Charlotte || Jacob Black & Paul Lahote

Twenty-Seven: Ass Reddening

I basically threw myself in the back of Jake's rabbit, Sam taking the driver's side and Emily taking the passenger. Sam floored it, cutting a 20 minute drive down to about 12 minutes. 

I hadn't even stepped out of the car yet, before I was pulled into a strong warm pair of arms. Paul.

"Is he okay?" I cried as I pulled myself as close to Paul as I could. He didn't reply, burying his nose in my hair. A scream echoed from inside the Black Residence and that gave me the answer, no he was not okay. Paul pulled me closer, 

"Doc's re-breaking his bones. Leech got his arms round him, shattered his bones but they've reset wrong. Doc'll take care of him."

Sam headed straight inside, but the rest of the pack remained. Billy also sat outside, tears staining his worn cheeks. I pulled away from Paul, going to stand with my boyfriend's father. Paul followed anyways. 

"You okay mini swan?" Billy asked, his voice croaky. I offered him my hand, but no words came out of my mouth. He just nodded, wrapping both his wrinkled hands around mine. He wasn't as warm as the wolves, but it offered a fatherly sort of comfort. Paul followed us over, keeping an arm tightly wrapped around my shoulders. He kept pressing kisses into my hair, pressing more as Jake screamed. It hurt my heart, and each scream made my knees buckle. Eventually, Paul ended up just picking me up, holding me on his hip like one would hold a child. 

Bella's truck pulled up, just as Carlisle emerged from the house.

"The worst is over, he'll be alright. I gave him some morphine, but his body temperature will burn it off soon," Carlisle explained, his voice sombre. Billy thanked him, but Carlisle just shook his head.

"How is that cast holding up Charlotte?" Carlisle asked, turning to me. My face paled, the entire pack turning to glance at me. Carlisle didn't take note, just holding his hand out for me to show him my arm. I pulled away from my Paul, my body betraying me as it raised my arm to show the doctor.

"We'll have to keep that cast on for a few more weeks, to let the break heal. Drop by, say in 4 weeks, and I should be able to take it off," he smiled gently.

"When? How? How did you do that?" Paul snapped.

"Fell down the stairs," I mumbled. I was lying. I was telling a bold faced lie, and I think Paul knew. The unfortunate thing about the imprint was that we could sense things, and he could sense I was bullshitting.

"Bullshit. That's why you've been avoiding us. How did she do it?" He snapped, turning towards Carlisle.

Carlisle stammered, a crack in his perfect porcelain appearance. Bella was the one that gave it away though, a creak as she retreated to her van. Paul turned towards her, stood next to me in one second and in front of her in the next.

"How did she do it?" He snarled at her. I was shocked that Sam or Carlisle hadn't intervened, but none of the pack looked ready to move.

"She said, she, she fell down the stairs!"

"Liar!" He yelled, punching the side of the van next to Bella's head, leaving quite a dent.

"Paul, that's enough," Carlisle stepped towards the raging wolf. 

"Carlisle, this is none of your concern. The harm of an imprint is our utmost law," Sam spoke, stepping in between Carlisle and Bella.

"How did she do it?" Paul spat venomously. I'd never been scared of Paul, but now I was.

"Edward did it. I hit her, she went to hit me back, and he stopped her. He didn't mean to, she was gonna hit me!" Bella cried. The whole pack paused. They knew what this meant. I could see Paul heaving, wolf threatening to spill over.

"Paul," I called, my voice soft as I stretched my unbroken hand towards him. He snapped his head towards me, his vibrations easing but not stopping.

"Edward did do it, after I tried to hit Bella. It hadn't been his intent, he simply didn't want me to hurt his mate. Bella was the one who attacked me, she is the one to be punished, not Edward nor his clan," I spoke, trying to keep my voice level. I was spouting pure bullshit but sincerely hoped that it worked.

"We can all understand defending a mate. As council leader, I rule that we let this one slide, as the kids may say. But Carlisle, please be aware that if another incident like this occurs, it does mean war," Billy Black, you are my hero. 

Carlisle nodded, and Paul stepped away, the vibrations not leaving him. 

"Bella," Billy called, just as she stepped into her van. She paused, glancing up at him, "You are not yet forgiven. The attack of an imprint is a crime according to our laws. As you are human, there's only so much we can do, so you are banned from our land. If we catch sight of you on the reservation, I can't promise you'll remain unscathed."

Bella paled, but retreated, her truck thundered to life and she drove away. She hadn't even gone in to see Jake. Carlisle followed in her footsteps, not even wishing us goodbye, just stepping into his fancy car and fleeing.

"You should've said," Paul muttered, his body still tense as he pulled me towards him. He was met with a chorus of agreement from the pack. I just shrugged.

"We can talk more about this later, I'm sure Jacob wants to see her," Sam intervened. Thanks Sam. I nodded, and made my way into the Black household.

"Hey pup," Jake muttered as soon as I stepped into the doorway. He looked dreadful, lay on his back, pale and sweaty. He looked ill.

"Jake," I sighed as I gently sat myself on his bed. He hummed as the movement rocked him and guilt coursed through me.

"I was worried about you," he muttered, using his left hand to reach for me. I grabbed it gently, offering a kiss to it.

"Worried about me? Look at you, all broken," I wept, tears welling in my eyes. 

"I'm fine, I'll be right as rain tomorrow. Quil owes me some money so I'll have to fight him for it tomorrow," he laughed and cringed, pain rocking through him with every movement. 

"I missed you, I really missed you this week. I hated sleeping alone," I mumbled, my thumb stroking his hand.

"I did too, why was that? Were you? Are you mad at me?" He looked heartbroken, like the thought of me being upset with him hurt more than half his body being broken. 

"Never. I um, I broke my wrist in a fight with Bella and didn't wanna tell you guys. It's been sorted though," I whispered sheepishly. He looked unimpressed, but there was only so much he could do in his current state.

"You deserve a punishment for that," he grinned.

"Oh yeah?" I smiled back.

"Mhm, when I'm all better I'll have to leave your ass red to make up for it," he mumbled smugly. I felt my face burn as he spoke, also aware that the wolves outside could probably hear this conversation. Didn't sound like a bad punishment though. 

"Shut up you dork," I giggled, my face and ears still tinged red. He just laughed with me, his eyes trained on me, roaming over my face as if he was trying to memorise every last detail. 

"I really did hate being apart from you, sleeping in that cold wet forest outside your house."

"I know, I missed you too."