Chapter 49 What Family?
Paul POV
After what felt like hours of silence we started to head back to Emily's the last place that I wanted to be. The last time that I was here wasn't exactly on a happy note. A heavy sigh escaped my fur cover lips as my hunches dropped for a moment.
"What is the drill today-Me." I looked up from my thoughts to see a large midnight black wolf and a brown and red wolf staring at me as their tails swished nervously. Was it me or did everything I do lately scare of shock them into place. "What I can't ask a question-Me" I looked at Sam whose blue eyes showed doubt like he wasn't sure weather to answer my question or not.
"No it's not that, it's just I thought that you said you didn't want to talk during patrol-Sam." I rolled my eyes as I moved fluehr through the bright green brush till I broke out into the clearing sounding Emily's house. "We aren't on patrol anymore we are here to get the rest of the pack right?-Me"
I watched as Sam nodded his blockly head before sharing a glance with Jake like he was conferring with him before answering me. "A haunting exercise as a pack, I figure either you, me or Jared would run in the forest ahead of the pack while the pups chase after together it take done whoever the bate is. That way we are a little more intune with each if more vampires try to break passed our line to Seattle.-Sam"
"I could use the exercise, I'll be the bait-Me." My voice sound more eager than I wanted it too, usually I hate back drills. But I already know how to track so if I can avoid teaching then I will. Plus it would be to easy to find Jared or Sam.
As I looked up from my thoughts I could hear rowdy chatting and excited howl's coming from Jared and the rest of the guys. As I looked towards the door I could see the pack running out of the house with excitement. While Bella stood meekly behind her dad with this excited smile on her face while her dad talked with mine.
I could tell that whatever they were talking about was serious, it had to be the bullshit from last night. "Alright, Danny but make sure that your boy knowns." Bella was positively beaming as she pulled her dad into a bone-crushing hug.
"Thanks, daddy." Her voice is like a sweet melody. What the hell did she con her father into now? Charlie nodded his head hesitant before giving my dad a serious glare before driving off.
Quil walked around her like she might explode at any minute what the hell was that about. I sighed as I watched Charlie drive away as trepidation crawled its way into my heart something was going to go wrong I could just feel it.
"Come on I bet you 20 bucks." "Alright, then I got 30 on the winner." "Dude easy money I bet Paul wins this." I looked up to see a spirited debate between Embry and Jared, both of them had giant smug grins on their faces like they knew something that the rest of us didn't and I just wanted to punch that stupid look off of their face.
I head a low growl escape Sam's lips forcing them all to settle down, all their glasses were drawn to Sam as they shift letting their thoughts run rampant. "Alright today's is tracking and hunting drills, Paul will have a 20 minute head start and after that we will track and hunt him down as a pack.-Sam"
I looked around at the pak all of them confuse and a little bit aggravated like they were the ones that wanted to be hunted down in the woods. Seth the youngest of course must have thought that it was some kind of honor because his thoughts drifted out towards the rest of us.
"Why does Paul get to be the bait.-Seth" I rolled my eyes "I already know how to track and hunt so it would be easy to find them, it wouldn't be fair.-Me" Jared chuckled as Kimmy rolled her eyes at me for my cocky comment but she knew that it is true. Sam shook his head sadly before his voice boomed in our heads. "You can go when your ready." I turn back to look at Bell who was going back in the house before running off.
I sent images of my paper into the others head's so that the pack couldn't find where I was. "You did not write our lit paper on dracula.-Jared" Jared chuckled at the thought but so what. I liked the book, I sighed heavily an I jumped over fallen moss-covered logs as images of steak, and burgers flooded into the hive mind.
Growls of hunger filled my mind as I climbed the nearest tree and laid on one of the warm branches. Ignore the bit of the tree brack as I let memories of my old football games played on a loop in my mind as I relaxed in the tree. I don't even need to leave here. I could pick them off one at a time from here.
I was lying calmly in the tree when I heard the sound of the wolves paws pounding against the soft soil. "This way-Sam" I smiled as I heard his commanding voice but he so isn't going to find me."Come on buddy where you at?-Jared."
