A/N: I'm due to go back to work tomorrow. We're actually getting snow, right now, so I may be home tomorrow, too. I'm too chicken shit to drive in snow. I hate it!

It's actually taking a couple of days to get a chapter typed out. I've posted more than expected this week, and I've loved every review. Keep them coming. Get as many people as possible out there to READ, READ, READ.

Recommend a story for me to read in your review. I'd love to know what other stories you're reading.

If I don't post in the next couple of days, then I'll see you this weekend. Have a great week, y'all.

No copyright infringement is intended. All recognizable characters are owned by Stephenie Meyer. I own the plot and the mistakes.

ENJOY!

01/14/2024

Rear-view Town

Chapter 6

Bella was quiet for a few minutes before Paul spoke. "We can wait on that if you want," Paul said.

"Moving in?" Bella wondered. "I thought you just said..."

Paul reached over and took her hand. "No, Angel. About getting married; we can wait."

Bella turned to look at him wide eyed. "Did I say that out loud?"

"No, I don't think you did." Then Paul thought to himself. "Can you hear me?"

Bella gasped. "Oh my God! We can hear each other?"

"Sam told me to try it out. Only imprinted couples can hear each other if their minds are open to it." Paul gave her a huge smile.

"That's freakin' cool." Then she wondered. "Wait, can you hear me all the time?"

"No. Only when you want me to and vice versa." He gave her hand a little squeeze.

Bella was amazed. "So, Sam and Emily can hear each other? And Cora and Billy?"

"Yes," Paul replied. "So, getting married can wait."

"Yeah," Bella agreed. "We've only known each other a couple of days."

Paul parked in the driveway at Bella's house. Charlie's cruiser wasn't there meaning that he was still at work.

Bella went straight to the kitchen to put Charlie's food in the fridge. Paul was still by the front door with a disgusted look on his face. Bella noticed as she turned to put some empty cans in the recycle bin. "What's wrong?"

"When was the last time your ex was in your house?" The smell was so strong that Paul could puke.

Bella thought for a minute. "Maybe two weeks ago. He wasn't here very long, though. Why?"

"He was literally just here," Paul explained then headed for the stairs and Bella followed. "His smell is stronger up here."

"He has no reason to be here," Bella stated before pushing her bedroom door open. "What the hell?"

There were pictures torn up and scattered all over the room. The monitor to her ancient computer was on the floor as well as the blankets from her bed. This caused Bella to start breathing heavy and her heart began to pound. She was about to have a panic attack. Why would Edward be so callous? It wasn't in his nature to be so ill tempered. Why would he invade her home?

Paul's temper was on the verge of explosion, but he reeled it in as he pulled Bella into his arms. He pressed his face into her hair and inhaled. Calm washed over him as her scent eased his wolf to back down. "Should we tell your dad?"

"Yeah, I'll call him." Bella pressed her face into Paul's chest. "Maybe he can talk to Carlisle."

Paul chuckled. "If he's gonna keep breaking into your house, why don't we leave him a scent that will drive him insane?" The images going through Paul's head was pure satisfaction.

"He may already be insane," Bella responded, then looked up at Paul. "We don't have any condoms here."

"We'll be okay," Paul said assuredly. He wasn't sure how to explain it to Bella, but he knew from her scent that she wasn't in her ovulation cycle.

Unbeknownst to them, Edward sat in a tree far enough away that Paul wouldn't sense him, but close enough that he could see and hear everything Paul and Bella were doing. He was so disgusted and beside himself that Bella didn't waste her time losing her virginity to that wolf. He was on the verge of being completely enraged when he heard the end of their conversation as they pulled into the driveway. They were already talking about marriage.

Edward had been beating himself up over the way he had handled things with Bella. He should've never left her because they would be getting married, or already married. He was positive that he wasn't ready to let her go.

"Edward." He heard from behind him. "You don't want her to hate you."

