Disclaimer: The Characters and all recognisable situations belong to Stephenie Meyer. This is a work of fan fiction and no copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 12

Paul's POV

The morning sun is buried behind clouds threatening to rain, nothing unusual, this is Forks after all.

I discreetly make my way into the forest, stripping clothes off as I go, I find the hiding spot I'd scouted out earlier and stash them away for when I return. Shit, I wonder how many hiding spots we all have throughout the forests of Washington and beyond, seventeen wolves, each with many different stash spots, bound to be a lot.

Walking deeper into the dense woodland I pause for a moment, letting out a long loud growl as I arch forward, spasm's twisting my spine, tremors rocking through my body as I phase and land on four paws.

I shake my fur out, letting my senses take over. Brady's thoughts of his imprint Sarah assault my mind, but I've got to give the kid credit, once he feels me phase in he quickly blocks his thoughts.

"Have they made up their minds about Rachel?" I ask, starting the run back home.

He brings up his memories of what went down after I'd left.

' Billy has managed to calm everyone down and is discussing what steps to take next when Rachel appears, tottering across the grass to Sam's, in complete ignorance of the chaos she has created. She's all dressed up as if she's going to a nightclub rather than a bbq in someone's back yard.

Before anyone can react Rosalie has her off the ground in a neck hold, squeezing so tight her face is red and she's gasping for breath.

"You little bitch, how dare you tell our secret, how dare you put my family at risk like this"

Rachel lets out a long gurgle in response, face contorting in pain, eyes betraying her terror. She frantically looks at her brother who's making no attempt to come to her rescue, instead, disgust clear on his face.

"Please put her down Rose, this is not the place to do this, your scaring the girls" Carlisle attempts to pacify her.

"I'm not scared Rose, do what you want with her it's fine with me" Faith
cries out in contempt at Rachel, who's legs are now thrashing wildly, trying to get out of the vampires hold.

"Babe, let her down so we can talk about this, for me, please" Emmett pleads.

Rose stares at Emmett, a silent conversation taking place before she lets Rachel fall to the ground and walks to his side. Everyone is still, no one attempting to help her up from where she's still gasping for breath on the grass.

Tenderly touching her neck, she looks up at Billy, lips trembling, "Daddy? what's going on? you'd let that thing treat me this way?"

Emmett, who now has a tight grip on Rose growls at her "Don't make me let her loose on you again little girl" he sneers, golden eyes blazing with fury.

Billy rolls himself nearer, heartbreak and sadness clear on his face.

"You went to Sadie and told her OUR secret. YOU tried to scare her away. What the HELL were you thinking? Why would you do such a thing, you silly silly girl"

Rachel looks around at everyone, confusion clear "Where is Paul? I done this for him so we can be together, I know he'll be happy that bitch has left"

"Paul is with Sadie right now, she isn't going to leave, the only thing you succeeded in is bringing them together quicker" Faith laughs, rolling her eyes.

"No, never! No, he wouldn't do that, he loves me!" Rachel yells.

"You had no right to tell Sadie anything, you are not a part of this pack or family" Sam snaps.

"Paul IS MINE" Rachel screeches at him, attempting to stand but legs still too wobbly to allow the movement.

"You are not an imprint, you have no say in any pack business young lady, you have broken tribal rules" Old Quil states seriously.

" I don't care about your stupid rules old man, I belong to Paul, we're meant to be together" she shouts back.

"That's enough of your madness" Billy speaks up loudly "Paul has never been your's, he has made it very clear he doesn't want you, what the hell is going on in that head of your's to make you act this way?"

Rachel glares at her father before her face crumbles and the tears start falling.

"Oh daddy, don't be angry, I just love him so much, surely you can see how wrong this is, he shouldn't be with someone like her, this imprint is all so wrong"

"That's not for YOU to decide. You have broken our rules, put the whole tribe including yourself in danger. And STOP snivelling, your tears won't work on me this time"

"Well, she would of found out eventually anyway, I don't see what the fuss is all about. And what danger? it's not like she's going to tell anyone, I warned her about that" she sneers darkly, wiping tears away.

"You little bitch" Emily yelps, starting to rise from her chair but being stopped by Sam.