I chuckled at his antics "Dude didn't you want me to win so that you could make 30 bucks.-Me" Jared laughed as he came into few, he had the best eyesight so he had to go. "Sam for them to be out all I gotta to do is tag them right.-Me"
I looked up as Jared scanned the area, I filled images of Kim into his mind forcing him to lose focus. "That's right-Sam." I felt my hind legs tense as I rolled myself through the air. The branch shaking from the amount of force I used as I land right over Jared he snapped his head up his golden eyes widen in shock as I trampled him before disappearing into some bushes.
I ran further into the forest until I go to the part that I spent the past 3 days in. This was uncharted land for the pack but it was pretty well known to me. I know that now they would be looking for the trees this time. Kimmy would have to go next though, she spent time in this part of the forest so she would be the biggest problem.
I hid in a thick brushes rubbing dirt all over me so that my scent was masked, which meant that Bella is going to have to give me a bath later. I will never get my fur clean but I play to win.
"I know this part of the forest Paul stayed in his self-imposed exile here.-Kimmy" I wouldn't really say that it was self-imposed but whatever. I watched her golden fur run pass the bush as I surged forward swiping my paw so that I clawed her front leg forcing her to the ground with a whimper. "Sorry, Kimmy-Me." I ran through the forest laughing as she growled at me.
I kept running not stopping there was no place for me to hid out here but they didn't know the forest they could and will easily get turned around. I ran for what felt likes hour when I noticed Quil all alone. "What kind of idiot do you take me for.-Me" I made a wide arc around Quil taking out Embry and Seth on one shot who was hiding behind some large bushes.
"Come on setting up a trap that the first trick in hunting, you guys have to try a little harder-Me." I smirks as I scale a tree off to the right till I find Leah small form hiding on the branch behind some bright green leaves. I stored all my power behind my right shoulder before slamming into Leah forcing her to go spiraling out of the tree with a sharp whelp. "Sorry that was my bad I didn't mean to hit you that hard-Me."
That left Sam and Jake right, yes cause I got the other two Black wolves, the two Uley wolves and the two Ateara, which left them. This was going to be so easy, I mean really Jakes not much for hunting. Uleys have been hunting for years he doesn't have a chance.
"Is that so your the one that is corner-Jake." I looked up from my thoughts to see that I was standing on the edge of a cliff. The sound of the waves hitting the rocks echoed in the hive mind as I spun on my heels to see Jake stalking towards me. "Are you sure that I am the one that is trapped pretty boy, where's Sam." I looked at Jake as images of Emily floated into my mind.
Sam let out a snake as he changed me "Get her out of your head Paul.-Sam" I dance off of the edge of the cliff as he lunged wildly at me."You should teach them not to let the emotions control them-Sam." I slammed into Sam's shoulder eliminating him. Leaving little Jake I scoffed at the thought of him really thinking that he could take me.
I ran at my top speed as my muscle starts to burn with anticipation the thrill of the hunt coursed through my veins. I put all the power behind my two front legs vaulting me in the air before I land behind Jake. Charing into him till he crumpled on the ground. "Your out. With that, I am the winner you are the loser. Looks like you won the bet, Jared.Paul"
I heard Sam growl angrily as he started to stalk over to me with this meaning look on his face but all I could do was laugh. "Don't be a sore loser Sammy-Me." He frowned as the other started to snicker.
"What I have told you about calling me that.-Sam" I rolled my eyes at him snarled at me before breaking into a mad dash back to Emily's house with the rest of us following after him. "Are we running it again or is that it for the day.-Seth" I looked up to see that Sam frowning to himself as he continued to run. "Leah, Jared and Embry have patrol so no.-Sam."
As we broke into the clearing the sun beat down on my as I noticed Bella is talking avidly under the trees with I rather not mess with imprint bonding so I took off into the woods till I was out of telepathic range. I need to be alone in my thoughts for a while and what better place than the land that my dad and mom met.
As I walked over the red soil it felt like I had been really there I could sense was the leach stood and the anger and fruity of my parents as they took down the leeches. There fight left an impression that force other to run from the land. Hence why it is unsettled but I loved it here. How many times can you say you can feel history you know.
Though the silence didn't last long as this buzzing started to form in the back of my skull. "Paul be at the fire station in 10 minutes." I sighed heavily as my father's voice drifted in my head breaking my peace and silence."Can I take your chopper I haven't gone home to get my stuff yet-Me."
