When Grace shut the door behind her, Paul was coming around the front of the truck to her when they heard a voice shout out across the clearing to them. They were still a little early, but some members of the pack were there building the bonfire pit and helping some of the community set up tables for the food spread.
"Hey!" Jared shouted across the field. Paul raised a hand and waved back, stuffing his keys into his pocket before holding his hand out to Grace who gladly took it.
"This feels so official," Grace said leaning into him as they walked in step with one another.
"Oh it is. The binding ceremony is a real ball buster, but worth it if I get to kiss you in public," he said nonchalantly. Grace looked up at him confused for a minute and then said,
"You're so full of shit, Lahote." He laughed and unfurled his hand from hers to drape it across her shoulder instead and pulled her into him to kiss the top of her head before they reached the group.
They entered the raucous of hoots and hollers from the pack. Grace gave Emily a quick hug before settling next to her quickly as Paul helped prepare the bonfire with the others. Grace always felt at home here. Speaking of home:
"Weird question," Emily had asked after she confirmed with Grace that her and Paul had made it official. She seemed pleased when Grace had said they were so that was a good sign.
"Shoot," Grace said.
"After graduation, are you planning on moving back to the rez?" Emily asked casually. Grace felt like she had been smacked with a 2x4.
"Umm, I mean. I don't know my plans just yet, but….maybe?" Grace said suddenly. Where were these words coming from? Grace had planned on taking some classes at the community college in the fall to get her bearings for the next step, but the Spirit Bird thing had kind of thrown things off course for her. Her grades were good enough to get into local schools according to her advisor but she didn't know if she was ready to leave just yet.
"Think about it. The tribe has money set aside to help tribe members relocate to the rez and find a home here. I'm sure Paul would love it, and you clearly belong here." Emily nudged her on that last one.
"Thanks, yeah. I'll-I'll think about it." Grace said. Suddenly there was a flurry of activity around her as the rest of the tribe drew near for the lighting of the bonfire. Paul had come over and handed her a drink before taking her back to their spot.
As the council members gave updates about the tribe, Grace settled into Paul's side, however she couldn't help her eyes dancing around the group to see if Jake would show. When she and Emily were talking, Quil and Embry were close by discussing Jake's whereabouts. Apparently he'd been gone for a couple days now. Grace breathed a sigh of relief that he might not yet know that she and Paul were a thing. She wasn't ashamed, she just wanted to be in this happy bubble a little while longer.
But her bubble quickly burst when she saw just outside the ring of people, Jacob's towering frame, arms crossed and looking toward the fire. She made eye contact with him for a half a second trying to keep her thoughts clear before laying her head on Paul's shoulder to continue listening.
Once the official business was wrapped up, they broke for food—the most fun part of bonfire night.
"Want me to grab you something?" Paul said eagerly, a hand lightly placed around her waist.
"Sure! Whatever you're getting just grab me some. I'm going to make the rounds," Grace gestured over her shoulder to a waiting crowd looking in her direction.
"Go on, Spirit Bird," he kissed her forehead and let her slip away toward the group. She was greeted cheerfully by the throng of people waiting to receive her.
Grace noticed more and more that part of her role as Spirit Bird was not just the connecting link between the wolves that made them work better together, or the fact that she could provide protection with her shield and whatever other abilities waited under the surface, but she was also an emotional and spiritual conduit for her tribe. By even just conversing, sharing details with her, sharing emotions, connecting through touch and eye contact, Grace could relieve some of their anxiety, pain, grief, or worry. The best way that she could describe it was that she felt craved by the tribe.
So she took her time moving from circle to circle, checking in, exchanging hugs and forehead touches, just being with the people who loved her. This also gave Grace immense relief and she felt so needed here that Emily's suggestion of moving to the rez after graduation didn't sound so crazy. Paul's eyes followed her every now and then, keeping track of her in the crowd until she reached the outer edge where Ti'Hal was milling about with some children.
Grace made her way to her and crouched next to her letting her know she was there by placing a hand on her arm and smiling warmly, not needing to communicate verbally. Ti'Hal returned the smile and then stood. She cupped her hands warmly on Grace's face and said:
"Little bird, you seem happy."
"I am," Grace almost choked out.
