Chapter 4: Answers

By the end of the week, Paul still hadn't contacted me. I wasn't sure if it worried or annoyed me more-but to be honest at this point I was more annoyed than worried. It made me think that he was avoiding me. I didn't want to think like that, but I couldn't help it. I had no idea why he'd be avoiding me…but I didn't like it.

I had been texting and calling him a few times throughout the week, only to get no reply or his voicemail. I had left him a few voicemails, but most of the time I would just hang up in frustration.

"Mel?" Mike asked, snapping me out of my reverie.

"What?" I asked. I had noticed that I had been quite a bit snappier this week than normal.

"Do you want to go to First Beach next Saturday?"

First Beach…memories of my first time there assaulted my brain, and a wave of sadness washed over me. Why haven't you called me? Why? What did I do?

"Sure," I said to Mike, mind in other places.

"We're meeting at my parents' sporting goods store at eight, that okay?"

"Perfect," I mumbled, still not paying much attention.

If I didn't hear from Paul by tonight, I would haul my ass down to La Push and find out what his problem was. I mean, if he had wanted to break up with me, shouldn't I know about it? Shouldn't I get an explanation as to why he was breaking up with me? Didn't I deserve that?

As the bell rang, I went to gym. Thankfully Coach Clapp was absent, so I just skipped the class. I sat out in my car, thinking about what I'd say to Paul when I saw him. After deliberating for the entire period…I still wasn't sure. English was brutal. It went by as slowly as it possibly could. Even Jasper, who was normally always calm and patient, seemed to be antsy. I let my thoughts wander back to Paul for what must have been the millionth time today. How would I be able to wait to see him until tomorrow? I had no idea, but I had to. I didn't want to seem pushy, but I had to know what was going on with him.

I didn't want to think this, but I couldn't help but think that he had found another girl, and was just avoiding me to make it easier on him.

No. I pushed the thought out of my head. Paul was not like that…was he?

He surely would have called to at least break it off with me…wouldn't he?

"Melanie?" called the teacher from the front of the room.

"Yes?"

"Do you know the answer?"

Oh shit. I made myself look like I was thinking hard about it.

"Macbeth," Jasper whispered from beside me.

"Macbeth?" I answered.

"Correct," he said, pursing his lips.

"Thank you," I whispered to Jasper.

"No problem."

When the bell finally rang, I jumped out of my seat, eager to get out of school. I practically ran out to the parking lot and into my car. I wanted to beat everyone out of the parking lot, so I wouldn't be stuck in the long line-up there always was to get out. Even though Johnny had given me tonight off, I found myself turning down the familiar road that led to La Push.

It wasn't on purpose, promise…

Once I got to La Push, I realized that I had absolutely no idea where Paul lived, so I decided I would just drive around a bit until I saw him. After about twenty minutes, it started pouring, and I was beginning to lose hope. But then, I saw a familiar body walking down the street. He only had on a thin t-shirt and a pair of shorts like the ones I'd wear in gym. How was he not freezing?! I was freezing with my jacket and scarf on! I pulled over and got out of my car.

"Hey!" I yelled over the rain, slamming my car door. Paul turned around to face me, and his expression scared me. He looked cold and distant. "I thought you were sick! You could have at least answered my calls, to let me know you were alive!"

"Mel…you should leave," he said without any emotion.

"What?"

"Go away," he said forcefully. He may be trying to hide his emotions, but I didn't mistake the angry set of his jaw. What the hell was going on?

"What the hell happened to you?" I demanded. He didn't say anything, just watched me, with a very carefully composed blank expression. "You could have at least called me to tell me it was over."

"Maybe I don't want it to be over," he said; I could hear the anger in his voice.

"What are you talking about?"

"Mel, just go. You should leave. It isn't safe for you here," he said. "Go."

I stared up into his eyes. Behind the mask of blankness, I saw my Paul. He was sad, I could tell. He didn't really want me to go, but he was trying to force me.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "Please…just go. I-"

"Paul!" barked a voice from behind him.

I looked around Paul's literally massive bicep to see Sam Uley and another Quileute man-who I could only assume was that guy Jared Paul had told me about-standing next to each other.

I met Paul's eyes, putting the pieces together. "Did Sam get to you? What did he do?"

