Chapter Four

The next morning, I woke up really hot. I tried to get out of bed, but I was being held back. I looked over and saw Paul then everything from last night came rushing back to me. I moved too fast which turned out to be a mistake because my neck was sore from him biting me. My movement woke him. His stare pinned me to where I was. He opened his mouth and started to speak.

"We need to talk."

"I was thinking the same thing. Let me shower and we can go back to La Push."

I got up and left the room without another word. When I opened the door Angela, Jessica, and Katie all fell. I raised my eyebrow at them, and they all had the decency to look sheepish. I shut the door and walked to the bathroom with them following behind me. I turned on some music and stepped in the shower after that I was bombarded with questions.

"Is that Paul?"

"Duh that's Paul, Katie. You know Bella hasn't slept with anyone since him."

"Dude he is sexy as hell."

"Bells are you okay?" Angela asked with a concerned look. I burst into tears after that.

"I don't know. I still love him, but I can't just jump into something. I'm a different person than I was four years ago. I don't regret last night at all, but I feel like we moved too fast."

"Oh honey, you need to tell him all of this. Maybe you guys can start over fresh. Get to know each other again. None of us are going to judge you if you did jump into something again as long as you don't forget about us."

"I love you guys."

There was a knock at the door and all of our heads snapped to it. Jessica opened it and Paul stuck his head in, "Would you ladies mind if I used the bathroom?"

"Oh, um, of course." Jessica was blushing and blubbering. I couldn't blame her. Paul is a gorgeous man.

They all stuttered over their words and blush as they walked out of the bathroom. I continued my shower until I felt him slip in behind me. I froze and started to protest but when he wrapped his arms around me, I melted into his touch.

"We don't have to move fast bumblebee. I know last night was overwhelming, but we can't change it, so we need to deal with it. Stop being scared, it's just me. I love you and I never stopped."

"Paul, how can you still love me? You don't even know me anymore. I've changed."

"You still love me? So how is that even a fair question. You haven't seen me in the last four years."

I ignored him because he was right. I finished my shower and got out. I needed a few minutes to myself. I knew he imprinted on me but how? Why after all this time. It just didn't make sense. Why the hell did he bite me last night? That had never happened before, and we used to have sex all the time. As I got dressed, I decided the only way I was going to get answers was to start with Paul. He was already dressed when I was done, and he didn't look happy.

"You're wearing that?"

"Yeah why?"

"Your ass is hanging out of those shorts and that's a sports bra. Oh, and it's all spandex." He growled his possessiveness coming out.

"Paul we can argue about this but you're not going to win. I'm not changing so just drop it now."

He looked like he was going to say something else but decided against it. I grabbed my purse, and Paul grabbed my overnight bag. I stopped in the living room to say bye to the girls.

"I'll call you guys later."

They said okay and we made our way downstairs. We walked the few blocks to his car. I expected to see his old truck, but I was shocked when he unlocked a 1967 GTO.

"Oh my god! You rebuilt it! Paul!"

He smiled the smile that I love and told me he poured himself into it when I left. He opened my door for me and went to his side. We stopped for food and headed back to La Push.

"So why? After all this time, why do you think our imprint happened now?"

"I don't know bumblebee. Maybe it wasn't the right time or something. This has never happened before that we know of. The council will have to go through the archives."

"Are you upset that it happened?"

"Hell no! I prayed to the spirits for this to happen before you left for college. I knew you were meant to be mine then last night confirmed what I already knew. I always felt that you would come back to me one day."

"Does anyone know about us?"

"No. I never shared that with anyone. It felt like I was betraying you. I think Leah figured it out though."

"She did. She asked me about it when I left. I didn't confirm or deny. I didn't want to let anyone in on what we had but I also didn't want to deny you. It felt wrong."

He grabbed my hand and kissed my knuckles.

"Hey Paul?"

"Yeah babe?"

"Why did you bite me last night?"

He pulled the car over and turned towards me.

