Essence of You
by Momma2fan
Chapter 2
Jacob bounded into Sam and Emily’s and yelled for food. The others all hissed at him to shut up.
“Don’t wake her up, jackass!” Paul was loudest, as he looked over at the sleeping brunette.
Jacob looked over at his friend, “How long has she been out?”
Sam looked at him, “She went in while we were cleaning up, maybe twenty minutes.” He nudged him into the kitchen. “Get your dinner and head home, Billy is expecting you.”
Jacob nodded and ate quickly. With one last look at Bella, he took off for home.
“Paul, you’ve got first watch. Embry is patrolling, Jared go get some rest. I’ll relieve Embry in the morning and you can relieve Paul. If we’re going to do this, we’re gonna get to know her too. So don’t just sit and watch TV or play video games, talk to her.”
Emily set Bella’s clean, folded clothes in the guest bedroom, while Paul placed a blanket over the sleeping girl. After turning off all but the light above the stove, Sam and Emily turned in, while Paul went out to the deck, leaving the sliding door open.
He sat out there for two hours before he heard her. She groaned and was suddenly running to the bathroom. Paul was right behind her, holding her hair as she vomited everything in her stomach. Given how skinny she had become, he knew it wasn’t much.
“You don’t have to stay,” she groaned as she sank to the floor.
“Hush,” he whispered and she heard the water run. A cool cloth was placed against her face as he gently wiped the sweat from her skin. The water turned on again and he handed her a glass. “Here, rinse your mouth out.”
She took the glass and swished the cool liquid in her mouth before spitting it in the toilet. After she flushed, Paul helped her up from the floor. “Thanks,” she tried to smile at him, but it was probably more of a grimace. “I need some air.”
He grabbed one of her sweatshirts from the other room and helped her put it on. After finding her shoes, he lead her out the door. “Do you want to walk?”
“Please.” She looked up at him and met his brown eyes with her own. “Can we go to the beach?”
When he stared into her eyes, his world tipped on its axis. Suddenly, all he could see was her, all he wanted was her. He had just imprinted on this gorgeous, troubled girl. There was no way she was ready for anything, so he would be her friend. He would be whatever she needed him to be...friend, brother, lover...whatever she wanted. He would wait.
“Sure, come on.” He grabbed her hand, leading her toward the beach. Once there, he found a fallen log she could sit on.
“Tell me about yourself.”
He looked at her as he sat down next to her. “What do you want to know?”
Bella turned her head and smiled. “Whatever you want to tell me.”
He grinned, “Hmm...I’m twenty-two, six foot four, I turn into a silvery-grey wolf. I run a construction company with Sam and Jared.”
“Family? Siblings?”
He sighed, “I’m an only child. My parents are...” he trailed off, leaving Bella to make her own assumptions.
“I’m sorry, Paul.” She placed a hand on his arm. “You don’t have to tell me.”
He covered her hand with his, “It’s okay, Iz.”
She smiled, “Why do you call me that?”
“Iz?” He shrugged, “I don’t know, its something different. Jake calls you Bells, everyone else calls you Bella. I’m unique. Does it bother you?”
She shook her head, “No. I kinda like it actually.” She shivered in the cool breeze.
“You’re cold.” It wasn’t a question. “Come on, let’s get you back. You need to get some rest.”
Bella stood, but stumbled in her exhaustion. Paul caught her and swung her up in his arms. She curled into him, absorbing his warmth. “You’re better than a heater,” she told him.
He chuckled as he walked back into the house. He tried to put her down on the couch, but she clung to his shirt.
“Stay, please.” She was barely coherent, but he understood her. Instead of laying her in the living room, he carried her to the guest room and curled up with her back to his front. He felt her sigh as she relaxed and allowed sleep to pull her under. When her breathing evened out, he sighed, content he was holding his imprint for the first time and he allowed sleep to come to him as well.
*****
Bella woke up alone and the place where Paul had laid was cold. Remembering how nice he was, she rolled to her back, staring at the ceiling. Movement was a mistake, causing her nausea to get the better of her and she ran to the bathroom. There was nothing to come up, so she kept heaving until the cramping in her stomach passed.
