CHAPTER 5

Bella hummed softly as she raked her fingers through Paul's hair. At some point, they had made their way onto the couch, and Paul all but wrapped himself around her like a giant sea monkey. His head resting in the crook of her neck as he took continuous long inhales of her. Something that she would have thought strange if she could have mustered up the energy to care, but as it was, she honestly couldn't do much of anything but sink bonelessly into the giant body curled around hers.

Paul's rumbled chuckle vibrated through her as she wiggled more cozily into his warm embrace, allowing him to shift farther down her chest so that his head rested directly above her heart, "You're really not scared of me…. Are you?" he whispered in wonder as he listened to the slow and steady beat of her heart, no acceleration, no nervous fidgeting on her part. She was truly content and at ease, something that Paul had never experienced while in the presence of another. Even his pack brothers were always on alert around him, always primed to step in and control his outbursts.

Bella giggled again, a sound that went straight into Paul's chest and spread warmly, "I told you, you're a teddy bear!" She teased as she continued to rake her fingers along his scalp, resulting in Paul tightening his arms around her and closing his eyes in happiness.

XXXX

"Bella! I'm home!"

She grumbled groggily as Charlie's voice penetrated through her sleep, probably the best nap of her life might she add, and now ruined, thanks to the loud man she called her father.

Opening her mouth to snap off a smart retort about her ruined beauty sleep, her mouth instead froze in place as she felt her napping partner begin to vibrate and a rumbling growl making its way through his chest. Suddenly, Bella was overcome by déjà vu, especially as she felt Paul begin to tighten and curl himself protectively around her.

Oh, no. Acting on instinct and panic, Bella hurriedly wrapped her arms around the giant man's head and pressed her lips to his ear, "Shhh, it's just Charlie."

"Why is he here?" he rumbled, his voice, once again, taking on a strange thickened and almost animal-like quality. A fierce snarl curling across his lips, exposing sharpened teeth and elongated canines. Something that was not taken note of by Bella as she continued to bury her face in his hair and desperately to try to do damage control before her dad walked into the living room and saw a clearly unhinged and fully grown man on his couch.

Upon his reply, Bella almost pulled back in shock but instead let out a loud bark of laughter, "This is his house, silly!" she admonished, giving a playful yank to his hair.

Her lack of fear and concern with the new occupant in the house began to seep into Paul's consciousness, allowing a small voice of reason to penetrate the instincts that had quickly taken over his rational mind. Quickly he began to pull himself back to reality. Nothing here was a threat. His mate was assuring him that it was only her procreator, her kin, somebody that she felt safe with that had invaded their space. Suddenly the fight left him, deflating him in an instant.

Vaguely he thought that this was the fastest he was ever able to regain his rational mind. It usually took his brothers both force and extended periods of time to calm him enough to lessen the blood lust that constantly seemed to fog his vision. It never used to be something that bothered him. He was mean, and he was ruthless, two things that boded well for his small pack. But now, he couldn't allow the wolf to edge that close to his conscious mind and be able to take over at a moment's notice. He couldn't allow his mate to be subjected to violence and rage. She deserved better, and he refused to have her fear him like everyone else. She was to love him, to want him, things he had never experienced before in his life. And he would do anything to make that happen.

Swallowing the excess saliva that had accumulated within his mouth, he breathed out loudly as he pressed his cheek against Bella's, "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Hey, hey," Bella began softly, slowly sitting up and bringing Paul up with her so that they were sitting. Leaning her side against the back cushions, she reached up and angled Paul's face, so it was turned fully towards her, "it's okay. I kind of… I kind of like how protective you get." She admitted shyly, eyes dropping to stare at the weathered fabric below them. She was able to hear Charlie shuffling around in the kitchen and mentally sent out a 'thank you' to whatever deity had been on duty to allow him to have passed by the living room without seeing a very pissed-off 6'5 foot tall native man wrapped around his only child.

Clearing her throat, she reached for his hand and gently urged him to stand with her, "We should go say hi…" She suggested, wanting her father to have a better impression of him than the one from the bonfire. After all, if whatever was going on between them continued, she wanted her dad's approval.

Paul nodded, still on cloud nine after her confession. His mate liked his darker side. She was accepting of it. He grinned widely and gripped her hand more firmly in his, "Come." He urged, steering them through the archway and down the hall towards the kitchen that his mate had sat him down only hours earlier and proved her affection to him by cooking and feeding him. Where she took care of him. Him. Paul Lahote. Most hated resident on his reservation.

Bella took a deep breath before they entered the kitchen, pausing once they came in full view of her father, who was currently stuffing his face with leftover lasagna. If she weren't so nervous, she would have laughed at the shock that washed over him, causing his eyes to widen comically and mouth completely gape, doing an excellent impersonation of a surprised goldfish.

"Hey, dad… so Paul is here," She fumbled awkwardly, scuffing her shoes in nervousness.

Glancing up under her lashes, she saw Paul smiling indulgently at her as if he was staring at a particularly cute kitten.

"Hello, Chief Swan," he began, swinging his eyes to now face her dad but still retaining that gentle quality to his voice. "I just wanted to apologize about what happened the last time we met. There's no excuse. My behavior was inappropriate and uncalled for. I hope that we can start over."

Slowly he led Bella over to her father by her hand while reaching out with his free one to offer her father a handshake.

If possible, Charlie's eyes widened even further at the apology, settling on his daughter in a state of absolute shock. Here was a man who had been in and out of his station all throughout his adolescent years, who he had thought to be the most violent and hate-filled individual he had ever met. And here he was, in his kitchen, holding onto his daughter and looking at her like she was a treasured gem.

Honestly, he briefly thought to check out the window and see if his ex-wife, Renee, was out there about to let him know she was finally coming back to him. Because clearly, the impossible was happening.

