Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, or it's is merely a work of fanfiction.
A/N: This is a story that I was sitting on when I started my writing break. Imprinting does not exist in this AU. The wolves might have strong preferences and feel territorial, but they all choose and mark a mate. This takes place starting right as the Newborn Battle begins, and Edward says that they're engaged, so Jacob can hear.
A howl of anguish wrent the air, and Bella felt the pain as if it were her own. It set up residence in her chest, and she felt like she might split in half from the force of it.
Jacob.
"You knew? You knew he was there?"
Edward nodded, his expression carefully blank. Bella put her hands on her knees, and attempted to breath. It hurt, it hurt so much to know that she had done that to Jacob, that it felt difficult just to breathe.
She couldn't help that she wasn't in love with Jacob. He was starting to understand that. More than anything, he didn't want her to become a Cold One.
"Get him...bring him back...I have to talk to him!" She begged in between great gulps of air. Edward continued to stand there stoically, unmoving. Finally, he shook his head tightly.
"No, he's too far gone. I won't leave you here unguarded."
"Edward, if he goes into battle like that he could get killed!" Bella cried, tears stinging her face.
"He is a spirit warrior Bella, this is what he is meant for. Now get back to the tent."
Bella raised her eyes to look at Edward, and then at Seth who was standing by in wolf form. He looked between them pitifully. He was still so young. He shouldn't even be here.
She felt hate and resentment begin to fill her to the brim. It lapped at the confines of her skin, begging her to act. She was sure Jasper must have been able to feel it from the clearing miles away.
How could Edward be so unfeeling? How could he be so flippant about the risk to her best friend's life? She looked at his hard face, and thought maybe she finally understood what Jacob had been trying to tell her all along. She walked towards Seth, and looked into his eyes, knowing Jacob would hear.
"Be careful Jake, please. I love you. Please come back to me when this is over. We're going to find a way to make everything okay again, I promise."
She knew he would understand, because the only way Jake would consider "everything to be okay", is if she chose not to become a vampire. She hadn't wanted that since she went to Volterra, but she didn't think she had a choice. Now she couldn't imagine having to spend an immortal life with the monster just a few feet away. There had to be a way out of this.
Seth whined in his throat, which Bella interpreted as him letting her know that Jacob had heard. The pack had heard too.
She turned her head and Edward was still staring at her coldly. She forced herself to smile, to pretend like everything was fine. She could pretend until the battle was over. They couldn't afford any distractions right now, but she knew one thing. When the day was over, she was going back to the Rez, not the Cullen home.
Bella climbed off of Edward's back and ran towards Jacob and the rest of the wolfpack. Edward looked like he wanted to say something, but stayed back.
Jacob was lying on the ground, writhing in pain. Bella fell down beside his body, her hands fluttering over him. She wanted to touch him, but didn't want to make this even worse. His left side looked terrible. It was misshapen, and blood coated his torso. Worse than that, there was a crescent shaped scar on his arm.
Bella felt like her mind was crumbling as sorrow overtook her. Bile rose in her throat, and she suppressed the urge to vomit. No shifter could survive a vampire bite. Bella's tears overtook her, and rained down upon Jacob's chest. Paul, Jared, and Sam traded quick looks. They knew they would have to move fast.
"Honey," Jacob gasped out hoarsely. She tried to smile at him, to try to give him something nice to look at in the last moments of his life, but it was no use. Her lip wobbled and her tears came despite her best efforts.
"I love you Jacob," she gasped, barely able to get the words out through her sobs. With great effort he brought one of his hands to her face, and wiped a tear away. His strength was failing him, and it dropped back to the ground with a thud.
"I love you too. Take care of my dad for me."
Bella nodded, she would do anything he asked. He gave her one last weak smile and then his eyes fluttered closed, and his chest stopped moving.
Bella felt the pain flare to life in her chest as rage and sorrow overtook her once again. Her sun was gone. She stood and spun to face Edward. He stood there so stoic, so unfeeling in front of his family. They all had the decency to look upset, except him.
Hate.
She had never felt something so pure and strong overtake her. Jasper stumbled back in shock at the emotions running through Bella. He had never felt hate so pure from a human. She stood to her feet, even though her legs were shaking, and faced Edward.
"This is your fault," she screamed, "you knew he would be distracted and get hurt! You killed him!"
She only made it two steps before she felt searing arms wrap around her center. They pulled her back into a warm chest. She fought against them, swinging her arms and legs wildly. She wanted to kill Edward. She didn't care if it hurt her, or if it killed her. It would be worth it.
"I promised Jacob," a familiar voice whispered in her ear.
Paul held her in his strong arms despite her protestations. Her scent hit him hard, but he pushed away the thought. The rest of the pack was taking Jacob back to the Rez, and he needed to get Bella out of here before the vamp royalty came. She clearly didn't want to be with the Cullens anymore, and they had all promised the baby Alpha to protect her if something happened to him.
