Essence of You
by Momma2fan
Chapter 3
Paul led her back to the table and sat her down. She looked around, knowing it was time to tell them about her time in Arizona. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed Paul’s hand and squeezed.
“When I first began seeing Edward, I joined his family for a baseball game. There were three nomadic vampires passing through, they heard the game and came to join in. James was a sadistic bastard and, after catching my scent, decided it would be a game to catch me. I was taken to Phoenix, while the others tried to lead him away. His mate, Victoria, stayed behind and got all my information, sending it to James once he figured out it was a goose chase.
“Long story short, he caught me and bit me, before being killed by the Cullens.”
“Wait!” Jacob interrupted. “You were bitten? How are you not dead?”
Bella pulled up her sleeve and showed them her wrist. “Edward sucked the venom out.” She covered the scar back up and continued. “Anyway, the dreadlock guy you guys got a couple days ago, said Victoria is planning to kill me. He called it a mate for a mate. Since Edward took hers, she’s going to take his. I guess it doesn’t matter to her that I was never his mate.”
Paul couldn’t listen to anymore and tore out of the house. This leech bitch was after his imprint. He phased before he could think about it and took off running.
Bella stared after him wondering what happened. She looked at Sam to see if he could explain.
“He’ll be okay, Bella. He just needs a couple minutes.”
She nodded, got up from the table, walked into the guest room she was staying in, and grabbed a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt. After she changed, she climbed into bed and burrowed under the covers. She lay on the pillow, staring out the window until her eyes wouldn’t stay open anymore.
Paul phased back and walked into his house, he couldn’t be at Emily’s right now, he was too afraid of what he would do. He knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but he needed to clear his head. He hadn’t counted on some of the pack coming to find him.
“Open the door, Paul!” Jacob banged on his front door.
“Chill, Jake.” Embry was with him.
“Fuck off, Embry. I have questions and I’m getting answers.”
He opened the door, but didn’t say anything, just turned around and walked to the fridge to grab a beer before sitting down. He stared at Jacob and waited.
“What’s going on with you and Bella?”
He took a pull from his beer, “Nothing, Jake.” The lie rolled off his tongue, but he felt a pang in his chest.
“Bullshit.” Jacob spat.
“What do you want from me, Jacob?”
“I want the truth, dammit!”
“I imprinted on her, okay!” Paul threw his beer across the room, the bottle shattering against the wall. “She’s mine, and there’s this thing after her and I can’t do a damn thing about it.”
Jacob felt as if he had been punched in the gut. Paul had imprinted on the girl he had loved his whole life. He sank down into the nearest chair as he processed what he’d been told.
“I’m sorry, Jake. It’s not like I could help it.” Paul said as he sat across from his packmate, his brother.
“I know, it’s just a shock. We all know what you’re like with women, Paul. This is gonna be an adjustment.” Jacob sighed. “Bella is my best friend, if you treat her like you do all the others, I won’t hesitate to kick your ass. Brother or not.” Jacob threatened.
Paul nodded. “Understood. But, Jake, she’s not ready for anything right now.”
“Um, Paul,” Embry piped in. “Everyone can see how you look at her and she’s looking at you too.”
Paul snapped his eyes to Embry, “What?”
Even Jacob nodded, “I’ve noticed it too. Hell, you call her Iz, something she has always hated.”
“Okay, well, as much as I want to deal with this, we have more important matters. There is a bloodsucker after her. That has to be the priority.”
The other two agreed with him and together they left Paul’s and headed to Sam and Emily’s.
Emily looked up as they walked in the door and smiled. “Um, Paul, you should probably go in there.”
With a questioning look, he walked toward the guest room. Pushing open the door, he saw Bella huddled under the covers, but her sleep didn’t look restful. He didn’t say anything, just walked in and shut the door behind him. He walked over to the bed and gently climbed in so as not to disturb her.
Bella’s eyes blinked open and she saw him lying there. “Paul?” she whispered.
Reaching out for her, he pulled her to his chest, “I’m right here, Iz. Go to sleep.”
