Island in the Sun
Paul glanced around Sam and Emily's crowded living room, wondering why they hadn't started the meeting yet. Everyone was here and he wanted to get this over with so he could go over to Roisin's. She was taking the accident pretty hard, telling him she was at the hospital most of the weekend with Megan and Trey until her friend was released and then had spent time with Tara's parents at their house, doing whatever she could to make things easier for them.
It was all everyone was talking about. How the teens had gotten into a tragic surfing accident on Saturday morning. The police were still searching for the body, but he knew they'd never find it. If the wolves couldn't track her down, then the human police didn't stand a chance.
He couldn't stop thinking how weird it was. It wasn't a bloodsucker - they would smell that - but what else had the ability to breath underwater for as long as they obviously had to in order to grab the two girls? And then get away like it did. There was no discernable scent and the only way they had followed it as much as they had was because they had picked up the girl - Tara's - scent. But even that had bounced around in the woods before disappearing completely. Almost as though it had stepped through some portal or flew away. But that wasn't possible. Having no scent was possible.
Or was it?
"We can start," Sam said, getting everyone's attention. Paul looked up, noticing that Edward and Carlisle Cullen had arrived, now standing next to Jacob.
He should have known that Jacob would bring them in. And Paul supposed it wasn't a bad idea, considering the Cullens didn't need sleep. They moved fast and their ability to detect scents was almost as good as the wolves, in his opinion. Maybe this meant the amount of patrols he was about to do wouldn't go up exponentially. Though he was already thinking about taking up his own patrols around Roisin's house to make sure she was safe.
"We haven't been able to find another trail," Sam said. "Whatever did this hasn't been back, at least with the girl, but that doesn't mean they haven't or that they might not return. They still have a student from Forks and on the off chance she could still be alive, we're going to increase our patrols." There were a few groans from the younger pack members. "I know it's not easy, but we can't risk anyone else being taken."
"I suggest we start patrolling around the McLaren house," Jacob said.
Immediately, Paul felt his hackles start to rise as he narrowed his eyes at the other alpha. Once again, he didn't like the tone of his voice.
"Jacob seems to think that they might be connected and I agree that it's not a bad idea to keep an eye on them. Find out what that connection is," Carlisle said gently.
"Ro has nothing to do with this," Paul snapped, barely keeping his anger in check.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you," Jacob replied. "I was there. I heard everything too. Tell us, Paul. Did she come clean about who could be after her?"
There was a tense silence as Paul continued to stare him down. He could feel everyone looking at him. Waiting for his answer.
"No," he finally said, albeit reluctantly. Jacob looked almost pleased.
"See? She's hiding things," he replied, as though that was proof that she was involved.
"Have you told her about the imprint?" Carlisle asked, shooting a worried look between the two wolves. Paul shook his head.
"I'm… we're still getting to know each other," he said. "I'm planning on telling her soon."
"Maybe you should hold off," Edward interjected. "If she's involved… it might not be a good idea for her to know about the packs. Or us."
Paul growled at him, rising quickly to his feet. Roisin was his imprint. His responsibility to protect. She wasn't involved in this and if he wanted to tell her, that was his business. Not theirs.
"I'll tell her when I want to," he said.
"Relax, Paul," Sam ordered. Paul stopped growling, but he didn't lose his defensive posture. "Stand down."
Still glaring at Jacob and Edward, Paul slowly lowered himself back onto the sofa.
"She is your imprint… is there anything you can tell us that might help?" Carlisle asked, keeping his voice gentle. Every eye in the room was suddenly on him again as silence reigned.
He didn't want to tell them anything. It had taken a lot for Roisin to share what she had and he didn't want to betray that trust. He met Sam's eyes and his alpha knew he was struggling with it. He gave him a short nod, urging him to share what he knew.
"They move around a lot because someone is after them. She wouldn't tell me who, just that she and her uncle have it under control," he said. He frowned as he thought back to what she had told him that night. "She said… that I couldn't help her. That it was best I not get involved."
He wasn't sure why he hadn't thought of how she worded things until now. But looking at it after hearing about the disappearance, he was beginning to wonder if perhaps Roisin was involved. He didn't think she was responsible - Tara had been her friend, after all - but whoever was after her, what if they were? And whatever it was, it was something that Roisin thought he couldn't handle. Granted, she didn't know he was a wolf.
