Chapter 11 – Second Chances

Paul's angry blackened eyes flitted around the trees as his overly large wolf body tore off like a bat out of hell. He was pissed off and sad at the same time and with him that was an overly dangerous combination. He had every emotion under the moon running through his veins. He was upset, pissed, scared, mad and sad.

He couldn't believe it. He absolutely couldn't believe it. He had to find Sam and Billy Black. He had to talk with them about it. Paul skidded to a stop in the middle of the tree covered forest as his muzzle turned towards the moon above him and he let out a long lone pained howl.

Not more than a few seconds later his howl was answered with two and then four and then six and then eight more howls that were in tune with his; finally the ninth howl belonged to Sam's alpha wolf.

'Paul, what is going on? Did you catch a scent?' Sam asked in his strong alpha voice.

Paul let out a sort of whimper in his head. 'No I need to call a pack meeting; or maybe just a meeting with you and Billy. Something happened and I'm not sure what to do.'

Sam couldn't imagine what was going on. 'Jake can you get your dad and come to my place?'

'Absolutely, I'll run by his house and get him; we should be there in like fifteen minutes.' Jake answered as he changed direction and took off towards his dad's house.

Emily's almond shaped eyes watched as Paul sat in her and Sam's living room with his elbows resting on his knees and his fingers buried in his own hair. He hadn't made a sound or a move since taking his place on the couch. Emily had tried several times to get him to tell her what had him tied in knots but it just wasn't happening. Emily looked up at Sam who was standing with his arms crossed over his muscled chest as she rose from her spot and gave Sam a knowing look.

Sam nodded as he followed his beautiful wife into the kitchen; never missing the worried look on her face. She'd practically been like a mother to all the guys since they started phasing at sixteen; so to see one of them in this sort of state was shocking to her. And of all people Paul. He was usually the easiest to read out of all the guys. Paul had three speeds; calm, happy and pissed. And they were usually all or nothing.

Sam leaned down and kissed the top of Emily's head as she went from leaning against the counter to leaning against his chest; his arms automatically finding their way around her body. "I know you're worried. Whatever is going on with him he won't talk to anyone about; he wants to wait for Billy."

Emily shook her head. "I just hope everything is okay. I've not seen him like this before. Usually if it was an annoyance issue he'd phase and run it off like he did when Jenna died. He's so quiet and that's very un-Paul like. He's always got something to say and always something to throw his two cents in about."

The back door opened and Jake was wheeling Billy into the warm house. Jake saw the look on Emily's face and his eyes sought out Paul's form. When he located Paul sitting on the couch in the living room he just realized shit was getting serious and at this point who couldn't imagine why.

Everyone moved into the living room at which point Paul stood and they could see him shaking. Sam had quietly pulled Emily behind his hulking form just to be on the safe side. She peeked around his arm as her eyes bore into him; curiosity was at an all time high within the four people starting at the most volatile pack member.

Paul couldn't stop himself from pacing and raked his fingers through his hair a few times before he finally stopped as his blackened eyes landed on Billy Black the tribal leader and council member. "I imprinted; again." His voice was low and shaky as he continued. "How is that even possible Billy?" He moved around a little more. "I don't understand what the fuck is happening. I already had my imprint and she was killed because I couldn't keep her safe; I shouldn't be allowed to have another chance to fuck up another human life."

"I'm not certain why Paul…" Billy finally spoke. His voice was strong sounding even if he himself didn't understand it either. No one had ever heard of a wolf imprinting twice.

"Well then who the fuck does? I don't deserve another imprint! I mean falling for someone is one thing, but getting a whole new imprint is completely different. Damn it. This isn't right." Paul growled out in frustration.

Emily couldn't help but blink out silent tears as she stepped out from behind Sam; she walked up to Paul as she touched his cheek softly. "Paul, you deserve everything that this life has planned for you; EVERYTHING! You didn't mess anything up with Jenna it was an accident; accidents happen. Stuff happens in life for a reason. Jenna wasn't slated to be with you forever, maybe she was just supposed to stay with you long enough to get you through high school and a couple of years after and whoever you imprinted on now is there for good. There is never a set reason why people are taken from our lives. Why did the Quileute God's take Sam from Leah and give him to me? I don't know why, but I thank them every night when I go to bed for the beautiful man who turned my world upside down in every way imaginable. They had a reason for Sam; they'll have a reason for you, but you can't question it, you just have to go with it."

Paul shook his head negatively. "I don't know what to do Em." Paul frowned deeply. "I imprinted on Mila and I couldn't even say anything but 'I have to go' and I just left her there. I could feel the rejection coming from her." Paul started pacing again. "God she's so beautiful. She's such a sweet girl. I can't believe I just walked out of her house with nothing more said. I didn't even say bye to her. She was so worried that I wouldn't get enough sleep before patrol." Paul shook his head again. "Can you believe that? She offered her couch and even her spare room so I could sleep and I ran out of there like my damn pants were on fire. I've got to be the biggest fuckin jerk in the world."

Emily touched Paul's forearm and his eyes peered down at her. "You can always go back and talk to her. Explain what imprinting is. She doesn't know does she?"

Paul started to pace again. "No I don't think anyone has ever explained it to her. I just – We had this whole perfect day and then she kissed me. She kissed me! I always initiate the first kiss, but she just did it with no fear in her eyes and God it was wonderful. I haven't been kissed like that in…well ever. It was amazing and breathtaking. It was the most perfect kiss I'd ever gotten." Paul shook his head. "Jesus I sound like a chic."

Chuckles filled the air in the small living room. Jake rolled his red lips as his eyebrows went to his hairline. "Paul I know how you felt when Jenna died. I know how you felt and what you think is or isn't your fault. It wasn't your fault. Some deranged lunatic vampire got on our lands and did his worst and took a little piece of every one of us the night he killed Jenna. He took the biggest piece from you, but it is time for you to move on man. You've been my pack brother since we were sixteen, you've been through my life ups and downs and we've been through yours and now it's time for another up. This is your second chance at true happiness. Take a day; hell take a few days and collect the thoughts and words that you NEED to tell Mila and then go over there and talk to her."

Jake shook his head negatively. "Don't think we all haven't seen the change in you since you met her. She might have been a stranger, but you were the first one to direct your whole attention to her. It was inevitable that if one of us could imprint a second time; it was bound to be your ass. Go talk to her, she'll understand; just don't wait too long or you'll miss your chance."

Paul took all the advice that he was given. Billy spoke to him and even Sam had something to say; all their words of encouragement. Paul found himself running through the trees again in wolf form, trying to process everything that every one said. Paul found himself sitting in the tree line outside of Mila's house. His blackened eyes watched closely as she sat on the porch swing wrapped in a blanket; he couldn't read the look on her face, but then again he didn't have to because he could feel the rejection rolling off her in waves.

It was definitely going to take a few days before he would even be able to approach her again. He just hoped she would be patient for him.