Paul
Rosalie left our pack meeting with Leah. It was such a relief that the two of them were getting along so well. We had come such a long way from that first day when Rosalie opened the door to Leah wearing nothing but my shirt. I was comforted by the fact that Rose would still have Leah after Alice was gone. I knew she wasn't happy about losing her sister, but she had a new family with us and she seemed to be accepting that. Sue and Harry were like my parents, and they were both coming around to the idea of accepting Rosalie as well. She was headed to their house with Leah now, and the rest of us would be joining them later for dinner.
Jared had to rush off to Forks for a shift with Chief Swan and Emmett went to talk to Jasper. With both of them gone, I decided to pay a visit to Jacob and Quil. I was as frustrated over Embry's relationship with Rosalie as they were, but they had grown far too comfortable threatening my imprint. I tried not to interfere often because I knew Rosalie could take care of herself, but seeing her flinch at the sight of Quil was too much for my wolf to handle. I walked in to Sam's house and saw them sitting on either side of Embry. I went and sat next to Quil.
"How ya feeling, Em?" I asked. He was alert, but still looked weak.
He groaned. "I'd be better if you'd fuck off and Rosalie would stop lying to me. What do you even want?"
"I was wondering if I could borrow your buddies here for a minute? Pack business."
"Oh, I'm not pack now?" He replied.
"Don't worry pup, you'll hear about it. You're on light duty until you heal, alpha's orders." I lied. It sounded like something Sam would say at least.
He threw his head back against his pillow and groaned again. "Fine, whatever. Just hurry. I'm tired of sitting here alone."
"We'll be right back." Jake promised, as he stood to follow me.
Quil and Jacob followed me until we were far enough away that Embry couldn't hear us. They didn't seem to want him to know what they'd said to Rose, and I wasn't going to tell him yet. I hadn't ever had a problem with Quil before, but Jacob and I had never been the best of friends. Baby Jake was jealous of me because he had a crush on Leah, and he thought I was a dick because I never gave his sisters the time of day. Since he joined the pack, we had just tried to stay out of each other's way.
"What the hell do you want, Paul? I know it's not pack business." Quil sneered at me.
"You're both going to treat Rosalie with respect or stay the hell away from her."
Jacob growled. "Rosalie is going to stay the hell away from my brother."
"That's not up to you, and the two of you are going to leave her alone."
"I don't follow orders from you, Paul. If you could control your bitch-"
My fist collided with Jake's face and I heard his jaw snap. He didn't even try to hit back and Quil stood back.
"What would you do if I pushed Bella the way you did to Rosalie? Or intimidated her the way Quil did?"
Jacob phased, clearly unable to control himself at the thought of me hurting his imprint the way they'd hurt mine.
I laughed at him. "That's what I thought. Stay the hell away from her. Get Sam to set your jaw, Rose is with Leah at the Clearwater's place. You're damn lucky it's me you're dealing right and not Jasper."
Jake stood in place growling and Quil walked closer to me.
"You've changed, Paul. A few months ago you would've beat the shit out of him." He told me.
I scoffed at him. "Rosalie has made me better, but this is your only warning."
"I'm sorry. I can't see Embry go down that path again when he was finally starting to feel better." He explained.
"Just treat Rosalie the way you treat other imprints. If you have another problem with her, talk to me."
"You're such a hypocrite, Pauly." We both turned to see a very angry Leah standing behind us. "Tell me, do we need to lock Emmett up with the girls? Maybe Emily can teach him how to make muffins, but I don't think he'd be very good at it."
Quil started laughing but quickly stopped when he saw my glare. "Leah, that's not the same." I told her. "Emmett is a guy."
"Oh? So if he were human he'd be doing patrols and helping us with a battle strategy?"
I rolled my eyes. "He's not human, Leah."
She gasped and grabbed her chest. "What? He's not?"
"Stop being dramatic."
She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just confused brother, is Rosalie human?"
"Obviously not."
"So, you want them to treat her like the other human girl imprints? Should we take her off the patrol schedule too? She's not a very good cook, I don't know how well she'll do in the kitchen with Bella and Emily all day. She also doesn't play well with others, in case you've forgotten. But we can lock her up with the women, I'm sure it will go great." Leah was still very angry.
