Paul
"Are you sure about this?" Rosalie asked me. She had just finished putting her last bag in the car. "I don't want to leave you, especially after last night." She wrapped her arms around me.
I lightly kissed the top of her head. "It's okay, you need to do this. The council won't stop until we show them how badly we need the imprints here."
I hated that she had to go, but this seemed to be the best plan to get the council to see reason. We walked over to the porch and sat down on the steps. "Do we have to have that talk I've been dreading now?" She asked me.
I didn't want to upset her, but there was so much I had to know. "Why'd you do it?" I asked her.
She shook her head. "Not that, Paul. I can't tell you that."
"Does your family know? Emmett?" She nodded. I expected as much. "Anyone else?" She looked away. I cupped her cheek in my hand and turned her face back toward me. "Does Embry know?" She looked down and nodded slowly.
Why would she tell Embry? I knew they were close, but how could she tell him and not me? I thought back to the way Jacob had defended her in front of the council. He had hated her not long before that. Had she told him too?
"What about Jacob?" I asked her. She didn't answer me but the look on her face told me everything I needed to know. "Jacob didn't even like you, how could you tell him? And why can't you tell me?"
She stood up, her expression suddenly angry. "I don't care what they think about me, Paul! I'm in love with you and I don't want to change the way you see me."
"You really would prefer me thinking that you murdered a bunch of humans in cold blood for no reason?" I knew she wouldn't do that, but I was angry. How could she trust the entire pack except for me?
She walked away from me to the other side of the porch. "Those bastards deserved it, and I'd do it again. They're the reason I'm stuck like this! My only regret is how quickly they died. I should have made them suffer much, much longer than they did."
What the hell had happened to her?
"The only thing I ever wanted was a baby, and now I'm stuck. Frozen. Barren. I loved my life with Emmett and I'd love to have a life with you, but I never would've chosen this for myself. My choice, my life, my innocence, and my dignity were stolen from me. Their miserable lives was a small price to pay."
Her innocence? Her dignity? I walked to hug her but she pulled her away from me.
"Rosalie, what did they do to you?" She turned away from me again. "Did they... did they rape you?" The thought of someone doing they to her destroyed me. I could feel my rage building. I wished I could've been there to protect her.
She put a few feet of distance between us, running her hands through her hair. She sat down on the ground before turning to look at me again. "Why can't you just leave it alone? Do you really want to know? Do you really want to see me as a victim?"
I sat down next to her and grabbed her hands. "I only want to know so I can help you. Don't you get that? It doesn't matter what you've done, I love you Rosalie."
"Yeah, you looked like you were really in love with me when you were with Leah." She jerked her hands from me and put them back in her hair.
I was frustrated now. Would Leah always be an issue for us? "I didn't sleep with her, Rosalie. She's been through a lot and I was there for her. She was always there for me when I was a kid and I've abandoned her lately."
"Why would you abandon her if you were so close and didn't sleep together?" She asked me. The acidity in her voice didn't go unnoticed.
I sighed. I didn't want to tell her what had happened and change the way she looked at Sam and Emily. "Leah was Sam's fiancé when he imprinted on Emily. They had been together for years. And Emily is her cousin. It's a mess, Rosalie. Leah has been drunk most of the time she's awake since it happened. I can't help her, how do I justify not being mad at Sam when she can't know about imprinting?"
"He left his fiancé when he imprinted? So what would happen if Jared or Embry were with someone and imprinted, the same thing?"
"That's exactly what would happen. The imprint pull is too strong to deny, and the girl would end up hurt in the long run anyway. Our legends say that it doesn't have to be a romantic relationship, but throughout our history it always has been." I told her. "If Jacob hadn't imprinted on Bella, he wouldn't have been allowed to date her."
She looked angry. "So what if you don't imprint? You can't ever have a relationship?"
"We honestly haven't gotten that far yet. We've all only been phased for a short time and three of the five of us have imprinted, so it doesn't seem to be as rare as the legends described. For now, we don't have relationships with anyone unless we've imprinted. Sam thought that was the best way he could make it up to Leah." That didn't really do shit for Leah, but I could appreciate where Sam was coming from. He wanted to make sure nobody else was hurt the way she was.
