ddoralaexplorer

[ddoralaexplorer]

Hey guys, so like I’ve been in a state of existential crisis lately. Very mentally unstable and what not lol 😭 and I completely forgot about my Paul story 😔please do forgive me.

🫶🏽

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed By You ~ A Paul Lahote Story

Chapter fifteen ~ Red Eyed

Throughout the little life I have managed to live, I never once thought about how it would end. I still remember the days when Charlie would hold me close, his voice steady as he told me that life is a precious thing—something to cherish, not let slip away. He was always there. When I fell and scraped my knee. When I lost a spelling bee. Even in the smallest moments, his presence was constant.

As I grew older, life lost its vibrancy, the colors dulling into something lifeless. Still, I held onto hope. I imagined a future where I would grow old with the love of my life, sitting on a quiet porch with coffee in hand, the crisp, foggy air filling my lungs. A simple dream. A common one. But it was mine.

Now, my eyes flutter open, and the world around me shifts. The studio is gone. Broken mirrors litter the ground, replaced by the familiar woods I once knew. The air rushes past me, cold and sharp, yet I feel nothing. My body is tense, my mind spiraling like I’ve been thrown from a great height with no way to catch myself.

I drop to my knees, fingers digging into the earth, desperate to anchor myself. To feel something. But there’s nothing. No warmth. No pulse. Just emptiness.

Tears slip down my face, vanishing into the dirt, turning it to mud. And then, the pain comes rushing back—the way her venom burned through every nerve in my body, searing, relentless. I had laid there, helpless. I had died.

“Well, she never mentioned you’d be beautiful.”

“Oh, shut up.”

Two unfamiliar voices came from behind me—both male. My body stiffened, and I scrambled to my feet, my pulse hammering in my ears. When I turned, I found myself staring at two young men, close to my age. One was tall with dark hair, his expression unreadable, eyes sharp with amusement. The other, a dirty blonde, seemed almost familiar, though I couldn’t place where I’d seen him before.

“Who are you? Where’s Victoria?” I demanded, desperation creeping into my voice.

The dark-haired one let out a cynical laugh. “You know, it’s always the same questions. Who are you? What happened? Why am I here?” He shook his head like he’d heard it all before. Like my fear was nothing more than a mild inconvenience to him.

The blonde ignored him, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. “I’m Riley,” he said at last. “And this is Harry.”

Something clicked. Riley. The name sent a jolt of recognition through me. I felt my breath hitch, my thoughts spinning as if I had just been thrown into icy water. I knew that name. Everyone knew that name.

I took a step back, my stomach twisting. “Wait… you’re that missing guy. Riley Biers,” I whispered, my throat suddenly dry.

Riley’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes—something unreadable.

“Missing?” he repeated, as if tasting the word. Then, after a beat, he smirked. “Is that what they’re saying about me now?”

A chill ran through me. I had seen his face before—on missing person flyers, on news reports about sudden disappearances. He had vanished without a trace, and now… he was standing right in front of me.

“What the hell is going on?” I murmured, my voice barely audible.

Harry chuckled darkly, folding his arms. “Oh, sweetheart… you’re about to find out.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A sea of red eyes surrounded me, their hungry gazes piercing through the darkness. Strangers—dozens of them—faces I had never seen before, yet they all moved with the same deadly intent. Chills ran down my spine as I watched them descend upon the innocent, their screams swallowed by the night.

“Eat up,” Riley said, shoving me forward.

I stumbled, falling to my knees beside a woman gasping for breath, her body trembling, her life slipping away. Blood pooled beneath her, warm and thick, seeping between my fingers as I instinctively pressed my hands to the gaping wound in her neck.

My throat ran dry. A sharp, aching pain throbbed in my gums.

This is my life now.

I knew it. I could feel the hunger creeping in, the primal instinct clawing its way to the surface. But something—Paul—held me back. His warmth, his touch, the way he made me feel human.

I miss him. I need him.

He’ll hate me now.

There was no undoing this. No going back.

A sob tore through my throat as I scurried away from the dying woman, my body trembling, my breath ragged. I curled into myself, clutching my knees, trying to hold on to whatever piece of myself was still left.

But deep down, I knew.

I wasn’t the same anymore.

As I sat apart from the newborn army, my eyes landed on a young girl not too far away. She looked younger than me—maybe fifteen or sixteen. Her small frame trembled, her hands curled into hesitant fists as if clinging to the last bit of control she had. Her dark eyes darted around, wild with fear, searching for an escape that didn’t exist.

Everything about her seemed fragile.

I hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, careful not to startle her. The last thing I needed was for her to see me as a threat.

“Hey,” I said softly. “What’s your name?”

She flinched, her body stiffening at the sound of my voice. For a second, I thought she wouldn’t answer.

“Uh… Bree.” Her voice wavered, barely above a whisper. “What’s going on?”

Desperation clung to her words like a drowning person grasping for air. She wanted answers—needed them. But how could I explain the nightmare we had been thrown into? How could I tell her that we were nothing more than pieces in someone else’s twisted game?

Her lips parted like she wanted to say more, but she hesitated. I could see it in her eyes—she was waiting for me to tell her that everything was fine, that we were going to be okay. But I couldn't lie to her.

I glanced over my shoulder at the others—at the bloodthirsty, frenzied newborns waiting for their next command, at the looming figures who had created us for their own selfish war. My stomach twisted.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice barely audible. “But whatever it is… it’s not good.”

Bree swallowed hard, hugging her arms around herself as if she could make herself smaller. “Are we gonna die?”

I wanted to tell her no. That we’d get through this. That someone would come for us. But the truth settled heavily on my tongue.

“We just have to survive,” I said instead, forcing the words out like they weren’t laced with doubt.

Bree’s lips quivered, but she nodded.

Neither of us said it, but we both knew the truth.

Surviving this meant becoming something neither of us ever wanted to be.

“Where are we going?” I asked Riley, my voice steady despite the storm of thoughts raging in my head. I wasn’t afraid of him—or Victoria. Not in the way they wanted me to be.

I knew this was her plan. The newborn army, the inevitable fight against the Cullens. A war waged over vengeance.

But I wasn’t going to help her.

I had to play my part carefully, to act my way out of this. For Bree. For myself. If there was even a sliver of hope, I had to cling to it.

“Shut it,” Riley muttered, not sparing me a glance as we stopped before a dark, rippling body of water.

Beside him, Harry smirked. “In we go. Forks is waiting for us.”

My chest tightened. It was really happening. I was finally going home.

But at what cost?

I glanced at the water, the moon’s reflection distorted by the shifting waves. Every step I took from here would bring me closer to the fight—closer to the moment where I would have to decide who I really was.

Would Paul still be there for me? Would he still see me the same way after what I had become?

I swallowed hard and stepped forward. No matter what happened next, I had to find a way to survive.

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You ~ A Paul Lahote story

Chapter Fourteen ~ The Point of No Return

Original POV

The sun rose slowly, casting a golden glow across the room. A cool breeze slipped through the open window, grazing my skin, while the rich scent of bacon filled the air. My eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep, as I took in my surroundings. The room was vast, adorned with elegant decor—warm, inviting, yet unfamiliar in a way that sent a strange pang through my chest.

Stretching, I sat up in the queen-sized bed, my gaze drifting across the room. Scattered toys lay on the floor—messy, yet carefully placed, as if chaos and order had struck a quiet balance. My eyes landed on a framed photograph resting on the dresser. Paul and I stood side by side, frozen in time on our wedding day, our smiles radiant, our hands intertwined. The happiest day of my life.

Sliding into my slippers, I followed the enticing sounds of clattering pots and hushed giggles. The house was built of rich wood, its structure familiar yet dreamlike, the staircase curling in a way that felt almost enchanting.

“Who wants milk?”

Paul’s voice carried from the kitchen, smooth and full of warmth. Rounding the corner, I found him standing by the counter, a plastic cup in hand. He wore a white tank top and gray sweatpants—casual, effortless, and undeniably beautiful. A sight I could wake up to forever.

“Me!” two small voices chimed in unison.

The twins, Hardin and Terra, sat at the breakfast table, their eyes gleaming with excitement. Our little angels. Our greatest joy. My babies.

“There’s my sleeping beauty,” Paul grinned, wrapping his arms around me from behind. His lips brushed against my neck, pressing soft kisses against my skin as I tilted my head slightly to give him more room. Everything was perfect. My little family. My world.

“Ew, gross,” Hardin groaned, scrunching his face in playful disgust.

“I think it’s cute,” Terra giggled, her cheeks smeared with syrup.

I laughed, moving to hug them one by one. Warmth filled my chest—I was finally happy. Truly, deeply happy. Paul by my side. Our two little ones. This life we built together. I was grateful.

I turned to Paul, smiling. He looked back at me with that same familiar warmth, the kind that made me feel safe.

“Vesper, wake up,” he said.

I blinked. “What?” I laughed, confused.

A shiver crawled up my spine. His face—it was shifting, distorting. The warmth in his eyes drained away, leaving something hollow and lifeless.

Hardin and Terra turned to face me. Their features were smooth, empty—faceless.

“Wake up,” they whispered in unison.

A chill gripped my throat. My heart pounded.

“Wake up!”

The dream shattered.

A sharp kick to my side jolted me into reality. My eyes flew open, the cold, hard ground beneath me. A shadow loomed above, and then I heard it—low, taunting, dripping with malice.

“Finally awake?”

The sinister voice sent ice through my veins.

Victoria.

I tried to scurry away, but a sharp pull stopped me. My wrists burned from the tight restraints behind my back. The rough material bit into my skin—I could already tell it would leave marks.

Panic threatened to rise, but I swallowed it down. I couldn’t let her see fear. I couldn’t show weakness.

“Where am I?!” I gritted out, forcing steel into my voice.

Victoria tilted her head, a slow, eerie smile curling at her lips. Her fiery hair cascaded over her shoulder as she crouched before me, eyes gleaming with something twisted, something cruel.

“Oh, Vesper,” she cooed, dragging out my name. “You’re exactly where you need to be.”

My heart stuttered at her words, dread coiling deep in my stomach. I forced myself to look around, searching for anything—an escape, a clue. Shattered glass littered the floor, reflecting slivers of dim light. The air was thick with dust and something metallic.

Then, my gaze locked onto the faded caution tape near the entrance.

Realization struck like a blow to the chest.

A dance studio.

No—not just any studio. Bella’s ballet studio. The place where she had nearly died.

My breath hitched. We weren’t in Washington anymore.

Panic clawed at my throat, but I swallowed it down. I couldn’t lose control.

“Let me go,” I managed, my voice hoarse but firm.

Victoria only smiled, slow and knowing, as if she had been waiting for me to understand.

“What do you want from me?” I demanded, my voice sharp with defiance.

Victoria only clicked her tongue, raising a finger and wagging it left and right, like I was some disobedient child.

Without warning, she slipped that same finger under my chin, tilting my face up. Effortlessly, she lifted me to my feet as if I weighed nothing. My body ached, exhaustion creeping into every limb, but I refused to crumble.

Her grip tightened as she twisted my arm, forcing my bound wrists to press against each other. Pain flared, but I bit my lip, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

With ease, she maneuvered me in front of the only unbroken mirror in the studio. Our reflections stared back at us—mine ragged and desperate, hers calm, predatory.

“You know,” she murmured, circling me like a vulture, “I actually like you.”

My eyes stayed locked on the mirror, my breath uneven.

“I see your potential,” she continued, her voice smooth, almost teasing.

A shiver ran down my spine. 

Potential.

That word sent a different kind of fear through me—one that settled deep in my bones. After everything I’d been through, after every nightmare I’d survived, I never thought this would be what terrified me the most.

Was she going to kill me? Or was this something worse?

“Enough with the games, Victoria,” I snapped, forcing my voice to stay steady as I turned to face her. Her crimson eyes burned into mine, unreadable yet filled with something dark. Something dangerous.

“If you’re going to kill me, then just do it.”

She didn’t move. Didn’t blink. And then—she laughed. A slow, chilling sound that sent ice down my spine.

“Oh, Vesper,” she purred, stepping closer. “If I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t have woken up.”

My stomach twisted.

“Then what do you want?” I demanded, yanking against the restraints around my wrists. The sharp burn reminded me I was still trapped, still at her mercy.

Victoria tilted her head, a smirk curling at her lips.

Victoria’s smirk deepened, her fiery gaze flickering with cruel amusement. She stepped closer, her presence suffocating.

“You know, Vesper,” she drawled, tilting her head. “I’m going to hurt your sister in a way she never saw coming—by giving you exactly what she desires most.”

Her laugh was low, taunting, sending shivers down my spine.

My breath hitched. “Wh-what do you mean?” My voice was barely above a whisper. “What is it that she desires?”

Victoria leaned in, her lips close to my ear, her voice like venom dripping into my veins.

“Immortality.”

The word sent a jolt through me, my heart slamming against my ribs. My body went rigid, my mind racing to process what she had just said.

No. No, she couldn't mean—

I yanked against my restraints, panic surging through me. “You’re lying,” I spat, shaking my head. “Bella would never—”

“Oh, but she would,” Victoria cut in, amusement laced in her tone. “She’s been begging for it, hasn’t she? Pleading for Edward to change her, to make her like him. But you… you’re the perfect punishment.”

My stomach twisted, nausea creeping up my throat.

Victoria wanted to turn me. To take my life and twist it into something monstrous—not just to spite Bella, but to shatter everything she held dear.

Victoria chuckled darkly, tilting her head as if amused by my desperation. “Oh, Vesper,” she cooed, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “You don’t get to beg.”

I struggled against the restraints, my wrists burning as the ropes dug deeper into my skin. My chest heaved, my mind racing for a way out, but there was none. No one was coming. No knight in shining armor. Just me and the predator circling me like a prize waiting to be claimed.

“This can’t end like this,” I whispered, more to myself than to her. My throat was dry, my pulse hammering. “I can’t become a monster.”

Victoria leaned in, her icy fingers tracing the edge of my jaw. “Oh, but you can,” she purred, her breath cool against my skin. “And you will.”

Before I could react, she gripped my chin, forcing me to meet her crimson gaze.

“You’ll be exquisite,” she mused, as if she could already see it. “Faster. Stronger. Free from all the fragile little chains that hold you down.” Her lips curled into a wicked smile. “And the best part? When you open those pretty eyes again, Paul won’t see you anymore. He’ll see the very thing he hates the most.”

A sob clawed at my throat, but I swallowed it down, shaking my head violently. “No,” I rasped, my voice breaking. “I won’t let you.”

Victoria only laughed.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she whispered. “You don’t have a choice.”

Then, everything went black.

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You ~ A Paul Lahote story

A/N: Its definitely shorter than other parts. I've been super busy and under the weather lately but I hope you guys enjoy this short Chapter! Better buckle up too, its getting even better later on.

Chapter Thirteen ~ Tipping the Scale

Pauls POV

I let it happen again. I lost her.

My anger got the best of me, and now she’s gone. It’s been twenty-four hours—twenty-four agonizing hours—and no one has seen her. She was there. I was there. And then, just like that, she vanished. As if she had never been real, as if she were nothing more than a ghost.

Where the hell is Vesper?

If that redheaded leech so much as lays a finger on her—God.

How could I have been so reckless? How could I have walked away?

“Edward, we need to find my sister!” Bella’s frantic voice rang through the Cullens’ house, thick with panic. She was on the verge of breaking, and I wasn’t far behind her.

I never thought I’d find myself here, in the home of bloodsuckers, but for Vesper? I’d be anywhere. I’d do anything.

“Fuck!” I shot up from my seat, pacing, fists clenched so tightly my nails nearly broke skin. My body trembled with rage, with helplessness. I wanted to hurt something—myself, anything—to drown out the gnawing, gut-wrenching guilt eating me alive. I let this happen. I walked away. And now she was gone.

“Paul! Paul!” Sam’s voice cut through the haze, sharp and commanding. He was trying to pull me back, to keep me from slipping into the very thing I couldn’t control. His hands gripped my shoulders, a silent warning.

But it was useless.

The Cullens hadn’t seen the worst of me yet. Not even close. And if we didn’t find her soon, they were about to.

No one has ever meant this much to me. No one has ever made me feel the way she does.

I love her.

I didn’t realize how badly until now — until she was gone. The thought of never seeing her again claws at my chest, twisting tighter with every second that passes. My heart aches, fractured so deeply it feels like it’s barely holding together. Each breath comes short and sharp, like my lungs can’t expand enough to keep me standing.

I need to find her. I can’t think, I can’t focus — all I know is that I have to get her back. Because if I don’t…

I won’t survive it.

Even as I teeter on the edge of breaking, I force it down — for Vesper’s sake. Falling apart won’t bring her back. Moping won’t find her.

“Alice,” I snap, turning to the short-haired girl beside the leech who looks like he’s in pain —Jasper, I think. “You have that weird future-seeing thing, right?” I remember Vesper mentioning it once, like it was just another strange quirk in this twisted world.

“She won’t see anything past you mutts,” Rosalie cuts in, her tone cold and sharp.

I spin toward her, my body tightening, heat searing beneath my skin. Sam’s hand presses firmly against my chest, a silent warning. Before I can snap, Carlisle gives Rosalie a pointed look, silencing her.

“I’m sorry,” Alice says softly, her voice tinged with genuine regret. “I’ve tried… but I can’t see anything.”

My jaw tightens as I clench my fists so hard they tremble. Anger coils in my gut — anger at her, at myself, at the world — but mostly at the fact that I’m powerless.

And Vesper doesn’t have time for me to be powerless.

“I’m going back,” I say, my voice rough and strained. “Back to where I last smelled her scent. Maybe... maybe that’ll help.” It’s a thin thread of hope — barely there — but it’s all I’ve got.

“Paul, you’re on to something,” Edward chimes in, his voice steadier than mine. He’s leaning against the wall, hands tucked in his pockets like he’s calm — but I can see it. The tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes flicker with something that mirrors my own desperation. “Maybe if we can pick up a trail…”

I nod, barely able to speak past the lump in my throat.

It’s a long shot — but right now, it’s the only shot we’ve got. And no matter what it takes, I won’t stop until I find her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My eyes wandered over the creek that divided our territories, the cold air biting against my skin. The memory of the last time I saw her face flickered in my mind, her voice — all of it clashing with the crushing reality that she was gone. A chill crawled down my spine, stronger than the wind.

I walked along the water’s edge, my boots crunching against damp leaves and scattered twigs. Then something caught my eye — a faint glimmer on the ground.

I knelt down, fingers curling around the delicate chain. My breath hitched as I realized what it was — the necklace I’d given her on her birthday. I could still remember the way her face lit up when she opened the box, how she’d run her fingers over the pendant like it was something precious.

That memory... it was engraved in my head — warm, perfect, and now painfully distant.

I swallowed hard and slid the necklace into my pocket, clenching it in my fist like holding on to it might somehow keep her closer.

“I found a scent!” Emmett’s voice rang out in the distance, sharp and urgent.

My heart kicked against my ribs as I shot to my feet.

Please, I begged silently, let this lead to her.

Emmett had found a bloody handprint smeared across the bark of a tree, stark and crimson against the pale wood. My blood turned ice-cold at the sight.

“You don’t think it’s Ve—” Bella’s voice faltered, her breath catching like she couldn’t say it out loud. Like saying it would make it real.

“It’s not,” I cut her off, my voice rough and sharp. It couldn’t be. It wouldn’t be. It Cant be. 

But the metallic scent clung to the air, making my stomach twist. My fingers curled into fists as I stared at the dried blood trailing deeper into the woods. My pulse thundered in my ears.

