It's been nine years since I've spoken to any of the pack. Why you may ask. That's simple, I wish for nothing more than a simple life. With them around, nothing was ever simple. The ones I thought were my friends, turned on me; the two I never expected supported me. Let me rephrase, I haven't spoken to any of them but two. Leah and Paul left with me.
The pack didn't know what happened to them, so it went like this; Paul left first, going ahead of us and ended up in South Dakota, then Leah left following him, then I left after she did. We are currently living in Sioux Falls, SD. We've got our lives and families here. Both of them imprinted on a couple of my friends from college. I brought them home one day to get some homework done before we were supposed to go out that night, but my two best friends decided to go and imprint on them. I thought it was funny. Paul imprinted on my girl, Sheena Whitehorse, and Leah imprinted on my bro, Elliott Redfeather.
Leah and Eli have three kids, two six year old twin boys, Russell Dean and Raymond Lee. They have one little girl, Isabella Ann, she's four.
Paul and Sheena have two kids, ages six and five, Rosanna Marie and Jonathon Tatanka.
I was so happy they named their girls after me. I jumped up and down, I was there for all the births. No one has ever found out what happened to us after we left the rez. I haven't even spoken to my father, or Leah to her mother or brother. Paul hasn't spoken to any of them after what they said to me.
"Bella, come on, we have to get everything ready." Leah yelled from outside my door. Today was Sheena's birthday. The kids were gonna go stay in Pine Ridge with their grandparents for the weekend, so we were gonna party it up.
I rolled over into a hard, sculpted body and smiled to myself. Rubbing my eyes groggily, I poked one eye open to see my current conquest laying there sound asleep. I pushed on his bicep and I felt my body start to get wet.
"We don't have time for that right now!" Paul yelled and I groaned. I shook his arm and tried to rouse him. "Jason, hun, it's time for you to go." I said as he cracked an eye open and smiled. His long, tan, lean, sculpted torso shifted so he was sitting up. He looked down at me and gave me his panty droppin smile. I felt myself get wetter.
I groaned as I saw the clock. I had to get up and get around. "You really have to go, sweetie. I need to get things together. Are you sure you can't make it tonight?" I asked looking up at him.
"Yeah, have to work tonight, sorry sugar." He said and I swooned. I loved it when he called me that.
"Alright. I'll see ya around." I said holding my breath I gave him a light, chaste kiss and got off the bed. Walking into the bathroom I closed the door and started my morning ritual. After about half an hour I walked back into my room to see it totally vacant. As much as I like the guy this couldn't ever work, not with me living like I do.
Getting dressed I walked down the stairs to see my nieces and nephews sitting at the table eating. I walked into the kitchen to see Leah holding out a hot mug of coffee. I thanked her profusely and kissed her cheek.
"Good morning, Sunshine. What time did you and Mr. yummy get in last night?" Leah asked smirking.
"Don't remember, all I know is that I felt really good this morning." I mumbled to see her grinning at me like the Cheshire cat.
"Why don't you just give him a chance? The man is practically in love with you. He worships the ground you walk on." She said as I sighed.
"Not today, Lee." I groaned out downing the rest of my coffee. I got up to pour another cup when Paul walked into the room, giving both Leah and I a kiss on our cheeks.
"What 'not today'?" He asked pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"We're just talking about Jason and Bells status." Leah said smirking.
"I don't like him." Paul grunted.
"No one asked you." Leah snapped.
"Where's Sheena?" I asked trying to change the subject.
"Shower." He answered.
"Mama is Aunty Bella gonna marry Jason?" Ella asked.
"No she probably won't, because Uncle Paul doesn't like him." Leah said laughing as Paul scowled.
"Why not Daddy? He's hot!" Rose exclaimed.
"Not you too!" Paul groaned and smashed his head against the counter top.
We all started laughing as Sheena appeared. "What's so funny?" She asked pulling Paul's head up to kiss him and then letting it go so it dropped back down.
"Apparently my dating status." I said smirking.
"Ooo, are we talking about that hottie from last night?" She asked as Paul groaned again. "Oh Hush up Paul. How did it go?"
"It went very, very well last night. Let's just say I wasn't very hung over this morning." I said smirking into my coffee.
"Are we speaking of the scream fest that was going on in your room last night, Bells?" Eli asked wagging his eyebrows.
That set us off again. "Yes, that would be it."
We were laughing when Leah and Paul stiffened. I knew that look. I looked to Sheena and nodded toward the den. "Come on kids you can help me out in the Den, we need to make room for tonight." Sheena said as they all took off toward the room. I looked to Eli and nodded my head after them and he nodded.
I looked over to Leah and Paul as they both whispered. "A wolf is here." I stiffened looking around for something, anything to get my mind elsewhere. Leah grabbed my shaking hand and smiled softly. "Relax, Bells, we got this." Leah said jerking her head in Paul's direction, as he just nodded finishing off his cup of coffee. "Just act normal. Like it doesn't bother you."
