Note | Inner Wolf Speaking | Alpha Orders
Chapter Twenty-One | Beach Fit
Loveless sighed and let Vic lead her down the beach. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to be there. But, she liked Claire. Loveless could tell it was the beginning of a good relationship. And even though she would be leaving as soon as she graduated . . . It did not mean they couldn't keep in touch.
She breathed out a soft sigh and let her eyes fall shut as the heat curled around her gently. It was a rare occurrence when the sun and heat were out. The sun was out. Warm. So warm.
Paul is hotter. In every sense of the wor- She cut herself off and forced her eyes open, hoping to keep the images at bay. Not that it really worked. It seemed to work even less when she saw Paul in the flesh.
He was helping set up a couple tents. His darkly tanned skin gleamed dangerously under the beaming sun. His dark short hair - shined - helping to complete the buffed badass vibe.
Damn! He looks good. Loveless bit her lower lip and forcefully dragged her eyes away from his glorious body.
"You're staring." James whispered in her ear.
The most becoming blush rose on her cheeks. "I don't know what you are talking about." She did her best to deny what they all knew.
James chuckled. "You keep believing that."
Vicktor held out a small gift bag. "Go, I know they said no presents but every birthday girl deserves a present on her b-day."
Loveless nodded. She released her wrap. The pin holding it closed as it swayed giving off hints of what hid beneath the warm cardigan.
The wind played with her hair swaying the dark tresses.
"Do you know how hot you'd look with ringlets?" Angela questioned as the paler girl got closer. "Such a deep rich dark chocolate - bitter-sweet even." Her eyes widened in dramatic effect. "Just like you!"
Loveless giggled. "Why thank you!" She winked and held out the gift to Claire. "Suck it up and take it."
Claire smiled and took the gift. Her eyes widened as she held a small chocolate wolf pendant hooked onto a silver chain. "It's so pretty!"
Angela smiled. "She has a fascination for wolves."
Loveless shrugged. "Maybe it's a La Push thing. Cause I do to. Though, I prefer silver wolves. They look so majestic and the fur color is just amazing."
Claire's and Angela's eyes turned animated as they began to talk about which color fur was better on a wolf.
. . .
Quil gasped. His head jerked around towards the girls. His dark eyes glanced over at a smirking Vicktor who bobbed his head in acknowledgement. "You ever get the feeling they no more than they let on?"
"All the time," Paul muttered as a soft smile worked across his lips.
A big smile broke out on Quil's lips. "She got a chocolate brown wolf necklace." He couldn't keep the smile off his lips.
Sam smiled softly. "Why don't you just look at her?"
Quil frowned. "What if she isn't really my imprint? What if I look at her fall more in love, but don't imprint on her?"
Jared clasped a hand around his shoulders in the form of a half hug. "But what if you do?"
"I don't know." Quil bit his lower lip, his wolf filled with insecurity.
"Your wolf wants you to look at her, doesn't he?" Paul asked.
Quil nodded.
"Listen to your wolf. He's there to guide you when the human side is unsure. He is one of your best friends." Jared spoke soothingly. "Embrace him, he wouldn't tell you to do something if it could hurt you both."
Quil nodded once more. "Okay." He licked his dry lips. "I'll do it later."
Paul clasped a hand on Quil's shoulder. "Listen."
Everything went quiet.
Paul's lips twitched as he listened to his imprint talk, "Silver wolves are the best Claire - not brown." His ego inflated.
"No way! Chocolate brown is the best!" Quil looked about the same. A deep pride-filled smugness clouded his eyes. "Is this how you feel Sam? Jared?"
The elder two chuckled and nodded. "Though we don't like admitting it - but the wolves loved to be pampered, even more so when the imprint pampers us in actual wolf form."
Jared whistled, his eyes gloating. "Kim gave me a bath." He wiggled his eyebrows.
The pack broke out laughing.
Jared pouted. "Laugh all you want. The only one who would bathe your wolf would be your mom." He quipped while turning towards the younger imprint-less wolves.
They pouted.
"Uncool Jare, uncool." Seth replied.
. . .
"Thank you so much for bringing food!" Claire smiled. She bit at her lower lip. "At first I really thought it was going to be too much when Angela said you were going to be bringing the same thing she was . . ." Claire glanced around the beach. "But now I am relieved.
Emily waved her off. "I know how much they eat, believe me. This will disappear quickly." Emily pulled the younger into a quick hug. "Happy birthday sweetie."
Claire beamed sweetly. "Thank you." She bit her lower lip. "Um . . . Do you know if Sam or Paul can start a bonfire?"
Emily frowned. "Why?"
"M-my dad was supposed to come by with a couple friends and do it, but he has to work . . ." She trailed off.