She shook her head. "That doesn't protect anyone that's in a relationship with a wolf that hasn't phased yet. I don't like Leah, but I feel bad for her now. It has to be hard to see your cousin with your fiancé and not understand why. How did you and Leah get to be so close?"
"I had a really tough childhood and I don't think I would have survived without Leah and her family. Her house is right next door to mine, and when I couldn't take it anymore I'd run to her house and climb in her window. Her parents knew I was there, they eventually gave me a key. That house was my safe haven." Rosalie stood up and hugged me. "When Leah started dating Sam he didn't want me coming through her window or sleeping in her bedroom anymore, so I started using the door and staying with Seth. Leaving the Clearwater family after I phased is one of the hardest things I've ever done. Harry and Sue are more like parents to me than my mom and dad ever were."
"I'm so sorry I didn't believe you." She told me. "So Leah is like a sister to you?"
"Exactly like that." I was so glad she understood.
We stood up and walked toward the car. I didn't want her to leave, but we had work to do for the council today and it was time for the imprints to go. When we got back to the Cullen's house, everyone was sitting on the front porch waiting for us. Rosalie was out of the car before me and Embry grimaced at her as she walked up the steps.
"You didn't come back last night." He told her. "And you smell like him."
Her face fell. "I'm sorry, Embry. You knew this would happen eventually."
He pulled her in to a hug and I growled at him. My wolf couldn't handle how close they were now that we'd been together. "I'm just going to miss you, Rose." He told her.
"I'll miss you too, Em. Hopefully we won't be gone too long." She pulled away from him and came back to stand by me. She looked over to Carlisle. "Is there any news about Angela?"
He shook his head. "I know you girls want Alice to join you, but I'd really feel better if she stayed behind. Her gifts could be useful in the search for the missing girl."
"So could Edward's, but you haven't called him home." Alice told him. "I can call you with important updates."
Bella hid her face in Jacob's chest, clearly hurt at the mention of her ex. "Please tell me he isn't coming back." He said to Carlisle.
Carlisle shook his head. "There are no plans for Edward to rejoin the family. I keep in touch with him but he doesn't know we've come back to Forks."
I didn't want Edward to come back any more than Jacob did. Alice had explained to us that he could read everyone's thoughts except for Bella's. The two of them together could be really helpful in a conflict, if we could trust Edward. He may not have wanted to be around Bella, but why hadn't he noticed his family had left their other home? There had to be another reason that he wasn't communicating with them.
Jasper spoke up. "We could really use his help. It might not be a bad idea for him to join us while the girls are gone. If Alice doesn't go, Emmett or I will. Rosalie is still one of the weakest fighters in our coven."
"Absolutely not." Rosalie said. "Edward will not be here to torture Bella when we get back, or add to Jacob's pain in the meantime. Alice will go with us, we want to make this a girls trip."
As much as I wanted Jasper to go with them, we agreed it was best for Alice to. We knew the three of us wouldn't be at full strength without our imprints and we would be especially vulnerable if Victoria was to come back. Jasper and Emmett would carry our side in any conflict. We agreed not to have any contact with the girls while they were gone. They would all talk with Jasper and Esme and we could be relayed messages that way. I was glad that Rosalie put her foot down about Edward returning. Sam prepared the girls for the discomfort they might feel being separated from us. It would be nothing compared to what we would go through. Carlisle walked out with envelopes for the girls.
Carlisle passed them around to the girls and Emily and Bella seemed hesitant to accept them. "It's just a little spending money, and a credit card in case you run out." He told them. I somehow doubted either of them would spend his money. The envelopes he handed to Alice and Rosalie were much thicker.
Emmett and Jasper pulled out of the garage in two new Jeeps like the one Rose had been driving. "I thought if I got you new ones for your trip you'd let me have mine back." Emmett told Rosalie.
"This isn't yours?" I asked her. I wasn't jealous, mostly confused that she hasn't been driving her own car.
She laughed. "No, you guys probably wouldn't fit in my car."
I started moving the girls bags from Emmett's car to the new one Rose would be driving when I noticed a dark spot on Bella's neck. Jacob had marked her. I glanced at Sam to see if he noticed. He shared my panicked expression. Marking your mate went far beyond an imprint. She would carry his scent now and, if he marked her during sex, probably how child. This was our fault for not warning Jacob about the urge to make your imprint during sex. This changed everything, and them being away would be so much harder than we'd expected.
