Paul POV

I woke to the sound of Sam's warning howl, sending chills through my body, hairs standing up, and anger shifting through my body.

I phased as soon as I was out of sight, rushed with the thoughts of Sam who was at a meadow watching a bloodsucker.

"What's happening?"

"There is a leech, about to feed, on….Bella. We caught another scent, which Jake and Embry are tracking now." Sam informed.

"NOOO!!! Stop him!!! Now!!!" Embry's concerned voice shouted.

"I'm coming hold him off. I won't be ok if she dies on my time." Quil rushed through the forest making the best time towards the meadow.

"Not my Bella, please." Jake whimpered.

"What is she doing out there? Does she know him?" I wondered.

Jared questioned, running alongside Quil. "I just left her! How did she get here?"

The leech moved his nose grazing her cheek and trailing towards her throat.

"Sam! Do something! He is going to bite!!!" Jake whaled.

"Stop him!" Embry screamed.

"I have to make sure he is going to feed, what if he's a part of the Cullen's clan." Sam enlightens, as he went over key points of the treaty with us.

"I don't care, let's kill him." I needed a kill.

"Sam we can't wait, she is too precious to me!" Jared cried.

"Please save her!" Quil's tone broke off, as he pushed himself faster.

The parasite stiffened lifting his head towards the sky sniffing. Leech snapped its head towards us, and dropped her to the ground, as she grasped her throat trying to breathe. He moved back but didn't take its eyes away, locked on Sam. Bella looked so helpless lying on the ground, frozen. She still had a hand on her throat and another on her heart. She never took her eyes off of the vampire.

"How could this be?"

Bella scanned around looking at Sam, and Jared. She obviously couldn't see them, because as wolves we blend perfectly with the woods.

"Sam we are losing the scent!" Jake shouted frantically.

"I faintly picked it up over here." Embry was in full report mode, as he spotted the stone, vile creature. She had marble white skin, glistening even under the clouded area of the forest. If her skin didn't give her away then the stillness of her body did. She stood statue like, as the wind carried her pale blond, almost silver hair. Embry and Jake moved in on her strategizing as they made their move on their kill. Sam's thoughts interfered with their swift movements.

"Look at her eyes, they are dark golden color! Don't attack, she is probably friends with the Cullen's and she hasn't broken the treaty."

Embry and Jake stopped in their pursuit, growling with frustration. Her lip curled over her teeth, showing her pearly razor sharp feeders. She opened her mouth, unlocking her jaw as a fierce growl rolled out of her throat.

The black haired leech, with Bella moved back further petrified, of Sam, and Jared.

"He should be scared! I'm going to rip him to shreds for touching Bella." Jared fumed.

"We know that it is scared, so we can make our move soon. Quil, are you almost here, we are waiting on you." Sam informed.

"I'm almost there! Let's tear up that piece of crap!" Quil excitedly yelled.

"I want to help wait on me!" I don't understand why everyone can't wait on me!

"No waiting! Kill now!!!" Embry said, while Jake followed. "Destroy it now!"

Sam let out a loud howl, which was soon followed by us, letting it know we were here on business. Sam let out a snarl, which echoed through the forest, he barred his teeth in anger. Bella shook with fear, and the bloodsucker gasped.

"I'm going to attack." Sam stated, moving forward.

"I'm here! Let's go!" Jared moved closer to Bella.

"Let's do this!" Quil flanked behind Sam, trying to focus at the task at hand.

Bella stared in terror, as Quil and Jared moved swiftly towards their prey.

Bella gasped loudly.

"Bella, honey, do not be scared. I'm protecting you." Jared cooed.

"God she's beautiful, even when facing death." Quil gushed.

"FOCUS!" Sam's double voice, roared with authority.

Sam's alpha snarl erupted and they snapped their heads back towards Laurent, moving for the kill.

The parasite ran away in the opposite direction.

Sam, Jared, and Quil took off towards the parasite.

"I'm right outside the meadow! I'm coming to help!"

"Paul, you follow Bella make sure she gets home ok. Stay with her, because it's time you apologize."

"Come on Sam! I can later, let someone who loves her, stalk her. It shouldn't be hard in this group, because I'm the only one who doesn't have a weak spot for her."

"Paul you made the mess with the Forks police, now you have to fix it!"

"Sam let me, I need to know she is ok." Jake's voice intervened.

"I need Quil and Jared to help gather the ripped pieces.Embry and Jake phase back, start a fire. Paul this isn't an open discussion, do as I say." Sam's voice lingered in my mind as he phased back with the pack destroying the bloodsucker.

