Paul was happy to see Anna starting to settle into being back in La Push. She had found a job already, working at the Public Library in Forks. She was set to start on Monday. The hours were a little later than everyone else's shifts, so the plan was for Mr. Jacobs to drive her into Forks early in the morning on his way to work. Anna would go to the gym or the diner for a couple hours, then walk to the Library. Paul would pick her up after he got off of work at the garage. She talked about getting a car so that she would not be so much of a bother. But, silently, Paul was looking forward to being able to pick her up after work everyday.
At the next bonfire, she opened up a little more around the pack and other imprints. She still didn't know about it all yet. However, Paul was hoping that he would be able to tell her soon. He had waited because of Abbie. Anna had been going through too much at the time to add more to it. Plus, he wanted to be sure that Anna was not running away from La Push or him prior to jumping into that conversation.
There was a huge part of him that wanted to keep Anna there, with him, on the rez. He knew that his wolf would never be at peace if she lived anywhere else. Shit, his wolf whimpered at the mere thought of her disappearing or leaving again. But, he couldn't be like her past. He wouldn't control her life like that. The part of him that truly loved her as a friend, that part wanted her to be happy, no matter what. And, if moving away made her happy, then he didn't want to get in the way of that. He was scared that if Anna knew about the wolf, she would stay just for that or feel conflicted between him and Abbie. So, he waited for her to make a decision for herself. And, if she chose to stay, then he would tell her.
The pack seemed to understand that. She was on unstable ground in life decisions and emotions. She didn't need to be pushed. So, they kept their mouths shut about that topic.
Of course, that did not stop anyone from asking if they were dating yet, or for details about them sharing a hotel room for three weeks. Paul was ready to tie them all up like pigs and toss them out to sea. Anna just shook her head.
"I think they have a bit of an obsession." She whispered.
Paul frowned. "Yeah, something like that."
Anna tilted her head. "What's wrong Dr. Banner? Normally you like attention."
"Not this kind of attention. And, I don't want you to feel pressured into anything." He grumbled.
She smiled. "I get the feeling that they all care for you and just don't want to see you hurt."
"Do you think that you will hurt me?" He smirked. He tried to make it light. But, he really wanted to know her answer. He could hear conversations pause as others waited to hear her answer as well.
Paul could see the indecision across her face. Ultimately, she quietly answered. "I really hope not."
That didn't give Paul a lot of answers. But, he let it go. He got up to get her a plate of food while she started to chat with Quil and Embry. Leah stopped him. "You are calmer." It was not a question. Paul nodded. "Are you sure that you did not imprint before she left?"
Paul shrugged. "I never saw her after my first phase, not until she came back a few weeks ago."
Leah tilted her head. "I don't know. The change from you is surprising. You used to be agitated all the time, like you were ready to rip out of your skin and take everyone down with you. Now you are not. It is only now that you are not, that I see the similarity to how Jared or Sam feel when their imprint leaves the area."
Paul raised a brow. Everyone assumed that the wolf heightened his own anger. Even Jared or Sam had not made the connection between Anna leaving and his temper. Did his wolf always know? Paul knew Anna calmed him. He was happier having her back. But, was his increase in anger because his imprint had left? Not just because of the wolf temperament?
Leah jumped down from the table where she had sat. "She is good for you. Don't be stupid and chase her away with other women."
Paul watched Anna eat her food while she shyly conversed with the others. Seth made some stupid joke that had Anna grin and her cheeks blush. Damn, she was cute when she blushed.
His wolf wasn't very happy that she was interacting with other men. However, Paul kept him on a tight leash. He wanted her to open up. The natural size and aggressive behaviors of the young men in the pack still gave her pause sometimes. Her mind understood that she could trust them. But, moments would flash memories of her past. Most commonly it was if one of the other men tried to physically touch her without warning. So, she had asked that they try to not touch her unless she initiated it. Though, they had all found that touching her head had no affect. Since they were all so much taller than her, they settled into a practice of only kissing the top of her head in greeting. It seemed to work.
