All rights belong to SM. This is just fanfiction. No copyright infringement is intended.


Bella could barely contain her grin as she walked down the well-worn back road toward Paul's house. She carried a large tote bag containing a complete ensemble for the day and anything she usually stored in her pockets. Her knee-length red raincoat had none, and, hoping for the element of surprise, Bella wore nothing but her black bra and panties underneath it. Her black wedged boots were surprisingly comfortable as she scuffed along the uneven blacktop. Wild curls were piled high on her head with a large clip, and thin, wispy tendrils framed her face in random places. Pink-tinted gloss pulled focus to her lips, and long mascara-coated lashes emphasized her large brown eyes. Bella had believed she appeared rather romantic when she left the house. Sultry, even. She certainly hoped Paul thought so.

The reddening sky peeked through clusters of gray, green, and purple forest along the way, indicating the rising sun as thunder rolled in the distance. Bella raised her hood as she picked up her pace, silently hoping to get there before the oncoming rain. She was more than anticipating Paul taking off her raincoat, but she didn't want to look like a drowned rat when it happened. Multiple scenarios played out in her mind, anticipating his reaction to her bold attempt at seduction. She missed him with an ache nearly rivaling her many long separations from Jacob. Need bloomed from her chest and settled in her core as if her heart and sex were directly connected. She realized with frightening clarity that he had managed to capture them both and wondered if it scared him too. Bella and Paul were both bound to make mistakes. She was afraid to express her worry that she would only be a passing fancy for him. Bella hoped that his long history of conquests would npt eventually leave him bored with her, a single woman with limited experience and skill. She feared that her frequent worrying, moodiness, and insecurities would deplete his patience before driving him away.

Glancing at her surroundings, Bella noticed an eerie silence had filled the air. The sun was rising, yet no bird or other wildlife made a sound. Only her footsteps were distinguishable as even the early morning breeze seemed to hold its breath. Bella slowed her gait slightly as a chill went up her spine. She looked around nervously, searching for the eyes that followed her. As the hair on her neck stood up, she turned to check behind her. Bella nearly missed it as something darted through the trees, further into the darkness and out of her sight.

A howl cut through the air, far too close to her for comfort. She broke into a sprint down the middle of the road, avoiding the treeline on either side. Bella stumbled, coming to a halt and nearly colliding with him as Jacob's reddish-brown wolf leaped in front of her. Relief washed over her for just a moment before she realized he was snarling with fury - at her. She spotted Embry, Paul, and Quil in her peripheral as they raced across the road into the woods on the opposite side to follow whatever creature she had seen.

Jacob huffed at Bella and nodded for her to climb on his back as he crouched down.

He's not serious. "Jacob, we haven't done this in three years, and it rarely ended well. Riding your wolf through the fucking woods isn't as easy as it looks," she argued. Jacob tended to bounce her around on his back like a runaway horse. And I'm not wearing pants!

He nudged Bella with his nose roughly, urging her to hurry up. Bella sighed in aggravation as she climbed onto his back, hoping no one noticed how underdressed she was. As she clenched her thighs and gripped onto the fur behind his shoulders for support, he stood and sprinted for the trees. Bella flattened her upper body against him to protect herself as he carried her along the well-worn path.

Galloping along, Bella squirmed uneasily above him. The lace of her panties bunched against his soft coat. The knots of his spine ground against her sex with each loping movement of his massive form. Entirely sober now, Bella cursed her poorly-made drunken plan and tried desperately to ignore the rubbing against her crotch. She cursed the damn imprint next as lust coursed through her limbs, only aided by the grinding assault. A frustrated whine escaped Jacob, followed by a long, low growl as he picked up his pace.

Great. We're possibly running from a vamp. I am getting turned on. Jacob can feel it. Meanwhile, I am bare-backing a giant wolf through the woods in my underwear.

This scenario was not the ride Bella was looking for when she left the house.

Jacob came to a halt in Paul's backyard and crouched again to let her down. Red-faced and trembling, she climbed off of his back carefully. Looking toward the house, she sighed at the back door Paul had left wide open in his haste to join his brothers.

Bella wobbled into the house, attempting to ignore the tongue lashing she felt coming as cracking bone and popping sinew filled the air. A loud smack sounded behind her as Jacob's huge hand caught the closing screen door and flung it back open to follow her inside.

