"Hi Paul." Paul snapped to attention at the voice. Coming out the front door to the porch, Paul's imprint smiled at him kindly before readjusting her sweater to the cold. Spring break had begun but the sky still had its usual overcast gloom. Lucy went over and sat next to him on the step of the porch, placing her book in her lap. "You looked lonely so I thought I'd keep you company."

Paul looked at her, surprised. No one had ever gone out of their way to keep him company before. No one other than his pack and their imprints even truly cared about him. Lucy waited until he mumbled a thank you to her before starting to read. Paul looked over her shoulder to see what she was reading. "Things Fall Apart? Why are you reading that shitty book?"

"I have to for school," she replied without looking up from her page. With a slight smirk she added, "And it's not shitty."

They sat in silence as she finished her chapter. Paul listened as she spoke the words she read under her breath. He enjoyed spending time with her, even if it was sitting in silence while one of them worked on something. The whole pack had grown fond of Lucy over the last few days. She spent time with everyone, helped out with Emily and Kim, and didn't whine like Bella. The only person who had shown and disgust of the imprint was Billy. Jacob had been right when he said Billy would be upset. He yelled at Paul for an hour when he had gone to see him four days earlier. Once the anger subsided he went on to tell Paul how he would keep special watch on how Paul was treating her and how he was protecting her from harm. Like the other imprints, she had the whole pack protecting her but unlike the others she held a higher rank so to speak. As the true alpha's "sister" and best friend, along with being the best fighters imprint she had the most pull of any of the imprints. Even if she didn't know any of it yet. Paul was broken out of his trance by the sound of her book closing.

"So," Lucy began, "What was it like for you before all of this?" She gestured in the air with her hand.

"What do you mean?" Paul asked.

"Friends, family, stuff you did for fun?"

"I used to play football with the high school but I'm too strong now. And Jared's always been my best friend. We used to get into some crazy shit before all of this," He mimicked her hand motion, "happened."

"What kind of crazy shit?" She questioned with curious eyes and a gentle giggle. And that's how hours of stories of Paul's former antics began. He told her stories from as late as he could remember to as early as the week before. Lucy laughed and commented and laughed some more about the things she could only imagine Paul and Jared doing. Once he finished she asked him more questions, ending with, "What about your family?"

Paul shifted his gaze to the forest in front of them. "I've lived alone for a few years so I haven't had to worry about that. What about your family?"

"Well my mom lives in Arizona with my stepdad. I moved out here with Bella about a year ago and I live with Charlie, my dad. I mostly take care of Bella though." She sighed and put her chin on her knees.

"Why do you have to play babysitter to Bella?" Paul's sneer could be heard in his tone.

Lucy scratched the back of her head and shrugged, "You've seen the stuff she gets into if someone isn't looking out for her. She dated a parasite for fucks sake!"

"I thought you were all buddy buddy with the leeches?"

"I used to be. But that was before I got thrown across a room. Wanna see my scar? It's totally gnarly." Lucy started to pull up her sleeve but Paul grabbed her wrist.

"Stop. I don't want to see you hurt." Paul's eyes were intense on her own. She could feel the warmth radiating through her body, starting from the spot he held like before. They stayed in the same position, looking at each other intensely for what felt like minutes but could only have been a few seconds before looking away. To an outsider it would have looked like a childish crush but to those who knew of the wolves and their secrets knew it to be the undeniable look of an imprint, "I can't believe your own sister would let you near them."

"No one really like Bella here, do they?" She was smart, she noticed the way no one fawned over her here. "Bella doesn't realize it but everyone always obsesses over her wherever we go. I don't think she's realized it, because she usually is oblivious to it, but she acts different when people don't hang on her every word."

The rumble of Jacob's rabbit made its way to the driveway and out hopped an angry looking Jacob and a upset looking Bella.

"Speak of the devil." Paul grumbled and Lucy shot him a playful glare before running over to Jacob and Bella.

"What happened?" She asked, still with a giggle in her voice but Jacob's stance snapped her out of it. It was strange for her to see Jacob, care free and lovable Jacob, so cold.

"I got a whiff of leech down by First Beach." Paul was already at Lucy's side, pulling her behind him and away from the shaking Jacob. Jacob and Paul had a silent conversation before Jacob nodded and ran off into the woods and Paul grabbed Lucy's hand, who in turn grabbed Bella's. Lucy just noticed that Bella was soaking wet when they reached the kitchen inside Sam and Emily's. The mood of the house had shifted dramatically since they had been out front. Emily sat at the table, crying, with Sam comforting her. He had a pained look on his face. Like he was trying not to cry himself.

"Harry Clearwater had a heart attack. He's dead." Bella whispered into Lucy's ear. Lucy felt her own eyes fill with tears and she rushed over to Emily. She was partially aware of Sam and Paul talking but didn't move until Sam sadly pried himself off of Emily and Paul walked over.

Bending down to whisper, Paul told Lucy, "We're going after the leech. Stay here and you'll be safe. I'll be back soon."

He backed away slowly before turning back and quickly pressing his lips to her cheek. After that he ran out the door with his pack brothers, leaving Lucy crying with one spot where the tears felt warmer.