All characters from Twilight belong to Stephanie Meyer. I own nothing except my version of events.
A/N: Hellooooo everyone!
Yes, it's not an illusion.
I'm finally here with another story. This time around I've decided to stay in Twilight and focus more on the wolves. I think I missed them in Unbreakable and so I've been dying to make one surrounding the wolf pack, especially one of my favorite shapeshifters, Paul. Yup! This is officially a Bella/Paul pairing. And it's going to be so full of smut you are going to have to read this one in private. Ha Ha. I do have to warn you it's also going to be a little bit of a slow-burn. I hadn't initially meant for it to be that way but the characters kind of wrote themselves out again and so here we are.
Also, I was supposed to have started posting around mid-April but I ended up making a major last-minute plot change that threw me back for another few weeks. And I had to go back and practically rewrite all ten chapters I'd previously written. It's why I'm posting soooo friggin late. My goal is to post twice a week but I haven't decided on a posting schedule yet, I just really wanted to get this story out now before I kept delaying it.
I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think.
Chapter 1
Daylight again…
Is that why the sun is shining so brightly on my face?
Groaning, I throw my arms over my face to protect my eyes from the burning sunlight streaming through a small gap in between my curtains. Out of all the open space around I had the misfortune of that stubborn little ray of sunshine hitting me right in the eyeballs. It made the pounding in my head from all the alcohol I'd consumed last night that much worse.
Thank you world for such a rude awakening.
I try to reach up to adjust the curtains only to realize it's impossible when there's a strong muscled arm gripping me tightly around my waist. I groan again in displeasure, annoyed to find the guy I hooked up with last night still in my bed even after explicitly telling him to hit the road before going to sleep.
I slap his bicep to wake him up, racking my brain for a name but coming up completely empty.
"Hey." I finally call in a gravelly voice, my tongue feeling like sandpaper in my mouth.
But the man doesn't move an inch and if it weren't for his hot, disgustingly stinky breath hitting me in the neck, I would've thought he were dead.
I clear my throat and call again, "Hey!" I repeat, adding a few slaps to his arm to get him to wake up.
The man finally comes to life, groaning in annoyance as he digs his face further into my neck.
Ew.
Frustrated I exclaim, "Dude wake the fuck up! You gotta go." Pushing against his shoulder to get him away from me.
Finally he leans away, shifting to his side. I resist the urge to cover my nose with my hand when he releases a harsh sigh, his stale-beer smelling breath hitting me in the face this time.
"Why?" He asks stupidly, annoying me even further. "Do I have to hide from your boyfriend or something?"
I roll my eyes, annoyed he made it seem as though I needed a legitimate reason for him to leave other than I just didn't want him in my house anymore. "No. I just think it's time for you to go. In fact, I specifically remember telling you to do just that last night."
He shrugs in indifference, as if my wants were completely irrelevant. "I got sleepy. You tired me out last night." He ends cheekily, leaning his face down towards mine for a kiss while his hand tries to snake around my waist again.
It's anything but cheeky, more like annoying than anything else.
I dodge it just in time, rolling out of bed completely naked and reaching for my robe to cover myself. I fasten the sash around my waist and move towards the window to pull the curtains apart allowing the sun complete entrance. I was hoping the direct sunlight would hurt him just as much as it did to me earlier, but it does nothing of the sort.
"Dude, get out." I repeat unable to hide my annoyance now.
He ignores the clear rejection again, sitting up and leaning his back against my headboard as if he lived here too. My blanket doing very little to cover his junk. Now with the sun lighting up my bedroom I can see his face more clearly now, noticing how attractive he really is. His shaggy dirty-blonde hair is in complete disarray from last night's adventures. He was tall with a muscular build, tan from playing in the soccer team at school... if I remember correctly. He had tattoos all over his chest and biceps, and a piercing on his left eyebrow adding to his sex appeal.
No wonder I brought him home last night.
He was hot, that fact was undeniable, but I wasn't interested in getting to know him anymore than what we'd already done last night. There was nothing wrong with him, per se. I was just never interested in anyone for more than one single night. The only one to whom that rule did not apply to was Jacob... but that was a totally different situation.
"I thought we could go to breakfast." Un-named guy says with a pleased smile, assuming I would be thrilled by the invitation.
Not at all ignoring the fact that I've tried to get him to leave more times than I can count... No, of course, a woman wouldn't know what she wanted even when she was explicitly declaring it.
Maybe if I left, it would get him to move quicker. I wasn't interested in having breakfast with him, nor in seeing him again other than in passing on campus or at parties. I would be fine not talking to him again after today.
"No thanks." I say easily, moving towards my bedroom door and unhooking my towel from behind. I pointedly look back at him over my shoulder, making it clear I'm speaking to him directly. "Make sure to be gone by the time I come back." I warn, not missing the look of bewilderment on his face before I make my escape.
I catch Jacob's eyes on my way to the restroom.
He looks over his shoulder at the sound of my door opening and arches a brow at me in question. His broad muscular back in complete display as he stands in front of the stove cooking shirtless in the kitchen. His eyes stray to my bedroom door behind me, a devious smirk appearing on his ruggedly handsome face.
I throw him a very annoyed look shaking my head, lifting my hand to make a cutting line across my neck.
He chuckles and silently nods his assent.
After being roommates for almost three years, we've long since developed a carefully crafted communication system to send each other nonverbal signs in front of prying ears. It varied from many things such as, performing wingman/wingwoman duties when we found someone we were interested in. When we needed some privacy for hook-ups or like now when we needed the other person to get rid of the stragglers.
Assured Jacob would take care of the situation I take my time in the shower, washing away the remnants of my drunken stupor down the drain.
Last night we'd gone to a party hosted by one of the all-male sororities. We often did over the weekend, sometimes weekdays too when we could manage it with our workload. But Jacob wasn't my only roommate. We also lived with Embry too, renting a house off-campus so we wouldn't be forced to live at the dorms with complete strangers.
