I listened to The Summit audio and here’s my favourite personal comments/thoughts! (IM STILL IN SHOCK WHAT TEH FUCK)
HELP OF COURSE ASHER LOST A FUCKING SHOE
David’s gonna whip your ass Ash
WHY ARE WE ROASTING ASHER SO BAD
Milo being a fashionista cannon
“Good thing belts don't correlate to height.” DAVID
Ash, Baabe, get a fucking room
Sweetheart i’m crying please give a man some dress socks
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Vincent sounds so anxious
AWH NO WILL COME ON MAN NOT THE ASSISTANT
Vincent baby… 😕
“I can't control how people are acting but I can control how I react.” PREACHHH VINCENT
Mhm run past me. OOH MUSIC FUCK YES, THE DRACULA MUSIC I LOVE IT 🙏
Surprise??? He’s spoiling Lovely so bad
I'M SCARED IS IT GONNA JUMP AT ME LIKE THOSE PLASTIC SPIDERS
A CROWN?? NO NO NO THAT’S SO FUCKING SWEET
THE SAME CRAFTSMAN AND EVERYTHING I CANNOT DO THIS😭
Wait, does Sam have a crown too?? Like being a duke
HE CALLED US BABY I CANNOT
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Shit these sound effects are FIRE
Yo Sam wassup my guy.
Oh Porter. Hi dear ☹️
Sam is literally the opposite of me I love small talk and big events lmfao
“Good people” He’s so salty lmfao
There’s no way Darlin’ isn’t smoking hot rn
AY ICE CREAM TUBS, Mint chocolate chip for the win 🙌
I imagine them going hand in hand, like elbows connected.
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Porter being a smooth bitch. (as usual)
Vincent is surprisingly kind abt this, well as nice as he can
IS TREASURE NOT HERE?? DID PORTER GASLIGHT ALL OF US.. 😰
That went well. Lovely calm your boyfriend before he pulls out his hair
Nah let like Sam punch him it’s funnier.
Are these other vamps that bad oh my god
Ooh business deals?? Yes make that moolah.
Eccentric?? Tf you mean eccentric. I don’t think David can handle more eccentric people in his life.
HELP NOT ASH PICKING UP ON VINCENT (unrelated but can we just acknowledge how emotionally mature and smart Asher is?)
WHAT DID ASH DO?? TEAR DOWN A WALL???
Oh god Bennetts?? They sound pleasant.
Wait wait, House of Baz were allies, and but every word out of Deon's mouth was to diss William??? WHAT TYPE OF SHITTY ALLIES
I want those two to die, for all of their house to run into the sun.
-----------------------
ALEXIS HOLY SHIT AH
Latest conquest?? Come here let me rip you up
JESUS WHAT THE FUCK ALEXIS?? SORRY I'M NOT IMMORTAL GOD DAMN.
I don’t wanna fight you lex. YOU GROW UP?? PETTINESS IS CHILDISH.
You selfish little bitch. I’M GONNA BITE HER URGHSHSHGY
Porter thank FUCK YOU'RE HERE
YES YES YES PORTER OH MY GOD GO PORTER, Thank you Porter 😭
Alexis can suck my dick.
“Like a proper family” That's an interesting view on what your idea of a loving family is Porter.
Sammy BOY??? HELP IM CACKLING
Surprisingly Porter is in the right here.
WOAH SHOWDOWN SHOWDOWN WOO
WAS PORTER JUST LEFT THERE
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Oh god what fucking now, i cannot DEAL with anymore self centred fuckers.
Is he warning us? What’s happening.
OH MY GOD ADAM I FORGOT ABT HIM.
Ykw he’s got a point here, a REALLY good point. CONSIDERING THE HOUSE OF BAZ THING.
ALEXIS SHUT THE FUCK UP FOR ONCE IN YOUR WRINKLED SQUEZZED GRAPE ASS LIFE
Sam :((( yes Sam you deserve that.
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Asher and Milo bring up the mood woop woop
HOLY SHIT JUMPSCARE
Good lord Porter has a bad rep already w them
Investor gadget woop woop, investor gadget bam bam bam bam go gadget go bup bam bam bam badum badump.
