Paul POV
It had been only a few hours since I'd seen Leah, but I craved her like a drug. She hadn't been back in Washington that long, but it wasn't lost in me that her return coincided with my entire world blowing up in my fucking face. The woman returns to La Push and instantaneously my world explodes. Will and Theo were at each others throats, two new female wolves join the pack and an one imprints -- the first imprint in over 20 years.
So much fucking drama And yet, I couldn't stop my thoughts from drifting to her. I had wanted her physically forever, and now that I had her I needed more. But it wasn't just physical, it was more that I craved.
I should be doing patrol, or strategizing with Seth, but I found myself parked outside Sue Clearwater's house sitting in my truck, stalling like a god damn teenager. I rubbed my hands over my face and let out a deep breath. The house looked tiny in the moonlight. All the lights were on, but I didn't see Leah. Just Omar and Akeala on the couch.
Kids. I had been around them enough, but had no idea what to do with them. The pack kids revered me, saying little, obeying and always scurrying in my presence. But Akeala chewed me out so hard it make her go wolf and Omar stood up to me like I was the school bully when he thought I was dismissing His imprint. On top of everything Akeala and Ava were now my subordinates. I was enemy number one to these kids. But I wanted their mom and it was a fucking package deal.
I ran my fingers through my hair, got out of the truck and trudged up the janky wooden steps on Sue's porch trying to prepare myself to play nice with Leah's offspring. I knocked lightly on the glass door. Akeala's eyes swung over to me as she got up and opened the door.
"I wondered how long you were going to huff and puff out there in your truck. This super hearing thing is annoying."
I pursed my lips together. She was bolder than I originally thought. Or maybe it was the wolf inside her taking over. Her braids were swept up in a messy bun and sat on the top of her head. She wore an ripped T shirt with Pink's face on it. That definitely belonged to Leah at one time. She's looked at me in a sort of bored way. At least she didn't want to murder me at the moment. That was a win. Still, we stood their staring at each other.
How do I make small talk with a 15 year old rocker chick whose mom I want to fuck? Nothing. I have nothing. Just find Leah.
"Is your mom -"
"No." She cuts me off. "She's out." We continued to stare awkwardly at each other.
I am not sure why this is so difficult. I should treat her like any other cub. That's what Leah would want. Or maybe I should be nicer, more beta like.
"Uh, how are you feeling? I know today was a lot."
She huffed out a breath. "Yeah, I'm not really sure. It's a lot to wrap my head around." I nod.
"I felt the same way," I say honestly. "And back then it was just me Jared and Sam. I couldn't tell my dad or anyone else. I am glad you have your mom." She nods slowly at my words, almost surprised to hear them.
"Um, do you want to come in? She should be back soon." I nod robotically and follow her inside, but as I enter I nearly wipe out on an endless pile of shoes. The entry way is completely cluttered with random kid shit. Does Leah secretly have 9 kids, why are there so many shoes? I shove them aside with my foot and head over to the couch next to Omar who is flipping through an actual book.
"Nice to see a teenager reading a book. The pack kids are mostly glued to their phones." I tell him.
"Grandma said if he kept checking for texts from Ava she would throw his phone out the window," Akeala smirked, teasing her brother. Omar threw a pillow at her, which she expertly dodged. He looked a bit stunned by her reflexes.
"Wolf genes can come in handy," I said with a smile. I turned to Omar, who seemed overwhelmed himself. Leah never imprinted, so we never had a male imprint. Still, it was usually the wolf that needed the constant contact and assurances from the imprint, not the imprinted.
"How you holding up, man?" I asked as I assessed him. He looked sweaty and generally a mess.
"I don't know." He rubs his forehead. "I can't stop thinking about her. Is this normal?"
"No clue, bud. Never imprinted. You can talk to Kim, Claire or Emily, but it's likely different for you cause your a guy. Guess Clearwater's have to be pioneers." He rolled his eyes at my words. He pulled out his phone and started to type something.
"texting her?"
"Ugh, yeah."
"How many times have you texted her?"
"Um... four times. No response," he lets out in defeat. I swipe his phone from his hands and read his messages to Ava.
Today at 6:55pm
Omar: Hey, how are you?
Today at 6:58pm
Omar: Thinking about you.
Today at 7:48pm
Omar: Want to meet up? Want to make sure you're ok.
Today at 8:16pm
Omar: Can you FaceTime?
"Jesus, brother. Needy much?" He snatched his phone out my hands and shoved it back in his pocket and wipes some sweat off his forehead as Akeala, chuckled at the other end of the sofa.
My mouth formed into a frown. This kid clearly had no idea what he was doing and his snickering sister wasn't helping matters. "Cool it, kiddo," I said to her in an Alpha order that instantly made her shut her trap. I don't love doing that, but Omar was acting like a needy bitch and needs me to throw him a bone.
"Brother, you're her imprint. You don't need to be all nervous around her. You have her. She's yours."
He flings his head back so it rests on the top of the couch. "Ugh. I can't stop thinking about her. I feel it. Like she needs me, and I have no fucking clue what to do. I mean, today was the second time I ever saw her and I feel like the other half of my heart was just placed back in my body. I feel this need to be with her and support her, and I don't even know where she lives."
Interesting.
"Did you feel like this earlier?"
"Nah, man. Just since I sent that first text."
"Where is she? Did she say what she was doing tonight?
"Ugh. Family stuff. Something about her uncle coming down from Alaska."
I clenched my jaw. That's happening tonight? !
I look at both the kids looking back at me. "Where is your mom?"
"She's with them." Akeala says. "She said she wanted to speak with Ava's Uncle Jake.
Well fuck me. Nerves crawl up my body and make my muscles tense. I don't like this. Not one fucking bit. I huff out a breath as both kids eye me.
What is she doing with them? Should I go there? Will she think I'm an alpha Neanderthal if I show up?
Dammit. Now I'm the needy bitch.
