Authors note - this chapter gave me a headache and a half. Out of all of them I probably have spent the most amount of time editing and rewriting certain parts of this one. Ill have to do the same with chapters 9 10. All the original parts are still gonna be there, but just a different time frame. After hours of editing and rereading this chapter, I still dont feel like it flows great but hopefully you all enjoy it anyway!

It took Emily and almost 30 minutes of pacing for me to calm down enough to go in. I sat down with a huff at the kitchen table, waving off the offers of food and tea. Quil sat on the floor by the door, his head in his hands.

"Explain." I snapped at them.

Sam sighed. "Jacob told you our legends last year. Do you remember?"

I nodded. "About the cold ones and your people descending from wolves."

The next hour flew by in a storm of information. They told me more about the legends, how they were made to kill vampires. How phasing works and the inner working of the wolf. They explain though they are one, the wolf and the man do have separate desires. That's where imprinting comes in. They don't really know why it happens, but think the imprint calms the wolf and gives it another purpose, while giving the man the best partner possible.

"I'm what?" I asked, shocked.

"You're Paul's imprint, Bella." Sam said again.

"No. Absolutely not." I told him, getting up. "I'm going home."

"Bella, wait. Just sit back down, please." Jacob said, getting up as well.

"No, Jake. This is ridiculous. I'm not anyone's imprint, least of all Paul's. He… he… he… how could he do this to me!"

"I didn't do it. The wolf chose you."

I whipped around, staring at Paul leaning against the door. I didn't think. I grabbed the first thing off the counter beside me and with all my might threw it straight at his head. With a flash his hand moved and he caught the pan.

He smirked. My breath hitched. "That wasn't very nice."

"Neither is letting someone tell you their secrets when they thought you were a wolf." I growled, picking a rolling pin and slinging it at his head. When he caught that I threw a fork, a bowl, anything I could get my hands on.

"Dammit! Stop throwing stuff at me." He said, tossing the latest object on the table.

"Fine!" I growled, picking up the pan on the counter. I walked up to him and swung back. I'm pretty sure he could have stopped me but he actually let me hit him with the pan. It did no damage, his head didn't even move so I swung again. He caught my wrist before it made contact. I let out a gasp at the electric current that started moving through my arm. My whole body was tingling.

"You're going to hurt yourself before you hurt me." He told me gently, letting go of my wrist.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. The anger gave away and hurt took its place. Big fat tears rolled down my cheeks. "How could let me tell you all that stuff?"

Paul bit his lip. "We just needed to be close to you."

I took a step back. "You could have done that as a human. I'm going home. Stay away from me and my house."

"Bella, wait. There is one other thing." Sam said with a sigh. "We found a vampire at your house and by your school. We haven't been able to catch her."

My vision swirled. A vampire? Not the Cullens no way they'd come back. Who else would come here. The answer was obvious. Victoria.

I could feel my mind shutting down. Too much too soon. Victoria is coming for me, was my last thought before my eyes slided closed and I passed out.

"Stop pacing, she is fine. Poor thing is probably in shock." I heard Emily say as my eyes fluttered.

"Bella?" I felt someone touch my hand and jerked away, opening my eyes to see Jake. He looked hurt at my rejection. "Are you okay?"

I sat up on the couch someone much have laid me on, looking around at everyone staring at me. My eyes immediately found Paul's. Looking away quickly, I told Jacob I was fine. "Can I get some water?"

Emily smiled and scurried away, coming back with a glass of water. I drank it quickly, my mouth felt like cotton.

"Bella?" Sam asked. "Do you know why there would be a vampire at your house? Friends of the Cullen's maybe?"

I shook my head. "I haven't heard from them and I never met any of their friends. If I had to guess I'd say it was Victoria. The Cullen's killed her mate last year."

Everyone was staring at me still, other than poor Quil who was sitting with his head down. I went on to explain what happened last year. When I got to being bitten, Paul growled and Jacob grabbed my wrist, turning it this way and that looking at my scar.

"How did you survive?" He asked, running his finger over the scar.