?? CLOSEKNIT?? GOD DAMMIT FUCK CAN WE GO ONE VIDEO WITHOUT REFERENCING THEM
Milo clamp your jaw for a sec
OH MY GOD THE BENNETTS SUPPLIED CLOSEKNIT??
PORTER YOU BEAUTIFUL BASTARD THANK YOOU FOR THE LORE DROP.
Wait wait we’re doing it now? OH GOD WE’RE GONNA INVESTIGATE NOW AT THE SUMMIT.
Sam said a lot of things..
WAIT NO ONE ELSE BUT DAVID KNOWS WHAT MILO DID?? Even after 2 years??
No Sweetheart think abt this please what if ya get caught.
GO BETA GO BETA FUCK IT UP WOOAHH (i’m sorry i'm so stressed.)
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You should’ve punched her Sam, you should’ve.
Sam and Darlin’ needed better taste in vamps ffs
Sam therapy time 😇🥳 (as required in every Sam video)
YES SAM STAND UP FOR YOURSELF
God Sam and Darlin’ are so fucking sweet URGDHAKDA
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Is Angel stuck talking there or??
Imagine talking to someone for like 15 minutes and come back to find your friends stalking a head of the house. David needs a panadol for the headache coming up.
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OOH ARE WE EAVESDROPPING.
Well nobody wants to join a cult tbh, like that’s so suspicious.
This is a surprisingly civil argument, i was expecting someone getting thrown through a wall
UH OH WE ALMOST GOT CAUGHT??
-----------------------
WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING
What’s up w the king
HUH HE’S DEAD????? WHEN I SAID I WANTED HIM DEAD I DIDN'T MEAN ACTUALLY DEAD.
TAH’S IT TAHT ITS WAHTD THE FUCK? DID SWEETHEART KILL HIM? DID CHRIS DO IT HOW DID ALEXIS KNOW, IS THAT WHY PORTER PICKED A FIGHT??? TO CREATE A DISTRACTION??
So no ice cream?? 💔
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Endangered | Chapter Seventeen
Paul Lahote x OFC
Endangered Masterlist
Summary: Vampires and wolves are not the only supernatural creatures to walk the earth, and they are certainly not the only ones in Forks, Washington when Charlotte Annabeth Swan, “Anna”, moves in with her uncle after the unfortunate demise of her parents.
Some may misidentify her as a witch, but that’s fine, she would rather them think that anyway. But the Volturi know the truth, and they are closing in on her.
A/N: Surprise! I am alive, between school, work, and a hurricane, this was a challenge to complete. But to make up for it, it is twice as long as usual chapters AND the moment we have all been waiting for is here.
I hope you enjoy~
It was impossible to focus on anything in the aftermath of Bella’s wolf bombshell. School went by in a blur, my mind constantly on what was happening in the woods. Even Eric and Mike had noticed, which was how I knew I was off. They barely noticed anything. For a moment, I felt like I was slipping away, just like Bella had.
I spent every free second of the next few days trying to monitor the vampire situation. The pack had killed one who had gotten too close to Bella. I couldn’t even confront her, because telling her I knew about the vampire meant telling her I knew about the wolves. It wasn’t just the boys in the woods with a vampire now, it was Charlie, Harry, and so many more humans in danger. I found that I could feel where she was in the woods. Vampires were not alive, and if I focused on that feeling of emptiness, I could track her. And she was fast.
Paul made it known he hated this, but I wanted to help. The only upside was that I could use my emotional connection to Charlie to monitor where the hunting group was in relation to the redhead. The pack were excellent trackers, but apparently, the smell of a vampire was overwhelming to them. I could better keep track of the humans than they could while they were on her tail, so Sam let me keep doing what I could. I was able to warn them when she got too close to them and could track her movements off the reservation as well.
The nosebleeds, on the other hand, that was a point of contention. So much so that Paul broke his rule about being around me in his wolf form.
I was sitting against a rock, the cold forest floor beneath me, and my eyes closed when I heard footsteps. Sam had cleared this little clearing safe earlier in the day, it was off the path enough to be hidden, but not dangerous. I wasn’t scared. I knew who it was immediately.
“Paul,” I whispered, opening my eyes. The wolf was about six feet in front of me, and they were really just as massive as people said. He had told me he was worried about scaring me, but all I could think was how beautiful he was. His fur was a dark silver, and some lighter spots on his face. His eyes were copper, seemingly staring into mine.
