It's been a year since I've been home, back to the Quileute reservation of La Push, Washington. My name is Bella Black a cousin of Billy Black. But also cousin to one, Nicole Swan, I am Charlie Swan's niece. Sam Uley, Maria Dark-Horse and I were the best of friends; the three of us grew up together.
A year ago I left to get the scars on my back reduced, and the only place that seemed to be able to get the huge scars to disappear was in Tokyo, Japan. So now here I am pulling up to my Uncle Charlie's home in Forks, WA.
Walking up the steps I hear someone shuffling toward the door. I listened as I heard the doorknob creak as it twisted and watched as the door came open to reveal a middle-aged man with graying hair standing in front of me. "Uncle Charlie." I acknowledged the man.
His eyes lit up as he saw it really was me, an overwhelming emotion overtook him and he picked me up in a huge hug. "Bella, I'm glad you're back and just in time too. I was getting ready to go to La Push to see Billy." I smiled softly when he spoke of Billy. I was missing my cousin something awful. So I offered to drive and he accepted.
Our drive to La Push was in silence and great respect for each other's privacy. He never did question me, unless he thought I was in danger. Even then he asked minimal questions to stay the awkwardness that would probably come from prying into someone else's life. As soon as the small red home came into view, my body shivered in anticipation at the thought of seeing my cousins. Nic and Billy, regardless of age I saw Billy as my cousin not an elder of my tribe. I was never around his kids only him, so when Rachel and Rebecca had came across me asleep in their living room one morning they didn't know what to think. I'm sure Rachel would have woken me up if not for their dad sitting at the kitchen table calmly eating his breakfast. I've seen them from afar, but not spoken to them. The same goes with his youngest, Jacob. The boy seems to be just that, a boy. So I opted to not get involved in their lives, yet I kept in touch with Billy. I am two years older than Sam, but only a year older than Maria.
I pulled out of my musings by my uncle nudging my in the ribs with his elbow as he nodded his head in the direction of Billy sitting in the doorway.
"Hey Billy." I said as I gave him a bright smile and hugged him.
"Bella, how have you been?" Billy asked eyeing me with great detail.
I shrugged as I answered, "Good, surgery went well. But it is good to be home finally. Is my house still standing?"
"Yes, it is. Sam has been taking care of it for you. He believed you would be home soon enough." Billy said smiling. "You didn't say anything, did you?"
"No. You were the only one I told I was coming home. Uncle Charlie got a surprise. Now where is my cousin Nic at?" I asked looking to Billy.
"In the garage around back with Jacob." Billy said nodding his head toward the side of the house.
"I'll go get her." Charlie said walking away.
When I was sure he was out of earshot I asked the question I had been dying to ask. "How many else?"
"Five so far, Jacob was the last. We're hoping that he's the last, but Quil is starting to show signs as well." Billy said gravely. I nodded solemnly as we heard feet shuffling back toward us. I turned and my eyes zoomed in to Nic's and I smiled warmly to her. She took a second before recognition crossed her features and she smiled a smile so bright I thought her face might crack.
"Bella!" She squealed as she launched herself on me as I caught her and hugged her close. "I can't believe you're home. Finally you're back."
"I know, baby cousin. I know. Come we need to take a walk and catch up." I said as we started down the worn path to the beach. I could hear Jacob's light footsteps behind us.
When we got to the beach I turned making her stop dead in her tracks as she turned to face me. "Now, tell me what is really going on with you? That smile back there was the first real smiled you've had in a while. So tell me what happened." I said a bit harshly eyeing her.
She put her head down and I watched as tears started to slide down her cheeks. "I put everything I had into our relationship, and he left me. Left me alone and didn't say anything, just that he didn't want me. I don't know how I'm supposed to move on from that."
"Hush!" I barked making her jump back a bit. "Now you need to see what I see. You put yourself down every time. But you're stronger than anyone, especially you, gives you credit for. Now you know where I stand on this. You have no reason to hang onto someone who did not want you for some unknown, unrealistic reason. You are perfect as you are, Nicole. No one and I say this with all the feelings I can muster can make you feel like you are not perfect as you are. Do you understand?"
Nic nodded and sniffled as more tears slid down her face. Whatever she was about to say was cut off by Jacob Black.
"Who the hell do you think you are talking to her like that?" Jacob asked me pissed off.
"None of your business, Black. She is my cousin; I can say what I must to get her to see what I see. You are part of this problem as well. Treating her as if she were glass, treating her as if she were fragile. She's stronger than you think, boy." I said sneering at the boy.
