a/n--Thanks mediate89 for betaing this for me, Hope you guys like this chapter and please please please review! You guys should check out stories by these few authors, They're all pretty kick ass.... Liljenrocks, iamkate, and she's a boozer. I promise you, you'll love all of their work. Each one is an amazing author.

Chapter 11

I leaned back into the recliner at Sam's. Things were back to normal with us now. We'd had a long and lengthy talk the other night when he'd found out the truth about just how cruel I'd been with Sarah. It was excruciating for me, to have the pack know now what I'd been trying to hide from them for three months. They all understood though, they all knew why now. Sam was still on my case about at least being nice to Sarah. I couldn't bring myself to do it, though. I knew she'd think things were okay with us again and they weren't. I wasn't ever going to lay another finger on Sarah. I'd been trying to use more self-control every day to keep myself under wraps.

Sam had told me he couldn't force me to be nice to her, that it was my own choice, but he could make sure I didn't physically hurt her anymore. I felt like… my dad when he said that. Physically hurt. I shook my head as I looked at the Tv, lost in my own thoughts while they were still my own. Sam understood why I didn't want to be with Sarah too. I was too afraid of the horrors of imprinting. I still hated the thought of being tried to someone like that, but I knew it would happen soon. It had already happened to another member of the pack. Jared had asked Kim for a pencil, simple as that, and that was it. He was bonded to her forever now. He was lucky, though that Kim had already liked him.

He didn't have to play games like Sam had with Emily. It was kind of annoying to see dorky Kim's face whenever I patrolled with Jared. It was even worse waking up in the middle of the night and realizing you'd been kissing your best friend's girlfriend in your dreams. Jared was adjusting pretty well to it. Kim was ecstatic over the whole thing. She didn't even question his sanity when he broke the truth down to her. He was supposed to be bringing her over for dinner with the pack as a family tonight. Joy.

I looked over at Emily, curled up on couch with a book, then at Sam watching Tv. We were boring as hell. Everyone else was outside running patrols. They'd be back in an hour though. I'd just got off work from my new job. I snorted out loud thinking about it, earning a scowl from Emily as she turned a page. She was still pissed off at me.

I hated my job. Not because I was lazy, but because it meant I had to spend almost every hour I wasn't at school with Sam. It was hell having him for a boss all the time. It paid pretty well, though. I had my check put away for something; I wasn't sure what yet, though. I didn't need many material items. I could hear the sleet starting to fall on the roof and looked at the window. It was getting gray outside.

"I guess I should start dinner," Emily said suddenly, closing the book and stretching before she got up. "I hope Jared got Kim to come." I rolled my eyes at her; Emily was on a friend frenzy lately. First Sarah, now Kim.

Sam gave me an exasperated look as she went to the kitchen. "She's just happy she has people other than us to talk to." I shrugged and looked back out the window, I could see headlights.

"Someone's here," I announced, wondering who it could be. We usually didn't drive our cars, and Jared wasn't due here with Kim yet.

I heard light footsteps and an even lighter knock. The smell hit my nose and I looked at Sam wrinkling it up. "Sarah's here."

Sam got up and opened the door giving her a grin. "Emily's in the kitchen," he told her as he stepped back to let her in. He waved good-bye to whoever had dropped her off.

Sarah shook the snow flurries out of her blonde hair as she came in smiling brightly. "I figured. I brought some cookies. I figured you guys would eat them. I don't need to."

I watched her, not saying a word. It was probably better I didn't. Sam gave me a look as he followed her into the kitchen. I frowned after him. Was Sarah going to start being a usual here?

-Sarah's POV-

I went into the kitchen, my stomach churned slightly at the smell of the deer meat Emily was cooking.

"Hey, Em," I greeted her.

Emily looked up, her eyes shining when she saw me. "I didn't think you'd get to come. How'd everything go?"

