Note | Alpha Order | Inner Wolf | 'Talking in Mind Link'
Chapter Twenty-Five | Fearful Glimpses
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Loveless held in a groaning growl, but she didn't not hide the scowl that sat on her supple lips. With a small humph she plopped into the only empty chair -subsequently next to Paul. Her hair - hair that Vic had fussed over and over until she just closed her eyes and said 'don't make me look like a fucking boy' - was now much shorter and wound tightly into tiny corkscrew curls.
Where had her weekend gone? Why was it Monday?
"Your hair . . ." Paul trailed off as his dark mocha eyes took in the tiny curls that framed the petit brunette's face. His brows furrowed, drawing down as he studied her.
Loveless found her heart constricted as she waited. I want his approval? I don't care what others think about my appreance. Her inner voice found it was time to prove her wrong, once again. Somewhere deep down inside, she craved his approval. Reveled in the fact that he cared enough about her to notice every little detail. It made her feel warm and gooey. She wasn't used to warm and gooey.
Paul leaned closer and plucked a silkened cork-screw curl out from among the others. He pulled it - gently - stretching it before letting it go. His dark brown eyes watched - fascinated - as the curl bounced a few times before returning to its tiny cork-screw form. A wicked smile covered his supple lips. His mocha orbs glinted deviously, sexually. "I like it."
A soft blush marred her cheeks as she bobbed her head. "Vic thought it would be sexy." The color of her cheeks darkened as she repeated the same word Vicktor had used.
Paul chuckled deeply. "It is."
Loveless bit her lower lip to keep from giggling like a school girl. Her was turning her into putty. She shook her head and looked down at the food Emily had placed in front of her.
"Did you enjoy your time with the guys?" Paul questioned.
Loveless nodded.
He shifted slightly, edging closer.
They hadn't really had the time to talk - Saturday night. One of the younger wolves had caught scent of a leech. Paul had spent the rest of - after a quick dinner, while giving Loveless a once over - the night and most of Sunday trying to retrace the whithering scent.
It hadn't produced much. The wind had carried it off, throwing the scent out of whack.
"There was a lot of nagging." She didn't understand it. Loveless doubted she really ever would. But for some unknown reason, she always felt compelled to delve into a conversation with him. She always wanted to talk to him. It didn't matter what - the specifics of the conversation - she just wanted to talk to him. Loveless loved hearing his voice - a fact she chose to deny most of the time.
"Nagging?" Paul grinned. They loved when she offered more information to keep the conversation going. His wolf purred contentedly.
She nodded while pointing at Jacob and Quil. "They wouldn't leave me alone."
Paul shot his two omegas a questioning eyebrow raise. "Why?"
Loveless glared at the two innocent looking boys before turning to Paul once more. "They wouldn't stop asking about Angela and Claire." A pout marred her supple lips, her eyes widened for affect. "I couldn't even really have fun because of them."
Paul glared at a wide eyed Quil and Jacob.
. . .
Sam chuckled in the background as he held Emily in his arms. "I bet she doesn't even realise she has this much control over him." He murmured in the other's ear.
Emily's grin widened. "If she has this much power now, she's going to be invincible when she finds out about the power she holds."
Sam nodded.
Paul and everyone was in danger when Loveless finally agreed to be the alpha's mate.
. . .
"Why were you two nagging her the entire time?" Paul all but growled. "She was with James and Vic to have fun - not answer questions."
Jacob and Quil had the audacity to look partly ashamed. Jacob stuttered under the alpha's angry gaze. Quil exclaimed - he wasn't good with pressure. "We just really liked them!"
Loveless bit her lower to keep from giggling uncontrollably. They looked like puppies. She laid a hand on Paul's forearm. "Be nice." She blinked cutely. "They aren't so bad." She eyed them. "They just need a good kitchen ladle to the head."
Emily grinned widely while placing a wooden spoon in front of the curly-haired girl. "Like this one?"
"Aw! Come on Emily!" Quil cried out. "That's not fair!"
Loveless giggled and held out the ladle. She pointed it at Jacob then Quil. "Eat and be quiet."
Jacob and Quil pouted while looking down at their plates.
Loveless arched an eyebrow in amusement. Did they just listen to me? Her back straightened as her eyes widened. They did! But why?
Paul chuckled at Loveless's confused look. A deep purr slid past his lips. He liked that his wolves listened so well. It gave him a filling pride.
"We need to go."
Paul jerked back around to face Loveless. "Huh?"
She rolled her eyes and stood. Loveless grabbed her messenger bag and slung it over once shoulder. "My ride to school." She blinked cutely. "You want me to walk?"
Paul stood quickly, "no!" His eyes widened. Paul grabbed his leather jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "It's supposed to rain."