I nodded and went to sit down to eat. I pulled the magazine that had been abandoned by one of the girls and started going over the gossip in it. I looked over at them and they both smiled. Paul winked at me as someone knocked on the door. "Keep eating, you're gonna need that energy for tonight." He said laughing as he walked over to the front door.
I peeked out from behind the magazine as I heard Paul speak at a normal tone. "Sam, what brings you to my home?" Paul asked clearly annoyed.
I looked over to Leah, who sat down to eat, shrug and winked at me.
"I…I…I'm not sure why I'm here Paul, I just needed to see and speak with you about something."
"It's been nine years, Sam, why now?"
"I don't know Paul, just can I come in its kinda hot out here?" Sam asked.
Paul didn't say anything, but I heard the tale tell sound of the door creaking open more, so I figured he let him in. "I was eating breakfast so excuse me, while I continue to do so." Paul said leading a stunned Sam into the kitchen. The moment he looked at us, his eyes bugged.
"Leah? Bella? What are you two doing here?" Sam asked in shock.
"Not that it's any of your business, Sam. We were in the middle of eating breakfast." Leah snorted as I snickered.
"Eli! Sheena! Come here." I yelled as the three wolves covered their ears.
"Dammit Bells, I've told you a hundred times not to do that." Paul said shaking his head.
"Sorry, but they were in the back of the house, how else are they gonna hear me?" I asked innocently as Leah smirked and let out a laugh.
"What the fuck ever, Bells. You just wanted to piss him off." Eli said walking into the kitchen to sit beside Leah, pulling her to him for a small kiss.
"Yeah, but he won't do anything to her. She has him wrapped around her finger." Sheena said laughing, as she sat on Paul's lap, his arm going around her waist.
"Hey can I say something here? It's not my fault I'm irresistible." I said laughing, making them all laugh.
"Oh yeah, from the screams going on last night I have no doubt about that." Eli said laughing as leah swatted at his arm playfully.
"Imagine having our hearing?" Paul grunted looking pissed.
"I'm sorry, bub, but it couldn't be avoided. It was gonna happen anyway." I said sweetly as Paul narrowed his eyes at me.
"Aunty Bella, is Jason gonna come back anytime soon?" Rose asked excitedly.
"I'm not sure, that's only if your daddy doesn't have a fit about him being here." I said to her. She looked over to see Sam standing there and looked back at me.
"Who's the big dude?" She whispered to me.
"Rosanna Lahote, meet Sam Uley. He's from the same rez your daddy and Aunt Leah's from." I said as she stared at him with narrowed eyes.
"He looks mean." Rose said looking him over. I laughed.
"I know." I whispered back. "How about you go up to my room and play the xbox? Take your brother and cousins too."
She smiled brightly. "Okay." She said as she took off. She yelled out. "Let's go play the Xbox in Aunty Bella's room."
That was all it took as we heard little feet rushing up the stairs and heard my door close. Their parents just looked at me. "What?" I asked innocently.
"What game is in there right now?" Leah asked narrowing her eyes at me.
"Batman: Arkham City. Why?" I asked looking at them.
"Violence, Bells. No wonder Jon thought he could glide off the roof and into the pool the other day." Sheena said chuckling.
"Hey I didn't tell them to do that." I defended.
"Whatever, Bells. Let's get down to business. What is it that you're here for Sam?" Paul said changing the subject.
"I'm not sure. All I know is that one of the Cullen's showed up at the border and was demanding to see Bella." He said looking over at me.
"If you think even for a fucking minute I'm coming back, then you, sir, are sadly mistaken. Because I will not set one foot back in that god-forsaken place. Be it the rez or Forks. I'm happy here; can't you all just leave me alone?" I asked looking at him pleadingly. "Wait, how did you even fucking find us?"
"I was really only looking for Paul. When he took off, we didn't know what to think. Then Leah disappeared to. Then you did. We searched and searched, but after a year and nothing we gave up, thinking that you didn't want us to find you. It wasn't until one of the Cullen's, the short pixie like one, showed up and told us that you were to be found and needed to be there for something big. I don't know." Sam said apologetically. "She said she saw you once, it was in Rapid City, then nothing. So I decided that I would try all over the state." Sam said as Leah got up and made him a plate. He looked at her gratefully, thanking her, he dug in.
After a moment he looked up to see us all staring at him. He looked at us and we raised an eyebrow at him. "You do have manners, Sam, use them." I said looking on in incredulity.
He swallowed and spoke. "Sorry, it's just I'm used to eating with the pack." He looked a little sheepish as he slowed down and at normally.
I looked over at Paul. "What do you think, Bub?"
He sighed rubbing a hand over his face. "I think our best bet is to go back. If it turns out to be nothing too serious, we'll leave and come back home."
Sam winced when he heard Paul say 'home'. I think it had more to do with the fact that he and his pack turned on, not only me, but Paul and Leah as well. The only other two who didn't were Jared and Seth. I felt my stomach start to turn and pushed my plate in Paul's direction as he just started to eat from both plates. He looked up at me and nodded, jerking his head toward the door.