Faced with an absolutely feral Bella, and the threat of the approaching vampires, Paul did the only thing he could think of to get her to calm down. He pulled her back against him tightly and held her across the waist with one arm, with the other he swept her long hair to the side and sunk his teeth into her neck. Bella stopped mid-tirade and gasped loudly before going slack in his arms. He scooped up her unconscious form.
Edward looked like he wanted to kill Paul. His eyes were pitch black. Venom spit from his mouth as he snarled and fought against an amused Emmett and Rosalie. Paul smirked at him and played a particularly scandalous fantasy he had enjoyed since he had met the tiny terror on his arms.
"Tell the vamps that Bella is mated to a shifter. I have claimed her, and she's mine."
Carlisle nodded his head dumbly. He was in shock, but he knew the shifter was right. Mates were common amongst most supernatural creatures. If she was claimed by a shifter, and marked, there was no way the Volturi would still pursue her transformation.
Paul turned in the direction of the reservation and ran as fast as he could. He had no desire to stick around and see if the vamp royalty would honor his claim. He had made a promise that he needed to fulfill.
Protect Bella.
It was the least he could do. He held Bella closer as he ran and she snuggled against his chest. He wasn't unaffected by Jacob's death, he knew he would break at some point, but he couldn't think about that now. He had a job to do.
He slowed as he approached the Black house. The pack was all outside, except for Sam, sitting on the porch. They sat in a pile, draped over each other, all touching in some way. It was how they comforted each other.
The eyes of the pack rose to them, noting the fresh mating mark on Bella's neck. They all breathed out a sigh of relief. They knew this might happen eventually. Jake had made them promise to take care of her if something happened to him, and this was the easiest way to do that.
Paul had always had a soft spot for Bella, though he had attempted to hide it with insults. His wolf loved her though, and slowly wore down the man until he could see her as she truly was. She was a member of the pack now, and they protected their own at all costs.
Sam came out the front door, and Billy wheeled out right behind him. The man looked haunted, but resigned. Paul couldn't blame him. He imagined he looked exactly the same when his mother died a couple years ago.
Billy's eyes fell on Bella. She looked awful. Dried blood was caked onto her arm, and shirt, and she was still soundly asleep. He looked at Paul with a silent demand for explanation. Bella was like a daughter to him. He couldn't stand it if he lost her too.
"She cut herself to distract a vampire, so it wouldn't kill Seth. It was pretty close. She tried to attack Cullen when Jake..." his voice caught in his throat, but Billy seemed to understand.
"She blames Edward. She was fighting pretty hard to get her hands on him. If she was a wolf I'm sure he'd be dead right now. Marking her was the only thing I could think of to get her calm enough to run. We promised Jake we'd protect her. I promise I'll take care of her, Billy."
Billy's eyes softened as he looked at the slumbering girl. He knew she would have happily given her life for Jake's. That's the kind of girl she was. If they would have let her on that battlefield, she would have been right there beside them. She had done the best she could, and finally made the right decision.
Sam's eyes turned to the road. The other council members would be arriving soon. They needed to prepare Jacob's body for burial. It was tradition to bury a warrior as quickly as possible after they died.
"Paul, get her out of here. I'll have Emily bring some clothes to your house for her. Take care of your mate. I'll call you when I hear from Carlisle."
Paul nodded, and turned to head to his cabin. He could feel his wolf's urge to care for his mate, and have her in his home.
Bella began to rouse. She was aware of a sharp pain in her arm, and an overwhelming sense of warmth. She turned her head to look around. She was in a room that was only dimly lit by the moonlight. She was startled to see Paul sleeping next to her.
She scrambled back off the edge of a bed, and hit the floor. Paul jumped to his feet, scanning the room for a threat. He found nothing but his confused looking mate on the floor. Memories came flooding back to Bella. The weight of Jacob's loss made her gasp out loud and clutch at her chest.
No, it couldn't be. Jake couldn't be dead. No.
Paul could feel her panic mounting in his own body, and rushed to envelop her in his arms. He pulled her onto his lap and held her tight. He pushed her hair aside and nipped at her mating mark. She went lax against him in a lupine response of submission. Her swirling panic stopped, but the sorrow remained, and her tears started anew.
"Jake," she whispered brokenly.
Paul nodded his head into her hair, and took a deep breath of her scent. It comforted him, even as his own heart broke with the loss of his pack mate. His tears finally came, and spilled onto her hair and shoulders. Bella clutched him closer, and tucked her face into the safety of his chest.
She carded her hands through his short black hair, and rubbed her hands over the muscles of his back. She had never seen Paul be so vulnerable. It was a great honor to be allowed to share this moment, and comfort him. She doubted he allowed anyone else to do so.
They stayed like that for what felt like hours, crying and drawing what comfort they could from one another. Eventually their tears dried, and Bella pushed back a bit to look around the room. It was dark, only the moonlight illuminating the space. The bedroom was sparsely decorated, but there was an alarm clock on a bedside table that read Nine Forty Five in bright red numbers.
