On the outskirts of Forks, Paul meets up with Sam much later then he should have, to discuss the troubling matter with his alpha.
Sam Uley was standing off to the side, facing the woods—his head tilted to the side as if listening to something most humans couldn't hear.
Paul hesitated, feeling almost like he was interrupting the Alpha's meditation. The forest was quiet save for the wind rustling through the trees. He cleared his throat, hoping to catch Sam's attention.
"Sam…"
Sam however is concentrating much to deeply and therefore didn't hear Paul approach him. "Alpha," he said again hoping that calling him by his title will be a more earnest approach. Paul don't precisely know how to approach his alpha about Derek, Aria and their Anima Cantat that's forming in Beacon Hills of all places.
That caught Sam's attention, as he slowly turned towards Paul—his gaze steady and measured.
"Paul…"
He paused, studying the man standing before him.
"Is something bothering you?"
Paul took a deep breath, composing himself mentally and physically for what's to come.
Sam tilted his head, studying Paul intently. He could sense the tension radiating off the other man.
"Out with it." He finally said, voice firm but not unkind.
"Another Anima Cantat had answered to its calling," Paul said momentarily making eye contact but then looked away.
Sam's eyebrows furrowed, his attention piqued.
"Another Anima Cantat…"
He echoed, folding his arms across his chest. He could smell the unease rolling off Paul in waves.
"And it's happening in Beacon Hills between Derek Hale and Aria Vanderwaal."
Sam stiffened—his eyes narrowing as if the name itself carries weight.
"Derek Hale…? As in, the lone wolf who barely speaks to anyone. You're cousin?" He turned fully toward Paul, voice low and urgent. "And Aria Vanderwaal, you say—is she even supernatural?"
Paul shook his head. "No. Not yet, that I know off."
A beat of silence.
Then Sam let out a slow, dangerous breath—like he's just realized something far worse than he first thought.
"That shouldn't be possible. Anima Cantat bonds between a werewolf and a human… they're rare. Nearly extinct. Because they burn too bright. Collapse too fast." His jaw clenched. "Or someone is letting it happen… because they want it to end in blood."
He turned back toward the trees, voice dropping to a growl: "Beacon Hills again… Fate doesn't keep returning there by accident. It's being pulled. Wait not yet, what do you mean."
Paul heaves in a breath, "She's a direct descended of the Ashokan Sisters."
Sam's eyes went wide—shock, disbelief, and a touch of horror dawning in his expression.
"The Ashokan Sisters… as in, the original Ashokan sisters?"
Paul nods firmly.
Sam lets out a low curse. It's the first time Paul's ever seen the alpha truly shaken.
"Those legends are supposed to be just that…"
He drags a hand over his face, voice tense.
"... Legends."
Sam looks at Paul, gaze sharp and hard.
"You're certain about this?"
He curtly gave another nod. "One hundred percent. I fear that even if the connection is complete, Derek may be able to shield her from other birds of a feather but not the wicked ones. Their Anima Cantat will plunge earth either into darkness or into a blood thirsty war."
Sam grimaced, staring into the trees as if expecting some terrible vision to emerge from the shadows.
"They say the Anima Cantat is the closest thing our world has to soulmates."
He chuckled darkly. "If that's the case... this bond isn't just powerful."
"It's cataclysmic."
The wind stilled—unnatural, sudden. Even the crickets seemed to stop.
Sam turned back to Paul, voice now a razor's edge: "If Aria is truly of Ashokan blood—if she carries that ancient magic in her veins—then her bonding with Derek isn't just fate…"
"It's ignition."
He took a step forward.
"Do you know what the Ashokan Sisters were? Not myths. Not legends. They were weavers. Threads between life and death, human and spirit, world and veil. And when one of their bloods mingles soul-deep with a werewolf—a creature tied to moon and primal force…"
Sam's eyes flashed wolf-gold in the dark.
"The bond doesn't just bind two hearts. It rewrites the natural order."
"Sky may forget night. Earth might crack open. And every dark thing that's been sleeping… will wake up hungry."
He looked Paul dead in the eye.
"We have to warn them."
"Well at least we don't have to worry about the Volturi," Paul said matter of factly like that's good news.
Sam blinked—then actually let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
"Yeah… I guess we can count our blessings there."
He ran a hand through his hair, the tension momentarily cracking under the absurdity. "Only in Forks could someone say, 'At least the vampire death cult isn't after them' like it's reassuring."
Paul shrugged, offering a wry smirk. "Hey, perspective, right? At least we don't have to fight off a group of sadistic immortals."
He paused, then added under his breath: "Yet."
Sam shot him a sharp look. "Don't jinx it, Paul."
He turned back to the trees, voice dropping again—serious, heavy.
"But you're right about one thing… the Volturi being out of the picture? That's not luck."
"It's strategy."
He glanced over his shoulder, eyes glinting in the moonlight.
"They don't touch Anima Cantat bonds. Not directly. Too volatile. Unpredictable. Even they know some fires aren't worth controlling… only avoiding."
A beat of silence.
"Which means whatever's coming for Aria and Derek? It won't come with fangs."
"It'll come with shadows."
He shivers slightly as Sam's vision became much more transparent. Paul swallows down an annoying lump that stuck to his throat. "So what now? Do we intervene or prepare for war?" He asked his alpha twin questions.
Sam considered this for a moment.
"We wait."
Paul looked like he was about to protest, but Sam held up a hand.
"Our pack is the strongest in this region. But our wolves, however loyal, aren't enough to protect a new Anima Cantat if something really powerful shows up…"
He sighed, looking back out into the woods.
"We need allies."
"We need Jacob and maybe the Cullens would pledge their aid too," Sam added on a whim.
Paul frowned.
"The Cullens… sure, I can see them getting involved when it comes to keeping something under control—but you think Jacob will help? He barely leaves La Push as it is."
Sam shot him a meaningful look.
"You think, I don't know that... The only time he leaves La Push, it's to be with HER... His faithful mate... But if we can add Jacob and his pack, she'll convince her mother to follow and where Bella goes, goes the Cullens." Sam stated bluntly.
Paul raised an eyebrow but nodded—conceding the point.
"Fair enough."
He shifted his weight to his opposite leg.
"What about the Argent family? They're pretty well-versed in hunting the supernatural… they might be worth the trouble of asking."
Sam nods his head in acknowledgement. "You contact that friend of yours in Mystic Falls, ask him to get allies together and that a war is upon us. I'll give the Argent family a call and ask him to do the same," the alpha ordered. "Once that's done we focus on getting our own allies together."
Paul nodded dutifully. "Got it, alpha."
He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Anything else?"
"No, that's all for now."
Paul nodded. "I'm on it."
He glanced at Sam.
"I'll update you as soon as I hear anything back."
Paul stayed only long enough to see the swift nod of his alpha's head.
Sam watched him go, frowning slightly. The woods suddenly felt… heavier.
He turned back toward the forest.
This won't end well.