Author's notes: You ask and I deliver! The party is tonight, they will try and officially accept Bella into the tribe! She and Paul aren't just gonna be so in love though, I think that they will try and build a relationship or friendship to go with the undying devotion. Paul is gonna realize why he loves this girl and Bella is gonna discover the heart of gold under his tough exterior.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything here.

Chapter three: Vampire girl? Or Wolf girl?

Emily gave me some dry clothes since mine were soaked from running around in the woods and going to see Quil earlier. The clothes were not my usual stuff but I found I actually liked them. She gives me a dark green shirt with elbow length sleeves, and some old, worn jean shorts. When I ask about the shorts in this cold weather Emily just smiles.

"My guess is you won't even need a coat" she glances at Paul "They run pretty hot"

I couldn't argue with her there.

Emily also had to redo my hair since both Paul and I prefer to drive with the windows down and the wind destroyed my hair. She says she doesn't mine, that she is glad she isn't the only girl anymore.

"We imprintees gotta stick together" she jokes.

In the kitchen Paul watches me with a scrunched up face, like he smells something he doesn't like.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

Paul motions to the clothes and I start to get angry. He doesn't get to tell me how to dress!

"You smell like Sam"

The stops my building anger in its tracks.

"What?"

"Those clothes are Emily's right? They smell like Sam… and for some stupid reason, that bothers me… a lot" he glares at the offending shirt sleeve.

"Well, I guess you'll have to make it smell like you" I pull his arm around my shoulder and lean against his side.

"I can deal with that" Paul smiles.

Sam makes the boys start carrying food and supplies out to his truck. I offer to take stuff in my truck as well. Within thirty minutes both trucks are loaded up and we are headed out to drive over. Paul climbs into the driver seat of my truck, I take the middle, and Embry sits in the messenger seat. Jake climbs in the back with the stuff and the other three take Sam's truck.

"Ready for your first Tribal Elders meeting?" Embry asks.

"I hope so" I say worried.

Paul throws his arm back around my shoulder.

"You'll do fine, it's just Billy, Harry, and old Quil" he assures me.

I nod. I can handle that. Billy and Harry are like uncles to me and I've known Old Quil just as long. This shouldn't be too difficult.

We pull up to a clearing by the beach, there is a huge bon fire and there are three figures sitting around it. Paul squeezes my shoulder before jumping out and helping unload the food. Embry waits behind a second and nudges me toward the door.

"You'll do great Bella. Go sit with Billy, he'll be thrilled that you're officially part of the family"

I do like Embry suggested and go sit with Billy. He is excited to see me and pulls me into the signature Black bear hug.

"I hear Mr. Lahote has imprinted on you?" Billy asks.

"Yeah…"

"You spend months out here on the Rez and it takes you slapping him across the face for him to imprint… that sounds like Paul" Billy laughs.

"Bella ask your dad about a fishing trip this weekend" Harry says leaning around Billy "I tried to call the house earlier but no one answered"

"Yeah, Charlie got called in today… massive bears killing people" I watch Jake and Embry wrestle over a hotdog "obviously that's not what's actually happening"

Billy nods.

"The boys are the "bears" but they aren't killing anyone… the vampires are"

"Vampires?" I ask concerned.

Paul jogs over, attracted by the fear in my voice. He stands just to my left and studies the group.

"What's wrong?" Paul demands.

"Vampires" I say softly "what do they look like?"

"They aren't your precious Cullens" Paul says, lacking the venom that should have accompanied those words.

"No, I know… but the Cullens aren't the only vampires I know"

Everyone stares in shock. After my announcement, Billy decided maybe we should get this meeting rolling.

"Do you have a death wish?" Jacob demands "the Cullens were bad enough!"

I level him with a glare and Paul smiles proudly.

"No, but when you 'run with vampires' you tend to run into other vampires" I remember first meeting James and his gang "they aren't usually pleasant"

"No kidding" Jared scoffs.

"So the vampires doing the killing, what do they look like?"

"There was the one with the dreads" Jacob says "but you already saw him"

"Laurent" I supply.

"You know their names?" Embry asks horrified.

"Yeah. But Laurent has been dead for at least a couple days, who killed those hikers this morning?" I ask.

"A red head female" Paul says.

"Victoria…" I whisper.

"She keeps coming. We chase her off again and again, but we can't catch her, she's too fast" Jared says.

Paul watches my face, he sees my inner panic.

"Swan, are you ok?" he asks quietly.

"Victoria… I know what she wants" I say aloud "she wants me"

The meeting erupts in chaos.

Paul, Jake, and Embry are fighting about how to keep me safe. Sam, Jared, and the elders are discussing how to handle the situation. Emily and I are the only calm ones. Emily just eats her burger in silence, listening to the pack argue and discuss.

"Bella" Billy calls "What do you know of this Victoria? Why does she want to kill you?"

This is a long story and I don't really think Paul will enjoy it. But they need to know the whole story, the more they know the safer they'll be.

