Paul groaned in frustration. It had already been two weeks and the construction business was swamped with unfinished paperwork. Plus, he had two carving requests that had to be done by the end of the week and then he had to submit a three-page paper on why the stock market crashing would be a bad thing for construction companies. He decided he wanted to get his certification in construction management. He also had to help get the bonfire set up for tonight and everyone would be there. The pack's families included. It was going to be a long day and he couldn't even call Bella because she was busy herself. She had decided on online school too, she was getting her certification to be a tutor for all ages. Included people with special abilities. She was doing three days out the week waitressing for Ralph, while Paul had turned him down Bella was glad to work outside of forks. It kept people of out her business. Speaking of people keeping out of their business, he remembered the train wreck of a dinner at Sue's
Flashback:
"you ready for this honey?" he asked Bella as she held the apple pie in her hands.
"yeah. The question is are dad and sue ready?"
Paul looked back at Charlie who was fumbling around in the cruiser.
"they'll be ok," Paul responded as they knocked.
"Paul! Bella! Come on in. where's Charlie?" sue asked turning a shade of red
"he's coming. He just had to uh, check his radio. You know so that no one called him in anytime soon." Paul responded
Bella and Paul entered the dining room and saw Seth and Leah already at the table. Putting various food items on it.
"hey Leah! Seth! "they greeted. However, their cheeriness was not received. "hey." Seth said quietly. Leah only nodded. Paul and Bella didn't push they figured their mother bringing a man home would not sit well with them.
"Charlie!" they heard sue greet excitedly
Leah and Seth winched when they hear lips being pressed together and soft moan from their mother.
Within minutes, a blushing sue and Charlie came into the room. "hey kids! Wow sue the food looks amazing"
The dinner was quiet, and the conversation was down to a minimal. Sue not wanting to make things awkward decided to put Bella and Paul on the spot.
"so Paul, Bella how are things with you two?"
"we are doing great sue. We are getting ready to start our college courses." Paul told her
"college courses? How are you going to that and still be in the pack or uh fulfill your tribal responsibilities?" Leah asked
"well. Were doing them online and working part-time jobs." Bella told her
"huh, well- "Leah stopped and looked at Bella's wrist. "what .is that.? On your wrist. That cuff?"
"don't go their Leah," Paul warned.
"Bella, do you know what that cuff means right?" Leah asked venomously
"yes, Leah. I do. Paul and I are engaged, and I said yes. Happy now?" Bella said
Leah sighed and went silent.
"Um, well speaking of engagements. Leah, Seth. Charlie and I We've been dating for a while and we wanted to tell you guys…were getting married!" she said excitedly
Leah stood up and looked like she was going to cry. "how could you betray dad like this mom! He's only been gone for a year!" Leah then ran out of the house with Seth on her heels.
End on flashback
Paul sighed that had been hard and sue had cried. How was she supposed to be happy if her own children felt she was betraying their father? Paul looked out the window and watched as his father gave directions. They had a new project in Seattle that he would have to leave for a few weeks. Paul's wolf whined, he didn't want to leave his mate. But knowing his alpha was so close he wouldn't have to worry too much. He thought about Bella and the tutoring sessions she was having with brady, Collin, Seth and now Collins friend Luis. She even had little Ian tag along with her too. Ever since Ian phased, he and Bella had been attached at the hip. However, Paul knew a fight would come up once Ian's mom and dad found out. Right now, they had no clue that Ian was a wolf, all they knew was that Sam Uley had taken him under his wing. He managed to convince them to let Ian stay with him until tonight. Hopefully, they would be a bit more lien ant. He smiled as he thought about how attached the younger wolves were so attached to Bella. It made him yearn to marry her even more. To one day see her belly swollen with his pups. His wolf purred. Oh, yes they were definitely going to get married before the end of the month.
Bella said hugged Collin and Brady and told them she would see them at the bonfire. She turned back to see Ian coloring at the table and Seth looking out the window.
