PREVIOUSLY-

"Yes." I stated without hesitation. "We already know it's going to happen, so why put it off? I feel like there's a certain level of assurance that it wouldn't be a mistake considering we're already tied together for life. It's not like one of us is just going to up and change our mind suddenly. Right?"

He lifted me up and spun me around, kissing me thoroughly when he put me down.

"Oh yeah, you're definitely moving in ASAP." He murmured in between kisses.

"Convince Charlie and I will." I whispered back to him.

"Consider it done." He smirked.

"The first thing we're going to do tomorrow is buy some groceries. With how much you guys eat, I thought there would be more food here." I laughed as I looked in the cabinets for the pans.

"I'm usually over with Sam and Emily for meals or I end up calling in a few pizzas. I don't really cook much…" He muttered, scratching at the back of his head.

"Well I do, so groceries it is. We can start inviting the pack over here some to take the heat off Emily. It can't be easy cooking meals for hungry wolves every day. If that's alright with you of course, it is your house." I suggested.

"You've already agreed to move in with me babe, so it's technically our house now. If you want the pack to come over here then I'm all for it. We might need to get some more furniture though."

I smiled at the thought of it being our house. "We can go up to Port Angeles to get some things soon."

I cooked us some dinner and we washed the dishes before heading into his room.

"I'm going to steal your shower if that's okay?" I asked him as he sat down on his bed.

"It's yours now too, Bella. Go for it." He winked at me. I smiled at him and walked into the bathroom.

After taking a short shower, I climbed out and dried off, only to realize that I didn't have any clean clothes, or anything.

Just as I came out of my realization, I heard a knock on the bathroom door. I held the towel around me and opened the door, seeing Jared standing there with a small pile of clothes ready for me to take.

He inhaled deeply and bit his lip while closing his eyes. "I knew you'd need something to wear to bed." I could see the internal struggle he was having.

I reached out and grabbed the clothes before leaning forward and kissing him. Before I knew it, the clothes had fallen to the ground and Jared was inside the bathroom with me, pressing me up against the wall as he kissed me hungrily. It was mesmerizing.

Too soon he'd pulled away. It was euphoric and I craved more. I was amazed that my towel stayed in place the entire time although part of me had almost wished it hadn't.

He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against mine. "Get dressed and come to bed." He whispered before walking out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

I quickly dressed in the clothes he gave me, a pair of old sweats and one of his t-shirts, before walking back out into the bedroom.

Jared was in the bed with his arms behind his head, relaxed against the headboard. He motioned for me climb into the bed next to him and I did so.

As I laid there on my side, my head on Jared's chest while he played with a piece of my hair, I just smiled.

"Can you believe all of this is happening?" I asked him as I looked up at him.

He smiled back down at me. "It almost feels like a dream. Like it's too good to be true, but it is. It is true. I never thought it was possible to feel so connected to someone in such a primal and intimate way, you know? It's so incredibly reassuring. Like relationships for a normal person are super stressful. Always wondering and worrying, constantly second guessing and even when you're married, nothing is set in stone. To never have to worry about those things, never second guess, it's amazing. WE are set in stone, written in the stars, whispered among the ancestors. It's tangible. I feel it with every part of myself that you're my other half. You complete me. I mean, I'm not saying there won't be times where we disagree on things or argue, but I know for sure that we'll always get through it. Whatever comes. Together."

His speech made me tear up a little and I lifted myself up overtop of him.

Leaning down and hovering just over his face, I whispered, "you're so perfect. How did I miss this for so long?"

He lifted his hand and rubbed his thumb across my cheek before pulling me down to kiss him sweetly.

After pulling away, he kissed my forehead too and I fell back to his side. "We were denied this, Bella. If that bloodsucker ever comes back, I'll kill him myself."

I could feel his unease and distaste about the situation so I quickly chose to divert his thoughts.

"Happy thoughts, Jared. You have me. I'm here now." I promised him.

"And you're never leaving." He murmured into my hair as he held me close.

After talking for a little while longer, just about random things in our lives, we both fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up feeling warmer and safer than I'd ever been in my entire life. For a moment, I thought the previous day had all been a dream, until I felt a large arm wrapped around my waist from behind.

I was the little spoon and I'd never been more comfortable. His warmth was radiating through my body and it made me so happy. I'd never liked the cold.

"Mmm morning, babe." I heard Jared say sleepily from behind me so I turned over to face him. He was giving me a sleepy grin and I leaned up to kiss him.

"Good morning." I murmured back to him after pulling away.

He closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip. "Oh yeah, you're definitely moving in. Today. There is no way that I'm ever waking up without you in my bed again."

I giggled. "You're telling Charlie."

"Done." Jared replied with a smirk. "Paul's here."

I climbed out of the bed and stretched my arms before Jared walked over to me and kissed me again.

We then made our way into the living room where Paul was lounging on the couch waiting for us.

"So B's moving in already?" Paul asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Hell yeah she is, bro!" Jared told him. Paul tossed both of us one of Emily's muffins.

"Good because I don't like the thought of miss danger magnet being so far away. Hell, last night was hard enough for me and she was on the res."

I looked at Paul in confusion.

Jared spoke first. "Dude, what do you mean by that?"

"Fuck man, after I got off patrol, I tried to go home but that piece of shit sperm donor was there and drunk as hell. I didn't think he'd be home for another couple days. He wanted a fight, but I took off so that I wouldn't accidentally phase and kill the fucker. I might want the man dead but I'm sure as hell not going to turn into a fucking murderer to get him there." I watched Paul rub his eyes as he explained. "I ran up to northern Canada because I was so angry, but that shit didn't fly. Couldn't be so far away from this one," he pointed at me, "so I came back and slept in the woods down by the beach."

I didn't hesitate with my response. "Paul, I don't know what the story with your dad is and I won't ask about it unless you want to tell me, but this isn't going to happen again." I turned to Jared. "I really hope you don't mind me suggesting this, but I think Paul should stay here. We have a spare room, and I am not letting him sleep in the woods again, or in the same house as an abusive drunk."

Jared watched me in amusement as I spoke. "I was going to suggest the same thing, babe." He turned to Paul. "Go get your shit, bro. You're moving in too. Today."

Paul looked between the two of us with an unreadable expression. "You're serious?"

"Yes, we are. So you go get your stuff while Jared and I go see Charlie and get some groceries." I replied honestly with Jared nodding by my side.

He remained motionless and without words as he just stared at us in clear disbelief, so I decided to walk forward toward him and wrap my arms around him. I didn't even hesitate. I figured it must've been the imprint because I knew that this was exactly what he needed at the moment.

It took him a few moments to respond but he finally did, closing his arms around me as well and resting his head down on my shoulder. I couldn't tell what was going through his mind, at least not like I could with Jared, but I knew that what we'd just done for him meant a lot.

Before I knew it, he was out the back door and off to get his things.

Jared looked at me after Paul was gone and smiled. "I've never seen Paul speechless. Or hugging anyone. I've known his father was a piece of shit, but he's usually gone for weeks at a time with the logging company. Paul usually crashes here when he's in town anyways, so I'm really glad you suggested him moving in. I think this will be good for all of us."

"Even the big bad wolf needs someone to take care of him too. To be honest, it makes me really relieved as well." I responded to him truthfully.

A/N- So Bella and Paul are moving in! What do you think so far?