"Victoria has a gift or talent, she is an escape artist. It is extremely difficult to trap or catch her" I explain "She used to run with a male vampire named James, he was a tracker. He decided, after an accidental encounter, that he wanted to hunt me. He thought the Cullens trying to protect me would increase the challenge"

Paul returns to my side and I grab his hand. The sun has set and now it's cold outside, Paul functions as a personal heater.

"Of course that didn't happen. The Cullens killed James and left Victoria without her mate. I thought that was the end, until I saw Laurent in the meadow. He told me that he was there as a favor to Victoria and that she wanted to kill me to get revenge on Edward, a mate for a mate"

Paul pulls me into his side, subconsciously trying to protect me from the danger.

"But Edward left" Sam says matter of fact.

"Yeah!" Embry cries "He isn't your mate, Paul-"

He is cut off by Paul kicking him in the shin, hard. I see Em wince and smile sheepishly. I make a note to ask Paul what that was about later.

"She either doesn't know or doesn't care" I turn to Billy "What if she gets Charlie! He should be coming home about now!"

"I'll call him" Billy says.

Jake wheels his father back to his car.

"I'll tell him that you…" Billy pauses unsure of what to say.

"Tell him that I went cliff diving and almost drowned"

Jake and Paul give me quizzical looks.

"I was considering going cliff diving, but somethings came up"

Billy nods and Jake drives him home.

Once they are gone we decide that we need to get everyone back to their homes and get me somewhere Charlie will be able to see "how bad I am". Paul wanted to take me back Emily's, but we agreed having my dad around the pack's home base probably wasn't a good idea. We finally decided that the Black's house made the most sense.

Paul drove my truck to drop off Old Quil and then to the Black's where Charlie is gonna meet us. Embry climbs into the passenger seat after we drop off Old Quil. He takes up as much room as possible, forcing me to scoot closer to Paul. At first I think that this is an accident, but then I see him smirk.

At the Black's Embry leaps out of the truck and bounds into the house. Embry is an excellent wing man.

"Well, I'll see ya soon" I lean over and kiss his cheek quickly before scrambling out of the truck.

Paul is on guard duty, he'll patrol around the house and make sure nothing gets into the Black's house. The chances of Victoria coming onto pack territory are very small, but we aren't taking any risks with Charlie's life.

…..

"Bells are you ok?" Charlie stumbles into Jake's older sister Rachel's old room "Bells?"

I smile and pretend it's difficult to sit up.

"Hey dad" I croak.

I am getting really good at lying. I don't know how I feel about that. With Edward it was just expected that I lie to Charlie, but now… he could know! That would make everything easier.

"Oh Bella" Dad sighs "What were you thinking?"

"I thought it would be fun… I should have waited till I had someone with me" I pull my father into a hug.

"Bella" he returns the hug and pets my hair reassuringly.

My father and I didn't get a lot of time together when I was growing up. Mom had me the majority of the time. Which makes no sense, dad is definitely the one with everything together. I hold my dad tighter and I feel him let out a shaky breath.

"Sorry Dad"

Dad stays in Rebecca's old room that night. Once Charlie is asleep I call a miniature meeting, just Billy, Jake, and I.

"We need to tell him" I decide.

"Bella-"

"Listen Billy, Charlie needs to know. He is already way too involved, with his best friend being the chief of a tribe of werewolves, his daughter being imprinted on, and the whole hunting the bears thing" I look to see Jake's reaction "He has to know, because… I can't go home with him tomorrow"

Jake and Billy raise their eye brows exactly the same way.

"Being apart from Paul… it hurts. Is that normal? Or is there something wrong with me?" I ask concerned.

"It's normal" Jake says quickly "Paul is hurting too"

"I have to tell Charlie" I slump against the wall "if I tell Charlie that I like Paul he'll be worried that I am just desperate for love, that I have something wrong with me. I don't! I was going to give up dating for a year or so until I felt I was mature enough to handle a break up without breaking down"

Billy pats my hand.

"Ok, I'll call the other elders and we'll discuss it"

I throw my arms around Billy and hug him tight.

"Thanks Billy"

They leave me to get some sleep with the promise that tomorrow we'll figure out what we are doing.

…

The next morning Jake comes to get me.

"They said yes" he says with a smile "we're telling Charlie today"

Paul and Embry are at the kitchen table when I come out for some breakfast. Paul's face brightens when I enter the room. Embry also smiles, but he has a mouthful of pancakes. I grab the seat between Paul and Jake and grab three pancakes.

"Looks like you got an eater" Embry teases.

"That's my girl" Paul smirks.

I punch Paul's arm softly, mostly out of fear for my own hand then worry about hurting him. Paul winces playfully and passes me his orange juice. I take a grateful sip as Embry and Jake laugh at our ridiculousness.

Sam, Jared, and Emily come in the front door wearing sober expressions. The secret is being told to someone not directly connected and I can see that they are worried about it.

"Morning" Charlie says "you feeling better Bells?"

I glance at Billy and he nods.

"What's going on?" Charlie asks.

"Dad, I didn't go cliff diving…"

"Then wh-"

"We needed to get you out here to protect you… from vampires"

Dad reacted incredibly well.

