Chapter 18 - Bella

Jared had been right. The bath had definitely helped me relax. I was still worried about Paul but there wasn't anything that I could do about it until Rachel made a decision. And even then I wasn't sure if there was anything I could other than ask Uncle Quil or look through the journals. Part of me was hoping that Billy would be able to answer any questions that Rach would have but I also knew that she would have questions that only Emily and I could answer. We would have to make sure that Rach knew that Paul would be whatever she wanted or needed.

When I got back downstairs, Jared was lounging on the couch. I walked over and sat beside him, snuggling into his side. I needed to talk to him and I was hoping that he wouldn't react badly to what I had to say. "I talked to my Dad while you were gone to get my bag." I said.

He wrapped an arm around me. "How did that go?" He asked me.

"It was good. I told him that I was too tired to drive back tonight and that I was staying at Emily's." I said.

"Does Emily know that?" He asked.

"She and I talked earlier and she said that anytime I was staying with you until I move into the apartment which will probably be sometime during the week...she said that if Charlie called she'd cover for me." I told him.

I looked up at him and he nodded. "It's gonna be nice having you really close." Jared said.

I smiled at him. "I'm excited." I said. I bit my bottom lip. "I also told Charlie that I was bringing a friend with me in the morning to help me start packing." I said.

He raised a brow at this. "Oh yeah? Who's the friend?" He smirked at me.

"Hmm...let me think." I said sarcastically. He reached to just below my ribs and started lightly tickling me. "Just kidding. It's you, goof ball."

He leaned over and kissed the side of my head. "Good answer." He said.

"I figured this would be the best way to introduce you to Charlie." I told him.

"Sounds good." He said.

"Hey Jared?" I said.

"Yeah?"

"I love you." I said. It was simple. Three words. 8 letters.

I waited for his response. He must have been in shock because he just started smiling. "I love you too, Bella. So much." He finally said. He leaned down and for the first time he kissed me on my lips. It was gentle but the feeling behind it…it was if there was an electric current passing through me. When Jared pulled back from the kiss, he had the biggest smile on his face. "I've been wanting to do that for days." He told me.

"You could have. But I'm glad you waited for me to understand my feelings for you." I told him.

He pulled me tighter into his side. "You are my whole world Bella. I'd do anything for you." He said and I leaned up and kissed him again. "Now how about that movie?" He asked me when he pulled back.

I was about to answer him when there was a knock at the front door. I looked at Jared and he shrugged. I stood up and walked over to the front door and opened it. I was surprised to see Rachel standing. "Rach, hey." I said.

"Um, Dad said that you'd probably be here." She said.

I nodded. "Do you want to come in?" I asked. She nodded. I opened the door for her so that she could come in. Closing the door behind her, I led her into the living room and Jared sat up. "Have a seat." I told her and she sat in the big comfy chair that Jared had. I sat beside Jared. "What's on your mind?" I asked.

"Dad tried explaining more about imprinting to me but he said that you and Emily might be better to talk to." Rachel said.

I nodded. "I can tell you my story, but you'd have to talk to Emily about hers. It's not my place." I said. Rachel nodded.

I looked over at Jared and he smiled at me. "I'm gonna go for a run." He said before standing up and heading out the front door. When I heard a faint yip, I knew that he had phased and was most likely heading to find Paul.

"What do you want to know?" I asked her.

"Explain imprinting to me." She said.

"Do you know the story of Taha Aki's third wife?" I asked her.

"I vaguely remember it. She was the one that sacrificed her life for the tribe, right?" She asked and I nodded.

"Yes. She was Taha Aki's imprint. The way he describes it in his journal, after he imprinted on her…he communed with the spirits. They told him that his imprint was a reward for sacrificing his life as a spirit warrior. It is said that the imprinter, aka the wolf…in your case Paul, will be anything you need. Friend, protector, brother, or lover." I told her. It was the truth.

"What if…what if I don't need anything?" She asked me.

I was afraid of this. "I'll be honest Rach, we don't know what would happen if a wolf is rejected by his imprint. He could die for all we know." I said, bluntly. It was the truth. We didn't know.