Emily ran to the bathroom when she heard Bella. “Oh, sweetie.” Emily grabbed the cloth Paul had used last night, rewetting it and wiping her face.
“I’m s-so c-c-cold, Em-Emily.” Bella shivered, her body shaking.
“Jared!” Emily hollered for him to come help.
“Is she okay?” He asked as he got to the bathroom.
“She’s freezing, shaking because she’s so cold. I need you to get her warm, while I make her something to eat.”
“You got it,” Jared moved around Emily and picked up the shaking girl. He walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch as Emily wrapped a blanket around Bella.
Bella scooted off Jared’s lap, grabbing a pillow and putting it on his legs, before laying down on him, while he kept his arm across her. She soaked up the warmth of him and the blanket, falling back into a fitful sleep. Emily woke her an hour later with some soup.
“Bella, you need to eat something.”
She pushed to a seated position, “Okay.” Taking the bowl from Emily, she inhaled and her mouth watered. Spooning some of the soup, she moaned at the first bite. “This is amazing, Emily, thank you.”
Bella finished her soup and stood up, heading toward the bathroom. She grabbed some clean clothes and shut the door before starting the shower. After she had scrubbed herself raw again, she stepped out. Once she was dressed, she opened the door and came face to face with Jacob.
“Hey,” she smiled softly and hugged him.
“You look better than you have in a while. How do you feel?”
“I feel like me, Jake. For the first time in a year, I feel like myself. What I would love to do is kick his stupid vampire ass for doing this to me.” She moved away from him and looked at Emily. “I need to wash Paul’s clothes so I can return them.”
“Laundry is through there, but you don’t have to. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you kept them.”
“Where is he anyway?”
Jared walked out of the kitchen with an apple. “He’s on the beach. He has patrol in an hour.”
“Okay, thanks.” She looked up at Jacob. “I’m gonna go find him. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Sure, sure.”
Emily sipped her coffee with a quiet smile and winked at Jared.
Bella walked down the path they had taken last night and saw him sitting on the same log. She approached him slowly and sat down beside him. “Hey.”
He looked at her and smiled, “Hey. How are you feeling?”
She looked out at the water, as the waves rolled in and crashed on the shore. “I woke up sick again, but it was better after I ate some soup.” She looked down at her shoes. “I wanted to thank you. You didn’t have to stay with me all night.”
“You’re welcome.” He chuckled, “Honestly, I haven’t slept that well in a long time.”
“Neither have I. Was Sam mad you were sleeping when you were supposed to be watching me?”
Paul shook his head, “He was fine. In fact, I need to go relieve him. You gonna be alright?”
She smiled at him as he stood up. “Yeah, I’m gonna sit out here for a while. Be careful out there.”
“I will. Don’t stay out too long, the breeze off the ocean gets chilly fast.” He touched her cheek and then ran to the trees to phase.
Emily and Jared watched their interaction from the path. She smiled at her new friend and her brother. “He imprinted on her.”
“Yeah, I see that. I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“You should have seen him this morning. He was wrapped around her like a security blanket.”
“Jake isn’t going to handle it well.” Jared commented.
“Sam will deal with the fallout when it happens. Until then, we just let it be. They need to figure this out on their own, but she’s not ready...yet.”
*****
Paul phased and immediately heard Sam in his head.
S: I’ve run a complete perimeter. Stay where you are, I’ll be there in a second.
Instead of responding, he turned and watched Bella on the beach. He sat on his haunches and stared at her. He had wanted to hate her, but she was so broken and vulnerable he couldn’t. Looking at her now, she was so beautiful and selfless. She had no idea the leech had been glamouring her the entire time. Getting her away from the scent is definitely helping, you could already tell.
S: Paul?
P: Yeah.
S: What are you doing?
P: Just watching her. She already looks better doesn’t she?
S: Yeah. Sam watched him. When did it happen?
P: Last night. She got sick and after helping her, she wanted to come out here, so we walked and talked. She asked me about myself. I told her about my parents, Sam, and she comforted me. I looked at her and it just happened.
