I've become one of the most wanted writers for the music industry. Not every gets to say that but I do.
Ever since Sam sent in my songs to Pete for my birthday, I have become a hit. I have been working non-stop, creating new songs for artists who I could only have dreamed to meet. The downside to my job was working long hours, but I found that to be okay. Sam was busy running his pack, working at the station and dealing with Collin and Brady.
The two were still having a hard time dealing with their life change. I felt bad for them. They seemed really helpless and it was pushing them over the edge. One day, they came over to my house to talk with Sam. They must have not liked what they heard because the next thing I knew, my foyer contained two large wolves.
Sam barked for them to get outside while he glanced at the damage. Peeking my head in from the kitchen, I almost had a heart attack. The front of Charlie's house in shambles! Sam gave me a sad look and started shaking. Immediately I calmed him down.
"Its not your fault. Sam, its fine," I said rubbing up and down his arms.
"Charlie is going to kill us," he said sadly.
"No he isn't. Look, we can fix it okay? Its not a big deal." My brain was rationalizing it, but my stomach knew better. It was ready to lurch from my throat.
I let out a breath and looked to the door. That was ripped from the wall too. Both boys, who were in wolf form were standing outside waiting. I assumed they were commanded to stay there for punishment.
Giving me a kiss to the head, Sam trudged outside shaking like a leaf. I worried for the boys. They were having a hard time and Sam wasn't very well known to be sympathetic when it came this.
Running out, I halted in front of Sam before he could do or say anything to the boys.
"Just wait," I said as he opened his mouth in commanding question. I turned to the boys, but Sam reeled me back to him with his warm hand.
"What are you doing Bella. They aren't in control right now," he said in more of an Alpha tone than a loving one. I put a hand on his cheek. He needed to calm down.
"I know you. And how you have handled this so far…hasn't been the best," I said trying not to make him feel inferior. That would be the last thing I wanted to do. Especially when his wolf was touchy about this subject.
"I just want to talk to them before you start barking out their punishment. They are still human Sam, they are just mad right now."
"Bella, leave them be. This isn't something for you to handle. They need to learn phasing in someone's house isn't the right thing to do. Go back inside," he ordered. My jaw set. I was not one of his wolves.
"They didn't hurt anyone," I said in my calmest tone possible. A flash of worry crossed his eyes and I sighed.
"Sam," I said softly. I ran my hands over his tense shoulders. "I'm fine. They didn't hurt me or anyone else. Its okay."
"They could have," he said. "Now please go back inside," he said partially begging. I was torn. I could tell was fueled with anger, but it wasn't right to lash out on the boys because of it. Letting him have his ways, I glanced back at the boys and went back inside, kissing Sam's cheek on the way.
I watched from the window as Sam yelled at the two wolves. They seemed guilt ridden but as time passed and Sam continued to yell, they got angry. They snapped and growled which only egged Sam on even more. He banished them away from here to go do patrols.
As the two siblings left, Sam stayed outside for a while. I think he was trying to calm himself down so he wouldn't become a danger to me. I felt bad and partially guilty. He shouldn't be so worried about me. I was fine. Before I could go out to him, Charlie came home and looked at his house.
"What in god's name?" his voice rang out at the front door. I let out a wince and went to find him.
"Hey dad," I said uneasy.
"What the hell happened here Bella?" he asked looking at the house.
"Collin and Brady got upset and phased inside the house. Sam took care of them," I added before he could ask.
"What got them so mad?" he asked. "Who knows," I replied stepping over some chunks of wood. Charlie gave the house a pitiful look.
"They are just having a hard time dealing with their new lives dad. I don't blame them."
Charlie stayed quiet and went to step inside the kitchen with me. "So where is Sam now?" he huffed.
"Here sir," Sam said coming in the house to join us. "I'm sorry Charlie, I will pay to fix this. The boys just-"
"Its fine Sam," my dad said pretty chill. "Just make sure they get themselves under control. I don't need them getting upset when Bells is around."
I rolled my eyes and saw where Sam was getting some of his crazy paranoid thoughts.
"Dad that would never happen. The boys may lose control every now and then but they are cautious around me. Give them some credit."
"Bella, when they are hot headed like that, they don't care who is around. It could happen to anyone. Especially you. You spend a lot of time around those boys."
I went to rebut against my dad but Sam spoke up. "Your dad's right Bells, I can't let that happen."
"Sam," I groaned. Now wasn't the time to add his input. I turned back to my dad. "Stop getting Sam all worked up with those stupid rare possibilities dad. I will be fine, I trust Collin and Brady."
"Well Bella, I don't. And until they can get themselves under control, I don't want you to be near either one of them alone."
My eyes narrowed. "Don't even go there dad."
Charlie looked at me with as he went to the fridge to get a beer. Sam took a step towards me to come back me away. Slipping an arm around my waist, he pulled me towards him. Pushing his hand away, I continued to glare at my father.
"I'm going to say this once and only once," I said now looking at the two of them, "You are not the boss of me. I take care of myself. That is my responsibility. You both, do not get to control who I see, when I see them, and where I see them. I live my own life."
"As long as you live under my roof, you will live under my rules," Charlie said in the same tone. Ever since my one lash out with him, he has become more boned about everything. He isn't as afraid to tread into those deep waters.
"Then I'll find somewhere else to live," I said being stubborn. I didn't care what it took to show them my point; they were not about to control me like that.
"Bella," Sam warned out carefully.
"I mean what I say." I said looking at the men. "Both of you don't get to dictate me like that. I get that you feel like you have to protect me and that you worry. I don't mind when you do that. But telling me what I can do and what I cant…I wont take that."
