Chapter 5: Paul part 2

Like she expected Bella puked multiple times on the journey. She had no clue where they were going but she was glad they finally stopped for the night.

"ughhh, Paul I don't think I can go any further." Bella groaned as they settled under a tree.

Paul, of course, laid his head on her belly and purred.

"oh, whatever you giant cat. Do you have any idea why you phased into one?"

Once again, Paul began to write with his sharp claw.

I don't know exactly but… I've had this…feeling or connection, whatever you want to call it to this land as soon as I came here. I think it may have something to do with that and the farther we get into the forest the stronger my connection grows. All I know is wherever we are going, we will be safe. That I do know."

Bella was quiet pondering on what Paul had told her.

"does it feel different? Being a leopard instead of a wolf? Does it feel awkward?"

It feels different… it feels more comfortable. The colors around me are brighter.. and my senses… it just feels right.

"interesting…. I have to ask do you think you can find a fresh water source around here? We have no way to boil water and I can't tell what's good and what isn't."

Paul let out a concerned yowl and ran into the nearby bushes. Bella shivered.

The days were warm and humid, but the nights became frigid. She hadn't slept well before Paul got here, He was practically a human heater.

Bella sighed. She was exhausted, hungry, and dehydrated. She didn't know how long they would last but they needed to get out of here soon.

But if what Paul said was right, his instincts were leading somewhere, she just wished she knew where.

It was then Bella was taken out of her thoughts by a rough hand around her neck.

The scream died in her throat as the cold hand squeezed her windpipe shut.

"you smell delicious! What's a meal like you doing way out here."

Because of the darkness, Bella couldn't see what had her but she knew what it was without thought.

Freaking vampires. More freaking vampires.

With her eyes closed Bella felt its cold breath on her neck and the sharp pinprick of fangs pierce her skin.

Just as quick as the vampire was on her, it was ripped off. Bella fell to the ground hard, hitting her head and scrapping her arms along the way.

Growls and the breaking of limbs could be heard. As Bella opened her eyes, she could see two blurs going back and forth. Limbs were being thrown into the bushes.

As fast as she could, Bella did her best to gather the vampire's limbs and set them on fire as she waited for Paul to finish tearing the vampire apart.

When he was done, She threw the rest of the limbs and the head into the fire.

Paul laid down, so she could get on his back, and when she did.

Bella passed out.

No more vampires was her last thought.

…

"Are you sure about this?" Bella asked as she tied the twine around the logs. It had now been 70 days since Victoria had taken her away from everything she knew and yet here she stood.

Alive.

She wasn't at her healthiest but she was alive. Her heart was beating.

She was beyond thankful for Paul. He had saved her life more than once, although Bella was eager to meet the man.

She had met Paul the wolf and Paul the leopard but when would Paul the man emerge?

Would his eyes be the same color when he phased back? If he phased back was the true question. Paul didn't know why but he couldn't phase back whatsoever, he didn't know if it was the environment or the stress of vampires lurking around but his body wouldn't listen.

At the moment, she and Paul had managed to find thick logs to tie together and create a raft big enough to hold them both. For some reason, Paul felt led to riding the river downstream.

"it's finished!" she declared as she looked proudly at her work. She used a few Banana leaves as a roof just in case it rained and a few extra logs to hold it up.

Paul cocked his head to the side as he observed the raft. He then stepped on it to see if it would hold.

After a few minutes, Paul circled on the raft before he sat down.

"Well, I'm glad it meets your standards." She dry chuckles. "Alright Paul lead the way, im trusting your instincts here."

….

Nuuk, Greenland

"The scent leads this way." Jasper guided his brothers. They had been tracking Victoria's scent for about a month but it kept going in different directions. Today was the first time they had a solid lead. Jasper, Emmet, and Edward had followed The fresh scent to Greenland while Rosalie, Alice, and Carlisle went to Canada. Esme remained in Washington just to be safe.

"A hotel?" Emmet questioned

"I can't get a gauge on her thoughts too many people. But I do see parts of the newborn battle running through her mind. It's her." Edward informed them.

Edward hissed at the thought of the battle and gingerly touched his neck. Riley had managed to rip off his head but he wouldn't allow that to happen again.

His love had been taken from him and no matter what, Edward would get her back.

"alright here's the plan, Edward you knock on the door, Emmett, and I will get through the window."

Edward nodded.

It didn't take him long to bypass the front desk and get the extra set of keys for Victoria's room.

He unlocked the door, listening for any sounds of her trying to escape. At the same time, Jasper and Emmet were unlatching the window.

Edward hissed as he saw the thoughts inside Victoria's mind. Something wasn't right. The room was empty but he could see her thoughts and her thoughts weren't aligned to what he knew to be true.

"she's in the closet," Edward told them.

Jasper nodded as he and Emmett readied to catch her.

On the count of three, Edward opened the closet.

Victoria tackled them like they thought she would but once they had her on the ground, all of them froze.

The woman in front of them was not Victoria. She looked like her but the hair was cut short.

"Well, hello hello. Looks like my big sister won the game after all…"

…..

Carlisle closed his eyes and gripped the phone as his son explained what they found.

The trail was a false lead which meant Victoria and Bella were still out there. To make it worse, the woman was Victoria's younger sister and from what Edward saw in her head, there was a third sister out there. Veronica, Victoria, and Verona. Veronica and Verona had worn Victoria's clothes so that her scent could be confused. His sons had Verona which meant that the scent they were following had to be Veronica's.

"Alice can you-"

"no. I've never met her and I do not see us interacting with her yet either." Alice said miserably.

Carlisle sighed and rubbed his temples.

