Sorry I haven't updated in awhile, I've been busy with life and all that jazz. Plus it's really hard to see where to go from here.
On another note, thank you to everyone that reviewed! I really appreciate it and its encouraging : ) Anywho, here's chapter 7, hope you enjoy.
Chapter 7
PPOV
Bella was telling us her story, she was almost finished and all I could seem to do was sit numbly and loosely hold her hand, not letting go even though she had tried to discreetly pull away several times. As she spoke in a calm voice I had shook, I had held back tears only partially succeeding, I had clenched my teeth with pain inducing force, I had closed my eyes trying to escape the images going through my mind, and had done a myriad of other things in this onslaught of emotions. Several times I let loose an angered growl, receiving warning looks from the pack and questioning looks from Bella when she caught it. Now though, as she neared the part where I entered to story, all I could do was sit here and stare at her beautiful red lips as she spoke. She had only cried once at the beginning as she recalled her parent's death, blessedly she allowed me to hold her as she regained control of her self; and when she did she pulled away blushing and confused. After that though she didn't cry at all, in fact; she only seemed mad as she recalled her torture, ostensibly barely holding back her rage. I had to smile slightly at that, my imprint was one strong, kick-ass woman, and I loved it.
"… I found my self lost in the forest, tired and trying to think of away to keep warm for the night, since, although I kept walking, I had no hope making it out of the forest before nightfall, when…" Bella paused and looked around to room worriedly. I was waiting for her to jump into and explanation of running into wolfy me and my standoff with the leech, but she just looked down at her hands and said, "when I passed out." I could tell she was lying, this whole time she had looked us all in the eye with her head held high, until now. "Next thing I knew I woke up here."
She looked up, the doctor was nodding with understanding and the pack was looking at her knowingly, apparently I wasn't the only one who noticed her lying. The elderly doctor stood up, he's knees cracking,
"Well, Isabella, I'm sorry for the suffering you have gone through and I'm sure you'd like to get out of here as soon as possible to go to your loving home and rest. So I'm just going to go get the release forms for your family to fill out and phone the police, unfortunately you'll have to speak with the police before you leave." The doctor said this all as he walked toward the door.
Bella looked at him incredulously as if to say 'do I really look related to any of these people?', she really didn't, her pale complexion to our dark, "Actually, doctor, these peop-"
Emily quickly cut her of, "That would be great, thank you." She smiled brightly at the confused doctor looking from Emily to Bella.
"Of course." Was all he said before he was out the door.
Bella slid her hand from mine and I stared at it longingly, damn I was whipped, but it was amazing how good it felt just holding her hand. Imagine how good it would feel- I quickly cut off that line of thought, this was not the time or the place. Bella was looking at us, one eyebrow raised.
"You know you all are not my family," Bella's words cut me; I felt the need to reach out for her hand and tell her otherwise, "a matter of fact I don't know any of you."
"And we know" Jacob stepped forward, "that wandering in the forest was not the last thing you remember before fainted."
Bella's eyes widened slightly before she sat up a little straighter and stared defiantly back at Jake, "And if it wasn't?" We've seemed to have breeched her impeccable manners.
"Wouldn't you rather go home with someone who didn't think you were crazy?" Sue added softly, her eyes sympathetic.
Bella sighed loudly; sending a stray bit of hair flying around her face before landing in front of her eye, she pushed it behind her ear roughly. I wish I could have done it gently for her without her thinking I was a complete creep. "I'd rather go home with someone I actually know. Besides, I don't plan on telling anyone I saw-…" the pack leaned forward but she quickly cut off, smashing her lips into a straight line.
"Not to be rude," Jacob started, I glared at him, no one was allowed to be rude to my girl. He studiously ignored me and continued "but from your story you seemed to imply you didn't have any other family…" Jacob frowned; seemingly upset he had to bring up the sad truth.
Profound grief showed up on Bella's face, I quickly grabbed her hand and gave a comforting squeeze. I couldn't stand to see her in such pain. She looked at me seeming conflicted whether to smile in thanks or snatch her hand back from the stranger. In the end she settled for both, smiling sweetly with grateful eyes and leaving my hands empty and tingling.
"Yes," she said, "that is so, however I am eighteen and I don't need to leave with anyone… strangers included." She looked us all in the eye making it clear we were said strangers.
Emily stepped forward, her face still marred with sadness and sympathy for Bella, a beseeching hand stretched out. "But you have no where to go…" Bella stared at Emily, looking as if she was trying to solve a particularly hard puzzle, a small cute crease between her eyebrows. "Stay with us at least until your able to get a job and have the ability to live on your own." My heart constricted with the thought of her eventually leaving, my eyes flashed to Emily who was purposely ignoring me, then to Sam who discreetly winked at me.
"Who exactly would I live with?" her eyes sweeping across the group, "How do you expect me to trust total strangers?"
Emily smiled, "With Sam and I of course."
Bella gave an incredulous smile back, "And the expecting me to trust complete strangers? You guys all caring intensely for someone you don't know from eve, although sweet, is a little…" her eyes flashed to me, "odd." Her thinking I was 'odd', although understandable in her position, sent a pang through me heart. I took a deep breath, she would understand soon, hopefully, and realize I only hold pure love for her.
"We already protected you once." Quil, the genius, decided to speak up.
Bella stared at him blankly, "Pardon?"
I gave him a sharp look, he swallowed loudly but decided to continue, "The wol-"
"May we show you something after you're able to get out of the hospital?" Sam quickly cut Quil off.
Emily sighed loudly in exasperation but it was Bella who spoke, "No offense… but do you know how creepy that sounded?"
Realizing his mistake Sam was quick to continue, "Nothing like that! I promise. It's just something… something… something that's hard to explain, but it is non-creepy, will not harm you in any way, and will help you make up your mind." My heart thudded loudly in my chest, I knew what Sam was talking about and was deathly afraid of how Bella would take it. It's obvious she's a strong girl but the mystical is a little hard to be okay with. I couldn't take it if she ran from us, me.
"Really sweetheart," Sue said, "We only want what's best for you."
"The question is why…" Bella spoke slowly, clearly mystified.
"Listen," Emily came and sat at the foot of her bed, gently laying a hand on Bella's blanket clad leg naturally, it was obvious Emily already considered her family. "We'll show you what we need to and if you don't like it, well, you can leave. No one will stop you." My heart twisted painfully. No, don't leave.
I couldn't help it; I reached out and grabbed her hand for the millionth time, "Please?" I sounded weak, not a normal occurrence, but staring pleadingly into her eyes I knew she was the only person who can bring me to my knees with the simplest words, gestures.
She looked at us all one by one, myself last, she was blatantly still perplexed but she seemed to be slowly conceding. "Okay… I listen to what you have to say… or see, I guess, what you have to show me. Really don't have anywhere else to go anyway…"
My heart swelled and I was filled with dread at the same time, she could either crown me the happiest man alive or dash my hope and essentially kill me inside. I pray ardently that she accept us, me, and eventually come to love me and I love her.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! : ) Tell me what you think! I'm having a hard time thinking of what should happen after this, so ideas are welcome. Thank you to those who have offered ideas already. Someone suggested that Bella should get pregnant eventually in the story (thank you for the suggestion by the way), what do you guys think of that? I'll try to update more consistently, but you know that pesky little thing called everyday life and responsibilities gets in the way, but I'll see what I can do.