"Promise you'll let me finish before you say or do anything," I nodded, "Wolves do this thing where they bite their mates. It strengthens and intensifies the imprint bond. It's called marking. After the mark you can't have kids with anyone else, I can feel your emotions. None of the wolves had ever done it until last night. I marked you bumblebee. I couldn't control it. The wolf took over. You know I would never take your choices away from you. I didn't four years ago, and I don't plan to start now. If I could take it back I would and that's not because I'm upset about it, I just wanted you to have a choice."

"PAUL! Shut up."

"But-"

"I said shut up. I'm not mad about it. If you said the wolf took over, then I believe you. I do wish I would have known but it happened for a reason just like our imprint. I always knew I wanted to be with you, but I still think we should take things slow and get to know each other again."

"You never cease to amaze me bumblebee."

"Why do you still call me that?"

"You literally sat on a bee and then had to go to the ER because you were allergic and had a stinger stuck in your ass cheek Bella. I'm never going to not call you that. That was also the day I knew I wanted you."

I leaned over and kissed him. He started to drive, and I grabbed his hand. The rest of the drive was silent, but it was a comfortable silence. Paul and I had always been that way. We didn't feel the need to talk. Just being in each other's presence was enough. Surprisingly, I wasn't mad about him marking me. Normally I would have been but the more I thought about it the more it made sense. Our imprint was suppressed, and I was gone for so long it's probably what the wolf and Paul needed. It also didn't help that I was in danger right before we reunited. The wolf needed to claim his mate.

"This isn't the way to my house."

"I know we're going to Sam's."

"Why? Can't that wait. I need to put my things away."

"Sorry bumblebee but we have to talk about the imprint with the pack and the elders."

He drove the rest of the way to Sam's thr. came around and opened my door for me. He put his hand on the small of my back to guide me inside. We walked through the door of the house and every head snapped our direction. The wolves sniffed the air and all hell broke loose.

"You son of a bitch!"

"Jacob, calm down!"

"Bring it Baby Alpha. I've been wanting to kick your ass for years."

"PAUL!"

Paul put me behind him to keep me out of harm's way. I didn't understand what was going on or why Jacob was so mad. I haven't talked to him since before I left. Billy got fed up and decided to say something.

"ENOUGH!" Everyone froze at Billy's command. He would have been one scary ass alpha, "What the hell is going on?"

Paul pulled me into his side and wrapped his arms around me. I looked up at him and he kissed my forehead before he addressed Billy.

"Isabella Swan is my marked mate."

The elders and pack had matching looks of shock on their faces. No one said a word or moved until Old Quil stood, "May I examine the mark?"

Paul nodded and Old Quil looked at my mark. He asked for permission to touch, and I granted it. It was uncomfortable but I let him examine it.

"Welcome home, firecracker." He took me into his arms and kissed my forehead, "The spirits have blessed this imprint. Explain to us what happened during the marking and your imprint."

"The imprint was more powerful than anyone had ever described. You felt it too, right bumblebee?"

"Yes I felt like my world shifted and everything bound me to Paul. It was like I imprinted on him too which is crazy because I'm not Quileute."

"When I marked her I didn't plan on it. The wolf completely took over and I had no control. When we were intimate before this, I would have the urge, but I could control it."

Sam butted in, "What do you mean by before Paul?"

He looked at me for permission and I nodded. It was going to come out sooner or later, might as well do it now.

"Bella and I were in a relationship before she left for college. We kept it a secret because she didn't want to hurt Jacob and she didn't want anyone to feel bad for her if I imprinted. I had the urge to mark her before she left, but I never did because I didn't want to take her choices away but make no mistake," he looked directly at Jake who looked like he was going to phase any second, "Bella is mine now. Nothing and no one will change that or keep me away from her."

Jacob growled and lunged at Paul knocking me over. Paul was the pack's best fighter and had him on the ground in no time. Paul squeezed Jacob's neck, "You are a child. I should fucking kill you for hurting an imprint, my imprint because you can't control yourself."

"Paul stop please. I'm fine, baby. Let Jacob go."

Paul eased his grip but didn't release him. I walked towards him ignoring everyone's protest and put my hands on his back. He relaxed and dropped Jacob. Paul wrapped his arms around me and took a deep breath of my scent.

"We will finish this meeting tomorrow." Picking me up he left without another word.