"Where are we? What happened? Is anyone else hurt? What about Billy?"
Paul sighed heavily, and carded his hands through his hair. He turned Bella and pulled her back to rest her back against his chest. Bella went easily, and was soothed by his heat. It felt right to be here, in his arms.
She and Paul had gone from enemies to something approaching friends during the hunt for Victoria. She wore him down with all of her well cooked meals, and sheer persistence. He slowly stopped calling her leech lover. Most of the time he just stared at her from across the room, and occasionally gave her a small smile.
"We're in my cabin. Sam ordered me to bring you here and clean you up. You've been asleep all day. Emily changed you, and I tended your wounds. They should heal soon. Billy is with the tribal council preparing Jacob's funeral. No one else is hurt."
Bella looked down at herself and realized she was wearing a black shirt dress. She was glad Emily had helped change her. Her arm had been bandaged and wrapped carefully.
"My neck?" she asked, fingering the scar that seemed to be almost completely healed over. Paul braced himself. He hoped she wouldn't hate him for this.
"I marked you as my mate. We all promised Jake we would take care of you if something happened, and this is the best way I know how. He was certain you were on the verge of leaving the Cullens, and he didn't want you to be trapped."
Bella tensed for a second before she relaxed again, sinking into the warmth his bare chest provided.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I'm yours Bella, and you're mine. Nothing can hurt you now. Not the vamp royalty, not the Cullens, nothing. No one will cross that line unless they have a death wish. There's nothing more sacred than a mating bond. For us, it means what you want. My wolf has wanted you for a long time, but I kept him in check. I'll be whatever you want; a protector, a friend, a lover, whatever. I'm in this for life now."
Bella wondered if she should be angry that he had done this without her permission. It seemed like maybe she should, but she couldn't find the energy to be outraged. Her whole body ached, and her soul was tired.
It felt incredibly simple in this moment. He had seen a way to save her, and taken it. She would have done the same for him, for any of them. She had to admit she had sheltered a crush for the volatile wolf in a very small, very carefully guarded part of her heart. The first time he smiled at her she could have sworn she felt her heart skip a beat.
She began to draw patterns on Paul's forearm with one finger, and enjoyed the breathy sounds he made in response. She laced her finger through his and raised his hand to her mouth. She kissed the back of it gently. Paul rolled his eyes back in his head and let his head fall back onto the bed at the sensation.
It was getting late now, they really needed to get up.
"We have to get ready, Bella. The pack is waiting for us."
Bella released Paul's arms and wiped her remaining tears from her face. Paul pulled her to her feet gently, and guided her to the bed. She sat down, and Paul turned to turn on a lamp that stood in the corner.
Bella felt her face flush as she watched the muscles in his back shift as he crossed the room. She felt wretched to be having these thoughts only a few hours after Jacob died. She bit her lip, and fought the tears that wanted to come.
She needed to be strong for Paul now. He had given her the gift of a lifetime, surely she could hold it together for him for a few hours.
Paul was back in front of her in a mere moment, wearing a pair of pants he had pulled from a dresser, and a black t-shirt. He put his hands on either side of her face and looked into her eyes.
"Whatever that guilt is about, knock it the fuck off. You did what you could. You're not to blame. We all knew what was at risk when we went into battle. The only ones responsible are the leeches."
She nodded her head, accepting his words. She knew Paul would never lie to her to spare her feelings. It just wasn't him. If anything, he was too honest. He held out his hand, and she took it, reassured by the current that seemed to run from his body into hers.
Paul led her into the living room, where the pack was already assembled. They all sat squashed onto one couch, and those that didn't fit had sat with their backs against the legs of those on the couch. Bella smiled weakly at them. Those with mates were holding them closely, as if afraid they too would disappear if they strayed too far.
Embry had his arms wrapped around Leah, and they were both sporting marks on their necks. Apparently the loss of Jacob had pushed them into finally admitting their feelings for each other. Bella smiled weakly at Leah. She deserved to finally be happy. Leah got to her feet and strode over to where Bella and Paul stood.
Paul took a half step in front of Bella and growled lowly. Leah rolled her eyes at him, and shoved him aside. She drew Bella into her arms, and hugged her tightly.
"You saved Seth. I'll never forget that. You're one of us now."
Bella was in shock, but something in Leah's words broke the dam. Tears spilled down her face, and she leaned into the hug. Leah squeezed her just a bit tighter and patted her back. Once Bella's tears had stopped, she turned to Paul with one arm still over Bella's shoulders.
"It's going to be okay Swan, or should I call you Lahote? You know that mark makes you married in the eyes of the council? You'd just have to file a few forms to make it official with the state."
Bella flushed and raised one eyebrow at Paul. He shrugged unashamedly as he smirked down at her. He wouldn't apologize for saving her life.
"Bella, the vamp royalty would have slurped you like a juice box if it wasn't for me. I'm not sorry."
