Chapter 14: Me Before You

Previously on Naked and Afraid:

With chocolate brown eyes that held him here now.

Bella Swan, his pack sister.

His omega.

The glue that held them, all together.

His soul had now wrapped itself around hers.

Bella Swan was now… his imprint.

Me -Hiding behind Paul. Are you guys still with me?

A/N: The refuge is a silent disco club/restaurant

Oscar is the owner/manager.

Oliver is the co-manager and Oscar's nephew.

Yuto- head bartender

Ming- bartender

Eliza- head waitress

Ada- waitress

Ray- bouncer

Paul- Bouncer/bartender/ waiter

Also, these guys are feline shapeshifters they will be hissing a lot.

Paul is a lupine and feline shifter so he hisses and growls.

…

Electric blue eyes looked on in satisfaction as his female hugged her sire.

She was safe and content for now. He didn't want his presence to put a damper on her reunion, so he slipped out the back once she had fallen asleep. Besides the rental car was still in the driveway giving him the excuse that he needed to return.

With that in mind, he shifted into four paws and made his way to La Push.

…

Paul hissed at the smell of his den. After a whole year, his den now smelled horrendous.

He gagged as he opened the fridge and the smell of rotten food hit his nose.

With a shake of his head, he began to clean his house. Only stopping to listen to the voicemails that had accumulated over the year.

Voicemail # 1 " Son? Is it's dad? I haven't heard from you in a few weeks. Just checking to make sure you were ok?"

Voicemail # 2 " alright now Paul. It's been a month. I'm still on my archeological trip but I will be home soon. I'm expecting a call back asap."

Voicemail # 3 " Paul, it's Oliver. You are late for your shift. You are never late, is everything ok? Call me."

Voicemail # 4 " Paul it's Oscar. Oliver says you haven't come in for your shift the past couple of weeks. What's going on? "

Voicemail # 5 " Paul san! It's Yuto! We've been looking for you! Where are you?"

End of voicemails.

He rolled his neck and hissed as he felt the beast within him roar. For a whole year, the only thing on his mind was his mate and getting her home safe. At that moment nothing else mattered. He lived and breathed his mate but now, she wasn't here dot distract him which meant that his mind was free to roam and so was his beast.

Both of them.

….

Oscar O'Connor stood in the observation room of his Seattle location of the refuge and sneered.

He ground his teeth as another drunk and angry customer was thrown out. It wasn't so much the customer being thrown out but it was his lack of staffing. Ray, his bouncer was good but he wasn't as good as Paul. Together the two men worked well, but Paul was more beast than man and he could put the fear of god into almost anybody.

However, it had been a whole year since Paul mysteriously disappeared and no one had heard a word from him.

It wasn't like him. Paul was one of his most dedicated workers. He knew how to de-escalate a crowd, and could whip up a martini faster than anyone he knew. And Oscar wasn't afraid to admit he may have a soft spot for the poor kid. Oscar knew what it was like to be lost to the spirit animal inside and have no direction. He especially knew how it felt to have that raging feeling of violence that never seemed to go away but could only be filled by the squelching of skin under one's hand. Most of his men had the urge but they had managed to tame it. Paul on the other hand wasn't so lucky, the lad had two supernatural creatures to tangle with.

Oscar sighed and lit a cigar wondering how they were going to fix this. He had called around looking for Paul and even his father had no clue where he was.

That had put a bad taste in Oscar's mouth. Paul wasn't one to talk much, but Oscar knew that his father was a sore subject.

The sound of footsteps toward his office had him putting out his cigar, the last thing he needed was his employee's mother hearing him about his health. Although he couldn't call them employees when he practically dragged most of them off the street and gave them all places to live.

They were practically his kids.

"Oscar San! We have a problem!" yuto hissed. Yuto stopped however as cigar smoke reached his nose.

"Oscar san!" to cut his dark black eyes at him in scolding.

"Yeah yeah, kid I know. I know. Now what's the problem?!"

"Oh yeah! We have that football team at table ten and they are getting way out of hand. Ray tried to hand them but I think even he's getting frustrated."

