Chapter Seven

The Council

Paul was rarely nervous. After finding out he could turn into a giant wolf, there wasn't much else to fear. But as he joined Jared and Sam at the impromptu council meeting that had been called, Paul felt his stomach clench. Sure, it was easy to say that he wasn't afraid of what people thought, but that fear would always be there. It wasn't like he and Jared could just leave if things went south either. It was all… complicated. He nearly snorted as he remembered that was what everyone had been saying to him only months ago. Sam made sure to put a gag order on Paul and Jared's minds when phased, so they would at least have some privacy from the pack. Ideally, Paul would have preferred to tell them over the council. After all, he had shit on all of them. Like Quil dressing up to have Claire's weekly tea party, or the way Jacob practically pitched a tent whenever Bella Swan decided he was good enough to hang out with. Then there was the whole deal with Embry's illegitimate conception. They still weren't sure who his father was. Of course, these weren't things that Paul would needlessly bring up, and he hoped that he wouldn't have to.

"I'm glad you called us, Sam." Harry Clearwater nodded a hello at the trio before taking a seat. The entire council sat around Billy Black's table, all of them eyeing Paul and Jared like they would fuck right on the spot. It was probably a good thing that Sam gave them a heads up, because Paul could already feel his temper rising. As they took their seats, Jared's hand found Paul's under the table.

"It's an unusual situation…" Billy broached carefully. It was easy to see that he didn't want to offend the volatile wolf that sat across from him. "Since none of our ancestors were… of that persuasion, it's hard to find any documented history that could help us."

"Perhaps we're reading too much into this." Harry Clearwater offered as he gestured towards the pair. "Maybe it's because of the shift. These boys are together days and nights. They're literally in each other's heads. That kind of closeness can easily be misinterpreted." He shrugged as Paul's eyes narrowed.

"We were fucking before we phased." He bit out.

"Paul!" Jackie and Jared chorused in unison, Sam simply dropping his head to his hands.

"Seriously, dude?" Jared sighed and gave him a pointed look as Jackie shook her head. "My mom's right here. You couldn't have just said that this started before that?"

Paul shrugged as he leaned back in his chair, his hand tightening around Jared's. "They're the ones that want to play this off like it's all in our heads." Old Quil simply tisked and lit his trusty pipe. "I love Jared. And he loves me, despite the imprint. That should say enough."

"We're not doubting your feelings, dear." Jackie smiled softly at the pair as she laid her hand over Jared's free one. "We're just trying to find out how your feelings are strong enough to overcome an imprint."

"I think the problem is that we're romanticizing this whole thing." Old Quil finally spoke through a puff of smoke. "It's always been a problem with the wolves in our tribe. We read the soulmates part and disregard the entire entry about how imprints are the best candidates to pass down the gene." He shrugged as Sam frowned.

"So you're saying that the imprint is nothing more than that? It's easy for you to say, you haven't felt it." It was easy to see that Sam was taking this whole thing personally. After all, if that was the truth, that made his betrayal of Leah Clearwater all the worse.

"Calm down, son. We know you love Emily." Harry offered up. "I know how much you cared for Leah, and you wouldn't have left her if not for the imprint."

"It's primal." Old Quil waved off again. "The need to reproduce, to carry on the gene. It's as wild as the wolves themselves."

"Tread carefully, Quil." Billy sighed with a shake of his head. "The old stories, the way Sam is with Emily – what else could explain it but love?"

"Hormones." Old Quil seemed unbothered as he leaned back in his chair indifferently. Paul snorted once, but earned an elbow in the side from Jared and a cross look from Jackie. "The old tribe members were younger than Sam, as are all the other members of this pack. You take a bunch of teenaged boys and point them at a girl that their wolf wants to reproduce with – what else do you expect? The imprint is the wolf's mate, but we put so much pressure on these young men, we forget that most of them are still in high school."

"I tried to fight the imprint." Sam justified. "I fought for nearly a month, and it almost killed me and Em both."

"Yeah, but you're not queer." Old Quil's eyes slid to the boys. "No offense, but let's call a duck a duck. You two were together before the shift. Obviously, Paul has something that Kim doesn't. the wolf wants Kim as a mate, but the man has already made his decision. The passages say that a wolf will be whatever an imprint needs. Kim might think she's in love with Jared, but she doesn't need a mate that's in love with another man, now does she? That leaves friend or brother."

"So you're saying Jared is stronger than his wolf?" Jackie asked, the unmistakable twinkle of pride in her eyes.