He huffs at me, his agitation apparent in his body language. I dropped the shields around my mind so we could communicate. It takes a minute to push through some of the pack's collective thoughts to get to Paul’s. They know he’s with me, I can hear Sam giving directions and some responses before I get to him.
“Hey,” I think.
You’re bleeding, he growls out loud at the thought. I wipe away the blood quickly beginning to fall down my lip.
“Shit, sorry,” I say, standing up, “I honestly don’t really notice it anymore.”
What if she had caught wind of you? You’re forgetting that your blood is different. You’re putting yourself in more danger.
“I didn’t forget. She’s pretty far away, and she keeps making you guys chase her to the border. If you would just let me get close enough to her to read her mind, I could figure out what she wants,” I say pointedly.
Absolutely not, he huffs.
“Paul,” I say taking a step forward and I can see him step back.
Stay back, I don’t want to hurt you.
I sigh, “You won’t, love.”
You don’t know that.
“I do,” I take another step forward, “Trust yourself. Trust me.”
He turns his head away, thoughts racing too fast for me to decipher. The pack's thoughts are bleeding through, making it difficult to single out his. Before I can get a headache, he turns to face me again, nodding.
Okay, he thinks.
He’s taller than me still, but he shrinks a little as I move forward. I slowly hold out a hand, letting him come to me.
He stares at me unblinking, before leaning into my palm.
“See, not so bad,” I smile, and even in his thoughts, he is grumbling.
Maybe, but I should get back, and you should go home to rest.
Sam breaks through the wall I have that pushed the pack away with an Alpha order to the boys. I flinch as it shatters through my mind like broken glass. Pressing my palms into my eyes, I nod.
“Yeah, maybe.”
----------------------------------------------------
Bella couldn’t believe how blind she had been. Jacob had told her, point blank, exactly what he was, and she couldn’t see it. It took him climbing through her window to notice exactly what was going on.
Jacob was a werewolf. He was killing the hikers in the woods. He had been manipulated by the others into murder. It wasn’t a gang he was in, it was a pack.
Bella’s thoughts raced as she drove, was Anna a part of this, did she know? She had too, Bella thinks. She had been keeping secrets for far too long.
Parking, Bella rampaged her way to the Black house, hellbent on getting answers with her aggressive knocking and pushing her way past Billy.
But now standing here at the door to his room, he didn’t look like the monster she had made out in her head. He looked peaceful, having long since outgrown the bed he lay in. He didn’t want this. He was just sixteen.
Looking through the window, she saw the four others step through the tree line, and she saw red. This needed to end.
“What did you do!” she yells bursting out of the door, when she didn’t get an answer, she becomes irate, running up to Sam.
“Hey! What did you do!” she yelled again, pushing Sam forcefully. Paul steps forward with a growl, his protective nature surging before Sam puts his hand on his chest.
“Easy,” Sam warns.
“He didn’t want this!” Bella continues, getting louder, pushing closer to them.
“What did we do?” Paul spits, “What did he do? Huh? What did he tell you?” Here was Bella, once again villainizing him and his pack, causing problems where there were none to begin with.
“Both of you calm-” Sam urges with an authoritative tone, but it is cut off by Bella.
“Nothing! He tells me nothing because he’s SCARED of you,” she screams, and the boys are all stunned into a second of silence.
Until Paul and Jared start laughing, shocked by how ridiculous that is.
Bella loses it, and she reaches out, slapping Paul across the face. She realizes her mistake the second it happens.
“Fuck, too late now,” Jared says, grabbing Embry and stepping away from Paul.
“Bella! Get back now!” Sam yells.
Paul is shaking, his rage has overtaken him. It’s not just about her hitting him, he barely felt it really. It’s her entitlement, her obvious selfishness, and her lack of understanding when it came to them or Anna. She just assumes her stupid, bloodsuckers were perfect, that we couldn’t possibly be good as well. It all bubbles up to the surface at once, and all the animosity over the way Bella treats Anna explodes. Months of frustration and anger take over him.
Sam is trying to get him to calm down, but it’s not working.
“Jared, call Anna,” Sam says calmly, but the glare he receives from Paul proves that that was not the right thing to say.
“No!” Bella yells, eyes wide.
“Jesus Christ,” Jared groans.