"He's helping me," he said, clenching his jaw.

"No, he obviously isn't. If you aren't going to give me any answers, I'll just get them from him." I pushed past Paul and walked right up to Sam, staring him in the eye. "What did you do to him?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," I snapped. "He's been avoiding my calls all week, and the last time I had any contact with him he told me he was sick. And now you are here ordering him around, when just last week he was scared of you."

"Go home, Melanie," Sam tried to order me.

I planted my feet, and cocked an eyebrow at him. "No. I want some answers."

"Like what?"

"Like, how are you just walking around out here with no shirt on? And what is happening to Paul?"

"That isn't for you to know," the man who I assumed was Jared said in a slightly rude tone.

"Don't take that tone with her, Jared," Paul practically growled from behind me. Oh, so I was right, that was Jared.

"There are rules, Melanie," Sam cut in before Paul and Jared got into an actual argument. "You can't know what's going on."

I glowered up at him, not liking what he had said one bit.

"Mel, leave," Paul said from behind me, grasping my arm and turning me around so I was forced to look into his eyes. His eyes were burning into mine, and I knew that he didn't really want me to leave, but he felt like I needed to…but I wasn't going to leave without an answer.

"Paul, I need some answers."

"I wish I could tell you, but I can't. I wish you knew…it would be so much easier that way, but I can't. I'm so sorry."

"Paul!" Sam barked.

"I have to go," Paul said immediately, any emotion wiped clear off of his face.

"So that's it?" I demanded. "That's how you're going to end it with me? Telling me there's something you 'wish' I know but can't tell me? Real nice, Paul, real nice."

"Try to understand-"

"How can I try to understand?!" I demanded. "I can't understand anything about this, because none of you want to tell me!"

"Paul! We have to go. Now," Sam barked out.

"Can you give us a minute?" I demanded, whirling around to face Sam.

"We have to leave," Jared said, annoyance clipping his tone.

"Don't talk to her like that, Jared," Paul snapped.

"Or what?" Jared taunted with an amused look on his face. Paul had an absolutely thunderous look on his face, and he started shaking.

"Paul. Calm down," Sam said, warning clear in his voice, but Paul didn't stop shaking. "Jared, back off."

"What's happening to him?" I asked. "Is he having a seizure?!"

"Stand back, Melanie," Sam ordered. This time, I actually listened to him. Paul was…changing? His whole body seemed to be transforming. I went to take a step towards him, but Sam yelled, "Stand back!" and it made me stop dead in my tracks. I looked at Sam for a long second, and when I looked back at Paul he was gone, and there was a huge grey wolf where he used to be standing. I stood rooted to the spot I was in, frozen with fear, not believing what I was seeing. The giant wolf growled menacingly at Jared and started moving towards him.

"Jared, don't you dare," Sam warned, glaring at Jared's smirk. "Take Mel to Em's. look at her, she's terrified. I'll calm Paul down.

.

"Or what?" Jared taunted. Paul had a thunderous look on his face. He started shaking.

"Paul. Calm down." Sam said, warning clear in his voice. Paul didn't stop shaking. "Jared, back off."

"Is he having a seizure?" I shrieked.

"Stand back, Melanie," Sam ordered, this time I did what he had told me. Paul was…changing? His whole body seemed to be transforming.

"What's happening to him?" I shrieked.

"Stand back!" Sam yelled.

I looked at Sam for a long second, and when I looked back at Paul, he was gone. Or…there was a huge grey wolf where he used to be standing. I stood rooted to the spot, frozen with fear. The giant wolf growled at Jared, moving towards him.

"Jared, don't you dare," Sam warned, glaring at Jared's smirk. "You should take Melanie to Em's. Look at her, she's terrified. I'll calm Paul down."

Jared looked at me and held his hand out. I stared at it, then back at his face, then back at his hand again. I had no idea what he wanted.

He cleared his throat. "Car keys?"

Oh. "They're in the ignition."

"Come on, let's get you warmed up. Can you walk?" he asked.

I nodded, but he put his hand on the small of my back anyway and led me to my car. I looked back at Sam and the wolf…or….was it Paul? Sam had called him Paul, but there was no way that could be him! It was a wolf, not a human being! I got into the car with Jared's help, all the while looking back at Sam and…Paul? I was in shock.

