Chapter 10

Paul was not kidding when he told Jake his plans for the evening. He ran straight home at full speed. He was slower on feet instead of paws but it was worth it to preserve the essence of his imprint. When Baby Chief had so rudely interrupted, Bella had been cresting her second orgasm from Paul's hands alone. She had been soaked and all that dripping goodness was preserved on his digits for his enjoyment. Bella would probably be embarrassed and a little grossed out if she knew he wasn't kidding, but it's the wolf. Scent is so integral to their very beings and the scent of his mate's sex is like an aphrodisiac uniquely made for him.

The screen door had barely slapped shut behind him before Paul had one meaty hand down his pants, wrapped around his straining length and the other in his mouth, savoring the flavor of Bella's pleasure. There had been promises of a blowjob, but he took far too long savoring Bella's poorly muffled moans to get his own needs satiated. Imagining her lips wrapped around him was all it took for him to paint his hand and stomach white with his release.

He sighed and went to find kleenex or something to wipe his spunk off. That would never be satisfying like the blowjob he could have gotten. Disappointed was an understatement. If Jake wasn't his Alpha now, Paul would without a doubt be pounding his face in later.

When he first imprinted, Paul had been so worried about Jake and Bella being a couple. The idea was straight up laughable now. The way she creamed her jeans just from Paul walking in a room left no question to who her body belonged to. But he wanted more. He wanted her heart and her future.

Billy Black had helped over the course of a few free afternoons to help Paul craft his very own Quileute promise bracelet for Bella. Paul had kept it a secret by giving vague excuses when he needed someone to cover a patrol shift. He wasn't embarrassed about the bracelet, just the fact that he needed Billy's help. Typically it was a craft taught from father to son, but Paul wouldn't have wanted that even if his dad had tried. Anything Alexander Lahote had to offer would have been tainted with the abuse and neglect from Paul's childhood. He didn't need those bad memories carrying over into this new life.

It was a black and white difference between those memories and the present. Bella had given him the chance to start over instead of repeating his father's mistakes. He was going to tell Bella he loved her and give her the bracelet. She loved him too, didn't she? He knew she was going to say it back. What's the worst that could happen? Paul made the mistake of answering his own question. She could deny the imprint and move to Florida with her mom and never come back. OK, that's not an option. Paul would just curl up in a ball and die. Maybe thinking of the worst case scenario wasn't a good idea.

Before Paul got too far down the rabbit hole of planning a suicide gruesome enough to kill a wolf, he heard the chugging Chevy engine he knew almost as well as the sweet sound of Bella's heart. His first reaction was elation. Bella was here! Man, imprinting was some weird shit. He didn't even know if it was really her. It could be Jacob or Charlie driving her monster of a truck but his body was cocked and ready to go at just the thought that she might be driving down the main road of the rez.

The excitement quickly was replaced with worry. She was supposed to be home with Baby Chief on Bella Watch. Even if it was Jacob or Charlie, was something wrong with her? Was she hurt? Were there vamps in Forks?

As the truck got closer, his worry only grew. His house was far enough into the woods that sound carried. Paul could now hear her familiar heartbeat mixed with the sound of the engine. Her heart was pounding. She was hurt or upset or something. Where was Jacob?!

Bella was still half a mile away, but he couldn't stand the wait. He launched himself off the couch where he had collapsed after cleaning himself up. Paul was out the front door and snarling in the blink of an eye. He was fully prepared to tear apart whatever had upset or hurt his imprint. But she was coming to him. Any second now she would be pulling onto the dirt road to his house and in his arms. He could smell her now. She didn't smell of blood or fear. She wasn't hurt. But she was anxious.

The mouth-watering scent of her filled the air as her truck turned into view. Through the windshield he could see her white knuckled grip on the wheel and the look of surprise that flashed across her features when she saw him standing in the middle of the road. She pulled her truck to the side of the dirt road and cut the engine. The silence felt profound. Paul strained his ears to make sure they were alone. Nothing was chasing her, nothing out here was a threat to his imprint. Just small woodland creatures and bugs in the night.