Quil interrupted. "Rosalie has always insisted that she's our equal, just like Leah is."
"Shut the hell up, Quil. I don't give a shit what Lee says, you were wrong to threaten her."
"Just like you're wrong to fight her battles for her." Leah replied. "Come on, Jake. Me and Rose will fix your jaw."
He followed her and she turned back to look at me. "Bella is going to knock the shit out of you, and I don't think Rose will fight your battles for you the way you are for her."
Quil followed behind them laughing at me. Leah was right, I didn't want them to treat Rosalie like a human. But she was still an imprint, and deserved to be treated as such. Leah was thankful for Emmett but she despised the concept of imprinting. So many choices were taken away from us after the first phase, and imprinting took our ability to choose a mate away as well. She didn't trust that any imprint connection was genuine, and it bothered her that imprints were treated differently than a wolf's chosen partner. Above all else, she hoped that Seth would imprint so he would have a mate that was in on the secret.
I didn't feel welcome anywhere that I could go. I couldn't join Emmett on his hunt with Jasper. I didn't want to be near Alice at the Cullens place. I knew I'd face my mate's wrath at the Clearwater's house, and Bella's too, so I opted to phase and sit in the woods outside until they'd calmed down. I could see most of the pack shuffling around inside, preparing for dinner. I missed the family dynamic we had with the Cullens but my wolf was pleased watching my imprint interact with the rest of the pack so naturally. Billy Black had already arrived, and she was making conversation with him and Sue. Sam pulled up in his truck with Embry and the two walked inside. The issue of Embry's parentage hadn't been addressed since he woke up, and Bella had yet to announce her pregnancy outside of the pack. I hoped that neither issue would come up tonight.
I wanted to join them, but I knew the jovial mood would shift once Rose and Bella saw me. Seth walked out and phased for patrol. Sam had slacked off on our schedule for tonight, and Emmett had assured us he would be in the area with Jasper. Seth heard my thoughts as he phased.
"Paul? What are you doing out here? Go inside, mom is excited to see you."
"The girls won't be." I replied. I showed him a few glimpses of my earlier conversation with Leah.
He chuckled. "I never thought I'd see you hiding from a girl. Lee will get over it, Rose and Bella haven't said a word. Go inside."
He ran off and we didn't talk again while he ran the perimeter of the rez. I wasn't afraid to face Rosalie, but I didn't want to ruin her good mood. While I laid in the grass trying to make a decision, I saw Jared and Chief Swan pull up in their cruiser. I knew they would be working much later, but Jared must have convinced him to come by for dinner. I finally decided to phase and go inside and the back door flung open. Bella ran out, face bright red and started throwing up in the bushes. I waited for a minute and saw nobody was coming to join her. I could hear her crying softly and she was struggling to keep her hair out of her face. I walked over and put my hand on her back before holding her hair for her. She tensed at my touch.
"It's okay, Bella. It's just me. Let me help you." I told her. She seemed to relax a little, but the red color of her face deepened. After the sickness passed, she turned to face me.
"Thank you, Paul. I didn't think you would ever be the one to come help me." She wiped her hands on her clothes and realized she had vomited on her shirt. "Damn it, I can't go back in there like this. It's in my hair, too." She put her face in her hands and started to cry.
I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her in to a hug. "My house is right next door and Leah has plenty of clothes there. You can use my shower and get cleaned up. I can even go to Forks and get some clothes for you if you want."
She looked up at me quizzically. "You'd do that for me?"
When our eyes met, I felt a connection that bonded the two of us. It was like an imprint with no romantic aspect. Rosalie was still my mate, but my wolf felt an overwhelming need to protect Bella and keep her safe. He saw her the way the man saw Leah. I could tell that she felt the same thing, but she didn't mention it. I worried about how Rosalie would feel about this, but I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind. I had to trust that things would be okay between us.
"Of course, Bells." She flinched when I said that. "You ok?"
She looked down. "Jake is the only one that really calls me Bells."
I smirked. This would really get under Black's skin. I hadn't even thought about him until she said that. "I've heard Embry and Quil call you that plenty of times."
"They do it to annoy him." She told me.
