Author's Note: I don't even know where to begin. I think I'm speechless. I am completely overwhelmed by the support you guys have shown for the first chapter of my first ever Twilight fanfiction. No fandom has ever been this welcoming, and the positive response was amazing. Thank you to each and every person who reviewed, who read the chapter, and all of you who added me or the story to your alerts, or added the story to your favorites. I cannot believe it. Thank you. Please leave another review!
Disclaimer: I still don't own it. Everything belongs to Stephanie Meyer. I just like to play around.
Paul POV
I had so many thoughts rushing through my head at one time that I couldn't even figure them out. I had to get my shit together before I punched a hole in the wall of Sam and Emily's guest room.
More than anything I know that right now I'm feeling anger. Anger at Jake for thinking he owns what the fates have deemed mine. Thinking we can fight it out, he can assert his rightful Alpha title, and I'd just back off. He knows what this is—it's the real deal.
I'm angry at the fates. How could they think my life partner was a leech-lover? How could they hurt Jake like that? Even though I am beyond pissed off at him at the moment, I don't want to hurt one of my brother's. Not like this.
I'm pissed at the Cullens. If those stupid leeches never moved here in the first place, or moved back, none of this bullshit would ever be happening to begin with. I gasped at the pain that shot through my chest when I thought that, and collapsed to my knees, my hand splayed overtop my heart as if it would soothe the pain. As much as I don't want to, I can't hate that this happened. I can't hate her.
I'm confused. I don't understand how with one look, my entire being has changed. I'm still easily pissed, as seen with Jake, but after she slapped me, I didn't want to attack her. I wanted to fix whatever I did to make her angry in the first place. How can everything change so drastically?
Then, if I'm being honest, I think I'm sad. Sad that she'll never feel the same for me, and I'm probably stuck with the searing pain in my chest for all eternity, and I'll have to watch her in another man's arms. Or a leech's. I struggled to breathe. Good god, I need to stop thinking these things, all it's doing is causing me pain.
I heard Bella's voice outside the window, breaking through the fog of my brain and pain in my heart. I couldn't help but growl when I stood up and looked out the window. Jake was dragging her away from the house rather forcefully, placing her in her truck and slamming the door with enough force that it probably wouldn't open and close right again.
Anger was the dominant emotion, and I stared to shake. When I saw Jake start the truck and back out of the driveway, I exited the room quickly.
"What the hell Sam?" I roared, coming into the dining area.
Sam jerked up, along with Jared at his flank. Emily was safe in the kitchen, and Embry was watching attentively, but stayed seated eating probably his fifth muffin.
"Paul," Sam spoke in a warning.
I ignored it.
"How could you let him leave with her?"
"I-."
"He's a new wolf Sam!" I wasn't stopping to hear anything my Alpha had to say.
"Pa-."
"He's angry! He could hurt her!"
"Jake would never hurt Bella, Paul," Sam assured me.
Fed up, I went for the jugular. "Just like you'd never hurt Emily, huh Sam?"
I found myself on the ground, my jaw aching from a powerful right hook, as my Alpha stood over me in a symbol of dominance.
"Paul, I'll let you off the hook for that, this once. I know what happened makes us crazy at first, and I know you're worried about Bella. But you will never disrespect my imprint or me again in our home. Understood?"
I was still angry, but I knew when I was wrong. I nodded.
Sam looked deep into my eyes, and he must've seen something he agreed with. Reaching down, he offered me a hand up. I took it, and knew things were okay.
"I'm sorry Sam, Emily. That was uncalled for," I apologized.
"Holy shit," Jared said, sitting when he realized the threat was over. "Did Paul just apologize?"
"Thank the imprint," Emily grinned, already over the whole fiasco. My entire body froze. It was the first time the word was spoken out loud after it happened, and the first time it was even acknowledged by any of us.
"I don't want it," I grumbled, plopping into a seat. I then moaned as I grasped at my chest with both hands.
"Easy," Sam sat next to me, patting my back. "You can't go against the imprint Paul. It just isn't possible."
I gritted my teeth together, trying to focus through the haze of pain.
"It's the best thing that could possibly happen to you Paul," Jared told me with a faraway look in his eyes, probably thinking of Kim. I assumed it was supposed to offer some sort of comfort, but it didn't.
"I know," I ground out, still trying to get past the pain in my chest. "I don't want to fight the imprint. I think I accepted it as soon as it happened."
"Then what's the problem?" Embry asked, clueless.
"What isn't?" I let out a humorless laugh. "The Cullens, Jake, Bella herself?"
"Our ancestors don't mess up Paul. Everything happens for a reason. You are the one she needs most in this world, and she's the one you need the most," Sam told me. I know what imprinting is, thanks buddy.
"She won't accept it Sam," I mumbled embarrassingly. I didn't want to care this much. I didn't want it to bother me that this was the truth.
"Maybe, maybe not," He agreed. "But you will be there for her in whatever way she wants you."
