Howl

Chapter Twenty-Two — Bella's Accusation

Twirling around the living room with a duster as a microphone, Artemis belts the lyrics to Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson. One arm waving above her head as she bobs around. Winston, still wearing his work clothes, watches in amusement. He laughs as she glides across the floor behind the couch nearly tripping over herself.

He knows her excitement stemmed from their expected guest. When she called him on her way home informing him to order more food he could hear the joy in her voice. The Artemis from yesterday compared to the Artemis in front of him felt like night and day. Maybe he should be worried that a key to his daughter's happiness depended on her relationship with Paul, but he'd cross that bridge when they get there.

The song ends softly, her head bowing into the duster. Its feathers brush her nose causing her to sneeze. Eyes wide, she looks up at him. He laughs.

Another sneeze and then another. She tosses the duster away. It hits the floor and rolls a few inches away. They watch it go before yet another sneeze escapes her.

"What the fuck."

"Watch your language," Winston says.

She grabs the remote off the table and flops onto the couch. "I think that's pretty tame. I've said a lot worse. What are we watching tonight? Princess Bride?"

"Again? Hell no. You had pick last time, it's my turn now."

"But I have great taste!"

"We are not watching Princess Bride," he says while giving her a look that told her there was no arguing.

Defeated, she sticks her tongue out at him.

"How mature," he says. "What do you suggest? Anything but that," he stops her before she could suggest it again.

"I wasn't going to say it! You asked for input, I'm giving you my input!"

Winston nods, eyes flicking to the wall clock.

"He'll be over soon," Artemis says. "He had a meeting with Uncle Billy."

"A meeting?"

"Something the boys are doing to help the council with. I'm not too sure," she tells him while waving the remote as if waving his question off as unimportant.

It wasn't like Winston wasn't aware of the tribal council or Billy's position as its head. When he'd married Jennie he made sure to learn as much as he could about the tribe, its laws, rules, governing powers, customs, food, and traditions. He, however, wasn't told the legends nor knew what happened in council meetings.

No further explanation required when he nods. "Well, I hope Bill doesn't keep him too long. The food is getting cold."

Artemis snorts, "you know, we could start eating without him. I know for a fact that he'd eat it cold."

Winston chuckles, "oh, I know. I catch him sometimes eating leftovers straight from the fridge if we actually have any leftovers."

"With him around we rarely ever do."

"Except this week," he comments and watches as her body tenses up. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

He doesn't push it. Instead, he changes the topic. "So, what are we picking? I'm thinking either Little Nicky or Me, Myself & Irene."

"Oh! Oh! Let's do White Chicks!"

The doorbell rings.

Before either of them can get up it opens. Paul rushes into the house shutting the door behind him. He's soaked from head to toe having been caught in the downpour outside. He's wearing his usual attire of shorts and sneaker only combo. Winston shouts for him not to move as the older man rushes to the bathroom to get him some towels.

"You ran here?" Artemis asks when Winston is out of earshot.

"Oh yeah. The meeting ran longer than expected. That Bella Swan chick showed up," he tells her pushing his hair back.

"Bella showed up?"

"Yeah. Billy's not too happy about it," Paul says.

Her eyebrows lift in surprise. She knew Jake and Bella weren't speaking. Jacob warned her that Bella might call her and ask about him. She'd been instructed to lie to the poor girl. He'd explained that Bella wasn't allowed to be privy to the pack. Artemis wondered why she was allowed to know but didn't push it as Jacob already looked so heartbroken.

"He knows Bella is gonna make it a big thing now. Just watch."

Winston walks back into the room with a large white towel. He tosses it at Paul who catches them with ease. "Did you walk from Billy's?"

Paul works on drying himself working from his dripping hair, over his face and down his torso. Artemis watches as the towel runs from his massive shoulders over his pecs and down to his impressive abdomen. She's focused on the movement of the towel that she nearly misses when he confirms Winston's question.

"Jesus Christ. You're gonna get sick, kid. You could have just called, I would have picked you up," Winston frowns.

"Its nothing. I don't get sick," Paul dismisses his concern.