After seeing his daughter's equally shocked stare, he quickly realized that this was real. This was happening.

Quickly snapping his mouth shut and jumping to his feet, Charlie reached out to shake Paul's hand, internally marveling at both the size and warmth of the extremity.

"Uh, yeah," he started, quickly swallowing the food in his mouth and trying to regain his sense of equilibrium after the bizarre turn of events. "I'm surprised to see you here, Paul," he began, regaining an authoritative tone to his voice, "especially after all the times my daughter has asked me to make you leave my doorstep over this past week and a half."

He briefly felt Paul tighten his hold on his hand and then immediately let go, as if afraid of what he might do. Charlie gauged Paul's reaction to the statement, watching in appreciation as he saw the once unrestrained young man instead compose himself against the harsh words and instead gently reach to wrap his arm around his daughter. As if that slight contact was enough to bring both peace and reassurance to him.

"Dad!" Bella quickly interjected. Going by her father's reaction, Paul didn't apologize for much. Even though he had handed out numerous heartfelt, if misplaced, apologies to her, she didn't want one of his first meaningful apologies to someone else be thrown back into his face.

Charlie cleared his throat again awkwardly, reaching back to scratch the back of his head at his daughter's scolding tone, "But, uh, yeah, apology accepted." He quickly added, glancing at Bella to gauge her reaction, finally relaxing after seeing her smile once again grace her face. He would do anything to keep her happy. She was an adult now, and he trusted her to choose the right sort of people to include in her life, and he wasn't about to jeopardize his newfound relationship with his only child.

Making his way back to his chair and sitting down, he glanced up at the new couple standing before him, "So you stayin for dinner?"

XXXXXX

Bella shyly scraped her socked toes on the mudroom floor as she stood in front of Paul. Jesus, she was acting like a thirteen-year-old girl who was standing in front of her first-ever boyfriend.

But…. This was her first-ever boyfriend, she quickly realized. How pathetic. Twenty-one years old, and this is where she was. And could Paul even be considered her 'boyfriend'? All they had done was cuddle on the couch, and what about Sam and Jake? The last time she checked, relationships were between two people…. Not four. And she didn't think she could morally date one while having not so innocent thoughts and feelings for the other two. And there she goes again about 'dating'! There was no dating! No one had even asked her out! She was getting way too far ahead of herself here. She blamed her complete lack of experience with the opposite sex.

How had everything gotten so complicated so fast? Just minutes ago, she was marveling about how well everything was going. After a fantastic day filled with chocolate, cuddles, snuggles, dinner (even if it was leftover night), and her dad behaving himself? And now complete freak out?

Forget the chocolate… she needed ice cream.

As if sensing her sudden change in thoughts, Paul gently reached out to lightly grip her chin and turn her face up, "Thank you for answering the door…. And for taking care of me." He said softly.

Bella felt herself blush as she fought the reflex to fiddle and look down at her feet again, "You're welcome…. But just so you know, you owe me more chocolate sauce!" She cheeked back, finally finding her confidence again, "After you scarfed down the last of it like some kind of giant cake-eating bear!"

She teased, reaching forward to poke at his stomach in accusation, giggling wildly as he quickly swooped down and buried his face into her neck, playfully growling as he nibbled her flesh. "You seem to be stuck on this bear idea of yours." He smiled, leaning back to stare into her face, arms loosely surrounding her much smaller form.

"I'll tell you what," he started, diving forward to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "How about I come pick you up tomorrow and bring you over to our cabin, and my brothers and I will feed you as much chocolate as your tiny little body can handle!" Finishing his offer, he gave another playful growl, bringing his fingers to her side to tickle her mercilessly.

Bella squealed in surprised delight, uncontrollable laughter being forced from her lips as Paul tickled her. "Okay, okay!" she gasped, hands reaching out to try and grasp Paul's wiggling fingers.

"What was that?" Paul questioned, his fingers only working harder, causing her giggles to morph into full-fledged belly-aching laughter, "Did you say that you would come over?"

"Yes, yes, I promise!"

Paul stopped suddenly, wrapping his arms around her as he brought her flatly against his chest. "It's a date then! Be ready by four, and we'll be here."

Letting go, he backstepped down the steps, "That sound good, baby?"

Biting her lip, Bella fought to keep the giddy grin that was trying desperately to break free and spread across her face. Not risking opening her mouth, in case a very girly squeal would escape, she instead nodded. A delighted giggle making its way past her lips, however, when she witnessed a huge, goofy grin spread over Paul's face.

Shaking his head in happiness, he continued to backstep down the driveway, bringing up his hand to point behind her playfully. "Good, now you get that cute little behind back into that house before you freeze those adorable little toes off!" He growled, pulling a peal of laughter out of Bella.

XXXXXX

Bella was still smiling goofily as she buried her face into her pillow. She hadn't stopped since Paul left. Not through her nightly routine, her shower, cleaning up the kitchen, or even when her dad gave her knowing looks. She couldn't even bring herself to feel embarrassed in front of Charlie, tonight had been one of the best of her life, and she refused to feel ashamed of her girliness.

Giggling, she snuggled further under her comforter, sighing in contentment as she heard the howls start to echo through the night air.

The howls had started the night after the bonfire. At first, they had scared her, but after a few moments of their hauntingly beautiful melody, she had learned to love it. She found immense comfort in the wolves within the woods, something she couldn't quite explain, but she almost felt connected to the beasts. She felt safe.

Feeling safe or not, she still made a mental note to never walk alone in the woods. The wolves may sound lovely now, while she was warm and safe in her bed, but she highly doubted they would feel so safe when they were getting ready to eat her!

Pushing away that thought, she instead chose to allow the howls to lull her into a contented sleep.