AN: Sorry for the long delay but here it is, the next chapter. I hope you enjoy. If you haven't all ready please check out the video for this story made by one of my lovely readers. Anyway I'll let you get on with the story.

A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter Twenty Five- The Curse of an Imprint

Paul POV

I can't believe you found her Jared thought as we ran together. That you just happened to walk into the same cafe, in New York, that she was working at.

I heard Jacob's unwanted thoughts, no one can.

Shut up Black I thought.

He scoffed, as much as a wolf could. She knows about Rachel?

She knows I imprinted on Rachel. She knows Rachel didn't want me but most importantly she knows that it's her I love. Her I want. I replied harshly wanting to make it clear to the fucker that I had, in no way, tricked Bella into coming back.

And what if Rachel comes back? Jacob wasn't ready to drop the subject.

Rachel made it perfectly clear she didn't want me. I thought back to the day...

Jacob was all fists, punching me anywhere he could. He had the advantage and all I could do was protect myself the best I could.

"Jake, stop it." I faintly heard Rachel cry out. "Please, Jake STOP!"

Jacob paused for long enough that I could get away, clutching my broken ribs as blood trickled down my face.

"It was a mistake, I don't want him Jake. I regret it. It'll never happen again."

Jacob turned to face his sister staring at her before laughing, a bitter angry laugh. He turned to me, his face twisted into something ugly and bitter. "Did you hear that Paul, even your own imprint doesn't want you."

I winced as the words cut me deep. It was an unfamiliar feeling, being unwanted, but it hurt all the same.

"Imprint? What the hell is an imprint?" Rachel said staring from her brother to me...

Even after finding out about imprinting she still left.

See Black, don't you remember I bit back a snarl. She doesn't want me but that isn't why you won't let this go is it, I thought and my thought wasn't received well. It hit a nerve like I knew it would.

Don't go there Paul.

Jared stayed silent, listening to the two of us as we all patrolled.

It because she's with me isn't it, even though I've imprinted, I still have Bella and that's killing you I knew I sounded way to happy but I couldn't help it, I had everything I ever wanted and it just so happened it was everything Jacob wanted as well, yet he couldn't have her.

You weren't strong enough were you Jake and that really is eating you up

SHUT YOUR MOUTH PAUL Jacob screamed at me as he swiftly shifted course, heading straight for me.

Jared must have phased out to get Sam because they both phased in at the same time, with Sam ordering Jacob to stop just before he reached me, much to Jake's disappointment.

Paul phase out Sam ordered. Bella's at mine and Emily's waiting for you.

I phased quickly, running to Sam's in human form. I had only been nine hours since I'd seen her but it felt like a life time. With Bella, it seemed, I could never get enough.

I walked through the door to find Bella sitting at the table picking at one of Emily's famous blueberry muffins. She smiled and stood as she saw me and as we met half way around the table she leaned forwards, pressing her lips softly to mine.

"Morning beautiful," I said wrapping my arms around her waist.

She smiled, "Want to tell me why Jared came rushing in calling Sam before they both left in a panic?" she arched her right brow and stared at me impatiently.

I stifled a laugh. "Nothing happened."

"Why don't I believe you?" she asked but her posture relaxed as she smiled up at me.

I kissed the tip of her nose, "I have no idea."

She shook her head from side to side in what I could only imagine was despair.

"Come on," she took my hand calling out to Emily saying we'd be back later.

"Where are we going?" I asked smirking as she tugged me along behind her.

"To the beach."

A Drop in the Ocean

We sat side by side, staring out at the waves as they rolled and crashed against the shore. Bella hadn't said much, she just sat beside me her hands playing with the grains of sand beside her.

"What happened when you imprinted?" she broke the silence asking the one question I prayed she'd never ask.

I sighed and lowered my eyes, staring at the ground instead of the beauty of the sea. Images flashed through my mind, her golden skin and soft sighs but the images weren't right, that night hadn't been right. As Rachel said, it was a mistake.

"A lot of things happened," I replied.

I saw her out the corner of my eye; she was looking at me, worry swimming in her eyes. "Your worrying me Paul, what happened?" she sounded small and fragile and it took me back to the day we find her after Jacob imprinted. I shook the image from my mind.

In that moment I had to decide, tell her the truth and maybe lose her or lie. It took me only a second to decide.

"It was a month after you left, I wasn't," I struggled to find the right words. "I wasn't me, I was a mess. I was angry at you, upset and above all, I missed you desperately." I sighed and looked at her; tears were welling in her eyes. "One night I had been drinking, heavily. I was walking along the beach there was someone else there, as drunk and miserable as me."

"Rachel," Bella whispered her name her voice cracking. She knew where the story was going. "You slept with her." It wasn't a question; I knew she was stating a fact.

I nodded, "she asked me if I could help her forget. She'd just found out about the pack. She was as lost as me."

"You slept with her," I frowned, Bella sat as still as stone, repeating the same words.

"Bella you have to understand-"she scrabbled to her feet, a single tear rolling down her cheek as she backed away from me, her eyes wide and filled with sadness.

I jumped to my feet, "Bella, please let me-"

She held out her hand, her palm facing me. "Please, don't. I just," she took in a shaky breath. "I just need some time, alone."

Without she ran from me, I watched her until I couldn't see her any longer then I fell to my knees. I've lost her, after everything I've lost her.

A Drop in the Ocean

Bella POV

I couldn't help but run from him, I knew I shouldn't have but I couldn't sit there any longer. I couldn't pretend that him sleeping with his imprint didn't hurt me deeply because it did. I had come to terms with the fact that he had imprinted and that they would always have that bond between them but with them sleeping together it just added another bond. Something else they shared.

I ran home, trying to hold back as many tears as I could until I was in the comfort of my own room where strangers would not see me weep. No one was home and for that I was grateful, I closed my door behind me and sunk to the floor. I couldn't hold the tears back any longer and I sobbed cradling my head in my hands.

It was a while before my tears slowed and sense filled me. I tried my eyes and washed my face, hating how weak and pathetic I looked when I saw my reflection in the mirror; all swollen eyed and tear stained cheeks.

"He loves you," I whispered to my reflection. "He wants you."

And I knew deep down that it was me he wanted, after everything I couldn't believe otherwise. He may have imprinted but he wasn't with her, he had found me even if it was by accident and he wanted me.

I shut and locked the front door behind me, I had been stupid to run away from him and I knew it. I would make it right. I walked to Paul's, everything I wanted and needed to say to him was going through my mind but most of all, I needed him to know that it was ok and that I still loved him. I really had no right to be upset, I left him and he was free to do what he liked.

I arrived at Paul's and knocked, after five minutes of nothing I sat on his porch steps. I would wait for him to come home for as long as it took and then I would through myself into his arms and hold him telling how much I loved him... that was the plan anyway!

AN: Sorry for my absence, The Game of Thrones has been keeping me distracted. If you haven't watched the TV series and your over 18, watch it! And I would recommend the books also though I haven't finished the first one yet.

Anyway, I hope this chapter wasn't too bad, I feel like its missing something but I'm not sure what. Thank you to everyone reviewing and following this story, your all amazing and I hope I don't disappoint.