S: Wow. I’m happy for you, Paul.
P: Thanks. Take care of her, I’m gonna go run.
He took off and made a loop around the treaty line. It wasn’t until he got closer to the water that he picked it up; a fresh vampire trail. Sliding to a stop, he let out a howl, alerting the others.
Within seconds, all of their minds were one and they could see what he saw, smell what he smelled. Sometimes the pack link was weird.
S: Let’s all run a perimeter, see if we can flush it out. Does anyone recognize the scent?
There was a resounding no and they all took off, running to find the danger. They finally spotted the vamp around the cliffs and chased her to the edge, watching as she dove into the water and got away. They needed to find out what she was after and would be on high alert until they caught her.
P: Where was Bella when you all phased and ran out here?
JC: She was in the house, bro. Don’t worry. She said she was going to lay down.
Paul visibly relaxed and Jake cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out what was going on. Before he could question it Sam ordered them all back to his house so they could figure out what she wanted.
Emily and Bella had just set the last of the food on the table when they all came into the house. Sam made a beeline to Emily as Bella grabbed the last bowl. She looked up and her eyes met Paul’s, she smiled but was grabbed by Jake and swung around. Paul bit back a growl so as not to alert anyone else to what had happened.
“Sit, sit.” Emily encouraged. “Bella, you better get some before there’s none left.”
Bella laughed and filled up her plate quickly. They all dug in and talked about other things so they didn’t ruin their appetites. As soon as the meal was over, Emily and Bella cleared so they could talk.
“She had red hair and was really fast. I haven’t seen one that fast.” Embry was saying.
“I wonder why she’s hanging around? There are no other vamps in the area.”
Bella dropped the glass she was holding and it shattered on the floor. “Y-you saw a r-red haired v-vam-vampire?”
Paul was up before anyone else and standing in front of her. “Iz?”
She looked up at him and he could see the fear in her eyes. “I know what she’s after,” she whispered.
“What, Bella?” Sam asked her.
Without looking away from Paul, a tear rolled down her cheek as she whispered, “Me.”
Jacob bounded into Sam and Emily’s and yelled for food. The others all hissed at him to shut up.
“Don’t wake her up, jackass!” Paul was loudest, as he looked over at the sleeping brunette.
Jacob looked over at his friend, “How long has she been out?”
Sam looked at him, “She went in while we were cleaning up, maybe twenty minutes.” He nudged him into the kitchen. “Get your dinner and head home, Billy is expecting you.”
Jacob nodded and ate quickly. With one last look at Bella, he took off for home.
“Paul, you’ve got first watch. Embry is patrolling, Jared go get some rest. I’ll relieve Embry in the morning and you can relieve Paul. If we’re going to do this, we’re gonna get to know her too. So don’t just sit and watch TV or play video games, talk to her.”
Emily set Bella’s clean, folded clothes in the guest bedroom, while Paul placed a blanket over the sleeping girl. After turning off all but the light above the stove, Sam and Emily turned in, while Paul went out to the deck, leaving the sliding door open.
He sat out there for two hours before he heard her. She groaned and was suddenly running to the bathroom. Paul was right behind her, holding her hair as she vomited everything in her stomach. Given how skinny she had become, he knew it wasn’t much.
“You don’t have to stay,” she groaned as she sank to the floor.
“Hush,” he whispered and she heard the water run. A cool cloth was placed against her face as he gently wiped the sweat from her skin. The water turned on again and he handed her a glass. “Here, rinse your mouth out.”
She took the glass and swished the cool liquid in her mouth before spitting it in the toilet. After she flushed, Paul helped her up from the floor. “Thanks,” she tried to smile at him, but it was probably more of a grimace. “I need some air.”
He grabbed one of her sweatshirts from the other room and helped her put it on. After finding her shoes, he lead her out the door. “Do you want to walk?”
“Please.” She looked up at him and met his brown eyes with her own. “Can we go to the beach?”