I shrugged as I pulled out a stool and sat down. "Okay, I guess. The counselor said she'd already figured out what was going on, so it wasn't a big shock when my mom went in there and withdrew me." I'd gone through with the home schooling after seeing how rough I would have had it if I'd stayed at school. It seemed like everyone but Kim had stared at me, trying to get a glimpse and see if I was really pregnant or not. Then there was the whispering behind my back.

Emily sat down, blowing up at her bangs to get them out of her face. "It gives us more time to hang out too. I could use someone to keep me company." She pushed the bowl of candy toward me that was sitting on the bar. "Help yourself."

I shook my head and pushed it back toward her. "I'm not eating a lot of junk. I've already gained three pounds." I could tell it too, my thighs seemed to be getting wider and wider. I moved around on the stool pulling off my jacket. It was getting snug. "Mom's taking me to Port Angeles to do some shopping next Tuesday, if you want to come. She's taking me to Forks first though, to see the doctor." I made a face at the last part. It'd be my first official appointment.

"Maybe. I'll check with Sam and see if he minds. He doesn't really care for me being in Forks too much," Emily explained with a small smile, looking in the direction of the living where Paul and Sam sat in silence.

Paul. I looked back away quickly. He'd given me a mumbled apology for the marks and bruises he'd left on me but that was it. He didn't apologize for anything else. He still treated me like garbage in front of everyone. At least I didn't have to be afraid of anything but his mouth now, though. I stole another look at him and felt a twinge in my heart. I still wanted him like crazy.

My parents were more than happy with his family being clueless and Paul not wanting anything to do with me. My mom was being good with everything. My dad was even doing small things just to make life easier for me. I'd spoke with Mr. Kimkirk about working mornings now that I didn't have school anymore. It'd be easier for my dad to drop me off and pick me up. He didn't want me walking back and forth anymore.

"So Kim said she was coming over here with Jared?"

Emily nodded quickly, smiling again. "She is, they're together and I thought she should come and meet all of us. You're included as part of the pack plural now too."

I nodded at her. I knew being pregnant with a potential werewolf made me a part of the tribe's elite community, so to speak. "We've been friends since I moved here, she's a nice person. She's probably the only friend I have except for you right now."

"Jared's told me a lot about her. He knows everything, I think," Emily joked. I laughed, remembering the way he'd come in professing that he'd "found her". It was funny that "her" was shy, quiet Kim who'd always held an unrequited love for him.

Paul walked into the kitchen, looking annoyed. "She's not part of the pack family. She's not one of us," he said quietly as he grabbed a bottle of water.

Emily rolled her eyes at him and waved him off. "She is now. She's pregnant with your baby, isn't she?"

"It's not mine, she's just hoping I'll be the guy to take the blame for it," was his cool response.

I watched him walk back through the living room. "I guess its getting better every day. He didn't call me any names that time."

Emily gave me a sympathetic look as she got up and went back to her stove. "I don't think he's coming around so easily, though."

I could hope, I thought to myself. I still hoped he would change his mind even though he was mad at me for letting Emily see what he'd done. I felt bad about that still.

"I feel awful, like I haven't slept at all. And I throw up every four hours, at least." I sighed and sipped at the tea she'd poured me. "My mom said its normal, but I feel… bleh. Even when I'm at work I don't feel like I can stay awake."

Work had been tension-filled for me. I'd been avoiding Mr. Kimkirk and especially his wife when she'd come in on the weekends to help him. I if they put all the pieces together, they'd figure it out. I had to keep my job though, to help buy stuff for the baby. I didn't want my parents to have to do everything for us.

"You'll be fine. Just don't do a lot. I'm already working on a blanket for you," Emily said excitedly. "I'm making it different colors so it won't matter if you have a boy or a girl."

I laughed at her enthusiasm. "Thanks. I think when we go to Port Angeles I'm going to get a few things to start off with. I've definitely got to get different clothes soon. My track pants are the only thing that fit me decently."

