a/n- thanks to mediate for betaing this, hope you guys like it, and dont hate me too much for mm version of paul.. :D

Chapter 5

I woke up early the next morning and stretched out lazily. I laid there for a while, letting myself fully wake before I started moving. I'd stayed out fighting with Sam until ten when Jared had phased, deciding he'd rather patrol than listen to his mom gripe at him. Jared had the unfortunate curse of parents that weren't in on the secret.

I pulled the thin blanket up at my chest and shut my eyes, rethinking everything Sam had talked to me about. He kept reminding me of how he'd slipped and gave Emily the scars she carried. I'd already thought of that before though. I knew I wasn't stable- I was nowhere close to being stable. I was careful not to think of Sarah when he was around, I didn't want Sam to know I'd grabbed her like I had. I felt awful about it. Like an abusive boyfriend or something. It was just proof that I couldn't really control myself very well. Sam would use it against me to prove a point. I rolled over, holding my stomach; I didn't want to hurt her. It would kill me to know I had phased and attached Sarah like Sam had Emily. I'd just have to be more careful and break for it when I got shaky.

I thought of where I'd been before I'd hung out with Sam- actually, with Sarah. It would have been perfect if her stupid dad hadn't shown up and interrupted. I was still surprised I'd gotten that far with her. Two weeks barely and I'd technically gotten into her pants. I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes as I grabbed for a shirt from the nightstand by my bed, not caring what color it was. I grabbed a pair of jeans next and trudged off into the bathroom to take a shower. This was the most sleep I'd had in ages. 7 hours.

I heard my mom call out to me, telling me that she had breakfast ready when I got done. I didn't eat dinner last night, not real dinner, so I was starving. I turned the shower on, not even paying attention to whether it was hot or cold water and got in. It felt good letting the water run down my back. I tilted my head up, letting it hit my face and rubbed it, shocking myself up.

I grabbed the soap and started scrubbing myself, trying to get the woodsy smell off of my skin. I paused, looking at my shoulder. A month before I'd phased for the first time, I'd gotten a tattoo of a sign meaning 'warrior'. I loved it and was happy now that I'd gotten it when I did. Warrior described me perfectly. I could survive anything and was always ready for a battle. I'd gone through more stuff the past ten years than most people do in their entire lives.

I turned the water off and got out, drying off and looking into the mirror at myself. I looked a hell of a lot better now that I'd slept. I pulled on the clothes I'd grabbed hurriedly and ran a comb through my hair, checking myself out one more time as I left. I went into the kitchen- my dad was sitting at the table reading the paper, my little sister was glued to the Tv, and my mom of course was washing dishes.

I sat down and pulled the plate she'd saved for me. She'd heaped everything into big pile which was fine with me. I shoveled a fork full into my mouth, watching the Tv in silence with my family. We didn't talk a lot. My dad lowered the paper and looked at me. "Where were you?"

I stopped chewing and swallowed hard, forcing it down. "Out. With Sam. We had some stuff to do, you can call him if you want to," I offered. I was with Sam technically. Most of the night.

He folded the paper up, looking at me still. "I don't think you were. But I'll find out eventually." He got up and pushed his chair back looking at me sternly as he left for work.

My mom sat down in his empty chair, she was already dressed and ready to go herself. She sipped her coffee as I started eating again. "Paul, honey, I know you don't like to hear it, but I hope you're smart enough to know not to be out wasting your time at any more of those parties."

Good ol' mom, I thought. She always assumed it must be drugs. "I wasn't at a party mom, I swear, you can ask Emily if Sam was with me, I know you'll believe her."

She ran a finger over the rim of her white cup. "No, I'll believe you. I just wish you could tell me who she is."

My head jerked up. "She?"

My mom laughed as she got back up and went to the small cabinets in our small kitchen and started rummaging around. "It must be a girl for you to be so mellowed out if its not drugs again."

