Don't own it. No copyright infringement is intended.

Sorry this is later than usual, but I was doing some Christmas shopping and SEEING BREAKING DAWN! FINALLY! I loved it! Although it made my Paul look like a big jerk! LOL! And there weren't nearly enough shirtless men, but I still loved it!

Chapter 21

Sam POV

"I need you to set my neck before it heals like this and I stay paralyzed," I ground out through my teeth. I could feel the bones in my neck sealing back into place, slowly but surely.

"WHAT? Are you insane? I can't do that! Paul!" She cried and I could see the panic in her eyes.

"There's not enough time, and I think he left to give us some privacy. Do it quick or I'll be stuck this way forever. Please, Bella."

She looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding and stepping in my direction. Her hands shook as she placed them on either side of my head.

"Tell me what to do."

I explained to her the best way I could to set my neck back properly. My bones were strong and the healing had already begun so it took her a few tries and a lot of pain for me. Tears streamed down her face when we both heard the crack and I felt the bones slide into place. It hurt like a son-of-a-bitch, but once it was in the right place I could feel the bones fusing themselves back together.

"Thank you, Bella," I told her sincerely.

"Sam, I… what in the hell is going on? I mean, you were a wolf! I giant, hairy wolf! And your neck was broken! And… what the hell is going on?"

"Shh, calm down, baby. Our ancestors were thought to be wolves…" I explained about us turning into giant wolves to protect our tribe, leaving out the part about vampires. I told her that we were just protectors from evil, even though I knew she'd find out about vampires sooner or later, I was opting for later.

"So you turn into giant wolves to protect the tribe? Okay. I really don't know what to say to that. Um, will Abby turn into one too?"

"I hope not. There's only ever been one female shifter and that's Leah. I don't want this for Abby," I said sadly.

"Well, are you going to be all right now? Cause that was some scary shit, I gotta tell ya." She let out a nervous giggle and I snorted.

"Yeah, I'll be all right. I'm already starting to regain some feeling now that I'm healing properly."

"And Jake did that to you?" She asked sadly.

"I deserved it, Bella. What I told you about how I treated you before… that wasn't the half of it. I manipulated you and, well, that scar on your neck is from me. I marked you, making you mine. It's why you couldn't be with Jake. Why you can't be with anyone else."

"And why my body responds to you the way it does?" I nodded at her question, feeling ashamed.

"So I can never be with anyone else, and that's why Jake attacked you?"

"First off, Bella," I began, "Jake has loved you for most of his life. He had to watch you choose Edward and then was there for you anyway. Then Edward died and I went crazy, blaming you for Emily's death. I did horrible things, but you begged him to leave it alone. You felt you deserved it and I preyed on that. I think today was just the last straw for him."

Bella looked sad and I hated that I was hurting her again, but I couldn't lie to her. I was done being bad and going about things the wrong way. She deserved better and Abby deserved better than a monster for a daddy.

"And now? Do you hate me now, Sam?" Her tone was defeated, like she thought there would never be happiness for her ever again and I was the cause of that.

"No, I don't hate you, Bella. Along the way I began to care very deeply for you. I just willing to admit it. See, as wolves, we have this thing called imprinting. Where our soul recognizes its other half. Emily was my imprint and when she died, the wolf in me wanted revenge. I blamed you because it was easy to do so, but I was wrong. Yet through all the abuse you suffered at my hands you defended me. Then you gave your body to me and carried my child. I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but it became real to me. We became real."

"I don't know what to say to that, Sam. I feel something for you, but now I know it's just a product of this marking. I still say that we live together as roommates, but I can't say about anything else right now, Sam. I hope you can understand that."

I did understand. I mean, why would she want anything to do with me other than co-parenting our daughter. I had treated her abominably and I hated myself for it. One good thing about this new Bella was that she didn't let anyone treat her poorly anymore. She would be a good role model for our little girl. And I was so glad about that. Abby needed someone strong to teach her that she deserved the best, and this new Bella seemed perfect for that. Now if only I could make myself deserving of Bella.

"So, about this imprinting thing... Jake will imprint on someone? Why would he want to start anything with me when that's a possibility?" She looked a little pissed at that and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well, it's not guaranteed, but it's not as rare as it was originally believed either. But it is a possibility."

"And what would have happened to me if I had been with him and he imprinted?"

"He would have left you. He wouldn't have had a choice. Our imprints are everything to us. Our world revolves around them. But in his defense he truly believes that there is no one else for him but you. He's just a naïve kid who's in love with a beautiful woman."

The blush covered her cheeks before she gave me a glare for flattering her.

"I'm still mad at you," she said.

"I know."

"I still don't know that we could ever be more than friends and after what you've told me, that's pushing it."

I cracked a smile at her no-nonsense tone. "I know."

"All right, well, as soon as you're all right I'm going to have a talk with Jacob Black, then we're going to get moved on the res somewhere."

Once again I snorted, so unused to seeing this bossy Bella. I sort of liked her and hoped she stuck around.

Sorry it's not very long, but there hasn't been much time for writing today. But here it is. What's everyone thinking of the new bossy Bella? I don't think she's going to let anyone tell her what to do anymore! LOL!