I could feel Paul's hard black eyes on me as I spoke. They raked over my body slowly, like he was seeing if I was serious or not about getting bigger. Nervously, I pulled on the front of my shirt and moved so that I was leaning away from his view.

"Yeah, there's so much to do to get ready. You still have time though, probably a few months," Emily replied as she went to the back door and opened it up. Jared was coming in with Kim in tow. She looked like she wanted to burst from happiness every time he looked at her. His eyes seemed to glaze over the way Sam's did when he looked at Emily. Emily introduced herself to Kim, who spotted me and immediately came over to hug me.

"I haven't seen you all week!" She exclaimed, looking downward.

I pushed the stool back and got up slowly so she could see the full effects. Kim's mouth opened in awe, Jared stared a moment, too. "Wow, Sarah, I didn't know you were so… pregnant," he blurted out. Kim smacked him on the chest at the same time Emily scowled at him.

"I'm not even big yet!" I snapped at him as I sat back down. Only 12 weeks now. Kim slid down next to me, her eyes still trained on Jared who looked like he was going to hang out in the kitchen with the girls.

"Is it Paul's?" She whispered. Jared's eyes flashed for a moment when he looked at me, like he dared me to say yes. I just gave her a half smile.

"I'll tell you later," I promised. Little by little the rest of the guys started trailing in, all of them calling out a quick 'hey' to me as they passed through, shaking the rain off of themselves like dogs. Jake flashed me a smile as he went by. I smiled back at him, getting up to help Emily.

I could hear them talking with Sam loudly about Quil Ateara. They all claimed he was going to phase soon and become one of them. I knew Quil, kind of. He'd always been too friendly when he'd come into the store and hung around. He was a pretty nice guy, though.

I stood back waiting for the pack to get their plates filled before I grabbed a dish towel to wipe up the mess they left behind. I dropped it and bent down to pick it up, grumbling at the movement. The towel jerked up in a large hand. I looked up; Paul was standing in front of me. His face was expressionless while we stood there, looking at each other. Everyone around us was talking and laughing, not paying us any attention. Paul held the towel out to me. I slowly reached out and took it. He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him, but not like he would have before. I gingerly went forward, wondering what he was going to do. He leaned down, his hot breath tickling my ear.

"Leave the window open tonight, okay?" He whispered lower than I thought his deep voice could go. I nodded slowly, knowing I shouldn't give in to him so easily. "I'll be there about midnight." He jerked away from me quickly. Emily was staring at him like he'd grown three heads.

I felt my face turn red as I looked down at the counter and started wiping it again while Paul took off to the table with the rest of the pack. Emily was looking at me pointedly. I knew she wanted to know what Paul had been whispering to me about. I couldn't tell her, though; she'd get mad at me for agreeing. But I figured it was a start. Maybe tonight he would talk to me while we were alone.

I looked at the clock as headlights approached the house. "My mom's here," I told Emily with a smile. "I'd better go." I grabbed my jacket off the back of the chair and slid it on, not bothering to zip it up. Emily nodded and grabbed my purse and held it out.

"Call me later, okay?" I nodded to her, knowing I wouldn't. I didn't want to lie to her. I waved to the others, carefully avoiding Paul as I left. I hopped into the car quickly.

"Did you have fun?" My mom asked as she turned back out onto the main road. I shrugged, looking out the window.

"I guess. It was just a group of us over for dinner like usual. Kim was there, though. Jared brought her."

My mom glanced at me. "Was Paul there?"

"Kind of. He was in and out. He didn't speak to me, though and I didn't speak to him. Sam was there the entire time." I added the last part to pacify her. She looked ahead as she drove.

"Did you eat?"

"No, I'm not hungry. I'm ready to go to bed as soon as we get home. I'm drained." I pulled on my shirt again, frowning down at it. My mom's eyes went down to me as I tugged.

"We're going to have to get you some maternity clothes as bad you hate it, Sarah. You can't hide it much longer with those baggy sweaters."