"Daijoubu?" I asked looking at Nic.
"Yeah, I'm alright." Nic said looking up as her tears dried up. "Jake quit it."
"But she-" he started but got cut off.
"No, she's right; I don't need to pine after someone who left me for no reason. I need to harden my shell a bit. I'm better now, thanks Bella. It was just what I needed." Nic said smiling genuinely.
A deep male voice came booming from behind us and I froze. I know that voice. I faced the ocean as the voice said, "Nic, Jake, Sam needs you at his house."
As the footsteps got closer my heart started to race. I looked to Nic, who had a smug smile on her face seeing the panic in my eyes.
"Who's the girl?" The voice asked.
"Oh, Um… Paul this is Bella Black, Bella this is Paul La-" Nic started, but got cut off.
"Lahote." I finished turning around avoiding his eyes.
"Bella?" Came Paul's smooth voice. "Look at me, please?"
"No, I will not Paul." I said closing my eyes and turning my head. "You don't need me, from what I hear you have plenty of female's for you."
"Please, Bella, just look me in the eyes." Paul's voice pleaded. "I got messed up when you left. I really did. When you left it felt like my whole world got ripped away from me. So will you please just look me in the eyes Bella?"
Finally opening my eyes I looked him in the eyes and my world stopped. I felt a tug on my heart as his eyes were glazed over. He finally came over to me and pulled me into a hug. "I've missed you." He whispered into my hair as I hugged him back, letting a traitorous tear slip in the process.
"Come on we've gotta get to Sam's." Paul said as we all took off down a path that led straight up to Sam's little cottage. I took in the changes that seemed to have happened as while I had been a way. Paul pulled me up the stairs and I watched as Nic sat on Jacob's lap as everyone was seated. I ran past Paul straight into Sam's arms. His instinctively came around me and I smiled. "Sammy, I've missed you." I said looking up to see a stunned expression on his face.
"Bella!" Sam exclaimed as he twirled me around making me yelp in surprise. He set me down and we started laughing. "How have you been? You've been gone for a year!"
"I had to go, Sam. I had to get them removed." I said as I pulled my shirt up on my back revealing four light scars on my back, not the deep gashes he had been used to seeing. "Just because I forgave you, didn't mean I still wanted them."
"I see." Sam said smiling.
"What happened?" Someone asked.
"When Sam first phased, he was a major hothead. Well, when he first phased his did it in front of me, well, on me." Everyone turned to me looking shocked.
"WHAT?!" Everyone exclaimed.
"We were talking about the fight he had just had with Leah, when I said something about him being a jerk sometimes and he phased as I was walking away. His left paw got my back on its way down. The gashes used to be much worse than Emily's. That's why I left a year ago. I had to get them removed. It was a horrible memory and I didn't want to remember it. From what Billy told me and from what I remember about Sam's first phase, Paul's hot-headed moments are similar, but don't hold a candle to Sam's uncontrollable temper. Everything we said would set him off. It didn't even have to pertain to him, yet he would phase anyway. You owe me too, for that time you wrecked my living room and my new dining table." I said looking at everyone and settling in on a squirming Sam.
"You kept saying we, who's we?" Paul asked.
"That would be me." Came a female voice from the door way. My eyes lit up as I saw Maria standing in the doorway. I ran straight to her and Sam came to hug us both.
"Finally you're both home. My world is now complete." Sam joked holding his heart.
"Well if I could, I would rip it from you again, but seeing you so happy, nah it makes me want to slap you." Maria quipped as she and I started laughing at the mock-glare he was sending us.
"Oh no, Ria, It's the hulk, he's back!" I squealed as Maria and I took off outside Sam chasing us.
"You can run, but you can't hide." Sam said predatorily as he stalked us.
"Oh I'm so scared I'm shaking in my jeans." I said laughing.
"Sammy, Sammy, Sammy when will you ever learn?" Maria said as she pulled on a piece of rope that was next to her making Sam rise straight up in a net. Sam looked down at us in a glare from his spot about fifteen feet in the air.
I looked to the porch to see all the guys laughing at Sam's predicament. The girls were falling over themselves laughing.
"Shut up all of you. Maria! Bella! Get me down!" Sam whined making the guys laugh even harder. Their great Alpha was whining to two small women, who were doubled over laughing, to let him down. "Why is it every time you two are together I'm always ending up in a net or in a tree?"
