Anything and everything Twilight belongs to Stephanie. I just like playing with the characters.

PAUL POV

There was something missing. I sat back listening to Bella to us how she knew the leech. Trying to grasp and figure out this cluster fuck of a puzzle. Was I a little upset about her being with a leech? Yes. But it was in the past, and no matter how much I hate the idea of what could of happened, she's here now, and I refuse to judge her on what she did in the past. I just wanted to know…why now? Why is she being 'hunted' now?

"Bella what did you say his name is?" Sam said, pulling out of my mind rambling.

"I didn't say his name." She said.

"Will you tell us now, so we know who we're looking for. Just in case." He said again.

Bella scanned the room, each of our faces. Concern evident.

"James." she said.

"Fuck." I said. This cant be fucking happening.

"What? Paul, what's the matter?" Bella said in a panicked voice, grabbing my arm.

"I know why he's after Bella." I whispered.

I looked up to gage Sam's reaction. Fuck how do we deal with this.

"I need answers Paul." Sam said.

"Sam, do you remember the last time we got a hold of a leech." I said. Trying to get him to put the pieces together.

"Yeah, it was a few years ago." He said.

"Think man." I said. I wanted him to put the pieces together before I tried to explain this to Bella.

"Oh shit." He said after a few minutes. Recognition clicking in his head.

"Would some one care to explain?" Bella anxiously said.

"I will, but Bella I need you to stay calm. Well as calm as you can. I have to get through this." I said grabbing her hand and looking in her eyes.

"Okay. But the longer you stretch this the more nervous I'm getting, so lets just get this over with." She said.

I sat for a couple of seconds, just looking at her.

"A couple of years ago, we had some murders in the area. The people were calling them animal attacks, but we knew that they weren't. We were tracking a group of nomadic leeches for a couple weeks, but we always ended up short. The trails went dead."

"One night Charlie was out hunting with Harry Clearwater, Seth and Leah's father, and ended up running into two of them. The leeches decided to play a game I guess you can say. The beat your father, and Harry pretty good."

I looked over to Charlie, and he nodded for me to continue.

"Sam and Jared were on the other side of LaPush patrolling when I caught the scent. When I got there your dad and Harry were pretty messed up. I didn't have time to think. So I jumped over them and grabbed one of the leeches, and ripped her head off. I turned to grab the other one, just as Sam and Jared showed up. When he saw he was outnumbered he turned around and ran. Sam built a fire and we burned the redheaded bloodsucker."

"We never caught up with the one that got away."

"You took something from me I'll never get back." Bella whispered next to me.

I pulled her into a hug and whispered sorry into her ear.

"Yeah, but that doesn't explain why he didn't kill her when he could have, Paul." Sam said.

"I have a theory." I said. And I did. It was the only thing that made since.

"Well lets hear it then."

"Okay. Umm. Bella said that he told her that Charlie made some bad choices. I think he wanted to fuck her up so when she came back Charlie would catch on to what was going on. He knew that Charlie and Bella were really close, which leads me to believe he's been watching the whole time. We just never caught on. He must think that Charlie and Harry are the ones who called in the wolfs somehow."

"Why wait so long though? If he knew she was there, why wait to long to get a hold of her?" Charlie said.

"Because it was part of the game." Bella spoke up shaking. Remembering what he told her.

"What do you mean Bella?" Sam said.

"He wanted to play with me. My head." She said.

"Okay I have one more question now." Sam said.

"Shoot." I replied.

"Why now? Why is he hunting her now?"

"Mate for a mate." I whispered.

"Ahh I get it." Sam said.

"Well I don't, can some one please explain this too me." Bella said anxiously.

"Laurent said they wanted you, Bella, because its mate for a mate."

"Okay……" She said waving her hand for me to keep going.

"When we were up on the cliffs last night I told you about imprinting, remember?" I said to her.

"Yeah, you imprinted on me. I remember." She said confusion still in her voice.

"Well imprinting is finding your 'mate' I guess you can say." Speaking with air quotations.

"He must have had Laurent listening in last night…" Sam said.

"I'm still a little lost here." Bella said, cutting Sam off."

I sat for a few minutes, trying to rearrange everything in my head, but Sam spoke first.

"Bella, last night Paul told you that you were his mate. Laurent must have been out there listening and contacted James to tell him. When he found out he wanted you killed. A mate for a mate. Your Paul's mate, and Paul killed his." Sam said.

"Oh." She said. "What now?"

"Now we call a pack meeting." Sam said standing and walking out the door.

I turned to Bella and wrapped my arms around her shoulders.

"What do we do now?" She asked.

"We wait." I told her. That's all we could do right now.

"I should get out of here. You guys aren't safe with me here." She said sobbing.

I couldn't let that happen.

"No, Bella. We'll all be okay. We're not going to let you go. Everyone just got you back. I just got you." I told her.

"He's going to come for me." She said.

"We wont let him get to you. I swear Bella. Your safe here." I said rubbing her back.

She calmed down a few minutes later, and her breathing evened out. She was asleep. I gently laid her back on the couch and stood. I looked over at Charlie, who had a blank expression on his face.

"Are you okay sir?" I asked

"Huh. Yeah Paul, just a little worried."

"Don't worry Charlie, I wont let anything happen to her."

"I know you wont son. Now you better get going. I'm sure Sam has already filled everyone in on most of what happened."

"Okay chief. I'll be over later to check on her." I said.

I leaned down slowly and placed a small kiss on her forehead. Turning I walked out the door.

Let the fucker come, I thought to myself. He may be vicious and vindictive. But hasn't seen me when I get pissed off. And right now… I'm fucking livid.

Let me know…….