Bella and Leah laughed despite the circumstances. Sam broke them out of their reverie, when he spoke from the doorway to the kitchen. He had been standing there for several minutes unnoticed, observing his exhausted looking pack.
"Speaking of which, I got a call from the Doc while you guys were sleeping. He says the Volturi will leave her alone since she's with the wolfpack. They have to go to Italy and show him their memories of the bite occurring, but that should be enough."
Bella let out a sigh of relief, but couldn't help but feel unsettled. This was all Edward's fault, she was sure of it. Should he really just be allowed to disappear? She wasn't so sure. Sam turned to look at the rest of the pack.
"No more surprise markings, please. Not everyone will be as understanding as the new Mrs. Lahote. Which reminds me, I had Emily go to Bella's house and get some of her things. They're in the kitchen. It's way too hard to separate every night once you're marked."
Bella walked over to rest her head against Paul. She was sure she would have words with him another day when she had energy to be angry, but she just couldn't right now. Paul wrapped his arms around her and snuggled her under his chin. He dropped a kiss to her head and thanked Taha Aki that she wasn't furious with him.
Billy looked over at the Pack, and Paul and Bella in particular. They looked so natural together, as if they had been mated for years and not a few hours. He would do whatever he could to help them, and if he could, he would help rid the world of the 'ginger glitter fuck' as Jake used to call him.
Edward may not have been the one to deal the final blow, but once that seed of doubt was planted, it would have thrown off Jacob's concentration. He laid his young son's death at the feet of the Cullen family.
Rachel and Rebecca were on their way home now. They and the rest of the world would be told that Jake had been in a terrible motorcycle accident, and that his remains had been destroyed in the resulting explosion. It rankled that he wouldn't be publicly acknowledged for the warrior he was, but the spirits knew, the pack knew, and that would have to be enough.
As Bella watched the simple pine box be lowered into the ground, something took root in her. A righteous anger that she knew went deep. This was Edward's fault. It was her fault too. She should have seen how poisonous Edward was sooner. It seemed so clear now.
She turned and stumbled a few steps away from the pack. Guilt was drowning her, flooding her with nausea. She felt Paul move with her. As soon as she was past the pack, she began to puke. Warm hands swept her hair back and away from her face, while another set of warm hands rubbed her back.
She stopped after a few minutes and turned to find Seth and Paul looking at her with concern. Old Quil had continued with the ceremony, thank goodness. She would have been even more mortified if everyone had been waiting for her.
Paul led her to stand at the back of the pack, and Seth put an arm around her shoulder to comfort her.
She was pack.
Paul had one arm around her waist, and Leah held out her hand behind her. Bella stared at it for a second before she put her hand in it. Leah squeezed and held onto her.
Paul could feel her emotions faintly on the edge of his consciousness, and they mixed with his. He wondered if she could recognize his feeling's of deep love and affection that had taken root as soon as he had sunk his teeth into her skin. He was almost certain that it was the only thing keeping her upright at the moment. Seth looked at him over Bella's head. He could see the concern clear in the young wolf's eyes.
Paul nodded at Seth, and guided Bella back into his arms. She burrowed her head back into his chest, as if he could keep the grief away with his warmth. He was willing to try. In front of him Leah burrowed into Embry's arms in an uncharacteristic moment of vulnerability.
Paul could feel Bella's anger, so similar to his own, and knew it was probably at Cullen. He knew Bella didn't want to be just friends, he could feel it. He would wait as long as she wanted, but he knew she would be his eventually.
He had no doubt that the sparkly fuck would try to come back for her. Paul intended to make sure they were ready when he did.
By the time Old Quil was done with the ceremony, Bella had fallen asleep against Paul. He picked her up and nodded to Sam. They were cutting down patrols the next day, and Sam had given him the day off.
He laid Bella down in his bed when they got back to the cabin, and slipped her shoes off as gently as he could. She stirred for a moment, but fell back asleep as soon as he slipped in bed beside her. Bella threw her arm over his torso and snuggled into his chest.
Paul let out a breath of relief at having his mate safe in his arms, and went to sleep.
Bella's eyes fluttered open as the first rays of dawn peeked in the window. She was coated in sweat from Paul's shared heat. She extricated herself from Paul, and picked up his t-shirt that was thrown on the floor from the night before. She stripped out of her borrowed dress and pulled on Paul's shirt. It fell to her mid-thigh, and she decided it was good enough.
She padded her way out to the living room, and into the kitchen. She knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again. Her mind was already whirring, replaying the events of the day before. She couldn't believe her best friend was gone. She would have to go see Billy once Paul woke up.
She looked around the kitchen and found some things to make breakfast. Paul would be hungry. He had barely eaten the day before, despite fighting in the battle. She was certain he hadn't left her side, even when she was unconscious. She needed to do what she could to make things easier for him.
