Chapter 5

Paul

Today was just another day. Another day of a life that didn't seem fulfilling anymore. Finding it hard to find joy in the things I once loved is my reality now. Worst of all, tonight was a tribe bonfire and that meant having to see all the guys with their imprints.

The pain was almost manageable when I was alone or just with the guys, but when I am around the guys with their imprints I am reminded of just what I am missing out on. Just what I will never be able to have. Being around the imprints meant having to be reminded of how alone I really was.

I had considered skipping; that is until my mom called insisting that I had to be there. Apparently she had taken in a photographer from California, I warned her again how she really needs to be more careful, but she never listens to me.

My mom and I had the best kind of relationship, the one with unconditional love. Even through finding out about my affliction she remained my constant support system. She knew about my wolf-tendancies and she knew about my imprint. She was one of the only person who was actually encouraging me to go out and find her. That being said I was incredibly protective of my mom.

I was going tonight strictly so I could feel out this person, make sure that they were not taking advantage of my mother's caring heart. I would meet this person, take care of some pack business, and be out.

I had just gotten home from work and was fixing to get ready for the bonfire when my phone started ringing in my pocket. I took it out and saw that the caller was Jacob, I answered but before I could get a word out Jacob started talking.

"Paul, you need to get to the bonfire," he said with a strange urgency in his voice along with another emotion I couldn't place.

Immediately my wolf instincts perked and I questioned him, "What is it?"

He paused, "I'd rather not say over the phone."

"Should I phase?" I asked.

Jacob hesitated before he responded, I could hear some indistinct whispering away from the speaker as if he was conferring with others. His voice came in clear through the phone again, "Yeah, I think you should phase and get here. Be careful though to not be seen."

Now I was really concerned, "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah man, I just really need you here. There is something really important that I need to discuss with you and it is time sensitive," he said back.

Now I was more confused than worried, what was he talking about?

"I'm on my way," I said before clicking the phone off.

I thought about grabbing a change of clothes, but I decided I didn't have time and would have to deal with just shorts.

Phasing, I took off towards the beach. It wouldn't take long for me to get there at the speed I was moving. I sensed Seth and Brady, who were running patrol tonight during the bonfire, over the pack bond and I played through my conversation with Jacob mentally for them to hear.

They replied back across the pack bond with equal confusion, not having heard anything out of the ordinary. They went back to patrolling and I pushed forward with more pace.

The forest was flying by in streaks of green and brown, each stride taking me closer and closer. As I was approaching I felt a coil of tension building up inside of me, something felt different in the air. It wasn't necessarily bad, but I couldn't identify it as being wholly good yet, either. Once I got to edge of the beach, still obscured from sight by the heavy foliage, I phased and threw back on my pair of shorts before making my way hurriedly over to the bonfire.

I spared a glance at my mom, who had not seen me yet, and assessed that she looked safe and care free. Then I zeroed in on the congregation of guys separated from the women. I made a beeline for Jacob, who had just made I contact with me. As I approached a hush fell over the group, looking at Jacob I asked, "What's the deal?"

He looked excited and nervous with just tinge of mirth, "First you need to calm down, you still have some shakes in you and you need to settle yourself."

Annoyed, he would rush me here just to order me around, I thought. I ignored him and responded, "What was of such importance that I needed to get here so fast?"

"Well…" he paused as if for dramatic effect, "Now we aren't a hundred percent sure but…"

Won't he get to the point already.

Just then I heard my name being shouted by my mom, I looked back at her but was surprised to find she was not looking at me but instead towards the water. I followed her gaze and…

Her.

Our eyes met and I was immediately lost in a stormy sea of blue. I was imprinting all over again. A weight was lifted from my chest that I was not aware had been there before. I felt like I could breathe again; that every drag of air that entered my lungs was in its purest form. The tension that had been building in me was suddenly sprung free.

She's beautiful.

I drank in her image like a dying man in a desert. She was an angle in blue, her skin glowed with a radiance that outmatched the setting sun behind her. The dress she was wearing was made of thinnest material, such that when the wind blew just right I could see the outline of her every curve. She was completely covered and yet she looked absolutely sinful. I felt as if I needed to shield her from everyone else, assured that no one else should be allowed to see her looking this radiant.

I was moving towards her, unaware of my feet's actions but making up the ground between us quiet easily.

She's here.

When I approached her it took all I had not to reach out a touch her, to assure myself that this was not some sick imagination that my mind was making up. I breathed in and found that I was close enough to smell her, a earthy fragrence of citrus and vanilla.

There was a faint smile on her face that made my knees weak. In her eyes I could see the trace of recognition.

"You're here," I said simply.

"You remember me," she said, not as a question but a clear statement.

Her voice.

I have often wondered what her voice would sound like. It wasn't sweet and silky or vibrant and rich; but warm and hauntingly pure with a rasp that sent shivers up my spine.

"And you I," I responded to her, "how could I forget you?"

At this she broke eye-contact, her face turning down and reddening, "Thanks for… what you did that day."

She seemed to be embarrassed, refusing to look at me in the eyes again. I wanted to ask her more about that day but she didn't give the impression that she wanted to talk about that.

"It was no problem…" I said lamely trying to come up with something to make her look up at me again. Think Paul. As I was grasping at straws, I studied her full face. I noticed the way her skin darkened under eyes and traveled to meet at the bridge of her nose.

A bruise. Why is her face bruised?

I blurted out, "What happened to your face?"

Smooth, idiot.

That made her look up at me and I could see thinly veiled panic in her eyes for a split second before her face completely changed; a mask falling over her features. If I hadn't been studying her so intently I would have missed it.

"It was a car accident," she said offhandedly, it came across smoothly and too practiced.

Lie. She was lying to me, it was so subtle I doubt many wouldn't fall for it, but I knew it was a lie.

"Were you hurt anywhere else?" I asked.

She looked over my shoulder, towards to bonfire, before quickly saying, "Not anything worth mentioning, excuse me." She then moved to step around me and head up the beach again.

She's leaving.

I panicked at the thought of losing her again.

"Wait," I said reaching out for her arm, as soon as I made contact with her she jumped away. Eyes locked onto mine and this time I saw fear in those blue depths, my heart clenched.

I was scaring her.

Everything within me was yelling at me to protect her and I was the thing she was currently scared of. I realized she was still looking at me, "Where are you going?" I asked quickly.

"I'm going up to talk with Diana."

"Diana? You know my mom?"

"I am staying with her, she kind of took me in my first night her and is letting me stay with her."

She is stay with my mom. How fucking opportunistic is that.

She started walking again and I fell in step next to her. This has to be an out of body experience. The odds of her being in La Push, found by my mom, and staying with her. It has to be some of that tribal magic shit at work. We were getting closer when I made another revelation, "What's your name?"

She glanced at me from the corner of her eye still walking and said with a little laugh, "Emma."

"Emma," I echoed back, tasting the way my mouth moved around her name. It was simple but beautiful and I had never heard a name I loved so much.

Looking at her again as we reached the fire and saw the glow bounce off her cheeks and eyes.

Emma, I thought with a small smile on my face, that'll do.

Author's Note:

Sorry for the long wait but I was having trouble writing this one. Once again thanks for all the follows/favorites! Most of all reviews, they keep me going. Happy Easter to all!