I started to make my way back to the house when I heard my father's mind drift back into mine. "Yeah that's fine Paul and bring your work, the school called to tell me that your AP Physics paper is due ins a few days and you have yet to send a draft to your teacher." I groaned I was planning on skipping that, I wasn't going to need it to pass the test so who cares. "I care, young man, bring your stuff and be here in 10."
I nodded my head and saw the house coming into few along with my mother sitting on the porch lost in thought. I sighed and phase back slipping on a pair of basketball short before running into the house. Why the hell is she even here she knows that dad is at work. Did she come here just to torture me?
The warm metal of the nob damn near burned my hand as I pushed the door open stepping into the icy cold room. The ac was on full blast today since it's like a thousand degrees and the sun is beating down on the house and entering from every window. I sighed contently as I ran up to my room grabbing my bookbag as I haphazardly through my note and text books into my bag. I would have to get my laptop too I was tired of hand writing my papers.
I grabbed my house keys for mom's house before throwing them into my back pocket, I slipped on a tank top before taking in a deep breath and starting mind was racing with all the different project that I needed to get done. Plus there is the war and what's going on with Bella. All of it made my head spin, I took in a few breaths to get my head in order.
After a moment I searched my room fractionally till I found my headphones and my phone that I had left in my bed. I took in one last sight of my room before jogging down the wooden steps until I stood in front of the front door. To the right, we're a bunch of keys each with their own sets of keys. I snatch dad keys quickly before jumping on the bike and revving the engine I had 10 minutes.
When I looked up mom was frowning to herself as she wrapped her arms around her legs just staring at some blue jays singing in the trees. Could I even really call her mom when she wanted me dead. I smogged before pulling off onto the dirt road let that bitch debate shit I got shit to do.
As I pulled up to the house I could see Sam's red jeep baking in the early afternoon sun, but what the hell is he doing here. He hasn't been back to the house since he moved out after he graduated. Huh.
I hopped off of the bike chunks of the metal hitting my skin causing me to hiss out in pain as the searing hot metal came in contact with my skin. Damn, I didn't think that it was that hot out, I jogged to the front door slamming it wise one before taking the stairs to at a time. As I made my way down the plain white hallway I could hear two sets of whisper coming from Jake's room.
So it that way Sam is here to talk to Jake about something, I shared my shoulder to myself why the hell did I even care at this point. Ad I got closer to my door I noticed the caution tape had been takeoff. Mom no doubt but I wasn't prepared for what I saw when I slammed the door open.
My poster-clad walls were empty and sitting on my queen size mattress were large brown boxes each one with their own label. Off to the side we the counter that held my post slim white tubes each one of them also had a label of which poster it was. My desk, my closet, and my dresser all of it is empty.
I knew that she was pissted at me but my heart dropped in my chest it looks like I never lived here that I was just some house guest that was finally leaving. I spun on my heel as I saw a box sitting on my desk. It was still opened so I was able to make out the glint of my laptop.
"Fuck this." "Paul?" I twisted my neck so that I could see Jake leaning in the doorway, his eyes wide and his nose puffy and red. Behind him stood Leah this sad look on her face, that is full of pity. She knew how much I hated pity, I sighed heavily as my whole body deflate it felt like all the air in my body was gone.
I gripped my laptop before starting to make my way out of the room but Jake stood stubbornly as this determined filled his gentle brown eyes. "Move." It was one word but it said everything, my anger toward him, my resentment, my hatred and my pain all of it acculturated into one word.
"Paul I'm so..." I cut him off not giving him a chance to speak I didn't want to hear any half-ass apology or explanation. I just wanted to get out of this place before I lost it. "You can tell Kahula that I will get the rest of my stuff by the end of the night." I hear movement in the front of the house.
It's almost sound like two people arguing but I simply shoved the door open only to be met by blinding sunlight that forced me to stumble over to dad's chopper. I took in a deep breath as I looked over to see my Kahula glaring at me as Sam trying to talk to her. Sam should have known better, I slid my laptop into one of heel black leather saddlebags before kicking the kickstand up."I'll be back with dads truck to get the rest don't worry about, I'll be out of your life like I never existed."
She nodded her head slowly and Sam simply stared in shock and resentment as Kahula started to make her way into the house. Once she was gone I gave Sam a cold I told you so glare before giving him some parting words. "I told you, you can't be here son and my brother."
