Chapter Eleven

Home Sweet Home

With Bella in on the pack secret, she was around a lot more. It didn't bother the pack, if only because it made Jacob more bearable, and Bella took up the grail of cooking for the pack once Emily left to visit her sister. That was only a few days ago, but they expected Sam to be unrelentingly grumpy. He seemed neutral, and his mind had always been hard to read, so only he really knew how he was taking it. For the first few days Bella had been with the pack, she was withdrawn but that had slowly started to change. It seemed like being around them helped, especially now that they learned the red-headed leech that has been sniffing around was after her. Sam was keeping watch on Seth Clearwater now that he had shot up a foot in nearly a week. He was the youngest yet; only fourteen. It drove them crazy to think that poor Seth would be dragged into the mess that their lives had become. But for now, the leech had retreated off of their land, and everyone was enjoying the peace while they could.

"We should go to Seattle this weekend." Jared announced as they made their way back to Paul's house after patrols. "Since we have Saturday off and everything. It'd be nice to spend some time away from the rez."

Paul smirked as he slipped his hand into Jared's. They didn't hold hands much, painfully aware of the looks they would get in town, but it was nice to be able to connect to him, even on a small level. "That could be fun. We could go on a real date." His smile widened as Jared's did.

They had 'dates' before, but they were always at Paul's house. It wasn't that they were ashamed of their relationship – they had moved past that a long time ago, it was that it was still hard to have people stare. It wasn't something Paul thought he'd ever get used to. It didn't matter that they were literally risking their lives for the tribe, people still whispered about them. The rumors had started right after Jared's accident, in no small part due to Emily, Paul was sure. No one said anything to their faces, they knew better than that, but they would hide their mouths behind their hands and talk about what a 'waste' it was. They would wonder who was the 'pitcher'. A few of the girls even giggled and joked about joining in. The worst of them spoke in hushed prayers for their souls to a God that wasn't even their own. All and all, the guys tried not to draw attention to themselves. Seattle would be more forgiving. It was more accepted there. They would just be another couple in the sea of the city.

"As long as we stay away from that new slasher movie." Jared grimaced. Quil had been trying to get everyone to go see it for a week, and Jared kept making excuses. Jared's feet halted in Paul's backyard a moment before Paul too picked up the sounds. Someone was moving inside the house. It sounded like it was coming from the living room, but he couldn't be sure. "Dude… someone's in your house."

Paul growled as he took a step, only to be yanked back to Jared's side. "I have to go stop whatever dumbass thought it would be a good idea to rob a werewolf." Paul bit out, but Jared simply rolled his eyes.

"Being a werewolf isn't going to do you much good if he's got a gun. You can't heal from a gunshot to the face, Paul. Call Bella and have the chief come down." He pleaded, frowning when a familiar voice cursing joined the rummaging.

Pausing, the boys looked to each other. "Holly." They said in unison. It had been months since Paul had seen his mother, which wasn't unusual. The thing that struck him as odd was that she was back so soon.

With a frown pulling at his lips, Paul made his way in through the backdoor, Jared quick on his heels. "You're back from your yacht trip early." He sneered to his mother as he entered the kitchen only to find her attempting to cook a box of macaroni and cheese. "Did the guy come to his senses and push you overboard?"

Slamming the box down on the table, Holly turned to her son with a scowl, her hands going to her hips. It reminded Paul of when he was young and his father was drunk. Anything would set the asshole off, but Holly would give him that same look and tell him he was being too loud or too annoying. Once, while he was simply doing homework. "The only reason I'm back in this shithole and not out sailing with my new boyfriend is because I got a call from Emily Young."

A rumbling growl built in Paul's chest as he stood straighter. Emily had no right to out him – and he had no doubt that she did just that if Holly's sour expression moving between them was any implication. "Oh yeah? She want your macaroni and cheese recipe?" He quipped with a sneer.

"You have no right to talk to me like that!" Her voice became shrill. "I am your mother and you didn't even bother to tell me you were a fag? I should have known with how close you two were growing up. With your sick sleepovers and need to always hang out together. I used to think you were exactly like your father, but even he had enough sense to not be queer!"