"Oh pipe down Emily, your just pissed the attention's not on you for a change, you have no rights here, your just an imprint, nothing special, not even a part of our tribe, and there's only so long those scars of yours will get you sympathy" she says in a sing-song voice.

All the imprints rise out of their chairs, together united when faced with such adversity. Sam's hand's shake, he's struggling not to phase, he quickly kisses Emily and steps back just in case.

Kim starts to walk towards Rachel but is jerked back by Jared "How dare you, you're the one who's nothing special, no wonder you aren't deemed worthy to be an imprint or a wolf, YOU don't have any authority here, everyone hates you"

Rachel rolls her eyes in response "Yeah, like Jared wanted you without the imprint, he'll soon leave once I find a way to break an imprint, where will you be then, Kimmy?" she blusters.

"That's ENOUGH, all of you" Billy yells, sitting himself higher.

Sighing heavily, he winces before continuing "This is getting us nowhere. Seth, Quil, will you please escort Rachel home and stay with her until I get back, do not leave her alone"

"You can't do that, you can't force me to do anything" Rachel gloats, finally managing to stand upright.

Seth walks over to her, Quil strolling behind and grabs her in a tight hold, no more Mr nice guy.

"Your forgetting what we are and what you have done, we owe you no loyalty"

She squeals as he starts frogmarching her home, shouting how they can't do this to her and how she'll make them pay.'

Brady's memories fade out, "So what did they decide after that?" I growl.

"They still haven't decided, they want to speak to you. Edward says her mind isn't right, he thinks she needs professional medical intervention"

Yeah she'll need medical intervention after I've finished with her, I push myself to run faster, muscles straining with effort.

Reaching Sam's I phase back and pull on the cut off's someone's left out for me. Sam, Jared, Leah, Ryan and Old Quil are sat talking quietly and drinking coffee outside.

"How did you get on with Sadie?" Leah asks pleasantly, stuffing a cookie in her mouth before Jared can reach for it.

"Good, she's great" I reply with a smile, calming down for just a moment before turning to face old Quil.

"What's going on with Rachel? I want to know that she'll be punished for what she's done" I snap, frustration finally getting the better of me.

"She will be I assure you. We have a few idea's, we wanted to wait until you got back to discuss them all, you should have your say in all this"

"Damn right I should, she doesn't know how lucky she is I'm not over there showing her exactly what I think of her" I shout out, fists clenched tight.

"What if Sadie hadn't taken it as well as she has? I could of lost her over this, what if she had ran away or refused to speak to us? I could be without my mate because of that twisted mind fuck"

I have to calm down before I phase, shit, the wolf wants out, wants to hunt Rachel down. I turn and walk to the tree's, taking huge deep breaths. I think about Sadie in my arms, concentrate on how good she had felt, stroking her hair and her smell, oh god, her smell.

"Billy and the others will be here soon and we will settle it all then, together, there is much to discuss" old Quil says, understanding and compassion showing on his face.

I pace around the yard waiting for the others to arrive, I guess work just got cancelled for the day.

Leah's POV

Leaning back against Ryan I can't help but feel sorry for Paul, that he has this to contend with. Out of all the pack this could of happened to, it just had to be the most volatile member.

His temper has calmed slightly over the years, he sometimes thinks before he speaks, especially with the imprints who tend to take things to heart but I've learnt that most of his anger comes from being scared for other's well being, even if he'd scoff at that suggestion. Paul's not as insensitive as he's made out to be.

I'm glad he's got Sadie now, I knew he was getting tired of being alone and she seems right for him. Not afraid to put her point across or stand up for herself but yet she considered his point of view in all of this cluster fuck and was willing to compromise which tells me she has a kind soul, plus even I can admit that she's very pretty, exactly his type.

I like her, I'm hoping that this is one imprint I can be friends with, it will be nice to have another girl who likes running and doing sporty things and as myself, Ryan and Paul often hang out, it will nice to have another girl along.

Her dad though, I wonder how much longer he has left, not long from what I've seen. I'm glad she will have us to help her through it, the death of a father is something I do have experience of and nearly four years down the line, I still miss him so much, the pain of loss never fading.