The red truck made a horrible creaking noise as she pushed the heavy door open and a new smell flooded his senses. One he was quite familiar with.

"Paul," the name was a prayer on her lips. They had just been together a few hours beforehand, but something had changed. She seemed nervous and his wolf did not like their imprint being uncomfortable. He pulled her down from the seat of the truck with two hands that wrapped nearly all the way around her waist. Before he could get distracted by the aphrodisiac of her desire wafting off of her, he demanded, worry obvious in his tone, "Where is Jake? Why are you alone?"

Trusting him to catch her, because he always would, Bella jumped with her hands on his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his hips before answering. She chose to ignore the second question. Jake and Paul were always mentioning that she shouldn't be alone and it was driving her insane. She'd deal with that another time.

"Now look who's breaking the rule. It's disturbing how often Jake comes up in conversation when we are...intimate."

Her confidence wavered towards the end there. She was still determined in her mission of why she drove down here, but now that she was in Paul's arms about to complete the act, she was getting stage fright. This was a man who knew what he was doing. He had proved that enough times with just his hands and his mouth. He chuckled and gave her ass a squeeze, bringing her back to the present.

"This isn't exactly scandalous, Princess. We're not even in the house yet," he leered before raising his eyebrows. "Unless you were interested in getting dirty in the front yard. Maybe in the woods? Ooh my wolf would love it if I got my tongue in you in the woods."

He was already walking towards the trees, Baby Chief forgotten and his obvious erection rubbing against her core with every step. Paul licked up the length of her neck to her ear, demonstrating what he wanted to do to other parts of her body. She nearly forgot to protest because of his distracting nips and licks. He was serious as a heart attack, he would totally eat her out in the woods. She had a feeling it was a fantasy he was determined to fulfill someday because he mentioned it a few too many times to be joking. Must be a wolf thing. Focus, Bella.

"Wait!" Bella cried, prying her neck from Paul's mouth with a pop. That was definitely going to leave a mark on her pale skin. "We should go inside, I have something I want to tell you."

Paul's preternatural grace failed him and he stumbled at her words. That sounded ominous. Was she breaking up with him? No way. She didn't sound mad so maybe it wasn't a bad thing? Maybe she won the lottery and got him a puppy and Santa was real.

"Umm ok, we can go inside." Still supporting her weight in his hands as if she weighed nothing, Paul turned back to the house. It had to be bad news, that's just how things went for Paul. Santa wasn't real and if he was, Santa was a real jackass for skipping the Lahote home every year. Now was not the time for childhood bitterness, he had a relationship to save. The bracelet. Now was the perfect time. He was going to tell her how he felt and she would stay with him. Possibly out of pity but he would take it.

He passed through the front door that he had left open in his haste to see Bella's truck pull up. Not wanting to let her get too far away, he settled himself on the couch still holding her legs on either side of him. His hands were still at home on her ass, but this spot on the couch was purposefully within reach of the drawer in the side table where her promise bracelet was hidden.

"Bella, before you tell me your thing, can I go first?"

Paul was known as the strategist on the battlefield, but when it came to emotions? He might as well start waving a white flag. He thought she'd stay if he could profess his undying love like they did in those sappy books she read. Shit, maybe he should have read something by Jane Austen before preparing a monologue for the world's biggest female classics nerd.

Bella looked a little taken aback. This wasn't how she thought this would happen and Paul was getting off track.

"Uhh yeah, you can go first, I guess," she stammered hoping this wouldn't take long. Ever since she decided to sleep with Paul, even if it was only half an hour ago, she had been working herself up. Now any delay seemed like whatever the opposite of foreplay was. Was there a word for that? Focus, Bella.

Paul began by trying to explain that he didn't have great examples of successful relationships in the past and he'd never really tried to have one before but Bella was different and not just because of the imprint. She was...blah, blah, blah...

Bella would feel terrible about it later on, but goddamnit there was dick to be had. She knew Paul was having a really hard time sharing his feelings so she rationalized that she was doing him a favor by interrupting him with a forceful kiss.

