A.N. Hey guys, here's the next chapter. I really hope you like it XD
"Im not protecting anyone." She said slowly, carefully enunciating each word. Embry's eyes widened as if he'd just realised something and a quiet growl escaped his throat.
"It's him isn't it? It's Paul. He's the reason you're keeping quiet!" He raged; Steph looked away and blushed, she definitely wasn't expecting that.
"I can't believe this shit- you do know that he's fucked just about every girl in La Push, right?" He was almost blurring now; Steph turned quickly and swung the back door open.
"Im sorry Embry, I really am." She said as she grabbed his shirt with both hands and all but threw him outside; he tumbled to the ground and exploded right there in her back yard. It was times like this when she was thankful that she didn't have any neighbours.
Steph cocked her head to one side as she stared at the panicking cub in her back garden. He was cute, his fur was dark grey with small black spots on his back but nowhere as cute as Paul- he was pure silver. She removed her clothes and phased, just in time to hear the end of the new wolf's rant.
...I've got paws! Fucking paws man! Paws! –Embry
Relax Call! - Paul
S'up Newbie! - Jared
Gah! Please stop shouting- Steph hissed.
She was just getting used to the werewolf hearing, not to mention she was tired.
Hey babe. - Paul.
He missed her while he was patrolling.
Hey- Steph.
She accidentally exposed the memory of how he phased.
You phased in her house?- Paul raged; he could have hurt her.
The rest of the pack were overrun with angry emotions; that meant that Embry was too. Steph watched as she began to growl as he paced.
Paul, curve the animosity- Steph.
She didn't need Embry to try and run away; Paul tried to calm down.
Stephanie? Is that you? - Embry.
His wolf turned to her for the first time; she nodded. All of a sudden, the pack mind was filled with different images of her; her hair on the first day of school, the way she walked, her smile. These images were accompanied by a strong feeling… love.
Yeesh! That's embarrassing. – Jared.
Anger rose in the pack again; this time ten fold.
Paul, phase out! - Sam.
Well this was very awkward; Sam knew he'd have to stop Paul from killing Embry later. Steph stood there with her wolfy mouth ajar; she really didn't know what to do.
Why can I hear you in my head? Great, now im crazy! – Embry.
He was totally oblivious as to what the pack now knew; he didn't realise that they heard and felt everything.
You're not crazy Embry; you're a werewolf- Sam.
He tried to ignore what had just happened.
Sam Uley? Why the fuck are you in my head? - Embry
Relax Embry, you're okay. We share a pack mind- Sam
A what? -Embry
Do you remember the legends? - Sam
No- Embry. What was he even talking about?
Well, they're real... wait… no? – Sam.
He had forgotten that Embry supposedly wasn't Quilieute.
You mean your tribe legends? Nah, I haven't heard them. – Embry.
Sam groaned inwardly; this made things just a little more difficult.
Sam, do we really need to be here? - Jared.
He really wanted to get back to Kim.
No, you can go back to Emily's; tell Paul to go there too. Steph, can you bring Embry over? - Sam.
Steph looked to the young wolf that was pacing the lawn frantically; she turned to him and sat down.
Embry, if I take you, are you gonna try and run away? - Steph.
Embry approached her and nudged her face.
No, I'll go with you- Embry.
Steph led the way as they jumped the small three foot fence and ran through the forest.
This is so cool – Embry. He liked the way the wind felt on his muzzle.
I know right- Steph laughed awkwardly.
This didn't really know how to act around him now. When they neared Emily's, they found the rest of the pack blocking their way; Sam in the middle, Jared on the left and a very angry looking human Paul on the right. Steph's breathing hitched; she couldn't tare her eyes away from him.
Steph and Jared phase back. I need to talk to Embry. – Sam.
Steph nodded her head and walked behind a tree to phase back; as soon as she stepped out, she was swept up into Paul's arms; he growled constantly while he carried her bridal style all the way to Emily's. As soon as they got in, Jared scurried hopelessly to Kim's side.
"What happened?" Emily asked them; she didn't expect them to be home so fast.
"Well, Embry Call phased. Did the whole 'why do I have paws, am I crazy' routine and everything… plus some other things." Jared said from the couch as he struggled to keep the laughter out of his voice; Emily looked around for some kind of explanation.
Paul sat down and pulled Steph into his lap; the weird thing was that it didn't feel like an odd movement; she curled up into his wide chest. Emily looked over the pair thoughtfully before turning and lighting the stove.
"What's wrong?" Steph whispered to him, quiet enough that nobody else could hear.