"I'm saying that it wouldn't be good for the wolf or the imprint for Jared to lie to her." Tapping out the ashes of his pipe on the table top, and earning a glare from Billy in the process, Old Quil settled in. "I spoke my peace, but I don't know any more than you lot do."

"I just don't think it's right." Harry cut in, raising his hands in defense. "I said it – we were all thinkin' it. As an elder of this tribe and man of God, I cannot condone spiting on the great spirits by refusing the gift of an imprint."

"So it would be better to lie to the poor girl?" Jackie turned in her seat, full on mama-bear mode as Jared's hand tightened on Paul's. He hadn't realized he was shaking until that moment. "I don't care if my son is gay, straight, or anything in between! He and Paul put their lives on the lines to keep our tribe safe! I think supporting them in wanting to be with each other is the least we can do! They'll get enough backlash from the idiotic masses that don't understand their sacrifice. We don't need to pile on."

"Relax, Jackie." Billy patted her arm. "No matter what Harry thinks, he doesn't speak for the council. And let's face it, there is nothing we can do to stop these two from being together if that's what they want. As for Kim…" He looked to Jared. "I'm afraid that's your cross to bear either way."

"I might not support it, but like Billy said, I sure as hell can't stop it." Harry offered up as his eyes landed on Jared. "But I'm sure you know Kim's father left their family a few days ago." Paul watched Jared's face twist in pain and disgust. The same thing had happened to Jared when he was only ten. "On top of that, her grandmother is ill. Perhaps now is not the best time to break the news to her."

"On this, I do agree with Harry." Old Quil nodded. "Besides, it will buy us some time to go back through the records of the last pack. Given that it was before the area around our land was sieged, I'm sure it was more common than we think."

They were all far more tense leaving the meeting than they were going into it. Sam was quiet as he no doubt contemplated what it meant if the imprint was only for reproduction. Paul was working on keeping his anger in check so he wouldn't tear up Sam's truck, and Jared was trying to figure out the best way to be with Kim, but keep her at a distance so that it wouldn't hurt more in the end. "Paul, you're on patrol. Jared, you should go check on Kim. I'm sure she's been calling around looking for you." Sam's voice was distant as he pulled up in front of his house. The others could be heard inside, completely unaware of the internal torment the three eldest pack members were going through.

Exiting the truck, Paul caught Jared's arm before he could get too far. He knew the others would come outside to greet them soon, so he spoke quickly. "I'm only patrolling until ten. Come by my place after?" He asked, hopeful that they could have a minute alone.

Glancing around quickly, Jared pressed his lips to Paul's. "I'll be there when you get done." He promised before jogging into the woods just as the others emerged from the house.

"Where is Jared going?" Quil frowned as he chewed on a chicken leg, tossing an extra one to Paul.

"To check on Kim." He mumbled as he took a bite. The council meeting meant skipping lunch, and now he had to run a five hour patrol. Paul tried not to be jealous of Kim. It wasn't her fault after all... but it was hard to not envy her.

"Poor Kim." Embry frowned as he leaned against Sam's truck.

"Poor Jared." Quil added. "I couldn't imagine if Claire was hurting and there was nothing I could do to help."

Humming, Paul tossed the bare chicken leg into the bushes before stepping out of his shorts. They stopped caring about nudity a long time ago. It was simply an unspoken rule to keep your eyes to yourself. "I've got patrol. Make sure you're there to take over at ten, Jacob." He instructed before stepping away from Sam's truck, exploding in a flurry of silver fur.

Patrolling wasn't ever anything special to Paul. The younger pack members liked feeling like they were useful, but in all honesty, it was just them running in circles picking up on the Cullen's scents. They were always faint since the Cullen's honored the treaty, which left them simply running in circles. It wasn't so bad when Paul was alone, it gave him some peace and quiet. At least as a wolf, his temper was more in check. It wasn't like he could lose it and explode into an even bigger wolf. Most of his solo patrols were spent day dreaming, unless he accidentally fell asleep. Then it was just dreaming.

'Hey man, it's time for the shift change.' Jacob's voice was dull, even in his mind. Paul could see that he had just talked to Sam about Bella Swan. Apparently, Jacob wanted to pursue her even though she wasn't his imprint. Given her tie with the Cullen's, Sam thought it would just cause more trouble.

