Chapter Twenty-Six

I woke up around ten am, the latest I've ever slept, I spent a few extra minutes cuddling in bed, since it was the weekend. I was a little tired.

While the pack have been running the town, the girls and I have been pulling our own weight, trying to pinpoint where Victoria was.... I haven't told Alice or any of them because I knew the boys could handle it. There was no sense in dragging Carlisle back here just to handle a nomad vampire.

I helped defeat her mate and I can do the same to her.

Sighing in content, I got to my feet and headed over to my closet. I was headed down to Emily's to spend time with Paul. We weren't really going to do anything special; we were just going to hang out at Em's.

I got dressed in something simple. My purple tank top, skinny black jeans and my tennis shoes, adding my valerian necklace and my usual bracelets, the coven one and the one Paul gave me. I decided not to add much makeup just some gloss and brushed my hair out, putting it into a bun.

It's been a handful of months into dating Paul but I still liked to look my best. I guess you can say I have a thing for appearances, rather I was in a dress or just jeans, or messy... I still looked good. Perks of being who I was.

Slipping into my leather jacket, I grabbed my bag and headed out. I heard a honk from outside, smiling to myself I walked downstairs, going over to where Charlie was sitting on his normal spot.

"Hey I'm headed to hang out with Paul for the day." I told him leaning over the couch.

"Okay have fun." He said pausing in what he was doing to give me a nod.

I kissed his cheek muttering a quick be safe and started towards the front door, fishing my keys off the hook.

Going outside I saw Paul waiting in a large black truck... I stepped down the stairs and over to the passenger side. The truck was taller than my Wrangler, but I was able to climb in. I leaned over and gave Paul a small kiss in greeting.

"Does Sammy know you stole his truck?" I asked as he backed out of the driveway.

"He let me borrow it." Paul told me flashing me his goofy smirk that made my heart soar and knees weak. "Emily made him, saying it was my imprinter duty to pick you up, give you a break from driving all the time."

I laughed knowing Em.

"She's not wrong." He added giving me a quick glance. "You look tired."

"A little..." I said shrugging. "I've been staying up till midnight filling orders and being ready to jump when Bella screams..."

"She's still having nightmares?"

I nodded.

"Looks like the shopping thing didn't work after all." I told him sighing, staring out of the window. "I really don't know what to do for her, I've been researching every one of my spell books and consulted with my aunt Athena and all my cousins.... I can't fix this with a spell or my magic concoctions... I love the Cullen's every one of them but I sometimes wish Bella never would have gotten hooked up in it..."

I paused frowning deeply.

"Things changed the second Bella moved into this town, before her it was quiet, my life wasn't vampires this and shifters that. I mean I still had vampires to deal with but everything was relaxed and balanced... If Bella hadn't of moved here, she wouldn't have found out I was a witch, she wouldn't have gotten involved with Edward... that whole thing last year wouldn't have happened and I wouldn't have lost people I considered a second family."

I could feel tears building in my eyes but held them back.

"She knows witches and vampires exist.... how long until she finds out about the woflie secret?" I asked randomly talking. "Before I know it everyone around me will be gone... maybe like the Cullens or worse like my parents... I watched them die in front of my eyes... the thought of losing the girls or any of you would kill me."

The truck suddenly slowed down, moving to a rest stop on the side of the road and put the truck in park. I looked over at Paul only to find he was already staring at me.

"That's not going to happen." He muttered lightly.

He wrapped his monster arms around me and pulled me to him, hugging me tightly. I didn't question it and buried my face in the crook of his neck, feeling him tighten his grip.

I could feel his soothing comfort and sighed in relief. We sat in silence for a couple minutes until I pulled back slightly.

"We're not going anywhere, we would never leave you." He told me staring into my eyes. His chocolate brown was locked into my blue ones. "I will never leave you... not on purpose."

He gave me a meanginful look, kissing my forehead, I smiled at him lightly.

