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Chapter 13
:
(Bella's POV)
Bitch Imprint
For about thirty seconds the room went completely silent as Jake held me tightly to his chest, I took a deep breath and then quietly climbed off his lap and walked around the couch wearing a smile that was causing me physical pain. I wanted to grab Paul and make him run away from this plastic Barbie but I couldn't do that as much as it pains me, the spirits have chosen her for him and he deserves all the happiness in the world. Next to Jacob he is the best guy I know he gave up everything for me I cannot and will not let my personal feelings affect their relationship but if she does one thing to hurt him even Taha Aki himself won't save her from the wrath of this Alpha Female.
"Lauren, have you met Paul?" I was trying hard to introduce the only person in the world I think I actually hated to one I loved.
"Eh! Yes Swan of course I know Paul, Paul and I go way back." Lauren sniffed while looking me up and down and smirking coyly towards Paul. "What's it to you?"
I could see Jake's blood beginning to boil and as he decided he really didn't like this girl already. God I agreed with him another fucking bitch imprint, did the spirits really hate us or something. Thankfully Kim was normal and nice otherwise I really would consider making the rest of the pack wear blinkers in public. Jake slowly stood up and came around the couch to stand behind me, giving me the support he knew I needed and also to ensure us humans were safe from the newly imprinted wolf that looked like he was going to freak out. He gently placed his hand at the small of my back automatically making me feel calmer.
Paul was still at the kitchen door with a stupid look on his face but his arms where shaking, I never thought the day would come that Paul was lost for words. I watched as she moved closer to him and traced her perfectly manicured talon up and down Paul's bicep. I really wanted to pull her hand away but it was not my place.
I summoned up a smile and ignored her rude question. "So where are you girls headed tonight?"
"Oh just to a party at Jessica's, her family always throw the best Christmas parties everyone who's anyone gets invited." She smiled nastily. "So where's your baby?
"What baby?" I was really confused.
"Oh come on Swan, the only way a goody two shoes like you drops out before senior year is pregnancy." She smirked. "Rumour has it you couldn't tell who the father was, one of these poor saps I believe."
I glared furiously at her. "I can assure you that there is no baby Lauren." Sweet Jesus I think I'm gonna kill her, Where does she get off speaking to me like that?
"Got rid of it? Can't see you having an abortion too soft so I presume you had it adopted, probably wise if you couldn't figure out who to get child support from, not like any of these boys could afford to keep you in your ivory tower." She smirked looking at Paul and Jake as if they were steaks.
"For your information Lauren I didn't drop out and have a baby I just moved school." I spoke quietly. I actually didn't care what she thought about me but I felt the need to clarify this in case of any trouble it could cause Jake or the boys later on.
"Sure you did." She responded with disinterest. "So why don't you boys come along to the party there will be plenty of girls and alcohol?"
Charlie coughed quietly in the corner I could see his red face as he quietly fumed from the comments coming out of the over painted mouth. He knew better than to speak rudely to a new imprint just in case Paul's wolf felt the need to defend his imprint. "Thanks for the invite Lauren I'd love to go to that party, I'm on duty in an hour I'll swing by then."
Laurens eyes widened and her smirk completely faltered then quickly recovered. "I'm sure they would be thrilled to see you Mr Swan."
"Chief Swan." Charlie corrected.
Lauren began to quietly back out of the house giving me the evil eye as if it was my fault that she spoke so loosely around the Chief of Police.
"So are any of you nice boys going to follow me? I'm sure Swan won't mind." She raised her eyebrows suggestively at Paul.
At first Paul looked a little conflicted but then he shook his head and muttered. "Black."
"Sorry?" She queried coquettishly
"Her name is Bella Black now." He began to shake some more before he quickly ducked back into the kitchen.
Shit now she is really going to think Jake married me because I was pregnant. Oh it's not like I give a damn what she thinks but I hate any sort of slur on what our commitment to each other.
Lauren looked a little surprised but then she looked at me with a predatory smile she looked down at my left hand and smirked. She then looked up at Jake and I have no idea why but she visibly swallowed and the look on her face changed to wariness. I looked towards the kitchen as I didn't know what to do should I follow Paul, I needed to help him. Lauren just brazenly made her way towards the hall door, obviously wanting to get going possible to warn Jessica that Charlie may be checking in on things. We all knew that Charlie had the night off but there was no harm in her thinking otherwise.
We were all so focused on Paul and the Bitch Imprint that we had all forgotten about simpering Emily which she obviously did not like that at all.
"Oh Bella this is so exciting you are certainly going to have your hands full with all the imprints popping up, you know I am here to help if you ever feel overwhelmed." She said coyly, shit how the hell did she know what had happened, Sam hadn't reacted the same as Paul had he? Or was she really just that astute. Between her sickly sweet sly innuendo of my ineptitude and now the in your face bitchy bitch I could feel a migraine coming on. God I was pissed I caught Leah's eye and I could tell we were thinking the same thing.
