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Chapter 14

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Bella moaned when the sun hit her eyes. It took a few minutes to remember where she was, and that she had, in fact, been rescued by her friends. By her wolf. Kim informed her after they'd gotten back to the reservation that she'd already talked to Chief Swan. She then grinned knowingly, telling Bella that he thought she was spending the night with her and Emily at her house so he wouldn't worry about her and storm through Forks like a madman. Bella gave her a hug and thanked her for her thoughtfulness before she was pulled away to Paul's house.

It was one house she'd never been to before- seeing as in her 'dream' she and Paul never got along and before Jacob phased, they didn't run in the same circles either. She fell in love with it upon first sight. Paul was a neat individual and it showed in his home with how clean he'd kept it. It missed a woman's touch though. His woman's touch- so he told her anyways.

She smiled when she felt a pair of thick, muscled arms wrap tighter around her waist as he started to wake from his dream. His lips on her shoulder pulled a content hum from her own lips. Turning in his arms, she was greeted with one of the few real smiles he chose to show her and a sweet kiss.

"Morning." She whispered.

Paul nuzzled her neck and inhaled her scent. "Morning." He rumbled.

She shifted closer to him, loving the feel of skin on skin. She couldn't help but giggle when he moaned. Their bodies were aligned perfect at the moment and she could feel him, hot, hard and wanting her. "What's wrong Paul?" She asked squirming more until he pinned her to him tighter.

"Tease." He muttered against the shell of her ear.

It took some convincing, but she managed to finally push him onto his back. She followed after him, straddling his hips with her hands holding her weight over him. "You like it." She said with an impish grin. Last night had been surreal… she'd been claimed by both the man and the wolf in the most pleasurable of ways, and now, she acted as though they'd been together in that way for years.

His hands trailed over her bare back, feeling the satin smooth skin beneath his fingers. Those same hands ghosted over her thighs before coming to rest on her waist. "Sore?" He asked choosing to ignore her comment.

A smile curved over her lips. He was worried about her. "No." She grinned. "I just want you." She murmured against his lips before pressing a kiss to them.

He closed his eyes and moaned when she rocked her hips against his in demonstration of her wants. Pulling himself up, he took her mouth in a brutal kiss filled with lust, need and desire. By the time their lips parted, Bella was breathless and her arousal flooded his nostrils.

"Paul." Barely a whisper of his name and his self-control was near lost.

His left hand crept up her thighs, closer towards her pussy. He had to smirk when he found her near soaked. "So wet already." He purred against her lips.

"Want you." She whined when he started rubbing her clit in tight circles.

Her nails dug into the skin of his chest as he helped her lower herself onto his cock. The pain was bittersweet as she started to move over him. He moaned and fell back against the mattress, one hand still on her clit, the other gliding up her torso to pinch and tease a nipple.

Bella threw her head back in pleasure as she worked herself closer to orgasm. Paul had seen her through the wolf's eyes last night when it'd been dark, but watching her now above him… she looked so beautiful. He bit his lip and moaned when a shiver of pleasure raced down his own spine, licking the flames of passion within his veins.

"Paul..." She whispered, her eyes wide with lust.

He sat up and stared into her eyes, both hands now on her waist. "That's it baby girl." He urged. His lips hovered over hers, barely touching. Even though last night had been a first for them, he knew her body. Her eyes gave her away. They'd always give her away. He knew just how close she'd gotten to crashing. "Come on, Bella."

She clung to him, her arms draped around his neck as she bucked her hips over his cock. Her eyes closed in pleasure as he filled her. "So close…" She whined, her nails digging into his skin.

"Come on baby girl… wanna feel you cum for me." He growled as his fingers found her clit yet again.

She shivered and threw her head back again. His wolf, closer to the surface now, saw the opportunity and latched onto her skin. It had been just the push she needed in order to finally fall over the edge screaming out his name. He followed her with his teeth still imbedded in her skin.

He moaned and fell backwards, dragging her with him as their breathing calmed. "My perfect little mate." He muttered against her temple.

"My wolf. My handsome, protective, sweet, amazing, perfect wolf." She returned. Her eyes focused on his and she smiled when she saw the yellow ring around the brown of his iris. She had indeed been talking to both of them.

They were nearly asleep when a loud knock sounded through the house. Paul growled and tightened his arms around Bella. He sighed when the pounding only got louder and more frequent. Even Bella moaned in annoyance.

"I'll kill them and be back in ten seconds baby girl." He promised.

She giggled. "Kay."

He threw a pair of cut offs on and stormed down the hall. Wrenching the door open, he glared when he saw Jared, Sam and Jacob standing there. "Someone had better be dead."

Jared and Sam grimaced. The smells of arousal, of pleasure, of satisfaction wafted to them causing them to shift from foot to foot. "No… not dead…"

Jacob snorted. He stood the farthest from the door and didn't get a chance to smell what his alpha and beta had. "Can we go in or not? We need to talk to Bella." He snapped.

"Jacob… enough." Sam grizzled.

Jared sighed. "I know what it's like Paul… trust me... But it is important. It can't wait."

"Paul, who is it?"

Paul sighed. "Pack's here, baby girl."

Jacob grinned until he saw her walking down the hallway in just one of Paul's old tee shirts. It was long enough that it fell to her knees, but in doing so it hung off of her shoulder as well. He growled when he saw the mark on her neck and went to lunge at Paul.

"Jacob?! What the hell?!" Bella shouted.

Jacob growled. "He hurt you!"

