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Inspirational Song: Shakira – She-Wolf

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A light snoring woke me up. My eyes fluttered open as I wrinkled my nose, one of my weird habits. I yawned and sat up, stretching my arms out.

Brady gave a slight cough as he turned over on the floor. I laid back down and leaned over to look at him. His face was so peaceful, his mouth was open just slightly so he could breathe deeper. I could see his eyes moving behind his lids as he dreamed.

I smiled down at him; tempted to reach down and brush his bangs from his face.

"Bella?"

I jumped as if I had been caught doing something I shouldn't be. Well, in a way I was.

"H-hey, Emily." I smiled, running a hand through my messy hair, trying to get it to settle down.

She smiled, "Would you like some breakfast?" Emily walked towards her room to get ready for the day, "It's all on the table."

I nodded and got up carefully as to not wake up Brady.

The house smelled wonderful, and it just got better the closer I got to the kitchen.

And then I saw Paul.

My smile fell, well good morning to me.

I took a seat at the table, trying to keep to myself as much as I could.

Paul dug into the eggs on his plates, looking up at me with scrutinizing eye.

I forced a smile as I reached for the cereal, "Good morning, Paul." I should at least try and be nice.

He rose an eyebrow as he looked at me but didn't say anything.

I picked up a bowl and poured in the amount I wanted before adding some milk. I didn't look at him again until I had taken a bite.

He was still just staring at me.

I rolled my eyes and dropped my spoon into the bowl, "Ok, can you just say what you want to so we can get it over with?" Maybe a more direct approach was best.

He looked taken aback, a smugness to his dark eyes.

I rolled my eyes and nodded my head, "Go ahead. Brady's asleep so you might as well say it now. No one is going to try and ripe your throat out."

Paul looked at me and then burst out laughing, leaning back in his chair so that only two legs were on the floor. The sharp angles of his face hinted at his arrogance.

My eyes narrowed, "What is so funny?"

He settled down and looked at me, a mocking glint in his eyes, "You didn't mention your bloodsucker. You not looking to him for protection anymore?"

I started to open my mouth only to snap it shut. He was right, but he was also getting on my last nerve. A growl like sound escaped my throat before I could stop it.

"Oh, so we have a little she-wolf on our hands?" Paul asked, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his bare chest.

I picked up my spoon and mixed my cereal around, not wanting to look at his face anymore.

"Ah, is the little leech-lover all out quips? Or is it wolf-lover now?" Paul sneered.

I looked up to him, I knew my eyes were narrowed but I also knew that wouldn't affect him one bit.

"Do you want to know what I think of you...you...you...idiot?" Not one of my best come backs but I never had been good at them.

Paul just laughed as he leaned forward, "And what is that, sweetheart?" He taunted me.

I stood up and leaned over the table, enjoying his widening eyes. Paul hadn't expected me to be so bold.

"I feel sorry for you." I stated, refusing to back down from our standoff. His eyes simply narrowed, "You walk around all puffed up like a cock, when you are really just a pathetic boy." I spat, "You probably act this way because you've never had to think of anyone but yourself before."

His eyes grew to slits, his upper lip raising in a snarl.

I looked at him with raised brow, "What, so you can dish it, but you can't take it, sweetheart?"

"Back off." Paul jumped up, his hands digging into the table as he tried to stare me down.

I lifted my chin, "I really do feel sorry for you." And I meant it.

A deep growl built up within his chest.

"Why can't you accept compassion?" I looked at him with curious eyes, tilting my head a bit as I studied the harsh lines of his face. There was a slight scar above his left eye, "Has no one ever cared about you before?"

"Shut up!" He slammed the table, causing me to jump just a bit.

My guard went up, remembering that I was dealing with a werewolf with anger management issues. I was just asking for a scar of my own, but I couldn't let this go.

Paul really needed to hear it, and I was going to be the one to tell him.

"I hope you imprint soon, so that you know what it's like to care for someone other than yourself." I said, tilting my head as I looked at him, "And so you know what it feels like to be truly loved."

He looked up to me, his eyes dark and dangerous but there was something else...something that made my heart go out to him.

I bit down on my lower lip and turned away, giving him the win.

Paul didn't say anything, he just stormed out the door, slamming it behind him.

I fell back in my seat and started to stir my cereal some more.