"Vampires…"

I get up and walk around the table.

"I know how it sounds, but Daddy I need you to trust me" I beg.

Charlie glances around at the other serious faces and nods.

"Ok bells. Explain"

"How about I show you?" I nod to the boys and they head outside "follow me"

Charlie gives Billy a questioning look, but Billy just nods and rolls out onto the porch. Charlie comes willingly, but stays on the porch next to Billy. Probably best.

Jake and I decided it would be best for someone Charlie doesn't know to shift first, so that those he does know would be there to reassure him. Paul volunteered. I check to make sure Charlie doesn't have his gun on him before giving Paul the nod.

"Dad this is gonna sound crazy, but everything you thought you knew about the world… is wrong"

Paul begins stripping and dad casts me a worried frown. I can see that this part might weird him out, mean a boy he hardly knows is about to be standing naked in front of him. Paul phases into his Dark silver wolf. Dad reacts pretty well.

"Bella" he calls.

I don't move from my place in the yard, instead I wait as Paul walks over to me and lies down by my feet. He is so huge that his back is still up to my hip.

"Bella?" Dad calls again.

"Dad, its ok" I assure him "Embry… Jake"

They strip a little faster and shift without fanfare. Now three large wolves are standing in the Black's front yard as my dad stands on the porch watching.

"Well…" Charlie says "That was not what I was expecting"

Billy takes Charlie back into the house and explains everything in detail. I know he wants me to be in there with him, but I decide to spend some time with Paul before going in.

Paul doesn't shift back, lack of clothes, instead he stays in his wolf form. I lean against him and scratch his head, he lies with his eyes closed. Each of us just soaking in the other's presence, like we had been apart for weeks. I am still wearing the clothes Emily lent me and I realize I probably stink.

"I'm gonna need clothes" I tell Paul.

He opens the eye closest to me and glances at my attire.

"These aren't even mine" I remind him.

He gives a wolfy shrug and nuzzles his nose against my stomach.

"Stop" I laugh "the guys are probably watching from the house or something"

Paul shoots a glare at the house before laying his massive head on my lap. He is content to lay here all day and so am I, but I need to go be with Charlie. I puss gently against his head and he moves it immediately.

"I gotta go in and you… need to put on some clothes"

He nods, scoops his clothes into his mouth, and stalks off toward the forest. Once I'm sure he is leaving I head inside. I find everyone in the kitchen, Embry and Jared are indeed standing by the window.

"-the Cullens were vampires" Billy says.

Charlie drops his glass of water and it shatters on the ground.

"So Edward was…"

Billy nods.

"Yep" Jake spits.

Dad turns to me and I can see the fear in his eyes.

"So are you-" he can't finish the question.

"I am normal" I promise him.

Charlie sighs in relief.

"So how is Bella wrapped up in all this?" Charlie asks Billy.

"That is something she'll have to explain to you" Billy says.

Charlie turns to me with an expectant look and his cop face on.

"Bells?"

"Let's go on a walk"

Dad follows me out to the road.

"So, I came out here yesterday to see why Jake was ignoring me. He was sleeping, but then I saw Sam and the pack. I blamed them for this change in Jake… and I ended up slapping Paul"

"Paul Lahote? Like just changed into a giant silver wolf?" dad asks.

"Exactly" I smile "when of course he shifted and Jake thought he was gonna kill me so he shifted too"

How do I explain imprinting to my dad?

Paul jogs up the road, in human form and wearing pants. He skids to a stop in front of Charlie.

"Sir, I have imprinted on your daughter" straight to the point.

"You've what-ed my daughter?" dad growls.

"Imprinted dad" I step between Paul and my father "it means that I am his soul mate. He loves me and it hurts us to be separated" I explain quickly.

Dad studies Paul's face and how we aren't touching. He glares at Paul, but I can see there is hope.

"Sir, I would do anything… be anything for Bella" he says seriously "I am here asking your blessing to be a part of her life, any part she wants me to be"

Dad is impressed by Paul asking his permission and he has to know that I'll never be safer then when I am with him.

"Ok, you have my permission. But if you hurt my daughter then I'll hunt you down, wolf or no" he promises.

"Understood sir" Paul says grinning.

Dad goes back to the house to talk with Billy again, probably to get the full story on imprinting. I don't care, he said yes! He said Paul can be a part of my life. I may be eighteen, but after the previous love experience I had, I am gonna listen to my father this time.

Paul lifts me into a giant hug and nuzzles into my neck.

"He said yes" I whisper.

Paul laughs.

"I don't know what I was gonna do if he said no" Paul admits "Probably die or something equally as dramatic"

He sets me down and throws his arm around my shoulder as we walk back to the house. I don't know what we are gonna do or how we are gonna work this out, but right now all I want to do is soak in the moment.

"BELLA! PAUL!" Jake shouts.

Paul sweeps me up in his arms and sprints the rest of the way to the house.

"What's wrong?" I yell when Jake comes into view.

"Quil"

End notes: what do ya say?