Pulling back with a wet smacking sound she explained herself, rushing to get it all out in one breath, "I'm sorry, but I know you love me and I love you and I want to have sex."

A year ago Bella would never have done that or said something so bold, but she liked to think she knew Paul well enough that she'd get the outcome she was hoping for. Oh boy, did she love being right. The look of shock and awe on his face was priceless, but the way his voice cracked was even better.

"Woman! Why did you let me talk at all when that was the thing you wanted to tell me?!" Paul was only wearing the wolfpack uniform of cutoffs so his first priority was getting her undressed. He flopped her down onto her back on the couch, immediately diving into her neck with his lips. His hands were panty- seeking missiles on a mission. Supernatural speed had her shoes and socks off, her jeans hanging over the back of the couch, and Paul's hands everywhere he could find skin to caress.

A breathless "Wait!" from Bella had Paul frozen above her like a russet statue. His hands were stopped halfway up her back towards the hook of her bra and his mouth slowly pulled back from her collarbone as if he was afraid to spook her.

"This is not happening on a couch," she gently reprimanded him, "and if you're wearing spongebob boxers, I'm going home." Her smirk gave away the emptiness of her threat but the point was made just the same. This wasn't a sloppy romp on a couch, this was the binding of their souls. Taking this step together meant sealing the imprint and their futures together.

Paul quickly sobered when some blood actually made it to the head on his shoulders. This wasn't just another fuck this was the fuck. Give him a break, he never claimed to be a poet. But he knew this was important and thank the spirits that Bella knew just what to say to snap him into focus. Even if it was a joke about her first and only sexual encounter with another man. Sex on a couch was not what Bella deserved. She was to be worshipped.

Paul sat up and settled back onto his heels, still nestled between her legs, and appreciated the woman spread out under him. She was still clad in only a t-shirt, bra, and underwear. He hooked a finger into her panties and let them snap back to her sensitive flesh.

"Lose these and you're Winnie the Pooh," Paul teased, trying to get back to their comfortable banter. It was easier than heavy feelings.

"I think my shirt would have to be a crop top," Bella fired back without pause, "Winnie the Pooh's belly is always hanging out."

"God, I love you," were the last words spoken for quite some time. His lips crashed into hers with a flurry of tongues and teeth. With effortless strength only explained by the supernatural, Paul stood up bringing Bella with him. He kept her close with her legs wrapped around him once again, keeping his mouth busy with any skin he could reach. He walked her down the hallway, to his bedroom. She wanted a bed, he had a bed. Paul had been prepared for this day for weeks. He kept his sheets clean and his room tidy just in case this very scenario played out. And fuck yeah, he had dreamed about it.

Her nails scratched through his hair and her head hung back with breathless moans from the feeling of his lips on her neck. He set her down just before the foot of the bed and she whimpered at the loss of contact. He needed to get her naked and he knew it was awkward to undress while horizontal. He made quick work of her shirt and bra, leaving panties for last to not overwhelm her.

Bella's hands hesitated on his cutoffs. Was she ready for this? All it took was one look up into Paul's eyes to convince her. She saw his love, his heart, and his desire in those eyes. She trusted him.

With that last push of confidence, Bella dropped his cutoffs to the floor and hooked her thumbs in her own underwear to slide them down. Being completely naked together was another first for today. By taking them off herself, she was hoping to show Paul she meant business.

Paul was suddenly overly aware of how close to home his dick was. Paradise was so close, he could slip right in if he laid her down. It would probably still hurt for her if she had only done it the one time, so he was going to go slow and make sure she had already had an orgasm first. He couldn't bear the idea of hurting her.

He kneeled before her and took a nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the hardened peak. Bella's fingers dug into his shoulders, a petition for more. His hands worshiped the expanse of skin that was now available to him. One of his large, dark hands made sure her other breast got equal attention while the other trailed down her body to test the water.

Holy shit, she was wet. His fingers easily slid between slick thighs and teased her entrance. He needed a taste. He pushed her back a step until her legs hit the bed and she understood the implied instruction, laying back for him. Paul didn't waste a second before spreading her open for him and licking the length of her slit. His hands massaged up her legs while his tongue and lips worked her center.