When he stared into her eyes, his world tipped on its axis. Suddenly, all he could see was her, all he wanted was her. He had just imprinted on this gorgeous, troubled girl. There was no way she was ready for anything, so he would be her friend. He would be whatever she needed him to be...friend, brother, lover...whatever she wanted. He would wait.
“Sure, come on.” He grabbed her hand, leading her toward the beach. Once there, he found a fallen log she could sit on.
“Tell me about yourself.”
He looked at her as he sat down next to her. “What do you want to know?”
Bella turned her head and smiled. “Whatever you want to tell me.”
He grinned, “Hmm...I’m twenty-two, six foot four, I turn into a silvery-grey wolf. I run a construction company with Sam and Jared.”
“Family? Siblings?”
He sighed, “I’m an only child. My parents are...” he trailed off, leaving Bella to make her own assumptions.
“I’m sorry, Paul.” She placed a hand on his arm. “You don’t have to tell me.”
He covered her hand with his, “It’s okay, Iz.”
She smiled, “Why do you call me that?”
“Iz?” He shrugged, “I don’t know, its something different. Jake calls you Bells, everyone else calls you Bella. I’m unique. Does it bother you?”
She shook her head, “No. I kinda like it actually.” She shivered in the cool breeze.
“You’re cold.” It wasn’t a question. “Come on, let’s get you back. You need to get some rest.”
Bella stood, but stumbled in her exhaustion. Paul caught her and swung her up in his arms. She curled into him, absorbing his warmth. “You’re better than a heater,” she told him.
He chuckled as he walked back into the house. He tried to put her down on the couch, but she clung to his shirt.
“Stay, please.” She was barely coherent, but he understood her. Instead of laying her in the living room, he carried her to the guest room and curled up with her back to his front. He felt her sigh as she relaxed and allowed sleep to pull her under. When her breathing evened out, he sighed, content he was holding his imprint for the first time and he allowed sleep to come to him as well.
*****
Bella woke up alone and the place where Paul had laid was cold. Remembering how nice he was, she rolled to her back, staring at the ceiling. Movement was a mistake, causing her nausea to get the better of her and she ran to the bathroom. There was nothing to come up, so she kept heaving until the cramping in her stomach passed.
Emily ran to the bathroom when she heard Bella. “Oh, sweetie.” Emily grabbed the cloth Paul had used last night, rewetting it and wiping her face.
“I’m s-so c-c-cold, Em-Emily.” Bella shivered, her body shaking.
“Jared!” Emily hollered for him to come help.
“Is she okay?” He asked as he got to the bathroom.
“She’s freezing, shaking because she’s so cold. I need you to get her warm, while I make her something to eat.”
“You got it,” Jared moved around Emily and picked up the shaking girl. He walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch as Emily wrapped a blanket around Bella.
Bella scooted off Jared’s lap, grabbing a pillow and putting it on his legs, before laying down on him, while he kept his arm across her. She soaked up the warmth of him and the blanket, falling back into a fitful sleep. Emily woke her an hour later with some soup.
“Bella, you need to eat something.”
She pushed to a seated position, “Okay.” Taking the bowl from Emily, she inhaled and her mouth watered. Spooning some of the soup, she moaned at the first bite. “This is amazing, Emily, thank you.”
Bella finished her soup and stood up, heading toward the bathroom. She grabbed some clean clothes and shut the door before starting the shower. After she had scrubbed herself raw again, she stepped out. Once she was dressed, she opened the door and came face to face with Jacob.
“Hey,” she smiled softly and hugged him.
“You look better than you have in a while. How do you feel?”
“I feel like me, Jake. For the first time in a year, I feel like myself. What I would love to do is kick his stupid vampire ass for doing this to me.” She moved away from him and looked at Emily. “I need to wash Paul’s clothes so I can return them.”
“Laundry is through there, but you don’t have to. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you kept them.”
“Where is he anyway?”
Jared walked out of the kitchen with an apple. “He’s on the beach. He has patrol in an hour.”
“Okay, thanks.” She looked up at Jacob. “I’m gonna go find him. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Sure, sure.”
Emily sipped her coffee with a quiet smile and winked at Jared.
