NOTE: I had surgery yesterday, got very little sleep, and I am currently on very intense pain killers so if I made any grammatical errors please excuse them!

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Disclaimer: All standard disclaimers apply. No copyright infringement intended.

Bella's POV:
After what seemed like hours, Sam gently pulled away from Bella and smiled sweetly at her. In response, Bella didn't even try to stop the smile that formed on her lips. Sam suddenly looked behind and to the left of her, directly over her head. She turned around but saw nothing. Curiosity piqued, Bella couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"

Sam looked down at her. "It's just Jared and Paul. I'm sure they're curious as to why I never phased back to tell them what was happening." Bella turned back towards the forest as she finally heard the two boys aproach.

Both boys were tall, though not as tall as Sam, and had defined muscles. All three members of the pack were strong, fit to defend. She didn't know these two yet but she was just as proud of them as she was her Sam. Bella knew they didn't choose this lifestyle but they still went along with their predestined duty. Sam's voice brought her back from her silent musings. "Isabella, these two goons are my pack members," he pointed to the right, "That is Paul and that," pointing to the man on the left, " is Jared." Both men smiled and waved slightly, but made no move to come any closer.

"Boys, this is my Isabella, Bella to you two." Sam's voice had turned firm at the end, full of an underlying threat that Bella didn't seem to catch.

"Hi, Bella." Bella smiled up Jared.

"Hi, Jared. It's nice to meet you. You, too, Paul."

"Didto, Bella." Paul grinned cheekily. "You had us scared but now I see that Sam's got things under control." Sam seemed to ignore Paul, as if his jesting was a common occurrence that was of no importance to him. Apparently, he wanted to get down to business.

"Isabella is my imprint, as you both have already figured out. She, being my mate, is now under our protection, under your protection." Bella looked up at Sam to see a very intense look upon his handsome face. "You will protect, respect, and honor her. Do you two understand?" His voice rang strong with authority and power.

It made Bella shiver in a delicious way.

Both Jared and Paul had their heads bowed ever so slightly, as if to show a small measure of submission and respect. Both mumbled their response, quietly yet clearly. "Yes, Alpha."

"I need you boys to go tell Billy what has happened. I need him to do what he has to in order to get rid of all the people at the Swan's residence. We don't need an audience, or all the questions they will ask when I take Bella to my home instead of leaving her at her father's house." Bella was confused.

"Why wouldn't you take me home?"

"Isabella...you're an Alpha's imprint. Our bond is much different than say...a regular wolves imprinting process. Normal wolves can imprint and it's intense, just like ours, but they can take their time to get to know each other. They can be apart, it makes the wolves feel slightly uncomfortable but it's manageable. Since I'm the Alpha, our relationship is not like that. We can't be apart for long periods of time until our bond is...consummated." Sam's hand came to rest lovingly on Bella's cheek. She leaned into his comforting touch. "If we go back to your house, sweetheart, I'll have a hard time controlling my Alpha instincts. I know you live with your father but my wolf side will only register that my mate is living with a male that is not me and my Alpha instincts will tell me that there is a threat being made to my claim on you. I wouldn't want to live with the guilt that would haunt me if I did something rash to people you care about." Bella looked up at him with wide eyes as she took a moment to process all that he had said.

"Please say something, Baby." Sam had a hit of desperation to his voice that brought Bella back to the here and now. Apparently, minutes had passed while she mulled over his words.

"Oh, Sam, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you hanging like that, I was just thinking about all you said and how much my life has changed I met you. You mean the world to me, Sam and if going to your home makes you feel more comfortable then I'm all for it. I'll go with you anywhere."

"I'm hoping that you'll start thinking of my home as your own, sweetheart." Bella's face went aflame as warmth spread from the tip of her toes to the crown of her head. She smiled softly at Sam.

"I'd love that." Suddenly, a thought occurred to her and made tension rise up within her. Sam must have felt her discomfort because his arms tightened around her.

"What is it, Isabella? What's wrong?"

"What about Charlie, Sam? I can't leave him by himself! What if he won't let me go?" Sam growled, low and threatening. The sound sent a hot shot of fire racing through Bella's veins, not because she was afraid but because he was even sexier when he growled.

