𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫

I was alone. Absolutely and completely alone. And I was dying. I must be. There's no way to explain the amount of pain coursing through my body, other than as death.

My heart was gone, half of it missing. I could feel the absence of the organ in the empty void it left. The pain was like a thousand suns, burning a fire through my chest cavity until it hurt to breathe.

It was like breathing underwater, I couldn't suck in air fast enough. I was drowning and hyperventilating, and dying.

The sound of my choked sobs cut through the clearing, breaking the silence of the forest around me. I wanted to scream, to cry out in pain, the hurt too much to bear. But all I could manage was short, gasping cries.

My mind was reeling, going through the last five minutes over and over trying to make sense of what just happened. But it was no use, because it didn't make sense. My mind was spinning to the point of dizziness. I felt light headed and sick to my stomach.

Emmett left me.

He left.

And he took my heart with him.

I was finally able to gulp down enough air to release a single cry of pain, the fire in my chest getting worse if possible. Spinning around I stumbled over my feet. I couldn't see where I was going, my vision blurry as I started moving in the direction of home.

My feet were barely functioning as I began to tear through the forest, my steps stumbling me into tree branches and nearly tripping over rocks. I need to get over the line. That was the only coherent thought running through my head as I moved toward the reservation lands.

I was dying.

I was sure of it. 

My heart was going to give out, unable to handle this amount of pain. The burning was spreading, eating away my flesh and bone. Destroying me.

I didn't want to die alone, I needed someone with me. I needed Emmett but he was gone.

"Paul," I called out, my voice cracking and barely audible through my sobs.

My head was light as air, my vision blurring even further, as pain seared through my skull. Was this how I died? From heartache? Was that even a thing or was this all in my head? It felt too real to be a figment of my imagination.

I swallowed thickly, trying to suck in air before calling out again, this time louder. "Paul!" I was shouting his name through my sobs, hoping it was loud enough to gain the attention of the shifter I knew was patrolling this area. Hell, I'd even take Jared or Sam at this point. I just needed someone to take away this pain.

A sharp pain struck my heart, forcing me to double over, my hand going to my chest as I let out a cry. Just the pressure of my hand over the area caused the pain to increase tenfold. The pain was so intense, so real. My stomach twisted in response, nausea pooling in my gut.

I dropped my hand and tried to force myself upright, to keep going, but my knees gave out as another wave of sharp pain shot through me. A scream tore through my lips, I was unable to contain the cries after that, my body falling to the forest floor.

I'd never felt a pain like this before. It was agony. "PAUL!" I cried out one last time before falling forward onto my hands, my fingers digging into the dirt beneath me. I was trying to hold on, to push through the pain.

But I couldn't. I could feel my heart as it beat uncontrollably against my rib cage. I could feel the burning of my lungs, my breaths coming in irregular pants that were doing nothing for me. I could feel the pain in my head spreading, making it spin until I feared I'd pass out.

My sobs were shaking my entire body, tears filling my eyes faster than I could blink them away. Darkness spotted at my vision. I don't have long. The realization sent a shock of terror down my spine.

I wasn't ready to die. I was still so young. I still had so much to do, so much left to say. "Paul," I cried out one last time, my voice cracking.

"Olivia!" I heard a distant shout. My eyes snapped open, searching for sign of help. But I couldn't see, the darkness was inching its way across my eyes, my entire field of vision blurred.

I forced my body to suck in just enough to call out, "Paul." I felt like my heart was seconds from giving out, the beats uneven as they thundered in my chest.

I squeezed my eyes shut, one of my hands reaching back up toward my chest. It was a bad idea, the pain of my touch sending another wave of nausea through me as the sharp pain doubled. I dropped my hand, falling forward as I gagged through my choked breaths. 

Another cry of pain fell from my lips. Paul needed to hurry, I couldn't hold on much longer...

"Liv!" Paul yelled as he came to a skidding stop beside me. "What's going on?"

All I could do was cry out in relief, his presence like a balm to the pain. He pulled me into his arms, cradling me to his bare chest. The warmth of his body soothed my shaking frame. 

Still, he was too late. My vision blurred until I was left in absolute darkness, the harsh beating of Paul's heart the last thing I heard before I died.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐎𝐕

In the seventeen years of Paul Lahote's life he'd never been as terrified as he was in this moment. Fear gripped at his soul until it was all he could focus on and it took every bit of self control he had to not get lost in it.

Scooping Olivia Carter off the forest floor and rushing her to the Black house was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. If you asked him again in ten years how that moment felt he'd tell you it was agonizing not knowing what was wrong with her.

Olivia was dead weight in his arms, weighing his heart down more and more with every step. Her skin was pale and clammy against his. If Paul weren't able to hear the unsteady beating of her heart, he'd think she was dead. She definitely looked the part.

"BILLY!" Paul's voice cut through the Black house like roaring thunder, jolting Billy and Jacob from their relaxation. They looked to one another, unsure as to what exactly they heard, their bodies frozen as they listened closely.

Paul was rushing up the drive, his heart thundering in his chest as absolute panic consumed him. "BILLY!" Paul's voice shook through the home once more, this time much closer. 

That was enough to make them jump into action. Jacob was the first to move to the door, since he was much faster than his wheelchair-bound father.

Jacob Black's heart dropped at the sight of Paul bounding up the ramp to their home. "What happened? What did you do?" He accused, the sight of his sister sending shock waves of fear rippling through his body.

Paul didn't respond, his eyes wide and fearful as he pushed through into the house, his eyes immediately going to Billy Black who was staring at Olivia with the same terrified look. "She just collapsed, I-I don't know what happened," Paul spoke quickly, his words merging together in panic.

