PREVIOUSLY-

Sam hadn't even been inside more than two minutes before we all heard a howl ring out.

Sam and Jared both looked at each other immediately.

"New wolf." They both said in unison.

"It has to be Quil. He was starting to show signs yesterday. The leech being so close must've set him off." Jared said to Sam who nodded.

"That's what I was thinking too. I'll go back out there with him." Sam replied before kissing my forehead and heading back out the door.

Jared stayed with me until Jacob and Charlie showed up with the groceries, then went outside to check on Sam and Quil.

Charlie came up and hugged me after he and Jacob finished unloading the bags from the car.

"So, it's a new one this time, baby girl?" Charlie asked me, releasing me from his hug.

I grimaced. "Yeah, it is. The face looked familiar though, but I can't place it. He looked around my age. Brown cropped hair. I only got a glimpse though."

"Well, I'm damn sure glad one of my sons-in-law was there patrolling around the grocery store. Jacob here scared the shit out of me when he told me what happened. I don't know if it's a good idea for you to be coming up to Forks for a while, baby girl. You're safer here on the reservation." Charlie said to me as I began to put away the groceries he'd brought in.

"I know, Dad." I replied sadly.

Jared walked back in after a minute and looked at Jacob. "Go help Sam and Embry. Quil phased and he's freaking out. He's too erratic to phase back. Sam thinks you and Em can help since you're both closer to him."

Jacob's eyes widened and he nodded, quickly walking out the door as Jared made his way over to me and Charlie.

"You won't ever have to worry about her not being protected, Charlie. With two of us and now four other pack members, Bella is like Fort Knox." Jared said to him before leaning down to kiss my forehead.

"Something I get more and more grateful for by the day, son." Charlie told him in response, making me smile at the interaction. "Well, Bells, I need to be gettin' back up to Forks. I've got to go in for an overnight double in about an hour."

I nodded and looked at Jared who nodded to me as if already knowing what I was about to ask him.

"I'll be patrolling around the department tonight and Sam will take over for me at 6am. We're going to start with 12-hour shifts for a little while until we can get a handle on these two leeches." Jared said to him, surprising me. I didn't know they were switching to 12-hour shifts.

Charlie reached out and shook Jared's hand. "As long as you boys don't wear yourselves out. I can only imagine what a 12-hour shift as a wolf could be like. It's bad enough as a human. You boys be safe out there."

Charlie left and I turned to look at Jared.

"When did you guys decide to go to 12-hour shifts?" I questioned him, a little annoyed if I was being honest.

"Sam and I agreed on it when I was outside a minute ago." He replied, looking at me confused as to why I was annoyed.

"So, you and Sam are just going to switch off every 12 hours?" I frowned.

"Well, that's the plan so far. Three of us phased for 12 hours at a time. One of us with you at all times. Bella, why are you upset about this?" He asked me, genuinely confused.

I huffed. "I guess that takes spending any time all together off the table then. Are you just going to pass me off to one another like a little China doll?"

I knew I was being irrational, but I couldn't help myself. My emotions were all over the place.

"Bella, babe, -" I felt tears coming to my eyes for no reason. "-why are you crying? We're only doing this to keep you and the baby safe. Once the threats are taken care of, we'll have plenty of time all together."

I knew it was logically the best option, but my brain wasn't working logically at the moment. I just knew I wanted both of my imprints home and safe, all the time. I was so tired of having people wanting me dead. Couldn't I just get a break? I wanted to be able to have a happy pregnancy, raise my child with my imprints without having to worry about vampires.

I didn't realize I had tears rolling down my cheeks until Jared was wiping them away with his thumbs.

"Why don't you go lay down for a little while. A lot has happened today." Jared said to me as he held my cheek.

I shook his hand away. "I don't want to lay down."

I could feel the hurt coming from him after I stepped out of his grasp. "I'm going to make lunch. Why don't you go back out there and help with Quil?"

"I need to be here with you." He tried to touch my shoulder again but I shrugged him off.

"I'll be just fine. I'm in the middle of the res surrounded by 6 wolves. I don't need to be treated like a child, being hovered over all the time." As I spoke I could feel what my words were doing to Jared, but I was clouded by frustration and I just wanted to be left alone. "I haven't had even a moment to myself in months. Can I please just have that?"

Jared backed away from me with obvious hurt etched onto his face. "If that's what you want." His eyes looked glassy as he turned and stormed out of the doorway.

I knew he'd phased immediately and I sunk down to the floor, crying.

I cried because I hurt my imprint. I cried because I couldn't protect myself. I cried because for one singular moment, I just wanted to feel normal. I wanted to just have a moment of peace where my imprints weren't only focused on protecting me all the time. Where we could just be free of danger and not have to worry all the time.

To my surprise, a while later, when I heard footsteps coming through the doorway and looked to see who it was, I saw that it was Paul.

He walked over to me where I still sat on the ground. The tear tracks down my cheeks now just salty trails.

He reached down and held out a hand for me. "Come on, B. I know sitting there and crying on the floor can't be good for that baby of yours."

I stayed silent but put my hand in his, nonetheless. He helped me to my feet and guided me over to the couch then went and grabbed me a glass of water.

He sat across from me in the chair for a while until I finally decided to speak again.

"Where are they?" I asked him numbly.

"Running. I won't lie to you, B, they're both hurting right now. Being in their heads in the pack mind was rough once J got out there and phased in. It was so bad it even made Quil finally phase out." Paul replied. "They're giving you the space you asked for."

I hung my head down in shame. "Did they send you to come check on me then?"

"Nah, they told us all to give you some space. Don't even know I'm here." Paul explained, making me look up at him in surprise. "Just because you told them to give you space doesn't mean I have to. I've been there, B, pushing away the people who care about you because you're angry about something. I get it. You got overwhelmed. I can't pretend to know what's going on in your head, but I do know what's going on in theirs."

"I just want the danger to stop." I spoke sadly.

Paul ran his hand down his face. "Don't we all? Listen, Sam and Jared don't want to be out there all the time. They'd rather be here with you talking about baby names or watching a movie or some shit. They don't mean to hover all the time either. They just want to know that you and the baby are safe, and I can't say I blame them. You already know all of this, Bella, so why are you so upset about it all of a sudden?"

I took a moment to process his words before sighing. "I just- when I saw that vampire, it reminded me of how weak I am. How I always need protection. I don't want to be weak. How can I be a good mother when I'm so powerless?"

"B, you're going to be a great mother. All of us know that. You're not weak at all. I mean, physical strength-wise maybe, but you have the strongest mind out of all of us. You're here taking care of us all every day. You always know what any of us need. Hell, our pack would probably be half-useless without you. You've got the entire pack in your pocket, so if anything, you're the opposite of powerless."

I was moved by what he said to me. I didn't even have a response. What do you say back to that? I was grateful that he went against their orders to come talk to me though. I think I needed to hear it from someone other than Sam and Jared.

"Thank you, Paul." I murmured to him softly. "Can you go tell them I'm sorry and to come back home?"

Paul nodded and walked out the door, leaving me in silence and waiting for my upset imprints to come home.

A/N- Had to throw some hormonal Bella into the mix this time, as well as some helpful Paul. Let me know what you think!

-Bex