"Hey, Eric. Paul hasn't shown up for his shift or for the last pack meeting. He in his room?" Leah asked after walking into the house.
"Paul left a few days ago. He said to whoever came looking first that there's a note on the fridge." Eric said.
"Wait, he left? Why?" Leah asked as she went into the kitchen.
"My guess is he's grieving over Layla so bad that everything and everyone here reminds him of her too much. So he left to escape it." Eric said. "I know that I'd do the same thing."
Leah read the letter and cursed under her breath. She ran out of the house and beat feet to find Jake and Sam. She showed the letter to Sam and Jake read over his shoulder.
"He's going to live with his mother." Sam growled.
"So he's just going to abandon the pack? Just like that?" Jake asked. "You don't see Sam abandoning us."
"Let him do whatever. He abandons us. We don't need him. Leah, you're my second. Fuck him." Sam growled coldly.
...
Seattle was way bigger than he remembered from 10 years ago. There were so many apartment buildings that it took him nearly 3 months to find Layla. He would go building by building, floor by floor, door by door, trying to scent Layla out without shifting into his wolf. He had searched slightly over 50 when he finally came across the one he picked up Layla's scent strongest in. Paul went floor by floor and found that Layla's scent was lingering the most on the 12th floor, the one furthest from the elevator and closest to the stairwell. He made a mental note and memorized everything he could before leaving the building. He didn't want to get caught lurking around and blow the progress he'd made. He walked outside, looking and counting. There was a fire escape on that side of the building and a small window. He wondered where in the apartment his princess was. He sighed and decided to stake the building out and wait to catch a glimpse of Layla. He ran to his truck and moved it right across the street from the building and ate while he waited. He was so close to her, he could feel it.
…
It took two weeks before Paul saw Layla alone. Usually her mother or a man was accompanying Layla and it took everything in him to not run out and grab her and run off. When he saw her walking down the street, he got out of his truck and ran through the alleys until he got ahead of her. Paul watched as waited until Layla walked by and he grabbed her, hand over her mouth, and pulled her behind a dumpster. Layla wanted to scream and fight but couldn't gather the strength to. She was starving and exhausted.
"Don't scream, princess. It's me. It's Paul." Paul whispered hurriedly.
Layla felt her heart race. She turned around in Paul's arms and held him tightly, refusing to let go.
"Pauly you came for me. You came. I thought everyone forgot about me." Layla whimpered.
Paul peppered her face with kisses, checking her over. He noticed bruises and scratches and rope burn. He shook with the effort to not shift and kill her mother. Paul wrapped his arms around Layla and held onto her, pressing his head against her neck and chest.
He frowned.
Deeply.
He moved Layla to standing and pressed his head against her stomach, listening. He heard it, faint but present.
"You didn't tell us you were pregnant." Paul whined softly.
"I what?" Layla said, pausing. "I was on the shot. Leah took me in November."
"They last 3 months and even then some don't last but 2. It depends on how your body metabolizes it." Paul said. "Leah and Jake researched birth control and what one knows all know."
"You mean I'm… I'm…" Layla whispered. "Don't tell Sam. Oh God, don't tell any of them. Swear it."
"Why not? Sam has the right to know. It's his child in there." Paul frowned.
"If Sam knows, he'll come up here with his wolf out. My mother will have him thrown in prison and everyone associated with him, including you, where he's 19. She'll do it to hurt me and then she'll kill me or take the baby and kill it. No. No way. Swear you won't tell them. What one knows they all know? Swear to me." Layla whimpered.
Paul heard the note of terror in her voice and saw how instinctively her hands went to her stomach. He pulled Layla back to him and nodded.
"I swear, princess. I also swear I'm going to get you out of here before the baby comes out." Paul said. "I'll figure something out."
Paul reluctantly let Layla go so her mother wouldn't get suspicious. Paul watched as she left and his wolf was screaming to get her, protect her, take her away. He waited and went back to his truck, picking up his cellphone. He couldn't break his swear to Layla and tell the pack. But she never mentioned a word about telling vampires.
…
Layla was laying on the mattress, gently rubbing her tummy. She had noticed it was a little harder than normal, but didn't think much of it at the time. She thought back to when the last few times she and Sam were intimate. If she went by that time frame, she was roughly four months along. She wished she could tell someone, but she dared not to. If her mother found out… Layla whimpered softly. She would either sell her baby or kill it outright. Layla vowed her mother would never get her hands on her baby. She would give her baby to Paul to take back to Sam if need be. She would give her life to make sure her baby was safe and cared for and loved. She nodded off, dreaming of Sam and her baby.
Paul was on the phone, talking to Emmett. Emmett put it on speaker and called for his family to listen.