Emmett stood back and watched his brother as he berated himself. He was only making things worse as he watched Paul and Bella undress each other. If Edward had a beating heart, it would surely stop as soon as Paul pushed Bella's legs open before laying on is stomach and putting his mouth on her most intimate parts.

"Edward." Emmett tried again.

"Leave me the fuck alone," Edward growled.

Emmett sighed deeply. "I can't; I have to make sure you don't do anything stupid."

"You're too late," Edward said snidely. The day before was proof of how much his head was coming undone.

Emmett was in the tree a moment later. "You shouldn't be watching this." There was no way he could look where Edward watched Bella having sex. He could hear them as if they were right under the tree.

"They're not even using protection," Edward said sadly. "What if she gets pregnant?"

"Then she gets pregnant, dude. This isn't any of our business. She wants babies, Edward. That's something you could never give her." Emmett was trying his hardest to reason with his brother.

Edward growled. "Don't fucking remind me. Just leave me the hell alone."

"You're making it worse by doing this. It's bad enough for me that I can hear them. You have to stop this," Emmett demanded. "Go to Alaska for a while or even Rio. Somewhere far away from here. You have to let Bella live the life she wants."

Emmett thought of Rio because that is one of the destinations that Alice suggested in her letter to meet her and Jasper there. Rose wanted to leave right away, but something told Emmett that he needed to stay for a bit longer. He wanted to be there for his brother.

If Edward could cry, he'd be crying a thousand rivers. "This is killing me, Emmett. I need to be around to protect her."

"That's a bullshit excuse." Emmett shook his head. "Paul and the pack can protect her. Don't be making trouble that we'll have to clean up. We don't need the Volturi stepping in for your stupidity. We already had to deal with them once. Thankfully she went from one supernatural world to another, otherwise, they'd be here to execute her and Charlie."

For one split second Edward imagined Bella and Charlie being tortured then drained. He wished it for two seconds then knew that was wrong.

"I should just let them kill me. There's nothing else for me to live for." He watched as Paul moved to sit on the edge of the bed as Bella straddled his lap. She began to move her hips over him with her head thrown back as Paul teased her nipples.

Edward felt murderous as Paul gripped Bella's hips tighter with every movement. He wished it were him that held her and made love to her. If he could puke, he would. "If I could drink and take drugs just to take the pain away, I would. I just want everything back the way it was. I would do everything differently if I could just go back."

"I know, bro, but being like this isn't you, and you promised her you would let her go if she ever felt like she didn't want you anymore."

Both vampires flinched when Paul roared through his release. "Dudes got some huge lungs," Emmett said.

Edward drew his arm back and punched Emmett right in his mouth sending him forty feet down to the ground. "You're a dick!"

"I know I am," Emmett said as he dusted his track pants free of dirt and leaves. "And if you ever punch me again, I'll make sure you'll regret it."

"I told you to leave me alone. Mind your own damn business," Edward said angrily.

"That's a freebie this time. I know you're dealing with some shit, and you are my business no matter what you say."

"Whatever," Edward grumbled as he watched Bella and Paul get dressed. It was then he learned exactly why they wanted to have sex right then and there.

"He'll definitely smell that if he ever comes in your room again." Paul pulled his t-shirt over his head. "Maybe I should stay here instead of the hotel."

Bella wasn't sure how Charlie would feel if Paul checked out of the hotel and stayed with them until he got a house. "This is insane. He did this so I'd know he was here." She started picking up all the torn pictures. He had gone through her photo album and pulled out every picture that he was in. He had broken the bracelet, and necklace he had given her just to toss them on the floor for her to see. "I'm gonna talk to my dad. This is crazy."

"I agree," Paul said as he tied one shoelace then the other before he helped Bella finish cleaning up the room.

Paul pulled Bella into a hug. "Thank you for helping me." She kissed his chest. "I'm going to talk to my dad and ask him about you staying here like you suggested. I don't think Edward would come back around if he knew you were living here."