"Im right behind you," Oscar told him.

The two men walked out of the office and down to where the rowdy football team was.

"This is the last time I am going to say this. It's time for you all to get out." Ray hissed as his pupils began to dilate.

" stand down Ray. Go take a break." Oscar ordered sternly.

Ray hissed but followed orders.

"Look here, bro! We're not going anywhere until we get another drink!" one of the men slurred.

"You've reached your drink limit and your tab is overdue. It's time to pay up and leave," you told them.

"My guy here already told you guys no. so bring us some more drinks and we might think about paying our tab." another football player sneered/.

"won't be any thinking necessary." a cold voice hissed.

All eyes turned to see a man with long raven hair, dark shades, a tight black t-shirt, and camo-colored pants.

It was Paul.

Immediately the atmosphere around them changed. thier was a chill in the air and Oscar could taste the fear.

"Cuse me?" the drunken football player said as he stood up and began to wobble.

Paul smiled a crooked grin and reached for the man's throat. In the blink of an eye, Paul had the man in the air, his feet dangling as Paul practically choked him out.

"I believe you and your group were asked to leave. If you don't pay your tab and get out within the next five minutes, it won't just be your windpipe that's broken."

With that said Paul dropped the man as he choked, coughed and sputtered.

"Well, i think you got the point." yuto sneered " time to pay your tab and get out."

….

Oscar found Paul pacing in the basement of the restaurant. Oscar stood in the corner taking in his prodigy.

While he looked calm to others, Oscar could see the details of a man on the brink. Their was a slight dishevlement of his clothes and to his shock it seemed as if he lost weight. He looked a little thinner then before.

Was it possible?

The basment door opened and a thudding of feet was heard.

"Uncle! Yuto said Pau-"

His nephew froze as he took in his… well, Oscar didnt know how to put it. Paul and oliver werent exactly friends but they werent enemies either. Lets put it this way, Paul tolerated Oliver.

"Has he said anything yet?" oliver asked.

"Nope. he's been pacing for a hot minute." oscar told him as he began to unto his tie and take off his shirt.

"Uncle? What the heck?"

Oscar shook his head and nodded towards Paul.

"Look at em Oliver, the lads on the brink. Dont know wheres he's been or whats going on but he and i are gonna duke it out."

As soon as oscar stepped in Pauls line of sight, the beast was unleashed.

…..

Two hours later, and Oscar was sporting a sporting a broken nose, a broken rib and a very broken leg.

Paul had it just a bad. A broken nose, a broken jaw and a broken arm.

At the moment, oliver was resetting and re breaking their bones.

"Well lad, now that your steam has run out want to tell me where ya been? I was about to give away yer job."

Paul raised his eyebrow but didnt respond.

Oscar sighed and said " ok fine your right i wasnt gonna give your job away i would have kept looking for you. Now where the heck have ya been?"

"Got caught up in a vampire war. Some newborn dragged off one our pack mates. Went to save them. Wound up in brazil. Had to wait for my pack mate to heal. Then we had to figure how to get back home. Got back home a few hours ago."

"Alright, uncle hold still." oliver warned.

Oscar held back a few cuss words as oliver reset his broken bones.

Once he was finished olive hovered over Paul hesitantly.

Paul however, waved him away.

"I got it." Paul said quietly.

Oliver and oscar watched in morbid fascination as Paul reset his nose, jaw and arm.

"Ok, well now that thats done. Why dont you take the rest of the week off and start fresh next week?" Oscar questioned.

"How about i start tomorrow and do a half day for the rest of the week?" Paul suggested.

"That works for me lad. Now why dont you go grab something to eat from the kitchen?"

Paul nodded and headed up the stairs.

"He gonna be ok?" oliver asked.

"Dont know. Well see."

….

The next morning, Bella groaned as the sunlight beamed in her eyes.

The sound of snoring made her sit up and blink rapidly.

Sitting in her old rocking chair was Sam. His head resting on his hand.