I gulped my orange juice. So she assumed sex or drugs had to be it. Couldn't I just be plain happy once in a while?

She tossed something on the table beside me on her way toward the door, getting my sister to go out to the car as she pulled on her own jacket. I reached over and picked up the box and groaned out loud. "Mom... being subtle is not your best quality." I frowned down at the package. My mother of all people had given me a box of condoms.

"If you're going to do things I don't want you to do, I'd rather make sure that you're safe when you're doing them than catch something or make me grandma at such an early age," she said, not looking at me still. This must be as agonizing to her as it was to me.

"Fine. I think I lead a more exciting life in your mind than in my own reality though," I joked with her as I got up and grabbed my stuff and keys. I followed her out the door, waving bye to my sister. I drove to school, almost looking forward to it.

I parked next to Jared's jeep and got out, wondering where he was. I started up the concrete steps to the building when I realized Sarah was nearby. I could sense it. I stopped and looking around me, starting to turn my body around to look behind me when I felt two arms clam around my waist.

"Hey!" Sarah said loudly, hugging me. I turned in her arms, grinning down at her.

"Hey, yourself."

She let go of me and settled for grabbing my hand in hers, I noticed then that she had her giggling troupe of friends with her. They were all talking and laughing, trying not to make it obvious that they were watching us. "Show him what he did," Kim called out, laughing with the others.

Sarah shot them a look and reached up and patted her blonde locks down. "What did I do?" I asked slowly, wondering if they'd seen the bruises I'd left on her.

She bit down on her bottom and tugged on the sleeves of the long sleeve shirt she had on before she pushed the hair on one side back and tilted her head. Huge red hickeys covered one side of her neck. It looked like she'd tried rubbing make-up on herself to hide it and it didn't even come close to helping.

"I didn't mean to, I swear," I started as I touched her soft skin lightly.

Sarah just shrugged and pushed her hair back down. "Its okay. I loved getting them," she said with a sly smile.

I smirked at her as we stood there, killing the time before school started. "Do you work today?" I asked, trying not to stare. I looked down instead, noticing she had on khakis today that hugged her. I lifted my head up, following her shape. "Sarah?" I asked again, rolling her name off of my tongue.

She was staring at me, I realized. I squeezed her hand. "If you don't work, you can come hang out with me today. I've got some stuff to do around outside." Well, I kind of did. I had plans of going fishing, but she didn't need to know that. I just wanted her near me.

"No, I'm off. What are we doing?" She asked, smiling at me again. I felt my heart warm at her smile as I tugged toward the doors when the bell rang. I saw Holly rolling her eyes at Sarah when we passed by her. Sarah flinched slightly, moving closer to me.

"I want to go down to the river in some woods I found, do some exploring."

Embry and Jake were standing near our class, they both waved when they saw me. "Hey, Sarah," Jake said smiling at her. I rolled my eyes at him, noticing that Sarah didn't answer him. She just averted her eyes away.

Embry looked at her a moment, then back at me. "Can't talk? Cat got your tongue?" He teased her, leaning forward like he was about to tickle her or something. Sarah let go of my hand instantly and moved a little bit away.

"I'm going in, Paul. I'll see you in a few." She didn't even look their way as she went inside the room, looking nervous.

Jake hit me on the arm hard. "What was that about? Why's your girlfriend scared of us?" He looked too happy for some reason today, I decided.

"She's not scared of you. I just told her not to talk too much with you anymore," I said with a smug look.

Embry scoffed as he looked into the room. "Why cant she? We're friends; I've known her longer than you have."

I didn't feel like getting into this right now. It would only piss me off again and I didn't like getting pissed off when Sarah was close. I didn't want her to ever know what I really was. "Because I said so and she'll do what I tell her to do." I gave them both a hard look as I walked off going into the room and sitting down beside Sarah.

Later that day when we were in the cafeteria for lunch I sat down beside Jared, already munching on a bag of Cheetos. "Where were you last night?" He demanded.