He felt now more than ever he needed to tell her what he was. Maybe then she would finally open up about what was going on. Once she realized that he could protect her.
"What about Alice? Has she seen anything?" Seth asked. Never before had Paul been grateful for Seth Clearwater as every eye was now directed back at the Cullens.
"Whoever or whatever it is, she can't see it," Edward said with a sigh. He then directed his gaze to Paul. "Do you think you could introduce me? Perhaps if I get close to them, I can read her mind and find out whatever it is she's keeping from you."
Paul narrowed his eyes at him, for some reason not wanting the Cullens to be anywhere near Roisin, even though rationally he knew they wouldn't hurt her.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? Like the rest of Forks, she thinks that you guys have moved away. It's a small town and I doubt that she hasn't at least heard of you," Sam said.
"True, but what if she didn't see me? As long as I'm nearby, I'll be able to hear her," Edward said.
"No. If Roisin wants us to know, she'll tell me," Paul said.
"Relax, no one is going to hurt your precious imprint," Jacob said, the acid thick in his voice. At least to Paul's ears.
Paul was back on his feet and lurching towards Jacob at that point, his body starting to shake as he descended on him. He didn't give a shit that he was an alpha. Roisin was his imprint and he would protect her.
"Paul," Sam said in warning, as he grabbed his arm and attempted to hold him back.
"That's right. She's my imprint. I will do anything and everything to protect her," Paul said. "Don't forget that, Black."
He then shook out of Sam's grasp and strode towards the door. He was done with this meeting. Sam could tell him his patrol assignment later, though he already decided he would run around Roisin's house that night to make sure she was safe. And that the stupid leeches didn't get anywhere near her.
"Hey, wait up."
Paul came to a stop, turning to see Jared trotting after him.
"Got a bit tense in there," he said.
"Roisin's not behind this," Paul growled.
"Dude, relax, I'm on your side," he replied, his hands up. Paul nodded as he turned and they both began walking in the direction of his house.
"I don't for a second believe Jacob brought the Cullens in for help," Paul said. "He did it because he knows the packs can't touch Roisin."
"Surely not," Jared said with a chuckle. Paul shot him a serious look. "Oh, shit. You really think he brought them in so they could take her down?"
"I wouldn't put it past him. He already thinks she's doing this and he doesn't have any proof," Paul replied. "Which means I have to protect her. I'm going to patrol around her house tonight. Make sure they stay away."
"Okay. Need some help?" Jared asked. Paul nodded, grateful he had at least one member of the packs on his side. "You're going to ignore whatever orders Sam gives you, aren't you?"
"As long as he doesn't give me an alpha order, yea," Paul replied.
"You know he will if you force him," Jared said. "But I don't think he's completely on board with Jacob's theory, if that helps."
"At least someone in there was thinking logically," Paul replied. Jared went silent a few moments. Paul looked over at him and then back at his house. "Spit it out."
"I hate to admit it… but there's still a lot that you don't know about Roisin," he said. "Not that I think she's responsible or anything, but it is a bit strange."
"We haven't known each other all that long," Paul shot back. "She's still learning to trust me."
But he couldn't help as the thought wrestled its way into his mind, lodging there. And then growing as he thought about all the things he had experienced around Roisin. Things that he had explained away with the imprint but now didn't make all that much sense.
How intense his imprint had been - much more intense than the others. That first night when he nearly stumbled when she spoke just from the power in her voice. Why he always thought of the sun or summer around her. All the secrets. The things he thought he had seen but then dismissed. Her panic attack at the movie theater. The film had obviously conjured up bad memories, but of what? Was it vampires? Or just the violence of it? And then the fact that she was running from something.
What horror had Roisin lived through? Who had hurt her or wanted to hurt her?
"Whatever it is, I'm sure we'll figure it out," Jared said. Paul nodded. They had just reached his house and Jared slapped him on the back. "I'm gonna get some food. What time you want me back?"
"An hour tops, maybe," Paul said. Jared nodded and took off at a jog down the road. Sighing, Paul walked into the house and went straight to the kitchen.
