A/N: New chapter everybody! Hope everyone had a good New Year! Getting into some drama with our couples to set up for more twists, enjoy!

Strip It Down Part 2

Bella watched Jen sip her tea, her violet eyes missing their usual spark, and her face looked haggard and drawn like she hadn't been sleeping. She missed her friend's usual exuberance and set her face determinedly as she set the plates on the table and sat down next to her. Jen glanced up at her, a nervous expression in her eyes when she saw Bella's face, and she tried to rise from her seat until Bella nailed her with a glare. "Sit. Down."

Her voice allowed no room for argument and Jen sank down, an annoyed look on her face now. "Bella-"

"No. I've given you your space, I've let you try to work this out on your own but the two of you are too stubborn to deal with it apparently. It's causing tension in the Pack, so it's now my problem. Whatever is going on, spill."

Jen sighed resignedly, tugging on her limp, platinum blond strands before meeting Bella's gaze sadly. "It's nothing you can help with Bella. Paul will get over it, especially after…"

She looked away quickly, although Bella caught the sheen of tears before she could, and she placed a hand on her friend's in concern. "Jen. What is going on?"

She shook her head, rubbing her hand over her face, and for a moment Bella saw how truly miserable her friend was. "I made a mistake Bella."

Jen's eyes met hers, a mix of guilt, pain and longing in her gaze, and Bella nodded for her to continue. With a sigh the witch haltingly began to explain. "You know that vampires have true mates right? And shifters have imprinting. Witches are different, we don't have someone we're destined for, we actually have the option to choose that, as long as it's a warlock of course. When we do, we bind the person to us, forever, usually in the midst of…an intimate moment…"

Bella stared at her for a long moment before her eyes widened in understanding. "You mean Paul and you…when you…"

Jen nodded, still looking miserable, and Bella raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Isn't that a good thing though? I mean, Paul isn't a warlock but it's not that awful."

Jen shook her head as she stood and began to pace the small kitchen. "It isn't that simple. For one, yes he's not a warlock and that's a problem in its own. But Bella, this has never been done outside of my people and humans. He's a shifter."

Jen stared at her, Bella's brow wrinkling as she tried to piece together what her friend was saying, and her mouth dropped open suddenly. "He's a shifter…meaning he has an imprint…"

Jen nodded despairingly, dropping back into her chair as she stared at the tabletop. "Yes, and it isn't me. And now I've bound him to me because of a stupid mistake, one second of losing control was all it took. That's why there can't be anything between us; he's destined to be with someone else and the closer we are the more pain it will cause us both when he does imprint. If he even can now, I may have ruined any chance for him to have that."

She was nearly in tears at this point, Bella hurrying to her side and wrapping her arms around Jen as she shushed her. "Jen, you need to tell him. Obviously not explaining is making you both miserable; don't you think he deserves all the facts before you shut him out? He may never imprint, it's supposed to be rare."

Jen shook her head, looking a little guilty. "No. I thought the same, so I worked a spell while he was sleeping that night and he has an imprint out there somewhere."

Bella bit her lip, the small bit of hope for her friends' happiness dimming and she rubbed Jen's shoulder as she hoped Jacob was having better luck.

Jacob ran alongside Paul, the silver wolf unusually quiet as they followed the patrol route. He was trying to figure out the best way to broach the subject when Paul abruptly stopped, tail lashing in irritation as he huffed at Jacob.

"Just spit it out Black, you're driving me crazy."

Jacob turned to face him, a little relieved to hear some of Lahote's usual attitude in his tone, and sat on the forest floor, watching him carefully. "Bella misses you. You've been avoiding her this week, and I know how close you guys got when I was out of it. She's worried about you, we all are."

Paul huffed, his tail lashing against the forest floor as he avoided his Alpha's gaze. "I'm fine; I've just been too busy with stuff. I'll visit her soon."

Jacob shook his head, fur ruffling with the movement, and a rumble sounded through his chest. "No, you're not. And we all know it. I won't make you talk to me Paul; you know I don't Alpha order unless it's unavoidable. But it's affecting you which means it's affecting the rest of us. If you can't figure this out, I'll have to ban you from phasing until you do, for your own good and the rest of the Pack's."

