NOTES | Alpha Order | Inner Wolf | 'Talking in Mind Link'

Chapter Nineteen | Paul Would

. . .

Knock. Knock.

Loveless groaned.

Vic chuckled and rose from his position on the bed. He reached the door with grace and opened it with ease. "Yes?" His head tilted to the side as he eyed the other, staring him down.

Seth stared wide-eyed. Just like James. "D-dinner is ready." He peaked in around Vicktor's shoulder - not much trouble considering the wolf's height. "Hey Nicole!" He cheered happily as his eyes were hidden with his smile.

Loveless did her best to fight the smile twitching at the edges of her lips. "Hi Seth."

Seth beamed and pointed at himself. "Did she tell you I'm the non hate-able one?" He blinked innocently.

"Really?" Vicktor chuckled while James smiled in amusement. "Are you now?"

Seth nodded quickly while looking at Vicktor. "I'm Seth."

"Vicktor. I do believe you met James." Vic had a slight aristocratic smile while pointing at the other. "Come Lovely, Non hate-able Seth says it's dinner time."

Loveless groaned but allowed James to haul her off of the bed and towards the stairs.

The three came to a stop at the kitchen's edge.

"Embry, I told you to wait!" Emily snapped before smiling at the three. "Please come and get your plates before this animal attacks." Emily glared at the innocently smiling Embry. "One more time and I will pop you on the nose."

The others snickered and Embry held his nose. "That's mean Emmy."

Emily scoffed. "So is being rude to guests." She turned back to the trio and held out plates. "Take what you want, once you're finished, I doubt they will leave a crumb."

Loveless rolled her eyes as Vic took her plate.

"Find a place to sit Princess." Vicktor smirked at the soft growls that erupted from around the huge kitchen.

Loveless nodded and set about her task.

Paul frowned. How come she can't be that compliant with us?

James smirked. 'You're pulling rank Baby, that's rude.'

Vicktor held in a scoff, but let the full-blown aristocratic smile cover his lips. 'I know.'

Loveless looked at the elongated table with pursed lips. Finally choosing the last seat on the back of the rectangle shaped table. She sat, leaving the seat next to her and the seat at the head of the table - on the left side - open for Vic and James. Loveless stared at the seat across from her. Who will sit there?

Vicktor placed both plates down on the table before taking his seat next to her.

James took his seat catty-corner to her.

"Where's my pie?" Loveless questioned.

Vic looked up.

James smirked. "You forgot to grab the pie?"

Vicktor scowled at James, before smiling apologetically at Loveless. "Sorry Princess, I didn't see it."

Loveless pouted.

Vicktor went to stand only to freeze.

Loveless stared at the plate suddenly in her view. Apple pie. Her eyes followed the darkly tanned hand, traveled up the well sculpted forearm, over the tightly muscle corded shoulder, past the curved neck, and toward lush lips. She didn't have to. Study the male body before her, that is. Loveless knew, knew without a single look at that hand putting the plate on the table, who was standing across the table. Knew who that hand was attached too. But, damn it all if she didn't want to look.

Paul smiled. "Remember the deal?" He questioned softly.

Loveless blushed. Yeah . . . It had become their unspoken deal. Food for pie. She nodded quickly and picked up her fork. She'd eat. Not because she said she would. Not because Vicktor and James wanted her to. Not because Paul asked her to, no never for Paul. But because she wanted that pie, a phrase she was finding hard to believe, not matter how many times she repeated it.

Paul smirked before going back to the line. Imprint before eating. Now that was going to be a tough one.

Vicktor stared at Loveless before glancing at James. 'Am I supposed to be under the impression that that mutt has imprinted on my baby?' His eyes narrowed. From what James had said – there was a connection. But imprinting was far different.

James breathed out slowly. 'I believe so.'

'He has no right! She is mine!' Vicktor claimed viciously.

'Baby, you know they can't help it.' James soothed softly, trying to placate the other before anything happened.

'So!' Vicktor yelled at the elder. 'That's my baby! Not his!' Vicktor gripped the fork as heat swelled in his chest.

