Paul's POV
It's finally Friday night. I can see Lindsey driving. She pulls into Sam's driveway. She got off work early to help Emily out with cooking. She's so thoughtful like that.
I can't wait to meet her. Quil thinks.
Clair has spoken so much about her. I quickly change back so I don't have to keep hearing his inner monologue about my imprint. I see her step out of the car and I walk over to greet her.
"Hey, how are you?" I greet.
"Hey, I'm good. Animals are good as well." She says as she lets Kal out of the car.
He runs over to me and puts his paws on my shins. I pick him up and give him a hello. I put him back down so he can use the washroom.
"Here, I'll help you with those." I say taking a few pie plates from the back of her ar. She brought twenty-five.
"I had some time last night. Emily said you all ate a lot and I remember from our date how much you eat. I also popped by the butchers on the way.
"Fresh meat. No way!" Seth exclaims walking up. "I'm Seth."
"Lindsey," she introduces.
"You supplying the whole bonfire?" Jake asks rudely. I growl at him. He really doesn't like her.
"No, Emily was saying how she's worried about the amount of food. So, I thought bringing more never hurt anyone." She replies.
I bring her and Kal inside. Seth carrying all the meat. Her and Emily have become good friends. They talk all the time. Even Sam will join in sometimes. Jared has been chomping at the bit to meet her and introduce Kim.
"Puppy!" Clair exclaims running over to Kal. We put all the food down at the table. Emily and Lindsey hug.
"Good to see you!" Emily greets enthusiastically.
"You too," Lindsey replies. "I knew Kal would be a hit, but I didn't think he would be so much of a hit that she would forget about me."
"I'm surprised. She's been talking about seeing you all week," Emily says. "Thanks for bringing all this food you didn't have to."
"Yes, I did. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't. You said you were worried about the food." Lindsey says.
"Lindsey lovely to see you," Sam greets. He looks at me to see if I'm okay with him touching her. I give a small nod and he goes over and gives her a hug.
"Sam, polite as always," she says with a laugh.
"So, I bet you already know we got the contract." Sam tells her.
"I did, but I have a feeling that's not all you wanted to tell me." She says.
"They said our bid was so low and transparent that they are signing an exclusive agreement with us and convincing Seattle to do that same." He tells her. I freeze, I didn't know that.
"That's fantastic to hear!" She exclaims happy for us.
"I was going to announce it at dinner, but I wanted you to be one of the first to know. As without you we wouldn't have this deal," Sam says with a smile.
"Oh, it was no problem at all." She brushes off. "you did all the hard work."
Sam shrugs and heads over to all the meat she brought.
"You buy out the store?" he asks jokingly.
"No, I went to the butchers. I got the chicken because I thought chicken wings would be fin." She says.
"Did I hear chicken wings?" Seth asks.
"Yes, kid you did." I grunt.
"Sweet, I love chicken winds. I haven't had them in so long." He says. Kal runs in with Clair chasing him.
"Lindsey!" She exclaims when she sees her. She runs over and hugs her. "When did you come?"
"I brought Kal-EL with me," she says with a chuckle.
"The puppy?" She asks confused.
"Yeah, his name is Kal-EL, but we call him Kal most of the time." Lindsey explains. "Seth, would you like to help make the food for tonight?"
"Emily doesn't allow us in the kitchen when she's cooking," Seth says looking at me nervously.
"Well, I'm the one cooking, so would you like to?" She asks.
"Sure," he agrees.
"I'm going to bring the other meat out to Sam for cooking," I say.
"Sounds good, they are already seasoned," she says as I leave.
"Thanks man. You know she didn't have to do this." Sam says.
"I know, but she wanted to. Who am I to stop her?" I reply handing over the different cuts of meat to him.
"Your imprint really has changed things around here." Sam says. "She's gotten jobs for people who don't have any here. She's given Emily confidence in… well, everywhere in her life. She's given Clair a sense of purpose. I wonder what she's going to give Kim?"
