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Chapter 5

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She'd come on to their turf again. The wolves were incensed that she even dared try. She'd done it for a month now, testing their borders, trying to find them on patrol… trying to learn their schedules. They all knew what she was after, but they were determined to see her fail in achieving her goal. Paul was among one of the first to come across her this time. He still sported three deep, slow healing scratches to his muzzle from the fight before she'd flung herself into the trees out of self-preservation. She'd not counted on the viciousness of Paul's wolf in the defense of what he perceived as his.

She ran for her life with an angry pack of wolves hot on her heels. She'd jump to the forest floor to taunt them, laughing when they came close- how she loved that game. Just before their jaws would catch her, she'd fling herself into the trees, her tinkling laugh ringing through their ears. That laugh only served to fuel their anger.

They hated that laugh.

Sam snapped his jaws just as she left the cliff top, diving into the turmoil of the ocean waves below. He caught a few strands of her hair, but little else. He let out a howl of frustration that was soon echoed by the rest of the pack, which had grown to include Seth Clearwater, Brady Fuller and Collin Littlesea.

Seth felt nothing but relief that his sister, Leah Clearwater, remained safe from both the current vampire and the change that every elder felt sure she would have endured had she stayed. He'd never admit out loud, but he missed her. He was sure Sam did too… he knew for a fact Emily did. She'd asked about her estranged cousin a few times now, only to be met with the tight lips of her not so little brother- he didn't want to betray the sibling bond they shared.

Now that 'big red' was gone, the pack turned and headed for home. They'd made it a habit as of late to change up their patrol routes, just to confuse her. It worked this time and as they ran, Sam let it pass through their shared mind just how pleased he was with an idea that had been thought up by none other than Seth. He'd put countless hours of playing video games to use, and it had paid off in the end.

Sam stopped and allowed the pack to run ahead of him when they were closer to home. He was frustrated that they'd not caught the red head again, and frustrated that the girl he'd come to see as his little sister was still in danger. He didn't know what to do to put Bella's fears at ease; He saw the worry in her eyes, even if she tried to show the pack how strong she was. They could smell the fear on her, hear it in the way her heart raced when they mentioned Victoria's name. Sam only sighed and pawed at the ground. He just didn't know how to help and it angered him.

A nose in his fur shook him from his thoughts. Jacob had doubled back to comfort him. Their wolves were in the forefront of their minds at the moment, and all they all felt their alpha's distress. One wolf turned to two. Two turned to four, and before Sam could fathom, four turned to eight. Only the silver wolf, who was in desperate need to check on his mate, refused to offer comfort to his alpha.

Said wolf rushed back to Sam's house where Emily and Bella waited for the pack- as always anytime they caught wind of Victoria. His paws stirred the leaf litter as he moved, but he never once made a sound. His body danced with grace and ease through and around the trees as he raced the wind itself back to his mate. The man in the back of his mind yelled at him to slow down; he didn't want to see her. But the wolf, the one in control, wouldn't listen. His imprint had become his sole focus.

Bella.

His mate.

By the time he got his wolf under control, Paul was nearly to the tree line that bordered the back yard of Sam's home. The rest of the pack found it amusing that his wolf had more control of him at times than the man did. They all fell silent however when they saw Emily walk outside with two steaming cups of coffee, one poised for Bella to take.

Said brunette sat on the bench swing with her legs drawn up to her chest and her head on her knees. They'd never seen her look so… sad. She looked lost in her own thoughts and didn't even bother to unwind her arms from around her knees in order to take the offered drink. She barely showed Emily any acknowledgement when she sat beside her. She only closed her eyes and drew even more into herself. They'd never seen her so fragile. Every time they'd gotten back, they found her either giggling with Emily or cooking.

Something was wrong. They could all see it.

Jacob growled in agitation. He hated seeing any of his friends upset, Bella was no different. Embry and Quil were quick to follow, their own soft growls echoing his as they stared helplessly at their friend. With their sensitive hearing, they could hear the sniffles she tried to keep hidden altogether. She didn't like showing emotion to people. She didn't handle it too well.

Sam stopped them with a nip to the heel as they all closed in and came to a rest beside Paul. Even Paul could tell something wasn't right. The girls knew the pack had been chasing 'big red', as Sam had taken to calling her, but he didn't think it would have caused any undue upset. None of the wolves ever came back with major damage done to their person.

Emily sighed and sat closer next to Bella, her body turned towards the other girl. She smiled and held the coffee out to her again, only to frown when Bella refused with a small shake of her head. "What's the matter Bella? You've been out here alone since the boys left. You barely ate and I can tell there's something on your mind."

"It's nothing Emily. I'm fine."

"I call bullshit! Just because those wolves are fooled by that sweet smile of yours, I know better. There's no spark in those eyes of yours anymore." She said with a gentle tone.

Paul forced his wolf to stay quiet as he edged closer. His mind pushed everything else away- including the rest of his brothers- so he could hear the two girls talk.

"I'll be fine." Bella sighed. "I just have a lot on my mind and it's stressing me." Her arms wound tighter around her knees as she stared out at the trees. Little did she know, a pack of wolves stared back at her, all of them starting to worry.

"Tell me why I don't believe you. What's going on Bella? You know you can tell me. right? Friends talk to each other."

Bella smiled at the older girl. "It makes you feel so small to sit next to it, doesn't it?"

"What does?" Emily frowned in confusion.

"The forest. It makes you feel so... alone sometimes." She murmured.

