Dusk till Dawn | Paul Lahote ✔️

CHAPTER 12

"Dad! Those bears in the woods are not bears!" Bella cries out when we burst into the house. Dad had been making some coffee, already sipping on a cup as he was reading the newspaper. Harry was sitting at the table with him, also drinking coffee when we burst into the home. "They're wolves! Humongous wolves!"

Dads head snapped over to us as I cringed, giving Harry a look. "What were you two doing in the woods?!" He snapped, eyes narrowing on the two of us as if we were crazy.

Sighing, I give Bella a look who simpers down at that question. "Bella wanted to go hiking." I said monotonously, knowing I couldn't tell dad the real reason why she wanted to do so. "And I couldn't in good faith let her go alone, so I went with her." Now I wish I had just stayed at home, but who knows what would have happened if I didn't tell Paul we were going into the woods?

"I thought I told you to stay out of the woods, Bells..." Dad trails off with a sigh, pushing himself away from the table. "Okay, now that we know what they are, we have no time to loose. I'll go gather a hunting team. Harry?" Dad turns to his long -time friend, who was eyeing me. I nodded, and Harry just gives me a discrete nod.

"Okay Charlie. I'll go with you," he promises. "Don't worry girls, my Kong Fu is strong!" He does some hand motions that make me giggle, though Bella was silent beside me - as if she just realized what she had done.

Though there was no way she knew about the wolves, right?

"Don't worry Harry, I trust you to protect my dad!" I winked at him, causing the two older man to laugh - though dad was more tense. He had a sense of justice to protect the people around here, I knew that. Being the Chief meant he had a lot of responsibilities that he took with face value, and if he thought anything dangerous was happening it needed to be stopped.

Even if that meant he was the one in danger.

"You two stay in the house for the night. And don't go into the woods!" Dad snapped, giving Bella a look who just looked pale. At least, paler than usual. She didn't even acknowledge them as the two men walked out of the house - Harry patting my shoulder in reassurance.

"I need to call Paul. Are you okay, Bells?" I asked her, turning to look at my sister who had gone ghostly white.

It was almost like she had seen a ghost. Maybe she had. I knew for certain Laurent was a part of the Cullen thing, but I wasn't about to ask anything from her. It wasn't in my place to, even though I had so many questions. She couldn't know that I knew already.

Bella looked up at me at that, her eyes wide. "Why aren't you asking questions?" She asked, confusion etched on her face.

Sighing, I give her a tired look. I knew Paul was probably already in my bedroom, pacing as he waited for me to enter. He probably was even listening in to what we were saying. "Bells, it's your life. I'm not going to be asking questions unless you are willing to answer, and I have a feeling you won't be." She winces, giving me an apologetic look to which I shrugged. I understood. I was in the same boat. "Just... promise me we're not in danger," I tell her gently, placing a hand on her shoulder to show that I was serious.

Her face scrunched up as she thought about it before shaking her head. "You guys shouldn't be..." She trails off with a frown. Though I was skeptical, at least we had the wolves to keep us safe.

Nodding my head I make my way towards the top of the stairs, leaving Bella in the kitchen. As soon as I open the door to my room I was engulfed in a warm hug as strong arms wrapped around me. I immediately closed the door behind me with my foot as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders once I turned around, burying my face into the side of his neck.

"When I saw you with that bloodsucker... I saw my life flash before my eyes..." Paul whispered fearfully, pulling me deeper into his embrace. "And when he had his teeth so close to your neck..." He shivered, pressing his lips to my forehead.

I pulled away slightly to look into his eyes. "Paul I'm okay. I'm here and you saved me. That was why I texted you we were going hiking," I told him softly, standing up on my tippy toes so I could kiss him on the lips. He deepens the kiss, pulling me even closer to him if that were possible.

When we needed to breath he pulls back slightly, placing his forehead on my own. "I wish you didn't go with Bella, but I understand why you did. You're a good sister, you know," he tells me softly, kissing me again sweetly.

Smiling softly, I give him a loving look. "Are you spending the night?" I asked him, running my thumb along his earlobe.

Sighing, he slightly pulls away. "I can talk to Sam and see if he'll give me the night off. I know he'll understand, having an imprint of his own." He promises, kissing my forehead again. "I gotta go. We're having a meeting about the vampire we just killed, I just needed to make sure you were safe and unharmed."

Nodding my head in understanding, I pushed him forward. "Go. I'll come over to Emily's tomorrow," I promised him, wanting to hang out with everyone again.

Paul grimaced at that. "You can't come later?" He proposes with a frown on his face.

Laughing, I give him a raised eyebrow look. "Dad told me not to leave the house tonight. Bella got me in trouble," I scoffed, rolling my eyes. I was nineteen dammit, though I couldn't blame him. While under his roof it was his rules.

I would just have to endure it.

Biting his lip he sighs as he nods. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow than," he nods to himself, pressing another kiss to my lips before leaping out of the window.

Looking out of the window for a few more moments, I sighed as I walked back down the stairs. Bella was nowhere to be seen, which meant she was probably locked inside her room - probably sulking again. Any mention of the Cullen's made her back into zombie mode, which honestly I thought was a little ridiculous but I didn't know what she was going through, or how close she had been to the Cullen's.

I would like to think, however, if Paul and the others ever cut ties with me I wouldn't be acting like how she was. Though I also wouldn't have any other reason to stay in Forks, Washington besides to be with dad and a broken younger sister who was proving to be more trouble than what she was worth.