Chapter 10

Althea POV

"Family dearest. Paul might come to visit over the next few days" I tell them.

I hear a few groans from just about all my family members.

"Deal with it"

"But the smell" responds Rosalie.

"I know. But still. Deal. With. It" I tell them. 'Paul doesn't smell bad to me, like at all. Maybe it's the soulmate thing'.

"Do you know when he is coming?" Esme asks "I might make him something to eat as well".

"Um, I'm not sure. He was reluctant to come here. He wants me to go to the reservation instead" I tell them.

"But then you got angry" Edward says, chuckling.

I glare at him again.

"Ooh. Paul met the beast that is Althea Cullen today" Emmett jokes.

"I kept my cool, just ask dad" I tell them defensively, raising my hands. 'They know when they have pissed me off. I don't hold back for anyone, especially family'.

My father looked like he just ate a sour worm as everyone looked at him to answer, "She somewhat 'kept her cool'" my father replies, trying to sound diplomatic.

My father looks at me, "What, you did give Paul the cold shoulder"

"The poor man" Rosalie interjects with a snicker.

"I'm hungry" I tell them, getting up from the coach grumpily. 'Let them talk about me. Blah, blah, blah. I think I am moody because I'm so hungry and being away from Paul. This is frustrating'.

I went to the kitchen. I made my own vegetable soup, meaning, my veggies were cooking in a pot filled with human blood. The smell attracted my family. Jasper left to go hunt with Alice. Emmett, Rose and Esme came to sit with me as I made my soup.

"That's disgusting" Esme says.

"I know. But it's delicious" I reply. My cravings are strong today. I knew this was going to happen. It always happens when I have been injured; my cravings become stronger for human blood especially and I have acted on those instincts before when I was younger, especially during my first century as a vampire. I think my body is compensating for the cell damage it went through with the foreign venom.

It's nearly nightfall and I haven't heard from Paul yet. I sigh disappointed, eating my bloody soup.

Paul POV

I was so angry with Althea. I understand she is my imprint, but she is also a bloodsucker. She is one of them. I know she is different and I want her in my life. This is difficult for me. I can accept her, I don't know about her family though.

I don't want her around those other bloodsuckers. 'This is driving me insane'.

I have to go see her, but I don't want to go onto Cullen land.

"Argh" I yell out frustrated and I phase.

'Paul, man, what's got you angry?' Jared asks.

'Why did it have to be her? I am worse than Jacob with Bella. I made fun of her and Jacob. Bella is the leech-lover. Now look at me, I am the leech-lover'

'Yeah, that's ironic. Suck it up' Leah falls into the conversation.

'Shut up Leah'

'Whatever Paul' Leah says.

'I have to see her. I can't take this anymore' I think, running towards the Cullens.

It's already nightfall; the moon is shining brightly above in the sky. I hope she isn't angry with me anymore. Earlier I was furious. Did she not know that I hated vampires? Did she not know that they smelled awful? Did she not know that I want to tear her family to pieces?'

But the more I thought about it, I knew she knew it. But she wanted me to change. I wasn't someone who liked to change much. It was difficult for me in the beginning to accept myself when I first phased, but I enjoyed it too much to complain.

I never thought I would find my imprint, I don't deserve an imprint. I've slept with many girls, I've had many flings, and I am only seventeen years old.

Maybe we can only be friends. Friends for eternity, well until I die one day.

I see their house in view, it's a large mansion that smells of leech. But instead of finding Althea, my imprint, I find the bulky one standing next to the blonde leech.

I stop in front of them. "What do you want mutt?" The blonde asks.

I growl at her and the bulky one steps in front of her, and hisses out a warning.

'Damn it. I didn't come here to fight. I don't need this right now'

"Rosalie, Emmett!" Carlisle says from the doorway. 'At least he is somewhat likeable'.

I go behind a tree, phase back and put on shorts.

"Hey doc. As you see I came to visit" I tell him, trying to keep my tone light. 'Where is she? Shouldn't she be here greeting me? I mean I did just run here to see her'

"I can see that. But shouldn't you have called first. This is unexpected" he tells me.

"Yeah I know. I was impulsive right now. I just had to come see her. Speaking off doc, where is she?" I ask him nervously.

"Come inside. She is currently sleeping, so please keep it down. She doesn't often get to sleep, but I think the past few days has been too much for her"

He takes me into his house. He leads me into the living room where all the leeches were besides my imprint.

"Please take a seat" The doc says.

I do and I feel nervous all of a sudden. My hands tremble a bit, but all of a sudden I was calm again. I remember now one of the leeches has the ability to manipulate emotions. I hate it but at the same time it's very helpful in keeping me calm.

"Before she wakes up, I think we should talk" he tells me.

I gulp.

"Yes, about?"

"About my daughter. We all love her very much. She doesn't give her love and trust easily. And we don't want you to break her heart. I understand that you are starting off as friends, and this is great. But if you decide to take your relationship to more of a romantic one then let me tell you that if you break her heart, not only will I come after you and tear you apart, but so will my family, treaty be damned"

'Geez, he doesn't beat around the bush'

"No we don't" The mind-reader replies to my thoughts. "She is my sister, she has faced many hardships over her lifetime, and we don't want to see her suffer any more than what she has"

"I promise I will protect her and care for her all my life. I cannot harm my imprint. It's against our nature as wolves to harm our imprints. I understand where you're coming from, and I love it that you love her and that she has an amazing family to count on, but I still hate your guts but I'll try for her sake to get along with all of you" I tell them.

