Chapter 20

It was sometime before Selene finally regained consciousness and realized she was in some deep trouble. It didn't take long for her to figure it out due to the tight iron cuffs around her wrists. She was literally chained to a bed, though she had enough room to move around, the chains hooked securely to the wall.

Selene knew Jacob wasn't into this kind of thing, blushing at the mere thought because she wouldn't mind being kidnapped by him. Hell it wouldn't be considered kidnap if she went with him willingly. Her head was pounding something fierce and Selene reached behind her, feeling a lump on her head the size of Texas.

She blinked several times, swallowing hard, and could already feel the tears stinging her eyes as she yanked on them experimentally. The chains rattled gently, making a clinging noise, and Selene decided that probably wasn't the best thing to do. She didn't want her kidnapper to know she was awake, but Selene couldn't help wonder who had taken her.

"Oh god…" She whimpered softly, chewing her bottom lip, and could already feel her heart rate skyrocketing. "Where the hell am I?"

Her thoughts went to Jacob and Selene knew he had to be worried sick about her, the tears instantly falling. She could feel Jacob's pain and bent her knees up, wrapping her arms around them and buried her face in the kneecaps, crying harder. Selene longed for his touch and voice, swallowing past the lump that formed in her throat when she heard footsteps just outside the door. Whoever had taken her was going to pay dearly; Selene hoped Jacob ripped their throat out.

She was not prepared for who came through the door moments later, jade eyes widening instantly.

"Hello Selene."

Shock filled her eyes as she stared into the face of a man who she thought was dead.

"Luke?"

"Well…that was…" Riana couldn't stop turning red, the shades darkening one after the other as she quickly swiped her clothes up from the living room floor. Charlie hadn't come home yet and Riana was more than thankful because she really didn't need to be anymore embarrassed than she already was. If Charlie walked through the front door at that moment, Riana probably would've burst into flames from how hot her cheeks were. Paul was busy pulling his black cut off jean shorts on, looking like a cat that ate the canary. In a way, he had and smirked, licking his lips hungrily.

"Incredible." Paul finished her thought, immediately locking dark brown on blue, taking a step toward her.

"Heh…" Riana moved away from him and walked back over to sit on the couch, having pulled her shorts back on, not believing she just gave her virginity away to a total stranger. 'I've seriously lost my mind…' She thought, glancing out the window, hoping Selene would come home soon.

Paul frowned, wondering why his imprint was distancing herself from him, and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Is there a bathroom around here?" He asked suddenly, sensing Riana wanted some time alone, and knew she more than likely regretted having sex with him.

"Down the hall, first on your right."

Riana knew the house like the back of her hand, not looking his direction, not believing she'd lost control like that with him. So much for waiting until she was either married or out of high school, Riana had just flat out given up the one thing she'd let no other man have. To a breathtakingly handsome Quileute no less!

Riana could feel the tears swelling in her eyes and had to get out of there, but knew she couldn't without knowing if Selene was alright or not. It'd been hours since Jacob left to search for her and he hadn't called or came back to give her an update. Selene wasn't one to disappear on a whim like this and Riana was starting to freak out, the sex having been just a momentary distraction, which is what she'd been looking for.

Right?

Paul was taking his time in the bathroom, not able to get over the afterglow of their sexual encounter. He'd never lost control with a woman in his life, but something about Riana just made him crazy. He couldn't explain it and gripped the sink, already knowing she was his imprint and had to tell her the truth. How was he supposed to go about doing it though?

Riana was in a vulnerable state and the last thing Paul wanted to do was upset her further, knowing she was worried sick about her friend. At the same time though, Paul didn't know the next time he would see her, if Riana even wanted to see him after what just happened between them. He had to tell her and it had to be tonight.

"We belong together, she needs to know that." Paul nodded as if trying to convince himself and squared his shoulders, walking out.

Riana was staring out the window, her arm resting along the back of the couch, tears glistening on her cheeks. The rain continued falling outside and Riana could feel Paul's eyes on her, but didn't look away from the window. Visions of their sexual encounter rushed through her mind, the way her orgasm intensified the harder the rain fell outside.