“I’m going to kill that redheaded leech,” I snarled, barely able to contain the fire burning beneath my skin. My muscles trembled, the heat crawling dangerously close to the surface.

I pushed forward, following the blood-stained path like a predator locked on its prey. Bella surprised me by keeping up, her breath ragged but her pace relentless.

Desperation fueled her — the same desperation clawing at my chest. She wanted to find her sister just as badly as I did.

And if that blood belonged to Vesper...

I didn’t let myself finish the thought. I couldn’t. All I knew was that I wouldn’t stop until I found her — no matter what it took.

The day was beginning to wind down, the sun bleeding into the horizon with streaks of orange and gold. Shadows stretched across the ground, swallowing the forest in creeping darkness. The air turned colder, the chill biting at my skin — but I didn’t care. Nothing was going to stop me.

I was dedicated — no, driven — to getting my girl back in one piece.

The woods felt different at night. The silence wasn’t calm; it was heavy, unsettling. Every rustling leaf and distant snap of a branch put me on edge. The air clung thick with tension, as if the trees themselves knew something terrible had happened.

But I wasn’t afraid of the dark, or whatever might be lurking out here. The only thing that scared me was what I was holding back — the way my wolf was clawing at my insides, threatening to break free.

I couldn’t let that happen — not now. Not with Bella and the others counting on me to keep it together. They couldn’t see how badly this was tearing me apart. How losing her — even for a moment — made my chest feel like it was caving in.

I kept moving, pushing down the burn beneath my skin. Because right now, none of that mattered.

“Shit!” I roared, my voice breaking as the trail we’d been following came to a sudden, bitter end. The blood, the scent — it all stopped here. A dead end.

That leech had played us — played me.

I staggered back, the weight of it all hitting me like a punch to the gut. My legs gave out, and I dropped to the ground, barely feeling the dirt beneath me. The pain I’d been choking down — the helplessness — finally broke free, tearing me apart from the inside out.

I swore to protect her. I promised her. And I’d failed.

My arms locked around my knees, my head falling between them as I tried to hold myself together. But I couldn’t. The ache hollowed me out, and before I knew it, the sobs were breaking free — raw and guttural. I couldn’t stop them.

For the first time, I didn’t care who saw me like this. Didn’t care that I was crumbling right in front of them.

Bella moved beside me, her hand resting on my shoulder — firm, steady, and warm. She didn’t say anything at first, but her silence spoke volumes. She knew. She knew how bad this was — how much Vesper meant to me.

When I lifted my head just enough to look at her, I saw the tears clinging to her lashes. She was breaking too — breaking for her sister. For me.

“We’re gonna find her,” she whispered, her voice shaky but determined. “We have to.”

I swallowed hard, forcing down the next sob. I couldn’t speak — couldn’t even nod — but Bella’s hand stayed on my shoulder, grounding me just enough to remember that giving up wasn’t an option.

“What does she want with Vesper?” Bella’s voice broke the silence, shaky but demanding. She turned sharply toward the Cullens, her face pale and tight with fear.

“It’s me she’s after,” Bella choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze dropped to the floor, like saying it out loud made the truth even heavier.

I clenched my jaw, trying to tune out the panic threatening to take over. But she was right — none of this made sense. Victoria had been hunting Bella — we all knew that. So why change the plan now? Why go after Vesper instead?

My mind raced, every memory of that night playing back like a broken reel. What happened between Victoria and Vesper in that brief encounter?

Had Vesper done something — said something — that changed Victoria’s mind? Or was this all just a twisted game, one designed to hurt Bella in the worst way possible?

None of it added up, and the unknown gnawed at me.

“She shouldn’t have been dragged into this,” I muttered bitterly, barely realizing I’d spoken out loud. My hands curled into fists, nails digging into my palms.

“She’s strong,” Bella whispered, her voice thin but firm. “Vesper’s stronger than people think.”

I swallowed hard, wanting to believe that. Needing to believe that.

But the image of that bloody handprint flashed in my mind again, and my chest tightened like a vice.

Wherever Vesper was, I just hoped she was still fighting to hold on. Because I sure as hell wasn’t giving up on her.

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You ~ A Paul Lahote story

Chapter Twelve ~ Shadows and silence

Original Pov

It’s been a week. Maybe more. Paul hasn’t talked to me. But it wasn’t just him—I couldn’t face him either. Couldn’t tell him the truth. Even Edward couldn’t break through and figure it out. I knew how to keep him out. Think pure white thoughts.

I know there’s more to Victoria—the way she toyed with me, stretched it out instead of killing me right away. Maybe I’m an idiot to even consider it , but I want to find her. I want to ask why.

I sit crisscrossed on my window seat, pulling my sleeves over my hands, watching the fog drift lazily between the evergreens. Ever since the accident, I’ve kept my distance. My body is healing—slowly, painfully. Paul still comes by, leaving things for me—food, first-aid stuff, even a blanket once—but we haven’t spoken. Haven’t even looked at each other.

It’s better this way. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

A knock at the door. I don’t move.

“Ves?” Bella’s voice is quiet but firm. When I don’t answer, she pushes the door open anyway, stepping inside. “I knew you’d be here.”

I don’t turn. “Where else would I be?”

“Anywhere but here, preferably.” She plops down beside me, her shoulder brushing mine. “We’re meeting up with the Cullens and the pack. And you’re coming.”

I snort. “Yeah. No.”

She exhales loudly. “You’re coming whether you like it or not.”

I finally glance at her. Her hair is in that perfect, effortless mess, and her expression is unreadable. But I know her. She’s not leaving without me.

“Bella,” I start, voice low. “I can’t—”

She cuts me off. “Paul’s gonna be there.”

A sharp pain twists in my chest. “That’s exactly why I can’t.”

Bella doesn’t back down. “You can’t just ignore him forever.”

“I can try.”

She scoffs. “And how’s that working out for you?”

I don’t answer.

She leans back against the wall. “You know he still comes by, right? You think I haven’t noticed? He waits outside our house for, like, an hour sometimes.”

I press my lips together. “That’s his problem.”

“No, Vesper. It’s yours.” She shifts forward, her voice softer now. “Just talk to him.”

I close my eyes. “And say what?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe start with, ‘Hey, sorry for completely shutting you out like a coward.’”

I shoot her a glare.

She smirks. “Just a suggestion.”

I sigh, rubbing my temples.

She nudges me. “Come on, just get dressed. We’ll call it exposure therapy.”

I groan. “You’re actually the worst.”

Bella grins. “And yet, here you are, about to listen to me.”

I huff, pushing myself off the window seat. “Fine. But if this goes horribly wrong, I’m blaming you.”

She holds up her hands. “I’ll take full responsibility.”

I roll my eyes. “Give me ten minutes.”

She beams. “Knew you’d see reason.”

Edward picked us up, his expression unreadable, but I knew better. That guard I’d perfected kicked in the moment I got in the car. He knew. He knew I’d figured out a way to shut him out. Good. I didn’t need him prying into my thoughts. Weirdo.

He and Bella were talking, their voices blending into background noise as I stared out the window. I wanted to be anywhere but here. Back in my room, buried in my books, lost in sleep—anywhere I didn’t have to think.

But I did.

I wanted Paul. I missed him—his touch, his warmth. And he was angry. I didn’t need to see him to know. I could feel it.

And the worst part? I didn’t blame him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stepped out of the car, kicking at the dirt, shoving my hands into the front pocket of my hoodie. I didn’t have the energy to care about how I looked. If I didn’t feel good, I didn’t look good—simple as that. My hair was thrown up in a messy bun, and I wore flared black yoga pants with an old Florida hoodie. I was a mess, and I didn’t care.

“Lil Swan!”

Emmett’s booming voice came from behind me right before I felt myself lifted off the ground.

“Shit—Em, wait—”

Too late. He hugged me, his strength restrained but still overwhelming. Pain flared through my body, my still-healing bruises screaming in protest. I winced, my breath hitching, but forced a smile through it.

“Hey, Em,” I hissed through clenched teeth.

He must’ve felt me tense because he quickly set me back down, his expression shifting to concern. “You good?”

Before I could answer, a low growl cut through the air.

I stiffened. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Paul.

His eyes were locked on us, his entire body radiating tension. He wasn’t amused by what he had just witnessed. Not one bit.

I swallowed hard and looked away, moving toward the nearest log to sit down, trying to ignore the way my chest tightened.

“Edward, would you translate?” Carlisle’s calm voice broke through the tension, shifting the focus.

The discussion started, Jasper leading most of it since he knew the most about newborns. I tried to listen, but my mind was elsewhere—stuck on the weight of Paul’s stare, the fire simmering beneath his gaze.

I could feel his anger.

And yet, all I wanted was for him to come over and sit beside me.

I needed him. I wouldn’t say it out loud, wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but I did.

I wanted Paul. His warmth, his presence, the way he made the world feel less… suffocating. But I couldn’t have that, not right now.

So I watched him instead.

The Cullens were already fighting—fast, brutal, efficient. It was like watching a choreographed dance, except every move could kill. The wolves, though, they just stood there, watching. Waiting.

“He can’t stop thinking about you.”

Edward’s voice cut through the noise, and I stiffened. I didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge the weight of his words.

Instead, I swallowed, keeping my gaze locked on the clearing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Edward sat beside me, calm as ever. “Yes, you do.”

My jaw clenched. I needed to shut this down.

“What actually happened?” he asked, his voice unreadable. “I know it was Victoria. Everyone does.”

I shrugged, forcing indifference. “Then you already have your answer.”

“Not all of it.”

I sighed, rubbing my temple. “Look, Edward, if you’re trying to get something out of me, you’re wasting your time.”

“She didn’t kill you,” he said, ignoring my attempt to end the conversation. “Why?”

I turned to him, expression flat. “Does it matter?”

His golden eyes narrowed slightly. “Yes.”

I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “Well, sorry to disappoint, but I don’t have some grand explanation for you. Maybe she wanted to scare me. Maybe she got bored. Maybe she just enjoys playing with her food.” I tilted my head. “Sound familiar?”

His face remained unreadable, but I knew I’d hit a nerve.

Good.

I sighed dramatically, leaning back. “Besides, aren’t you the one who reads minds? Maybe I just got lucky.”

Edward didn’t respond right away. His silence was worse than words, heavy with thoughts I didn’t want him to have.

Time to redirect.

I turned back to the fight, feigning interest. “You know, if you’re really that worried, maybe you should be paying more attention to Paul instead of me.”

At that, Edward exhaled sharply. “Paul’s not the issue.”

I scoffed. “Oh? Because from where I’m sitting, he’s the one growling every time I so much as breathe near one of you.”

Edward’s gaze flickered toward Paul, standing rigid on the other side of the clearing, watching. Always watching.

“You can’t avoid him forever,” Edward said quietly.

I inhaled sharply, pushing down the ache in my chest. “I never said I was.”

Edward didn’t push further, but the silence between us said enough. He still didn’t believe me.

That was fine.

Because I wasn’t going to give him the truth.

Not now. Not ever.

I could feel it, the tension thick in the air between me and Paul. I knew the others were aware that it was Victoria, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell them the truth—the whole truth. I couldn’t bring myself to share what she had said, the way she looked at me before she left me to live with this haunting feeling in my chest. It wasn’t just the fear, it was the unknown. The why. And I couldn’t let it go. But I wasn’t ready to share any of that with them. Or with Paul.

My thoughts churned, and the weight of everything kept me distant, closed off. I was putting up walls. I didn’t want anyone getting too close, not even Paul.

But when I looked back and saw that he was gone, something tightened in my chest. Where had he gone? Did he leave? Did he care? He’d been staying away, respecting my distance, but now I wasn’t so sure.

I needed to clear my head. I needed to be alone, away from everyone, even Paul.

I pushed myself further into the woods, hoping for solitude, hoping for silence. Away from prying eyes, away from Edward’s sharp mind, away from Paul’s hurt gaze.

But the moment I stopped, I heard him. The snap of twigs beneath his feet, the rustling of leaves.

I turned and found him standing there, looking frustrated and angry. His eyes were dark, his lips pressed tight, and it hit me—he was pissed.

“You’re really just going to run off, huh?” he growled, taking a step toward me. His bare chest, still glistening with sweat from the run, made it hard to ignore the anger radiating from him. But it wasn’t just anger—it was something deeper, something hurt.

“What are you even talking about?” I shot back, trying to keep the bitterness from my voice, but it slipped out anyway.

“You’ve been shutting me out,” he snapped. “Since the accident. You think I didn’t notice? You think I’m just going to keep watching you pull away from me like I’m nothing?” His voice cracked slightly at the end, though he quickly masked it with more anger. “You’re acting like I’m the one who hurt you, Ves. I’m just trying to help.”

I wanted to say something, to fire back with a sharp remark, but the truth was, I didn’t know how to. He was right in a way. I had been shutting him out. But I wasn’t ready for him to see what was happening inside me. Not after what Victoria did, not after the wreckage she left me with.

“Help? By what, Paul?” I asked, the words slipping out of me before I could think them through. “You’re just here, trying to play savior, trying to fix things that aren’t broken.” My voice wavered, but I didn’t back down. “I’m fine. I don’t need you coming in here, trying to clean up my mess. I didn’t ask for your help. I never asked for any of this.”

His expression hardened, but there was something more in his eyes—something like confusion, pain. It pissed me off.

“You’re not fine, Ves,” he said, his voice tight. “You think I don’t see it? You think I don’t know you’ve been breaking since that night? That accident? I’m the one who wasn’t there, and I’m the one trying to make sure you’re okay, but you keep pushing me away. What the hell am I supposed to do?”

I could see the raw emotion in his face, and for a split second, I felt a tug in my chest. But I quickly slammed the door down, burying it under layers of ice.

“You don’t get it, Paul. You have no idea what it’s like to be left behind, to have that… thing stuck inside you. The fear. The anger. All of it. So don’t pretend like you can just walk in and fix me.” My voice cracked at the end, but I forced it to sound strong. “I don’t need you, okay?”

I could see the shift in him. The way his hands clenched, the way his jaw tightened. “You’re being a coward, Ves,” he bit out, stepping forward, his eyes flashing. “You’re scared of this. Of me. You think I’m just going to walk away because you’re making it hard? You think I’ll leave you alone? I won’t. I’m here. I’m not leaving, no matter how many walls you build up.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. I didn’t know how to deal with the crushing weight of everything, the fear of facing him, facing the truth. I wanted to scream, to hit something, anything, but I stayed still, my gaze hardened.

“You want to stay, Paul? Fine. Stay,” I spat, “But you don’t get to tell me how to feel. You don’t get to act like you have the answers when you don’t even know what I’m going through.”

He took another step closer, his breath heavy, his presence overwhelming. “I do know. I see it in you, Ves. I know what you’re feeling. And it’s killing me to watch you push me away like you’re trying to protect me. You’re not protecting me, you’re hurting me.”

I took a step back, shaking my head. “Maybe that’s what I want,” I muttered. “Maybe it’s easier this way.”

He stared at me for a long time, as if he was weighing whether to push me further or step back. Finally, he exhaled sharply, his frustration leaking into the air.

“I’m not going anywhere, Ves. You can push me as far as you want, but I’m not leaving you.”

I met his gaze, my heart racing in my chest. “Then you’re a fool,” I whispered, turning away from him.

But I couldn’t deny that a part of me—just a tiny, fragile part—was glad he wasn’t going anywhere.

I felt him slowly walking back to the pack, to the Cullens, his presence fading with every step. My chest tightened, my thoughts tangled, and before I knew it, I was walking—stumbling, really—toward the treaty line. I couldn't breathe right, couldn't focus on anything other than the ache in my chest. The space between me and Paul, the unanswered questions.

I was losing it.

I climbed down to the small river that separated both sides. The water was cold as I dipped my fingertips into it, the chill grounding me for a moment. My thoughts drifted, but the calm didn’t last.

That’s when I saw her reflection.

A flash of red, too familiar, too dangerous. I froze, my blood running cold. The moment I turned, she was there, standing before me with that sick smile I remembered all too well.

"Goodnight," she purred, her laugh echoing in the empty space around us. Her voice was a taunt, and as her form flickered before my eyes, everything around me went black.

Just like that, I was swallowed by the darkness.

I couldn’t see, couldn’t move, couldn’t even breathe.

And then—nothing.

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You~ A Paul Lahote story

Chapter Eleven ~ In the Dark

Pauls Pov

A/N: Its a bit short... just been busy sorry!

“Go rest, Paul,” Charlie said, his voice thick with concern as he gently placed a hand on my shoulder. I was barely holding on, exhaustion weighing down my every muscle, but my eyes never left Vesper. It had been two days since she’d been home, and I couldn’t bring myself to leave her side—not for anything. I felt responsible. She was hurt because of me.

Charlie sighed, his own worry evident in the lines of his face. “She’s resting. You need to take care of yourself too, son.”

But how could I? How could I leave her when she needed me? I watched her chest rise and fall with each steady breath. Her soft snores were a small comfort, a reminder that she was still here, still alive. But the guilt gnawed at me. I’d been too slow.

My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I fought back the emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Her pale, delicate skin was marred with bruises, and I could still feel the sting of them as if they were on me. I wanted to take away all her pain.

“I’ll be here tomorrow, Charlie,” I muttered, my voice low as I stood, still reluctant to leave her. My legs felt like lead, but I forced myself to rise, to step back toward the door. Charlie gave me one last look, a quiet understanding in his eyes, and left me with her.

I took a slow, shaky breath and stood by the side of her bed. I didn’t want to leave her, didn’t want to let go. But I had to. I needed to take care of myself if I was going to be there for her.

Vesper... my girl... I was going to make sure this never happened again. I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her like that, not while I had breath in my lungs.

With one last look at her sleeping form, I stepped out the door, each step feeling heavier than the last.

I ran toward the forest, my breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. Each step felt heavier than the last, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. The rage boiling inside me, the guilt, the frustration—it all demanded release. The forest was a blur as I shifted mid-stride, the pain of the transformation almost nonexistent with the adrenaline coursing through me.

I didn’t need a break, not when my thoughts were consumed by everything that had gone wrong. Jacob. He was the one who made her leave the party. He was the one who made her feel like she had to run away, to isolate herself. But it wasn’t just him. It was me, too. I was the one who thought it would be best to give her space, to let her have time to herself. And look where that got us.

I was running to outrun the thoughts, but they followed me with every pounding step. I wanted to hurt Jacob for what he did, for what he didn’t do. But even more, I wanted to fix this—to be there for her, to make everything right, even if it meant facing the parts of myself I hated.

I would never stop fighting for her. Even if it meant tearing myself apart in the process.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The morning dragged on, the pack scattered around Sam’s place, and Emily bustling in the kitchen making breakfast. I couldn’t even think about eating, knowing Vesper was at home, hurt. It gnawed at me like a constant ache. My wolf howled, restless, grieving for what had happened. I knew what had to be done—once I found that redhead, Victoria, it would be over for her. But that didn’t make the pain go away.

Then, like a match to gasoline, I heard Jacob’s voice.

“How is she?”

I froze. It took Vesper getting hurt for him to finally ask about her? Where had he been when it mattered? My jaw clenched, my blood simmering. I slammed the fork down onto the untouched plate, the clatter of metal echoing in the tense air.

“You have no right to ask me that,” I growled, the words biting out of me like venom.

Jacob’s face softened slightly, like he was trying to get a grip on my anger. “Look, I care about her too.”

I laughed bitterly, the sound bitter and mocking. “Oh? So now you care about her? After that one-sided beef you had with her? After everything she’s been through, you just decide you care?”