"Yeah. She's really helping everyone. She's teaching Seth to cook right now." I tell him.
"Really? Emily doesn't usually allow people in her kitchen." Sam says surprised.
"Well, Lindsey said she's the one cooking, so it's her say. I think she is just trying to get Emily some help in a kitchen for when she can't make it." I tell him.
"Makes sense," Sam agrees.
"She was saying that teaching some of the boys to do some of the tasks will bring down some of the workload for the girls." I say.
"Is Lindsey here?" Jared asks walking over to us. Kim is heading inside.
"Yeah, she's in the kitchen." I say. "Kal's in the kitchen as well." Kal walks outside around Kim who opened the door. He runs over to me. "Never mind he's right here."
"Lindsey must be distracting Clair for her to let Kal go." Sam says with a laugh.
Lindsey's POV
We are all sitting at the beach eating.
"These chicken wings are amazing." Quil compliments sitting with us with Clair in between his legs.
I remembered to bring some wipes. Clair's eating all her food. We gave her a little of everything. She even ate the salad with no complaints. She's now eating the wings too. Quil's pants are covered in sauce from Clair putting her hands on them. I managed to keep her from touching Kal. That way I don't need to give him a bath later. Kal is laying down a little ways away enjoying the peace.
"Seth, you gonna make the wings from now on?" Paul asks him.
"Uh.." Seth gave him the look of a deer in headlights.
"Quit bugging him Paul," I say lightly pushing him. "He doesn't have to. It was only his first time making them."
Paul just smiles at me and pulls me closer to his chest. He starts to eat off my plate. I roll my eyes at him, but I let him. I took way more then I would eat just for this occasion. I see Jake finally arrives with some brown-haired girl. Seth goes over to talk to them.
"That's Bella," Emily whispers leaning over in Sam's lap to tell me.
"Oh, are we inviting toxic people here now?" I ask rhetorically leaning over in Paul's lap.
"Well, we did invite Leah." Quil adds in joking.
"Quil!" I exclaim. "That's rude. You better apologize to her."
I got the chance to talk to Leah earlier. She seemed very nice but she also seemed very heartbroken. She just needs to get out more. The fact that she only does stuff with her ex and their shared friends doesn't help that at all.
"Fine, sorry Leah!" He yells to her. She nods accepting his apology.
She keeps eating. Jake goes and grabs some food. Seth goes and sits beside Leah. Bella just follows Jake around like a lost puppy.
"I have an announcement." Sam announces. Everyone goes quite, even the elders. "With Lindsey's help we were able to secure a long-term contract with the zoo. Uley construction has also been asked if they want to be the zoo's only contractor in the future. They will also be talking to Seattle zoo to see if they have anything."
"That's fantastic to hear, Sam." Old Quil says while the boys all cheer. Paul whispered his name in my ear just as he started talking.
"I couldn't have done it without Lindsey. She did a lot of the groundwork to help me out." Sam says.
"It was nothing. Sam, you did most of the work. I just supported and encouraged you." I say.
"Still, thank you." Sam says. "Embry, I heard you were looking for a part time job. I can afford to take you on now. I will also be taking on a few more full-time employees."
"A few more?" Billy asks. Yes, the chief asked me to call him Billy. That feel very strange.
"Yes, I will be hiring seven more full time employees." Sam says.
I was able to go through his budget and cut some things adding more employees. So, he doesn't work as much, and it costs him the same amount. So, he takes home more money. We all finish eating. Then, Billy starts to tell the stories of the tribe. They tell us how when the need arises, they transform into wolves. I lean back into Paul's chest.
Billy tells the story of the third wife who is an imprint. She sacrifices herself for her people. I'm in awe. I gasp putting all the pieces I know together. They turn into wolves. Paul looks down at me in concern.
"You're wolves," I tell them.
