There was an unnatural hush that fell upon the normally loud and rambunctious collection of people gathered for the bonfire. Paul was suddenly nervous. He knew everyone wanted to meet Anna. Not just because of his well known pain when she left and the lingering mystery that still surrounded it all. But also, because he was sure that word had spread about his finding his imprint. Yet, the silence emphasized the bright spotlight aimed at the pair.
Anna shuffled her feet as she looked at the ground under such scrutiny.
"So, Emily, where's the food?" Quil called out suddenly. The remainder of food was all it took to break the silence. Paul gave a nod of appreciation at his pack mate as everyone returned to setting out platters of grub or filling their plates.
Paul lead Anna toward the tallest man in the group. "Anna, I want to introduce you to Sam. He's kind of the boss for our group. Obnoxious and arrogant, but an okay guy."
Sam quietly growled at Paul. Paul smirked. There was not much Sam could do in front of Anna. He would get his payback later, he was sure. But, it was fun at the moment.
Anna politely nodded, yet kept a distance as she eyed the man warily. Sam stood with his feet slightly apart, no shirt, and his arms crossed firmly over his chest. "Is the no shirt and cut off jeans some kind of official uniform?" She looked around at all of the other young men milling about in similar attire.
Sam arched a brow. "It works for what we do. Paul is usually like this as well. He dressed up in real clothes just for you."
Paul placed a hand in the small of her back and she jumped at the contact. He watched her face in concern. Her body language. Anna was scared of Sam. She didn't back down. But, she was scared. Paul instinctively growled at Sam. He knew that Sam would not hurt her. But, his wolf demanded that he defend his imprint from her threat.
Same noticed it too, even before Paul growled. He uncrossed his arms and softened his face. "Anna, I am not like your step-family."
Anna quickly looked at Paul with betrayal in her eyes.
"Paul didn't tell me." He quickly said. It wasn't really a lie. "Paul is protective of you. And, I am protective of him, as I am with everyone in this family. So, I looked up what I could. Your past is, unfortunately, a matter of public record now. But, don't worry. You are safe with us. No one here will harm you. And, we will all fight to protect you." Sam extended his hand to Anna. She studied him before turning to Paul, who nodded. Then she took his hand for a firm shake.
Paul slowly let the air out of his lungs as he allowed himself to breath again. He hadn't thought about how authoritative Sam could appear. Paul rarely paid attention to that shit. Hell, he rarely listened to Sam at all unless the man used his alpha command. But, to Anna, whose step-father was a cop… of course, there would be similarities in stance and presence.
Sam waved down Emily and introduced her to Anna with a wide smile on his face. Anna didn't appear to be bothered by the scars that ran down Emily's face from her eye to her jaw. Anna had her own scars that she hid, so Paul knew she wouldn't stare. That helped Sam relax. He hated it when people stared at Emily's scars. Just as Paul's wolf wanted to protect Anna from any threat, so did Sam's for Emily. Worse, was that he carried the guilt of causing those scars.
Emily was kind and soft, like always. She gently took Anna's arm and lead her over to the other women for introductions. Anna had already met Kim and Renesme, though she really had not talked to them yet. Sue Clearwater, one of the tribe's elders, was there, chatting with another younger woman that Paul did not know. He listened as Emily pointed out the young woman to Anna and said that she was Emily's cousin from her Makah side of the family.
Who ever she was, she was hot. Nice to have a little extra eye candy around the place. Paul's wolf shuffled and growled at him internally. Paul huffed and sat down on one of the logs around the fire as he watched his imprint awkwardly mingle with the other women.
Jared sat down next to him and nudged his shoulder. "So, whatever happened to being best friends?"
Paul glared at him askance before returning to watch the women.
"Seriously man. You never told me anything about Anna in the first place. Four years of this huge secret. Now she is back, you imprint on her, and look like you are starting to seriously be falling in love for the first time ever. And, not one word from you about it all." Jared grumbled. "And, what in the hell was that in the cafe this morning?"