I looked at him, chewing. He couldn't possibly know I wasn't out on patrol last night. I swallowed. "On patrol, where were you at?" I snapped at him.

Jared fixed with a hard look. "No you weren't. I went for a run about 3:00 and you weren't out. I thought something had happened until I ran by your house."

I gave him back the same look, trying to intimidate him. "And what are you going to do about it?"

"I started to wake Sam up but then I realized he'd know anyway. There wasn't any trace of you out there at all when he went out this morning. He won't find your old trail, so now it's your ass."

I wasn't scared of Sam. What was the worst he could do to me for not showing up? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He would probably just lecture me on it; he wouldn't even know where I'd been since I was doing a damn near perfect job of hiding Sarah from them. "I'm not worried about him. Sam can go screw himself. I had stuff to do."

Jared finally looked away and down at his tray. "What kind of stuff?"

I felt almost bad then for lying to him. He knew of course that I was with Sarah, but he didn't know anything else. Jared was my only real friend but I had to lie to him too. "Just some personal stuff," I said looking away now too. I looked at the old, ugly scratched up table.

I felt cool hands on my neck and turned my head instantly. Sarah was sitting down beside me. "Is it okay if I sit here?"

I shrugged and moved my stuff over, making room for her. She stayed close to me, not speaking a word as she started eating celery sticks. She always ate something like that. I frowned at her food choice, how did she survive on rabbit food? I wondered as she pulled out a small bag of carrot sticks next. "What?" She asked, noticing I was watching her eat.

"Nothing, just wondering if that even had any taste to it."

Jake laughed across from us loudly, reminding me of a donkey. "Just 'cause she doesn't eat like a pig like you do doesn't mean she can't eat just to be healthy."

Embry smirked too, biting into a greasy hamburger and talking with his mouth full. "I don't even know why she's paying you any attention."

I glared at them; I knew what they were doing. They were seeing how far they could push before I showed Sarah a side of me she hadn't got a glimpse of before. Little did they know, she'd seen it yesterday when I'd grabbed her. Sarah moved uneasily beside me. I knew she wasn't speaking to them because she didn't want a replay. I reached into my pocket and shoved a five at her. "Go get me something to drink," I snapped slightly, letting my anger at them show through.

The pack watched, amazed as she got up and did exactly what I told her, leaving her own lunch sitting there. Jared shook his head sadly watching her as she went to the coke machine.

"What did you do to her, Paul? She wont even talk to anyone but you, and then she jumps up and does what you want?" He seemed to be in awe. "And how can I make it work on someone?"

They started laughing. I grinned. "It's my charm, I guess."

Sarah came back and handed me a drink, dropping the change onto the table beside me. "Its all they had, I could go get you something else, though?" She asked, looking at me like if I told her to run to Port Angeles and get me a Star Bucks she would.

"No, this okay, I'll take it," I told her smiling. I liked how easy she would give in to me.

Sarah reached across the table for a napkin and started to get one off of Embry's tray when he grabbed her hand "Hey, hey those are mine!" He joked. She jerked her hand away from his like it was on fire, I saw his eyes glimpse the reason why she'd pulled it back so fast. His eyes met mine for a moment before I looked away.

"Hey, Sarah?" I said casually. "Would you mind going and sitting with your friends for a while? I want to talk to Jared about something."

Sarah grabbed her stuff hurriedly. "Okay, I guess I'll meet you after school then? Out front?"

I nodded and gave her side a squeeze before she walked off, throwing me a smile over her shoulder.

I turned to Embry as soon as I was sure she was out of earshot. "Don't you dare say a word," I growled to him.

Embry's eyes were blazing as he looked at me, frowning. "Sam's going to be pissed with you when he sees that"

I smirked at him. "Sam won't see anything unless you show it to him," The other two were listening to us, trying to figure out what was going on. "Sarah's not mad about it so it's not anyone's business."

