Please 'scuse this not so little A/N, I need to answer a review from eamurray022980. And some of you may have been wondering the same thing. The review asked about Paul's comforting Bella last chapter and whether he was actually yelling at her or if it was just tough love. Let's clear it up. Bella reacts best to Paul because he acts like an asshole, right? She saw his clothes shredded and two HUGE wolves in the front yard. Conclusion: Paul's dead. Now, Paul does not call her Bella very often, as you probably have noticed. There is a reason for that, I promise! At first, calling her Bella indicated a level of closeness he didn't feel and had no intention of feeling. Calling her Swan, which no one did or does, is just one of Paul's ways of slapping her in the face (figuratively, of course). Now though, calling her Swan has developed into a pet name or a term of endearment. It's special between them. Bella recognizes Paul's aggressive side when she's upset because he doesn't coddle her and she knows it's him. To an outsider, it may seem like Paul is an abusive asshole, but Bella needs him to yell at her and (basically) degrade her. In some way, it lets her know he actually gives a damn. Make sense? Hope so! Don't know how else I could explain it, but I'll give it a try if someone needs it.

Now, onto the story!

Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyer. I do not own Twilight.

Chapter Six

Paul's POV

I flicked through the channels on TV, Bella tucked into my side, as I thought about what Sam had found out from the council Elders. According to them, Bella was not my imprint. They wanted me to stay away from her, worried about another Sam/Emily/Leah fiasco. Billy Black, especially, was concerned about my role in Bella's life. Sam thought he was worried if something did happen and I ended up leaving Bella, she would revert back to her zombie-like state of a week ago. Even Sam suggested I spend less time around the house.

They just didn't understand. Even if Bella wasn't my imprint, which I still wasn't sold on, I couldn't just leave her. There was definitely something between us and I refused to back down because of some wolf default mating thing. Besides, she wouldn't talk to anyone but me. I had to hang around to make sure she got better.

"Stop," Bella murmured, reaching out to cover the remote in my hand.

I looked up to see I had landed on some cooking show. Bella snuggled further into my arms, sighing contently as some guy started talking about the benefits of using olive oil over butter. Giving a mental shrug, I settled in to wait for her to either get bored or fall asleep. I'd been noticing that she seemed to always fall asleep at some point when I came to visit, usually when we were alone. Emily had confirmed my suspicions that she wasn't getting much sleep during the night. My wolf preened knowing she slept better when we were with her.

The council may have doubts about Bella and me, but my wolf and I were in complete agreement. She was the one for us.

Her soft exhale across my neck brought my focus back to the girl lying in my arms.

"You warm enough, Swan?" I asked.

She nodded, her long brown hair tickling my arm and chest. I tightened my hold on her to be sure and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on top of her head. Her fingers, which had been plucking at my shorts, began drawing circles and swirls across the fabric. I sighed into her hair, closing my eyes against the intense emotional and physical pleasure brought on by her touch. It was like sticking my entire body in a five hundred degree oven, the way the passion comforted and burned at the same time. My wolf growled happily, knowing we were the only ones she touched this way.

Gradually, as the guy on the TV cooked up some fancy Italian dish, her hand slowed and she started drifting off to sleep. I ran my fingers through her hair, a soothing mechanism for us both, counting her heart beats as her breathing slowed and deepened.

My thoughts ran away from me again and I worried about what would happen once Charlie came back from Seattle and what Bella was going to do about school. I had learned from Sam that Charlie had taken Bella out of school for the semester after realizing she wouldn't be able to go in her previous state of detachment. It was her senior year and she was pretty advanced for the small town curriculum of Forks High. I had no doubt she would be able to graduate on time if we could convince her to go back to school or possibly to do her classes online through the nearby community college. She was smart enough for that.

As for Charlie, I knew I hadn't made the best impression on him when he first dropped Bella off, but Sam and Emily had both told him about Bella's progress and how she clung to me whenever I was around. The Chief may not be too fond of me, but he was definitely glad to hear his daughter was improving. Still, I knew as soon as he came back, Bella would return to Forks with him and my days spent with her on the couch or walking along First Beach would stop.

My wolf whined at the thought, my arms tightening around Bella subconsciously as I breathed deeply of her scent. She murmured softly in her sleep, her hand petting my thigh in an attempt to calm me. I smiled slightly, enjoying the simple comfort she offered.

I was just about to drift off to sleep myself when a howl pierced the silence of the house. Sam's call was followed by a sudden feeling of rage had me nearly trembling out of my skin. Bella jolted awake, gasping my name. I pushed Sam's anger away to sooth her.

"Hush, Swan. I gotta go see what Sam wants. You stay here and wait for me to come back," I instructed through clenched teeth as I struggled against phasing.

