Gabby's POV

'What the hell was that about?' Paul growled as he watched me.

'He was annoying me.'

'Great reason.' he sighed.

'Don't give me that shit, or you'll be next.'

'Really? You think you can take me on do you?' Paul taunted as he strutted towards the forest.

I was confused. Sure Paul was normally cocky but he generally didn't run away while being so. I stopped to watch him, the way his dark fur rippled in the shafts of late afternoon light. He had a surprisingly elegant gate, smooth and swift like a well trained dressage horse. I'm sure he wouldn't have approved of being compared to a horse but if he heard that he'd have to just deal.

Paul paused just outside a sudden concentration of pine trees and looked back at me, his eyes raised in questioning.

'This isn't a game.' I yelled at him, although I knew that he still would have heard me if I whispered.

'Jared said that when you first got here you were acting like a child. Where is that Gabby now?'

'Being held hostage by the Gabby that understands the seriousness of the current predicament.'

'Geez, talk about uptight. I thought Australians were supposed to be laid back.'

'Well, most Au-'

'Yeah, yeah. Current predicament. You need to stop thinking about it.'

I started walking again, not that I really wanted to go back to the pack; they'd likely be pissed for my attack on Brady. But I wanted to follow Paul.

A week ago I thought that me and Paul would never be able to get along but after Sam's little freak out there was something different between us. Paul seemed to be more open and outspoken with me about, well, everything. He was still angry but it was less consistent now, which should have upset me but somehow didn't.

I liked being around Paul now because he went easy on me. He didn't question me like the others did, didn't push for answers. Being with Paul was like being with an old, slightly unstable, friend. I had a little trouble reading Paul, just like I did with everyone else in the pack, and it seemed to help. I could hold things back from him without him getting too suspicious and I was sure he was doing the same to me.

'Oh, hurry up! We'll miss Sam's tirade if we take any longer.'

I could already hear Sam yelling at me but I'd travelled far enough that I could ignore the yelling and focus on my surroundings.

The wind was still blowing and it was an annoying reminder of having lost the shifter's scent. The pine trees had their own strong scent about them and I was surprised that they hadn't interfered in my tracking. I guess it didn't surprise me much that I hadn't been able to follow the scent, I was never very good at that.

I thought of Rhys and his magnificent sense. I was the only shifter he couldn't track, and even then I only just managed to get away from him. He had been a small red dingo; his eerie howl was something that I don't think I'll ever forget. If there was one pack member I would always remember it would be Rhys, with his raspy bark and sharp little teeth.

Bile rose in my throat at the thought of him and I gagged to get the burning liquid out of my body.

'Are you okay?' Paul asked, as the bile dripped onto the cold ground.

'Fine!' it came out shorted than it should have and Paul's curiosity was peaked.

'Are you sure?' Paul's voice was the only one I heard this time as everyone else seemed to have phased back to their human selves.

'Yes I'm sure. I know my own body well enough to tell that I'm alright.'

'Talk about PMS.' Paul didn't mean for me to hear that, I could tell by the parade of soft curses that followed it.

It didn't much matter whether he meant it now. He'd thought it, I'd heard it; there was no going back on it.

I charged at Paul, fully aware that he would fight me back. He stood his ground and as I reached him we both reared up, like two waves meeting. I had velocity on my side and Paul was knocked backwards, we crashed into a sapling and it buckled under our weight.

Paul tried to push me off but I was more than pissed, he was going to bear the brunt of all my annoyance and I didn't feel the least bit guilty for it. Mainly because I knew he could take it. I tried to keep the distance between us as short as possible as we rolled over one another in a fight to gain some dominance. My actions started to feel very brash as I realised that I didn't have the strength to overpower Paul, not after having run so much and working so hard to keep on that scent trail.

I was pinned beneath Paul's heavy frame as I tried desperately to get a hold of his neck. He was just tall enough that I couldn't reach his soft neck, not with the way he had my shoulders trapped beneath his weight.

'Settle down, Gabby.' he crooned.

All it took was a simple twist and his paws slid from my shoulders, it hurt like hell as his claws caught my skin but I rode through it just to be free of him. Paul leapt back so that I couldn't reach him and we started to circle one another.

We circled each other in silence for a few moments before I sighed, 'This isn't worth it.'

'What's not worth it?'

'Everything. Being here. Being around your pack.'

'What are you trying to get at?'

'I should leave.'

'Haven't we been through this?'

'I should leave and cut Stendahl off before he gets here.'

'And do what?'

'Fight him, what else?'

'He'll kill you.' Paul gasped.

'No he won't. And even if he does, it'll give you some extra time to prepare. Screw this prepared to be unprepared.'

'You are suicidal, then?' Paul stopped circling and gaped at me.

'No. I'm just sick of it all. You're all acting like this isn't a big issue.'

'We understand that this is a big issue. We are just trying to maintain some sanity, before we start talking like you are.' Paul just stared at me

I growled; I didn't like being called insane.

I wondered why he cared so much. A week ago he would have recommended the idea himself but all of a sudden it was 'insanity' for it to even be thought of. Paul's inconsistency was now annoying and I wanted to attack him again for it, but held off.

'I thought Sam told you how much the pack cared for you. Why would you just throw that away?'

'They'll get over it. If you let me go then you will all get over it.' I snapped and I was surprised when Paul lunged at me.

He burst forward and took a clump of fur into his mouth as he pushed me back. In my surprise I couldn't figure out where to put my feet and I fell backward. I was tempted to fight him but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead I tried to kick him off, but when that didn't work I gave in and phased. It took Paul a few seconds to realise what I'd done but it was his reaction to my phasing that surprised me most.

He phased.

His naked body fell on top of mine and I was uncomfortably aware of the heat from his body where his skin touched mine. He leant on one hand and snaked the other behind my neck, pulling my head up roughly and kissing me.

Suddenly my body was on fire. There was warmth and butterflies in places that they hadn't been in for years and desire took control of me as I kissed him back. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, pulling our bodies closer together. Any separation was too much and I was frantic in my attempt to hold my body against his, the feelings seemed to be reciprocated as Paul leant down on me, pushing his firm muscular torso into mine.

He was forceful yet gentle as he maintained control over me and the situation. Supporting himself on his forearm he moved his other hand to my side. He trailed his fingers down my side to my hip, leaving the skin where he'd touched to tickle and tingle with the memory of his tender caress. My stomach was filled with anticipation as his calloused hands worked over my soft flesh.

He held my hip for a few moments, gripping a little tighter than was necessary as there was no way I would try to get away from this. His strong grip seemed to intensify the heat from his hand and its proximity to my core had my nerves on edge with longing.

His hands held tighter as his body pressed harder against mine. I could feel his excitement and figured he could sense mine as well. We couldn't get close enough, couldn't touch enough. The electricity that pulsed from his touch was driving me insane but I didn't want it to stop.

As his firm hand wrapped around my breast I realised what was happening and found the strength to push him back. Scrambling to get away from him and his glorious body. When I felt I was a safe distance from him I looked up. I wish I hadn't.

He looked hurt.

"I- I'm sorry. We- ah, we can't. No, it's not right." I think I was talking more to myself because my body was screaming at me to rewind. I wanted so badly to return to him and press my body against his superb self.

"It felt right to me." Paul said with a smirk.

"Then you are wrong." I growled, jumping to my feet and phasing. I had to get away from him, before I did something I'd regret.