Paul stared at him in shock, making Jacob feel worse about his ultimatum, but they both knew he was right. As protectors, they had to put everyone's wellbeing first, and if that meant being short a wolf but undistracted as a Pack then it had to be done. Paul's anger, at himself and the situation, rolled through Jacob's mind and he watched the silver wolf start pacing agitatedly.

Jacob caught flashes of Paul's memories as he skipped through them rapidly, trying his best to ignore that most of them were of the two of them in bed, instead focusing on Paul's feelings about it. He could tell his packmate had strong feelings for the witch, they had only intensified after their night together and Paul was trying to bury them as Jen had firmly closed that door with no real explanation. "Paul, you need to talk to her. Whatever is going on, it's affecting her too. At least she might be able to help figure out what's going on. You were all there for me when I was a mess; we're all here for you now."

Paul nodded, his chaotic thoughts slowing at the information that Jen was suffering too, and the pull he felt strengthened. Jacob jerked his head, knowing he needed to deal with the problem now. "Go. I'll call Embry to finish your shift and you can cover his later."

Giving a distracted nod the silver wolf vanished into the trees, determination quickening his pace as he headed for his cabin. Jacob watched him go, hoping that Bella was having some luck with the witch, and headed for Embry's house to grab him for the rest of the patrol.

Paul loped through the forest, his mind focused solely on Jen and the strange connection between them. It made him feel better that she was just as affected as he was over the last week, despite her claim that what had happened between them was nothing. He was sure it wasn't imprinting, he'd been over and over their time together and knew that wasn't what was pulling them together. It was something else, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it whether she was open to it or not. He still remembered the first time seeing her, while at the time he'd thought she was a threat to Bella that didn't stop him from admiring her. Hitting him with that spell and knocking him out cold had lessened his attraction slightly, although he admired her for not being afraid of him. He reached the edge of the woods by his cabin and phased back, not bothering to yank on his cutoffs as he jogged to the back door. It was sometimes nice to live away from everyone else, the quiet and privacy made up for the loneliness. Hurrying inside he headed straight for the shower, he did his best thinking under the pounding water and needed to get his thoughts in order before he tracked down Jen.

The spray washed away the dirt from the forest and the chaos from his mind, helping to calm him as he went through the motions of washing himself without having to put too much thought into it. By the time he'd rinsed he had a good idea of what he was going to say to Jen, his ears perking up at the sound of a knock on his door. "Just a minute!"

He snagged a towel from the rack, wrapping it around his waist as he walked down the hall, wondering who would have come all the way out here to see him. He yanked open the door at the same time the scent of sage and lavender hit him like a punch to the gut, his breath leaving him as his eyes met Jen's purple gaze. Her eyes widened, skin reddening when she saw his the towel low on his hips and the drops of water on his skin, making his wolf purr low in his chest. He could feel his eyes shift, swallowing as he gripped the doorframe in an attempt to ground himself. "Jen. What are you doing here?"

Her eyes flicked up to meet his, he could see her pupils dilate and his control snapped as he yanked her inside, slamming the door before pushing her against it and pressing his lips to hers. He couldn't help the groan that escaped him as he tasted her, he hadn't realized how much he'd missed it until now, and his hands gripped her legs as he hoisted her up to wrap them around his waist. Jen trembled beneath him, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly, and he felt her push against him slightly. He pulled away, panting, and she sucked in a deep breath as she tried to focus. "Paul wait, we can't…this isn't a good idea…"

He stared hard at her, taking in her heaving chest, dilated pupils and her scent in the air. She wanted him just as badly and for now that's all he cared about. Pressing his lips against hers again, gently this time, he whispered, "Please…"

He heard her breath catch at his plea. He had never begged anyone for anything in his life, least of all from a woman, and he waited anxiously for her response, not sure he could take her rejecting him again. When she pressed her lips to his with just as much intensity as he had he took that as a yes and pulled away from the wall, carrying her to his bedroom and shutting the door firmly behind them.