"So boys are you going to come with us to the party?" Emily looked hopefully around the room lingering on Sam with a look of hurt and dismay when she saw him pull Leah on to his lap.
All of the pack declined the invitation none looking anyway sorry. I have a feeling they would prefer to patrol rather than go to any party that Lauren and Emily were at.
"Oh, okay, but you won't let Kim or Bella leave La Push without a bodyguard I presumed it was standing operating procedure for all imprints." She spoke coyly with her eyes wide and innocent looking.
Damn she was right but there was no way in hell Jake could order anyone to go to that party they would be lucky if they got out alive and their balls intact. Under normal circumstances Jake probably would have sent Paul but there was no way he'd let a newly imprinted wolf out in the general population. I shook his arm and nodded towards the door. He suddenly realised I was telling him to go. He didn't want to go with those bitches either but he had too, Seth was too young, Paul and Sam where both dealing with their own problems, Jared was imprinted and would freak out if he asked him to leave Kim behind so that left, Quil and Embry which meant they would probably come home in pieces those two would not be able to handle Lauren's gang of man eating friends.
"Seth, stay here with Bella until I get back okay kid?" Jake ordered.
"No problem Jake." He quickly responded.
"I'll come with you." Embry stood up and gave his mom a quick hug.
"Me too." Quil grabbed his keys. "We can't leave you to deal with the sharks by yourself." He dropped a quick kiss on his mom's head. They were getting on well but I don't think he was ever going to move back home. Jake was going to freak when he realised we had a permanent house guest. Urghh one problem at a time.
Emily smiled demurely at us as she gathered her bag and coat but still casting sideway glances at Sam and Leah. Jake pulled me into his arms; I loved him so much and would be happy if I never had to leave these arms. We'll have to exchange gifts later he bent his head and kissed me gently very conscious of our audience and our inability to stop kissing once we started. We thought that would reduce when we sealed the imprint but how wrong we were, now we could hardly touch each other in public for fear we would get carried away. "Will I go in and talk to him before I go?" he asked kissing my nose.
"No." I shook my head before cuddling into him some more. "It's okay, I need to talk to him, it's my job, you get the easy job of killing vampires, I have to deal with mythical bonds.
He laughed and nuzzled into my neck. "I really don't wanna go to this party, this is our first Christmas eve together."
I cuddled into his chest. "I know but it will be only a couple of hours and even though they should be fine we can't take the risk of Edward using them as leverage to get to me or hurting you. Even though we are not sure whether Sam imprinted or not we can't take the chance something will happening. Oh and can you do something for me? Can you please alpha order Quil and Embry not to look any girl in the eye tonight I think I have my fill of new imprints for the moment and if I know Jessica, anyone at that party will be high maintenance."
"I was thinking the same thing myself babe." He slowly pulled away from me and I tried to not cry, damn I hated when we were separated even for a couple of hours. Quil and Embry pulled him out the door chuckling. I looked around at my family and smiled the look of concern for me was on all their faces.
"What's the beef between you and Lauren Mallory?" Dad asked.
"I really don't know Dad, I think it had something to do with me being the first new person apart from the Cullen's that joined their class since kindergarten and the boys all saw me as the shiny new toy and showed me more interest than her for the first few weeks. Remember Tyler Crowley kept following me? Apparently he broke up with her the week I started in Forks High. I doubt it was to date me but I think Lauren thought I was competition to her." I rubbed my eyes tiredly.
"I'm going to head back in there and talk to Paul, why don't you all start exchanging gifts." I suggested looking at all the beautifully wrapped gifts I had placed under the huge tree, Leah and I had great fun buying and wrapping stocking fillers for the boys and our families over the last few weeks. We certainly didn't expect Christmas to turn into such a drama. Mixed with our bows and ribbons where parcels wrapped in everything from newspaper to tinfoil, the wolves remembered to arrange gifts but wrapping of said gifts where another story completely. I think that's why I loved them all so much, you could always rely on them for the important stuff but they refused to waste their time on nonsense.
"No, it's no fun unless we're all together." Seth stated.
"We have no idea what time the others will be back and I doubt Paul will be in the humour. How about you all come here for breakfast then?" I suggested.
"Okay we'll do that." Sue said looking at Janice and Linda. "But we'll bring the food, you have done enough." They all nodded in agreement.
"Thanks that would be great, not sure if we have enough food in here anyway." I chuckled.
"We'll head off then Bella, I know you want to talk to Paul." Dad said. "We'll all be here around eleven so you get a rest."
"Thanks Dad. Bye Billy." I bent down and squeezed the life out of my father in law.
He looked up and whispered. "Bella it will come to you what to say and do. I don't need to warn you not to let personal feelings get in the way, you obviously tried to be welcoming to her. She may not be your favourite person but the spirits have deemed her to be Paul's imprint. There must be something nice about her, I too doubt it but there must be a reason for this."
"Thanks Billy I know, I will do anything to help Paul and I really want him to be happy he has done so much for me." I answered. "It's his turn to start living and if I have to beat the crap out of that girl she will treat him with the love and respect he deserves."
