Disclaimer: Twilight isn't mine.

The Unscrupulous Council

Getting Personal

Chapter 7

Bella eventually passed out in Quil's arms like a small child. If she was being honest, she had reached a place with her psychiatrist where she knew that her fear was irrational. The pack were essentially non-threatening even if she disliked them in general. She had progressed to where she was able to react rationnally to a non-threatening male in a room with her. Even if it did feel as though someone had stepped over her grave and her instincts kicked in. She could deny her instinctual reaction. The car didn't feel all that closed in like a room. But that Jacob had taken away her choice and forced her into a car with three men had made it hard to deny her instincts and another part of her rebelled against being told what to do. Her fit in the car had been a combination of fear and a temper tantrum. Not that the pack knew this.

An impromptu meeting started at Johsua's place. Seth and Jacob sat either end of the three seater couch and Quil carried sleeping Bella onto his lap. There was still antagonism between the Alpha and his second in command. Jacob was second guessing whether he should order Joshua and Quil Sr to stop phasing. Jacob drew the meeting to order and discussed Asook. There was discussion regarding a spy, because Asook knew of Bella. Side glances at Quil Sr and Joshua flickered throughout the room.

Conversation flowed to lighter topics and soon the pack were bonding. They chattered and soon a joke brought about an outburst of laughter. Bella's eyes flew open to see a sea of large shirtless men surrounding her. Fear gripped her heart and she scrambled clinging to Seth who she had been laying her feet on. The pack were quiet watching her reaction. She gazed at each of them willing herself to be calm feeling her clammy hands gripping Seth's shirt collar. He tried to hush her and pull her to him. Her heart beat erratically in her chest. She told herself that she had made enough of a scene in the car. She wouldn't show her weakness with this audience. The pack could smell her fear rolling out from her.

Paul's eyes met Bella's and suddenly he couldn't hear anything or see anything but Bella. His breath hitched and he stepped towards her on Jared's thigh as he sat on the floor. Jared glared but saw that Paul was watching Bella instensely. His world had shifted and she was the most important part of it. He had to love and protect as the most precious being alive on the planet. He thought of all things she had done since she had arrived in La Push and knew the kid needed a firm hand hand that had been missing her entire life. She was keenly aware of his focused gaze and squirmed beneath the weight of his view. She tried to drag her eyes away but was unable to. The pack watched the exchange confused. It looked like Paul was imprinting only, he looked more like an authority figure than a lovesick puppy like other pack members had appeared. He felt extremely protective of her remembering that she had been alone with Asook today. He could have killed her! He stood over Bella and pointed to the door.

"Home, now." He was pulling her up by the wrist and leading her out the door to the stunned reaction of the pack. Bella allowed herself to be led away as confusion reigned over her face.

"Wha-what are you doing? Who put you in charge?" Bella tried to ask in a demanding tone but sounded weaker than she had meant to. A part of her instantly trusted him. As though he were a close friend with authority. She couldn't tell if she was attracted to him or viewed him as family.

Jacob jumped up and held Paul's shoulder. "Did you just imprint? Because this isn't how it usually works." He tried to ask gently but with enough strength to ensure that Paul understood that he expected an answer. Paul considered for a moment what had happened.

"Yes, I've imprinted. She needs to go home now." He said calmly before continuing to lead her out of the room. Seth looked at Jacob for reassurance which Jacob gave freely. Seth smiled at Bella and she half-heartedly believed it was going to work out. He knew that Sue and Leah were at home and they would watch out for her. They listened to Sue's car pull away and everyone began talking at once.

Jacob called attention. "Joshua, do you have any clue what the hell that was?"

Joshua laughed. "She hasn't had her menarche yet. As far as his wolf is concerned she's a child. The wolves and hopefully our young men aren't interested in mating with children. I don't know what they are right now. But she has a father even if he hasn't been a figure in her life. She doesn't need someone to play in the sandbox with her. I don't know if he's going to be like a friend or older brother for now. But she clearly doesn't need a lover." The pack contemplated this.

"I'm not rude like that to Claire." Quil said defensively.

"Claire's six years old and has loving parents and a relatively normal life. Bella's fifteen year's old and had one crazy parent living on the run. Don't you think they require different approaches?" Joshua suggested.

"What's a menarche?" Embry finally asked the question most of the others hadn't been brave enough to ask.


Paul was quiet in the car. Bella stared at him in bewilderment. What on earth was happening now? She didn't even know this guy and he was infringing on her out of nowhere. Who did he think he was and what is imprinting?

"You should be ready to move in with Charlie now. You probably could have gone last week. Why are you avoiding him?" Paul asked directly and without hesitation. Paul remembered when Jared phased how he had to fight his wolf that wanted to claim Kim immediately. His wolf wasn't fighting him internally. His wolf acknowledged his mate was immature. Paul was surprised that it didn't disturb him that he wouldn't be having casual sex anymore. All he could see was Bella and he was content with that. What he wasn't happy about was that Bella was missing her opportunity to her father in her life. Or that she risked her life daily for hits of adrenalin. Why did she need to feel alive? And he wondered what damage had been done to her while she was homeless with her mother. A person doesn't become so violent without violence first being brought against them. His wolf growled inside at the idea of their mate being hurt.

