AN: Hello all my beautiful readers! Here is the next chapter! We won't be in the 1930's much longer :D I want most of the story to take place in present day so there can be some Paul time too! I think I know who Alex is going to end up with. I don't want to give it away, but I might do an alternate ending either way! Since this chapter is a bit shorter, I thought I would post it early!

Chapter Three

The Cabin

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you eat a lot more than your figure would lead a man to believe." There was no malice behind Emmett's words, and his usual smile didn't falter. I couldn't help but let a laugh bubble through me.

"You could say it runs in my family."

He grabbed my hand, his chuckle slowing down. "What about your body temperature? You run a lot hotter than anyone I've ever met."

"Yeah, that too."

Around us, the wind swept across the clearing, rustling the leaves on the trees. The McCarty cabin was beautiful, as was the surrounding property. I couldn't wait to phase after everyone went to bed. As soon as we arrived, I caught scent of Chase. He was nearby, even now. I would have to confront him too. I didn't think he was dangerous, but it still made me uneasy to have my mate that close to a rogue wolf. Summer was definitely upon Gatlinburg. I had always loved the sunshine, if only for the fact that it kept the leeches away.

"So you grew up in Mississippi?" Emmett laid back on his elbows, the tight button down he was wearing stretched across is broad chest. "Do you miss it?"

I hummed and tried to answer honestly without giving too much away. "I did when I was young. After my brother's moved out and my mother passed, I left and never looked back."

"Doesn't it bother you to be all alone?" He frowned now, and I absolutely hated it. It suited Emmett's face much more to smile.

"At first it did. I spent most of the time since traveling and getting to meet new people." I shrugged and laid out next to him, my tanned skin soaking up the sun. My eyebrows shot up as Emmett rolled to hover over me, not quite on top of me. "That was bold." I smiled, trying to ignore the way my heart seemed to be trying to break from my chest.

"Life is short, and I thought the only thing that would make this day better is a kiss." That was bolder. I couldn't stop my smile as he seemingly waited for a response. Bold or not, he was a gentleman.

"Well? I'm not going to kiss myself." His smile returned full force.

His lips meeting mine was like a divine intervention; like finding a part of yourself you never realized you lost. Without my permission, my hands glided up his chest to fist his shirt. How I despised that thin layer of fabric that separated his flesh from mine. He groaned into my mouth, his large fingers dancing over the buttons that held the top of the dress closed. My head swam as I drowned in him, trying to hold myself back from hurting him.

"I swear-"he breathed between kisses. "-I've never done this so soon-"

"Stop talking." I mumbled before pulling his mouth back to mine. I needed to feel him.

Giving in to my urges, I undid the top button of his shirt, and then the next, then the next. I paused only to rip the newsy cap from his head, tossing it in the grass next to us. I wanted nothing to obscure the image of his face flush with desire. He took the cue, hiking my dress up to my thigh and allowing his fingers to dance over my heated skin.

"Well, it seems we're crashing a private party." Jeremy's voice broke through the haze that Emmett created. With a gasp, I sat up, nearly tossing Emmett off of me in the process. On the edge of the clearing stood a bemused Bridget and Jeremy, picnic basket in hand.

"Yet, that didn't stop you from turning back." Emmett sent his brother-in-law a pointed look, obviously unhappy that we were disturbed.

My eyes moved from his face to his bare chest and abs that could clearly be seen thanks to my handy work with his shirt. Fighting back the lust that overcame me, I tried to smile at his family. As inconspicuously as possible, I fixed my dress and cleared my throat. I wasn't embarrassed, per say, but I certainly didn't like that we were caught like two frisky teens.

"Join us." I smiled and moved to make room for them. Emmett sent me the most pitiful look I had ever seen from a grown man.

"How about you and I take a walk, Jeremy." The annoyed look was back as Emmett rose to clap his brother-in-law on the back. "Maybe bring the guns." He joked with a wink in my direction. I smiled as the two walked off, their every word clear to me.

"I have to say, I've never seen Emmett take to someone quite so quickly." I wasn't surprised by Bridget's words. The imprint was stronger than I would have thought, and apparently I wasn't the only one feeling the effects. "He really likes you, ya' know."

"I really like him too." I smiled as I glanced in his direction.

"Good!" Bridget looked like she had just won the lottery. "I knew when you walked into the diner that you were sent here for a reason, Alexandria. I think you were meant to be in Emmett's life, and mine."

I fought back the emotions that welled in me at her words. "I think so too. I'm really happy I met you both."

"Just make sure you keep your own last name like I did!" She winked. It took me a moment to understand what she meant, but when I did, my elusive blush came roaring back.

It was well after midnight when I was sure that the others were asleep. Not wanting to risk waking anyone, I forwent the door and slipped from the small window in my second-story room. My feet hit the ground in a soft thump, the smells of nature automatically invading my senses. I padded into the tree line, the summer grass soft and damp under my bare feet. Shedding my night dress, I hung it on a low branch before letting the shaking of my body overcome me.

I loved being wolf. There wasn't anything about it that I hated. Letting my feet pick up pace, I practically flew across the forest floor, the trees blurring past me. It was around the clearing from earlier that I picked up not only the smell of Chase, but blood. With a worried whiny, I slowed slightly. He wasn't phased, I would be able to hear him… He must be hurt in his human form. Resolving that I would at least have to check and make sure he was okay, I followed the scent. I trailed it to a small river, and it was there I saw a naked Chase leaned up against the bark of a tree. He lifted his gaze to mine, the only hint of his pain residing in his narrowed eyes. I eyed the blood running down his chest from the open wound just above his collar bone. Damn it.

With a sigh, I jumped the river, phasing back as soon as my paws hit the other bank. Frowning, I crouched in front of him, unfazed by my nudity. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Your mate shot me." If he was angry, he didn't show it. My frown deepened as I looked at his wound. Emmett had mentioned shooting a big black bear, but it got away.

"Why aren't you healing?" I gently probed the angry skin around the wound, earning a hiss from the large man in front of me.

"My fingers are too big to get the bullet out, and my body hasn't pushed it out yet." He seemed bored with the whole thing, which baffled me. Meeting his eyes, I shook my head before focusing on the wound.

The bullet wasn't that deep anymore, but the hole had begun to close before the wound, meaning he had to keep ripping the skin. Ouch. Deciding to take pity on him, I told him to brace himself as I dove in. He groaned as my nails dug through blood and flesh to find the small metal intruder. Other than that, he remained still. He was completely compliant, no hint of distrust in him. I glanced at his face again as I managed to locate the bullet. He was odd, even for a wolf. It wasn't typical that a lone wolf sought out an alpha. Typically, it was the other way around. Yet he had followed me here, and had been in the diner again last week. Refocusing on the task at hand, I worked the bullet out, relieved when it practically popped from his skin. He sighed in relief as it did so, finally giving his body a chance to heal.

"Thanks." I nodded and examined the bullet. We were so strong, but still vulnerable to such a small thing. "Have you thought about my offer?"

I rolled my eyes and fell back to the grass. "I don't want a pack." I must have said that sentence twenty times that week. "Why are you so determined to be my beta?"

"I told you, I think you'd be a good alpha."

"You don't even know me..." Standing, I tossed the bullet in the river before phasing, exploding in a blur of white fur.

"I'm not going to give up." With a huff that blew the grass under my muzzle, I headed back the way I came. Some wolves could be so stubborn.

AN: Reviews are loved.