He doesn’t have time to reach for his phone, because Paul loses control, and suddenly a giant grey wolf is standing in front of Bella, snarling and snapping.
Bella finally gets the hint, turning around to run as Jacob appears from his house.
“Run!” she screams, “Run, Jake, run!”
He does but in the opposite direction. Bella is terrified, looking back, she falls just in time to see Jacob jump into the air, but it’s not Jacob who lands on the ground. Another huge russet fur wolf stands its ground in front of the grey wolf.
The sounds of snapping jaws and growls are horrifying, but Bella can’t look away as the mountains of fur tumble through the grass aggressively, snapping a boat in half as they move toward the woods. With a heavy sigh, Sam looks back at Bella, who is just staring in shock.
“Hey, take Bella back to Emily’s place,” he says with a sigh.
“Guess the wolf’s outta the bag,” Embry chuckles and reaches out a hand to help Bella off the ground.
As they start to walk towards her truck, Sam turns back to yell towards the boys, “And someone seriously, call Anna.”
“Not it!” Jared yells, making Embry groan.
Bella is too shocked to say anything as they guide her to the back seat. She doesn’t hear what Embry says on the phone to her cousin, she doesn’t notice Jared grab the keys and start the truck, all she can do is stare past the broken boat and into the forest.
Jacob really is a werewolf. Anna is a Fae. Are all the monsters real?
-----------------------------------------------------
“What?!” I yell. Embry had finished giving me the rundown of what happened. I hadn’t even woken up yet when Bella had left, but I was wide awake now.
“Please don’t make me repeat it,” Embry flinches away from the phone, a furrow in his brow.
“Are you with her now?” I ask.
“Yeah, we are on our way to Emily’s, we’re almost there.”
“Jesus Christ, I would love to go at least one fucking week without something blowing up,” I complain, getting my things together to leave frantically.
“Yeah, me too.”
“I’ll be there in like 15.”
“I’ll warn everyone.”
I scoff and roll my eyes, setting my phone down to throw a hoodie on.
Embry hangs up the phone and Jared glances at him from the road.
“Not good?” Jared asks.
Embry gives him an incredulous look, “Hurricane Anna lands in t-minus 15.”
Jared exhales, “This outta be fun.”
When the trio pulls into Emily’s house, Bella has finally come out of her shock, leaning out the window, she speaks up.
“Hey! I think we should go back and see if Jacob’s okay.”
Jared laughs, “I hope Paul sinks some teeth in ‘em, serves him right.” He walks to the porch, Embry right behind him.
“No way, Jacob’s a natural, did you see him phase on the fly like that? I got five that says Paul doesn’t touch him,” Embry explains animatedly, they pause when they see Bella hasn’t moved.
“Come on in Bella, we don’t bite,” Embry jokes.
“Speak for yourself,” Jared retorts with a smirk.
Embry walks back to Bella as Jared enters, a tentative look in his eyes.
“Oh hey, about Emily, Sam’s fiancé, don’t stare. It bugs Sam,” he warns sadly.
“Why would I stare?” Bella questions, but he doesn’t answer, just walks in ahead of her.
Entering the house, Bella immediately felt out of place, like an outsider. She glances around the room from the doorway. The open concept made it feel bigger than it was, even with the massive boys at the wooden table. There were signs of life in every part of the room. Shoes were kicked off by the door, the smell of baked goods from the kitchen, and jackets hung on the back of chairs. One of which Bella recognized as Anna’s. It wasn’t until a sweet voice broke her from her thoughts that she looked at the woman walking out of the kitchen.
“Are you guys hungry? Like I have to ask,” she laughed. Bella suddenly realized why Embry had given her a warning. The woman must be Emily, and she was gorgeous despite the scar traveling down the side of her face. Bella forced her eyes away. Did Sam do that? Would Paul do that to Anna?
“Who’s this?” she asked curiously.
“Bella Swan, who else?” Jared shrugs, falling back into his chair.
Emily’s eyes widened, “Ah, so you’re the vampire girl.” Her small smile let her know she was joking.
“So, you’re the wolf girl,” Bella responds, her humor lost in her awkwardness.
“Guess so, well I’m engaged to one at least,” she shrugs and sets down the plate in her hand as the two boys lunge for the food, “Save some for your brothers,” Emily scolds, “and ladies first. Muffin?”