We've all been close friends since as far as I can remember. Ever since my parents divorced when I was very young and according to child custody arrangements I was legally obligated to spend my summers with my father Charlie in Forks, Washington. Most of my time, however, was spent at the La Push reservation with Jacob, his twin sisters, his stepbrother Embry, and a few other kids from the reservation. And while my father went off to work as the Chief of Police in Forks, Tiffany Call, who Billy married a few years after his late wife's passing, babysat me almost daily, treating me as one of her own. The rest of the year I lived in Arizona with my mother Renee. But sometimes, when my dad could convince my mother to let me go, I would also spend my winter breaks in Washington too. Which to be honest solely depended on whether my mother had a boyfriend to spend the holidays with that year. If she didn't I was forced to stay home that year to entertain and make sure she didn't feel sad and alone during the holidays. And despite my words that probably made my mother sound rather vile, she really wasn't.
Renee was loving and caring. Cheerful and so full of life, living with my mother was always fun. She was erratic most days, pulling me out of school just to go for some ice cream, or randomly taking me on weeklong road trips in search of the best donut in the state. Her only real downfall was her lifelong belief in fairytale romances. She always fell hard and fast, leaving herself vulnerable to heartbreak when every man inevitably got bored and abandoned her as if she'd never existed. But even after her numerous failed romances she never gave up, never stopped believing.
A part of me both admired and detested her for it.
I admired her tenacity, her devotion to the idea of love. Her belief that her prince charming was out there, somewhere, just waiting for her to find him. I also hated it for that same reason.
She never learned. Never understood she couldn't so easily give her heart away to any man who waltzed into her life and paid her the smallest of attentions. Not everyone deserved it. So when I finally graduated high school I moved closer to my father and those I considered family in La Push. Attending college just an hour away from the only place I've ever thought of as my home.
Done with my shower I dry myself and dress in a pair of shorts and a loose jumper. I was incredibly parched and hunger was finally starting to claw its way up to the surface. The shower had helped immensely to bring my mind and body back from the hangover I'd initially woken up in.
Walking into the living room/kitchen, I pull the stool out from underneath the breakfast bar and sit my happy ass down. Throwing Jake a grateful smile when he immediately hands me a steaming hot cup of coffee followed by a plate piled high with breakfast foods. I don't even bother to remind him I couldn't possibly eat it all, by now I was so used to eating what I could and passing him the left overs.
"How do you always manage to catch all the stage-five clingers?" Jake humorously asks.
Oh great. If Jacob had been forced to strong arm the guy out of here, then this wasn't the last I'd hear from him. Thank god I wouldn't have to deal with him until after spring break.
And thank god he didn't have my number either.
I shrug, having no clue whatsoever. "I have no idea, but it's so damned annoying." I grumble between mouthfuls.
He chuckles, shaking his head at me. "It's a good thing you have me around to chase away the unwanted."
"Very, very true."
For a while, only the scrapes of our forks against our plates are heard as we quietly eat together.
"Embry in class?" I finally ask after some time.
"Yeah. He left early to study in the library before his last test."
"How the hell did he manage that?" I ask incredulously, still feeling the exhaustion of my lingering hangover.
Jacob throws me a look hinting to how much I actually drank the night before, which was probably more than he and Embry did. Though in my defense, they could hold their alcohol a lot better than I could. I was pretty sure they could finish a keg each and still be sober enough to have a coherent conversation.
"Right. It's the beer pong game that tipped me over the edge."
"You know you shouldn't listen to Kyle when he gets like that. He always taunts you to play against him because you're the only one who's a real competition."
"Ugh, I know, but I can't just let him run his mouth like that. It'll taint my reputation."
He rolls his eyes at me incredulously.
And I know he's right. It isn't a good enough reason to drink that much just to show-up stupid Kyle. He was always a douche and I should be more than used to it by now.
"So in other news we're heading out as soon as Embry gets back from class." Jacob informs me, changing the direction of our conversation. "Since it's Spring Break, Dad is taking the opportunity to get us to replace the gutters and to take care of the broken tree in the backyard before my sisters arrive for their yearly visit in a few weeks."
"Oh right, I didn't realize they were coming so soon. I'll pack enough clothes to last me the week and a half we'll be staying for."
Today was Friday and since we were out of school for the next week we'd planned to leave for Forks today and come back home until the Sunday before school started up again.
"Oh and before I forget to tell you, we're going camping on Monday."
I throw him an unhappy look. "Why? I hate camping."
"We know that… but it's a special occasion this time."
Receiving an incomplete answer I wave my hand for him to continue.
"Do you remember Paul?" He randomly asks instead.
I squint my eyes trying to remember the face that goes with the name. "I don't remember a Paul… We know a Paul?"
He throws me an annoyed look, though I don't know why since names always escaped. Everyone who knew me was well aware of that fact. "He used to live in La Push until his mother died and his dad moved them to Utah."
I blink back at him stupidly, still having no idea who he was talking about.
"Paul, Bella. Jared's best friend. You guys got in a fight at the beach one time when we were six. You dared him to eat some dead seaweed and he got the runs for two days after."
I break out in a roar of laughter, now recalling the event he was referring to.
I remembered Paul, vaguely, at least enough to recall the moment. Paul and I fought often, rarely able to get along whenever we were near each other. Mostly because he was always picking on me. And it wasn't because I was the only girl around, Leah was there too, but for some reason it was always me he chose to make fun of. We were mortal enemies, sworn to hate each other until the end of time…
No really, we spit on our hands and shook on it.
"Oh yeahhhh… I remember now. I hated that dude." I grumble, now remembering how much I really despised that kid. "So what about him?"
"He bought out the bar from the reservation and moved back a couple of weeks ago."
"No shit!"
"And the guys wanted to welcome him back home with a little camping trip."
I nod for a second, until I think about the repercussions of a failed plan and become a bit worried. "You sure that's a good idea? You guys are a lot different than you used to be, but more specifically, how exactly are you gonna hide the fact that you're all wolves now?!" I question incredulously.