Jake elbowed Embry in the side. "What's he talking about?"

"He doesn't know what he's talking about, he just thinks he knows." I stood up pushing my chair back. "And don't talk to Sarah," I snapped as I left out of the cafeteria. When I passed by where Sarah was sitting at now I felt her eyes on me, but I didn't look at her.

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I leaned against my truck, waiting for her to appear. I'd told the pack I'd meet them later for patrol, I didn't feel like dealing with Sam right now. I'd been avoiding them all, honestly. I was too focused Sarah. Imprinted or not, I felt like she was my world at the moment.

I watched her as she came through the double doors with Kim, grinning as they talked. Sarah stuck out here among the Quileute kids. Her blonde hair was shining with the light hitting it. Her legs moved gracefully over the grass as she waved bye to Kim and started heading toward the parking lot. Sarah tugged on the hem of her pink long sleeve shirt as she came over to me.

"Hey, handsome," she quipped as I opened the passenger door for her to get in.

"Is your dad going to come looking for you?" I asked. I hadn't thought about that.

Sarah shook her head as she fiddled with the radio. "No, I already told him I might go to Kim's later. He'll think I went to her house or something. He'll never know I'm with you." She settled on a station and drew her hand back, moving closer to me as I drove. "Won't your parents wonder about you?"

I laughed at that. They wouldn't even let the thought of where I could be pass through their minds. Even though my dad didn't hit me anymore, he still didn't care enough to keep sharp tabs on me during every waking moment. My mom was at work. "No, they won't wonder. I do what I want to most of the time. I guess I'm pretty independent."

I turned left and parked at the beach. "We have to walk a bit before we get there, its not too far, though." I opened the door and got out; she shut the door and pulled on her puffy jacket. It made me smile when I saw it. It was like a marshmallow.

"What were you coming out here for before you invited me?" Sarah asked shyly.

I shrugged as I started walking. "I usually go fishing out here, or do my runs through these woods. Its okay, it gives us time to talk and stuff." I stopped and let her catch up, reminding myself that her legs weren't as fast as mine. She scrambled behind me; her tan fur-lined boots were as funny as her puffy jacket.

Sarah grabbed my arm in hers, leaning onto me as we trudged through the sand before making it to the tree line. "You know, Katie invited us to come to a party at her house this weekend. I thought maybe we could go and try hanging out with my friends instead of yours."

I thought on it for a few minutes. Did I trust myself to be around an entire crowd of people without my brothers? I did okay with Sarah, but that was different. She had a different effect on me than most people. "If you want to we can go. I don't expect you to isolate yourself just for me."

Sarah nodded, still trying to keep up with my long strides. "Slow down, your legs are longer than mine," she complained. I slowed slightly, feeling like I was barely moving now. "So… last night was... different," she said slowly.

I threw a look at her; she was looking straight ahead at the forestry, avoiding me. "You seemed to like it," I said, knowing it would get to her. Last night had been great for her and agony for me.

"I did like it. I just don't want you to think I'm something I'm not, though."

We were nearing the spot I was looking for. It was nice and quiet here where the water flowing was the only sound except for the birds. I didn't say anything to her as I lead her to the moss-covered floor and motioned for her to sit down beside me. I stretched out across the grass, putting my hands behind my head. Sarah sat down beside me but didn't lay back. She sat up above me, so that I was looking up at her.

"What's wrong?"

Sarah looked down at me; the sun was glinting off of her blue-green eyes, making them look like ocean pools. "You didn't answer when I said I don't want you to think I'm something I'm not. So I'm assuming you think I'm easy or a slut or something now."

I sighed and sat back up, realizing she wasn't going to let it drop. "I don't think you're easy and I don't think you're a slut."

Sarah searched my face to see if I was lying or not. "You know, you're the first guy that's shown me the time of the day since I moved here. I was starting to think I'd have to let my dad fix me up or something. You always seem to have someone, though."