"hey? Seth are you ok?" she asked coming up next to him
"honestly Bella. I'm happy mom found somebody. I just… miss dad ya know."
Bella leaned her head on Seth's shoulder. "I don't know what its like to lose a parent, but I do understand what its like for one of them to re marry. It took me a while to get used to Phil but once I did. He was cool and then seeing my dad with sue. They make each other happy and that's all I could ask for."
Seth smiled and sniffed her hair. "you smell like Paul and Jacob. It's... nice. It's not like Edwards smell. Its too sweet. It actually makes m wolf want to be around you more."
Bella laughed. Of course, it would.
Eventually, Seth and Ian phased and left to prepare for the bonfire.
The bonfire was lit and burning bright. Billy black was watching everyone interact and something was off or different. The pack was divided literally. Paul and Leah were sitting with Jacob while the rest of the pack was at least in hearing distance of sam. He watched as Embry and quill would float between the two. The pack's family included the elders and all the parents were gathered they had two new pack parents Evan and Cecile fox. They were related through the Altera line which was why little Ian phased. He watched as Jared's family hugged ty their younger son. A huge food spread was on the table and Billy watched as the imprints were gathered around Emily. So far it was Kim, Claire, Casey and a new girl who was ty's imprint. destiny, she was a lot like Leah. Loud, bad attitude and a little mean. "what is that white girl doing here?" embry's' mom asked Billy followed her eyesight to see Bella Swan, approaching the party. He sighed. He hoped Jacob hadn't invited her, this was a closed event. Bella wasn't pack and there weren't any vampires chasing after her anymore, so she didn't need to be here. Billy began to roll towards her but stopped when he saw Paul lahote engulf her in a huge hug, he was even more shocked when half the pack scrambled toward her as well. Ian quickly dislodged himself from his mothers' arms and dashed towards Bella.
"Ian! Slow down. Come back here!" Cecile yelled. However, Ian ignored her and he kept going towards Bella.
"Ella! Ella!" Ian called
Billy watched as Bella scooped Ian up and showered him with kisses. And right before his eyes, the pack was no longer divided. It seemed like even Sam's little group had inched towards Jacob. He saw Sam and Jacob make eye contact and nod. He then watched as Sam spoke to Paul and Bella. The three of them disappeared done to the beach.
Bella knew people were staring at her, but she could care less. She even got some curious looks from quill and Embry when they saw she and Paul together but by now almost everyone knew. They knew that she and Paul were together, but they didn't know why. For those who didn't know about the marking, they thought that Paul was purposely dating Bella until he imprinted. They knew that's what Sam thought too, which was why he was calling them down here.
"what's up Sam?" Paul asked annoyed
"I need to know what's going on with you two, you're not imprinted yet your together, it's ridiculous and it's dangerous. Now I was going to tell the elders but I wanted to hear your side first."
Sam turned to them and waited.
"Look, Sam, no. Bella and I are not imprinted. But she is my chosen mate. My wolf and I chose her. we marked her. she's mine and that's the end of story." Paul said
"quiet playing games Paul. You can't choose your mate."
"yes, you can sam. My wolf he told me so and I did." Paul argued
"but she smells like Jacob too! Why?" Sam asked. He was confused. There was no way a wolf could choose his mate. That meant, that meant he could have chosen Leah. He could have stayed with her.
"I smell like Jacob because he marked me too. But it's a different kind of mark. It's not a mating mark, you only mark your mate on the collar bone. Jacob marked me on my wrist. He made me his alpha female. It's his way of breaking the imprint with Casey."
Sam went pale. "y-you can break an imprint?" Sam couldn't breathe. All this time. All this time.
"Sam, Paul come on let's go for a run," Jacob said appearing behind them.
Sam whined. Bella laid her hand on his arm. "sam. It's ok. Go. Phase. Figure out what's going on in your head." She said trying to give comfort.
Paul nuzzled her neck while Jacob touched her shoulder. They were gone before she could blink. Bella sighed. With the three of them gone, she had to make sure the pack stayed out of trouble.