I watched Bella crying on the ground, soon stumbling to her feet. She ran through the forest, tripping and falling on her way to her truck. I ran along side of her truck until she was finally made it home. Once she stepped inside I ran home to get clothes, and run in my human form to her house. I didn't want to be half naked to show up to apologize. When I reached her house, I watched as she lay on her bed. I knew what I needed to do, but didn't want to. Saying sorry was hard for me to do, and to be honest I was nervous. What if she tells me to leave right away, or just slams the door in my face? I finally built up enough courage to talk to her so I moved towards her house, but was stopped short when I heard her coming towards the door. I'm not ready!! I screamed in my mind. I looked around for a hiding place because I was too slow in my human form to run out of sight. I looked at my only option, her truck bed.

She opened the driver door starting the truck, and moving out of the driveway.

I felt like a stalker, and a creep. She almost was killed today, and I'm hiding in her truck to apologize. I'm sure she'll buy that story. Wait until I phase, everyone is going to make fun of me. I'm so ridiculous! I'm a werewolf, 6'7, made of pure muscle, and I'm hiding; in the back of a truck, because I wasn't ready to say sorry. I sniffed the air catching an all too familiar scent.

Why are we in La Push? That is the last place I want to be caught, hiding. I waited a little while longer, getting scents here and there placing where we were in my mind. I figured out where we were when I caught the faint smell of fish, and perfume. The Clearwater's, Harry always had fish in his freezer, and Sue always wore a particular type of perfume.

The truck came to a stop, and I debated if I should get out now or later. I heard the truck door open, and I raised my head wanting to get out. The front door flew open and I rushed my head back out of view. I smacked my head on the truck bed leaving a slight dent. I silently cursed myself; my reflexes are sharper, which causes me to still overcompensate. Luckily with Seth's over excitement, they didn't hear me.

"Bella! I thought it was your truck I heard! I knew you'd come see me! How are you? You look nice!" Seth shouted. I could hear him lifting her off the ground as she exhaled, which I assumed she was being hugged. Bella and Seth disappeared into the house. I could hear the light conversation, and Bella asking for Leah.

I need to get out of this situation, why can't I just say 'I'm sorry' and be done like a normal person. I think I need practice. I moved to look at the little reflection, the back window of her truck held.

"I'm sooorrrrry." I choked. That sounded like I was dying or it was causing me pain in some way.

"Ok, Paul you can do this, its two words." I coached aloud.

"I'm sorry."I desperately stated. I'm not a desperate person, why do I sound that way!

"I'm so sorry." I just made it three words! I can't even handle two why would I throw in another word. I was about to try again when the front door opened. I dashed my head curling back up in the truck.

I waited, and waited for us to pull back to her house but we never made it there. I could tell we were getting farther away from Forks, but where is she going? I hope that today didn't scare her that bad.

I felt her truck turning, so I got ready to make my escape. We were probably only an hour away from Forks, but her crappy truck can only go up to fifty, so I'd say it's a twenty five minute run back. I felt her truck stop and turn off. I lifted my head watching her lean down to grab her bag, probably looking for her wallet. We were at a gas station, diner rest stop. I still can't figure out where she is headed. I sprinted out of the back of her truck, going unnoticed by her, towards a light post. I was thankful it was starting to get dark and the automatic lights hadn't turned on yet.

Bella got out of her truck, paying for her gas before she started pumping it into her truck. I heard loud music, and laughter coming a mile down the road. A car with a couple of guys swerved into the parking lot barely missing her truck. I was then hit with a specific scent, alcohol. The guys filtered out of their car heading towards Bella, catcalling. They were all moving in on her like she was prey. This girl is a danger magnet.

"Hey there beautiful; what's your name?" The stocky light haired man sluggishly asked her.

"I think you should join us, tonight." A dark haired man appeared behind her locking her against her truck. I growled lightly. I didn't want to make my move yet.

"Don't touch me." She said in a firm but shaky voice.

"Come on now, all we want is to have a little fun with ya." The light haired man said, while reaching his hand out to stroke the side of her face. That's it! He can't touch her! I felt my anger spike, as I made my way towards her.

"I wouldn't touch her if I were you."

All the guys' heads snapped around towards me. I couldn't see Bella anymore, because they moved they blocked my view.

"What are you going to do about it? It's four against one; I'd say that's great odds for us." One of the red haired men, probably the ring leader said as a grin played across my face. He doesn't know who he is dealing with. I just need to focus on not phasing, and all will be good.

I watched all the guys look at each other in agreement as they let go of their grip of her heading towards me. I couldn't control my anger any longer; my body was shaking so close to the verge of phasing. I growled loudly in warning as they stepped towards me.

The dark haired man went first taking a swing at me, which was blocked easily with a crunch as my fist connected with his. I heard the man yelp in pain as I punched him in the gut, and he bent over falling to the ground with a grunt.

The light haired guy thought he could make his move next. He tried to kick, but his foot was caught in mid air by me before it connected. I grabbed a hold of his foot twisting it, making the man's body rotate in the air as his ankle broke.