It was almost as if the weather was playing a specific melody just for them and Riana honestly couldn't get it out of her mind. She'd sprayed with some Febreze, not wanting Charlie's living room smelling like sex, which no longer lingered in the air. However, his smell still lingered on her and it intoxicated Riana, made her heady for him.

Paul wondered what she was thinking and finally walked over, standing right in front of her. "Riana." Her name flowed from his lips in a husky caress, her eyes instantly moving from the window and locking with dark brown again.

"Paul." She whispered, wondering why her heart rate suddenly quickened. What was it about Paul that drew him to her so intensely? "What is it?" Riana could sense he wanted to tell her something and watched as he lowered himself to be eye level with her, sucking in a sharp breath when he took her cold hand in his scolding one.

"You're freezing again." He pointed out, running the pad of his thumb across her knuckle, instantly sending a wave of warmth through her body. "There's something I need to talk to you about."

Her stomach tensed nervously and Riana suddenly pulled her hand away, shaking her head. "You don't have to say anything…" She swallowed hard, watching Paul's eyebrows furrow together in confusion. "Look I know what happened between us wasn't expected and I know it was just a onetime thing…"

"No, you don't understand…"

"Paul, we don't even know each other and we had sex. That's all it was and that's all it's going to be. I'm a realist and I'm not saying it wasn't incredible because it was." Riana managed a smile and looked out the window again, blinking when Paul grabbed her hand again.

Before she could open her mouth to protest, Paul decided to shut her up, kissing her soundly. Only when she began melting against him did Paul pulled away, pressing his forehead to hers. She had to listen to him, pressing her cold hand against his chest so she could feel his pounding heart.

"That's what you do to me and that's what you've done to me since I first laid eyes on you." He admitted openly, their eyes locking again.

"W-What do you mean?" Now Riana was confused, arching a slow eyebrow. "I don't understand…"

Paul sighed, knowing this was going to the hard part and moved to sit on the couch beside her, not releasing her hand. "Riana, I've known about you for awhile now. I first saw you sitting on a bench one night reading and you…I don't even know how to describe it, but you hypnotized me. I was instantly drawn to you and ever since, I've been watching you." He slowly stood up, seeing her blue eyes widening, and extended his hand.

"W-Where are we going?" She asked, hesitantly slipping her hand into his, allowing him to guide her to the door. "Paul, you're really starting to scare me…"

This man had been watching her? For how long and why? Those were the two burning questions in her mind as Riana reluctantly walked outside with Paul toward the woods. He could feel her fear and lowered his mouth to her ear, his hot breath caking her lobe.

"Trust me." He whispered, sending another wave of warmth through Riana.

Once they were fully into the woods, Paul immediately released her and took a deep breath, knowing what he had to do. "Riana, what I'm about to show you is going to probably scare you shitless, but it's something I have to do. The first thing you need to know is that the Quileute tribe has secrets, deep secrets that can never been told to anyone else except our imprints." Paul was completely losing her, he just knew it, and decided to get on with what he wanted to do. "Step back, I won't blame you if you run away screaming when this is over."

He hoped she didn't.

Riana blinked, not understanding a word that was coming out of Paul's mouth, and suddenly felt the nervousness overtake her. She did as he asked, stepping back at least ten feet, watching him close his eyes. What she saw next completely floored her as Paul leapt into the air around ten or twenty feet, his entire body shifting and morphing, his skin suddenly nothing more than fur.

Silver fur.

The gigantic wolf landed on all fours and stared her in the face, those dark eyes the only thing Riana recognized about Paul. Riana couldn't move, feeling as though her feet were super glued to the ground, though what she really wanted to do was run away as fast as she possibly could. This was the same exact wolf she'd been dreaming about along with her dead brother…what kind of sick joke was this? Riana blinked as huge tears slid down her cheeks, covering her mouth with her hand and couldn't take it anymore.

Paul could tell what was about to happen and immediately phased back, catching Riana just as she slumped forward, fainting in his arms.

The pack arrived at the Cullen's in record time, Jacob leading them, something he wasn't used to doing. He couldn't think about that right now, focused on one thing and that was finding Selene. He phased and pulled his shorts on, the cord still around his ankle. The rest of the pack stayed in their wolf forms, which he didn't mind.