"That's good dear." Suddenly, Ti'Hal's eyes were distracted over Grace's shoulder toward the treeline. Grace turned to see Jake just standing off outside of trees. His eyes pulled at Grace and she felt that familiar tug in her middle that had been absent for awhile since she hadn't seen him. She looked back to Ti'Hal wanting to stay with her and pretend like she hadn't seen him. Not yet, not yet. The voice in Grace's head begged. Ti'Hal gave her a knowing look and once again pulled her face down to hers, pressing their foreheads together.
"You are both trying so hard to be different people. Why must you draw out fate like this?"
"What?" Grace said incredulous. Two seconds ago Ti'Hal had acknowledged how happy she was and now she was trying to be someone different?
"Little bird, youth carries you now, but don't fight it for too long or you both will suffer." Ti'Hal let go of her face seriously and moved back across the lawn toward the elders. Grace stood up straight, shocked.
"What the hell-"
"Can I talk to you?" Grace nearly shot out of her skin at the request behind her. She whipped around coming face to face with Jake, a pleading but strong look on his face. Her bubble had indeed, spectacularly burst.
Grace looked around her immediate vicinity for any sign of Paul. She knew two things for sure: 1) If he saw her with Jake, he'd come immediately to her rescue and 2) if he found her with Jake there might be hell to pay.
Not seeing Paul anywhere nearby and the throng of the tribe separating them from the immediate sight line of the bonfire, she nodded with a terse 'fine' and followed him as he led her to the forest.
They went just inside the treeline, maybe 40 yards in, where they could still hear the bustle of the of bonfire and the see the light of the flames. Jake turned and Grace kept a good bit of distance between them so that nothing could be misconstrued if they were happened upon by a member of the pack.
"Yes?" Grace said a little irritated. Jake shook his head and scowled at that.
"Really?" He shot back. Okay, so this was going to be a fight. Grace thought to herself.
"What, Jake? I haven't heard from you or seen you in days, what could you possibly want?" Grace was mostly irritated because that tug that she had quieted was roaring back trying to pull them together like a magnet and she felt it's discomfort by refusing it.
"Oh please. So I'm gone a few days and you immediately shack up with Paul?" He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth and tried quickly to back track when he saw the outraged, open mouthed look on Grace's face, "I just mean...I just want to know: Are you guys officially dating or what?"
"Jesus, Jake. This is what you wanted to ask me? Yes, Paul is my boyfriend. And you could have asked me that in front of him instead of playing this secret hideout game. This is crap, I'm going back," Grace turned to leave but Jake took an immediate step forward and shouted after her.
"That's absolute shit, you know. If you listened to what Ti'Hal said-"
"And what did Ti'Hal say to YOU, EXACTLY?" Grace interjected swinging around and letting anger color her voice clearly. He had no right.
"Exactly what she told you. If you listened to yourself, you'd know that being with Paul is just going to end up a mess. Grace. At some point...he's going to im-"
"And who am I supposed to be with instead?" Grace said, taking quick steps forward and closing the gap between them. She couldn't stifle her anger any longer. She wanted to kill him, wanted to hurt him, wanted him to feel bad for saying all of these things to her when she was happy. She came right up to him and shouted, "You?! I'm supposed to be with you?"
Jacob didn't move, didn't wince, just stared down at Grace like he wanted to speak.
"Because last I checked, you were still hung up on Bella. And I have a boyfriend." Jacob grimaced at the mention of Bella and looked away for a second. Hurting him like this didn't give Grace the satisfaction she was hoping for and she faltered some, anger dissolving into sadness.
"I'm happy Jake. Let me be happy. Please, please, please. Please." Tears stung at her eyes as she begged without looking at him. He reached for her now and whispered, "Grace." before touching her arms and trying to pull her into a hug. Grace shoved away from him, not letting herself get caught in this again.
"NO!" she bellowed putting more distance between them again. And it was just at this moment that she heard a booming voice come up behind her.
"Grace!" the voice shouted. She couldn't tell if it's intonation was one of recognition, concern, or anger, but she was going to bet it was probably all three. Paul was in front of her in a second, pushing Jacob in the chest, "Back up!"
"Screw you, Paul." Jacob shot back, the anger returning. "We're just talking."
"I'm going to tell you this once and only once: if you touch her again, you're going to regret it." Paul returned, seething anger building in his voice. Grace took a step forward to interject.
"She's not your property, Paul. She's here for everyone."
"She's MINE. She's MY girlfriend. And the sooner you understand that the more likely you are to remain intact, alpha-reject." Paul shot back.