"She will want you Paul," Emily cut in. "Maybe just as a friend, as painful as that is. But she won't be able to avoid the imprint either."
"But what about Jake?" I asked my Alpha, in a tone so unsure that I was even questioning who I was.
Sam sighed, knowing this was probably going to cause some tension in the pack, until Jake could accept what happened. "Jake will do what's right. He's tied to this pack and the reservation more than any of us. He knows what's right. He also knows that no one in the pack gets in the way of a brother and his imprint."
"I hope you're right," Embry muttered. "Jake really loves that girl. He has ever since he was four."
I couldn't do anything but clench my fists and growl, my wolf screaming mine.
Bella POV
The silence in the car was loud, as the tension grew. I don't understand what is going on, except that Jake and his friends turn into giant werewolves. Jake is pissed, and I don't really know why. My hand is throbbing, because I hit a guy I don't know in Jake's honor.
I risked a glance over, and all I saw were white knuckles, tightly gripping the steering wheel. I briefly wondered how he hadn't snapped it in two yet.
"Dammit!" Jake screamed, breaking the silence and making me jump. We had been driving for about ten minutes in complete silence, headed in the direction of his house.
Jake pulled the car over to the side of the road, and I could hear his deep intake of breaths, but didn't dare glance his way.
"How the hell could this happen?" Jake roared, slamming his hands down on the steering wheel. I heard the crack, and under other circumstances, I probably would have at least cracked a smile at the irony.
"Jake?" I whispered, scared of him for the first time in my life. "You're scaring me."
Those words seemed to penetrate through to his brain, and I watched as the anger seeped out of his body into defeat, right in front of my eyes.
"Bella," Jake moaned sadly, before shifting in the seat so he was facing me. "Oh Bells," he whispered, looking into my eyes, and I'm guessing seeing the fear in them.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart," He swore, reaching a hand out tentatively to cup my cheek. "I just keep hurting you. I keep breaking my promise."
"Jake, what the hell is going on?" I asked, finally getting my thoughts in order.
"I-." He began, before cutting himself off, clearly not knowing what to say. He dropped his hand back to his side, and began to stare down at it resting on the seat.
"Am a werewolf," I finished, nodding my head in affirmation.
"I'm sorry," He looked up quickly, apologizing earnestly.
"Why?" I asked.
"I'm a monster and I hurt you," He looked so torn up that I could help but slide toward him on the bench seat.
"Oh Jake. You could never be a monster," I promised, knowing with all of my heart it is true. "Leaving me for those weeks—yeah, it hurt. But I understand now. Well, no, I don't, but I think I will when you explain it all."
Jake looked hesitant.
"What is it?" I asked, curious as to what caused this sheepish look to appear on his face.
"I really shouldn't be the one to explain everything to you," He answered me, looking extremely broken up by this fact.
"Why not?" I asked. He was my best friend, who else would have more of a right to explain it than him. Sam?
"Is it Sam again? What power does he have over you?" I questioned angrily.
"No, it's not Sam," Jake jumped into protective mode. "He's our Alpha of the pack," He looked at me to see if he had to explain more, but I nodded that I understood. "What he says goes, and when he orders something, we can't ignore it—physically."
"That must suck," I apologized.
Jake shrugged. "It's not so bad. He doesn't abuse it."
"So if Sam isn't the one that has to tell me, why can't you?" I wanted so many answers and Jake wasn't supplying them.
"I think we should head back to Sam's," Jake spoke after a few minutes of silence. This surprised me, because it looked like the last thing in the universe he wanted to do, was head back to Sam's.
"Okay?" I half-confirmed, half-questioned. "But why?"
"I think it would be best if all the guys are there to explain it, and Emily can answer any questions you might have," Jake informed me, but I could tell it was only half truths.
"Why would Emily be of help?" I asked, but I didn't get an answer as Jake ignored me, started the truck, and made a U-turn.
Frustrated, I fell back into my seat, angry that Jake wasn't being helpful. I winced as we hit a pothole on the road, and my sore hand bounced.
"The ice not helping Bells?" Jake asked, and although I was angry, I couldn't help but be glad that my nickname was falling so easily off of his lips again.
I shook my head. "It hurts Jake."
"We'll get you some Advil at Sam's. See if that helps," He pledged, before falling silent for the rest of the ride.
The butterflies became apparent in my stomach, and I don't understand how I can feel so apprehensive about going back to Sam's, yet feel like it's exactly where I belong at the same time.
Author's Note: As I said last chapter, I have most of the story written. I just need each chapter to be edited and checked over for errors, and then they'll go up! I'm shooting for every other day, but it's nearing finals for this college student, so I can't guarantee I'll stick to that. I actually am going out of town tomorrow through Saturday, but I hope to have the next chapter up for you sometime Sunday! ::crosses fingers:: Please leave a review—it'll only make me work harder and faster, and I am so thankful for each and every one!
