Chapter section theme: Maxing out the guest invites. No beta- so sorry for any mistakes! Please enjoy this next installment of the Phoenix.
The Phoenix
Chapter 17 (cont'd)
If there was one thing we should have predicted with Jessica's arrival, the wolves weren't too far behind her.
Paul was scowling in my face within a few hours after her arrival. Of course, he intercepted me when Jessica was off taking a nap in her new room while I snagged snacks for us in the kitchen. Garrett had too kindly escorted Paul through the premises and then took off after Paul shouted my name when barreling into the kitchen like he owned the place.
"Alright, Bella, where is she?" he demanded. No hello. No fake pleasantries. I didn't expect a hug or even the wave of a hand if I had to conjure up this scenario for myself, but skipping a greeting to me... why was I even surprised? I did my best to squash the hurt gnawing at my chest.
I stared straight into his eyes as he drew closer to me, and my breath was stolen. His once familiar brown eyes were now so cold and distant that the shock of it all finally set in. I lowered my chin to my chest. My hands went limp when they discovered there were no pockets in my leggings to hide in.
"I am sorry I left without telling you." Those weren't the words I had meant to say. My response had been toneless and forced as I repeated the apology I had given over the phone. If I had a mirror in front of me, I was positive vacant eyes would have been what stared back at me in my reflection. What is wrong with me?
"Whatever. Where isJessica?"
My head was beginning to spin. Paul was concerned about his pack mate's imprint. He was not concerned for me at all because he had imprinted. My heart wasn't racing, panicking or stopping. Instead, it thudded dully in my chest.
I need to leave. Now.
"I don't know." I choked out my lie before turning around and taking off. I was pathetic. Stupid. Ashamed. I released uncontrollable tears while sprinting off through the hallways, heading outside. Because I would keep moving while cried. I would not collapse like I had done when I first figured it out. I would not plead with Paul to not throw me away like Edward had done when he left. I was completely erased from Paul's life the moment he had imprinted.
And fine! Good riddance! I never needed anyone in the first place. Jess has Quil. Paul has his imprint. Garrett has a mate. Jack doesn't need anyone. I have Bulat. No one else matters. I never needed Paul to pick me up when I was down. I could have done it by myself. On my own. He means nothing to me. Nothing!
"What is up with you?" That annoyed, deep voice broke me from my thoughts, and I dug my heels into the ground to stop sprinting. Why did he follow me? Why isn't he looking for Jess?
"You never run away. You bring the fight or finish it." I hated that he knew me so well, knowing how to expose me.
I wiped the tears from my face with the back of my hand before turning around to face Paul.
"I…" My thoughts froze. I was truly baffled. Why did he say that? He didn't need to be concerned about me, even in the slightest. It would just make things more difficult for me to handle in the end.
I dared to meet his face, hoping to read anything off it. Even a hint of what was best to say to him next. The crease between his drawn together eyebrows and his lips pressed together in a slight grimace perplexed me.
"Why are you crying?"
My mouth gaped in response. Why does he care? I threaded my hands through my hair, detangling the french braid once holding it together. Bitter thoughts tainted that hairstyle or a ponytail in his presence. I let my messy brown hair fall into place and denied my self-loathing for thinking of such silly things in the moment. They were insignificant. They should not have mattered. But they did. And I hated it.
"She wants to stay," I blurted out, attempting to pivot the conversation. He knew she was here. Lying further would be pointless. He could pick up her scent most likely.
I studied his face as he processed the news. Paul hadn't changed one bit in my absence. His tan skin was the same shade, and his hair was cropped close to his scalp. He was frowning like normal, and his body had the same over muscled build. Did imprinting only change him on the inside? Why doesn't he seem happier?
Well maybe because of the situation Jess has made him separate from his imprint…
"Quit staring, Bella." Paul glared at me before crossing his muscled arms along his chest. A chest with a shirt on. A tight, white shirt. But still a rare siting for Paul to be clothed. "So, I take it she was also a guest invited to partake in your stupidity out here?"