With that little tidbit, I drove toward the fire house. I knew that she was going to be angry for awhile but every trace of me in that room was being stipped away. Soon it won't even smell like me. It's ridiculous he tries to kill me 2 times and I am still the bad guy in her eyes. She says dads the one with the issues.
I snort an I pulled up to the firehouse to see the trucks starting to roll out. "Paul I told you 10 minutes." I looked up to see that my dad was standing on the squad truck the brights lights flashing impatiently as he stared intently at me. "We are going to talk when I get back, truck and engine are still here, they will give you the lay of the land." I nodded my head with a light groan as he pulled off. Sirens blaring until the night red truck disappeared from sight.
I shook my head sadly before pulling the bike up to the side so that it wasn't in the driveway before gripping my bag and sling it over my thick leather strap clung to my sweaty skin as I held my laptop in my other hand. I walked slowly into the firehouse that was alive with chatter from the other two rigs. I want to be on rescue squad like my dad but first I had to get into the academy.
I sighed I couldn't wait till that was my life, I know that it cheesy to say but seeing my dad ride that truck when I was a kid, is the whole reason that I want to be one now. The rush that you feel when you run into a burning building has to be wild.
As I stared at the apparatus floor I could I hear people whispering about me, as I turned to look at a table off in the distance I could see some white boy jogging over to me. His bright blue eyes seemed beady to me as his blond hair reflect the light from the sun. "Hey, kiddo you need something." I had to resist the urge to laugh, I'm taller than him and he is the one calling me kid. He doesn't look any older than 23 if that. "Nah I'm good."
I started to walk away towards the door that legs to the commons when that same loser gripped my shoulder tightly forcing me to a stop. As I pivoted around. I got a better look at him this time, he kinda looked like that Newton kid. Though he was taller than the kid from school, he had to be 5'8 and I was 6'1 so he's no threat to me. "Right what I meant to say is what the fuck are you doing here kid." "Newton stop giving the kid a hard time." I looked up to see the main wearing captains bugles on his collar.
I nodded my head, Newton, I knew that he had to be related to Mike the little weasel, I walked into the station unashamed by his actions which I'm sure only made him madder. I walked into the common room to see two girls they were hot and they are staring at me.
I sighed and sat done at an empty table that no one else was sitting at, they all have this hesitation in their eyes like they wanted to sit at the table. But some invisible force was keeping them from doing so.
"Kid what the hell are you dong." I dug into my bag and grabbed my handphones before pulling my phone out and looked intently at the time. It was 1 which meant that I had until 4 to drop off my lit paper and finished my physics and history paper.
I plunged the silver metallic tip of my red headphones into the outlet in my lap before pulling out a thick black and blue textbook that has an atlas on the cover. In bright red letter, it said AP World; World Cultures in a Bird's Eye view. Along with a thick theoretical physics textbook with was what my paper was supposed to be on.
I let out a sigh as I pulled out my English lit paper and put the finishing touches on it before someone person again in the same gruff town but this time he sounds more aggravated. "Are you deaf kid what are you doing in here? Are you lost?"
I looked over to see that guy he had to be at least 200 pounds who seemed to be looking intently at me his dirty handlebar mustache made me want to vomit as he looked me over critically. "Nah I'm good." I place my headphones firmly in my ear as I spelled checked my paper one more time before placing it into a laminated fly before pushing it off to the side.
I delved deep into my history text looking over every page before I deice to read the essay prompt. "In 12 pages or more useful information that you gather from the textbook to prove that colonization of North America had both a negative and positive impact in regards to mental conditions, environmental conditions, and human interaction." They were really asking me to write a paper on this, my ancestors are the result of this stupid paper, I am the result of this stupid ass paper.
I sighed and started to type away while Chaos and Confusion by The Bloody Beetroots played, I had gotten three pages done when someone tapped my shoulder. It was a different guy this time. Only he was tall with honey blonde hair that curled at the top and sea green was built and had to be at least 6'3 definitely older than me. I yanked my head headphone out of my ears in anger I'm tired of them interrupting me."The fuck do you want."
He looked at me started at me in shock before he ducked his head down low to glare at me. "I want to know what the fuck you are doing in my fire house." I opened my mouth to speak when I heard the door open and a bunch of guys walks in. Each of them giving me a cold glare. I swear how did my dad work with this people. "Emerson your not giving my boy a hard time are you." I looked up to see my dad glaring at me and Emerson. "He hasn't been the only one."
