Paul pulled up to see Anna walk past the window. Paul's heart stopped beating. She was so beautiful. Her dark hair was pulled up into a long ponytail. She wore a long sleeved shirt in black, and distressed jeans. Nothing fancy. But, very definitely Anna.

His hands were sweating as he knocked on the front door. Mr. Jacobs answered with a smile on his face. "Well, I am not surprised to see you here. Though, I am surprised that you found out so fast."

"Hi Mr. Jacobs." Paul said, nodding his head.

"Paul?" He heard Anna's voice.

Paul dropped his head. He was scared to look at her. He was scared of what he would see. Of the fool he would make of himself if he looked at her. Was she alright? Was she with someone else? Was she his imprint?

The first time that he learned about the imprint, he had hoped that it would be her. It didn't make any sense to him at a conscious level. She wasn't the kind of girl he dated. But, deeper, he knew that they shared a connection that he would never find with anyone else. He loved her. As a friend. As a confidant. As someone that he trusted and wanted to protect more than anyone else. And, his wolf agreed. A wolf would be whatever it's imprint needed. They both knew that she needed a friend and a protector. Nothing more. At least, nothing more, at that point.

He tried to get to her as quickly as he could. To find out if she was his imprint. But, he was too late. She was gone from his life in the three weeks that it took him to fully transition. Fucking hell, why did he have to turn into a wolf at that moment? If he had been there, could he have stopped her from leaving?

"Paul. Look at me." Anna's voice broke through his thoughts. Her hand caressed his cheek as she pulled his face up to look at her. "I'm so sorry." She whispered just before their eyes locked.

The world stood still. Paul felt everything shift the moment that his stormy grey eyes met her hazel green. The entire universe refocused on Annabell and only Annabell. His wolf had been right all along. She was his imprint. His soulmate. The woman that he would devote his life to protecting. And, once it was confirmed, Paul could think of nothing that he wanted to do more. She was the reason that he had ranted and raved against imprinting for so long. He didn't want the mushy, girly crap with some girl he had just met. He didn't want to be committed to someone that he had no choice over. He didn't want to give up who he was to become someone else just to meet the needs of someone that didn't know him. Because he had already found the one he wanted. The girl he chose. The girl that cared for him as he was. The girl that knew him and trusted him without some magical pull forcing her to. The girl that needed him to be the man that he was behind the anger. Unfortunately, it was also the girl who ran. And, that alone had added to his agitation and raw nerves over the years. Every imprint reminded him of the girl he wanted, who disappeared. Yet, there she was. In front of him.

'Ours.' His wolf grinned. 'Finally ours.'

The moment crashed down when Mr. Jacobs cleared his throat. "Uh, as much as I am okay with a reunion, can we manage to move this past the front door?"

Paul and Anna both blushed.

Paul had been invited to join the family for dinner, which he eagerly agreed to and then asked Anna if she would go for a walk with him.

They strolled in silence for a long time before Anna spoke up. "Paul. I really am sorry about before. I had to go."

"No. You didn't need to leave without telling me." He answered. His frustration and pain showed more than he had intended.

"You disappeared. And, things were pushed to the point that I had to make serious decisions. I didn't have time to wait for you." She pulled him to a stop. "Paul. I loved you as a friend. But, I couldn't ask for more than friendship from you. I couldn't ruin your life."

He shook his head. "But, it was my choice to offer."

"And, that made me love you even more." She smiled.

"Please tell me that you were safe. That everything was alright." He begged.

She nodded carefully. He could tell that it had not all been alright. "There were some serious complications at first. But, it all worked out. I am fine now."

That helped Paul relax. His shoulders dropped, his brow smoothed out. She was alright now. And back. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her close. "I was really worried about you, you know."

Anna chuckled softly. "For being the proud manwhore that you were. You sure are a teddy bear."

"Only with you Anna. Only with you." He kissed the top of her head. Then he took a deep breath and inhaled her scent. Japanese Cherry Blossoms.

Paul's wolf wanted to nuzzle her. 'Never let go.'

