Disclaimer – I do not own Twilight or any part of the series. I wish I did, but I don't so I write fan fiction.

Previously

I couldn't believe my ears when I sputtered out, "Leah Phased?"

Jared just nodded and I could see the emotion running over Sam, he was frozen. Looking down at Bella I reluctantly pulled away from her, "Bella I need to help Jared with the new wolves. Go meet with your dad, I am sure he will need you." I hugged her tighter knowing her dad, Billy and Harry always used to hang out. It was going to be hard on everyone.

Emily came over hugging Sam, before looking at Bella, "Come on Bella I will give you a ride to the hospital."

She nodded before squeezing me again, and then leaving the beach with Emily. I could feel not only the pain of our separation, but the pain heavy in her heart as well.

Looking at Jared and then to Sam, "It is going to be a long night."

Chapter 14

Bella POV

Putting the lasagna I had put together carefully into the oven before setting the timer. I turned in the kitchen noticing the peach walls for the first time, it was such a happy color despite the present moment.

Sue Clearwater did have a nice home, I was just sorry I was seeing it during such a hard time for her.

Charlie, Billy and I had been over here for the past two days helping her and cooking for her. After Harry's death she almost collapsed, it became even worse when it seemed her two children Leah and Seth had disappeared.

I knew why they weren't here, Paul came to me last night telling me that they were both having hard times phasing back. Their emotions were too intense.

That was the last time I'd seen him, and that was only for a half hour. I made him food and tried to have him rest, but he just wanted to hold me after eating.

Normally I was fine with him holding me, but I was getting worried about him.

Jared and Paul had both been phased the whole time basically. Jake, Quill, and Embry came and went, but they still had to go home and school. Sam….. well he couldn't phase at all. He had tried at first, but it was quickly decided that Leah was more agitated when he was around.

Charlie came in and sat next to me sighing loudly, "You should head home Bella. You shouldn't need to be here taking care of us adults."

Looking at him, "And stay alone at home? I already have my school work caught up, besides Sue needs you dad. I am fine."

Beep Beep Beep

I turned putting hot pads on and grabbing the casserole out of the oven that was on the rack below the lasagna I put in earlier.

"Besides, someone has to take care of you guys." I asked smiling as much as I could.

Charlie nodded and I could see the pin in his eyes from losing Harry. I knew they had been friends long before I had been born.

Suddenly he got up hearing Sue crying again, I got up and stepped outside onto the back porch from the kitchen pulling my sweater tightly around me as I looked up at the night sky. My world had gone from normal, to vampires, to werewolves in less than a year.

Shivering slightly feeling the cold breeze creeping between the threads in my sweater when I heard a rustling and loud thumping from the thick woods as if something very large was running straight at me.

A light brown wolf with a white face emerged from the woods growling viciously at me. Still hearing what I could only assume was other wolves barreling towards us.

Putting my hands up shakily, "I am a friend…"

Seeing Jared, Paul, and Jake emerge behind the wolf trying to get her back into the trees. But the wolf just kept stalking towards me causing Paul to try and block me.

Finally the wolf lunged at Paul trying to bite him, I couldn't help the scream that emerged as I saw teeth grip around his neck, "PAUL!"

Forgetting my own safety I ran down the steps to get to Paul. Jacob knocked Leah away from him as I threw my arms around Paul's neck, feeling his soft fur against my arms I sighed and leaned into him.

Suddenly I felt him shift and I was pulled against his bare chest, he pulled back placing his lips to mine. "Bella that was stupid, Leah could have…."

I couldn't help but kissing him back, cutting off his speech about my lack of self-preservation.

Pulling back finally I checked his neck with my eyes while running my hands over his hot skin. "A few scratches, but I think you're alright."

Suddenly he grabbed my wrist's stilling my movements, "I am alright Bella. I heal really fast."

He looked over my shoulder at Jared and Jake who were still trying to calm down who I know knew to be Leah. "She is really upset you're here Bella, she doesn't want anyone here."

Nodding, "I get that Paul, but I am not leaving my dad here alone right now. He is hurting over Harry's death too."

I couldn't help the sadness that overwhelmed me remembering camping with my Dad and Harry two years ago. Thinking about Harry, and what it must be like for Leah. What would I be like if it had been Charlie.

Paul pulled me back to his chest running his hands down my back trying to comfort me as the tears I had been holding back came out in force.

Wrapping my arms tightly around his waist I held onto him for a moment, "I… I am sorry Paul. I didn't mean to break down like that." Wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my sweater.

Looking up at him I saw him looking at me a little uncomfortable, "Paul are you okay?"

He just nodded, "Yea, I am just waiting for you to freak out on me."

Now I was confused as I stepped back from him, "Why would I freak out on….." Finally seeing him I realized I saw all of him. "Oh Cheese-Its your naked…"

Slapping my hand over my eyes, "Sorry I shouldn't have looked."

I could hear Paul chuckling a bit quietly, "We can talk about the Cheese-It comment later. Seriously though you went with Cheese-Its?"

I could feel my skin heating up and knew I was blushing horribly when I heard Paul's next words.

He put his hands on my shoulders again shuffling himself next to me, "She phased back finally."

I turned seeing a naked and crying Leah sitting on the dirt staring at her house, her long hair matted and dirty. Pulling from Paul I stopped thinking and ran to her as I took off my sweater. I stalled only for a moment before dropping to my knees in front of her wrapping my sweater around her.

Tilting her head she looked at me through glossy eyes, "Why are you here? It isn't your dad!"

I stiffened a little, "I knew your dad Leah, My dad knew your dad too. We are helping your mom. She lost him, and you and Seth all in one night."

She started crying again as I wrapped my arms around her, "I am a freak, why the hell am I a wolf!"