The familiar routine of mixing eggs soothed her. She poured them into a pan and began to move them around as she thought. She didn't know what she was going to tell Charlie, but she was going to have to figure it out quickly.
She felt in her heart that she belonged on the rez now, and she had promised Jake to help take care of Billy. She just couldn't see returning to Forks, where people didn't really know her, or what she had been through. She didn't want to give up the comforting hugs and support of the pack.
Sam had said it would be difficult to be apart, but what did Paul want? He said he would be whatever she wanted. Just the memory brought a furious blush to her face. She wanted a lot with Paul. She wouldn't have thought it possible to move on from Edward so fast, but here she was. She felt nothing but hatred for her former paramour. Her love for him died on that battlefield with Jacob Black.
She scooped the eggs out onto two large plates and started on pancakes as she heard the shower turn on. She tried to keep her mind from imagining what Paul looked like in the shower, and failed spectacularly. The subject of her fantasies joined her a few moments later, in a pair of cut-offs and bare chested.
He strode towards her and pulled her to him by the back of her neck. He kissed her forehead and smiled at her adoringly. Bella blushed brightly, and Paul stepped back to admire the sight she made in his shirt.
Stunning.
He sat at the table as Bella sat the food at two of the empty spots. Paul grabbed the chair she sat on and pulled it closer to him, so their knees were touching. Much better. Bella took a few bites of her pancakes, pushing them around distractedly.
"Spit it out Swan," he commanded.
"Well," Bella dithered, "does the mark manipulate my feelings?"
Paul fixed her with a look that made Bella feel silly, but she stared right back. She wanted an answer. She hadn't heard anything about this from Jake.
"No Swan, it doesn't manipulate your emotions. If anything it gives you more clarity to see what it is you really want, and gives you the ability to feel my emotions, if they're intense. It breaks through any attempts by vampires to glamour you. That might be why you don't seem to be missing your leech, though you seemed pretty angry at him on your own. You nearly hurt yourself trying to get a hit in."
Bella smiled despite herself. She knew she had a terrible temper, though it rarely reared its ugly head.
"Sorry about that. I just...I hate him...Paul."
Paul smiled at her as he stuffed another bite into his mouth. They would be okay. He could work with this.
"Don't worry Swan, he'll get his. You didn't see the look in his eye. He'll come back to try to win you back, and we'll be ready when he does."
Bella stopped with her mouth hanging open, and Paul closed it gently with his hand. Bella shook her head to clear her mind.
"What do you mean? I thought no one would mess with a mating bond unless they had a death wish?"
"Yeah well, ginger is dumb, and just emo enough to try. Speaking of which, I want you to carry this from now on."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter. He put it onto the table and Bella picked it up. She held it up in her line of sight and flicked it so it would ignite.
Fire.
Just a spark was all it would take to light Edward up and be free of him forever. Paul recognized the vengeful gleam in her eye and smiled at it.
Had his wolf known this was under her sweet exterior the whole time? Probably, smug assholes could sense everything.
"Paul, what are we gonna tell my dad? He'll be back from his fishing trip in a day and I don't know how to tell him I'm leaving him. I can't go back to Forks now. I need to be here with you and the pack. I feel it in my bones."
Paul pushed his plate away and sat back in his chair. He laced his hands behind his head and smirked at Bella as her eyes flicked to his abs non too subtly. Sneakiness was not her strong point.
"Tell him the truth. You feel the need to be around friends after Jake's loss, and you want to help Billy."
Bella looked skeptical. Paul could feel her self-doubt, and he was having none of that. He pulled her hands into his and stroked one thumb over her jawline.
"Tell him we got married. Tell him we eloped when you heard about Jake. Something about realizing your own mortality and the significance of true love, or something mushy like that. He'll be so thrilled that you're not with Cullen, that he won't question it."
Bella blushed and looked up at him through her eyelashes.
"Now Mr. Lahote, we've never even kissed, and I don't have a wedding ring. That's not very convincing."
"Oh, I can take care of that," Paul vowed as he pulled her into his body, and kissed her softly.
Once Bella felt his lips against hers, she was lost. She pushed her body into his, wanting even more contact.
"You did what?" Charlie asked.
Paul and Bella sat on the couch in Billy's house. Sam was in the kitchen in case things got out of hand, with Billy.
"We got married," Bella repeated slowly.
Charlie's eyes flicked to the ring on Bella's wedding ring finger. It was hand hammered silver, with a large turquoise stone in the center. Charlie looked at Paul. He knew those rings were expensive. It looked like it was Navajo made. He had invested in that piece, and it suited Bella to a tee.
"Let me make sure I've got this straight, cause this is a whole lot to process."
Bella took a deep breath, and thanked Taha Aki again that Charlie's service weapon was in a gun vault at home and not on his hip. Taha Aki had certainly been looking out for Paul.
"Edward was being emotionally abusive in your relationship. Paul and Jake helped you build up your confidence to fell in love with this one, and decided to leave Edward for him?"