"Sheen, Leah? Ready?" I asked. They nodded and grabbed their purses. I grabbed my 'guy' wallet, as Leah calls it, stuffing it in my back pocket as we were heading out the door. "We'll be back in a bit." I yelled out as we took off to the car.
Eli's POV
"I don't know about this Paul, I mean we'll be on your old packs land. What's that mean for Sheena and I?" I asked as he looked to Sam.
"You'll be fine. We won't let them do anything to ya." Paul said still looking at Sam, who had just finished his food.
"Who cooked?" Sam asked looking to Paul.
Paul smirked. "Leah."
His eyes were so wide. "Leah knows how to cook?"
It was my turn to smirk. "Of course she does. She's my wife and I had to make sure my wife knew how to cook for her husband and her children." I said confidently.
He looked at me like I had a third head. "You dominate her? And she doesn't say anything?" he asked in disbelief.
"Of course. I am Alpha, she will submit to me, willingly, might I add." I said as he turned a bit pale.
"What are you?" He asked. Now we were getting to the good stuff.
"I am Alpha of the Lakota Pack. We are wolves and have been a lot longer than you. The difference between us is that each generation has their own pack. I am Alpha of mine. As such, My oldest son, Russell will be Alpha of his, his brother Raymond will be beta." I said smirking. "Since Paul and Leah cut their ties to you and made their ties with us, they belong to us. You cannot have them back. Leah is my mate and Alpha female of this pack. Paul is Beta and Sheena is Beta female. Bella is our strategist. A friend of ours actually wanted her for his mate, but she refused. Unlike you all, we choose our mates. As such though. Bella is pack and our family and where she goes, we all go."
Paul smirked looking over at an astounded Sam. "Got it yet?" Paul asked.
Sam just nodded and gulped audibly.
"Good. Paul, get a hold of everybody and tell them to meet us here. We need to have a meeting." I said as he got up and walked over to the house phone. "Look, I know you have a history with them, but understand that they belong here, with their family. When we leave they will to."
"I understand. I really wanted to apologize to them all. The three of them knew and told us as such, but we just brushed them aside as if they didn't matter. At one point, Bella was our pack as well. But when she told me that two of the imprints were cheating on their wolves, we got angry. Basically my now ex-wife, and Jacob's now ex-wife were cheating on us with two guys from Forks. It was two years after Bella, Leah, and Paul disappeared. That was one of the reasons we wanted to find them, but it was too late. The only two who didn't even go against them were Jared and Seth." He said looking ashamed.
"Stupid." I said as I stood up and walked into the living room, leaving Sam and Paul in the kitchen together. "Just so fucking stupid."
Paul's POV
Sam and I were left alone in the kitchen…Damn you Eli. I sat back down at the table and turned to him. He looked so ashamed of himself. Good. I thought as I looked him over.
"So how did you break the imprint?" I asked looking him over.
"She did. She rejected me while I was in wolf form and it broke it. Same thing with Cassie." He said looking down at his empty plate.
"You should be happy to be free of her. At least you can do what you wanna do." I said off-handedly. At one point in time this man was one of my closest friends, but I after all the shit he spouted to Bella that day. I lost all respect for him.
It was as if he couldn't pull his head out of his own ass long enough to see reason. So I did what my family was best at and broke away from the pack and left. I got a call from Leah two days later saying that she left too. Then two more days later I get a call from Bella in tears. Leah and I raced to get her in the middle of the night and like a thief in the night we disappeared.
"How have you all been really Paul?" Sam asked.
"Great. I love it here. I have my family, great friends, and my in-laws are awesome. I'm not moving back Sam. I'm not gonna let my kids grow up like I did. They will never know what it's like to have to sit and watch as your mom gets hit after hit, just so your dad won't come after you. I will not let them live in poverty like I grew up. My kids will know what it's like to live in comfort." I said as he just kind of stared at me. "What?"
"You just don't sound like you." Sam said giving me a smile.
"You don't know me, Sam. That hot-headed asshole, that one that was a player through and through, wasn't me. That was me trying to get so much shit off my shoulders that I did the only thing I knew would work to keep me preoccupied." I said as I lifted my glass of orange juice to my lips to take a swig.
Sam was about to say something when I calmly got up and opened the front door. The moment I did a blur passed me and headed up the stairs straight to Bella's room.
"Hey Ryan!" I yelled out.
"What up tho!" He yelled back before I heard the kids squeal out in happiness.
"Ryan!" Rose yelled out and I groaned. Not another one.
Two pairs of arms were wrapped around me from each side of me. "Lina, Trina. How are you girls?" I asked as they laughed.
"Be better if I could crawl back in bed, but you said we had a meeting and I'm guessing boss-man is in the den?" Lina asked as I nodded.
"Go on. The others should be here soon. We've got some news." I said as they both hightailed it to the den to question bossman. I laughed to myself as I heard a 'fuck', ring out. Payback's a bitch, Eli!