Bella rubbed her chest as last night events hit her. Sam had fallen to his knees and stared at her as if she held the sun.

What exactly happened she had no clue but Sam said he would tell her in the morninning.

However, she knew one thing was true, her bond with her alpha had strengthened.

It was the smell of Bacon that finally pushed Bella out of bed.

"Sam? Sam?" she called as she shook him gently.

Her alpha stirred and rubbed his eyes as he looked around.

"Uggh, what time is it?"

Bella looked over at her clock and said " 9 am .I'm going to hop in the shower."

"Alrighht. Kiddo. Im gonna head downstairs and talk to your dad."

"Ok, and Sam? Will you tell me what happened last night?"

"I will soon Bella. I Bella i am so glad your home." He told her as he stood.

"Its good to be home Sam."

….

Sam enter the kitchen to see Charlie cooking breakfast while Chief black prepared the coffee.

"Good morning Sam. I see you fell asleep in that rocking chair." Charlie greeted him.

"Yeah its not kind on the neck." Sam said as he rubbed his Black then handed him a cup of coffee.

"How did Bella sleep? Did she say anything?"Chief black asked as he rolled to the table.

"Well… we didnt exaclty get to talk.." Sam said cryptically.

"Why not?"

"Well.. i… I imprinted on her."

Both men froze and looked at him with wife eyes.

"YOU DID WHAT!" Billy exclaimed.

Sam threw his hands up in surrender.

"You know we cant control it billy! And it wasnt romantic! I have no romantic feelings towards her. Its just… the imprint solififed her place in the pack. I… i know why shes so important to me. To us. She's the pack omega."

"Wait a second rewind.. Whats an imprint? And what does that mean for Bella?" charlie inquired.

"What about me?" a voice asked.

All eyes turned to see Bella dressed in a sweater and leggings. Her hair still wet from the shower.

"I was just explain a few things to your dad and chief black. But since you down here , i thinmk it be best if i explained everything to you." Sam explained.

Bella didnt say anything as she pulled out a chair and motioned for him to continue.

"Well… the thing that happend last night. It was an imprint… its something that happens in the pack. An imprint is supposed to lead you to your soulmate and the wolf will be whatever the imprintee needs him to be . A friend, a lover or whatever. Jared imprinted on Kim. about a month ago Emrby imprinted on Rebbecca."

"Becca's home!" Bella exclaimed interrupting him.

"Yeah. she is and driving me nuts." Billy joked.

"And i imprinted on Emily." Sam continued.

"Ok? So where does this leave me?" Bella asked.

"Well…. Last night… i imprinted on you as well. Except… its a different kind of imprint. It's a sibling kind of imprint. But thiers more to it. I believe your the packs omega."

"Whats an omega?" Bella asked.

"An omega doenst exist in a wild wolf pack but in the supernatural world an omega is the bottom of the pack. The one member that wont challenge the alpha. They wont try to move up in rank or cause problems. The omega brings a source of peace ot the pack. Thier like a bridge between man and wolf." Billy explained as he took over. " which also explains why the pack took your…dissparence so hard. Their were times we thought you were dead Bella. Your presence not being here was felt honey."

Everyone looked at Bella expectantly.

"Anything… you want to ask us Bella? I know this is a lot."Sam questioned as he took her hand.

" Will emily be upset?" she asked.

A small chuckle filled the room as Sam laughed.

"Youve just been told some important information and your worried about Emily. No, she wont be upset i promise. She'll probably be excited."

"And what about leah?"

Sam's eyes widend.

"What about her?"

"I see the way she looks at you Sam. i see the way she looks at Emily. Did Imprinting have something to with the way Leah looks at you?"

Billy shook his head. "Such an inqusitive girl."

Sam sighed.

" leah and I… used to date. Well, more like… we were engaged. But then I phased and I was alone and i had no clue what was happening. Once i got ahold of the wolf, I met Emily by accident one day and… i imprinted. That was it. I still loved leah but…it was different with Emily. She was my world. Became my world. Although she didnt want anything to do with me for a while but i couldnt be away from her. Unfortunately she and i got into a big fight one day and… i lost control of my wolf and i hurt her. I will always regret that. But yeah thats why leah looks at me the way she does. She stuck in limbo having to see what.. She could have had… and it hurts. It hurts all of us.. But were powering through it."

