Chapter One:

"Bells?" Charlie cleared his throat uncomfortably as he lurked in my door way, leaning around the door like it was a bullet proof shield against a gun wielding maniac.

"Yeah?" I tried so hard to animate myself for his sake, but it always fell flat. There was no hiding the state he had left in me, or the hollowness in my face ever since.

"It's probably nothing" He grumbled not making eye contact, "But I'm hearing some rumours about what you've been up to."

"Oh." Shit. I don't even know what to say because I don't know what he's heard, is it the bikes me and Jake are working on? The random dude in Port Angeles that could've abducted me when I went out with Jess? The bottle of whiskey me and Jacob devoured on the beach? The string of joints that Embry managed to score off his cousin? The fake ID that got me into a bar last week?

"Do you have something to tell me? It's just, this isn't my strong point, maybe Renee would know what to do for you?" He scrambled, raking his hand through his hair.

"Nothing to tell really, I bet this is because I fell out with Jessica and now, she's telling stories to anyone who will listen." I mumbled so pathetically, even I didn't buy it.

"Ah. Teenage girls. Makes sense, what did you steal her boyfriend or something?" He so desperately wanted to believe my obvious lie.

"Well, the guy she likes shows more interest in me, but I don't like him." I nodded, hoping this would get him off my back.

"I gotta say Bells, that's a relief, I've er- been worried. You know, since he left, you haven't been right." He shuffled out from behind the door a little.

"First heart break," I tried to say casually with a shrug as my chest constricted and my lungs deflated "I just need time."

"Been there kid, won't be the last, just gotta find a way to put it behind you." He nodded to himself, proud of his fatherly wisdom.

"Yeah dad, totally." He definitely caught the hint of sarcasm, "I think I need like a hobby or a job, something else to think about" I tacked on hoping to sound like I was taking him seriously. He just nodded and walked away.

I wanted to go back into my trance, staring out the window, letting time run away from me, but that conversation with Charlie had rattled me. It felt like someone had sucked all the air from this house and I was suffocating, my lungs ached like my chest did. I starting running around my room before I even had a plan, just getting dressed. I found the stashed pack of cigarettes I'd hidden in my tampon box and ran out, shouting a vague excuse about going to meet a friend to Charlie in passing who looked defeated.

He knew the 'rumours' were true, deep down.

I got my piece of shit truck started and drove to the rez, not sure where I going here. If I went to see Jake Billy would say it's too late to go out, which meant no smoking. If I went to Quil's all he'd want to talk about is his crush on Jake which honestly, is cute, but right now would be like salt on a raw wound. Which left Embry, who would probably hit on me the whole-time but usually had something to drink on hand and wouldn't mind me being a menace to society. That and his mom works nights at a nursing home so there's no parents to report back to Charlie.

I pulled up outside Embry's place and honked, he came running out, signalled for me to wait a minute, and came back cheap bottle of raspberry vodka in hand.

I tried not to do this too often, it felt like I was leading him on, but I think he knew I just needed someone which is why he hasn't told me to stop bothering him.

"You're a fucking mind reader Em" I greeted him as I put the truck in reverse.

"You're not hard to predict babybel" He sniggered as I glared.

"I just threw up in my mouth," I shook my head. "And I'm not cheese snack."

"But you are a snack." His idea of flirting was pissing me off most of the time, still, I put up with his antics because he put up with mine. We bickered back and forth about snacks that I could be until I pulled of the road and parked up near the train tracks. We got out of the truck and started walking up the tracks.

"It doesn't really matter what snack you are, I'm a hungry guy, I won't discriminate" Embry sniggered out knowing I'd probably punch him in the shoulder, which I did.

"C'mon, you're not tall enough to ride this ride." I jested as I lit a cig in my mouth and passed one to Embry.

"Damn Swan, how tall do I gotta be?" He chuckled nervously.

"Hmmm, at least 6"5..." As the words left my mouth, I realised we were not alone. One of the older guys from the Rez was sat on the side of the tracks smoking a joint, and from the amusement on his face, he'd heard it all.

"6"5 you say?" The guy stood up and stretched, and it was very obvious he was 6"5, and ripped, something that usually didn't catch my eye. Already I felt uneasy, but I was in a trance.

