A/N: Hey guys let me know if it loads this chapter okay? Fanfiction is being retarded, yet again, and keeps uploading chapter nine. If you see this then you know you're about the read the brand spanking new chapter 10. If not...well don't yell at me it's not my fault. _ PLEASE let me know in a review or a PM if you guys see this okay? I'm doing my best to fix it.
Chapter 10
"Jathan! Jay wake up!" I hissed quietly, shaking Jay's shoulder as he lay sleeping on the couch. He jumped up and rubbed his eyes, searching the room for any sign of danger.
"What's wrong, Ina?" he asked. I just grabbed his hand and dragged him out the door, giving him an explanation along the way. When we reached the clearing he stopped suddenly and sucked in a breath. Paul still lay in his wolf form on the ground, but two larger wolves stood beside him, protecting him. They growled when we first appeared.
"Hey guys, it's me, Ina," I said hurriedly, not wanting to get eaten. The smaller wolf with the white snout trotted over and licked my face, then rubbed its head against my shoulder. The large black wolf rolled its eyes and walked back into the forest. A few seconds later, Sam emerged, wearing only a pair of cut off jeans.
"Seth, lay off of her or Jake will have your head, too," he grumbled, crouching down beside Paul's heaving form. "How you feel, Paul?" he asked. Paul gave a long whine and lifted his head up to look at me. Seth nudged me toward him, so I guess he was asking for me. Jathan still stood in the shadows in shock, so Seth nudged him forward too. I walked over to Paul's head and petted him while Jay reluctantly gave him an examination. Paul took a deep breath and Seth snorted before walking into the forest to change into his human form. He jogged back, a huge grin on his face.
"Even getting his ass kicked by Jake can't keep Paul from fantasizing about you," he said, smiling at me.
"Paul!" I hissed, thumping him on the forehead. His eye rolled up to me as if to say, "What? It's not my fault." I rolled my eyes.
"Okay, well, his shoulder is torn up pretty badly. It will probably need stitches. A few of his ribs are also broken, and will need to be rebroken and set back into place," Jay said finally, wiping his bloody hands on his jeans before standing up.
"If he can change back into a human we can take him to the hospit—"
"He can't, he's stuck," Seth interrupted, eyeing my brother curiously. "Stuck?" I asked. Seth nodded.
"Either he's being stubborn and doesn't want to turn back, or he's hurt too badly to move."
"He's probably hurt too badly to move. I would have done the same thing to him if he had gone after Emily," Sam growled, slapping Paul's side. Paul snarled and I jumped away from him, wide eyed. He immediately stopped growling and turned his head toward me with big, sad eyes and whimpered pitifully. I crawled back over to him and he licked my hand, then snuggled his head into my lap.
"Paul, if you're thinking anything bad I'll break the rest of your bones," I warned. He barked a laugh.
Jathan asked Sam to help him with Paul's ribs and Seth helped to hold him down. I petted his head soothingly and watched as Jathan directed Sam. A loud crack broke the silence and Paul howled miserably, his paws clawing the soft dirt beneath them in pain. I hugged his head as tears started pouring out and soaked into his fur. He panted heavily, eyes clenched shut. I felt horrible that I had caused this and couldn't do anything about it. I stroked his fur and tried to think of something , anything that would comfort him a little.
Sister, you and I, Sister you and I, Jay's childhood voice sang in my head. I leaned down close to Paul's ear and started singing softly as the guys pushed his bones again.
Brother, you and I
Brother, you and I
We'll sing our lullaby
Hush my dear
He threw his head back in agony, snarling fiercely as another crack rang through the air. I sniffled back my tears and petted the side of his face, still singing quietly. I probably sounded like an alley cat in the night, but it seemed to calm him a little bit. His huge golden eye opened, rimmed with wetness, stared at me with such emotion I wanted to cry more. Stupid Jake! I didn't want him to be hurting this bad. A single punch would have sufficed for me. No, I didn't want him to hurt at all, it wasn't his fault after all. It was my stupid pheromones.