"It's cold." In a strange move he brought my wrist to his nose and sniffed it. "Doesn't smell like leech."

I yanked my arm back, pulling it against my chest. "Edward sucked the venom out before it could spread."

"Wow… that…" Sam trailed off staring at me. "That couldn't have been easy for him"

I shrugged. "Yeah well….anyway they killed James. Only vampire I can think would have a reason to be at my house is Victoria. Probably looking for revenge. Too bad for her, she's barking up the wrong tree. Killing me won't hurt the Cullen's…."

"Do you know anything about her?" Sam asked.

I shook my head. "I only saw her for a few minutes and the Cullen's didn't seem worried about her. All I know is James was her mate… Laurent!" I suddenly remembered. "He was with them too, but he was suppose to go to Alaska and join another vegetarian family."

Jared shook his head. "This was definitely a woman."

"And she was alone." Paul said and I couldn't help but look at him. "I was outside your house when she jumped out of your window. Only her."

I narrowed my eyes. "How often were you outside my house?:

Jared snorted and Sam nudged him. Paul stared at me for a few seconds and shrugged one shoulder. "Every day since I found you in the woods."

I rolled my eyes. "What did you do the entire time?"

"Waited for you." He said as it was the most obvious answer. Which I guess it was. Why else would he be there.

"And you followed me? At least once that I know of?" I asked, without even thinking I stood up, taking a step toward him before stopping myself.

He nodded, looking down. "I followed you to school and work… when you were with Jacob… yeah."

"And no part of you ever thought that you shouldn't let me tell you the things I did?"

He looked up slightly. "I couldn't…"

I shook my head. "I'm going home. Sam if you have any questions about Victoria, Jacob has my number, but again I really know much." I walked towards to the door and quickly glanced back at Paul, who was staring at me. "I meant what I said…. stay away from me and my house."

He looked down, shoulders slumping. Quil jumped up, scaring me. "Can I get a ride?"

Before I could say anything Sam spoke. "Maybe you should stay….so we can talk more?"

Quil shook his head, running out of the door ahead of me. I waved slightly at the group of people staring at me and rushed out after him. He was already in my truck and as I joined him, the front door open. Paul stepped out and leaned against the frame, staring at me. His eyes were intense and so familiar it made my chest ache. He stood straight and took a step toward my truck. Panic overtook me and shook my head quickly. He stopped, frowning.

"Bella please go?" Quil asked, snapping me out of the staring contest Paul and I had entered.

I nodded, starting up the truck. "Sorry. Yeah let's go."

I backed out slowly, feeling his eyes on me the entire time.

"Paul?"

I huffed, turning to Sam. I walked out back to be alone and of course that couldn't happen for two seconds "What?"

"We still need someone to stay close to her. Jacob will if…." He trailed off.

"No. I'll go and just….stay hidden." I told him, bending down to take of my shoes so I could phase. He nodded as I jogged toward the trees. It didn't take me long to catch up to her. She was still at Quil's. I watched her lean over and hug him tightly and he got out, rushing inside quickly.

She didn't leave right away, instead laid her head on the wheel. I could see her shoulders shaking and I knew these tears were my fault. After a few seconds she sat up and backed out.

"Paul?"

I grunted. "What Jacob?"

His thoughts were going crazy. They have been since he found out Bella is my imprint. He respects that, but the crush he has is still there lingering in the back of his mind. He had hoped they would start dating.

"I'm sorry. I probably made it worse." He said, thinking of telling her that they knew everything she had told me.

"You should have kept your mouth shut, but she would have found out eventually." I told him, surprisingly not angry at him.

He was surprised too. "If you need a break, I can watch her house. I promise… I know you know I still like her… but I would never…."

"I know. Thanks."

I followed Bella back to her house, finding my usual spot to lay down. Maybe out of habit I wanted to go into the yard and wait for her, but I resisted.

"Hey dad." My ears perked up hearing her talk. I listened as he asked about her day. She said it was fine. I wanted to laugh but it wasn't really funny, fine is not a way I'd describe today. I drown them out not wanting to eavesdrop until I heard Bella ask Charlie about a case he is dealing with.