It was then Bella snatched her hand away from Sam.

Both of them rubbing thier chest as Bella's pain became his.

"Your telling me that Imprinting took you away from leah and now she has to deal with seeing you and her cousin togather for the rest of her life!" she exclaimed.

It was then Bella stood as tears filled her eyes and she began to hypervenilate.

Sam stood with her, reaching out to touch her but she flinched and ducked away.

" you imprinted on Emily and it took you away from leah…and if you did that to her then whats going to happen to me?" she questioned to no one.

"Now.. wait Bella… we cant control who we imprint on.." Sam tried to defend.

"But if ours is a sibling imprint why wasnt your a sibling imprint with emily?"

Sam swallowed hard as he tried his best to explain.

"Becuase… looking back i dodn think Leah was what i needed and Emily needed someone.."

Bella shook her head her breathing only become more erratic and Sam could feel it.

Before anyone could try to calm her the front door burst opened and their stood Paul lahote.

With long toned legs, he prowled towards Bella cupping her face as he spoke.

"Minha need to breathe. Breath me with me."

As Paul began to take deep breaths, Bella followed suit and finally she was calm.

"What happened?" was Paul's quiet question

Sam looked on in shock as he watched his ostracized pack member comfort his most vulnerable pack mate.

He looked over at Billy and charlie who had the same look.

The utter look of Are you seeing what i'm seeing? And what the actually heck?

"Imprinting happened. Sam imprinted on me in a non romantic way and now leah is stuck watching a horror show of her ex boyfriend day in and day out and now your going to leave me." she explained.

Paul turned to look at Sam. Both men sizing the other up.

"This true Alpha? You imprint her?"

"Yes. I did. But its a sibling relationship only." Sam answered as he shivered. Why did it seem as if the room just got colder?

Paul nodded as he turned back to Bella leaning down,so they were forhead to forehead. Bella reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck.

It was then Sam had to collapse into his seat. Shock displaying on his face. He had never known Paul to allow anyone to touch him and if they did they would lose their fingers and arms.

Yet here he was allowing Bella to touch him.

"Silly girl. Always making assumptions. Now listen, because who and what i am, i wont imprint. Cant imprint. So you have nothing to worry about. Do you understand?" Paul rumbled.

"You promise?" Bella asked him softly.

"Cross my heart."

"And hope to live?" Bella chuckled.

"And hope to live." he repeated.

It was then something like a bubble popped in the room. Like all the tension had been released.

Ok. um.. Sorry everyone didnt mean to cause a panic." she adressed the room. She then turned to him hesitation in her eyes.

"Sam? Im sorry. I wasnt trying to accuse you.. I just.. Still dont understand but .. i love you and Emily still."

"I dont doubt it kid, never did." Sam responded.

"Well, then…how about we get back to breakfast. I believe charlie was making pancakes and bacon!" Billy cheered.

To their surprise, Bella asked Paul to stay for breakfast and once again to their surprise, he stayed.

"sam..What happens now?" Bella asked as she nibbled at pieces of her breakfast.

" at the moment, nothing. I'll inform the elders and the pack and well go from there. Its just noce to have you home. Both of you." Sam pointed out as he looked at Paul.

" i wouldnt have made it if it wasnt for Paul. He saved my life." she told them as she reached for Pauls hand.

"Do you … want to talk about it?" Billy questioned quietly.

Bella stiffened at Billy's words.

Paul let out a growl that shook the room, as a chill filled the room.

"Billy." Charlie chided as he elbowed his friend.

" forgive me Bella. That was too forward of me. I'm sure you have been through something horrible. Just come to us when your ready.." Billy tried to say.

It was then Paul stood. Holding his hand out for Bella to take.

"Got to take the rental car back, want to come ?" he questioned her.

"Please…" she practically begged.