AN: thanks for the reviews, as usual you're all amazing.

Chapter 10

They had packed all their belongings and placed them into the truck that Paul had finally found, when they were sitting in it, ready to leave, he turned to look at her and saw that she looked very emotional. "What's up Swan? You aren't really going to miss this shithole place, are you?" He asked her.

She shook her head. "I was thinking about this truck... it's red like the one I used to have back in Forks... I guess sometimes the little things strike directly in my heart... I miss so much of my old life, and the funny thing is that I wanted so much to leave it behind like I didn't care at all... I was a fool."

Paul sighed and pulled her into his arms. "Listen, I can't promise you that I'll take you back because I can't. There are the Volturi and Cullen to think about, but I can promise you that I'll do my best to make your life happier. I'm no Jacob though..."

She pressed her head into his chest and took a deep breath. "No you aren't... you're Paul and I'm okay with it. As I already told you I did love Jacob but it would have never been enough for me. I don't think we would have really been happy together, he was holding onto an image of me that wasn't real... he took all the pieces of my heart and fixed them, but I wasn't' the woman I'm now and he doesn't know me anymore... I'm different and so is he; we went through too much to start anew..."

"I think you might be right, but I guess he'll need some closure. When the air will be cleared you'll have to at least call him and try to sort him out... because he isn't doing well, and nothing anyone can say will make a difference but to hear it from you then it might give him the strength to move on." Paul told her, trying to convince himself that what he was saying was just for Jacob's benefit, but knowing full well that from the moment he had decided to keep her then he needed to solve the 'Jacob's situation'. "Now, are we ready to leave?"

She moved away smiling slightly and with her eyes sparkling again. "Sure, sure. Start the truck Captain Paul."

Paul burst out laughing. "Captain? That would make you Second in Command."

"Of course." She answered.

He started the truck and they finally left behind their second life. He hoped that the third one was the lucky one for both of them, they had a long journey ahead but he was ready and he hoped she was too.

After a few hours spent in companionable silence, she turned to look at him. "So what did Sam say yesterday?"

Damn! Paul swore in his mind, the girl would not relent until she had an answer. "We talked about us going away, Sam and the Elders weren't happy, but as you know I don't give a fuck about anyone's opinion but mine... and maybe yours."

She nodded. "So Billy knows about me being alive... what did he say?"

"He told me through Sam to protect you and when the treat was gone to take you back to Jacob." Paul said unemotionally.

"To take me back to Jacob? Like a package that can be passed back and forth? Did he really say to take me back to Jacob?" She sputtered looking very angry and when he nodded she went on with her rant. "The face of him! When Jacob phased Billy didn't' even want to see my face and now... now it looks like he loves me like a daughter... the nerve of him!"

"What can I say? The Elders order and we have to obey... well I don't fucking obey to anyone but Sam and not always... so you can be sure that I ain't taking you back to no one." Paul growled.

"What I wonder now is why? Why would he want me back for Jacob so much?" Bella whispered, now spent after her tirade.

Paul's mind started to work quickly then, it was a good question. The way Sam had spoken about it should have given him a hint that there was something more behind it. If the Cullens wanted Bella for more than being Edward's mate, could it be that the Elders knew something connected to her and their future Chief? "It's a good question Swan, I'll ask Sam to dig further, now that you mentioned it, it's actually strange because... no offence here... you're a pale-face and you really wouldn't look suitable for a Chief... but you've always been treated like one of us and that has never happened with a non-Quileute..."

"Do you think there's something that they're not telling us?" She asked, and he praised her for her quick mind.

"It could be, I always suspected that the Cullens wanted you for more than your pretty face, the Elders might be not much different." He said, still thinking that there was something fishy about the whole situation.

Bella remained silent for a while and then talked. "I started to think that about the Cullens too. I know that Edward was really fascinated by me and because I was his singer and my mind was silent to him he found me fascinating. But I got a weird feeling when we got back from the honeymoon. They have a friend who is able to detect gifts and the way he looked at me when we met was disconcerting... I can't imagine what the Elders would do with me though..."

Paul was brooding. "How was he looking at you?" He asked feeling himself starting to vibrate; the thought of Bella close to more bloodsuckers was upsetting him.

She turned to look at him and scooted closer, slowly she placed her head on his shoulder and the animal in him relaxed. "Just like I was a coveted prize, and then he went into Carlisle's office and they talked for a lot of hours. It was just a feeling..." She tried to minimize.

"Honestly, I don't think so; there must have been more than that. I only believed in Jacob's love for you, Edward Cullen, excluding the fact that he's a bloodsucker... well, I don't think you were his mate." He stated, knowing it because he was sure that she was his.

She sighed and placed her little hands around his biceps, scooting even closer. "I don't think that either, probably he was attracted to my blood more than my character... I'm the first to admit that I didn't have a personality at all when I was with him, he and Alice decided everything, I was putty into their hands."

"Now it's over Swan. You're with me and although I'm not an easy man, I still consider your opinion worth something." He reassured her.

She looked up and smiled. "I know, your wolf is very charming too. I just wish to meet him again in better circumstances."

The wolf in him felt smug, he liked the attention she was giving him. "What do you know about my wolf?" He asked curious to know how she was really feeling.

"He's always near the surface when we are... physically together. Sometimes your eyes have a yellow ring around the brown... like yesterday night... I wasn't scared, I thought he was pissed about something and he wanted some comfort." She said softly.

Paul was surprised by her admission, he didn't know that she really saw and felt the wolf too. It was even more amazing that she was so accepting, but at the end she had loved already both a vampire and a werewolf. "So you don't mind?" He asked.

"Nope, when I needed some comfort you were there for me. I honestly don't think I could really date a 'normal' guy, there has been too much supernatural in my life. I don't think I could be considered normal either." She said jokingly.

"You aren't." He told her smirking.

She laughed and placed her head again on his shoulder. When they were reaching a Petrol Station Paul spoke to her. "Bella, I think that you shouldn't be seen at the Station, so that if Cullen sniffs around he won't see you in the mind of anyone."

"Sounds like a good plan, but you're the sniffer dear dog." She said smiling at him.

He faked a growl, but couldn't really hide the smile. "I'm rubbing too much on you Swan."

Her hand slid down his arm and touched his thigh. "I wish you could rub more on me." She murmured.

"You're playing with fire Swan." He grunted, getting already hard at her teasing.

She smirked at him and moved away her hand. "It's a shame that we can't really do anything about your little problem down there." She said indicating his hard on.

He laughed then; the little girl was getting good at his game. "I'll teach you a thing or two tonight Swan." The smell of her arousal excited him even more.

"Can't wait." She murmured.

Paul shook his head and started planning the evening ahead, he was going to show her who was the boss. The wolf growled happily, he liked being dominant with her and he loved her reaction to him.

Bella Swan was full of surprises; she was like a flower that was blooming under the right circumstances and the right man. Paul was starting to think that they were what each other needed, he had never felt more relaxed and balanced like right now with her at his side. He was really looking forward to the evening.