Bella was pulling so hard on his hair it was almost painful. Desperate to be inside her, he brought her to orgasm as quickly as he knew how. Two fingers in a come hither motion inside her, tight lips around her clit, and his tongue flicking her bundle as quickly as he could. Her walls clamped down on his fingers and his name fell from her lips as she crested the wave of bliss.

Wasting no time, Paul quickly moved up her body. Nestled between her thighs, Paul relished the way her fully naked body felt wrapped around his. He licked up the column of her neck before settling his weight above her, staring deep into her eyes. One hand supported his weight by her head, the other guided himself into her in one swift motion.

The pain she was expecting was replaced by the continuation of her orgasm from the new sensation of being so full. This was nothing like she had experienced before. She knew Paul was big. Hell, she could only fit half of him in her mouth, but it felt like he was splitting her in half. And fuck did it feel good.

It took every ounce of control for Paul to hold still once he was inside her, but he knew he'd cum in an instant if he moved a millimeter. He had been waiting for this for what felt like years. His wolf would have argued lifetimes. Paul wanted to make this last as long as possible, but she felt too damn good.

Bella had her fingers clawed into his lower back as if to pull him impossibly closer.

"Please," she breathed out.

A groan of pleasure, forced out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. Paul had said way back in the beginning that he would wait until she was begging for it. He couldn't have imagined this playing out a better way.

Painfully slow, he pulled out to the tip and just as slowly pushed back in. He wanted to make sure this wasn't hurting her before he really got going. By the look on her face, pain was the farthest thing from her mind. He gave her one last passionate kiss before sitting back to bring his knees underneath him to get more leverage behind his thrusts.

He loved the view from here. His wolf loved the submissive stance of its mate and he loved the sight of his solid length moving in and out of her, slick with her pleasure. He began to thrust in earnest. He had fully intended to take this slow, but the need to take her overpowered him. Each inward stroke was followed by a beautiful noise from Bella. God, he could listen to her mewls and cries all day.

She needed to touch him. She reached for any part of her lover she could reach, her hands never staying one place too long. His massive chest was beginning to bead with sweat. His arms felt so powerful holding her to him. She ran a hand up the side of his neck and around to run her fingers through the silky shorter hair at the nape of his neck.

Every other panting breath, Paul let out a rumbling growl. The sound sent a jolt of pleasure down her spine. All man and magic and hers. He felt like power. He felt so good and she wanted to tell him but his unforgiving pace left her unable to form words, let alone a thought. He filled her so completely. There was no doubt their bodies were made for each other.

He wanted this to last all day, all week, all year. He wanted to move in and make her body his home. But he couldn't hold back any longer. He felt his release looming, but she needed to cum first. Without slowing his pace, he ran a hand up her side to cup her breast. He loved the way they moved while he pounded into her. He pinched her nipple, causing her to gasp. He'd definitely need to give those rosy buds more attention next time. They weren't even done and he was already impatient, planning for the next time he got to feel her slick heat wrapped around him.

His hand trailed down her torso until his thumb found her clit. Pressing down on her tight bundle of nerves, he thrust into her as hard as her fragile human body could handle. Three final brutal strokes sent them over the edge together. Bella's cries were music to his ears, but nothing compared to the look on her face. That image was something he hoped to never forget.

Folding over her, he cupped the back of her head and kissed her with all the passion and love he felt for this woman in his arms. A few more small rocking motions extended the waves of her orgasm as the base of his cock moved against her clit. She clung to him with all of her strength and cried into his mouth.

Taking a moment to just hold each other and share panting breaths, they both drifted back to earth. A tingling sensation spread wherever their skin touched. Bella didn't think that was normal, but she didn't have a frame of reference to base it off of. Paul had definitely never felt that before with another woman.