And, the natural wall that it created between her and the other men, that calmed Paul's wolf from ripping anyone's throat in possessiveness. It only took one ass beating when Embry scared her before they all learned the lesson. More than that, the fact that Paul was the exception, that soothed his wolf even more. He, Paul Lahote, was trusted enough to hug her and caress her with positive results instead of fear. That meant more to him than he could express.
After she finished eating, Paul pulled her guitar out of his truck.
"Oh, you don't want me to feel pressured into anything? Really?" She scolded. "But, you will pressure me into playing in public."
Paul grinned. "It is your choice Anna. I am just making sure you know that you don't have to be shy. I believe in you."
Her light caramel skin flushed dark red. She closed her eyes and audibly counted to ten. "Damn it, my therapist set you up to this, didn't she?" He grinned. Anna had started therapy during her time away. And, she continued with it over the phone. Earlier that day, the woman had asked to talk to Paul for a while as well, since he was a large part of Anna's life. So, Anna gave her his number. He was happy to see that Anna had support. And, yes, she encouraged him to push Anna outside of her box a little. "Fine. But, I am warning everyone right now, that I can't guarantee that I will finish a song."
Everyone gathered closer as Anna sat in Paul's lap with her guitar. She leaned back against his chest and closed her eyes. His hands lightly rubbed at her shoulders to help her relax.
"Hello darkness, my old friend…" She started to play 'The Sound of Silence' by Simon and Garfunkel.
As Paul expected, everyone was very impressed and asked for another song. She then played 'Nothing Else Matters' by Metallica. Several others joined in on the rock ballad.
"You really are a Rock fan." Seth grinned. "Not too many girls like Classic Rock and Metal."
Anna blushed. "Yeah. It was my escape. Music that expressed how I felt. A lot of the songs express the anger, the loneliness, the search to understand. My first musical love was 'Fade to Black'. Other songs, they were more empowering, gave me the strength to keep fighting. It was all I had for a long time."
Paul squeezed her in support. She smiled up at him. "And, that is why Paul and I are so close. He was the first person to reach me. To offer strength and support outside of the music."
"We are all very happy that he did." Emily smiled.
A few weeks later, Paul and Anna were hiking along Second Beach Trail. Anna had promised the kids that she would bring pictures the next time they visited them in Seattle.
Their last trip, Anna had asked the Wilson's if she could take pictures of the kids. They readily agreed. So she had taken her camera as well as some dress up clothes to brighten things up. Anna had raided the local thrift store for superhero and princess stuff. They all laughed and danced in flurries of costumes. Anna even got a picture of Paul asleep with Jayden in his lap, feather boas and tiaras on both boys. Total blackmail material.
However, in looking at some of the other photos stored in the camera, the kids asked to see where Auntie Anna and Uncle Paul lived. So, Anna wanted to get some photos around the rez.
"Seriously Perv. I am not taking shit tons of pictures of you without clothes. Get out of my shot!" She scolded.
Paul smirked. "What? You don't like the view?"
"These pics are for the kids, stupid." She shook her head.
"I'm wearing shorts." He defended. Then, Paul stepped out of the way and walked up behind her. Lowering his head to her ear. "And, you didn't answer my question."
Anna blushed. "Eh. I suppose you're alright. I've seen better."
The dejected scoff that Paul made nearly had Anna fighting the silent laughter she held in, though her bouncing shoulders gave it away. She got several more photos before she realized that she was alone. Paul watched her look around to see him sitting on a log along the treeline over looking the beach.
She walked up to him. "Are you pouting?"
Paul put on his biggest puppy dog, pouting face. "Yes."
That succeeded in breaking her control on her laughter. "Too cute Lahote, too cute. But, not going to win."
The were making their way back from Second Beach, toward their starting point, when Paul tensed. The sound of movement hit his ears only a moment before the stench of leech.
Damn it. He recognized the scent and it was not one of the Cullens.
"Anna, we have to hurry." He whispered quickly.
She had been kneeling down to take a picture of some wild flowers. "Why?"
