Charlotte || Jacob Black & Paul Lahote

Thirty-Eight: A New Home

Charlotte's POV

I sat with dad at the kitchen table. Since Bella's departure, it had been a hard few weeks. I spent the first 4 days in Emily's, only waking up after 3, and spending the final one being nursed back to full health. Billy had dropped by, exolpaining to myself, Jake and Paul, how the imprint bond had been strained. The no contact, and the splitting of the pack had strained it too much, making me weak and sick. And so, Paul had joined Jake's pack, and so did Embry and Quil. They left Sam with Jared and the younger wolves, which was funny trying to watch Sam train them.

Although the packs were split, little had changed. We still spent a lot of time at Emily's house, and Jake said that they were sharing responsibility for perimeter. The only change in that aspect was that vampires weren't as common. There were much less vampires around, now that the Cullens were gone.

Jake explained how the Cullens had left, in line with their truce. It was hard though, Carlisle had called Charlie a few days after I came home informing him that Bella had contracted a mysterious illness on her honeymoon, and that she just hadn't been able to shake it. 

It was hard lying to Charlie, but the grief wasn't exactly fake either. I was grieving, but instead I was grieving her humanity. Bella was now a leech, unsafe and dangerous. She was a threat to myself and Charlie, and so I mourned. I mourned for her, as I knew that she would be too wrapped up in her new family to see the reality. She would age without aging. In a few years, when she controlled her hunger, she wouldn't be able to come visit us. How would she explain that she's not aged in 4, 5 years? That her hair hasn't even grown?

In 20/30 years, she'd forget what we look like, how our voices sound. In a few hundred years, she'd forget us all together. 

"Coffee?" Dad's voice cracked as he stood from the chair. His bones creaked as he moved, stiff from not much movement. He hadn't taken Bella's passing well, not that you'd expect him to. He threw himself into work, and this was one of the first mornings where he wasn't rushing off. 

"Please," I nodded. He made the drink slowly, hands shaky as he poured.

The phone rang.

"Hey Princess, you okay?" Paul's gruff tone asked.

"I'm good, you free today?" I responded. I was as good as I could be, considering the past couple weeks.

"Yeah, um, I need to talk to you and Jake about something, I was wondering if we could meet you at yours?" Paul sounded serious, and my stomach churned in anticipation. 

"Yeah course," I agreed.

"Cya later," he still sounded hesitant, unsure. And the phone clicked.

"Everything okay?" Dad muttered as he handed me the coffee cup.

"Yeah, Jake and Paull will be round soon," I mumbled, sipping at the drink. It was very milky, just how I liked it.

"You and those two boys, you're very err, close," Dad stammered out. Here it was, the dreaded question.

"I mean, I knew you were dating Jake, but.." Dad trailed off, his tone urging me to carry on.

"I'm kinda dating both, they both know though! Don't ask any more questions," I rushed.

"Are you happy?" He asked. I think, after all the trauma that Bella and Edward put us through, he was just glad that I wasn't coming home injured all the time. From an outside perspective, it must look like Bella was suffering from a serious case of abuse.

I nodded, and he just smiled. He then retreated to the living room, a coffee in his own hand. I made my way upstairs, getting myself changed and tying my hair up into pigtails. I added red ribbon, to match the top that I was wearing. 

I waited at my desk, earbuds in and doodling in the journal that Paul had bought me. 

A hand on my shoulder brought me out of my concentration.

"You scared me!" I snapped, but still launched myself in the wolf's arms. Paul laughed as I did, but cuddled me back.

"My turn," Jake whined from his position on my bed. I pulled away from Paul, who growled at Jake, and settled onto Jake's lap. 

"Hi puppy," he murmured as he nuzzled into my hair, pressing kisses to my face. He licked a stripe up the side of my cheek and I shoved him away in disgust. He just laughed, keeping his arms firm around me.

"Gross, Jacob," Paul snapped as he sat in the chair where I had just been, "anyways. I umm, I bought a house."

"Paul that's great! Oh my god, I bet it's gorgeous, can I help decorate?" I squealed! This was so exciting!

"Well, I was gonna ask you to move in with me, and Jake," he trailed off, a growl coming through with the last part. 

"Really?" I asked. Even Jake had stopped his playful kisses.

"I mean, it makes sense. We see eachother all the time, and like it's kind of a given we're gonna last. Just might need a bit of help with the bills if you do move in," he mumbled, hands fidgeting. Jake looked at me expectantly, as if his answer was the same as mine. It probably was.

"I'd love to," I nodded, pulling away from Jake and throwing myself at Paul.

"Okay, well, let's go then."