"I have to call Sam. He has to know that there is another vampire out there and if they are anything like Victoria they might make their way to Forks."

….

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.

He was currently sitting in La Push's police department with Sheriff Joseph Cameron.

The two departments had come together in the aftermath of the missing hikers. Trying to sort out the remaining bodies of people who hadn't been turned into newborns.

"Okay, Tracy Walker. Forks or La push?" Joseph asked

"Forks," Charlie responded.

Before Joseph could say the next one, Sherriff Cameron's intercom beeped.

"sherrif? Your brother is here and he is very angry."

"oh crap. Let him in Cecelia."

"brother? you didn't tell me you had a brother Joe. We've been friends for years." Charlie inquired.

"half brothers. Same mom different dads." Joseph sniffed as he stood.

Charlie watched as his demeanor changed almost as if he was gearing up for a fight.

A few seconds later, the office door burst open and a man with dark hair, a ponytail, and glasses appeared.

"WHERE IN THE HELL IS MY SON JOE!"

"Hmmm, I don't Leon but if you had been around more you might know."

"argh!" Leon roared before he sucker-punched Joseph right in the face.

Charlie was quick to separate the two with a few other deputies. Before Sam appeared in the doorway.

" Mr. Lahote. Mr. Cameron chief black wants to see you. Charlie, you can come too."

….

The two brothers sat across from each other as the elders gathered. They were currently in the council hall and everyone could feel the tension.

"Mr. Lahote. Thank you for coming. Welcome back home, It has been a while since we last met." Billy began.

Leon lahote however wasn't having it.

"cut the crap chief black. I come back from a three-month archeological trip to find my son missing. He is not at his house, he's not at mine, even his boss called me. He's used to Paul being gone for a few days but this is insane. According to his boss, it's been two months! Now where is he."

"you're an archaeologist?" Sam questioned somewhat surprised. While he didn't know much about Paul's history, he knew he lived on the reservation with his father. But now, it seems that wasn't the case. Paul had a house on his own and a job. How did he not know that?

"not the point !" Leon growled as he then turned his attention back to Billy.

"ok, here's the truth Leon. As you know Paul is a shapeshifter. He's been running with the pack for a while. Anyway, two months ago, we had a war on our hands a bunch of freshly made vampires trying to attack our lands. Paul and the boys fought bravely. They even allied with the nearby golden eyes to win the war. While they won the war, there were dire consequences that followed. Paul went out of his way to save Seth Clearwater from a vampire attack but during that time, Bella Swan was kidnapped by the vampire who created this whole mess. For some unknown reason Paul went after them and we haven't heard anything since. And apparently, new information has been given to us that there may be two other vampires behind this mess as well. So that's where we are at."

Leon who was once standing up, collapsed in his chair running his fingers through his hair that had come out of its ponytail.

"I knew bringing him home was a bad idea." Leon whispered to himself. "so, tell me what are we doing to find him ?"

This time Sam answered.

"Unfortunately at the moment nothing. We have had to rely on our enemies to help look for him and Bella. I can't risk the lives of my pack when they still have their daily lives to upkeep and protect the tribe especially now with those other vampires out there."

Leon shook his head.

"I don't understand. Saving Seth I can understand but why this - this girl was she his girlfriend or something? Wait don't answer that, Pauls has never been interested in girls or anyone for that matter."

"Bella is our pack sister. It's ingrained in the pack to protect each other. With him as my third in command maybe he just felt the need to go since I couldn't." Sam explained.

Leon sighed and buried his face in his hands.

"So we just sit here and wait?"

"yes." Billy addressed the room. " we have to wait for more news. By the way Leon. This is Charlie Swan. Bella Swans's father."

"I would say nice to meet you but considering the circumstances I can't," Leon stated as he shook Charlie's hand.

"I understand. Is Paul your only child?" Charlie asked.

"yeah, my one and only."

"I get that. Bella's my only kid too. How about we go for a drink? I can give you some of the case details. We've been trying to keep things low-key."

"why not? Joe, you coming?" Leon asked his brother.

"Oh, now you want to hold hands and sing around the campfire?" Joseph asked sarcastically.

Leon rolled his eyes.

"come on bro, you know you would do the same thing if you found out Jared was missing and no one told you anything. I mean you didn't even call me to tell me my kid was missing what kind of uncle are you? I asked you to watch out for Paul while I was gone."

"He's twenty-one years old for Pete's sake Leon. He's a grown man! When are you going to let the boy grow up."

"says the one who still gives Jared a curfew."

"Jared is in high school and unlike Paul, Jared is going to graduate high school. Vampires and wars be damned." Joseph spat.

"Now you know Paul had different circumstances, Joe, don't try to throw that in my face. He has his GED. It's the same thing!"

"oookaaay! That's enough. You two arguing won't help anything. Let's go get some food or I will drag you both into lock up. keep us posted Sam." Charlie shouted as he dragged the two arguing brothers out of the room.

"Have they always been that way?" Sam asked Billy as he helped him out of the council room.

"for as long as I can remember," Billy told him.

"But why the hostility? And how come no one told us Jared and Paul were related? It's never crossed Jared's mind once."

"Well, Leon and Joseph are half brothers. They share the same mom but different dads. Their mom decided to marry Josephs dad and that of course created tension. When Leon was old enough he lived with his dad for a while and then moved off to college as quickly as he could. He became an archeologist and traveled around for a while before he moved to Tacoma. Two years later, he showed up with an eight-year-old Paul in his arms."

"any word about the mother?"

"Nope, not a one."

"interesting. Well, the pack will keep their eyes open for the stray vampires."

"as of right now Sam that's the best you guys can do."