By the time Kim and Seth joined them outside, Paul had stopped hyperventilating, but his hands were still shaking. Embry was still crouched in front of Paul, though he'd let go of his hands. The silence between them hung heavy, like lead.
Kim inched closer, fidgeting, arms crossed, her eyes flicking between Jared and Paul. Seth shifted behind her, uneasily.
"Did you—" Kim began, a hesitant smile forming, but Paul cut her off with a sharp shake of his head.
"Don't," he muttered, eyes fixed on the ground. The smile vanished from Kim's face. She exchanged a bewildered glance with Jared, who just scratched his head.
"You good?" she tried again, her voice soft.
Paul nodded, though it was a lie. He wasn't good—not even close. "Yeah," he mumbled. "Just… give me a minute." He hated being the center of attention, hated that they were all there because of him. He hated most of all that some woman sitting just twenty steps away had hijacked his life. He shook his head at the thought. Why?
Kim didn't push, though she kept glancing at him like a worried mother. "Okay… just let us know if you need anything," she said, stepping back.
"Let's head home," Jared suggested. "You need some rest. No point hanging around here."
Paul wanted to argue, to pretend everything was fine, but his body still buzzed with the aftershock. His nerves were too frayed, and all he could do was nod again, numbly.
Embry stood up, dusting himself off, then offered Paul a hand. Paul hesitated, then took it, letting Embry pull him to his feet. He felt like a newborn deer, legs unsteady.
"Let's get out of here," Embry said, clapping him on the shoulder.
Paul didn't look back at the bar. He didn't trust himself to. He just walked, one foot in front of the other, trying to keep his mind blank. But those eyes—her eyes—kept flashing in his head like a damn neon sign.
Jared broke the silence as they approached the car. "Did either of you get her number?" he asked quietly, glancing at Kim and Seth. Paul's heart slammed against his ribs. Did he want the number? Did he want to know her name?
Kim blinked, caught off guard. "No… I mean, it didn't even cross my mind," she admitted, stopping. "Oh, god, I can't believe I didn't think to do that."
"Same here," Seth added, sheepish.
Jared sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's all good. I'll go back and get it."
Paul's head snapped up, panic flashing in his chest. "No," he said too quickly. "I don't need it."
Kim frowned, puzzled. "But—"
"I said I don't need it," Paul repeated, more forcefully. He clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. "Let's just go."
Jared grabbed his arm. "Bro, I get that you're going through a lot right now, but it's your imprint. You know, your soulmate? Hell, she might not even be from around here. We don't know anything about her, and you'll want to find her when you come to your fucking senses."
Paul glared, shaking off Jared's hand. "You're right; it's MY imprint and MY decision. So, can everyone just fucking drop it?"
Jared turned to Kim in frustration. "Can you reason with him?"
"Paul," Kim said gently.
"Kim," Paul grumbled.
"Think about it. This is a good thing," she pleaded. "You know it is."
"It's also my thing," Paul snapped.
Jared huffed, squeezing his eyes shut. "Well, technically, it's a pack thing, since she would—"
"Not if I don't accept the imprint," Paul said through clenched teeth. He wasn't sure whom he was trying to spite, or why, but he couldn't stop himself. The wolf inside snarled, though Paul wasn't sure if it was at Jared or himself.
"Paul," Kim gasped.
"Not accept— Are you serious right now?! Who even says something like that? Is he having a nervous breakdown?" Jared spat, looking to the others for support.
"Let's all take a step back and—" Seth started.
"Let's not! Paul's being completely fucking irrational right now, and we need to make him see sense!" Jared fumed.
"Jared, stop," Kim said, placing a hand on his arm. "This isn't helping."
"But, babe, can you believe this?" Jared pleaded.
"All of you can believe whatever you want—it's my call in the end," Paul muttered, jaw clenched.
He and Jared glared at each other, the rest of the group standing awkwardly nearby, Seth and Embry ready to intervene if needed.
"Stop it, you two. Just… stop. Jared," Kim sighed, raising her hands. "Let's sleep on it, okay? Let Paul calm down and take it all in. The morning is wiser than the evening."
Jared huffed angrily and threw his hands up. "You know what, Paul? Fine. Fine! Be a stubborn, miserable asshole your whole life. You're really good at it."
"Thanks for letting me live my life the way I want to, Cameron. You're a real big man," Paul mocked.
"Fuck you," Jared muttered, storming toward the car.
By the time they reached it, Paul felt like he'd run a marathon. Jared slid into the driver's seat without a word, and Paul slumped in the back with Seth and Embry, staring out the window but seeing nothing. The ride was silent, Kim casting worried glances at Paul in the rearview mirror.
When they finally pulled up to his place, Paul couldn't bring himself to move.
"Paul…" Kim began, but he shook his head.
"Don't," Paul muttered. "Not yet."
Kim pressed her lips together and nodded. "We're here for you. Get some rest. Everything will be clearer in the morning."
Paul didn't answer. He climbed out of the car and headed inside. He needed to be alone—to figure out what the hell he was supposed to do now.
Because everything had just changed, and he wasn't ready to face it.