I walked to the side of Rosalie's new car where she was standing and wrapped her in my arms. I didn't ever want to let go.
"I'll be back before you know it." She told me.
"I know. But I still hate to see you go." I kissed her cheek and opened her door. She got inside and I walked to join the pack on the porch.
Jasper walked between the two cars and handed envelopes in to them. "New IDs for all of you while you're traveling. I don't know the names, don't tell any of us. Just in case anyone tries to track you all." He leaned in to kiss Alice. "Be safe, darlin'. We'll talk soon."
I could already feel the pull getting stronger as the girls pulled away. I looked toward Jasper. "New IDs? They aren't going to Denali are they?"
He shook his head. "Won't be painful enough fast enough." Sam nodded, agreeing with him.
We sat with the Cullens for a long time just talking about everything. Esme was truly excited to care for the pack in Emily's absence. Jasper was telling us old war stories when Sam's phone started to ring.
"Uley." It had to be the council. "Okay, I'm on my way." He slammed the phone shut.
"What's wrong?" Jared asked.
Sam shook his head. "Quil and Seth just phased. We have to go. Jacob, Embry, come with me. Paul, Jared, you guys go to the house and set up for two more to stay there."
I couldn't believe Seth had phased. He was only 15. Seth was such a bright, happy, carefree kid. It really upset me that he had to taken on this burden. I worried for Leah too, because her support system would be gone. Seth would be staying with Sam and Emily a lot now.
"That's usually Emily's job, I have no idea how to do that." Jared told him.
"I would be happy to help, Sam." Esme said.
He nodded. "Thank you, Esme. I will see you guys as soon as I can get them to phase back."
The boys left and Esme asked us to help her carry a few things to her car. She had made lunch for the pack and we helped her carry it out to her car. I was surprised to see that Emmett would be joining us. Emmett was an ally that I hadn't expected, but he swore to me that he would be around as much as I needed to help me during Rosalie's absence. Jared was excited to spend a few minutes without Jacob and Embry around. I could tell that he liked it more when it had been just the three of us, but those days were over and now we were adding two more to the pack. I was anxious to see Seth later that night.
Esme unloaded lunch and made quick work of setting up space for two more wolves to sleep at Sam's house. She commented more than once about us needing a larger place for the entire pack, and I didn't disagree. I didn't see the council allowing Sam to take money from the Cullens to build on to his place, and there was no way we could afford it. Jared helped her, while Emmett and I sat down to play a game. They had turned the radio on and we heard Charlie discussing the search for Angela Webber. Rosalie hadn't mentioned much about it, but I could tell she was upset.
"Sam said we're gonna help look for her, Paul." Jared told me.
I nodded. "I know she was a good friend of Bella's."
"Ange is the sweetest." Emmett told us. "She was the only girl in Forks that didn't think badly of Bella when she caught Edward's eye."
Esme flinched at the mention of her son. "I'm sure our family will find her." She told us. I hoped that we would.
Esme and Emmett stuck around for the rest of the afternoon. I was really beginning to feel the strain of my imprint, but being with them helped me to handle the pain. It was getting late and we hadn't seen the boys yet, so Esme started to make dinner. With two more wolves around we knew none of it would go to waste. After she was done cooking, we all settled in and turned on a movie. The Cullens were becoming our family, and it felt natural for them to be at Sam's house. We finally heard the guys getting closer, and Esme went back to the kitchen to set out the food she had made. I was surprised it had taken Quil and Seth so long to phase back, since they both had generally laid back personalities.
Sam instinctively walked straight to the kitchen where Emily would normally be, and flinched when he saw Esme there instead. She didn't notice, and Sam pulled her in to a gentle hug.
"Thank you, Esme. I have no idea what I would do in Emily's absence without you."
She hugged him back. "Of course, Sam. Your pack is my family now."
All of the guys had found seats around the table, including Emmett, and Esme passed out plates to all of us. Jacob was visibly pained by his separation from Bella. He was barely eating. This would be a long few weeks for him. I took the seat next to Seth and gently tapped his arm as I sat down.