So she knew about the others, so what? It didn't bother me. I didn't regret them. They were just notches in the belt. I wondered what she was trying to get at now. It was like she wanted something but didn't want to ask. "Yeah, I've dated a lot. I've never had to do it this way, though. No real dates." I smiled at her lopsided, knowing it would weaken her.

Sarah giggled and scooted so that our sides were against each other. I tossed an arm around her. "I know, I wish my dad would give you a chance. I don't understand why he's being like this over you. I mean, if he didn't want me to date here on the reservation, he shouldn't have moved me here. Besides, I think he kind of suspects I'm seeing you somehow and he just hasn't figured it out yet."

"I hope he doesn't. I don't think I can go without seeing you now. I don't know how else to do it unless we lie." I kissed the top of her blonde head, breathing in the soft scent of her shampoo.

She laid her head on my shoulder, sighing as the sun hit her. "Why don't you want me to talk to Jake and Embry? It's not like I'm going to cheat on you with them, Paul. It kind of bugs me. They kept talking to me all day."

I frowned, knowing she couldn't see me. I didn't want her talking to them because I didn't trust them, not her. She was too pretty, too easy-going. Too naïve. "Because I just don't."

Sarah lifted up her head again. "But they're just trying to be nice, not flirt with me. Embry jokes a lot, you know that. And Jake's always been friendly."

It bugged me that she wanted to interact with them. I didn't want her being friends with any guy, much less my pack. Then I could see their opinions on her and that would really set me off. "I don't care, Sarah, I'd just rather you not. I don't want to take you to anymore bonfires, either. Just us from now on." I knew I was coming across as demanding, and probably as a jackass.

Sarah shoved my arm off of her shoulders and turned to face me. "Don't you trust me, though?"

I saw a quick flash of red when I blinked and stood up quickly, backing away from her slightly. I had to calm down. "I don't know. I just saw how you were yesterday when I wasn't there and didn't like it. You were flirting with them, acting like a slut." The word left my mouth before I realized I said it. My anger was starting to take over me again; I was saying things to her like I would to the pack to get a good fight, like I had to hurt her to make myself feel better.

Hurt flashed through her eyes immediately "Don't call me that," she said softly.

I laughed bitterly. "Why not? You don't like to hear it?" I rolled my eyes at the way she was crumpling up at my words. "You must like them or you wouldn't be so worried about talking to them, if you didn't, it wouldn't bother you." I shook a little bit, my spine started to sway. I forced myself to stand straight as I spoke harshly to the girl who was streaming silent tears. "Aren't you even going to deny it?"

Sarah got up shakily from the forest floor and moved toward me. "Paul... you know I don't like them. I told you that," she said softly, wiping at her cheeks as she touched my hand.

My hand burned when she touched it, I jerked it back quickly. "Don't touch me again, you stupid little bitch," I threw out at her.

Sarah burst into sobs when I yelled at her. "Don't talk to me like that please," she begged as she started to grab me again. This time I grabbed her wrist first and gave her a forceful shake.

"Then say it," I snapped, letting go of her and shoving her so that she fell backwards and hit the driftwood.

She crumpled up into a little ball, crying. "Don't be mad at me," she choked out. "I don't want them, I want you. Please, I'm sorry," she whispered trying to catch her breath as her chest heaved with her cries. "I'm so sorry, Paul. You're right."

I stood back a few feet, shaking and quivering, trying to get myself in check before I snapped at her again. Anger and anxiety poured through every cell in my body. I'd been holding it back all day and needed to release it somewhere even though I couldn't phase. "Come here," I ordered her.

Sarah didn't get up, she just pulled her knees to her chest as she cried, her breath was coming in deep, shaky heaves now. "I c-c-ant."

I sighed as I moved toward her and leaned down to pull her up, aware of my fingers leaving dents in her upper arm. "Do you want to be with me or not?"

