Endangered | Chapter Five
Paul Lahote x OFC
Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four
Summary: Vampires and wolves are not the only supernatural creatures to walk the earth, and they are certainly not the only ones in Forks, Washington when Charlotte Annabeth Swan, "Anna", moves in with her uncle after the unfortunate demise of her parents.
Some may misidentify her as a witch, but that’s fine, she would rather them think that anyway. But the Volturi know the truth, and they are closing in on her.
The bonfire is already going strong when we make our way over. Logs and tree stumps and rocks have all been moved around the pit in a circle, as well as chairs brought by some. There is a table set up with food everyone brought. I really appreciated Paul bringing me to these community events. It made me feel less like the outsider Sam once told me I was, and closer to the whole pack. Some of the Elders give us knowing nods. Word of Paul's imprinting traveled fast in the small group who knew the truth, which includes Billy Black, who was staring at me from where he sat around the bonfire. When he catches my eye, he waves me over.
“Hi Billy,” I say with a smile sitting on the tree next to him.
“Anna,” he says and then gives Paul a nod, “Paul, could you go grab us something to drink?”
Paul hesitates but agrees after I nod at him. As he’s walking away, I look up at Billy.
“So, am I right to assume you’re the reason Charlie is asking about Paul?” I question with a smile. Billy throws his hands up in surrender.
“Me? I would never?” He smiles.
I laugh and roll my eyes.
“Is Jacob here?” I ask looking around.
Billy frowns, “Yes, but only because I made him, I believe he is helping Sue Clearwater with carrying some food.” He pauses, “Is everything okay with him?” I sigh deeply.
“He doesn’t like Paul, or Sam really. He thinks they are in a gang. I told him today that I was hanging out with him.”
It’s Billy’s turn to roll his eyes.
“He’ll get over it one day, I’m sorry he’s making things difficult for you.”
I shrug, “There’s not much I can do. I love Jake, I really do, but it’s physically painful to be away from Paul. Both of us would be weaker if we stayed away.”
He nods knowingly, “I understand Anna, I do not and would not blame you for anything between you and Jake. It’ll take time, but things will resolve themselves.”
I smile at Billy, and we make small talk until Paul comes back carrying two drinks in hand. He hands them each to us as Jacob appears in view.
Jacob scowls at me and turns to walk away from us again and my heart breaks a little. Paul sits next to me and wraps an arm around my waist.
“It’ll be okay,” he whispers in my ear, “I can talk to him? His misconceptions about me doesn't mean he can be rude to you.”
I shake my head, “No, I think that would make it worse, but I appreciate it, love.”
The pet name falls off my tongue with ease, and it’s not until after that that I realize what I’ve said. I straighten and look away from him so he can’t see me freak out, but of course, he knows. Paul laughs and kisses my temple again.
“Very cute,” he whispers. I slink off the log onto the sand to avoid him looking at how flushed I am, but Paul just moves so I am in between his legs and moves down to the ground, picking me up slightly to move me forward. My back is leaning against his chest and his arms are around my waist.
“You know it’s really not fair that you can just pick me up and move me wherever.”
“It’s very fair,” He smirks, “how else would I get to hold on to you like this.” I roll my eyes at him and settle into his arms. This is the first Reservation wide event Paul and I have been to together, usually just attending council meetings between the Elders and the Pack. I can see that all eyes are on us. Paul had told me about his reputation and his temper. Jared made sure to let me know that Paul became a lovesick puppy around me, pun intended, and it was weird to see him be so calm and caring.
It seems a lot of people shared that opinion. While many of the younger girls glared openly, most stared on with a surprising curiosity. The Council Members smiled at us tenderly.
Paul is playing with my hair, pulling the curls gently and watching them spring back when Emily sits down next to me. I gasp in excitement and hug her, yelling her name. She laughs and hugs me back. Paul whines as Emily pulls me away from him
“I missed you,” I say pouting.
“I missed you too,” she says leaning in, “You know, we could just ditch the boys and run off together.” She says quietly with a wink. I throw my head back in a laugh. Emily Young was not so secretly, my favorite member of our little pack, and we often joked about us being the ones truly in love.
Paul wraps his arms around my waist, “You both would miss us too much.”
I scoff and push him away lightly, “As if.”
Emily laughs and we begin to catch up.
The night is lovely. Sam and Jared join us shortly after Emily, and I feel like things are finally okay. Times like this make me feel like I could be happy, that I can be a part of a family, even if I will always miss my parents. Time flies with them because, after two hours and some food, I barely register the stares, except for one.
Sadness twinges at my heart as I catch sight of Jacob again, he’s been staring at us for a while now, and Paul nudges my shoulder with his chin.
“Do you want to try to talk to him?” He whispers. I give him a doubtful look.
“I don’t know. I don’t want you to get mad.” He raises his eyebrows.
“I can handle myself, Anna, He’s your friend,” he says, “I’ll be here.”
I push myself off the ground, Paul helping me. I give him a small smile and tell the others I’ll be right back. Sam, who had warmed up to me after a week or two, gives a questioning look to Paul. As I walk away, I hear Paul give a short explanation, and Sam's eyes flash towards Jacob.
Jacob is sitting by himself away from the fire. He doesn’t walk away when he sees me.
I pull my sweater tight around me.
“Hey,” I say gently. He doesn’t answer.
“Can I sit?”
No reply again, but he does move over a bit. Sitting down, I exhale in defeat, unsure of what to say.
“So,” he begins, venom in his voice, “What are you, like their groupie now?” I flinch at his words, and across the way, I see the boy’s tense. Damn their hearing.
“Jake don't talk to me like that. Let me explain.” I say, voice still quiet. I continue before he makes another snarky comment.