Yeah, did I forget to mention all of my friends were wolves?
The Quileute tribe legends always spoke of men who shifted into animals when danger threatened their people. Growing up we always thought of them as simple myths, stories carried on through generations.
Boy were we surprised when they all turned out to be true.
Sam, the alpha of their pack, was the first one to shift. Though Sam and I had a five year age difference, we were still relatively close. Growing up he always called me his little sister and in turn I'd always call him my big brother. So one day, when my father notified me he'd gone missing I'd been deathly afraid of never seeing him again. I wasn't the only one. Sam was very well-known in La Push for his kind and willingness to help those in need. So when he'd suddenly gone missing during one of his visits back home from college, there had been a widespread search in both La Push and Forks. I rarely saw my father during those weeks as he searched endless hours for any clue of Sam's whereabouts. Then one day Sam randomly stumbled out of the woods in the middle of the day, naked and looking lost and confused. People began to gossip, claiming Sam had gotten lost in the woods after suffering a nervous breakdown. I never believed it, though. Sam was the strongest, most level-headed person I've ever known.
But it wasn't long before things only got weirder after that.
I was in my sophomore year of high school in Arizona when I heard of Jared's disappearance. Soon it seemed as though every few weeks, Jacob would call notifying me another one of our friends had gone missing. By the time I'd arrived for my yearly summer visit in Forks, all of my childhood friends had disappeared and come back looking very different from the last time I'd seen them. Everyone refused to tell me what was going on and since I was old enough to take care of myself, Tiffany had decided she would no longer babysit me too.
I'd been officially pushed out of La Push.
At seventeen I found myself going through the hardest time of my life. All of a sudden all of my lifelong friends had decided to reject me all at once. I didn't handle it very well. But I stubbornly held myself together, putting on a brave face and pretending like it didn't hurt me. Much like I did with every other painful moment in my life. And so that summer I'd decided to make new friends.
It was that summer I met Edward Cullen, coming into the hospital to be treated for a leg injury after falling off of Mike's truck. For years, I'd heard about them often. In small towns new gossip spreads like wildfire. So when the news of the Cullen family moving to Forks from California hit the town, it had been the hottest gossip since Mr. George, our sixty-five year old mailman, married a stripper from Seattle. The Cullen's were weird, at least that's what everyone liked to say. They were all physically perfect, beautiful in every way, but completely standoffish and keeping mostly to themselves. I'd openly accepted them for all their strangeness, never one to shy away from others simply because they'd been ostracized by the society around them. Most of that summer I spent my time at Edward's home with his adoptive parents and his four other adopted siblings. They had all been extremely welcoming to me, and so I'd had no reason to doubt their intentions.
That is until Jacob decided to come for a surprise visit one day.
It happened the week before I was scheduled to return home to Arizona with my mother. Jacob arrived unannounced to my home at the same time Edward had been there. As soon as Jacob caught sight of Edward he'd turned absolutely feral, bursting into a giant wolf right before our eyes and scaring the crap out of me and my dad. It had become impossible to hide their secret after that, and my dad and I had been told everything, even of what the Cullen's really were…
After finding out they were vampires, I broke off my relationship with Edward. I might've cared about him deeply but I wasn't willing to go against my family and risk my neck, literally, to continue dating a vampire I'd just met not even a month prior. So even though I was growing very strong feelings for Edward, with a heavy heart, I decided to end things for good. Soon after, the Cullen's left Forks and were never heard or seen from again.
"Easy." Jacob says nonchalantly, throwing me a wicked smirk. "We just won't turn into giant wolves."
I roll my eyes. Well, no duh. "Whatever. So are we like camping during the day or is this like camping-camping… sleeping in tents with no toilets or running water?"
He snorts in amusement, throwing his arm over my shoulders to pull me into his side. "We're heading out early Wednesday morning after breakfast. Staying the night, maybe two, then coming back mid-afternoon." When I throw him an unhappy look he turns to teasing. "Don't be a princess. Come with us. A little roll around the mud won't kill you, Bella. Plus I'll keep you nice and warm at night so you won't get cold." He flirts, wiggling his brows at me.
I laugh and lightly punch him on his side.
He pretends to wince in pain, though we both know he'd barely even felt it.
Stupid wolfy powers.
"Whatever. We haven't slept together in like a month and I'm not about to do that in the middle of the forest where the rest of the pack can overhear."
Back when we were teens, around the age of sixteen, Jacob and I had tried dating. Since we'd been very close friends since early childhood and got along supremely well, we'd thought we'd be able to seamlessly transition into a romantic relationship.
Needless to say, it didn't work out.
Though Jacob and I have always been good friends, we're also both very well-known for our combustible temperaments. We're both headstrong, always wanting our own way. And when you're teenagers and hormones are already affecting your mental state, we were absolutely toxic together. Even now as friends sometimes we needed breaks from each other to prevent major blow-outs that forced kind-hearted Embry to intervene. Thankfully we had him to separate us, but even Embry got sick of our fighting sometimes and threw in the towel.
Needless to say we'd both decided to end our relationship amicably and continued being friends just as we've always been… though it never stopped us from hooking up every once in a while. That part of our friendship has always been easy. We'd lost our virginity together and experienced a lot of other first with each other that connected us in a way it didn't to the rest of our friends.
We both knew what it was, though. Simple hook-ups, no strings attached. And after the whole wolf thing and finding out about imprints, Jacob had been even more hard-set on keeping things casual. I mean it wasn't a guarantee that he would find his imprint like Sam and Jared had, but he also couldn't deny there was a very real possibility that he could.
I'm broken out of my inner reflections by a dragging noise. My vision refocuses on Jacob as he pushes his empty plate to the side and pulls me off my seat, placing me on the breakfast bar in front of him like I weighed nothing.
"Oh come on." He starts playfully. His hands sliding up my thighs, spreading my legs apart in front of him as his fingers continue their trail up and under my shorts. His fingertips teasingly tracing the edges of my underwear. "Like we've ever cared if anyone overheard us having fun before."