Sarah sniffled a moment before she nodded slowly. "I'll do what you say," she whispered.

I felt a wave of calm wash over me as her scent went through my nose. My body returned to its normal human shape everywhere. "Then don't ask why I said you can't talk to them again, okay? I don't like it. It makes me crazy to think of you with one of them." I slowly let my arms wrap around her. It was starting to hit me, what I'd done to her again in my fit of madness. Slinging her around like a rag doll. I could have really done damage to her.

"I won't. I won't ask again, I swear. I'll do what you want, just don't leave me please," she pleaded, burying her face into my shirt. I rubbed her back lightly, feeling bad for the way I'd acted. It was even worse than yesterdays outburst.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so hateful," I whispered into her ear. "I didn't know what I was saying to you, Sarah." When I went to touch the upper part of her back she shoved my hand back down. "What's wrong?" I asked her.

She pulled back from me. "I hit it when I fell," she explained. I frowned, hating that I'd done that to her. "Let me look," I suggested, starting to lift her shirt up. She pushed my hands away.

"Let me turn around first." She didn't want me to see anything but her back, I realized as she turned away from me. She shrugged out of the puffy jacket and held onto it as I shoved her shirt up in the back, wincing when I saw where she'd fallen.

A big ugly bruise was forming underneath her pale skin. It wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either. I touched it lightly. "I'm sorry," I said softly. I kissed the soft skin there with my warm lips. Even her back was beautiful. I traced her spine down to her lower back, tickling her. "I didn't mean to push you that hard."

Sarah moved my hands, letting her shirt drop back down and started putting her pink jacket back on. I knew without even looking that her upper arm would be bruised. I took her back into my arms, embracing her. "Don't hate me when I act like that, Sarah. I'm not always so… ill-tempered," I lacked for a better word.

She nuzzled my neck with her nose. "I don't hate you. I know you don't mean it. You just scare me. I'm scared you'll break up with me when you realize you could have someone better or prettier. Or someone that knows what to do when you're intimate and doesn't just sit there."

I sighed, knowing I couldn't break up with her. I didn't want to. I was too attached. "I'm not going to break up with you. I don't want anyone else. And I already figured you were a virgin, I could tell."

Sarah kissed my jaw next, running a fingertip over my lips. "I figured you weren't. Katie and Kim filled me on a few things."

What else had they told her? I wondered. "Really? Like what?"

She kissed my lips lightly, then my chin. I was being seduced, I realized. I turned my head up, moving out of her reach. She barely reached my jaw when she stood on her tip toes. "They said that you're the school's bad boy type. I asked if it was you that got in that fight last month, and it was. You smashed those lockers in too. You yell at everyone, you're mean. You used to come to school stoned or hung over, and now you're running with Sam Uley's crew, which apparently is even worse."

I looked at her, smirking. She knew a lot about me. Sara knew pretty much everything except one thing and she'd never know that secret. Not if I could help it. "You know a lot about me then. Sam's my friend. I already told you that."

Sarah nodded, touching the back of my head, running her fingers through my hair. "I know. I guess he's my dad's friend too, though. My mom and dad were talking about him having a meeting with him or something."

I froze. There was only one thing that he'd want to talk to Sam specifically about and that was me. "Sarah... when were they supposed to talk?"

She shrugged and pressed herself on me, making me forget what I was doing for a few seconds as I pressed my own chest against hers. "This morning, I guess. I don't think it was about us, though."

I hoped it wasn't. I was deader than dirt if it was. Sam would kill me. I wasn't allowed be close to people. "I hope not, Sam will tell my parents," I told her. It was starting to get dark out now. I'd lost track of the time. "Its late, we should be getting back."

Sarah shook her head. "No, not yet. I want to spend some more time with you, we've hardly even kissed and we're completely alone out here."

I knew there was a small chance that we weren't alone. One of my brothers could very well be nearby in wolf form. "You're going to get in trouble," I warned her.

