Chapter 19

Rain was tapping on the roof when Bella opened her eyes. It was early morning. She lifted her head to check the time; the clock was behind Paul's back on the nightstand. It showed at 7.10 am. She dropped her head back to Paul's arm, sighed contently, and closed her eyes. She loved listening to the rain. It made her feel safe and so happy to be alive.

Paul had his whole body wrapped around her. Bella didn't actually know how she could sleep being held so tightly by him, but she had never slept better than she did with Paul. She shied again and nuzzled deeper into Paul's arms, but then the reality crept into her warm little cocoon, and the uneasy feeling returned to her stomach when she remembered all that had happened yesterday. The talk with Sam and Paul's confession about how the imprint affected him.

She opened her eyes and moved a little to see Paul's face, and she just stared at him. He was in a deep sleep, but his face wasn't relaxed as it usually was. Instead, a frown plastered on his forehead; he looked so worried even in his sleep. And so tired. How she could have been so blind and not seen the exhaustion, it was so obvious now. Although she knew that Paul had tried his best to hide it from her and acted like nothing serious was going on. Well, he had fooled her. But she should have noticed, nonetheless.

She decided to get up and make them breakfast for a change. She moved to leave the bed, but Paul pulled her tighter against him.

"Don't go... stay," Paul mumbled.

"Shh, baby, go back to sleep," Bella whispered, kissing his cheek. "You need the sleep. I'll make us some breakfast and wake you up when it's ready."

"Mkay..." he sighed and was back to sleep.

Bella got off the bed. It worried her how tired Paul was. He usually never let her make breakfast, for the obvious reasons but also because he wanted to pamper her, using his words.

She wrapped her robe around her, and after doing her morning business in the bathroom, she went to the kitchen.

First, she put the kettle on and peeked into the fridge. Bella was getting a bit better in the kitchen, thanks to Paul's relentless teaching, and she'd learned how to make scrambled eggs, sort of, so she pulled out the egg carton, and then she watched what she could find from the freezer. There was some of Paul's sourdough bread left. She took a few slices out to melt. Paul has taught her to make tomato salad with basil so she could do that to go with the bread, sour cream, and eggs.

After getting all ingredients ready, she poured herself a mug of hot water and took a bag of green tea from the cupboard. She sat down and looked out the window while dipping the teabag. The rain was pouring down. It was so peaceful outside, but her mind started to reel, and she realized that she needed to do something. Paul was suffering, and if Sam was right, he might even die if nothing was done. She shuddered at the thought.

Rachel was obviously crazy, but she needed to talk to her. Their encounter yesterday didn't give her much hope that she would see reason, but she had to try. If talking with Rachel didn't help, Bella would speak to Billy and Old Quil. Old Quil frightened her, there was something nasty about the old man, but she would go to see him. There must be something they could do to help Paul.

She needed to think about what she should say to the elders. She tried to make more sense of the imprinting. The legend said that the wolf had to be whatever the imprint wanted, and the imprint was what the wolf needed. If both the wolf and the imprint were on the same page, things were pretty straightforward as it was with the rest of the pack; all except Paul seemed to be happy with their God-chosen mates. No matter how utterly mad that all sounded.

But Paul didn't need what his imprint wanted, or maybe it was more accurate to say he didn't want to need what his imprint wished to offer him. However, it is evident by now that he, in fact, did need his imprint, but he didn't want to. That was probably something she could comprehend too. The imprint was there to make the wolf stronger, making him need his imprint.

But the part she really couldn't understand was why the bond had to be intimate. The legend said that the wolf could be either a lover, a friend, a brother, or a protector depending on what the imprint wanted. So why all the imprint bonds in the pack were lover ones? It sounded a bit off that all the imprints wanted their wolf to be her lover. How could Emily be so cruel that she wanted to steal her cousin's fiancé?

