Saturday morning rolled around. Paul actually looked forward to spending time with Anna. She was quirky, but sharp. She did not seem to judge him for his flirtatious behaviors with the other girls, or get jealous. That was his biggest fear because it could hurt the friendship they had going. Yet, mostly, he was looking forward to just getting to know more about her. He felt like she was a kindred spirit, with a bad home life. And, he didn't know how to help. But, he wanted to.
Paul knocked on the door of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs. It wasn't until Paul saw the house that matched the address Anna gave him that he started to piece information together. He had heard of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs. Ryan Jacobs worked with the National Forest Service in the Olympic Mountains around the rez. His wife, Beth Jacobs was an elementary school teacher. However, they had no children. It was only then, that Paul remembered Anna had something about her uncle. Well that helped him understand why he had not noticed anyone else moving onto the rez.
Mr. Jacobs answered and gave a deep growl. "Anna? Why in the hell is Paul Lahote at the front door?" Paul's reputation had definitely reached the house before he did. Awkward.
Anna walked down stairs. "I told you that my lab partner was coming over for our Biology project."
Mr. Jacobs turned to the girl. "You did not say it was Paul Lahote. Do you really think I am going to let him into your room?"
Paul didn't really know what to do, so he stayed quiet. Anna let her anger bubbled over. "Really Uncle Ryan? What do you think is going to happen? I am just going to spread my legs for him and let him knock me up while you are home? You know that can't happen."
"Annabell!" He roared. Paul could see pain racing across his face and through his eyes.
Anna dropped her eyes and her voice softened. "Sorry Uncle Ryan. I didn't mean take my anger out on you. I just, I…" She took a breath. "We have to do this project. I thought, that you would prefer that Paul came here instead of us going to his house without adult supervision. I will leave the door open. Not that I think it is needed. I trust Paul. We are friends and nothing more."
Mr. Jacobs hugged Anna. She flinched slightly, which returned the pain to his eyes. "Alright. I will trust you. But, I do want that door open. However, Paul and I are going to have a chat first."
She sighed. "Uncle Ryan…"
"No buts. Go up stairs and start your work. I will send Paul up soon." Ryan Jacobs waited for Anna to turn the corner toward her room before he stepped out the front door and shut it to talk to Paul.
Paul stood there nervously. What in the hell did he walk into?
"What are your intentions with my niece?" He finally asked.
Paul looked down. "Look, Mr. Jacobs. It's not like that. Really. I like Anna, as a friend. And, she is my lab partner. That is it. No kissing, no dates, nothing that my reputation would lead you to worry over."
"That had damn well better be the truth boy. Anna has been through enough. She does not need anything else or anyone else to hurt her. Have I made myself clear?"
"Crystal."
Paul knocked on Anna's bedroom door once he was allowed to go up the stairs. Anna did not even look up, she just tossed a bag of Doritos at her lab partner. "Sorry about him. He is a little protective."
"A little?" Paul chuckled.
Anna scowled before she looked up at Paul. "Well, are you coming in?"
Paul looked around the room. It was not what he pictured. Anna was so quiet and shy around everyone but him. She was modest and point blank showed no interest in any relationships. So, he kind of figured that she was a sheltered church girl, lots of pink and crosses. Dreams of losing her virginity on her wedding night. Instead, he was surrounded by posters of Heavy Metal bands, her sheets were black and red, and a black martial arts uniform hung on the outside of her closet.
"Are you in Karate?" He asked.
She nodded. "I just started. Uncle Ryan signed me up as soon as I arrived here. I can't really do a lot with it yet, but at least I can start."
Paul smiled. "I am glad to see that."
Anna tilted her head. "Why?" That one word full of skeptical concern of where he was going.
"I know you don't want to talk to me about it Anna. But, I do see you flinch. And, your uncle confirmed that you were hurt. You don't have to give me any details or talk. But, please know that I am here for you as a friend. And, as your friend, I am really happy to see you learning self defense." Paul said as he sat down.
Her eyes misted over as she looked at him. He could see her debate what to say next. "You don't want to know." Then she quickly changed the subject to their Biology project.
By lunch, they moved to the kitchen table to continue as they ate lunch. Mr. Jacobs was able to help with some bits of information. He got his degree in Biology before working for the Forest Service. Over time, Mr. Jacobs appeared to relax around Paul and said that he would be okay if Paul came by another time for dinner if the two teens continued to stay friends.
"So… I need the dirt!" Jared asked Paul in the cafeteria Monday.
Paul smirked. "What can I say? I am a magnet! I never leave a party alone." Jared laughed. "So, when are you going to stop living vicariously through me and ask that Kim girl out?" Paul harassed him about the girl that had been crushing on him all year.
"Shut up." Jared threw a wadded up napkin at his friend. Then with a snicker, Jared continued. "Okay, Mr. 'god among men', let's make a bet. If you can get in the pants of any girl that I choose, I will ask Kim out."