She shrugged giving me a smile with a glint in her eyes. "It's worth it. If you make it worth it, that is," she toyed. She ran a finger down my chest, daring to go as low as the waist of jeans before she stopped there and wrapped her hand over the edge as she leaned up wanting to kiss me again.

"You're definitely going to get in trouble now," I said with a sigh as I lowered my mouth to hers. She shocked me with the amount of force she'd mustered up behind her soft lips. She shut her eyes, letting herself go limp against me.

"I want you," she whispered softly.

I kissed her neck, making sure to run my tongue on the exact spot I knew made her crazy. "I know, I can tell," I whispered against her soft skin. She didn't have to know that I could smell her senses when she got like this. In one move I put my hands on her perfectly shaped ass and lifted her up, wrapping her legs around me as I pushed her against the tree nearest us.

Sarah was looking at me like she was regretting saying what was on her mind now. Nonetheless, she didn't protest when I forced her mouth open with mine, tasting her. I heard her gasp when I pushed my hips against hers.

"Not here," she whispered pulling her mouth from mine.

"Where then?" I asked her softly, searching her eyes. I moved back, letting her legs drop back down to the ground. I kept my hands on her waist though, wanting to feel her, to be as close as I could.

Sarah blushed under her pale skin and fiddled with the zipper on her jacket. "I don't know. Just not out here, it's too open."

I rolled my eyes. We didn't have too many options available to us. We could be caught at any moment at any of our usual hangouts. "I'll just sneak into your room instead of you sneaking out of it then," I joked.

Her eyes shot up to meet mine, looking hopeful. "I was joking!" I exclaimed. If I went inside her house I'd be seen in five minutes.

"It's not a bad idea, though. You can just come in the window when everyone's asleep," she persuaded me.

I rubbed my forehead, thinking on it a moment. It wasn't that bad of an idea. I could hear or smell if someone started to move. "Fine. Just remember that this is your crazy idea, not mine." I moved my free hand back to her face, tracing the outline of it. "Tonight?" I was hoping it would be tonight. I was in agony. I hadn't had any in a month now. I needed some kind of action soon.

Sarah nodded quickly, kissing my finger when I traced her lips. "Tonight. I can't wait much longer."

I couldn't believe she still wanted to be with me, much less sleep with me after what I'd just done to her. I'd been the worst excuse for a boyfriend. I'd hit her, I'd called her countless names, I'd threatened her.

"Me either," I told her as I grabbed her cold hand. "I should get you back now." It was pitch black in the forest. I could see, but I knew she couldn't. "It's late."

Sarah followed me through the woods, not saying much as we walked. I was thinking about how to keep away from the pack. I was supposed to patrol with Embry tonight but it didn't look like I'd make it. I'd rather get some than patrol. I felt like I was turning my back on my brothers in a weird way. Lately I hadn't paid them much attention at all. I was almost pretending to have a normal life.

I opened the door for her and closed it. "I'll drop you off near your house, okay? I don't want you walking."

Sarah nodded, running her hands through her hair and wiping under her eyes. I noticed then that she looked a little disheveled. She pushed her honey-blonde hair back around her neck. I reached across and rubbed her shoulder. "You look fine."

She gave me a small smile as I turned down her road. I didn't dare pull all the way up to the house. Instead, I stopped a couple houses down to let her out. "I'll see you later?" I asked her slowly as she grabbed her stuff.

Sarah slung her purse over her shoulder. "About midnight, okay? I'll leave the lamp on if everything's clear." I nodded and leaned over to give her one last kiss before she left. She slammed the door shut, waving as she walked away.

I went to my house instead of Sam's; I pulled in next to my dad's car and got out, letting the door slam loudly. I went up the steps slowly, noticing how quiet everything seemed inside the house. I turned the knob slowly and went in, feeling nervous. I heard the mumble of the Tv in the background; my sister was sitting on the floor a few feet away from it.