A growl ripped from Paul's chest, but luckily Jared was there to hold him back. "You have no right to know a fucking thing about me! You're not my mother, just an occasional roommate! You want to know about me so badly? How about showing your fucking face once in a while!" He bit out, his voice wavering with the shaking force of his body. "You wanna hear it? Fine, I'm gay!" He shouted the word so loud it seemed to bounce of the walls around them. "I'm a big, fat faggot. I like being buried balls deep in Jared's ass, and I like sucking his cock. I can't get enough of it!" His lips curled upwards as her light russet skin began to change color. "Is that want you wanted to hear, mother? You want to hear about how I'm in love with another guy? How I will always love him? How I can't picture ever being with anyone else? Shit, maybe we'll even get married. I'll make sure you have a seat right up front!"

"You're sick." She hissed, backing up as Jared struggled to pull Paul backwards.

"Paul…" Jared grunted with the effort to keep his grip locked. "She's not worth it, Paul. Don't let her do this to you."

"I'm his mother, you sick little fairy! If anyone isn't worth anything, it's you! You corrupted him!" As Holly's anger turned to Jared, Paul lost all control. Jared just managed to push him out the back door as he phased, taking part of the door frame with him. "I want you gone permanently, Paul!" She yelled from the safety of the doorway as the large wolf turned with a terrifying growl. "It's my house and I don't want any faggots in it! Don't you come back here!"

Sam had been phased when Paul lost control, and even through the anger and fear in his mind, Paul could make out Sam trying to sooth him. "It's okay, Paul…" His voice was as calm as ever. "As protectors, there are houses that can be granted to us, that's how I got mine. You can stay at my place until we figure this all out." Behind his words, Paul could see the anger felt at Emily for starting this whole thing. For the first time since the day he imprinted, his thoughts towards Emily were negative.

Jared phased as Holly attempted to slam the door on the broken frame. Rubbing his head along Paul's, he licked his muzzle. "It's okay, Paul. It will be okay. She's trash – she's always been trash. It'll be good for you to get away from her permanently."

With a small whimper, Paul turned his eyes to Jared before sighing. Returning the nuzzle, Paul turned and made his way towards Sam's place. Holly would be gone in a few days. He could come back for his stuff then.

Sam allowed Paul and Jared to sleep in his spare room that night, not forcing either one to talk. There was nothing that could really be said. Even when Jared and Paul decided to turn in, they just laid in the bed that felt too small and held each other. Paul wasn't surprised that his mother had acted that way, he should have expected it… what he didn't expect was how much it had hurt. There was a small part of him – one he didn't even know had existed until tonight – that still longed for his mother's love and approval. Jackie Call was a wonderful woman that had practically been a surrogate to him, but it just wasn't the same.

Luckily for Paul, he awoke to laughter and the smell of bacon the next morning, which lifted his mood a bit. The bed was empty beside him, which meant Jared had slipped out for patrol while he was sleeping. Dragging his feet to the bathroom to get cleaned up, Paul frowned at his reflection. He looked more run down than normal. It was almost laughable that he could go days chasing a fucking vampire, but one night with his mother had him drained.

By the time he reached the kitchen, the rest of the pack was filing in. Jared moved to him wordlessly, pressing a lingering kiss to his lips. "So now that everyone is here…" Bella bit her lip as she turned from the stove with a spatula in her hand. "I wanted to talk to you guys about something before breakfast."

"Why do women always want to talk before the food?" Quil groaned, earning a punch in the shoulder from Jacob.

"My dad got a call at the house last night. It was from… Holly Lahote." Her eyes moved away from Paul as he tensed. "She called him to say that there were… giant wolves around her house. She asked that he put an officer in the area until she was sure they were gone."

"That bitch." Jared hissed as he and Sam shared an angry look. "She could expose the pack!"