"That's our bond, Princess," Paul whispered, not wanting to break the trance. "My wolf has never felt more at peace. He's usually just under the surface, clawing to get out, but right now it feels like it's just me again. I haven't felt this human since before I phased. Thank you." The last words were a reverent prayer. To the spirits who blessed him with an imprint. To this woman that he got to love. And to every other deity in the sky, thanking them that she loved him too.

In their few months together, Bella was just beginning to understand the turmoil that raged inside of Paul. A constant war between man and beast and his soul was the battleground. He held onto anger so profound, yet a deep seeded need to be loved. She wanted to help soothe him however she could.

As he slowly pulled his softening member out of her, the loss of him manifested as a physical ache in her chest. Her legs felt like jello and her heart was still racing like she ran a marathon.

He wanted to give her the bracelet before round two. After fucking her the way his wolf demanded, the man wanted to make love for the first time those words actually meant something. Paul pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before whispering, "give me one second."

Supernatural speed allowed that to be less of an exaggeration than she expected and he was back in front of her in a flash. One hand held a damp cloth that he ran across her abused flesh and her inner thighs where his release had made a mess. The other was carefully hidden behind his back.

"Whatcha got there, Paul?" she playfully asked, loving the feeling of being cared for instead of being the caretaker. Paul climbed back into bed, sitting against the headboard and pulled Bella against his chest. He loved the way he could completely wrap around her. Protect her. He nuzzled his nose into her hair for one last breath of her calming aroma to gather himself before he opened his hand before her to reveal the bracelet.

Bella gasped, "Paul it's beautiful!"

"I made it for you," he said with a kiss to her cheek and dropped it into her open palm. She traced the intricate weaving of fine cords with a dainty finger. How could such strong hands create something so delicate?

He plucked it back up and tied it around her left wrist.

"It's Quileute tradition," he began. She loved the sound of his voice and the way she could feel his deep baritone in his chest against her back, so she snuggled in for story time. Paul explained how Billy taught him how to make it and how he had started a few before he made this one. He wanted it to be perfect for her because of its significant meaning. She was to wear it for the rest of her life.

Bella's chest began to tighten in the familiar constriction of panic. She thought she was ready, but suddenly the rest of her life felt like a larger commitment than she had the mental capacity to process.

Paul continued without noticing the change in his mate. He explained how it's not an engagement but a promise. It was important to the tribe's culture to have a traditional bracelet before a modern proposal or a ring. He wrapped up his practiced speech with a simple summary, "It's a promise of forever."

Bella lost her shit.

That one word. Forever. It was a little too familiar to the empty promises and grandiose oaths of a certain bronze-haired ice sculpture. Forever was an empty promise because nobody knew what was going to happen. Not even Alice and she could actually see the future! She loved Paul. It took her a while to realize it, but she did love him. But she didn't want to need him. She didn't want to need anyone ever again. Panic took over and she couldn't stop the word vomit.

"I don't need to be defined by a man," Bella declared defiantly. "I...I can't have my happiness and sense of self wrapped up in another person. I need to be able to stand on my own and survive without the support of someone else." She didn't want to completely push him away, but this was too much. It was all too much.

With Edward she was so overwhelmed by her feelings for him that she couldn't think straight. That couldn't happen again. She would not let a man have control over her like that again. She had barely survived Edward, but this was so much more. Paul meant so much more. It was going to destroy her when he left. Anyone she came to depend on always left. Why would this be any different?

She climbed off of the bed and frantically tried to put her clothes back on that she could find. Paul watched with his mouth hanging open in shock as his imprint screamed in frustration before storming out of the room, presumably looking for her pants which Paul had removed in the living room. In any other situation he would find it adorable that she was stomping around without pants on, but here she was just stomping all over his heart. He thought she understood the imprint and that's why tonight had happened.

Paul trailed after her down the hallway after finding shorts of his own.

"But you said you loved me," he whimpered, unashamed that he sounded so pathetic. He was no stranger to one night stands, but Bella wasn't supposed to be an achievement. She was supposed to be forever. He had opened up and forged a real bond with someone and now she was just taking what she wanted and leaving. That's all he was good for, a good lay. Well at least she enjoyed it. If that's all he was good for, at least he was good at it. His imprint didn't want a husband and father to her children, she just wanted a sex toy to ride. Great. Paul didn't think he deserved any better anyways.