The others closed in; I kicked one in the stomach, and the other I punched in the face. They all cried out in pain. They were all on the ground rolling around helping each other up to get into their car. They all scrambled to the car, speeding out of the parking lot, as shrieks from the tires echoed in the night air.

Bella took a step towards me, but I held up a shaky hand. I knew I was too close to phasing, if I hurt her I would need to do more than say sorry, and I'm already having a tough time with that.

"Don't move any closer, yet."

The lights above us had to conceal my identity, at that moment. Well so much for hiding.

"Paul?" She asked as I nodded.

"Bella?" I asked making my voice controlled, taking deep calming breaths.

"Yes?" Her voice was still jagged from her heart pounding. I cleared my throat, going over the two words I needed to spit out.

"Are you all right?" She still hadn't looked away from me, but the shock was plain on her face.

"Yes," She spoke softly.

"Let's eat at the diner." I spontaneously recommended.

"I'm sorry, what?" She seemed taken aback by my suggestion, but it was the best cure for my anger problems. I was lucky I had wolf metabolism, because I'd be four hundred pounds, with my stress eating.

She exhaled sharply, as she nodded walking towards her truck to move it into a parking space.

"I just need something to eat to calm myself down." I clarified.

"I'll move your truck just, go get us a table." She deliberated for a while before shoving her keys into my hand forcefully.

I jumped into her truck, making it roar to life as I watched her carefully walk into the diner.

"I'm not hungry," She insisted, as soon as I sat at the booth she'd selected for us, looking up to scrutinize my face.

"You are eating." I looked around ignoring the glares she was sending me. The restaurant wasn't crowded, just a few people scattered drinking coffee.

"Hey, my name is Justin. What can I get you to drink?" He directed his speech only to her. I was surprised by how much that bothered me, normally if I was on a date I'd be flattered that they were interested in the girl I was with, but Bella didn't deserve to be objectified.

"I'll have a Coke." Bella said not taking her eyes off of the menu, not comprehending the scrutiny she was under.

"Two Cokes," I said, holding back a growl.

"I'll bring that right out." He was still staring at Bella waiting for her to look up, but she didn't see it.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, but why are you asking me you are the one who fought those creeps." She replied.

"You have had an eventful day; most people have some type of repercussions happen to their body." I studied her face, seeing if she would indicate any feelings about what happened in the meadow. I wanted so badly to ask her what happened, why she was there.

"I've always been able to calm myself down, or not react to things, like other people would."

"You are still going to eat."

The waiter came with our drinks as we ordered our food.

"Why were you here, Paul?" She sweetly asked as I choked on my food.

"What?" I asked trying to think of a answer.

"Did you follow me?" She asked as her eyes pierced mine.

"I...I...umm… I wanted to say sorry for how I acted at the Clearwater's." There I said it, and it wasn't so bad. I was extremely proud for answering honestly.
Bella opened and closed her mouth a few times. "So… You did follow me." I say sorry and she stuck on the fact I followed her.

"I said sorry."

"Congratulations, but that still doesn't explain how you followed me."

I didn't want to answer her question so I decided to ask one of my own, to change the subject.

"Where are you heading? Why are you leaving Forks? Does Charlie know?"

She tensed up "You didn't answer my question."

"I'll answer yours but you have to answer mine."

"Charlie should figure it out soon, Florida, and I wanted to leave. Now answer my question" She smiled triumphantly, sitting back in the booth.

"I was in your truck bed. I know I sound crazy, but I wasn't ready to say sorry yet." I put my head down in shame, not wanting to see her stares, but she did something I wasn't expecting, she laughed.

I snapped my head up staring at her questioningly. She shook her head, not responding.

"When are you going home?" Her voice was curious as she studied my face.

"I'm going with you. It's at least a forty five hour drive to Florida, and you've proven to be a danger magnet."

She gasped "You can't! I won't let you."

"Well I'd like to see you make me leave." I smiled winning this round wiggling my eyebrows at her. She blushed "I don't like that you are going to go with me."

We ate the rest of the meal in silence. The check came, and we had to split the bill, because neither of us was allowing the other to pay for our meal.

"Where were you planning on stopping?"

She shrugged her shoulders "At the Baytown Motel off of Highway 101 in Brinson."

We weren't too far from Brinson only two hours or so away. We hopped into her truck as she followed her directions towards the motel. We pulled into the motel, walking into the front office. A heavy set man sat in a chair behind the counter. He was watching TV, clearly upset we had interrupted his show.

"I'd like to get two rooms for tonight please." Bella stated.

"I'm sorry there is a convention in the next town, so all the rooms are booked." Bella looked up at me, asking what we should do.

"Is there any rooms available?" I puffed out my chest moving closer to the counter, intimidating as much as I could.

He turned around analyzing the computer "There is one room available it has two full beds in it." Bella stiffened behind me, but I ignored her.

"We'll take it."

Thank you to everyone who reviewed… I hope you liked this chapter!!!