Moonrise | Paul Lahote

6

"Is it painful to shift?"

"It was pretty painful the first one, yeah, but now I barely feel anything."

"How does it, like, start? Do you have to concentrate or does it just happen?"

"It feels natural, like moving a muscle. When I'm angry, though, it's kind of involuntary and I can't control it."

It was around noon time. The pancakes had long been gone, the dishes cleaned and put away and mugs of coffee brought out. Jenna and Paul were still sitting at the kitchen island, chatting about everything and anything.

As Paul responded to the questions Jenna asked, he couldn't help but stare at her a little, a soft smile on his face.

Jenna was unlike anyone he had ever met. She was open with her emotions, not bothering to hide them from him. He'd only known her for a day, but he liked everything about her: the way she tilted her head when she was curious, the curl of her lips when she was teasing, the sparkle of curiosity in her eyes, the carefree way that she laughed.

Every time he thought about the tears that had rolled down her cheeks when she tasted the pancakes he had made, he couldn't help the fondness that spread through him. Paul couldn't wait to cook more food for her so that he could see her reactions.

Jenna and Paul's conversation was interrupted as someone knocked on the door. Paul frowned, annoyed at whoever it was who had caused Jenna to stop talking. With a sigh, he slid off his stool, walking over to the door to open it.

"Jared?" Paul raised his brows, surprised and not very happy to see his packmate standing on the porch, hands in his pockets and figure relaxed.

"Hey, Paul. I just wanted to come to check if–" Jared cut off to sniff the air, catching onto a scent. His eyes widened, and a grin came onto his face. "Is that Jenna in there that I smell?"

"Hi, Jared," Jenna called, giving him a little wave.

"Hi, Jen!" Jared waved back cheekily.

Annoyance flared in Paul's gut at the nickname He growled slightly, stepping into the doorway and blocking Jared's view of her. "What do you want?" He spat harshly.

Jared's grin turned into a smirk. "Wow, so possessive."

"Jared, I swear to god–"

"Okay, okay, chill." Jared chuckled. He put his hands back in his pockets, leaning nonchalantly against the porch rail. "I came to get you. Sam's calling a meeting."

"He sent you here?"

"Yeah."

"Well, tell him he can go fuck himself."

Paul moved to shut the door. "Wait!" Jared cried. "Come on, let me– Ow!"

"Oops," Paul said not-so-apologetically as Jared clutched his foot, his swears filling the air.

Alarmed by all the commotion, Jenna ran outside. "What's going on?" She asked, pushing past Paul.

"Paul slammed the door on my foot!" Jared complained from the ground.

"I didn't hit it too hard."

"It's literally broken!"

"It'll heal in like three minutes."

"It still hurts!"

"Does he need, like, a doctor?" Jenna asked, watching with wide eyes.

"Nah, I'm fine," Jared waved her off, grabbing the porch railing and hauling himself up onto one leg. "Still, that was not cool, dude." he glared at Paul.