I smile and bite my lip.
He wasn't wrong.
It was a well-known secret amongst everyone who knew us. Even our friends on campus knew Jacob and I hooked up often. I'm pretty sure even our dad's knew… though they've never mentioned it, thankfully.
He finally slips his fingers underneath my underwear, his knuckles grazing my already wet slit.
"Jacob." I whisper, dropping my head back, my legs instinctively moving further apart to give him full access.
"He wasn't enough, was he?" He asks gruffly, referring to the guy I slept with last night. His knuckles making contact with my already soaking heat.
I release a harsh breath, closing my eyes and moving my hips to go along with the rhythm of his knuckles.
"Answer me or I'll stop."
"No." I answer quickly before he can make good on his word. "He wasn't enough."
"Did he make you come?"
"No."
Jacob chuckles darkly, seemingly satisfied with my answer. "Do you want me to take you there?" He asks seductively, his knuckles increasing their movements around my clit.
"Yes." I hiss.
He pulls his hand out of my shorts and gives me a direct order, "Lift up."
I place my feet on his thighs and lift my bottom off the counter top. Jacob's fingers hook onto the waistband of my shorts and underwear removing them in one swift move.
I hear them hit the floor but it's the last thing I'm aware of when my mind is suddenly consumed with Jacob's tongue licking from my entrance up until he's flicking my clit with the tip of his tongue.
He moans deep in his throat when he gets a taste of me, his tongue quickly sliding back out and taking its rightful place back on my throbbing clit to take more.
My head drops forward, my vision solely focused on Jacob's face as he savors me. I slip my hand into his hair and tug on the short strands, making his eyes swivel up to mine. There's only hunger in his expression, so all-consuming I feel like it's only him and I left in this world. Then his fingers slide into me, increasing his efforts to make me come.
"Shit, Jacob. Just like that."
I almost lose the strength to keep myself upright, leaning back onto my hands and shoving everything that's in the way. Something shatters on the floor but I don't even bother to look. Instead I close my eyes, throwing my head back when I feel my orgasm beginning to reach the surface.
"Fuck." I grunt, lost in the incredible rhythm Jacob has created with his fingers and tongue. It's always sublime whenever he's touching my body like this. It's why I'm always so willing to break the 'supposed-to-be' chastity of our friendship.
Because Jacob knows how my body works, he knows exactly what to do to get me off. When other guys fail to make me reach my peak I know Jacob will more than make up for it. He'd never leave me wanting.
His fingers curl forward, rubbing against the spot that always makes me break. Tension leaks into my extremities. My muscles locking as my body prepares itself for the high.
Sure enough moments later I explode screaming out his name in ecstasy. A mere second later Jacob's pulling me off the counter and dropping me onto his waiting cock.
"Jacob!" I yell again, grasping onto his shoulders when he has me immediately bouncing up and down onto his lap.
"Fuck, you're still-"
His eyes practically roll to the back of his head, his fingers digging into my hips. He forcibly shakes his head trying to come back to himself, his eyes taking in my shirt and looking not at all pleased with it. One of his hands immediately reaches for the hem lifting it off my body. His face bends forward and captures my bouncing nipple in between his lips.
"Oh god." I say breathlessly, my fingers weaving into his hair and pulling his face harder against my chest. My feet find the foot holds on the sides of his stool and I brace them there to push up higher on top of him.
A whoosh of air leaves his lips and he pulls away, his heavy-lidded gaze focusing on my face.
"Fuck, you're perfect." He grunts, his muscled shoulders, arms, and chest tensing and releasing repeatedly. A silent signal he's already close.
I tighten my walls and milk him, pushing down onto his lap hard to force him to explode.
He curses. His words becoming unintelligible before he gives up and pulls my face toward his, capturing my lips and shoving his tongue into my mouth.
I allow him entrance, feeling his arms tightening around my back until his body stiffens almost to the point of turning to stone, and then he lets go. He releases my lips but doesn't pull away as he shatters inside me.
He inevitably takes me with him, my second orgasm crashing into me in waves while we both ride them out together.
By the end, we're both panting. Our skin glistening with the exertion.
A pleased smile breaks out onto his face and he shakes his head almost in disbelief.
"Every. Fucking. Time."
I laugh at his words. We were seriously too damned close.
"Yeah." I say with a smile, "Thanks." I add, my smile instantly widening when he rolls his eyes.
"Dork. You know I'm always here for you when you need me." He reminds me, his eyes looking down to where we're still connected and biting his lip.
"Yeah and can I just say it's very annoying that you always know."
He throws his head back and laughs.
I chuckle with him. Our relationship was definitely weird but we somehow made it work.
"You act like you hate it when you really don't. I scratch your back and you scratch mine. That's how it's always worked."
I nod and smile, tapping his bicep so he can lift me off of him.
We both release harsh breaths at the action before he sets me back down onto my seat. He pushes off the counter and moves to the sink to retrieve a clean towel for me to clean myself up.
Once I'm done he retrieves my clothes from the floor, handing them to me so I can get redressed and continues on as if nothing's happened.
He gets to work sweeping the shattered plate I dropped on the floor earlier while he was eating me up like a delicious morsel.
"One more plate and we're going to have to buy a new set again." He teases.
"It's your fault. You never clean up your dishes when I'm around. You should know better by now."
"Hey, I cooked. The least you could do is clean up the dishes for me."
"In my defense you didn't exactly give me the chance." I remind him, throwing him a wicked smile.
He smiles back, his expression looking supremely relaxed as if still feeling the aftereffects of his orgasm.
"Alright, I'm gonna go pack." I nod my head towards my unfinished plate feeling completely satisfied, both with my stomach and my libido. "Finish the rest." I suggest, before heading back into my bedroom. I release a drawn out sigh as soon as I enter, brushing my hair away from my face.
Being with Jacob is always intense. He brings out the side of me that wants to submit. I'm usually very headstrong and relentless when it comes to getting what I want, but with Jacob it's the only time I allow myself to let go. I trust him to take control without fearing he'll take advantage of me. He's always more than willing to fulfill my needs without asking and I love him all the more for it.