"That's my girl." Dad chuckled. "Come on old timer, need to get to bed if we are coming back in the morning for more food."
Janice gave me a hug and told me to let Quil know she'd see him in the morning, and Grandfather whispered in my ear "Give her a chance we may be all pleasantly surprised but remember you are nobody's door mat!"
"I will grandfather, I not sure what to say to Paul because at the moment I really don't trust her enough to tell her our legends or secrets." I whisper.
"I understand little one but you are jumping the gun a little. The imprint connection will tell Paul if she is lying and as the Alpha female you also have some magic. You may not be able to control her with unbending orders but you will always know when an imprint is being deceitful. You will also know when she is being honest." Grandfather told me. "As you know according to the Legends all imprints were true at heart, we have to hope Lauren's behaviour is just a façade."
"Well no disrespect grandfather but I think I will get the boys to start carving a glass case so she has somewhere to put all her Oscars and Emmy's if her whole attitude is an act." I snorted while looking out into the kitchen wondering how Paul was coping. I waved them off and went back into Leah, Sam and Seth.
"Do you guys need anything?" I asked.
"No we're good, you go on we will wait here." Leah answered.
I nodded. "Sam if he needs to run will you go with him?"
"Of course." He agreed.
I thanked him and then quietly made my way into the kitchen. Paul was standing with his head bowed leaning on the marble counter. His body was shaking gently not a phase tremor but the shaking you get when you are trying to control your tears.
"Paul." I whispered as I walked towards him slowly. "Are you okay honey?"
"Nope." He shook his head and sniffed hard rubbing the back of his hand over his eyes.
I knew I probably had a very small timeline to which Pauls sadness and worry turned to anger so I needed to find out exactly what was going on in his big noggin before he fursploded.
"Tell me." I asked I took him by the hand and walked him towards the table and sat down pulling him down beside me. I continued to hold his hand and as he rocked to and fro in his seat. Paul kept his hand in mine and he appeared to be having difficulty formulating words.
He shifted in his seat and raised his brown eyes pooling with tears, I never thought I would see this amazingly strong man so dejected. "I have known you all your life, I have watched over and cared for you for 18 years, around 12 years ago when Jacob imprinted on you I actually worried he was not good enough for you and as you got older I worried that you both would never get your happy ever after. I was never a fan of imprinting I think we are all perfectly capable of finding our own soul mate but I always hoped that if I ever did imprint I would be lucky enough to get a girl half as cool and sweet as you." He sniffed again and wiped his eyes again. "Instead I get a girl who is probably the biggest bitch in Washington and she is definitely not innocent."
"Paul, there has to be more to Lauren than a bitchy air." I sighed. "I won't lie she made it very difficult for me in Forks but that side of Lauren cannot be all she is. She has loyal friends and family who love her, there is just something about me that obviously brings out the worst in her and I promise that we will not let our issues get in the way of your relationship with her."
I took a deep breath this was gonna be hard to say. "Paul you really have to be realistic here as well. You are a 36 year old man with a reputation for the opposite sex. I believe you have had many partners all of which one night stands, you may look early twenties but the truth is you are not. Did you really expect a virginal teenager girl? I never thought you one for double standards."
"No, Yes, I don't know! I just didn't expect my imprint to have probably slept with half of the men of Forks not to mention La Push." He shook his head. "Logically I agree with you but my wolf wants to track down every single prick that has ever touched her and eat him."
"You can't believe everything you hear Paul, according to the tribe I'm sleeping with all of you! And Jake is just a shmuck being conned by the paleface whore." I said dryly. "How does your wolf feel?"
"He is actually really angry, we were told that all worries and cares would shift and all other ties would not be important. That is not happening here." He sighed. "He is angry that he now loves a girl that made your life hell as you have always been his priority. He remembers the things she said to your face and the slurs she made behind your back. It hurts him she is like that."
"Well Jake and I had a different sort of imprint to others cause of our age and I know Jake loves every piece of me as I do him but it didn't take the love he has for his family away. Jared is now more mesmerised by Kim true but his family and the pack are still a priority. Billy loved his children enough to keep himself alive when Sarah died so I think the legends are a little warped, you are also an older wolf Paul, you know your wolf better than most and probably have more control over him even if you do burst out of your trousers like Bill Bixby when pissed."
"What am I gonna do?" He whispered.
"You're gonna go for a run with Sam, and then you'll come back here and stay in the spare room designated for you and have breakfast with us tomorrow morning when we all exchange gifts. Then I suggest you go visit her tomorrow and start getting to know the real Lauren. I'm wary of telling her our secrets just yet I think you need to become friends at least before then." I smiled trying to not cry, he was old enough to be my father and I was talking to him as if I was his mom telling him how to act on his first date. How weird is my life?
He stood up and pulled me in for a hug. "Thanks Boss, don't know what I would do without you?"
"I feel the same way Paul, I feel the same way." I whispered as I held him close, imprint or not no one was gonna hurt my brother my Paul.