She snuggled into his embrace, falling into a peaceful sleep. He lay there until he was sure she was under and gently got up, heading to the living room to go over the plans.
“Is she okay?” Emily asked.
He nodded, “So what’d I miss?”
Sam outlined their tentative plan for him, before Emily interrupted. “Bella has to go home tomorrow, guys, she has school Monday. We need to figure out how to get that scent out of her room.”
“Paul needs to do it,” Jacob said, knowing as her imprint it needed to be his scent.
“How do I...I mean I’ve never done anything like this before. Hell, I’m not exactly Mr. Monogamous.”
The rest of the guys at the table nodded, but looked at Sam. “Leave a few of your shirts there, a couple of them hidden. Roll around on her bed, the floor, anywhere the smell of that bloodsucker is the strongest.”
“Definitely by that damned window,” Jared offered. “I think the leech snuck into her room through that.”
Paul nodded and stood up. “I’ll go take care of it now while she’s sleeping. Is the Chief home?”
“No, Harry took him fishing this weekend.”
“Alright, I’ll be back later. Keep an eye on her.”
Sam only nodded and watched as his friend walked out the door. It was interesting to see the changes in him already. He’d never seen Paul so protective of anyone. He liked who his brother was becoming.
****
Bella rolled over in bed when the sun streamed through the window hitting her in the face. She stretched her body, realizing that she had slept over eight hours without a single nightmare. Getting up, she grabbed some clothes for the day and went to shower. When she was dressed and ready, she walked to the kitchen, finding Sam and Jacob sitting there.
“Morning, guys.”
Both of them looked at her, shocked at how she sounded. She sounded like the old Bella, the one they knew from before the Cullens.
“I need to go home today, I have school tomorrow.” Bella commented as she sat down with her coffee.
“We know, Bells. Paul is at your house covering up all the vampstink so you won’t go back under again.” Jacob revealed.
“Really? Why Paul?”
“Why me, what?” The man in question walked into the house, a bag in his hand.
“Why were you covering up the vampstink in my house?”
He shrugged, “I wasn’t doing anything else. You were already asleep. Does it bother you?”
“No, not at all. Thanks.”
“Uh, listen, I found this stuff under a floorboard in your bedroom.” He passed the bag over.
Bella looked inside, finding the photos, plane tickets and CD she had been given for her birthday. “That motherfucking, son-of-a-bitch!” Going to the kitchen, she grabbed a box of matches, before storming out the door and to the fire pit off the deck.
The three of them watched as she tossed the contents of the bag into the pit, struck a match and threw it on top of the pile. They instantly caught and the flames grew.
“Now you don’t exist, motherfucker! Oh, my GOD! How could I have been so stupid as to not see it? He controlled every aspect of my life, of course he would try to control me even when he isn’t here!” Bella paced in front of the fire, watching as the last remnants of her relationship with Edward burnt up.
The three men stood on the porch letting her get her frustrations out. With a scream, she took off running toward the beach. Chasing after her, they watched as she picked up pieces of driftwood, rocks, anything she could throw, screaming while she let out her pent up anger. When she hit her knees, having exhausted herself, Paul was the one who went to her.
Bella was sobbing as she finally let go of the last of the pain and grief Edward’s leaving had caused her. When she felt warm arms come around her, she collapsed into them, taking comfort from someone else for the first time in months.
“I almost let him destroy me. He would have if it wasn’t for Jake, Embry and Quil, and now you and Emily.” Bella looked up at Paul with tears sliding down her face. “Thank you.”
He wiped the tears from her face with his thumbs. “Iz, you’ll soon find out, there is nothing I wouldn’t do or be for you.”
Bella gasped. “You...you imprinted didn’t you?”
Never taking his eyes from her, he slowly nodded his head. “I don’t want you to worry about it, though. I’m here for whatever you need. When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting with my arms wide open.”
Taking him by surprise, she flung her arms around his neck and hugged him close. He wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her scent. When they broke apart, he helped her to her feet.
“Thanks, Paul, for everything.” She reached up on her toes, kissed his cheek. She gave his hand a squeeze and walked back to the house, gathered her things and drove home.