"If you think he'll be okay with it, then so am I." He kissed the top of her head then released her. "I need a drink."

Bella picked up a few more things and tossed them in the trash. "We'll wait for dad to get home. If he says it's okay, then we can head to the hotel and check out."

They waited about an hour before Charlie got home. He seemed in a fairly good mood and that's what Bella was hoping for. "We brought you leftovers. I can heat some up for you." Bella thought a little ass kissing would butter him up.

Charlie hung his gun belt and jacket before reaching down to untie his boots. "Sure, kiddo, if you don't mind." He then looked up and saw Paul sitting at the table. "Hey, bud."

"Hey, Charlie," Paul greeted. "Catch any bad guys today?"

"Nah, desk duty today." Charlie put his boots on the rack by the front door. "What're you two into?"

"Not much," Bella replied as she pressed a few buttons on the microwave. "Paul got to meet everyone today."

Charlie smiled. "How'd that go?" He opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. "Jake have one of his fits?"

"No," Paul answered. "He was actually pretty cool and funny."

"We talked," Bella added. "He's actually okay with everything. He's even okay if Paul chooses alpha."

Charlie's brows rose. "Seriously?"

"Of course, he wants alpha, but he knows it's rightfully Paul's." Bella pulled the food from the microwave and put it on the table for her dad.

"Well, I guess he's finally a man," Charlie said as he sat down at the table. "Someone finally gave him his balls."

They laughed at Jake's expense even though he wasn't there to defend himself. It was quiet for a few minutes as Charlie began to eat his food. The first few bites he hummed because it was that good. Bella wasn't sure how she wanted to start the conversation about Paul temporarily moving him with them.

Bella took Paul's hand as she took a deep breath. "Hey dad," she started. "Something happened today."

Charlie looked up at the two. "By your tone, it doesn't sound good."

"No. Edward broke into the house and tore up a bunch of pictures, broke some of my jewelry and broke my computer."

Charlie put his fork down and wiped his mouth with the paper towel that Bella had given him. "You sure it was him?"

"Yes, sir," Paul said. "I remember his scent from when he approached us yesterday."

Charlie wasn't sure what he could do aside from asking the wolves to kill Edward. "I don't know what I can do. I mean, I can talk to Carlisle, and you know just as well as I do that there's no use in arresting him."

"I don't think he'd hurt me, but then again, he's acting like he's literally lost his mind." Bella's leg started bouncing from the buildup of anxiety.

"Do you have any suggestions?" Charlie asked. "Staying on the reservation would be safest for you, so who has an extra room you can bunk in?"

"Well," Bella started then looked at Paul. "We were hoping to have a house by the end of next week, but for now we were wondering if Paul could stay here. He'd be here to make sure Edward doesn't come in the house anymore."

Charlie looked at each of them pointedly. From the stories he's heard from Billy and Cora, he knew the whole imprinting situation was serious. "As much as I don't like it and because you're not married, I guess it's the safest way, for now. And for God sakes, if I hear just one squeak of hanky panky, your ass is sleeping on the back porch." He pointed at Paul. "I know you're adults, but this is my house, so show your old dad some respect."

"Yes, daddy, and thank you." Bella stood from the table to get her dad another beer. Before she sat it down, she kissed her dad on the cheek and hugged him. "We're gonna head to the hotel so Paul can check out and get his stuff. Is there anything we can pick up on our way back?"

Bella opened the pantry and scanned the contents. It was very sparse, so she would have to make sure to stop at the grocery store to do some shopping. She knew how much Paul could eat, and if she was going to be cooking for all three of them, Charlie definitely didn't have enough food for them for two days.

On the way to the hotel, Paul and Bella talked about which house would be best for them. Paul wanted the biggest one even though Bella protested. "I know it's none of my business, but how the hell do you plan on paying for this house? You're not even working, and my job alone can barely buy shit tickets."

Paul gave Bella a funny look. "What the hell are shit tickets?"

