CHAPTER ELEVEN

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The man had dissapeared in the blink of an eye. The wolf, who was now accompanied by five others, same menacing look on their snouts, sprinted after him. Genevieve watched them run away, frozen. It took her a second to realize what she had seen.

Het legs began to move on their own accord as she tried to get away from that place as fast as she could. Heavy breaths passed between her lips as she ran towards the Uley house.

Genevieve didn't turn her head to see if she was being followed, scared of what she might see. Tears ran down her damp cheeks as she finally spotted the small red house in the distance. Gen reached the end of the sea of trees as she ran across the field before the home.

"Gen?" Kim came rushing from the house, having seen her from the window. Emily was behind her. The raven haired girl rushed towards her until Gen collapsed into her awaiting arms, sobs wrecking her body.

"What happened?" Emily wrapped an arm around her shoulder as she cried onto Kim's shoulder. Her cries echoed through the air and she hiccuped. "Honey, calm down and tell us what's wrong."

"T - there was a - a man," she couldn't continue her sentence. "I, I was just t - taking the short cut. He had r - red eyes, Em. I have never s - seen anything like it. I thought h - he was going to kill m - me."

Emily's eyes widened and she shared a worried look with Kim, who was glancing around anxiously. There was a loud howl in the distance and Gen seemed to shake in fear at the thundering noise.

"Let's get you inside," Kim said, as she tried to guid Gen inside.

"No," Gen shook her head. "I need to tell the police."

"Just come inside first." Emily soothed.

"He wasn't the only thing I saw." Gen wiped at her eyes. "There were these huge w - wolves. I mean huge! What if they killed me. I'm sure that man is dead. Didn't you just hear them? I need to call the cops."

"Calm down," Kim muttered. "We need to get inside."

Genevieve agreed silently and walked in between the two girls, still shaking. Kim sat her down in the living room, rubbing her shoulder in comfort. Emily made her big cup of tea and took a seat next to her.

"I promised Paul to never go into the woods by myself." she sniffed. "He told me it was dangerous and I should have listened to him. They weren't normal wolves, Kim. I have never seen anything like them before."

"I'm going to call Sam." Emily dissapeared into the kitchen.

"You're okay," Kim smiled. "That's all that matters."

"Why didn't they attack me?" Gen breathed. "They didn't even look at me."

Kim sighed and looked down at her sock covered feet. After a few moments she glanced at Gen with a soft smile on her face. "Maybe they only go after the bad guys."

"What?" Gen frowned.

"Gen!" a voice thundered as Paul rushed into the living room with long strides, an alarming look on his face.

He sunk down onto his knees and took a hold of her face, checking her for injuries. She reeked sickly sweet like the leech and it made his shudder in anger. Her tear stained cheeks made his heart shatter and she leaned into him slightly, he wrapped his arms around her. Paul nuzzled his face into her neck, the fear of her getting hurt slowly dispersing.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I should have listened to you."

Paul frowned and took in her features, holding her cheeks between his palms.

"Hey, shh." he shook his head. "It's okay. You're safe, that is all that matters right now. Did he touch you? Are you hurt?"

Genevieve shook her head negatively when the rest of the guys hurried into the room. Gen hadn't told him so she was a bit confused but to shaken to even question it right now. Jared pulled Kim close, whispering in her ear while Quil pulled Gen away from Paul in a tight embrace.

"God, Gen." he breathed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded meekly.

"Why were you in the woods?" he demanded. "You know it isn't safe."

"Calm down," Paul growled.

"I was on my way here." she rubbed her arms closer to herself. "I didn't want to take the long way."

Quil seemed to get angry and shook his head. "You didn't want to take the long way? Gen are you stupid! Do you know what could have happened to you if we didn't get there in time?!"

"We?" she frowned.

"I said calm down!" Paul was shaking and Gen cowered away from the two of them and stumbled into Embry's chest, who wrapped his arms around her in comfort. "Don't you dare talk to her like that! She didn't know! It is not her fault!"

"I told her many times it wasn't safe there!" Quil yelled.

"And she was supposed to know that there were leeches around?!" Paul sneered, steam almost coming from his skin. "Don't get angry at her for their actions!"

"Enough!" Sam shouted, the entire house shook at his voice. "Look at her. Can't you two be civil for one moment? Paul, you need to tell her today."

"She is my sister." Quil argued.

"But it isn't your duty to tell her." Sam snapped.

Paul was still shaking in anger when he turned to meet Gen's frightened eyes. He visibly calmed down and took a step towards her and she slightly flinched, making him give her a pained expression.

"Gen," he breathed. "I'm sorry."

The brunette nodded softly and Embry let go off her and gave her a small smile as everyone dispersed from the room but Paul. Quil glared at him and walked out after the others.

"What do you need to tell me?" she asked, rubbing her arms.

"It is important." he said, as he held out his hand to her. "Take a walk with me."

Gen looked at him hesitantly before placing her small hand in his scorching one. He leaded her out back and into the yard that leaded to the beach. The brunette couldn't help but glance around every now and then.

"You're safe." he said, pulling her closer. "No one is hurting you."

"Just tell me whatever you need to tell me. I'm going out of my mind and I don't know how to explain what I just saw. And I don't even know how you guys knew so quickly but I don't even want to question that right now." Genevieve sniffed. "Am I going crazy?"

"No," Paul frowned and leaned down to wipe away her tears with his thumbs. "You're perfectly fine. There is nothing wrong with you. Just promise me not to run away after I finish telling you."

"I promise." Gen nodded her head carefully – not being able to resist the pleading look on his face.

"Do you remember the legends Billy tells at the bonfires." he asked, after her hum he sighed. "They're all true, Gen. The shapeshifters and the cold ones. We can turn into wolves and we go after the leeches. We try to keep this place safe from harms."

"Are you kidding me?" Gen breathed. "Are you insane? This isn't funny, Paul!"

"Please," Paul took her hands in his own. "I'm not lying to you, I would never do that. You have to believe me, Gen."

"You can turn into a wolf?" Genevieve rolled her eyes. "Do you know how that sounds?"

"I do," he nodded.

Gen knew he wasn't lying. She could see it in his eyes and it frightened her. "I believe you. T- that man?"

"Vampire," Paul nodded and pulled her to his bare chest. "We have no idea how he came onto our lands. We got there right in time. I don't know what I would have done if he'd hurt you, Gen. If he'd had laid his hands on you ... He is gone now, he won't hurt anyone anymore."

Gen didn't say a word as she processed everything he had just told her. It did sound crazy – but there was no other way to explain the wolves and the weird man with the red eyes and superhuman strength.

"There is more," he breathed and ran his hands through her hair. "Do you remember the parts about imprinting?"

"When a shapeshifter finds his soulmate." Gen said, and leaned back to look at his face.

The adoration on his face made her blush and her chocolate orbs widened slightly. The way he had cared for her the moment he laid eyes upon her. His bright smile whenever she entered the room. Calming down when they're eyes met and the loving gazes.

"Did you?" she stammered.

Paul nodded and ran his fingers down the side of her face. "My entire world revolves around you. Gen, you're the only one I care about. The only one that is worth living for."

"Paul," she breathed. "That is just the imprint talking."