Jacob hollered, "You seriously tried to walk here alone in the dark? What the fuck were you thinking? There is a goddamned vampire out there, Bella!"

Anger immediately coursed through her veins like fire as she sat her bag on the couch and spun toward him. She yelled, "Who the hell do you think you're talking to?"

Jacob knew well that condescending authoritative speeches were the last thing Bella tolerated in any situation. She had fought hard to escape the submissive mouse Edward Cullen had groomed into her. Chastising Bella like a child would get Jacob nowhere. He stubbornly continued his angry rant, yelling, "I can't believe you, Bells. What was so important that it couldn't wait until morning?"

"It is morning, Jacob," she said, absently undoing the top few buttons of her raincoat and fanning her heated face. Jacob's eyes flickered with gold as he glanced toward her chest and his wolf neared the surface. Bella leaned against the kitchen counter in aggravation. Knowing that anything she said would only agitate the wolf, she looked away from him in silence.

Sure, walking here had probably been a stupid idea. The loneliness and ache between her legs had not cared about that. Bella didn't want to fight this morning, either. Fighting with Jacob always left her exhausted and depressed, usually requiring a lasting embrace to restore peace between them.

Imprinting sucks.

Stepping closer to her, Jacob demanded, "Why, Bella?"

"Because I fucking wanted to, Jacob," she snapped. "I didn't want to be there."

"Why wouldn't you want to be there, Bella? It's your home." His fury seemed to dissipate as he sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Because I missed Paul, okay?" Bella took a deep breath and admitted, "I woke up to the sound of you having sex. Which isn't exactly fucking easy to tolerate, by the way. I took a shower and decided to come here. I was still too buzzed to drive at the time."

"So, you decided to walk, even though your vampire ex-boyfriend is stalking you? What if he had drug your ass into the woods, Bella?"

Bella asked, "Did you all get super riled up like this because I left the fucking house?"

"I did, yes. Then the howling started, and somehow I knew that was where you'd be," Jacob grumbled.

The same red sky she admired on the walk was visible through the kitchen window, the rising sun slowly lighting up the room. Bella stared out, biting her lip as she tried to calm her temper.

"You could have asked me to give you a ride, you know," Jacob said quietly.

"You were already getting one," Bella grumbled. "I didn't want to disturb you." She glanced toward him and rolled her eyes at the pout he wore despite his temper.

He said, "I thought you were okay with me and Reagan, Bells."

"I am," she insisted. "That doesn't mean I want to hear your headboard banging half the night when I could be banging one of my own."

Jacob cackled and shook his head as the rest of his anger seemed to melt away. Softening his tone dramatically, he said, "I'm sorry, Bells. I know all of this is a big adjustment for both of us. It wasn't easy to see you and Paul before he left on Monday. It bothered the wolf a lot more than I want to admit."

Bella scowled, her shoulders slumping as the fire of her temper seemed to fizzle out of her. She asked, "It did?" She had been fighting her guilt for weeks, physically craving Jacob's touch as much as Paul's presence. Despite the imprint and the arguing, Jacob had seemed to fall into step with Reagan easily. Tentatively, she asked, "It's been harder for you than you have let on, huh?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding. "If Tuesday morning wasn't any indication of that, then I'm hiding it better than I thought."

"You certainly are," she said.

He took another step toward Bella and gently gripped her shoulders. She closed her eyes as he pulled her against him and pressed her forehead to his chest. His hands slid to her back and rubbed it affectionately as he rested his chin on her head and sighed. Bella instinctively slid her hands up his back and relaxed against him.

"I'm still mad at you," he said.

"Me, too," she lied. Jacob chuckled. Bella could never stay angry with him for long, especially with his hands on her. "You know, this imprint is bullshit," she grumbled, and Jacob laughed outright as he pulled her tighter.

He pleaded, "Can you please stop walking places alone in the dark? At least until we run Cullen off for good. I know we can't protect you everywhere, Bells, but you gotta help us a fucking little. Are your bull-headed independence and impulsiveness worth your life? Is it worth mine?"

"I worry about your life all the damn time," Bella grumbled as guilt swallowed her. "That's part of why our situation is so fucking hard."