"Because you always fall for it. Don't blame us if you're too stupid to see a set up." Maria said pulling out her butterfly knife, wielding it expertly, she swiped the rope and down came Sam in a crashing thud. Maria and I fell over laughing again as Sam got stuck in the net and couldn't move.
"Come on can we get this meeting over with?" Paul asked raising an eyebrow at us. "I'd like to spend time with my girl, if at all possible."
"Yeah, we need the low down as well." Maria said pulling my hand as I reached and grabbed Sam's hand so he was being dragged as well.
"Hey, remember when we broke into the school?" I asked looking at the two.
"Oh yeah, that's when you tripped and landed right on Mr. Perkins, making him squeal like a little girl." Sam said smiling.
"And Mr. Reynolds told us that we were suspended for two weeks." Maria said remembering.
"Or when you tripped and fell into Paul's lap at the dance?" Sam asked looking at me. I smirked and looked to a blushing Paul.
"Oh yeah, if I remember correctly that was when you fell into the spiked punch bowl and ended up drunker than Tori at Denise's birthday party." I said looking to Sam as his eyes widened.
"Oh man, Tori was messed up. And Rachel drank that whole bottle of vodka by herself and I got blamed for it. Just cause she couldn't hold her liquor and threw up all over Billy's porch, making Rebecca carry her to her room." Maria said laughing.
"Or when Denise kept trying to feel up Sam and Dean in front of Leah and Jerri?" I said laughing as Sam looked disgusted. "Or when your dad showed up at my house and we had that drinking party with just the four of us?"
"Damn I miss him. I heard he's living on the Makah rez." I said looking to Sam, who just nodded.
"Have you seen him at all?" Maria asked and we both looked to Sam, who just shook his head.
"MEETING?" Everyone yelled at us.
"Oh right. We can have flashbacks later. We have to get this over with." Sam said as we all ended up in the living room.
On the couch was Sam, Me, and Maria. Emily sat on the arm of the couch near Sam. Paul sat between my legs on the floor. Some of the boys and their imprints were off to the side and Jacob sat on the chair with Nic in his lap. The way they moved complimented each other so perfectly and I was happy for my cousins. If it wasn't for the fact that my dad was Billy's cousin I don't think I'd have ever noticed the young man sitting there.
"Okay, the red head is back, but so are the Cullen's." Sam said as everyone looked shocked and looked at Maria and me. "They already know. They've known longer than any of you have."
"If you all would not have played down the legends, then you would have noticed it sooner. We three put so much stock into our tribal legends that we know it by heart. That and the fact that Old Quil has been training Maria and I to be healers is a contribution." I said looking at them all.
"There's not much that can't get past us." Maria pointed out. "Like you Embry, you're the bastard son of Quil Ateara the Fourth. Meaning you and Quil are brothers. Just like Sarah Black was a great contributor to our education when she was alive, or the fact that Nic is the main player in this Act, or the fact that Quil jr. is about to phase any second now."
At the last part everyone jumped up. "What?"
"In about five…four…three…two…one. And let it rip brother." I said as a new Howl was heard. Sam smiled and nodded.
"Jacob, Embry, Let's go." Sam said as he gave Emily a swift kiss on the lips before they were gone.
"How did you know?" Paul asked in awe.
"Cause Love, we are in tune with our spiritual needs. You maybe the warriors, but the women are the bodies that have to be strong enough to support that spirit. So watch, when Quil comes in his life will be complete." I said looking to Maria, who looked excited. I leaned over and whispered in Italian. "Ricordo che solo sedici anni" (Remember he is only sixteen.)
"Sono cosi eccitata! Egli è la mia anima gemella e io sono sua." Maria said excitedly. (I'm so excited/He is my soul mate and I am his.)
"Siamo tornati" Sam shouted from outside. Everyone went wide eyed as Sam spoke. "Voi due dovreste essere felici non si è preoccupato di prendere un'altra lingua." (We're back!/You two should be happy no one bothered to pick up another language.)
"I suppose we should be thankful you did?" Maria asked raising an eyebrow.
"I only did it so I could understand you two, when you talk." Sam said smiling as he turned toward Emily. "La mia Bella ragazza." (My beautiful girl.)
Maria and I looked to one another and smiled at the sight. That was when Jacob, Embry and Quil walked in. As soon as Quil's eyes landed on Maria, he was hooked and we all knew it. His voice found, he spoke words that made me and Maria melt. "Io e te per sempre." (You and me forever)
"Sembra come se fosse l'eccezione." I said looking to Sam, who nodded. (Looks like he was the exception.)