Paul smiled so wide, his cheeks hurt. "Deal."
Then Jared tilted his head to consider all of his options. Until he stopped. "Her. The new girl. She is so shy, she screams chastity belt under her clothes."
Paul turned to see Anna in line to buy an apple. Paul groaned. "You do realize that she is my lab partner in Biology, right?"
Jared smirked. "And, the fact that you have not already banged her just shows that she is the right choice. Either, she turned you down, or you seriously have no interest. It gets you out of your comfort zone."
Paul shook his head. "No deal."
Jared's jaw dropped. "What in the hell? I know she is not your type, she is plain and chubby…"
"Enough!" Paul roared at Jared. "I said no deal. There is nothing further to say." Then he stormed out of the cafeteria. Jared left to gawk in his wake.
Present day…
The pack had all gathered at Sam and Emily's house Friday night. Not an uncommon occurrence. They could not tell many people about their wolf side. So they all tended to socialize together. With others that knew and understood. Plus, with Sam being the alpha of the pack and the home that he shared with his wife being more isolated than most on the rez, it was a good place to be able to shift between forms and congregate.
As a bonus, there was Emily, was a sweet woman who loved to cook. Thank God, because the pack ate a hell of a lot of food. Privacy, good food. What more could a pack of young men who turn into wolves ask for?
Paul thought about the people around him as he ate. Emily was not just Sam's wife, but his imprint. A soulmate, chosen by the ancestors to be the perfect mate to both the man and the wolf. In the years since the boys of La Push started to change into werewolves, several members of the pack had found their imprints. Most were so lovey dovey. It made Paul cringe. Sam and Emily. Jared and Kim. Jake and Renesme.
It wasn't that he had a problem with the women that they imprinted on. Well, maybe Renesme. She was some hybrid with freaky powers. But, whatever. What did bother Paul though, was the overall sugary sweetness that happened when they were around. His mother had left serious scars on Paul where women were concerned. He didn't really trust that they would stay so loving and gentle. Or, that they could understand his baggage.
That was why he never settled into any kind of a relationship with women. His solution was simple… Fuck the ones that threw themselves at him. Don't get suckered into anything serious.
The only exception to that had been Anna. Yet, she left him. Without a word, she was gone.
Jared's words still rang in Paul's ears. What if she did come back? Would he want to see her again? Did he care to know why she left? It really had hurt him when she disappeared. However, it was difficult for him to blame her. He had disappeared first. Fuck the timing of his shift. He was out of touch for three weeks as he transitioned to being a wolf and got a handle on it enough to face the public again. By then, she was gone.
Paul heard Emily talking to Jared's imprint, Kim. "I ran into Mrs. Jacobs this morning at the store. She said her niece was coming back to La Push. Did you ever meet Annabell? I know she went to high school with you for a couple months before graduation."
"No, she was very shy and avoided everyone from what I could tell." Kim answered.
Paul was stunned. Jared was right. Anna was coming back. It wasn't just Jared being stupid and trying to pry. He looked up at his friend with wide eyes. Before Paul could think twice, the words tumbled out of his mouth. "When will she be back?"
The whole room went quiet.
"Paul? Did you know Annabell?" Emily questioned.
"Anna is coming back?" Sam looked at Emily. "The Anna? That Paul was so worked up over four years ago?"
Paul wasn't in the mood to play twenty questions. "Just answer the question. When will she be back?" He asked again through clenched teeth.
Emily's eyes went wide. "Tonight."
Paul took off through the door. He didn't know what to do. So he quickly changed into his wolf form and ran. His memories of Anna flooded his mind. His heart jumped at the idea of seeing her again, then clenched at the pain of losing her. He just ran.
"Paul." Sam's voice carried through the pack mind. "Paul, why didn't you tell anyone?"
"It wasn't for me to share." Paul answered. "I shouldn't have lost it tonight. Please forget what you saw."
Paul had managed to keep his memories of Anna locked away whenever he was in wolf form. He remembered her. He remembered the pain of losing her. But, not the memories of her. Her pain. And, what she meant to him. Paul had that all locked up.
Sam's black wolf jumped out in front of Paul, causing him to come to a stop. "Paul. You can't go to her like this."
"What do you want from me Sam?" Paul snarled.
"I want you to calm down." Sam's voice was calm.
Paul whined. "But, she had been hurt so much. I need to know that she is okay. My wolf needs to know that she is safe."
"I know you feel protective of her, but you will scare her like this. Go home. Put on real clothes for once."
The silver wolf lowered his head to his alpha. He was not given an alpha command. However, Paul knew that Sam was right. He should not show up at Mr. Jacobs house in nothing but cut off shorts, let alone naked after phasing. So, Paul turned toward his house and cleaned himself up. Then, he drove his truck over to the Jacobs home.