"Change is difficult for you, honey," he cooed. "I know. I'm not asking you to sit around like a terrified little hermit, Bells. Just stop giving me a fucking heart attack every few days, okay?" Each laughed as he added, "I want to at least make it to kid number three, but I would still prefer five." Bella snorted.

"It will be easier if I'm not chasing your ex across La Push," he teased.

Remembering the figure she had spotted just before Jacob arrived, she asked, "Who was in the woods, Jacob? That was not Edward."

Jacob pulled away from her and asked, "You're sure about that? I only saw them through Embry's vision at a distance. I couldn't make out any features."

"Oh, I'm sure," Bella said. "He knows I want to confront him now. Edward would have taken the first available opportunity to carry me off somewhere if that was the plan. He used to carry me through the woods on his back all the time. Trust me, Jacob. Even while carrying me, you guys won't catch him. His physical speed is unmatched. Except by one, and he's dead."

"James," Jacob said absently, scowling.

"Plus, there is the whole mind-reader thing," Bella said. "He could have caught and hurt me long before now if he wanted. I have only spotted him in Port Angeles, and his presence was obvious both times. He was in full view last night. Even Nick and Dean saw him."

Jacob asked, "Well, if he's not the one running around in La Push right now, who is it?"

"I don't know," Bella said. "And I still want to know what truly happened to Riley that night. Even if Edward didn't do it, I believe he knows the answer."

"You seem much calmer about this whole situation than I expected," Jacob admitted.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "Me, too." She glanced out the window at the rising sun as it peeked through the gathering clouds and asked, "Uh, Jake? Was Reagan asleep when you left?"

Jacob nodded. "Yeah. I hope she still is. I need to get back out there and check on the boys. Please stay in the house?"

"I'm waiting for Paul, Jake. I'm not going anywhere," Bella reassured him.

As he turned toward the door, Jacob teased, "What the hell are you wearing under that raincoat, anyway?"

Bella giggled and shrugged as her cheeks flushed pink. "Not much," she admitted.

Jacob sucked in a sharp breath and chuckled, staring at her raincoat as if he could see right through it. He shook his head before giving her one of his sunshine smiles and walking out the door.

With nothing to do except wait, Bella curled up in the corner of Paul's couch and closed her eyes, hoping he was in a good mood when he got home.


(Paul POV)

Paul angrily pounded his large brown paws into the earth, uselessly chasing the growing space between himself and the vampire. She was surprisingly fast for someone so short.

Paul, come on, Bro, Sam said. She's too far gone by now.

Paul snarled in aggravation. I want to know who the fuck she is and why she was following Bella this morning.

So do we all, Quil said, but I can tell you who it isn't.

Not Ed or Victoria, Sam said. That's for sure.

Paul laughed and said, It was definitely not that bitch. We torched her ass years ago.

And yet, her bullshit still lingers, Sam grumbled. Have any of you talked to Charlie?

A chorus of No and Why answered his question.

That Riley kid died, Sam said. He started coming out of his coma, but then he went into a massive seizure, then flatlined. Charlie told me yesterday, but I'm willing to bet Bella doesn't know yet.

Paul whimpered, scowling as he remembered the look on Bella's face during the ride home from the hospital. Bella went on a double date with Leah last night. They went bar hopping. I doubt she has heard yet.

Again, Paul wondered if Edward had been responsible. Perhaps it had been the mystery bloodsucker they had just chased out of the area. Absently, he grumbled, I still can't believe Riley and that redheaded cunt were lovers.

Quil grumbled, I still can't believe you and Bella are lov-

Shut it! Paul interrupted as he remembered Jacob was taking Bella to his house. Damn. I shouldn't have run so far.

She looked like Red Riding Hood this morning, said Embry as he recalled Bella arguing with a furious Jacob before climbing onto his back. Bella's creamy white thighs were visible as the skirt of her long raincoat flared out around her.

While his tone had been light, Embry's lustful feelings for Bella were palpable. Paul clenched his jaw, willing himself to ignore it. Jealousy was unfamiliar territory. Paul detested the useless anger it stirred in him - especially now that he could feel how badly Embry wanted to bury his face between said thighs. The bastard was practically salivating at the thought.