"So, if I decided on friends…would he ever love anyone?" She asked.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure. Emily and Sam are engaged. Jared and I…well we started as friends, but tonight I told him that I loved him and he kissed me for the first time. Our relationship is changing. But you can't base a relationship with Paul based on what Emily and I have decided with ours. Theoretically, imprints end up married to the imprinter." I told her.

She nodded. "I guess I should probably talk to Paul." She said.

I nodded. "I could have Jared bring him here, if you think that would help?" I asked her.

She thought for a minute. "Yeah. I think that would be good." She said. I smiled at her. At least she was trying.

"Wait here." I said, standing up. I walked over to the front door. I walked out to the front porch, closing the door behind me. "Jared? Paul?" I said. I knew if they were near that they'd hear me. A dark grey and a dark silver wolf walked out of the wolves. I walked down the front porch steps. I looked at both of them. I remembered that the dark silver wolf was Paul from when I'd slapped him. I walked over to the dark grey wolf and lightly scratched behind one of his ears. He leaned into my touch nuzzling my hand. "Rachel, wants to talk to you Paul. Thought here would be a neutral place. You guys phase back and I'll make us all some coffee." I told them. Jared leaned his big head up and licked the side of my face, before they ran back inside the tree line and phased.

They came walking out and Jared pulled me into his arms. He kissed the top of my head. "Do you know how excited my wolf was that you weren't afraid to come to us and scratch behind my ear?" He said with a big grin.

"Why wouldn't I? Your wolf is just as much a part of you as you are a part of the wolf." I said.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him. When Paul walked out of the woods, the three of us headed inside. Paul and Jared headed into the living room while I headed to the kitchen to make coffee. While it was brewing, I looked around the kitchen and found a tray that I could put everything on. I put coffee mugs, creamer, sugar, spoons and some cookies on there. When the coffee was finished, I poured each of us a cup before carrying the tray into the living room. I sat it on the coffee table. "Thought you boys could use a snack since I found both of you phased." I said.

They both smiled at me. "Thanks babe." Jared said. I'd never been fond of pet names when I'd been with Edward but it was nice coming from Jared.

After everyone had fixed their coffee, Jared and I sat back on the couch, drinking it while Paul and Rachel talked; throwing in our thoughts or input when asked.

Finally, Rachel looked at Paul. "I accept the imprint Paul." She said. We turned to look at Paul, who look relieved. "But I just want to be friends…at least for now." She told him and he nodded.

"I understand." Paul said.

Rachel smiled at him. "I should get home. It's late. I'll see you guys tomorrow." Rachel said before she stood up and left.

When the front door closed, Paul turned to look at me. "I don't know what to say." He said. I cocked my head to the side confused. "I've been such an ass to you Bella. That day you slapped me…I was so pissed. I'd never been that pissed in my entire life."

"You've already apologized for that. I understood why you were angry and why you'd phased that day. Paul, you're a vital part of this pack. You're the third in command. You're Jared's best friend. Your my brother." I told him.

"You helped me with Rachel. I was so sure that she was gonna reject the imprint. When I left the bonfire, I phased and followed her home. When Billy arrived they talked and she started crying. I could feel pain and anger coming from her. Billy explained to her that while I phased I couldn't really leave the Rez, that I'm tied here. She didn't want to be tied here. It broke my heart. But then she came here and I followed her. Whatever you said to her…" He trailed off. I could hear his voice starting to crack.

"Paul, your family. I'd do anything for family. Rachel just needs time. Don't push her. Her life hasn't been easy. She knows the rumors about Embry just like the rest of us. None of us want to think that a married man had an affair and has a child that he abandon…but when Sarah died…a lot fell on Rachel and Rebecca's shoulders. Jake was little. Billy was distraught. Rachel practically raised Jake." I told him.

"I didn't know." Paul said and I nodded.

"It's okay. She'll come around. She just needs time to understand everything. Emily and I will help her." I said and he smiled at me.

"I was wrong about you Swan. I'm glad to have you as a sister. You managed to make Leah pleasant to be around. Now you've helped with my imprint and you make Jared happy. That's all any of us could ask for." Paul said.

I smiled at him. "I'll be here all week." I said and the three of us laughed.

A/N: Okay. So there's that chapter. Different side of Paul huh? Hope that you guys enjoyed it. Next chapter, Bella and Jared talk about their relationship and meeting Charlie. DO you guys like the way I'm doing the chapters…one POV per a chapter?