Invited
The next morning I was sitting in Jacob Blacks living room, a steaming cup of tea in my hands. I was here to talk to him and hopefully gain my best friend back. But there were things that needed to be said and we definitely needed to work on them.
"So, you and Paul huh?" he chuckled darkly.
"Yep..." my voice trailed off. "What about you? I know you imprinted last night," I pointed out.
"Yeah, on your friend," he sighed heavily.
"Listen Jake, I'm happy for you. I was honestly hoping that this would happen," I sat my mug on the coffee table and turned to face him. "Jessica is a really great girl. You two are exactly right for each other," I assured him.
"You forget that she has a boyfriend, Bells. Besides how am I supposed to get to know her when she's taken?" He asked.
I sighed before taking his hand in my own. "Her and Mike aren't together anymore, they're going to the dance together as their last fling then they'll just be friends," I confessed.
Jake cocked his head to the side in a lupine way. I never noticed how much like the wolves they really seemed.
"You know, I think I understand why Sam feels threatened by you," Jake smirked.
I felt my brows pull together as I frowned at his comment. I was confused yet I kind of knew it all along. I had a flashback to the dream that made my skin crawl. The look on Sam's face still burned in my mind. I felt the chill run down my spine as goosebumps appeared on my skin.
"Bells?" Jake sounded unsure of what to say to my reaction. Obviously not realizing his mistake right away. "Shit! I didn't mean... He doesn't... SHIT!"
"It's okay Jake. I kinda had a gut feeling," I sighed loudly.
"He just doesn't trust you. He suspects the imprint but isn't sure since Emb, Paul and I are the best at keeping our thoughts to ourselves. But he also thinks there's more to you..." he snorts a the last part before continuing. "Like you're something dangerous Bells. Yeah, right!" He started laughing.
I frowned turning to look out the window. I still haven't told him, but I was scared. How would he handle things. Sam only knew I could heal fast since what happened with Embry at the beach. Sam especially didn't like my friendship with the Cullens but I didn't keep secrets from Paul anymore, we just haven't sat down to hash everything out just yet, besides there were things I just couldn't share yet. My thoughts drifted to the familiar merman on the beach that fateful morning. He had said that we were related and maybe I had family close by. My thoughts were interrupted by Jake clearing his throat. I looked up with a half smile.
"I didn't mean anything by that, Bells. What were you thinking about so hard anyway," he whispered quietly.
"Nothing important. Don't worry about it Jake," I replied.
We spent the rest of the day in his garage catching up and talking about nothing particular. Embry and Lauren showed up with lunch and we all just hung out. Lauren was ecstatic about Jake imprinting on Jessica. Jess was such a great girl and Jacob was perfect for her.
Paul had shown up and we had gone for a walk down to third beach where we ravished each other before he drove me home and kissed me good night.
-*-
Monday morning was dull. The drama didn't start till lunchtime when Angela walked through the door with tears running down her cheeks. Jessica, Lauren and I immediately jumped up and calmly hauled her to the nearest girls bathroom.
"What happened?" Jessica asked a frown on her face.
"I broke up with Edward," she let out a soft sob.
"Are you okay?" Lauren asked.
"Yeah. I just need to process everything," she sighed before turning her eyes to look at me.
"You haven't told him yet?" I asked. She knew who I meant and what I was trying to ask without the words. I didn't want Edward to hear everything we were talking about.
"No, I can't. He'll think I'm a terrible person. Besides Edward finally realized what I brought up was true. Didn't even waste time either. I saw them in a lip lock as I was leaving Spanish II," she started crying more.
I know she doesn't have feelings for him in that way, but I completely understand what she is feeling. I was definitely going to give him a piece of my mind later. Right after I spoke with Jasper of course. I haven't exactly seen him since the accident and I felt like a shity friend for it. I keep hurting those around me no matter what I choose.
"Oh Ang," I whispered as I leaned in to hug her tightly. If only she were an imprint, I thought sorrowfully.
"No, it's okay you guys. Really, I'm fine. I just thought maybe I meant something to him. But I guess since he found his true ma... other half in Tanya, that I'm just some other girl to him," I breathed a sigh of relief when she caught herself. Didn't want Jess to know too much before Jake told her about the whole imprint.
Avoiding Edward in biology was probably the equivalent of trying to bathe a cat. I wanted to ignore him and pretend that he didn't hurt my best friend. But of course I couldn't hold my tongue.
"What's wrong with you," I demanded taking my seat next to him .
"I'm sorry, I don't quite follow. Did I do something to you?" He practically sneered at me.
"You couldn't be a gentleman and wait an appropriate amount of time before you played tonsil hockey with Tanya? Seriously," I snapped.
That's odd. I shouldn't be this mad about it. I thought to myself. I blinked in confusion when I felt suddenly calm. Edward visibly stiffened at my over reaction.
