again.

Paul didn't hesitate to follow him with a growl that would scare many, but not his friend.

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Friday didn't arrive soon enough for Paul. He was still very angry with Jared and Sam. The two dogs had teased him relentlessly. He was a bundle of nerves. It didn't help that he couldn't relieve his tension with a good shag. Apparently imprinting included loyalty in the deal. He was stuck with Bella Swan and god knows how many months of celibacy.

He almost growled when he heard the distinctive sound of the truck getting there. He quickly went to look from the window and saw her getting out of it. He was shocked to notice that she was wearing a skirt. Her lean, long well shaped legs were calling to him.

That girl was going to kill him!

He was still trying to calm himself when too soon she knocked at the door.

Paul felt like a deer caught on the headlight. He then shook his head and took a deep breath. He could do it, he could fucking face his damn imprint and be his usual self.

He put on his annoying smirk and went to open the door. He leaned on the door. "Well if it isn't the angry kitten. Couldn't wait to see me again?"

He had felt the pull of the imprint over the last few days, he had fought hard against it but he knew that at the end there wasn't much he could do. Half of him wanted in, the other wanted out. He was still torn inside and he would have wanted more time to think about it.

But she was here and although he knew that eventually she would be his everything, he was going to get as much fun as he could before surrendering.

AN: next chapter Bella will try her hand at seduction... (I almost feel sorry for Paul... almost...)