20. Friendly Interrogation Pt 2

Paul's POV

This takes place concurrently with the last chapter, only now we are in Paul's head ;)

I focus my energy inward so I can phase back, and once I am on two feet I begin jogging towards my house. Patrol was uneventful, as usual. Typically, I would be aggravated by spending my time running for hours in the woods just to come up short, but now that I have Charlotte here, I'm thankful for the quiet patrols. My wolf is at ease knowing, that for now, our imprint is safe from leeches. I idly wonder what she's doing right now, and my stomach twists with uncertainty. I hate not being near her. The old me was never seen with the same girl more than once, but this new me? The new me is whipped as shit. I snort at the thought. I'm glad she never had the displeasure of meeting the old Paul. I shudder thinking of how our encounters would have been prior to me phasing. This imprint stuff is crazy shit, that's for sure.

I quicken my pace anxious to shower and get back to Charlotte. I wonder if she misses me…

It doesn't take long before I am at the front door of the shit hole house that my dad does little to maintain. I don't remember a time where it ever felt like a home. Even when my mom was around, things weren't good. Dad has always been an abusive drunk. That's why she left. I used to harbor a lot of resentment towards her for leaving such a small child with someone who is a known piece of shit, but now I see that she did me a favor in some weird, fucked up way. Now I have my Charlie, and the opportunity to be better than he ever was.

I shake out my hands before opening the door. Even though I know the asshole can no longer hurt me, being here puts me on edge. In three strides, I'm standing in the small living room, and the smell of alcohol is thick in the air.

"Disgusting pig," I spit at my father, who is sprawled out on the floor in his boxers and a sweat-stained shirt. I kick his leg that blocks my path as I walk by, and he makes no effort to move. Typical.

Four more strides and I have made my way to the bathroom. I flick on the water, and strip myself of my dirty black shorts before climbing in.

After making quick work of washing my hair and body twice, I turn off the water and dry myself before heading to my room to get dressed. These days I don't have many clothes to choose from, thanks to my temper always causing me to burst out of them. I pick a plain black shirt to throw on, and a pair of cut off jeans while skipping boxers, per my usual style. Just as I am about to head out I hear my phone buzz gently against the wood of my dresser. It's a text from Kim. Weird, I think to myself, she never texts me. Hell, no one ever texts me these days. The only people that would need to get ahold of me is my pack, and I am always with them. Swiping it open, I read it quickly.

Kim- Hey, I ran into Charlotte at the store. She didn't have your number, so she asked me to tell you that she's going to be at Emily's.

Well, shit. That gives me a new reason to carry my phone with me. I briefly text a reply.

Thanks. I'll head there now. I clicked send, and the phone buzzed back almost instantly

Kim- No problem. Jared and I are walking over.

My stomach twists with excitement, and my wolf stirs at the thought of reuniting with our imprint as I jog out of the house.

After a few minutes of jogging, Emily and Sam's house comes into view at the end of the road, and I spot Jared and Kim walking hand in hand from the path to my right.

"'Sup guys," I call out, while jogging over to them before slowing my pace to match theirs.

"Hey Paul," Kim smiled up at me, and I force a grin back at her. We've never been ones to carry on a decent conversation, but I had a feeling she and Charlotte would grow close, and in turn we would as well.

"What's this I hear about a cashier puttin' moves on your girl, bro?" Jared asks with a joking smirk before Kim jabbed him with her elbow. If he's trying to piss me off, mission accomplished.

"Jared!" She whisper-shouted at him.

"What?" I snarl through gritted teeth, coming to a hault. I felt the vibrations shaking the heat throughout my body rapidly. "What are you talking about?" I gritted out once more.

"Calm down, Paul. That's why I brought it up out here, so you wouldn't do this near Charlotte," He tried to rationalize with me. One of his hands was outstretched in front of him and the other he used to gently push Kim behind him.

"You weren't supposed to bring it up at all, Jared," Kim glared at him before softening her look and turning to me. "The cashier was a creep. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her, and asked her if she had a boyfriend. That's all. She didn't pay him any attention, Paul," she tried to reassure me, but my wolf wasn't having it. After being separated from her, even if for a short period of time, and hearing the threat of another male trying to take our mate, he was pissed.

"Well did she tell him she had a boyfriend who'd literally rip him to shreds?" I said through another snarled breath. Jared and Kim just stared at me blankly.

"Well? Did she?" I demanded, my change imminent.

"I told you, she didn't pay him any attention…" she trailed off. That's my answer, I thought before my wolf exploded out of me. FUCK, I internally shouted at myself.

"Paul, run a few laps to cool off, then head in. 'Kay? Remember who's waiting for you." Jared told me, before shaking his head and walking away with Kim. Damn him and damn his perfect control, I growled before running off. So much for that outfit.

My wolf is seething over learning of the grocery store incident. His anger towards both the male and Charlotte pushes me forward. How dare he try to take what's ours, I snarled to myself, and how dare she not set him straight.

I quickly finish my run, and then trot my way over to a designated clothing spot. Thank god for Em, who had the idea to leave clothes scattered around the reservation for moments like this. Unfortunately, I was usually the only one who made use of them. I tugged on a pair of shorts, and jogged back to Emily and Sam's now that I mostly had myself under control.

As the house once again came into view, I focused my listening and found the quick flutter of my Charlotte's heart, and relaxed instantly at the sound. I allow myself to follow the beautiful noise, and I realize that I feel that she is nervous and upset. Having been distracted by my thoughts, I am only half paying attention to the conversation taking place inside the house as I reach the steps.