"Well mutt. We don't like you either. I think you are wrong for her, she deserves someone better than you, but that's just my opinion. We'll try to get along for her sake, but one wrong move and I will remove your head from your body" The blonde one, Rosalie says.

"The threats are nice and all but I really need to see her. Please. I won't do anything, I won't wake her up, I just need to see her. My wolf is going crazy" I tell them.

I see them look at each other and nod.

Carlisle then takes me upstairs to her room, he slowly opens the door and we both enter. She is laying down on her bed and under her covers. 'She looks like an angel' Her scent is driving me insane again. I want to touch her, but I am scared that I will wake her up. I see a couch by the window, I turn to Carlisle,

"Can I stay here please? I'll be quiet" I ask him. Normally I would just be brash and do what I want but I have to be careful here. I'm in the den of the enemy and it wouldn't do anyone any good if I was being rude to anyone here. I have to try to be better, for her.

"Very well. But keep your hands to yourself" He said and then left.

I laid down on the couch, watching her, counting her breaths. And soon I was lulled to sleep as well.

Althea POV

I wake up with the sun shining through my window and with the sound of heavy breathing. I sit up quickly. 'Paul?! What is he doing here?'

I can hear my family downstairs, Edward speaks up hearing my thoughts, "he came late last night and wanted to see you but you were sleeping for the first time in so long".

'And you didn't think to wake me up?' I think to him.

"No, you had a rough couple of days and you barely sleep anyway. You needed it" I sigh, 'Well no complaining about it now. Paul is here anyway'

I just sit on my bed watching Paul, 'like a stalker'. I hear Edward downstairs snickering. 'Like Edward when he watched Bella like a crazy stalker' I think smugly to him. 'That shut you up real quick, didn't it Edward?'

"Shut up" he grumbles downstairs.

I decide not to wake him up either, he probably needs sleep much more than what I do.

I sneak out of my room, listening if I woke him once outside in the hallway. 'Nope, still sound asleep'.

"Good morning family" I tell them with a bright smile on my face.

A chorus of 'morning' is all I hear. "Someone is happy today. I wonder why" Emmett states, wiggling his eyebrows up and down in a suggestive manner. And I do the mature thing and stick my tongue out at him.

I go to the kitchen and start on breakfast. I make decide to make banana pancakes combined with coconut flour for Paul and I.

"The mutt still here?" Rose asks with a disgusted look on her face.

"Yes. Isn't it great? I never thought he would come here. I can't wait for him to wake up" I tell her cheerfully.

She sighs, "Yeah, me either, then he can leave"

"Rose!" Esme scolds, "Paul can stay as long as he likes".

"Yes. Thanks mum" I tell her.

"What are your plans for today?" Esme asks.

"I'm not sure yet. I want to speak with Paul and see if he wants to do something today. I have to leave for a few days during this weekend to go to Germany again, and then make a stop in the Philippines for another few days. I have some business there" I tell her.

"Oh, alright. Be sure to let your father know as well. He had to go to the hospital earlier this morning for an emergency" Esme tells me.

"I'll let him know as soon as he comes home".

"And you have to discuss this with Paul. He needs to know some of the things that you do" Esme tells me quietly.

"Alright, I'll tell him".

After the food is done, I go upstairs to wake him up.

"Paul" I say softly, touching his arm. And he startles awake.

"Morning Paul"

"Hi, morning" He replies, relaxing a bit more.

"It was a wonderful surprise to see you here when I woke up. Thank you for coming" I tell him softly.

"I had to see you. I was going crazy just thinking that you were so far away from me".

I smile, "I made breakfast for us. Come on" I tell him.

"Um, maybe I should just go" He says awkwardly again. 'Maybe he should just shut the fuck up and stop making it so difficult for us'

"No. I spend all this time to make us breakfast, and now you just want to leave" I try to guilt him into it and he caves.

"Alright, I'll have some breakfast"

"Great" I reply brightly. I feel like a bunny on crack with the amount of excitement coursing through me.

We go downstairs, I hear my family in the living room and I take Paul to say hello. I nudge Paul. "Morning" he says grumpily.

We sit down at the kitchen island. Our plates already made.

"This looks and smell great. Thank you" He says to me.

"Go ahead, dig in"

We ate in silence.

"This is really good. You have to give me the recipe"

"Sure it's really easy. I'll write it down for you" I tell him.

"Are you busy today?" I ask him.

"I have to patrol later tonight. But I am free today" He tells me.

"Do you want to do something? We can go Seattle, get a coffee. We can stay here. Take a walk in the forest. Anything really. We have to talk" I tell him.

"Yeah, we do. We can go to Seattle if you want. I haven't been there in a while" He tells me.

"We can leave in half an hour if you'd like" I tell him.

"I don't have clothes with me. I'd have to stop at the res"

"That's not necessary. Alice!" I call out.

"Alright, I'll see what will fit him" Alice says.

"No, that's not necessary. I have my own clothes and besides, your clothes stink" He tells me.

"Really? The stench?! Don't worry too much about it darling. Alice bought clothes for us a few days ago and it hasn't been worn yet".

He conceded and we found some of the new clothes of Emmett that'll fit him.

We then left in my car to Seattle, with me driving. The drive was silent, but not that awkward.

We arrived at one of the malls, got out and headed for this lovely coffee shop, we picked a private area to sit at with no one around us to hear what we are speaking about.

"Thanks again for staying with me last night" I start.

"Don't mention it" he replies politely.

I clear my throat, "I guess I should start then. I was born in the year 1655…"