"I know."

I gave him a small gentle kiss and felt his hands moving up, cupping my face and pulled me even more close as if it was possible. I had to pull back a little for some air.

He smiled at me.

"I love you." He whispered under his husky deep breath.

My eyes went wide, staring at him in shock, my mind quickly went into overdrive... Did Paul just say... Paul loves me? Processing it the tips if my lips curved into a smile, relaxing.

"I love you too."

He grinned at me.

Settling back against the seat, Paul reached over grabbing my hand and intertwined our fingers, laying our hands on my lap and turned to turned the truck back on the road.

This was one of the things I loved about Paul, how easily we could talk about everything. He never made me feel like we were rushing into things, we were going our own pace but it was all falling into place at the same time. And we didn't have to hide anything. He knew I was a witch and I knew he was shifter.

On that note we changed the subject to something more positive, talking about patrol, school and our plans for the next couple weeks.

Paul pulled the truck up to Emily's house and parked. He hopped out, coming around to the passenger door and opened it for me. Grinning I slowly got out, kissing his cheek.

He smiled back at me, grabbing my hand and tugged me away, shutting the door. We shuffled into the warm house, I was meet with Kim curled up on the couch with Jared, watching a movie, not just any movie... Kim's favorite.

"Sixteen candles again?" Paul asked annoyed alerting everyone we were there.

"My girl can watch whatever she wants." Jared retorted smiling goofy at Kim.

Shrugging off my leather jacket I sat it down, just as Kim got up from the couch and pulled me into a quick hug, pulling back.

"Yeah we've only watched it four times today." Kim said in agreement looking a little bored herself. 'It's starting to become my least favorite, he doesn't let me watch anything else'

I laughed hearing Kim's thought, she turned to me and saw the look on my face.

'Don't tell him I said that'

"Don't worry, secrets safe in my head." I told her tapping my head.

Both Paul and Jared stared at me, Jared's mouth was hanging open glancing between us.

"What secret?" Jared asked eyeing his girlfriend.

"That's for us to know and for you to never find out." I retorted. "Lucky for me I have a mental block."

"You guys are late." Sam commended walking into the house, pulling his shirt on as he stepped over. He walked up to us and held his hands out. "You were supposed to have my truck back before twelve."

Paul rolled his eyes handing Sam his keys.

"Sam give him a break, he brought it back in one piece." Emily told him, coming out to greet me and pull me into a hug., she dragged me into the kitchen with her where the table was filled with sandwiches, soup, chips and chocolate cookies. Enough to feed an army.

The scars on her face from when Sam accidently phased and clawed her... they never healed but the skin underneath was thanks to my healing touch. I've been slowly trying to find remedies and trying new tea blends to see if I could heal it another way.

Emily came up with the story that she had been mauled by a bear to protect Sam and us.

Of course I thought she was still beautiful no matter how she looked on the outside and I know Sammy did too.

"So how was morning patrol?" I asked looking at Sam.

The six of us Sam, Emily, Jared, Kim, Paul and I surrounded the table, the girls and I got what we wanted first before the boys piled their plates.

These guys ate a ton, and if you didn't act fast you wouldn't get nothing but it didn't bother us. Our guys burned off a lot of energy.

"We caught the scent of another vampire around these parts." He said sighing. "That'd be the third one this month, we might need to tighten our security."

"It has to be Victoria." I added.

"That red head?"

I nodded.

"She's coming for me." I told them making Paul's head snap towards me. "Quinn has been dreaming about her."

"Why you?" Emily asked frowning, sharing a worried look with the others.

"A bunch of stuff went down last year, I helped the Cullens destroy her mate, literally set him on fire." I told them firmly. "Edward and I, she'll come at us eventually..."

"How do you know?"

"The girls and I sense something coming, we just don't know when. Between Quinn's dream and my witch sense we just know."

