Chapter 6

Hi, I've been really excited for this chapter... I love the drama. Seriously. Anyways. Today's been great, the day I am posting this will also be the day that I wrote this. I've been jamming out to Taylor Swift, Death By A Thousand Cuts, Dress, New Year's Day, Cornelia Street... wow. I love her, but I just recently starting playing those songs way too much, and man are they under appreciated. Olivia Rodrigo's album comes out tonight, I'm excited for that, new episode of Grey's Anatomy. Niall Horan's new song with Anne Marie comes out today at midnight (or whenever you're reading this, [it's 5/20/21 today]), I'm SO excited for that, I'm a huge directioner. Speaking of one direction, I do read some fanfic for that on Wattpad, and today, a new chapter of one of the most creatively written and plotted fics I've ever seen came out today, which was GREAT. It's called Duplicity by happydays1d. It's truly spectacular, check it out, even if you aren't a fan of 1d. it's totally worth it. Anyways enough of the blabber, on with the story! Please leave reviews and likes and such. I'm sooooo happy with all the support it's getting.

It was a shame, Paul would've loved to feel the coolness of La Push's first beach water on his feet, but no, the wolf's metabolism made him burn way too hot. Feels good in the winter, when it's freezing, but it was surprisingly fifty degree weather today outside, and Paul for once would like to feel a normal temperature. There was one pro, he got to wrap himself around Snow when she started to shiver, which was also most likely because of the temperature of the October degree water. Not that the water is ever particularly warm.

"Paul!"

He jerks his head in the direction from where she called him, and he focuses on the area of which she is pointing to. And there he sees a starfish.

She's so fucking innocent and childish and I love it.

She looks back up and to his face, and he grins at the happiness he sees evident on her face. He reaches an arm out to pull her over to him, and bends down at the same time so he can pick up the starfish. He grabs it by one of its legs and starts to dangle it in front of her, his grin widening at her reaction to his antics.

After a few seconds of gross torture, he throws it back down to the water, and pulls her into his heated body, so he can hug her. She settles into his embrace, and he rests his cheek at the top of her head, nuzzling the side of his face into her mahogany locks. She always smelt so good to him, and today was no different, the scent of her soothing him and his wolf. She sighs into his bare chest, and holds him infinitesimally tighter. He wonders what was going through her mind right then.

He always wonders what is going through her mind, she was just so intriguing to him. The way she acted so kind, even though the world screwed her over. Lord knows he wouldn't be acting that compassionate if something like that happened to him. In fact something worse happened to him, and it's obvious that he just didn't react the same way she did.

But even though they act and look and just are so different, it didn't take away the fact that he felt a certain kinship to her, that kinship being the pain that resides in both of them. He's so curious to find out more about her, and that pain; and in turn help himself. He's not really the most selfless guy out there, not by his own assessment anyways.

Despite his cold demeanor, Bella found that she really enjoyed Paul. Everything about him really. His personality, the way he acts, speaks, his crudeness. It's all becoming endearing to her because it's Paul. And who's not to say he isn't easy on the eyes either. She sighed into his warm, bare, toned chest just thinking about the way he looks.

But aside all of that, she's just not ready. Not ready for a romantic relationship, that is. Not that he is interested in her that way anyways. Why would he be? Jesus, Bella, get a grip.

She pulled out of his arms a little, just enough to tip her head back and see his face, and stared into those eyes she could get lost in for forever. She shakes her head, just a little to clear it, though it doesn't escape his notice. He idly wonders once again what goes on in her mind. As they stare at each other, the moment not really leading to anything, but not awkward in any means. She really doesn't know why she did this.

He cocks his head toward her, and she finds the gesture extremely animalistic. In fact, a lot of the things he does she find extremely animalistic. She's heard him growl for sure, and his body heat.

Just as her mind is about to go off another path, somewhere that leads to very dangerous discoveries, she hears something that peaks both of their attentions. For Paul, he is facing the direction it came from, but for Bella, she has to twist around in his embrace to sight where the noise came from. Before she is able to do just that, she witnesses the hardening of his facial features, and a little bit of fear trickles into her. What has him so rigid? Because not only did his face tense up, so did the rest of his body, leaving the rest of his embrace cold and hard.

So she is able to maneuver her body around so she can witness where the noise is coming from, which she hears more and more of, it coming closer, to the point where she is able to discern it as laughter. Boyish and happy laughter, and as she finally is able to see the figures that come into view, her body goes just as rigid and tense as the body that is now behind her.

Jacob fucking Black.

The future alpha, and boy hung up over his dad's best friend's daughter, his Snow.

He cracks his neck, which makes Snow stiffen even more in his embrace, but he couldn't help it, he needed to have some way to relieve just a little frustration, and without letting go of her, this was the only way to do it. He holds her just a little bit tighter with his arms around her waist, and breathes out harshly through his nose. This is not going to go well.

So Paul does the only thing sensible so that he could avoid an encounter with Black, he turns Snow around, bends his face to her level, and kisses her. Definitely did not expect to be doing this today. Not hard, just their lips being pressed together, but he makes her wrap her arms around her neck and threads one hand through her hair to make it seem that it was more heated than it actually was. Black would not be able to see who it was that he was kissing, just that it was Paul getting around again. He did have quite the reputation.