Most guys tended to get down to business without bothering to make sure their partner got off too.
Not Jacob.
Jacob always pulled me in with his erotic words, his alluring touches, and the look of all-consuming pleasure whenever our bodies are together. It's why I can never deny him. Sex is always amazing when it's with him, and though we both know we probably shouldn't… we still do.
Just as I finish packing my bags Embry slams my bedroom door open. "Bells!" He screams as if I won't hear him over the five-foot distance in-between us.
I look at him in annoyance. "I'm right here. There's no reason to yell."
He chuckles and comes in, throwing himself onto my bed and gracing me with an excited smile. "Jake said you agreed to go camping with us?"
I push my bags to the floor to sit next to him. "Yes, and though I hate camping and think this is a terrible idea. I still agreed to go."
His eyebrows lift in confusion. "Bad idea? Why?"
"Did you forget you're a wolf?"
He rolls his eyes looking up into the ceiling. "Of course not. How could we ever forget that? But we haven't had any vamp sightings in almost a year. What are the chances we'll run into a bloodsucker while Paul is there?"
"Don't jinx us!" I exclaim, slapping my hand over his mouth, his laugh rumbling underneath my palm.
He reaches up, pulling my hand away to speak. "It'll be fine. You worry too much."
"And sometimes you guys don't worry enough."
Embry shifts to his side, his hand reaching up to slip a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. "Sam okay-ed it. If he thought there were vampires lurking around the reservation he would've never allowed us to go, Bella. You know that."
And though I'm concerned, a nagging feeling pinching my gut with apprehension. I acknowledge how absolutely right he is. Sam would never let us go anywhere near danger. His overprotective qualities went way past those being the alpha of his pack.
Overhearing our conversation Jacob bursts into my room too. Walking in and going straight for my bags. "Seriously, Bells, relax. Now let's go before we hit traffic. Dad already called to make sure we're coming in today."
He leaves just as quickly as he walked in, giving me no time to respond.
Embry throws his arms over my shoulder and tugs me along.
We lock everything up before leaving. I jump into the passenger seat of Jake's truck and fasten my seat belt. If it wasn't the first thing I did as soon as I entered his truck I knew I'd receive a death glare from not just him but Embry too. The whole pack was very serious about my safety. It was slightly annoying but mostly endearing.
I settle into my seat, beginning the hour and a half journey back to Forks. I idly listen to Jake and Embry chatting about who the basketball team played against and how it went, all the while alternating between browsing social media and texting Mike and Jessica. They reply quickly, seeming to be very excited about seeing me on this trip. The last couple of visits to Forks we haven't been able to coincide free times. Either because I've been too busy with the pack, or they've been busy with the store.
Mike and Jessica were the only ones who remained in town after graduating high school. In fact they'd gotten married and taken over Mike's parents' sporting goods store, while they went off to Florida to enjoy their retirement in a sunny place.
I was with them on that one.
I wasn't planning on staying near Forks permanently either. Yes, the people I loved the most were here, but I wanted to live in a place where it didn't rain 90% of the time. I was staying somewhat local for my undergrad but I was still planning to transfer out to another state for law school. I hadn't decided where I would go exactly but California, Hawaii, and Florida were all at the top of my list.
"Who are you texting?" Embry asks, interrupting me mid-text.
"Reed?" Jacob jokes, following it with a snort.
Huh, so that's what his name was.
"Of course not." They both chuckle at my offended expression. "I'm texting Mike and Jess. We were planning on meeting up tomorrow to catch up but since I'm coming in earlier than expected, we're planning to meet up tonight. Works better for them."
"Where?" Jacob immediately inquires.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Patrick's Bar."
No lie, that was literally its name. Mind-blowing, am I right?
"That old dump?" Embry asks with a look of slight disgust.
"Yes. I mean it's the only bar in town. We're kind of limited in options."
"When Paul opens up his bar maybe you guys can start meeting up there. He's planning on renovating the whole place."
I hum noncommittally, refusing to make any promises. If Paul owned the place, I was pretty sure it'd be the last place I'd want to be.
"Want us to come with?"
"Nah, I'm good." I answer casually, trying not to blurt it out so quickly they won't be offended by the rejection.
It's not that I didn't want them to go but I knew their parents were already waiting for them in La Push. Billy and Tiffany absolutely adored me but that didn't mean they wouldn't be annoyed if their children chose to hang out with me, the woman they lived with and saw every day, instead of their loving parents they didn't see as often.
Thankfully they don't notice and let it go, continuing on with their previous conversation.
Before I know it, we're passing the welcome sign to Forks.
Jacob parks his car in my dad's empty driveway and orders me to stay put while they both jump out of the truck. Jacob disappearing into the house while Embry walks to the back with his head tilted up, sniffing the air like a dog.
Minutes later, Jacob reappears and motions for me to come out.
"Alright. Here's the keys." He says as soon as I'm within hearing distance, throwing me the keys to his truck. "Take care of her and I'll see you soon." His eyes shooting a look to his truck in warning before bending down to place a kiss on my forehead once I'm standing in front of him.
Embry places my bags next to the front door and then pulls me into a quick hug, adding a kiss to the top of my head. "See ya, Bells. Don't forget to call if you need anything."
I stand at the doorway watching them leave, waving when they both turn to look at me one last time before disappearing into the forest.
So overprotective...
As soon as they're out sight, I begin getting ready for dinner with my friends. I artfully do my make-up just as always. Once done with that I go into my closet, pulling out a wine-colored long sleeve that artfully cups my bosom. Not that I have much to show but enough to be able to display the semblance of a cleavage. I grab my baggy pair of ripped black jeans and put chunky heeled boots on my feet to increase my height at least by a few inches. It wasn't the weather for high heels yet, I was prone to falling flat on my face on any given day no matter the weather thanks to gravity alone. I didn't need the extra challenge.
