72 follows after just 2 chapters - i want to thank you all! I've never had such an amazing response so quickly and i can tell that you're all going to be so kind and supportive throughout this story.

Paul walked into Sam's home with a huge yawn and slow steps – he'd done the evening patrol yesterday and when it came to switching with Seth, Leah had phased to tell him that he was behind on school work and Sue was demanding that someone take his patrol instead; with nearly everyone with their imprints, Paul and Leah were one of the few that were able to cover and Leah seemed to be in an extremely bad mood, so Paul chose to carry it on.

It also helped since he was the only one that could be phased at the same time with Jacob and not start shit. Surprising due to his well known anger.

So he'd taken the twilight patrol too, only finishing five minutes ago and entering their Alpha's home with the promise of a large cooked meal and a comfortable couch for him to nap on.

"How was patrol?" Jared asked, chuckling as he tucked into a muffin, eyeing his best friend as he walked into the dining room. "How much pining for Bella did you have to put up with?"

"Jared!" Emily scolded but she too looked curious to see how Jacob was.

"Hardly any. He's not moving on any but he's definitely putting distance between her and him. We even had a civilised conversation about this bird I saw yesterday." Embry raised his eyebrows in surprise, not expecting Jacob to join in with Paul's antics. "Yeah," he carried on, sitting down at the table and smiling thankfully when a plate stacked with food was placed in front of him. "Apparently her hair was a shade lighter than Bella's but her eyes were too round; he also told me to stop playing the field because my imprint is apparently going to drop by soon enough." Paul rolled his eyes, believing that was going to happen as much as he believed Jacob was going to get over Bella.

Never.

"So in theory, no change?" Sam asked, walking into the room and pecking his own imprint on the cheek before joining most of his pack at the table. "She wasn't his imprint so he'll get over it soon." Sam informed them but nobody voiced that they doubted it.

"Who has afternoon patrol tomorrow?" Leah asked curiously. Patrols had definitely been less intense since the Newborn battle but they were still in place – too much damage and drama had been occurring lately not to be on the safe side.

"I do." Paul stated around a yawn, staring at his empty plate and debating whether he wanted more waffles or wanted a nap. "Why?"

"I have evening patrol and I wondered if I'd have to be putting up with a pining and pissed off Jacob or just a pining one."

"Which one would you prefer?"

"Neither."

"Well then a pining and pissed off Jacob is who you'll get." Paul said with a smirk which she responded to with a roll of her eyes. "Well i'm going to hit the sack because i'm knackered." Paul added, leaving the table and sprawling onto the nearest settee, his body falling to exhaustion before he even managed to get his head on a cushion.

"You can't keep over-working him like this." Emily complained to Sam after the pack had left to get on with their day and Paul was still asleep on their couch. "He's tiring himself out."

"He offers and if I were to decline he'd just go and sleep with some random women and throw a temper tantrum – it's easier to just abide with what he wants in these situations."

"What can we do to make things easier?" She asked, the mothering side of her coming out as she stroked some hair on his head.

"Until he gets an imprint, nothing."

"Dad, just stop!" Paul shouted, throwing some clothes into a bag as he packed to stay at Emily's for a short bit. His dad was going away with a couple of friends who didn't know about the Reservation's protection system and his dad was getting worried.

"But are you sure you're going to be okay here alone? Emily told me that you've been working extra hard?" Paul gritted his teeth and tried to contain his temper as he turned to face the older man.

"I've got to work hard to protect the Res dad, half the time i'm the only one properly available and willing so why does it hurt?"

"You're running on low battery son."

"You're running late for your cab."

The silver wolf was running fast, his nose ready to pick up any unfamiliar scents and track them at a moment's notice whilst he went along the treaty line. All by himself.

Fucking leech.

Ah, there was Jacob meaning that he wasn't completely alone.

Oh, good afternoon Jacob, Paul snarked, growling as his peaceful thoughts disappeared.

Fuck off Lahote, came the growl back and Paul couldn't help the wolfy grin take over his face. Just you wait till you fall in love and she doesn't want you.

Maybe the next time i'll fall in love it will be with my actual imprint.

Jacob didn't respond, only choosing to growl back in anger but Paul got the message loud and clear. Knowing that Leah would kill him if Jacob was in a worse mood for her patrol, he chose to remain quiet and the following hour went past quietly and quickly, no unusual vampires making an entrance onto their land and only small bunnies getting in his way which he scared off with a growl.

Jacob, I need to talk to you, Embry said with hints of confusion, as if he doubted he should be talking to his friend. I've been told to pass on a message.

If it's Bella, tell her to fuck off. If it's dad, tell him i'm fine.

Paul merely kept quiet, curious as to what Bella would want to tell her heartbroken friend now and he could practically see Embry get even more confused.

Well actually, it's neither, Paul perked up with interest now. Look how about I just pass on the message?

Good idea.

Hermione's home.

Short chapter this time but it's a set up for the next. Going to put a warning for swearing because I don't think i've done it yet. Italics like that – if you hadn't guessed – means conversation in the wolf's mind. Let me know what you thought.