After finding a pair of shorts and a tank top, I quickly looked for a payphone. Bella's worry was crashing through me in waves and before I could go any further I had to talk to her. After about five minutes, I found a lonely pay phone on the side of the road. Dialing her number, I felt a light smile spread across my lips. I could practically see Bella clenching her phone, gnawing her bottom lip and pacing all over her room. Just waiting for me to let her know I'm alright.
The phone barely rung before Bella's sweet voice echoed through. "Where are you Clearwater," she asked with a light hint of anger in her voice.
"I'm with Rachel just about a few hours out," I answered calmly.
"I was worried when Sam told me he lost connection with your wolf," she whispered. "And you didn't take you extra clothes or phone."
Guilt flowed through me as I rubbed the back of my head. "I'm sorry sweetheart. I'm will be home in about a day."
"But-"
"I know I'm only a few hours away, but I want to help Rach shift back before coming back. It'll just be that much easier to keep her calm away from the rez."
She sighed heavily and most likely plopped down on her bed. "Alright, I understand Lee. Please stay safe."
"For you I will. I love you."
"I love you too Lee-Lee."
"I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon and I promise I will spend the next couple of days making up for all the worry I caused you."
"Will there be chocolate," she asked in the cutest voice she has ever used on me.
"Who do you take me for," I chuckled. "You will be on a sugar rush for months." As the words flew out of my mouth an idea began churning through my head.
"Hurry and start her training the sooner you get done with that the sooner you'll be back."
"See you soon."
(Eight hours later)
Staring at a still furry Rachel, I growled before punching a nearby tree. "Are you serious Rachel," growling out my frustrations. Closing my eyes, I released a few slow even breaths. "Alright...maybe I'm doing this wrong." Nodding my head, I turned back to her. "Okay let's forget everything about being calm. Focus on happy memories. The times when your family went to the fair. And Jacob ate so much pie he ended up puking. Think about all of the good times."
Her body began to shake slowly. a grin broke across my face as I watched her slowly become human again. "That's it, Rach. You can do it."
A few seconds later she was laying on the forest ground naked. I knelt down next to her and patted her on the back. "Welcome back."
She looked up to me with amazed eyes. "So what happens now," she questioned.
"We find you some clothes and then get a bite to eat."
"After that?"
"We go home and Sam will start your training right away. We don't want you to hurt anyone because they step on your shoe or something," I explained with a gentle smile. I stood up and quickly examined her. Her body was leaner than before. You could see each muscle flex as she was moved to a standing position. It wasn't like she wasn't in shape before but the wolf gene made it clear. I waited for her to finish stretching before saying anything. "I'm sorry I punched you."
"I'm sorry too."
"Don't be. The first shift for some can be difficult," I stated nonchalantly. "And we can just call it even." Handing her the extra clothes I snagged I turned to give her some type of privacy.
"Alright."
Turning around I gave her a small smile. "Let's start walking back."
"Um...okay? What about food?"
My smile widened as I started walking towards home. "We're grabbing something on the way."
Nothing else was said as we walked slowly back home. Maybe it was because it was the first time since her shift that she could fully digest everything. Whatever the reason I was grateful for it. I needed to figure things before getting back. Before dealing with the pack. I needed to figure out this new connection with my wolf and the pain ridden girl. Why did I feel the need to help her? As my mind raced there was one thing that I kept going back to; those chocolate eyes. They seemed so familiar but foreign at the same time. The way they were begging for the endless pain to end. How could anyone bring someone so much pain?
My stomach began to churn as her screams filled my ears. So much pain...
"Leah."
How could someone have the stomach to put another human being through that much...pain?
"Leah!"
Snapping my eyes up to Rachel, I raised an eyebrow as my stomach stilled. "Are back with me?"
"What are you talking about Rach? I'm here," I replied swiftly.
"You weren't a second ago," she stated calmly as she continued walking. "You were somewhere in your head. Far enough not to hear me when I first tried to get you attention."
Sighing I scratched the back of my head as I continued forward realizing for the first time that I stopped moving. How long have I been still? "I was just thinking about all of this wolf stuff that needs to be dealt with when we get back." Blinking I realized that my vision was pretty clear. The scarring must have faded some more.
"Right," she mumbled. "Well just keep walking."
(The next Day)
Slowly opening the front door I sighed in relief when I saw no one was up. Plopping down on the couch I closed my eyes and tried to push everything that has happened in the last few days from my head. I just needed a few minutes to myself before-
"Leah," a sleepy Seth asked.
Opening my eyes slowly, I look over at my little brother. His hair a mess and eyes barely opened I smiled. "Yeah, it's me. I didn't mean to wake you up, Seth."
He chuckled lightly before laying down on the love seat. "You didn't wake me. I was on my way in here." He turned on the TV with a grinned plastered on. "Saturday morning cartoons."
Chuckling I got comfortable. "Are they any good?"
"Nope."
For the next three hours, we watched cartoons. Laughing and making fun of the awful cartoons. Since I've shifted that I had time to sit and hang out with my little brother. Either he was at school or I was at work, Bella's, or running a patrol. I didn't realize how much I missed hanging out with him. We used to have so much fun...I had to make sure I make time to spend with him.