Four years prior…

Paul and Anna continued to grow in friendship. As they drew closer to graduation, they had two more Biology projects that they had to work on outside of class. So, with only a few weeks left of school, Paul found himself at Anna's house once again. Mr. Jacobs let Paul in with no fuss after gaining the man's trust. Paul walked up to Anna's room and started to open the door just as Anna was pulling a shirt on over her head.

Paul saw red.

"What in the hell?" He growled low and dangerous.

Anna's eyes went wide. "Don't you know how to knock?"

"Don't change the subject Anna. What in the fuck happened to you?" He questioned.

"None of your business." She countered.

"Was it your uncle?" Paul turned to go confront the man.

Anna quickly grabbed his arm, tears in her eyes. "No. It wasn't. That is why I am here."

Paul wanted to break something, anything, preferably the person who caused so many scars across the girl's body. She wasn't just hit. She had been horribly abused for a long time.

"Please tell me." Paul was shaking in rage.

Anna looked around. She had seen his anger enough. Fights were a common thing for Paul. So, she knew that he would not let it go. "Come on."

She grabbed his hand and dragged his tense body out the door and into the woods across from the house. Anna was trembling at the emotions coursing through her. Tears rolled down her cheek.

"Tell me." He begged.

Anna closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. "You know the story of Cinderella, right?" He grunted his response. "Please, Paul, please don't tell anyone about this." She looked at him, her eyes pleading with him to keep her secret as she had kept his. He nodded. "Okay. My life was kind of like Cinderella. Only, instead of a wicked step-mother and step-sisters, I had an abusive step-father and step-brothers."

She sat down on a log. "My father was in the Army. He was a good man, like Uncle Ryan. And, my father loved his Quileute heritage. But, he died in the line of duty when I was six. My mother numbed the pain with pills and alcohol. Then she found herself a new man who seemed to get her cleaned up. When I was ten, my mother died in a car accident. By then, my step-father had legally adopted me, so there was no question of guardianship. But, once my mother was gone, the abuse became increasingly physical instead of just sexual."

Paul growled. But, he did not say anything. His fists were white from the tightness of his muscles.

Anna dropped her head to stare at her feet as she continued. "It did not take long for the step-brothers to join in. My step-father knew not to leave marks. His son's, however, were more sadistic and didn't care."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Paul managed to squeeze out.

She shook her head. "We lived in a small town and my step-father was a cop. He had the power to cover it all up."

That deflated Paul's lungs. Fucking hell! She suffered for seven years, no longer, it started before her mother died. And, the asshole was a fucking cop! He dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled her into his arms.

"How then? How did you get away?" Tears rolled down his cheeks as he rocked his sweet friend.

"I had missed so much school that the principle called state authorities for a welfare check. When, the state social workers arrived, I was black and blue. They called 911 and had me sent to the bigger city hospital, out of my step-father's jurisdiction." She took a deep breath.

"My step-father still fought it, said that someone else had done it. But, while in the hospital, they discovered that I am pregnant."

"Oh God. Anna, I am so sorry." Paul finally understood why she had harshly told her uncle that she couldn't get pregnant from Paul. Fuck, she already was pregnant.

She shook her head. "In a way, it is good. The baby's DNA was sampled. My step-father is the father of the baby. It is enough evidence to put him on trial." She wiped her tears. "Anyway, that is why I am here. Transferred so close to graduation. My uncle was the only family I had left to live with, who would keep me safe. And, it is why I don't really talk to anyone. I just want to graduate before everyone can see that I am pregnant."

Paul ran his hands up and down her back and her arm, comfortingly. "What will you do?"

Anna looked up at him. "I can't keep the baby. I haven't decided if I want an abortion or if I should carry it and put it up for adoption. Other than, that… I don't know. I want to go to college. I just don't know if I can focus on it while I face the trials. Each one is being tried separately."

They sat there in the woods for the longest time as all of the information settled in. Paul really wanted to find the men who had done such harm to her and rip their throats out. But, for now, he just wanted to be there for his friend. Anna needed him. Needed his support and friendship. He knew that.

"I will always be here for you Anna. I promise." He whispered.