"Its going to be released on the news in the morning so…Tim Wilkinson was murdered in the woods." He told her.

She gasped. "I'm sorry, dad. Any idea who did it?

"Well, the guys think it was someone passing through. I'm a little less convinced."

I growled. Is he doing this now?

"What do you think?" She asked.

"I think it was a vampire." Yup he's doing it now. I heard something drop, most likely bellas fork and then silence. "Funny thing Sam confirmed just early that it was a vampire and even funnier he told me its after my daughter because of the Cullens."

"Dad…." Her voice was weak. "Dad…"

Did he really have to do this now? Didn't he think she had enough shock for one day.

I growled as I listened to Bella's heart hammering in her chest. I'm sure she looked like a deer in headlights being confronted with the truth that her ex was a vampire. I'm not sure why she is so surprised though. It only makes sense for the Chief to know exactly what's going on in his town and why. Billy had told him years ago, before Sam even phased about it all. Poor Charlie just didn't believe it until he saw Sam phase with his own eyes.

I don't know too much about it but I do know he wasn't very pleased when the leeches started sniffing around his daughter. What was he suppose to do? Banning a teenager from seeing her boyfriend will only make a teenager sneak around.

"I still don't understand why he never said anything to her." Jacob grumbled.

"There would have been no point. Bella knew what they were. She didn't care. Charlie telling her wouldn't have changed her mind." Sam told him. I kept my thoughts to myself. It bugs me that she's been with a leech. My imprint… a leech lover. I rolled my eyes at myself.

"Bella, it's okay." I heard Charlie tell her. "I knew about the Cullen's long before you moved here and I didn't dislike them. I didn't like it when you started dating Edward, but I knew you had to make your own choices. Can't say I was unhappy when they moved though."

"I don't know what to say." She whispered back.

"Nothing to say. It is what it is, Bells. I didn't like it, but they are gone." He chuckled. "I heard you met the pack today."

She gasped. "Did you know about Paul?"

Oh no. At least she can be angry at someone other than me. Sam chuckled at my thoughts and told the guys to head home, that he and I would handle things tonight.

"You knew! Dad how could you not tell me!" She was yelling. Hopefully she doesn't throw anything at him.

"Bells… it wasn't my place to say anything. Paul had to decide to tell you." He sounded calm and amused by his daughters anger.

"Oh bull!" I heard her chair scrape across the tile. "I'm going to bed, have fun cleaning up dinner!"

Charlie let out a small chuckle. He was definitely amused. "Wait, I gotta get back to the station!"

"That's your problem!" She yelled back and slammed her bedroom door. I could see her pacing in front of her window. I'm sure she was fuming and was just glad it wasn't pointed at me this time. Charlie was cleaning up dinner, I could hear dishes clinking together and he was still chuckling to himself now and then

"She sure does have a temper." Sam said.

"Everything in your kitchen being launched at me should have told you that." He snorted at my answer, running the boarders of Bella's house at an easy pace.

The first couple dsys were okay but now the wolf was clawing at me. After spending so much time together he wasn't happy with not being close to her. It took every ounce of will power I had to stay hidden in the trees and not run up to her every time I saw her.

"Its kind of strange. My wolf has never wanted to spend time with Kim like yours does." Jared had said one day and I agreed, it was strange. The human in me was being pulled, I wanted to see her but the wolf he was like a caged animal fighting to get to his prize. It's been a week since I left the woods. I've tried multiple times to let someone else watch over her, but the wolf…he won't allow it, simply reminded me that she is ours and that means we protect her.

I laid my head back against the door, curling my arms around my knees. I knew he was out there, most likely sitting just below the porch steps. The first week I didn't see him at all, but the third day into the second week he was there every night, waiting. The pull was getting harder to ignore, I spent a lot of time leaning against the back door, as close as I could possible get trying to ease the pain I was feeling. I sighed, getting up to go to bed. I could barely sleep, tossing and turning all night, add in the horrifying dreams of Edward killing my wolf and I was basically a walking zombie from lack of sleep. I wondered a couple times if rejecting the imprint would kill us because it kind of felt like it would.

