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Judged

Chapter 9

The weekend so far has been spent helping her repaint her room. She didn't like the eggshell white at all; she said that it made her think of Edward.

I helped her paint it a dark green color. She smiled 1000 watts at me when she saw it finished.

Emily and she went through all of the furniture today to decide if she was going to keep it white.

I've already gathered up stuff to stain the wood. If white walls made her think of Edward then the white wood most likely, will too.

Sam and I were sitting on the couch watching whatever show Emily had on earlier in the day. I don't think either of us were really watching the show. I was listening to the sounds around the house and keeping track of Bella's heartbeat.

She had a nightmare about Edward last night. I was up and running for Sam's home before Bella was even awake from the dream. Her sudden accelerated heartbeat startled me.

"A dark stain would probably look really nice with the forest green walls." Bella said in her quiet voice.

I heard Emily make a content agreement noise before the floorboards shifted and squeaked too lowly for the girls to hear.

I grabbed the stain and materials before they could come down and tell us. Emily just smiled as I came up the steps. She was use to us hearing everything.

Bella's heartbeat sped up for just a moment looking at me with the stain. She panicked for just a moment but I still caught it.

I tilted my head to the side as looked at her. I scanned her body once making sure she was unharmed as I instinctually inhaled to check the surrounding area for anything unusual.

She blushed a crimson red and looked down as if she were embarrassed.

"Bella?" I asked softly.

Emily scurried downstairs to Sam while I looked at Bella.

I stepped close to her glancing around to check the rooms. She was safe…what was the problem?

"I'm sorry." She muttered looking up at me through her lashes.

I let slight confusion show on my face, "What for?"

She seemed confused now. Her face scrunched up in thought before I could smell the shame wafting off her.

I dropped the stain and tools to carefully step towards her. I didn't touch her but I got as close as I could to her so she knew I was concerned.

"I lived with Edward for 4 years. I'm still use to conforming to his wishes. He didn't want me making any choices so when I talked about something without him there I'd get into trouble. I wouldn't realize he was within hearing range." She explained quietly.

I frowned softly at her, "You can make whatever choices you want. I can't promise that I won't get mad at you for some or even like every choice. But it's always your choice."

She smiled softly at me, "I know. I don't expect you to."

She moved the last few inches so she could lean against me. I tensed for a few seconds at the contact but my skin settled down quickly smelling Bella mix with my scent.

I curled my shoulders around her as comfort.

She smiled up and me and turned on her heal, heading back to her room.

We spend the rest of the afternoon staining all of the wood and making sure everything was dry and looking good. She had some stain on her cheek and it was all over my hands thanks to her.

She liked helping but she wasn't much help. It's cute really.

I sat against the wall facing the window. The sun was setting over the cliff across from Sam's home. It was always so pretty. He had a great piece of land.

Bella came and sat down next to me. She slowly moved closer to me until we were touching. My skin barely crawled thanks to how slowly she moved.

She rested her head against me. She exhaled slowly settling against me.

I just watched her as she sat quietly with me. Her hair falling beautifully from the lax braid she had it in. The sunset cast a breathtaking orange glow on her face. I smiled watching her smile as she relaxed more and more into my side. My imprint.

I sighed lightly.

I didn't know how to act around her. My wolf was all gun ho for me to throw her over my shoulder her and mark her as mine. But my human side didn't have regular human contact. I didn't really know what to do with her.

She was always close by but I still tensed if she got too close to me. I had to wait a moment to really get the message to my body that she was my mate. It was okay. I didn't always feel like it was though. I spent years without a single human touching me, without talking directly to someone. I lost touch with my own emotions.

She brought up emotions that I didn't know how to deal with.

I want to touch her, but my brain tells me contact is bad. I want to smile at her, but my face feels weird using any muscles like that. Part of me wants to spill my guts to her, but another still want to keep everything locked up tight. I don't know what to do with the conflicting emotions. I don't want to have people see me in a vulnerable state but I can't be so impassive with my mate.

"We only met a few weeks ago Paul. I have been with the pack for all of 3 days. You won't be comfortable with me yet. Heck I won't be that comfortable with you yet either," She suddenly said in her usual quiet voice, "But one day we will be comfortable. One day you will end up telling me everything. I'll tell you everything too."

I turned slightly to look at her as she lay peacefully against my shoulder. She was so sweet and understanding. She was so patient.