'Baby, calm down. Here is not the place. Think of the Princess, she's not ready.' James reprimanded, his vivid green eyes tinging a soft orangey red. 'Your eyes.'

Vicktor took a slow breath and slammed his eyelids shut. 'You are one to speak.'

'I love you baby, your anger affects me - but Princess is not ready. Her time has not come.' James soothed.

The heat simpered. Vic's shoulders sagged. 'I know, I just want to tell her. Our Princess has a right to know everything. Who she is . . . What she is.'

'Soon, very soon. I think we should be more happy on the fact he can get her to eat.' James pouted. 'Damn mutt, did that in a little under a week - took me two months.'

Vicktor smirked. "The food is good Emily."

Emily beamed with pride from her position next to Sam. "Thank you."

Loveless shivered. I knew he would sit there. She bit her lower lip and pushed her green beans around on the plate. Damn it.

Paul smirked as his wolf hearing caught the speeding up and the skipping beat of the heart that thudded through his imprint. He slid the apple pie closer to himself.

Loveless glared. "Where you going with my pie?" She changed the angle of her fork - ready to strike. It was her pie damn it! They had no right to touch the pie. No right.

James chuckled. "She will try to stab you." He pointed at the alpha wolf. "If she'll stab me, she'll stab you."

Paul stared in awe. "You tried to stab him?" He fought the smile. His imprint was feisty. Very feisty. His wolf liked that. He liked that.

"My pie." Her only reply.

Paul chuckled as he leaned closer over the table. "I won't let anyone touch it. Just eat." The corners of his lips twitched upward as he watched the resistance bristle through her. "Please?" he placated softly. He needed her to eat.

Loveless bit her lower lip before conceding.

'Damn, she doesn't even do that for me!' Vicktor exclaimed.

James smiled. 'I think he will be good for her.'

Vicktor eyed the wolf across from his Princess with careful skill. 'He'll keep her warmer than we ever could.' It was a sadness they lived with. They could help warm her – but it was never enough.

"So what do you do, Sam?" James questioned. His eyes calculating as he stared down at the should-be brother.

Sam's jaw clenched. He could see the taunting look. Hear the mocking. "Construction. Paul, Jared and I own a construction company."

Vicktor's leaf green eyes shimmered with silent mirth. "What's it called?" 'Please let them have named it with the word wolves in there.'

James bit back a chuckle. 'Be nice love.'

"Tymber-Furniture Designs." Sam replied.

James nodded and leaned back in his chair. "I should take into assumption that you three built this little alcove then." His head tilted to the side. He picked up the glass of iced tea and brought it to his lips. He sipped slowly.

Sam nodded. "Yes."

"What do you do for a living?" Jared questioned, throwing the tension from Sam onto himself.

James' vivid eyes turned a stark cold gaze to the beta wolf. "I own a conglomeration."

Paul frowned. "Conglomeration?"

"A law firm, a fashion company, an automotive restoration company, and an art gallery." James replied.

Seth whistled. "That's different."

"By automotive restoration . . . You mean?" Jacob questioned, ears perked, voice hopeful.

James smiled. "Jacob?"

Jacob frowned but nodded slowly.

"Nicole said you liked old cars." James replied. "And by restoration, classic cars only."

Jacob smiled. "I love them."

"Why such different companies?" Emily questioned.

James shrugged. "The law firm was from my grandfather, the automotive restoration was from my father, Vic likes fashion, and Nicole loves photography, drawing, and painting." His lips pursed, fighting the smile that threatened to split his lips. A sense of hierarchy slid over him, burned brightly within him. He knew more about Princess than they did. "I keep the things I love close." The silently tacked on 'and safe' slid through the wolves blatantly.

Paul glanced at James before turning all of his attention back to Loveless. "Art?" He cursed inwardly at the curious need that filled him - the need to know more about his imprint.

A soft chaste blush stained her cheeks. Her head bobbed as she chewed on a couple green beans.

"Are you good?" Kim questioned she snatched a chicken tender from Jared's plate while grinning with childlike innocence.

