A/N: This chapter kind of took on a life of its own and wasn't planned at all, oh well enjoy xx Alexis


"Oh my God Paul! Whoa! Damn!" Bella gibbered deliriously, unable to keep her emotions or herself grounded,

"That's it, baby, let it go, don't hold it in. Let me see it, let me hear how you feel!" he replied never letting up on the sensation overload he was giving her,

Bella had imagined, dreamt even, but nothing could prepare her for this. This was no immature fumbling of a schoolboy, this was being made love to by someone who knew what they were doing, thank the Lord! Paul was playing her like a finely tuned instrument and she was about to hit overload. Paul was also riding the high, this was nothing like any encounter he'd had before. For the first time, he was all in and giving as much as he gaining. Not wanting to be crude, but Paul was only ever interested in getting himself off in the past. If the woman did too, great but it was not his number one priority. But slowly those older women had taught the brash teenager how to give as well as receive. But in all those encounters he had never been this invested, he had never been this emotionally involved.

For the first time in his life, Paul was more interested in how the woman below him felt, in her enjoyment of him instead of how he felt. It was a mind-blowing concept; Paul had prided himself on never needing anyone. Becoming a ward of the tribe at a young age had hardened his heart and pushing everyone away hurt much less. But now in this moment, at this time, was a brand new feeling for him, a brand new start and he wanted it. So as they both fell over the edge Paul bit into the pillow to stop himself from giving Bella a mating mark, he wanted to explain that to her when they were not so emotionally charged. He wanted to calmly explain this was nothing like what Edward had done and more for her protection. It was a fine line he needed to tread to make her understand it wasn't ownership, more like a wolf marriage mark!

Plus the benefits were amazing too, she wouldn't get sick like normal humans and it would as long as he phased slow her ageing process somewhat. Not like his own, but significantly so they would stay in tune with each other physically. Paul didn't know all the ins and outs because the Quileutes were never very forthcoming about these things. But he knew some snippets from Sam's mind and one thing that stood out was the scent change, making Emily's blood repulsive to vampires, much like the wolves themselves. This to him would be the best bit, since Bella said she smelt extra nice to vampires, like all of them! So as they snuggled close for the rest of the night Paul ran ways of telling her through his mind. So much so that Bella herself realised he had something important on his mind.

"What's on your mind Paul, I can almost hear the gears grinding in your head? Do you regret this, us?" she queried and he was taken aback,

"No! Never will I regret this and I'm sorry I made you think that" he answered sadly,

"Then what? Has it got something to do with you biting the pillow? Is this a Silver thing?" she asked getting right to the heart of the matter,

"Yes. I wanted to wait and explain, but all I did was worry you. I'm so sorry baby" he said in a rush,

"Okay, let's get up and have some coffee. This might be a long night!" Bella states and Paul complies,

Once they are half dressed at least and Bella gives a little smile at seeing the bare-footed Paul of old. He wraps his arms around her and takes a deep breath.

"No matter what you decide, I will never regret tonight. This was the most amazing night and believe me I don't want to lose you!" he says calmly, but has almost convinced himself she'll leave,

"Relax Paul, now tell me what Silver needs from me" Bella asks and he shakes his head, she gets it even more than he does,

So he detailed all he knew about the connection between a wolf and his mate. Reminding her they had not imprinted due to him only being half-Quileute, be he thought their bond was more, bigger and much stronger. Then he explained how much Silver needed to keep her safe from his enemies, the cold ones!

"What? There are cold ones here?" Bella said in a panic,

"They pass through here all the time, heading to Canada I assume. So, yes there have been some and you baby, smell way too good for your own safety! My overpowering scent here at the Uni has helped I've no doubt. Some vampires have no idea that shifters exist, but most will avoid a confrontation with me" Paul explains and Bella is shocked,

"God! How naive have I been? Obviously, there are more out there and they'll be red-eyed ones too, of course! Have you seen any since you moved here?" She states before asking,

"A couple, one gave Salem a wide birth due to the smell. But the other tore through like his ass was on fire! Granted seeing me standing there as Silver, might have helped.