"You really were sheltered," Bella teased. "It's toilet paper."

Bella watched Paul as he thought of toilet paper then he laughed. "That's a good one."

"So, how do you plan on paying? I need my arms and legs, so that's out of the question." Bella adjusted herself in her seat to face Paul.

He gave her a side glance before he put his eyes back on the road. "I have money. I sold my mom's house in New York, and I got money from her life insurance. Plus, there's money from..." Paul trailed off, not sure about telling her the rest, but he knew he could trust her with his life. "Whoever gave my mom money to disappear, gave her quite a bit."

"What's quite a bit?" Bella thought maybe a hundred thousand give or take.

"A little over seven mil."

"WHAT!?" She had her hands on her chest. "Are you kidding me?!"

Paul smiled at his beautiful imprint. "No, Angel, I'm not kidding you."

Bella was beside herself. She was flabbergasted to say the least. "Please tell me it's in the bank and not in a bag in your hotel room?" She kept thinking of the worst-case scenario.

Paul sighed. "Yes, Angel. It's in the bank. I put it in when my mom's house sold. I needed a bank account, so I opened one at the credit union."

The cab of the truck was silent as Paul kept his eyes on the road and Bella's mind was in overdrive. She knew the Cullens had money, but not to the extent to hand off seven million dollars to just anyone. Even though she knew it was from Jasper, she was honestly speechless. "I don't know what to say."

Paul smiled. "You could say, I love you, Paul and I'll move in as soon as you sign the papers on a house, and I'll marry you."

Bella's jaw dropped. "You really want me to say that?"

"Do you not feel that way?" He knew he was putting her on the spot and trying to trick her into saying the words first.

Bella's shoulders slumped. "I mean, we just...it's only..." She stuttered relentlessly.

"it's okay. I understand." Paul kept his eyes on the road. He knew he was being a shithead.

"From the outside, everyone will think that we've jumped into everything way too fast." Bella sighed. "You don't think it's too soon?" She asked in a low voice, but Paul heard her as if she yelled it.

Paul drove in silence for a good five minutes as he thought about the best way to tell her how he has felt since the moment he imprinted on her. She even said it herself that she felt like she had imprinted on him, as well. They both knew that it was normal to feel that way especially when an alpha imprints. Cora had described it perfectly to Bella when she explained her experience. "No, I don't," he finally said. "Look at my dad and aunt Cora. They're imprints, right?"

Bella nodded. "Yeah," she replied cautiously.

"And how long have they been married?"

Bella shook her head. "I don't know, honestly. As far as I know, they've been married since before I was born." She shrugged her shoulders as she thought for a minute. "Jake will be 18 in less than five months, and you two are, what, 15 or 18 months apart?"

"Something like that," Paul said as he tried to keep track of what she was saying. "Just call it 18 years, then."

"Okay, 18 years." Paul smiled as he drove. He hoped he could get his point across to her. Time only made a difference for certain things, but falling in love with someone, there really isn't a time limit. Especially in their world where imprinting was a sure thing when it came to being in love.

"Do you ever notice how they look at each other? Sam and Emily give each other the same look." Bella nodded. "I'm not going anywhere, Angel. You're the ember to my flame. If you're afraid that I'll leave, then get that thought out of your head. As far as we're concerned, you were never engaged before. I'm your first and last love; I'm your first true kiss. Tongue and all, baby, and I'm the first and last guy that you'll ever make love with."

Paul's words grabbed at Bella's heart and all she wanted to do was cry. "You're all I'll ever want."

Hook, line, and sinker Paul thought. "And you're my life, Bella. Two minutes, two hours, two days, it doesn't matter. We're connected for life; you die, I die."

"Sounds like Sam told you more than just the hearing thing," Bella stated.

"Yeah," Paul admitted. "And he wants me to tag along one night this upcoming week before the bonfire next weekend. That's when I'll be accepted into the pack."

