A/N: I really hate classes. Why is my school open today? I'll never know. Okay, so I have to know. Lemons or no? PM me to vote. So, enjoy this chapter. Please Review! It's called Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely by the Backstreet Boys.

"Show me the meaning of being lonely

Is this the feeling I need to walk with

Tell me why I can't be there where you are

There's something missing in my heart

Life goes on as it never ends

Eyes of stone observe the trends

They never say forever gaze upon me

Guilty roads to an endless love (endless love)

There's no control

Are you with me now?

Your every wish will be done

They tell me"

~ Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely by the Backstreet Boys

Last time: Ariya heard voices, but they were muffled, as if she were underwater. She assumed they were shouting based on the tones, but she couldn't concentrate on the words. A long, painful moaning noise made its way to her ears and she realized it was her. The voices grew closer and she whimpered, her body folding inwardly, as if protecting itself.

A darkness creeped its way into her vision and she let it take over her, numbing herself of all pain as her body shut down.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters that are in this story, except Ariya. She is my own little creation.

Paul POV

'Ugh I need a shower.'

It was raining hard, and my wolf decided he wanted to roll around in the mud. As much fun as it was, I just wanted to go to my imprint. I want to kiss her and touch her and just be with her. These past few days have been hard on her what with Rachel Black coming back.

That girl disgusted me. Thinking she could just come here and be rude to Ariya like that.

'Oh well. Hopefully she'll be gone and we don't ever have to see her again.'

I quick showered and put on a pair of cutoffs and a shirt. 'Yeah I actually own them.'

I ran down the stairs and groaned when I saw none other than Rachel Black sitting on my couch.

"What are you doing here?" She stood up and started to walk towards me.

"C'mon Paul. You know you want me." I put my hands up and backed away.

"Look. I don't know why you came back, but I don't want you. I have Ariya. She's my whole world." I smiled thinking about my mate's smiling face. Rachel's face turned into a scowl.

"What do you want with that little girl? Isn't she like 14? Paul you know she can't handle a man like you?"

"I know what I want and if you knew what was good for you, you'd never talk badly about her. Now leave La Push and never come back. At least, not for me. I'm so happy with Ariya." She scoffed.

"Do you love her?" I smiled.

"Yeah. I think so. All I know is, I feel more for her than I ever had for anyone in my entire life; more than I ever thought was possible. She means everything to me, and one day I will marry her."

"Oh, Paul. I don't know what the little bitch did to you to make you so different. C'mon. Where's that Paul Lahote I knew before? The hardass?"

"I'm a changed man. Ariya's made me a better person."

"Oh please. I'll show you that you don't need her." She leaned in and kissed me. Before I could even push her off of me, I heard a gasp.

'Ariya!'

I shoved Rachel away from me, looking to where the reason for my very existence once stood. Pain shredded through my body making me double over gasping. I need my mate. I want my mate. I started towards the door when a hand grabbed my arm. I turned to see the smug face of Rachel. Anger shot through me like nothing I've ever felt before.

"I fucking hate you. Do you hear me? I hate your fucking guts. You have no right coming back here and acting like nothing happened in the past couple of years. You left, I moved on. I am happy for once in my life. Ariya makes me want to live my life. She completes me in ways that no one would ever imagine. Before her, I was an angry asshole. Now, I'm grateful for every second I'm alive because I get to spend it with her. Don't you get it? I don't want you. You can't just try to ruin my relationship. I already said it once before. I am going to marry that girl one day. We will be together for the rest of our lives. Nothing, especially not you, will come in the way of that. Now leave. And don't come back. You had a life before, go back to it. I don't care, but just leave me and Ariya alone."

With that, I ran out the door and sprinted to find the love of my life. The pain never subsided. I saw a body huddled on the ground and ran even faster. Picking her up, I huddled her closer to me. 'She's freezing!' I quick got her to Sam's house. There was an uproar when I burst through the door. Sam ordered me to give her to Emily while we talked. She went to go change her clothes.