"One more time, Paul , and then we'll be done," Sam said tiredly. Paul didn't move, just took a deep breath and held it as they readied for another break. I hugged my body around Paul's head and clenched my eyes shut, holding him tightly as he snarled and pawed the ground. Soft fur was soon replaced by warm flesh, and when I opened my eyes Paul was human again. He carefully rolled onto his back and I kept my eyes glued to his face, not wanting to be exposed to his nakedness. His eyes were half shut as he looked at me, breath ragged and labored.
"Paul?" I squeaked, sniffling a little. He forced a slight grin and brought his hand up to my face, his thumb stroking my cheek lightly. "Thank…you," he panted. Seth glanced at us warily, then at Sam. Sam shook his head and Seth stood up, then ran into the woods.
"I'm going to go get some bandages and thread, okay? Ina, whatever you do don't look down," Jathan warned.
"Oh, I'm not," I said. Paul chuckled and licked his cracked lips. "Water?" he asked hopefully, his voice weak and raspy. Jathan nodded and headed off to the house. Sam got up and came back a few seconds later with a pair of shorts, the pair Seth had been wearing. Paul grunted and winced as Sam slid them up his legs.
"Can you lift up a little?" Sam asked. Paul growled and barely lifted his hips off the ground so Sam could slide the shorts up the rest of the way. I waited until I heard the zipper go up before glancing through my curtain of hair, relieved when I saw that Paul was now covered. His skin was glistening in a thin sheet of sweat, the area above his ribs heavily bruised. His shoulder was still bleeding profusely, so I used my teeth to help rip off my sleeve and pressed it against the wound. It was soaked in blood in seconds, but I thought that the pressure might help a little.
Jathan soon returned with an armful of supplies, and I moved to the top of Paul's head and helped him to sit up a little against me so they could wrap him up. He hissed as Jathan poured an antiseptic over his shoulder and gripped my hand tightly. Jathan pulled the bandaging tight and tied it so that it wouldn't come loose. I heard some crunching noises and Seth along with two other wolves appeared at the edge of the clearing. Sam nodded to them and they disappeared momentarily, returning in human form as Seth, Jared, and Quil.
"Paul you idiot! I can't believe you would do something stupid like that," Jared shouted, playfully smacking Paul's foot. He growled menacingly.
"Oo, but she does smell lovely," Quil said, sniffing the air. It was Sam's turn to growl this time and Quil held his hands in front of him in defense. "Don't worry, Sam. I'm not as stupid as Paul," he laughed. Paul snarled and snapped his hand out for Quil's leg, but Quil danced away and stuck his tongue out.
"So we taking this big baby to his house?" Seth asked. I bit my lip and thought for a moment.
"My house is closer, he can have my bed for the night," I said. They all 'ooo'-ed and punched each other playfully. I rolled my eyes and Jathan frowned.
"Where are you going to sleep? You just got over being sick," he said matter of factly. I shrugged.
"I can sleep anywhere. I'm good like that," I answered with a smile. Jathan sighed and looked up at the sky with an I'm-going-to-regret-this face, then nodded. The wolf guys carefully picked Paul up and put him on their shoulders as they walked to my house, Paul grimacing every now and then when they fell out of step and jostled him. Jay opened the door and they stepped in, quietly so that they didn't wake my mom. They carried Paul to my room and set him down on the bed, then talked with Jathan for a little while before leaving. I pulled the blanket up around Paul and went to go get more blankets from the hallway closet so I could make a pallet in my bedroom floor. Paul watched me as I fluffed my pillow up and settled down.
"What?" I asked. He frowned.
"I can sleep on the floor. You should take your bed, it's more comfortable," he reasoned. I shook my head and smiled.
"Paul, you almost got killed. This is no time for chivalry."
"But—"
"It's fine! I told you I can crash anywhere. As long as you don't snore too loudly we won't have a problem."
He snorted and scooted closer to the side of the bed so he could get a better look at me on the floor.