"I found Layla in Seattle. She made me swear not to tell the pack… but you all aren't the pack. And you can't alert them. Neither can Bella. She's pregnant. I heard the heartbeat. Faint but there. We need to get her out of there. Her mother will kill her and the baby both." Paul whimpered.
Rosalie hissed.
"Maybe we can kidnap her?" Emmett asked. "Slaughter that beast masquerading as her mother."
"There's a man that stays often. Two deaths without getting caught would be hard." Paul growled.
"It… it's the judge. The man. It's the judge!" Alice cried out, holding her head.
"That cuts out all the pack and most of us taking her." Carlisle said sadly. "We all stormed the court. Well…most of us."
"Jasper didn't. The scent made him uncomfortable." Emmett said.
"I've got an idea." Rosalie said, smirking. "Jasper and I will see you in 48 hours, mutt."
Rosalie grabbed the phone and hung up.
"Emmett, go and pack my most expensive dress and shoes. Alice, run to the wig shop in Port Angeles. My dearest twin and I are going on a trip. Edward, can you and Carlisle teach Jasper a crash course in drugs and costs and all that? I've got a couple of things to do before our trip." Rosalie said before walking off.
"Remind me to never piss her off. She's brilliant." Edward said before looking at Jasper.
…
The only thing that kept Sam sane was his pack and all the photos and videos of his Layla they made him look at daily.
"It's been so long since she's texted me." Sam said quietly. "What…what if she's…"
"She's alive, Sam. We can all feel it. You would instantly know if she was…not alive. Maybe she lost the phone or something." Leah said.
"We all know she'd never leave you. She's so disgustingly in love with your grumpy butt. I bet the second she turns 18, she will break the door down and be all over you like white on rice." Jared said.
"Definitely. I can see it now. Sam will be completely unavailable for, like, a straight month and when he resurfaces, he'll be like 30 pounds lighter from all the uh… vigorous activities and dehydrating." Jake said, grinning.
"And Layla would be 30 pounds heavier." Leah added, smiling.
Sam smiled softly at the banter of his pack.
"Better start chowing down, Sam. You know how she swoons over all your muscle." Leah said. "I remember that's all she talked about one day. How absolutely packed with it you were and how she couldn't wait to get you in bed."
"Yeah?" Sam said, perking up.
"Oh yeah. When you and Jake were helping mom fix the side of the house. That was all she talked about. She was obsessed with the way your pants were slung so low on your hips and she whined about wanting to follow your happy trail." Leah added, seeing Sam look more alive than he had. "Then about your arms and how broad and thick they were with muscle. She was obsessed."
"Who wants pizza?" Sam asked. "Leah, tell me more. Someone else go get food."
…
4 Weeks Later
It had taken a month to get into Charlotte's circle. So many buys and favors and meetings had to be done so they could get close enough. Paul had stuck right with them, keeping check on Layla. Carlisle had instructed him on what vitamins to buy Layla and made sure she had food on her windowsill multiple times a day. When she could get out of the apartment, she made a beeline for their secret meeting spot. The nausea and despair lessened so much with just his touch and his scent. Her bump had grown with all the extra food and the attention from Paul.
"The baby is so active when you're here." Layla said softly.
Paul's hand slipped under her shirt to rest against the skin of her tummy. He smiled when she moved his hand to where she could feel the flutters, keeping her hand atop his. It was moments like these that Paul could pretend that Layla was his Imprint and that it was his baby she carried and adored so.
"Don't be surprised that, when we get home, Sam doesn't let you do anything other than breathe. It's hard enough for me to let you go and do anything. Sam will be impossible." Paul chuckled. "His ear will be glued to your tummy. And his hands."
"At this point, I'd be okay with that. If it meant being back in his arms, I'd do anything. But can I ask you something?" Layla asked.
"Anything, princess." Paul said.
"If the baby comes before I turn 18…" Layla whimpered. "Promise me once I have the baby that you'll take him or her directly to Sam. Add if he… rejects… that you'll take care of them."
"If you have the baby, you're coming with us. I don't care if they throw me in prison. You and the baby won't be separated as long as I have breath in my body." Paul growled.
Layla checked her watch and nuzzled deeply against Paul for a few moments. She moved and looked up at Paul, pushing herself up to his lips and kissing him sweetly. Paul returned the kiss softly before pulling back, knowing Layla had to leave. He watched as she left, rubbing his chest.
...
"Remember, Jazzy. We will all be down here and we will intervene if we need to, okay? Be the biggest d-bag you can be." Alice said.
"Don't be afraid to call Layla bad things. It'll make it more real. And remember, you're the Major. That's your name. And remember to call Rose 'Kitten'. You have to be suave and fancy but cold and calculated." Emmett said.
Jasper nodded and looked at himself in the mirror, letting himself slip into his old persona as he and Rosalie stepped into the night air. They took the rickety elevator to the 12th floor and to the last apartment. Rosalie took the lead and knocked.