She nodded and slipped her hands through the sleeves. "Okay." Loveless had found out a while back it was useless to ignore him. Her cheeks colored, however, she did like when he went all dominant. Loveless shook her head to rid her of those thoughts till later.
Paul wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. They walked down the stairs.
"This isn't the same car as last time." Her brows furrowed in confusion.
He chuckled. "It was in the shop. Baby needed a few adjustments."
Loveless frowned. "You call her Baby?" She didn't like that. Her teeth gnashed. Dammit! She was once again jealous. Jealous of a fucking car - now that was ridiculous.
Paul squeezed her shoulders. "Yeah, why?" He breathed in and chuckled. She was jealous, he could smell it on her. "I was thinking of changing it though."
"To?" She pretened to not be curious. It was hard, but she was managing.
He shrugged. "I don't know. Any ideas?"
Her lips pursed as she stared at the sleek black car in front of her. "Not sure." Just not baby.
"I think of something else." Paul glanced at her while leaning forward to held her door open. "Baby."
Loveless's cheeks colored. She bit her lower lip to keep the smile off her lips. A shock ran through her body. Baby. He was the one who had put her in bed? Her body heated, a simpering sizzle that traveled through her body and coiled in her stomach.
"NICOLE!" Jacob exclaimed as he shoved out the door to catch them before they got into Paul's car. He grinned widely. "Tell Angela I said hi!"
Loveless groaned and dropped into the seat of the black Dodge Challenger.
Paul chuckled and closed the door. "Go run Jacob."
The younger saluted the alpha and set off towards his house to change clothes and go patrolling.
The ride was quiet. Loveless spent the ride breathing in deeply - lets not say she was becoming addicted to Paul's scent. Paul doing pretty much the same. Her scent was intoxicating and it calmed his wolf.
All to quickly, for both, the ride was over.
"Have a good day at school.
Loveless rolled her eyes. "Are you picking me up?"
A thrill shot through him, coiling in his stomach. She wanted him to pick her up. "I can do that if you want." It was her choice. It would always be her choice.
Loveless nodded. She didn't really understand it. But then again she wasn't really trying to. She felt good around him, and Loveless knew better than to ignore the happy moments - they were far and few in between.
Paul grinned. "Then I'll be here at three, baby."
Loveless shied away and nodded. "Okay."
Paul chuckled as she shut the door and walked towards her friend. He waited until she reached them before pulling out of the school and head back to La Push
. . .
Vicktor's brows furrowed.
James chuckled. "Paul most have brought her to school."
Vicktor slapped the male beside him. "It's the only plausible answer - she doesn't even seem close to changing or having an episode."
James shrugged. "She's happy - all that matters."
Vicktor heaved a begrudging sigh. "I know! But does it have to be because of him?"
"He makes her happy. That is something we will just have to deal with." James chuckled at the pouting glare the younger sent him.
"If I don't want to?" Vic blinked innocently.
James rolled his eyes. "Gonna have to get over it."
The other huffed.
"Hey guys!" Loveless cheered as she hugged the two at the same time. "Ready for school?"
Vicktor arched an eyebrow. "Where's my happy pill?"
Loveless ignored him. Because the alternative meant recognizing that Paul actually had some power over her emotions, no one was allowed near her emotions, never again. That was a no. Love wasn't real. Hell her name gave it away: L.O.V.E.L.E.S.S. . It was that simple.
She shivered. He was giving her a glimpse of a different life. A life she had once had, a life that head led to pain and suffering. She didn't want it back. It hurt.
Loveless shook her head as fear started to coil in her stomach. She couldn't think of that. She wouldn't think of that. Loveless wouldn't allow herself to think of a life like that.
She bit her lower lip. A glimpse. It was all she needed. Nothing more, maybe less. She couldn't bring herself to daydream.
It would only bring more fear.
Her mind twisted as her heart lurched.
Paul wouldn't hurt her. That much she knew - she was positive. However, fear was a nasty emotion. Once it got its clutches in you - it was going nowhere.
. . .
'You feel that, right?' Vic questioned softly. 'She's hurting. Something is scaring her and hurting her.'
'Breath baby.' James cooed softly. 'She will be okay. She's strong.'
'NO! My baby should never have to feel those two emotions!' Vic argued.
James sent out a wave of calm. 'I know. And if it was u to us, she'd never feel like that.' Another wave of calm. 'Just hold in there. She's had a glimpse of happiness . . . It might take a while before she realizes it can be hers.'
Vic's shoulders sagged slowly. 'I know. But I've glimpsed the hate and sadness that curls within.' He swallowed hard. 'I'm scared it will take over when she turns.'