"Okay no more foreign languages. It's not fair to the rest of us." Embry said looking at us.
"regarde comme il est sur le point d'exposer" I said to Maria in French as Quil and Sam just nodded. (Looks like he's about to explode.)
"Vous saves aussi bien française?" Maria asked looking between Quil and Sam as they nodded. "Quelles qutres langues connaissez-vous?" (You know French as well?/What other languages do you know?)
"Que outras linguas que voce sabe?" Quil asked looking at Maria. (What other languages do you know? Portuguese)
"Viele, viele, dass sie vielleicht nicht wissen." Maria said raising an eyebrow to Quil. (Many, many you may not know.)
"Deutsch leicht genug." Quil said expertly. I nodded to Sam. (German, easy enough.)
"Was ist mit dir?" I asked. (What about you?)
"Ja jsem ten, kdo ho nau il." Sam said pointing to Quil, who nodded. (I'm the one who taught him. Czech)
"Enough with the languages. Can we just get this over with?" Jacob groaned bringing our attention back. I didn't even realize everyone was still here. But that's what happens when we three get together, we forget about everything else.
"Sorry, we get lost sometimes." I said smiling.
"Okay well that was it really; I just wanted you to all be on alert. Well if you don't mind all of you aside from Maria, Quil, Bella, Paul, Emily and I, can leave." Sam said as they all high-tailed it out of the house.
"How did you all come across speaking different languages?" Paul asked.
"When we were in school, we couldn't speak Quileute because the teachers knew what we were saying. So we opted for different languages, that way no one would know what we were saying. Back then it was just Maria and I, but apparently our little Sammy here was paying attention after all." I said laughing as Sam mock-glared at me.
"So are you gonna formally introduce us?" Maria asked looking to Quil.
"Oh shit, right, Quil this is Maria Dark-Horse and Bella Black." Sam said quickly. "Bella, Ria this is Quil Ateara the V, and Emily Young, my fiancée."
I nodded. I turned to Paul and sighed. "We need to talk."
He nodded and mouthed 'Later'. I moved a bit so he could sit on the couch, which he then pulled me into his lap. Quil had already picked up Maria and pulled her onto his. Sam had Emily on his as they sat on the love seat.
I looked around and locked eyes with Sam. "Let's get this over with." I said taking a deep breath and started to meditate. Opening my eyes I heard gasps so I knew my eyes were glowing white.
The voice that came out of my mouth was a two tone of my voice and a mans voice.
In two days something of great importance is to happen. It will cause semi chaos within the pack. Some who have shied away from their heritage will be thrust into it. The fate of the tribe rest in the hands of the true Alpha's imprint. The only problem with this is that his life already revolves around her and thinks he has not imprinted. The selfless imprint will take a great risk, but come out a greater person for it. For this to work the pack must establish a relationship with the Olympic coven.
Current Alpha will stay Alpha for many months, till the True Alpha and his Imprint are ready to accept their roles. Three others will be thrust into this life within the next two weeks. Harry Clearwater will die, it must happen, do not try to prevent it. His sacrifice must be done, he is aware of this and accepted his fate.
Maria and Bella are the two seers that will need to be there for the battle. The wolves are to use them as vessels. Draw from their strength to fight harder and more effectively.
This is all for now.
I slumped down and leaned into Paul. "Did you get what you needed?" I asked turning to Sam.
He nodded solemnly. "Poor Harry." He said quietly. "Who told him?"
"I did." I said looking at him.
"Why?" Sam asked.
"He needed to be told." I said simply.
"You can't just play with people's lives like that. It's not right." Emily cried as she looked at me pissed off.
"I'm not playing with people's lives, Emily." I snapped. "Harry is a good friend of my Dad's...if I could change it I would. You do not know me, so don't act like you do."
"Bella, calm yourself. Don't get too worked up. You're already exhausted as it is." Maria said softly as I stood up, moving away from them all.
"You can all look at me as if I'm doing this on purpose, or whatever. I never asked for this, damn it! You have no fucking clue what I fucking go through all the fucking time. I can't stop anything, I just have to sit back and watch. What's the point of being able to see the future if I can't change it?" I yelled causing them all to flinch. "You all don't understand anything."
I jumped over the couch and ran out the door and took off back toward Billy's. I was almost there when I ran into a large chest. Looking up I see Harry standing there. I fall into his arms as he hugs me to him. "Bell's what's the matter?" He asked softly.