"Paul, that's enough!" Grace said stepping forward and grabbing onto his arm. He yanked it free from her to her surprise and pushed Jake again, who pushed him back. Both of their bodies shook violently.
Jared and Embry crashed into focus and pushed between them, separating them from one another.
"Paul, get a grip," Jared warned, pushing him back toward Grace. Embry was leaning into Jacob talking quietly to him and Jacob seemed to gain his composure. "Take Grace and get out of here." Jared tried to command. Paul made eye contact with Jared for a second before shaking himself free and quickly turning to roughly grab Grace around the shoulders and steering her back toward the treeline muttering, "We're leaving."
Once out past the treeline and in sight of the car, Grace shook Paul off of her and gave him a scathing look before treading quick ahead to swing around at him, "Paul what the fuck?!"
"Get in the car." he said solidly, not stopping. "I'm taking you home."
Grace turned to watch him climb into the car and waited for a half second, the look he gave her made her want to dissolve. "Grace!" he yelled impatiently. She gave in and walked to the car yanking the passenger door open and climbing inside, crossing her arms.
When Paul pulled into his drive, Grace perked up and said half confused, "I thought you were taking me home?"
Paul didn't say anything and just got out of his car and walked into his house. Grace sat in the car for a moment, readying herself for a fight before taking a deep breath and pushing her door open. Paul had left the front door open and she walked through closing it behind her, trying to calm her nerves. Paul was at the sink drinking a glass of water.
Grace waited for him to speak first.
"Why is it that whenever I don't know where you are, I find out that you're somewhere alone with Jacob Black every time?" Paul said, his voice even but hurt and anger still clearly etched in his tone. Grace's hands shook a little bit from the nerves.
The ache in Grace was growing after seeing Jake and leaving him so quickly again. She hated this part, so she tried hard to quiet it again, but Paul wasn't playing ball.
"Paul, that's not what that was and you know it. He was asking if we were together and I said yes we very much were and that he was an idiot and could have asked me that in front of you."
Paul watched her with a critical eye and dumped the rest of the water down the sink before coming into the living room and leaning against the wall.
"Part of me laying claim was to assure everyone that you're mine. But for whatever reason, Jake doesn't seem to respect those boundaries so I need your help there." Paul was calmer now but not coming near her.
"I did tell him we were together."
"That's not enough." Paul said quickly. Grace closed her mouth quickly not sure what to say next. What else was she supposed to do? Her arms hung limply at their sides. As if on cue, Paul said: "You can't be alone with him." Pain shot through Grace on this request.
"How am I supposed to-?" Grace started and Paul let out an annoyed hiss before turning down the hallway toward his bedroom, "Paul! I'm talking to you!"
He swung around, the anger back, "I asked you something very simple. For us to work, I need you to make the boundary clear because CLEARLY the line gets blurred when you two are alone together. I'm not blaming you. I'm asking you to choose me. Like I chose you, Grace. Fuck!" he yelled turning back down the hallway. He disappeared into his bedroom and Grace heard the shower turn on. She put a hand to her head trying to hold back her tears.
How was she supposed to stay away from Jake when everything in her pulled her toward him? But something Paul had said was right: the lines got blurred and that wasn't fair to him. If she wanted this work, she had to do this. And she desperately wanted this to work.
Grace tread softly down the hallway, removing her sweater and jeans as she went. She was completely naked by the time she reached his bathroom door and hesitated, her hand hovering over the door knob. She'd promise him, she told herself.
She gently opened the door and climbed in the shower behind him, wrapping her arms around his torso, before saying: "Okay. I promise."
Paul turned around and cupped his hand under her chin so she'd make eye contact with him.
"For real, Grace. I need a solid promise."
"Paul. I promise. I won't be alone with him ever." she said clearly, water streaming in rivulets down her face. He nodded satisfied with her answer before leaning down to lock her in with a kiss. Their shower quickly devolved into Paul carefully carrying Grace to bed, both of them slick with warm water.
He buried his head between her legs and worked in there, pulling gasps and moans from Grace as she held tightly at his short hair. As she pulsed toward climax, one face lingered behind her closed lids as she lost herself in pleasure: Jacob's scowl, Jacob's pleading face, Jacob's hands reaching for her arms and leaving scorching heat just from a soft tentative touch. She shivered with release and then Paul was above her, moving into her and washing away the pictures from her head. She bit her lower lip and focused, guilt flooding her instantly.