"You know what's wrong." He ground out; she placed her hand on his chest and drew little circles.
She did know what was wrong; Paul Meraz, the Paul Meraz was jealous. It was silent for a while.
"It could be you." He told her with a gruff voice; her brows furrowed.
"What could be me?" She asked him.
"He could imprint on you." Paul answered; she felt a tremor run through his body.
"You don't have to worry about that." She said as she clung to him like her life depended on it. She knew it was wrong, but for some reason she couldn't stop herself, she didn't have the strength to pull away. It was like she was just where she needed to be. Paul buried his head in the crook of her neck and purred approvingly.
Half an hour later, Sam strolled in with a very distraught looking Embry at his side; Steph guessed that he'd realised what he had exposed. She stood up and smiled encouragingly in his direction; Embry return it with a deep blush. Steph looked right into his eyes just to prove a point and just as she thought, he hadn't imprinted on her. Embry's face fell slightly… and then she felt bad.
Paul growled and pulled her back into his lap… it was odd. He was so territorial; it was like his wolf was yearning for her to be near, yearning to protect her yet she wasn't his imprint.
Sam explained more to Embry about what it meant to be a wolf while Emily cut his long hair; he seemed excited at the concept of protecting the tribe. The only thing that had worried him was how his mother was going to take the news; Sam quickly squashed the concern when he assured Embry that they had no intention of telling her anything.
Once Emily was finished with his hair, she was replaced with Jared who started on his tattoo.
"You ready to go?" Paul mumbled into Steph's hair, it was nine o'clock already. Her dad was probably wondering where she was… or maybe not, he knew about the pack so he'd expect it.
"Yeah." She mumbled into his chest; he huffed and picked her up bridal style before turning towards the door.
"Im taking Steph home." He announced darkly. Sam waited until they were outside before approaching them.
"Paul! Wait a sec." He turned to Sam. Steph put her head up and jumped down from his grasp; Paul kept her close though. Sam watched their movements closely; it was as if some kind of invisible string was holding them together…. Like an imprint… but not.
"Go wait in the truck Steph." Paul told her gruffly; he had an idea about what Sam was going to say and he didn't want her to be there to hear it. She nodded sleepily and waddled towards the truck, getting in and falling asleep with her head up against the inside of the door almost instantly. Paul made sure she was okay before settling down on the porch steps next to Sam.
"I know what you're gonna ask Sam and the answer is 'I don't know'. There's just something about her." He told Sam as he kept his eyes trained on the truck.
"I don't know how plainly I can put it but Paul, she isn't your imprint." Sam told him straight; Paul's eyes widened as he stood up and growled loudly while his body began to shake lightly. His wolf didn't like hearing it.
"You think I don't fucking know that Sam?" He spat at the alpha. Sam exhaled before standing and leaning against the banister. He knew that the young wolf was nowhere near finished.
"I mean, I've been around Sam. You know that, heck everybody knows that… but with her it's different. I just, I dunno she just does things to the wolf… and the man. When im around her, im different. I can't think properly, every thought is filled with ways to protect her from something or keep her away from single males. I just, I just don't get it Sam."
Sam exhaled again; what do you say to that?
"I can't say I know what you're going through Paul, because I don't. I can see she feels it too though…. Whatever it is. Im just asking you to think this through before you go any further, okay? You know what happened between Leah and I. What happens if you imprint? What happens to Steph? … I think we have to consult with the elders" Sam's voice was low yet calming; it was silent for a few moments while Paul thought it through; he knew his alpha was right but what if this thing with Steph was a type of imprinting?
"What do you think is happening?" Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he needed Sam's help to figure this one out.
"I honestly don't know. The way you two act, there aren't any legends for that. When did it start?" Paul thought back.
"It was always there but it really intensified yesterday after she phased but more today after that douche bag Call put his hands all over her… and then it increased a lot more when he phased." Sam nodded as he thought about it.
"It could have been that you were the only available male in the pack so you bonded to her. Then when Embry phased your wolf felt threatened therefore becoming more territorial. I can't think of anything else Paul, there's never been a female wolf before." Sam tried; Paul nodded knowingly.
"…But all Im saying Paul is don't take it any further." Sam finished; Paul stayed silent for a while as he stared at the side of the truck.
"I'll think about it Sam." He said finally as he got up to leave without saying another word.
Thoughts?
Ooo, does anyone else think Paul's hot when he's territorial?
I know I do!
Character pics on my page XD
You know what to do,
If you don't, it's…. REVIEW!