I just looked up at Paul who had since pulled on a pair of cut off shorts, "Paul, Jared, Sam, Jake and the others all do it too. It is your heritage." I shrugged not knowing what else to say.

Jared spoke up, "But we don't know why you are the only girl."

Paul nodded, "We will need to speak to the elders about it. But first we need to calm down Seth. How were you able to do it? Seeing your house?"

Leah curled into herself shaking her head no, "I don't know how I did that."

I could tell she wasn't being truthful, but I wasn't going to be the one to rat her out.

Kneeling up a bit I put my hands on her, "Let's get you cleaned up okay Leah?"

She just looked at me confused and nodded her head as we stood up, I did my best to help her upright but she was a lot heavier than me now.

Paul stopped me and put Leah's arms around his and Jared's necks. Jared spoke up, "We can't take her home like this, and Sue would be hysterical. Especially since Seth is still missing. Paul your house is closest, let's head there."

Paul growled about people just inviting themselves over, but started heading in that direction.

I stalled briefly realizing that I had never been to Paul's house.

After a few moments we stepped into a clearing and I saw a small wooden home. There were some pots that looked like they used to be very pretty when they held flowers, I could see curtains in the windows, and what looked like an old iron bench out front.

It almost looked abandoned.

Looking around I saw a shed off to the side with the door closed, that building looked a little newer and wondered if that is where Paul spent most of his time.

Stepping in the house after the boys and Leah, the front of the house had an old couch, t.v., and a bookshelf filled with what looked to be textbooks.

On the other side there was a round wooden table with four matching chairs and a hutch. Then an opening to what I could only assume would be the kitchen. A darkened hallway which probably lead back to the bathroom and bedrooms.

Looking back at Paul who was refusing my gaze as he helped Leah down the hall, "Bella we will be right back."

I took that as my que not to follow anymore and walked over sitting at the table. The walls had a few picture frames up, the pictures were a bit faded but she could see a few people.

Paul and Jared walked out a minute later talking in hushed tones before Jared walked out of the house all together.

Paul rubbed the back of his neck and sat next to be at the table, "I know it isn't much. I don't usually stay here."

Putting my hand on his, "It looks like it could be Paul. Some cleaning and new paint. It just needs people to care for it. Why are you embarrassed?"

I felt his hands clenching, "I never wanted you to see my house, I don't have anything fancy for you."

I sat back giving him a jokingly mad expression, "Paul Lahote, you've seen my house with Charlie. It is nothing extravagant. And I haven't even lived with him for the majority of my life. I was with my mom, going hotel to hotel every time she changed her mind about something. The reason she has money now is that she married Phil. But I am not there."

Leaning forward kissing him, "I don't need the newest things, or the name brand clothing, you should know me a little better than that by now."

Feeling his strong arms wrapping around my waist I let myself go to him sitting on his lap. Running my hands through his hair as I kept kissing him.

Pulling back hearing Leah clearing her throat, I couldn't help but growl seeing her standing in was I assumed was only one of Paul's shirts. I don't know what came over me, but I was angry. Straddling Paul's legs wrapping mine around his waist, my arms more tightly around his neck as I glared at her.

She couldn't wear his shirts, only I should be wearing his shirts. His scent on her kept adding fire to the flame building inside of me.

Paul rubbed my back, "Bella it is only because she had nothing to wear." Pulling my face to his, "Bella look at me."

I growled at her again before looking back at Paul right as Jared walked in, "Territorial much Bella?"

He chuckled at me obviously knowing something I didn't. I snapped at him, "She isn't supposed to smell like Paul. He is mine, not hers. She can't smell like him."

Putting my face in the crook of his neck I breathed in his musk scent calming down a bit.

Paul kept rubbing my back and nuzzling my own neck, "It is okay Bella, and they are outside now."

Looking up I saw we were along and the anger in me dissipated as I looked at Paul. I was confused now, "Why did I do that? I am not like that…."

Paul chuckled as he pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear, "You accepted the imprint, and you are now a wolf's mate. You are going to be … very… protective over me with other females around me. Just like I am when you're around the guys. Sam said it will get better eventually."

Looking at him shocked, "I wanted to rip that shirt off her."

Paul got smug, "Well that would be interesting."

Smacking his chest, "PAUL! This is serious, I can't go around maiming other girls who are near you."

Kissing me he smiled, "Well then I think we should cover each other…."

Smiling I pulled away from him after noticing our current position, "Ok, down boy."

Looking at the door, "I should go and apologize to Leah. I was very rude to her."

He pulled me back to his lap, "Jared already took her somewhere else. You know I really like it when you growl."

He leaned up capturing my lips as I returned his kiss, wrapping my arms back around his neck. We stayed like that for a while longer until my phone went off in my back pocket.

Sighing I pulled back grabbing my phone, glancing at the caller id I groaned, "It is my dad….. I left without telling him. And it is now after midnight."

I got up and accepted his call.

Closing my eyes, "Hi Charlie."

"Bella where are you? You just left without telling anyone."

Cringing, "I am sorry, Paul and Jared needed me for something. I am on my way back."

"Next time tell someone where you are going. Also, take whatever food you are cooking out of the oven. After we got the oven off we had to open all the windows and leave the house for a while."

My eyes widened, "The lasagna!"

"It is more of a blackened piece of charcoal now Bella. I am more scared that we couldn't find you!"

My head fell forward as I nervously scratched the back of my calf with my other foot. "I'll be right there."

Hanging up I turned to Paul, "I need to go back to Sue's, I sort of created a mess."

He gave me a look and then nodded, "Alright, but we are finishing this talk later."

Blushing I found myself nodding my head as we headed back to Sue's.

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