Bella felt the hard floor beneath her cheek, the cool linoleum a stark contrast against her fevered skin. Pushing herself up slowly she looked around the kitchen, head spinning as she leaned back against the cabinets. She faintly remembered Jen leaving, her friend too upset to stay after revealing the connection between Paul and herself, and then it was fuzzy after that. A throb running from her shoulder to her wrist drew a hiss of pain; she clutched her arm against her chest as she remembered the severe attack that had caused her to pass out. She swallowed, knowing that something was certainly wrong and she couldn't hide it any longer. Digging her phone out of her pocket she pulled up Jacob's number, hovering her finger over the call button for a long moment before pressing it and holding it to her ear. "Jake? I need you."

Seth watched Mikahla pace across her porch, her anxiety making his wolf tense, and the next time she passed him he snagged her around the waist, pulling her close. "You're making me dizzy. Relax; I'm sure Liz will be here soon."

He rubbed his chin over her hair as he spoke, soothing her with his touch and him with her scent, and he felt her relax slightly against him. "Sorry. I'm just worried he tracked her down somehow. If he finds me…"

He felt her shudder against him and his wolf bristled angrily that anyone would threaten their mate, a growl rumbling through his chest. She tightened her arms around his waist, her own wolf giving an answering rumble, and he forced himself to relax. "Even if he did, he won't take you from me. Jacob already promised that he'd do whatever it took to protect you. And so will I."

She nodded, burying her face in his chest as she took a deep breath, turning her head towards the road. "I think I hear a truck."

Seth tilted his head, listening, and nodded when he heard the faint crunch of gravel. Mikahla slipped out of his embrace, watching the road eagerly as they waited for the truck to appear. When it came around the corner she yanked Seth after her, eager to see her cousin, and he laughed as he let her pull him along. They watched the old blue Ford, a small trailer behind it, pull to a stop and Seth started to head for it when Mikahla yanked him back. "She's not alone."

Her frightened whisper had him snapping to attention right away, placing himself between the vehicle and his imprint as he growled. He watched as Liz climbed out first, looking mostly relaxed and he tilted his head as he spoke to her. "Liz. What's going on? I thought you were coming alone?"

She nodded, jerking her head towards the cab as she shot them an apologetic look. "I was, and I promise I didn't bring her father here. But he wouldn't let me leave unless I brought someone with me. So I picked someone I believed I could trust."

Seth watched as a tall man climbed out, dark hair and hazel green eyes making him look vaguely familiar, and he heard Mikahla suck in a deep breath behind him. He turned to look at her, her eyes wide as she stared at the newcomer. "Damon."

The man grinned, holding out his arms. "Hey Mik. Long time no see."

Mikahla darted around Seth, jumping into the man's arms as she squealed in excitement, and Seth watched in confusion, his wolf growling jealously. Crossing his arms to help keep himself from ripping off Damon's arms he watched with a stony expression. Mikahla finally seemed to sense his tension, glancing at him over her shoulder she released her grip on the man and hurried back to his side. He relaxed slightly as she pressed a quick kiss to his lips, giving his hand a light squeeze as she led him to stand in front of Damon. "Seth, this is my brother. Damon, this is Seth Clearwater."

Seth sized up the man in front of him, noting that Damon was doing the same, and finally offered his hand. Damon took it, Seth refusing to show any reaction when the older man squeezed it harder than necessary. Mikahla rolled her eyes, kicking her brother in the shin, and snapped, "Be nice."

Damon shrugged, crossing his arms and tilting his head. "Liz tells me you imprinted on my sister."

Seth nodded once, feeling Mikahla slip her hand into his and he relaxed slightly. Damon's eyes wandered over the two of them, seeming to approve of what he saw and he clapped his hand on Seth's shoulder with a grin. "Good. She'll be safe with you here I hope. Should we start unloading?"

Seth nodded, hearing the door open behind them and turned to see Leah standing on the porch. "Give us a hand?"

She rolled her eyes, although he knew she was more than willing to help, and strode over to them. He turned to see Damon staring at her with a peculiar expression on his face, head tilted to the side as he studied her. "Damon, this is my sister, Leah. Leah, this is Mikahla's brother Damon."

Leah gave him a short nod, giving Damon a once over before turning back to Seth. "Let's make this quick, I've got patrol in an hour."