"I guess I'll need my own nickname for you then. I'll call you B. Better not let Black call you that, though."
She laughed at me. "That will really annoy him."
"Come on, my house isn't far."
I led her down the short path to my house. I hadn't been there in quite some time, but the council kept the utilities on. We walked in and she ran to the bathroom. I could hear her getting sick again from outside the door, but she had locked it. I grabbed some towels from the hall closet for her and went to look through Leah's clothes. Leah was taller than her, but they were about the same size otherwise. I was able to find a pair of black sweatpants that looked too short for Leah but perfect for her and I grabbed a few shirts for her to choose from. I hurried back to the bathroom and heard water running. I knocked on the door lightly.
"B? I brought you some clothes and towels." I called. I twisted the doorknob and it wasn't locked anymore. She was standing by the sink trying to spot rinse her hair.
"Do you think Leah's clothes will fit me? She's really tall." She worried.
I laughed at her having the same thoughts as me. "These look short for her. I think they'll work." I sat the clothes and towels down on the counter. "I'm going for a quick run but I should be back before you're done, but I may go on back to the Clearwaters. I'm starving."
She smiled and thanked me before shutting the door. I ran outside and exploded in to the wolf. Nobody was phased so I could run and think freely. As soon as I'd walked away from my home, and away from Bella, I started to feel an overwhelming guilt. The man and the wolf were waging a war over our new feelings toward Bella. Rosalie had always taken issue with Bella when she wanted to become one of them, and she was jealous of her now because she could have children, which was the one thing that Rose had wanted as a human. I hadn't ever had a problem with Bella, but I kept my distance to keep the peace. I didn't blame Bella, but I was angry that another problem had come up for me and Rose that was out of my control. I decided against telling her for now. She wouldn't have to know until after this fight had come to pass, if we both made it out alive. I knew one thing for sure: nobody would hurt Rosalie or Bella without killing me.
I showed up at the Clearwater's and everyone was already there. I scanned the busy room and noticed Rosalie and Jared standing in the corner of the kitchen laughing. I walked up behind her and draped my arms over her shoulders, kissing the side of her face.
"Man, I can't get used to seeing you in uniform." I told Jared. "Busy shift tonight?"
He laughed. "Yeah, I pulled Rosalie's favorite classmates over for DUI."
"Oh, Paul knows her well." Rosalie chuckled.
"Who?" I wondered.
"Lauren Mallory. Well, she was the one driving. Jessica Stanley was with her too."
Lauren had been a sore subject for us, so I was surprised that Rose was laughing. "Who drinks and drives on a weeknight?"
"Whores with nothing better to do." Rosalie replied coldly.
Jared nudged her. "Stop, you're being dumb again. Just think about that mugshot I showed you."
"Please tell me it's of Jess." I heard a small voice behind me.
Rosalie started laughing again. "Bella, I completely forgot that those girls were so mean to you. It's both of them you have to see it."
I hadn't known that they ever bullied Bella, only that Rosalie hated them. Jared pulled out a piece of paper that he had printed their mugshots off on. I even laughed seeing those girls like that, with makeup smeared and streaming down both of their faces.
"I bet my dad was pleased to see them arrested?" Bella asked Jared.
"Oh, that was the best part. They kept telling me they knew you and I'd be fired for arresting your best friends."
I laughed at that. "I have to know what you said."
"That she's engaged to my best friend, who is the son of Chief Swan's best friend, so I thought I'd be alright." He replied.
"I'd hardly call us best friends." Jacob commented.
Jared stuck his tongue out at him. "You're my brother whether you like it or not, Black."
Jacob chuckled and grabbed Bella's hand, leading her back to where he had been sitting with his two friends. Rosalie disappeared for a moment and came back with two plates of food, handing them to me and Jared. We sat at the table with the elders and Charlie while we ate and caught up. It felt so normal for all of us to be enjoying a night together, and nobody seemed to be thinking about what we'd be up against in a few days. I was, though. A lot of the guys had wanted some time with everyone in case we lost anybody, but for me this was just motivation to fight harder. I cared about each and every person here and was determined to keep them all safe.
"Y'all must have a really long lunch break." I said to Jared.