"What do you want?" a woman grumbled as she cracked the door.
Rosalie made sure to flash her jewellery as she spoke.
"We were told to visit by Demetri." Rosalie said coolly. "That you'd be more than glad you help us."
"Us?" the woman asked.
"The Major and I." Rosalie said, moving to reveal Jasper.
The door shut before opening again and Rosalie and Jasper walked in. The place was a hovel. Definitely not for for Layla or a child. Rosalie stood beside of Jasper.
"What can I help you with?" Charlotte asked.
"The Major is looking for a new plaything." Rosalie said. "Demetri told us you had a virgin.
The Major likes that…if she really is one." Rosalie said.
"What makes you think she's for sale?" Charlotte snapped.
Rosalie wanted to hiss but Jasper held his hand up to silence her, using his gift to manipulate emotions.
"Because I'm looking. That's why I know she is for sale." Jasper said with a smirk. "You're a smart woman. You know I can offer you more than you've ever dreamed of."
Charlotte smiled, revealing rotten teeth.
"Now you're speaking my language." Charlotte said.
"Kitten, fetch this generous woman a bauble for her understanding while she presents my new plaything." Jasper said.
Charlotte made her way to Layla's bedroom and unlocked it, going in.
"Get up, trash! You might finally be of some use! Get in there and behave." Charlotte hissed, smacking Layla.
Layla whimpered and was dragged into the living room. Rosalie gave Layla a look before she handed Charlotte a small baggie.
"Uncut. Pure heroin. For your trouble, of course." Jasper said.
"Kneel before the Major, slut." Rosalie hissed before forcing Layla to her knees.
Rosalie whispered her apology before standing back up. Layla kept her head bowed. She was confused but trusted that Rosalie and Jasper had a plan. Jasper walked around Layla. He could heart the second heartbeat, too.
"Kitten, check the status of her purity. I don't wish to soil my fingers with potentially unclean filth." Jasper said.
Rosalie jerked Layla into the kitchen under the guise of checking for her barrier. Because there was only a half wall, Rosalie couldn't talk to her. She pulled her out a moment later, licking her fingers.
"Tight and intact, Major. You'll have fun breaking this one." Rosalie said.
Jasper smiled evil at Charlotte. He pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket.
"Will you take five thousand? And, of course, a pound more?" Jasper asked.
"Sold!" Charlotte cried out.
"I want her indefinitely. I want you to sign and present in a court that she is to be my legal wife as she's obviously underage." Jasper said.
"I know just the judge. Leave your number and I will contact you tomorrow with a time to be at the courthouse." Charlotte said. "She stays here until then."
Jasper sighed as if this was exasperating and boring.
"Fine. I expect her to be in the same condition as present. No visible marks and clean clothing. Kitten, give my new whore the bag of what she is to wear tomorrow." Jasper said.
Rosalie held out a garment bag that she had laid in the hallway out to Layla. Inside was a loose dress and jacket as well as food. Charlotte took Jasper's number and shut the door behind them before locking Layla in her bedroom. Layla opened the bag and hung up the clothes and saw a note and a bunch of food in baggies. Layla read it as she began devouring everything in the bag.
'I bet you're wondering what's going on. If all goes to plan, tomorrow or soon you'll be out of there. You just have to be married to Jasper legally. I know you'd rather marry me, but no one has seen Jasper. So close to being my Mrs. Anyway, Rose says you'd be her Mrs. since you like her "way better". Sad. We all know who you like best. You're my fan club, remember? Eat everything in here okay? Feed my new little niece or nephew. I'll see you soon, sweetheart. Love, Emmett.'
Layla wiped her eyes and ripped the letter up into tiny pieces. She all but inhaled everything Emmett had sent. She rubbed her tummy, feeling a flutter. Her tummy had grown quite a bit in the five weeks since Paul had found her. It felt like a grasshopper was darting across her tummy, especially when Paul was touching her skin. She closed her eyes, hands holding her tummy. She slept peacefully for the first time in months.
...
Lots of time jumps in this chapter. Hope that don't piss y'all off too badly.
Only 1-2 chapters more. One of those chapters miiiiight be an epilogue.
Y'all haven't voted in the poll on my profile. So I'm gonna need y'all to tell me in a comment...
Do you all want a Seth story, Leah (female imprint) story, Leah (male imprint) story, or should I do someone like Jared (non-Kim imprint) story, Quil (non-Claire imprint) story, or what? What do you all want to see? I have many plot lines I can use but unless I know what y'all want...
I'll be forced to pick and who knows who I'll pick...muwahahahahaha!
Comment! Because two chapters two days in a row okay? Commentttttttt.
xoxoxoxo