AN: thanks for the reviews, as usual you're all amazing. Thanks to astridt244 for reassuring me about my writing and for being there to help me along the way.

...For sure he wasn't giving her up without a fight...

Chapter 12

Paul had walked into the forest, and was reveling in the feeling of the bustling nature all around him, his wolf was enjoying the place and the call to phase was stronger than usual. Since he had met Bella he had phased very little because he couldn't afford to reveal the secret to anyone else so now, alone and troubled it was with great relief that he was breathing the fresh air in the darkness of the place. What bothered him was that he didn't know what Bella was going to do; he didn't even dare to hope that her feelings for him could be compared to her love for Jacob, what if the little Alpha convinced her about giving them a chance?

He could understand Jacob, Bella was his first love; his brother had been fascinated with her since they were kids. Her beauty in addition to her kindness had definitely hit the mark with Jacob, Paul had been in his mind and he knew the depth of the younger guy feelings, and he even doubted that Jake could ever stop loving her. Imprinting wasn't going to be a problem for Jacob either; he was too stubborn to succumb to 'fake' love, because that compulsion to both him and Jacob had always felt wrong, forced and fake.

After half an hour he walked back to the truck and found Bella sitting mutely in it and watching the phone without blinking. His heart was in his throat, what would she say to him? Was she leaving him?

When he opened the door, she turned to look at him and he could see that she had been crying. Surprisingly he found her in his arms before he could speak, he felt her clutching onto him and when he looked down at her she placed her lips on his. "Make love to me Paul." She whispered, and he was unsure, was this a goodbye or a way of telling him that she had decided to stay?

He was going to ask her but she placed her hand on his mouth. "Not now... we'll talk later... I need... I need you."

Paul didn't hesitate to kiss her then, he slowly took off her t-shirt, placing soft kisses from her stomach up to her breasts and when she was just in her bra, his hand slid behind her and he unhooked it, Bella took the hem of his t-shit and helped him getting it off as well. They slowly took off their jeans and underwear.

Paul then sat and pulled her onto his lap. She placed her hands around his neck and kissed him on the mouth, their tongue mingled and fused. His hands slid down until he reached her ass, he lifted her and then moved her onto him. When he was inside her he took a moment to look into her eyes, she was looking back at him with such an intensity and another emotion he couldn't still decipher. Bella placed her hands on his shoulders and then she started moving and setting the pace, Paul was keeping his hands on her ass helping her movement. She then placed her mouth on his shoulder, not biting but licking it. It seemed like she wanted to absorb him in any way she could, and then she started moving faster and cried out; Paul moaned and helped her move even more quickly, angling to go deeper into her until they both came.

It had been fast and intense, and he really didn't know what to think, the doubt was torturing him. The wolf knew that he wouldn't give her up that easily though. He was still inside her when she moved her head away from his shoulder and looked him into his eyes.

"I'm going to stay with you." She said simply.

However, he wasn't satisfied; he needed to know what had been said between them. "What happened Swan?"

She pressed her lips closed and then took a deep breath. She shivered and moved away from him. "Let's get dressed and I'll tell you while you drive."

He nodded, they put on their clothes and then he started the truck again.

"I called him from your phone, but I hid the caller ID. I didn't want him to know that I was with you yet, he sounded unsure about whether to be angry with me for calling this late or to be happy that I finally was calling him. I didn't give him much time to ask me questions..." Her voice broke for a moment and then she cleared her throat. It must have been painful for her to hear his voice again. "I told him that indeed I had left Edward, that I hadn't been happy with him and that it had been better for everyone involved that I had disappeared. I explained him that there was the treat of the Volturi and that I couldn't possibly get back to Forks... that part of my life was over... forever... I... I revealed to him that I met someone else, and that he... that he was making me happy, that I felt a connection with this man that I never had either with him or Edward. Jacob was so angry and a lot of bad words were exchanged... needless to say he told me that he wasn't going to give up on me, that I belonged with him and that I just needed to see him again to realize it too."

Paul was very proud of her for sticking up to her convictions, but he had a nagging doubt as well. It was easier to tell Jacob that she didn't want him through phone, but would she really feel the same if she met him? "I think he needs to hear it from you, you need to be looking into his eyes and be sure about your choice." He told her.

She turned to look at him and she seemed angry. "Do you doubt me Paul? I left Edward... Edward the man I was ready to die for... and I already left Jacob once... what makes you think that seeing him would change my mind? Honestly can't you see how I feel about you?" She shouted.

"How you feel about me? Well, no so do enlighten me Swan!" He roared. "You told me you like me and you want to compare it to what you feel for Jacob? Forgive me for doubting you!" He snarled sarcastically.

She huffed and slapped him on his arm. "You are the most insufferable... fuck off Paul!" she told him angrily.

Then she took a big breath, bit her lip and shook her head. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I'm still emotionally weak from the phone call… a lot of awful things were said but he was mostly hurt and angry at me, and I can understand him. I apologize Paul, I know that you don't know me enough to be able to trust me right away… I made lots of mistakes in my past, but I did pay for them. So Paul, I want to be honest... I don't just like you... this time with you has been... amazing and I know now that I'm falling in love with you, and your awful character, and your stubborn possessive wolf..." Bella whispered.

Paul was stunned. Was she really falling for him? The big question was what about him? Could he really love her? Invest his heart and his happiness in this relationship? He turned quickly to look at her and with the softer tone he whispered. "Hell be damned, but I'm fucking falling in love with you too Swan."

Her smile warmed his heart, when she scooted closer he sighed. Both the man and the wolf were making peace with the idea of being with this little slip of a girl forever. She laughed a little. "So you're stuck with me." She joked.

"Nahhh Swan, you are stuck with me and my wolf." He bantered back.

"I don't mind." She murmured, placing her head again on his shoulder. He liked that she was cuddling to him any chance she got because he was a physical being too. They were more than compatible and he knew there and then that he would marry this girl one day, have kids with her and he would protect her from every danger. In that moment he realized selfishly that he didn't care whether his tribe survived or not, he had given up part of his youth to fight against vampires so he had already given so much to them. Jacob, the Elders and the pack would have to make peace with the idea that Bella was his mate and he was willing to face whatever consequence from his choice.

"There's another phone call you need to make Swan. You need to call Rosalie and check Cullen progress on us." Paul told her, Bella's heart quickened its pace but she nodded.

"Okay… I guess I can't avoid another confrontation." She whispered sadly.

"I'm sorry Swan, hopefully this will be the last time you have to talk to her." He told and kissed the crown of her hair quickly. "We'll stop in the next town and you'll call her from a pay-phone."

"Okay." Bella said and they drove until the next town in silence, both probably thinking about everything that had happened and the changing dynamics in their relationship.

AN2: soon they will meet Edward... ready or not!