A/N: This is not a pack story, they are in it so as to set the background as it were xx

It's approx 2008, I am playing around with Paul's lineage xx Slipped in another couple of place names for my Facebook group xx Alexis

For Isabella Swan, her first term of attending college had been a steep, very steep learning curve. She was totally lost in a sea of indecision and apprehension for quite a while. That coupled with not having to be responsible for at least one of her parents was disorienting for her now. But the biggest stumbling block for her was not knowing how to let go and have some fun, to be actually able to enjoy herself. Fun! That was an alien concept to her, she had never had time for fun before and now she didn't know if she could. As a child, she had held down the fort as her mother had what she thought was fun. But to her young daughter's mind, it was a little scary, a little dangerous even. Then as a young, very naive teen she had met a boy who also didn't know how to have fun or didn't want to, was the more and most likely scenario.

He eventually left her in the cruellest of ways, crushing her young heart as only a timeless immortal being can. Thus he made sure her life held no fun whatsoever after that, for many, many long and painful months she wallowed and suffered due to her lack of self-esteem. By the time she reached college, she was old and jaded long before her time when it came to matters of the heart. She was so wary of giving any part of herself over to someone else's total control after the last time. This lest they try to hurt her as Edward intentionally had. Because she knew it had to have been deliberate. There was no way his behaviour wasn't meant; he had purposely hurt his weak and human pet! So Bella did what she did best, she sat on the sidelines and watched as others had what they thought was fun here at college.

She considered they were lacking in judgement most of the time and careening toward self-destruction, very reminiscent of her own mother's past behaviour. Of course, this was not what she wanted either. She wanted to wake up the next day, knowing exactly what she'd done the day before and be able to smile about it. So she spent the break between semesters devising a plan, as to how she would have fun this term, but her way and sober. She had no intention of being another college dropout due to alcohol or a young mother due to carelessness. She had, as was her way saved and scrimped for this first year and the fun was to be, in her eyes an added, but welcome bonus. Her reaction when she was informed her tuition had been paid equally, between her father and her step-father for the entirety of her time there was one of surprise.

For once someone was thinking of her and now she wouldn't need to worry about having to find a job to survive filled her with overwhelming gratitude. Therefore she would be able to join in extra-curricular activities for a change and maybe only work for a few hours here and there to stop herself getting bored or lazy. So with far too much time on her hands that first term, she refused to be like that again this time. Her biggest desire for her second year was to lose her virginity; she was almost twenty and felt it was about time. She didn't know who or when, but she intended to make it happen this upcoming year. The man of her teenage yearnings was not at all who she thought it would be. Not her perfect, unattainable ex or her over-eager best friend. Not even Forks resident Lothario, well in his own mind he was.

No, her mind was filled with images of the only bad boy she'd ever known, the fact he wandered around half-naked most of the time was a plus in her eyes. His reputation was legendary, probably exaggerated by others and that only made him more appealing to the quiet, staid and sexually repressed Bella Swan. They'd only come face to face once and she had slapped him with all her might, causing him to literally try to take a bite out of her in retaliation. Well, slapping a shape-shifting wolf was not her smartest move after all. Paul Lahote, damn it, even his name was sexy in her mind, as it rolled off her tongue. So that's what she was looking for this year, a bad boy like Paul since he was now unattainable. One who would give her what she wanted with no strings attached.

She was no longer interested in the Edward, Jake and Mike's of the world; they would only break your heart if you let them. Bella had slowly started to break out of her mould by the end of her first year and guys had started to notice. It was a boon to her fragile ego and she intended to capitalise on it this year but had no intention of falling in love ever again. She had used the summer break to make some serious changes to her style. Her hair was shorter, not short but not as long and immaturely styled as it had been. Her clothes, they were what would make the biggest impact, because they actually fitted her. Gone were the baggy oversized shirts she had always hidden behind. Everything was tighter, newer and brighter. No longer the normally dull and boring, but vibrant and appealing.