"Set her on the couch, Jacob go get Sue," Billy delegated, jumping into action. Jake was frozen, staring at the limp form Paul was gently setting on the couch, was her chest moving?  "Jacob, now!"

The Black boy was quick to move, the door banging shut behind him and leaving the two men alone. 

Paul was full of dread as he stared down at his best friend. His heart was clenching with unimaginable pain at the thought of losing her. The shifters breaths were coming in short pants as he began pacing the small living space of the Black's home. He couldn't breath, his chest tightening as he could only stare at her closed eyes.

Wake up, he pleaded internally, just wake up and look at me. The thought of never seeing Olivia's baby blue eyes again sent him careening toward a full blown panic attack. 

"Paul," Billy snapped the younger man out of his panic, "you need to calm down. Your pacing isn't doing her any good." 

Paul nodded slowly, processing Billy's words slower than usual. Billy was beside the couch now, his hands wrapped around Olivia's much smaller one. Paul jumped into action, falling to a kneel beside the couch, his hand going to her hair. 

She always did love her hair being played with, he thought bitterly as he ran his fingers through her golden locks. Please be okay. 

Sue Clearwater was bursting through the door in the next moment, Jacob not behind her. Her eyes landed on Olivia, the girl she'd watched grow up. "I sent Jake to the clinic to get some supplies. What happened?" She asked, moving toward the couch.

Billy rolled out of the way so she could take his place kneeling beside the young girl. Paul didn't move from his spot, stroking Olivia's head as he spoke, his eyes staying on her closed eyes the whole time.

"I was patrolling when I heard her calling for me," Paul began, his voice grave as he recalled the moment, "by the time I got to her she was on the ground, her body shaking. She was gasping for air and I could tell she was in pain."

Sue nodded and carefully brought her hand up to Olivia's wrist, feeling for her pulse. It was beating at a steady rate, nothing concerning. Her breaths were softer now, deeper and normal. Olivia's skin was gaining it's color back and she looked fine.

Sue's brows furrowed. "Maybe she's dehydrated? She looks fine." She turned to look at Billy who was shaking his head in confusion. "We won't know anything for sure until she wakes up."

Paul's teeth ground together. "I bet it has something to do with that Cullen. Why else would she be right by the treaty line?" 

Billy shook his head, "I don't think Emmett would hurt her." But even knowing that the vampire was her soulmate, Billy wasn't fully convinced of that.

Paul stood up, his hand leaving Olivia's head. "I'm gonna call him and we'll see." He quickly slipped Olivia's phone out from her front jean pocket, flipping it open and dialing the number as he walked out onto the front porch. Of course he was on speed dial, Paul cursed.

The line rang and rang until it went to voice mail. Paul called again. And again. And again. Still, no one answered.

Paul tried the other Cullen's. Alice didn't answer. Neither did Jasper, Carlisle, or Esme. Edwards's line was disconnected. She said they were becoming her family, what a load of bullshit. Paul began to dial Emmett again, so focused on getting a hold of the vampire that he didn't notice what was going on in the living room.

 Olivia looked better when Sue first walked in, she looked normal and healthy. But now she was anything but. Her breathing was the first thing to change, her breaths quickening until she was gasping for air. Her skin started to loose its color once again and as Sue took her pulse again she noted that it was racing and skipping at a rate she couldn't count.

"What's going on?" Billy questioned, worry evident in his voice.

Sue shook her head, "I have no idea, she was fine just a second ago..."

Olivia let out a whimper as pain began coursing through her body once again. Her face contorted in pain as she let out a small cry of distress.

That small noise was enough for Paul to come rushing back into the house. "What did you guys do?" He accused, not caring that the pair would never do anything to harm the girl, all he could see was that Olivia was looking like a wreck again.

He was swift as he made his way back to the head of the couch, his hands going to the blonde's hair, trying to soothe her. It seemed to work because the moment Paul's hand touched Olivia's head, she relaxed.

And as the minutes wore on her breathing and heart rate returned to normal, her skin regained its color, and she looked just fine. And the only reason they could come up with was that Paul was next to her.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐎𝐕

Emmett Cullen was a wreck. His heart was aching in his chest as he worried over his mate. He'd left her, hurt her in the worst way possible and he knew it would be a long time before she even thought of forgiving him.

Alice was silent as she came through the back door, Emmett's phone in hand. "Olivia is calling again," She whispered, her own voice melancholy at the idea of leaving Forks and the two girls behind.

Emmett took the phone, watching it as it rang in his palm. She'd called him eight times now. She'd also called each of his siblings at least three times. He wanted to answer it so badly but, he knew he couldn't. He'd promised Edward.

Still, he couldn't tear his eyes away as he watched her name flash across the screen. "Do you still see it?" He asked, his voice rough from crying. Of course it wasn't actual crying as vampires didn't shed tears but the shaking of his body as he cried out in the forest was close enough to the real thing.

Alice didn't need to ask to know what Emmett was referring to. "Yes, I see Edward and Bella together, even now that he's decided to leave her. One day she will become a vampire and they'll be together."

"Do you see me and Livia though?" He pushed.

Alice sighed, "you know I can't see her future. The shifters keep her hidden from my ability. But, if Edward and Bella are together then that has to mean that you and Liv are together too. We come home soon, Emmett, we won't be gone very long and Liv will be here waiting for you when we do come back. Your her mate, she'll forgive you eventually."

Emmett took Alice's words and nodded, allowing them to sooth him. Olivia would be okay, she had to be. 

As Olivia Carter's name flashed across his phone once more, Emmett had to put a stop to it. She would be okay. Still, it took all of the vampire's strength to crush the device in his palm. Effectively cutting Olivia from his life as he'd promised his brother. For now, he reassured himself, its only temporary.