Chapter 9 – 3 A.M. Confessions

Nyla stayed silent the whole ride back to Paul, but buried herself into his side. He'd placed an old sheet he had in the truck over the seats to keep the blood off the upholstery of his truck. Once he got back to his house, he got her inside and was going to shower while she was doing the same, Paul went to leave to use the second bathroom, but her freezing cold hand grabbed his forearm.

Paul's onyx eyes turned to her and he could still see her whole body shaking vigorously. Paul touched her cheek and frowned when she flinched at his softest of touches. Again she never had to ask for him to stay, he just knew. He didn't want to leave her alone for a while anyways. This was just a traumatic experience, one she should've never had to experience at all.

"Let me take a shower real fast, when I finish I get you a bath started, or you can shower whatever you want. I won't leave if you don't want me to." Paul's voice was soft, he didn't want it to sound rough right now, even though he knew the vampires were behind the mound of bodies his imprint stumbled across and that pissed him off even more; that she had to find them. Naturally it couldn't be someone from the pack. No of course not. It would have to be Nyla and of course the very night he came clean about why he broke off the wedding.

Paul watched as Nyla put the toilet seat lid down and sat on it, he kept an eye on her as he took his shorts off, thankfully they didn't have blood on them, but he'd gotten blood all over his chest, torso, arms and around his neck and face from where he was holding Nyla against him. Paul showered about as fast as he could. Once he got out he dried off and quickly put on a clean pair of jean shorts. H heard the water kick on in the bathroom as he walked back into the bathroom and watched as Nyla peeled the blood soaked clothing from her body. Paul watched her; she looked like she was completely drained of any kind of energy or emotions. Paul turned the water off once the tub got full and helped Nyla get inside of it.

The water instantly turned red as it came off of her skin with hardly any effort. Paul watched as Nyla moved like a programmed robot, as she rubbed the soap on the wash cloth and practically rubbed her skin raw. Paul's cell started ringing as he stood and went to his room and grabbed it; Calvin's name was on the caller ID. "Yea?"

"Hey Paul, I know this isn't really the best time, but mom's body was found amongst the bodies in that mass grave Nyla found. I'm not sure if we should tell her tonight or wait until tomorrow. The Coroner has to officially identify the body, but we know it is her."

Paul grumbled audibly. "You should probably tell her as soon as possible. She's your sister, keeping this from her would be bad. Remember what happened when we kept the pack and wolf gene from her."

Calvin agreed fully so Paul stayed by the tub while he handed the phone over to Nyla and watched the different emotions as they all played across her face as Calvin explained the same thing to her that he had just told to Paul. He watched as she mumbled something incoherent into the phone as she handed it back to Paul and he flipped it closed and tossed it onto the counter.

Paul watched as Nyla stayed silent, he leaned over and washed her hair for her.

"I guess I always knew she was already dead. She'd been missing for a while, usually if a person isn't found within the first 48 hours; chances are they won't be seen alive again." Nyla frowned deeply as her eyes turned to Paul, she felt him brush his lips across her forehead. She couldn't help but let her tears fall silent and fast. "She's not really gone is she; because I don't want her to be gone? I shouldn't have left. When I left three years ago I never imagined it would be the last time I ever saw her."

Paul watched as tears streamed down her cheeks. Paul watched as Nyla leaned against the side of the bath tub and her head was on his shoulder as she continued to cry. Paul cupped the back of her head gently, before he ran his hand down the length of her hair trying to soothe her pain. Paul pulled the plug to drain the tub as he leaned over and kissed Nyla's temple soft. "Stand up for me." His voice was soft. Nyla did as he had requested as he wrapped a towel around her body and then lifted her into his arms and took her into the bedroom and set her on the bed.

Paul was careful to handle her with kid gloves as he gently dried her naked skin off. He loved her but he wasn't about to let himself get turned on. There would be plenty of time to start repairing the damage he'd done to their relationship later, but for right now he had to help her get through the night. Paul slipped on a pair of her boy short panties on her; then helped her put one of his t-shirts on her. It was a little big on her, but it would be comfortable none the less.