"Paul, really?" Embry grumbled, clearly annoyed that Paul was intruding on what he was desperately trying to turn into a hook up. Paul came over and swapped the cigarette I was smoking for his joint, giving me a look that made my heart skip a beat and then clapped his hand around Embry's shoulder.

"How tall even are you bro?" Paul teased.

"Like 6"1 but I've got time, probably be taller than you by next summer." Embry playfully poked back.

"Pfft. You haven't introduced me to your friend." Paul purred, shooting me another look. Embry looked sick to his stomach as he defeatedly waved his arm towards me and told Paul my name. Taking pity on Embry I took one last toke and passed him the joint, stepping a little closer to him.

"Wait, Chief Swan's daughter?" Paul looked around nervously as if Charlie would be closing in on us ready to arrest the bad man that gave his daughter a smoke.

"Try not to shit yourself," I chuckled, taking a page from Embry's book and hoping that a bit of teasing would read as flirting. Embry started laughing and ribbing Paul about it, pretending to hear sirens in the distance, which Paul took with good humour and a grin. What the fuck had come over me, I'd never really looked at anyone like that, I felt like I'd cheated on him somehow. I wasn't sure what I was feeling, but all I knew was I didn't want to feel a goddamn thing tonight. Still, I found myself observing Paul. Soaking in every detail, every shadow, every flex of a muscle... I didn't realize he had noticed until he cleared his throat and I made direct eye contact and saw the predatory smirk on his face. Oh. God. I felt my cheeks flush, I might as well have just thrown my panties at him.

Embry passed the joint back to Paul and I held my hand out for the vodka, I needed to stop thinking. At least if I embarrassed myself, I had an excuse.

I went to take a swig and decided to just commit to the bit and drink as much as I could in one go which turned out to be about a quarter of the bottle and a massive mistake. I held my breath for a second feeling it go straight to my head.

"Your turn," I announced to Embry, head spinning a little, staggering ever so slightly as I passed him the bottle. Embry took it gratefully and tried his best not to pull a face, cheered him on swaying a little.

"You want some more?" Paul asked with a glint of something in his eye, I couldn't tell if he was concerned or impressed. He stepped closer to me, offering the joint, and a steading hand around my shoulder which sent an electric jolt through my body until my heart threatened to stop. I'd never felt that before.

"Please," I took the joint off of him but he didn't step back or take his hand off my arm, by the look on his face he felt it too. As I took a drag, I looked up at him and we locked eyes for a moment that lasted way too long and not long enough at the same time. What was this? Even Edward didn't have this hold on me, this was my personal brand of heroin. We only snapped out of the trance when Embry coughed loudly at us.

"Wait it's your turn for a shot Paul," He could have been filming an advert for alcohol, he managed to make taking a shot look effortless and refreshing. He still didn't move his hand off of me, I could see Embry was a little annoyed but he seemed to be accepting his fate as 3rd wheel about as gracefully as anyone could.

"Are you sure you want another?" Paul asked, gazing down at my lips, grinning when he noticed me blush. I took the bottle from his hand and took a swig, passing it to Embry. We passed it round till it was empty, Embry was worse for wear and slowly turning green when the realization hit that I hadn't concocted an overnight alibi with Charlie and he'd be waiting up for me, but I couldn't drive home now.

"Shit." I announced, looking at Embry.

"What?" Embry slurred.

"I didn't tell Charlie I was staying out tonight." I laugh nervously.

"Oh, I'm so going to Jail now" Paul shook his head chuckling along.

"If we don't fix this I'd worry more about his shotgun." I grimaced at him.

"Yeah, that's great but I think I'm gonna-" He finished his sentence by puking onto the tracks.

"Oh god." I looked at Paul again, "What do we do with him?"

"I live pretty near hear, come back to mine? I'll help you figure out an alibi, and he can sleep it off on the couch." He offered, and my stomach filled with butterflies at the thought.

"Will your parents mind? Or snitch?" I chewed my lip weighing up the only real option.

"If they were around, sure, but they skipped town ages ago." He chuckled but I could see the hint of sadness in his eyes.

"Oh."