"Emily not feed you?" his dad shouted from the living room.
"Left early," Paul replied as he quickly made up a plate of leftovers. He then walked in and sat on the couch.
"Looks like Sam's got you on patrol tonight," Ben said, glancing at his full plate and then turning his attention back to the TV. "Because of that girl that went missing?"
"Tara. Her name's Tara," Paul replied in between bites.
"Right. Sorry. She's your imprint's friend," Ben said, his voice gentler. "How's Roisin taking it?"
"Not well, last I spoke to her," Paul replied. "She's spent most of her time with Meg and Trey. Or with Tara's parents. I'm patrolling around her house tonight."
Ben raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You think this thing might go after her?" he asked, sitting up.
"Don't know, but I feel like she's connected somehow," Paul said. "Not that she did it, but whatever it is… I don't want to chance that it could be after her too."
It was too much of a coincidence that the morning after it was pretty much announced to a party full of people that something was after Roisin, her friends would be attacked. But he couldn't tell his dad that. He had already told him that he imprinted and well, even though his father knew about the wolves, he found that telling him things in small doses worked better.
"Well, just be safe," Ben said, leaning back in his chair. "Still can't seem to figure out what this could be. You said it wasn't a vampire, right?"
"Don't worry, Dad. Whatever it is, I can take it on," Paul said, trying to reassure him. He didn't want his father to worry more than he likely already was. Ben nodded.
"Okay."
Paul quickly finished eating and then went to his room to change into something more comfortable for the patrol. The whole time thinking about all the possibilities. It shouldn't be such a surprise that there might be other things out there. Wolves, werewolves and vampires existed, after all. But this was strange, even for him.
What else could be out there?
OOOO
The only thing anyone was talking about at school the next day was the accident. Roisin went through her day ignoring the looks she got, her mind whirling around and around.
Who did this? Was Tara still alive? How could she fix this?
Roisin had spent a good amount of time at the hospital, going over the incident with Megan and Trey as many times as she could put them through. Then spent some time at Tara's with her parents, doing what she could to help them though also listening in to updates from the police. Chief Swan had taken her aside once to ask her a few questions, though she wasn't sure why. She hadn't been there when it happened. Her intrigue had spiked when he seemed to focus on when they had arrived in Forks, where they were before. It made no sense as everyone was convinced this was just a horrible accident.
But there was something in his eyes that told Roisin that Chief Swan knew more than he was letting on.
When she wasn't with Meg, Trey or Tara's parents, she was at home brainstorming with Sean. Sometimes Mae would join them, though she seemed a bit hesitant. Roisin still hadn't spoken to her about what happened at the party and honestly, she wasn't sure if she even wanted to. She needed to find out who had taken Tara. And fast.
Roisin walked into the cafeteria for lunch, half dreading it. Tara's disappearance had been that much more obvious as she went through her classes, seeing the empty desk next to her. And then Megan and Trey's empty desks. Megan was out of the hospital, but both of them were still rather worked up about the ordeal and weren't planning to come back for at least a week or so. Roisin didn't blame them. She had considered skipping as well, using the time to go out in search of more clues. But then she thought perhaps she might overhear something that could help. And they needed to keep up pretenses.
"It's so sad," Carly murmured as Roisin sat in her usual spot next to Mae, her eyes fixed on the three empty seats.
"I know… should we do something? Put together a memorial service or something?" Rosemary replied.
"She's not dead," Roisin snapped, her eyes flicking over to the two. They both jumped slightly, but then their expressions filled with pity. "She could still be out there…"
"I'm so sorry. I know this must be hard for you. It's hard for all of us," Carly crooned, causing Roisin to frown. Carly hadn't given two shits about Tara.
"And well, it might be better to face the facts, sweetie. If they haven't found her by now… they aren't going to," Rosemary said.
"Shut up, Rosemary," Mae barked. The human girl looked at her in surprise. "There's still hope they could find her alive."
For a moment, Roisin felt like everything was back like it used to be as Mae shot her a small smile. That they were once again best friends. Just the two of them against the world. But then Roisin remembered the things she had said at the party and she frowned, turning to her lunch even though she didn't feel all that hungry.