"What in the hell happened? What did you do?" I've never seen him this mad. "I tell my sister to go talk to you about her fears and you bring her back like this?"

"After patrols, I went home to shower because I was covered in mud from the rain. I was on my way out when I saw Rachel Black on my couch." I spat her name out with complete disgust. "I tried explaining to her about Ariya and she wouldn't listen to me. I told her that I'm definitely staying with Ariya for the rest of our lives together. She's so lucky that she's female. I've never felt so angry in my life."

"So that's it? Why's Ariya like this?"

"No. Rachel kissed me." Growls erupted around the room. "But before I could push her off, Ariya saw. I swear, I didn't kiss Rachel. I didn't want to. I only want Ariya."

"Did you try talking to Ariya?"

"I pushed Rachel from me and repeated myself from before. Then I said to never come near me or Ariya ever again. If you don't believe me, I will show you guys." I pleaded with them. Sam nodded at me and sighed deeply.

"Paul, you have to know that Rachel came here earlier and basically threatened Ariya." I growled.

"What? What'd she say?"

"Basically to stay away from you because she doesn't deserve someone like you and that you would never want her. She said there was nothing that Ariya could do to stop her. I came home from being with Emily and I see the door open and see her sitting there crying. Rachel even pushed her on the ground before she left. Ariya now has bruises on her shoulder." My anger returned. I was shaking so much that the room was getting blurry. We went outside and I showed them what happened, and Sam showed us what he came home to. I was shaking when I phased back.

A low, painful moaning noise snapped me out of my fury. I twirled around to see my soul mate cringing inward. I rushed forward to take her in my arms and before I could get to her, she blacked out. My chest tightened painfully and I cradled her to my chest, rocking back and forth, begging her to wake up.

Ariya POV

I felt myself coming back into consciousness, groaning at how hard my head was pounding at me. My eyes were so swollen, I couldn't open my eyes. I realized that I was being rocked back and forth and held into hot arms. My hearing was coming back to me and I heard a voice calling out to me, pleading me to open my eyes. I tried swallowing, but my throat was sore and shut. I opened my eyes very slowly, the light was very dim. I realized I had to be in my room. I heard sniffling above me and I turned my head towards the source. Paul had his eyes closed and tears, his face contorted in a look of pain. I looked over to him and moved my hand to him. His eyes shot open and he crushed me further to him.

"Oh thank god! Oh Ariya!" His voice was thick with emotion and I felt tears on my neck. His whole body shaking with the force of his sobs.

"P-P-Paul?" My was scratchy and it hurt to talk. He understood right away and called for Sam, who ran up the stairs with a glass of water. Paul took it and fed me sips, making sure that I could swallow them. After my throat calmed a bit, I started to push away from Paul and began reaching for Sam. I didn't forget what I saw. And I need to protect myself, protect my heart. He whined, shook his head, and pulled me in closer to him.

"Sam?" I whispered. I heard him sigh and start to take me from Paul's arms, much to Paul's horror. He started growling and snapping at Sam. I whimpered, pushing at his chest, wanting to get away. He looked down at me, complete shock and agony written in his features. Sam picked me up and Paul backed up, tears streaming down his face as he ran out of the room. I buried my head into Sam's chest, crying, and he rubbed my back soothingly.

"Hey sweetie, it's good to see you awake. But what's with the tears?"

"I saw it, Sam. I saw the kiss."

"Oh honey. Paul showed us what happened. Rachel kissed him. You didn't stay long enough to see him push her off, or to hear all that he said to her." I looked up at him.

"What?"

"Sweetheart, Paul basically told her to leave and never come back. He would never hurt you like that."

"But that doesn't exactly ease any of my fears, Sam. She said he loved her. What if there was no imprinting? When she came back, he probably would've taken her back." I don't know what to do. My brain is telling me to run away, but my heart is telling me to go to him. What do I do?" He sighed and pulled me to him, patting down my hair and rubbing my back some more.

"Go talk to him. You need to. He's in serious pain right now." I nodded.