Just, then, the crack of branches being stepped on, echoed along the path. She looked up at Paul and stood quickly. Paul took her hand and pulled her along as fast as he could without tripping her up.
"Oh, now, now. You can't leave yet, my precious. Not when it took me so long to track you down." Donovan's voice crept down Paul's spine. Anna froze in fear. Paul knew that her step-father had called her his precious, he found out when she refused to watch the Lord of the Rings movies. It must have been what scared her the first time she met the leech in Seattle.
Paul's wolf was howling to get out and kill the threat. Yet, Paul shook with the combined fury and willpower to not phase in front of Anna.
Anna's reaction was so sudden and so ingrained, that Paul didn't take the time to try to calm her down. He just wanted her out of that damn forest and away from the vampire. So, he quickly picked her up to run with her in his arms. However, he did not get far before the leech attacked and threw them both to the ground.
"Paul!" The fear in Anna's voice broke his resolve. In less than a heartbeat, the wolf took over. His clothes shredded from his body as his form grew and phased into that of an excessively large silver wolf. He stood between the vampire and Anna.
Donovan tilted his head. "This will be fun. Now, don't you go running off my precious. I am not finished with you yet." He paused. "Or, you can run and add to the thrill of the chase."
Paul couldn't take the time to turn and look at Anna. He didn't know what she was thinking about him. Fuck, he just turned wolf in front of her. No explanation. There wasn't time for it. All he knew is that she was scared. Her racing heart pounded in his ears. He hoped that it was only fear of Donovan.
"What in the fuck do you mean you just turned in front of Anna?" Jared's voice called over the pack mind. Paul had forgotten to call out for help. His mind focused solely on keeping Donovan in his sights and away from his imprint.
"Hold on Paul, we are headed your way." Sam had joined in. Others quickly joined the mind link as well, indicating that they had phased and were headed their way.
Paul snarled and paced, watching the vampire who had climbed a tree, weighing out his options.
"Paul, what in the hell is going on?" Anna whispered. Her voice shaky.
Donovan grinned. "Your boyfriend didn't tell you he was a dog? Poor girl. Don't worry. You won't have to fear him for long." Then, the blood sucker jumped down and made a run for Anna.
'Protect our imprint. Kill. Kill. Kill.' The wolf repeated.
Paul was quick to act. He pounced on the vampire. He had managed to rip a nasty chunk out of the leech's side. Then flung the undead body into a tree where Paul could hear the breaking of bones.
"You fucker!" Donovan roared. He jumped up and went after Paul slower than the first time. "Fine, I will break you and make you watch while I feed on your woman."
The fight was a furious sequence of movement, teeth, blood and fur.
Donovan had managed to get his arms around Paul's waist, breaking his leg and pelvis in a howl of pain. Paul could hear Anna's sobs. He knew that she would be the vampires next target. Anna tried to get up to run, but Donovan had inhuman speed. He caught up to her quickly and ripped her shirt from her body.
"Let's see what we have here." Anna fought him off as best as she could. Karate and kickboxing were no match for the supernatural strength and speed of a vampire.
Paul snarled in rage. Paul could heal. Heal faster than any human. Anna could not. He didn't care about his pain. He just needed to save her.
With one more lunge through the pain, Paul tackled the vampire once more. Just in time for the rest of the pack to catch up to them. Given the number of wolves and Donovan's own injuries, the leech turned tail and ran. Most of the pack took off after him.
"Paul!" Anna ran over to his side. "Oh God. Please be okay. Please don't leave me." She sobbed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her fingers in his silver-grey fur.
"Anna." Sam had phased to being human. "Anna, don't turn around. I am kind of naked at the moment. But, are you hurt?"
Anna shook her head. "But, Paul is."
Paul phased to human as well. The pain of phasing through the injuries was excruciating. It took him a bit before he could speak. He knew that he shouldn't have phased. But, he couldn't stay wolf, unable to comfort his imprint. He wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry monkey. I didn't mean to scare you." He soothed as she cried. "Sam will keep you safe while I heal."
Then, the pain took control. Darkness swallowed him whole.