Jared growled playfully before planting a kiss on her temple.

"She is." James replied before Loveless could object.

Vicktor glared at her. He held up a finger. "No protesting. Professionals asked for your pieces." He beamed happily, like a proud parent. "She does best with photography and drawings."

Loveless blushed and sunk lower in her seat.

Vicktor chuckled and pulled out is GalaxyS II. "Look." He held the phone out and waited for Kim to take it.

Kim's eyes widened as she stared at the pictures. "You did this?"

"Lemme see!" Seth exclaimed, looking ever so much like an excited puppy. His eyes widened. "That's cool."

Kim handed the phone over to Paul.

Loveless frowned as she caught a look pass between the two. A look she couldn't recognize, but had seen before.

Paul took the phone, his hand instantly swamping the phone. His brows furrowed in concentration as he flipped through the pictures. "You're brilliant." His dark mocha doe eyed orbs stared directly into icy blue glaciers. "You're brilliant."

A warming shiver tingled her spine as her eyes connected with his. Her face heated up. Or was it her entire body? Her insides twisted and churned, her chest swelled with pride.

Only he could do that. Make her feel like she was the only one in the world. Like she could accomplish anything she wanted, he'd even help her. Like she was the most important thing, even before oxygen. Like she was precious and could single handed-ly cause world peace.

"So as you know," James spoke breaking the spell that was casted over the two. "Tomorrow is Saturday. We are taking Nicole to the mall."

"Taking her to the mall?" Sam questioned. His hands tightened on reflex. Couldn't they just ask to take her?

James chuckled, while Vic smirked. "Yes taking. She needs bathing suits."

Kim and Emily perked. "You're going to the beach?"

Loveless nodded. "Yeah . . ."

Vic cooed and squeezed her hand. "We wanted to take her, she's never been to the beach - up close that is."

"WHAT!" Quil exclaimed - near hysterics. "Never been?" He shook his head. "That's wrong! Everyone goes to the beach."

Loveless shrugged. "There's not really a whole lot of water if you are surrounded by other states."

Quil scoffed, "so! It's called a vacation."

James shook his head. "Anyway, we are taking her shopping in the morning and then going to the beach around six-ish."

"Can we go?" Jacob questioned. "I've never seen a newbie's reaction to water."

Loveless arched an eyebrow. "I shower, don't you?" Her head cocked to the side. "I thought powder puffs loved to primp." She blinked innocently.

Jacob scowled. "Cute."

Loveless beamed and flipped her hair. "I know."

"Okay," James laughed and mussed her hair. "Eat."

Loveless rolled her eyes and picked up her fork.

"Do you have a camera?" Paul questioned. He frowned at the pain that flashed across her face, something had happened. She didn't have. He'd fix that. Sketch books and pencils too. She had a talent - one someone had tried to suppress. But no more. She would flourish.

Vic smirked. His mind instantly warming, tingles spread through his body as James asked for connection into his mind.

'Maybe she will start taking pictures and drawing once more.'

Vic smiled and a glanced at Loveless. 'It would be a wonderful thing if the wolf could give her back a piece of her broken happiness. She always wanted to be a photographer or an artist.'

'I agree. Maybe he will be good for her.' James replied.

Vicktor's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. 'If not, I'll burn him.' Heat swelled in his chest, hissing softly.

'We both will.' James replied just as possessive as the other.

"So can we join you at the beach?" Jared deterred as he felt the anxiety levels rise in his alpha.

Loveless looked at Jared with her head cocked to the side. "Sure. I'm supposed to be with some of my other friends from school."

"Is it like a party?"

She nodded. "Yeah, Claire is having a party."

"It's her birthday party, right?" Quil questioned, thanking every ancestor that his skin was darkly tanned with a hint of russet.

Loveless eyed the taller. "You like her." She wasn't asking.

Quil stuttered softly.

"Dude give it up."

Quil groaned and nodded. His eyes wide as he stared at Loveless. "I can still come, right?"

Loveless nodded. "Sure . . . all. Of. You." The three words came out choppy as she forced herself to say them. She didn't really want to be around them, but she would . . . For Claire.