Damon started, staring as she walked to the back of the trailer with Mikahla and Liz before he turned back to Seth. "She's a shifter too?"

He nodded, confused at Damon's unreadable expression, but before he could question it the older man followed the others to start unloading Mikahla's things. Seth watched him for a long moment before joining them, making a note to keep a close eye on his imprint's brother. Family or not, he wasn't sure they could trust the shifter, and his duty lay first and foremost to his imprint and his

Pack, and he wouldn't allow harm to come to either.

Bella hissed as Jacob dabbed at her mark with the wet cloth, clenching her other arm as she tried not to pull away. Jacob said nothing, his touch on her tender but she could feel the underlying tension in his body. The air between them crackled with tension, neither ready to break the silence that was quickly becoming unbearable in an effort to avoid the coming argument. Finally Jacob seemed to have enough, placing the cloth on her bedside table before standing and moving away from the bed, his anger practically steaming off his body. Bella pulled her robe around her, ignoring the flash of pain from her arm at the action, and tried to think of something to say. "Jake…"

He held up his hand, shaking as he took a deep breath, still refusing to meet her gaze. "Don't. Why didn't you tell me?"

His voice was dark, she wasn't sure how much of the anger was directed at her and how much at himself, and she tried to inhale some courage as she stood. "I don't know. Everything was going so good after the wolf claimed me; I didn't want to freak you out. And I honestly didn't know it was going to get this bad, I thought it was from you biting it the last couple times. I was waiting for Old Quil to get back and ask him, he probably knows more about marking and could tell us what's going on. It's just been the last couple days the attacks have gotten worse."

She watched as he slowly turned to face her, still angry but not quite as much as he had been, and she reached for his hand, pressing gentle kisses to his fingers. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have kept it from you. I just didn't want you to worry and blame yourself. This isn't your fault."

He looked like he wanted to protest and she shook her head firmly at him, staring at him to make sure he could read the truth in her gaze. She didn't blame him, even with all the strange things happening, she wouldn't trade his mark for anything. His anger finally drained away and he wrapped her in his arms, careful of her shoulder as he inhaled her scent. "We'll figure it out, as soon as Old Quil gets back. I may send Quil to get him now; if these are getting worse we don't want to wait longer than we have to. But don't hide something like this from me honey, we're supposed to be partners and that means we have to trust each other."

She nodded, relieved he hadn't completely lost it, and pulled back to look at him as she looped her good arm around his neck. "I love you Jacob."

He smiled at her, her smile, and pressed his forehead to hers as he cupped her face in his hand. "I love you too Bells."

Paul watched as Jen slept next to him, curled around a pillow with her platinum hair sticking out around her head and a sheet he'd draped over her body. She had finally given into sleep, he'd lost track of how long they'd been in his room, and he could feel the tugging of his own exhaustion begging him to rest. He refused to close his eyes, afraid if he did she would vanish like a dream, trying to hold onto every second he could. Jen had been nothing but willing, surprising him that she'd been as needy as he had, but he knew from her protest when she'd first arrived meant she would try to push him away again.

He was bound and determined to get to the bottom of whatever their strange connection was; Jen could no longer deny it after their afternoon together. He couldn't resist the urge to touch her, his fingers lightly tracing over her tattoos on her back, the ends of her hair, down the curve of her arm. He looked up to see her watching him, violet eyes covered with a sheen of tears, and he immediately pulled her into his arms. She tried to push him away weakly and he growled at the action, making her relent and wrap her arm around his waist as her tears fell on his chest. "I'm so sorry Paul. This wasn't supposed to happen. I've messed everything up."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, shushing her as his hand ran soothingly across her back and arm, waiting until her sobs started to subside. "Jen, there's obviously something more going on here than just sex. Whatever it is, you can tell me. I can't just pretend it didn't happen, especially after today." She gave a hiccupping laugh at that and he grinned as he pulled back to look at her face. "Stay. Please."

He could see he warring emotions in her eyes and he pressed his lips to hers, trying to pour whatever feeling he had into the kiss, groaning as she wrapped her arms around his waist and he lost himself in her again, knowing the conversation wasn't finished.

A/N: So, lots going on. This will end up being 3 parts, it's shorter than normal but the next part should be longer. Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!