Chapter 9

Paul's POV

I just stand there, in the open doorway, not knowing what to do. My imprint is not here. Her scent is strong, meaning she was here, but then again, it is her bedroom. What the hell am I supposed to do?

Turning around, I walk back into the living room. I just stand there, again. Jacob is crying into Leah's shoulder, and she is rubbing his back soothingly. The rest of the pack is standing around the room, just staring at their alpha. Everyone is silent.

"Jared, can I talk to you?" I say, trying to keep my voice from quivering. I am seconds away from totally freaking out.

"Uh, sure," he says, getting up from a chair he is sitting in. He follows me outside, and that's when I lose it.

"Dude, calm down. You gotta calm down, I can't understand you. Paul!" Jared yells, placing his hands on my shoulder. "What's the matter?!"

"Sh-she's gone! Bella's g-gone!" I sob, shaking.

"What?"

"My imprint ran away and I have no idea where she is!"

"Stay here."

Sitting down, I wrap my arms around my legs and cry. Jacob's outburst scared me. I had no idea how bad this situation was. I guess that Bella has gone through a lot in her childhood. How am I supposed to help her?

"Paul, are you alright?" Embry asks, walking toward me.

"N-no. I'm not. Bella's gone and I have no idea where she is. Jacob is freaking out and that scared me. And-and I don't know what to do!" I yell, burying my head in my hands.

"Alright, listen up. We'll split up to find her. Jacob can't know about this," Jared says, taking charge. "Alright, Embry and Quil, take the south border. Seth, Brady, and Cole, take the north. Um, rest of us take the west. Paul, are you alright by yourself on the east side?" Jared says, looking at me warily.

I take a calming breath and stand up. I took my shirt off and said, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go find my imprint.

"Everyone phases and heads off in different directions. I remain silent as I run to the east side of the border. Everyone else is talking about different things. Bella, Jacob, Sam, Emily, Bella again. Wow.

I run past a tree, but skid to a stop, and run into another tree.

Ow, I think.

Dude, careful. Don't want to hurt yourself now, most of the pack thinks.

Oh, shut up.

I run back to that tree and sniff it. It has Bella's scent. I follow the scent down a path for awhile, and then I see her. She's just sitting there, on a rock. Her shoes are beside her, and she has her feet in the river. She's look down at the water. She sniffles. I phase back to my human form and put my clothes back on. Walking out of the trees, I sit beside her. She looks at me from the corner of her eyes and nods her head. We don't talk.

"You know, your uncle is really worried about you," I say softly.

"Who cares. Besides no one in my family cares about me," Bella says.

"That's not true, Bella. Your family does love you, so much. You just have to see it."

"Then why would they leave me here?"

"I don't know."

We become silent again.

"This is my favorite place, you know. My dad and I always came here when I was little," she whispers, looking at me.

"What did you guys do here?"

"He taught me to swim here. I took my first steps here. We just played all the time when we were here."

"Well, that's good. And that shows you that your father loved you. He cared enough to take the time with you. To spend time with you and make you happy."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Well, look how you turned out. You are a lovely, beautiful girl. From what I heard, you've had a hard life, but you've kept it together. That is the part that you and your father share."

"Oh."

"I wished that I had that. A father like yours," I whisper.

"Really? One that goes off to war and never returns?" Bella says, swaying her feet.

"Yeah. My father is a lousy ass. He's abusive and never gets caught. He left my mom and I when I was eight."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm actually glad he left. I would rather have no father than an abusive one."

"Oh."

"Why won't you accept other people's help?" I ask, looking over at Bella.

"Because I don't want to appear weak. I promised my father I would be strong. I promised him. I can't break my promise."

"You know, you can still keep your promise. Being strong isn't just about being on your own. Seeking help may look weak to some people, but it doesn't look weak to me. Admitting that you need help is probably the strongest thing in the world. You don't need to be alone in this," I say, taking her hand.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, Paul."

"You know, you speak very well for your age. You are really mature, as a matter a fact," I say, moving a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"Ha! Yeah, I get that a lot. My family swears that I was born at forty."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I remember my dad calling me Little Miss Grown-Up. It always made me laugh."

"That is hilarious."

"Yeah."

We stay silent for a little while after that. Just looking at the water, the trees, and flowers, each other. I feel a rain drop, and look up at the sky. The clouds are black.

"Come on, let's get you home," I say, standing up.

"Can you carry me?" Bella asks, looking up at me speechlessly.

"Are you serious?"

"Yep! How about a piggy back ride?"

"Oh, alright."

"Yay!"

"Alright, hop up."

"One, two, three."

"Oof, you're heavy."

"Oh, shut up and carry me home."

"Yes, m'mam."