"That's great. They're really great guys, but you better watch out because they can put away some food. I've seen you eat and now you have competition," Bella said jokingly just as Paul pulled into the hotel parking lot.

Paul chortled. "We'll have to see about that."

They made quick work of getting his belongings packed up and loaded into the truck before Paul went to the office to check out. Fifteen minutes later, they were on their way back to Forks.

When they got home, Charlie was sitting in his recliner flipping channels on the TV. Bella called out. "We're back." Then they headed upstairs to put Paul's two duffle bags in her room. She started clearing space in her tall dresser for Paul's clothes. "You don't have to help me with this; you can go downstairs and gossip with my dad. I'm sure he's found a game to watch by now."

"I'll help because I'll need to know where my clothes are." Paul swatted Bella on her ass when she bent over to slip a pair of her shoes under the bed.

It didn't go unnoticed to Paul that their conversation was steered in a different direction. He'd give her another day or two before they talked about their future again.

Two days later, Paul found himself feeling a little nervous. He had never shifted with other wolves before. He wondered if he was going to be smaller than the rest of them. "You'll be fine," Bella told him as she began to plate their dinner. She had made a triple layer meatloaf filled with cheese, mushrooms, and pepperoni. She made sure Paul got extra to eat because he'll be starving by the time he got home.

Paul had made an offer on a house the day before. Bella thought it was a little too big for just them, but Paul assured her that they would fill it with kids...eventually. That made Paul think of his lost baby. He hadn't told Bella about him, yet, and he knew he needed to. He would have to tell her soon if he wanted her to marry him. He wanted a clean slate going into their forever relationship.

"I hate that I'll be away from you all night. We haven't been separated for more than an hour since we met." Paul was feeling like a pussy whipped cry baby, and he wasn't afraid to admit to it.

Bella gave Paul a sad look. "I'm sorry, sweetie, but we'll just have to get used to it." She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Suck it up, buttercup."

"Who needs to suck what?" Charlie asked when he walked through the door from work.

Bella laughed. "I told Paul to suck it up buttercup because he's going to be gone all night."

"Don't pick on the poor boy, Bella. I'm sure Sam has a pacifier for him."

Paul pouted and Bella laughed as she moved to sit on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his head. "We're just messing around. You need to get used to that. We're big jokesters around here."

Bella wasn't about to voice what crossed her mind. A memory of Edward flashed through her head. There was never any joking going on when he was around. Bella knew she was in a better place. Opening her mind up to Paul, she let him see a moment when Edward was visiting her. There was always talk of books and tons of past experiences he had after he was first changed.

Paul kissed her throat near her scar and whispered. "I'm sorry, Angel."

Bella pressed her face into the crook of his neck. "Everything is so much better now."

"None of that hanky panky in my kitchen," Charlie said as he sat at the table where Bella had put his plate. Charlie was only teasing them. He loved seeing his daughter happy. He would give anything if he could take her past suffering away, but Paul imprinting on her was music to her ears.

"We're just snuggling, daddy. He's gonna be gone all night," Bella mumbled into Paul's throat.

"Oh wa-wa-wa," Charlie teased. "You want a pacifier, too?"

When it came time for Paul to leave, Bella walked him out to his truck. They couldn't stop kissing. "If you can come home sooner, please do."

"You know I will." He kissed behind her ear. "Sleep naked."

Bella giggled. "We're out of condoms."

"You didn't seem to care in the shower this morning." He kissed and nipped at her neck.

Bella moved back away from him. "You pulled out, though." She made a thinking face. "Didn't you?"

"Sure." Paul lied then wiggled his eyebrows.

She smacked his chest. "Don't do that. You act like you don't care if I get pregnant or not."

"How about..." Paul started. "If it happens, it happens."

"I don't know," Bella said. "I'll think on it while you're gone."

Edward wanted so badly to climb through Bella's window and lay beside her like he used to do. He missed her so much that it was literally driving him insane. He had learned to mask his scent so none of the wolves would notice when he was close, and he was always close. As far as he knew, it was working. That stupid mutt of Bella's was always close and having sex with her every time he turned around.