I could feel Sam’s eyes on me, watching me carefully. He was tense, ready to intervene if things got too heated. But right now, I couldn’t care less. Jacob had a lot of nerve, walking in here like he gave a damn after everything he’d put her through.

“Don’t talk to me about care, Jacob. You’ve never shown her anything but disdain. Hell, you treated her like she was just some stupid, naïve girl who didn’t know what she was getting herself into. But now, now you want to play the concerned friend? No. Don’t you dare act like you care now when you left her to fend for herself when she needed people the most."

I could feel my pulse quicken, my anger rising with each word. I wasn’t going to let him off the hook. Not when he had stayed quiet, letting her suffer, letting her walk around with that chip on her shoulder. It was his fault, just as much as anyone else’s, that Vesper had been hurt.

“Don’t you dare act like you’ve got a right to check in on her now. You weren’t there for her when it counted,” I spat, fists clenched at my sides, breathing heavy. “You’re just a joke.”

Jacob opened his mouth to say something, but I wasn’t having it. I took a step forward, not giving him an inch to backpedal.

“I’ll deal with Vesper’s pain. I’ll deal with what I should’ve done, what I didn’t do. But don’t you dare stand here and pretend you care.” My voice was low, dangerous, and I didn’t care if anyone else heard me. Jacob needed to hear this. “I’ll deal with this my way, with the people who actually care for her. You... you just stay out of it.”

Sam shifted in his seat, clearly on edge, but didn’t intervene. This was between Jacob and me, and I wasn’t backing down.

Without a second thought, I stormed out of Sam’s house, my mind set on one thing: getting to Vesper. I couldn’t stay there any longer, hearing Jacob pretend like he gave a damn. He didn’t understand, and he never would. I was the one who cared for her, and I would be the one to take care of her now.

I didn’t stop to think about what I was doing. My feet carried me straight to the Swan’s house, each step driven by the need to be by her side. I would do whatever it took to make sure she had what she needed, even if it meant bringing her the world on a silver platter.

The familiar sight of the Swan’s house loomed ahead. I walked up to the door, pausing only to knock once before stepping inside. Charlie gave me a brief look, one that said everything without needing words. He knew. He knew that I was there for her, no questions asked.

I grabbed the bag of supplies I’d brought, but my mind was focused entirely on her. What did she need? What could I do to make her feel even a little bit better? Her pale face and bruised skin haunted me. The guilt ate at me. I should’ve been there for her sooner.

“Look, Paul,” Charlie said, his voice heavy with something I couldn’t quite place. “She wanted me to let you know she’s exhausted. Maybe another time, yeah?”

My heart dropped at his words, the way they hit me like a physical blow. I stood there, frozen for a moment, trying to process what he was saying. My mind refused to accept it.

She didn’t want me there.

I blinked, trying to keep the anger, the hurt, from spilling out. Charlie’s eyes softened, but there was no comfort in his look, no sympathy. He was just the messenger, delivering the words I didn’t want to hear.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, frustration welling up inside of me. The only place I wanted to be was by her side— with her, making sure she was okay. But here I was, standing in her house, unable to even see her. The thought of walking away now, after everything that had happened, was unbearable.

“Is she... is she okay?” I forced the words out, but they felt heavy, like I was struggling to get air in my lungs.

Charlie sighed deeply, clearly tired, but his gaze didn’t soften. “She’s resting, Paul. You know how she gets when she’s hurt. She just... needs space.”

Space? My chest tightened. The word burned, especially when it came from Charlie, who had to see how hard this was for me. How much I needed to be there for her. But now... now I was the one being pushed away.

I turned on my heel, not bothering to fight anymore. My body moved on its own, and I could feel the pressure in my chest building with each step I took away from the Swan house. I wasn’t leaving because I wanted to. I was leaving because she needed space, and I couldn’t force her to let me in.

But god, it hurt. It hurt more than I could put into words.

I promised myself I’d be back. I had to be. Even if it took a while, I was going to wait. Wait until she was ready. Because one thing was certain—I wasn’t giving up on her. Not now, not ever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to push the thoughts out of my mind. But they wouldn’t stop. Nothing.

Vesper hadn’t wanted to see me for the past week, and it ate away at me every damn minute. I couldn’t stop myself from showing up, though. Every day, I dropped things off for her, hoping maybe she'd change her mind, hoping maybe she'd let me in. But she didn’t. And the worst part was that, deep down, I knew it wasn’t just her. It was me too.

I couldn't shake the memory of how she’d kept the truth from me, kept everything locked inside. She had to know I wasn’t the type to be lied to, to be kept in the dark like this. I could smell Victoria. Hell, I wasn’t even the only one who could. The pack, the Cullens—everyone could sense it. But Vesper? She wouldn’t tell me the specifics. And that? That made me furious.

Why couldn’t she trust me?

My hands clenched into fists at my sides. It’s not like I asked for much. I just wanted the truth, the whole damn truth. But she kept pulling away from me, keeping everything hidden in that damned mind of hers.

I was a mess.

The anger wasn’t helping, neither was the guilt gnawing at my insides. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, and I damn sure couldn’t focus enough to go out patrolling with Sam at night. My wolf was restless, pacing in the back of my mind, desperate for something to settle—anything to settle. But nothing would.

My thoughts kept circling back to her. I couldn’t fix what was broken between us, but god, I needed to try. I had to fix this.

Maybe it was selfish, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to back down now. I couldn’t. She might be mad at me, but she didn’t know how much it hurt to be shut out, how much it tore me apart to see her suffer and not be able to do a damn thing about it. I couldn’t fix what happened with Victoria, but I could be there—if she'd let me.

But for now, I just had to wait. Wait until she was ready to let me in. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done.

There was a knock at my door, and I immediately tensed, not expecting anyone. I sat up, eyes narrowing, wondering who would be at my door. When I opened it, I was surprised to see Bella standing there, her expression soft but uncertain.

“I wanted to see how you were holding up,” she said quietly, her voice gentle, but there was something in her eyes that made me feel like she saw right through me.

I let out a long, frustrated breath and dropped my shoulders, not bothering to hide how I was feeling. I stepped aside, wordlessly inviting her in, and closed the door behind her.

“What do you think? I’m hurting,” I admitted, my voice quieter than I meant it to be.

I rarely spoke to Bella. Sure, she was Vesper's sister, but we never really crossed paths much before. It wasn’t that I didn’t like her—it was just that Vesper and I had always been in our own world, and Bella was... well, Bella was always in her own world too. But now, with everything that was going on, it felt like there was more unsaid between us than ever before.

Bella hesitated for a moment, studying me like she was trying to figure out what exactly to say next. “I know you care about her,” she said softly, and I couldn’t tell if she was comforting me or just stating the obvious. "But, Paul... she’s been through a lot more than you think. Vesper’s not handling things well. She won’t talk to anyone."

I ran a hand through my hair, irritation flickering to the surface again. "That's the problem, isn't it?" I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended. "She won’t talk to me. She won’t let me in. And I don’t get it. I’ve been trying—really trying. But she just keeps pushing me away, like I’m not good enough to help her. Like I don’t deserve to know what happened."

Bella took a step closer, her eyes softening as she looked at me. “It’s not that, Paul. She just—" She paused, choosing her words carefully. “She’s scared. I think she’s scared of what’ll happen if she lets herself trust anyone right now, even you.”

I couldn’t help the bitterness that curled in my chest. “So I’m supposed to just sit here and wait while she shuts me out? I don’t know what happened, but I can smell Victoria all over her, and I’m sitting here wondering why she won’t tell me the truth. It’s driving me crazy."

Bella sighed, a look of empathy passing over her face. “I get it. I really do. But you can’t force her to open up. She’ll tell you when she’s ready. If you push her too hard, you’re just going to make it worse.”

I shook my head, frustration bubbling over. “I don’t want to push her, Bella. I just... I just want her to let me in. To stop keeping me in the dark, like I don’t matter.”

Bella gave me a sad smile. “You matter more than you realize. But sometimes, you have to let people heal at their own pace. Even if it means being patient. Even if it means waiting.”

I swallowed hard, looking away. “I’m not sure I’m strong enough to keep waiting.”

There was a long pause before Bella spoke again. “I think you are. Vesper needs you, but not in the way you think. She needs you to be there, even when she doesn’t ask for it.”

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of her words settle over me. Bella was right, even if it didn’t make the situation any easier. I had to be patient, had to be there for her in the way she needed. Even if it hurt like hell.

“Thanks, Bella,” I muttered, my voice softer now. “I didn’t expect you to understand.”

She smiled gently. “I’m her sister, Paul. I get it more than you think.”

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You ~ A Paul Lahote Story

Chapter Ten~ Scarlet Shadows

Music boomed throughout the Cullen house, the bass vibrating through the floor as laughter and excitement filled the air. Every senior was here, caught up in the electricity of graduation night. I had to admit—Alice outdid herself this time. The decorations, the music, the lights—it was like something straight out of a movie. Way better than the last party.

I arrived with Bella, though Paul had decided to meet us here. I wasn’t exactly sure why, but I didn’t question it. Maybe he wanted to avoid spending too much time in a house full of vampires. Maybe he just liked making an entrance. Either way, I was glad he was coming.

“Let’s go dance!” Angela—one of Bella’s friends and easily my favorite—grinned as she grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the center of the room.

I laughed, letting her pull me into the mass of bodies. The heat, the flashing lights, the beat thrumming through my chest—it was intoxicating. My hips moved to the music, my red solo cup forgotten as I let myself get lost in the moment.

Then, familiar hands slid around my waist, firm and possessive, pressing me back into a wall of warmth. My breath hitched, but I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. Paul.

His scent wrapped around me, that mix of earth and heat I’d come to crave. He didn’t say a word, just pulled me flush against him, his body fitting against mine like we were made for this. His grip tightened slightly, his fingers pressing into my hips as his movements fell in perfect sync with mine.

I exhaled, my body instinctively surrendering to his. My back against his chest, my head tilting slightly as his lips brushed—just barely—against the shell of my ear.

“You looked too good not to join,” he murmured, his voice deep, gravelly.

A shiver ran down my spine. I turned my head just enough to meet his eyes—dark, hungry, filled with something that sent heat rushing through me.

“If you wanted to dance,” I whispered, a teasing smile playing on my lips, “you could’ve just asked.”

Paul smirked, his hands sliding lower, fingers skimming the edge of my dress. “Where’s the fun in that?”

The music pounded around us, but all I could hear was the pounding of my own heart.

I turn around slowly, sliding my arms around his neck, pressing my body flush against his. The music thrums through me, my movements fluid and deliberate. My hips roll in time with the beat, teasing, testing. Paul’s hands grip my waist, rough and possessive, his fingers burning through the thin fabric of my dress as they trace the curve of my sides.

His gaze is heavy, darkened with something primal, something that makes my breath hitch. He’s looking at me like I’m his next meal, like he’s barely holding himself back.

Good.

I knew this dress would drive him crazy—the way the red silk clings to my curves, the slit daring to reveal just enough, the open back practically inviting his touch. And now, standing here, with his hands roaming dangerously slow and his breath warm against my neck, I know I have him exactly where I want him.

A shiver runs down my spine when he leans in, his lips just barely grazing my ear. “You’re playing a dangerous game,” he murmurs, voice low and rough, full of a promise I’m desperate to cash in on.

I smirk, tilting my head to the side, giving him full access. “Maybe I like danger.”

His grip tightens.

And just like that, I know—I’ve already lost.

“Paul!”

A sharp voice sliced through the moment, shattering the haze between us. Paul’s expression darkened immediately, his jaw clenching as if he already knew who it was. Jacob.

We turned toward the stairs, where Bella and Edward stood, their faces unreadable—stern, serious. Something was off.

Paul’s grip on my hand tightened as we made our way toward them, only to realize the entire room had gone still. Carlisle and the other Cullens were there, along with Jacob, Quil, and Embry. The uneasy silence that settled over the room made my stomach twist.

“Lil Swan! Looking good!” Emmett’s booming voice broke through the tension as he pulled me into one of his suffocating bear hugs. I let out a laugh, but it was short-lived. Paul wasn’t amused.

“Hey, Em,” I muttered, reaching for Paul’s hand again. But this time, he let go, sliding his arm around my waist instead, pulling me against him like he was silently declaring ownership. I bit my lip, trying not to smirk at his possessiveness.

“You don’t belong here.”

Jacob’s voice was sharp, slicing through the noise. The entire room went still, heads snapping between us.

I rolled my eyes. “What’s happening?” I ignored him, shifting my gaze to Bella and Edward, looking for answers.

Jacob scoffed, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming, his dark eyes boring into me like daggers. “I said, you don’t belong here,” he hissed, voice low, threatening.

Paul immediately shifted in front of me, blocking Jacob’s advance. His entire body tensed, his posture screaming dominance as he squared his shoulders. “Give it a rest, Jacob,” Paul growled, voice thick with warning.

Jacob’s hands curled into fists at his sides. “This doesn’t involve h—”

“Enough!”

Bella’s voice rang out, cutting through the standoff. Her eyes found mine, and for the first time since this whole thing started, there was something soft, something reassuring.

And just like that, the air in the room felt even heavier. Whatever was coming next—I had a feeling it was bigger than all of us.

“The pack will fight,” Jacob declares suddenly, his voice unwavering.

I feel Paul tense beneath me as I sit on his lap. His entire body goes rigid, a silent warning. Jacob can’t make this decision. He’s not in command—hell, he’s not even second-in-command. That’s Paul. But Jacob ignores the weight of Paul’s glare, repeating himself like his word is law.

Not even Bella could have changed his mind.

Paul exhales, a deep, frustrated sigh. As much as he wants to push back, something in him already knows—Sam will agree. There’s no fighting this.

“Fine,” Paul finally says, his voice rough. “The pack will fight.”

I shoot up from his lap, my pulse spiking. “No.” My voice is sharp, cutting through the tense atmosphere. I turn toward Bella and Edward, my heart pounding.

“No,” I repeat, softer this time, but no less firm.

I understand protecting Bella—I do. But throwing Paul into this? Risking his life? And all because Jacob has some ridiculous, selfish attachment to her?

“Ves, baby,” Paul tries, his voice laced with that cocky ease, trying to lighten the mood. “Killing some vampires is kind of our thing.”

But it’s not funny.

I don’t even spare him a glance as I storm toward Jacob, my chest tight with frustration.

“When are you going to realize Bella doesn’t want you?” My words hit harder than I intended, but I don’t regret them. “I cared for you, Jacob. I really did. But right now?” I shake my head, my voice laced with disbelief. “Right now, I don’t care. You’re throwing yourself into this, dragging Paul with you, for what?”

Jacob’s face hardens, but I don’t wait for a response. I push past him, my body trembling with anger, and head straight for the door.

“Ves!” Paul calls after me, but I don’t stop.

I can’t.

Because the truth is, I feel powerless. And that terrifies me more than anything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I spin around, my breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The woods stretch endlessly in every direction, dark and unfamiliar. My pulse quickens.

Damn it.

I curse under my breath, realizing just how lost I am. I had been too caught up in my own thoughts—about Bella, about Paul, about what was coming next—to pay attention to where I was going. The newborns. The battle. The uncertainty of it all. Fear coils tight in my stomach.

Then, a voice—soft, mocking—cuts through the silence.

"You smell just like her. Sweet."

The hairs on the back of my neck rise.

I turn slowly, dread pooling in my chest.

A redhead stands a few feet away, her eerie, feline eyes locked onto me. Victoria.

My breath catches. I’ve only ever known vampires like the Cullens—restrained, civilized. But her? She’s something else entirely. A predator.

“Victoria?” My voice barely comes out, shaky and weak. My body refuses to move, frozen by fear.

She tilts her head, a wicked smile curling on her lips. "I can hear your cute little heartbeat," she coos, stepping closer, her movements slow, deliberate. "Scared, are we?"

I swallow hard, every instinct screaming at me to run. But I don’t. Because I know—no matter how fast I am—she’s faster.

Instead, I force a breathless laugh. “Of you?” I tilt my chin, masking the terror gripping me. “Not a chance.”

Her smirk deepens. "You should be."

In an instant, she’s behind me. A sharp gasp escapes me as her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling it aside to expose my neck. Her breath is cool against my skin, sending a violent shudder through me.

I stiffen. My pulse pounds against my ribs.

“They’ll kill you,” I say, my voice tight.

She laughs—a soft, sinister sound—as she circles me, her eyes gleaming like a cat toying with its prey. I feel small. My throat goes dry.

She stops in front of me, her presence suffocating. Up close, she’s breathtaking in a way that’s utterly terrifying.

Her hand shoots out, fingers gripping my jaw, tight—too tight. A sharp wince leaves me.

“Your sister will die," she murmurs, her voice laced with certainty. "I’ll make sure of it."

Fury flares in my chest. I try to slap her hand away, but before I can, she throws me.

The impact is brutal. I slam into the ground, the air ripping from my lungs. Pain explodes through my ribs as I gasp for breath.

Victoria watches, amused, as I try to crawl backward. Her foot connects with my abdomen, sending me crashing into a tree with sickening force.

A strangled, horrifying sound escapes me. My body is drowning in agony.

Through the haze of pain, I hear her laugh.

"Edward will pay," she whispers. "And I will destroy everything.”

"Then what, huh?" I sneer, spitting blood onto the dirt. The metallic taste lingers, but I barely feel it over the throbbing ache in my body.

That catches her attention.

Victoria tilts her head, her crimson eyes gleaming under the moonlight. Amusement flickers across her face, but there’s something else too—something she isn’t saying.

"Hm," she hums, tapping a finger against her lips. "Here I thought you'd give up easily."

I let out a low, breathy chuckle despite the burning in my ribs. "You thought wrong."

With slow, calculated movements, I push myself up, favoring my stomach. Every muscle screams, but I refuse to let her see it. Instead, I meet her gaze, my expression shifting—just slightly. Just enough.

"You know," I say, voice softer now, calculating. "I get why you're doing this."

Her smirk falters, just for a second. I don’t give her time to recover.

"You think you're the only one who's lost something?" I continue, letting the pain in my voice weave into something more—something she might recognize. "James meant everything to you, didn’t he?"

Her eyes darken.

Bingo.

"I know what that’s like," I press on, letting my body sag slightly, feigning exhaustion. "Losing someone who made the world make sense. Who made you make sense." I force myself to swallow thickly, my breath hitching just enough to make it sound real. "I know what it feels like to want revenge so badly, you’d burn the world down just to feel something again."

A slow silence settles between us.

Victoria watches me, the tension in her jaw tight. She wants to scoff, to rip me apart, I can see it—but she hesitates. Just a fraction of a second.

I step closer. "But if you kill me or Bella, what then? Does it bring him back? Does it really make the emptiness go away?" I shake my head, my gaze pinning hers. "Or do you just end up more alone than you already are?"

She exhales sharply, eyes flickering with something unreadable.

I’ve cracked her armor—just a little. Just enough.

Now I just have to figure out how to survive the next five minutes.

She was furious, I could see it in her eyes. She knew I had her. The realization sank in like a sharp thorn in her side. I smiled, trying to keep up the facade of bravery, even as my body screamed in pain. I was good at this—playing the game, manipulating the situation to my favor, even when I was outmatched.

Her eyes narrowed, lips curling into a snarl. "You don’t know who you're messing with," she growled, her voice thick with venom.

Before I could react, she lunged at me with inhuman speed, slamming me into the same tree I had just hit earlier. My skull cracked against the bark, pain exploding through my skull like fire. Dazed, my vision blurred, and for a moment, I saw myself fading in and out of consciousness. But I fought it. I fought for control, for air.