I glance over to the fourteen-year-old boy. He was starting to fill out with lean muscles. He could easily pass as an eighteen-year-old. Which only meant that his happy childhood might get cut short with the duty and stress of pack life. I just hope that whoever was watching over us would wait before they placed the burden of protector on him.
Sitting up I shot him a grin. "So do you know someone that can help me get a whole lot of chocolate," I asked slyly.
"In the dog house with Bella again?"
"Well, I may have ran off to find Rachel without telling her. BBuuuuuttttt that has nothing to do about why I want chocolate." He raised an eyebrow waiting for me to explain. "Get some clothes on and I'll explain on the way to the." Like lighting, he hopped up and headed to his room.
In minutes, he was back in the living room ready to go. "Alright let's do this!"
(That evening)
After Seth and I collected as much chocolate that my wallet would allow we went home and started to set up my surprise. When my parents say me set up things they didn't question it. Just join in the throwing flower petals where they thought needed fucking not going where I throw them, flower petals. Before I knew it my mom was in the kitchen cooking the small roast that I picked up for dinner. Dad and Seth were arguing about who got to pick the movie/restaurant they were going to. Shaking head I walked into the kitchen to help my mom.
In the middle of chopping, I heard my mom let out a soft sigh. Looking over I saw a small smile on her face. "I knew the moment you brought her here that she was it for you," she whispered. "Time just flies by huh?"
"Yeah," I whispered back grinning from ear to ear. "Hopefully it'll slow down a bit for me to enjoy rest of my life with her."
Mom burst in laughter as she went make to what she was doing. "Leah I can't believe you're this corny. I Guess you do get something from your dad," she whispered winking.
I shook my head lightly. "I really owe you guys for helping me out with this on last minute."
"The only thing we want for you is to be happy. If throwing and a few petals around and making sure you don't burn a roast makes you happy then that's what I'm going to do. If it was Seth we would do the same for him. The only thing I ask is that when Seth shifts for the first for the first time you'll watch over him."
"You don't even have to ask that. I will protect Seth with my life."
She nodded her head going back to what she was doing. I wonder if my words did nothing to help calm her worries. The thought of me risking my life to protect the tribe was bad enough. But having both Seth and me in danger...I couldn't even imagine how she felt. Not knowing if one or both of your kids were coming home that would be a nightmare for me. How could she be this strong?
Mom looked at me and rolled her eyes playfully. "Since you seem to forgot what you were doing why don't you go get ready. I can have all of this cooking in no time."
Smiling I put the knife down and give her a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks, mom," I shouted as I ran up the stairs.
"Love you too," she whispered as if we were still next to each other.
Once I was in front of my tiny closet I looked through the couple of more "dressy" clothes that I never wore. After a few minutes of going back and forth on an outfit, I settled on a nice black button up, nice blue jeans and a sky blue tie. Hopping into the shower, I relaxed as the lukewarm water hit my bare skin. It was as if the last few days of chaos just melted away as the water crashed against my skin. I didn't have to worry about pack stuff until next week. For the first time in months, I could pretend that we were in a normal human relationship. To pretend that I wasn't a huge ass wolf and Bella didn't have to worry about me.
Hopping out the shower I quickly pulled on the clothes that I picked out. Looking into the mirror, I was amazed how much the scarring faded. It was still there, but it wasn't as gruesome as it was before. Quickly dabbing Bella's favorite cologne on I sighed lightly. "Clearwater," I said examining my outfit. "You don't look half bad." Giving my hair a quick shake I nodded my head pleased.
Exiting my room, I grabbed the ring and shoved it in my pocket. Seth, Dad, and mom were waiting by the front door. My stomach growled as the smell of my mother's cooking reach me. "Don't eat everything before your date get's here," Dad teased with a grin. "I would hate to see your shirt get ruined because you were hungry."
Blushing I chuckled lightly. "Thanks guys for all of the help. If it wasn't for you I would probably have burned the roast and have a breakdown" I stated. "So I guess I should also say sorry for kicking you out the house for a few hours."
"Not A problem sweetheart," Dad said ushering the other two out. "A word of advice don't stress over when you are going to pop the question. Your heart will tell you when the perfect time will be."
"Thanks, dad," I called out as the door closed behind them.
I turned around and examined everything that we have done. It kind of looked like the corny dates on most movies. "Damn I am corny," I mumbled jokingly. "It could be worst."
Taking a seat on the couch closed my eyes and patiently waited for the love of my life to get here...
A/N: Well I am back for the most part. I wanted to give you guys a chapter of fluff as we reach the fall of the Bella/Leah loving. And before anyone ask I'm not going to fully kill it yet. I just wanted to warn you guys that it was coming soon. Now I'm working on Trusting Shadows next chapter and editing Trust Me. Trusting Shadows does have a connection with this story so I will do my best to update both as much as possible. Anywho I hope you guys like this chapter.
~deadlyXivy