I mumbled it under my breath forcing my dad to frown "Paul" I looked up from my lap to see that he was growling at me."Come on we need to talk, all of you if I find out your messing with my son, we will have problems." They each nodded their head slowly as the men looked at me before sitting down at their table. I followed after my father when I noticed the captains bulge on his collar. "You made the captain of the squad, I thought you were still a lieutenant."
He chuckled but shook his head no as he pulled me in an office that had a bed in it. I frowned but noticed that we were in the dorm part of the fire house. Any other time I would have taken in every detail of the palace. But I couldn't muster up any ancient as I collapsed on his bed and looked down at my hands.
"You were late why?" I looked at my dad for a moment but his harsh and demanding eyes made it hard to hold the gaze."I had to get my text books and then I realized that I didn't want to write out 2 more 12-page papers like with the first one. So I went to Kahula's house and grabbed it then I came here."
Dad snarled outraged as he stalked around the office like I had just said something wrong. "You will show your mother the proper respect even if the two of you are feuding right now she will come around..." I could listen to this any more a dangerous roar left my lip as I stood up in outrage but dropped back down when I sense his anger rising.
"Paul look at me." I couldn't lift my head, couldn't meet his angry red gaze that was surely showing. I shook my head no as a few stray tears escaped my eyes. "Paul look at me now."
This time the voice was so severe and commanding not giving me a chance to say no. I slowly lifted my gaze as he began to visibly shake from his rage. "What happened?" I shook my head no and got up, I hid my face in my father's chest it was all I could do to keep from falling apart. "Mom..she..." I sucked in a breath a few hot tears streaming down my face causing my dad to wrap his arms around me. "What happened Paul?"
I took in a breath and sighed heavily "She packed up the entire room scraped every last part of me off the walls and shove them in box. After I drop off my papers I have to go grab the rest of the stuff so can we switch and I take the truck. To get my bike out and the rest of my stuff. You don't mind right?"
I let my voice small and at ease, trying to keep him from knowing how bad it truly hurt but I had to suck it up so that he wouldn't fly in a blind rage and kill something. "Sure bud I'm sorry she is doing this, go finish your papers, I'm going to call her."
I sighed and collect myself before jogging out of the room and back into the common nothing had changed except the room was lit up with nervous chatter. As I collapsed in my seat getting ready to start typing I notice that there was a tone of people staring at me. Man, why can't they all fuck off?
I spent the next 10 minutes banging out another page of my paper when I felt hot breath hitting my neck. There was someone reading over my shoulder, really these people are the worst. When I turn around there was a woman with deep brown hair and eyes staring at me. The smirk form on her face as I frowned at her. I have seen her before. "Good to see you to Paul."
I pulled my headphones out of my ears as she took the seat next to me, I was rather confused as she spoke to me. Her brown eyes lit up with joy and something else mischief.
"I know that you didn't catch my name last time we saw each other because of that messy solution. But I hear that it got resolved." I scoffed that right she is from the council.
"Resolved isn't the word that I would use more like fucked up and unchanged but if you mean, am I'm cool with the guys. For the moment yes." She giggled at me as this wide smile took over her face. "Well my name is Aylen it's nice to officially meet you, Paul."
I nodded my head as I looked over to see there were people in the firehouse staring at us but she didn't pay them any mind. "So what are you doing here? Not that it isn't good to see that handsome face of yours." I let out a clipped laugh before finally being glad that I'm here.
"Usually when you disappear for 3 days it's bound to put someone in a bad mood and I kinda have been way behind for my summer work so dads making me stay here and catch up before it due in a couple of days."
She nodded her head and flipped through some of the books I had brought with me before looking to my bag. "Your dad told me you have one of the highest GPAs in school and you're on the football team. So how are you taking summer school"
I chuckled as I decided I could take a little break and relax, I leaned back in my chair as I smiled at her curiosity. "It's not like that, I took a lot of AP course this semester and they all have summer papers that need to be written. My physics paper which I still haven't started is due in I think three days. That paper sitting on the table is due by today and this history paper I writing is due by midnight so I should kinda get working on it."
