𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍 | Paul Lahote

07

ೃ⁀➷

❝PAUL, SAM'S HERE
to see you!" Terrance shouted from the front door where he let Sam enter. "He's upstairs in his room." Sam nodded, and just as he was taking the first step on the stairs, Terrance tugged him back by his wrist.

"Look, he hasn't left his room for almost 3 weeks already and only eats one meal a day. He doesn't want to tell me, I understand, but he trusts you. I love my son, Sam, so please..help him."

Sam knew that the werewolves always eat more than 3 meals a day, one of the differences they had with the humans. The wolves needed their strength, and even though Paul is amazingly strong, there's a difference between physical and mental strength. The Alpha knew his betas, but hearing the state his third-in-command was in, it pained him like he was his own son. He couldn't imagine how Terrance must be feeling, his son being the only thing he has left.

The two exchanged a nod and Sam had found Paul's room by his scent.

He knocked, no answer. He knocked again, "Paul, it's me, Sam. Can I come in?"

After multiple shuffling and small footsteps, the doors finally opened and Sam looked up.

Paul's eyes were barely open, bloodshot coloured with dry stains of tears on his cheeks. He reeked of sadness, anxiety, anger, disappointment, every emotion except happiness. Paul always slept, and by his expression, he was just woken up. Because that was where he felt whole. Because the only way to not forget, and see his imprint's face was in his slumber. He slept so much, because in his dreams Selene was still here. Still with him. She never left.

And sometimes, he wakes up screaming from the nightmares that tormented him. Selene dying in his own arms and disperse into silver dust. Sam knew everything about the imprints, and he understood that Paul was parted from his for too much time. And gods knew how much their separation would continue, but this was not healthy. Sam needs his betas, he needs his pack.

"Paul—" Sam started, averting his glance down to his feet with an exhausted exhale and a shook of his head.

"No," Paul's denial was almost a whisper. He hasn't spoken a word in so long, he forgot how to speak, how to smile, how to be happy. It was like when she left, she took a part of him and that his happiness left with her. "Can I come in?" Sam asked, motioning to the room behind the beta. Paul simply opened the door widely enough for him to enter, and Sam noticed the holes in the walls, the clothes scattered around the floor, the shattered mirrors and feathers with ripped pillows.

"I punch the walls out of anger, when I can't seem to calm down." Paul began, the two sitting down on his bed as Sam listened carefully, his glance still around the room. "I....got so pissed off, I-I began to throw stuff around the room, that explains the clothes."

"And the broken mirrors and ripped pillows?"

Paul kept quiet, embarrassed for his Alpha, his idol, to see him in this desperate state. So, Sam took matters into his own hands and searched his thoughts for the answer, just as Paul began to remember that night.

START OF FLASHBACK
It was the first week of Paul not leaving his room. He finally left his bed and made his way to the sink in the bathroom, trying to ease the stress and pain he was feeling. With a splash of cold water against his face, he rubbed his hands across it and finally looked up. Paul rested his hands on the sink, his eyes widen in shock as he sighted the person leaning her head against the door frame.

"Hi, Paulie."

Paul's head was over his shoulder in seconds, and she wasn't no longer there.

It was just a nightmare, she's not real, she left—he kept telling himself.