Maybe Paul would have been more open to being Rachel's protector, even her friend, but she wanted him as a lover. Why did what the imprint wanted out rule what the wolf wished to? She knew it was pointless to understand, but she had to try. Why would the elders see Paul, one of their honorable spirit warriors, rather die than not accept his imprint? Of course, they have been so sure Paul would give in to the imprint but would they be ready to admit that Paul wasn't going to give her up and hence would rather die? She didn't know. All this was so messed up it made her head spin.

What was "the need," though? How could it be satisfied? How was it satisfied if the bond was sibling-like? Would it be satisfied if the pair spent some time together being close without being intimate? The mate bond needed intimacy, which meant sex, but others didn't: a sibling bond or a friend bond was satisfied without being intimate. But how?

Why had no one talked about these things to the pack? Was it possible that all the pairs wanted to be lovers? Why do the elders hold information from those who need it the most? They were so adamant that Rachel's and Paul's imprint bond was also a mating bond. But why? Why didn't Paul's needs matter?

She was driving herself nuts trying to make any sense of this, and maybe she shouldn't even try, but she would go to talk with Rachel. To Bella, it was clear that Rachel could help Paul by wanting him to be her friend or a protector but nothing more. Could it be that easy? Bella hated the mere idea of Paul needing anything from that bitch, but if there was a way to get him to feel better again, it wouldn't matter. She would even step aside if Paul ended up choosing Rachel. She wanted him to be healthy and strong and alive.

Gah, she was getting a headache. Nothing, absolutely nothing in this mess made any sense.

She would make Rachel understand it was her responsibility as an imprint, hell, as a human being to let Paul go and save him. Rachel should go to the elders and tell them that she didn't want Paul as her mate anymore. Or whatever was needed to break the demand she'd laid on him. Rachel was selfish. She wanted Paul to herself, but she couldn't be that selfish that she rather let him die than not have him herself. Could she?

"You didn't come to wake me up," Paul murmured into her neck, dragging her out of her musings.

"Oh, Paul, you're up already," Bella glanced at the clock on the wall. Oh, it was already 8.45. She had indeed taken her time pondering what to do.

Paul sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her pulling her flush against him, against his hard need evoking hers, making her wet instantly.

"What were you thinking so hard, hmm?" Paul moved her rope and kissed her bare shoulder.

"Oh stuff, I'm sorry, I've been sitting here doing nothing. You must be hungry. Let me start now. The bread melted at least," Bella chuckled, feeling ashamed. And there, she'd promised to make him breakfast.

"I'm hungry alright, but not for food," he said, kissing her neck.

He got up and lifted Bella to the breakfast table and stepped between her legs. He opened her robe, his hands roaming her naked body.

Bella pulled him close to kiss him.

"Good morning, baby," Paul murmured while his other hand traveled south towards her aching core. His fingers found her already wet opening.

"Good morning," Bella breathed same time as his two fingers slid in.

"I'm sorry I crashed last night," he said, nipping her collarbone, "I'll make it up to you now."

He curled his fingers inside her and circled her bud of nerves with his thumb.

"Oh, Paul," Bella's brains went to mush. She spread her legs and pushed herself against his hand.

Paul kissed down her body. He knelt and spread her even more open. "Hmm, best kind of breakfast." He lifted her legs on his shoulders and made one long lick.

Her eyes rolled back in her head. "Hmmm..."

She propped to her elbows, throwing her head back. It felt so good. Paul's lips and tongue worked together with two fingers making her moan shamelessly. She grabbed his head with her other hand, pulling his face closer; she needed him closer. Paul ate at her with a frenzy that pulsed through his lips and tongue into the warm coil in her abdomen, and as the feeling started to expand, her body began to jerk.

"Paul!" she cried out as the pleasure ripped through her making her toes curl.

While she was still pulsing, Paul thrust inside her to the hilt, making her orgasm again. The feeling of being filled by him was the best in the world.

"Paul, oh God..."