I grab my leather jacket and lock the front door before jumping into Jake's truck. I reverse out of the driveway heading out towards the only bar in town just on the outskirts of Forks closer to Mike and Jessica's sports store, one of the reasons why I was leaving a bit earlier so they wouldn't be waiting around for me.
With music pounding through the speakers I am completely relaxed by the time I arrive. I park the truck on the side of the road behind the line of cars. It was so out of the town's center that I guess it didn't require it to have a professionally built parking lot. I actually agreed, it would've been a waste in a place like this.
I grab my phone and purse as I dismount the truck. I walk without glancing at my phone. I'm tempted, for sure, eager to check if Jessica and Mike have already arrived before entering the bar. But my dad has grilled it into me to always be aware of my surroundings until I've reached my destination, especially when walking through parking lots. So I wait until I enter the safety of the bar.
Safely inside, I click onto my messages and find a new text in our group chat.
Jessica and Mike were running late.
On my own for now, I head straight to the bar top sidling up to the only empty seat in the surprisingly busy bar. I consider waiting for the drink and saving a table for us to sit at instead but as I look around the place, I realize less than half of the tables are actually being occupied. Most patrons coming alone preferring to sit at the bar to leave the tables for the groups.
Drink it is, then.
As soon as I turn back to the counter, I find the bartender already waiting for me to acknowledge him.
Woah.
"What can I get you, gorgeous?"
I smile at his eager expression. "Heineken, please."
A bright smile appears on his face and he flirtatiously winks at me, "Right away."
"That's the fastest I've seen him move to serve someone since I got here." A deep baritone voice comments, making me turn in their direction.
Sitting in the stool next to me I find the owner of the voice, medium-brown skinned and resembling very much to a Quileute from the reservation. But I don't recognize him at all and by now I've become very familiar with all the residents of La Push. I wondered what he looked like, he hadn't exactly turned to face me when he'd first spoken. From this angle I could only see his profile, barely able to detect the sharp lines of his face, especially with the top of his head hidden behind a beanie.
"Yeah, a good pair of tits can do that quite often." I playfully retort.
The man suddenly chokes on the beer he'd just tipped back, spluttering slightly but forcing it down his throat before he sprayed it all over the bar top. Still some of it manages to drip out of the sides of his mouth and he hurriedly grabs a napkin to clean it up.
He should've just let me wipe it off with my tongue.
Woah, girl, calm it down. You're not here for that.
When he finally turns in my direction I freeze for a second.
His profile did not do him justice.
This man was fine as hell. He had a chiseled jaw and cheekbones, a sharp nose perfectly proportionate to the size of his face. But what sucked me in were his dark glittering eyes filled with humor. They seemed joyful and so full of mischief. I only wished he would take the beanie off his head so I could get a real good look at him. From past experience I could attest to how much more better-looking beanies could make a man appear. They could be totally average but covering the forehead and hair somehow elevated their looks. Sunglasses and beards had the same effect.
"That is very true." He finally says when he gets himself together. "Especially when it comes in… well this whole package." He adds, his index finger making a circular shape to encompass my whole body.
I roll my eyes, pursing my lips to stop my smile from coming out.
"So you from around here or just passing through?"
I arch a brow at the question. "Wow, not even bothering to ask for a name before moving it right into a pick-up line."
A devilish smirk appears on his face, his eyes peaking with interest. "That wasn't a line." He tries to defend.
"Oh please, I've heard it like a thousand times before."
His smirk slowly transforms into a genuine smile at my words. "That often, huh?"
I nod, tilting my head slightly when his face begins to feel very familiar the more he talks. "Do you mind taking the beanie off?" I question, surprised at myself for being so forward just to assuage my curiosity.
This time he's the one to arch a questioning brow at me. "Is that your way of assuring yourself I have hair?" He teases, clear humor in his tone.
"No." I laugh, now realizing the request very much sounded that way. "It's just that you seem really famil–"
"Here you go, pretty lady." The barkeep announces interrupting me mid-sentence.
"Oh, thank you." I tell the bartender, accepting the bottle and taking a sip. Yum. I turn back to look at the stranger just in time to spot Mike and Jessica standing at the entrance over his shoulder.
"B!" Mike bellows as soon as he spots me, bounding to reach for me quickly and lifting me off my seat in a tight embrace.
"Hey Mikey." I say, tugging on his cheek playfully when he sets me down on my feet.
He rubs his cheek with his hand grumbling under his breath when the tornado that is Jessica throws herself at me next, surpassing her husband's enthusiasm.
"Wow, I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. I've missed you so much."
"I know. It feels that way doesn't it?"
Jess' eyes gleefully stray to the stranger's next to me.
I belatedly realize he'd been watching our interaction this whole time, his body fully turned in our direction now.
"Oh, you brought someone." Jess comments with a pleased smile. "I knew someday you'd find someone who could finally tie you down."
My eyes widen at the implication. "Oh no. We just met like a few minutes ago." I clarify, smiling towards the stranger.
The stranger in turn just nods with a cordial smile towards my friends, not really knowing what to say.
Mike clears his throat to smooth away the awkward moment of silence. "So should we get a table?"
"Absolutely." I say, turning back to the stranger before leaving. "Thanks for the chat."
His smile widens in response, turning into a more genuine smile. "Anytime."
Jess pulls me along as she picks an empty booth somewhat nearby.
"You didn't want to invite him over?" Jessica thoughtfully asks, looking in the direction of the bar top where the stranger is still sitting. "He seemed interested. We wouldn't mind, you know."
I shake my head, "Nah, I'm here to catch up with you guys. Not to pick up a stranger."
"So what happened to your bodyguards tonight?" Mike asks in interest, his eyes scanning the bar for any sign of them. "I'm assuming they're not here since you had a chance to talk-up a stranger."
Jess slaps her hand on Mike's shoulder, her expression turning devious. "They're not her bodyguards, Mikey. They're her lovers." She teases, rolling her tongue on the 'L'.