"You smell like one of those dogs," he snapped low enough that a human would not hear.
The mark! I thought. That mark will protect you, child. I squeaked out loud when my sylph spoke to me. It's been a long time since I heard that familiar voice in my mind.
"Why do you care Eddie?" I bit out.
"You really don't do your research do you," he asked. His stare was hard and steady.
"This is not your business," I snapped.
"It will be when you lose control of yourself," his voice laced with venom.
"What are you talking about," I whispered.
"Let me enlighten you, Isabella. That mark you have there is more than just for show. Did your mutt not tell you? Or was he uninformed, or lacking with information would be my educated guess," he spoke very fast and low as to not draw more attention than we were already recieving.
"It's just a mating mark. It's none of your business," I said through gritted teeth. How dare he!
"Oh, Bella. How naive are you?" He hissed.
"Shut up!" I shouted. I clasped my hands over my mouth in shock of my outburst.
"Is there a problem Miss Swan," Mr. Varner asked from his desk.
"No, sir. Sorry, for my out burst it won't happen again," I replied.
I sat fuming, throwing glares at Edward who chuckled every time. Smug bastard. I thought.
The end of the day I found myself in detention for finally snapping and screaming at Edward before the bell rang. It was getting dark out when I was finally walking to my truck on the far side of the parking lot. I had just reached the tailgate of my truck when a hot hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. I let out a gasp, before calming once I see Paul standing there, a smirk on his face.
"Anything interesting happened today princess," he asked as his smirk grew into a full blown shit eating grin.
"What did you hear?" I asked him.
"I heard you tore into Cullen today," he looked at me with pride.
I rolled my eyes and started towards my driver's side door. Paul grabbed my book bag, halting me and pulled me to his hot body.
"There's something I want to try," he whispered against my ear, nibbling a bit. I let out a gasp, as he removes my book bag and tosses it in the bed of my truck. "Do you trust me?"
"With my life," I replied breathlessly.
"C'mon baby," he grabbed my hand and led me to the forest.
Once inside the treeline he turned to me and immediately I launched myself at him. The lust coursing through my body violently. If I didn't know any better I'd say it felt like I was absorbing his lust as well as my own.
"This sundress is very sexy on you," he let out between kisses against my skin. "Even better is when I can do this," he whispered as he reached underneath and ripped away my panties.
I let out a gasp as the cool night air reached my soaking wet center. I barely had time to register the sound of a zipper as Paul pressed my body against a tree and entered me. My legs wrapped around his waist. We both groan in pleasure at the sensation of him filling me. I could never tire of this feeling. I felt the bark digging into my back as Paul thrust into me. I felt him nibble at his mark on my neck and I immediately came undone.
"Again," he grunted.
He reached down between our bodies and started to pinch my bundle of nerves. I could feel the heat in my core starting to spread like a wild fire.
"Let go baby," he gasped. "You're close princess," he gritted through teeth.
Finally I let go, screaming out his name in pure ecstacy. Before I know it, he pulls out and I feel him pulsing beneath me. I look up at him and cock my head in a silent question.
"Marking my territory," he smirks.
I roll my eyes and smack his arm playfully before fixing my dress. "For what," I ask.
"To let everyone know who you belong to me. Especially that blonde leech who seems to not understand you're mine," he almost snarled.
"Excuse me. What are you talking about," I snapped.
"Oh please Swan, like you don't know. He's practically in love with you," he replied.
"Are you... are you jealous?" I asked smirking at his reaction. I could see the wolf surface as his eyes flash yellow. I sigh as I roll my eyes. "Of course you are."
"Wolves are very territorial creatures, babe. Of course I get jealous, especially when you're so sweet on him," he grabbed my waist and leaned in to kiss my mark, causing me to shudder.
"Whatever," I sighed, giggling when he growled back.
-*-
The next day I swear every Cullen stared at me. Emmett had a permanent smirk plastered to his face, and every time I looked in his direction he winked. At first I was confused by their reaction towards me, of course that was till Emmett opened that big mouth of his.
"So Belly, been on any strolls in the forest lately?" He smirked, my face became aflame.
"I'm not sure what you mean Emmy bear," I tried to play it off.
"You sure? I could've sworn there was one tree in particular..." he was cut off with a hard smack in the back of the head. He turned to see Rosalie with a smug grin on her too beautiful face. "Ow, babe. What was that for," he pouted.
"You know what," she smirked.
"You're being hypocritical Emmett," Alice pointed out.
"Oh my God. I so am not having this conversation with you all," I visibly shuddered.
"It's okay Bella, sometimes we need a quickie after a stressful day," Caleb smirked.
I felt my face burning brightly.
"I think it's quite improper for someone underage to participate in such mature activities. And near a high school at that," Edward threw in his two cents, as usual.