"It's no problem sweetie." Emily smiled sweetly, almost mothering the younger girl. "I'll get my little pack started right away on the bonfire."
"Pack?" Claire's brows furrowed.
Emily's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, realizing her slip. "Most of them are like my children. Yet at times - oh you know boys and their animal ways - it was easier to call them a pack." Emily laughed, she winked at Claire. "A pack of hungry wolves if you will."
Claire beamed. "You like wolves too!" She smiled brightly. "Oh! Which is better: Nicole says silver. I say brown. Angela says a deep russet. What about you?"
Emily smiled, her eyes shifted to Sam. "I'm sorry, I think a deep obsidian black would make the most majestic fur color." She giggled as she caught the wide smile that spread across Sam's lips. "Now, you stay right here and I'll go assemble the troops."
"Thank you!" Claire exclaimed happily.
Emily returned shortly after with a wide smile on her lips. "They said to give them 10 minutes to set up."
Claire squealed and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you."
. . .
"Remind me again why I am walking down the beach with you?" Loveless questioned.
"We are rounding up the Eric and Alejandro." Angela replied. She shook her head. "Only those two would try to pick up a girl on someone's birthday." She glanced at the brunette walking with her down the beach.
The sun had begun to set - a soft chill setting in. But once Paul, Sam, Jared, Jacob, and the rest . . . she didn't really remember their names - had finished getting the bonfire ready it would be fine. If someone got cold, they'd just step closer to the fire.
"You like Paul." Angela stated.
Loveless stumbled.
The other cackled. "I knew it!" She squealed. Angela giggled ecstatically while clapping her hands.
A soft blush crawled up her neck, covering her cheeks. "I d-do not!" Her eyes flashed.
Angela smirked. "Do to!" She sang mockingly. She wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I envy you. If I could see my crush every day - shirtless, wear his jacket, feed him, gah! just look at him!" She swooned, eyes glazing over.
She stopped walking - about 10 steps away from the party - and twisted to look at her friend. A slow smile slid onto Loveless' lips. "So," she sang, "Which one do you like?"
Angela bit her lower lip. She stage looked around - as if someone might hear them. "Jacob."
Loveless' jaw dropped. "No way!" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
She giggled nervously and nodded.
Loveless smiled and wrapped an arm around the other's waist in a semi hug. "That's adorable!" She smiled deviously. "So should i make you trip and fall on him or just push you at him?"
Angela looked horrified. "No!"
The other cackled. "You know I wouldn't do that!" She continued to giggle. "I'm not that bitter sweet." Loveless winked.
Angela relaxed and laughed. "So if I trip and land in his lap-
"Face in lap or arms around neck in lap?" Loveless questioned with a quirked smiled and suggestive eyebrow movement.
Angela blushed once more. "Mind out of the gutter!"
Loveless cackled darkly.
"As I was saying," she continued with narrowed eyes. "I can blame it on you right?"
She rolled her eyes. Loveless smiled despite herself. "Sure, I'll take the fall for you."
Angela squealed and hugged her friend. "Now let's find the buffoons."
"Oh sweet baby Jesus." Loveless suddenly murmured.
Angela frowned. "Huh?"
"Lauren." She simmered and growled softly.
"We didn't get to finish our conversation." Lauren sneered.
Loveless' brows furrowed in false confusion. "Conversation? You were talking bad about yourself. I was trying to stop you." Her head cocked to the side as she waited. Her ever present calm façade always intact.
Lauren's eyes narrowed dangerously as she glared at Loveless. "Stay away from My Paul, Nicole."
Loveless snorted. Her lips curled up in a sneer. She didn't like that. Not one bit. "We all know you have no claim to him. So let me make this very, very clear. Stay away from my Paul." Her heart thudded in her just as her mind screamed at her. My Paul? When did he become mine? Her mind screamed. Her heart thudded against her rib-cage in reply.
Always . . .
Loveless gulped softly. Cold realization coursed through her. She wanted Paul. And more than just for a night. She wanted him . . . for life.
. . .
Bella stood off to the corner by herself. At times like these, it was really a hindrance that the Cullens couldn't be with her. "What's happening?" She murmured, her brows screwed up in concentrations as she tried to read lips..
The sun was setting, beautiful oranges, reds, and yellows lit up the sky. However, that made it harder to read lips.
"She just said Paul was hers." An unknown person next to her chimed in helpfully.
Bella's brows drew together. "What?" Her eyes wide. Paul? "Really?" Her head twisted to the left as she stared at the person beside her.
The girl shrugged. "Yep, I wiggled my way out of the gathering crowd." She shook her head. "Not in the mood to be caught in the middle if something goes down" She pointed at the two glaring girls surrounded by others. "I'm not sure. But there was definitely a 'don't touch my man' undertone from the girl with the really long wavy brown hair."