I think I've grown since leaving La Push, we feel bigger somehow like we're our own Alpha now. Does that make sense; I'm the only one so I've gotten larger? The word will get out and most will avoid here, but not all, unfortunately" he said cautiously,

"So what you're saying is, there are way more benefits for me than drawbacks? I'm thinking it's a bite, but where?" Bella enquired not in the least afraid or upset,

"Back of the neck, your hair will cover it from everyone but me. Plus it will make us feel closer, emotionally I mean" Paul said exhaling, he hadn't realised he was holding his breath at all,

"Okay, so let's get a good night's sleep or what's left of it, Paul and next time just do it. Don't tell me, just do it. You know how squeamish blood makes me, so please seal it too" she mentions as she takes his hand and leads him back to his bed,

HADDD

"Goddamnit mum, just tell me! I'm leaving anyway what difference will it make? I'll take one of those DNA tests and find out myself if you don't!" Embry shouted at his once again drunk mother,

"I'm sorry, so sorry don't go. You'd leave your poor defenceless mother alone?" she wheedled,

"No, I'm leaving my drunken mother who hates me! Who beat and blamed me for every mistake she ever made! Now tell me which of those three assholes was my father!" he yelled at her,

For once she saw that she had pushed him too far and knew he actually hated her. She was so hell-bent on making him the scapegoat for all her sins. But him being a Quileute wolf had never crossed her mind and now she could no longer physically bully him.

"Harry, Harry Clearwater!" she mumbled sadly,

Embry was shocked; of the three he really didn't think it would be Harry.

"Did he know; before he died did he know?" Embry almost growled at her,

"Yes, but Sue wouldn't let him recognise you. Leah was a toddler back then and Sue refused to let him go. But she got him back, Seth's not his son. She had a random one-night stand and made Harry accept him and be his father, but not yours, that she wouldn't allow!" she sneered and he wasn't sure who it was at, him or Sue!

"That's all I wanted to know, goodbye mother," he said sadly,

"You can't leave! You're a minor, so you have to stay!" she spat angrily,

"Have you ever seen my medical file mother? Every bruise, every cut, every broken bone and of course, every hand or shoeprint on my body was meticulously recorded.

Sue's the records keeper at the clinic remember, so every wrong you did me for my whole life is down in black and white for all to see, should they look. All recorded by her!

So yes I'm leaving. I am going to Neah Bay to my grandparents and you will not stop me or Chief Swan will receive my medical file, do you understand me now Mother!" he snarled at the sobbing woman on the floor,

Embry slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed out the door. His first stop was the tribal centre and without a care in the world walked into their meeting.

"I'm leaving! Try and stop me and I will bring the B.I.A down on you. You gloried in documenting all the abuse my mother dealt out Sue, but you did nothing! No reports to the council, the police were never informed, hell not even child services. That makes you, her accomplice to child abuse. You knew that right? She told me about Seth too by the way!" he sneered at her as she froze in her seat looking terrified,

"How about you Chief? How many times did your son tell you about the beatings I took and you did nothing? Why, because I was Harry Clearwater's bastard son that's why! That's right Sam, I'm Harry's son, not your father's as they lead us to believe! This tribe is a joke! A bunch of small-minded old fools who care about no one but themselves! "He spat at Billy Black,

"Oh, here's a bit of interesting news for you Sam. The Chief and Council can't tell the Alpha what to do, suggest, but not tell you! The pack is none of their business, only the tribe! It's all written down in the histories, you know the ones they had me catalogue as a punishment earlier this year for defending Paul's right to leave.

Plus the strongest wolf is Alpha, the position is not Jake's by right, that's a lie Billy invented. Just as well since he never wanted to be Alpha anyway! Hell if anyone should have been Alpha it was Paul!" Embry told an enraged Sam,

"Thank you, Embry; you are free to leave the reservation in your own time. Good luck, I hope you finally get the life you deserve. Take your medical records with you as insurance, that way there will be no retaliation from these idiots!" Sam said standing and scowling at them,

Embry strode away head held high and straight to Sue's office where he located the records for the pack. Removing his own he saw Paul's and took them too. The tribe had no right to keep them and he thought he'd send them on. Then decided what the hell, he'd take them to Paul himself and let him know what was going on. He had photocopied anything pertaining to the pack for future reference, whilst working in the archives, you know in case they went conveniently missing! He thought, of course, they had beyond doubt underestimated both Paul and him. But they had the blood of other tribes running through them; making them wildcards didn't they consider that! No, they didn't and they forgot he too might phase and were shocked when he did.

HADDD

"There's a wolf coming, not sure which one yet!" Paul said suddenly,

They had just gotten back from his grandparent's house and were having a quick coffee before he started tending to the animals and Bella wanted to write down a couple of recipes she'd been told about.

"Can you sense anything? I hope it's not bad news or something like that" Bella said worriedly,

"I'm going to meet whoever it is, stay here please," He asked and she nodded,

Paul was a little edgy because although they were together now, the mating mark had yet to be done. Maybe it's more Silver that's edgy than Paul. As he ran towards the edge of his property he began to realise who was there and relaxed slightly. He and Embry had never been close, but they understood each other on a level no one else did. Paul had also been abused as a child, and he too was treated as an outsider until he phased. Yes, they both had had their fair share of problems living in La Push. The nearer they got to each other Paul could hear him clearly. Wow, he thought they never learn and damn Embry's nobody's fool! Harry Clearwater that sanctimonious asshole, what a lying sack of shit. But Sue sure took the trophy for being bitch of the century.