"I tried telling my father that she had a reputation for being a little crazy," her eyes darted to Paul again "sorry…"

"Don't be, she's batshit." Paul barked out as he took a seat at the table before pulling Jared onto his shaking lap. He was always clearer when Jared was nearby. He realized that Bella probably didn't know what had happened. They guys all knew because of the pack mind, but they didn't talk about it either. "Emily decided to out me to my mother, and she took it irrationally bad. Classic Holly Lahote."

Bella gave him a small, supportive smile. "He said that he would investigate it because it was his job, and if he finds anything, he'll call in animal control. I called Jake last night and he and Billy have been getting rid of your guys' tracks."

"This is too far." Sam shook his head. "I need to talk to the council. Most of them anyway." He sighed before laying a hand on Paul's shoulder. "Don't worry, Paul. We're going to fix this Holly thing once and for all."

Paul knew that he should be upset, but with everything that had happened, he was just… numb. He ate his breakfast without tasting it, Jared no longer in his lap, but pressed to his side. It didn't matter – he told himself mentally. He had the pack, he had Jared. The rest of the world could fuck off for all he cared.

"So I…" Jared cut through the chatter, looking nervous. "I heard from Kim this morning."

"That's great, babe." Paul gave him a tired smile. It was good news. Even though Jared didn't show it, it had been bothering him that she wasn't talking to him.

Jared seemed to perk up when he realized Paul wasn't upset. "It is! She said that she was sorry for walking out, and she accepted my apology for lying to her. She said that we can still be friends – that she always wanted a gay best friend." He rolled his eyes. "She said all this after making a joke about a three-way." His sharp eyes cut to Quil. "Apparently that was your idea? Said that it would a good way to get back at me?"

Quil barked out a laugh along with the others. Even Bella ducked her head into Jake's shoulder. It was only then that Paul realized how close they were sitting. "When did this happen?" He asked with a raised brow at the pair.

"It hasn't." Jacob quickly defended. "We're not like… official." He winced at his own inability to make light of it.

"Not yet." Bella offered, smiling reassuringly towards Jacob. "I'm still a little raw and with Victoria… I'm getting there though. All of you have helped a lot."

"Bella, as long as you keep cooking, you're welcome any time." Embry smiled as Jacob frowned.

"She's not your personal chef. Learn to make a fucking sandwich yourself." Jacob barked, tossing his last piece of bacon towards Embry, who caught it between his teeth, much like an actual dog.

"Oh, by the way," Jared's voice cut through the laughter as he turned towards Embry. "Kim wanted me to give you her number." Embry's raised brows were enough to make even Paul laugh. Yeah – he thought as Jared leaned into his side more – fuck the rest of the world.

AN: Okay, let's all say it together: Fuck Holly. She's terrible. I've got plans for her, though. She'll get hers. I don't know how everyone feels about Jacob/Bella, but the kid got screwed in the books so I threw him a bone (pun intended). Emily really irks the hell out of me in the fic lol. She'll get hers too. I really wanted Kim to be kind of like a sister to Jared. She was always portrayed as sweet and shy. Besides, let's be honest, he did her dirty. Even if he had his reasons, she deserved honesty.

As always, a super big hug and thank you to everyone that reviewed! Braddox, YaleAceBella12, Maxsmomma, and LuvinTwilight143. You guys are my superstars. I feel like we're in this together now lol.

Braddox: Yeah, I always wondered why Paul laughed when she said Jacob was afraid, and the only logical reason I could come up with was that it was just so ridiculous. I totally ship Bella/Paul too. The Bella/Paul stories are some of my favorites. It would have been interesting for Paul to imprint on her, I almost wish I would have thought of that. I don't think he'll imprint in this fic though. (Rachel Black who?) I'm going to have the council sit down with the pack soon and go over the new stuff they learned about imprints! It should be fun!

Maxsmomma: Yeah, fuck Emily right now. In a lot of ways, the shit she's pulling is way worse than what Holly said to Paul. Bitch thinks she's untouchable because of the imprint. I'm gonna have to learn her a thing!

LuvinTwilight143: I'm thinking of doing a chapter from Sam's POV once Leah phases and having a little side plot there. I don't want to take away from the story too much, but they deserve a happy ending!