He really didn't know what he was doing. He was so obsessed with Bella that he made sure to see her every day. Even after Charlie showed up to their house one day to give him a piece of his mind about breaking into his house. Edward didn't say anything, but as soon as Charlie left, Carlisle and Esme lit into him. They made sure to tell him that they were disappointed in the way he was acting and that it was way out of his character. It all went in one ear and out the other.

Edward was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't hear the approaching wolves. They had kept their minds silent so he wouldn't hear them. Sam was the first to alert him. "Edward, it's not a good idea for you to be spying on Bella like this."

"This is neutral territory. I can be here if I want," Edward replied in a defiant tone.

"Not when you're spying on my imprint," Paul informed in a demanding tone.

Edward turned around to look down at the group of sex huge wolves. They were spread out around the base of the tree where Edward was perched. Paul and Sam were the same size in wolf form, but that didn't concern Edward. He knew he could get away from them if he had to. "I'm not spying on her," he simply stated. "I'm protecting her."

"From what?" Jake asked. "The only threat to her is you. My brother's imprint is no longer your concern."

"She's my singer. I have to protect her," Edward said in defense.

"She's nothing to you, leech," Paul spat. "So, leave now or we won't have a choice but to make you leave."

Edward dropped down to the ground and came face to face with Paul. "You couldn't hurt a fly if you tried."

Paul leaned down, ready to pounce on Edward, but Sam stepped in front of him. "Not now, Paul," he demanded. "I'm sure he'll give us all another opportunity to warn him to leave and stay away."

Jake stepped up next to his brother. "I've wanted to rip his head off since the first time I met him."

Paul growled in response, agreeing with Jake.

"Such manners, fido," Edward said snidely then sucked air through his teeth. "Or is it mutt, but wait, he's the mutt," he said pointing at Jake.

All the wolves growled. "Dude thinks he's a comedian," Jared said as he moved closer.

Paul flashed a few memories about Bella so Edward could see in his mind. He made sure it was noting too private. The images were of them kissing with tongue and their first night together as he looked down at their bonding mark.

Edward snarled. "I should kill you now, fucking puppy."

"Go ahead and try," Paul said tauntingly. "It would be our pleasure to rip you to pieces.

The wolves began to creep in closer, leaving no room for an escape, but Edward jumped back into the trees and began gliding through them like a gust of wind. They followed him until he crossed over the treaty line. Sam decided then and there that he would go to the elders and request that Bella's house be put on their side of the treaty line. That would entail Carlisle going to the reservation to adjust the area.

Edward stayed close to the line hoping the wolves wouldn't hang around for too long so he could go back to his tree. He hoped he would be able to finally go in to be next to her like old times.

An hour later, and right when he decided to enter her room, the dog's truck came into view. Edward thought if he just killed him, he could get Bella back, but he knew how the imprinting worked. He refused to never see Bella, again.

As soon as Paul made it upstairs, he took a quick shower before climbing into bed with his Angel. She was in a deep sleep when he scooted in close to her. On instinct, she rolled over to face him. She was naked and Paul thanked the architect that designed Charlie's house. The master bedroom was on the first floor and at the back of the house.

Edward was still watching with revulsion. He had to watch them for some sick reason, but honestly, Edward knew. He actually enjoyed it and hated it at the same time.

Paul was hard in an instant when he saw one of Bella's nipples peeking out from under the blanket. He needed to touch her and be inside her. Condoms be damned.

As if from habit, Bella rolled to her back and spread her legs giving Paul the invitation to touch her. He didn't want any foreplay, but he had to make sure she was slick enough for him to slip in. She had told him he was well endowed, and that made his head swell with pride. Thankfully, Bella could take all of him, fitting around him perfectly. The tightness from her drenched walls made him want to cum just thinking about it.