I heard a loud growl and turned seeing Paul shaking. My eyes went wide, everything went down hill in manner of seconds. I really wanted to smack myself in the head for saying that... I totally wasn't thinking. I kind of forgot Paul was sitting there and I basically just said a vampire was coming at me, I made him go into warrior protection mode...

"Paul outside!" Sam demanded in his Alpha voice.

He and Jared jumped up from their chairs, grabbed ahold of Paul's shoulders and hauled him out the kitchen door.

I frowned sharing a look with Emily, and turned back staring in the direction my boyfriend went.

"Soo Ellie..." Kim said drawing my attention.

"Do you think Jacob will turn next?" Emily asked chewing on her sandwich.

I could sense they were trying to keep me from panicking.

"I uh don't know." I said shrugging. "I'm hanging with him tomorrow so I can check in on him."

The girls nodded.

The rest of the meal was spent with the girls talking, and two hours later the guys came walking back in the house. Paul was still shaking but he was calming down. He sat back down next to me, giving me a side glance. I tilted my head at him, leaning over and kissed his cheek in comfort. He sighed in relief, calming at my touch and went back to stuffing his cute face until it was all gone and moved into the living room. With Sam telling Jared he was changing the movie, Jared complained but Sam threatened him with double patrol, stating that it was his girlfriend's TV.

We hung around watching movies and enjoying our quality time with each other, with me spending the entire time wrapped up with Paul on the couch.

When it was time to go home, there was stars in the sky. Standing out in the backyard with Paul, he had his arm draped around my waist. He was waiting for Sam and Jared.

"Sure you don't want me to drive you back?"

I smiled at him, shaking my head.

"Nah I can teleport." I told him earning a smile. "I got the recharge I needed."

He nodded, pulling me into a hug. I took in a deep breath, breathing in his smell and enjoyed his embrace. Leaning back, he laid his forehead against mine. I raised my hand, resting it where his heart would be.

"Don't worry about me." I muttered firmly, giving him a meaningful knowing look. "It's you I'm worried about "

He breathed out a heavy sigh, rubbing his forehead against mine.

"Sorry... for losing my temper."

"It wasn't all your fault" I told him lightly. "I should have paid attention to what I was saying, how it sounded..." I smiled at him. "Victoria will eventually come back but she won't get that close... Rather it's her or any vampire, I'm protected by magic."

He frowned at me, making me feel bad.

I smiled at him and gave him a small kiss, earning a small kiss back.

"Okay let's get this going." Sam's voice cut in, coming to our side, he had his arm draped around Em's shoulder.

Jared dragged Kim behind him, holding her hand.

"Be safe tonight." I said glancing at all three of the guys, turning on my guy. "And let me know when your in bed."

Paul gave me a short nod.

Hugging him again, he moved around me, going to Sam's side.

'I love you, sweet dreams Angel'

The boys started walking away from us, Emily and Kim inched closer to me, pulling me into a group hug. We watched our men disappear into the shadows of the trees and in a few seconds a branch snapped and a few howls was heard.

I turned to the girls, hugging them both and moved away from them myself.

Giving them a wave goodbye, I teleported out.

----

Back home, I walked into the house from the garden, since Paul had driven me to the reservation, I couldn't just teleport into the house without Charlie seeing me so I chose to use my green house as a shield.

It was raining by the time I got there so I ran from the garden and walked in.

The house was quiet, everyone was sleeping so I just hung up my keys and headed upstairs to my room.

Shutting the door behind me, I laid against it for a second just reliving everything that occurred... I covered my face with both hands sighing in complete happiness I didn't even know I could have.

I stayed like that for a few minutes, before removing my hands and headed to get ready for bed.

----

(Author's POV)

In her home and in her warm bed cuddled up with her beautiful black cat. Elena was sleeping soundly, feeling safe. Elena desperately needed some well deserved rest after everything that she's been dealing with.

