Paul Leighhot

They attended the same school in La Push, and for Paul, the days became torture. He was obsessed with her, dreaming of approaching her, touching her hair, hearing her voice, inhaling her scent. But as soon as he took a step toward her, {{user}} would turn transparently pale, turning white and recoiling from him in terror. And all because of his imposing height, abrupt movements, and explosive temper, she saw him not as a boyfriend, but as a walking disaster.

It was a chilly November day. School had just ended, and the students were hurrying home to escape the piercing wind. Paul was standing by his truck with the other boys from his pack, idly bickering, when his wolfish ears caught the familiar, desperate screech of metal. He turned his head sharply.

At the far end of the school parking lot sat an old, {{user}} car. Thick white smoke billowed from under the hood, and its owner was rushing around, unsure what to do. Onlookers had already begun to gather around her, but no one was rushing to help.

A protective instinct instantly surged within Paul. The wolf within him growled, demanding that he rush to his mate immediately.
“Get out of the way,” Paul said to the stunned Embry, pushing him out of the way and striding across the parking lot with long, predatory strides.

Paul skidded to a stop a step away from her. He immediately realized he'd scared the living daylights out of her, so he did something no one at school had ever seen him do: he raised his hands, palms up, to show he was unarmed, and spoke unexpectedly quietly, dropping his usual commanding tone.

"Hey... quiet," he said, trying not to make any sudden movements. "I'm not going to eat you, honestly."

{{user}} swallowed convulsively, her lips trembling slightly.
"The... engine... stalled," she squeezed out in a thin, frightened voice. "And smoke..."

"I see," Paul nodded softly, taking another half-step closer and cautiously peering under the hood. A fountain of boiling water was spurting out of a cracked hose. "The coolant hose just blew out. No big deal."