I was sitting in fourth period biology trying not to drift off, but lack of sleep combined with Mr. Garcia's monotone voice was turning it into a quite a challenge. It seemed like I could barely string a couple hours of sleep together lately, and I thought the pack life was demanding before I was Alpha. The pack recently acquired a new member; Paul's cousin, Aidan Cordero. Being as he was related to Paul it came as no surprise that he was a total hothead, phasing at the ripe old age of 13. Sam and I were trying to stay with him as much as possible to make sure he didn't get into any trouble and trying to help him phase back. So far it's been 5 days and no luck. He was constantly complaining about how he hated being a wolf and how he just wanted to go back. His attitude was wearing thin on everyone's patience, especially Paul's, who stubbornly insisted that he was never this much of an idiot.

"Dude, he's a carbon copy of you 2 years ago." Embry chortled, after one of Paul's many implorations that they were nothing alike.

"Whatever Call, I'm not like that anymore." Paul replied.

And believe it or not, this was true. Paul had changed inordinately over the last year and a half. Gone was the arrogant, ill-tempered asshole of the past. Okay, maybe not gone, he definitely made an appearance from time to time, but never around the reason for his attitude 180.

I know what you're thinking. A girl changed Paul Lahote? Say it ain't so. But it's true, only you would never guess who the girl is. Her name is Sarah Lahote..Paul's daughter.

You're reeling, I know, I was too, but that's not even the craziest part. The kicker is that her mother is my sister, Rachel. Now you're probably surprised that Paul is still around to see the light of day. Believe me I wanted to kill him, I really did, but Rachel wouldn't let me. She told me that they were in love and I scoffed in disbelieve, but she was adamant. She wouldn't even let me fight him. Needless to say I had a lot of pent up aggression towards him.

So, I punished him the only way I could, by piling on his duties in the pack. I had him patrolling almost around the clock and the rare situations we had with vampires I ordered him to stay behind. This went on for quite a while until Rachel gave me a verbal beat down, which coming from a girl half my size was a bit of a blow to the ego. She yelled at me, saying Paul was never around to help her or go with her to doctors appointments and that it was all because of my petty, personal grudge. She also said that this was the whole reason they had kept their relationship a secret until now, because they knew I would flip out. Of course, she used more colourful words than that, but you get the idea.

So, I let up. As soon as I did Paul was at my house, a lot. And even though we weren't the best of friends I couldn't deny that he was good to Rachel. He went with her to every single doctor's appointment from then on and always made sure she had everything she needed. I'd never seen Paul treat anyone that well unless he stood to gain something in return. He was scared, I knew that much from when we patrolled together, but he wasn't going to abandon Rachel. I could see from his thoughts that he really did love her. So I had to grudgingly admit that he wasn't a complete jackass.

Everyone immediately fell in love with Sarah Rebecca Lahote. It surprised everyone, Paul included, just how much he loved his daughter. Whenever he was patrolling he was thinking about her, thinking how he couldn't wait to get back to her. So I cut him some slack, lightening his schedule. Or in Quil's words, gave him a maternity leave. The old Paul definitely resurfaced when Quil thought that.

The bell rang announcing the end of the day, breaking me from my thoughts. I would definitely have to get the review for tomorrow's test from somebody.. I barely paid attention to the second half of class.

I decided to leave school earlier than usual, opting to skip my normal routine of going to the gym in favour of some much needed sleep. When I got home I threw my backpack by the door and went straight to my room, collapsing into my bed.

It seemed as though I had only been a sleep a few seconds when my phone rang, but after a quick glance at my clock I realized it had been over an hour. I groaned, willing my hand to move. I reached for my phone, and eyes still tightly shut, trying to hold onto the last wisp of unconsciousness, pressed the phone to my ear.

"Hello," I said, my voice slightly distorted from sleep.

"Jake?" Bella's voice rang in my ear, sounding a little frantic. "Are you busy?"

"Um not really," I replied, struggling not to fall back asleep. "What's up?"

"My truck won't start and Charlie's at work and I didn't want to bug you, but I have an exam in an hour and I'm kind of freaking out. Do you think you could drive me to Port Angeles?"

"Sure," Reluctantly I rolled out of bed, pulling on the first pair of sweats I found on my floor.

"Are you sure? You weren't doing something? You sounded a little distracted,"

"Bells, it's fine. You have to get to your exam; of course I'll drive you. Just give me 5 minutes."

She breathed out a sigh of relief. "Okay thanks so much. I was about to have a heart attack,"

I told her no problem and said goodbye, too tired to even make a joke about how if she had a heart attack at least there would be a nurse on the scene. I dropped my phone on my bed and pulled my favourite sweater over my head, not bothering to put a shirt on. A sweater would be more than enough to keep me warm from the harsh winter weather. I made myself a coffee, knowing I was going to need it to stay awake for the long drive. I poured the coffee into a travel mug, and mumbled a 'see you later' to my dad as I ambled out the door.