"I don't understand what I could have even attempted to do to get you Bella…." I said quietly as I just soaked up the feelings from her presence.

"You endured a lot of pain…everyone deserves someone…especially after any trauma." She whispered. She turned her face and kissed my shoulder; my skin lite on fire where her lips touched.

I just stared at her as she rested against me with her eyes closed.

She kissed my shoulder.

My skin wasn't crawling either. It was tingling weirdly and became so warm. It made me feel good inside.

I slowly leaned down and rested my forehead on the top of her head. I kissed her temple lightly and relished in the happy feeling that flooded my system. She began to smell of happy excitement.

We sat quietly together like that for a long time lost in our own thoughts. Sam eventually came up and informed us of dinner.

Bella had another nightmare last night. Edward was due home this afternoon and she was terrified. She reeked of fear and her heart would pound out of her chest every time something made a noise outside.

I was driving my wolf up a wall. Her unease was making him crazy. We just want her to feel safe; to relax.

Luck was not on my side though.

Baby Alpha burst through the door causing Bella to scream out in shock. Her scream made my wolf and I rage in protective anger.

I had the moron against the door frame by his throat before she had finished her scream.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing? Did you just forget how fucking skittish she is you imbecile?!" I snapped in his face.

His eyes were wide in fear as I clutched his throat tightly. Deep, angry growls were ripping from my teeth with every rapid heartbeat from my scared mate.

"Paul!" Emily admonished.

I quieted my growls as I glanced at her. Bella was practically shaking next to her. My wolf was quick to deflate seeing the fear in her eyes; in her posture.

I released Baby Alpha quickly taking a careful step towards Bella.

I felt horrid. I scared my very skittish imprint.

"Bella…" I whispered sorrowfully. I scared her more than he had.

She was flying towards me before I knew it. I tensed strongly as she hugged me tightly. Her tiny frame engulfed by my large stature. My skin felt like it was trying to rip itself from my body at her sudden contact. I closed my eyes tightly trying to calm my skin and pounding heart.

She tensed suddenly remembering how much I hated people touching me. She looked up at me with wide fearful eyes.

I gave her a tense smile, "It's okay. I'm okay."

"You didn't scare me. It just took me a minute to process that it was just Jacob. Thank you for being so quick to defend me." She said quietly resting her head against my chest.

She was still breathing a little heavy though. Her heartbeat was still too quick for my liking. I just wanted her to be okay. I needed her to be okay.

I lightly wrapped my arms around her petite shoulders as she relaxed slightly for the first time today. I cupped the back of her head and coiled my arms around her torso as best I could with the height difference. Kissing the top of her head, I felt the same happiness flood my body like yesterday.

She sighed lightly melting in my hold.

I lightly led Bella to the couch and motioned for her to sit down. She sat farthest from the window. She looked up at me expectantly as I moved to sit. Her eyes flicked down next to her and back up again. She smiled softly at me as I hesitated.

I sat down next to her as she asked. Her little arms grabbed onto my bicep as she tugged me towards her. I let her pull me closer as my skin crawled for a few seconds before settling into the feeling.

She was wedged tightly between the arm and I. I smirked as she gently tugged my arm up to wiggle underneath it. I chucked softly as she wiggled into a comfortable spot under my arm.

"Comfortable?" I asked with my smirk planted firmly on my face. I felt a little uncomfortable with this much touching but I was happy that I was this close to her; that she was calming down.

She smiled sheepishly at me and nodded grabbing onto the remote. She passed it to me and looked up at me happily. I squeezed her arm lightly as I turned the TV on.

My skin settled down slowly from the excessive amount of touching. After a few minutes of sitting with her, I was finally able to relax my body into the cuddling.

Emily caught my eye as Bella watched the game show that I turned on. She was beaming at me from the kitchen. I rolled my eyes at her as she shook in place smiling widely.

Baby Alpha slowly and quietly sat down on the recliner next to Bella. She glanced at him quickly smiling to let him know everything was okay.

Baby Alpha was very attached to Bella already. They were quick friends. She didn't let him touch her though. I picked up on it quickly that she didn't like the pack touching her unless she initiated the contact. It was slightly different with me but I was the special case.

Her wolf. My imprint.

