Chapter 2 - Boyfriends & Wolves

As the guests were all leaving, Paul watched as Kiley was hugging all of them and thanking them for coming. He watched as her brother Jared tugged on her hair and she socked him in the arm. Jared leaned down and kissed her cheek, "Happy Birthday Ki." Kiley pushed up on her toes and returned the kiss on his cheek with a hug as well, "Thanks."

Bri walked up, "Well it was fun...So I'll see you tomorrow for school right?" Kiley giggled, "No...I've decided since it's Friday I'm having a 3 day weekend...Right after my parents kick my butt for not being there." Bri giggled, "Yea and hopefully Jake will be there, he's been missing a lot of school lately." Kiley frowned, "I don't know maybe he's on some kind of man retreat like Jared and Embry went through." Bri groan, "God I hope not they came back all cocky and all kinds of crazy, I don't want Jake to be the same way."

Kiley nudge Bri, "I'm supposed to have a big talk with Paul in a few so maybe I can coax some info out of him, you know how all of them stick together." Bri laughed, "Like a pack of dogs or wolves or something it's weird. I'm waiting for them to go around sniffing each other or other people and started peeing on trees to mark their territory." The girls couldn't help but look at each other and started laughing. Kiley watched as Bri got in her Honda Accord, "See you tomorrow." Kiley smiled, "Yea...Thanks for coming." Bri laughed, "Yea...Like I would miss it right!" Kiley waved as Bri drove off down the road.

Kiley turned and walked back to the house, as she walked up the porch steps, Paul was leaning against one of the support beams, "Can I go change first please...I don't feel like walking in my dress." Paul smiled softly, "Sure...Take your time, were not in a hurry." Kiley smiled, "Thanks...I'll be right back." Paul watched as she bounced into the house and upstairs. Paul knew now that she was 16 they would start having romantic feelings about each other. Paul could already start feeling it in his heart, especially while he was gone patrolling...He definitely needed to explain stuff to her. She was at the age now where she would understand everything.

Kiley walked back out and had on jeans and a blue form fitted t-shirt and her sneakers, the blue brought out the blue in her eyes. Paul held out his hand as she smiled and took it. They walked over to the tree line and Kiley stopped. Paul smiled, "C'mon." Kiley shook her head no, "I don't think so...I hate going in there...I always feel like I'm being watched. And I swore while you was gone I got followed. It's creepy." Paul chuckled, "Do you honestly think I would let anything happen to you Ki? I don't protect the lands for nothing." Paul watched as she pushed her lips together and finally gave into his request but he could feel the fear radiating off of her.

Paul wrapped his arm around her, "Calm down...I would never let anyone or anything hurt you Ki, you should know that by now." Kiley made a face, "I know...I just...I haven't felt safe since you've been gone and I know that sounds completely crazy because Sam and Jared were here...But you wasn't...and it didn't feel right." Paul had a serious look on his face, "None of us are going to let anything happen to you or anyone else on these lands. You're completely safe here. I promise." Kiley nodded reluctantly as they continued walking.

Paul spared a glance at Kiley, "So how is school going? You've only got a year left before you're a senior." Kiley perked up, "Really good...I have a boyfriend now." Paul scowled, "You're dating...I thought you said boys had cooties?" Kiley giggled, "I said that when I was 13! I really can't wait for you to meet him...He's really a nice guy." Paul chuckled, "High school boys are never really nice guys." Kiley giggled, "Be nice! You never know...Maybe I'll marry him and live happily ever after." Paul made a face and then gagging noises, "Stop it I feel dinner coming up." Kiley smacked his arm, "Stop it! I was only kidding. That happily ever after crap only happens in fairy tales."

Paul pried, "So does he live on the rez?" Kiley shook her head, "No he lives in Forks and goes to school there." Paul stopped and while furrowing his brow, "You're dating a pale face?" Kiley smiled softly, "Don't worry Paul, he's a complete gentleman." Paul scowled, "He better be...Otherwise he'll be answering to me. Have your parent's met him?" Kiley smiled, "Yes of course...He came down and asked them if he could take me to his school's homecoming." Paul watched her, "And when is that happening?" Kiley giggled, "Well Dad...It's in a couple of weeks...but if you let me go I promise to be back before sunrise." Paul's eyes shot open, "SUNRISE! What?" Kiley giggled and he knew she was messing with him, "Nothing bad is going to happen...I've been to Forks a few times with him, he's always so nice."

When they reached the beach Paul's stopped, "Let's sit for a minute." Kiley made another face, "Uh oh Here comes the talk." Paul chuckled, "It's not that bad of a talk Ki." Kiley frowned, "Last time we talked you took my brother for awhile, then you told me you was leaving for a few weeks and it ended up being 2 month. If it's bad news I don't want to hear it." Paul chuckled, "It's not bad news...I talked it over with Sam and he decided you're old enough to know the truth about the protectors." Kiley perked up, "You mean...Sam, Jared, Embry and you?" Paul nodded, "And now Jake."

"I thought you couldn't tell me...You guys act like it's against the law to talk about this little secret society you've got going on." Paul watched Kiley's facial reactions, "It's not really against the law but Sam is in charge and basically whatever he says goes." Kiley sat down in the sand with Paul, "Okay...Explain." Paul sighed, "Well...A few select members of the tribe have what's called a shape shifter gene in them." Kiley looked confused, "Shape shifter?" Paul nodded, "Yea...in other words they can do what's called phasing, and we phase into wolves...to protect the lands." Kiley's eyebrows shot up, "We? As in...you." Paul nodded, "Yes. I phase into a wolf." Kiley blinked and tears slowly slid down her cheeks. Paul frowned, "Why are you crying Ki?" Paul pulled her over to him and held her against his chest as she whimpered, "What if you get hurt...I mean I know you guys are the protectors...but Wolves are smaller than humans."

Paul chuckled and she hit him in the chest for that, she knew he was laughing at her. Paul lifted her chin to look at him as he wiped her tears away, "Ki...Were not those kind of wolves. When the gene took over for us, it basically gave us everything we'd ever need to protect the lands. Speed, strength, size...We're at least 5 times larger than the average wolf, if not bigger. We're faster than any animal or human on foot and our strength is immense...Not to mention we have incredible healing capability I'll never get hurt...I may feel the pain but it goes away within a matter of minutes. Bones heal after breaking. Any internal damage heals within seconds or minutes." Kiley chewed her bottom lip, "Are you sure?" Paul laughed, "Of course...I've been doing this for awhile...If you haven't noticed."

Kiley placed her head on his t-shirt covered chest, "Just promise me you'll be careful...I know you can't get hurt but it doesn't mean you can't be killed." Paul kissed the top of her head, "I promise...I'll be careful." Kiley looked up at him, "Is that why you're skin is always so warm." Paul nodded, "It also goes up when I get angry and you know me I'm a hot head." Kiley giggled as she nodded.

Paul decided they had a good talk, and he would definitely wait until after she wasn't dating anyone to explain to her what imprinting was. Paul let her know she to keep what he'd told her a secret from Bri...Embry or Jake would tell her when it was the right time. He walked her back home and made sure she made it inside before he headed into the woods again to patrol with the others.