In her seventeen years of life Lucille Alexander Swan lived in her older sisters shadow. For as long as she could remember it was Bella everyone wanted. Bella was naïve and fragile and Lucy did her best to protect her from the cruelty and jealousy of others. When Lucy had been told that the Cullen's were vampires she yelled at Bella for putting not only herself, but the whole family in danger. It took months for Lucy to finally get comfortable enough around them to hang out casually. She had fun with them, talked and shopped with Alice, nodded politely to Rosalie, and played card games with Jasper, who was by far her favorite. It wasn't until Bella's eighteenth birthday party when Lucy had tripped on a step on the stairs and cut her arm. The family went into a frenzy as Carlisle pushed her back from them. It wasn't until then that she had remembered that they were dangerous. She was glad when they left although it hurt her to see Bella so sad. It was for the best. Even though she had been friends with the Cullen's and they loved her dearly she, as usual, was nothing compared to the bashful Bella Swan. Which made sitting in Emily's kitchen with an entire wolf pack focused directly on her, and not her panicking sister very confusing. Even Jacob who was usually to overwhelmed by Bella had his attention on her. It was strange. A redheaded vampire was after Bella. Shouldn't they be paying attention to her? Lucy jokingly thought that there was no way to avoid this danger once you got dragged into it.

The wolf across the table from the short haired girl was quiet throughout the whole meeting. Paul studied his imprint like an artist studied a beautiful sculpture. He carefully calculated into his memory the way her lips looked like when they twitched upward at something funny or how her eyes were green like the forest he ran through all day. Lucy held onto Bella and Jacob's hands. Had it been any of the other wolves Paul would have ripped their arms off but Paul was inside Jacob's mind when he found out he had imprinted on Lucy and the only love he felt was brotherly. Bella and Lucy shared one of Emily's giant muffins, though Bella only picked at it. Sam stood up and the attention in the room switched to him.

"Lucy, Bella. I believe it would be in your best interest if you stayed in La Push as much as possible. It would be easier to catch the leech if she was aimed towards here." Sam explained but gave Paul a pointed look. He was throwing him a bone, so to speak. With Lucy around the pack more often it would be easier for both of them to get to know each other, try to ease into the imprint. But Paul never eased into anything.

Lucy tightened her grip on Bella and nodded. She spoke for both of them, "We'll stay down here when we aren't at school. We can hang out at Jake's or something. Next week is Spring Break in Forks too."

"That's perfect. Someone will patrol around your house at all times, for your protection along with your fathers." Said Sam, "We won't stop until we catch her."

Lucy nodded graciously at Sam. When he sat down the mood in the room switched to a more light hearted feel and for the next hour or so Lucy talked with Jacob and Emily about small, boring things to distract the shaking girl in her arms. When it was time to leave Jacob and Paul walked them out to their truck.

"I'll be patrolling near your house tonight. I'm Paul." Paul grabbed Lucy's outstretched hand and shook it. Like a slammer of tequila, her body warmed all over with his touch and the nervous pulling subsided. Like a shot of heroin his body became electrified at the point where her hand touched him. It was a scary, wonderful feeling and Paul pulled back quickly, "Try not to do anything stupid."

Lucy was confused by his sudden harsh tone but nodded, "Same to you."

Paul waited until the truck was out of supernatural hearing distance before he let his rage take him. Into the forest he went but he refused to phase. It was easier to be angry as the man, not the beast. He punched trees, feeling his hands tear open then reseal again and again. Footsteps behind him didn't stop his fury.

"Fuck off, Jacob." He snarled, turning to face his future Alpha. Just because Jacob wasn't a threat to his imprint didn't mean Paul wouldn't kick his ass. Now that Lucy and Bella were gone Jacob could let out his rage at Paul. Lucy might as well have been his sister and he would be damned if he let Paul hurt her. Jacob stayed where he was, fists clenching and unclenching. "I said fuck off, Black."

"No. we are going to have a little chat." Paul rolled his eyes at Jacob's words and scoffed.

"Are you really pulling the father speech on me? You aren't her family so lay off."

"I may not be blood related but she's my pack sister and one of my best friends." Jacob's lips went up in a smirk, "Besides once Billy finds out he's going to rail you. He loves Luce." Paul growled at the mention of her name. He didn't like the way it sounded on Black's lips. He was possessive over her. He needed to protect her even if it made him angry that he no longer lived for himself. He knew he couldn't, wouldn't, fight it but it didn't mean he wasn't going to be himself. "If you hurt her, I'll hurt you."

The two men glared at each other as the weight of the threat hit. Paul would never hurt Lucy intentionally but accidents did happen. Sam knew that especially. Imaging his imprint in Emily's position caused Paul to shake and tremble until he was no longer man and the wolf had taken over.

"Go run your patrols. Tomorrow you have to tell the Elder's though. Sam's order, not mine." Jacob turned back out of the woods and left Paul alone to run and run and run.

"SO wolves, huh?" Lucy asked in between a mouth full of popcorn, "That's some intense shit right there, Bells."

Lucy was lounging across her bed, Bella sitting cross legged on the floor. Both girls had changed into their pajamas and settled down to watch a movie. Looking at the clock told that it was midnight. Charlie had the late shift and wouldn't be home until they left for school the next day. It was their last day before Spring Break.

"I can't believe I got dragged into this again." Bella moaned into her hands. How could she forget that Edward had ever existed if Victoria was hunting her down in vengeance for her mate.

"We're both in it now. Again." Lucy couldn't hide the bitterness in her voice.

"Lucille it was different with the Cullen's. They were vegetarians. They would never hurt us. They loved me." Bella's eyes drifted off in sadness. Lucy was quick to pull her out.

"Hey. I know," She said softly, "I'm just glad that now we have the pack to protect you. I can't fight a vampire on my own."

Bella giggled at her sister and took a bite of popcorn before turning back to the movie. Outside a wolf howled to remind them that they, indeed, were not alone.