I pulled into Bella's driveway and the next instant she appeared on the doorstep, looking cute all bundled up to ward of the cold, and clutching her messenger bag. She jumped into the car, looking pretty keyed up. She leaned over to kiss me, but she pulled back a second later her nose scrunched up.

"You taste like coffee,"

I laughed at the expression on her face. "Yeah, just a little stimulant for the drive."

She leaned back, looking me over pensively. "You look terrible," she stated.

"Gee thanks, Bells," I snorted.

"No, I mean, you look like you haven't slept in days."

I shrugged, that was about right.

"Okay, get out," she demanded suddenly, pushing on my arm.

"Oh, now you're kicking me out of my car?" I asked her, amused, as she tried to push me bodily out of the Rabbit.

She narrowed her eyes, ceasing her movements for a minute. "You're never gonna let me live that down, are you?" I smirked in way of answer and she rolled her eyes.

"Is it alright if I take your car to school?"

"Sure, but I can drive you Bells - "

She cut me off mid sentence. "No, you need sleep. I'll drive myself to my exam and you go up to my room and sleep."

"I can just run home," I told her.

"No, just stay here. My bed's bigger, you can stretch out."

That sounded really good right about now. "Okay, thanks Bells. Good luck on your exam."

"Thanks, now get your ass out of your car or I'm gonna be late for my exam." she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Okay, okay," I chuckled, holding my hands up in surrender.

"Sleep," she commanded me as I got out of the car.

Hey, you never needed to tell me that twice. I walked into Bella's house and made my way up to her room. I closed the door behind me, pulled off my sweater and fell onto her bed, knowing I would be asleep in a matter of seconds on her comfortable bed.

I was awoken by a hand at my shoulders and a loud voice in my ear. Damn, what does a guy have to do to get some sleep around here? I opened my eyes to see Quil standing over me impatiently.

"Dude, I've been looking for you all over. Your dad said you were in Port Angeles."

I rolled over turning my back to him. "Fuck off, I'm sleeping."

Did I mention that lack of sleep makes me a little cranky?

"O-kay just thought you might wanna know that Aidan and Paul are fighting."

I groaned as I rolled out of bed too early for the third time today. It was times like these that I hated being Alpha. I scribbled a quick note to Bella, leaving it on her night stand.

"Let's go,"

The second Quil and I phased we were bombarded by Paul's livid thoughts.

Think about her disrespectfully again, I fucking dare you. he snarled.

Aidan whimpered pitifully. Let me go, he whined.

I pushed my legs harder, racing to get towards them.

Paul.. I growled in warning.

Quil and I arrived at the edge of the woods near Sam's where Paul and Aidan were fighting. Paul, who was the much stronger of the two, was pinning Aidan on his side with his front paws, his teeth dug into Aidan's neck.

Paul let him go! I shouted into his mind.

The little shit was thinking dirty things about Rachel. Paul responded, infuriated.

Aidan was panting, no longer trying to convince Paul to let him go.

You're hurting him!

He snorted, Yeah that was kind of the idea.

No you're really hurting him, if you dig your teeth in any deeper you could nick an artery. Now let him go! I was really hoping Paul could be mature about this, but it looks like I didn't have a choice but to give him no choice.

Paul retracted his teeth from Aidan's neck unwillingly, giving him a swift jab in the side with his paw, and then he backed away. Aidan gasped in pain, and I ran over to him examining his wound. Why the fuck isn't it healing?

Paul you're so fucking stupid! You think you've changed. You haven't changed at all!

Paul watched Aidan through my eyes.

Why isn't he healing? he asked nervously.

Fuck if I know. Quil get Sam, now.

Quil took off in the direction of Sam's house.

What's going on? Paul was frantic now.

The wounds should already be closing up, and on their way to fading to scars, and the scars fading to unmarked skin. But the incisions were just as gaping as the second Paul stepped away.

Paul just get out of here. I don't need your bullshit right now. I commanded him.

Paul raced away towards his house and in the next instant his thoughts were gone.

Aidan, can you hear me?

Yeah,

Even his thoughts sounded weak.

How are you feeling?

Like a wolf just dug its teeth into my neck. he answered, trying to lighten the mood. Has this ever happened to any of you guys before? Has it ever taken you this long to heal?

I couldn't hide the truth from him, it was right there in my mind already.

No, this has never happened before.

I could feel his panic and his fear, even if he was trying to pretend like he wasn't fazed. Suddenly there were two more voices in my head as Quil and Sam ran towards us.

Has he healed yet? Sam's voice sounded in my head.

No, he's still the same. Why is this happening?

I've heard about something like this before..

I turned away from Aidan, craning my neck, looking for Sam and Quil. All of a sudden Aidan's thoughts disappeared. I whipped my head back around, fearing the worst. What I saw calmed my fears, but not for long as I took in his state. Aidan had phased back into human form for the first time, his skin was practically translucent, and blood was flowing freely from the gashes in his neck.

We have to get him to the hospital, now.