Chapter Seven

Bella

I'd been home several weeks and it was hard going. Charlie had rearranged the house so I had a bedroom downstairs but bath time was a bit of a problem as the only one was upstairs and with my legendary coordination a trip up there with crutches would probably have resulted in a broken neck! Emily and Leah had gotten around the problem with the help of the Pack. Each morning and evening one of them would come over and carry me up the stairs then back down again when I'd finished. Either Leah or Emily were always there to help with all the girly bits but I was beginning to feel the walls closing in on me.I no longer had any privacy or any peace and I hated it when one of the boys picked me up., Their arms were too warm, it felt like an invasion. Worst of all was when it was Jake's turn to help. Although we were now talking again I never felt comfortable with him, I always had this feeling that he was waiting to pounce. He'd started talking to me about the future and his place in it and although Leah would cut him off it never deterred him and he would be back the next day carrying on as if the conversation hadn't been interrupted.

One day when he'd been particularly pushy I was glad to get in the truck with Leah and escape to the Rehab Center. I could walk short distances using sticks but for getting around I still used the hated crutches. To my horror they'd offered me a walking frame but I'd die before I used one of those and I told the Physio straight. Leah had started a ritual seeing how stressed I was when I left the clinic of calling in for lunch at a small Diner nearby. AS I made my way slowly and painfully to our usual booth the waitress shouted over a greeting then came to ask if I'd made any progress,

"Well she didn't punch the Physio today so I guess that counts as progress"

"Good girl. Same as usual girls?"

We nodded we both had our favorite lunch already picked out but when she brought the glass of water I tossed down a few painkillers as a "starter". I'd been plucking up courage for some days now to ask Leah something so I took a deep breath and started, twisting my glass around as I did.

"Leah, I really appreciate everything you've done for me but can I ask you something?"

"Sure Bella go ahead."

"Why are you helping me? We were never friends and I know you disapprove of the way I treat Jake. I promise you I only do enough to try to make him back off, I hate hurting him but it would never work, him and I."

I sat back and waited while Leah sipped her coffee and I thought for a while she wasn't going to answer but then she put her cup down and sighed,

"Bella I did hate you for what you put Jake, and as a result the rest of the pack through but I see things differently now. You know the history between Sam and I don't you?"

I nodded,

"Well it took me a long time to get over that because I still loved him. His imprinting on Emily didn't stop my feelings. On top of that I had to suffer the feelings he has for her along with the rest of the pack. Did you know I'm a genetic dead-end? I guess there's no way you could have, unless Jake told you and I don't think he'd be so disloyal to me even if I am a pain in his ass. When I phased for the first time my body clock stopped. None of the wolves will imprint on me because I can't expand the pack. Whether it's because I have no gene that the pack needs I don't know but I was devastated when I found out. Since then I've been a bitter loner only tolerated by the rest. I try to stay away from them as much as I can and now there are no vampires around to threaten us that's easier. I know how you feel, not being with the person you love. I felt hopeless and despondent just like you, but I did have the pack to support me unlike you. Bella, I have tried to help you so you can get beyond it all as I have."

I looked up from the table top at that,

"What do you mean Leah? Have you imprinted? Who is he?"

Suddenly I realized I was shooting questions at poor Leah like a machine gun so I stopped and grimaced,

"Sorry, I was just surprised. Tell it your own way please."

Leah leaned forward and took my hand.

"You will get past this Bella. I will tell you my secret, but you must promise me you won't tell a soul."

I nodded and said "Promise".

Leah continued

"I met a guy at the local College while doing a short course on Tribal History. His father is dead but his mother is an Inuit Elder and they aren't well liked by the Quileutes. Why I'm not sure but the pack would be incensed if they knew and Sam might forbid me to see him. You know what that would mean?"

I did indeed, Jake had told me about the Alpha command, Leah would be unable to break it.

"You are in a really difficult situation. What will you do?"

Leah shook her head.

"I don't know. I can't live without him but it's too dangerous to keep meeting him in secret. I think I'll have to leave the pack and move away with him. I'll miss my brothers but I can't fight the my feelings any more. Now I begin to understand how you felt when Edward left. I don't know how you managed to keep going so, I'm just trying to say I'm sorry for being a bitch in the past by helping you."

"Why don't you go now instead of hanging around here with crippled old me. I wouldn't blame you."

Leah shook her head.

"I can't go yet. He won't finish his course for a few more weeks so I guess you're stuck with me till then."