"I'm not. We meet up for dinner once a week at the diner." She mumbled with a blush reaching her cheeks. How could he know so much?

"You already know you're ready to move in with him. But you said nothing. You hate the pack. Why stay close to us?" Paul glanced over at her from the road. He was taking a longer route around the Sue's place to finish the conversation.

"The Clearwater's don't become mean behind closed doors. I don't trust that Charlie won't change a month from now with me behind closed doors." Bella admitted. Paul's heartbroke. She belonged with her father. The Clearwaters were selfish to keep her so long and not push her to join her father.

"The pack will be keeping a close eye on you and you won't be isolated. I don't believe for a moment that Charlie would hurt you and even if he could, we would pull you out before he could do any damage. I'm going to talk to Sue about moving you to Charlie's. As much as I would like to keep you in La Push, you need to go to Forks and have some time with your father." Paul pulled up on the Clearwater's driveway. They saw Sue's head poke through the curtains and knew exactly what was coming next. An irate Sue threw the front door open and stomped out of the house wearing pj's and a bathrobe in the rain. Bella decided right now that it was a good thing that she would be going to live with Charlie and going to Forks high school likely in the following days.


Jacob stood in human form in the clearing flanked by a furious Paul in wolf form to one side and a calm Joshua in wolf form flanking him to the other side. Across the clearing stood the blond Leech who worked as a doctor at the local hospital flanked by a large brunette male and a slim auburn male. The smell was revolting. They stood under the moonlight observing each other quietly. Jacob wore knee length shorts riding low on his hips. His bare chest packed solidly with muscle gleamed under the quarter moon peeking in and out of the clouds. Now that Leah was temporarily out of the pack. The sense of a boys club had returned. He didn't like to admit it as he loved his sister as much as his brothers, but he enjoyed the sense of masculinity that came with an all male pack. The sense of brotherhood. He had phased at sixteen years old and Leah had joined two years ago. At twenty, he missed this and wondered whether Leah would be open to staying human permanently or if asking her would hurt her feelings. His thoughts masked his impatience and anger. He needed to think of less important matters as he already knew everything that he would say at this meeting. It was important to stay calm despite his instincts.

"Thank you for meeting with us on short notice." Jacob greeted the doctor. He stepped forward as the doctor moved to greet him closer to the halfway point in the clearing. The doctor was dressed semi-casually in a light sweater over a pinstriped dress shirt and tan khaki's. But despite his relaxed mannerisms, there was something too crisp about his appearance to give the relaxed impression he was aiming form. Jacob's wolf felt tense despite the doctors excellent impression of being human.

"We were happy to oblige. We seem to have a problem. It looks as though we need to redraw treaty lines. Could you please explain why you crossed our boundaries?" The covens leader tried to ask as delicately as possible but there wasn't a tactful way to ask this question. In recent years there had been a few incidents that had raised the stakes on the treaty and tensions were riding high. The Cullen's had something to prove to show that they could ride out their time in Forks living alongside a people who knew what they were and remembered and held them accountable for their actions. This latest incident didn't help matters but he wasn't about to be walked over by the La Push pack.

"As soon as you can tell us why he was following a human with hunger in his eyes and venom on his breath." Jacob looked to the auburn haired vampire accusingly. Paul was shaking again so Jacob put a calming hand on his shoulder. The accused attempted to stare down Jacob but doctor shot a look back at him as though in warning.

"For this negotiation to go forward we will need to open up a little. I'll tell you what he was doing, as he didn't break the treaty, if you'll agree to tell us why you were following the same human. Is that fair enough?" The doctor proposed skillfully. Jacob looked to Paul, who growled but gave a slight nod. Jacob then looked to Joshua's opinion. Joshua nodded his giant head reluctantly.

"Sometimes, a human stands apart from other humans to one vampire. We call them 'singers'. That human's blood calls to a specific vampire. My son unfortunately met his singer today and was struggling with his control. I'm proud that he didn't break the treaty today, but he will be leaving Forks for Alaska after this meeting. He will need to learn enough control to stay away from his singer." The doctor spoke watching Paul as his rage grew.

Jacob stepped back and placed a reassuring hand on Pauls muzzle while keeping his eyes on the doctor. He moved forward again letting go of Paul.

"We are keeping a close eye on the human because she destined to be mated within my pack. You should have warned us about 'singers' when you first wrote the treaty. We need to know about additional grave threats against humans." Jacob announced grimly. He wanted to negotiate for more land reaching to Bella's home in Forks without giving up any land. He also felt that they had been untruthful with the Quileute. They made treaties under the guise of full disclosure. What else where the coven hiding from them? This wasn't permisable.