Bella nodded her head yes. Charlie took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes.
"Alright, then Edward lied to Jake and told him you didn't want to see him anymore?"
Bella nodded again, as did Paul. It was the best story they could come up with.
"So naturally that infuriated Jake, and made him drive recklessly to try and intervene. He got into a motorcycle crash, and didn't make it. Then you and Paul had Old Quil marry you the next day as a tribute to Jacob's sacrifice?"
"Yes sir," Paul confirmed.
"Dear God, Bells. Why didn't you come to me for help? I'm a cop."
Bella wrung her hands, and Paul didn't like that at all. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I don't know Dad, he made me doubt myself. He always made it out like I was silly and stupid. I didn't really realize how bad he was until what he did to Jake. He knew how Jake was, he knew he would do something reckless. I know Edward didn't crash that motorcycle, but I feel like it's his fault."
Charlie fixed Paul with a look. Paul didn't squirm, though he knew Charlie was trying to get him to. He wasn't ashamed. He had wanted Bella for a long time. She was his now, and nothing would ever change that.
"How long have you been in love with my daughter?" Charlie asked. He had no doubt that it was longer than Bella ws saying. A man had to put away money for things like that ring.
"Since she slapped me the first time I met her."
Bella looked at him in shock, and then a soft smile overtook her face.
"The ring?" Charlie asked. Paul smiled, of course Charlie had noticed.
"I bought it on a visit to the Navajo Nation, I have a cousin there who knows a few artists. I bought it a couple months after I met Bella I was sure I'd get a chance to give it to her at some point."
Sam sucked in a breath in the kitchen. Paul's wolf was a cocky fucker. He had bought that ring when he had barely stopped calling her leech lover. She still wasn't over Cullen then, and Jake had been in love with her, but Paul had bought her a ring with complete confidence that she would accept it one day.
"Jesus," he muttered.
"Alright," Charlie said tiredly, "you're eighteen, I can't stop you. At least this one is more respectful. Edwin always gave me the creeps. What happened to him anyways?"
"They all left town," Bella shrugged. She didn't bother to hide her anger. Charlie looked angry as well.
"Good riddance. He comes around again, and I won't hesitate to shoot him. I'm not going through that again. I won't lose you to an abusive man."
Paul scooped the last loaf of bread off the shelf and went to find Bella and their cart. They had resorted to going to Forks once a month to stock up, since he ate so much. Not to mention, the single wolves had a tendency to linger around mealtimes, and Bella would insist on feeding them.
His sensitive hearing heard Bella's name being whispered, and he turned to walk towards the hushed voices. He stopped between two young men who had clearly not noticed his approach. They were trying hard to look nonchalant as Bella piled jars of applesauce into the cart. She insisted Brady and Colin needed it, since they refused to eat any fruit.
"Yeah, she's shacked up with some guy from the rez. I heard they had a shotgun wedding right after Edward left town. Apparently she was cheating on him the whole time. What a slut."
Paul growled, and Bella's head snapped to him immediately. The men turned around, suddenly very quiet, and looking scared. Bella turned the cart and pushed it towards Paul.
"That is my wife and you will keep her name out of your mouth if you want to live. Is that clear?"
Bella put a soft hand and Paul's shaking arm. He looked down at her and she smiled at him. Whatever they had done, they had deserved it. Paul was a hot head, but not without good reason.
"Let's go Paul."
He nodded at her, and she led the way to the checkout. Paul held a tight lid on his anger the entire ride home. He could feel she was angry too, but she always just pushed it down, she never let go, and it made him even angrier.
He was her mate, her husband, shouldn't she be able to tell him what she was feeling?
When they got home, Paul carried the bags inside and shoved them into the fridge without unpacking them. He went over to the kitchen window and looked out it, trying to calm down enough to talk.
Bella sighed and put a hand on the fridge. It only opened an inch before Paul was behind her, pushing it shut. Bella spun around to find Paul a hairsbreath in front of her.
"What is it Paul?"
"I want to fight," he whispered, brushing her nose with his.
"Why?" she sighed tiredly.
"Because I can tell you're angry, Bella. I can feel it, which means it's gotta be intense. I'm angry too, and I wish you would just talk about it. I am your husband."
Bella took a deep breath. Did he have a point? Maybe. She ducked under his arm, and looked around the kitchen. She felt trapped, she needed to go outside. She stormed out the back door, but didn't hear the screen door slam behind her. Paul had followed her.
She picked up a piece of firewood in her hands and hurled it as far as she could, which turned out, was not very far.
"Yeal, Paul, I'm angry. I'm fucking pissed. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
He smiled widely and nodded at her, and his smile just made her even angrier. Paul could feel her anger cresting, but it pleased him.
