Chapter 1

We started out, curious, but cautious. But when we saw the leech-lover hiding behind Jacob, we all became furious at once. Well, maybe not Embry. He seemed to find the whole thing pretty hilarious.

"What have you done, Jacob?" Sam demanded. Damn straight, I wanted bloody answers.

I thrusted past Sam, cutting Jacob off before he had a chance to speak. I couldn't care less, though, I was too angry to even give a shit.

"Why can't you just follow the rules, Jacob?" I yelled, throwing my arms in the air in frustration. "What the hell are you thinkin? Is she more important than everything- than the whole tribe? Than the people getting killed?" Yeah, I have anger problems. Get the fuck over it.

"She can help" Jacob said quietly.

"Help!" I yell. I was beginning to lose control, and m arms began to quiver. "Oh, that's likely! I'm sure the leech-lover is just dying to help us out!"

"Don't talk about her like that" Jacob shouted back, defending his freaking girlfriend. The leech-lover didn't seem to care about my criticism, and, in the back of my head that hadn't gone insane, I wondered why.

A shudder rippled through me again and down my spine. I knew I had to get control, and fast. If not, Sam will give me a load of shit about it later, and I didn't need another fucking lecture.

"Paul! Relax!" Sam commanded me, using his Alpha voice.

I shook my head, trying to regain control.

"Jeez, Paul" Jared muttered. "Get a grip."

I twisted my head towards him, my lips curling in irritation. What the hell did he think I was trying to do? I turned to glare at the leech-lover, who was the whole bloody reason I was so fucked up.

I don't know what I was planning to do. Maybe scare her shitless or maybe even rip her throat out to just get rid of the whole problem. But imprinting on her most defiantly was NOT on the top of my list. Hell, it wasn't even on the list in the first place.

I stared into her eyes, warm brown, the colour of milk chocolate, and was held there.

Everything inside me came undone as I stared at her tiny figure cowering behind Jacob. All the lines that held me to my life were sliced apart in swift cuts, like clipping the strings to a bunch of balloons. Everything that made me who I was- my love for my sister, Krissy, my love for my niece, Izzy, my love for my dead parents, my loyalty to La Push, the love for my brothers, my hatred for my enemies, my home, my name- disconnected from me in that second- snip, snip, snip- and floated up into space.

I was no left drifting, though. A new string held me where I was.

Not one string, but a million strings. Not strings, but steel cables. A million steel cables all tying me to one thing...to the very centre of the universe.

I could see that now...how the universe swirled around this one point. I had never seen the symmetry of the universe before, but now it was plain.

The gravity of the earth no longer tied me to the place where I stood. No. It was the beautiful brunette cowering behind Jacob, her gorgeous, brown orbs alive with wonder.

Isabella Marie Swan.

I felt my expression soften and my mouth opened slightly in shock. Sure as hell didn't see that coming.

"Oh, boy" someone muttered. "Paul's in trouble."

That was the only sound that could touch me in this endless instant. I didn't know who said this, nor did I care.

I took an involuntary step forwards, wanting to me closer to my Bella and Jacob took a protective step in front of her. That triggered something inside my wolf within. He shouldn't be protecting MY imprint. She was MY imprint, not his!

The heat flooded through me, and I felt the silent shimmer that made me something else. I threw my heavy paws against the earth and stretched my back in one long, rolling extension.

My muzzle wrinkled back over my sharp teeth, and another growl rolled through my chest. I focused on Jacob, the threat, ready to tear him to pieces.

'Protect our mate' the wolf chanted, and I agreed.

In the same second that I changed, Jacob was running across the road straight for me.

"Jacob" my angel screamed, and pain rocket through my chest. Physical pain I can take, but this...this was almost unbearable. She should be screaming MY name, not Jacob's!

Mid-stride, a long shiver ran down Jacob's spine. He leaped forwards, diving headfirst into empty air and turning into a russet brown wolf.

The fight between me and Jacob didn't last very long, and soon Jacob was pushing me into the forest, closely followed by Sam.

What the hell, Paul? San demanded. I could feel the anger rolling off him in fibs and winced. You could have seriously hurt her.

A picture of Emily's ruined face flashed into Sam's mind before he could stop it and we all winced.

I...I don't know...I mean...I don't understand. I shook my wolf head, trying to clear it. I played back the scene.

By the time I had finished, Sam was laughing.

My dear old Paul, I believe you imprinted on our young Bella Swan.

Shut! I exclaimed.

I recommend you don't fight it Sam recommended. It will only hurt both of you.

And if you dare hurt, I'll kick your ass from here all the way to mars Jacob threatened.

I would never hurt her I exclaimed, outraged by the mere idea.

I know, man, I know Jacob said hastily. It's just that someone had to be the big brother and give you the 'you hurt her, I hurt you' talk.

