Hiya!

Chapter song is Some Minds by Flume!

I recommend the Les Twins remix because I love to dance lol

Thanks for reading!

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Paul's POV

Everything was so impressively fucked up. Bella was petrified. My wolf couldn't stop his whimpering long enough for me to do anything. I needed to stop the pain; Whatever had hurt my imprint, I had to obliterate and destroy.

Shakes that overcame the sanctity of my skin battled the violent urge as the tiny, pale girl in my arms began to emit a high pitched keening that assaulted my senses. Her trembling hand reached aimlessly in the air around us, aiming for an object that couldn't be seen or felt.

"I'm sorry, please come back..." She sobbed helplessly into my bare arm, tears streaming down onto the carpet. "I promise you won't get hurt again, come back."

Goosebumps raised when a draft went through the same arm my imprint was crying on. My wolf went silent, suddenly calmed although the human part of me was now freaking out. The rabbit went motionless. Her face tilted up and the tears shone brilliantly.

"Are you sure?" She whispered and her wild, drowned eyes darted to my face in shock. "How is this possible?"

My mouth popped open to question but her eyes drifted away once more. My imprint wasn't asking me. She seemed in deep concentration on something invisible right in front of her.

A pulled breath and a scared, almost hopeful expression. "I don't deserve this. He," she jerked her head towards me, "deserves better."

An angry growl finally escaped me. "Rabbit, what the hell is going on?"

She collapsed against me as soon as the cool presence seemed to disappear. She was sweaty, which was odd as I had seen her take down one of my pack brothers without so much as a sign of fatigue.

She rested against me for a long time while I rubbed circles into her back, stroked her hair, looking for anything that could close this distance between us.

Bella finally looked at me and freed herself to stand firmly. "It was nothing. I'm sorry, Paul, but I need some time to process... all of this." She murmured. She sprinted out of the house right as I was about to protest that Sam had requested her presence.

Excruciating pain hit me at the rejection. I fell to my knees. Damn leeches and whatever the hell had possessed Bella to make my heart feel torn out. I dragged my feet to the forest so I could tell Sam that we had a runaway.

Old Quil might have a point too, my girl was a little strange.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

The tiniest creak of a branch was a minuscule trace to detect and pursue, even for him. It was becoming increasingly more difficult as his target was leading him through unfamiliar territory.

Jared has been sent to trail Bella since he was the best tracker in the pack. Another reason, which annoyed him greatly, was that he was unbiased because he didn't want to get in her pants.

Don't think about Bells like that! Jacob chimed in.

Jared nearly lost the scent and had to double back to correct himself. Please shut up so I can focus.

Bella wasn't a fast supernatural, but she was an absolute ghost when she needed to be. Jared resolved that she should be their scout once it was proven she wasn't a traitor. They'd be able to save more people if the vamps weren't alerted to their presence.

After about an hour of running, Jared found himself pursuing her in an open field parallel to the highway that led to Port Angeles. The moon, which had been full the night before, had the smallest sliver cut out of it. Bella slowed her pace several miles ahead of him and only then could Jared hear jagged, uneven breathing. The telltale signs of crying.

What happened to her? She was positively giddy earlier while Paul was having his ass handed to him by Leah.

I don't know, please find out. Jake quickly pleaded.

No, focus on the mission. Sam alpha-injected in. We need to know what she's up to and then that she's safe.

Mentally grumbling to himself, Jared quickly changed and got dressed once the suburbs of the city began. Luckily Bella chose an inconspicuous, louder pace as well. Jared absentmindedly pursued the still-crying female at a mile distance with his ears. Sounds, distracting from his trail, picked up as the familiar shops appeared.

He lost her about ten minutes after they reached the city. Frowning, Jared tried not to appear too thuggish as he peered through the store windows and over people's shoulders. This was a rough area where people's eyes seemed incapable of looking him into the face. Which wasn't all that odd.

He did appear to be an extremely muscular, shirtless man casually strolling the streets of a city. Jared certainly would've stared at himself if positions were reversed. He was, after all, quite handsome if he did say so himself.

Blaring music in a side alley interrupted his self-assessment as industrial doors burst open and then shut. Bella's lithe figure, a sight Jared had grown accustomed to in the last few weeks, cast long shadows alongside what appeared to be a lean, slight man.

Jared gathered all his stealth and remained completely still as he rested his body against one of the buildings. Not able to see them, but hear them. A crucial goal.

"You're saying this boy affects you in a similar way Ben did? It could explain why you didn't fade away all those years ago. Only part of your soul could've been owned by Ben, like that one legend that Mom used to tell us when we were younger." The unknown man mused in a thoughtful tone. "The fact that you survived would make much more sense."

"I need help, there has to be a way to free him. Nobody deserves only half of someone!" Heavy tears could be heard in Bella's voice.

"Sweetheart, I know you don't want to hear this, but I'm grateful to whatever circumstances that has caused that light to return to your eyes."

"Please." Bella sounded utterly desperate, like the idea of being happy was somehow agony.