"I'm always angry Paul! My best friend was killed because of my ex. My ex that he warned me about a million fucking times! He told me, and I didn't fucking listen, and now he's dead. Everyone thinks I'm a slut because we got married overnight, and I can't even defend myself because it's true. I fucking hate this. I hate that we keep so many goddamn secrets, and that the world will never know how brave this pack is. I swear some days I could burn the world to the ground Paul, as long as y'all were okay. I would do it, you know I would. I would do anything for you."
Paul watched Bella in fascination. Her hair was blowing around her in the wind, her chest heaved with her effort to catch her breath, and there was a sparkle in her eye.
"Do you feel better?" He asked gently, starting to walk towards her. She nodded as she tried to catch her breath.
"Good," Paul whispered just before he grabbed and kissed her roughly. He nipped her neck as he lifted her into his arms. He carried Bella back into the house as she sucked the skin of his neck into her mouth.
The days passed, and summer turned into fall. Leaves coated the ground, and painted their world in hues of red and orange. Bella did her college work on her computer, and Paul worked with Sam at the construction company.
Everytime someone mentioned Jacob's name Bella wanted to cry. Sometimes she did, it was pointless trying to stop it. She wanted to carve out the part of her chest that ached with his loss, but the warm touches of the wolfpack let her know that she was not alone.
They were all mourning in their own ways. She wasn't sure they would ever really be done mourning, that you ever really moved on from such a loss. You just learned how to live through it, how to keep going.
Bella sipped the last of her coffee and set her mug in the sink. Paul entered the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her waist. He peppered kissed down her neck and nuzzled her mating mark.
"Well hello to you too," she greeted with a mischievous smile. She turned around to face him, and kissed him hungrily. Paul picked her up and set her on the counter, stepping between her legs.
"I missed you Swan," he growled. She had been asleep when he left for patrol.
"It's Lahote now," she bragged, wiggling her wedding ring in front of his eyes. Paul growled in his throat. She was a little minx, and she knew it now. He needed to calm down and focus.
"Yeah, yeah, now sit down missy, we gotta talk."
He picked her up and walked over to a chair at the kitchen table, setting her in his lap. He kept his arms around her waist. He wasn't sure how she was going to take this news, and he didn't particularly want her flying into a rage and hurting herself by accident.
"We caught a scent today."
Her whole body stiffened under his arms, her muscles taught with unspent energy.
"Was it him?"
"Yeah babe, it was Edward. We chased him to the Canadian border. His eyes are red. You would think that little pixie bitch would have seen this. The least they could do was warn us after everything they've done."
"She can't see past the wolves," Bella told him, "she told me that when she came back to Forks the first time. She wouldn't have been able to see this."
"Hmmm. Sam thinks he'll stay away for a couple days to try to throw us off, but he'll be back. You're welcome to light the first match."
Bella pushed out of Paul's arms, and paced the length of the kitchen. 'At least she's not breaking things' Paul thought. He had to destroy a few trees before he felt calm enough to come home. He may be known for being volatile and angry, but not with his Bella. He made a concerted effort to not bring that home with him.
Bella had her own anger issues since Jacob's death. Once he had let her know it was okay to express her rage, a lot had come out. Not just her anger with the Cullen's, but her anger with herself, and her parents as well.
It was something that would take time to work out.
"Where the fuck is Leah?" Bella demanded.
"Why?" Paul hedged. Those two had a way of getting in trouble, and somehow he and Embry were always the ones who got in trouble with Sam for it.
"I am either gonna start breaking things, or I am going to get very drunk. Which would you prefer?"
Paul turned his head to the side and squinted as he thought. Drunk Bella was fun.
"She's at Embry's."
Bella nodded her head and made the call. If she was going to have to deal with this, she wasn't doing it alone.
Leah walked into the Lahote house, and paused. She cocked her head to the side and listened. Embry ran into her back and she held up a hand to silence him.
There were too many heartbeats.
Leah strode into the kitchen and grabbed the bottle out of Bella's hand and threw it out the open window.
"Leah, what the fuck?!"
"Shut up Lahote," she instructed as she leaned down and put her ear to Bella's stomach.
Paul and Embry watched them with wide eyes. It was well known Leah had the best hearing of any of the pack.
Could it be possible?
Leah straightened up and looked at Paul pointedly. She grabbed Embry and pulled him outside to the fire pit. Those two were going to need a minute.
"Paul, does that mean what I think it means?"
Paul nodded his head. He was thrilled, incredibly thrilled.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
Bella nodded her head, and sat down in the nearest chair. She was glad Leah had come in when she did, or she might have drank something without knowing. She had never really thought about having children, but she hadn't gone out of her way to be careful either.
"It feels right," she admitted.
Paul beamed at her, and suddenly she was sure that this was the right path. She wanted this baby more than she had wanted anything, even revenge. Paul kneeled in front of her and hugged her around her waist. He put one ear to her stomach and smiled when his enhanced hearing could pick up a faint heartbeat.
"You can't go near Edward like this," Paul said. His voice was deep and authoritative.
"I know," Bella conceded. She would trust her husband and the pack to take care of it. The next generation was more important than her need for revenge.