"Don't say sorry, it's for the best. Let's get going then yeah?" He pulled me closer by the arm he'd wrapped around my shoulder, and offered his other arm to steady Embry who refused and insisted on zig zagging haphazardly ahead of us as he knew where he was going. As we walked, his hand slowly slipped down from my shoulder to my waist and I just about died inside. The butterflies had taken flight, my whole body felt alive with electricity as he looked down at me and looked away grinning, was I crazy? Or did he feel the same gravitational pull? Or was I stupid? And does he pull these moves on any willing victim? The thought of Edward crossed my mind again, but this time there was no guilt, it was almost indifference. Almost.

Holding my breath, trusting my liquid courage, I wrapped my arm around his waist. It felt right, I felt almost like myself again, Paul squeezed my waist letting me know he approved. He must be feeling it too, it's too affectionate to be a come on, surely...

We got inside of Pauls small cabin house; I was surprised at how well kept and homely it was for a teenage boy that lives alone. Embry collapsed into a heap on the sofa and started snoring before his head had hit the cushion. He'd never been able to hack his drink, always more of a stoner.

"Hey, any chance you could sort something out for me?" Paul had pulled out his phone to ring someone.

"Yeah, can you make it seem like you and Bella Swan are hanging out tonight? Call Charlie yeah?"

"Come by in the morning I'll pay you with a joint."

"Yeah, I know. Bye"

"Who was that?" I asked him, turning my body to face his, arms still around each other.

"Leah Clearwater, she's an old friend, you might have met before if you hang around with Jacob."

"And she just covers for you like that?" I mused, and wondered just how close they were.

"Yeah, she's like family, she checks in on me when no one else does." He pulled me in closer. "But enough about her, I wanna know about you." Paul pulled me with him to the kitchen where he lifted me up onto the counter, making my breath catch in my throat at the way he ran his hands down my body and gripped me, how his belt buckle pressed against me, how his breath fell on my neck, his lips so close to mine and his eyes had the hunger and intensity of a wolf, only for him to shake his head, chuckle, and take a step back.

"Sorry, that was a bit, presumptuous. I promise I'm on my best behaviour. Can I get you a coffee? Pizza?"

Before I could stop myself, I reached out and pulled him against my body. His hands greedily ran up the back of my thighs under my skirt, finding and gripping my ass and pulling me against him, my legs wrapped and locked around his waist as his lips crashed into mine, the soft pressure building, we broke apart gasping for air.

His mouth gravitated to my neck, first kissing then biting, sending waves of heat through me as my hips started to move against his of their own accord. I pulled his shirt over his head running my hands over his chest moving slowly south, his skin was so warm under my hands, he was shaking, panting down my neck as my fingers flirted with the waistband of his jeans.

In the room over Embry stirred a little, mumbling something to himself, Paul put his hand over my mouth and froze, we waited for the longest moment for Embry to resume snoring, at which point Paul carried me, stealthily through the living room, up the stairs and into his bedroom. He laid me down underneath him on the bed, running one of his hands up my body to cup my face into a hungrier kiss as he pushed again the thin fabric of my panties. It wasn't enough, I needed more.

"Are you sure you want this?" He purred in my ear, as he stilled his hips, teasingly tracing his finger up and down over my panties, making my toes curl and hips buck gently.

"I need you," I moaned breathlessly. He didn't need telling twice, he slipped out of his jeans and boxers, as I pulled my top over my head, revealing my black lace bra and hard nipples poking through. His eyes took me in with devotion, he tugged my skirt and panties off and flung them in one swift move. He unhooked my bra, tossing it over his shoulder as he pulled my nipple into his mouth, looking up at my face as I moaned, back arching under him, his fingers picked up the pace playing with my clit, I felt the tension in my whole body building to something I'd never felt before.

"You're so wet for me," he moaned in my ear as he threw me over the edge, toes curling, my mouth formed a perfect o as I moaned his name, writhing against him as I came undone. He started rubbing his cock against my pussy and I got a proper view of it for the first time.

"That's not gonna fit," I gasped as he pressed against my pussy gently, lining himself up, he chuckled smugly.

"Is this... your first time?" he murmured in my ear, teasing my nipple between his finger and thumb.

I nodded, too shy to say it out loud in case it breaks the spell and he stops touching me like this.