Her hand closed around my throat, squeezing with a brutal force that made it hard to breathe. My chest constricted, my pulse hammering against the relentless pressure. My head swam, and for a moment, I could see the darkness creeping at the edges of my vision. But I wasn't done.

Breathless, I managed to force out a laugh, though it felt hollow, shaky. "I have you mad, don’t I?" I spat the words, the taste of blood thick in my mouth.

The fury in her eyes flared, and with a growl, she tossed me to the ground like I was nothing. The air whooshed from my lungs as my body hit the dirt with a heavy thud. Pain radiated through me, but I couldn’t let it show. Not to her.

She straddled me, her weight pinning me to the earth, and for the first time, I could see the full ferocity of her gaze up close. Her face was inches from mine, her breath cold and jagged against my skin. She tilted her head, like a predator admiring its prey before the final strike.

Her lips twisted into a cruel smile, but there was a darkness in her eyes that made the smile seem more like a warning. "I'll see you around," she murmured, her voice low and filled with danger.

I could feel her power, her predatory presence wrapping around me like a vise. But I knew something she didn’t.

I had her right where I wanted her.

And I wasn’t giving up yet.

She shot me one last glance, her red eyes burning with malice before she disappeared into the night, her laugh echoing in my ears. I breathed heavily, my body trembling, both from pain and fear. My skin felt too tight, like I was burning from the inside out. The tears came unbidden, flowing down my cheeks as I tried to steady myself. The adrenaline had worn off, and now the weight of everything hit me all at once.

I forced myself to sit up, but every movement felt like an assault on my body. I gritted my teeth, pushing through the pain, but my legs gave out before I could even stand.

"Vesper!" Emmett’s voice broke through the fog, and before I knew it, his strong arms were around me, lifting me with ease. But the pain was too much. My vision started to blur, my head spinning.

I looked up, my sight dimming as I saw Paul’s frantic face approaching, his expression full of worry. "Vesper, no..." His voice sounded so far away, like I was hearing it underwater.

Everything around me felt like it was collapsing. I felt myself swaying in Emmett’s arms, struggling to stay conscious. My breath hitched in my chest as I fought to stay awake, but the darkness was pulling at me, relentless.

"Stay with me," Paul’s voice was firm, but I could barely make it out. The last thing I remembered was his hand gripping mine, his warmth pressing into me, a lifeline I couldn’t quite hold onto.

And then, everything went black.

It was as though I had slipped into another world, where nothing made sense. I was weightless, disoriented, and disconnected from everything. But amidst the confusion, I could hear Paul’s voice again, faint but there. I clung to it desperately, as if it could bring me back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 My eyes fluttered open, the rhythmic beeping of machines pulling me from the abyss of unconsciousness. The hospital room was dimly lit, a dull glow from the outside streetlights seeping in through the blinds. My body ached in ways I hadn’t thought possible, every movement sending sharp reminders of what had happened—what I had survived.

To my left, Charlie sat slumped in a chair, arms crossed, his chest rising and falling in deep, steady breaths. He had fallen asleep waiting. To my right, Paul sat upright, his leg bouncing anxiously, hands clasped together, as if trying to hold himself together. His eyes were fixed on me, intense, dark, filled with something I couldn’t quite name—relief, frustration, something deeper.

I swallowed, my throat dry and scratchy. “What happened?” My voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough to make Paul jolt, his body tensing as he immediately leaned closer. Charlie stirred, blinking groggily before his eyes landed on me.

Paul looked like hell. His face was drawn, his hair a mess like he had run his hands through it a thousand times. His eyes—red-rimmed, tired—betrayed the weight he carried. Had he been crying?

Charlie let out a sigh of relief, gripping my hand gently as he stood. “Carlisle said you took a tumble from a hill near their house,” he said, his tone gentle, but his eyes filled with unspoken worry. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before straightening. “I’m gonna go find Carlisle, let him know you’re awake.”

I watched as he walked out, the door clicking shut behind him.

The second we were alone, I felt the air move. Paul hadn’t taken his eyes off me. Not once. The silence between us was heavy, thick with tension.

“What happened, Vesper?” His voice was low, controlled, but I could hear the storm brewing underneath.

I hesitated. No one knew the truth but me. I could tell him. I should tell him. But something inside me held back. Victoria could have killed me. She should have. But she didn’t. And I didn’t understand why.

“I... I don’t remember.” I forced the words out, my gaze shifting toward the window, away from his burning stare.

His jaw clenched.

“That’s bullshit, and you know it.”

His voice was rough, edged with something dangerously close to anger. But not at me. Not really. His hand found mine, gripping it, not enough to hurt, but enough to make me feel it—his frustration, his desperation.

“You’re lying,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper now. “And I don’t know why.”

I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering in my throat. Paul knew me. Knew when I was keeping something from him. And I hated that I couldn’t slip past his radar.

But how could I tell him? How could I explain the way Victoria had toyed with me, played with her food and then let me go? What did she see in me that stopped her from finishing the job?

I didn’t have the answers.

So I stayed quiet.

And Paul?

Paul looked like he was seconds away from losing his mind.

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed By You ~ A Paul Lahote story

Chapter Nine ~ No Turning Back

TW: mature scene but nothing CRAZY.

A/n: Guys, I don't write smut. I don't know how tbh, so sorry 😭

If anyone does lmk lol Jk unless...

A cool breeze drifts through my window as I wake up, my skin prickling from the crisp morning air. Stretching beneath the warm covers, I blink at the soft light spilling into my room. Today feels different. Special.

Happy 17th birthday to me.

I turn my head toward the mirror beside my bed, my reflection staring back. There's a flicker of excitement in my tired eyes. Seventeen. It’s not a huge milestone, but something about it feels important. I’m one year closer to freedom, to figuring out who I am outside of this small town.

A grin tugs at my lips. Today is going to be great. Paul and I have plans—well, I have plans, and he’s begrudgingly going along with them. A small gathering with the Cullens. He wasn’t exactly thrilled about it, but he’d do anything to make me happy. That thought alone warms me more than the morning sun filtering through my curtains.

A pang of melancholy creeps in as I remember that today is Bella and Edward’s last day of school. They’re officially done. And I’m still here, finishing out the year alone.

A knock at my door pulls me from my thoughts. Before I can answer, it creaks open.

“Ves,” Charlie’s voice is warm, carrying a rare softness. He steps inside, balancing a small cake in his hands. The waxy number 17 flickers from the single lit candle.

I push the covers off, grinning as I ruffle my way out of bed. “Dad! You shouldn’t have.”

He gives me a small, proud smile, the kind that doesn’t come often but means everything when it does. As I reach him, he pulls me into a firm hug. His flannel smells like coffee and the faint scent of his aftershave.

“Happy birthday, kid,” he murmurs before stepping back. “Got something for you.”

From behind his back, he pulls out a book. My breath catches when I read the title—White Nights by Dostoevsky.

I take it carefully, running my fingers over the worn cover. “Dad…”

“You mentioned it once,” he says, shifting slightly, almost sheepish. “Figured you’d like it.”

Like it? I love it. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel, a story about loneliness and fleeting connections.

I swallow the lump in my throat and smile up at him. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

Charlie clears his throat, nodding toward the cake. “Well, go on, make a wish before I have to head to work.”

I glance at the flickering candle, my heart full, and close my eyes.

Bella had left early with Edward, which meant I got to borrow her truck for the day. The old, rusted orange beast rumbled as I pulled into the school parking lot, groaning one last time before I turned off the engine.

Students were scattered across the lot, clumped in groups, chatting before the first bell. Some leaned against their cars, others sat on benches or strolled toward the entrance. I wasn’t the type to make a big deal about birthdays, but as I hopped out of the truck, I immediately spotted Angela standing beside it, clutching a balloon and a small gift bag.

The gesture made warmth bloom in my chest. I wasn’t used to things like this. Outside of Jacob, I never really had close friends.

“Happy birthday, Vesper!” Angela beamed, rushing toward me with her usual kindness. Behind her, Jessica trailed, her hands shoved into her back pockets, her expression unreadable.

“I wasn’t aware we were getting presents,” Jessica remarked, her tone laced with something I couldn’t quite place. A forced smile pulled at her lips.

I never cared much for Jessica, but she was fine, I suppose.

I shook my head at her with a small laugh. “Thank you, guys. This wasn’t necessary, though.”

Angela grinned, nudging the gift bag toward me as we started making our way toward the front of the school.

But then something shifted. Both Angela and Jessica’s attention flickered elsewhere, their gazes locked on something—or someone—in the distance.

Jessica let out a low breath, her fingers subtly brushing over her hair. “Who is that?” she asked, dragging out the words, her lips curving slightly as she emphasized that.

I followed their line of sight—and my stomach did a little flip.

Paul.

Even in a crowded parking lot, he stood out. His usual swagger, the effortless confidence in the way he carried himself, the heat in his sharp, dark eyes. He looked good—too good. The black T-shirt he wore stretched over his frame, the warmth of his tanned skin seeming to radiate under the overcast sky.

I tried not to stare, but I definitely stared.

Then, as if sensing me, his gaze flicked toward mine, locking on with precision. A slow, knowing smirk spread across his face as he started walking toward us.

Jessica straightened instantly, adjusting her shirt and fluffing her hair. “How do I look, guys? He’s definitely looking at me.”

I nearly choked on a laugh, barely suppressing a snort. Oh, Jessica.

Before I could say anything, Paul reached me. And without hesitation, without care for the people around us, he slid an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him.

“Hey, princess,” he murmured, voice low, rough in the best way.

Then, before I could react, he kissed me—really kissed me. A full, deep, Hollywood-style kiss that left no room for question.

And just like that, every set of eyes in the parking lot seemed to be on us.

A pointed cough broke through the moment, snapping us back to reality.

I turned my head just in time to catch Jessica’s expression—her face twisted into something between disbelief and irritation—while Angela, on the other hand, looked downright giddy, grinning ear to ear.

“Oh, um… this is Paul, my boyfriend,” I said, cheeks heating as I pulled away slightly. His hand remained on the small of my back, grounding me in place.

Paul, ever the respectful one when he wanted to be, extended his hand. Angela eagerly shook it, while Jessica hesitated before offering a limp handshake, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Nice to meet you,” Paul said, his tone polite but distant, as if he already knew Jessica’s type.

Jessica’s forced smile twitched. “Yeah. You too.”

Angela, always one to pick up on tension, grabbed Jessica’s arm before she could linger. “We actually have to head in early,” she said, her eyes flicking between Paul and me with something way too knowing. “We’ll see you later, Ves.”

I shot her a grateful smile. “See you.”

As they walked away, I turned my attention back to Paul, who was already watching me, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

His voice softened. “Happy birthday, to my girl.”

Before I could respond, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. My breath caught as he flipped it open, revealing a delicate silver wolf pendant resting against soft velvet.

For a moment, I just stared.

“Paul…” I whispered, my fingers brushing over the cool metal.

He didn’t say anything, just took the necklace from the box and stepped behind me. His hands, warm and steady, gently swept my hair to the side. I felt the heat of his body against my back as he carefully clasped the chain around my neck.

It was such a simple gesture, but it made something in my chest tighten. No one had ever done something like this for me before—something thoughtful, something sweet.

I swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as a single tear threatened to spill.

“Dramatic much?” Paul teased, his voice full of quiet amusement.

I let out a shaky laugh, clutching the pendant. “Shut up.”

But he only grinned, pressing a soft kiss to the side of my head.

Yeah. This was definitely the best birthday I’d ever had.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You do realize there’s a door?” I teased, setting my book down as a sudden cold breeze swept through my room.

I expected to see Paul, but instead, my eyes landed on Emmett Cullen.

My brows scrunched in confusion as I sat up in bed. “Emmett?”

“Lil’ Swan! Happy birthday!” he boomed, his deep voice filling the room. Before I could react, he sped toward me, wrapping his massive arms around me in a crushing embrace.

“C-Can’t breathe,” I wheezed.

He laughed, finally dropping me back onto my bed with a bounce. I caught my breath, shaking my head. Out of all the Cullens, Emmett was the only one I could truly tolerate. Over time, we’d grown close, and I was honestly glad we had.

“I cannot wait for later,” he grinned, sprawling across my bed like he owned the place.

I raised an eyebrow. “Em, I love you, but… get out.”

I tried to keep my voice lighthearted, but I really didn’t need Paul walking in and seeing Emmett all comfortable on my bed. That was not something I wanted turning into an issue.

Emmett’s grin only widened. “What? Paul? Pfft.” He waved a dismissive hand. “He wouldn’t dare start anything with me.”

“I’d like to differ.”

I jumped at the sound of Paul’s voice, my head snapping toward the window just as he climbed through it.

Oh. Great.

The air in the room instantly shifted, the lightheartedness evaporating as Paul landed on his feet, his dark eyes locked onto Emmett.

Emmett, of course, looked completely unbothered, his smirk practically daring Paul to say something.

“What’s he doing here?” Paul’s voice was sharp, his body rigid as he turned to me, eyes dark with irritation.

I glanced between them, feeling the shift in the air—Paul, all heat and barely-contained aggression, and Emmett, the picture of amused indifference.

“To my defense,” I started, raising my hands slightly, “Em just dropped by to say happy birthday. And I did tell him to leave before you came in.” I shot Paul a playful grin, hoping to ease whatever territorial instincts were flaring up.

Emmett, still lounging comfortably on my bed, let out a deep chuckle. “Yeah, Paul, she totally kicked me out.” He smirked, eyes glinting with mischief. “I just didn’t listen.”

Paul’s jaw flexed, his fists clenching at his sides. “That supposed to be funny?”

Emmett tilted his head. “What, you don’t think it’s funny?” He stretched, making a show of getting even more comfortable, his massive frame nearly taking up my entire bed. “Relax, pup. I’m not here to steal your girl.”

Paul let out a low growl, and I swore I saw his hands start to tremble. Oh, hell no. The last thing I needed was Paul losing his temper in my room on my birthday.

I quickly stepped between them, placing a hand on Paul’s chest before this turned into something worse. His heartbeat was rapid beneath my palm, his skin burning hot. “Paul,” I murmured, giving him a look. “It’s fine. He’s fine.”

Paul’s nostrils flared, but I saw the way his eyes softened just a fraction when they met mine.

Emmett, of course, wasn’t done stirring the pot. “Y’know,” he mused, sitting up, “I kinda like you, Ves. Maybe I should steal you. Could be fun.” He shot me a wink.

Paul snapped.

Before I could blink, he lunged—but Emmett was faster, rolling off the bed in a blur, laughing the whole time.

“Okay, okay, I’m leaving!” he called over his shoulder as he hopped onto the windowsill. “Man, you wolves are so easy to mess with.”

Paul let out another growl, but I quickly grabbed his arm before he could do something reckless, like launch himself after Emmett.

Emmett grinned at me. “Happy birthday, Lil’ Swan. Try not to let hothead over here ruin it.” With that, he was gone, vanishing into the woods.

I exhaled heavily, shaking my head before turning back to Paul. His jaw was still clenched, but his eyes were on me now, the fire in them slightly dimmed.

“You know he does that just to mess with you, right?” I teased, running a hand down his arm in an attempt to soothe him.

Paul huffed, still tense. “Yeah, well… I don’t like it.”

I smirked, standing on my toes to press a quick kiss to his jaw. “Jealous, Lahote?”

His hands slid around my waist, pulling me close as he mumbled against my skin, “Not jealous. Just protective.”

I rolled my eyes playfully but I wasn’t going to let him have this one. 

“So you’re not jealous?” I teased, pulling away slightly, my lips curling into a smirk.

Paul’s grip on my hand tightened before he pulled me right back into him, his body heat wrapping around me like a flame. His breath was warm against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

His dark eyes locked onto mine, intense and unyielding. “Not jealous,” he murmured, voice low and rough. “Just have to remind you who you belong to.”

A thrill shot through me at his words.

I rose onto my toes, pressing my lips to his—soft at first, then hungry, desperate, as if something inside me was clawing to get out. Paul responded instantly, his arms winding around me, pulling me even closer.

Our mouths moved in sync, passion igniting between us, my fingers tangling into his hair. His hands slid down my back, gripping my waist before lifting me effortlessly. I barely had time to gasp before he set me on top of my desk, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist.

His lips traced down my jaw, hot and possessive, before traveling lower, pressing against my collarbone. My head tilted back, breath hitching as his hands tangled in my hair, giving it a soft tug that sent heat straight through me.

I clung to him, my heart pounding in rhythm with his.

I wanted him. He wanted me.

My fingers traced over his heated skin as I slowly helped him out of his shirt, my breath hitching at the sight of him—his body firm, warm, familiar. His hands moved with purpose, unbuttoning my shirt with a deliberate slowness that sent shivers cascading over my skin.

“I need you,” he murmured against my lips, his voice husky, raw.

Before I could respond, his mouth was on mine again, urgent and consuming. He bit my lower lip, teasing, challenging—fighting me for dominance. I tried to push back, but Paul was relentless, taking control, deepening the kiss until I melted into him completely.

My head spun, my breath coming faster as his hands explored me, his touch both gentle and possessive. Everywhere he touched, sparks ignited, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.

I clung to him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest, the way his heartbeat matched mine in a rhythm only we understood.

Paul lifted me , his strength both thrilling and familiar, never once breaking the kiss. My back met the mattress, the weight of him above me grounding me, making everything else fade away.

His lips trailed down my jaw, slow and deliberate, his breath hot against my skin. I shivered as he moved lower, pressing open-mouthed kisses down my neck, over my collarbone, lingering at my chest before continuing his path.

By the time he reached my stomach, my body was trembling with anticipation. His lips left a trail of heat against my skin, each kiss sending a spark through me, winding something deep in my core until I felt like I might snap.

Then, he stilled.

His fingers hovered at the waistband of my sweatpants, his dark eyes flickering up to meet mine. There was something different in them now—something deeper than desire.

“Are you sure?” His voice was low, controlled, but I could hear the strain beneath it, see the tension in his body as he held himself back—for me.

I swallowed hard, my chest rising and falling with shaky breaths. A whimper escaped before I could stop it, my body already answering before my words could.

“Yes,” I whispered, my fingers threading through his hair, tugging him closer. “Paul, I need you.”

A growl rumbled in his chest, and in that moment, the last bit of restraint between us shattered.

Paul’s eyes darkened at my words, his control slipping like sand between his fingers. He exhaled a slow, shaky breath, his fingers gripping my hips as if grounding himself.

“Say it again,” he murmured, his voice rough, strained.

I swallowed, my pulse thrumming in my ears. “I need you.”

That was all it took.

A low growl rumbled in his chest as his lips crashed into mine, urgent, desperate, his hands roaming my body as if he couldn’t touch enough of me at once. He pushed me deeper into the mattress, his warmth completely surrounding me, consuming me.

My breath hitched as his lips trailed down my neck, slow and teasing, sending shivers down my spine. He sucked gently at the sensitive spot just below my ear, and I gasped, my fingers tangling in his thick hair, tugging slightly.

Paul groaned, his grip on me tightening. “You’re making it really hard to take my time with you, princess.”

“Then don’t,” I whispered, arching into him, desperate for more.

His rough hands slid beneath my shirt, tracing soft circles against my heated skin before pushing the fabric up. He pulled back just enough to lift it over my head, his gaze drinking me in like he was committing every inch of me to memory.

“Fuck” he muttered, his fingers skimming down my sides as he leaned in, his lips trailing lower, over my collarbone, between my breasts, down the curve of my stomach. Each kiss was slow, wet, leaving a burning trail of heat in its wake.

I writhed beneath him, my body reacting instinctively to his every touch, every whisper of his breath against my skin. When he reached the waistband of my sweatpants, he paused, looking up at me, his eyes searching mine.

