Temper, Temper: Chapter Seventeen: Self Pity and Another Wedding
Alex left La Push, returning to her Welsh homeland as she regained her freedom and independence once again. All of the resident Quileute wolves reacted differently to her departure and it cause a lot of inner conflict in the tribe.
Seth was incredibly upset that Alex had left without saying goodbye, surely if they were as good of friends as he thought they were, she would have had the courtesy to give them all a proper farewell?
Jacob tried to console the youngest wolf, he had faith in Alex and knew she would have had a strong reason to leave like that. Leah made things worse, interjecting every time Jacob offered words of comfort with,
"Face it Seth, she just used us as her meal ticket out of here" She had said one particular discussion. Jacob clenched his fists together angrily,
"Meal ticket! I wouldn't call twelve hour patrol shifts, teaching your brother the ropes and spending God knows how long in your pleasant company a meal ticket!" He argued back strongly, standing up when his temper rose dramatically.
Quil and Embry had joined in then, arguing as one until one particular statement made them turn on one another resulting in a full internal argument in the tribe.
Two people sat out of it though. Everyone knew Jared's opinion; he had told them time and time again that he had faith in Alex's decision, and that it's her life and she has the best say in what is right or wrong for her.
Paul had the ability to console Seth, but how could he possibly console Seth when he couldn't even console his own emotions.
Sam's beta wolf had turned into a complete robot since Alex left. With his imprint gone, most likely forever, Paul was devastated and all of his natural charismatic sparkle diminished into mechanical movements that carried out his day to day life.
Sam told him to patrol, he went on patrol, he had a shift at the garage, he went to work and when they were both finished, Paul was left alone to his conflicting thoughts.
The group did what they could to get Paul back, as much as they could, to his normal self. Before all this started. All of them would invite him to various group gatherings; bonfires, movie days, shopping days, anything they could think of to make him join them.
Every time they ask though, the invitations were rejected with little politeness and when some wolves didn't take no for an answer, he would go but in body only. Paul would sit in the corner and hide himself off from the central group socialising – It was as if he was punishing himself for this whole ordeal.
Temper control was never Paul's strong point and with Alex's departure his tolerance got far worse and he would blow up in a rage at the smallest things.
One week after his imprint left, Paul exerted so much force into opening a bag of crisps that the bite size savoury snacks exploded like confetti all over his living room floor.
When that happened, his anger surged and anything in his way either got broken or shattered as he shakily tried to make it outside before phasing into his wolf when the tremors overtook his body.
It was worse when the things that got in Paul's way were not inanimate objects and instead were his wolf brothers or other La Push residents.
Sam had to deal with the violent fights that seemed to break out every other day. The alpha was fast losing his patience with his beta wolf, but he could empathize with him, knowing the intensity the power of the imprint took you to.
Never the less, Paul needed to be told exactly what was acceptable.
Now it had been three months.
A trio of months that felt like half a lifetime to Paul, he pondered over his memories with Alex for the rest of the morning, sitting on his sofa in self-pity.
He forced out the bad memories; the argument they had at the border line, when he told her he imprinted on her, and when she left. Instead he focussed purely on the positive memories; spending days with her when they went to Wales, patrolling with her when Sam conveniently paired them together, and when she was content just by being in his company.
"Come on pal, time to get ready" Jared pulled him off the couch easily with a smile. Today was Sam and Emily's wedding and it was one of the only days Paul couldn't disregard an invitation, seeing as one of his best friends was about to tie the marital knot.
"Isn't Seth here?" Paul questioned Jared whilst looking around the congregation; he had spotted Leah with her mother and grandparents, but Seth wasn't in their group.
Jared shook his head, "Nope, apparently he's on this school trip or something and the flights been delayed, he was due back yesterday"
Paul nodded and stretched the neck of his collar, finding the small church a little overwhelming as people started to frogmarch into their appropriate seats.
On the uncomfortable wooden pew Paul sat by Jacob and Quil, Sam may have given Jared the honour of being the official best man, but the wolf pack took up the priority front row seats. Unofficially all his best men.
Leah, had of course joined – Sam must of alpha-ed his way into getting her to agree - Kim as a bridesmaid though Paul could help the thought 'Alex would do that dress so much more justice' into his head when he saw them both following flower girl, Claire down the aisle.
The front row of the church broke appropriate behaviour for religious buildings by jumping to their feet and cheering like crazy when the 'Kiss the bride' end sentence was uttered out, Quil taking it upon himself to be the official confetti bearer and douse the couple in the glittery mixture.
Sam's face was a picture as he broke away from his new bride with cascades of silver sparkles streaming down his un-amused face while a picture perfect Emily laughed and brushed the celebration dust from his cheeks.
Strangely Paul's spirits were uplifted as he was bundled into one of the cars that carried them to the after party.
'About time' thought Paul who was close to strangling the hired photographer who continuously rammed the lens of his expensive camera into everyone's faces.
Besides, after parties always meant booze and booze was the greatest drink a man craving self-pity could have as far as Paul was concerned.
Although Paul preliminary enjoyed himself, his spirits deflated slightly when he saw that they were in the same pub as where Alex had sang and danced at the other more boring wedding.
It was as though everywhere he went, something always dragged his thoughts back to the one thing he couldn't have.
Even the beer tasted peculiar as he bolted his first pint before ordering another and claiming a table at the far back of the room. Just because this was Sam's wedding, did not mean he was mingling with the cringe worthy stereotype characters of wedding grouped together in social gossip groups.
When the bride and groom arrived, Paul respectfully clapped his hands together and toasted his glass when Sam looked in his direction. Simultaneously the rest of the wedding attendants did so.
When a figure took to the stage Paul wrinkled his brow in confusion. Hadn't Jared just told Paul when they were in the church that Seth was on a school trip that's return flight had been delayed?
Yet there the youngest wolf member was in his suit with a metallic blue tie on, making his way across the stage to the microphone pole, raising his hand in greeting when people started to notice him.
Leaning back against the comfortable polyester covered cushions, Paul waited for the explanation curiously.
Maybe he just caught an earlier flight?
Whatever it was, Seth better have a good excuse. His mother was sitting with Billy Black, an expression of thunder on her face.
'Family wedding dramas, there's nothing like them' Paul thought with a rare smile as he took another deep gulp from the golden liquid in his pint glass.