"He really didn't ask?" I hear Sam's voice question.

"He really didn't ask what?" I ask, confused by the question. My eyes land on the back of Charlotte, whose petite hands cling to one of Emily's teacups as she jumped slightly with surprise. She quickly spins her head around, and her eyes find mine. Only her eyes weren't the happy, grey ones I was expecting. They looked as if they were laced embarrassment, and sadness. What would she have to be embarrassed or sad about?

"So, are we—uhh—gonna eat?" Quil questioned, much to my annoyance.

Emily quickly pushed back off her chair. "I hope you all are hungry," She laughed at her own joke while placing mitts on her hands and opening the oven, "Because Charlotte here has given me a run for my money."

Okay, weird… I think to myself. In two strides I find myself standing behind Charlotte, and she strained her neck to gaze up at me.

"Hey," I smiled down at my beautiful girl while stroking her cheek.

"Hey," She mirrored, taking a deep breath and leaning into my touch slightly.

"Hungry?" I ask, while walking over to where Emily has breakfast set up, shoving Quil, Embry, and Jake out of the way. Seth moved on his own, knowing to still tread lightly. "Imprints first, you animals. You know the rules," I growled at them as they began to protest.

"Since when do you abide by that rule, Paulie?" Jake taunted, earning a more severe growl from me

"Jacob!" Emily softly chastised him, and I couldn't help the shit-eating grin that crossed my face.

I grabbed two plates, so Charlie wouldn't have to get up, and piled the food on before making my way back to the table to sit them both in front of her.

"Uh, I can't eat all that Paul…" She said while looking at her plate with wide eyes.

"I know, baby," I said, ignoring her small squeak while scooping her up from the chair, so I could sit and position her in my lap, "Just eat what you can."

"He just stacked your plate so there was more for him to eat. Asshole…" Quil grumbled through a full mouth. This caused me to smirk, because it was partially true. I also just wanted to make sure Charlie wouldn't be hungry.

"Eat up," I whispered into her ear, allowing myself to take a good whiff of the spot I wanted so badly to sink my teeth into. I tried to push the thoughts from my mind as quickly as they came so that Charlotte wouldn't get uncomfortable while sitting on my lap in front of my brothers.

Once she had her first bite, I began to dig in myself. The gravy had a surprising kick to it, and the giant rolls were truly the best I have ever tasted in my life. I let out a pleased groan. Apparently, everyone else agreed, because they all let out groans of their own and began to voice their opinions.

"Okay, seriously?" Seth started, while swallowing what was left in his mouth, "This is amazing, Char."

"Mmhmm," Was all that could be said from Embry, Quil, and Jake as they polished off their once heaping plates.

"Not kidding, Charlotte, this is the best gravy I've ever had." Emily commented to my girl.

"And these biscuits? Mmm-" Kim added, while smacking Jared's hand away from her plate.

I felt Charlie shift her weight on my lap, and heard her heart rate increase slightly. I'm sure she felt awkward with all of the attention on her. Her action reminded me of how uncomfortable she seemed when I first walked in.

"Thanks guys, now that I know you like my cooking I'm excited to make more of my dishes for you" She smiled at them with a slight blush, "This one was my moms favorite," She added which earned sympathetic smiles from Kim and Emily, causing her to shift her weight again.

"So, uh—" I started, swallowing the bite that was in my mouth and chasing it with orange juice before continuing, "What were you guys talking about when I got in here?" I popped my last bite into my mouth, and watched as the girls and Sam exchanged nervous glances.

"About how you're a dumbass," Quil spoke with his mouthful, not bothering to look up from his plate.

"Quil…" Charlotte warned him softly.

"Yeah, and how you didn't ask Char out yesterday," Embry smirked into his cup of juice, and nudged Quil on with his elbow.

"You guys!" She squeaked again from my lap.

"Hell, now that I know she can cook, maybe I'll ask her to be my girlfriend," Quil howled with laughter, and I watched as Jacob and Embry choked on their food. I dropped my hands from the table and instinctively balled them into shaky fists at my sides. Just like the first night we shared at the bonfire, I felt Charlotte's small cool hand reach up the back of my neck, and begin to rub with a little pressure. I closed my eyes, and focused on the feeling of her in my lap and rubbing my neck to try to steady my breathing.

"Stop it now, all of you!" Sam commanded to my cackling, dumbass brothers. "Paul, do you need to take a walk?" He questioned me.

I took a deep breath before I opened my eyes, and found Charlie's worried face gazing up at mine. A small smile spread across her plump lips, and a soft pink glowed in her cheeks.

"I'm fine, Sam." I said through gritted teeth. "Charlotte, are you done with your food?" I asked looking at her barely touched plate.

"Um, yeah do yo—" after hearing her confirmation, I stabbed a giant bite and popped it in my mouth before rising with her bridal style in my arms.

"Can I take you home?" I didn't really give her time to answer, as I began to the door.

"Paul!" She whisper-shouted at me, "but I have to help clean up! What about my stuff?"

"We can get it later," I stated quickly while kicking the screen door open with a bit too much force.

"Paul, what are you doing?" She groaned at me while looking back towards everyone, "See you later I guess," She shouted through the quickly disappearing screen door. Her arms folded almost angrily across her chest. Gazing down at her, I could tell she was pouting and that I'd be in trouble for this little stunt, but I didn't care. My wolf and I needed to set some things straight with our girl.