"You're going to have to spell it out for me, I'm still not following you. What's on your mind?" Emily wondered.

Bella sighed. "Paul. I just… I hate that we fight so much. It's fun for a while. But I don't want to fight with him! Ugh. He's so… frustrating! I get that I'm not the ideal imprint… mate… wolf girl, whatever you want to call it, but damn, Emily! Does he hate me that much?"

Paul watched the girl staring out at the trees and wondered if he'd been too harsh? A collective, 'yes' was the answer in his head.

Oh, if wolves could roll their eyes.

"Paul is… he's difficult. He needs time to accept that things change. I'm not making excuses for him, but Bella, in his mind… you were one step away from falling head over heels in love with a vampire… much less being friends with an entire coven… he doesn't understand that you don't judge others the way most people do. You tend to see past the flaws- the rest of the pack loves that about you, you know."

Her nose wrinkled. "But I didn't fall in love with him! Edward and I were just friends! It's the same thing with Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie! We were just friends! There were times when Edward pushed for more, but I always stayed away from him when it got to be too bad." She huffed.

"Deep down he knows that. Just give him time. He'll come around, you'll see. I hope you don't think the pack thinks that way…" Emily tried to tell her.

"I'd never… it's not that I didn't… I don't want to be tied to someone who's going to hate me for something that I never did! Is it so much to ask that he looks past that to just…? I don't know… give things a chance?"

Emily wrapped her arm around the girl. "He will. Just give it more time. Stay strong."

"I'm trying!" She snapped.

Sam growled causing Paul to growl at him and him to growl back. Jacob only snorted.

Amused, the wolves definitely were not.

Emily smiled. "I know."

Bella took a deep breath, counted to ten and released it. "Sorry… I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's not your fault."

"Don't be ridiculous. No woman should have to be that strong all the time. Much less have to deal with the drama and arguments." Emily said with a soft smile.

"You're a douche, you know that… right?"

"Fuck you, Call. She befriended them. Who the hell does that?"

"Her, obviously."

"Don't be an asshat, Black. I don't need it right now."

"So, says the ultimate asshat? Wake up and see what the fuck you're doing to her! They didn't damage her. You're the one damaging her!"

After Quil snapped at Paul's flank, he phased and walked off without a glace backwards, offering only a wave over his shoulder. Sam only sighed and turned his attention back to the girls on the back porch. Paul was left to sift through every memory the pack had of Bella and her time spent with them- including her telling them about her time spent with the leeches.

He'd seen what happened, he'd been there to hear some of what she went through and how Edward always pushed for more. Hell, he knew about the vampire thrall- the crazy ability to lure their victims into a state of lucid awareness. It sounded like she'd stayed one step ahead at every turn. She even tried to stall in the clearing when she'd been three seconds from becoming a three-course meal in an effort to keep her friend safe.

Why had he continued to be so harsh then?

He sighed and tried to think of a logical reason. So far he could come up with none other than the fact that she'd befriended a coven of vampires. That in of itself counted as taboo in his book. Even so, had it been enough to warrant the last few months of arguments, belittling and out right meanness?

A sniffle brought his attention back to the girls. He belatedly realized only Sam remained standing beside him. The others had gone home, not able to take seeing the girl they'd come to think of as a sister so upset over his actions towards her.

"He'll never want me will he?" Her voice sounded so small.

She looked so downtrodden… so weak… nothing like the high-spirited woman who slapped him at their first meeting. Sure, she'd damaged her hand in the process… but that woman had fire. This one… this was his doing and he didn't know what to think.

"Just give it time, Bella. He'll understand what's going on in his head soon enough." Emily cooed.

"I guess so." She sighed. "I'll be alright… I have to be." Her conviction startled Paul and he wondered just who she thought she was lying to… Emily or herself.

Emily frowned and shook her head. "Somehow I know you're lying to me. I just wish I could help."

"You already are." Bella said with a smile.

Emily smiled. "Yeah, I guess I am. Just… don't lose yourself."

Bella smiled. "I don't think you'd let me."

"Never. And neither would the pack." Emily promised.

Paul's head tilted to the side, taking in all he'd heard. She was so different than he expected. Maybe getting to know her wouldn't be that bad.

Sam only huffed and phased. Once he'd pulled on and fastened his cut offs, he turned to look at his friend, tilting his head to the side with his eyes narrowed. "I know you think pushing her away would the best thing to do, but, imprinting only shows us our eventual path early... that's all. One way or another, Paul, you two would have ended up together. Try getting to know her instead of being an ass… It won't hurt to let her in, and you just might find she's an amazing friend in the process."

That said, Sam walked up the steps of his back porch. He hugged Bella to him, kissed Emily and then sat on the porch floor in between them. Paul watched them for twenty minutes more, in silent debate. He sighed, phased, dressed and made his way through the grass towards them.

He greeted Emily with a kiss to her cheek and turned to Bella. He could see her tense, waiting for his usual snark. Instead, he just asked, "You alright Swan?"

Bella couldn't have been more stunned if she'd heard Santa Claus, the Easter bunny and Frosty the Snowman were all real. A smile from Emily told her she wasn't dreaming, but now she was in a whole new ball game.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts and nodded. "Yeah… I'm good."

"Good."

Nothing else was said and the four sat and watched dusk fall over the back yard. It wasn't until dinner needed to be started that Emily moved. Paul was content where he was... sitting in peace beside the girl his wolf had chosen to be his mate.