"I didn't forget that summer you spent more time hugging the john than you did anything else," Winston points out. It had been the summer after grade seven when Paul and Artemis caught a summer cold. The two went out into the backyard to sit in a storm. Later when Winston asked Jesse why he didn't bring them inside, he told him that Artemis needed somewhere to cry where the world wouldn't know.

Paul grins and briefly wipes over his calves. He isn't putting much effort into his lower half as he's already dry. This is just for show while Winston watches him.

"It built my immune system."

Winston squints his eyes, unimpressed with Paul's nonchalance about walking in the pouring rain. He wants to battle the teen on the issue but doesn't press it. There are some battles you win later with I told you sos.

"So, what are we watching tonight, Sir?" Paul asks.

"White Chicks!" Artemis shouts.

Paul smiles at her, "I love that movie."

"Woohoo!" Artemis cheers. "Two to one! Put it on!"

After changing into a spare pair of pajamas, Paul takes his seat beside Artemis. Winston sits on the other couch, long legs spread out over the armrests. His popcorn bowl sits on the floor beside him, hand digging into scoop a few into his mouth.

As the movie progresses Artemis unknowingly finds herself sitting closer to Paul until she's pressed up against his side. The heat radiating off of him makes her feel warm and would have put her to sleep if they were watching any other movie. His arm is tossed behind her, fingers playing with the collar of her top.

Sitting with him like this gets her mind thinking to how she had been treating him these past few days. She had missed the warmth he provided when they shared a bed. She missed that all-consuming smile — all teeth and dazzlingly beautiful. His scent, his voice, his feel of his fingers combing through her hair, she missed it all.

"Why are you staring at me?" Paul asks as he turns his head to look at her.

Brown — a dark pair of eyes, nothing unusually special about them and yet she feels captivated. When Jared had phased into his wolf form the only part of his human form that remained were his eyes. Would it be the same with Paul's wolf?

His fingers move from playing with her collar to weave themselves into the hair at the base of her neck. His lips tug into a smirk at her softening expression. Whatever is going through her mind she expresses through her own set of dark eyes. His fingernails gently itch at her scalp and Artemis has to fight back a smile.

Their moment is cut by the ringing of Winston's cellphone.

Artemis blinks and turns away as she feels her body heat up. She nervously looks to see if Winston is watching them, but his attention is on the screen of his blackberry. Confusion crosses his face for a moment before he answers the call.

"Charlie? Everything alright?"

Beside her Paul tenses up. His fingers gently tug at the root of her hair before releasing it all together. There's a nervousness that she hasn't seen in a while coming from him. A slight jerk of his hand, like he wants to do something but isn't sure what.

"Hold on, what are you sayin'? No, not possible," Winston's brows knit together like he can't understand what Charlie is saying. "No. You're kidding right? I'm no idiot, Charlie — I know you ain't callin' me one, but it sure as hell seems like it. Now you wait a just a minute, I know these boys. I know them a hell of a lot better than you or Bella."

He gets to his feet, gripping tighter onto his phone. Whatever Charlie is telling Winston has upset him as the man starts his pace around the room. Artemis turns to Paul and is surprised to find his focus on Winston with his lip curled over his teeth in almost an animalistic snare.

"I raised them. They may not be my blood, but I sure as hell helped raised them and ain't no way you're tellin' me these boys are in some cult."

"What's happening?" Artemis whispers afraid that if she speaks any louder she'll end up in the crossfire.

Paul leans in closer so that his lips are practically brushing her ear. "Bella told Charlie the pack is in a cult and we recruited Jake."

Taking a second to process this information then says in disbelief, "and Charlie believes that bullshit?"

"Why do you think your dad's so mad?"

"I ain't sayin' Bella's lyin', I'm sayin' Bella doesn't know what she's talking about," his southern accent thicker, a clear indication of his rising anger. "Yeah. Yes. Sam Uley may not be my son, but he sure as hell is Jesse's brother. There is no way Sammy is leadin' a cult. Don't you forget who saved your Bella not that long ago. What? I can't bring that up?"