She laughed light-heartedly as me as this hug shit eating grin formed on her face."Yes, will when you skip town for a week and head to Arizona and get tattoos that you aren't supposed to, you tend to fall behind on your work schedule."
I groaned before laughing worriedly, of course, he told her about all of that it's not like I have the right to privacy. "Yeah something like that" She glared at me as she started to let her eyes run over my lit paper."Hey don't, you have serious problems with people personal space." I went to grab it but all I got was air as she snatched my paper.
"This an interesting paper, a debate about how Draculaura an original classic that paved the way for gothic themed movies and tv shows was trampled on by a crappy legacy of vampire sex novels. Can you say crappy in a high school paper."
I sighed as I lunged forward to grab the paper but she dances out of the way as her light-hearted laughter filled the air for a moment. As she sat on the other side of the room one of her eyebrows quirked up as she spoke.
"The malicious intent in Dracula is not hidden or glamorized, it's a simple fact that a blood-sucking count kills and use humans like living flesh bags. While in novels in today pop culture that like to glamorize and hid the murderous nature of a vampire with tacky romance were, in the end, the damsel allowed herself to fall, victim, his supernatural charms. You really don't like the newer monster novels of you."
I rolled eyes as she scanned over the paper, smiling as I became more self-confused with each passing moment."Do you mind that was only meant for the teacher to read." She snorted as she walked a little closer to me but still out of view for me to grab the paper.
"I like this sentence, though vampires in Dracula were thought to be vicious hunters of the night with a malicious intent that was thought to be imitating and down right terrified. It is the mediocrity of today's media that force great novelists and authors back into the shadows. While self serving crap i forced upon the masses who are too stupid to know the difference between great literature and dribbles for their untrained minds. A little hard to a closing statement don't you yet where did you get this crappy book front. Love is a whirlwind."
I laugh at her as she handed me back the paper after reading a good portion of it out loud only furthering the eyes on me. "Let me guess your girlfriend." I snorted "Nah she enjoys the monster classics like me, my brother girlfriend actually, she, of course, would read this shit."
"Paul watch your mouth." I groaned as I looked up to see my dad walking into the room he looked relaxed or at least calmer than when I had left his room which was a good thing. "Aylen are you bugging him."
She grinned at me before winking "What I would never bug Paul, we were having a friendly chat about his class paper...what class is that written for." I smiled at her before sign "AP media and pop culture lecture. A newly offered class."
I watched her eyes lit up, as I look at my dad. His green eyes shifting worriedly over her "Anyway it is a good read, very protective and entering, I didn't think you were the scholar you know that he could right like that" Dad shrugged his shoulders as he shifted his demanding glare to me. "Don't know haven't read. Don't you have 2, 12-page papers to write."
I smiled at him before winking at Aylen and going back to my laptop, "Well its say that I had 6 done and it been what an hour tops. I think that I am good to have a few minutes to talk to Aylen."
I grinned at him before putting my headphone back on and going back to writing. The people around me were talking avidly there to Aylen or my father about what I have no clue and I don't have time to wonder.
I had just finished my history paper and emailed it to my teacher when I looked up to see my father reading my English lit paper. I tried to stanch it from his hand but he smiled as he moved it just out of reach of my grasp.
"Don't do that while I'm ready it's rude I raised you better than that." I frowned angrily as he read the last eyes ran rapidly over the page as this new sense of pride washed over him."She's right it's a good paper though there are some words that I'm sure he will deduct from your score."
I smiled wide and shook my head no "Nah he said that I had creative freedom to write whatever I wanted." I watched him nodded his head as he is shifted his attention to my history prompt. He read it as a clipped laugh fluttered into the air. "You are a prime example of this stupid ass essay."
I laughed lightly, "That's what I thought when I red it, which is why I put it off I was trying to worm my way out of it. But they were not budging on it." Dad looked up at me one eyebrow quirked up as he shook his head and looked at my laptop to see a screen of me and Bella and the football game before the thing went tips up.
"Did you finished it, you have to submit it by tonight." I shrugged my shoulder before leaning further into my chair. "Yeah dad just sent it in all that is left is my physics paper. I have no clue how I'm going to write a paper on theoretical physics but I'm sure that I'll get it. So what was up with Chef Swan I saw him at Sam's house." He looked at the other at the table as his glance became worried almost terrified of how I would react. This couldn't be good.