Charlie smirked at me. "You make your own rules when you're the chief, son. Isn't that right Billy?"
"We do things a little different here, old friend." Billy chuckled.
"In any case, I'm glad you convinced me to hire Jared. Best damn deputy Forks has had since, well, me." Charlie beamed. I didn't expect Jared to thrive in the job the way he had.
"I didn't expect any less." Billy agreed.
Jared was beaming with gratitude but didn't say anything. I stood to take our plates to the sink when Emmett burst through the door with Jasper at his side. Nobody was mad that Jasper was on the rez, but I was concerned. He must have agreed to help us for Em to bring him here.
"Harry, Seth, Paul!" He yelled. "I need to talk to all of you, outside, right now!"
"Well, hold your horses, I'm old." Harry groaned standing up from the table. "Come on, boys, let's go see what he needs."
Jasper followed the four of us and we walked over to my house and stood in my back yard. Once he had decided we were far enough away, he turned to us and pulled out a small box. I could fell the calming affects of Jasper's gift as Emmett turned to Harry and opened the box. There was a large but simple diamond ring in it.
"Mr. Clearwater, you know with what's going on we may not have long with any of the pack, or any of my family. There aren't words to express my love for your daughter. Leah and your family mean everything to me. I want to propose to your daughter tonight, if you'll give me your blessing." I had never seen Emmett this animated. I could tell Jasper's gift was doing little to soothe his anxiety.
Harry took the box from him and examined the ring. "She's going to say this ring is too much- I hope you know that." He laughed. "Of course you have my blessing, son. If the spirits think you're good enough for my baby girl, who am I to argue?"
Emmett was beaming. "Paul? Seth?"
Me? I was confused. Why would he ask us? "What?"
He looked annoyed at me. "What do you mean, what? You're Leah's brothers aren't you?"
"Of course you have our blessing, Em. Leah's crazy about you." Seth smiled at him.
"Let's go, I want to do it now!" Emmett ran from us at his full vampire speed and turned around when he was at the door. "Hurry, or you'll miss it!"
Harry shook his head on the walk back. "Leah is going to have her hands full with this one."
I patted his back. "I think they both have their hands full with each other."
Seth laughed. "How could we say no to someone that wants to take her off our hands?"
We walked in just too late to see his proposal. He wasn't lying, he didn't wait for us. Leah was standing in front of him with tears rolling down her checks and her hands covering her face while she nodded. He picked her up and swung her around and all of the pack cheered. Even Rosalie's face was painted with excitement over their engagement. Emmett announced that they'd be married in a few days, well before our weekend plans. It would take away from our training time, but it would be nice to have another good memory with the entire pack. We all settled in the living room and talked about where we would have it. Bella and Emily offered to provide the food to cut back on the costs, and the rest of the pack would chip in how we could. Emmett didn't live as large as the rest of the Cullens, but he insisted that they hire people to take care of everything so we could all just enjoy the night.
Once Jared and Charlie left, we got down to pack business. Jasper had agreed to help us and we learned that Alice was coming to kill Embry tonight. He told us he'd suspected she was lying to him for some time. We worked quickly to clean up from dinner and a few of the guys went to retrieve his hospital bed from Sam's place. We agreed that Jasper would be waiting here with Embry when Alice showed up, but Leah insisted that another pack member be here. She was afraid to leave Jasper here alone with her parents when the enemy was his mate. Seth and I both agreed to stay, and Leah accepted the new plan. The bed was set up quickly and Sue brought out some monitors and other medical equipment so it would appear that he had been cared for here the whole time.
Everyone started to leave after everything was in place, and Rosalie came to me. She asked me to follow her and led me out the back door. We walked in silence down to the beach. It was dark and nobody else was outside. She walked to the waters edge and turned to me.
"Are you cold out here?" She asked.
I shook my head and she stepped behind a large rock that was near the shore. She emerged with nothing on and grabbed my hand, urging me to undress. I didn't hear anyone near us and I didn't expect anyone else would be in the water this late. I threw my clothes on top of hers and embraced my imprint.
"I need you tonight, Paul." She whispered in my ear before kissing down my neck.
I wasn't waiting any longer. I picked her up and carried her in to the water. Our plans for Alice would just have to wait.