Paul shook his head. "I'm not falling in love. We are just friends."
"If you are just friends, then why all of the secrets?"
Embry plopped down on the other side of Jared. "Alright, let's test his theory about just being friends." He grinned at Jared. "I wonder what would happen if I went over and asked her out?"
Paul's head snapped at the younger man as he growled dangerously in warning. "No one will do any such thing. Are we clear?"
Embry smirked. "Yeah, just friends."
Paul shook his head. "It's not like that. It is not about being possessive. It is about being protective. Anna does not want to date, anyone. Learn that lesson now." His voice was low and dangerous.
"Careful boys." Sam's voice called quietly behind them.
Embry and Jared turned to look at their alpha, whining that they just wanted answers.
Big, deep breaths. He could get through this. "I won't share anything about Anna. But, if you stop being such dicks and pay attention to her, you might learn a lot. She does not hide most things very well."
Then he returned his stare at his imprint, just in time to hear the new girl join the younger women in their chit chat. "Hey Emily, who is that hottie in the red shirt?"
The girls all went quiet and looked at Anna. The new girl's eyes went wide as she caught on that there was something between Paul and Anna. Anna just looked back confused. "Huh?" She looked around. Then over to Paul and back to the other women. "Oh for heaven's sake. You didn't all freak out thinking that Paul and I have a thing going on did you?"
Kim blushed and stammered out a quick something about how Paul doesn't have girls that are just friends.
Anna rolled her eyes and raised her voice. "Hey stupid? Is there something you are forgetting to tell me?"
"Maybe. You know me, I have mushy brains sometimes. But, you know where we stand better than they do." He replied with a subtle smirk on his lips.
"Great. So, let's clear everything up. Paul is seriously just a friend. That is all. So, if Lexi here wants to ask Paul out, by all means, go for it. I can get a ride home from someone else. Should I introduce you two?"
Paul's grin grew as she put everyone straight. The guys were in complete shock. His imprint was trying to help set him up with another girl. And, she publicly called him stupid without him getting angry. Jared's mouth moved as if to say "What the fuck?" But, no sound carried through.
Emily looked very confused. However, she quietly let it go.
Paul was laughing inside. The dumbfounded looks and confusion from everyone as they tried so hard to understand, it was comical. All of the other imprints were lovers. Except for Quil, which everyone assumed that once Claire was older, they would become romantically involved as well. So, the assumption was that whatever happened in the past between Paul and Anna would not matter. That they would feel the pull of the wolf and find themselves falling in love no matter what they wanted.
But, they don't know Anna. They don't know what Anna needs. And, above all, the wolf will be what the imprint needs. She didn't need the manwhore. She didn't need a boyfriend or lover. She just needed a protector and friend. And, that was everything that Paul wanted to be for her.
After her little outburst, Anna began to withdraw again from the new people. She was not used to socializing or having any friends. The bastard step-brothers had been jealous and controlling enough that they threatened any guy who so much as looked at her at school. And, if they saw Anna talk to another girl, she was beaten for it when she got home. Her entire school life while living with them had been hidden in headphones, as she drowned her loneliness in music.
She was doing better than Paul had expected, though. She hadn't flinched yet, however, she did avoid touching people. She must have learned to socialize some during her years away. But, he could still see her discomfort and desire to hide.
He walked over to her as she leaned against a table, lost in thought. "You know you shocked them all."
"I don't know why?" She snorted.
Paul wrapped his arms around her soothingly. "You do know why." He winked. "People don't think that much of me or my ability to not try to sleep with you."
"Ew. Gross." She scrunched up her face at the thought. He chuckled at her reaction. "I don't care what they think. I know you Paul. I know that you are more than your image portrays. And, I trust you to keep your paws appropriately placed."
Paul knew the pack was listening to every word. He hoped that it helped them to back off of the expectations.
