"So let me get this straight..." I began. I looked down at my fingers in my lap and then back up at Paul, who was kneeling in front of me. "You are a shapeshifter. You can become a wolf whenever you want. You shifted because vampires are real and the wolves protect the reservation from them."

"That's right," he replied, nodding. "And I'm not in a gang led by Sam Uley. We are a pack."

"So all those stories that my dad told me and my sister when we were kids, those were true...and not just something my dad made up to keep us out of the woods at night?"

"That's right."

"And everyone on the beach over there is a wolf like you?"

"Yes. And more may join us later if the threat persists."

"How long ago did you shift?" I asked cautiously.

Paul crinkled up his brow and sighed. "It happened the day I dropped you off at the train station."

"That was six months ago!"

He nodded quickly. "I couldn't tell you then. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about this."

"Why do I get to know now? What makes me so special?"

Paul sighed and reached for my hips nervously. When he looked conflicted about actually touching me, I covered his hands and guided them to my back. I opened my legs and wrapped them around his back. I dug my heels into his lower back pulling him impossibly closer. I held his face in my hands and smiled. "Paul, baby. You haven't told me anything that would make me not want you anymore. I love you."

A look of relief washed over him as he wrapped me up in his arms. "I've been so scared that I would lose you," he gasped.

I brushed my lips across his neck and hummed. "No way. For some reason...I feel closer to you than ever."

He pulled back slowly and blinked. "That's because of the imprint."

"Imprint?"

"I imprinted on you. And it basically means I am bound to you for life. I would do absolutely anything to protect you. I can't be away from you for very long without feeling unbearable pain. It's like...soul mates, but it's so much more than that."

"You chose me then? Out of everybody...anybody you chose me?"

"I didn't choose you. The spirits did. But it's because we're meant for each other...made for each other. We complete each other."

I furrowed my brow. "Sounds like a lot of pressure to me."

He laughed softly and smoothed his hands through my hair. "No pressure at all. It's all totally up to you. If you told me you just wanted to be friends, then that's what we would do."

I tilted my head and smirked. "Friends? That would be such a waste."

"Why?" he chuckled.

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his ear. "I wouldn't want to be 'just friends' with the guy who gave me the best orgasm of my life."

I felt him smiling against my neck. "The best? Oh you have to tell me which one."

I laughed as I ran my fingers through his hair. I licked the shell of his ear and sighed softly. "All of them, Paul. Every single one was the best."

I could almost feel his chest puffing out with pride. "Well you're not too bad yourself," he quipped.

I leaned back and playfully punched his arm. "Well thanks...ass."

"Come on, baby. Don't be mad. You know I'm just playing."

I lowered my head and sighed. "I know I don't have as much experience as all the other girls you've been with..."

Paul brushed his thumb over my lips and as his palm slid under my chin. "Hey, stop that." I gazed up at him and he continued. "We may not have ever actually had sex before...but you're the only one I've been intimate with. You're the only one I've ever spent the night with. You're the only I've ever said 'I love you' to." He took my hands into his and held them to his chest. "You're the only one I've ever let in, Rachel. I've let you see the real me."

"I just need to know that I can make you happy. You don't deserve to be tied down to someone who can't satisfy ... all your needs."

He scoffed. "Are you kidding me? Not satisfied?" He slid his hands under my thighs and lifted me easily. "I let you tie me up," he whispered in my ear. "And I fucking loved it."

I tightened my hold around his neck and sighed. "If you're sure."

He hummed against my shoulder as he carried me across the beach. "Please don't ever doubt...that you rock my world, Rachel."

I giggled happily. "So I guess I'm in love with a wolf."

"I'm so happy you still want me, Rachel. I can't wait for us to start our future...living together... marriage ...babies. I want it all with you."

I leaned back to look into his eyes. "Babies?"

He smirked. "If you want to. I mean...you have to admit, they would be gorgeous."

I shrugged. "Yeah...they would." I paused when he set me back on my feet as we neared the other wolves. "I guess we should get started as soon as possible then."

Paul was beaming as he reached for me again, sweeping me into his arms for another hug. Sam's voice brought us out our blissful state. "I take it things went well."

Paul turned me in his arms and held my back to his chest. He rested his chin on my shoulder and sighed. "She handled everything like a pro," Paul reported.

I smiled at Sam and shrugged. "Sorry I gave you such a hard time earlier. No hard feelings?"

Sam accepted my outstretched hand and shook it gently. "You're good for Paul. Anyone can see that, Rachel. Welcome to the pack."

I beamed with pride. "Thanks, Sam."

Jacob approached me sheepishly. "Are we okay?"

I pulled away from Paul's embrace to reach for my brother's face. "Of course we are. But I'll never get used to this hair," I teased as I reached for the top of his head and failed.