“Are you sure?” His voice was husky, filled with an aching need, but there was something else there—something gentle, something protective. He needed reassurance.

I nodded, breathless. “Yes,” I managed, my voice trembling with anticipation.

Paul didn’t need any more encouragement. He hooked his fingers into the fabric and began sliding them down, his lips following, pressing lingering kisses along the newly exposed skin.

My breath caught, my heart hammering as his hands and lips explored, igniting something deep inside me.

I gasped his name, my body arching into his touch.

Paul looked up at me, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I love hearing you say my name like that.”

I pulled him back up to me, our bodies flush against each other, and kissed him hard, pouring everything I felt into it—every ounce of longing, every unspoken word.

I couldn’t help the soft moan that escaped my lips, my body reacting instinctively to his touch. This was new to me—this kind of closeness, this kind of need that curled low in my stomach like a slow-burning fire.

Paul’s lips trailed lower, brushing against the sensitive skin of my inner thighs, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. His hands, rough yet so achingly gentle, held me in place, his thumbs stroking slow, teasing circles against my hips.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured, his voice thick with hunger yet laced with something softer—something careful.

I swallowed hard, my fingers gripping the sheets beneath me. “It’s just… I’ve never—”

“I know,” he whispered, pressing a lingering kiss to my thigh. “I’ll take care of you.”

His words sent another shiver through me, my breath hitching as his lips continued their slow, torturous exploration. Every kiss, every touch, was intentional—like he was savoring me, memorizing every reaction.

I arched into him, desperate for more, my body burning, aching. “Paul—”

He groaned at the sound of his name, his fingers tightening slightly on my skin. “Say it again,” he murmured, his lips brushing the place where I needed him most, teasing, testing.

“Paul,” I gasped, my head tilting back, completely surrendering to him.

His soft chuckle was the last thing I heard before I lost myself completely—lost in him, in the way he worshiped me, in the way he made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered in this moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The room was still, the silence heavy around us as we lay there, tangled in the sheets. My chest was rising and falling with shaky breaths, the aftermath of what just happened still buzzing through me. I felt a little unsteady, like my body was still trying to catch up to everything.

Paul’s fingers gently traced over my arm, as if grounding me, his touch so soothing it made my heart flutter. He shifted slightly, pulling me closer, his body warmth wrapping around me like a protective shield. I felt his lips press softly against my forehead, lingering for a moment, his breath warm and steady.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice quiet but full of concern. His hand slid to my cheek, lifting my face so I could meet his eyes. There was no rush in him, no pressure—just a calm presence that seemed to ease some of the tension I didn’t even realize I was holding.

I nodded, but my voice still felt a little shaky when I spoke. “Yeah. Just... a lot.”

Paul’s expression softened, and he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear before cupping my face in his hands. “Take your time,” he said, his voice gentle, “I’m not going anywhere. Not unless you want me to.”

The reassurance in his words made something in me loosen. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. He wasn’t pushing me to figure everything out in that moment—he was just there, steady, unwavering.

“I don’t want you to go,” I murmured, my voice small, and I felt the warmth of his smile before I even saw it.

He brushed his thumb over my cheek, his eyes soft but filled with a quiet intensity. “Good. ‘Cause I’m staying right here. Whatever you need, whenever you need it.”

I could feel my body relaxing against him, my muscles unclenching from the tension that had built up. His presence, his words, were like an anchor in the storm of everything I couldn’t quite process.

“You’re not gonna... get freaked out, right?” I asked, half-joking, half-worried. I wasn’t sure why the question slipped out, but I needed to hear it, needed to know he wasn’t going to pull away now that things had crossed a line.

Paul’s eyes darkened slightly, his lips curling into that small, reassuring smirk I’d come to recognize. “No chance of that, princess,” he said, his voice deepening with sincerity. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I felt a warmth spread through me at his words, the weight of my worries starting to lift. He wasn’t just saying the right things—he meant them.

“I just... want you to be sure,” I said, the vulnerability in my voice making me cringe inwardly, but Paul didn’t flinch. Instead, he kissed the top of my head, a soft, lingering kiss that melted away the last of my hesitation.

“I’m sure,” he whispered, his breath tickling my skin. “And if you need more time, I’ll give it to you. No rush. Just... take things at your pace, okay?”

I nodded, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. His reassurance wasn’t just in his words—it was in his touch, the way he made me feel safe and wanted, not just in the moment, but beyond it.

“You’re not alone in this,” he added, his voice low but steady. “Not anymore.”

I closed my eyes, leaning into him, grateful for the way he was holding me—not just physically, but emotionally too. He was there for me in a way I never thought I could have, and it felt... right.

The party was definitely canceled.

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You ~ A Paul Lahote story

Chapter eight ~ Written in Fate

Original POV

I had nothing to say.

The audacity Jacob has.

I glance toward Edward, watching as Bella gets onto Jacob’s motorcycle without a second thought. It’s like I’m invisible to her in this moment, like nothing else matters except her irritation with Edward and whatever silent battle they’re having. I mean, I get it—she’s pissed. Edward sent us away, all because of some red-haired vampire apparently lurking around. And yeah, maybe that’s a legitimate reason, but still, it stung.

And the whole vampire thing? I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.

“Hey, little Swan!”

Emmett’s voice booms through the hallway, shaking me from my thoughts. I close my locker and turn to see Edward’s so-called “adopted” brother striding toward me with that ever-present grin.

Over time, Emmett and I have actually grown pretty close. Those occasional lunches I spent sitting with Bella at the Cullens' table? They made it impossible not to. He’s probably the funniest one out of all of them, the least serious, the most… normal. Well, as normal as a vampire can be.

“Hey, Em” I laugh, falling into step beside him as we head to history class—the one class we somehow got stuck in together.

“How was seeing your mom?” Emmett asks, his tone casual but knowing. Of course, he already knows why Bella and I left. The Cullens always know everything.

I sigh, shoving my hands into my hoodie pocket. “Well, it was better than I thought… until I realized it was just an excuse to get rid of us.”

Emmett stops walking, his brows lifting in surprise—like he wasn’t expecting me to say that out loud. I keep moving, but he catches up in a few long strides, falling back into step beside me.

“Lil’ Swan,” he says, voice softer this time. “It was for the right reason.”

I glance at him, unconvinced.

“Plus,” he adds with a smirk, nudging my arm, “you haven’t seen your mom since Bella’s accident. And before that? It had been even longer.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter as we step into class. Another boring day, another lecture I could probably sleep through. Still, I manage to keep my grades up without much effort.

“So, what’s the plan for your birthday?” Emmett whispers from behind me, his voice low but not low enough to go unnoticed. The teacher’s talking about the Civil Rights Movement, but I’m distracted. Did Bella mention it to him?

“Nothing,” I whisper back, knowing he’ll hear me even if I try to keep it quiet.

Emmett’s voice brightens. “Oh, I know! A party at our place!”

I raise an eyebrow, resisting the urge to laugh. “After what happened last time? No thanks.”

He pouts, clearly not giving up. “Come on, it was just one time. Plus, Jasper’s sorry,” he says, almost pleading.

“Plus, my boyfriend wouldn’t exactly love the idea,” I add, not bothering to keep the sarcasm out of my tone.

Emmett chuckles quietly. “Yeah, I’m sure Paul would be thrilled with that plan.”

I roll my eyes, focusing back on the front of the class, trying not to laugh. "I’ll pass."

Emmett snorts behind me. “Oh please, like Paul would actually say no to a party. The guy’s got a temper, sure, but he’s not some grumpy old man.”

I roll my eyes, keeping my face forward as the teacher continues droning on about the Civil Rights Movement. “You clearly don’t know him well enough.”

Emmett leans in again, voice low but teasing. “What, is he scared of a little vampire gathering? Afraid Jasper might get a whiff of you and go feral again?”

I whip my head around, giving him a sharp look. “Emmett,” I warn.

He puts his hands up in mock surrender, grinning. “Kidding, kidding. But seriously, your birthday’s coming up, and you’re just gonna let it pass like any other day?”

I sigh, tapping my pen against my notebook. Truth is, I hadn’t really thought about it. Birthdays never felt like a big deal to me, and after last year—after everything that happened with Bella’s party at their place—celebrating with a house full of vampires didn’t exactly sound appealing.

“Look, if you change your mind,” Emmett continues, “just say the word. I promise—no blood, no drama, and I’ll even make sure Jasper’s on his best behavior.”

I smirk. “So, no Jasper at all?”

Emmett lets out a quiet chuckle. “If that’s what it takes, then yeah.”

I shake my head, turning back toward the front of the room. “I’ll think about it,” I murmur.

Emmett grins, satisfied. “That’s all I needed to hear, Lil’ Swan.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“She sprained her hand punching Jacob!” I exclaim, the disbelief still evident in my voice. Paul bursts into laughter, as if this is the funniest thing he’s ever heard. I cross my arms, not quite seeing the humor in it. “It’s not funny,” I grumble, watching him clutch his stomach like he's about to fall over from laughing so hard.

Paul shakes his head, still chuckling. “I like your sister now,” he admits, his voice light but sincere. “Jacob deserved that, I bet.”

I can’t help but smile at his response, even though it’s a bit unsettling to think about the whole mess. “Get this,” I say, leaning in a little closer, “apparently, Jacob kissed her, and Edward—Edward went crazy.” I pause, letting the absurdity of the situation sink in before continuing. “He was like, ‘Wait for her to say the words.’” I mock Edward’s voice as best I can, doing my best impression of his stiff, judgmental tone.

Paul grins, struggling to contain his laughter. “At least he knows what consent is,” he mutters, still chuckling.

I rest my head in the crook of his neck, my fingers absentmindedly tracing small circles on his chest. “No, literally,” I murmur, my voice softer now. “Jacob really needs to get it through his head what ‘no’ means. It’s messed up. Kissing my sister when she didn’t even say she was okay with it... it’s just wrong.”

Paul’s expression shifts slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer. “Yeah, it’s messed up,” he agrees quietly, his voice darkening with the weight of it. “He should’ve respected her, no matter how he feels.”

I nod against his chest, feeling the heat of the situation linger, but his presence is grounding, calming. "I hate that she's in the middle of this mess," I whisper, feeling a small wave of guilt for not being able to protect her from it all.

Paul gently strokes my hair, his touch soft. "You can’t control what Jacob does, but you can always be there for your sister," he says, his voice steady. "And you know I’ve got your back, both of you."

His words are comforting, and for a moment, the storm of frustration and confusion about Jacob, Bella, and everything else feels a little more manageable. I close my eyes, letting the tension melt away in his arms.

"Wanna stay for dinner?" I ask after a moment, glancing up at him. Bella had left with Edward a while ago, so now it was just Charlie and me in the house.

Paul's gaze shifts to me, considering it. "Your dad wouldn’t mind?" he asks, curiosity laced in his tone.

I shrug. "I mean, he doesn’t know much about you, but it’s not like he’d kick you out. He likes company—especially if it means avoiding another frozen dinner."

Paul smirks, stretching his arms behind his head. "Yeah? You sure he won’t have a heart attack when he sees me sitting at the table?"

I roll my eyes, nudging his knee with mine. "Relax, he’s not that bad. He’s not gonna interrogate you or anything." I pause, then smirk. "Well, maybe just a little."

Paul lets out a low chuckle, the sound vibrating through his chest. "Great. Dinner with the chief. Just what I needed."

"You’ll survive," I tease, standing up and holding out my hand for him. "Just try not to act all intimidating. He already deals with enough weirdness thanks to Bella."

He takes my hand, pulling me toward him instead of standing. "No promises, sweetheart," he murmurs, his voice playful but low enough to send a small shiver down my spine.

I shake my head, biting back a grin. "C'mon, tough guy. Let’s see if you can charm my dad.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So, Paul. How come you haven’t properly introduced yourself?" Charlie asks casually as he scoops some salad onto his plate.

My eyes widen slightly when I see Paul freeze mid-bite. His grip on his fork tightens just a little, and for once, he looks caught off guard.

"Dad!" I shoot him a look, trying to keep my tone light, but I can’t help the amused smile tugging at my lips.

Charlie shrugs, completely unfazed. "What? Can’t I ask?"

Paul clears his throat, setting his fork down with a small smirk, though I can tell he’s trying to keep his cool. "Guess I just figured you'd rather not have me around, Chief," he says smoothly, but there's a hint of something else beneath his words—respect, maybe even hesitation.

Charlie raises a brow, chewing thoughtfully before replying. "You figured wrong." He leans back in his chair, taking a sip of his drink. "My daughter seems to like you well enough. That means I should at least know the guy she’s spending time with."

I glance at Paul, curious about how he’s going to respond. For all his bravado, he actually looks like he’s taking this seriously.

"Fair enough," Paul finally says, nodding slightly. "I care about her. A lot." His voice is steady, his expression unreadable, but I know he means it.

Charlie watches him for a moment before nodding in return. "Good. Then I expect you to treat her right."

Paul meets his gaze without hesitation. "Wouldn’t have it any other way, sir."

I exhale, realizing I had been holding my breath. Charlie grunts, turning his attention back to his plate like the conversation never happened, and I have to bite back a grin.

As the awkward silence stretches, I glance at Paul, who’s still composed despite Charlie’s scrutiny. I half expect him to make a sarcastic remark, but instead, he nods slightly, acknowledging Charlie’s words with uncharacteristic seriousness.

Charlie doesn’t look entirely convinced yet, but he also doesn’t press further. Instead, he focuses on his plate, cutting into his steak with the kind of precision that makes me wonder if he’s subtly trying to intimidate Paul.

"So," Charlie says after a moment, glancing between the two of us, "how exactly did you two meet?"

I open my mouth to respond, but Paul beats me to it. "She was at La Push Beach with Jacob and the guys," he says easily, leaning back slightly in his chair. Which I mean he’s not entirely wrong. It was the first time we’ve seen each other but not exactly the first time meeting. "I happened to be there with some friends, and—" he pauses, a small smirk playing on his lips, "—well, let’s just say she wasn’t exactly friendly at first."

I scoff, crossing my arms. "Excuse me? I was perfectly friendly. You were just—" I hesitate, searching for the right word.

"A jerk?" Charlie offers, raising a brow.

Paul lets out a short laugh, nodding. "That sounds about right."

I shake my head, but I’m smiling. "It wasn’t that bad. He just had a bit of an ego."

"Had?" Paul teases, nudging my foot under the table.

Charlie watches the interaction with a neutral expression, but I don’t miss the way his jaw ticks slightly. He doesn’t say anything, though, just observes.

After another beat of silence, Charlie leans forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table. "Look, Paul, I don’t know much about you yet, but I do know how this town works. And I know the kind of trouble some of the boys in the Rez have gotten into."

I tense slightly, ready to jump in, but Paul just nods. "I get it," he says simply, his expression unreadable. "And you have every right to be protective. But I’m not looking to cause any problems. I just want to be here for her."

Charlie studies him, eyes narrowing just slightly before he finally exhales and leans back again. "Good. Because if you ever hurt her—"

"I won’t," Paul cuts in, his voice firm. "You have my word."

For a long moment, they just look at each other, and I swear it feels like some silent battle of wills. Finally, Charlie gives a small nod. "Alright then."

The tension in the room eases just a little, and I glance at Paul, who shoots me a small wink, as if to say, See? Told you I’d survive.

Charlie clears his throat, focusing back on his plate. "Eat up, Paul. If you're sticking around, you're gonna need to keep up."

Paul chuckles, picking up his fork again. "Yes, sir."

I exhale, shaking my head slightly as I take another bite of my food. Dinner with Charlie was always an experience, but somehow, Paul managed to hold his own.

And I think, just maybe, Charlie is starting to respect him for it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I lay sprawled across Bella’s bed, my head hanging off the edge as I watch her shuffle through outfits for the graduation party, which wasn't until after my birthday. From my upside-down view, she holds up a dress, examining it in the mirror.

"I mean… it's cute, but kinda basic," I say honestly, squinting at the fabric choice.

She lets out a dramatic sigh and tosses a magazine at me. "Gee, thanks for the input, fashion guru," she huffs, but there's amusement in her voice.

I laugh, sitting up properly as I toss the magazine aside. "I’m just saying, you should go for something that makes a statement! You only graduate once."

Bella rolls her eyes but smirks. "Yeah, because I totally need to make a statement at a party Alice is hosting. She’s got that covered."

Fair point. Alice’s parties were always on another level.

"Oh, by the way, I invited Paul," I say casually, watching her reaction.

Bella spins around, eyebrows raised. "Wait, Paul is coming? To an actual party?"

I grin. "Shocking, right? But yeah, he said yes."

Bella shakes her head, pulling out another dress. "Well, this should be interesting."

"Very," I agree, flopping back onto the bed. Something tells me this party is going to be anything but boring.

“How’s that going, by the way?” she asks while trying on the dress, turning slightly to check herself in the mirror.

I smile, tucking my legs beneath me as I sit on her bed, my fingers absentmindedly playing with a loose thread on the blanket. “Bells, I’ve never been so in love,” I giggle, warmth spreading through my chest at the thought of Paul.

Bella watches me for a moment, her expression thoughtful. “I know what you mean,” she finally says, peeling off the dress and swapping it for a long-sleeved button-up blue shirt, some flared jeans, and her usual Converse. “He looks at you like there’s no tomorrow.”

Her words make my heart stutter. I look up at her, tilting my head. “You really think so?”

Bella rolls her eyes with a smirk. “Oh, please. It’s painfully obvious. The way he stares at you? Like he’s afraid you’ll disappear if he looks away. Honestly, it’s kind of nauseating.”

I laugh, tossing a pillow at her. “You’re just jealous.”

She catches it easily, shaking her head. “Not even a little.” But there’s no real bite to her words, just that sisterly amusement.

I sigh, leaning back against the bed. “I don’t know, Bells… It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. With him, everything makes sense.”

Bella buttons up her shirt, glancing at me through the mirror. “Just don’t lose yourself in it, okay?”

I meet her gaze, nodding. “I won’t.” But deep down, I know I’m already in too deep.

“Speaking of painfully obvious,” I say, my tone teasing yet understanding, “you and Edward seem just as lost in each other.” It’s not hard to see it—after all, I recognize the same depth in my own relationship with Paul.

Bella finally looks at me, her pale skin practically glowing under the warm light of the room. A soft smile tugs at her lips before she speaks. “I’m unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”

Her words melt my heart. I feel a warmth spread through me, a sense of happiness for her. Because I understand exactly what she means—I feel the same way about Paul.

I smile, nodding slightly. “I get it,” I admit. “I really do.”

Bella tilts her head, studying me. “It’s different, isn’t it? When you just know.”

I exhale softly, my thoughts drifting to Paul—his touch, his voice, the way he looks at me like I’m his whole world. “Yeah,” I whisper. “It’s different.”

We sit in silence for a moment, just basking in the shared feeling of knowing we’ve both found something rare. Something that changes everything.

“I’m glad we ended up with people who cherish us,” I finally say.

Bella nods, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Me too.”

Paul imprinted on me, and from that moment on, we’d been inseparable. It wasn’t just love—it was something beyond words, beyond logic. And as Bella turns back to the mirror, adjusting her shirt with a quiet sigh, I know that, just like me, she wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You ~ A Paul Lahote Story

Chapter seven ~ On the Edge

Pauls POV

“Jacob, how does it feel that one of us at least got a Swan girl?” Jared chimes in from the couch, his legs dangling off the edge as he lounges. A smug grin stretches across my face—I know that’ll set Jacob off.