- Dream-

Elena stood in the forest, the night was fresh after a long rainstorm and the moon was high in the sky. Beside her, her silver wolf stood with her as she ran her fingers through his soft fur. Despite being large, and very scary looking Elena had a confident smile on her face.

She practically face planted her face into his fur.

There was a rumble coming from the wolves body, but not from anger. He was happy, they were happy sounds. His big silver head turned, nudging the side of her head with his nose.

'I love you' The wolf flashed her a funny looking wolfy grin

Elena laughed, pushing his head away slightly. It was only them in the entire woods, along together.

'I love you too'

Suddenly a twig snapped, causing both Elena and the wolf to stop. They stopped moving, halting in the affections they were giving each other. There was another twig, then soon another.

Elena reached up grabbing her amulet.

'Paul....'

"I heard a witches blood was the most delicious blood in the world." Elena heard a voice turn, she turned seeing a woman, not just any woman... Paper pale skin, red firey hair and her eyes blood red... Victoria. The silver wolf soon started growling, inching in front of his imprint, shaking with anger. "Even though you hang around those mutts.. I have to say you do smell lovely, more so than your stupid cousin."

'Elena run'

'No I can fight'

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, Paul's sharp canine teeth let out a snarl, rushing the vamp. He rose his head letting out a howl alerting the pack and jumped at the vampire. Victoria slammed her fist into his face, sending him flying back.

Elena acted quickly, throwing her own hand up to blast her with an energy ball but nothing happened.

'My magic...'

She tried again, meeting with the same result. She had no magic...

The silver wolf shook himself out of the daze, regaining his wit.

'Angel run, go."

Elena watched Paul rush the vamp again, knowing that Sam and Jared would be there soon, she trusted Paul would be safe and started backing away, turning to flee.

She only got a few steps away when she heard a huge SNAP, the whimper of Paul echoed through her ears and her mind. She quickly spun around and looked in his direction.

Her eyes went wide, her body froze.

'No... No-NO!'

Elena rushed forward, earning Victoria's attention, she made a move for the witch girl but was tackled from the side by a big black wolf and grey.. dragged away. Elena skidded on her knees, tears streamed her face, checking him over.

'Paul?'

He didn't move his head, he just looked up at her, staring into her eyes. His neck was broken, he couldn't move, he was in pain and dying.

Elena raised her hands, laying one over his wound and closed her eyes healing him, or attempting too. Opening her eyes she noticed her hands weren't glowing.

"No... work..." She mumbled sniffling. "It has too... Goddess I have to heal him..."

She closed her eyes, trying again, and again. The more it didn't work the more tears came and her heart was breaking into a million pieces.

'Elena'

A whine from Paul, Elena's eyes snapped to his. Knowing that his time was short, he stared at her with all the love he could mustard, Elena knew that too, she crawled closer, laying her head against his, petting his fur.

'I love you.'

'I love you, Paul.' Elena whimpered crying to the point she couldn't breath. 'I love you so much.'

A tear rolled down his furry silver cheek, as he took one last breath and his eyes rolled back into his head. Elena could see an image in his mind, the last thing he thought about.

'I love you' Elena repeated over and over until she heard his heart stop.

(End of dream)

----

(Elena POV)

"Elena!"

My eyes snapped open, shooting up in bed and heard a small scream. Realizing I was the one screaming, I covered my mouth and looked around at where I was. I was still in my room.

It was dark, about midnight.

"Elena?" I heard a deep husky voice say.

I looked at the person calling me and spotted Paul sitting on the edge of my bed. The window was open hinting that he must have came in through that way.

Seeing him I started crying in terror, there was already stains on my cheeks. Paul wrapped his monster arms around me and pulled me to him, hugging me tightly.

I whimpered sliding my own arms around his neck and buried my face in the crook of his neck, tighter. Any more tight and I could crush his windpipe.

Thinking about that it made me cry even more, I clenched my eyes shut as more tears escaped my sore red eyes.