"Damn, you feel good, baby sucking me like that," Paul panted and started to make slow rotation moves that made her crazy. They had their foreheads pressed against each other, and they watched as their bodies moved together.

"Look at that how fucking good we look together. My cock sinking into your pussy like this," Paul said, moving in and out.

"Yeah." It was mind-blowing.

She moved her hand between their joined bodies feeling his hard and slick erection. Paul put his hand over hers, rubbing their fingers over her clit. It was such a beautiful moment she almost felt like crying.

Like sensing things were getting too emotional, Paul grabbed her ass, pulling her off the table. Her robe slid down her arms and to the floor. He carried her to the couch and sat down, never breaking their contact.

"Ride me, baby, ride me hard."

She started to move, slowly rotating her hips and lifting her body up and down.

"Like this?"

"Hmm! Damn baby, I could live in you," he said, leaning back and closing his eyes.

God, he was so beautiful. But he looked so tired.

"Fuck... ah..." Paul moaned, opening his eyes. Their bodies were grinding together, providing the most delicious friction.

"Harder baby, fuck me harder," Paul moaned, gripping her hips.

Bella felt a flood of liquid pooling off her. Paul's words made her crazy, he usually wanted to be the one in charge, but this morning was different.

She placed her hands on his shoulders and started to go faster. Their eyes were glued to each other.

He tightened his hold on her hips and bucked his hips up into her hitting just the right spot.

"Fuck baby, just like that!" Paul groaned.

Bella bounced on him, and Paul's hips bucked faster. She was so close, and she felt Paul getting closer too. He leaned up and pressed her lower back tightly against his grinding hips sending her over the edge, and a few moments later, Paul exploded inside of her.

While he was pulsing his cum inside her, he sucked the spot on her neck where his wolf had wanted to bite her. He was making a bruise, a big one, but she didn't mind. She wanted him to mark her.

They collapsed to the couch, and Paul wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer. His heart was hammering in his chest against hers. Breathing heavily, trying to catch their breaths, they stayed connected.

"Being like this is when I feel the best, feel alive. Buried deep inside you. No pain, no fucking buzzing, no tiredness," he said, his voice vibrating through his chest.

Bella felt tears prickling in her eyes, but she forced them down. They had done enough crying last night.

"I love you, Paul," she said and kissed him.

"I love you, Bella, so damn much."

They stayed joined for a while. Bella just listened to Paul's breathing and his heartbeat.

"Okay, shower, and then you can show me what you were planning to make me," Paul said.

After showering and having breakfast, they made together, Bella asked if she could borrow his car.

"I want to go see Ben. He had his check-up yesterday, and I promised to go see him and bring him a new Lego minifigure."

"I would love to tag along later, see him too. I miss the little man," Paul said.

"We can go together maybe tomorrow. You know how much Ben loves you. But I want to see him today, and I need something to do. I got whole day again just for myself; you have work today and the meeting with the Cullens in the evening."

"Yeah, you're right. But please check your phone, and make sure you have enough battery. I almost got a heart attack yesterday not being able to reach you," Paul said, giving her a pointed look.

Bella drove Paul to Sam's and headed towards Forks. She was going to go to see Ben too. He was out of the hospital where he had been for two days for his check-up. But she would go to see Rachel first. Bella felt terrible not telling Paul. But this needed to be done, and Paul would've not let her go.

She had overheard yesterday while they were at the diner that Rachel would be working the rest of the week. Her loud nasal voice had echoed over the whole diner when she talked with her friends, and she had learned that Rachel worked in a beauty salon in Forks. She felt better going to see her at work; she didn't want to go to her home, and she felt safer talking to her in a public place. To be honest, Rachel scared the shit out of her. She wasn't stable. Yesterday when she'd watched her raving that bullshit to her, she'd seen the mad glint in her eyes that made her shudder.

