A Whole New World

Chapter 2: Voluntold

Paul POV

What could Sam possibly want now? Is it not enough that he controls my every move while I'm on duty; does he need to control my free time too? Ugggh. It's just so damn annoying.

"Paul, thanks for coming by." Sam said as I hopped out of my truck at Billy's house.

"Like I had a choice" I grumble under my breath.

"Billy was just explaining to me that Chief Swan needs someone to pick up his daughter Isabella at the airport. The Jensen boys wrapped their car around a telephone pole and caused a few other cars behind them to pile up on one another, so he is stuck sorting out all the paper work and it is going to take a while. He doesn't want to leave Bella stranded at the airport. So I volunteered your services to Billy here." Sam explained before his voice took on that alpha timbre and he added, "You will pick her up Paul." and then returned to normal, "right?"

"Sure" I grumble I mean it's not like I actually have a choice. Sometimes I really had being a wolf. I mean seriously you can't volunteer someone else. Volunteer means you have a choice. Nope I have not volunteered to pick up Chief Swan's brat, I've been voluntold.

"So how will I know her?" I ask, knowing there is no way of getting out of it now.

"Well, I haven't seen her in a few years, but Charlie is always showing off her picture, she has long dark hair, brown eyes, looks a lot like her mom." Billy rattled off, unhelpfully.

Guess I'll just look for a scared little girl. How do I get roped in to this crap? So I set off to the airport already annoyed, wasting my Friday night. I was planning to go out. I was pissed at Sam for making me do this, annoyed and just wanting to get there and get back so maybe I could salvage a bit of my night.

I arrived at the Port Angeles Airport just before the flight she was on came in, so I was scanning the crowd as they departed from the plane. I didn't see any kids in sight and I was starting to worry when I saw her.

She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever laid my eyes on. Her brown hair hung down her back and spilling over her shoulders in soft natural curls and the red and honey undertones caught a ray of the harsh airport lighting every so often as she scanned the crowd for her loved one. Her skin was light in color, but healthy and vibrant like peaches and cream. She had soft curves in all the right places but was slight in form; she couldn't have been more than 5'3". She held herself well, confidant but unassuming. Like she was comfortable in her own skin but obviously had no idea how devastatingly beautiful she is. And then I caught her eyes.

First like everything else about her they were beautiful; expressive, and framed by eyelashes that every girl is going for but rarely ends up with when she reaches for that mascara. But she didn't have a dab of make up on her face. They were a soft brown, reminding me of rich pools of milk chocolate. I was pulled in by their depth; it was like I was seeing into her soul. And what a beautiful soul it was. How did I know that? I didn't know this girl from Eve. Yet somehow I knew. She was innocent, sweet, soft, loving and loyal. Everything I could never find in a girl, but secretly desired; no needed so much. But my anger issues, freaked out wolf body, and bad boy reputation didn't attract this kind of girl. No, I got the girls who wanted some quick pleasure and bragging rights.

But look at her, who wouldn't want her? And that was when my first possessive wave of protectiveness swept over me. The wolf inside me growled at the idea of anyone else touching his mate. She was ours. It all began to come together in my mind. I remembered Sam describing this kind of connection, devotion, all consuming need to love, honor, protect another person, His Emily… his imprint. Ohhhhh no. Ohhhhh yes. This girl, this young woman is my imprint. But I don't even know her name, is she here to meet a boyfriend, (inner growl) or worse a husband? (louder inner growl)

And I'm not sure how, but that was when the idea hit me, could this be the chief's daughter. I was expecting a child, could she be older than I'd imagined? So I tried it on for size, couldn't hurt right?

"Isabella?" I asked tentatively "Isabella Swan?"

She seemed surprised I spoke to her, it took her a while to respond, was she feeling everything I

was? I noticed her heart rate pick up and I was worried I had scared her, I mean I am a big, scary looking Indian she has never met before, ugghh, I should have, I could have, …. But luckily here soft spoken voice took me from my personal reprimand, "Yes?" she answered with an unspoken question.

"I'm Paul, Paul Lahote. Charlie sent me to pick you up. He got caught up with an accident at the last minute and couldn't get away to pick you up, so he asked Billy to send someone for you and I was volun-told by my al- ah- friend, Sam." I stammered through quickly. "And so here I am, so yeah. Let's go get your stuff."

I could practically see the wheels in her head turning as she tried to figure out what the right thing to do in this situation.

"Okay, I'm not saying I don't believe you; but I'm just going to take a minute to call Charlie and confirm all this." My sweet girl said to me.

"Sure thing sweet girl, good thinking." I replied. I was proud of her. She should be careful, any creep could be just giving her a line. My girl was smart too. How did a big jerk like me get so lucky?

She called Charlie and everything checked out. So I softly placed my hand on the small of her back and led her to the baggage claim. Taking in, not for the first time, her sweet vanilla and strawberry scent. Barely touching her but clearly staking my claim to any guy stupid enough to even glance her direction.

And that is how I ended up walking out of the Port Angeles Airport next to the most gorgeous woman I'd ever seen in my life. The woman I was going to do everything in my power to make my own. Who was I to argue with fate. I've never had anything or anyone I could count on, call strictly my own.

But this beautiful little slip of a woman was mine, even if she didn't know it yet. And I am going to do everything in my power to keep her safe, to let her know she is loved and cared for. I might not have much, but I take care of what is mine. And the wolf and I were finally in agreement on something, Isabella Swan is mine, well ours; but same thing.

For someone who was moving permanently she sure didn't have much in the way of luggage. That worried me a little. This was a permanent move wasn't it? Why didn't I pay more attention to Billy and Sam when they were prattling on and on about her?

We reached my truck. I put her luggage in the back set of seats on the passenger side, opened the passenger door and held out my hand to help her in, the step seemed a little high for her. I was thrilled when she took me up on the offer. Placing her small delicate hand into mine; It hit me, I was made to take care of her. I just felt right, to both of us by the looks of it.

Now came the hard part. I've got her in my truck for 45 minutes. What do I say? How do I convince her to see me again?