A/N: Paul and Leah date chapter! Would love your feedback on how you think this story is going so far.

Ch 11 —

Leah POV

My wheels screeched as I pulled my car up to the beach and parked. I could already see Paul there sitting on a blanket, looking at the ocean and waiting for me. I slipped off my sandals and made my way over. He was in jeans and a t-shirt. Maybe they were nice jeans and a nice t-shirt? Hard to tell.

"These are your date clothes?" I asked him, pulling down on the black dress I was wearing. He flashed a wide smile at me.

"It was either this or my gym short," he said, raising his hand over to me and gesturing me to sit down. He was warm, like standing next to a fire. I didn't really feel it back when I was still phasing, and Seth's heat didn't gain my attention in a meaningful way, but being next to Paul sparked through me like a heatwave. I glanced at him and he could tell I felt something, his smile still sticking on his face. I knelt down and then sat with my legs out in front me. He held on to my hand for a bit, but then I pulled it back to smooth out my dress over my lap. He reached over to get out a wine bottle from a bag.

"No beer?" I asked.

"I thought your tastes might have advanced," he chuckled as he poured cups for us.

"How is Ava?" I asked, looking over to him as I took the wine. He was steady, but concerned.

"She'll pull through. She's strong and already has unbelievable abilities. She can shield her thoughts."

My mouth hung open. "After one day?! Has the training already started?"

"She hasn't shifted back yet. I'm still letting her rest. She figured out how to do it right before you arrived yesterday, when she was with Seth," he said calmly, almost reanalyzing this information. "Rachel was more upset when I told her. She called Jake."

I perked up a bit. This was interesting information.

"Is he coming?" I asked pointedly. He noted my interest and shrugged.

"Would that matter to you?" he said, his eyes opening wide.

"Paul, I am not interested in Jake in a romantic way. I told you, I've never been interested in Jake like that, despite any rumors. But he helped me a long time ago. He let me leave," I breathed in at the notion of this. "I'll always be grateful to him for that." Paul nodded and pushed up his knees, holding on to them with his arms.

He took a deep breath of his own. "Seth said your kids seemed to take the wolf news okay?" He topped off our cups and got out some baguettes and fancy spreads.

"What is this stuff?" I asked. "You eat this stuff?"

He smirked. "Not usually. But I thought you might." I nodded at him, realizing his consideration. I then answered his previous question.

"They seemed oddly okay with it," I said, questioning it as I spoke, "but it almost was too good to be true… I am a worried about it, honestly."

He leaned over and grazed my cheek with his fingers. "You do that a lot when it comes to them," he said softly, "Worry. They'll survive, Leah. You survived. More than survived."

I looked out at the ocean. The waves were big and rough, crashing and frothing into the surf. The sky was almost orange. "It was a long road, Paul. I didn't want that for my kids."

He inched closer to me. He had a husky whisper, "You're a good mom." I looked over at him, his eyes glimmering at me. "You raise strong kids, they can handle it."

I nodded timidly and sipped my wine. Worrying about my kids maybe wasn't super alpha, but I couldn't help it. Feeling exposed, I tried to change the subject.

"So what have you been up to for the last 20 years? Has it just been 24/7 pack life?" He chuckled and ran his hand over his hair.

"Well, that's taken up a lot of it…I have my hobbies, carpentry, that sort of thing. What about you? What's it like to be a big city boss lady?"

I smiled. "Really fucking awesome," I said. People actually listen to my ideas without them being confirmed by some dude." He gave me side eyes.

"No, Paul, it happened yesterday! I told all of them to avert their eyes, as Ava phased but they didn't do it until you told them too."

"Well, I'm the pack Alpha Leah…"

"But you asked me to come and help and I made a logical suggestion that none of them took it until you affirmed it." I exhaled. "I feel so bad for that girl."

We sat in silence for a moment. And then I remembered something Quil said the previous day. "What did Quil mean that there was a love triangle?" Paul exhaled and proceeded to tell me about the Ava/Will/Theo saga and the events that led up to her phasing.

"Holy hell," I let out.

"It's not ideal…" he said.

"Well, what are you going to do? How are you going to ensure she is fully integrated into the pack?"

"I don't know Leah. I wish I knew a bad ass she-Wolf with upper management experience who could help me."

I pursed my lips at him. "I just told you none of those douchebags will listen to me."

"It doesn't matter. Only she needs to. And Leah, you have her full attention. She is enamored by you. You can show her the ropes, give her some tips on navigating pack life. How to deal with Alpha Awful, the super dominant Alpha," he chuckled and I cringed at the words. My words about him to Seth and Sam. He must have heard them in pack mind.

"I'm sorry Paul…"

"You can make it up to me by helping her," he said as he finished the rest of the wine.

There was really nothing to think about. If I could help, Ava, I was going to.

Once it started to get dark I helped Paul pack up and brought some of the things back to the car with him. After he put the bags and blanket it he turned back to me and put his hands on my shoulders. A burning sensation of expectation ran through me. I looked up into his eyes. He was different now. Still strong, but a bit softer and honest. He seemed completely honest in his actions and intentions.

He leaned dangerously close to me, taking his hand and now grazing it up and down my arms, his lips just an inch from me.

"Paul.. I I…"

He inhaled the words, cautious that I would deny him.

"I liked tonight," I said in a breath and at that he engulfed me in his arms and gingerly pressed his lips to mine. I opened my mouth to be greeted by his warm tongue, moving in and out as he gently sucked on and bit my lips. Besides the kiss with him in the car the other day, I hadn't kissed someone in so long. And he was good at kissing.

I let myself escape in his touch, really melt into it, and feel everything. The warmth his hand emitted as he touched the small of my back, the smooth firmness of his biceps as I grazed them with my hands, the sea air pressing against my neck. I let out a soft moan as all the sensations blended together.

He seemed to like that noise as he quickly picked up the pace, spinning me so my back hit the side of his truck. His right hand slid up the nape of my neck and tousled my hair. It felt amazing. It felt risky and sexy and exciting. I felt like a teenager again, but… I had teenagers? What is this? I thought to myself.

"Paul," I gasped, breaking our sealed lips. "We can't do this here. I can't do this right now. I like this… but not all right now, okay?"

He was immediately attentive to my request. He nodded as he panted and pulled back. Paul grabbed my hand and walked me back to my car. We made plans to meet up and train Ava and then he leaned in for one last soft and sweet kiss before I sat in my car and waved goodbye.

I flipped open the visor and looked at my swollen lips in the mirror. I didn't berate myself for immature behavior or try to fix myself to look more presentable. I just let out a giant, uproarious belly laugh as I started my car and headed home.