“Shut it, Jared,” Jacob snaps, his glare cutting straight to me. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under. He’s still pissed at Vesper. I can feel it, feel her pain. And it pisses me off that he’s acting like a child about it.

“It’s not her fault, Jacob,” I say, my voice edged with irritation. Across the room, Jared perks up, like he’s waiting for a fight to break out. I hope it doesn’t.

“I didn’t ask.”

That does it. My fists clench. My jaw tightens. How the hell can he be such an asshole to her? To her—the girl who’s been nothing but good to him. My girl.

And if I had it my way, she wouldn’t speak to him again. But I can’t do that to her.

"Look," I stand up, trying to keep my anger in check. My hands curl into fists at my sides as I search for the right words—words that will actually get through to him. "She never meant to hurt you. If anything, she’s been trying to do the opposite."

Jacob exhales sharply, shaking his head. "Look, Paul. This isn’t your concern, so—"

"Not my concern!?" The words explode out of me before I can stop them. My hands slam against the table between us, rattling everything on it. The only thing keeping me from going at him is the damn piece of furniture between us. "She’s in pain because of you!"

I force a breath in, steadying myself. I need him to hear me—to understand. "Maybe you don’t get what it means to have an imprint, but guess what?" I pause, locking my gaze onto his. "I feel her pain, Jacob. When she hurts, I do too."

Jacob doesn’t react. No anger, no guilt—just a blank stare. He’s always been easy to read. But now? Now, he’s a damn wall.

"I hate to admit this," I sigh, dragging a hand down my face. The words feel like sandpaper in my throat. "But she... she loves you."

I force it out, even though I know it’ll never be like ours. It’s not something I want to say, but if it’s the only way to get through his thick skull, so be it.

Jacob stills the second the words leave my mouth. His expression shifts—just for a second—before he clamps his jaw shut. He looks at me, eyes searching for something, but whatever he finds, he keeps to himself.

His mouth opens like he wants to say something—but nothing comes out.

Then, without a word, he turns and walks out the door.

My shoulders drop as I exhale. As much as he pisses me off, I feel for him.

But I already know—when we patrol later, his mind will be consumed with thoughts of Vesper. The one-sided beef he refuses to let go of.

And I sure as hell won’t like my girl being in his head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Paul? What are you doing here?" Vesper’s voice is soft, laced with sleep as she wipes her eyes. Her hair is a mess, strands sticking out in different directions, but to me, she’s never looked more beautiful.

I smirk, hopping up to her window with ease, my eyes flickering around her room. It’s warm, lived-in, books scattered across her bed like she’d fallen asleep reading. A lamp still glows beside her, casting a golden hue over her face.

"I wanted to see you. What, can’t I visit my girl?" I tease, watching as a faint blush colors her cheeks.

She giggles, the sound soft and airy—like a melody I’d never grow tired of hearing. "Well, of course," she says, stepping closer, "but my dad does own guns. Or have you forgotten?"

A breath of laughter escapes me. "Oh, I remember," I murmur, but the warning does nothing to stop me from pulling her in.

She rises onto her toes, her lips grazing mine—warm, slow, intoxicating. I waste no time, wrapping my arms around her, lifting her effortlessly as her hands cradle my face.

I walk us backward, feeling the heat of her body against mine, the soft hitch in her breath as I deepen the kiss. A second later, she’s beneath me, sinking into the mess of books and blankets, her laughter tangled with mine.

My fingers trail down her sides, memorizing the curve of her waist, the way she shivers beneath my touch. I hover over her, my lips brushing along her jaw, her cheek, until I reach her neck.

"You're beautiful," I whisper against her skin, my breath hot, sending a shudder through her. Her scent wraps around me, intoxicating, stirring something deep and primal inside me.

Her hands press lightly against my chest, fingers tracing over my skin as I kiss her again, claiming her, savoring her.

She’s mine.

She’s everything I’ve ever wanted.

My knee settles between her legs, our bodies moving in sync, a slow, deliberate rhythm neither of us wants to break. Her touch lingers against my skin, soft but igniting something raw inside me.

I kiss her deeply, my breathing growing heavier by the second. Every soft moan that escapes her lips, every sigh, only pulls me in further.

Then she trails a single finger from my jaw, down my chest, teasing along my waistband. A quiet growl rumbles in my throat, my restraint slipping for just a moment.

I want her. God, I want her.

But I can’t.

With a sharp inhale, I force myself to stop, pulling away just enough to press one last lingering kiss to her lips. My heart pounds against my ribs, my body screaming at me to stay, to keep going, to have her.

But I know better.

Not with her. Not yet.

I rest my forehead against hers, my hands still cupping her face as I whisper, "You're more than this. More than just desire." I brush my thumb over her cheek, swallowing hard. "You're everything."

She exhales softly, her fingers still tracing absentminded circles on my skin.

And in that moment, I know—waiting won’t be easy. But for her? For us?

It’ll be worth it.

"That was..." Vesper’s voice comes out breathless, her touch still sending shivers through me.

I lay beside her, the warmth of her body pressed against mine. Her head rests on my chest, her fingers tracing slow, lazy patterns over my skin.

"Yeah, I know," I smirk, my hand brushing through her hair.

She scoffs, playfully slapping my chest before sitting up. I watch as she crosses the room, her movements effortless, her presence captivating. Even in the dim glow of her lamp, she’s radiant.

My eyes flicker to the way her shirt slips slightly off her shoulder, exposing just the curve of her collarbone. Everything about her drives me crazy.

I prop myself up on my elbow, watching as she picks something up from her desk—a small black camera.

I furrow my brows. "What’s that?"

She turns back to me, her smile bright, breathtaking. "My mom got Bella one too. She wants us to create a picture book."

I don’t care about the camera. I don’t care about anything except how happy she looks in this moment.

I get up, closing the distance between us in a few strides. Before she can react, I pluck the camera from her hands, lifting it into the air.

"Well, let me be the first," I say, grinning as I snake an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against me.

She laughs as I tilt the camera, angling it just right before snapping the picture—her body pressed to mine, her laughter captured forever.

And as I look down at her, her eyes shining, her lips parted in a soft smile, I know one thing for sure.

I love her.

"Hey, kid."

A firm knock interrupts the moment, making both of us turn toward the door as it slowly creaks open.

"Dad!"

Vesper’s voice is a mix of surprise and panic as she quickly steps away from me, smoothing down her shirt like it’ll somehow erase the way we were just wrapped up in each other.

I stand there, tense, my arm still slightly outstretched from where I had been holding her. My heart pounds, but I force myself to stay cool, slipping the camera behind my back like that’s the biggest problem right now.

Her dad’s eyes flick between us, his expression unreadable. The room feels smaller, the air charged with something unspoken.

I clear my throat, straightening my posture. "Sir."

Vesper’s dad raises an eyebrow, lingering in the doorway before finally stepping inside. "Didn’t realize we had company." His voice is even, but there’s an edge to it—like he’s sizing me up.

Vesper, to her credit, recovers quickly. "Paul just dropped by." She smiles, a little too sweetly, like that’ll keep him from asking questions.

I glance at her, resisting the urge to smirk. Smooth.

Her dad lets out a small hum, eyeing me for a long moment before finally shifting his attention to her. “Its laundry day, don’t forget to bring it down” 

Vesper exhales in relief, nodding quickly. "Got it, I’ll do it in a sec."

Her dad gives me one last look before stepping back. "Paul." A simple nod, a silent warning, then the door clicks shut behind him.

As soon as he’s gone, Vesper lets out a breath, pressing a hand over her chest. "That was close."

I chuckle, wrapping my arms around her from behind, my lips brushing against her ear. "Relax, I think he likes me."

She scoffs, leaning into me. "Yeah, sure. Let’s just hope he doesn’t check the security cameras."

My smirk falters. "Wait—what?"

Vesper bursts into laughter, and just like that, the tension is gone.

And yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, I know I’ll be keeping an eye out the next time I climb through her window.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam's house always felt like a safe haven—welcoming and warm, especially because of Emily. She had a way about her, like she could see through everything, and somehow always made me feel like I belonged. To be honest, I didn’t have much of a comparison. My mom wasn’t dead, but she’d disappeared a long time ago. Where? Who knows. But that’s beside the point.

I was sitting at the table with the pack, picking at my food, when Emily’s voice breaks through the conversation. "You seem in love."

I freeze, my fork suspended in mid-air. I glance up at her, wondering how she could know, or if I was just that obvious.

She watches me with a soft smile, her eyes filled with understanding. "You seem happy for once. I’m glad."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. It’s not like I’d been walking around wearing my heart on my sleeve, but somehow, Emily could see right through me.

She gives me a knowing look, and I can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude toward her. Happy? Maybe. But I couldn’t deny it—there was something about Vesper that made everything feel right, even when it didn’t.

"I am," I finally admit, my voice quieter than usual.

Emily reaches over, giving my shoulder a comforting squeeze. "I can tell."

I smile, letting out a soft breath of laughter. I’m happy—at least I was, before Jacob storms in, ruining the moment.

“She’s leaving for Florida with Edward!” Jacob’s voice is sharp, filled with that same frustration that’s been hanging over him for days. Bella. Of course, it’s all he can think about. He can’t seem to get out of his head, moping around like some whining puppy.

I roll my eyes, doing my best to shake off the tension, and try to pull myself out of the situation. I head for the living room, hoping to get some space from Jacob’s tantrum.

“Where are you going?” Jacob’s voice calls out behind me, his arms crossed over his chest.

I scoff, not bothering to look back. “Anywhere, as long as it’s away from another Jacob tantrum.”

“Well, Vesper’s leaving too.”

I freeze. The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I feel my entire body stiffen. Vesper—leaving? The thought of her going off alone with a leech, of all people, makes my blood run cold. A wave of fury rises in my chest, too fast to hold back.

“What the hell did you just say?” My voice is sharp, my composure shattered in an instant.

Jacob doesn’t flinch, but the look in his eyes shifts. He’s too caught up in his own mess to notice what he’s done to mine.

“She didn’t tell you? Huh, so much for being the perfect couple.” Jacob scoffs, that damn smirk stretching across his face. It’s like he’s taunting me, pushing every button he can. That smirk—it’s the last thing keeping me from completely losing it. The smugness in his tone feels like a slap in the face, like he’s mocking me, mocking her.

And I snap.

Without even thinking, I rush at him. My hands latch onto the collar of his shirt, pulling him toward me so hard that his breath catches. My body is tense, my jaw tight as anger floods my veins, and my chest feels like it might burst. I don’t even care if it’s rational. I’m not as mad about Vesper not telling me. What really cuts deep is the fact that I had to find out from him. That smug bastard, like he’s some authority on my life, like he’s the one who gets to decide what I know.

“You listen to me, you pathetic little asshole,” I growl, my voice low and dripping with venom. The words feel like they’re burning my throat, but I don’t stop. “At least I’m not the one moping around like a desperate little bitc—”

Before I can finish, a sharp voice cuts through the tension like a knife.

“Enough!”

It’s Sam. He’s standing right next to us now, his presence so overwhelming that it’s like the entire room has gone still. The air seems to thicken, the weight of his words carrying more than just authority. I can feel every pair of eyes on us, the room watching, waiting for what’ll happen next.

I hold onto Jacob’s shirt for just a second longer, my anger still boiling inside me. But something in Sam’s voice—the strength of it—pulls me back, forcing me to regain some control. I let go of Jacob’s shirt with a sharp shove, taking a step back.

The silence is deafening, the tension still crackling in the air. I don’t trust myself to speak. The words I want to say are still pounding in my head, but I know that nothing I say right now will make any of this better. Not when everything is so damn messed up.

Without another word, I turn and storm out, my boots thumping against the floor as I push past the door. The sound of it slamming behind me feels like the release I needed, but it doesn’t do anything to calm the fire that’s still burning in my chest. My mind races with everything I wanted to say, every word I didn’t get to speak, but the anger—everything—I just need to get away.

I don’t know where I’m going, but I know I can’t stay in that room any longer. My blood is still hot, my thoughts a blur, but all I can think about is Vesper. And how much I hate the thought of her with that cold blooded leech.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Fine, I'll take the lilac one," her voice filters through the door, muffled but clear enough to set my jaw tight.

She’s talking to Bella. Packing. Getting ready to leave.

And she didn’t even tell me.

I sit on the edge of her bed, my leg bouncing with pent-up energy, my fists curled against my thighs. I’m trying to keep it together, but the longer I sit here, the harder it gets.

The door swings open, and then—

"Paul!"

She gasps, eyes wide, nearly dropping her phone.

I don’t move. Just watch her. Watch the way her expression flickers between shock and something else. Guilt. Maybe regret.

Good.

"You're leaving," I state, standing as I close the door behind her, blocking the only way out. I don’t mean to make it feel like I’m cornering her, but I need her to look at me. To face me.

She blinks, her lips parting slightly before she gathers herself. "Paul, I was going to tell you—"

"When?" I cut her off, my voice sharp. "When you had already left?"

She flinches—barely, but I catch it.

Something about that only fuels the fire inside me. My pulse is a steady drum in my ears, my breathing heavier than it should be.

"It just… happened out of nowhere," she tries again, her voice softer.

I let out a sharp laugh, shaking my head. "Right. And you just forgot to mention it? Or were you hoping I wouldn’t find out until you were already gone?"

Her brows pull together, irritation flashing in her eyes. "That’s not fair."

I scoff, stepping closer, the heat in my veins rising. "What’s not fair is you keeping shit from me." My voice lowers, something dark curling around the words. "You’re my imprint, Vesper. I feel everything you feel. And you don’t think I’d pick up on something being off?"

She crosses her arms, her body going rigid. "I knew you’d react like this."

"Like what?" My fists clench at my sides. "Like I actually give a damn that my girl is about to take off with a bloodsucker?"

"And Bella," she adds quickly.

Like that makes it better.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to keep from snapping, but it’s a losing battle. "I could care less about her! It’s you I care about!"

She exhales sharply, shaking her head. "You act like I’m leaving forever, Paul. It’s a few days. I’m not taking off to become one of them."

"It is to me!"

The words come out too fast, too raw.

Her breath catches, her lips parting slightly like she wasn’t expecting that. And shit—I wasn’t either.

Silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating. Her arms loosen just slightly, her guard slipping just enough for me to see past the irritation—to see the part of her that still wants to fight me on this, but not for the reason I think.

"You don’t own me, Paul," she says, softer this time, but there’s something firm beneath it. "I get that you worry, but I need you to trust me."

My jaw clenches.

I hate this. I hate that she’s leaving. I hate that I won’t be there. I hate that the thought of her being near them makes my blood boil.

But I don’t hate her.

That’s the problem.

She steps forward, placing a hand on my chest. The second she touches me, some of that fire inside me flickers, just a little.

"But you trust me, don’t you?" she murmurs.

I should answer right away, but I don’t. I can’t.

Because yeah—I trust her. But that doesn’t mean I have to fucking like it.

I exhale, letting my head dip slightly as my hands find her waist, holding her there, grounding myself in the fact that, at least for now, she’s still here.

"Yeah," I mutter, the fight in me dulling just enough. "I trust you. But I still don’t fucking like this."

A small smile tugs at her lips, like she knows she’s won just a little. "I wouldn’t expect you to."

I roll my eyes but tug her closer, my forehead pressing against hers. "Just… be careful. And if anything happens—"

"You’ll come for me," she finishes, teasing now.

I tighten my hold on her, my lips brushing against hers, my voice dropping lower.

"Damn right I will."

[ddoralaexplorer]

A/n: I’m glad people are enjoying this mini series 😫🫶

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You~~~

A little sneak peek of later chapters… 😛

I wonder what can change all of a sudden..

A/n: I hope you guys are enjoying these! Hope you guys have an awesome day/ night! 💗 Also guys if you guys would like to check out my TikTok @yhbwmbas 🥹

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You ~ A Paul Lahote Story

Chapter six ~ A moment in Time

“This chick runs with vampires!” Jared’s voice cut through the air from the dining table, where he and Embry were talking to Bella. I couldn’t stand the words. I couldn’t sit with them. The pack. The Cullens. Jacob. Bella. Everything felt too much to process all at once. My thoughts kept swirling around Paul—around everything I hadn’t said, everything I’d been holding back. I couldn’t bring myself to face Bella and Jacob. Not now. Not when everything between us felt so fragile.

I lifted my gaze, only to find Paul walking into the room, shirtless. He gave a half-hearted apology to Bella, though his words felt distant. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen him like this, but it didn’t make the sight any easier to bear. His presence had a way of pulling at me, making everything else fade into the background. I couldn’t help but feel a flush creep up my neck, but I quickly looked away, my eyes flicking over to Jacob.

He was staring at me. I couldn’t read the look on his face, but his body language spoke volumes. He was tense, debating with himself whether or not to speak, and it made the room feel colder. My stomach twisted into a knot.

“Did I do that?” Paul’s voice cut through the tension as he kneeled down beside me, his hand reaching for my cut on my head, from when I’d tripped earlier. His touch was gentle, almost too careful, as if trying to gauge how much he could handle before breaking me completely.

“No,” I whispered, embarrassed that I was the one who had caused the fall. My skin felt hot under the weight of their eyes, Bella’s and Jacob’s both. They were watching us, the unspoken question hanging in the air. Why was Paul so close to me? What was going on between us?

Paul didn’t seem to care about any of that. His grip tightened as he helped me up from the couch, the warmth of his hand sending a jolt of electricity through me. The simple act of him pulling me to my feet felt so intimate.

“Hey, Emily, where’s the first aid kit?” Paul called out, his tone easy and casual, but there was a flash of something in his eyes. He wasn’t looking at me now, but I knew he could tell something was off.

“Oh, sweet girl, are you hurt?” Emily’s voice came from across the room, soft with concern. I hesitated, unsure whether to answer. As Emily’s question settled into the space, I felt the weight of Bella’s and Jacob’s gazes land on me like a heavy burden. The air between us thickened.

Emily must’ve sensed the change in the atmosphere because she immediately directed us toward the bathroom. “Bathroom,” she said, giving a slight nod toward the hallway.

Without another word, Paul took my hand and gently led me toward the bathroom. Once inside, he helped me sit on the edge of the sink, his hands careful, deliberate. As he moved to close the door, the tension between us grew too thick to ignore.

“He’s hurt, but he doesn’t hold it against you,” Paul’s voice broke the silence. His words were unexpectedly soft, almost like a reassurance he wasn’t entirely ready to give.

“How do you know?” I asked, unable to keep the curiosity from my voice. A part of me feared what he was about to say.

“Wolf telepathy,” Paul replied, his voice steady. His fingers brushed over the first aid kit as he looked for what he needed. “It’s a pack thing.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. But then, I had another question that had been weighing on me for weeks. “Why didn’t you tell me Jacob became part of the pack?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. There was no anger in my tone, just a deep sense of confusion.

Paul’s jaw tightened slightly as he focused on my cut, carefully avoiding my eyes. “It wasn’t my place,” he said quietly, his voice rough with something I couldn’t quite place. “Plus, Sam’s orders.”

I closed my eyes as Paul applied the alcohol to my cut. The sting made me flinch, but I didn’t pull away. His hand was steady, gentle in a way that made everything feel too real.

“Paul,” I whispered, his name a plea for something I wasn’t sure I understood.

His eyes softened when they met mine, and I saw something there—something raw, vulnerable. “Ves,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t want any of this... I didn’t want you to be hurt. I didn’t want this tension between us. But I couldn’t control it.”

The words hung in the air like an unspoken confession. The space between us was electric, charged with everything we hadn’t said yet. Everything we were still too afraid to admit.

We were so close. His breath was warm against my skin, his eyes never leaving mine. And in that moment, I could feel the weight of everything we were—everything we could be.