“Sure,” Bella says as Emily gestures to the plate. Emily watches her cautiously before going back to cleaning up.
“Leave it to Jacob to find a way around Sam’s gag order,” she says.
“Um, he didn’t say anything to me,” Bella interjects, feeling the need to defend him.
“Yeah, that’s a wolf thing, alpha’s orders get obeyed whether we want them to or not,” Embry tells her, “Oh and check it out, we can hear each other’s thoughts.”
“Would you shut up! These are trade secrets! This chick runs with vampires,” Jared yells in exasperation. Bella finally breaks a smile.
“You can’t really run with vampires, 'cause they’re fast,” she says, a bit smugly, but Jared doesn’t miss a beat.
“Yeah, well we’re faster. Freaked out yet?” he taunts good-naturedly.
She shrugs her shoulders, “You’re not the first monsters I’ve met.”
Sam walks through the door, breaking some of the tension.
“Jake’s right, you’re good with weird. I would refrain from using the word “monsters” around your cousin though,” he warns. He walks up to Emily, peppering kisses on her face as she giggles. Bella has to look away, it still hurts to see other people in love.
When Paul and Jacob walk through the door, they seem fine. Smiling even. Paul comes to sit down at the table in front of her, as Jacob stands in the doorway.
With a smirk, Paul turns to apologize, “Sorry,” he says. He knows I’m on my way and will finally have to confront my cousin, and not even the threat of my wrath deters him from this moment.
Jacob silently motions to Bella to follow him, but the slamming of a door directs everyone’s attention outside.
“Here we go,” Embry huffs. Emily straightens as the weather seems to change, the sun has faded away and the usual cold air warms by at least ten degrees.
When Embry called me a hurricane, Bella thought he was joking, but looking at me now, Bella admits it’s a pretty good description. She can see me through the doorway as I walk around my car.
The wind seems to be roaring just around me, my now chaotic curly hair had to be gathered haphazardly out of my face. My own storm cloud follows me, about twenty feet in the air, and lightning is cracking within it. It’s about the size of my car and looks like rain could pour at any second. It swirls in a spiral, just like a hurricane, and I’m standing in the eye of the storm. It’s the first time Bella has really seen my magic and she’s suddenly faced with the reality that I am not human. She’s staring at me wide-eyed and mouth agape.
“You should have seen her when she found out a vampire almost killed you,” Jacob whispers to Bella, “We thought we were going to have to board up the house.”
Bella stares at me, realization hitting her about what exactly I am. Bella had found herself surrounded by magical creatures, and her mortality weighed on her heavier than ever.
Bella sees what I can’t, my eyes have darkened to a navy, almost black. The ends of my curls spark with the lightning. Bella gets why the Cullens thought I was a vampire at first, in this state, I look like one.
With my hands on my hips, I can tell by everyone avoiding my gaze that I look as pissed off as I feel. Staring at Bella through the door, I notice Paul is still inside.
“Bella! Paul! Get out here!” I yell, thunder booming behind me.
Bella sees Paul grimace as he walks out, and she grows more worried about confronting Anna about her serial killer boyfriend. For a second, she considers the fact that Anna may have committed murder too.
“You look like you’re heading to the gallows man, it’ll be fine,” Embry says to Paul, trying to be supportive. Bella slowly makes her way to the porch, Jacob and Sam behind her.
“Hi Anna,” Sam says with a smile, “How are you doing?” It’s an attempt to cool the situation, but it hits my cold exterior and fails.
With eyes like ice, they flicker between Paul and Bella.
“Oh, I am fucking fantastic Sam, especially since I got a call that once again, my cousin has forced herself into things that aren’t her business- ” Bella moves to interject, but I put a hand up, stopping her as lightening cracks behind me in the growing storm cloud and a gust of wind hits them.
“No, you will shut up and listen, what the hell were you thinking? And you, don’t think you’re getting away with this,” I yell pointing at Paul, who has the decency to look sheepish.
“I am so beyond pissed off. Can I please just have one moment where I don’t have to worry about you getting yourself killed Bella!? Because I have tried so God damn hard to keep you alive, despite your best attempts to do the exact opposite. I have spent months perfecting and learning how to protect you and Charlie. Why do you think you’ve never seen a vampire around our house, Bella? Because I exhausted myself warding it, layers and layers of wards so anyone we didn’t know wouldn’t be able to sense the house. I have charmed so many things with protection that it’s insane. Jewelry, clothes, Charlie’s badge. The list is so long,’ I take a sharp intake of breath before continuing.