"It's coming too soon, Harry." I sobbed as he rubbed my back.
"I know, young one. This burden should not have been given to you. You are too much of a good person to have this kind of fuckery happen to you. First you lose your Mother, at age 9, then your Dad, at 12, You've basically raised yourself. You should not have had this happen. Then your visions came at fifteen. Too early if you ask me. I'm sorry young one. But do not fret, be happy that you are still alive, and live your life like you know how." Harry said smiling softly as he spoke.
"Bells?" Came Paul's smooth, baritone voice. I looked back and sighed, wiping the tears from my face.
"Hey." I chuckled, my voice sounding watery.
"Come on, let's go home." Paul said coming up to me. I nodded and let him lead me away. I turned back to give Harry one last hug and then took off back to Paul.
Maria's POV back at Sam's*
I turned my glare on Emily and watched Sam tense. "You have know clue what I'm capable of, Emily Young. You just degraded a council memeber. I hope you're fucking happy." I snapped standing up and walking to the door. Quil was right behind me. "Sam I suggest you tell her our history, and Bell's entire history, starting with when we were kids. Next time she mouths off like that to Bells, I won't be so lenient."
I stalked out of the house fuming, Quil silently walking beside me. He stopped me when we were at the beach. He turned me so he could look into my eyes. "Just breathe, baby."
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Ok, so Bells was right, it does help.
"Better?" He asked giving me a small smile.
"Yeah, thanks." I said giving him a hug. "So now that that was a total disaster, let's say you and I get to know each other?"
He smiled and nodded. "I'd say that sounds perfect. Let's go get something to eat at the diner."
"That sounds good. I'm starving." I said rubbing my stomach. He grinned and took my hand in his as we started the trek up to the main road.
Sam's POV
"What the hell, Em?" I groaned as she looked a bit stupified.
"That's my Uncle she was talking so callously about." Em snapped at me.
"She wasn't talking callously, she was telling the truth. She was resigned, there's a fucking difference." I said shaking my head.
"It's my Uncle, Sam!" Emily said.
"I know that, Em. I understand that something like this is a big ass shock to your system. But you've never even met her before today. That girl is one of my best friends. I grew up with her. I know her like no one else. When I was with Leah, Bella was the one I would go to for advice. Not anyone else, cause I sure as hell would not get advice from Ria." I said shuddering at the end. "She is a good person and she was just telling you what the vision told her. It told her that she had to tell him. He had to know. It was the only way HIS spirit would be at peace about leaving his family behind."
Emily just sat there starting to tear up. I sighed and rubbed my hand down my face. "Okay let me start at the beginning, Maria is a year older than me, Bella is two. When we were little Bella's Aunt, which you know her as Joy Ateara, used to watch us cause our parents worked. When Bella was nine, Maria was eight and I was seven, Bella's dad came to pick her up in the middle of the day. We didn't know what happened until Bella called us that night to say her mom had died in a car accident. A drunk driver hit her head on." I said sighing at the memory, I seem to be sighing a lot these days. "Then When Bells was twelve, her Dad got hit by a car while crossing the cross walk in Port Angeles. She lost both of her parents within a span of three years. Then when she was fifteen we were all sittin in class, I was advanced for my age, so I skipped two grades, Maria skipped one. Well, we were in class when she just slumped over in her chair. I was wondering what happened when all of a sudden she sat up and her eyes were glowing white. It freaked me the fuck out, but Maria just smiled and knocked her in the back of the head. Bella's head went forward and she sat up straight and she was normal. Maria's gift had kicked in when were still little. She said we were the special three. 'I'm the first, Bells is second, and you're the third.' She said and I never thought anything of it. Until after we had graduated. That was when the Cullen's showed and I understood because I had phased. The special three. Now you know some of our past. Maria took it easy on you today and imprint or not, if it happens again, I can't do anything to stop it if she sees you disrespecting a council member again, especially Bells."
Emily just sat there and took in everything I said.
After what seemed like an endless second she turned to me and said softly, "I'm Sorry."
"It's not me you need to apologize to, it's Bella. And that would only be if she allows it. I can't force her to accept your apology." I said taking in a deep breath and exhaling slowly. Ok, so Bells was right, that shit does work. Huh, I'll have to thank her.
I Own nothing. This story is also on Tricky Raven…so yeah if you haven't read this one…well here you go…it's almost over on there, but I'll have it finished in a month hopefully….so I decided to post it here as well. I am currently on hiatus….but decided to meddle a bit. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