Paul led her back to the table and sat her down. She looked around, knowing it was time to tell them about her time in Arizona. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed Paul’s hand and squeezed.
“When I first began seeing Edward, I joined his family for a baseball game. There were three nomadic vampires passing through, they heard the game and came to join in. James was a sadistic bastard and, after catching my scent, decided it would be a game to catch me. I was taken to Phoenix, while the others tried to lead him away. His mate, Victoria, stayed behind and got all my information, sending it to James once he figured out it was a goose chase.
“Long story short, he caught me and bit me, before being killed by the Cullens.”
“Wait!” Jacob interrupted. “You were bitten? How are you not dead?”
Bella pulled up her sleeve and showed them her wrist. “Edward sucked the venom out.” She covered the scar back up and continued. “Anyway, the dreadlock guy you guys got a couple days ago, said Victoria is planning to kill me. He called it a mate for a mate. Since Edward took hers, she’s going to take his. I guess it doesn’t matter to her that I was never his mate.”
Paul couldn’t listen to anymore and tore out of the house. This leech bitch was after his imprint. He phased before he could think about it and took off running.
Bella stared after him wondering what happened. She looked at Sam to see if he could explain.
“He’ll be okay, Bella. He just needs a couple minutes.”
She nodded, got up from the table, walked into the guest room she was staying in, and grabbed a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt. After she changed, she climbed into bed and burrowed under the covers. She lay on the pillow, staring out the window until her eyes wouldn’t stay open anymore.
Paul phased back and walked into his house, he couldn’t be at Emily’s right now, he was too afraid of what he would do. He knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but he needed to clear his head. He hadn’t counted on some of the pack coming to find him.
“Open the door, Paul!” Jacob banged on his front door.
“Chill, Jake.” Embry was with him.
“Fuck off, Embry. I have questions and I’m getting answers.”
He opened the door, but didn’t say anything, just turned around and walked to the fridge to grab a beer before sitting down. He stared at Jacob and waited.
“What’s going on with you and Bella?”
He took a pull from his beer, “Nothing, Jake.” The lie rolled off his tongue, but he felt a pang in his chest.
“Bullshit.” Jacob spat.
“What do you want from me, Jacob?”
“I want the truth, dammit!”
“I imprinted on her, okay!” Paul threw his beer across the room, the bottle shattering against the wall. “She’s mine, and there’s this thing after her and I can’t do a damn thing about it.”
Jacob felt as if he had been punched in the gut. Paul had imprinted on the girl he had loved his whole life. He sank down into the nearest chair as he processed what he’d been told.
“I’m sorry, Jake. It’s not like I could help it.” Paul said as he sat across from his packmate, his brother.
“I know, it’s just a shock. We all know what you’re like with women, Paul. This is gonna be an adjustment.” Jacob sighed. “Bella is my best friend, if you treat her like you do all the others, I won’t hesitate to kick your ass. Brother or not.” Jacob threatened.
Paul nodded. “Understood. But, Jake, she’s not ready for anything right now.”
“Um, Paul,” Embry piped in. “Everyone can see how you look at her and she’s looking at you too.”
Paul snapped his eyes to Embry, “What?”
Even Jacob nodded, “I’ve noticed it too. Hell, you call her Iz, something she has always hated.”
“Okay, well, as much as I want to deal with this, we have more important matters. There is a bloodsucker after her. That has to be the priority.”
The other two agreed with him and together they left Paul’s and headed to Sam and Emily’s.
Emily looked up as they walked in the door and smiled. “Um, Paul, you should probably go in there.”
With a questioning look, he walked toward the guest room. Pushing open the door, he saw Bella huddled under the covers, but her sleep didn’t look restful. He didn’t say anything, just walked in and shut the door behind him. He walked over to the bed and gently climbed in so as not to disturb her.
Bella’s eyes blinked open and she saw him lying there. “Paul?” she whispered.
Reaching out for her, he pulled her to his chest, “I’m right here, Iz. Go to sleep.”
