AN: thanks for the reviews, I enjoy them very much. A lot of you asked about imprinting, I would like to tell you but unfortunately Paul and Bella had yet to reveal it to me. I usually let my characters decide for themselves, and I'm not sure yet if they need an imprint in this particular story to be together.

And now on with the story.

6.

Bella and Paul settled into the Quileute life easily, she was learning the language and the job of the women of the tribe while Paul was hunting with the men and looking after the fire and their tepee.

In the evenings they would settle next to the fire and talk, about their life in Forks and La Push, about their friends. Then they would lie next to each other and went on discussing imprinting, love and choices.

After two weeks, Bella had finished the necklace. They were sitting next to the fire and she said. "Close your eyes." Paul looked at her suspiciously, then he closed his eyes. Bella pulled out the necklace and placed it around his neck.

Paul opened his eyes and looked at the necklace and then looked at her. Bella noticed that his gaze was different than usual, there was a warmth that wasn't there before. "You made it for me…"

"Yes, I'm sorry about breaking the other one. I know there's no magic in it, but perhaps Old Quill can infuse it with it." Bella was rambling, but stopped when he pulled her into his arms.

She stiffened for a moment, then his scent and his warmth relaxed her, and she closed her arms around him too. They were holding each other in silence, until he placed a kiss on her head and whispered. "Thank you."

Bella sighed and let herself be held by Paul, the feelings that had started to bloom in her heart were very clear, but she knew his opinion of love and she knew that not being his imprint meant that he would never be involved with her. She pushed her feelings down in her heart, he was never going to know.

After a while they separated, and he asked about the necklace, she explained to him how Utla had taught her how to make it the Quileute way. They ate in silence, she was lost in her thoughts, and she noticed that he looked pensive.

"What are you thinking?" She asked.

"About La Push, we've been here for two weeks and I was wondering how it was going. I must admit that I'm starting to miss my pack brothers. At the same time, I like being here with you, I really appreciate you now. You're kind, selfless and caring, now I know why both the leech and Jacob fell in love with you." He said.

Bella blushed. "You can be nice too, when you choose to be. I've even started to understand your warped sense of humor. You're temperamental, but at the same time I think that your anger can turn into passion, and I can see how good and happy you're when you go hunting and come back with many kills."

He shook his head. "I better get going for a run, you're trying to turn me into a puppy." And before she could reply he left.

Bella knew that Paul wasn't used to kindness and compliments, and he probably had his own demons to fight. She wondered whether he was attracted to her, because she had felt his touch becoming more intimate, soft and sensuous day after day. She had seen his eyes darkening while he watched her, and he had told her a few times that she was beautiful.

Bella looked down at the scar on her wrist and massaged it. The scar was cool to the touch, and she could see the shape of Edward's teeth.

"And what the fuck is that?" Paul snarled.

She jumped, she hadn't heard him coming back. "Paul, I can explain …"

"Were you Cullen's chewing toy?" he spat, and before she could reply he started vibrating and then he ran out again.

Bella stood up and reached the entrance of the tepee, she wanted to run after him, but she hesitated. He needed to calm down, his temper was still explosive and a vampire bite had triggered his mean side. She shook her head and then she went to lay down on the fur, he would be back eventually, and they would talk.

…..

Bella must have fallen asleep because she was woken by a soft caress on her face. She opened her eyes, and she saw Paul.

He looked tired, and agitated. "I'm sorry Bella, I've overreacted again."

She smiled at him. "It's ok, if you let me explain now… I will tell you everything."

Paul lay next to her, and pulled her into his arms. "Talk."

Bella smiled, and let him hold her while she explained to him everything from the arrival of the nomads until James' death.

Paul sighed. "I have another question for you, the mate of James, Victoria. Has she got red hair?"

Bella looked into his troubled eyes. "Yes, how do you know?"

"She has been in Forks and La Push more times than I can count. Sam was wondering what she wanted, and now I know. She wants you. Fuck if you aren't in trouble Swan. We can't catch that leech, and we're reaching our wits ends." He whispered. "At least now I have time to come up with a plan to catch her. When we get Victoria, I promise you that I'll kill her myself."

Bella snuggled closer. "I know that you will get her, you're the best wolf."

"The best, uh?" He said, and when she looked up she could see his eyes burning with mischievousness.

"Don't get too cocky Paul, she might be more difficult to catch than what you think. Her gift might be the one of evasion." She told him, and then she proceeded to tell him about vampires' gifts. She knew that by revealing those secrets she might give him the advantage that the pack needed to catch Victoria.

"Well now I've got all this informations, and I can't share them with my pack. I'm starting to feel restless." He said.

Bella sighed, she knew how he felt. "I'm worried for my dad, I wonder if or when we'll be back. What if the shaman can't help us?"

Paul pulled her even closer. "Don't worry Bella, the shamans of our tribe know their tricks. He will send us back, and if he can't… well, we will have each other."

She sighed, relaxing in his embrace. She didn't want to tell him that part of her wouldn't mind staying in the past with him.

"Can I ask you something Bella? What are you going to do when Cullen will come back?" He whispered.

She stiffened. "He isn't coming back, he told me that he didn't love me. It was the night that Sam found me in the woods."

"Believe me, the leech will be back. I don't believe for a fucking minute that he would ever let you go. There's a reason for his departure, but I'm sure he won't be able to stay away from you." He growled.

Bella thought about his words, what would she do if Edward ever came back for her? Before this trip in the past she would have taken him back with open arms. Now she wasn't sure she even wanted to see him. "I won't take him back, that ship has sailed. I want to be free to be myself, to choose what I can and cannot do. And I want to find love, real love. Now I know that our relationship was just an obsession, he craved my blood and I carved the attention."

"Me and the pack will be at your side, you know that, don't you? Now that we're friends I'll help you and protect you anyway I can." He whispered.

"So we will still be friends when we go back?" She asked him, she was scared to lose him.

"You'll be tired of having me around. After this trip in the past our lives are linked forever." He told her, and she could detect the truth behind his words.