There was no point in lying. "It's not stupid! We are doing more here than the pack does in La Push. You aim to just protect your people! We cover way more than that for who we protect," I justified as if I was a significant contributor to the Order. Paul was none the wiser though.
"Fuck," he growled. "You're lucky I am here first and not Quil. Do you have any idea how much it costs to fly out here? Our tribe doesn't own a casino, Bella. We're pretty dirt fucking poor, and that's with the federal government handouts we hate accepting. You are fucking reimbursing the Council for this cost."
"Why isn't Quil here instead of you?"
"Oh, don't worry. He is coming. But he needs to calm the fuck down first before he can fly. He is too much of a risk in his current state." I winced imagining how bad of a mental state Quil had to be in that he couldn't maintain his human form long enough to travel here. But…that was Jessica's problem to deal with in the future and not mine.
"Jessica is free to do what she wants. Quil doesn't own her. It is her choice to be here, so she can stay."
"Wrong. The imprint is a form of ownership in a way you could never fathom."
"Well, why am I not surprised by this very typical male type of bullshit spewing from your mouth?"
Paul rolled his eyes. "Whatever. It's not worth my breath explaining to you. And Jessica knows better."
"Ha!" I laughed. "You don't know her like you think you do. As long as we are agreed you aren't dragging her away, I will take you to her and she can tell you for herself."
Paul grunted and nodded his head. Our conversation solved nothing between us, but I was looking forward to seeing Jessica put Paul in his place. We had expected this was coming. Just… not quite so soon.
I laid next to Jessica on her bed. She had chosen the room adjacent to mine, but I am sure we would be sharing each other's bed every now and then too.
She bellowed a heavy sigh as she rubbed the bracelet around her left wrist. A present Quil had given her at graduation. I wasn't naive and was brave enough to call it what it was.
"You're in love with him." It was not an accusation, just an observation.
"I think...I am," she admitted.
"He should be here then, Jess," I pointed out, ignoring the selfish part of me that wanted to keep her all to myself.
She scoffed before turning her head to face me on her pillow. "No," she yawned. "I am trying to prove a point."
"And what is that?"
"I don't need him. This imprint thing is trippy, Bella. It's like I am tethered to him. My happiness depends on him. And that's not me. You know that." I nodded in agreement. This was the Jess I knew. "Why should I have to cater to his wolfy needs to keep me in sight or know I am safe? Life isn't a cup of sunshine and rainbows. Bad things happen. I have to be allowed to make my own mistakes. And happiness should be found within myself and not because of him. I won't stand for it. Not even when my body aches to be with him or my heart says he completes me. Fuck. F. U. C. K. That. I didn't sign up for this," she whispered. Her eyelids drooped shut and I could tell she had a few more sentences in her before she was out like a light.
"I know. But things changed when it happened. I am all for you crashing here. And you can participate up to what you want to. I won't limit you. But it's dangerous, Jess. Everything." I would fill her in on more details later. I glanced at the rise and fall of her chest. If she wasn't asleep yet, she was almost there. There was no time left to debate it. I was going to really ask her about Paul.
"So, um, how's Paul?" In the end, I didn't ask the direct question I was afraid to know the answer to. Who had he imprinted on?
"I am sure he will tell you for himself soon. Those stalkers aren't too far behind me, I bet."
Jess opened her right eye and winked at me while I choked on the air I was trying to inhale for my own sanity.
"So, I won't have to miss Quil for too long. I just wonder how long until they are both here? Then you will be maxed out on your guest invites." Jessica's lips curled up in a smile and I knew she was finally submitting to her need to sleep while I digested the fact Paul or Quil could be arriving in the next few days.
Author's Note:
…And now Paul is back in the picture too! O _ o I really like my next intended section installment as we see some real breakthrough with Bella's character with her grief and the impact of the current status of her relationships with Paul and Jessica.
~Lalaland972
Response to Guest Reviews:
Dear Guest Reviewer on 1/24/23-1/26/23, Thank you for your reviews as you read this story! I too adore Jessica and the process of how Bella becomes a BAMF hehe Jack has an interesting character Arc if this story goes as I have planned, so hopefully the less assholish trend of his continues lol and Garrett/Bella end game is correct!