The auburn haired vampire went by the name Edward and listened to Jacob's thoughts. He appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, but his clothes didn't profess a teenage boy. He wore a light tan pullover with fitted jeans that suggested a young fashionable professional in his late twenties. Meanwhile his stance bordered between aloof and defensive. Hearing Jacob's thoughts, Edward felt pain realizing that the young girl had already been claimed as best you could on a child. The one by the name of Paul would wait patiently until such a time as she was ready. Edward felt torn between wanting to protect the human girl from Paul and everything else while at the same time wanting to sink his teeth into her soft skin like butter and drink her back until he had drained her completely. It didn't make any sense and he had ceased trying to make sense of his inclinations. Even now, he knew they had taken her back to La Push and he was struggling with himself to not break the treaty and chase after her onto their lands and take her. Take her where? Take her how? He wasn't sure. He wanted her and knew he should not have her. Her mysterious mind that was silent to him. The dogs were right, he was a danger to her. But so were they.

"As if you aren't a threat to her? This pack is full of unstable young mutts capable of ripping her to shreds in a moment of bad temper." Edward sneered.

Paul lunged forward and Edward dropped down into a crouching position prepared to take batter Paul into a bloody disgusting pulp.

"Stop!" Jacob's Alpha command rang out causing Paul to yelp as he came to a jolting halt. Edward kept a cool collected face and straightened up but inside his was biting back his mirth watching the dog being pulled back on his leash.

"I apologize for my son's outburst." The doctor said hurriedly shooting a warning glance back at Edward. The doctor had argued with Edward about leaving for Alaska but after this display, it seemed to be for the best. His family were loving and could live peaceably beside humans. They had for many years and they would continue to do so. Edward had proved enough today seeing as his singer lived. But maybe they shouldn't push his son's self-control any further.

Jacob stepped forward handing over a rolled up map to the doctor fighting to control his fury. "I expect you to agree to the new boundaries including the chief of police's home. We will be needing daily access to Forks highschool to keep an eye on the human girl. We will agree to stay in human form unless we are threatened or we happen to see a human threatened by a vampire within our vicinity. This one," Jacob eyed Edward. "Will leave for Alaska and none of you will speak to this human girl in future. Will you agree to these terms?" Jacob knew he was playing hardball, but he was too angry that they had kept this from the pack. One of their imprints had been at risk today and they had smelled their scent leading right up to her bedroom window soon before she slept. The Cullen's didn't belong near any humans bedroom windows never mind an imprints.

Dr Carlisle Cullen took a cursory look over the map but wanted to know what Edward had heard before agreeing to anything. "May I speak with my sons privately before I agree to anything?" Carlisle asked softly. He had a feeling that they were on dangerous territory. This young human girl was of particular value to the pack and Edward had touched a sore point. Otherwise Carlisle wouldn't consider this unfair exchange. He expected she was imprinted on, given one wolf in particular took exception to Edward's proximity to the girl. He knew a small amount about it, but he couldn't be sure.

Jacob nodded and stepped back without taking his eyes off of the coven. He watched the coven retreat across the field. They looked over the map and discussed things carefully. One son seemed to be arguing with the doctor but the larger bloodsucker wearing dark trousers and shirt with it's sleeves rolled up above his elbows whispered sternly. The slimmer son bowed his head and reluctantly seemed shrugged. The leeches said a few more things before coming to agreement and returning across the clearing.

"We can agree to everything except not to talk to the girl. The behaviour would call too much attention in social situations. All of my children are out of high school and our social circles don't appear to mix at this time. I don't foresee reason to socialize with her. We will make an effort to avoid her. We are sensitive to your needs in this situation and give you everything that you have asked for within reason. Can you except this?" Carlisle smiled gently as he presented his counter offer.

Jacob's arms were crossed and he eyed Carlisle suspiciously. Why would it be socially awkward? What did they have in mind? Were they planning something? Was Paul's imprint about to be lured and kidnapped? The Alpha wasn't pleased. He considered Carlisle's words carefully. He would have Hell Cat watched carefully at all times. They would observe for any untowards interest from the Cullen's and they would be ready to renegociate the treaty if necessary. He heard Paul still growling from his flank. Jacob threw him a warning look before responding to the doctor.

"I can agree to these terms. I want it on paper. We will need to draw up the papers, review and meet to sign an updated treaty." Jacob answered authoritatively as he watched the doctor and sons carefully. This young imprint caused more trouble for the pack than all of the imprints in Jacob's four year memory as a wolf. He struggled with the close proximity to the rancid, sweety, bleach scent emanating from the leeches.

Carlisle nodded agreement reaching his right hand out to the young Alpha. The young man stared at his hand with revulsion for a moment before the wolf Carlisle recognized from previous dealings as Joshua nudged the young Alpha with his muzzle. Carlisle's hand was soon wrapped in the firm, heated grip of the young Alpha who grimaced at the cold hard hand belonging to his mortal enemy. As with all other dealings. The representatives from the pack stood silently and watched as the representatives from the coven retreated from the clearing.

AN: A bit of a tease not showing the readers the first days of Paul and Bella's developing relationship just yet. But them's the breaks. I show things in the order I deem best. :P Hope you liked the chapter because it might take a little longer to come back to this story. I need to focus on Noise. I've been tripping on the most recent chapter and need to figure out what's wrong with it.