She snuggled into his embrace, falling into a peaceful sleep. He lay there until he was sure she was under and gently got up, heading to the living room to go over the plans.
“Is she okay?” Emily asked.
He nodded, “So what’d I miss?”
Sam outlined their tentative plan for him, before Emily interrupted. “Bella has to go home tomorrow, guys, she has school Monday. We need to figure out how to get that scent out of her room.”
“Paul needs to do it,” Jacob said, knowing as her imprint it needed to be his scent.
“How do I...I mean I’ve never done anything like this before. Hell, I’m not exactly Mr. Monogamous.”
The rest of the guys at the table nodded, but looked at Sam. “Leave a few of your shirts there, a couple of them hidden. Roll around on her bed, the floor, anywhere the smell of that bloodsucker is the strongest.”
“Definitely by that damned window,” Jared offered. “I think the leech snuck into her room through that.”
Paul nodded and stood up. “I’ll go take care of it now while she’s sleeping. Is the Chief home?”
“No, Harry took him fishing this weekend.”
“Alright, I’ll be back later. Keep an eye on her.”
Sam only nodded and watched as his friend walked out the door. It was interesting to see the changes in him already. He’d never seen Paul so protective of anyone. He liked who his brother was becoming.
****
Bella rolled over in bed when the sun streamed through the window hitting her in the face. She stretched her body, realizing that she had slept over eight hours without a single nightmare. Getting up, she grabbed some clothes for the day and went to shower. When she was dressed and ready, she walked to the kitchen, finding Sam and Jacob sitting there.
“Morning, guys.”
Both of them looked at her, shocked at how she sounded. She sounded like the old Bella, the one they knew from before the Cullens.
“I need to go home today, I have school tomorrow.” Bella commented as she sat down with her coffee.
“We know, Bells. Paul is at your house covering up all the vampstink so you won’t go back under again.” Jacob revealed.
“Really? Why Paul?”
“Why me, what?” The man in question walked into the house, a bag in his hand.
“Why were you covering up the vampstink in my house?”
He shrugged, “I wasn’t doing anything else. You were already asleep. Does it bother you?”
“No, not at all. Thanks.”
“Uh, listen, I found this stuff under a floorboard in your bedroom.” He passed the bag over.
Bella looked inside, finding the photos, plane tickets and CD she had been given for her birthday. “That motherfucking, son-of-a-bitch!” Going to the kitchen, she grabbed a box of matches, before storming out the door and to the fire pit off the deck.
The three of them watched as she tossed the contents of the bag into the pit, struck a match and threw it on top of the pile. They instantly caught and the flames grew.
“Now you don’t exist, motherfucker! Oh, my GOD! How could I have been so stupid as to not see it? He controlled every aspect of my life, of course he would try to control me even when he isn’t here!” Bella paced in front of the fire, watching as the last remnants of her relationship with Edward burnt up.
The three men stood on the porch letting her get her frustrations out. With a scream, she took off running toward the beach. Chasing after her, they watched as she picked up pieces of driftwood, rocks, anything she could throw, screaming while she let out her pent up anger. When she hit her knees, having exhausted herself, Paul was the one who went to her.
Bella was sobbing as she finally let go of the last of the pain and grief Edward’s leaving had caused her. When she felt warm arms come around her, she collapsed into them, taking comfort from someone else for the first time in months.
“I almost let him destroy me. He would have if it wasn’t for Jake, Embry and Quil, and now you and Emily.” Bella looked up at Paul with tears sliding down her face. “Thank you.”
He wiped the tears from her face with his thumbs. “Iz, you’ll soon find out, there is nothing I wouldn’t do or be for you.”
Bella gasped. “You...you imprinted didn’t you?”
Never taking his eyes from her, he slowly nodded his head. “I don’t want you to worry about it, though. I’m here for whatever you need. When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting with my arms wide open.”
Taking him by surprise, she flung her arms around his neck and hugged him close. He wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her scent. When they broke apart, he helped her to her feet.
“Thanks, Paul, for everything.” She reached up on her toes, kissed his cheek. She gave his hand a squeeze and walked back to the house, gathered her things and drove home.