Present day…

Paul groaned as his alarm clock went off in the early morning hours. He did not get nearly enough sleep. He had stayed up talking to Anna and then could not get his mind to stop racing once he got home.

As much as he was still upset that she had left with no word, he at least understood her choices. Mostly, he was angry at himself for not being able to protect her. His wolf paced in his mind, snarling and clawing to find a way to fix the past. However, there was nothing Paul could do but be there to protect her now.

Climbing out of bed and going through the motions of getting cleaned up, with a shower and a hot pot of coffee, Paul's mind still wandered back to everything he learned.

Anna was his imprint. And, he failed to protect her.

Paul dropped his head back against the couch as he tried to get a grip on his emotions.

He was still hurt. Four years of worry. Being hurt that he had offered so much of himself to a girl just to have her disappear. Then to learn that she had such valid reasons for her leaving. He should have been there. He should have protected her. She was his imprint. That is what he was supposed to do. Protect his imprint.

A knock reverberated off of his front door, jarring Paul back into focus. He didn't bother to get up. "Come in!"

"Well, you look like shit." Sam's voice rolled over the silence of the room.

Paul looked at the clock. "I have five more minutes Sam. Then, I am out on patrol."

Sam shook his head. "That is not why I am here. I am just checking up on you before you start."

Paul lifted a brow at his alpha. The man always did have a tough love, fatherly way about him.

"Paul, we were all concerned about you last night. The only reason why the whole damn pack isn't here checking on you is because I ordered them all to give you space. I didn't let them know the reasons why. But, eventually, they are going to learn."

Paul snorted.

"Will you talk to me?" Sam tried.

Paul took another drink of his coffee, finishing off the dark, bitter liquid. He hoped the caffeine would be enough to keep him functional for the day.

"Who is on patrol with me?" Paul finally asked.

"Me."

Paul nodded. "Then, I will show you." Paul walked out the door and took off his sweat pants, tossing them to the porch before he phased into his wolf form. Tall, well muscled, and covered in thick silver fur.

Sam quickly followed, phasing into his black wolf.

Once they were both wolves, Paul took a moment to double check that there were no others in the pack mind. Then, he shared his memories of the night before. A part of Paul wanted to keep it all secret. It was Anna's life. Her secrets. However, he knew that he could trust Sam with the knowledge and if Paul didn't share it, it would eat at him. Paul was not sure he could hide from the memories as a wolf at that point. So, rather than share with everyone, Paul shared with only one. Plus, Sam already knew most of it. He might as well know the rest.

"She is your imprint?" Sam glanced at Paul as they started their patrols through the forest.

Paul didn't answer.

"And how do you feel about this?"

"The same way I did before. I love her Sam. But, not in a romantic way. I am not ready to be tied down to any woman. Yet, I still want to be there for her. Protect her."

Paul could practically feel the smile from Sam. "I did catch that marriage proposal in your memories..."

"That was then, this is now." Paul snapped.

"I am glad to hear that. It's a start. A wolf is supposed to be whatever the imprint needs. And, it sounds like you and your wolf instinctively know that she does not need romance, just honest friendship and protection."

Paul sighed. "But, we couldn't be there for her before." Paul had learned so much from Anna the night before. How could he ever live with himself?

Sam stopped running. "Paul, that was outside of your control. The timing was horrible. But, I know you. You did everything you could. You offered far more than anyone else would have in the circumstances. The man that doesn't want to be tied down offered marriage just to save her reputation and give her a chance to keep the baby. She knows that. Don't beat yourself up over it. Focus on being there for her now."

The two wolves continued their run in silence for a while.

"Paul, do you know if she is planning on staying?" Sam asked.

Paul froze. He had not thought about her leaving again. Shit. What if she was only there to visit. The trials had ended last month, so Anna had been able to have contact with her aunt and uncle again. But, he did not ask if she had a life that she wanted to get back to or plans to go somewhere else.

His wolf whined and lowered his belly to the ground. He wouldn't be able to live in peace if she left again.

Sam sighed. "Go. Go talk to her. I'll harass Seth into finishing your patrol."

"Thank you Sam." Then Paul ran home to get dressed before going over to Mr. Jacobs home to find Anna.