"Can you send him up? I don't think my legs are stable enough for me to walk." Sam placed me on the bed and kissed my forehead before walking out.

I sat there, thinking of everything that I should say. My heart raced as I heard footsteps nearing the door. When it opened, in walked Paul, nervous and fidgety. I held my hand out to him and he let out a cry and picked me up to him, sobbing into me.

"Paul. We need to talk." I felt him nod and he put me down on his lap and leaned back against the headboard.

"I understand that you pushed her away, but you have to see it my way. Her coming back here helped my fears come alive. I know that you care about me, but you cared about her too." I saw him about to protest, but I shushed him. "Look, what if there was no imprinting? What if it was up to us to determine who our soul mates are? Would you have looked twice at me? Would you have said more than two words to me every time you saw me, those being 'hi' and 'bye'? I don't know what to think. No matter what, she made me realize that you loved her at one point. What if she came back and there was no imprinting? Would you be with me? Would you have gone back to her?" He was silent.

"Paul. Would you be here right now if there was no imprinting? Would you want me? I get it, the imprint only shows you who your perfect match is, but how can you even try to prove to me that you would be here without it? That the pull isn't too much for you to ignore?"

He didn't say a word. He didn't even look at me. His silence was answer enough. I choked back a sob.

"I want you to go." His head whipped up, eyes searching mine.

"You don't mean that." I closed my eyes, trying to hold back my tears. I need to do this.

"Yes, I do. You need to understand, Paul. Although you don't care about her now, you did once before. And I'm nothing like her, so how would you even look at me without the wolf? The wolf loves me, the wolf cares about me. But the man? I'm not so sure. What do you even call me to others? Imprint. Mate. Not girlfriend. Hell, not even your girl. Just go. I need time to myself. You have to leave me until I call you. Please don't call me, text me, or come to see me. Please."

"Why?" He sounded so broken. I almost lost all of my resolve. But I had to stay strong. Imprinting wasn't all sunshine and roses. You had to work on it, just like a regular relationship. And I needed time to myself.

"Because, this isn't healthy. These fears. I want time to think. Alone. I'll call you and tell you when I'm ready, maybe you'll want to see me, maybe not, but that's something you have to decide. We both could use this. Time to reflect."

"Please. I can change. I'll do anything." He pleaded. If anything, my heart broke even further.

"Paul."

"I promise. I can do better. Don't do this. I can change. For you. Anything. I can be better." I had to fight for this.

"Please, Paul." I held his face in my hands. "Please."

"Um. If that's what you want. I guess." He didn't let go.

"Yes. Paul. Please, go." He whimpered and brought me back in for a kiss, rough and passionate. My tears were threatening to escape. He looked me in the eyes and kissed me one last time, a sweet, slow kiss. He then got up and walked out the door, taking one last look at me as he walked out.

I collapsed in the bed, our combined pain feeding through the imprint bond. The tears cascading down my face, my body shaking with the force of my cries. I heard a wolf howl, a painful, broken noise. I heard running in the house and knew that Emily was coming up to me. She burst through the door and laid down next to me trying to calm me. I hated hurting him, but it was what I felt needed to be done.

Paul POV

I couldn't believe my ears.

She wanted me gone.

My imprint, rejecting me.

I didn't even get the chance to tell her how much I love her. I just ran out the door, phasing as soon as I was out the front door. I let out a howl, showing my anguish and heartbreak.

The guys all phased in with me and tried to calm me, but I could only see visions of Ariya.

My beautiful Ariya.

She didn't want me.

She made me leave. I could hear her cries and my wolf whined with need to comfort her, but I respected her enough to stay away.

The pack tried to sympathize with me, but I wouldn't hear it. No matter how much she tried to explain, I couldn't understand. I just didn't.

I thought imprinting was a gift from the spirits. Why would it be so hard for us?

Why did Rachel come back? I felt the insane instinct to go and hurt her for hurting my imp-girlfriend.

I can change.

For her.

I'll do anything.

For her.

I will do anything she asks of me.

How could she think that I wouldn't want to see her when she calls me?