“Paul and I… we’re together, kind of. He’s not the person you claim to hate so much.”
“How would you know Anna? You’ve been here for a few months, and suddenly you know everyone better than I do? I’ve known him since childhood. He’s aggressive.”
“Honestly, I’ve never really seen this famous temper everyone keeps mentioning.”
“That doesn’t mean you won’t, he’ll just blow up on you one day, and you’ll get hurt.”
“I really doubt that Jake.”
“Don’t be stupid Anna,” Jake says getting up and walking away. Paul watches him, ready to get up.
Don’t, I voice to his mind, I got it, please.
He’s unhappy about it but settles back down, whispering to Sam.
I follow Jake to the parking lot.
“Jacob!” I shout.
“Forget it, Anna, go run back to your little cult!” he yells.
“Why are you doing this? It’s not like this has to be an ultimatum. What, because I like hanging out with someone other than you, I can’t be your friend?”
“I don’t really want to be friends with someone like you right now.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means I told you how they acted, and you didn’t care.”
“I really don’t understand this reaction, Jake, you’re acting like I’ve committed some kind of Shakespearean betrayal,” I’m struggling to catch up with him at this point.
“Jake, don’t act like this is some choice I have to make.” I plead.
Jake turns around, and I almost walk right into him.
“It’s not a choice, you’ve already chosen. I just never expected you fall at their feet like a whore.”
His words slice through me, and I step back. In that instant, Paul appears behind me. I can sense his anger, and how hard he is trying to hold back. His hands are on my shoulders, and I press my back against him, trying to ground him and calm him down.
“Walk away Black,” he sees through barred teeth.
“Yeah, of course, come to save the day again Lahote? Pretend you’re some kind of hero?” Jacob is yelling louder now, gaining the attention of onlookers.
Sam steps in front of Paul and me, hands up.
“Jacob, take a step back.”
Jacob is shaking with anger, a sign that his change is closer than we think.
“Paul, take Anna home, please,” Sam says. I shoot him an apology via a mind link, but he dismisses it telling me it’s not my fault.
I grab Paul’s hand and coax him away, heading back to his truck, Emily is there with my truck.
“Sorry to kill the mood,” I mumble but Emily shushes me.
“Don’t worry about it, hun. I’m sorry about your friend. I’ll see you soon, yeah?” She kisses me on the cheek and walks back to the bonfire.
Paul is still silent beside me, taking deep breaths. I wrap my arms around him, but he doesn’t hug me back. Frowning, I look up at him.
“Are you all right?” I say in a hushed tone. He finally looks down and sighs, arms finally moving around me.
“I should be asking you that.”
“I’m fine, more angry than sad, but I’m sure I will be later. He sucks.” Paul nods and lets me go to open the passenger door.
“He crossed a line,” Paul adds tensely. I nod my head and climb into the seat. He shuts the door gently and walks around.
Paul’s emotions are more decipherable now. Anger, frustration, worry, and guilt. He starts to drive; the silence is deafening.
“I hope you know he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. About you,” I assert. Paul’s grip on the steering wheel tightens.
“He isn’t wrong about me.”
“Yes, he is.” I stand firm.
“Anna, I am constantly afraid of hurting you, the fact that other people also think that? I can’t even…” he trails off.
“Any type of strong emotion can set off the change Paul, just because you happened to be angry at the time and can feel intensely, doesn’t make you a monster. I literally have a connection to your emotions. If I had any worry about you, don’t you think I would voice that? I have never been concerned about you hurting me or getting angry with me.”
Paul doesn’t answer, but I don’t press on, letting him digest my words.
It’s almost 9:30 when we pull into the driveway and Paul is hopping out to open my door. Before getting out, I turn to face him and pull him close, placing my hands on either side of his face.
“Promise me you won’t beat yourself up over what Jacob said.”
His face softens as he looks into my eyes, making me melt all over again. He nods and rests his forehead against mine.
“Jacob will get over himself. Hopefully, before he changes, but even then, he’ll understand,” His voice is quiet, “I’m sorry he said those things to you.”
I shrug noncommittedly.
“He’s right though, it’s not a choice. It’s you.”
A surge of bliss hits me from him, and I smile.
“Of course it’s you, Paul.”
His hand finds its way to the base of my neck, the other slightly caressing my cheek.
“Tell me to stop if you want me to,” he says breathily.
“Not a chance,” I whisper back.
Yearning flashes in his eyes as he leans in to kiss me, gently at first, just barely brushing his lips against mine. His lips are soft and warm, contrasting with how cold mine are from the weather, and I feel like electricity is coursing through my body. I sigh into him and pull him closer, his chest pressing against me. Warmth pooled in my stomach as he deepens the kiss, tilting my head back slightly. My hands slide up into his hair, desperate for more, but he breaks away. I whimper from the loss of him.
He kisses my cheeks, and nose before pulling away completely.
“Charlie’s about to walk outside,” he murmurs, “I still want to be on his good side for now.”
Right on cue, Charlie exits the front door, feigning casualty as he walks to his car. I wave at him.
“Be inside in a second!” I shout, “Stop being nosy! Love you!”
With a hrmph, he walks back inside and Paul chuckles beside me.
I give him an amused look, before finally climbing down from my seat.
“Thank you.”
Paul winks at me and walks me up to the door.
“Thank you for coming with me tonight. I liked having you by my side.”
“I did too, despite Jacob’s tantrum. We should do stuff like that more.” I hint.
“Hm, what a thought.” He says, portraying innocence. I playfully drop his hand in response, but he catches my waist and kisses me lightly one more time.
“Goodnight, Anna.” He hums.
My head is spinning and my cheeks are flushed.
“Goodnight Paul,” I squeak back.
Read Chapter Six Here