 I couldn’t stop myself. My body acted before my mind could catch up. I leaned in, my heart pounding as I closed the distance between us. When our lips met, it was like everything else in the world faded into the background. For the first time in a long while, I felt... alive. Warmth spread through me, filling every inch of my chest, erasing the doubts that had clouded my mind.

His lips were soft, perfect against mine, but there was something more—something deeper. A tension that wasn’t uncomfortable. No, it was desirable. It made my breath catch, as if I was finally where I was meant to be.

“Paul,” I whispered between kisses, my voice barely audible, shaky with the weight of everything I felt.

There was nothing else in the world. No questions. No fears. Just him. Just us. And for that moment, that perfect, suspended moment, all that mattered was the connection we shared.

 We slowly pull apart, the warmth between us still lingering, but the reality of the moment quickly settles in. A small pang of disappointment shoots through me, though I can't say I didn't feel that familiar spark of connection. But as we separated, I realized we weren’t alone. The silence that followed felt heavy, charged with what had just happened between us.

And then it hit me—I had to face them. Bella. Jacob. The people I’d been avoiding. The fear I’d been holding onto, the guilt that had been building inside me for weeks, came crashing down all at once. I knew this moment was inevitable, but it didn’t make it any easier to bear.

I stole a glance at Paul. His expression was unreadable, but his presence was comforting, steady. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Maybe I’d been overthinking it.

But still, my stomach twisted in knots. How bad could it really be?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When we stepped back into the dining room, Jacob and Bella had already moved outside, likely to talk about everything that had happened. I felt the quiet tension hanging in the air as I sat with the pack and Emily, nibbling on one of the muffins she had baked. The warmth of the moment, of being surrounded by people who understood, made me feel safe. I rested against Paul, sitting on his lap as we laughed and talked, feeling a sense of belonging I hadn’t realized I’d been craving.

But then Jacob and Bella returned, and it was like a switch had flipped. Their eyes immediately locked onto Paul and me. The energy in the room shifted. I could feel Jacob’s glare burning through me. He looked...hurt. Bella, on the other hand, was confused, her eyes darting between the two of us.

“Seriously? It had to be him?” Jacob’s voice was heavy with anger. His words landed like a slap, and I knew they would. I could feel the weight of his disappointment, the realization that I had gone behind his back and found myself with someone he despised. Seeing me with Paul—someone so tied to everything Jacob had tried to protect me from—was too much for him to bear.

“Jake,” I whispered, my heart aching as I slowly stood from Paul’s lap. I didn’t want to face this, but there was no turning back now. I could feel Paul’s irritation rising at Jacob’s words, his shoulders tense, though he stayed silent for the moment.

“Forget it, Vesper. Here I thought we were best friends,” Jacob muttered, his voice sharp and laced with betrayal. It hurt more than I expected, but I couldn’t let him see how much it affected me.

“We are Jake!” I responded, my voice rising slightly as I walked toward him. I reached for his hand, hoping he would understand, but the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t ready to listen yet.

“Vesper, you lied to me,” Jacob snapped. “You went behind my back. You kept this from me!” His words felt like knives, each one cutting deeper. I hadn’t wanted to hurt him, but it seemed like there was no other way.

“Back off, Jacob!” Paul’s voice was low but warning, like a growl just beneath the surface. I could see the tension in his body, and it made my heart race. He was trying to keep the peace, but I could feel the storm brewing. Sam shot Paul a look, one that said, “not again.”

“I wasn’t trying to hurt you, Jake,” I said, my voice trembling slightly as I turned toward him. “I was only trying to protect you. Both of you,” I added, now turning to Bella. “All I wanted was for you two to be safe. I couldn’t bring myself to drag you both into this... all of it.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with all the things I had kept bottled up for so long. Bella’s gaze softened as she heard my words. Her confusion was still there, but there was understanding beneath it.

“And you, Bella…” I continued, my voice steadying as I looked at her. “You kept me in the dark for months. You kept things from me too, so how can you sit there and be upset with me for doing the same thing? How is that fair?”

The room fell into silence. All eyes were on me now, waiting for me to say more, to explain everything I had been holding in. I could feel the weight of their stares, but for the first time, I wasn’t afraid to speak my truth.

“I wanted to protect you both,” I said softly, my heart aching with the truth of it all. “But I’m tired of hiding. Tired of keeping everything a secret. It’s not fair to any of us.”

The tension in the room was thick, but there was something else beneath it. A shift. A recognition that maybe, just maybe, we all had our reasons. Maybe it wasn’t as simple as right or wrong. Maybe it was just a matter of trying to do what we thought was best, even if it meant hurting the people we cared about.

I just hoped they would understand that.

The room was heavy with silence, thick enough to suffocate. No one moved, no one dared to speak. Paul’s gaze was locked on me, the only comfort I had in the tension-filled air. I could feel his presence, his quiet support, but even he knew that what had to be said couldn’t be avoided anymore.

“I’m so sorry, Vesper,” Bella’s voice broke the stillness. I looked up, meeting her gaze for the first time in what felt like forever. There was no anger, no judgment in her eyes—only sincerity. “I know we all had our reasons for keeping these secrets. I never meant to hurt you.”

I nodded, letting her words sink in. It wasn’t easy, but I understood. The lies, the omissions—they were all for reasons we believed were right at the time. I wasn’t perfect either.

“Jake?” I asked softly, my voice a quiet plea, my eyes seeking him out. But when I looked toward him, all I saw was his back, retreating as he walked out of the house, away from us. His shoulders were tense, his anger still simmering under the surface.

Bella caught my gaze, her expression full of sympathy, before she gave a small, apologetic shrug and followed him out. I could feel my heart sinking, a weight pressing down on me. There was nothing more I could do. I couldn’t make him forgive me. Not now, at least.

A heavy sigh slipped from my lips, my shoulders slumping with the weight of it all. I felt small, broken in that moment. But then, out of nowhere, Paul’s hand slid around my waist, pulling me close. The warmth of his touch grounded me, his presence a soothing balm against the rawness of the situation.

“He’ll get over it,” Paul whispered gently into my ear. His voice was low, reassuring, though I could sense the edge of worry in it. He knew I was hurting, but he believed things would calm down eventually. He wanted me to believe that, too.

I shook my head, tears welling in my eyes, threatening to spill over. “He hates me,” I choked out, the words cutting through me like a blade. I couldn’t stop the tears that began to fall, the pain I felt from losing my best friend, from seeing the look on his face as he walked away.

“Ves,” Paul murmured, his grip tightening around me. He was the only one who could make me feel safe in this moment, the only one who could offer me any comfort. His chest was solid beneath my head as I leaned into him, resting there, letting the tears come. With Paul, I didn’t feel alone. He made everything feel a little less unbearable.

“I’m here,” he whispered again, his voice a soft promise. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A week later, Jacob showed up—not for me, but for Bella. If it wasn’t already clear, he still hated me. Something was going on with Edward, and now Bella was running off to Italy. Italy?!

I couldn’t stop her. I couldn’t force her to stay. So I watched as she took off with Alice, leaving me behind with nothing but questions.

Waiting felt like forever. Not really, but you know what I mean.

Later that night, I found myself wrapped up in Paul’s arms, lying in his bed, my mind still spinning.

“Paul, she freaking left for Italy,” I blurted out, still in disbelief.

He tilted his head, intrigued. That was one of the things I loved about him—he always wanted to know the latest drama.

“Just like that? No explanation?” he asked.

“She said something about Edward being in danger, and that was it.”

Before I could say more, Paul’s lips found my neck, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine. My words faltered, my thoughts slipping away as he moved closer. Not that I minded.

I loved him. I hadn’t said it out loud, and neither had he, but it was there, lingering between us. I didn’t want to rush it, didn’t want to say it too soon and scare him away.

“Paul,” I whispered as his body pressed against mine, our lips colliding in a kiss that held more than just desire—it held frustration, emotion, something deeper.

But I couldn’t. Not yet.

“Paul,” I said again, firmer this time, pulling away slightly. He stopped immediately, sitting beside me instead. No anger, no annoyance—just understanding.

“Sorry, Princess,” he murmured, that ever-present smirk tugging at his lips. The one I had learned to love.

And just like that, I melted all over again.

“Hey, I wanted to take you somewhere,” Paul says, his voice a little more serious than usual.

My eyes brighten at his words. “Do tell,” I giggle, the excitement already building in me.

He leads me deeper into the woods, away from the usual paths, where the trees seem to stretch endlessly into the night. The air is crisp, fresh—almost like it carries the promise of something special. The moonlight filters through the trees, casting a silvery glow that makes everything feel magical. I can’t help but feel lighter, like the world has slowed down just for us.

“You’re not going to murder me, are you?” I joke, glancing around as I spin, only to realize that Paul has disappeared.

The sudden quiet pulls at my heart. “Paul?” I whisper, anxiety creeping in. My pulse quickens, and I start to look around, panic setting in. The sound of the forest, the chirping of crickets, fills the space, but there’s no sign of him. My breath hitches. “Paul?” I call a little louder this time.

Suddenly, I feel a hand cover my eyes. My breath catches in surprise, a small yelp escaping me.

“Hey, Princess, it’s only me,” Paul’s voice floats to my ear, soothing my rapid heartbeat. I relax into his touch, feeling the warmth of him behind me as he pulls me toward somewhere.

“Where are we—?” My words trail off when I open my eyes and see the sight before me.

A little bonfire flickers softly, its glow dancing on the trees, illuminating a small picnic spread out on a blanket. It’s simple but beautiful—just the two of us, the soft crackle of fire, and the night around us. The air smells faintly of wood smoke, mixed with the natural scent of pine and earth. I feel the most at peace I’ve felt in ages.

“Paul… oh my god. You did all this?” I ask, my voice trembling with awe. “Why?”

He smiles, his hand finding mine, his grip reassuring. He pulls me closer, the firelight reflecting in his eyes. The warmth of the moment wraps around us like a cocoon.

“I wanted to do something special,” he begins, his voice low, a touch of vulnerability in it that I’m not used to hearing from him. He stops, looking down at our joined hands before meeting my eyes. “Before I first met you, I thought I’d always be alone. I never really believed in... feeling this way. But then you came into my life, and everything changed. You made me want to be better. You made me believe that I could have everything I’ve ever wanted.”

His words hit me in a way I didn’t expect, and my eyes start to well up. I feel so overwhelmed by his honesty, by everything he’s saying and how much he means it. My chest aches with emotions I’ve never quite been able to put into words until now.

“I can’t—” I start, my voice cracking, my throat tight with unshed tears. “I can’t believe you feel that way too. I’ve always felt this... this pull toward you. It’s like you’re everything I never knew I needed. I don’t want to be without you, Paul. I don’t.”

He pulls me even closer, his breath mingling with mine, and I can feel my heart racing in my chest. His hands move to gently cup my face as he leans in, his voice soft but steady.

“Vesper Swan,” he says, and the way he says my name makes my heart flutter. “ You’ve become my light in the darkest of times. I’ve waited for someone like you to make everything feel right. Will you be mine? Will you be the stars that light up my nights and the heartbeat that keeps me alive? Be my girlfriend."

That’s all it takes. A flood of emotions surges through me, and before I even know what I’m doing, I’ve jumped into his arms. My lips crash against his in a kiss so deep and full of emotion that it feels like the world could melt away and we’d still be here, in this moment.

“Yes!” I whisper fiercely against his lips. “Yes, Paul, I will. I’ll be yours.”

We kiss again, the world falling away completely. All that matters is him—his touch, his warmth, the way he makes me feel safe and alive, all at once. I want this. I want us.

I pull away just slightly, my forehead resting against his, trying to catch my breath. "Thank you," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "For everything. For this."

He smiles, his eyes twinkling in the firelight, and for the first time, I realize just how deeply I’ve fallen for him. Not just because of the way he looks, or the way he makes me feel in these quiet, private moments. But because of the man he’s shown himself to be—strong, kind, and full of heart.

“I’ll always be here, Princess,” he murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, and I know, in that moment, that everything has shifted. We're not just two people who have found each other in the chaos of the world. We're something real, something that will last.

And in the silence that follows, broken only by the crackling of the bonfire, I feel like I’m exactly where I belong. With him.

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You ~ A Paul Lahote Story

Chapter five ~ Wolves Out of the Bag

“Oh, come on!” I laugh, playfully slapping Paul on the shoulder. The sound of my giggle feels like music in the air—light and carefree, something I haven’t had much of lately. It's been a couple of weeks since everything turned upside down, and yet, here I am, feeling something that I didn’t even know was possible: peace.

Paul and I have spent so much time together recently, getting to know each other, and with every passing day, I fall deeper. Imprint or not, it doesn't matter. There's a connection between us that goes beyond anything I could explain. He makes me feel seen—like I finally matter in a world that had once felt so uncertain. It’s as if, for the first time, I’m not just the girl caught in a storm of supernatural chaos. With him, I’m simply me.

"What? I’m just saying," Paul grins, shrugging with mock innocence, "they sparkle like a disco ball." He rolls his eyes dramatically, referencing the vampires' shimmer in the sunlight, and I can't help but laugh again. His humor is infectious. There's something about the way he speaks, so carefree, that brings a lightness to my chest.

His words about the vampires—about how they shine, literally—might sound ridiculous to anyone else, but when Paul says it, it feels like everything is just a little more manageable, a little less... heavy.

Bella's birthday is coming up, and while I can’t help but feel a pang of worry for her, something about this moment feels right. For the first time in weeks, I don’t feel like I’m teetering on the edge of some unknown disaster. Instead, I’m here, with Paul, and somehow, everything feels just a little bit in place.

I glance over at him, a soft smile tugging at my lips. "I’m just glad I found you, Paul," I say, my voice quieter now, more sincere. He looks at me then, and his gaze softens, a mix of surprise and warmth in his eyes.

I never thought I’d find someone who could make the world feel normal again—not after everything that’s happened, after learning about vampires, wolves, and the secret world I never asked to be a part of. But here I am, standing in the middle of this whirlwind, and Paul is my anchor. He’s real, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I’m not lost.

“Yeah?” He smirks, leaning in a little closer, his eyes gleaming with that playful confidence that I love. "I’m pretty glad you found me, too."

I feel my heart skip a beat, and before I can stop myself, I lean in, nudging him gently with my shoulder. “I’m serious,” I say, my voice almost a whisper. "You make everything feel... right."

Paul’s expression shifts, and for a moment, I can see the sincerity behind his teasing smile. “I know. I feel the same way.”

And just like that, I know—whatever happens next, whatever the future holds, I’m not facing it alone.

“So, Bella invited me to the Cullens’ house for her birthday,” I say, trying to shift the topic. Bella and I have grown so much closer over the past few weeks. I can’t even remember a time when we weren’t connected like this. I hadn’t told her about the wolves—not yet. I wasn’t sure how to explain it all, or if I ever could.

But I had learned something recently about Edward—something that completely threw me off. Edward can read minds. The realization hit me like a freight train, making me hyper-aware of my every thought around him. It’s strange, feeling so exposed around someone, but it also explains so much.

I glance at Paul, trying to gauge his reaction. But the moment I mention the Cullens, I feel his mood shift instantly. The smile on his face fades, and his jaw tightens.

“No.” Paul’s response is immediate, sharp. The word hangs in the air, filled with a sudden tension that wasn’t there before. He’s not joking anymore, his tone laced with a hint of anger I didn’t expect.

I raise an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by his reaction. “Well, I wasn’t asking for permission,” I reply, my voice tinged with irritation. His sudden shift in mood catches me off guard. I thought we were past this, thought we were moving forward, but now... now it’s like we’ve hit a wall.

“Ves, you don’t get it,” Paul says, his voice quiet but urgent. “The Cullens are dangerous. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

I feel a knot form in my stomach. “I know them, Paul,” I snap, a little sharper than I mean to. “I’m not going to be stupid. Bella invited me, and I’m going. That’s it.” I cross my arms over my chest, trying to hold my ground.

But Paul looks at me like he’s seeing something I’m not, like he’s seeing the bigger picture, and it unsettles me. He doesn’t look angry anymore—just worried, maybe even scared.

“I don’t like it,” he mutters, his voice low, almost to himself.

“Well, it’s not your decision,” I say, the words slipping out more forcefully than I intended. The frustration is bubbling up inside me now, and I can’t seem to hold it back. “I can make my own choices, Paul.”

I look away, trying to steady myself. I don’t want to argue, but something about his reaction rubs me the wrong way. He’s not acting like the guy I’ve gotten to know, the guy who’s always been there for me.

“Fine. Do whatever,” Paul says, his voice clipped as he stands up from the couch, his gaze firmly set on the floor. His words cut through the room like a sharp breeze, and for a moment, it feels like the air itself has thickened. We’d spent so many days at Sam’s, laughing, talking, getting closer—but now, it feels like something is unraveling, and I don’t know how to fix it.

“Don’t just walk away, Paul,” I mutter, my voice catching slightly as I step toward him. I can feel the space between us growing wider with every step he takes.

He doesn’t turn around, doesn’t even glance at me. “I have things to do, so it’s probably best if you leave,” he says, his words flat and dismissive, like he’s trying to push me away with nothing more than a few sharp sentences.

My heart clenches at the coldness in his tone, and I stop in my tracks, the air heavy with the sudden shift between us. Just moments ago, he was teasing me, making me laugh. He was close—close in a way that made everything feel right. But now? Now, he’s a stranger again, distant, aloof, and I can’t quite grasp why.

I take a step forward, my chest tight, my frustration mixing with something else. Something deeper. “Paul…” I say, my voice trembling slightly, though I try to keep it steady. “Why are you acting like this?”

His back is still turned to me, his shoulders rigid. For a moment, I think he might not answer, might just walk away and leave everything hanging in the air between us. But then he speaks, his voice quiet but still carrying an edge. “Because it doesn’t matter. You’ll do whatever you want anyway.”

The words hit me like a slap. It stings, the way he says it—as if everything we’ve shared up until now means nothing.

I feel my heart crack just a little, the space between us growing too wide to ignore. “Is that how you really feel?” I ask, my voice soft, hurt creeping in where anger once was.

Still, he doesn’t look at me. He just stands there, silent.

I swallow hard, trying to understand. I thought we were in this together—thought we were building something. But in this moment, I’m not sure if we’re even on the same page anymore.

"Let's talk about this, please," I softly plead, taking a step closer, hoping he'd hear the sincerity in my voice.

For a moment, Paul doesn't move. He stops, his back still turned to me. I can feel the tension building, thick and palpable in the air. Then, without warning, he turns around, his face tight, his expression pained.

"You just don't get it!" His voice is loud, cutting through the silence, and the intensity of it makes me instinctively take a step back. His words strike me like a blow, and I’m momentarily stunned.

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, he continues, his frustration pouring out in waves. "If something were to happen, I couldn’t be there to protect you!" His eyes flash, desperation and fear hiding behind his anger.

My chest tightens, and suddenly, the walls I was ready to put up feel like they’re crumbling. The words hang in the air, but it’s not just the anger I hear now. It’s the fear, the care. And for the first time, I truly see it—he cares.

My eyes soften as the realization hits. The walls around my heart drop a little. I take a shaky breath, searching for the right words, the right way to reach him.

“I don’t want to be in danger, Paul,” I say quietly, trying to make him see that I understand. "But I’m not going to stop living my life because of it. I can take care of myself, you know."

But deep down, I know it’s not just about me—it’s about him, too. It’s about the pull between wanting to protect someone and knowing you can’t always shield them from everything.