“I spend every day tracking any vampire activity, and all you have done is make it so much harder! I have one thing for myself, and that’s these boys. This pack that I also spend every day doing whatever I can to make sure they are safe because they have been forced into a role they don’t want. I have enough to worry about, I don’t need to add “my boyfriend getting so angry he blows the pack secret” to that list?” I know I must look crazy, arms flailing, and cheeks flushed, but I can’t stop, that is until Bella interrupts my rant.
“I kind of knew already, this just confirmed it,” Bella says quietly, and everyone around her audibly groans. Embry’s head falls into his hand as he leans against the railing of the porch, Jared shakes his head. Sam looks up to the ceiling in exasperation, Emily flinches, and Paul glares. Even Jacob lets his head hang, waiting for my inevitable reaction.
“IF YOU KNEW WHAT MADE YOU THINK ANTAGONIZING PAUL WAS A GOOD IDEA!” I scream.
Bella didn’t have a great response to that, she just looks down at the ground.
Sam stepped in between us before I can start again, “Alright I think maybe it’s time for Bella to talk to Jacob, give everyone a breather.”
Jacob pulls Bella quickly out of the house towards the beach. Paul was the only one brave enough to step into my vicinity, and the wind died down once he placed his arms around me. I keep my arms crossed in the hug, pouting until I feel myself relax. I pull back, placing my hands on either side of his face.
“I hope Jacob got some good hits in for me, and you better have given him as good as you got” I muttered, and he laughed despite himself.
“Don’t worry my little brawler, we both have been effectively whipped into shape,” he says kissing my head, then looks into my eyes, “I’m sorry.”
I nod once, and the cloud finally dissipates above us. I sigh deeply before curling into him and his warmth.
“It’s cold.”
“Well considering you brought your own weather front, I’m not surprised. Let’s go inside.”
Everyone is silent, looking at me expectantly, waiting for my reaction.
“I’m fine guys, really. Paul will live to see another day.”
“It’s not him I’m worried about,” Emily says, “I’m worried about you, and what you are going to do now that Bella is in the loop.”
“Yeah Anna, you haven’t given yourself a break since I’ve known you,” Jared quips.
“Yes, thank you for reminding me,” I say as Paul sits down, pulling me onto his lap, “I’ll be fine guys, don’t worry.”
They drop it, but their thoughts are loud and demanding. I can hear their worry and I can’t shut it out, so I just close my eyes and lean against Paul. Tuning into our connection quiets the noise, and I can fade into the thrum of our heartbeats. I know this won’t be the last time they bring this up, but I will avoid it as long as I can.
-----------------------------------------------------
Bella walked across the beach solemnly. Jacob trailed behind her, unable to face the gravity of the conversation they needed to have. Once they approached the shore, with the calming waves crashing in the background, Jacob fell in step beside her.
“So, you’re a werewolf,” Bella says after the silence had gotten too heavy. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he nodded.
“Yeah, last time I checked,” he shrugged, “A few lucky members of the tribe have the gene. Then a bloodsucker moves into town, and the fever sets in.” Bella can clearly see he feels bitter about it, and she holds out hope Jacob is still the same person she knew.
“Mono,” she states.
“Yeah, I wish,” he scoffs.
“Well, can’t you find a way to just stop?” she asks indigently, and Jacob rolls his eyes as she continues, “I mean… it’s wrong.”
“It’s not a lifestyle choice Bella!” Jacob raises his voice and furrows his brow, “I was born this way! I can’t help it.”
He pauses, throwing his arms down in frustration, “You’re such a hypocrite! What? I’m not the right kind of monster for you?”
Bella looks up at him with wide eyes, crossing her arms.
“It’s not what you are, it’s what you do. They never hurt anybody! You’ve… killed people Jake,” she cries out like this was obvious. Jacob shakes his head as she looks down and away from him. Jacob takes a step closer to her, bringing her attention back to him.
“Bella! We’re not killing anyone,” he pleads.