Ours, the wolf urged. Paul wholeheartedly agreed. The feelings his wolf carried for Bella now both amazed and confused him. She wasn't his imprint, but his wolf had chosen her nonetheless. Paul hoped it meant imprinting on someone else was something he would never have to worry would happen. Paul chuckled to himself as he thought of the angry expression on her face as Jacob had ordered her around.

Bold as brass, Embry said, She is hot when she's mad.

Paul instinctively snapped his teeth at his pack brother. You're pushing your luck, kid.

Don't fucking call me kid, Embry snapped. We're the same goddamn age.

Then act like it and knock off your shit, Sam huffed in exasperation. I swear, sometimes you guys still act like pissy teenagers. I'd rather listen to the ass-chewing Jacob's giving Bella right now.

I hope Jake didn't jump her ass too badly, Paul grumbled.

I fucking told you guys she wouldn't want to be babysat, Quil said.

Bella does not like being bossed around, Paul said in agreement. He wondered why she had been up so early in the first place. It didn't take a genius to figure out that she had been heading toward his house. He cursed the Leech for interrupting her surprise arrival, picturing her behind his front door in her bright red raincoat and 'fuck-me' boots.

Paul snickered and said, Bells did look like Red Riding Hood on the back of Jake's giant wolf earlier.

Quil asked Didn't anyone ever tell her that the wolf eats Red in the end?

Paul chuckled as he picked up his pace, hoping that had been the idea. A little Bella for breakfast sounds like just the thing.

Sam cackled as Quil and Embry both groaned.

Ignoring the petty desire to laugh at the wave of jealousy coming from Embry, Paul focused on Bella, wondering if he should check in with Charlie before delivering the news about Riley. He was near his house when Jacob phased back in and waited for his future Alpha to ask the usual questions.

Where is the Leech now? Which direction did it go? Did anyone recognize it?

Appeared female to me, Paul quipped. I got closer to her than any of us, but she was so fucking thin that a light breeze could have sent her airborne. Fuck.

Sounding far more amused than expected, Jacob said, Paul, I think you have a present waiting at your house.

I get the whole day with Bells today. That's present enough, Paul said sincerely.

I'm glad you think so, Jacob laughed. Honestly, I don't think she gets how close she came to becoming a Bella Slurpee this morning. Try to keep her ass out of trouble.

Don't worry. I hope to have a good hold on Bella's ass most of the day, Paul answered. He could practically feel Quil rolling his eyes as Embry huffed.

You two need to get laid, Paul quipped. You have both been uptight as Hell lately.

Fuck off, Quil said through his laughter. Getting boned doesn't solve everything.

No, but it sure takes the edge off, Sam said. The other wolves all laughed in surprise. It was rare for Sam to participate in the banter between them outside of laughing or ordering them to be quiet.

Paul phased on the fly in the woods behind his house and ran stark naked to his back door. He had shredded his shorts in his urgency to assist his pack and grinned as he anticipated the blush on Bella's cheeks when she saw him.

Paul wondered what she would think if he walked into the house as Joe instead of himself. Would Bella know the truth the second she saw him? She would probably be furious, Paul mused. He hated leaving the night before without telling her goodbye or being able to kiss her goodnight. She had looked sexy in the bar parking lot as she sat on Nick's bike, smoking with Shari and grinning all the while. Their conversation had seemed pleasant, and Paul had been relieved. He had left while everyone was preoccupied, not wanting to react emotionally to anything they said and give himself away.

She did that shit to make me happy. Never before had anyone willingly made peace with others for Paul's sake. His wolf was proud of her for profoundly displaying his importance to her. Paul swallowed nervously from the swell of emotion rising in his chest and pushed it away as he crept through the kitchen.

He grinned as Bella opened her eyes, spotted his naked form, and jumped in surprise. Her cheeks turned bright pink as she beamed at him and stood. He watched in amusement as her mood appeared to turn on a dime, and her anxiety melted away. Bella hummed as she blatantly took in the full view of his body. Like a siren's call, the soft sound shot straight through him. She giggled as his dick went half-mast and twitched in full view. Bella looked up at him from heavy black lashes, her bottom lip pinched between her teeth.

Paul's chest swelled with pride as he flexed his pectorals, and she giggled again. He lifted his head cockily and asked, "What are you giggling about, ma'am?"

Bella took one slow step toward him as she reached for the buttons of her coat. "I was coming here early to surprise you," she said.