Paul shut everything off as he lay in bed with Nyla, he held her against his body letting his warm temperature envelope her. Her back was tight against his chest and he could still feel her shaking from head to toe. Paul's other arms slid under her body and wrapped around her shoulders and chest, he felt her hands as each one went to one of his hands, her cold fingers holding onto his so tight like she thought he was going to disappear.

He felt her fall into a restless sleep as her body continued to shake in his arms.

It was going to be a long, LONG night.

Around 3 AM, Paul woke up as Nyla screamed out, jumping from bed and cowering in the corner of his room. Paul jumped from the bed as he ran over to Nyla as he reached out and softly touched her arm. She jumped and let out another scream. Her back was tight against the corner.

Paul threw his hands up to show Nyla both of his hands were in plain view. "Nyla, I'm not going to hurt you; just calm down." He watched as she blinked a couple of times and tried to focus her vision on him. Her let out a heavy gasp of air as she began to cry. Paul immediately pulled her to him as she began to fall apart. "It's okay baby, you're completely safe right now; you are safe with me. I'm never going to let anything happen to you again. I swear on my life."

Paul stood from the floor with Nyla cradled in his arms; her face was buried in his neck as he sat on the bed leaning back against the headboard.

"Can we just sit here for a minute?"

"Of course; we can do anything you want to." Paul frowned; her voice sounded so scared. He felt like he couldn't make her feel safe; when all he wanted was for her to feel safe for the rest of her life. He knew as long as she was in his arms she was safe from anything and everything.

"Can I tell you something?" Nyla pulled away as she gave him a questioning look.

Paul nodded. "You can tell me anything you know that."

"I'm scared Paul. I'm so scared. This whole time Jason has been watching me and could've killed me not to mention he could've killed you if he really wanted to. And I was so mad earlier and I sounded like a complete bitch. I know I made you mad with what I said and I know I probably hurt you with what I said. I'm so sorry Paul." She looked up and her eyes locked with his. "I know I hurt you when I left three years ago. But I didn't know what to do. I loved you so much and I just couldn't be somewhere where you were still living, because if I couldn't be with you I didn't want to see you that would've hurt so much more. I'm so sorry Paul. I'm so sorry I hurt you."

Paul frowned as he cupped her cold cheeks in his hands. "You listen to me Nyla. You are now and always will be the most important person in my life. I know I hurt you worse than you could ever imagine hurting me. It was my fault for the pain and suffering we both had to go through. I've got thicker skin than you think and yea the words hurt and you leaving hurt worse than any wound I ever got from a vampire, but I'm still alive. And I'm still very much in love with you and I don't care how long it takes, I will get your love back and I will marry you and were going to have a million babies. But not before I kill Jason Merker for ever thinking about hurting you. I will keep you safe, because I would rather die than to lose you ever again."

"Paul, you never lost my love. I still love you as much now as I did when I first said it to your face. I'm going to love you until the day we die. I always feel safe with you; Always. There has never been a time where I haven't felt safe. Hell even when I was in California I felt like just my memories of us we're keeping me safe."

Paul smiled as his thumb rubbed the skin under Nyla's eyes as he wiped her tears. "The first three months you were in California, you were safe; because I was never far from you. I followed you. I had to. I had to make sure the drive there was safe and I needed to make sure you were going to be okay there by yourself."

"You followed me?" Nyla watched as Paul nodded impishly. Nyla suddenly grabbed Paul's face and pulled him to her as her lips crashed into his. "I love you so much."

Her lips whispered against Paul and he nearly came unhinged. "I love you too Nyla. I've missed you so bad." He continued kissing her lips and he would until she told him to stop.

An hour later and one HEATED make out session; they both were physically drained and couldn't help but fall asleep in each other's arms.

Just like it was always meant to happen for the rest of their lives.