"How you holding up, kid?" I asked.
He jerked his arm away from me. "You couldn't have come for me today? What, you act like my big brother my whole life and then when I need you the most you send SAM?" I had never seen Seth angry like this before.
"Sam is the alpha Seth, what he says goes. He thought me being there would make it harder for you to phase back. It's going to be okay, I promise. I'm here for you now." I hated that I hadn't been there for him when he phased, but I had agreed with Sam's logic at the time.
He stood up. "How is this going to be okay? I fucking hate all of you people. Sam broke Leah's heart, you abandoned her, and every single one of you has gossiped about her or made fun of her. She's had to watch the love of her life be with our fucking cousin and now I have to leave her for them too? And I can't even fucking tell her why!" He was shaking.
I grabbed his arm, more forcefully this time. "Let's go for a walk Seth." He tried to jerk away from me, but I ushered him out the door. We barely made it outside before he phased.
I phased too and he ran after me. "How could you do this to Leah?" He asked. "Now you're taking me from her too!" He sank his teeth in to my leg.
I wasn't going to fight back, but I wouldn't let him hurt me either.
"Enough, Seth! I had no more of a choice in this than you. I didn't ever want to leave you or Leah, you're my family."
I showed him the many fights I'd had with Sam over wanting to stay in Leah's life. We had talked about how I could be there for her without explaining, and we just couldn't find a way to make it make sense. Leah never would have understood why I didn't side with her. He seemed to understand, but he was still angry with Sam and Emily.
Seth stopped and laid down next to me. "What is she going to do without both of us, Paul? She's drinking herself to death. I don't know how to help her."
"I promise you, we will find a way to help Leah." I told him.
"I don't want to live with Sam and Emily." He told me. "I will not do that to Leah."
"How do the Cullens smell to you? I imprinted on one, so their scent doesn't bother me but I know Jared complains of it from time to time."
He looked puzzled. "The two leeches at Sam's house? They're supposed to smell different?"
That was concerning. They didn't smell unpleasant to me, but it was a different scent. "They should. But, if their scent doesn't bother you, you could probably live at Rosalie's place with Embry while the girls are gone."
His eyes lit up. "Would that really be okay?" He asked.
I chucked. "Of course. Esme might even want you to stay at their place, which you'll love."
"Thank you, Paul. You really are my brother."
We stayed to ourselves for a little longer, catching up and giving Seth time to calm down. When we walked back in, everyone had finished dinner and they were playing games in the living room. Esme brought two warm plates of food to us when we walked back in.
"I heated them back up when I heard you coming." She told us. I hugged her.
"Thank you, Esme." She nodded and walked back to sit next to Embry. It bothered me how comfortable he had grown with Rosalie's family. Just thinking about her intensified the ache in my chest.
Emmett came to sit by me and Seth. He was at least more comfortable with me than he was Embry. "You feeling alright Paul?
"Not really, but I know today is probably going to be the easiest day." He nodded solemnly.
"Anything I can do to help?" He asked.
I looked toward Seth. "Actually, do you think Seth could stay at Rose's place with Embry? He's really uncomfortable around Sam."
Embry jumped from his seat. "He doesn't even know her, why would you volunteer her house to a stranger?"
"He's not a stranger, he's pack. She's my damn imprint, and I missed the part where anyone asked you, Call." I growled at him.
Esme placed her hand on Embry's arm and he seemed to calm down a little. "Seth is welcome to stay at our house, Paul. You all are. I'm sure being near Emily's scent is easier for Sam, but Bella has been staying at our house for a few days and it's been Rosalie's home for a long time. I would love to have you all there."
Sam nodded, agreeing with her. "I actually think that's a good idea. Your family has been added to the patrol schedule anyway, and we've outgrown my house. One of us can sleep here at night, and the rest could stay with the Cullens."
Jacob shook his head. "How will we get the council to agree to that?"
"You let me take care of that, Jacob." Sam told him. "The council needs to learn their place. The pack answers to me, not to them."
Embry had an angry look on his face. "I'm still staying at Rosalie's house, alone."
"That's fine." I told him. "Enjoy sleeping in her bed now that it's covered in my scent."