'Fuck that!' Paul growled, giving Jacob's mental pity party pause. 'So what if she's not your fucking imprint? People have been falling in love and getting together without imprints since – forever! I say fuck Sam and go for it, dude.' Paul wasn't usually the supportive type, especially when it came to the leech lover, but this one hit close to home.

'Wow, Paul… that's very… understanding of you.' Jacob sounded skeptical. Paul couldn't fault him, he would be too. 'What did you mean when you thought it hits close to home?'

Paul's mind hit a block as he tried to think of Jared – silently, he thanked Sam for his gag order. 'It's complicated…' He echoed the rez's favorite phrase as he started moving towards his house. 'Let's just say, I get it.'

Jacob was quiet for a long time, his mind a flurry of thoughts about who this girl could be. After all, the pack only really hang out together. 'Shit, dude… it's not Kim is it?'

Paul snorted, blowing the grass under his feet flat. That would almost have been an easier explanation. 'Something like that… Let's just keep this between us, okay?'

'Sure sure.' He could almost see Jacob roll his eyes. 'As long as you don't tell Sam I'm going to see Bella tomorrow.'

Paul hummed in agreement before shifting back, slipping on his cut-offs as he stepped into his back yard. He could hear Jared moving around inside, his scent clinging to the grass and walls. It was something Paul could get used to – not that he would talk about that tonight. They had a long way to go before they moved in together. Well, maybe not a long way. Jared had practically lived there before the shift. Stepping through the back door and into the kitchen, Paul paused at the scent of meat filling the house. The sink was overflowing with dishes, and Paul was eighty percent sure that there was gravy on the ceiling, but it was the first time his house ever felt like an actual home.

"I tried to make us something for dinner." Jared offered sheepishly as he entered the kitchen.

"You cooked me dinner?" Paul's brows rose as he watched the light blush spread over Jared's dark cheeks. No one but Jackie or Emily had ever cooked Paul anything.

"I tried." Jared looked anywhere but at Paul, trying to keep his composure. "Burned the shit out of it. Don't blame me if it tastes like charcoal. Those online recipes are shit." He shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest.

Smiling lightly, Paul moved to Jared, catching his face with one large hand. Bending slightly, Paul brushed his lips against Jared's. "Thanks, babe." His smile stretched as Jared's heart rate picked up.

Jared mumbled something about only thanking him if it didn't kill them both before leading Paul into the dining room. The steak – at least Paul assumed it was steak – was completely black, and the potatoes looked near raw, but even if it tasted as bad as it looked, it would be Paul's favorite meal.

"Smells good." He offered as he took a seat, pulling Jared down in his lap before he could get far. "Where did you get the steaks?"

"Stole them from my mom's freezer." Jared smiled as Paul reached around him to cut off a corner of the steak. Despite being burned on the outside, the inside was rare. He popped the piece in his mouth, chewing slowly and marveling at the fact that the inside was ice cold. "How bad is it?" Jared's nose crinkled in the middle as he fought back a laugh.

"It's not bad." Pail lied, taking another bite. "By the way, Jacob thinks I'm in love with Kim."

Jared blinked, his brows knitting in confusion as he looked down at Paul. "How exact- what?" He stuttered out as he tried to process the information.

"Long story. Just don't be surprised if the guys start acting weird around you." Paul smiled as he took a bite of the potatoes, working to control the grimace that almost took over his face. Why were they sour?

Jared sighed and shook his head. "I guess we'll have to get used to people treating us weird. Imagine the looks on their faces when I call you my boyfr-" He cut himself off, face going hard as Paul froze.

"Were you going to say that I'm your boyfriend?" Paul asked as he placed his fork down. It was odd – a good odd, but odd nonetheless. Paul had hardly ever been a boyfriend, and certainly not to another guy.

"I-I mean, we. We're kind of dating – I'm not really sure if there's a term for-" He growled as Paul's body started shaking with laughter under him. "Shut the fuck up and eat your shitty steak."

"It's the best steak I've ever had." Paul quipped, his arms wrapping around Jared to hold him in place as he tried to squirm away. "My boyfriend made it for me." He laughed as Jared groaned. "Seriously, babe. I like it. The steak and the title." Paul cooed as he brushed his lips against Jared's. "But what the fuck did you put in those potatoes?"

AN: How cute is it when someone that can't cook tries to because they want to do something special for someone they love? After all the tension, I wanted a little break of fluff. I adore Old Quil. I hadn't planned on writing him that way, but I'm so happy with how he came out!

As always, a super big thank you to Maxsmomma and YaleAceBella12 for reviewing! You guys rock!