"You know, you sound like a strangled ostrich when you sing," he smirked. I blushed at chucked a stuffed bear at his head, which he grabbed out of mid air and set behind him. He grinned and patted my head. "I'm just messing with you. It was actually really nice," he said quietly. I blushed even harder and hid my head under my blanket, mumbling a thanks. It was quiet for a while, so I peeked out from under the blanket and jumped when I saw Paul still staring at me.
"What?" I hissed. The right side of his mouth turned up into a grin and he held out his hand innocently.
"A handshake for thanks?" he asked, pouting.
"I don't trust you."
"Why not?" he scoffed, feigning hurt.
"Because you're Paul."
He rolled his eyes and kept his hand out. I poked my hand out and gingerly placed it into his own, shaking it slightly. He released it and smiled.
"See? You can trust me. I won't eat you. Or rape you in your sleep."
"Thanks for that, Paul, now I won't be able to sleep," I frowned. He chuckled and shook his head slightly.
"You can trust me, I promise. I've gotten used to your…smell now."
"So now I stink and I sing like a strangled ostrich?"
"No!" he laughed, smacking my hand playfully. "You actually smell delicious. It's like nothing you've ever smelled before, even better than a field full of the sweetest flowers. Even better than bacon, and you know how I love bacon."
"So I smell like bacon, stink, and—"
"Oh Ina shutup and take the compliment."
"…Fine," I grumbled, too tired to argue with him anymore. I rolled over and closed my eyes.
"Ina?"
"What Paul?" I said through clenched teeth.
"Are you going to sleep?"
"Yes, contrary to popular belief, we teenagers do like to get some sleep every now and then."
He paused for a moment.
"Will you sing to me again?"
I rolled over and glared at him.
"I only did that because you were in pain and I felt bad."
He frowned and looked at me with puppy dog eyes.
"But I'm hurting now. And your boyfriend is the one who dragged me off into the woods, as a human, mind you, and proceeded to beat me half to death. He even told me that if I ever got near you again he'd kill me."
"He really said that?" I asked, frowning as I felt the anger building up again. Paul nodded, pouting like a two year old. "He can't tell you what to do," I grumbled. "You're MY friend too. You were my friend before he was."
"Exactly, so if I get killed for being here, it's your fault because you made me sleep in your bed. Will you sing to me now?" I groaned.
"Brother, you and I—"
"You're not singing it, you're just talking! And I can't hear you, come up here."
"Paul, you little—"
"Oh, my poor ribs! How badly they hurt!" he whined. I rolled my eyes and groaned, sitting up and moving closer to my bed. His eyes sparkled with laughter, or evil, as he said, "Come lay down with me, I'll only get sleepy if you sing it really close to me."
"Paul! Stop being a pervert!" I hissed, smacking his unhurt arm. He narrowed his eyes.
"If you don't I'll tell Jake about truth or dare," he said, his tone pure evil. I blanched, but wasn't going to take him up on his bluff.
"Paul, you idiot we were fourteen. It doesn't count."
"Oh, but you liked it. You really really really really—"
"FINE! You know what? I'm sick of you," I climbed into the bed and yanked the covers down, "and all of your stupid, manipulative mind games," I finshed, pulling the covers back up around me and glaring at him. He looked shocked.
"I was just kidding, I didn't think you'd actually do it," he said in awe. I narrowed my eyes at him and went to go get up again, but his iron arm latched around my waist and pulled my back down.
"Don't go," he pleaded, "I like having you here." I sighed and shook my head at him.
"Sing please? Like you did back there?" he begged, his big brown eyes soft and pleading.
"Only if you close your eyes and shutup," I grumbled. He smiled and closed his eyes, waiting for me to begin. I suddenly felt very nervous, but remembered what Jacob had said about imprints being able to hurt werewolves and felt a little better. I took a deep breath and began.
When the song was over, the smile was still plastered on Paul's face. I moved to get up, but both of his arms snaked around my waist and pulled me closer to him. I wiggled my arm free and banged a fist against his shoulder.
"Paul I know you're not asleep! Let me go!" I hissed.