Paul eased over her and knelt between her legs. He needed to taste her first.

Bella thought she was having the best dream of her life as she reached down and fisted Paul's hair. He loved it when she pushed his face into her pussy. It was then he knew she was awake when she bent her knees and let them fall open. "I love your mouth on me," she said lowly. She thrusted into his face wanting more.

The moment Bella came, Paul was over her. "You gotta be quiet, Angel."

As soon as Paul entered her, she had to pull a pillow over her mouth. He watched as he moved in and out, amazed at how tight she felt around him. The vision made him drive into her harder before he adjusted himself. He wanted his mouth on hers and felt the primal urge to mark her, again. He made sure that every inch of him was deep inside her when he came and bit down on her bonding scar. His wolf was thanking him for the metalic taste of blood as soon as it hit Paul's tongue.

When he released his teeth from her, he licked her wound. "Do you love me, Angel?" His face was buried in the crook of her neck.

"More than anything," she admitted. "You're my ember, too."

"Please move in with me as soon as we get a house, and marry me as soon as possible, please, please, please."

Bella knew she wanted all the same as Paul, but she was afraid to say it out loud until that very moment. She was turning over a new leaf and not holding back for nothing. "Okay," she agreed. "Let's get married at the new house. Just our families."

Paul chuckled. "You know that entails the entire reservation, right?" Paul pulled out of her and plopped down on the bed next to her. He rubbed his hand down over her stomach and rested on her mound.

"I do, and I don't want anything formal. I mean, I'll wear a dress, but I don't want anything fancy." She thought about the plans that Alice had made for her wedding to Edward. She let Paul see all the intricate detail into the decorations she had wanted to use. Paul could see why she wanted something simple.

They made love one more time before they lay quietly. Paul needed to tell Bella what had happened with Edward. He also wanted to share with her about his lost baby.

Bella had her head laying on his chest. "There's something I need to tell you." He combed his fingers through her beautiful dark brown hair.

"Mmmm..." She hummed.

"I almost became a dad a couple of years ago," he said sadly.

Bella raised her head to look at him. "What's almost?"

"Sarah was nearly seven months pregnant and the baby died inside her. She had to give birth to our deceased son."

Bella felt a tear slip over her cheek. "I'm so sorry."

"He just stopped developing and his heart stopped." Paul felt a small twinge in his heart for his son that never was.

Bella kissed Paul's chest over his heart. "I'm sorry." Then she thought for a minute. "You think maybe it was because she wasn't your imprint?"

"No. My mom wasn't Billy's imprint and I came out okay. There was no real explanation. We had him cremated and used some of his ashes to make pendants for each of us. I keep mine in a small keepsake box." He kissed Bella's forehead. "When I first imprinted on you, I was scared to get you pregnant, but once we bonded the imprint, that seemed like the only thing that me and my wolf want."

Bella scooted up to kiss him. "I do love you and I feel your desires; I really do. If you hadn't imprinted on me, I was going to a call off the wedding anyway because I want babies. Edward said we could've adopted or gotten a sperm donor, but I want to experience pregnancy, and more than once.

"Speaking of Edward," Paul said. "He's been stalking you. He watches us through your window."

"What the hell?" Bella sat up with the blanket clutched over her chest. "What a sick bastard." She hoped he was outside at that very moment and heard everything they've said and done. He really had crossed a line she wouldn't understand.

She hopped up from the bed and let the blanket drop, hoping Edward was watching. He would never see her naked body again as she pulled a thick comforter from her closet and grabbed her stapler from her desk. She covered the window with it and repeated the same with her other window. "I hope we hear from Em tomorrow about the house. He can't go down to the res. He's a stupid, sick, stalker, fuckface."

"Such language, Angel," Paul teased. "I may have to take you, again, if you keep talking like that."

Once Bella was done making sure the blankets were secure enough over the windows, she plopped down on the bed next to Paul. "What did you say about taking me, again?"

Thank you!

RTB