I smell the Cullen's and the rest of the pack and elders before I see them and sit up straighter, ready to fight in Paul's corner if I have to.

Old Quil looks at Billy suggestively, silently asking if a decision has been made, Billy gives a small nod and everyone takes a seat, waiting for the meeting to commence.

Billy looks at Paul who is still hovering by the tree's, "Paul, I wish to apologise to you for everything that has happened. When I meet Sadie I will of course apologise to her face to face as well. I am so sorry she was told this way, it's inexcusable"

Paul nods but remains quiet, as if not trusting himself to speak which he probably doesn't, his face is masked with concentration.

"We have had much conversation and debate about punishment and we have come to some decisions but first there is something else we need to consider. I am in no way condoning Rachel's behaviour, I am disgusted just like yourselves, however, Edward and Carlisle suspect that she does have underlying health problems, her mind is all over the place, she's not in a good state"

Carlisle nods and stands, addressing everyone, "Erotomania is when someone believes that a person is in love with them when they are not. Sometimes they haven't even met the person, like someone being in love with a celebrity for example"

He looks around, making sure everyone's taking in what he says "Rachel firmly believes that Paul is her's. In her mind, it's all true. Memories are subconsciously changed and actions are misinterpreted until you become obsessed that you're the one who's being duped and everyone else is in the wrong"

"Can anything be done, is there a cure?" Emily asks, eyes wide.

"It's hard to treat as they are in denial that they have a problem in the first place. It doesn't matter how many ways you try and make Rachel see sense, her mind cannot accept the truth. There are medications to calm the anxiety and with the proper therapy there can be improvements but it's a long process to treat, she can't see what she's done wrong, getting Paul is her only focus"

"What are we gonna do with her?" Paul asks quietly, deep in thought with his eyes closed.

"We have a number of options to choose from. One is getting Aditi over from Peru, he can make her forget about wolf's and imprints, we can make it so she forgets all about you and Sadie" Sue frowns as she speaks but carries on.

"We all agree that Rachel needs professional help from a psychiatrist, she's delusional to the point where we believe she could be a danger to others and she's done enough harm as it is. Carlisle has recommended and found her a placement at a secure unit in Seattle, she can be admitted anytime"

"She's really that bad? I think Aditi needs to make her forget about the supernatural then, who knows what she'll say to this psychiatrist" I finally speak up, we can't let that happen, she's crazy enough to tell our secret to the world.

"Yes, I agree" Billy whispers "We all agree"

"Is this acceptable to you Paul?" old Quil asks, cleaning his glasses with the hem of his shirt.

All eyes are on Paul, waiting for his answer, he shrugs and then turns to face us all.

"Yes I suppose. If there's something wrong with her then she needs medical help. And as long as she's not here giving me and Sadie a hard time that's fine with me. I don't want her back here though, whatever happens after, she stays away from the res okay?" he adds, looking at Billy and Jake.

They both nod in agreement, eyes downcast, Billy's more so, this is his daughter's life decision's are being made about after all.

Jake's POV

How has it come to this? my elder sister's going to have her mind swiped clean by a leech and then driven off to a mental institution. How have I missed this? Why haven't I seen what she's been like? Why has no one else noticed?

My life is so busy, I spend most of my time running between spending time with Ness, to coming back to La Push to see dad and helping with the garage business while trying to pass Business classes. Sure I hadn't really seen much of Rachel but still, how had I missed my sister going psychotic?

I fling myself on a washed up log and stare out at the ocean, what has happened to my big sister over the years she has been away. We hadn't seen her for over four years when she had re-appeared last summer, excitedly bragging about her new job in a lawyer's firm as head of it's IT dept.

When she turned up over two weeks ago, she'd implied that she was owed two weeks holiday from work, however we would soon be into week three and she had been making no plans to leave, what was her life out of La Push really like?

Growing up, it was Becca I was closer to, she was the softer twin. Always there to wipe any tears away with a smile and a kiss, always happy to let me have my own way, taking enjoyment from my own happiness, perhaps that's why she married and had children so young, she always had a mothers touch.