"Oh please Eddie boy, you're not so innocent anymore after hearing the things coming from your room," Emmett chortled.
"Don't call me that," Edward snapped back.
The rest of the day went quickly. Lauren disappeared after lunchtime, a glimpse of a dark grey spotted wolf told me exactly what or should I say whom she was doing. My throat became tight trying to swallow. Unwanted images played in my mind.
After my last class (gym) I exited the locker room and was immediately slammed into the wall. "I know what you think you're doing but it won't work," Edward hissed my face.
"What are you talking about," I replied.
"You think you're mated to that mutt! You're sorely lacking intelligence little mermaid. Alice has seen you become a hybrid of our kind before. You belong to Jasper and flaunting yourself with that dog, just shows how incompetent you really are," he spat.
"You don't know shit," I hissed.
Oh God! Not now! I felt my teeth becoming sharper. The darkness will consume my soul, I silently scream. I tried to focus. You're simply evolving young one. Do not morph in public! I felt the ink seeping into my eyes transforming them slowly.
"You really think I'm lying? Ask her yourself," he leered at me.
"Enough!" I heard a familiar voice from across the room.
"You know I'm right Jazz," Edward said not taking his eyes off mine.
"I know you're wrong Edward. I know who my mate is," Jasper spoke in an evenly calm voice.
"That's impossible!" Edward snapped with disgust.
"It's not. I know how it looks to anyone outside, but I'm dealing with it on my own. When she needs to know I'll find her," Jasper replied.
"But she's a whore," Edward spat.
"Among those who are around her, yes. But even you know that will change when we finally meet for the first time," Jasper was slowly closing on us.
"Let me go," I pleaded.
I watched a parade of emotions dance across Edward's stone face before he finally let me go. He glowered down at me with his nostrils flared. I bent over trying to keep the siren at bay. I wanted to chew him apart. I wanted to kill him. I gasped out loud at such a thought. I have never been such a violent creature.
"Seems you're already getting the traits of your precious mutt," Edward said with a malicious smirk.
"It seems you're right leech," Paul's voice boomed.
I leaned over just enough to see Paul flanked by Embry and Jacob. The sight of Paul was enough to calm the darkness within.
"Hey beautiful," he smiled brightly at me.
"Nice of you to finally join me," I returned his smile with a wink.
"I think Edward just needs to hunt," Jasper flitted to Edwards side grabbing him tightly by the shoulder.
His sudden movement caused the three wolves by th door to growl and snarl. Their eyes aglow with the wolf within. Each one wearing a mask of anger and disgust.
"Leave," Paul spat, spittle flying from his mouth.
In the blink of an eye Jasper and Edward both were gone. I turned to look at Paul, his gaze slowly turning to my own. I watched as he visibly relaxes when our eyes meet.
"You really know how to make an entrance," I smiled.
"You obviously don't know how to make an exit," he winked with his signature smirk that made my knees go weak.
We walked up to each other. He held me close and sniffed my hair.
"I really want to bend you over my knee and spank that ass of yours. You could have gotten yourself hurt," he whispered against his mark. I shuddered slightly when his lips touched my skin. We were interrupted by a throat clearing, looking behind Paul I could see Jake and Embry looking everywhere but at us. I giggled at their discomfort.
"Why don't we meet at our spot tonight," Paul whispered, his eyes flashing yellow.
"Our spot?" I replied.
"Well technically we have three spots but how about my favorite," he winked.
"We do?" I blinked
"The first place we met, the beach. The place I imprinted on you, your balcony. And the place we shared our secrets, the river," he whispered.
I took notice how he didn't say anything about my tail. I was thankful for that.
That night after Charlie was fast asleep I made my way to the river. Paul stood in the middle of the river, hands floating at his sides. The full moon above cast an ethereal light over his dark silky muscles. The sight was something out of a story book.
"Are you going to join me or just drool over my impeccable good looks," he turned his head just enough for me to see that signature smirk.
I rolled my eyes as I slipped the dress I was wearing over my half naked body. I walked into the water until I was almost pressed up against his. Gingerly I wrapped my arms around his bare chest and hugged myself to him tightly from behind him. He reached up and intertwined our left hands and brought them up to his lips. I sighed at the feeling of those soft lips against my hand. I took a deep breath clearing my mind and let my tail morph out. Paul turned around and stepped into the deeper waters pulling me closer nuzzling my neck.
"You smell a bit sweeter when you're in this form. I like it," he whispered quietly licking my pulse point.
"You always smell delicious to me," I let out breathlessly.
"Mmm," he hummed softly.
"I think I like having legs though," I gasped as he nipped his mark.
"Oh yeah?" I could feel his smirk against my neck as he left a few open mouth kisses.
"Uh huh," was all I could say.
"I think I like you having legs too baby," he cupped my naked breast and needed them gently.
"Why is that," I replied in a whisper.