He knew Sam making him the alpha, no matter what; they would have to do what he said. In a way, Jacob hated that, but also welcomed it as long as he found his imprint. Squaring his shoulders, Jacob went to knock on the door and stopped when it suddenly swung open, his eyes shooting out of their sockets.

Standing before him was a completely different Bella Swan he saw awhile back, her stomach no longer rounded and bruised. Her eyes were glowing red, her complexion pale white, though he knew eventually those eyes would turn to gold like the rest of the Cullen's. Her body was encased in a beautiful golden gown, her hair a deep rich auburn red that flowed down her back and over her shoulders in soft curls. She had a blood red amulet around her neck, the dress long sleeved and pooling around her feet, which he knew were bare. His Bella was dead and gone, her heart didn't beat anymore; surprisingly, Jacob didn't feel any pain, only worry about Selene.

"Jake…" Bella's voice had changed a little, it sounded more like Alice's now, a twinkling bell. "Edward said you were coming."

Jacob scowled, wishing that bloodsucker would stay out of his head, but he had more important things to worry about. "Selene's missing." He wasn't beating around the bush and cut straight to the chase, the entire pack remaining silent behind him.

"I know." Bella sighed sadly, Edward coming up to her moments later, his arm wrapping around her waist. "Something was troubling me and Edward sensed it, I told him it had something to do with Selene, even though I haven't exactly been the best sister in the world…"

"You did what you could, Bella love." Edward soothed, running his hand up and down her side gently, nodding at Jacob. "Hello Jacob."

"I don't have time for the sob story, Bells." He hated sounded mean about it, but time was running thin. "I came here because I need your help. I hate admitting that and you know it." He scowled momentarily, clearing his throat. "This isn't about me and it's not about what happened between us. I know you're happy and I'm hoping you'd want me to be the same way." When Bella nodded, flashing him a white smile, Jacob nodded his thanks. "That's why I'm going to tell you the truth about what's happened."

"What do you mean?" Bella looked up at Edward, eyebrows furrowing together. "Edward, what's he talking about?"

"Let him tell you." Edward kissed her forehead softly and stepped back, remaining silent.

"Thanks." Jacob hated Edward Cullen from the moment he met the man, but it was obvious he made Bella happy and that's all Jacob wanted for her. "Bella, I imprinted on Selene and I don't care what you think about it. I love her and she loves me, we're getting married. She's the love of my life, she's the one who was always in the shadows and I never realized it because I was revolved around you. But as soon as you made your choice, I finally noticed her and she completes everything about me. Now I need your help and I'll understand if you won't help me, but think about this. It isn't just me that's hurting, it'll be your father, Charlie, too. He's lost one daughter; do you really want him to lose another?"

Bella sighed heavily and nodded, clasping her hands in front of her because she knew Jacob was right. "Jacob, you don't need to preach to me about anything. I understand what you're saying and I'm going to help you in any way I can." She swallowed hard, closing her eyes momentarily. "I just hope you allow me a chance to get into her life, to come to the wedding, because whether you like it or not, you will always be my Jake. You will always be my best friend, the one who pieced me back together when Edward left me. I will always love you for that, no matter if I'm mortal or immortal."

"I thought you were leaving Forks immediately and going to Alaska? Bells, you'll hurt them…"

"No she will not." Edward stepped forward, smiling softly down at his wife. "Her gift in our world is that she can control her urging to feed. She has some kind of force field that she can spread around others, as well as herself, but it happens mostly when she's angry. She also can control herself, especially being around our daughter, Renesmee…"

"Nessie." Jacob grinned while Bella scowled, chuckling. "Sorry couldn't resist."

"That's quite enough, Black." Bella ordered, though she couldn't help smiling back, both of them suddenly growing serious again. "You all need to come on inside so we can discuss this further…all of you."

Jacob nodded, knowing Bella didn't want to leave anyone in the pack out, and turned around to face the others. "Go phase and then come inside, plug your noses if that's what it takes, but I don't want any fighting. This is about saving a human life, a sister and friend." He watched as they rushed into the woods and, one by one, everyone filed into the Cullen household until the living room was filled with shape shifters and vampires.

Now, the question was, would they work together or kill each other?