the unknown

Paul

Bella storms into my room as I'm working on chem homework. "I've had enough of Jake not answering me, we need to go to his house," Bella says.

"I don't think that is a good idea," I mumble, not looking up at her.

"I'm either going alone or you can go with me."

I groan, "Fine! I'm coming!"

I grab my jacket and shoes, annoyed that I have to go out to see Jake when I have homework to do.

Bella drives crazy on our way to Billy's house. I could tell she was pissed. Which she had every right to be. I remember how painful it was when Embry ignored me for a month.

"Bella, calm down. I promise it's okay," I assure her.

"I'm just so tired of everyone leaving me!" She lets out a frustrated sigh.

I stay quiet as we pull into the drive way. She waste no time getting out and storming into the house. I slowly follow behind her, seeing Jake was asleep on his bed. I smile at the sleeping boy and run my hand gently through his hair. Bella seen something out the window and storms back outside. I glance up and seen Paul, Sam, Embry, and Jared coming out of the woods. I grin at the sight of my boys and follow Bella out. She was quite ahead of me as she approached the guys. I didn't hear what she said, all I seen was her slap Paul across the face.

"Bella, shit!" I yell at her, running towards her to push her behind me.

"Maggie, no!" I hear Embry yell as I feel pain down my chest and towards my stomach. I look down at the rips in my shirt and the blood soaking through. I could feel tears running down my cheeks as I shakily press a hand to my cuts. Embry runs to me and pulls up my shirt.

"Sam, I can't see how deep it is," He yells, trying to wipe off the blood. I push his hands away aggressively as it hurt when he touched me.

I hear commotion around me. I think Jacob transitioned and tore into Paul, pushing them further into the woods.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Embry keeps repeating to me.

"Stop talking please," I whisper to him.

Sam reaches us, "we need to get her inside."

I'm suddenly picked off of my feet and I grip onto Embry. Bella grabs ahold of my arm, "Back off," Embry growls at her. I don't see her anymore as we reach the house. Billy asks what happens as I'm sat on the counter.

"I'm okay, it's just a little cut," I try to tell them.

No one was listening to me as Sam cleans the wounds which burns my skin more. I bite my lip in pain.

"Okay it's not deep enough to need stitches but it's definitely going to scar," Sam tells Embry.

"Please stop making it burn," I tell Sam, wanting his hands away from me.

"I'm sorry, Maggie. I just need to wrap them," He tells me as he begins to cover the wounds with bandages. The pressure makes me cry out in pain which causes Embry to wince as well.

"I'm going to kill Paul," Embry growls, turning to walk out of the house.

"Em, please stay with me," I beg, reaching for his hand. I know Paul did not mean for this to happen and he probably feels bad enough without Embry trying to kick his ass.

Embry stops when he hears me and turns back to face me. His expression looks pained. He grabs my hand and gently kisses it. Sam finishes with the last bandage and gives me an apologetic kiss on the forehead before heading out. Embry moves to stand between my legs and takes my face into his hands, forcing me to look into his eyes.

"I am so fucking sorry I let you get hurt," He says softly.

"You didn't let me, you couldn't have stopped it."

"I know but you're my girl. I should have protected you."

"Oh, Em. It's okay, the cuts aren't that deep. They will heal," I tell him, pressing my lips against his.

He wipes the tears from my cheeks that I didn't realize were there and kisses me back.

"I am so sorry, Maggie. I had no idea," I hear Bella say from behind Embry.

"I know. Just please stop pissing off men that are way stronger than you."

She laughs at my comment as Jake and Paul walk through the doors.

Embry wraps his arms protectively around my waist, "you better stay far away, Lahone."

"Are you okay, Maggie? I didn't realize how close you were to me," Paul says with concern in his eyes.

"Why don't you learn how to control your anger and fuck off?" Embry spits out at him before I had the chance to answer. I place my hand on Em's chest to keep him calm. Jake gives me a quick kiss on the cheek before nodding to Bella. They both head out as Paul keeps trying to apologize.

"Paul, I know you didn't mean to-" Em covers my mouth with his hand before I could finish my sentence.

"Please leave," He tells Paul, not breaking eye contact with me. Paul sighs loudly, but walks out. He finally moves his hand from my mouth, "let's get you home."

I nod, not wanting to argue with that. All I wanted was to lay in my bed. He walks away from me before coming back with one of Jake's sweatshirts. He helps me pull the bloody and ripped shirt over my head and pulling the clean sweatshirt on me. I hold onto him tightly as he picks me up bridal style.

I must have fallen asleep on the way to my house because the next thing I know, i'm waking up in my bed with Em sleeping beside me. I pull myself away from the warm comforts of my bed to go shower. I grab a towel from the hall closet and make my way to the small bathroom. I turn on the shower, making sure to turn it on hot and wait for it to warm up. I strip out of the clothes i'm in and let them fall beside me before stepping into the shower. I let the water run over my body, not caring if the bandages get wet. I'll just change them after. I make sure not to get my hair wet, not wanting to deal with washing it. I was in there for a good 15 minutes before I finally turned the water off and step out.

I walk into my room, wrapped in a towel. Embry is still sleeping peacefully with an arm thrown over his face. It's still dark out so I check the time. It's only 3 am.

I dry off then drop the towel to look in the mirror. The cuts went from my chest to just above my belly button. It's clear that I wasn't close enough to Paul for him to fully claw me, just the tip of his nails had got me. Embry was definitely overreacting, just as I thought. I pull the bandages off and see that they aren't even bleeding anymore. They are wide, just not deep. I sigh and reach for the first aid that was laying on my night stand. There's arms wrapped around my waist suddenly, "let me do it."

I nod and give the first aid to Embry. He sits me on the bed and covers my still naked lap up with a blanket. He looks so upset as changes my bandages. It reminds me all too well of when Bella got hurt at her birthday party and I get sudden anxiety that Embry will leave me again. Once he finishes, I stand up and hug him. I ignore the pain as he wraps his arms around me.

I look up at him, "you're not going to leave me, right?"

"Of course not."

I press my lips against his, putting all of the love I have for this man into it.