"How did you figure it out?" Quil asks,
"It wasn't that hard. Sam asked me a lot of questions about my pack of wolves. You boys are all bulky and eat a ton. I imagine turning takes a lot of calories. The description of imprinting hits a little too close to home and Emily's scars. You say they're from a bear, but a bear paw doesn't make scars that look like that. Those are wolf scratch scars. The look of guilt that Sam gives Emily makes a little too much sense now that I put the pieces together." I say explaining everything.
"You put that together easier then Bella did." Jared says.
"Hey, she was under a lot of pressure," Jacob defends.
"And Lindsey wasn't?" Jared asks. Jacob sits stewing.
"I'm also not a child. I'm trained to look after animals and know their reactions." I defend myself.
"You aren't scared?" Sam asks looking nervous.
"No, I trust Kal-EL's opinion. If he thinks your good, then I do too." I tell him.
"You trust a dog that much?" Bella asks butting in and insulting me and Kal. Paul growls at her. "You don't think they are killing people?"
"No, I've gotten to know them. They aren't killers. Like the story says, they are protectors from the cold ones. Hell yeah, I trust Kal-EL that much. He has an amazing awareness. He knows a good person when he sees one." I say pissed that she could say something like that. She literally insulted everyone here. Paul wraps his arms around my chest kissing the top of my head in appreciation.
"But he growls at me." She says looking upset.
"I rest my case." I say with a smile. Paul bursts out laughing.
"That's my girl." He says between laughing kissing my head again.
"I think the fact that you could ever think they are killers says more about you then the fact that don't says about me." I tell her.
"How were you not worried Paul?" Embry asks.
"Because she said she has always trusted Kal-EL's opinion. He has never lead her astray. So, I knew she would take his lead again," Paul explains trusting my word.
"Welcome to the pack then, Lindsey." Sam welcomes.
"Thanks," I thank "Can I see you in wolf form, Paul?"
"Me too?" Seth asks excitedly.
"Of course, Seth." I say with a smile.
His innocent face makes it impossible to say no. Leah smiles at me. The boys run off. Leah walks with me a little ways down the beach. Kal went with the boys.
"Thanks for including Seth," she says.
"No Problem. He is just way too sweet to say no to." I admit.
"He's so unsure of himself being the youngest in the pack, but you've given him a little reassurance." She tells me.
"I'm glad I can help." I reply.
"You really just want to help the pack," She observes surprised.
"Yeah, I do. I should be so luck to be a part of this family." I say.
"Where is your family?" She asks.
"Canada, they live in Ottawa. So, I don't see then often." I reply. "If you need to get away feel free to stop by my place. I have a spare room."
"Yeah?" She confirms.
"Of course, you're in a pack with all boys. I can't imagine how annoying that would be." I say with a teasing smile. She laughs.
"I might take you up on that." She says. She looks towards the forest. I look up and a couple of seconds later I see a small wolf bound out with Kal right behind him.
"I'm guessing that's Seth." I say with a laugh.
"Yeah, what other wolf would prance." Leah says with a laugh. Seth stops dead and gives the wolf equivalent of an offended face.
A silver wolf comes out. He's as big as a horse. I hold my hand out and walk towards him. He has Paul's brown eyes. So beautiful. I reach Paul's snout and pet his head. I start to scratch him behind the ears.
"You're stunning." I say to him.
I whisper it not wanting to break the moment. Seth makes a yip noise and I turn around to see him and Kal hopping around like bunnies. Leah is dying laughing on the ground. Kal and Seth are both playing in the water. I lean into Paul giggling. Leah finally pulls herself together enough to walk over to Paul and I.
"They do look big that's for sure." She comments.
"You aren't?" I ask.
"No, I'm smaller." She replies.
"That would make you faster too," I say remembering the wolves that I've seen.
"Yeah." She agrees with a smile.
"You're smaller because you're female. You will also eat less. The rest of the boys will want to provide for your because you are female." I say referencing back to what I know about wolves.