I sighed as we pulled up to the house. "I know, I know. I just don't want to be... frumpy. I like my skirts and pink stuff, you know that."

She laughed as we got out and went inside. "I know, we'll find you something I'm sure though, sweetie. You're making yourself look fat instead of pregnant when you dress like that."

I knew she was telling me the truth. I'd thought the same thing. "I'm going to lay down, okay?" She nodded and tossed her keys on the bar as I went to my room to try and mentally prepare myself for later tonight. I had no idea what was going to happen when Paul got here.

-Paul's POV-

I pushed my window up, glancing at my door before I hopped outside in one swift movement. I landed on the ground in a crouch. I smiled slowly as I stood up and brushed my palms onto the knees of my jeans. I'd come home from Sam's and ate dinner with my family and took a quick shower. Things around here were a lot better. We actually had family meals and things. Unfortunately, this also meant that my parents were paying closer attention to where I was all the time. My mom had started noticing that I wasn't in my bed at night when she would look in at me. It didn't really bother me, though. No matter what they said or did, I really didn't have a choice but to sneak out.

I kicked at the dirt road as I walked along it. Sarah's house was a few minutes from mine. I didn't shiver as the cool nighttime air hit me; it felt nice against my hot skin. I walked on in the dark, going through the trees now, hoping that Sam and the others didn't see me or worse, smell me as I headed north. I let my thoughts drift away, knowing they were only mine for the moment. I didn't know what the hell was wrong with me lately. I was up and down with my feelings. I didn't know why I was so mean to Sarah all the time. I honestly didn't hate her. I didn't love her either. It was just… Ugh. I let out a sigh, kicking a rock in my path.

Sarah. She was beautiful. Now days she carried a small glow with her when she didn't look so sick and pale. I hated seeing her look so bad at school. The other kids were already starting to whisper and point at her when she left class and went to the bathroom constantly. It didn't take much for most of them to figure out why. Sarah was small and petite, making it easy for a small bulge to already show if she wore anything other than the baggy sweaters and hoodies she'd taken to lately. It wasn't the same as the cute, bright, girly clothes she used to wear.

I'd ruined her. Sarah used to be bubbly and laugh a lot. Now she just sat in class silently unless someone spoke to her. I could always sense her eyes on me in the classes we had together. I just didn't understand why I couldn't have imprinted her. She was perfect. It didn't make any sense why I didn't. I wanted to be with her. I didn't want to risk imprinting later on, though and hurting her even worse than I already had. I thought being mean to her would push her away, not drive her closer to me.

I paused at the edge of the tree line just outside the reservation where Sarah's house was at. I looked at her window, making sure that the small lamp was on. I'd whispered to her before she left Sam's to leave the window open for me tonight. It hadn't been hard to convince her. I crept to the shrubs that lined the yard and then dashed toward the house. Her dad would kill me if he saw me. I knew from Sam's thoughts that he wasn't too happy with me right now. I didn't blame him.

I tapped lightly on the window before pushing it open slowly, not wanting it to make any noise. I opened it just enough to slide in through it. Sarah got up quickly from the bed in the corner and moved towards me quietly. I held a finger up to her lips and whispered softly.

"Are they asleep?" She nodded and I let my finger drop. "Shhh," I warned as I pulled her close to me.

I breathed in her scent. It drove me crazy. She always smelled the same- melon body spray and a hint of the fabric softener she used in her laundry. I held her tightly for a moment, just loving her close to me. I reached down and gently pushed her head up so that I could look at her in the face. I stared into her eyes for a moment before I kissed her forcefully, wanting to make it clear why I was here.