"Come on, let's get comfortable before the stories start." He scooped her up in his arms to carry her back to the fire. Then he sat on the sand so that he could lean against the log and kept her in his lap.
"And, this is why they all think we are dating, dork." She scolded him for his overly familiar behavior. "Why don't you go cuddle with Lexi? I can be a big girl and sit alone."
Paul tilted his head down to press his forehead against Anna's. "You were gone for four years. I am being selfish and keeping you with me for a while. Besides, Sam already threatened to have me neutered if I touched his wife's cousin."
Anna shook her head, but made no move to leave his lap. Instead, she snuggled into his warmth and relaxed.
"So, Anna?" She looked up at Quil as he sat down near by, trying to start a conversation. "Where did you go? I mean, where have you been the last four years?"
"Just somewhere else." She answered vaguely.
Paul couldn't stop the small whimper at the lack of an answer. She still had not answered much about her time away. She pulled back at his sound. "Paul. Please don't."
"I just wish you would talk to me." He whispered.
She closed her eyes. "What do you want me to say?"
"The truth."
Anna shook her head. "I can't. Don't you get that? I am not allowed to tell you."
"Why not?" Paul growled. Louder than he meant to.
That sparked her anger. "What is it about Witness Protection that you can't understand? I am not aloud to talk about it. About where I was. Because it is a secure location that the police might use again to protect someone else."
"Anna."
"What?" She spun at Sam's voice. Then she realized that she had just told everyone at the party that she had been in Witness Protection for four years. "Oh."
She slumped down as everything hit. Paul quickly wrapped his arms around her and whispered his apologies for pushing her. Paul could feel her retreat inside of herself. Her skin grew colder, her eyes glazed over. He had seen her do that before, when she truly wanted to hide. A reaction she perfected in Oregon.
He could hear the murmurs and whispers as people gossiped about the new information. However, he didn't care. He was only concerned with the woman in his arms. He was grateful when Old Quil started to tell the stories of their tribe. Paul rubbed circles on Anna's back and whispered to her until she came around enough to listen, hidden in the crowd of listeners, instead of the focus of attention. The stories told tales of the ancestors, and their struggle with an unnatural enemy. They spun images of sacrifice and transformations, their people united with the spirit of the wolf to fight against the feared Cold Ones.
Anna listened to Old Quil as Paul comforted her. He just hoped that she listened closely enough. The stories helped to explain who he really was. More importantly, it was the beginning of explaining who she really was to him. His imprint.
Paul could hear as conversations continued around the fire. His wolf hearing allowed him to pick out the voices easily. Emily had made her way to Sam as she pressed for information about Anna.
"Witness Protection?" Emily asked Sam. Paul dared not turn to look at them.
"God Sam, what has that poor girl been through?"
"More than you want to know Ems." Paul could hear the kiss to Emily as Sam comforted his wife.
She sniffed. "Paul knew something about it. Didn't he?"
"Yeah. He did."
"That is why he was so hurt when she left. Whatever happened, he was scared for her. Everyone knew that. I suppose it makes sense why he is so protective of her." She sighed. "But, I don't see why they are so adamant about not being more than friends." Emily's mumbles were barely audible, even with Paul's heightened hearing.
"Just drop it Emily. Please." Sam whispered.
"Isn't it obvious?" Leah Clearwater's voice rolled through the pack at a level only the wolves could hear. Paul hadn't even notice Leah arrive.
Paul growled in warning.
Anna looked up at him. "You okay Dr. Banner?"
Paul frowned. "I think that my friends are starting to figure some things out. I don't like them poking around in your past."
Anna shrugged, trying to let it roll off like water from a duck's back. "I don't care anymore. Everyone really does already know anyway, they just don't realize it yet. As Sam said, it's all a matter of public record. I just don't want to have to talk about it or hear others talk about me."
As Old Quil finished the stories, Anna stood up and offered a hand to help Paul. "You know, you are really warm. I almost didn't want to get up."