"Does she need any help with food?"

Loveless shrugged.

"I'll text Angela and see." Vicktor replied while typing away on his phone. "She said yes, any help is better than none."

Emily nodded. "Um . . . burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and chips?"

Vicktor typed away. The phone buzzed seconds later. "She says perfect, she'll do the dip. And can't wait to see us - presents aren't necessary, the party is about celebration and having fun." He chuckled. "She rambles even in text."

"Pie?"

Paul looked up, a slow smile spread across his lips at the innocent look Loveless gave him. He glanced down at the plate before pushing the pie to her.

"You did good Lovely."

Loveless beamed at James.

"Whip cream?" Emily questioned.

Loveless shook her head. "Dilutes the taste of the pie." She moaned softly, her icy eyes buttery and drooping.

"I think she likes it." Jared murmured, smirking.

Paul purred softly at the content that surged through him from his imprint. He had to remember to thank Kim and Jared . . . Maybe no patrol for the night.

"Pretty good." Loveless whispered breathlessly.

Jacob chuckled. "So if we need you sedated or something, we should get Kim to bake an apple pie."

Loveless' eyes narrowed, though the glare didn't really do any damage as she took another bite. "I can still get your ass kicked."

Jacob snorted. "By who?"

"Paul." Loveless blurted out before she could stop herself.

Those around her grinned and snickered - Loveless oblivious as she took another bite.

Paul smiled widely.

Jacob stared at her. "Does she even realize what she just implied?"

James chuckled and shook his head. "She's in another world at the moment, try again later."

Loveless pouted as she looked down at the now empty plate. She was out of pie. Loveless looked up at Paul. "More?"

Paul did his best to say no, that is. But it was impossible when those gorgeous eyes stared at him so innocently while begging at the same time. "Small piece." He murmured.

Emily giggled softly and grabbed the pie plate. She cut a small piece - human sized small - and placed it on her plate. "There you go sweetie."

Loveless nodded and savored every piece.

Vicktor shook his head. "Docile with apple pie. Don't let anyone find out your secrets sweet pea, you'll be finished."

Paul's lips pursed. He had to remember that. And beat the shit out of anyone that offered her apple pie, anyone but him.

"Well, it was a lovely dinner Mrs. Emily."James commented as he stood, plate in hand.

Vicktor followed.

"Oh! No no. I will get the plates." Emily smiled.

Vicktor nodded. "Thank you ma'am."

She giggled cutely.

"Come on Lovely, you have homework to finish."

Loveless groaned. "Can't we just not do it?"

Vicktor shook his head. "I will not allow that. Homework and then the Labyrinth."

Loveless' eyes widened as she shrieked. "You brought it!"

James scoffed. "Would I let him forget my Princess's favorite movie?"

Loveless beamed brightly and hugged them both. She snatched their wrists and dragged them up the stairs.

Sam heaved a small sigh. "That was . . ."

"Different?" Jacob supplied.

The others nodded.

"I told you she felt the imprint." Kim smirked. "She automatically said Paul, didn't even stop to think about it."

Paul chuckled and slouched back in the chair. "I'm glad she does." He heaved a small sigh and sipped his tea. "Alright, pups - head home, homework and baths. It's been quiet so Sam, Jacob, Quil, and I are going to run a quick patrol."

The others nodded and left.

"What about Jared?" Kim questioned confusedly.

Paul stood and swept her into his arms, twirling her. "Jared gets the night off cause his imprint makes the best apple pie."

Kim blushed and giggled as Paul kissed her temple.

Paul set her down in front of Jared while jerking his head to the door. "Go on."

Jacob stood. "Imma go check on Billy."

"Imma check on Ma'." Quil gave a short salute as he left.

"Wolf form by 10. Go north Quil - South Jacob." Paul commanded. He fell back into his former seat and sigh. His ears tweaked as he listened to his imprint go on and on about some David Bowie. His wolf grumbled. Who was this David Bowie? What the fuck? No man looked good in spandex. No man.