Artemis gasps, turns her head and gasps again when her nose brushes Paul's. He's close, a lot closer than she expected. So close that she can see the different brown hues in his eyes.

"What?"

"Later," Paul whispers. "I'll tell you later."

"Fuck it, Charlie. Do as you please, but when I prove to you that Bella's overreacting, I want to hear that apology in person," Winston chuckles. He looks to Paul and Artemis face drooping in exhaustion. At least there is something humorous in the way the two of them pull apart when they notice him watching.

"Anything else you wanna tell me before I hang up on you?" He asks over their argument. "Shit. You shoulda started with that. Now that's something worth listenin' to. When? Alright, yeah. I got my guns and my bow. Yeah, I'm comin' along, too. Well, someone has to watch your dumbass. Alright, 'night, Charlie."

"Is that — are we hunting?" Artemis eagerly asks, twisting so that she can sit on her knees.

"I'm hunting, you're staying home."

"Why not?" She whines.

He gives her an exasperated look. Of course she knows why. Her body is covered in the exact reason why he doesn't want her to go hunting.

"Okay, well, what are you hunting?" She asks.

"Wolves. Charlie says there has been a few attacks. They're organizing a hunting party tomorrow."

"But its illegal to hunt wolves in Washington," she tries to argue.

"Yeah, but Charlie says the attacks are getting out of hand. People are going out on their own hunting for 'em."

The teens share a look.

Fuck.

Its pretty obvious that the wolves aren't in any real danger. They're faster than the average wolf with senses that would aid them in their avoidance of these confrontations. Yet she can't help but worry. Her hand grasps his and squeezes.

He is worried for another reason. There is so much more of his world that he hasn't told her about. With that one vampire they killed last week the pack had assumed they were free of those leeches until they caught another one killing a couple near Crescent Lake.

"I'm coming along," she demands.

"Artemis," Winston says with visible exhaustion.

"I'm serious, Dad. I can do it. I promise if I can't i'll leave. Plus, I'm a better shot than Charlie and you know it."

"We'll talk about it in the morning, I've had enough for tonight. I'm going to bed, clean up for me?"

Winston doesn't wait for an answer. Leaving them behind for the comfort of his bed. The movie had already come to an end, the credits rolling down the screen. The room is quite other than the sound of the tv until Paul broke it with a soft clearing of his throat.

"You know its not us that's killing these people, right?" He asks.

She hesitates to respond and Paul lets go of her hand.

"No!" She almost shouts and grabs his hand again. "No, I know its not you. But what is killing all those people?"

A sigh escapes him. How is he going to approach this conversation? She already freaked out about the wolf thing. What's stopping her from shut him out again when she finds out that vampires exist. He wants her to be afraid of them. She should be afraid of them. But what if she ends up afraid of him again? He doesn't think he can handle it.

"Paul, you know I don't like being out of the loop on these things. You're constantly giving me so little information."

He squeezes her hand gently. His fingers lace through hers. Maybe if he holds onto her like this she won't shut him out.

"Paul — "

"I — I just — can we talk about it later? I can have Billy explain it to you better so you don't get frightened again," he offers a compromise.

For a second Artemis wants to argue. To snatch her hand away from his and to demand for answers, but instead she stands and pulls him up with her. His hulking figure never ceases to amaze her as she cranes her neck up to meet his eyes. His very concerned eyes.

"Okay, but is it safe for my dad and Charlie to go hunting then?"

He shakes his head.

"Shit. What are we watching out for?" Artemis asks. "Like what are we avoiding on these trails?"

Letting go of her hand he wraps his arms around her to pull her into a tight embrace. He presses a kiss to the top of her forehead. His warmth and scent engulfing her completely and wrapping her in a feeling of security.

"They'll probably have Harry come along. He'll know what to keep an eye out for. Plus, the guys and I will be out watching. We won't get too close, but if there is any danger one of us will be there to protect you," Paul reassures her.

Thanks For Reading!

I finally got an ipad so I can write while i'm commuting and at work. It was a real struggle finding the time to sit down and write chapters out. Next chapter we have some bonding moments between Artemis and the dads and pseudo uncles in her life.