I rolled my eyes and we ran, as wolves, towards Emily and Sam's house. Sam phased first, he was the oldest after all, and was through the door before we had even begun to come out of the trees.

"That's gonna be you later on in life, you know" Jacob teased me and I growled back. I punched him on the shoulder, making him stagger a bit, but he didn't miss a beat and went for the kidney jab as we laugh. He's a damn good gather, I'll give him that.

I felt someone's eyes on me and looked around, meeting those curious doe eyes. She had her arms around herself like she was in pain, and I felt pain rocket through me again at the very thought.

I held her eyes for a little longer before I was bombarded by Jared and Embry who wanted to see whether or not Jacob had managed to take a chunk out of me.

"Hey Bells" Jacob greeted my Bella cheerfully. I felt jealousy run through my veins. I wanted to be able to do that to her. "How're you holding up?"

"Don't worry about me." I loved the way her voice sounded, like chocolate rolling of her tongue. Whoa, down boy, I thought as little Pauly got very excited at that idea. "Just very confused." Me and you both, girl. "Good muffins."

She picked her muffin up and started nibbling around the edges. She looked relieved, though i hadn't the foggiest idea why.

"You'll understand soon enough" Jacob reassured her.

Bella was about to say something, but was cut off by Jared wailing "Oh, man!"

Embry grinned, exultant. "Fifteen dollars" he crowed.

"Did you do that?" Bella whispered, though there was really no point. We could all hear her anyway.

"I barely touch him. He'll be perfect by sundown."

Bella looked confused for a moment.

"By sundown?"

I watched curiously as she checked out my muscles and suppressed a grin.

"Wolf thing" Jacob muttered.

"Oh" was all that Bella said, until she added, as though an afterthought, "You okay?"

Jealousy chorused through my veins once again. Why wasn't she asking me if I was okay? Because she doesn't know you, stupid.

"Not a scratch on me." There will be if you keep up that smug expression.

"Hey guys" San said loudly, interrupting all the conversations instantly. "Jacob has information for us."

I tensed, not liking it at all. I'd heard it all in Jacob's thoughts. How dare that leech hunt down and try to hurt my Bella!

Feeling a pull towards her, i settled in the closest chair to her. Emily sent me a knowing look, complete with a smirk and i rolled my eyes right back at her.

"I know what the red-head wants. That's what I was trying to tell you before." He kicked the leg of my chair and I growled at him under my breath.

"And?" Jared pressed.

Jacob's face got serious. "She is trying to avenge her mate, only it wasn't the black-haired leech we killed. The Cullens got her mate last year, and she's after Bella now."

Bella shivered, and I longed to pull her into my arms and tell her that I wouldn't let anything happen to her, that she was safe with me, but I restrained myself. What this imprinting thing always this hard?

Jared, Embry and Emily's jaws were scrapping the floor. Normally I would have found this hilarious, but I wasn't in the mood. Not when I my imprint was in trouble.

"She's just a girl" Embry protested and I growled at him.

"Correction" Bella said, rolling her eyes. "I'm just a human girl." How dare she think like that! She was more than just a human girl, she was a fucking goddess!

Embry poked his tongue out at her playfully which she returned. She looked so fucking adorable when she did that. The wolf growled at that. Adorable was certainly not in his vocab.

"I didn't say it made sense" Jacob sighed. "But that's why the bloodsucker's been trying to get past us. She's been heading to Forks."

"Excellent" Jared murmured as Bella ducked her head to hide her blush. I need a better dictionary because adorable is getting pretty old now.) "We've got bait."

I yanked a can opener from the counter and launched it at Jared's head, even though i knew it would never connect with it. Bella looked shocked.

"Bella is not bait" I growled, glowering daggers at him.

"Calm down, man, you know what I meant" Jared chuckled, unabashed. "Whipped" he added under his breath, laughing quietly. For some reason I fail to see the funny side of this

"So we will be changing out patterns" Sam said, ignoring mine and Jared's squabble. "We'll try leaving a few holes, and see if she falls for it. We'll have to split up, and I don't like that. But if she's really after Bella, she probably won't try to take advantage of our divided numbers."

Bella winced, and I wondered vaguely why. I hope she wasn't in any pain.

"Quil's got to be close to joining us, soon" Embry murmured. "Then we'll be able to split up evenly."

I looked down. No matter how much I've managed to deal with this, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

"We'll, we won't count on that" Sam murmured, then continued at his regular volume. "Jacob, Jared and Embry will take the outer perimeter, and Paul and I will take the inner. We'll collapse in when we've got her trapped."

Bella glanced at me, worry etched into her beautiful features. I longed to comfort her in any way possible.

Yes, I, Paul Long, the guy who never gave two shits about any girl, was in love with Bella Swan. And I'm willing to do anything for her, even if it means ending my own life.

AN: YAY! First chapter up. I hope you liked it.

With all my love and kisses

~Poison Ivey