It took around 30 minutes to reach Forks. She wasn't exactly sure where this beauty salon was. She should have checked, but it wasn't like one wouldn't find something in Forks; there was one main street where everything was. This was a new establishment; she had overheard that too.

She turned to the main street and drove slowly, looking around. Ah, there it was, 'Touch of Elegance'.

She parked the car and got out. She really hoped this would help Paul. It must.

She opened the door and found the salon empty of any customers. Rachel was sitting behind the counter, looking down at her phone, and didn't hear her coming. There wasn't any bell over the door.

"Hi, Rachel!" Bella said with a clear voice.

Rachel's head popped up and the smile on her face faded.

"You! What are you doing here?" Rachel spat.

"I want to talk to you," Bella said.

"I don't think there is anything more to talk about. I said yesterday all I wanted to say; you need to leave Paul alone and let his imprint, real woman have him."

For the love of God, why the hell does she keeps repeating that, Bella wondered. This was so frustrating.

"Why doesn't it matter to you that he doesn't love you? That he doesn't want you? Why do you want someone who can't even stand to be in the same room with you?" Bella asked. Not the most diplomatic way to start the talk, but Rachel wasn't going to see reason; she knew it. She just wanted to understand what Rachel thought she was getting out of this mess.

"He will once you are out of the way. It is because of you that he can't accept the imprint. What is it that you have on him? Hmm? You have put some sort of spell on him. Oh, I know you are pregnant?" Rachel said, moving around the counter.

"Oh no," Rachel fake gasped, throwing her hand over her mouth, "I forgot, you can't get pregnant."

Bella wanted to roll her eyes, but she didn't. There was no need to agitate the caged animal because that was what Rachel looked like, a tiger looking for a hole to lunge at her.

"You can't stand the fact that he simply loves me. He wants me, and I want him, and he doesn't want you."

"He will want me after you are gone! He will accept the imprint and will fall in love with me!" Rachel shouted.

Delusional bitch.

"Look, Rachel, I'm not going anywhere. He wants me to be with him. I can't leave him, and I don't want to. But you are hurting him by not letting him go."

"You are the one hurting him! No one can refuse the imprint, and once Paul accepts it, the magic will work."

"You are delusional, aren't you?" This woman was bat crazy. But she held the key to Paul's wellbeing. "Don't you get it that Paul will freaking die if you don't let him go? You need to go to the elders and tell them that you don't want Paul. You need to tell his wolf you don't want him. You need to set him free! What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Bella was shouting now.

"I'm not delusional. Paul is mine. And I will have him!"

She really didn't hear anything she had just said, did she?

"You are nothing to him!" Bella shouted. She flipped her hair over her shoulder, and Rachel's eyes glued to her neck where there was the big dark bruise from their lovemaking earlier.

"He's MINE!" Rachel screamed and lunged at her.

Before Bella realized what had happened, Rachel had her hands around her throat, and she was squeezing, leaving Bella without air.

She tried to grasp Rachel's face and push her away, but Rachel was stronger than Bella, and she didn't bulge.

"I'm going to finish this once and for all. Paul can't want you anymore when you are DEAD, and he will be MINE!" Rachel shouted, her eyes burning with madness and anger as Bella's lungs burnt with pain. She tried to pry Rachel's finger away, but they pressed her airways tightly.

Bella's head spun as she was gasping for air. She tried to grab Rachel's hair and pull, but she got weaker. She got her hands on her hair and pulled, but it didn't help. She continued to squeeze. Bella's mind was getting hazy.

"He will love ME after you are GONE!" Rachel screamed.

Bella was slowly losing her consciousness. The edge of her sight started to darken, and the blackness was taking over. She couldn't breathe. She needed to breathe! She realized then and there that Rachel was going to kill her, and there wasn't a thing she could do about it. Her heart was slowing in tempo. Her last thoughts went to Paul; I'm so sorry, baby, I love you.

The last thing Bella heard was Rachel shouting "NOOOO!" when she collapsed to the floor.

AN:

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