"Fine, I can try a ritual if you get me some of his hair. But you'll be destined for misery." The man sounded as though the idea was an unpleasant one.

What the hell were these people talking about?Jared frowned at the way she viewed her relationship with Paul, and that the bastard she was talking to seemed to buy it. Imprinting was never a mistake.

As Paul's pack brother, Jared vowed that whatever ritual that could break an imprint wouldn't happen.

"If it saves him from this fate, then I'll gladly take it." Bella swore vehemently. A pause followed. "I can't believe those bastards sent you here." The shift in conversation was delivered in a low, furious hiss.

"Bell, it's not that simple-"

The baritone, dry voice was cut off. "No! You and Mom promised me time with my father and freedom, Drayer Thomas." The name rolled off her tongue heatedly. "Also, why in the world are you a bouncer at a strip club?"

Silence hung in the air for a few moments. "I was following The Call. My mate just so happened to be a stripper in the closest city to you." That same dry voice almost sounded embarrassed.

Jared's eyebrow rose. A mating call to a stripper? What a guy.

Bella squealed in what sounded like open delight. The previous anger seemed forgotten. "What's her name? When do I get to meet her?"

"Éponine. Like the play." A chuckle. "As for meeting her, little miss, I was not made aware that little recluses that hide from their families get to meet anyone."

"There's been a lot happening." Bella sounded sheepish. "I wanted to handle it on my own, but it's too much. My panic mode told me you were here and I came for help..."

"You wouldn't come for help if it was just for yourself. Don't even make me think of last year."

"Geez, you need to get over that! I really do need your help." Bella groaned like the mere utterance of the plea hurt her, "I met very genuine, kind supernaturals that live nearby. They've been killing rogue vamps for a long time and-"

"I know quite a bit about it, Bella. I may of requested Evie to... check up on you." Drayer admitted.

"You broke the deal." Bella deadpanned, fiery anger once more simmering in the air. Jared got slight goosebumps as a result.

"Bell, though impossible it may seem to you, losing you will break me. Stop being such a childish brat. I haven't interfered and your damn pride can take a backseat for once."

Bella drew a breath and spoke quickly. "I'm sorry. Asking this from both you and Renee was unfair and selfish. Is there any way you can help my friends? There's been a human attacked. Cuts all over him."

"Cut?" Drayer's voice was mildly surprised.

"I was hoping it was just the vamp playing with us." Bella whispered.

"That would be an odd game to play rather than just ripping out the man's throat." Drayer sighed. "I didn't want to have to bring this up, but she was spotted in this state about a month ago. Perhaps it's time you're brought back home."

"What?" She yelped. "That creature has shown little interest in me, Drayer! This is just a vamp incident."

"How about you check then? Check and if it's our grandmother, then you and I are returning home."

Bella sounded disgusted. "Fine, and if it's not, you complete the ritual and once again swear to let me live my life."

"Deal. Now go check while I finish this shift up."

Jared drew in a sigh of a relief when he heard Bella exiting the alley on the other side in her familiar human gait. He had to tell the pack immediately. Maybe somebody, hopefully not himself, could reason with Bella about the imprint. Sure, Paul could be a dick and if he were her, he'd reject the asshole in a second. But it didn't sound like she wanted to...

He kicked against the wall to walk away when something pressed against his neck.

A blade was pressed against his neck and then another against his spine. They dug in hard and Jared froze.

"Pup, anybody ever tell you that it's rude to eavesdrop?"

Warm blood trickled down Jared's neck.

"My sister and I were discussing... family matters." Drayer whispered coldly.

Bella's POV

I cursed myself for not driving to Port Angeles. Sure, I had been upset, but now conservation of energy seemed invaluable. Drayer had to be wrong. That bitch of a grandmother couldn't possibly be the one behind Harry's injuries. Renee's description of her activities had always been that of a madwoman who was too busy raging internal wars amongst our people and snatching other people's children to care about one of her many grandchildren.

Let alone a half-breed and the equivalent of a bastard at that.

Yes, despite Charlie and Renee's marriage, I was still considered a bastard by many. My father wasn't my mother's mate, nor was he a fae. It was a double homicide on my person, a permanent mark on my forehead for all to see just from my half-formed szolo to my gentle disposition. We were all considered too weak to fight, but enough like a fae to protect from threats.

The odds that my grandmother took any interest in me would be a sign of weakness. Even though I was an abnormally strong half-breed.

My entire life seemed like a checklist of taboos. My parents weren't mates, I was a half-breed, and my mother is the renowned General. To top it all off with a cherry, I had lost Ben.

And now it seemed as though I was regaining a soulmate in a very angry werewolf. It wasn't natural; my soul was halved when Ben died. Paul deserved all of his mate, not just a pale imitation. I needed to fix this.

It took me roughly an hour to get to the hospital.

A receptionist, one I recognized from visiting Dr. Cullen, smiled at me winningly. "How may I help you?" Her eyes slid over my disheveled appearance disdainfully.

"Yes, can you tell me where Harry Clearwater's room is?"

