Dusk till Dawn | Paul Lahote ✔️

Chapter 13

Paul was pacing back and forth at Sam and Emily's place, muttering to himself. After the confrontation with Crystal at the grocery store, and the two vamps saving me from certain disaster, I had come straight home to put away the groceries before driving straight towards La Push.

"You think this vampire that trapped you in the grocery store has a power?" Sam asked me, ignoring Paul who was still muttering to himself. He seemed amused, though his focus was on me.

"It was weird," I shrugged as I sipped on my coffee, deep in thought. "We were in the middle of an aisle Sam. There was no way other people couldn't have seen us otherwise." It had nerved me, to say the least. We were being loud, and not subtle.

At least, she had been. It was like she knew no one was going to come to my aide, though she had forgotten about the Cullen's and how one of them could see the future.

"Do you realize if it wasn't for the leech who can see the future, you'd probably be dead right now?" Paul snaps, turning to look at me with a huff. "I hate to say that I owe a leech, but I owe a leech." He grumbles underneath his breath, running a hand down his face.

"Yes, I understand that, Lahote." I roll my eyes at the man who whines at being last named. "I was honestly quite surprised when they showed up. I didn't think they took an interest in me." At least, I knew Rosalie had, but now I knew why she had taken an interest in me.

Though I was sure there was more to it than just Rosalie wanting me to change Bella's mind about becoming a vampire.

The room was quiet for a moment, unsure as to what to say. "Do you think Charlie would be mad if I kidnapped you and made you stay at our house for the rest of your life?" Paul teased, though I knew he wasn't actually teasing. He'd really kidnap me and force me to live in the house for the rest of my life.

Like Rapunzel and her tower.

"Probably," sighing I stood up from where I was sitting on the couch, walking over to him and wrapping my arms around his neck. He immediately wrapped his arms around my waist, leaning down to give me a chaste kiss. We would have gone further if it weren't for Sam and Emily in the room, watching us with amused faces. The other boys were out doing who knew what, and I hadn't expected Paul to be here when I arrived.

I just had to tell Sam about the vampire getting too close for comfort before dealing with an overprotective werewolf boyfriend. Turns out I had to deal with both at the same exact time.

"So not only do we have to deal with the red headed leech, but we also have to deal with the platinum blond." Sam sighed, looking tired. He had too much on his plate for a twenty year old, and I felt sorry for him. Being an Alpha for teenage werewolves had to take its toll, and I knew he didn't ask for this life.

None of them did.

"I haven't seen Riley since that day. I tried calling him but it went to an automatic voicemail saying it was out of service, and I have a feeling Crystal was the one who did that. She was jealous." I sighed as I laid my head on Paul's shoulders. "Vampires are vindictive. They thrive on revenge. She was already jealous before she turned, I can't imagine what she will do now that she has more power..." I trailed off with a grimace at the image that popped into my head.

Paul stiffens beside me before tightening his hold, pulling me even closer to his body. "Nothing is going to happen to you Sweets, I will make sure of it." He vowed, kissing my temple.

"As will we," Sam nods, his resolve solidifying as he pulled Emily closer to him as well.

Later that same night I was sitting on my bed reading a book. Paul had patrol tonight, so I knew he was going to be out in the woods making sure that the area itself was safe.

I jumped when I saw the window lift open, and went to grab my pepper spray - perplexed when I saw who it was. "Riley?" I whispered with wide eyes, not comprehending that he was here.

"I don't have much time," Riley started, glancing outside as if he was being followed. "Victoria. She's after your sister, Bella." I nodded, already knowing that much. "And Crystal... well, she's after you." He gives me an apologetic look, to which I shrugged. I knew that as well. "I'm sorry, Crystal is my fault." He seemed sad about that, which kind of surprised me.

I hadn't realized they could feel remorse.

Sighing, I give Riley a tentative smile. "It's... well, okay, I won't lie and say it's alright cause quite frankly I am terrified." I chuckled, earning a smirk of a smile from Riley himself. "How are you even here? There's two wolves circling the house right now." I mentioned with a frown, also knowing that it was possible Edward was in Bella's room right now as well.

Smirking, Riley raises an eyebrow. "I have my ways," he shrugs before sighing. "I'm trying to keep them at bay for as long as I can. I don't... I don't want anything bad to happen to you, Elaine." He tells me, determination etching onto his face.

"And Bella?" I asked him, frowning when he shrugged indifferently. He didn't know her, which made sense as to why he wasn't as keen on protecting her. "Why are you protecting me?" I had no clue why that could have been, as we hadn't been dating. He wasn't my mate. We weren't soulmates.

Blinking in surprise, he chuckles some. "I feel compelled to protect you. I don't know why, maybe it's because we were friends when I was human." He seemed to reminisce in the past before looking at me, his red eyes boring into my own. "Stay safe, Elaine." He tells me before disappearing in a blur.

Leaving me questioning everything that I had thought about vampires as a whole.