I snort loudly and very unlady-like. "They're not my lovers, you weirdo. They're my roommates and close friends." I clarify. "And they're with their parents on the reservation."
"Riiiight, roommates. Come on, B. You can share all the juicy details with us." She gushes, looking supremely interested.
"Please don't." Mike pleads, on the other hand, looking repelled just by the thought of it. "I don't need that kind of visual in my head."
"There is no visuals, you doofus. Seriously, we really are just roommates. The only one I've actually slept with is Jacob but it's only every once in a while."
Jess' eyes spark in intrigue.
"Ooooo. You can tell me all about that too."
I roll my eyes, deciding to ignore her. "In other news, it's spring break this week and we've decided to stay until the end of next week."
The new information finally redirects her attention. "Really? That's great! Maybe you can check out the store this time. Finally see all the final changes we've made since we've taken over. We could go to lunch after. I'm sure Mikey wouldn't mind watching the store alone for a while." She baits, placing her hand over her husbands with a playful smile.
"Of course not, dear." He dead-pans, making us both laugh at his delivery.
"Or maybe you can close the store for a longer lunch so Mike can play hooky with us too." I helpfully add.
A boyish smile finally appears on his face, turning to his wife in hopeful expectation.
I almost snort at his reaction. Mike was such a cutie and a completely devoted husband. It was absolutely adorable.
"Good idea, B. All those years in college seem to be really working for ya!" She jokes, leaning over the table to pat my cheek in approval.
I chuckle, brushing her hand away from my face. "You're not even a mom yet and you're already acting like one."
At my comment they both suddenly freeze, turning to each other and sharing a secretive look.
Wait, what?
"No!" I gasp in surprise, my eyes shifting erratically between the two. "Really?" I practically squeal in excitement.
Jess finally turns to my expectant face, nodding her head in a silent assent releasing me from the suspense I'd been gripped in.
"Oh my god!" I exclaim a little too loudly it seems because Jess throws her body across the table to cover my mouth with her hand.
"Shhhh!" She whispers furiously, her eyes scanning the bar. "We just found out not even an hour ago, that's why we were running late. It's still kind of early so we're trying to keep it under wraps. Though this is Forks, after all, it won't be long before everyone finds out."
"Nod your head in a silent vow to keep our secret if you want my wife to release you anytime soon." Mike helpfully comments.
With wide eyes I nod, making a crossing gesture over my heart.
They both chuckle at that and Jess finally releases me.
"Can I just say congratulations and I'm so happy for you guys? I also expect to receive frequent updates on the, uh, project?" I whisper cautiously, ending my words on a question because I didn't really know how else to secretly refer to the soon to be baby.
"Thank you, and of course. We would never leave you out."
I was ecstatic for them. I didn't personally want babies. Never thought about having them myself. I enjoyed spending time with kids for short periods of time but I also loved returning them to their parents at the first opportunity. Like Sam and Emily's children. They had a toddler and a baby, absolutely adorable children. I loved being the cool auntie and devoting myself to being the favorite amongst the rest of the pack. But that's as far as I wished to go. It was more than enough for me.
Lauren, our waitress and Mike and Jess' old Fork's High classmate, arrives placing their usual drink orders on the table.
We all trade looks at the beer mug placed in front of Jessica.
"Oh, ummm…" Jess starts, looking a little flustered. "I'll actually take a ginger ale, this time."
Our waitress raises a brow in question, looking very confused over her request. I can practically hear the gears turning in Lauren's head as her eyes slowly begin to narrow in suspicion, "You always order a beer. Why can't you–?"
Before she can finish the question I blurt out, "She's having some stomach issues. Earlier she couldn't keep her ass off the toilet seat but she's doing better now. Just being cautious, you know? Oh, and we'll take our usual food orders too."
There is a simultaneous chuckle from Mike, an offended curse from Jessica, and an unexpected snort suspiciously coming from the bar behind me.
The last one catches me by surprise but I'm too busy throwing Lauren a reassuring smile, so she won't realize I'm bullshitting her.
Believing my excuse Lauren cackles like a hyena as she retreats from our table.
"That was so funny." Mike squeezes in between chuckles, earning a hearty smack from his wife.
"Yeah, at my expense!"
"Sorry, it kind of slipped out. But we all know she's one of the biggest gossips in town. If Lauren found out about your little situation she'd blurt it out all over town."
"Except now instead of everyone suspecting I'm pregnant they'll send me Pepto packages to the store and my house."
Mike gets himself together just in time to add his own thoughts. "Better than pacifiers and diapers. At least this way we can blame your nausea on a stomach bug. Buy us some time before we have to tell them… or they find out. Whichever comes first."
"And no one should be finding out, anyway. I assume I'm the only other person who knows besides you two. Unless you've already called your parents with the news."
"God, no!" Jessica exclaims in horror, clutching her non-existent pearls. "My mom would turn into the town crier, announcing the arrival of our new bundle of joy as she makes her way through town."
"And my parents aren't any better. They might not live here anymore but they still talk to a lot of their old friends in town. It's how my dad called me practically the day after I started making renovations to the store." A grumbling Mike adds. "He was not happy."
"Ok, so if they don't know, then your secret should be safe. Unless the doctor or the nurses spill the beans in which case they'd be breaking HIPPA and you could totally sue their asses."
They both roll their eyes at my suggestion thinking the idea utterly absurd.
Townies didn't hold up each other to the customary code of conduct of their professions just because it was a small town and everyone was friends with everyone. I didn't fully grow up in town and therefore wasn't as carefree about it as everyone else was. If they did that shit to me, I'd be totally suing their asses.
"It's not that big of a deal, Judge Swan. Not even graduated and she's already exercising her degree."
I snort at her comment. "Judge is so far off in the future, let's keep it at lawyer for now. Though I haven't even applied to law schools yet so I'm not even halfway on my journey there either."
"Still moving somewhere sunnier?" Mike asks.
"Yeah, I really have my eyes on California."