The thing with Black was that he was so fucking entitled and self-righteous, that he couldn't stand it, and the happiness, and the petulance. Despite losing his mother, he grew up happy, with a great father and good friends who stuck by him when times got hard. And as he grew up, Paul could tell he looked down at him. Because he was angrier than most, and because he got into fights, and because his parents left him. He couldn't help that, good fucking riddance. Why should he look down at him? Was it because he reacted better than Paul did to sucky circumstances? But it bothered Paul, because even after Black lost his mother, he still remained happy, if not petulant and still a little innocent. The antithesis to Paul. And it grew from being bothered to being resentful, and straight down to the core, it was simple. Paul was envious of Black. He could admit that to himself. He isn't a liar at least. But that envy came off as hatred, so Black really just got under his skin, not in a good way, not the way his Snow has.

So when Black showed up at the beach with the two other goons, he knew that Black would steer clear of Paul if it looked like he was... busy. But he wouldn't steer clear of Snow if he saw her, so he did the first thing that came to mind. Which was to kiss her. Granted he could've just turned her around and ran in the opposite direction, before Black could really notice them but, hey. This was Paul, he was always bound to get a little frisky with anyone.

Snow was so stiff and frigid in his embrace, that he couldn't even fight off the smile. She felt it in his lips pressed to her. Oh my god! She was really kissing him. And Paul could tell just as the red took over her face, to proportions he thought was impossible.

And I thought she was red before!

Unfortunately for the pair, future alpha was just a little too observant. Because as he passed by them, and subsequently, the parking lot, he noticed a couple things. He definitely could tell that it was Paul kissing a girl, but as he observed more, he could tell who the girl was. And he was furious. He saw the converse on the sand, the stature of the girl, and the most blatantly obvious, the red behemoth of the truck that he himself built.

"Bella?!" Both the Were and Snow pulled away, obviously caught out, with Paul swearing under his breath because his distraction failed. He did not want to do this right now. And although Snow would've wanted a better way to hide herself, she obviously did not want to talk to Black right now either.

They turned to see Black, his facial features a portrait of anger, the other two a couple feet behind him. Snow half hid herself behind Paul, not wanting to really confront him. She gripped onto Paul's hand tightly, in reassurance, or in anxiousness, Paul didn't really know.

"Bella! What the hell! I didn't know you were gonna be on the reservation! You should've called me, we could've hung out," With the emphasis on the we, it was obvious Black disapproved of what he just witnessed. Paul resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Bella didn't respond, instead cowering behind Paul even more. He didn't care about her meekness right now, it was obvious she was still healing, and this was not helping right now.

"Black. What the hell do you want?" He growled out, it being difficult to not start severely trembling.

"What the fuck are you doing with her?! You should know she's not like one of your girls, Bells isn't like that." Paul couldn't resist the smirk that graced his face.

"Really? She obviously did not want to be with you." Snow's grip on his hand tightened, and he squeezed it back.

Black obviously gave up speaking to Paul, which just served to make him angrier. It was so obvious that Black thought he was above talking to him.

Black reached around Paul to grab her hand, but she stepped fully behind him, and Paul twisted his body just a bit so Jake had no access. "Bells? What the hell? I know Cullen broke your heart, but really? You think the best replacement is Paul? He's just rez scum. Come hang out with me and my friends, we can do what you want?" He tried, his tone not so friendly though. Paul struggled to not just punch him there, the name calling really fraying the edges of his controlled violence.

When no reply came for a second time, he wheedled once more. "C'mon Bella. I know you don't wanna be with this guy. You're not like the girls he hangs out with. Let's go, and you don't have to see him again. It's obvious he manipulated you into being here with him." This time Black stepped around Paul and grabbed her arm.

Paul was so angry, but just before he could lay a finger on Black for touching Snow, she did something faster. She wrenched her arm out of his hold, obviously not wanting to be touched, grabbed the side of Paul's face, brought him down to her level once again, and kissed the hell out of him. Not like the show they were doing before, but a real kiss. Paul was shocked for a second, before he went along with it, wanting nothing but to see the fury and jealousy on Black's face. And he did, the corner of his being able to catch the expressions on his face.

Paul began to really get into it, pulling her body flush with his, and winding his hands into her hair. After a couple more seconds, he stopped it and turned his face to Black, who was seething. His smirk reappeared, and you could practically see the steam coming from Black's ears.

But before the Wolf could say anything more, Bella started pulling him in the direction of her truck obviously wanting to get out of there. Before they were out of earshot though, he heard Black continue to speak.

"Really Bella? I didn't know you were that kinda girl, spreading it for everyone? First Cullen, and now fucking Paul? When's my turn?" Paul didn't go to beat the shit out of him though, because he felt her hurt, so he picked her up, pecked her on the lips just for show, and brought them to the truck to go home. Snow was more important than his fury, though when Black phased he was in for hellfire.

Woah, that was longer than expected. Anyways enjoy! Also here's the link to the Duplicity wattpad from earlier. Seriously it's amazing, you should check it out when you have a chance. [ 533312414-duplicity-h-s-read-me-trailer ]. Hope you enjoyed!