She likened herself to a butterfly, just newly out of her cocoon. Or the once ugly duckling, now looking like a swan, very apt she thought. But to her family and old friends, she was a Phoenix newly risen from the ashes of her old life, one that had dragged her down lower than anyone her age should ever have been. She was lightly tanned now, she was happy, but mainly she was awakened and ready for a new adventure. Bella had spent part of the summer on an archaeology dig in *Oregon's Paisley Caves. She was there as an unofficial photographer and had then spent time in Junction City with her roommate Alison at her parent's home, before heading to Venta to Alison's grandmother's home. This was something Bella didn't have the majority of her life, an older family member to listen to her problems and feed her cake when she was down.

They, Alison and Bella had both been kinda shy and ready to break out of their shell, that's where Cassie came in. She was the third in their little group and way more outgoing than her new friends. Luckily she only lived in Harrisburg and the three spent the summer together. Only making brief visits to Bella's father's home before setting off back to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Charlie Swan was happy for her but knew she would never return to live with him. Also, he knew too that was the way it should be. But her one-time friend Jake was pissed she hadn't come home as he expected. Thinking she would spend the summer with him. Bella had grown up, Jake not so much, but he was almost three years her junior by the way their birthdays fell.

So he still had some maturing to do and couldn't accept she had outgrown him. No longer needing him as a childhood playmate. Whereas she was heading for her second year of college he was only a senior in high school and casual friendship was all she wanted from him now if that. He on the other hand had fantasised about her as way more than a friend. Not seeing it was unseemly and would be discourteous to Bella, way more likely to insult her than impress her. Proving he barely knew the real girl at all, just the one in his head! But Bella didn't want more than to be that girl best friend he once had, she saw him as a brother and nothing more. She was also not as shy and demure as Edward had believed or as homey and staid as Jake thought, she was neither of those things now.

No, she was a free spirit that had been trapped for so long, one that it had to be free or die trying. The old Bella was gone and she would never return the new Bella wanted excitement and challenges. But mostly she wanted to be her own woman, answering to no one but herself. She would never again fall for the tricks and ploys of the so-called good guys; she was looking for a little spice in her life nowadays and was determined to get it no matter what. She had done the one thing neither Edward nor Jake wanted, she had grown up and now knew her own mind. She had outgrown them both, the wolf and the vampire were not even shadows in her rear-view mirror. They were just two blips on the radar of her new life and she was basically now forgetting they ever existed.

HADDD

Paul had never felt so free, so out from under the oppressive thumb of the Quileute tribe. Yes, he was a wolf, but no, they didn't own him, unlike his old pack. His mother was not Quileute she was Wasco, from the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon. Paul's lineage was varied and thus gave him way more opportunities than the others, well, all but Embry. Like now, for instance, being only one of the two surviving male descendants of his Wasco grandparents Paul had been given options, ones he wanted to take. A full college scholarship was one of them, but it had to be in Oregon near the reservation, so Willamette University basically. This was something he fantasised about, but the Quileutes had been trying very hard to stop him.

The Wasco didn't have protectors, but they did have way more clout than the small Quileute nation. They also weren't afraid to use it and therefore threatened the Chief of the Quileutes, William Black with an investigation into why they would withhold a free education from one of his tribal members. An education that was being paid for by the Wasco and would cost the Quileutes nothing! Not wanting anybody digging about in their hidden histories Billy had to acquiesce to the demands of Paul's Wasco grandparents. Sam Uley was ordered by the council to Alpha order Paul to not only keep their secret but not to phase while off their reservation. This was meant to be a punishment for him leaving and then he was expected to return as soon as college was over.

"You know that won't work on Paul! I've never been able to order him to do anything. Maybe if I was the true Alpha, but I'm not sure that even that would help! He's not full Quileute and that's what's rebelling his Wasco side. His eyes always flash that weird silver colour and it stops me from getting through to his wolf. It's as if he, himself is an Alpha!" he painstakingly explained once again.

Sam shook his head and they as usual tried to ignore it, just like every other time he said anything about Paul's other roots. What nobody but Paul knew, was he heard more from further away, saw more than his pack mates and could extrapolate in his mind the next move of his enemy. Meaning he always got there first, making him appear to be the fastest. But the best part was he only ever let them see what he wanted and could at times shut out their inane drivel too. This was why he missed most of the Jake, Bella and the Leech fiasco. It also meant he heard everything the council said and did to try to stop him from leaving La Push. This, of course, solidified his desire to leave as soon as possible. Maybe his other people would be more accepting, more willing to take him as he was because the Quileutes were not.