Bella nodded, "thank you." Her brows furrowed as she continued to watch the girl before her. She really was an enigma. Her lips pursed. That was going to change.
. . .
"Shit! Paul!" Emily's eyes were wide as she jogged towards him.
Paul jerked around to Emily.
The pack froze.
Did Emily just curse?
"Um, honey?" Sam questioned. He swallowed. Sam had honestly never heard her curse. This was a first. And he was shocked.
Emily rolled her eyes and pointed a little ways down the beach. "Paul!"
They followed her finger.
Paul froze, his edges started to blur.
"GO!" Emily yelled out. Emily stood from her position to watch. She chewed on her lower lip. She had made it a point to see what Lauren had looked like before Loveless went to that school. Emily had wanted to be prepared if there were any issues.
Vicktor and James were on their feet in seconds, beating the wolves by two steps at a time. Vicktor growled. "I'm going to gut the blonde one." He'd had just about enough of others messing with his Princess.
"Not if I get her first." Paul growled, his wolf taking over. Anger surged through him.
James frowned. He glanced at Vicktor. He had felt the same surge.
'Is it because he's Loveless' imprinter?' Vicktor questioned.
'He's more than just wolf.' James replied. Paul had to be more than just wolf. If not . . . that was more dangerous.
Paul edged closer. He moved through the crowd. His intimidating height and frightening scowl parted the crowd easily. He stopped behind her and waited. His little imprint could handle herself; however, that didn't mean he wouldn't protect her.
. . .
Loveless heaved a loud sigh. For the love of God! Go away! She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms under her bosom. "Let's go Ang. I hate the smell of slut in the afternoon."
Lauren shrieked indignantly. "Your Paul!"
Loveless eyes widened. Heat bloomed in her cheeks and raced down her neck. She could feel his eyes on her. A tingling sensation coursed up her spine, melting her insides. She could feel him. Loveless shivered, he was coming towards her.
"What do you mean your Paul?" Lauren screeched once more. Her hands curled into fists as she was ignored once more.
Jessica bit her lip and nudged Lauren. "You're creating a scene."
Loveless heaved a sigh. Damn it! He doesn't need to hear this! He doesn't need to know I have unintentionally staked a claim! Her cheeks tinged a soft petal pink red. Loveless swallowed hard. Maybe Jacob or Sam was standing behind her. She could live with false hope.
Lauren growled. Her Paul!
"Is there a problem here?" Paul growled from just behind Loveless.
Loveless groaned. Had to be Paul, had to. She already knew he was going to come to her rescue - it seemed to be a thing of his. She snorted at the glazed over look the blonde suddenly had in her eyes. A shiver coursed through her. Paul. He was still staring.
"H-hi Paul." She batted her lashed and fluffed her hair. Lauren blinked innocently.
Angela held back a snort. "Let's go Nikki!" She linked arms with the paler girl and smiled. "Let's go find the guys."
Loveless nodded - ignoring the crowd. "Having to deal with all these whores is making me tired." She looked at Angela, doing her best puppy eyes. "Carry me?"
Angela laughed out loud. "Ha!"
The icy eyed girl giggled cutely. Her eyes disappeared as she smiled.
The brunette rolled her eyes. "Dork."
Loveless wailed playfully. "Imma tell Umma Vic you called me a dork, dork!" Her eyes sparkled as she
"Umma loves me more!" Angela yelled before sprinting off. Laughter filled the air.
"Yah! Get BACK HERE!" Loveless called out as she took chase.
. . .
Paul chuckled as he watched Loveless race after her friend. He turned back around to Lauren as she cleared her throat. "Leave her alone. And yes, I am her Paul." He growled out, leaving a jaw dropped Lauren behind him.
The pack followed easily.
Jacob groaned as he saw Bella. "Damn it!" He muttered before taking off. "Imma go help Sam start the fire for Claire - come on Quil!" Jacob latched onto Quil and drug him towards the pit. "You have a birthday girl to say hello to."
Quil beamed and let the other drag him alone.
. . .
Bella pouted as she watched Jacob run from her before she could even begin to move in his direction. Why does he run from me? With a shake of her head, Bella turned and began the trek back to the silver volvo that Edward had let her borrow. She backed out and drove quickly. Bella slowed to a stop just over the border. Unlocking the doors she waited.
"Hey Bell-bell." The pixie's tinkling laughter hummed through the car. "Have fun?"
Bella shrugged. She hadn't really gone to have fun . . . "Sure."
Alice frowned. "You're lying."
"I'm not." Bella replied - keeping her eyes straight ahead. "Let's go home, I want to see Edward."