She gave me a room number that belonged to the intensive care unit. I walked quickly to the area. Charlie was in a chair beside a bedridden Harry. My father looked exhausted. Leah, Seth, and Sue were on the other side of the hospital bed. The kids looked the roughest and were leaning their heads on their mother's shoulders.

Sue appeared to be the most alert out of the bunch. "Bella, is everything alright?" Her voice cracked in odd places, betraying her emotional state.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "Yes, I just came to see Charlie."

Sue threw me an odd look. I was aware that she knew I wasn't human, but Sam had told me that the woman had testified on my behalf in front of the council. But this was before her husband resembled a ravaged piece of meat.

I had never seen a sight so gruesome, even with my heightened tolerance for violence. Fae weren't gentle creatures towards their enemies.

"What do you need, Bella?" Charlie asked. His voice was no longer awkward due to stress.

The cuts all over Harry were methodical, each with a purpose from what exposed skin I could see. The observation didn't bode well for me and fit Drayer's prediction.

My eyes jerked to my father's face. "Jake just went to go see some of his friends and I didn't want to be alone." I lied smoothly. My voice was as quiet as possible.

The new wolves did not need to be angered by my fake, shallow excuse to see if their father was cut up by one of my kind.

I needed to touch him. One touch was all I needed to see if there was a spell on him. Anna could be called and she could help him.

But could I run from Drayer making me go home if I did that? The selfish thought snapped me out of my revery. If I could help one of my father's best friends, then I would. No matter the cost to my personal vendetta of isolation.

Adrenaline pounding at the thought of the Clearwater siblings shifting in the hospital and hurting Charlie misdirected the attention and gave me some leeway. I touched Harry's exposed leg and power spiked through the tip of my finger to my chest.

Absolute dread filled me. Drayer was right.

"...work for you?" Charlie's voice drifted through my thoughts. My head snapped over to him.

"What?"

"I was going to get these guys food to eat downstairs. Want to help?"

"Sure, Dad." I followed Charlie loyally out of the door. As he was ordering the sandwiches in the cafeteria, I asked for his phone to call Anna.

"Anna Crosse."

I smiled despite the situation. Anna's voice had that effect on people. "It's Bella. I need help."

"I'm so glad to hear from you, Bella! What can I do?" Anna asked quickly, her voice laced in pain. She had obviously missed me.

I tried not to feel guilt. "There's an injured human that I believe Medora hurt."

Anna sucked in a breathe. "At Forks?"

"We are at Forks Hospital. Drayer is close by, but I think you should bring Nate as protection." Nate was Anna's mate, and was conveniently a warrior.

"I'll be there tomorrow, we will run." Anna sounded determined, but still within the range of her gentle disposition. Medora's attack four years ago had also killed our Jack. My cousins and I both mourned for the same people, although the severed mating bond had almost killed me.

"Anna?"

"Yes, baby?" She was still a good hundred years older than me, only two years off from Drayer. Our relationship was an odd mix between sibling and parent just like with my brother.

"Do you want revenge too?" I whispered.

There was a slight pause. "Yes, but I don't let that ugliness control me." She sighed. "Please stay safe until we get there. Listen to your brother."

I hung up the phone, unable to promise such a thing.

Lying to another fae beckoned bad luck.

I had to somehow collect some hair from Paul Lahote and trick Drayer to perform the ceremony before I hightailed it out of Forks.

Medora would probably, based off of her recent actions, order her lackeys to follow me. And then what was remaining of my soul could be safe.

••••••••••••••••••••••

Medora Crosse rarely got her hands dirty. She was always a meticulous woman in both business and pleasure. It was due to this trait that she had accomplished what she had. A new nation of superior fae was just within her grasp.

That didn't mean, however, that everything was perfect.

Her worthless children continuously foiled her deadlines. In particular, her warrior-born daughter Renee was in her way. Of course, her daughter just had to earn the title of General of their people and be fairly competent at it. It made complete sense, in retrospect, that Medora's greatest obstacle was her own flesh and blood.

The nuisance had escalated to the point where a side project of Medora's was to assassinate Renee. A project that was proving challenging, thus the newest plan was a bit evil, even for Medora's standards. She had nearly forgotten that Renee had a half-breed offspring at all, but it seemed the easiest way.

She would kidnap the little brat, torture her quite thoroughly, and then demand Renee rendezvous with her in exchange for the hostage. She would then sic her army of leeches and warrior-born soldiers onto the great General. And finally, Medora would be able to get back onto schedule with her planned genocide.

"Empress, I laid down the warning like you said to." One of her many warrior-born reported.

A grin split her face. She idly wondered whether she should be the one to make the trip to pick up her precious grandchild. She glanced at the two pathetic creatures that were recruited just for the chore; one with hair of fire and the other pitch black. A human starving for the promise of immortality and a talented vampire whom Medora had later plans for.

Vampires were both the easiest to manipulate and the most enjoyable to make scream.

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Things are picking up

What did you think of Drayer and Anna?

Bella's episode of seeing Ben ?

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