Rachel had been harder work, vindictive when she wanted to be, twisting how things really happened to get her own way with dad, I guess, even as a kid I'd stayed out of her way most of the time.

I want to know about her life, I want to see where she lives, perhaps it will shred some light on her behaviour.

Pulling my cell from my pocket, I call Embry and ask him to meet me at the beach, then I call Edward. I explain what I want and as Aditi won't be arriving for another ten hours or more, he agrees to help.

Two and a half hours later the three of us are stood outside Rachel's apartment in Seattle, wolf and vampire speed getting us here so quick. I let myself in with the keys I snatched before we left, pushing the door back against the mound of mail waiting on the floor.

Stacking it on the small hallway table, I flick on the light switch but nothing happens. I pick up the phone but there's no dial tone, electricity supply has been cut off. I shake my head, not a good start.

The hallway space is tight, a bathroom to the left and her bedroom opposite. Her room is a mess, clothes strewn everywhere, draws half open.

The bathroom is no better, a mix match of clothes hanging from the shower rod, dried to stiffness.

Biting my lips I make my way further down the hallway, the kitchen to the right and living area to the left. Surprisingly the kitchen is clean and without clutter, fridge empty and looking like it doesn't get much use. The living area isn't as good, unopened mail and newspapers covering every surface, more clothes haphazardly lying across the seating.

Having no qualms about respecting my sisters privacy, I start opening some of the mail, overdue utility bills, overdue credit card statements, the last one owing $6500, what the hell did she spend that on? clothes by the look of it. Another credit card statement, retail invoices, Insurance premiums overdue. It's quickly becoming clear that she's in much debt and hasn't been dealing with it.

Embry fishes out a letter caught under the sofa cushion and after scanning it, frowns and holds it out to me to read, it's from Rachel's work. An official statement on why she was being sacked, oh crap.

It seems Paul isn't the only one she got fixated with, she was being dismissed for making advances to her boss, a happily married man who wasn't going to stand by and see her ruin his reputation, he'd gone straight to the legal dept and threatened to take things further. When she'd kept harassing him, she was fired, hence the reason she couldn't pay her bills.

Sighing heavily I run my hand through my hair, why hadn't she got another job? any kind of job to get out of this mess instead of hiding the problem away and doing nothing. She had been leaving the res nearly every day, where did she get the money from for fuel? where was she going when she said she was meeting friends?.

I glance at Edward in case he knows but he shrugs and shakes his head, would she tell me if I asked, probably not, too much in denial.

"Let's go, I've got my answers"

Embry looks sadly at Edward who shows no emotion as I make a hasty exit out of the gloom of the apartment, I will come back another time and clear the place out, what's done is done.

Paul's POV

Squashing the last bite of burger into my mouth, I thank Emily and jump up, joining Sam and Jared who are now waiting in Sam's truck. We've decided to put in a few hours work before catching up on the rest tomorrow. Luckily the owners are on a holiday cruise and time isn't of the essence.

"So, what do you think about what their gonna do to Rachel?" Jared asks, tilting his head round.

"As long as she's not here I don't care, I can try and understand that she's not in her right mind but that doesn't make it all okay. I wish we didn't have to involve the leech, the less we owe him the better but it's the only way to stop her talking"

They both nod in agreement, she's clearly unstable and we can't allow her to expose us even further.

"We've been thinking" Sam says with a wry grin "that if you can finish off the staircase as that's your domain then after that we can continue with the rest of the work, you can have time off to be with Sadie"

I can't help but smile, yeah time with my girl sounds good.

"Really? Yeah that would be great"

"Seth said he'd help out if we needed. I was talking to Leah, she doesn't think that Sadie's dad has long left, it's important you're there for her" Sam adds, a tight frown now on his face.

Rubbing my forehead I grunt in agreement, wishing the outcome could be so different but knowing my imprints dad will soon die, god I hope I can actually help her when the time comes, it's not like I'm known for my tact and diplomacy skills now is it?

As Sam pulls up on the driveway, I'm out of my seat and crossing the lawn before he's switched off the engine.

With two hours solid hard graft I could get this stairway finished and be back with Sadie before late afternoon. And then, I wasn't leaving her side for no one.