Paul stands there, his chest rising and falling as he watches me, torn between his instincts to push me away and the undeniable need to keep me safe. The tension in his shoulders is still there, but there's a softness now too—like he’s finally starting to understand that I’m not just a problem to fix, or someone to protect. I’m someone who’s with him, whether he likes it or not.

“I know you want to protect me,” I add softly, meeting his gaze. “But I want to be here for you, too. You don’t have to do it alone, Paul.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all happened in the blink of an eye. One moment, everything was normal—at least as normal as it could be in this bizarre world we lived in—and the next, the Cullens were gone. Paul had warned me to stay away from danger, but I never imagined it would come for us like this. Jasper, still fighting to control his thirst, snapped. He almost attacked Bella before Edward stepped in to stop him. The whole thing was so fast, so chaotic, I didn’t even have time to react. One second, we were fine, and the next, it was like the ground had been ripped out from under us.

Bella hasn't been the same since. It’s like a part of her is missing—vacant, quiet, and endlessly consumed by the hope that the Cullens will come back. But they never do. Nothing.

“Bells, I made your favorite,” I call softly from outside her room, trying to coax some response. The silence that follows is deafening. She doesn’t answer, just like she hasn’t answered in weeks.

It hurts to see her like this. She’s so lost in her grief, so tangled up in the emptiness Edward left behind. The months have passed, but nothing has changed. She’s still the same—broken, distant, a shell of the girl I once knew. I can’t even begin to imagine the kind of pain she’s in, the ache of missing someone you loved so deeply, but at the same time, part of me knows that maybe it’s better this way. Maybe it’s better that Edward’s gone. The danger, the chaos—it wasn’t just a story, it was their reality, and Bella got pulled into it. Now she’s paying the price.

But it’s not just the sadness that keeps me up at night. It’s the tremors. The nightmares that shake her awake in the dead of night, her body trembling from the memories she can’t escape. I hear her from my room sometimes, muffled cries, the thudding of her heart in the dark. It’s like she’s stuck in some endless loop of fear and regret, and no matter how many times I try to reassure her, to pull her back from the edge, she never really comes back.

Charlie is terrified, too. He doesn't know what to do with her. He tries—so hard—but nothing works. Bella doesn’t listen to him the way she used to, and that scares him even more. He wants her to get out, to live again, but every time he pushes, she pulls away.

Eventually, she agrees. She starts going out with Jessica and Mike, spending time with them in a way that feels... almost like old times. But it’s not the same. It’s never going to be the same. And then, out of nowhere, Bella tells me she’s going to the movies with Jacob and Mike. Just like that, she’s moving on, finding distractions, slipping out of her grief in small ways.

I haven’t seen Jacob much lately, and honestly, I’m relieved. After everything that happened with the Cullens, after the truth about the wolves came out, I didn’t want to drag him into this. I couldn’t. There was too much at stake, too much danger. I can’t risk anything happening to him, not when everything feels so out of control already.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Where are you going?” I ask, watching Bella grab her coat and keys with a sudden, purposeful air.

“No, where are we going?” she corrects, her tone a little too casual. But the way she says it sends a ripple of unease through me. What does she mean, we?

“Jacob hasn’t called for weeks,” she continues, her concern obvious. “Billy says he has mono. But for this long?” Bella’s voice shakes slightly, and I can feel the weight of her worry hanging in the air between us. I’ve been avoiding this—avoiding thinking about it. I haven’t spoken to Paul in a while. He mentioned “pack stuff,” but nothing specific.

“Bella, maybe he’s just really sick,” I say carefully, but the words feel wrong as soon as they leave my mouth. I’m trying, but I know it’s not helping. I was trying to reassure her.

But she doesn’t listen. Before I know it, I’m sitting in the passenger seat of her truck, watching as the familiar landscape blurs by. We’re heading to Billy’s house, and I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. It’s like we’re walking into a storm that neither of us is prepared for. The truck ride is quiet, the air heavy with unspoken thoughts. Bella’s been on edge ever since the Cullens left, and I just want to fix it for her, even though I know I can’t.

We pull up to Billy’s house, and before I can even unbuckle my seatbelt, Bella’s out of the truck, moving quickly toward the door. I scramble to catch up, but I’m already a step behind.

“Bella, Vesper. This is a surprise,” Billy says as he opens the door, his voice full of genuine surprise.

“Where is he? I need to see him now,” Bella says, her voice tight and urgent. Her words come out in a rush, like she can’t contain them anymore.

Billy hesitates, his brow furrowing. “He’s sleeping,” he says, trying to soften the moment. But Bella doesn’t even pause to process what he’s said. She just pushes past him, moving further into the house like she owns the place. I glance over at Billy, giving him a look that says everything I can’t put into words.

“Sorry,” I mutter, following her inside.

“Bella, wait,” I say, my voice low, but she’s already too far ahead. I stop at the doorway, feeling like an outsider in this moment. But then Bella stops, her attention snagged by something outside. I follow her gaze, and my heart skips a beat when I see them—Sam, Paul, Jared, and… Emery? Why are they here? Why now?

Before I can react, Bella is already running toward them. “Bella, stop!” I shout, but it’s too late. She’s too far ahead, already face-to-face with Sam.

“What did you do to him?” Bella’s voice rings out, harsh and sharp. “What did you do to Jacob?”

I push myself harder, running to catch up, but the scene is already escalating. Paul steps forward, his body stiff with tension. I see the flash of anger in his eyes. This is the side of him I’ve never seen before, and it scares me.

“Bella, please,” I call, my voice cracking with urgency as I try to reach her.

But Paul doesn’t back off. “What did we do? What did he do? What did he tell you?” His words hit like a punch. He’s angry—furious, even. I’ve never seen Paul this mad, and I don’t know how to calm him down.

“Both of you, calm down,” Sam says, trying to intervene, but it’s not working.

Bella’s response is immediate, cutting through the tension. “Nothing! He tells me nothing because he’s scared of you!”

The words hang in the air like a challenge, and Paul lets out a laugh—a bitter, mocking sound. It’s the kind of laugh that makes everything feel wrong. I take a step forward, my fists clenched, but it’s already too late.

In the next heartbeat, everything goes off the rails. Bella raises her hand and slaps Paul across the face, the sound of it ringing in the cold air. It goes quiet for a split second, as if the world is holding its breath. I feel the fury rising inside me, but I can’t do anything. I’m frozen in place, unable to stop this from happening.

Paul doesn’t react at first, but then the anger in his eyes flares. He lets out a low, dangerous growl, and I can see it—he’s about to lose control.

“Bella!” I shout, grabbing her arm and pulling her back. But even as I do, I can feel Paul shifting, his body tensing in that all-too-familiar way. I know what’s coming.

I turn to run, but my foot catches on something, and I go down hard, my head cracking against the rocks beneath me. The pain explodes through my skull, but I barely register it. My eyes are locked on Bella, who’s already running, trying to get to Jacob. I see him, emerging from Billy’s house—Jacob, looking like he’s been through hell. I can’t think straight.

“Run! Jake, run!” Bella yells.

I’m dazed, still trying to get to my feet, my head spinning. My fingers brush the blood trickling from the cut on my forehead, and it’s then that the realization hits me. Bella knows. She knows about the pack. Jacob, he's also one of them. And now, everything is different. My mind races as I try to figure out what’s going to happen next.

She’s fully in the know, and Jacob is one of them. I can’t help but wonder how they’ll react to me already knowing about them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The car ride to Emily’s was quiet. The kind of silence that clings to the air, thick and heavy. Bella sat next to me, her posture rigid, her gaze out the window, lost in her own thoughts. I felt like I was walking on a tightrope, unsure of how to bridge the distance between us. How do I tell her? How do I explain that I knew? Knew about the pack, knew about the wolves, except for Jacob. And that, more than anything, worries me.

Jacob. He’s always been my best friend, and now? I’ve kept him in the dark. I never meant to, but now he’s going to find out everything I’ve been hiding—everything I’ve been protecting him from—and I’m not sure what that’s going to do to him, to us. To me.

“Maybe we should go back, check on Jacob,” Bella says, interrupting the storm in my mind. Her voice is soft, but there’s an edge of worry to it.

We pull up, and Jared and Embry get out of the truck without a word. Their casualness stings.

“I hope Paul sinks his teeth into him. Serves him right,” Jared mutters, his tone dark, and I can feel the tension in the air.

Embry gives a small chuckle. “No way. Jacob’s a natural. You see him phase on the spot?” He looks over at me for a brief moment, but his gaze quickly shifts away.

“I’ve got five bucks that Paul doesn’t even touch him,” Embry continues, the words like a joke, but the meaning behind them is far from funny.

“Easy money,” Jared adds, grinning like it’s all some kind of game.

It’s strange. A part of me wants to feel the same, but something about this feels wrong. I don’t want anyone—least of all Paul—to hurt Jacob nor otherwise. Not after everything we’ve been through. And certainly not now, when things are already so complicated.

When they finally realize we’re still in the truck, they turn to face us. Embry flashes a smile, though it’s not the reassuring kind.

“Come on in, Bella, Vesper. We don’t bite.”

“Speak for yourself,” Jared mutters with a smug grin, one that makes my stomach churn.

I want to speak, to say something, but the words are caught in my throat. Bella, however, doesn’t hesitate. She slides out of the truck and heads toward Emily’s house without a second glance. I scramble to follow her.

“Hey, Bella—” I start, but she cuts me off.

“Don’t,” she hisses, her voice sharp, like a blade cutting through the silence.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. The sting of them lingers, and I feel every inch of the distance between us widen. She’s angry. She’s hurt. And I know exactly why. I’ve kept this from her. I’ve kept everything from her. And it’s too late now to undo the damage.

I can’t even find the words to apologize, let alone explain. She’s already walking ahead of me, following Embry into the house, and all I can do is watch her go.

That’s it. Everything we’ve built, everything we’ve shared—it’s broken. The trust, the connection, the fragile understanding we’d started to rebuild—it’s shattered in an instant.

And it’s my fault.

[ddoralaexplorer]

Eclipsed by You~ A Paul Lahote Story

Chapter four ~ Unraveled

A/n: Hey guys! Im sorry it took forever! Ive been busy with school, and some other things! But I promise to write more! :) Please let me know how you guys are liking it as well. I love feedback!

“No”

“No?” Paul’s voice is low, full of confusion, as he kneels in front of me. I sit there, trying to process it all, my mind struggling to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions and information. Sam, Emily, and Jared sit at the dining table, watching closely, their eyes a mix of concern and curiosity. I know they're waiting for me to say something—anything—that’ll make sense of the madness.

“I… I don’t even know you, Paul. How is any of this possible?” I ask, my voice shaky, my gaze flickering between Paul and the others.

He exhales sharply, a slight edge to his voice. “It’s a wolf thing. It happens naturally. I didn’t ask for it, okay?” His frustration is evident, but there's a depth to his words that makes me pause.

I take a deep breath, standing up as I try to push the overwhelming thoughts from my head. “Paul, I just… I need time. I mean,” I glance at Sam, then Emily, before returning to Paul, “Vampires? The Cullens? Are you telling me this is all real?” My hands instinctively move to rub my temples, the weight of it all sinking in. The world I thought I knew is completely upside down, consumed by creatures I’ve only heard about in stories. And through it all, Bella… Where is she? What’s happened to her?

I try to hold myself together, but my thoughts keep spiraling. Is that why Bella left? Was that why she freaked out on us all?

Before I can ask myself any more questions, my phone rings. It’s Charlie.

“Hey, Dad. I’m okay, what’s—”

“Bella had an accident! Where are you? I’m coming to pick you up!” His voice is frantic, every word more urgent than the last.

“What?! I’m over at Sam Uley’s right now,” I blurt out, my heart racing. I look to Sam, then Emily, and finally at Paul, my panic skyrocketing. My eyes well up with tears as the reality of the situation sets in.

Paul’s by my side instantly, his hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding me. “What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice gentle, but there’s concern in his eyes.

“It’s Bella…” I choke on the words, my voice breaking as I struggle to keep it together. The thought of her hurt, or worse, makes everything feel like it’s unraveling.

“I’m going with you.”

“No!” My voice comes out sharper than I meant, the panic rising again. I take a breath, trying to steady myself, and turn to Paul, my tone softening.

“No, I can’t have you involved in this,” I say, meeting his gaze. His expression softens, but there’s still that stubbornness in his eyes that I can’t seem to shake. He’s not backing down.

I glance away for a moment, my heart torn. I haven’t known him for long, but already, I feel this connection to him—this care that I can’t quite explain. And yet, I don’t want him dragged into whatever mess this is.

“I’m going,” Paul says, his voice calm but unwavering.

I look at him, the truth settling in. Nothing I say will change his mind.

I glance at my phone, seeing Charlie’s name flash on the screen again.

“My dad will be here any minute,” I say, my voice quieter now. I run a hand through my hair, the weight of everything pressing down on me. “Come on.”

There’s no more arguing, no more resisting. I know Paul’s coming with me, whether I want him to or not. But deep down, I’m glad he’s here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I walk into the hospital room, holding a bouquet of flowers in my hands, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside me. Renee is sitting beside Bella’s bed, her eyes a little red, but there’s a softness in her expression, a calmness that feels almost out of place given the circumstances. It’s the first time in a couple of years I’ve seen her, and though things are strained, there’s still a familiar warmth in her voice when she sees me.

“Ves, baby,” she says, her voice gentle, a little shaky, like she’s trying to hold herself together but can’t quite manage it.

Bella is awake. Her eyes are open, but there’s something distant about them, something I can’t quite read. Edward is sitting beside her bed on the couch, his body relaxed in sleep—but I know better. His tense posture gives him away. I left Paul waiting outside in the hallway, giving me some space to figure this out on my own.

I take a deep breath, walking slowly toward them. "Hey, Mom," I whisper, my voice barely audible in the quiet room.

Then, I turn my attention to Bella, sitting down beside her bed. The lump in my throat grows, choking me. I swallow hard, trying to keep it together. "Hey, Bells," I murmur, my fingers brushing against hers. "I should’ve been there for you." The words feel too small for everything I want to say, but they’re all I can manage right now. The guilt claws at me, and I fight to keep my tears from falling.

There’s so much I should’ve done, so much I wish I’d known. But right now, all I can do is be here.

“What happened? Why did you leave? Who did this?” The words tumble out of me all at once, my voice cracking with confusion and worry. I feel helpless, like I'm missing something critical, and it's eating at me.

“Woah, Ves, I’m fine,” Bella says quickly, her voice trying to sound calm, though there’s a faint edge to it. “I just fell down a flight of stairs. It’s really not a big deal.”

But I know she’s not being honest. I can see it in her eyes, the way she avoids my gaze, the way her hands tremble just slightly as she tries to cover up the truth. She’s lying, and I can feel it in every fiber of my being.

I glance at Edward, still sitting beside her on the couch, his posture rigid, his gaze averted. He hasn’t said a word, but I can see the tension in him too—his body coiled, as though he’s waiting for something, or maybe he’s just holding something back.

The air in the room feels thick, and I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to this than Bella is willing to admit.

I try to keep my voice steady, but the worry is making it impossible. “Bella, please. You’re not fine. I know you’re not. Who did this to you?” The question is softer now, but it still holds the weight of everything I can’t say.

Bella gives a small, forced smile, her eyes flickering to Edward for just a moment before looking away. “Ves, it’s nothing. I’m fine. Really.”

But everything inside me screams that it’s not nothing. And the fact that she’s trying so hard to convince me it is makes my heart race even faster. I can’t let this go, not when she’s clearly hiding something.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to talk to Charlie and the doctor,” Renee says, standing up from her chair with a soft sigh. Her voice is calm, but I can tell she’s anxious, too. She gives me a reassuring smile before walking toward the door, leaving me alone with Bella and Edward.

The silence settles over the room, thick and uncomfortable. Bella’s gaze is fixed on the blankets in her lap, her fingers fidgeting nervously. I can feel the weight of the room shifting, the tension crawling up my spine as I steal a glance at Edward. I know he knows what’s going on. There’s no way around it. But what’s worse is that I know he knows I know.

And that thought makes it all the more awkward.

Finally, Edward speaks, his voice low but certain. “You know, don’t you?”

My heart skips a beat. I freeze, staring at him, feeling the shift in the air between us. I turn slowly, my throat suddenly dry. "Wh-what?" I say, though I already know what he’s getting at. My mind races, trying to prepare myself for whatever’s coming next.

Edward stands up from his spot on the couch, his movements deliberate, his eyes never leaving me. There’s a quiet intensity about him, like he’s waiting for me to admit what’s hanging in the space between us.

“You know about us,” he states flatly, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

I scoff, feeling my nerves tightening, my chest constricting. “I’m not sure I understand.” I try to steady my voice, but the tension in my words is impossible to hide. I take a step back, trying to put some distance between us, but it only makes the space feel heavier.

I’m not sure what he’s asking. What does he mean by “us”? Of course, I know about vampires, but I’m still struggling to piece it all together. The Cullens, Bella, Edward—it’s all spinning in my head, too much to absorb at once.

“I’m not… I don’t really get what you’re trying to say,” I add, feeling even more off-balance. My words hang in the air, like I’m trying to figure out how to approach this conversation without losing my composure.

Edward watches me for a moment, his expression unreadable. It’s like he’s waiting for me to come to terms with it, waiting for me to say the words out loud, as if once it’s acknowledged, we can move forward.

But there’s no moving forward from this, not yet. Not when everything I thought I knew has turned upside down, and everything I’m being told just adds to the uncertainty.

“I know it’s a lot,” he says quietly, almost as if he’s speaking to himself, his gaze dropping for just a moment. “But you’ve already seen too much to turn away from it.” He looks back up, meeting my eyes. “We’re not normal. You can’t un-know that.”

I feel the weight of his words, the truth of them settling heavily in my chest. I’m in this now, whether I’m ready for it or not.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I couldn’t breathe. The air felt thick, suffocating, like the walls were closing in on me from all sides. My feet moved faster than my mind could process, and before I knew it, I was out of the room, stumbling down the hallway, my heart racing, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear.

Everything was spinning out of control. The world I thought I knew had shattered, and now, I was caught in the middle of a nightmare I couldn’t escape from. My chest ached, the pressure in my lungs unbearable. How had I gotten trapped in this?

I passed Charlie, Renee, and Paul, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop. My tears blurred my vision, my breath coming in shallow, jagged gasps. I didn’t want them to see me like this—broken, lost, and drowning in all the uncertainty.

I turned a corner, finding a quiet spot where I could collapse, hidden from everyone. My back pressed against the cool wall, and I slid down, wrapping my arms around my knees, trying to hold myself together. But it was too much.

The sobs came, violent and uncontrollable. I couldn’t stop them, no matter how hard I tried. My entire body shook as the weight of everything came crashing down on me. I couldn’t process it all. I couldn’t understand it.

Then, I heard footsteps. Paul. His silhouette appeared in the hallway, the sound of his boots echoing against the walls as he approached. He stopped when he saw me, his expression unreadable, but the concern in his eyes was clear.

“Did he hurt you?” His voice was soft but urgent, his gaze scanning my face, searching for answers. “What did he say?”

But I couldn’t answer him. My throat felt tight, the words trapped inside. All I could do was cry. My sobs were raw, desperate, spilling out uncontrollably as I hugged my knees tighter to my chest. I didn’t know how to explain the storm inside me, the turmoil that had taken over my entire world.

Paul kneeled in front of me, his presence warm and steady. Without a word, he reached out, his hand resting gently on my shoulder, offering silent comfort. I buried my face in my hands, the tears never stopping, feeling more alone than I ever had before.

"I don’t know what’s happening," I whispered between sobs. "I don’t know anything anymore..."

[ddoralaexplorer]