'It won't. We won't let it. Neither will Pau.. And Princess is to strong to succumb to such trivial emotions.'
Vic nodded. He let the elder's soothing abilities take over his emotions. 'She can't be hurt again, James. We'll loose her.'
'She won't baby. She wont.' James vowed softly.
. . .
"NICOLE!" Claire and Angela screeched - gaining complete attention by the massive hordes of students.
Loveless jumped slightly, but was happy for the distraction - her mind wasn't going in the direction she wanted it to anyway.
Eric scowled before barking. "Look Away!" He chuckled as the students followed him
Alex shook his head but followed the others to greet their friend.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you."
Loveless's eyes widened. "Why?"
"Quil asked me out!"
"Jake asked me out!"
They screeched at the same time. Their eyes sparkled.
Loveless chuckled. Figures. They are just as gone on the two goones as the two goones are on them.
"Did he ask about me?" They questioned her together.
Loveless grinned. Her eyes sparkled. "Maaayyybeee."
"Yah!" Angela shrieked. "Tell me. tell me. tell me, teeellll mmmmeeeee!"
"Okay!" Loveless laughed while holding up her hands. "They asked!"
Both squealed in delight.
"Let's go!" Vicktor commanded. "First bell has already rang."
The others fell in line and moved towards their home rooms.
Loveless heaved a sigh and plopped down in the seat between Vic and James.
"Hey Nicole!"
Loveless groaned loudly - letting her irritation be known.
"How are you?"
"Go away." Loveless snapped.
Vicktor breathed in slowly. 'Well, I guess if the Bella-Bitch is going to be around . . . We will have to watch her.'
James nodded. 'It seems she can rile the Princess up easily - which is not good.'
Vicktor gave the other a wry smile.
"Hello, Vicktor. James." Bella's eyes sparkled brightly.
'Did she just fucking purr your name?' Vicktor growled through their mind link into James' head.
James held back his smile. 'Ignore the twit.'
'For now. But if she lays a hand on you . . . The Bella-Bitch is mine.'
James cooed softly through their link - keeping the heat from swelling. The last thing they needed was everyone watching Vicktor burning the stupid brunette.
Really. How were they going to cover that one up?
Vic heaved a small sigh. 'Can't I singe her? Just a little?'
James held in an eyeroll and stuck with semi glaring.
Vic's shoulders slumped slightly. 'Fine.'
"Go. Away." Loveless punctuated carefully.
"Don't be like that!" Bella exclaimed playfully. "I just wanted to get to know the new people."
"What makes you think they want to get to know you?" Loveless asked with sheer innocence.
Bella's eyes widened, shimmering for added affect. "Why are you so mean to me? I just want to be friends."
Loveless' head cocked to the side. "I don't like two-faced whores."
A gasp fell from the other students that surrounded the group.
"There is no need for such language - or name calling." Edward all but growled.
Loveless held up her hand. "Let the harpy talk for herself." She smiled brightly. "She is her own person, no? Puppet?" Her head tilted in thought before shaking back and forth. "I really don't care. Just leave me alone." Her face turned stoic as a white hot heat seared in her chest. It burned while swelling. Loveless breathed in slowly, doing her best to keep the bored facade.
James growled lowly. 'Get back.'
Edward's eyes widened fractionally at the cold voice that entered his mind. What? He glanced at the other shocked Cullens. They had heard it too.
'I said: GET BACK!' James growled once more.
The Cullens took a step backwards as a force hit them.
Edward's honeyed eyes zoned in on the two unknowns. A chill ran up his spine as another icy voice slipped into his chaotic mind.
Vic's head cocked slightly as he smiled enigmatically. 'Now is not the time to play little boy, besides you don't really want to know that goes on in my mind.'
Devon swallowed softly, it was a human trait - but at this moment it came on impulse. They were dangerous. Severely dangerous. A danger even the Volturi couldn't conjure up. An evil lurked within them. A glimpse. That was all he was given, but it was enough. Those two were highly intelligent and powerful. A danger to every creature: human and supernatural.
Edward frowned as he did his best to focus on Deven's and Jasper's erratically jumping minds. They were a jumble of words.
Power.
Fear.
Power.
Evil.
Power.
Danger.
Power.
Dark.
Power.
Fire.
Edward's brows furrowed as he tried to make sense. He couldn't.
Devon took another step back. "Let's go."
Jasper turned quickly, sending out soothing waves, as he felt the fear emanating from the newest Cullen. "What is it?"
Devon shook his head. "Not the place or the time."
Edward nodded stoically and moved towards an open seat for him and Bella.
Bella frowned and huffed as she let Edward puller her away. She wanted to know more. Wanted to know why Edward and frozen and Devon had backed away in fear. Those two were special. Bella wanted to know why.