I hesitated at the steps, slightly turning back toward the kitchen. My mind may not want to see Paul but my body was fighting against me. More than once I stopped myself from walking out the backdoor without even thinking about what I was doing. It was freaking me out. Why do I so desperately need this man I've only met once? I huffed, forcing my body up the stairs and to my room. I flung myself on my bed and willed myself to sleep, hoping no dreams would plaque me.

Where is he? I stepped into the woods. He was always here in the evening if Charlie wasn't home. I heard rustling up ahead and started walking faster. When I heard the first whine my heart drop. Who would hurt my wolf? I ran, ignoring the blood on my hands when I tripped, desperate to find my wolf.

"Edward?" His back was to me but I was certain it was him. "What are you b - " My words turned to a horrified scream when he turned toward me, his hands covered in blood. He was smiling, seeming to not notice how upset I was.

"I took care of the wolf problem, he won't bother you anymore." Edward told me. My only answer was a sob.

"Bella! Bella!"

My eyes snapped open. Charlie was bent over me, hands on my shoulder. He looked scared.

"What's wrong? Is it Victoria?" Finding out my dad had known all along that Edward was a vampire was shocking to say the least. Mostly I was angry at Edward, he had to have known. Why did he make me lie to my dad last year when we had to leave to escape James? I hurt my dad for absolutely no reason when I could have explained what was happening all along.

"I thought there was a vampire in here the way you were screaming. "

I stated at him confused, reaching up to wipe my eyes and realizing they were wet with tears. While I didn't remember the dream, I had no doubt it was about my wolf. "I'm sorry I woke you."

He sighed, sitting at the end of my bed. "Its okay, almost time for me to get up anyway. Bella…maybe you should see him. You don't look good kid. You're barely sleeping…"

I shook my head, sitting up to get out of bed and away from this conversation. "No." I left him sitting on my bed, going to shower.

School dragged by. It almost felt like I was in a tunnel. I could see everything happening around me, but it was too far away to be a part of it. Work dragged even more. Mike wanted to do another movie night tomorrow since I missed the last one. I didn't have it in me to be nice and snapped at him when I told him no. I felt bad but eventually he needed to understand I wasn't interested. I drove home slowly. It was easier being away from home, I knew my wolf was out there watching me but I didn't know where exactly so I didn't have to fight with myself to stay away.

With every intention of going home and going straight up stairs I was surprised when I found myself sitting on the back porch steps. I told myself to go back inside, but my body didn't move. I scanned the tree line, but it was already dark and I couldn't see anything.

"I know you're there." I sighed. "I don't understand. Why didn't you just tell me? I never would have..."

He stepped out of the trees. My heart was hammering against my chest as he walked closer. He whined at me. It sounded…desperate. "Why did you make me feel safe with you?"

He growled, backing up. I stood, feeling desperate myself, I didn't want him to leave. I scanned the trees trying to see him. Just a few seconds later Paul walked out. My body froze. I wanted to run inside, but I couldn't make my legs world. Seeing the wolf was one thing, but I couldn't face Paul.

"You are safe with me." He said, staying by the treeline. "I'd never hurt you."

I shrugged. "You did though. More than you know. I thought I could trust my wolf…I mean the wolf…never mind."

He smiled, just a tiny bit.

"Stop smiling. It's not…." I paused, staring at him "Can you turn back? Be a wolf or whatever?"

"Everyone is phased right now. They'll hear everything you say."

I shook my head. "Never stopped you before. Just phase." Even expecting it, my jaw still dropped when Paul disappeared and my wolf stood in his place. He walked toward me slowly, another low desperate whine coming from him. I sat back down and waited, amazed as that deep ache was soothed as he got closer. As soon as I could reach him, I ran my hand up his muzzle. When I reached his head I wrapped my arms around his neck, sobbing in relief that the pain was finally gone.