"I am too," he mumbled, snuggling his head down against my neck. I groaned and pushed against him with all my strength, but he held on tight.
"Paul! Release me this instant or feel my wrath!"
"Ina, just shutup and go to sleep. You're tired, I'm tired, let's not argue just for tonight and enjoy each other's warmth," he mumbled, looking up at me with sleepy, hooded eyes. I gasped at how close he was and felt a blush creep across my face, but glared at him all the same.
"Please?" he asked quietly. Curse those puppy eyes. I sighed and flopped my head against the pillow.
"Paul."
"Hm?"
"I hate you."
"I love you too, baby."
I fet him smile against my skin and pull me closer. I wiggled an arm between us to protect my chest from being invaded upon and grudgingly settled down.
"You can trust me, I promise," Paul slurred, his voice heavy with sleep.
"Sure, sure," I grumbled. If he hadn't been my best friend for all my life he would have a broken nose by now. He took a deep breath and exhaled, tickling my skin. I waited for a long time to make sure he wasn't doing anything stupid, then hesitantly closed my eyes. I waited for a minute, then opened them quickly, but Paul was still wrapped tight around me, harmlessly snoring away. I sighed and closed my eyes. It is kind of nice and warm, I thought. Jake's saddened face flashed through my head and I angrily shook it away. He is not my problem right now.
I woke up the next morning feeling overly warm and slightly sweaty. My body was screaming for cool air, but I didn't feel like getting up yet and settled for kicking the blankets off. I found that I couldn't move my legs because something warm and fleshy was wrapped around them. I cracked one eye opened and jumped when I saw Paul's peaceful, sleeping face right in front of me. I wiggled to get free but he just sighed and clamped his legs around me harder.
"Stop moving, Ina," he mumbled, touching the tip of his nose to mine. I rolled my eyes and shoved him as hard as I could, until the top half of his body finally flopped over onto his back. I glanced over at my alarm clock.
"Paul, it's eleven fourty-five."
"S'too early," he grumbled, rubbing his eyes before opening them. He smiled sleepily at me, and I hate to admit it but he was pretty darn beautiful with his hair all messed up and smiling cutely like that. I shook my head to get rid of the blasphemous thought.
"You look like a hot mess," he smirked. I rolled my eyes. "I mean it in a good way. Pretty sexy with your hair all messed up and your eyes looking tired."
"They only look tired because I was worried you would molest me all night," I grumbled, crossing my arms. He grinned.
"But I didn't. Told you that you could trust me."
"I still don't."
He chuckled and rolled over to me, pinching my thigh gently as he leaned his head up on his arm.
"What do you have against me, exactly?"
"Oh, I don't know, you're a pervert and molest me on a daily basis."
"Butt smacking is not molesting. It's a quick smack and then done, it's not like I'm squeezing your perfect cheeks and not letting go."
"You're sick!" I hissed. He just grinned.
"Crap," he said suddenly, getting up. He winced a little as he crawled off the bed and over to my window.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Your honey is coming and as much as I hate to say it because I sound like a wimp, I don't want to be caught here with you," he grimaced. I gave him an odd look and he chuckled, tapping his nose.
"I can smell him from a mile away." Ah, that explained it. He waved and opened the window, then crawled outside into the bright sunshine. Sunshine. Maybe it was a good omen.
"Will you be okay?" I asked, following him to the window. He smirked and grabbed my hand before placing a kiss on it. "No need to worry, fair lady. Jake can't kill me or Sam will kill him," he said,but I wasn't too reassured by that. He trotted out of my yard and into the direction of his house, holding his side as he jogged. I grimaced at the thought of facing Jacob and went to go lock the front door and warn Jay and Mom not to open it. Mom was out, her keys weren't on the counter, but Jay was still snoozing on the couch with one foot hanging off on the floor. It wasn't long before the doorbell rang. My heartbeat immediately sped up as adrenaline pumped through my body. Jay tumbled off the couch and looked at me with bleary eyes. I raised my finger to my lips to shush him. His face immediately became suspicious as Jake's muffled voice began speaking.