"How about I show you," he said pulling back to look at me.
I took a deep breath and let my tail separate into legs. He carried me out of the water and laid me down on a blanket I didn't even notice was there, and made sweet love to me.
"I love you Isabella," he whispered against my ear.
"I love you too Paul," I replied.
I found myself leaning back against Paul's hard body looking up at the sky afterwards. Paul had asked to make us official. He was finishing his senior year at La Push high and I was finishing my junior year at Forks high. There was still time before the summer, but he wanted everyone to know I was his girl. Well expect for his Alpha, who I know had his suspicions but stayed out of it since it kept Paul calm.
Paul expressed his dislike of my friendship with the Cullens, but let up when I showed him the extent of my power. Though vampires don't need to breathe, I had quickly learned to use water to my advantage.
He made love to me in the moonlight one last time before walking me home and kissing me good night. I fell asleep quickly, finally happy with everything in my life.
The rest of the week was quiet. Friday after school I walked out into the parking lot to find Alice and Caleb waiting for me by my truck.
"Bella," Alice squealed.
"Alice," I replied with a smile.
"Since you're not going to the dance tomorrow night, I was wondering if you would like to join my family in a game of baseball. Don't worry we'll be dry where we're going," she was beaming brightly and jumping with excitement.
"Hmmm. What if I brought some friends to join us," I asked.
"Aw Bella. Now I can't see anything," she pouted.
"I take that as a yes," I winked.
"Of course silly," she jumped with glea before reaching up and kissing my cheek.
I rolled my eyes at her overenthusiastic reaction.
"Okay then. We'll meet at your place," I replied.
"Yes," she squealed again.
We said our goodbyes and I drove home. The house was quiet and dark. Charlie was still at the station. I headed inside and started on dinner. As I was taking the lasagna out of the oven Charlie walked through the door.
"Smells good Bell," he said walking into the kitchen, sniffing appreciatively.
"Hey dad. How was work," I asked him as he walked over to the fridge and removed a beer to drink.
"Another animal attack reported. Gonna have an early start in the morning," he let out a sigh of resignation at what he revealed. I knew he didn't like the idea of a wild animal on the loose running rampage through town.
"Be safe dad," I said quietly.
"Always am," he replied.
After dinner I cleaned up, bidding Charlie good night I head upstairs to my room. I send a text to Paul to come over after his patrol.
Wanna come over after your patrol?
I'll keep the door unlocked, just
come on in ok
I knew he wasn't going to reply right away but I hoped he checked his phone before he went to bed. A few hours later the house was enclosed with silence except for the soft sound of Charlie's snoring. A light thump sounded on my balcony, and Paul walked right on in. His disheveled hair and that devilish smirk greeted me when he looked up into my eyes.
"Hey, beautiful." I felt the butterflies fluttering in my stomach when he called me that.
"Hey you," I replied blushing.
"So... What's up baby?" I crossed my fingers behind my back sending a silent prayer that he'd say yes to what I wanted.
"Well... I was wondering," I started, a blush creeping up my neck. " Alice said there's going to be a thunderstorm tomorrow night and wanted to know if we would like to join the Cullens in a game of baseball," I asked with pleading eyes.
Paul looked at me with a serious expression thinking over his answer. I watched many emotions dance across his face till finally he smirked.
"Can Jacob and Embry come?" He asked.
"Of course. I was hoping you would invite them," I replied sheepishly.
"What about Jared?"
I thought about it for a moment. I know he and Paul were best friends and since they both phased they became closer. Of course I didn't like how their prestigious Alpha had ordered them to cut ties with their other friends, but I had no sway. Especially since I didn't want the Alpha to know what I was.
"Is he able to keep me out of his thoughts?" I asked.
"He's the beta, babe. It comes with the job," he smirked.
"Sure, just make him swear not to tell Sam. If you have to, say Jazz invited you himself," I sighed exasperated.
It had been a long week and I was exceptionally tired. I didn't want him to leave just yet, so I asked him to stay the night. After giving in to my request, he hoped in the shower to wash away the dirt and grime from patrol.
We laid together in a comfortable silence as we spooned. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, nuzzling my neck. I could get used to this. I found myself fantasizing about a future where Paul and I had children living together happily in La Push. It was everything I wanted but I had a long road ahead before that all actually could happen. I wanted the whole white picket fence thing with the love of my life. I thought back to how stubborn we both were in the beginning. Only putting off the inevitable. We were meant to be together and for that I was thankful. I thought back to the night we marked each other. I had read in my grandmother's journal that when we mark our mate that they can't have children with no other than the marked mate.
I was happy and for that I was grateful. Everything was going so well for once in my life. I turned and kissed a sleeping Paul before snuggling deeper, falling into dreams of a family I didn't even have yet, a smile gracing my lips. Tomorrow should definitely be fun.
But first I was going to tell Jacob everything.