Wow. Over two hundred reviews, that is insane, thank you all so much. Your reviews are what inspire me to keep writing. Here is another chapter. Enjoy…

My whole body was burning. Struggling I tried to cool down as the fire continued to engulf me. I couldn't feel my left arm. My eyes snapped open and quickly drunk in the familiar figure of Paul. His russet coloured skin contrasted starkly with my own pasty white skin and his face was way too close to mine, our cheeks were practically touching. Too warm.

"Paul," I growled trying to free my arm from underneath him and push him away simultaneously. Why did have to be so freaking heavy? He didn't move, not even one tiny measly inch. I groaned aloud. When had I become so weak?

"Paul," I spat, louder than before, "you're squashing me." I was sweating and my hair was stuck to my forehead with the heat. I made a mental note that if I ever slept with a wolf again to wear less clothes. I pursed my lips at the thought. I would never be sleeping with a wolf again. Ever. Especially not Paul.

"PAUL!" I roared. Paul let out a curse as he rolled off the sofa and onto the floor with a loud thud. He sprang up instantly his dark eyes sharp as they flickered around the room. His fast reflexes unnerved me. The previous night suddenly engulfed me as an onslaught of memories. A shaking Brady. Me crying? Paul appearing. I swallowed loudly. Just fucking perfect. They were going to think I was even more insane.

"Anna?" Paul's voice was gruff as if he hadn't quite woken up despite his stiff posture. Wiping the sweat from my forehead I glared at him.

"You were squashing me," I muttered as I tried to sneakily stretch out my bad leg.

"Shit," he reached round to rub the back of his neck as he continued to stare at me, "I didn't hurt you did I?" I narrowed my eyes at him as he took a small step forwards. My back ached like hell and the familiar sharp pain engulfed my leg as I stretched it but that was nothing unusual. I was just my usual messed up self.

"Apart from not being able to breath for a whole of fifty seconds I am perfectly fine now," I smirked in satisfaction as Paul's face paled a little beneath his russet skin. My eyes flickered to his bare chest that had been pressed up against me all night and his rough hands that had held me close to him. A shiver ran up the length of my spine. I had not enjoyed sleeping with Paul. I had not! Well...maybe just a little. It was the first decent nights sleep I had experienced in months. Not that I would ever tell him that.

"You. Couldn't. Breath?" Paul was staring intently at a spot above my head as if trying to control himself, I watched in fascination as he bit down hard on his bottom lip creating a small red mark.

"I was joking Paul," I rolled my eyes as I reached up to flatten my unruly hair, "would you care to tell me why the hell I woke up on the couch sleeping beside you of all people? Isn't it mandatory to take a girl out to dinner before you lure her into bed?" Paul's eyes widened with every word until he was shuffling from foot to foot almost like a little boy being caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"You want to go out to dinner with me?"

I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. My eyes skirted over his hopeful expression and the strange glint to his dark eyes. Truthfully he scared me. No, fucking terrified me. Never had anyone been so attentive towards me before, so eager to please me. I wanted to know he wanted, what was in it for him. There was always a catch. Always.

"I would rather eat a snail," I told him truthfully as Claire's laughter floated down the stairs. Sitting up straighter I smoothed down my hair again in a pitiful attempt at seeming presentable.

"How about we have pancakes instead?" Paul smirked as I straightened my tank top. He dug his hands deep in his shorts pockets as he leant against the wall. I had to admit if he never opened his mouth, I could understand why some girls would find him semi attractive. I blinked away the thought.

"You can cook?" I blurted in surprise as I hugged my knees tightly to my chest. I couldn't imagine him as the cooking type. He seemed to portray the alpha male, someone who would want someone to cook for him rather than cook himself.

"I can," he shrugged as if it was nothing, "but I didn't say I would make the pancakes, you just assumed. Emily normally makes a batch in the morning." I couldn't stop a small bubble of laughter from escaping my mouth, Paul's smirk widened at my response.

"Maybe I'll have a few," I contemplated as I stood up. The pain in my leg took me by surprise, trying to keep my face neutral I took a tentative step forwards. It hadn't been that bad in a while. Paul frowned as I sucked in a sharp breath and fell back onto the couch.

"In fact," I tried to smile brightly, "maybe I'll just skip breakfast. Not feeling that hungry. Besides watching you eat food normally makes me nauseous. Did your mother never teach you manners?"

"I have manners," he smiled softly but it didn't quite reach his eyes. His eyes appraised me as I leant back against the couch until they finally rested on my outstretched leg. Trying not to wince I swung it backwards and forwards in a desperate attempt to seem normal.

"Are you okay?" I flinched away from his outstretched hand. His eyes narrowed as he tried again.

"Once again Paul. Personal space," I breathed shuffling away from him as he sat down beside me. Holding my breath I tried not to breath in his earthy smell that often made me dizzy. The power he was beginning to have over me was disconcerting. I mean the guy was a freeking wolf, not that I was ever going to let go that I knew. I was scared of the outcome of that conversation, if it ever happened.

"You may or may have not noticed that I never regard people's personal space especially when it comes to you," he leaned forwards, his breath warm on my face. Grabbing the arm of the sofa I let my nails sink into the worn material as I continued to shuffle backwards suddenly feeling suffocated.

"And why is that?" I whispered my voice strained. Claire's squeals were becoming louder and I could hear people moving around in Em's room. If only they would hurry the hell up. Being stuck in a room with Paul was probably going to make the list of my top ten hellish experiences.