Bella walked down the path they had taken last night and saw him sitting on the same log. She approached him slowly and sat down beside him. “Hey.”
He looked at her and smiled, “Hey. How are you feeling?”
She looked out at the water, as the waves rolled in and crashed on the shore. “I woke up sick again, but it was better after I ate some soup.” She looked down at her shoes. “I wanted to thank you. You didn’t have to stay with me all night.”
“You’re welcome.” He chuckled, “Honestly, I haven’t slept that well in a long time.”
“Neither have I. Was Sam mad you were sleeping when you were supposed to be watching me?”
Paul shook his head, “He was fine. In fact, I need to go relieve him. You gonna be alright?”
She smiled at him as he stood up. “Yeah, I’m gonna sit out here for a while. Be careful out there.”
“I will. Don’t stay out too long, the breeze off the ocean gets chilly fast.” He touched her cheek and then ran to the trees to phase.
Emily and Jared watched their interaction from the path. She smiled at her new friend and her brother. “He imprinted on her.”
“Yeah, I see that. I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“You should have seen him this morning. He was wrapped around her like a security blanket.”
“Jake isn’t going to handle it well.” Jared commented.
“Sam will deal with the fallout when it happens. Until then, we just let it be. They need to figure this out on their own, but she’s not ready...yet.”
*****
Paul phased and immediately heard Sam in his head.
S: I’ve run a complete perimeter. Stay where you are, I’ll be there in a second.
Instead of responding, he turned and watched Bella on the beach. He sat on his haunches and stared at her. He had wanted to hate her, but she was so broken and vulnerable he couldn’t. Looking at her now, she was so beautiful and selfless. She had no idea the leech had been glamouring her the entire time. Getting her away from the scent is definitely helping, you could already tell.
S: Paul?
P: Yeah.
S: What are you doing?
P: Just watching her. She already looks better doesn’t she?
S: Yeah. Sam watched him. When did it happen?
P: Last night. She got sick and after helping her, she wanted to come out here, so we walked and talked. She asked me about myself. I told her about my parents, Sam, and she comforted me. I looked at her and it just happened.
S: Wow. I’m happy for you, Paul.
P: Thanks. Take care of her, I’m gonna go run.
He took off and made a loop around the treaty line. It wasn’t until he got closer to the water that he picked it up; a fresh vampire trail. Sliding to a stop, he let out a howl, alerting the others.
Within seconds, all of their minds were one and they could see what he saw, smell what he smelled. Sometimes the pack link was weird.
S: Let’s all run a perimeter, see if we can flush it out. Does anyone recognize the scent?
There was a resounding no and they all took off, running to find the danger. They finally spotted the vamp around the cliffs and chased her to the edge, watching as she dove into the water and got away. They needed to find out what she was after and would be on high alert until they caught her.
P: Where was Bella when you all phased and ran out here?
JC: She was in the house, bro. Don’t worry. She said she was going to lay down.
Paul visibly relaxed and Jake cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out what was going on. Before he could question it Sam ordered them all back to his house so they could figure out what she wanted.
Emily and Bella had just set the last of the food on the table when they all came into the house. Sam made a beeline to Emily as Bella grabbed the last bowl. She looked up and her eyes met Paul’s, she smiled but was grabbed by Jake and swung around. Paul bit back a growl so as not to alert anyone else to what had happened.
“Sit, sit.” Emily encouraged. “Bella, you better get some before there’s none left.”
Bella laughed and filled up her plate quickly. They all dug in and talked about other things so they didn’t ruin their appetites. As soon as the meal was over, Emily and Bella cleared so they could talk.
“She had red hair and was really fast. I haven’t seen one that fast.” Embry was saying.
“I wonder why she’s hanging around? There are no other vamps in the area.”
Bella dropped the glass she was holding and it shattered on the floor. “Y-you saw a r-red haired v-vam-vampire?”
Paul was up before anyone else and standing in front of her. “Iz?”
She looked up at him and he could see the fear in her eyes. “I know what she’s after,” she whispered.
“What, Bella?” Sam asked her.
Without looking away from Paul, a tear rolled down her cheek as she whispered, “Me.”