Dusk till Dawn | Paul Lahote ✔️

Chapter 19

I didn't know why I felt so nervous.

Maybe it was the fact that there was going to be so many kids there, partying and having a good time until they're entire lives change. Maybe it was because we were going into a vampire families home, and while the Cullen's were somewhat harmless, they were still blood-sucking vampires.

Paul was standing beside me, wearing a nice button-up black shirt, black khakis and dress shoes. He looked handsome, and I was ever so glad he was mine. I had decided to go with a black maxi dress with blue floral prints on it, and black combat boots. My hair was done up in a loose bun while I work the wolf pendant that Paul had gotten me all those months ago.

"We won't be here for long," I promised him, squeezing his hand when I felt him tense in front of the Cullen house. "I just want to give Bella this." I hold up the book I was prepared to give her. Seven Novels by Jane Austen, one of Bella's favorite authors.

Breathing in deeply Paul nods. "It's alright doll, I can take it. It's just... the smell is a bit much." He admitted with a wince, squeezing my hand back. "Lets just go in before I decide not to..." He trails off in a grumble, pulling me inside with him.

The party was going full blast. Kids from Bella's school were dancing and having a good time. Immediately I saw Bella arguing with Jacob, which made me raise an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?" I asked him as Paul and I walked over, Quil and Embry were dancing with some girls a few meters away and seemed like they were having a good time.

"Bella invited me," Jacob explained with an aloof shrug, though Bella was glaring at Jacob harshly.

Bella scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest as she gives Jacob a hard look. "Was my left hook not subtle enough? That was me uninviting you!" She snaps before turning to look at me, a small smile on her face. "Thanks for coming Laney, I didn't think you would." She admitted sheepishly, looking guilty.

I gave her a soft look, feeling a little guilty myself before shaking my head. This was her doing. She pushed me away, and I shouldn't feel sorry for doing something I believe is right. "Of course I wanted to come. Here," I handed her the book I bought her, and her eyes lit up with glee at the sight. "I've been busy with my bookshop, but this came in the other day. Thought you might like it."

Emma by Jane Austen stares back at her as she grins down at it. "Thanks Laney, this ones been on my reading list." She comes forward to hug me, which I hug her back tightly. I didn't know the last time I would be able to hug her while she was still human, if I could even hug her while she was a vampire.

"Congratulations on your shop, by the way." A cool, feminine voice echoed behind me, making me grin as I turn around to see Rosalie standing there beside her husband. Emmett was grinning at me, and it was hard to believe that these two were vampires. Emmett reminded me of Seth, just go-lucky and happy and Rosalie was a reminder of Leah.

"Thanks," I nodded towards them, curling a strand of hair behind my ear. "It's been a long time in the making, but I'm glad to finally have my dream a reality."

Rosalie gives me a small smile, and in the corner of my eye I could see Bella and Jacob arguing again. That seemed to be the only thing they did nowadays, though I could see why. Jacob was overstating his boundaries, as he usually did, though ever since he became a wolf shifter it had escalated tenfold.

At least Embry and Quil seemed to have fun, and Quil was chatting up a nice looking girl that he had been dancing with.

I watched as he produced a small wooden wolf that he had been working on and I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I wish he'd stop obsessing over Bella and find a nice girl or boy to focus on..." I trailed off tiredly, giving Paul a look as he smiled down at me, leaning down to kiss my temple.

"He will eventually imprint on someone," Paul reminded me and I nodded my head in agreement, turning to watch them again. "Bella is just a now thing for him. His childhood crush he can't forget about. As annoying as that is being on patrol with him." He scoffs at that, making me laugh slightly in amusement. I knew all the boys were getting highly tired of his obsessive thoughts over my sister, and he didn't even imprint on her.

Alice and her partner, I think his name was Jasper, suddenly walked over to Bella. Probably to try and pry her away from the angered wolf when Alice freezes, her eyes glazed over. All the vampires around us freeze as it happens, and Edward speeds towards his sister in haste.

Sharing a look with Paul, I followed after Emmett and Rosalie, Quil and Embry not to far behind us. "What's going on, Alice?" Bella implores, frowning when she sees her best friend frozen in place.

"They've made a decision," Alice murmurs, sharing a look with Edward, who did not look at all happy.

Bella frowns even more as Edward makes his way towards her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders protectively. "That is?" She questions, leaning into his touch.

"They're coming here..." All the vampires murmured together, and I could feel the tension in the air building up as the time went on.

"Hold on a damn minute!" Jacob snaps, earning the vampires attention as they all look over at him. "Whose coming? What's coming? We want answers!" He demands, and this time I couldn't find it in me to reprimand him for his behavior as I turned to look at Alice specifically.

Alice shared a look with Jasper, and then one with Edward before turning to look at Jacob. "Vampires. Newborns. An army of them are after Bella and Elaine." At the sound of my name I blinked, my eyes widening in shock.

"Why Elaine?" Paul growled, pulling me towards him and tucking me into his side protectively.

"There was a platinum blond standing with Riley Biers," Alice answers timidly, and I sighed tiredly. I knew who that was, though I was sure they already knew the answer as well.

"Crystal, she's a local. She liked Riley, and Riley had a thing for me before I told him that Crystal might have a thing for him. I don't know if he ever got around to asking her out, but this proves he didn't..." I sighed again, not for the first time wishing I was just a normal human being who didn't have supernatural drama.

Paul's arm tightened around me as he kissed my head. "What does this mean?" I heard Embry ask, and Carlisle frowned at the answer.

"It means lives lost." Was his ominous answer, and my skin prickled at how he already sounded defeated.

The wolves all paused, glancing at each other briefly before looking over at the vampires. I already knew what they were going to ask.

"What if we help?" Jacob asked, and the wolves all looked at the vampires for an answer.

Jasper pauses, considering. "Well it would give us numbers," he muses, turning to look at Alice whose eyes glaze over again.

She smirks, nodding her head. "I cannot see what happens, but it'll give us an edge!"

Bella gasps in disbelief. "What, no! You guys could die!" She turns to look at Jacob, giving him a pleading look.

Paul scoffs, rolling his eyes. "We've killed vamps before, chicky," he grumbles, tightening his arms around me. "I'll do anything to keep Laney safe." I smiled softly at that, knowing he wasn't lying.

Carlisle nods his head, ignoring Bella and looking at Jacob - who had a determined look on his face. "You think Sam would nullify the treaty for the war?" He asks, and Jacob smirks.

"As long as we get to kill some vampires," he shares a look with Embry who had a similar look on his face.

Bella still looked disturbed at the prospect. "What- you can't!" She pleaded as if they weren't arguing two seconds ago.

Jacob scoffs, sending her a look. "You wanted us to get along. This is us, getting along." He makes wide hand gestures and Bella growls, turning to look at me.

"Don't give me that look Bells," I rolled my eyes at her. Even if we had buried the hatchet for just a moment, there was no way I was just going to give into her very whim like everyone else did. "Even if I tried they still want to fight. Let them, they're built for it." I reminded her. Even if I didn't want them to, I knew they would be okay.

I had to think that for my sanity at the moment while knowing there was an army of vampire newborns, aiming for Bella and I.