All around them, the cafeteria buzzed with conversation, a lot of the kids looking over at their table. Roisin shifted around, not wanting all the attention.
"What's Chief Swan doing here?" Carly said.
Roisin looked over, seeing the police chief standing at the entrance of the cafeteria with the principal, his eyes roaming around until they settled on Roisin and Mae.
"He wants to talk to us," she said so softly that only Mae heard her.
"What? Why?" Mae replied, confused.
"He asked me questions at Tara's yesterday," Roisin said. "About why we moved here."
"But I thought they thought it was an accident," Mae said, now looking over at the chief as well.
"I think he knows something… that maybe he believes there's more in the world than just humans," Roisin breathed, looking back down at her lunch.
"There's no way," Mae said. Roisin glanced at her and then over at Swan again.
"I don't know how, but I could feel it when he was talking to me. He thinks we had something to do with it, though I'm not sure if he understands how," Roisin said.
"Well, I'm not answering any questions," Mae said, standing. "Come on."
Roisin looked up at her in confusion and then followed her, lifting her bag onto her shoulder as the two made their way over to the door that led outside. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing the chief frown and then start towards them.
"You know this is going to make us look more suspicious, right?" Roisin said as they both picked up the pace.
"Possibly? But it's better than playing 20 questions with a nosy police officer who may or may not know that the supernatural exists," Mae replied. "Hurry."
They stepped outside and looked around. Finding the coast clear, they both fell unseen and in an instant were at Roisin's jeep. As soon as they slid into it, they watched as Chief Swan stepped outside, a confused look on his face as he looked around.
"Wait until he goes back in," Mae said.
"I know," Roisin replied with a huff, her eyes still fixed on him. After walking around a bit, Swan gave up and went back inside.
The two quickly came back into sight as Roisin turned on the car and they pulled out. Didn't need people seeing a car driving itself through town.
"We need to figure out what's going on and fast," Mae said. "I don't want any more students to go missing."
Roisin looked over at her, slightly surprised. Mae glanced at her and then looked down at her hands.
"I'm sorry, you know. About what I said," she then said softly. "I was just… jealous. You seemed happy with this new little life you created. One that didn't involve me. "
Roisin sighed and reached over taking her hand and squeezing it.
"My life will always include you, Mae," she said. "You're my best friend." Mae looked up at her, a small smile appearing. "No matter what, we're in this together."
Mae brightened up exponentially as she looked back at the road.
"Okay. Sean should be home. Let's hurry and strategize."
OOOO
Roisin was once again pacing around the living room as Sean and Cara sat on the sofa and Mae lounged in an armchair.
"What do we have so far?" Roisin asked.
"I checked around with as many of the solitary I could find. No one knows anything. They didn't stick around after the party ended," Cara said. She glanced at Sean. "I checked with some of the Shadow Court I'm still in contact with. They didn't know anything about it either. Hadn't even been around here."
Sean stiffened at the mention of his former court. Cara reached out and rubbed his back.
"But that doesn't mean this isn't them," Mae pushed. "Your friends just might be left out of the loop."
"I know," Cara said dryly. "I'm still looking into it."
"There's another option," Sean said, meeting Roisin's eyes. "I know you think it's not related, but it does sound like Rian."
Tense silence fell over the room, though Mae seemed confused.
"Seriously? Why would he get involved?" she then scoffed. Sean shot Roisin a pointed look, but she shook her head.
"We are betrothed, as you remember. My parents have likely reached out to Winter for help finding me," Roisin said, thankful that was at least the truth. "Despite what you think, they are looking for me." Mae just shrugged.
"Okay, but steal Tara?" Mae said. "Why?"
Roisin looked over at Sean, seeing the look of concern come over his face.
"He's not what you think, Mae," Sean said. "He would give Cathal a run for his money. I could see him doing this… for reasons..."
Roisin wrapped her arms around herself, turning away. She closed her eyes, warding off the memories. She didn't want to think that the Winter Court crown prince could be here. Could be watching her. Knew about her friendship with Tara, Meg and Trey. It sounded exactly like something he would do. Take her mortal friends and hold them as ransom to force her to come back to the Fae world. Or that he might know about Paul.
She didn't want it to be him. And she didn't want to talk about it.