"Ina, open up! I know you're there. I wanted to see if you were feeling better," he said. Jay got up and came to stand beside me.
"Go away, Jacob, she doesn't want to see you," he said, using his angry, manly big brother voice. I smiled up at him. My silly brother was at least a half a foot shorter than Jake, but he sure as heck wasn't scared of him. I suddenly found that I admired his pig headedness.
"Why not?" Jake asked. I shook my head at Jay, not wanting Jake to know that I had seen Paul last night. Jay nodded and said, "She just doesn't. Go away."
"Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? She's my imprint!" Jake snarled. I flinched but Jathan stood his ground, his mouth forming a thin line.
"And she's my sister, my blood. Whether you like it or not, I do have more authority over her than you do," Jay answered, his voice deadly. I chose to ignore that authority bit and silently cheered him on. It was quiet outside the door for a few moments before we heard heavy footsteps walking away. I breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back against the door. Jay crouched down beside me, his face worried.
"Has he ever hurt you, Ina?" he asked carefully. I shook my head. "If he ever does, you'll let me know right? I won't stand for him hurting you, imprint or not."
I jumped as Jake's voice suddenly broke through the silence.
"I would never, ever hurt you, Ina Call," he said, his voice sounding broken.I had forgotten that I left my bedroom window open, and mentally smacked myself for it. I almost felt sorry for him, but the image of Paul writhing in pain as his ribs were rebroken flashed through my head and the anger boiled inside me. I stood up, hands balled into fists at my sides.
"Yeah, you won't hurt me but you'll take it out on my friends?" I growled. He looked confused.
"You almost killed Paul!" I shouted angrily. His face fell and he took a step closer. Jathan moved to stand in front of me but I stopped him.
"Jacob Black don't you dare touch me," I hissed. He looked like the world had just ended, his face drained of all color.
"Ina…Ina he touched you," he choked out. I shook my head.
"No he didn't. He might have kissed me, but he never touched me like that. I could have stopped him if I wanted to," I reasoned. If possible, he became even more pale and his shoulders started shaking slightly.
"You wanted him to touch you?" he asked.
"Whether I did or not is no longer your business," I said calmly. "It wasn't his fault for acting that way because my smell caused him to. Now please leave." I unlocked the door and held it open, holding my head up high and refusing to look at him.
"He was here wasn't he?" Jacob asked. I looked at him in shock before I remembered to keep my cool, but it was too late. Jacob was out the door and down the street in a flash.
"Oh no. Oh no no no no, he's going to kill Paul!" I shrieked, running out the door and down the sidewalk. Jathan called out my name but I ignored it and ran. My bare feet slapping against the pavement barely registered in my head, and finally I reached Paul's house and flung the door open. I heard yelling from Paul's room and ran down the hall. Jake had Paul by the throat, and neither of them noticed my prescence at the door.
"Why? I told you to stay away from her, she's my imprint dammit!" Jake hissed.
"Because," Paul panted, "because…I loved her first and you know it."
I gasped and covered my hand with my mouth, eyes widening to the point of pain. Jake's head whipped around to face me and he released Paul, who clutched his throat and coughed.
"Ina," he gasped, "Ina please…"
It didn't make sense. Paul loved me? Paul, who tortured and harassed me to no end, loved me, someone who had hated him.
"Ina, say something," Paul pleaded. My eyes flickered back and forth between him and Jake, fingers gripping the wall behind me for dear life.
"I don't…I don't know," I stammered.
"Don't know what, honey?" Jake said softly. I was so confused. Paul, my childhood friend, my protector for years and years, then my enemy, had just confessed his love to me. He was my friend. When did it happen? I wanted to know, but didn't want to at the same time. Last night had meant more to him than I thought it had.
"Ina?" Paul whispered.
"I don't know!" I shouted, running out of the house. I passed Jathan on the sidewalk but kept going, running straight into my house, into my room and locking the door behind me, then leaping over to my window to shut and lock it also. I crawled back into my bed, legs shaking, fingers trembling, and cried as Paul's scent enveloped me.