Paul had no intention of returning to La Push, at any time. Not after college, not ever again. All his family ties to the tribe were gone and he held little or no respect for a council of elders who only had their own petty interests in mind, above that of their tribe. He knew it annoyed them that he looked more Wasco than Quileute. He was leaner than the others, never had he been prone to gaining weight, so once he phased he was what the girls called ripped. Where his friends had six-packs, Paul had an eight, there wasn't an ounce of spare fat on his sculptured body and it was natural. Did this make him big-headed, hell yes! When women started throwing themselves at the barely sixteen-year-old, he went with it. Diving in headfirst and wholeheartedly.

Therefore his reputation as a man-whore was solidified and although it was extremely over-exaggerated, Paul never claimed otherwise. What sixteen-year-old boy would, but he was nineteen now and his priorities had changed somewhat. Paul wanted to get that free education and make something of himself. He was creative, even slightly artistic, but the Quileute elders hadn't cared. He knew there was a market out there for first nation traditional, artisan goods. Other tribes had cashed in on this trend, but not the Quileutes! No, they would rather the people starved than the secret getting out by mistake. Which was crazy, there were already books out there about them. Paul was not sure which of them was the worst, Old Quil or Billy Black, hell even Harry Clearwater.

Had he not refused to let his own children get a proper education before he died, well Leah really. But Leah was resourceful and had managed to take online courses with Chief of Police Swan's help. She was a part-time dispatcher at his station and that gave her access to courses and funding for said courses. He was lining Seth up for a police cadet course when he was of age as well. The elders said nothing because Charlie Swan would also go over their heads to the *B.I.A and they knew it. What nobody knew not even Paul at first was that it was Chief Swan who had contacted the Wasco and asked if Paul had any living relatives there. When the answer was yes, he spoke to Paul about it, even before Billy Black. Once Paul had agreed to meet his grandparents, it was in Forks at Chief Swan's house.

Paul had been apprehensive, but one look at his grandfather was like looking in the mirror. Paul could see just what he'd look like in later years, not too shabby he thought. His grandparents wanted him to go back with them, but the Quileute elders stepped in and said he was a ward of the tribe and had to stay there. This was crazy as he had living relatives in another tribe. His next move was to get himself legally free; proving to a higher court he no longer required the aid of the Quileutes. Once again this was achieved with Charlie's help along with his grandparents. The man was a godsend for Paul and he didn't know how he'd ever pay him back for all his help. But he fully intended to, he felt that he owed him that at least. So a newer, smarter and less promiscuous Paul was born.

He wanted to make something of himself and prove to everyone he was more than his reputation had made it look. What he didn't know was once at college his biggest challenge would not be the learning, but one petite girl. A girl whose father had been the reason he'd escaped the oppression of the Quileute elders. The first time Paul's grandparents knew he had the silver lighting in his eyes was just a week into his arrival at Warm Springs. He was unused to living with others, following rules and minding his manners. Boy, did it show, in a bid to not phase his eyes flashed in warning at his grandfather. Instead of fear like the Quileutes always gave him, his grandfather showered him with happiness and joyousness at this event. Paul was confused by his attitude, but after a long discussion about family heritage, all was revealed.

This was when Paul also showed his grandparents the other part of him. It was decided, that Paul would be best served living nearby, but not with them. His new cousin Zack did so as well, so it wasn't unusual or would be seen as unusual. So for the first time in his life, Paul had a decent home to call his own and not a rundown hovel.

HADDD

Bella was ready for the new semester to start. Both academically and mentally. The three friends were now sharing an apartment, rather than being in the dorms. Bella had enough finances to go it alone but was happier to share with her two friends. Cassie had slowly pulled the other two out of their shells and the three were drawing attention, male attention to themselves. The girls were ready for some fun, this year and signed up for anything and everything. They were pushing themselves to do things that they normally wouldn't have even thought to try. Zack, Paul's cousin too was returning for his second year and Paul was a freshman. For once Paul was vibrating with excitement and not anger. The boys were staying in a cabin at Silver Falls, as the three-hour journey to Warm Springs would be too much for Zack every day, both ways.