"Shh..." I heard him sooth, rubbing my back. "It was just a dream."

I shook my head, leaning back.

"It felt so real, it couldn't be a dream." I muttered sighing. "It had to be a vision, I somehow linked minds with Quinn..."

"Has that ever happened before?" He asked reaching up to brush the water away.

"I've seen her visions before but usually it's after she's had them, it's not easy for a telepath to read minds like Quinn or Alice while in a trance."

He nodded.

I sniffled glancing at him.

"How did you get in here? Why are you here?"

"I come by this time every night, last house on my route before heading back home." He said shrugging. "I felt a tightness in my chest knew you were scared, I climbed in through the window."

I nodded.

I stared at him for a long time, thinking about the dream.

"Do you want to talk about it."

I thought about it for a moment and ran a hand through my hair calming down.

"We were in the woods, I'm guessing near the Lovelace house, I recognized a tree with markings on it... it was quiet, peaceful... you... me... Victoria... fight" I paused feeling tears returning. "She.... killed you"

Tears fell again seeing his wolf form drop to the forest ground. Paul pulled me back into his arms, hugging me again.

"I... I couldn't heal you, my magic was gone." I whispered crying into his shoulder.

"It's okay, you're okay." I heard him whisper, holding me tighter. "I'm okay, I'm here."

"I never thought about it when you first shifted." I added honestly, pulling back again looking into his chocolate brown eyes. "I didn't think all of this would happen, I mean I've loved you since the first day Sam brought you over to Billy's and you shoved Jake's head in the sand he's one of my best friends but that day he totally deserved it for being a brat."

Paul stared at me, with a gentle look, he had a smirk on his face.

"I knew I wouldn't stand a chance, not just because it was just some silly crush but I carried a big secret, there's no way I can give up being a witch, I was born and I'm proud to be one, I love my power." I told him slowly smiling, he ran his thump under my eyes, getting rid of dried tears. "I would never wish to be anything else... but I wish you never shifted."

Paul said nothing, just listening.

"I don't want to lose you."

He smiled at me softly, kissing my forehead.

"I promised you, I will never leave you and I intend to keep it." He told me quietly.

We heard a vehicle drive past and looked towards the window, nearly forgetting that he was in my room, it was around one am now.

"Go back to sleep, I'll see you tomorrow." He added.

Moving he started for the window, I got out of bed and grabbed his hand making him pause and turn to me.

"Stay please? For tonight?" I asked frowning.

"What about Charlie? Bella?"

I smiled lightly, waving my hand at my bedroom door and the lock, clicked so no one could get in. Turning back I smiled brighter at my imprinter.

He looked like he was processing it, before he mind linked Sam, telling him he was staying here I could see into his mind hearing their conversation, my eyes narrowed a little at some of the things Sam said and made a mental note I would kick Sam's butt later.

Inching around him, I closed the window and moved back over to the bed, Piper had picked her head up, glanced at Paul like she was looking him over before stretching and jumped off the bed, going to her tree tower.

"I think that means she accepts." I said laughing at my kitty.

Climbing into bed, I scooted over and turned over in Paul's direction.

He looked a little nervous at sharing a bed, my heart was thumping at the thought but it wasn't like we were doing anything major.

Paul slowly moved closer, taking his shoes off and laid down on the bed, I immediately moved closer, resting my head on his chest and felt his arm drape around my shoulder making me feel secure.

"I love you." I heard him say, kissing my forehead.

Smiling, my eyes closed, falling into a deep sleep. Paul tenderly ran his fingers through my hair and kissed my head repeatedly.

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New Chapter

4/26/2024

Hope everyone is enjoying Elena's story and her and Paul's special moments.

Some chapters might be a little messy but I'm always editing chapters and trying to fix errors, and make it sound better give me time and I'll polish them up when I get the chance.

Poor Elena, I actually cried when writing this chapter!

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