Sarah ran her hands down my back, returning the kiss, not even trying to resist me after the way I'd treated her. I slid my hands down to her bottom, lifting her up and moved her carefully to her bed where dropped her on it. I pressed myself against her, knowing I was driving her crazy when I kissed her neck. I felt her tiny, cold hands pulling my shirt off. I leaned up enough to let her take it off of me before I pulled off her own pajamas and threw them to the floor. In a flash I was back on top of her, kicking off my shoes as I laid across the bed. I looked down at her, pausing for a just a second as I moved back away to take off my jeans. This wasn't right, I knew but I couldn't help it.

*********************************

I glanced down at Sarah as I got up and started getting dressed quickly. It was almost daylight outside. She stared up at me as I pulled my shirt on. I paused and listened, making sure I didn't hear any movement in the house. I leaned back down and kissed her one last time before I left. I went quietly to the window, watching her. I couldn't help but give her a smile as I ducked out of the window. "

I'll see you later," I whispered and pulled it down slowly.

I looked around before jogging off into the trees. I was hoping no one at my own house had noticed I was gone all night. I moved through the forest quickly, trying to get there before my mom woke up. I was halfway there when a deep voice called out, "What the hell was that?"

I froze where I was. Busted. And not even by my own mother. I stopped and looked in the direction the voice had come from. Sam was leaning against a large oak tree, his eyes were flaming.

"What the hell are you doing, Paul?" He asked again. I didn't say anything. I didn't even know what I was doing. I looked down, not wanting to meet his eyes. Sam was the only person in the world that could make me feel like this. He moved from the tree and walked toward me slowly, appraising me it seemed.

"What the hell are you thinking, man? Do you want her dad to kill you?" Sam was circling around me now, staring me down. "Are you just using her for a piece of ass or what? I thought you didn't even like her."

I kept my eyes down; I didn't want to let anything show in front of Sam. I didn't want to phase right now, not until I could get rid of these thoughts I didn't want my brothers to share. "I'm done fucking helping you. We're going to talk to your parents now." He grabbed my arm and jerked me hard in the direction of my house. I had no choice but to obey him and let myself be dragged toward my own funeral.

"No. I don't want to do this today. Maybe next week. Not right now," I pleaded with him. I was in enough trouble today.

"Ha. Between now and next week, you'll be at her house for five days. No, seven days. You're not going to put off telling your parents so you can sleep with her for the next week. She might not see what you're doing but I sure as hell do," Sam said in a stern tone.

I sighed. "Please, just one more day. I'm already going to be in trouble for going out last night."

Sam laughed at that. "Dude, you've been in trouble. For 8 weeks. This is just icing on the cake for you."

I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as we neared my house. I was only seventeen and about to have a heart attack. I would die before I could even be murdered by my mother or Sarah's father.

"Don't try and run," Sam ordered me. I felt the weight snap onto me as soon as the words left his mouth. Alpha command. I followed him up the steps and opened the door that led into my show room house. My mom working at the furniture store meant we had tons of nice, expensive, breakable objects around. My mom flew out of the kitchen looking madder than I had seen her in a long time.

"Where have you been all night?" She demanded.

I looked at Sam, willing him to speak up for me. Sam held a hand up. "Mrs. Kimkirk, that's my fault, not Paul's. I had him out late, talking to him about a few things that I want to talk to you and your husband about right now."

So he was willing to hide that part of this for me. At least my mom wouldn't know where I really went out to at night. She'd call Sarah's dad and tell him. My dad rounded the corner, adjusting the buttons on his work shirt.

"Oh… Hello, Sam. I was just on my way to the store." He looked at Sam warily for a moment.

My dad ran the Native American store in town. He usually just sold skins and other odds and ends things that we made here on the reservation. Sarah also happened to work there. That was just a perk of our relationship. When we'd had one, that is.

Sam gave him a nod. "I'd like to talk to you before you leave. I know you're busy but this can't really wait much longer. It's been eating away at Paul."

I threw him a dirty look. This didn't matter one way or another to me. My mom motioned to the couch, telling Sam to be seated. I sat down as close as I could to him. If my mom threw something at me, Sam would make a great shield. My parents sat down across from us, looking curious as to what he had to tell them.