"So are we done here?" Paul asked Sam anxiously, already trying to pull me back into his arms.

"No just yet, Paul."

Paul growled as he pressed his forehead to mine. "It's okay. I have to get to a meeting at the school. We can meet up later," I promised, giving him a suggestive wink.

Paul slid his hands under my jaw, behind my head and held me close to him. "That's a deal."

I laughed as I walked away from him. I was met with an angry Embry who looked as though he had something to say. I turned to face Paul again, approaching him quickly. He smirked down at me and asked, "Did you forget something?"

I nodded happily. "Just this." I ran my hands around his trim waist and squeezed tightly. When I angled my face under his and let my eyes drift closed, he pressed his lips to mine. I gave him a soft kiss, giving him the option to deepen it or end it. I wasn't sure how he would feel about this public display of affection in front of his friends, but he answered that question by lifting me into his arms and sliding his tongue under mine. I laced my fingers behind his head and swirled my tongue around his. We both sighed when he lowered me to my feet and broke off the kiss slowly. I hugged him tightly once more before he begrudgingly let me go.

"I can't believe you," Embry sneered.

I scoffed as I faced him. "I don't really have anything to say to you," I replied dismissively.

As I passed by him, he reached for my arm, but I jerked away. "Embry just don't. You said you wanted to be friends, well this isn't how you do it."

He was shaking. "I just think a friend would tell you when you're making a huge mistake."

I stepped closer to him, narrowing my gaze. "So you say. You've been telling me for the past year what a mistake this is and how Paul will hurt me. Here's the thing, Embry. You're the only one hurting me right now."

Embry shrugged as an eerie calm came over him and he no longer shook. He lowered his voice and sneered. "Would it hurt you to know he showed everyone those pictures you sent him for his birthday last year? He passed them around at his party and let everybody see them."

"You lying fuck!" Paul spat. I glanced back at Paul, who was now being held back by Jared and Sam.

"That's not true," I denied forcefully.

"It is," Embry insisted, his eyebrows raised. "I've seen them. So has Jared."

I swallowed thickly and turned to face Jared. "Is that true?"

Jared looked sick and remorseful. "Yeah I saw them," he admitted. "But not in person. It was a memory of Embry's. A memory from when he went into Paul's room and found them. He's not so innocent, Rachel."

"A memory?" I echoed.

"You didn't tell her about the mind link?" Jared asked, still holding onto Paul tightly.

"I was at that party," Jacob spoke up suddenly. "He didn't pass around any pictures. Quit lying, Embry."

Embry looked shocked. "He treats your sister like a sex object and you defend him?" he scoffed.

"You're the one trying to humiliate her! You're the one that just can't let this shit go!" Jacob exclaimed as he stepped between Embry and I.

Embry shoved Jacob forcefully, knocking me down in the process. I felt Jacob's arms encircle me as I raised my head slowly. Paul began to convulse violently and his body contorted painfully. In a split second, my beautiful Paul was replaced by an equally beautiful silver wolf that growled angrily at the boy who had caused me harm.

Jacob pulled me away quickly as Paul bounded forward, attacking Embry who was now in his wolf form as well. I watched in horror as they both snarled and snapped at each other. Teeth were bared and when they tore into each other, blood sprayed all around.

"Get her out of here!" Sam ordered.

Jacob lifted me straight off my feet, pulling me by my waist as I stumbled along. "Come on, Rachel. I'm taking you home."

"Paul...he needs me..."

Jacob, tired of my endless falling, finally threw me over his shoulder and carried me the rest of the way to where I had parked Dad's truck. "We should go back," I demanded.

Jacob set me down and shook his head. "Paul will be fine," he assured me as he opened the passenger door and gently pushed me inside. After climbing into the driver's seat, held out his hand and asked, "Keys?"

I nodded absently, patting my coat pockets until I found them. "I can't just let Embry kill him. You have to go back and help him!"

Jacob just laughed as he started the truck and backed out of the parking space. "Are you kidding me? These two fight like this all the time. Embry is constantly pushing Paul's buttons and all Embry succeeds in is getting a broken nose or jaw."

"What?"

"I guess Paul didn't tell you about our ability to heal quickly? It takes a lot to hurt us, Rachel. We rarely get sick. Cuts heal in minutes. Major bones breaking may take a few days to heal, but seriously it takes a whole hell of a lot to do any kind of real damage."

I nodded absently. "And the mind link? How in the hell does someone 'see' a memory?"

"We can see each other's thoughts. But only in our wolf form."

"Oh no..." My mind was swimming just thinking of all the things I've done with Paul that anyone, including my baby brother could now see if Paul allowed them to.

Jacob reached for my hand and squeezed it. "Let me assure you that Paul had been very careful about what he shares when it comes to you. He keeps his thoughts about you private. And I know it's only been a week since I first phased, but Jared will tell you the same thing. He's not a bragger. And he'll do anything to protect you, Sis."