"I think Paul might have said at least one thing right." Surprisingly, I didn't jump when Sam spoke. I just turned to him, waiting to hear what else he had to say, "You do have some she-wolf in you." He gave a very tight smile, but a smile none the less, before he headed out after his pack mate.

I smirked, maybe it was a good morning after all.

Sam had seemed...proud of me. It felt good to have his approval. Maybe it was the alpha authority he had, but really it just felt good to be praised for standing my ground instead of being called stupid or selfish.

"What did I miss?" Brady asked, walking in as he yawned. His hand rubbed against the back of his neck as he looked around with sleepy eyes.

I smirked, looking into my bowl, "Nothing important." My eyes darted to the window, watching Sam and Paul as they talked near the forest. Sam held himself in a relaxed stance as Paul looked like he could cry, "You didn't miss anything, Brady."

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"So, we checked out your house Bella, there wasn't any new scents this morning so it should be alright for you to go home. But we will be keeping a wolf with you at all times." Sam said, pacing back and forth as I sat curled up next to Emily on the couch.

It was about nine in the morning and the whole pack was in the small living room, waiting for the alpha to give out the schedule.

"Jacob you will be taking today, Paul will take tonight." Sam said, looking at the two wolves.

Jake nodded, his face determined. Paul gave a curt nod as well, his eyes wandering to meet mine. I turned away quickly, but not before I noticed the slight softness in their black depths.

I smiled, we weren't going to be BFF's any time soon but at least we were able to be in the same room without insults being hurled back and forth.

"Embry, you take tomorrow and—"

"I can just come down here Sam. It will be easier." I pipped up. Emily smiled, gently brushing my hair back with her mothering touch.

Sam gave a nod, "That would be easiest for us, but we need to talk to the Cullens."

Oh...right, I thought, somewhat guiltily. Yesterday had been like old times, when I would come down spur of the moment to La Push with Jake to go to a bonfire or hangout at Emily's.

Though, old times weren't really that long ago. The Cullen's had been back for almost a month now.

I sighed and rubbed my head, maybe I was going crazy.

"We'll be meeting with them tonight if you would like to come Bella." Sam said, giving me another one of those closed-mouth smiles. It was nice to be invited along instead of fussed over. Edward usually never wanted me around anything dangerous; red-eyed vampires, werewolves, or even thumbtacks.

I bit my lip as I looked at my phone, which was still off, before smiling up at Sam and nodding.

"So, that is settled. We will make a more solid plan after we have talked with the Cullens." Sam turned to Jake, "Jacob, you can take Bella home now. Billy informed me that Charlie left, he was called in to work early this morning because of another animal attack."

I shuttered, it wasn't an animal attack.

Jacob nodded and walked over to my side, "Bella?"

I nodded and moved from the comfort of Emily's arms. I gave a small smile to the pack before heading to the door.

"Oh!" I turned back around to Emily and Sam, "Thank you."

"You are welcome anytime, Bella." Emily smiled and Sam nodded in agreement.

I looked down, biting down on my lip, "I might just take you up on that." I picked my phone up, not brave enough to turn it on just yet.

"I'll walk you two out." Brady jumped up with his usual smile.

I turned away with a blush, moving out the door that Jacob held open.

When we got to the Rabbit, Jacob hopped in, giving me some time with Brady.

"So..." Brady said, his hands stuffed into his jeans.

I smiled, "So..."

"I'll see you tonight?" Brady said, looking at me with hopeful eyes. I sighed in relief, no warnings to be careful or safe or anything. Just a regular ol' see you later.

I smiled, "I'll see you tonight, Brady." His amber eyes lit up, making my heart flutter.

"S-see ya." I said. I didn't look up to him again as I got into the car.

Jake started her up and we pulled onto the road, my eyes wandering to the rearview mirror. Brady stood in the driveway just watching as we drove off, his face sort of sad.

I sighed and leaned my head back against the seat, my eyes lingering on the mirror.

This was more than friendship. There was no use denying it.

But what it exactly was, I wasn't sure of either.

I was quickly becoming part of Team Wolf, though, and I didn't seem to have a choice.

Another small growl came from my throat, causing Jacob to look at me oddly.

"Stupid, supernatural world." I snipped.

Jake laughed as we pulled onto the freeway.

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