She bit her lip nervously as she watched me leave out the back door. I stayed close to the tree line as I phased, not wanting to leave her alone. Emily was visiting her relatives on the Makah reservation, something she did at least once a month. The idea of leaving Bella completely alone and unprotected did not sit well with my wolf and he refused to allow me to wander more than a few yards into the dense foliage of Sam's backyard.

We've caught the scent of a vampire female. Not a Cullen. Jared and I are tracking her now. We need you to meet us. She's too quick. We need to box her in.

Sam's thoughts invaded my mind, but I struggled between staying to protect Bella and going to help my pack brothers.

Paul, come!

The Alpha command rolled over me and my feet shot forward, taking me towards the chase. My inner wolf growled angrily at having to leave Bella unprotected, but not even he would disobey our Alpha.

The sooner we catch this leech, the sooner we can get back to her, I thought to my wolf.

He growled and pushed us harder, increasing our speed as we leapt over boulders and downed trees. I was quickly coming upon the place where Sam wanted to box the leech in and the bleached sugar smell assaulted my senses. I snorted at the unpleasant sensation that scent caused, shaking my head to get rid of it.

A flash of red caught my eye and I veered toward it, howling to let my brothers know I was on the hunt. Their answering calls were close and we moved in on the leech, her bright red eyes darting over her shoulder as we neared.

I snapped my teeth at her, growling ferociously as I pushed my wolf harder. Using a boulder as leverage, I sprung at her through the air. She barely missed my teeth, ducking out of way just in time.

Sam raced past me as I landed on my feet before following him. Jared was a few yards over to my right, closing in fast. Sam dodged forward, going after the leech's legs, but she danced away at the last minute. Jared had the same such luck when he tried to catch her. It went on like that until we chased her to the cliffs and into the ocean.

Snapping my teeth at her disappearing figure, I pawed the ground angrily.

Come on, Paul. We need to get back, Sam huffed, using his shoulder to move me away from the cliffs.

An image of Bella flashed through my mind and I was off like a shot, racing to get back to her. I had been gone for too long and the sun was already sinking over the horizon. By the time I made it back to Sam's, the stars were starting to show up.

I phased and pulled on shorts as I walked across the backyard, tensing when I saw Bella waiting on the back steps, trembling. As soon as she saw me, she gave a soft cry and raced down the steps.

"Swan, I thought I told you to wait inside," I scolded, opening my arms for her.

She nearly bowled me over as she ran into them. I frowned when I felt tears on my bare chest.

"Hey, now. What's with the tears?" I asked quietly, tilting her head back to see her face.

"Thought you left," Bella whimpered, her voice breaking on the last word.

"Of course I left, Swan. There was a vampire. I had to help the pack. I told you to wait for me," I reminded her.

"No. Forever," Bella whispered, shaking her head.

"You are out of your mind insane, Swan, you know that? Jesus, woman, what the hell would I leave for? You can just go ahead and get that idiotic idea out of that stubborn little head of yours right now," I insisted, rocking her gently.

"Missed you," Bella sniffled, burrowing further into my embrace.

"Me, too, Swan. Me, too," I breathed, nuzzling her hair.

As the stars came out, I stood there, holding the most amazing woman I'd ever met.

"I should disappear more often," I murmured.

She pulled back and gave me a curious look.

"If it'll get you talking more, why not? Plus, I get the added bonus of holding you," I smirked, thrilled when I saw the usual blush stain her cheeks.

"Come on, Swan. I'm hungry and I know you can navigate a kitchen better than I can. Fix me something to eat," I demanded, gently swatting her ass as she turned towards the house.

I laughed at the little squeak she made, followed up by a glare thrown over her shoulder. She marched towards the house, leaving me to trail behind.

I watched her move around Emily's kitchen as if it were her own, amazed at how confident she looked as she worked. This was not the same girl who wouldn't speak more than two or three words at a time or the girl who worried about me never coming back. Something told me this girl was the real Bella, the one hidden under the insecurities heaped on by whatever that leech did to her all those months ago.

When she placed a stack of sandwiches on the table in front of me, I reached up and caught her wrist. She allowed me to pull her onto my lap without a fight, sighing contently when my fingers found their way into her hair.

"Looks good, Swan," I commented, picking up on of the sandwiches.

She smiled softly as I ate, seemly content to sit and keep me company without saying a word. After I had inhaled the last sandwich, I kissed her temple in thanks.

I froze when I felt her lips press against my neck in response. It was just a light brushing of her lips across my skin, but it heated my blood like nothing else. My hands clenched, aching to hold her tighter, to move her body over mine. But nothing prepared me for the pleasurable agony that flooded me when her breath fanned across my neck with two simple words.

"My Paul."

Oh, dear God, was I in trouble.

So, it's a little short, which is why I'm posting it today. I'll still give you guys another chapter on Wednesday, but I would feel really bad about giving you guys this on Wednesday and making you wait until Saturday for another update when this one is sooo short! I hope you guys enjoyed it, though!

See you next chapter!