"Damn Bro that's rough! So what brings you to my neck of the woods?" He asked,

"Well, I've got two things for you. First, your medical file which Sue was hanging onto for some reason, I got it when I took mine. Second a copy of everything the archives had on us wolves, phasing, imprinting the works!" Embry replied happily,

"Okay, follow me back to the cabin; my mate's there but you already know her!" Paul explained and Embry took a deep breath,

"Bella? Bella Swan is your imprint?" He gasped,

"No, she's my mate. Wasco don't imprint, I doubt the Makah do either!"Paul told him and he nodded,

"Yeah, you might be right. Sam thinks he imprinted on Emily but I'm not so sure. The Alpha can have many wives, Taha Aki did as we know" Embry mused as they ran,

Once they reached the cabin both phased and dressed before Paul called Bella's name. She came out with a pie in her hands and smiled,

"Hey Embry, you guys hungry? I'm trying out that pie recipe Miriam gave me and damn it smells good" She gushed, kissing Paul as he reached the top step,

"Sure am Bella, I missed your baking when you left Forks," Embry said as they entered the cabin,

It took a few hours to discuss everything and Bella said she'd photocopy the documents later so Paul and she could have their own copy. Embry explained his plans to go to Neah Bay to live if his grandparents would have him. Paul told him to tell them to call his grandparents and they'll tell them how bad the tribe treated him, hell everyone. Because when two different boys with families in other tribes want to leave there is definitely something wrong with the Quileutes! Plus they have already had the B.I.A; breathing down their necks once but twice might just make things rough in La Push. Bella left the guys together and taking Paul's truck went to get the documents done. The two guys were going to deal with the animals while she was away.

"Damn man, this place is amazing. You really have a way with the animal, no matter the species!" Embry said watching Paul interact with all his charges,

"Yeah, I've decided to become a vet and for once give back to the community I live in. This place has been a godsend for me" Paul tells him and he sees the changes in his friend,

"I have no idea what I want, but it will be something I can do with my hands. I think my grandfather has a woodworking business, so maybe that" Embry mused and Paul patted his back,

"You've got time to think about it, don't worry," He said smiling,

Embry was staying the night before heading to Neah Bay in the morning. The only thing the two guys were happy about was they at least had the ability to escape. Paul mentioned to Embry he thought Silver had grown, but not himself.

"Silver?" Embry queried,

"Sorry that's what Bella calls my wolf and he is after all!" Paul said shrugging,

"Do you see him as separate because I do sometimes, damn I talk to him as well" Embry murmured,

"Yes, I do. It was he who forced me to go after Bella when she went to her mother's for Christmas. So for once, I gave him free rein and now we're a couple" Paul tells him,

"What should I call mine?" Embry asked randomly as Bella came back through the door,

"Merle! Since you have gray-on-gray markings" She said casually and the guys both nodded,

"Damn, you remembered what I looked like, you're a strange girl Bella Swan, but I like you" Embry said laughing,

"If your grandparents are accepting of you Embry tell them about Merle, you will always need backup you know! Someone who has your back kind of thing, also keep in touch with us. That way Paul can tell you if any cold ones pass through here heading for Canada" Bella mentioned as she served up some dinner for them all,

"Hell yeah, lay down your scent heavily around the area and just use a little intimidation if any pass by. We cover a much larger area now so maybe they will look for an alternative route to Canada eventually" Paul said as they all tucked in,

The rest of the night was spent chilling and basically dissing their old tribe, which was their right as both had been done dirty by the Chief and the Council of Elders. Bella was shocked when she learned about Harry and Sue's behaviour. Then laughed as she told him that made Leah his half-sister! But they all felt really sorry for Seth not knowing who his father really was. His genes from Sue's Black side must have been strong enough to make him phase.

"Embry, when are you eighteen? Paul is now so what about you?" Bella asked the next morning,

"The day I left La Push was my birthday and nobody noticed or cared not even her!" he answered sadly,

"Oh Embry, I'm so sorry man I forgot," Paul said hugging poor Embry,

"No worries, I can count on one hand how many birthdays I've actually celebrated, maybe now I will be able to!" He answered clearing his throat,

Bella also hugged him and whispered,

"Happy belated Birthday, remember it can only get better from now on. Now that you are free!"