"Do you still want to hang out with Leah?" Paul asked.
Bella looked around, slightly surprised to find that only a couple minutes had passed while her entire world had been rearranged around the tiny life inside of her.
"Yeah, yeah. Guess I better grab a hot chocolate instead of alcohol though."
"I think Leah took care of that when she threw the bottle. I mean really, she couldn't just set it down?!"
"Shut up Lahote!" Leah called through the window, and Bella and Paul both laughed at her.
A few moments later, Bella was sitting beside Leah on the logs surrounding the fire pit, sipping her hot chocolate.
"So how flammable are they, really?" Bella asked.
"Pretty damn," Leah answered, "you should probably start carrying a lighter or two since they're making a reappearance. Just in case. It really only takes one spark and they go up like this bonfire."
Bella turned and looked at the flames, she imagined the purple smoke she had seen above the battlefield and wished someone had thrown her ex into one of those fires.
"I want this done," Bella sighed. Leah beamed at her friend, "We're gonna get him, Bells. I promise you. Then we're all gonna grow up and make lots of little wolf babies to raise together."
Embry choked on his beer and Paul pounded his back with a smile.
"It is called mating Em, you had to know that was coming eventually."
"Yeah, eventually, damn," Embry replied, even as a smile worked its way across his face.
He knew he wanted to have children with Leah, and as soon as Edward was out of the way they could start planning their future. She wouldn't be able to conceive as long as she phased, but once Edward was dead, there would be no need for her to phase. There were enough of them to take care of things without her, but she would never stop phasing while her friend was in danger.
"You're gonna be a great mom Bells, you already mother the entire pack."
Bella smiled and took another sip of her hot chocolate. Maybe Leah was right. She wasn't Renee, after all. She looked over at Paul and saw the gleam in his eye. She knew his wolf was thrilled that they were pregnant. Despite what people had to say about Paul's temper, he was incredibly gentle with her. He would make an excellent father.
"Let's just kill the leech, then we can revisit this topic," Embry pleaded.
Leah gave out an uncharacteristic squeal of excitement and hugged her friend. Bella hugged her back happily.
Paul pushed himself harder, he wanted to be the one to deal the death blow, but knew it was likely to be Leah. She was smaller and faster than the rest of them.
'He's changing paths, he's heading towards the cliffs," Leah shouted in the pack mind. Paul hoped Bella was inside their home, and not off exploring.
'Paul I can smell her,' Leah reported as Bella's sweet scent wafted towards her on the wind. Leah screeched to a halt near the edge of the cliffs, putting herself between Edward and Bella. It looked like Bella had been on one of her walks. Paul and Embry pushed themselves harder. They didn't like their mates being so close to a leech.
"Why does she smell different?" Edward snarled.
His face was turned in revulsion. Bella placed one hand over her stomach in a protective gesture, and Edward's face turned murderous.
"You let one of them breed you? Bella, they are unsafe!"
He took one step forward and Leah lunged, crushing her jaw around his torso. Edward punched her and she released him reflexively, but the rest of the pack had arrived. Paul and Sam attacked, tearing him limb from limb.
Leah phased back and Bella ran to her side. She felt like her heart was breaking all over again. She couldn't lose Leah too. Embry phased back and knelt down to check on his mate.
"Leah, where are you hurt? Talk to me!"
Leah pushed herself up on one arm, cradling her other arm against her body.
"I'm fine, the fucker just broke my arm."
Relief flooded Bella. She tried to give Leah the hoodie she was wearing, but Leah waved her away.
"Put it back on, Lahote. I don't care if I'm naked, I run warm enough to stay safe. You're pregnant, you need it more."
Purple smoke was already billowing over them, and Paul was pulling Bella into his arms, scenting her to make sure she and the baby were still okay. He knelt down and hugged her, his face against her stomach. Bella threaded her hands through his short black hair and enjoyed the comfort that he brought.
"We love you," Bella said quietly as she set flowers on Jacob's grave.
"Thank you Jake," Leah said as she laid down her own flowers.
They sat down and watched their toddlers run between the graves, playing a makeshift game of tag. The sun shone down brightly on them, warming them all.
"You made this possible Jake," Bella said towards the ground, "none of this would have happened without your sacrifice. You made sure I was taken care of, even after you were gone, and you saved Leah's life."
Leah nodded her head. She would always be grateful for her pack mate's sacrifice.
The sound of Billy's squeaky wheel on his wheelchair sounded through the graveyard, and a few seconds later Paul and Embry crested the hill at the edge of the graveyard, pushing Billy.
The children squealed and ran towards Billy and their fathers.
"Billy is doing well. We go visit him most days. The kids love to chase him around in his chair. If they're really good, he'll let them ride with him."
A strong breeze pushed their hair around, and they couldn't help but feel it was Jake, telling them it was all okay. He would always be with them, until they joined him in the spirit world, where their pack would be reunited once again.