We watched several episodes of the game show before I heard animals in the forest scatter and run towards the border. The faint sound of destruction reached my ears a second before it reached Baby Alpha's.

We both tensed and sat up straighter. Bella looked up at me confused for a moment before noticing that he and I were looking at the window.

"He's home…" She whispered in a terrified tone. Her heart rate elevated drastically.

Baby Alpha stood up and called Jared as Sam and Emily came down the steps. I stood up and went to move towards Sam when Bella flew out of her seat latching onto my side. My skin erupted into the crawling feeling despite how long she had been touching me.

I looked down at her as she stared at the window in utter fear holding onto my body for dear life.

I gently pulled her in front of me so she couldn't see the window. She looked up at me with tears beginning to form in her eyes. I frowned slowly lifting my hand to her face. I ran my thumb under her eye as a tear escaped.

I held her close to me as my skin crawled slightly. I cupped her face wiping away the tears as I leaned down to kiss her forehead gently.

"You're okay." I said against her hair.

A slight choked sob escaped her lips as she held onto me tighter.

"You are okay." I repeated to her, "I will never let anything hurt you."

Jared and Kim came through the door then with Embry in tow. Jared looked at me with concern before flicking his gaze to Bella. I nodded slightly so he knew she was some semblance okay.

Kim hurried over to Emily and they hugged before coming up to Bella.

"Jacob and Embry are going to stay with us while Jared, Sam, and Paul go check it out." Emily said rubbing her hand on Bella's back.

I let the corner of my mouth turn slightly watching Emily and Kim pull her into the fold. They were so quick to be such good friends.

"We will be back. You will be perfectly fine." Sam said to Bella as he motioned for Jared and me to follow.

We raced through the woods towards the sound of Edward's screaming. He was raging at something. Like a child really.

As we grew closer to them, I could smell Mama Cullen's scent mixed with vampire venom. Dr. Fang's scent was also present but not as strongly.

He is taking it out on Mama Cullen!

I don't like vampires but she saved Bella and she loved Bella. Bella loved her. I wasn't going to let that happen on my watch.

I raced forward as I heard Mama Cullen let out a pained scream. I leapt over the treaty line snarling as saliva dripped from my fangs. I didn't slow down as I saw Edward either. He raised his hard, curved like claws, in the air to take off Mama Cullen's head presumably. I rocketed out of the tree line barreling into him.

Edward and I rolled several yards as he snarled in surprise.

I held the offending hand in my teeth as I viciously ripped my head back and forth creating jagged tears as I ripped it off.

You never touch a woman.

"I will do as I damn please you filthy mutt!" Edward screamed trying to push me off him.

I heard Jared and Sam enter the clearing as I crushed Edwards hand to bits in front of him. I latched onto his elbow and swung widely throwing him away from us.

I circled back to Mama Cullen as she knelt in the dirt, deep lashes covering her body and venom everywhere. She was sobbing into her hands as Jared sat next to her snarling. Dr. Fang was frowning trying to approach her.

I phased seamlessly as I got close to her.

"I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner. Will you be okay?" I asked crouching down in front of her.

She sobbed harder looking up at me. She had devastation in her eyes. Her eyes flicked towards Dr. Fang as she sobbed harder.

I slowly turned towards him. He had a few deep slashes but not nearly as much as Mama Cullen.

Sam was snarling and blocking Edward as I crouched down near her.

"Well it's good to know that you have no pair of balls. Letting your mate; a woman, damned leech but still a woman, get beaten and almost decapitated? You are a low life even for a parasite." I snapped lowly.

Mama Cullen slowly got up from the ground with Jared's help. I glanced back towards her. Bella is going to be so upset that she was hurt for her.

"I cannot see my own soul. I cannot see if someone I meet is actually my mate. Carlisle stood back and watched me get attacked by his 'child' only taking a few hits at first. Carlisle is not my mate." She choked out a sob at the end. She was heartbroken.

"You vile woman! You gave my mate, my Bella, over to a pack of wild, unruly beasts! How dare you defy me!" Edward roared getting around Sam.

I stepped in front of him more than 40 feet from her.

"Get this straight fucktard. You are the unruly beast." Jared snapped from Mama Cullen's side after phasing.

"More importantly, Bella is not yours. She is not your mate and she never has been yours." I said quietly in a deadly tone, "That woman is mine. That is my mate. You stay the fuck away from her and you stay the fuck away from Mama Cullen."