"Do you want me to stop?" He panted clearly struggling to contain himself, I shook my head and he buried himself inside of me, we both gasped at the sensation, it hurt so good, he stayed still a moment, kissing me softly while I adjusted to him, until I rocked my hips against his, unable to hold back my moans as he started to move against me, building speed and stretching me deeper with every thrust. There was something primal that took over him, flipping me onto my hands and knees, gripping my hips hard as he pounded me, rubbing my clit with his free hand as I moaned his name over and over as he brought me close to the edge again.

"Fuck you're so tight, you're gonna make me cum" he growled in a whisper, I clenched against him arching my back a little, sending him into a frenzy.

"Cum with me," he sped up his fingers and slammed into me as I came again, whimpering and tensing around his cock as he finished.

"Fuck that was..." he panted in my ear as he repositioned us to spoon without pulling out of me.

"Amazing." I breathlessly finished his sentence, he wrapped his arms around me holding me close, he pressed his lips against my neck.

"I don't know what this is but I'm addicted to you." He intertwined our fingers briefly before passing me a towel and pulling out. He went to go wash up and came back with a glass of water for me, which I gratefully accepted.

"You seem like you know what you're doing," I probed gently, he chuckled softly and nodded.

"I've been around," he shrugged.

"Is it always like that?" I asked, holding my breath as I waited for his verdict.

"Bella, it's never like that." he pulled me into a kiss, which built until I found myself wanting more of him. He pulled back for breath, holding my face in his hands.

"So, what happens now?" I bit my lip hoping he'd say this is permanent, and that I wouldn't ever have to learn how to be without this.

"Now you kiss me like you don't need to breathe." He didn't need to tell me twice.

At some point we got to talking, about everything and nothing, my life with Renee, my cold but caring father who doesn't now to how to relate to me at all, and then him. I told him everything but the parts about Edward's secret. I felt like I'd been released from whatever had me bound to Edward, like Paul had snapped his fingers and freed me from a trance.

"I think I remember when he left, you were missing and I came out with some of the others to look for you. I can't believe he just left you like that... I can see what it did to you." Paul, frowned, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, stroking my cheek with his thumb, his hand was so warm it almost burned.

"All's well that ends well," I shrugged. "I'm here now, aren't I?" I grinned, looking into his eyes which held something indescribable behind them.

"I would never do that to you, God, I know it's way too early to feel this or to say this but, this just feels so natural, you were just meant to be mine."

"I know what you mean I just, I can't shake the feeling that there's just something wrong with me, and people leaving me is a matter of time. I don't know."

"I don't think I could leave you if I tried, the only thing wrong with you is that you're stuck with me."

I don't remember falling asleep but I woke up to Paul shaking violently in his sleep, he was wet with sweat and throwing off heat like a furnace. Panicking I reached over for his phone and unlocked it with his thumb, I rang Leah.

"Hey, it's Bella, somethings not right with Paul," I tried not to sound too freaked out.

"What the fuck? Did he take anything?" She sounded like I'd woken her up.

"No, just a joint and a few shots. I don't know he's overheating like hotter than I've ever felt a human body, he's shaking so hard, should I call an ambulance?" My stomach dropped wondering if I'd wasted time calling Leah.

"Hot and shaking you say? I think my dad said something about this illness going round some of the boys in the tribe, the elders will sort him out I'll just tell my dad. If you don't want Charlie to know you're there meet me outside in 5 and we'll walk up to my house to tell him together." She hung up.

I pressed my lips to Pauls, and whispered in his ear, I'll be back soon. I went out to meet Leah, she was all dishevelled clearly have been busy with someone.

"I can pass this of as camping being unglamorous right?" She asked, positioning her hair over a hickey. I just laughed. We made it to her house promptly where she told her dad we checked in on the boys this morning and Paul seems sick like the others. Harry nodded.

"We thought he might be coming down with it the other day, we'll go check on him, both of you will need to stay away until he's better, he'll need his rest." He looked meaningfully at me, making me wonder if the ruse was up and he knew what we were up to, if he did, he never said.

"Okay, I should get home I guess." I begged my excuses and made my way back to my truck and got on the road.

AN:

I hope you liked this fast-paced start, let me know what you think or if you have any questions or suggestions :)