I laughed and it felt good, I did far too little of it these days.

"Thanks for trusting me with your secret. I won't tell a soul but I wish there was some way you could keep your family and your mate. Is there nothing you can do? Is there no way of finding out what the trouble is between your Tribes...I mean you are so far from each others territory that I can't imagine it is as serious as they make out."

Leah snorted

"They don't need much of an excuse but I can't find out without causing some comments. They'll want to know why I'm suddenly interested in Tribal rivalries."

As we drove home my mind was working overtime. Leah couldn't ask about tribal rivalries but that didn't mean that I couldn't. It would be a way of thanking Leah for all the kindness she'd shown me.

I hadn't told Leah what I planned but put it into operation the next time I was alone with Emily. As I did my exercises to strengthen the wasted muscles in my legs I started chatting.

"Hey Emily why don't you take my mind off the pain of these exercises by telling me about your tribal history." She looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face.

"You already know about our history. You came to the meeting of the elders when Quil's grandfather told the story."

I nodded eagerly

"I know that but there must be more. Do you have links with other tribes? Do the elders communicate with other tribes? I'm just curious."

Emily shrugged but started to talk.

It took a few weeks and a lot of carefully questioning but we finally got to the parts that interested me. Leah was home because her mother Sue was ill and needed help at home so Emily had been here every day. I was having my bath and Emily as usual was washing my hair for me. It was really frustrating not to be able to do these things for myself but crutches and bum legs really cramp your style. We had been chatting generally about the legends of various tribes and luckily for me she brought the "Cold Ones" into the conversation without even thinking. My interest spiked immediately. It seems that The Cold Ones had a history with other Tribes too, especially the ones in the far North. The Inuit tribes were regarded by the Quileutes as enemies because back in their history they had become friendly with a group of Cold Ones and they had lived in peace with them. That's why Leah's "friend" would never be accepted by the Pack. I was tempted to ask more but didn't want to seem too curious.

As Emily helped me to get ready for bed and waited for which ever of the pack had drawn the short straw to carry me downstairs I wondered how long it would be before I saw Leah next. As I saw Jake coming through the door I groaned inwardly. I really didn't want another argument with him. Seeing me sitting on the edge of the bath he broke into a huge grin.

"Hey there Bells looking good."

He then swept me up into his arms and tucking my head under his chin strolled out of the room and down the stairs, whispering in my ear as he went.

"Great to see you looking pink at last. How're the legs? Soon be standing on your own two feet again. Maybe we could go dancing then eh?"

I sighed waiting for him to put me down and step back, I didn't feel comfortable being so close to him. It was far to intimate especially with me in my pyjama's. At the bottom step he turned and shouted up the stairs "

Hey Em, I'm just taking Bella out to watch the moon come up. It's a beautiful warm night and she could do with the fresh air."

Emily grunted assent as she cleaned the tub.

"Jake. You are way out of line. Take me back in now." I hissed.

Jake shook his head,

"Oh no Bells. I have Charlie's permission to kidnap you for an hour. We both thought you could do with a break so I picked up sodas and chips. I thought we'd see the moon come up together out back."

I tried to break free of his grip but stood no chance of that I realized, as he just looked down at me with a grin.

"Where you goin' Bells? Thought you'd enjoy a few minutes alone with me."

He lowered his head to my glaring face and before I could move had closed the distance between our lips. I struggled to free myself...tears of frustration rolling down my cheeks.

Hearing footsteps behind him Jacob turned to see an angry faced Seth standing staring at him.

"That's way out of line Jake. Give Bella to me and back up".

A low growl started in Jake's chest but Seth never backed down. Emily came running out having heard Seth's words. "What are you doing Jake? Isn't it obvious Bella doesn't you forcing your attention on her. Give her to Seth and go."

She then looked at me.

"Don't worry honey we'll get you inside, I'm so sorry I never gave it a thought when Jake said.."

With obvious reluctance Jake handed me to Seth then with a snarl at Emily he ran towards the woods phasing as he went. I was shaking as Seth put me down gently on the sofa. He nodded once at Emily, smiled at me and ran out the door towards where Jake had disappeared.. I was so relieved that I sobbed incoherently on Emily's shoulder until I could pull myself together.

"What am I going to do Emily? I need to get away from here. Jake is getting too pushy and Charlie seems to be on his side. I'm scared."

I knew what I had to do without Emily replying. I had to get away from here somehow.