"They are dangerous Bella," My dad said. "They could kill you if they phased with you being too close."
"They would move away before that was to happen," I said confidently.
"You don't know that Bella," Sam said softly.
I shrugged. "I trust them, just like I trust the both of you."
"I'm not a threat to you Bella, I can control my anger. And you know when I don't, I leave," Sam said.
"And I don't phase anymore," Charlie said taking another swig of beer. I rolled my eyes. I didn't mean trust in that way.
"And as great as that is, both of you, I meant I trust you with my life. I trust the whole pack with my life- Collin and Brady included."
Charlie let out a breath. I had never felt so angry with the man than I had right now. How could he be so…infuriating?
"I'm sorry Bella, this is just how I feel. You are going to have to accept it," Charlie said with a given up look. I glanced to Sam and he nodded taking my dad's side.
Huffing, I went to leave. I hated when Sam did this. He never stood by me. It was always with someone else.
"Bella!" my dad called to me.
I put a hand up and shook my head. Forget about it.
Sam turned to stop me, but I could see it coming. "Don't even think about it Sam," I called behind me and then walked out the door.
I walked to the edge of the woods and hollered for Collin and Brady. Within a few minutes the wolves appeared. Immediately I heard feet running down the porch steps and towards me. "Sam you take two more steps and I swear you will regret it," I warned to him.
See, something I learned over the years I had been with him was that the imprint didn't have to be so black and white. I played things to my advantage, this time being one of them. If Sam didn't obey me, he would be in a week of hell. I would push the imprint to the limits of rejection. It hurt the both of us, but it was familiar. I knew the feeling from when it first happened.
The wolf cant live without the imprint. And when the imprint is ignoring the wolf and not considering him at all, then things get a little rough. The wolf will do anything to satisfy his imprint. Literally.
This sounds harsh, like I am being some unreasonable bitch, im not. Okay, I am pushing it with Sam, but I can't help it. Sam doesn't get it. All he sees is me. He sees a potential threat to his imprint and immediately has to fix it so im safe.
Sure the pull of his pack brings his mind reason, but he is so focused on the imprint that he can't get a full perspective. So that's where I come in. I step in when he becomes unreasonable. And with the effect I have on him, it brings me some leverage and power. Sam came to a halt and tried to reason with me.
"Bella please, I get what you are saying baby. But please Bella!" he said as I went over to Collin and Brady.
"Hey guys," I told the two wolves. They looked over at Sam with question. "Ignore him for right now," I said to them. Their attention went back to me.
"You know I trust you guys right?" I asked them. Slowly heir heads nodded up and down.
"I trust you with my life. And although many people have doubts in you, I trust you, with all of my heart," I admitted to them. "I know how worried Sam is about me-about you two phasing with me too close, but I want you to know, I don't think you guys would ever do that."
I knew Sam had it drilled in his head that one day the boys would be too close and hurt me. Charlie had the possibility burned into his thoughts. But I had complete faith in Collin and Brady even they didn't have it in themselves. They were being punished by not only by Sam, but Jake, Embry, and everyone else. Sam continuously put pressure on the two youngsters, which put everyone else in frenzy. It was time for me to end it. I was tired of everyone being so nervous around me.
"You guys are the youngest of the group. You don't deserve this pressure that you are getting from everyone. And im sorry for not stopping it earlier."
Brady tilted his head to the side. "You boys can do such great things with the abilities you have. But you doubt yourselves beyond reason, saying everyday how much you hate to be a wolf. I'll have you know, being a wolf can be great."
Collin let out a huff. I gave him a look. "You don't think so?"
He shook his big furry head and I shrugged. "Okay, well then maybe you should think back to how things used to be. I know you both used to get picked on at school for being scrawny kids. You want to go back to that? Because I know the wolf transformation helped you become built and buff."
Collin pulled a face. "And what about being a chick magnet? I hear Paul talk about it all of the time. With the way you guys all look, I know you get girls fawning over you quite often."
A blush was visible on Brady's cheeks. "You have brothers too. They may not always see things correctly, but they have your back. They will be there for you thick and thin. They will always be there when things get rough."
I looked back at Sam and saw him standing there quietly. "And you have us. Sam and I will always be there. I know you look up to him as a father figure. I can see it whenever you guys are around. I want you to both see that we will always be there, especially me. I am to here for you all of the time- day or night, 24/7. I'm making it my job to butt into the pack's business, meaning yours," I smiled. "I love you guys like you are my brothers. And I want you to know that."
Brady stepped closer to me and touched my chin with his nuzzle.
"I'm here for you too Collin," I said when I noticed he was just looking at me. "I'm not leaving you out to dry. I don't care what anyone says, I'll be here."
Collin sat down staring at me. Slowly, I went closer to him. He leaned his head down looking at me more closely. Bringing my hand up, I kissed his nuzzle and smiled at him.
"Always," I repeated in a hushed tone. His form started to shrink and a naked Collin was in front of me.
"Hey, welcome back," I smiled. He gave me a small blush. "I'm sorry Bella. I didn't mean to make everyone upset."
"You didn't make anyone upset except yourself," I told him sympathetically.
"You boys okay now?" I asked to now both a naked Brady and Collin. They both nodded.
"Good cause its time for you to put some clothes on," I joked as I went to go get Sam. Immediately they were hit with shorts in the face.
"Be nice," I warned to Sam as I came to kiss him.
"I love you," he murmured to me softly. "And I always love you," I said right back. Giving him a quick kiss, I waited for the boys to change so we could face the world together.
A/N: how do you like the sequel so far? Let me know!