He chuckled.
But, then her phone rang.
"Give me a sec?" Anna asked Paul before wandering a short distance away to answer the call alone. He didn't bother to tell her that he could hear the call from there anyway, but whatever made her feel better.
"Yes, this is Anna Marie Collins." She said into the phone.
"Huh? I thought her name was Annabell Jacobs." Jake questioned as he walked toward Sam and the others.
Jared shook his head. "No. Jacobs wasn't really her name either. Shit, what was it she was called the first day of school…" There was a long pause as his eyes grew wide. "Oh, fuck!" Jared looked up at Paul. "Holy fucking hell man. Why? Why didn't you tell me?"
Paul whined as his friend finally understood. "It wasn't for me to tell."
"All of the shit I gave you. Fuck man. God, I feel like a complete douche-bag." Jared grumbled.
Kim worried her lips as she tried to calm Jared down. "Come on baby. What has you so upset?"
His face filled with pain. "Anna. Her legal name was Price. Anna Price."
The news hit the group like a hurricane. Anna was right. They did all know her story. The initial reports were rather small. But, once the full extent of the allegations against her police officer step-father and both of his sons were made public, the case had blown up all over the news outlets. It started just weeks after she disappeared from La Push. Because Anna was still a minor, her name and picture were kept out of the media at first. But, by the time the trial started, she was over 18 and they could print her name all they wanted. Reporters capitalized on the horrors of a girl trapped by an officer of the law.
Paul was shaking in anger. He didn't want her to be pitied. He did not want Anna to be hurt. Why couldn't they all just butt the hell out of her business?
He had closed his eyes, trying to get control over his anger before he fully gave into his wolf, in front of Anna. But, it wasn't Sam's order, or any focus on his part that broke his anger. It was Emily's shriek of Anna's name that sent him spiraling.
Anna had collapsed into the sand. Paul's heart raced as he ran over to her. Her tear streaked face buried itself in his chest. "She's sick." Anna sobbed. "I have to go. She needs me."
"Shhh. Who is sick?" Paul rocked his imprint as she cried.
Anna pulled back to look up at him. "Abbie." She whispered. Paul's heart shattered.
The others had caught up and tried to help. "Anna, what's wrong?" Embry asked.
Paul ignored the others. "I will take you. Where is she?"
Anna sobbed even harder. "Seattle."
"We will go in the morning." Anna nodded.
Paul scooped Anna up and carried her to his truck. He opened the door and set her down. "Annabell, I have to talk to Sam for a minute, make sure he knows that I am going to be off for a few days. But, I won't go out of sight."
He wrapped her jacket around her and shut the door to keep the warmth in. Then he walked over to Sam.
"I will be gone for a few days at minimum." He barked. His emotions were shot. He was in no mood for arguments.
Sam nodded. "Just keep in touch."
Then Paul made his way back toward the truck. He heard Embry ask again. "Whose Abbie?"
"Anna's daughter. The bastard step-father got her pregnant. She gave birth after she left here and the baby was adopted. It was a closed adoption under court seal. So, if they are calling her to tell her that the girl is sick, she must be really sick. Like cancer sick." Sam said with sadness. Each word was a knife into Paul's heart.
Abbie was the little girl that Paul wanted to raise as his own. He offered. And, Anna took away that chance when she left. But, he still had hope and love for the baby that he had never met. And, now she was sick. Looked like he was going to meet her after all.
Would he survive it? Would Anna? All he knew was that he would not, could not, leave her to face that alone. Tomorrow, he would drive her to Seattle to meet her daughter and see if there was anything that either of them could do to save her.
The drive to Mr. Jacobs house was quiet. Dead quiet. Anna had cried herself to sleep. So, once they arrived, Paul carried her up to the door and knocked. Paul quietly explained the situation to Mr. Jacobs who offered to let Paul sleep in the guest room so that he could get the extra sleep before the long drive in the morning.