I'll always want her.

Always.

I couldn't phase back.

Too much pain.

So, I stayed a wolf.

My thoughts, too far gone.

I'll wait forever for her.

She's my world.

I love her.

Ariya.

Ariya POV

The days passed slowly.

I stayed in my room, not wanting to see anyone. Sam came up to just sit with me. He understood.

Emily came up to me at times to help me shower or try to feed me. I wasn't hungry. I just laid there.

The nightmares came back. They were worse.

Sometimes the guys would come up. They didn't understand. They told me about Paul, trying to break me.

I just stayed there.

Leah was mad at me. She yelled at me. She tried to make me react.

I couldn't.

After 3 days, Embry came to see me. I think he was avoiding me for a little, because he didn't want anyone to think that he was happy about it all.

But he just laid there with me. He talked to me, trying to help. Shared memories of the past. Trying to get me to laugh. He told me that he loved me, but he wasn't in love with me anymore. But we were just best friends, like always. He'll always be my best friend. I know what he means.

He came back and stayed with me the most.

After a week, everyone had enough. Sam picked me up and carried me downstairs. They made me watch a movie with them, they fed me.

I just wanted to be left alone. I didn't want them to worry. I was being selfish, and I knew it. But I think I deserved that for once in my life. Finally, for once in my life, I was done with listening to everyone and was trying to protect myself. I was doing a horrible job. I was so dependent on others that it made me sick. I need to be my own person. But how could I when it made this result?

I lost so much weight. I couldn't sleep, the nightmares were too much. This wasn't taking care of myself. This wasn't happiness. I got what I deserved.

In the middle of the movie, the door slammed open. A figure walked in, dark and feral. His hair was wild and messy. His skin under his eyes were sunken in from his lack of sleep. He looked skinnier, his eyes were bloodshot. His face was scruffy, looking like he didn't shave in a while. He looked like he was going to go insane. I was heartbroken again when I took in the sight of him. So good to see him. So good. The name left my mouth before I knew it, making it my first word in a week. It sounded so right, my lips shaping it so perfectly. My voice was just a whisper.

"Paul."

Paul POV

A week.

A week.

That's how long it's been.

A FUCKING WEEK.

I am going out of my mind.

I finally phased back after I couldn't handle anymore visions from everyone.

Especially Embry's.

He was the one that got the most reaction from her. He would talk to her about old memories. Once in a while, a corner of her mouth would lift, or the light would be brought back in her eyes.

Her eyes.

It's been a week since I looked into them.

Her mouth.

It's been a week since I last kissed it.

I need her.

I'll prove to her that I want her. That she's everything I could've imagined in having as a soul mate and more.

I tried.

So hard.

I couldn't stay away. Not a second time.

I saw how mad everyone was at her. Especially Leah. She didn't care about hurting her. She just kept yelling. I was so mad I attacked her. But that didn't stop her.

I need her.

Sam gave me clothes that had a recent scent of hers on it.

I used her toothbrush. It might be gross, but she has one at home. I need to be as close to her as possible. Jared was there with me every day. He saw her once a day. But only just to tell her how much I miss her.

I miss her so much.

So, I ran to the house.

I opened the door and she was there. She looked tinier. Oh god. It was so good to see her again. My wolf purred in pleasure in response to finally seeing her, and then whined at how bad she looked. Her eyes lit up when they looked into mine. She looked across me, trying to see how bad of shape I was in. Her mouth opened and she said my name. I closed my eyes in response to the sound of her voice. It sounded scratchy.

I was so happy to see her. But I need her. It's been a week. And I need to prove to her just how much I want her. The room cleared, leaving just us there.

I slowly stalked over to her. She was going to see how much in love I am with her. How much I worship the very ground she walks on. How much I need her.

I need to see how much she needs me. How much she wants me. How much she loves me.

She stood up, backing up. Not a good move. The wolf was very close to the edge. And he loves the chase.

So... I need to know. Lemons or no? So PM me to vote. Review! Until next time

~Ariya-angels