Bella
As soon as she arrived home, she run upstairs and closed herself in the bathroom. The encounter with Laurent and with giant wolves had been shocking. In addition to that, she had just discovered that Victoria was after her.
She was trembling, she needed to leave. She couldn't put Charlie in danger. She had to protect him, if she went away he would be be safe. Victoria would follow her and she would be the only one to die...
She sighed, why every time that she was making a step forward something happened to take her back exactly where she started? Was it a way to tell her not to forget Edward? No, she had made up her mind. She liked Sam, she didn't know if he liked her back, but she could wait and see. She wasn't in a hurry.
But now, Victoria changed things again. She would never had the chance to be with Sam, she had to stay away from him lest Victoria find out that she liked him and hurt him too.
She decided to leave tomorrow. She would pretend to go to school and instead she would leave. She couldn't go to her mother either. She felt alone and scared. But there was nothing she could do.
After a shower, she walked into her room and started to prepare a bag. She would put it today in the truck so that tomorrow Charlie would see her going to school with the usual backpack. Preparing her bag took more time that she thought, she didn't know how long it would take to Victoria to track and kill her, and at the same time she was trying to see if she could escape unscathed.
When the bag was ready she walked slowly downstairs and opened the door. She almost died of fright; in front of her there was none other than Sam.
He looked at her and at the bag and asked, "Going somewhere Bella?" his voice was low and tense.
It reminded her of an animal ready to attack. "Err, I ... just... no... that is..." she fell silent.
Sometimes she wished she was a better liar.
He took a deep breath and then said, "Has this anything to do with the vampire you met in the meadow?"
Bella's eyes shoot up to meet his intense ones. "How..." and then it clicked, protectors, cold ones, descending from wolves... "You were there! In wolf form!"
Sam seemed shocked that she had made the connection so quickly. "And how would you know about it?"
She blushed. "Well, Jake once told me about some of your legends... and seeing as vampires are real, then werewolves must be real too."
Sam sighed. "Why don't you take your bag upstairs and then we go for a walk?"
Bella shook her head. "Sam, you don't understand. I need to leave. A vampire is after me, she won't stop until she kills me. And I can't risk my father's life."
Sam took her arm and shook it. "So, what were you thinking of doing? Just take off and wait until she reached you and killed you? Was this your grand plan?"
Bella saw him trembling, she wasn't scared as she knew he was just worried about her. "Nobody has to die because of me. I have accepted my fate. I choose to be involved with ... a vampire. Now I'm just paying the price for my foolishness."
Sam crushed her into his arms and then whispered, "Bella, it's not your fault. I am a protector and I will be there for you. Me and my pack will look after you and your father. We are already doing it. You don't have to worry. Your fate is to live a long and happy life."
Bella felt her arms working by themselves when she hugged him back. "Sam, I don't want any harm to come to you and the guys. I am really grateful for your words but I can't risk your life. You mean too much to me..."
Sam's hold tightened. "You mean a lot to me too. I will never let you walk away from me Bella. I am ready to lay my life for you. But, you don't have to worry. Werewolves were created to kill vampires. We won't get hurt."
Bella started to cry.
Sam held her. "Bella, you won't go through this alone. I'm here and I'm not going to leave you. Ever."
Bella took a calming breath. "Sam, I... I'm broken, I'm nothing special and wherever I go danger follows me. I don't want you to get involved in my complicated life."
Sam caressed her hair. "Bella, it's my choice to make. I want to be in your life. I want ... you."
Sam's words went straight to her heart. He wanted her, maybe as much as she wanted him. She dared to look up into his eyes and what she saw left her breathless. His eyes shone with love, adoration and desire.
He lifted his hands from her hips to cradle her face.
Bella knew that he was going to kiss her, should she let him? Her brain shut down when he leaned forward and closed the distance between their mouths. The kiss started slowly, they both took the time to feel the first more intimate encounter. Then, her lips parted slightly and his tongue caressed hers. A growl erupted from Sam's chest and he deepened the kiss.
Bella was overwhelmed by the sensation; she was shocked that it felt right. Sam's completed her in a way she never thought possible. His kiss touched her soul and she finally felt happy.
She didn't know if she could let him and the pack risk their lives for her, but she knew with certainty that she belonged to him and that she had to start to trust him. The feelings that he provoked in her were new and intense. Even with Edward she had never felt so emotionally and physically connected. If werewolves and vampires were real, could there be something more mythical linking her and Sam?
AN: thanks for the reviews. Next chapter Bella will meet the pack.