"You know, you're doing really well. Emily fainted when she found out," Jared said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Was that…that was Paul?" I asked.

"Yep," he said, driving my car expertly.

"How?!" I asked, bewildered.

"It's hard to explain, you should get Paul to do it."

"And you…you're a…a wolf, too?"

"Yeah, Sam, Paul and me," he grinned. "All wolves. Best pack in town." He said that last part with a wink.

"Mono?" I asked, raising a brow. "That was the best he could come up with? Really?"

"Don't take that part out on me, it was all him," Jared said, shrugging.

"What's Sam doing now?" I asked, looking out the back window, but we were too far to see them anymore.

"He's probably just talking to Paul, no biggie," he said.

"No biggie," I repeated. We drove in silence until he pulled into the driveway of a small house. "Where are we?"

"Emily and Sam's place," he said. "Don't worry, we won't bite…much." He said the last part with another wink.

"Gee, thanks," I mumbled sarcastically.

"Come on. Em's probably made some food." I followed Jared into the house, but lingered in the doorway. Jared immediately went to the kitchen table where there was a huge stack of pancakes and an assortment of fruits.

"Hey!" said a female voice from the kitchen; she hadn't seen me yet-she had her back to me. "Don't eat it all. Save some for your brothers." She turned and I immediately recognized her. She was the woman in the grocery store the other day who had asked me where the dog treats were. How ironic. No wonder she had been trying to mask a smile when asking me for them. "Who's this?"

"Mel," Jared said.

"Paul's Mel?"

"Yep, she just found out, I think she's in shock," Jared said, smirking at me.

"I don't blame her," she said, smiling warmly at me. "Are you hungry?"

"No, not at all," I said quietly.

"You should sit down," she said, coming over to me and leading me to the kitchen table. "I know how big of a shock it is now, but you'll get used to it." She helped me into a chair, and directed Jared. "Is she his imprint?"

"I think so; he hasn't stopped thinking about her," he said, rolling his eyes, but I noticed his gaze linger on my for a few extra moments as if he was making sure Emily got me into the chair okay.

"Thinking about me?" I repeated.

"Pack plural," he said, tapping his head as if I should know what that meant. I looked at Emily, begging her with my eyes for a better explanation.

"When the boys phase, they can read each other's thoughts," she said. "It's how they communicate with each other. Wolves obviously aren't the best communicators."

"Oh."

"Ugh, you should hear him! All he thought about was how much he missed you, but Sam and his damn rules…" Jared complained.

"Sounds like an imprint," Emily said. "Speaking of which, where are they?"

Before shovelling more food into his mouth, Jared said, "Paul phased in front of her. Sam's talking to him."

Emily clicked her tongue, obviously upset about something. At that moment, Paul and Sam strolled into the house. Paul was wearing a new set of shorts and a t-shirt. Sam went right for Emily and pecked her on the lips. I looked down at the plate Emily had put in front of me when I wasn't paying attention. I wasn't hungry at all; any appetite I may have had vanished at seeing Paul transform into a giant wolf.

I felt a very warm presence behind me, and then Paul murmured, "Can I talk to you?" in my ear. I nodded and stood up as he led me into a bedroom behind the kitchen. I sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at my hands. He leaned against the wall across from me.

"So now you know," he said quietly.

"Now I know," I echoed, keeping my head down.

"I know you probably think this is weird."

I laughed a short, humourless laugh. "Weird doesn't even begin to describe it."

"I know how insane this is," he said, kneeling in front of me, turning my face up to his with his finger. "But I can't help it."

"I know that," I said softly, looking into his eyes. His eyes searched mine, and mine searched his. I didn't know what I was looking for there; it was just a moment of serenity between us. Then, I remembered something. "What did Jared say about an imprint?"

"So he let that slip," Paul said, running a hand through his hair. "An imprint is a sort-of love-at-first-sight thing that happens to us. We see a girl, fall in love, and imprint on them."

"So you've…you've imprinted on me?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. I opened my mouth, but he stopped me from speaking. "I'm not forcing you into anything. If you don't want to be with me, then I don't blame you. I just always need to know that you're safe so I don't go insane."

"I…I need some time," I whispered.

He nodded. "I completely understand that. Take as much time as you need."