Paul could have run no problem, but he decided it would be best not to. The just over thirty-minute drive would be easier and they were paying for room and board by helping out in the State Park on the weekends and Paul could run to the Reservation to deal with the animals they both had collected, a couple of evenings a week. Which is where he was right then.

"Hey, little dude are you hurt?" Paul asked the beautiful black-coloured bird, "Okay, I see that now!" he commented as it tried to hold out its broken wing,

"There how's that feel, good? You need to rest and let it heal, so settle in it'll take time" he explained before settling the bird in a large aviary he'd built, "No fighting, okay" he warned several other birds,

He wasn't really that confused, yeah he was talking to a raven and yeah he understood it. But, he was a wolf so he understood weird more than most. What he had found out not long after being in Warm Springs was that this was his Wasco side at work. Those with the silver lightening in their eyes could talk with animals and birds and even see through their eyes when a bond was instigated. Normally anyone with the silver lightening in their lineage could bond with just one animal, usually a bird. But Paul was a blend of two cultures and therefore animals could also talk with him in both his forms. His new place soon resembled a petting zoo, with lots of small pens to keep the injured safe. Paul had started to become the newest healer of hurt or hunted animals, alongside his cousin Zack.

Paul had found his calling, animals weren't cruel for no reason, they didn't lash out just for kicks, they always had a motive, a good reason. Paul was better placed than Zack to find out what that was when he shifted. His cousin had been amazed at Paul the first time it happened, an injured dog had tried to bite him due to pain and fear and well, this was Paul and nobody bites him! He phased and ordered the dog to stand down, which it did in the face of a much more powerful and larger adversary. So by the time the local bullies, why are there always local bullies he wondered as they made it out to his place on the edge of the forest. He was about to switch back when the bullies strolled into Paul's yard and started to push Zack around and taunt and tease some of the animals.

As his silver wolf, he crept up quietly behind the fools and let out a roar that scared the shit out of them. One fled, one pissed himself and the other fell to the ground crying for his mommy! Zack stepped forward and pretended to calm the savage beast, telling the fools to run while they had the chance. That was how Paul and Zach found out they could talk to each other when Paul was his wolf. It was like when he used to talk with the pack, but not seeing his thoughts only hearing his voice. They tried finding out from what distance he could hear Zack. Then they set up a signal system so if Zack needed Paul he'd send his raven to tell Paul to phase. The three boys never told anyone about seeing a gigantic wolf and they never bothered Zack or Paul again, so neither needed to lie.

As of then, his immediate family were the only ones who knew about Paul's other side, it would stay that way for now! So with everything in place, they were all waiting patiently for the term to begin. Neither Paul nor Bella is aware that their worlds would collide once again. It truly is a small world no matter how you look at it. Zack had confided in Paul that he had a bit of a thing for a girl called Cassie. He hoped they would have some shared classes and he could prise her away from her two friends. Not that they weren't nice, they were and that's when he dropped the bomb that one even came from a town near Paul's old reservation!

"What? Who? What's her name?" Paul had asked warily,

He was really hoping it wasn't one of his old conquests from Forks, which might make trouble for him.

"Swan, Bella Swan!" was all Zack said and Paul freaked out and phased immediately,

"She..., she's seen..., damn it why her? She knows I'm a wolf!" he blurted out once he was human again,

"What? How?" Zack asked really confused,

"She slapped me, she confronted the pack and when I was rude to her, she slapped me really hard and I phased!" Paul admitted, feeling humiliated,

"But, but she's kept the secret, hasn't she? She can be trusted yes?" Zack asked looking for a positive,

"Yes, she can be trusted and it was her father who got me out of La Push. The Swan duo, father and daughter can be trusted to always have your back!" he admitted, that much he had learned about her and her father.

*There was actually a real dig at the Paisley Caves that year.

*B.I.A - Bureau of Indian Affairs