"I believe you know her, her name is Sarah and she works at the store for you." Sam paused before saying, "She's pregnant and its Paul's baby she's carrying."

I felt a surge of panic when the words left his mouth. My first instinct was to say that he was lying. My dad's face turned into a shocked one. My mom looked horrified. I was digging my fingers into the couch cushions, waiting for a reaction.

"Paul's still not one hundred percent sure it's his. We're still waiting to find out all of the details, but there is a good chance of Paul being the father of this baby," Sam explained calmly. It was like he was getting off on this or something. Like he enjoyed causing his pack members pain and agony.

"What the fuck were you thinking?!" My mom's voice shot out angrily. She grabbed her cigarettes from the table and lit one hurriedly. "Didn't we teach you anything about safe sex?"

"Calm down, calm down," my dad told her, trying to be the sane one. It was surprising me to see him not lose control over this. Sam was watching my mom pace back and forth behind the couch, puffing away.

"He has a job now at the garage with me to help with the expenses and things."

My mom was shaking her head; I could see the tears falling down her cheeks. I wanted to get up and hug her, reassure her like I used to. "Good, because we're not supporting your baby, Paul. This is your child to take care of, not ours."

I sighed. Everyone was talking like we knew for sure that this was my baby. "You don't even know if it's mine or not," I told her.

My dad looked at me sternly. "And what makes you so sure it's not, Paul? The only person I've ever seen her talking to is you."

I hung my head in my hands. "I don't know. Because girls lie. She might just be saying this to trap me or something. Sarah's obsessed with me, she won't leave me alone."

"Obsessed with what?" My mom shot out at me. Sam was silent now, sitting back and watching the crossfire exchanged.

I looked up at her. "She keeps saying she loves me and stuff like that."

My mom snorted. "And what did you do to make her think that you loved her, Paul? Woman don't just think men love them for no reason at all, you had to have done something to give her that idea."

"Considering she's pregnant, I have a pretty good idea of what he did. My guess is that Paul told her whatever he had to just to get her in the bed," my dad said in a disappointed tone. "Maybe we should talk to her parents about this."

A horrified look came across my face; they couldn't talk to her parents. That wouldn't turn out good for either of us. "No!" I shouted out quickly. "Don't talk to them, please."

Sam was watching me with a bemused expression now, like he wanted to laugh but couldn't. "I don't even want the baby. I don't want anything to do with her. Its not like we're together or anything. She just says she's pregnant and all. I don't want to keep it if its mine."

My mom looked down at me, looking like she wanted to kill me. "Oh no, you made your bed, you lie in it. This is your baby, Paul, you're not giving it up. This time I'd prefer it if you didn't lie in the bed with a girl, though."

"Please don't talk to her at work dad. Please. I don't want her to think that it's okay. I don't want her thinking I changed my mind or something," I begged him.

My dad stared at me in disbelief. "I'll talk to her if I want to, son. If she's carrying our grandchild we're going to talk to her."

Grandchild. I let the word sink in. They seemed so determined to believe that this really was my baby without even asking for any proof. It was like I was the only guy in La Push possible of reproducing. After a few more minutes of calm talking with Sam, he left and I went to my room to get ready for school. My mom knocked on the door frame as I pulled a shirt over my head.

"You know your father's going to talk to her, don't you?"

I nodded solemnly as I picked up my bag. "I know. I just hope you guys don't believe everything she says. Sarah doesn't even know if this baby is mine or not and she's acting like it is." The word 'baby' dripped off of my tongue like venom. I hated the idea of a baby. I didn't like kids and they didn't like me. I especially never planned on having any of my own.

My mom sighed as she followed me through the living room. "We can't just ignore this, Paul. We're going to treat her like she's carrying your child until we know different."

I shrugged and gave her a look as I went out the door. "Do what you want. It doesn't change anything."