Mae snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever," she said. "Okay. So it could be Winter. How do we figure that out?"
"Keep talking to solitary for now," Cara said.
"We could look into the graffiti. Though I think a lot of it has been painted over now," Roisin said, grateful they weren't talking about Rian or the Winter Court again.
"I got an idea," Mae said, sitting up and smiling. "We lure them out. Have a party."
"Mae, seriously, this is not the time," Roisin groaned.
"Hear me out. If it's Rian or Shadow or even a malicious solitary, having a party will be providing them a smorgasbord of mortals. But we'll keep watch. And then we catch them," she stated as though it made all the sense in the world.
"What makes you think we could even get people here? In case you haven't noticed, everyone thinks Tara is dead," Roisin said, exasperated. "And don't you think it's in bad taste? They're still looking for her body."
"I'll take care of it. And it could be a way to cheer people up. Get their mind off things," Mae said. Roisin rolled her eyes.
"That's never going to work," she said. Mae just smiled mischievously.
"Don't underestimate me, my dear," she said, sitting back in her chair.
"But it's going to make us look more suspicious," Roisin pushed.
Honestly, she was worried this was a very bad idea. They very well could be inviting a dangerous fae into their midst. And it would put them even more on Swan's radar.
"Again, let me take care of it. It'll be fine," Mae said lightly. "We're doing this for Tara. To find her and bring her back alive."
Roisin looked over at Cara and Sean, begging her with her eyes for them to agree that it was a bad idea.
"She has a point," Cara said. "It could draw them out. Bring them right to us." She looked at Sean. "What do you think?"
"It's better than having to go to the Shadow Court and trying to make a deal," he admitted. "Or Winter, for that matter."
Roisin frowned. She hadn't thought about that. There was a reason he didn't want to get involved with them, considering how he had left them. And he knew why she never wanted to step foot in the Winter Court ever again. She'd probably never make it out alive.
"Okay. I say we do it," Cara said, looking over at Mae. The Summer fae grinned and hopped up out of her chair.
"Got it," she said, already pulling her phone out and dialing as she walked out of the room.
"I'll go check with some others," Cara said, leaning over to kiss Sean's cheek and then leaving.
When the two of them were alone, Sean stood and walked over to Roisin.
"You really think this could be Rian?" Roisin asked, finally letting some of her fear sneak out. "That he could be behind this?"
Sean reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"Maybe?" he replied. "But I won't let him take you. We'll figure it out. There's got to be a way around the prophecy."
"Fuck that prophecy," Roisin snapped. "It's ruined my life."
"I know. We'll find a way," he replied. Roisin tightened her arms around him.
"By the goddesses, I hope so…"
OOOO
So, more answers (maybe?) but obviously more questions. Bear with it, we're getting there… And I'm trying to temper myself with posting since I'm only about half-way through writing Chapter 23 at the moment, but I REALLY want to get to the point where everyone finds out about everyone... we're soooo close... I might just go ahead and post up to that point and then take a break for a few days until I can get more written. I have to take breaks with writing, because I'm getting into more dramatic parts and dude... it's intense writing it. But at the same time, there are parts in the second half that I REALLY want to get into writing, so I go back and forth between powering through chapters and then collapsing of exhaustion... And well, finding out about each other kind of sets off a lot of things in the story. I've realized that I go from 0 to 60 and then never really let up on the gas that much for almost the entire second half of the story... which, yea. Intense to write and intense to read.
Marianka – Thanks! And all in good time…
Felinegreat – Haha, yea. I didn't mean to make Jacob this much of an ass, but figured at this point that I'd just lean into it. He's going to be so much more annoying once they all figure out about the fae and find out he was right about some things… And yes, Roisin is such a badass. I love that fae. She's pretty good at keeping it together, but there are some scenes coming up where she starts to go full-on royal fae and kicks some serious butt. I mean, I have a full-on battle scene plotted towards the end of the story and I am soooo excited to get into that. Roisin is going to do some pretty awesome things and I have her and Paul teaming up to fight together, which just makes me all giddy.
Bebert – Thank you so much! It warms my heart that you've enjoyed a lot of my stories. And yea, Mae is a bit much… always getting into trouble… Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Thanks for reading and following!