"I don't know," I ground my teeth together as he reached out to capture a strand of my hair between his clumsy fingers, "you fascinate me. I never know what you're going to do next," I breathed out a sigh of relief as he let my hair fall, "but however hard it may be. I am going to do things right. Be a gentlemen-"

"A gentleman?" I scoffed cautiously drawing my legs up to my chest again, "I didn't even know that word was in your vocabulary. Gentlemen don't run around half naked showing off their impressive muscles and come home covered in dirt-"

"You think my muscles are impressive?" his grin blinded me. I clamped my lips together in horror as I realised what I had said. Stupid, stupid Anna. I really needed to learn to control my word vomit problem, it was getting out of hand. He just made me so damn nervous, he made me feel all jittery and flushed. I was the bitch. What the hell was happening to me?

"N-No," I scoffed, "you need to go and get your ears checked out, or maybe your big ego is finally taking over. It was only a matter of time." I ducked my head so he could not see the slight blush creep up my neck. I never blushed. He jolted my leg as he moved closer to me causing me to let out a shallow hiss.

"Sure sweetheart," his smirk was beginning to piss me off immensely, "I know what I heard. You really have to stop lying to yourself."

"BRADY!" I cried seeing him walk by the doorway. I was desperate for some sort of interference. It was only when he turned to face me, his face strangely composed that once again the events of the previous night flooded back. My blush grew brighter.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his eyebrows raised. I watched as he took in my bed head, my flushed face and Paul's close proximity to me- his eyes widened more with every passing second.

"Help," I mouthed while Paul regarded Brady with an eerily calm expression. I wondered what was with that?

"Eh," Brady scratched the back of his neck as if grasping the surrounding air for inspiration, "Em asked if I could look at her truck but I'm a bit stumped-"

"How the hell am I supposed to know what's wrong with the thing if you don't?" Paul snapped, surprising me, "you're the best mechanic in town since Jake fled to be with that lee-" he trailed off as his eyes darted to mine. I shifted in my seat. What had he been about to say? Internally I planned on taking another trip to the woods. I had to find out what the hell was going on with the whole wolf thing.

"Err well.." I scowled at Brady as he struggled for words. Idiot. And they all thought I was the crazy one.

"Sometimes," I murmured cutting Brady off mid ramble, "a second opinion can help. You might notice something Brady didn't." Paul was gazing down at his arm where I realised I had rested my hand while I spoke. Snatching it back I turned to Brady with a glare.

"Sorry," he mouthed. I heard the distant sound of a door slamming shut and then raised voices. Great. The pack had arrived for breakfast.

"Anyone would think you were trying to get rid of me," Paul raised his eyebrows as I heard the sound of something smashing next door. Shit. Em was not going to be happy.

"Dammit," I smiled sourly, "you've figured out my master plan." Brady shook his head at my antics from across the room as Paul got to his feet.

"I wont be long," he whispered only for me to hear. My jaw slackened as I felt my heart skip a beat. My hormones were seriously getting out of control. I could not be attracted to Paul. I just couldn't. I didn't do relationships. Ever.

"Well I'll have to make my escape quick then wont I?" I joked lightly but Paul's facial expression changed in an instant. I gritted my teeth as Paul grabbed my arm too tightly and his dark eyes grew stormy. Brady was beside me in an instant.

"Paul," he warned his eyes flickering to my own placid expression. He was hurting me.

"Don't even joke," he hissed before letting my arm fall limply to my side. I watched in silence as Paul stalked from the room, his large frame hunched over and shaking slightly. Brady lightly traced the mark on my arm where I could clearly see the shape of Paul's fingers.

"Wear a long sleeved top," he whispered softly, "he'll hate himself for doing that and seeing evidence of it will just make everything so much worse."

"What was that?" my voice sounded strangely weak. Loud cursing from the kitchen followed by laughter made me feel tiny. Insignificant.

"That was Paul," Brady shrugged already making his way towards the door.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, "for last night. I should have hit you. I just-" I sucked at apologies, I didn't make them often. But it was Brady, for some reason that meant something to me. I wondered briefly when that had begun to happen without me even noticing. I didn't care for people, it wasn't in my blood. I pushed people away.

"It was my fault," Brady smiled, "besides I'm over it already."

"I'll keep you a pancake," I promised as he hurried out of the door. I knew instantly that he was going to find Paul. My heart squeezed tightly at the thought.

While the coast was clear I pushed myself gingerly to my feet. Listening to make sure no one was coming down the stairs I limped painfully into the kitchen forcing the useless tears back as the fiery sensation continued to claw at my leg. Reaching the kitchen I slipped in and grabbed the packet of painkiller before anyone even registered my presence.

Without conscious thought my eyes were drawn to the window that looked out onto the edge of the woods. I saw Brady hurrying towards the trees and the distant sound of a howl made me flinch. I hoped he didn't run again. I realised suddenly that I felt lighter than I had in days, more free. And it was because of him. Because of that stupid ass and his sarcastic remarks. Tracing his fingerprints on my arm with my own fingers I found myself wondering what it would be like to hold his hand in my own.

Shaking my head I slumped down onto one of the free chairs awaiting Emily's arrival. Hopefully her pancakes would get the stupid oaf off my mind. Something needed to. Desperately.

Thoughts?