Bella laughed, remembering her hood was up, and carefully pulled it off. Soft curls fell out of place, and she sighed, giving up on whatever look she had tried to achieve. She reached behind her head and removed a large clip, letting her curls fall wildly down her back.

No braids for my Little Red today. "You surprised me," Paul said softly, mesmerized by every move she made. Absently, he licked his lips as she took another slow step while nimble fingers quickly unbuttoned her coat. A third step closer, Bella had Paul swallowing nervously with anticipation as she reached for the zipper. Unbuttoned, the skirt of her coat revealed the bare skin underneath.

His cocky smirk returned as she pulled the zipper down and slid out of the bright red coat. Paul gaped at her in stunned silence for a moment. Her nearly-nonexistent black lace lingerie made Bella appear romantic and sexy. The boots, however, made the whole package look positively sinful.

And she's all mine. Paul crowed internally, Eat your fucking heart out, Embry Call.

"You have me beat," Bella said as she closed the distance between them and slid her hand around his waist.

Incredulously Paul asked, "How could I possibly have you beat, Kitten?"

Bella laughed and teased, "I need thirty-dollar bras to look like this. You don't need a damn thing. You're fucking hot, Paul. It's not fair."

Paul shook his head to break the possessive, lust-filled spell he was under and chuckled as he lifted her. Bella squealed and wrapped her legs around his waist.

"You don't need anything extra, Baby," Paul said. He carefully moved his hands to her ass to support her as her arms snaked around his neck.

"Ah," he said, "Right where they need to be."

"What?" Bella asked, "My arms?"

"Nope," Paul laughed. "Those too, though."

Bella glanced down at her right hip and asked, "So? Your hands? On my ass?"

Paul laughed and said, "Yep. I promised to try to keep your ass safe today. The best way to do that is to keep my hands on it."

"Oh," she teased him. "We wouldn't want you to break any promises, would we?"

"No, ma'am," Paul said as he carried her toward his bedroom.

Standing by his bed, Bella pressed her lips to his for a slow, sensual kiss. "I missed you," she said when she pulled away. There was no mistaking the emotion in her voice.

"I missed you too," Paul admitted before lowering her onto his bed. "Now I get to show you just how much."


(B POV)

They spent the entire day in bed, napping between rounds of bodily worship, soaking in as much of each other as possible. It was nightfall when Bella finally slid out from between his sheet and shuffled to the bathroom. As she moved to wash her hands, the corner of some fabric caught her eye as it peeked out from under the lid of Paul's hamper. Bella lifted the lid to tuck it in and froze.

Her stomach dropped as she lifted the t-shirt from the hamper and instantly recognized it from the evening before. Her heart raced in her chest as a million questions bombarded her mind.

Why would this be here? How did he get the shirt? Did Paul know Joe? Was Joe related to the pack? To Paul? Why had Paul pretended he didn't know or care who Joe was? Paul's attitude had been dismissive of her concern for the stranger who helped her escape the restaurant. The khaki shorts resting underneath it only confirmed who the clothing belonged to.

Why would they be here, though? What else is he lying to me about? Bella angrily tightened her grip on the shirt, gritting her teeth as she walked back to his bedroom.

Paul stirred when she reached the door as if sensing her coming near. Without thought, Bella hurled the wadded-up shirt directly at his face. He gaped at her like a deer caught in headlights as she fumed and asked him, "Care to explain?"


Guys, I really, REALLY need your feedback on this story. I dropped the multiple dates concept, changed the title, and still need to change the cover. I think this story is just about finished and will likely undergo a little overhaul once completed (maybe. undecided).
Anywho...
What are you all hoping to see happen? Who is the mystery vamp? What do you think really happened to Riley? How do you think Reagan will react when she knows the full truth about Jake and Bells? So many tiny, ticking time bombs waiting to fall XD (Don't worry, y'all, these concepts and answers are planned and mostly written already - I just love your responses!) Y'all keep me trucking, even my ass is as slow as molasses lately. Thank you, readers! I appreciate you! XO.

If you are enjoying this story, please don't forget to follow/favorite it and feel free to check out my other works. All of my fanfics are Twilight-related and posted to both FFN and AO3. Also, feel free to check out #TwilightPackFanatfics on FB if you're interested in writing a short for September pack-focused writing challenge :)