Bella is taken aback, “Then, who is?” she says breathlessly. He can’t believe she doesn’t get it, that she doesn’t understand even after remembering the stories he told her.
“What we’re trying to protect you people from, the only thing we do kill,” he pauses, “Vampires.”
Bella starts to panic a bit, “Jake you can’t!”
“Don’t worry we can’t touch your precious little Cullens unless they violate the treaty,” he interrupts her with another eye roll. Bella just shakes her head, he does not understand what she means.
“I – that’s not what I’m saying, you can’t kill vampires, they’ll kill you.”
“Really? We took out that leach with the dreads easy enough,” Jake says smugly, and finally, Bella realizes maybe there’s more to the wolves than she thought.
“Laurent?” she gasps, her chest pounding. Jacob nods.
“And his red-headed girlfriend is next.”
“V-Victoria’s here,” she stutters, losing her footing, and Jacob goes to steady her, eyebrows raising in concern.
“She was, we chased her all the way to the Canadian border last night. She keeps coming back, but we don’t know what she is after.”
“I do,” Bella gapes, “me.”
Jacob stares at her, concern all over his features. He helps Bella stand, but he can hear her heartbeat pounding in her chest. His urge to kill the bloodsucker has increased tenfold at this moment.
“We should go back, tell Sam and Anna.”
“No, wait, Anna…” Bella trails off, gazing back at the way they came.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure she’s calmed down by now. Paul has that effect on her,” he says, and Bella thinks she is joking, but he’s serious. Jacob notices she looks genuinely scared.
“She’s not safe, why is she with him?” she whispers.
Jacob tenses protectively, “She’s safe Bella, we would never let anyone hurt her.”
“But Paul… what if he hurts her?”
Realization hits him, he had come to know Paul as so much more than just his temper, but the rumors were still in Bella’s head. Hell, he had put them there. Honestly, it was rare he blew up anymore. These days Paul only has three emotions, being in love with me, worrying about me, or focusing on the hunt.
“I know you might not have seen him in the best light today, but trust me, he would rather cut off his own arm than hurt her,” he says seriously.
When Bella continues to stand still. Jacob picks her up underneath her knees. Carrying her will be quicker than walking with all her questions, and to his surprise, she leans into him, laying her head on his shoulder.
“How long has she known about you?” she asks, then softly, “What do you know about her?”
“She’s known since she met Paul, and we know about her too. I found out when I shifted for the first time.”
“That’s why he showed up at my birthday…” she whispers.
Jacob hasn’t heard this story but makes a mental note to ask Paul about it later. It’s a short walk back to Emily’s house with his large and quick steps. They spend it in relative silence, just enjoying being together again.
As they approach the house, Jacob sets her down to walk up the porch steps. The doors are still open, and Jacob stops Bella before she walks in. When Bella gives him a questioning glance, he just points inside.
“See for yourself,” he whispers.
Bella looks to where he is pointing and is genuinely shocked at what she sees. Paul and I are sitting in the old La-Z-Boy in the corner of Emily’s living room, while the rest of the pack and Emily are lounging around. It’s a rare moment, everyone relaxing for even a moment, but Emily strong-armed Sam into an uninterrupted hour of calm.
Paul’s arms are secured around my waist as I am draped over his lap, laying my head on his shoulder just like she was a moment ago with Jacob. My head is suddenly thrown back in a laugh as he peppers quick kisses all over my cheek and neck through his own smiles. Embry throws a pillow at us from the couch, making a fake sound of annoyance, but it just makes us laugh more.
Bella can’t see what’s playing on the TV, but it doesn’t look like anyone is paying much attention to it anyway. Everyone is mostly just enjoying each other’s company. She sees the way Paul looks at me, and suddenly, she gets it. This isn’t the guy who was shaking with rage just hours ago, now he’s gazing up at me with a sickeningly sweet adoration that makes Bella’s heart crack. I look the most relaxed Bella has seen in a month; she doesn’t think I’ve had my guard down at all. That has to be tiring.
They look like a family, Bella thinks. There’s a distinctive warmth surrounding them that Bella knows is lacking in her own house, the only time she sees it is when she sees Charlie and me cooking together, or sitting on the couch with the game on, and the warmth leaves when she enters the room.
She’s about to do the same thing here, break up this happy moment, and for the first time since Edward left, Bella actually feels guilty about it.
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