"Princess, wait! Talk to me," Paul choked. He was pleading now. Begging wasn't beneath him at this point. Any pride was out the window when his first and only love was attempting to leave him.

"Don't 'Princess' me, Paul," she flustered, flapping her hands helplessly while trying to locate her shoes. "I need time. It's all too much. Forever is too hard to wrap my head around. I've been promised forever before and forever is a lie. Just give me time."

He thought he had given her time. He had waited and courted her like goddamn Romeo. She was supposed to be his Juliet! They had sealed the imprint bond, she can't just leave. Paul was frozen in place while she gathered her things and...left.

Paul paced nervously behind the Swan property. Before the imprint, maybe he would have hulk smashed some trees if someone had hurt him like that, but that was just it. Before the imprint, there was nobody who could hurt him like that. So he trailed behind her Chevy like a kicked puppy who just kept coming back. He had patrol later anyway so he might as well wolf out and follow her truck. At least he couldn't cry in wolf form.

He couldn't let her drive alone in any case. She had a vampire actively hunting her! The Alphas hadn't come up with a working solution yet on how to have a wolf closer to her. Paul still had another hour before his patrol and before someone would come take over Bella Watch.

Jacob was supposed to be the one watching her. They were supposed to watch movies or whatever dorky shit those two did together, but no. She had to go get ideas about seducing him and fucking everything up. He would have lived like a monk if it meant keeping Bella close.

Not after tonight though. After experiencing the heaven of being inside her body and the joining of their souls, he couldn't not do that again. What had freaked her out so badly? They had been emotionally working towards this for months and they had many, many other types of sexual exploits before the home run tonight. Paul thought he was the one afraid of commitment but here he was, whining in the woods like a bitch.

He could hear Seth pop into the pack mind back on the rez. The boy was getting better at controlling his wolf and phasing, but everyone could still sense the reluctance. Paul could feel Seth's resentment towards being forced into this. The youngest wolf snapped at him.

What? You don't hate that your choices were taken away and your future was decided for you? Even your mate?

Just come take over, Seth. I'm not up for a philosophical debate on free will tonight.

Before Paul could think to hide his memories, flashes of Bella under him and their following argument were broadcasted to Seth. Before Paul could apologize, Seth cut him off.

Ughh I don't even care. I've been spending so much time patrolling with Quil or Embry lately I'm just glad it's a girl I'm stuck seeing sexual memories of. I know way too much about the logistics of homosexual intercourse for a straight kid my age. And I definitely know I'm not gay.

Paul was just glad Seth didn't want to argue. The grey wolf took off back to the rez to run patrol as soon as Seth's sandy figure settled into the underbrush.

While he waited for Jared, Paul began a loop of the border getting more and more irritated with his absent partner. It wasn't unusual for Jared to be running late. It seemed these days that he didn't take patrols very seriously. He would goof off or get distracted while he was supposed to be running with his nose to the ground.

By the time the older wolf finally phased in, Paul was peeved. They had a responsibility to their land and their people and Jared just waltzes in 20 minutes late and smelling like Kim's bush.

Can you at least try to take this seriously, Jared?

Dude, I'm here. It's whatever.

Choosing not to argue, he did his best to ignore his patrol partner and avoid a slip up like what happened with Seth. He had been once again thinking over how to get a better watch on Bella. Even if she was pissed right now, he couldn't slip for one second. Bella would come to her senses and the imprint would bring her right back to him. But she was in danger and she still needed protection. He needed to make sure there were no cracks in the armor.

Vampires could move more freely in the dark cover of night and they didn't need to sleep. They needed a wolf closer to her at night and when she was traveling between Forks and La Push. Maybe if something happened to her car, she would need a ride everywhere and one of the wolves could escort her, private security style. Paul didn't want to keep her from going places, he just wanted to keep her from going places unguarded.