"Hey kid," I said smiling at her. She ignored me and kept watching as I went into the kitchen.

My mom and dad were sitting at the table talking intently to each other. I paused in the doorway, trying to catch a few sentences. "Hey, honey," my mom said smiling at me as she got up from the table. "I saved you a plate; I figured you were off with Jared or something."

My dad was giving me a hard look as I sat down heavily. "What?" I snapped at him. I was away from Sarah; I could be my usual rude and hateful self now.

"Don't take that tone with me young man, I was just wondering where you managed to sneak off to today." His own voice had an edge to it.

"None of your damn business," I threw back at him. My mom was looking nervous now; she was wringing a dish cloth in her hands waiting for the microwave to stop. She hated it when we argued. It usually ended with me leaving in a rage and not coming back.

My dad's eyes were piercing when he looked at me. "As long as you're a minor and under my roof, it's my business. I thought I told you to come home today and do a few things."

It hit me then. I'd forgotten completely about telling him I'd come home and finish up the outside work. I wasn't about to admit it though. "I'm old enough to decide what I want to do."

My dad opened his mouth to speak when a loud knock on the front door interrupted him. My parents glanced at each other. No one ever stopped by. Jared let himself in, so did Sam.

"I wonder who it is," my mom mused as she went to the door. My stomach started to twist as I thought about who it might be.

"Hello, Mrs. Kimkirk, are your son and husband available?" I heard a man's voice ask.

I froze. I knew who was here. I started to get up and move for the back door when I felt my dad's hand on my shoulder. "Don't even think about it," he warned, shoving me back down into the chair. I obliged and sat down, wondering how bad this was.

My mom led him into the kitchen, still smiling not aware of why he'd come. Mr. Jones wasn't a big man. He was dressed in business-like clothes. He was medium-sized and looked kind of like Sarah- blonde and blue-eyed. My dad got up to shake his hand, only to have Mr. Jones look at it with disdain.

He shook it after a moment. "I don't think we've ever met, I'm Tim Jones. Sarah's father." His eyes were on me now. "I wanted to have a word with your son if you don't mind."

I felt my blood start to boil as he looked me over. "I mind," I snapped at him.

My dad shot me a look. "About?"

Mr. Jones cleared his throat. "I can't prove it, but I know Sarah was with him." He said him like it was a curse word or something. "And I told him once already this week to stay away from my daughter. She barely made it home an hour ago, looking like she'd been through hell and back."

My dad was looking at me now too, with a angry expression. "I can assure you if he was with her, he won't be again."

Mr. Jones nodded slowly. "I won't let him ruin her; my Sarah's a good girl. Too good for him. I know all about him and his little friends."

This time my dad's angry look moved to Mr. Jones. "I'll keep Paul away from Sarah but I won't let you stand here and talk down to him in our home. And maybe you should try keeping her away from him instead of blaming Paul."

Score one for dad, I thought, amused now. Maybe dad would let him have a piece of his mind. Mr. Jones didn't say anything as he turned and headed back through the living room.

"I'll figure out how you two are seeing each other eventually and put a stop to it," he warned.

I snorted loudly. "What makes you so sure I even want your daughter? Maybe she's the one chasing after me."

He glared at me then as he opened the door up and started leaving. "Stay way," he said angrily as he went to his car and got in.

I stood there with my parents, watching as he left. As soon as his car was out of sight, my dad popped me in the back of my head. "What the hell are you doing, Paul?"

I whirled around and glared back at him as I shook with anger. "I didn't do anything. I wasn't even with Sarah today. I was out doing other stuff."

My mom clicked her tongue disapprovingly as she walked past us. "You'd better talk to him," she told my father.

I glared at them both, shaking now. "Let's get one thing straight. I'll do what I want to do and see who I want to see!" My dad started to yell back at me but I was already out the door, running toward the trees. I only had seconds before it happened as my spine started to curve, giving myself over to my other half.