I blinked quickly and shook my head at Jacob. "Sorry, I'm getting whiplash with your change in attitude towards Paul. It's so crazy to hear you defend him."

Jacob squeezed my hand again and laughed. "Yeah well this experience has really changed my view on a lot of things. And it also made me see some things I didn't want to see about Embry too."

"Like what?" I asked skeptically.

Jacob let go of my hand and gripped the steering wheel tightly. "I don't wanna go into a lot of detail but I don't feel like I protected you from Embry like I should. I always wondered about his little crush on you and I feel like I could've done something when he went off the deep end."

"When did that start?"

Jacob sighed. "After that stupid New Year's party. It was like he just couldn't let it go."

I scowled when I thought about that stupid stunt I pulled. I only wanted to help Embry get the girl he was too nervous to talk to. I never dreamed it would set off a chain reaction that led to today's major battle. "I never meant for any of this to happen."

"I know that," Jacob replied quickly. "Quit worrying about it. Maybe Embry will finally shape up after Paul takes a few chunks out of him."

"Yeah," I answered absently, still not able to comprehend how it got this bad.

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

After my meeting at the school that I nearly forgot about, Jacob took me home and I spent some time with my dad, who explained even more to me. I finally hid out in my room with my brain on overload. I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling when Jacob came knocking.

"Hey, Rach. You doing okay?"

"Yeah, I guess. What's up?"

"Paul needs your help."

I snapped up quickly. "What's wrong with Paul?" I demanded.

Jacob gave me a reassuring smile from the doorway, but I was already up and pushing past him. Jacob followed me and grabbed my arm. "He's not at the door."

Jacob nodded out the back window, toward the tree line. "He's out there."

I saw nothing and furrowed my brow in confusion. "Where?"

"He's out there. He's having some trouble shifting back because he's so upset. You wanna go talk to him?"

"As a wolf?"

"Are you afraid?" Jacob asked, his voice full of concern.

"No, of course not. I know Paul would never hurt me."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

I shook my head as I gazed out over the treeline. "No, I'll be fine."

As I headed to the back door, Jacob stopped me again and pressed a pair of knit sleep shorts into my palm. "Take these. He'll need them."

"O...kay."

With that, I bounded out the back door and jogged straight back to the woods behind our house. I didn't know where I was going, as I still couldn't see Paul. I glanced around slowly as I wandered further into the woods.

I froze when I heard a twig snap behind me. I turned my head in time to see a wolf, my wolf sidle up beside me. He dropped his head near my hand and nudged me gently. Reluctantly, I let my hand sift through his fur and I smiled in response. "You're so soft," I whispered as I lowered my face to the top of his head and inhaled deeply. "You still smell like gingersnaps," I chuckled. "So cute."

Paul snorted and curled his body around mine. He looked up at me with his puppy dog eyes and I grinned at him. I knelt down beside him and curled up to his warm, wolfy body. I heard a low hum and and a rumbling sound and then I felt Paul's hand smooth around my waist and over my stomach.

I twisted around to find him curled on his side and leaning up to me. Before I could say a word, he slipped his hand behind my head and kissed me passionately. I shifted around and straddled his waist, never breaking the kiss. I moaned into his mouth when he smoothed his tongue over mine and held my body close to his.

"I'm so sorry," he murmured when I pulled away. "Did you get hurt?"

I sat up and checked his body for damage. "Me? I'm fine. Are you sure that you're okay?"

He sat up and gathered me into his arms. "That little shit wishes he could do some actual damage to me."

I traced a fading pink line on his shoulder and kissed it gently. "This doesn't hurt?"

He smiled a little and shrugged. "If I lie and say it does, will you kiss it again?"

I grinned at the sexy little gleam in his eye and I gazed at him as I lowered my lips to his bicep and kissed my way over the smooth curve of his shoulder and up his neck. I heard the hitch in his breath as I nibbled on his earlobe. "I missed you, Paul. Take me home."

I inhaled sharply when he stood up with me in his arms. I slid down his body as he set me back on my feet. I lowered my eyes down his naked body and paused at the sight of him. I pulled the shorts from my pocket, realizing why Jacob had me bring them.

I twirled them around my finger and gave Paul a playful smile. "You want these?"

Paul smirked and sighed softly. "I want you...and clothing is optional."

"Paul..." I scoffed. "That's really naughty of you."

Paul pulled me close and whispered, "Would you expect anything less from me?"

"No way," I sighed as Paul leaned in and kissed me hungrily.

.....

A/N: I LOVE all the great comments and thanks for those votes too. You guys are awesome! Here was some drama for you. Would you expect anything less from me?

Oh and edited to add this new pic of Alex Meraz from Instagram...wow right?