Paul was plotting how to murder her truck and make it look like an accident when something in Jared's thoughts caught his attention. Contempt. For Paul's imprint. Jared was complaining to himself and blocking out Paul best he could, which wasn't at all. Jared was the worst in the pack about keeping a lid on his thoughts and he didn't even seem to notice Paul listening in.

Jared just wanted to get home to Kim. They had had an argument about having kids. Kim wanted them, Jared thought they were too young. They weren't even married yet. Was Kim just trying to get him to propose? He didn't have a ring, he couldn't afford one yet. He had been working less lately because of the demanding patrol schedule. Homeschooling the pups had helped lighten the load because they had more time to help patrol, but they were still all being overworked. The fucking leech was still out there. All for Bella Swan. We should just hand her over and finally get a good night's rest. If the leech lover wasn't around anymore, they could all move on with their lives and-

Jared was knocked to the ground before he even realized Paul had made a beeline for him. He had turned back to kill his pack mate the second the traitorous thoughts crossed the grey wolf's mind. As soon as Jared got back to his feet, Paul was barreling into him once more. This time he was sent flying into a thick tree trunk with an audible crunch. Paul hoped it was the bastard's bones and not the innocent tree.

The man wasn't in control anymore, he was all beast. Pack member or not, this was a threat to his imprint and he would kill it. Jared had agility on his side, being a slightly smaller wolf, but Paul had pure rage. His temper had been mostly in check since Bella was able to calm him down. This was months of pent up aggression finally finding an outlet. Claws swiped and jaws snapped as the wolves struggled for dominance.

Paul had his teeth sunk into Jared's flank when they felt Jacob phase in. He could probably sense a disturbance in the pack or some voodoo Alpha shit like that. Paul could only hear the blood pumping in his ears and the wolf inside him focused on the enemy. All instincts.

Jake had been trying to order Paul to stop the second he phased in but this was over an imprint. Paul's wolf was out of control and once Jacob saw what had triggered the brawl, he was inclined to just let it continue. The Alpha was disgusted at the lack of brotherhood and sense of family in Jared's mind. But he couldn't let him die at the hands of a pack brother. Paul would have to live with that on his conscience and as his leader, he couldn't let Paul place that burden on his own shoulders.

Jake got there just in time to knock Paul off of Jared's neck. He had no doubt that Paul would have finished the job if given the chance.

Jared, phase out.

The older wolf barely had the energy to return to his human form, the Alpha order probably the only reason he was able. Jared was laid out on the forest floor broken and bleeding. Jake had half a mind to leave him there, but he knew there would be some bones that needed to be set. He paced between the broken man and the grey wolf still foaming at the mouth.

Paul's thoughts weren't even coherent. All Jake could see was blind rage. There had to have been more going on than just Jared being a jackass for Paul to be in such a state. Nobody had seen this side of Paul in a long time.

Jake howled into the night sky to get someone to carry Jared back to Sue Clearwater. Seth's whimpers were a soft background noise in the pack mind. Seeing Paul's unfiltered rage and ferocity was too much for the young boy to witness. Jake just hoped that seeing the uglier side of the beast wouldn't set back Seth's progress towards accepting his fate, but that would have to be addressed later.

Leah was the first to phase in and then Quil and Embry. All of them were more concerned about a leech threat than the inconvenience of being called to action on their time off. That was the attitude the Alpha wanted and needed from his pack. Jacob handed out orders to get Jared medical attention and to get the rest of patrol covered. The Alpha pair needed to deal with Paul so he sent the lover boys out to patrol together with orders to behave. Jake phased back to carry an unconscious Jared back to the rez and everyone took off to complete their given tasks.

The Alpha was grateful for the respite from the pack mind. He didn't have the energy to ward his mind to keep the pack from witnessing his internal struggle. Jacob was torn between the overwhelming pride he felt for his faithful pack and the disappointment he felt for his wayward brother. He was a little ashamed of how much of him wanted to just leave Jared bleeding in the forest. Jake knew he should be mad at Paul for nearly killing their packmate, but Jake couldn't muster the indignation. He would have done the same thing.

Revised 10/11/2020