𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐌, (paul lahote) ✓

𝑿𝑰𝑿 - 𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆

ACT NINETEEN
THE END

Eloise didn't know how long it had been since Penny died.

Maybe minutes, maybe hours. But that didn't matter, because she did not stop crying. She held onto Penny's body and she was only bought back to reality when she heard leaves crunch and out of the trees stepped a wolf. It was a rusty brown and Eloise wasn't sure who it was, only that it wasn't Paul.

She flinched slightly when it stumbled back at the sight and if the sight of Penny's body hadn't broken her heart, the wolf howling and falling back into the trees would have. It was at the sound of howls coming back, more than one wolf at a time that Eloise lip started quivering again and her body shook as sobs escaped her mouth. It hadn't been more than a minute until two figures ran towards Eloise, both men dropping on their knees next to Eloise, whom was still stroking Penny's head. She only opened her eyes when she felt two fingers under her chin raising up her head so she looked at the man in front of her. It didn't shock her to see Paul's red eyes, tears escaping him tho his face stayed put. Maybe he wanted to be strong for his imprint.

It also didn't shock her - tho is shattered her - when she turned her face to the left to see Embry holding his mouth closed with his fist. He looked back at Eloise and shook his head in denial.

„I'm so sorry." Eloise sobbed and Embry broke then. His sobs were louder than hers were and his body shook as he caressed Penny's cheek, leaning over her body.

„It's not funny Pen, open your eyes please." he cried and Eloise felt like throwing up.

„Come one, don't do this Penny, please wake up I'm begging you." and he did, indeed beg. He begged and begged and Eloise took that as her sign to softly raise Penny's head off her and give her body to Embry who clutched her frame instantly.

„Come back please."

Entering the Uley house with Paul in tow was one of the worst feelings ever. When she entered and saw the pack - excluding Embry - sit around the table, all red eyed and some still crying, she turned and made a beeline towards the bathroom. She heard Paul hot on her heels and she made a mental note to give Paul everything she could for staying so strong for her. She couldn't imagine loosing a friend and holding up your girlfriends hair while she threw back up all four chocolate bars. He caressed her hair where her braid was still laying.

„It's okay, let it out." he whispered and she sobbed into the toilet. She's never felt like this and she stayed put on that point on the icy tiles for a few minutes until she heard a new voice crying from the living room. She flushed, accepted Paul's outstretched hand and leaned into him as they walked back.

Third heartbreak, when her eyes fell on Embry embracing grandma.

Funerals. Eloise hated them. The pack and pretty much everyone on the reservation stood around the coffin where Penny's body rested in. Eloise hadn't been listening to what the priest said, her eyes only focusing on Penny and Penny only.

She had officially moved in with Paul now and Embry had taken over her room at grandmas house. They helped each other and they grieved with eachother. So has the rest of the pack. Kim and Emily made sure to take out Eloise regularly and Paul made sure to not push her to get better. Sam and Jared grieved with their imprints and Eloise found out it was Jacob that found them that night. He was holding up the best, or he didn't show his pain like some of them did.

It was hard without Penny and Eloise was aware that it would stay that way for a while. Penny's death broke her in ways no boyfriend ever could. No pain William could ever inflict of her would live up to the void in her soul ever since Penelope closed her beautiful eyes that god-damned night.

Paul fixed some of those holes. With his patience, love and his way with words he made sure to take away as much pain as he could. But even he would wake up sometimes in the middle of the night and sometimes Eloise would be the one to hold him and tell him that she really does miss her too.

Forks seemed black and white without Penny but the colour slowly made its way back. With each passing week, with each flower planted on her grave it got better. Eloise started working again and Mr Muhammad even visited Penny with Eloise once. He, too was patient when Eloise would sometimes go into the backroom crying on a particularly hard day.

It did get better.

„I miss her." Embry said one night at a bonfire. It had been two months since her death and it was the first bonfire without her. It was the first time all of them were able to laugh again, genuinely have fun.

„I miss her too." Eloise replied and Embry, who was seated next to her, laid an arm around her shoulder and hugged her close.

Paul smiled at his imprint when she turned to him again, cuddling up into his side.

„She's with us either way. Not like she'd ever stop tormenting us with her jokes and insults." Jared added and it made them smile.

They smiled and they were sure they'd be okay.