"He, nor anyone else, will take you away from me." His voice was rough and husky. "I know, Sam." Bella kissed him gently on the lips, trying to ease his restless beast. "What I meant was, how will we explain this to Charlie? He isn't one to let me go without questions."

Her mind immediately went back to that horrid night when James was after her and the despicable words she had shouted at her father in order for him to let her go. She didn't ever want to do that again but Bella knew that she would do whatever she would have to as long as she wasn't separated from Sam. The thought of being apart from her mate was painful emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Bella's mind immediately drew back sharply from the agony that she felt at that train of thought.

"That's why I want the boys to go talk to Billy. He's one of the Elders so he knows how strong an Alpha's bond is with his mate. Boys, go ahead and talk to Billy. Tell him to do what he has to." Sam gave the two a very pointed look and then they were off deep into the woods. To be honest, Bella had forgotten they had been standing there, she had been too wrapped up in Sam. "It's going to be ok. I'll take care of you, Isabella."

Sam started playing with her hair and she relaxed immediately into a Sam-induced lulled state. He started running his nose up and down the column of her throat and a type of humming nose emitted from his chest. Is he...purring? Oh goodness...that's...wow...

Bella's mind became clouded with the feelings that rose in her. No one had ever made her feel the way that Sam did. Sam pulled away from her and a whimper climbed its way out of her throat before she could stop it. Sam smiled at her.

"Isabella, we still have alot to talk about but I want to get you home and comfortable before we do. Does that sound good to you?" She loved that he took her feelings and thoughts into consideration. Sam made her feel special, like she was incredibly important. Bella's voice was soft when she found her ability to talk again.

"That sounds delightful, Sam. Thank you for caring about my comfort. You're so sweet to me."

"I'm only sweet for you. You're my mate and I promise that I'll always make your comfort and safety my top priority." Bella's eyes suddenly filled up with tears as emotions of happiness, love, and joy bubbled up in her.

She had never felt as cared for as she did with Sam. She had lived the entirety of her eighteen years providing for her parents and people around her. Bella didn't mind looking after the people she loved, but she had never really felt that she had someone to provide for her, to protect her. Then she met Sam and she felt safe, like she didn't have to bear it all alone now. Now she had Sam. Sam looked alarmed at the sight of her tears.

"What is it? Why are you crying?" Bella couldn't help but laugh at him, he was so paranoid.

"I'm happy, Sam. I've spent my entire life taking care of my parents and my friends. I never minded providing for them but it always saddened me to know that no one was really ever there to protect me. Then I met you, at my most vulnerable, and you've made me feel so special and safe. I-I know this is kind of sudden but, Sam, I'm...I think I'm in love with you." She bit her lip. Bella hadn't meant to let that last sentence slip out. Why did I just tell him that? He'll think that I'm crazy!

She felt Sam grab hold of her chin and gently lifted her face upward. Bella kept her eyes downward, afraid to see the rejection that must be plainly displayed in his facial expression. "Look at me, Isabella." She kept her eyes down, still too afraid to look. "I said, look. At. Me."

Bella slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. What she found there surprised and shocked Bella. Sam's expression wasn't filled with disgust or hate, but...love and an immense amount gentleness.

"I love you, too, my mate. Always." Sam kissed her gently on the cheek, then he softly caressed her lips with his. "Don't be ashamed of our love, Isabella. We've been given a gift. I know that tough times lay ahead and it won't always be easy, but we will always have each other. I'll always be there to hold you."

They didn't speak after that but continued to gaze at each other, as if forming this moment into their memories.

Soon after that, Jared and paul returned. "Billy talked to Charlie and told him that the only way Bella would come out is if everyone left. Most people should be gone by now. Billy also told us that he was going to have to tell Charlie. He said it was the only way."

Sam nodded and told them thank you. Before she could process what was happening, Sam hoisted her to his chest and stood up in one lithe move. "Sam! What are you doing?"

"I'm carrying you to my car, then we can go home."

"I can walk, you know."

"I know, Isabella, but I refuse to let you go." Bella stopped protesting and simply laid her head on Sam's chiseled chest. It felt right, being with Sam this way.

She sighed in contentment.

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