Edward's eyes darkened as he roared out his anger and lunged for me. I phased fluidly and met his attack head on.

He screamed utter gibberish at me as I thought about Bella's smile and her laugh. I thought about how the smell of fear disappeared once she was away from him and how affectionate she was today. I thought about my mate as I bit and dodged the leech.

"SHE IS MINE YOU DISGUSTING MONGREL!" he roared as he ripped his razor claws across my chest.

I hollowed in pain before seeing red. I began to fight off instinct as opposed to thought.

Edward lost a limp or two in the fury but his "siblings" showed up and got involved. Sam and Jared jumped in to defend me as we were pulled apart.

Edward lay wincing in pain struggling to get out of his family's' hands. I panted with blood dripping from several wounds. I phased human reopening the biggest wounds, on my chest.

"You will never touch her again. Don't you ever come near her or I will end your life." I warned.

I slowly backed away from the parasites. Dr. Fang made a feeble attempt to get to Mama Cullen. I let dark snarls rip from my teeth. He backed off looking back at his "son" as we slowly made our way to the treaty line.

"THIS ISN'T OVER YOU FLEEBAGS!"

Jared had Mama Cullen running alongside him until the line. I glanced at her and looked at Sam.

"Esme. If you wish, you may stay on this side of the line. Bella would be devastated over losing you." Sam said kindly and softly, "If you stay near the pack, you will be safe."

She nodded once, "Thank you. I would like to see Bella, but I am going to go up and stay with some family in Alaska."

I nodded at her before running to Bella.

Bella freaked out to say the least. I came back with healing scars all over my torso. She gently cleaned me of blood as she silently cried. I did my best to wipe the tears away but I didn't want to get blood on her.

My skin only felt mildly weird as she took care of me. It felt strange for someone to be taking care of me. I protested at first even letting my anger slip and baring my teeth at her when she argued with me.

At first, she flinched back from me but she quickly shook her head and glared at me.

"Sit your ass down," She hissed before her eyes filled with tears, "this is my fault just let me help."

Mama Cullen visited with Bella for about an hour to explain to her what had happened and where she was going. Bella cried and told her that she loved her. Mama Cullen thanked me and was gone.

Sam waited for Bella to collect herself before talking to us as a pack.

I tried to get her to go to her room and rest but she started to cry on me when I suggested she do so.

"I just," she started before whispering in an ashamed tone, "You make me feel safe. I'm scared."

I felt my hard mask soften slightly. I wanted her to rest, but I wouldn't let her be scared when I could do something.

I tentatively reached for her. My whole body froze for a moment when I felt the warmth from her skin. I never initiated contact with people. It felt like I was sticking my hand in the way of a blow torch. I steeled my nerves and begged my body to listen to me.

I gently grabbed her shoulder pulling her into me. My skin crawled nervously but settled quickly as I reminded myself that this was Bella.

She looked at me shocked but proud. She looked happier. She settling against me easily, even sighing softly as I hugged her.

I sat down in the chair gently keeping her against me. She curled her feet underneath her and snuggled into my lap quietly.

I rested my arm around her gently at first. My skin wasn't crawling though so I tightened my grip on her. She cuddled a little closer at my tightening. I exhaled slowly and thankfully.

"Okay, no more patrolling alone guys. Edward's words will be taken seriously. We don't want him crossing the treaty line nor do we want to endanger anyone. Always patrol in pairs, especially you Paul." Sam started.

I bore my teeth at his statement, "I can handle myself perfectly fine against that parasite."

Sam gave me a knowing smirk with sad eyes, "I know you can Paul but I don't expect him to fight as he normally would in this situation. I don't want you taking on a group of leeches when you could be more prepared for the worst."

Bella nodded quickly looking at me with big doe eyes, shining with fear. My skin did a single ripple of panic remembering that she was touching me before settling.

I opened my mouth to snip at them but nothing came out looking at Bella. I narrowed my eyes at her and then at Sam.

"Fine." I hissed.

Author's Note: Sorry for the wait. It has been an interesting year to say the least. I will be working to update more often. I'm aiming to never make you guys wait more than a month!

Review! Tell me what you thought. I accept constructive criticism. It helps better my writing!

Thanks for the read guys! Have a good day!

~Wanagi