CHAPTER TWELVE

Paul lay in bed, his thoughts consumed by Serena. The weight of his actions hung heavy on his conscious. Memories of the past flashed through his mind, and he couldn't shake off the guilt that still ate away at him.

In the past, while they dated, neither Paul nor Serena could have predicted how their relationship would end up. It was a time before the imprinting had even begun to develop.

At the time of their short-lived romance, it was fear that had led Paul astray. He hadn't realized that his unease would ruin everything between them.

Once Paul had finally phased, a complex mix of feelings emerged within him - guilt and hurt taking center stage amidst the absence of earlier fear.

Deep down, Paul had always loved Serena. Before she even voiced her own feelings, he already harbored an unbreakable affection for her. He knew that this love was a feeling that would not easily fade away, no matter how much time passed.

The one lingering fear that Paul grappled with was his anger. It was a beast that had yet to be tamed, constantly simmering underneath the surface, ready to erupt. Similar to the time he lost control when the leech-lover Swan slapped him across the face, he had wanted to tear her apart, his fury getting the better of him.

Paul was well-acquainted with the struggles of emotional turmoil and anger management, especially since embracing the full extent of his shapeshifting abilities, which often led to numerous challenges and complications within the pack. At one point, he was even barred by Sam from interacting with others, and Paul couldn't fault Sam for that decision considering his past transgressions, including the incident that resulted in Sam harming Emily.

He was taken from his inner turmoil, and was surprised by the sound of the knocking on his bedroom door. He hadn't had a chance to even make a response before the door was pushed open, revealing an unamused Jacob. Paul knew that this was an inevitable moment he would have to face, especially considering it had only been a few days since Jacob's imprinting on his sister.

As Paul attempted to rise from his bed, he was abruptly pushed back down by Jacob. "Why are you here, Jacob?" Paul inquired, a mixture of confusion and apprehension in his voice.

Jacob responded, his voice firm and unwavering. "You have only one chance, Lahote. Make your move, and if you mess it up, I'd better hope you're prepared to handle the pain of rejection."

Paul stood there, stunned and bewildered by Jacob's ominous warning. "What's going on, Jake?" he retorted, trying to make sense of the cryptic message.

"First beach," Jacob stated, his glare fixated on Paul. "Tomorrow at 7 am. Don't even think about being late, or else." With that, Jacob left abruptly, leaving Paul feeling even more confused and apprehensive.

Paul allowed himself to collapse onto his bed, attempting to make sense of Jacob's cryptic message. He found himself plagued with questions, his mind racing with confusion and anticipation, wondering why Jacob couldn't have just stated his intentions outright instead of leaving him in a state of restlessness over the mysterious event that was set to occur the next day.

It was clear that Jacob's intention had been to make Paul uneasy and vulnerable, leaving him exhausted and depleted of energy before the impending event. The hope was that this would render him less able to muster any anger or aggression, making him more susceptible to whatever Jacob had in store for him.

Frustration and helplessness washed over Paul as he lay in bed, unable to quell the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling through his mind.

He cursed Jacob for his enigmatic behavior, wishing for the night to pass quickly so that he could confront the mystery that awaited him.

The minutes ticked by slowly, each one feeling like an eternity as Paul lay awake, his mind fixated on the unresolved riddle of Jacob's cryptic message. The silence in the room seemed to amplify the turmoil within him, making the endless waiting even more agonizing.

As the hours passed, Paul's exhaustion grew, yet he couldn't seem to find solace in sleep. The relentless torment of the unknown wore him down, leaving him helpless and tormented.

Finally, the alarm clock on his bedside table echoed with the shrill announcement of five in the morning.

With the sun rising, Paul emerged from his bed, having barely slept a wink throughout the night. The turmoil of his thoughts had kept him awake, leaving him exhausted and weary. Realizing the significance of Jacob's warning and not wanting to risk even being a moment late, Paul decided to head to the beach early, arriving at the location by 6:00 am.

Paul cared not one whit whether his tiredness was evident in the dark bags under his eyes. The prospect of answers overshadowed any discomfort he felt. Arriving at the First Beach, the sun began its ascent, gradually illuminating the sky, bringing him ever closer to whatever awaited him on the beach.

As Paul stood by the shoreline, the salty breeze rustled his hair, carrying away the remnants of sleep deprivation. His exhaustion was evident in the dark circles that marred his face, a testament to the countless anxious thoughts that had kept him awake through the night.

Paul's gaze lingered on the boundless ocean that spread out before him. The sun's radiant rays painted a picturesque scene across the waves, transforming them into shimmering works of art dancing upon the water. He felt a sense of urgency, a ticking clock of expectation hanging over him.

He knew time was slipping away, and the event that was about to take place was happening in real time, just beyond his current grasp.

As he watched the waves hitting the shore, when he sat on a lone log, focusing on the soothing sounds to calm him, and it was like a trance as he sat there, that he had no idea it was already seven.

As he settled onto a solitary log, the rhythmic motion of the waves reaching the shore lulled him into a tranquil state, much like a meditative trance. In this moment, he completely lost track of time; minutes slipped by unnoticed, and hours seemed to merge into one.

He remained transfixed, his thoughts centered on the soothing sounds, blissfully unaware that seven o'clock had already arrived.

Paul snapped out of his momentary trance as footsteps approached, causing him to whirl his gaze towards the source. It was none other than Serena, her presence taking him aback.

"Serena?" he murmured, his expression a mixture of relief, surprise, and a hint of nervousness.

Serena replied with a hint of humor in her voice, "Well, well, look who's here, I am surprised you showed up."

Paul shook his head, unable to articulate his thoughts clearly, and Serena couldn't hold back an amused smile as she hid her laughter behind her hand.