He growled at me and started to shake. I didn't want him to phase here, but our conflict had been building for awhile.
"Embry?" Esme asked. He stopped shaking and turned toward her. "Would you mind helping me take some things back to my house? I need to set up space to accommodate everyone there."
We both knew she was doing that to end this confrontation, but he agreed. "Of course, Esme." He followed her down the hall.
"You will stop tormenting him, Paul." Sam told me. "I know she's your imprint but they have grown close and her absence is hard on him too."
I laughed. "I don't give a shit what's hard for him. If he had stayed away from her like I asked him to, he wouldn't be in this damn mess."
Sam glared at me but walked away anyway. The rest of the pack gathered their things to go to the Cullens.
"Emmett, I'm going to my house to grab a few things. Do you want to come with me?"
He nodded. "Sure, I'd love to see where Rosie is going to be living."
I laughed and we walked out the door. My house wasn't far from Sam's, but we didn't have anything to drive since we both had rode over with Esme. I noticed when we passed Leah's house that her car wasn't in her driveway and I wondered if she had heard about Seth yet. I knew she wasn't going to react well to the news. Emmett looked around at my game collection while I packed a few things from my bedroom to take to the Cullens. I had been staying at Sam's, but I hadn't moved many clothes since we didn't often wear much.
"We gonna be here awhile?" He asked.
I shook my head. "Not unless you want to be."
"You have a game I've wanted to try, would you mind if we hang out for a minute?" He asked.
"Oh yeah, that's fine. Go for it, I'll make a quick snack." I went to the kitchen and heard him turn the game on. It was two player and I was going to join him in a minute.
I was making some popcorn and I heard a loud screech outside and a car door slamming. I thought Leah must have been home next door. I finished making my popcorn and walked to sit down next to Emmett when I heard someone banging on my door.
"OPEN THE GODDAMN DOOR, LAHOTE." Leah was screaming. I sighed and stood up to answer it.
She was shaking with anger. "Who the fuck do you guys think you are to take my brother away?" She shoved me.
She walked in and saw Emmett. "You're friends with a Cullen? So my brother is going to be around my ex, my whore cousin, and THE FUCKING CULLENS?" She was screaming again. She almost looked like she was going to phase. Emmett was staring at her.
"Leah, please, calm down-"
"CALM DOWN?" She moves backwards, and I knew she was going to phase. How the hell was this possible?
"Get outside, NOW!" I told her. She didn't move so I grabbed her and pushed her out the back door. "Emmett, I need you out here!" I called behind us.
She was still shaking but hadn't phased yet. I knew what I had to do, but I didn't want to do it.
"Maybe Seth just realized Emily is a better role model than you. That's probably why Sam chose her over y-"
She phased before I got the sentence out and knocked me on my ass. Her small white wolf was standing over me, snarling. I knew none of the other guys were phased.
"It's okay, Leah. Let me up, I'll help you." She kept snapping and I knew I'd have to phase underneath her. My phase knocked her back and I could see how much bigger my wolf was then hers.
"See? You can hear me, right?" I asked.
"How the fuck is this possible?!" She growled.
"It's going to be okay, Sam will-"
"NO! I don't want to see Sam." I could see her last memories of him breaking up with her, and then seeing him with Emily a few times since.
"I'm sorry, Lee. You'll have to. Emmett will follow us to the Cullen's house, that's where Sam is. Emily isn't here, I promise." I showed her my memory of Emily leaving with the other girls. Even seeing Rosalie in my own memory brought the pain of being away form her back to the surface.
"Why did she leave him?" Leah asked.
"It's a really long story. I promise I will explain it all. Do you think you can change back? It's okay if you can't, but I need to talk to Emmett." I nodded toward him.
She turned around and her eyes met his. I could see the tether that would bond the two of them forming through her eyes. She stepped toward him, and he took a step back. He wore a puzzled expression, but offered her a soft smile. His assumed rejection hurt her, but I assured her it was just confusion.
Sam would be angry when he realized what had happened, but Rosalie's reaction was the one I feared the most. She hadn't liked Leah anyway, and now she would be around permanently.
I realized I had kept my promise to Seth, though much quicker than expected. Leah really would be okay now that she had me, Seth, and her imprint by her side.