"How dare you leave us for warmer weather?" Jessica grumbles unhappily. "How the hell is my–" Receiving a light elbow from her husband before she can blurt out the truth, she continues, "project going to know you if you move so far away?"
Mike drags his hand down his face, looking skyward at his wife's moment of idiocy.
"I think we need to change the word to something else. Project is clearly not working."
"Isabella," Jess warns lowly "you're changing the subject."
I groan at her insistence for an answer. "I don't know, okay?! You know I'll visit whenever I can."
She holds her glare. "We barely see you now while you're living just an hour and a half away from us. When you move, we'll never see you again." She argues, her voice catching in her throat by the end.
"Oh my god, are you crying?!" I ask in disbelief, appalled by the sudden rush of tears in her eyes.
Mike immediately pulls Jess into a comforting hug, mouthing 'hormones' over his wife's head.
I anxiously run a hand through my hair. I had not been at all ready for the tears.
Pulling away from Mike she focuses her attention back on me, huffing in displeasure. "I wish I could say it's not the hormones but it totally is. I can't even stand myself half the time." She bemoans, as if she'd actually heard Mike say the word. Which she hadn't. She hurriedly wipes her eyes on her sleeve when she catches Lauren coming back with our food.
Thank heavens.
Lauren places our orders on the table and slides the plate of steak with globs of butter dripping to the sides in front of Jess with a Cheshire-like smile taking up most of her face. "You sure you wanna eat that?" She asks pointedly.
In turn, Jess' eyes narrow in irritation. "Yes." She hisses.
"Suit yourself." Lauren throws out with a careless shrug, chuckling as she walks away.
With her gone, the glare moves in my direction. I bite my lip throwing Jess an apologetic look.
Luckily, she's pregnant and hungry, her vision shifting eagerly to the delicious looking piece of steak and practically drooling at the sight.
I'm relieved to no longer be at the receiving end of that glare. I'd forgotten how mercurial pregnant women could be.
No more than two bites in Jess politely excuses herself from the table, practically running to the bathroom while pretending she's not about to upchuck the small portion of food she'd barely managed to consume.
"Does she need any help?" I cautiously ask Mike, not really wanting to go help while also mentally preparing to go.
Goodbye appetite.
"Nah." Mike says, taking a huge bite from his own almost finished triple-stacked burger. "She's becoming a pro at discreetly throwing up. She'll be back in a few minutes."
"Glad to see your appetite hasn't dissipated." I accuse on behalf of Jess and all the women who have been, are, or will eventually become pregnant in the future. Men will never know the struggle. "It's times like these when I wish I would've been born a guy."
"Yeah, it's pretty great." Mike agrees happily, his wide smile full of food making me almost gag too.
I throw my dirty napkin at his face. Indignant over many things concerning the situation, not just the one. "Pig." I insult unhappily, looking for something else to throw when he starts chewing with his mouth open.
And to think this man is going to be a father soon.
He's only saved from my attack when his wife resumes her seat in front of me. And just as he said earlier, she reappears looking as fresh as a daisy, as if she's been sitting there all along.
"You good?"
"Yup!" She says with a poor imitation of a smile, but I don't miss the grimace that appears on her face as she pushes the plate away from her.
I thoughtfully pick it up and move it to the empty spot next to me to keep it out of her line of sight.
Just then Lauren passes by, "Told ya'! And I hope you didn't stink up the restroom for the rest of the customers."
I can't help the laugh that bubbles up as Jessica glares at Lauren's retreating back, as if hoping her glare alone would trip her with the tray of drinks she's currently holding as she approaches a group of older men taking up a table near the back. When Lauren is too far for Jess to keep her glare on her, it zeroes in on me instead.
"I'm s-sorry." I splutter out in between laughs this time, unable to take her glare seriously. "It was just so perfectly timed." I defend. "It's like her hidden superpower or something."
"It's so true." Mike agrees while pulling Jess' discarded plate to himself, "If being a bitch could be considered a superpower."
"If anyone could pull it off, it would be her." I say, throwing a thumb in her general direction. "And if not a superpower then an artfully crafted gift derived from pure dark magic."
That gets a reluctant chuckle out of Jess.
I smile in triumph.
"Ugh. I'm hungry and nauseous all at the same time." She grumbles unhappily.
I dip my hand into my purse producing a nutrition bar I always carry around in my bags. I turn almost as big of a bitch as Lauren when I'm hungry, so I always carry multiple protein bars in my purse for emergencies.
"Would this help?"
"Oh, thank god. You're a lifesaver!" She practically exclaims to the whole bar as she snatches it out of my outstretched hand.
I slip my hand back into my purse and retrieve the second one, sliding it across the table this time so she won't almost rip my hand off like she did the first time. "There's another one. And I swear that's the last one I have. Please don't attack me." I plead.
She rolls her eyes at me, too busy to say anything while she's chewing.
I turn my attention to Mike. "You're dropping the ball, man. You wanna prevent those outbursts you better start pulling emergency protein bars out of your ass."
"Good idea." He says, running a soothing hand down Jess' back and handing her his untouched glass of water with the other.
I was already halfway done with mine. After I finished off my first bottle of beer I didn't drink more. My father was Chief of Police of Forks after all. It would be posted on the front page of tomorrow's morning paper if the townsfolk caught me consuming more than one alcoholic beverage before getting behind the wheel.
Oh how I loathed small towns.
Worst part was it wasn't even a full newspaper, more like a sheet of printed one-sided paper the townsfolk passed around amongst each other. I always wondered why they even bothered to print one out every single day. Come to think of it, beer in hand or not, I was already expecting to have my name mentioned at least once. They always did when they caught wind of my arrival, which means…
I suddenly laugh at the direction of my thoughts.
"What?" They both simultaneously ask.
"I was just thinking about the Forks Gazette," I snort at the name. I swear it got me every single time, "We're probably going to make the front page tomorrow. Me with my cataclysmic arrival and you with your unstoppable diarrhea."
We all burst out laughing, this time catching the attention of everyone in the bar.