"Oh goodness! No... he didn't." She huffed. "Jake, use that head of yours upstairs, not the one filled with testosterone. Do you think I'd let him near me if he meant to hurt me? And besides, wolves can't consciously hurt their imprints!" She growled. "That's what you all keep saying at least!"

Jacob sighed and glared at Paul for another minute. Sam and Jared only shook their heads. Jacob had gone from the best friend with a crush to the best friend with a big brother- who wasn't older at all- complex. Paul only smirked and pulled Bella onto his lap.

"So, what's wrong?" Bella asked when things calmed down again.

Sam sighed. "We need to talk to you about the rest of the Cullen's staying here. I know they're your friends… but…"

Bella shook her head. "Not here in Forks." She finally said.

"I thought you'd want them closer, Bells." Jacob mused.

The wolves were confused by her statement. She'd been the one to tell them the coven wasn't that bad from the start. Of course, that was before they came back and before she'd gotten kidnapped. She'd also learned along the way that it had been a glimpse through Alice's mind that had brought Edward back at all. She'd seen Victoria attacking Bella, but then she'd seen her alright afterwards- talking with Emily.

She shrugged. "Things change. They were- are- some of the best friends I know. But… I have the pack now. And they're the reason you phased. I don't want to be selfish and tell them to stay when we can keep in touch other ways. There's nothing to say I can't take a day ride into Seattle sometime, or someplace closer."

Jared raised an eyebrow. "Wow… you've thought about this a lot huh." He quipped.

She smiled. "Of course." She was interrupted by her phone. "Hi Alice, we've been talking about you."

"I didn't know. I wanted to ask if you could come to the treaty line. We've gathered to say goodbye… after the mess with Edward… we're leaving for a while." She said with a sigh.

Bella frowned. "You're not dropping me… are you?"

"I don't think I ever could. We'll keep watch. I've sent you an email with our numbers."

"Ok. We'll be there as soon as I can get changed."

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Bella smiled when she saw Alice prancing from foot to foot at the proverbial treaty line. "Hey guys." She said moving to hug them.

Emmett wrinkled his nose. "Don't take offense, but Bella, you stink."

Paul growled. That was an insult to the wolf as well as to his mate.

Bella shook her head. "None taken. I'm sure to them you stink too."

Sam snorted, but he nodded none the less. They all did. He eyed the wolves after phasing into his human skin, telling them to behave. Paul only huffed and sat down close to Bella. Sam rolled his eyes. Stupid males and their posturing. He'd never admit that he was guilty of it too. His Emily was his world.

Carlisle smiled at Bella. "Thank you for showing us the compassion you have. It takes a great person to look past what's on the outside and find the beauty within others."

"I'm going to miss you, Carlisle. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused."

Esme shushed her then. "Don't you apologize! What Edward did… it was his own actions. I can only hope that you don't hold it against any of us." She smiled.

"Never."

Carlisle stared long and hard at the wolves before letting out a sigh. "I don't know if you'll accept it or not, but I want you to have this. A gift of parting… an apology… a way to pay you back in some way for the lives ruined." He said holding an envelope out to Sam.

His jaw dropped when Sam took the envelope and opened it to view its contents. "This… we can't… it's too much!" He spluttered.

"It's not enough." Esme told them. "But it's a start."

Carlisle cleared his throat. "I'm hereby abolishing the treaty. Forks is now your territory. Guard it well." He said with a nod of his head before he and his family left.

Sam sighed. He shoved the envelope into Jacob's hands once he had phased back. The tribe would be happy. Jacob nearly choked. "Are they serious?!"

"What is it?" Bella asked coming to stand by Paul. He'd yet to phase back and his wolf recoiled some at the stench of leech covering his mate after all the hard work he'd gone through this morning to make her smell like them. He shook his fur out and sighed. He'd just have to do it again when he got her back into his home.

"They've opened accounts for us. These are bank statements. Every wolf has one- even you Bella. Free and clear, so the note says. All we need to do is go get our bank cards." Jacob muttered.

"How much?" She wondered, too scared to know.

"Fifty thousand... Each." He said with a weak voice.

Bella was floored. "Oh… wow…"

Sam sighed. "It'll be good to know that I can provide for a family. The tribe can use some of it too."

"The Cullen's already took care of the tribe." Jacob whispered.

Bella looked at him. "What do you mean Jake?"

"There's a check in here for a hundred thousand dollars to be used for the betterment of the tribe." He muttered.

The wolves were stunned speechless. Jacob moaned. "Which one of us wants to tell the elders?"

Paul snorted and sat on his haunches. He clearly wasn't volunteering. Jared shook his head and sat on his haunches as well. Sam rolled his eyes as one by one, the other wolves followed suit. Bella bit her lip and hid her snickers-barely- in Paul's fur.

"You pussies." Sam growled. "Alright… come on Jake. Bella… can you hold these while we run back?"

"Of course." She sighed as she climbed onto Paul's back.

With the Cullen's gone, a chapter of her life had closed. She wasn't sad or lost, or afraid that she'd never see them again like she was in her dream. She was ready to face whatever came with the wolves behind her and Paul at her side.

"Hey... Bella... Don't forget, we're all gonna be there tomorrow to see you graduate." Jacob said when they'd gotten back to Paul's house.

'Shit.' She only sighed.

Maybe having a bunch of overgrown dogs to call her friends wasn't such a good thing after all. She sighed and shook her head before shutting the door in his face. She just wanted to spend more time with Paul before she had to leave to go home.