Choices Matter; but Timing is Everything
Disclaimer – Just in case there is anyone who doesn't know already, I do not own twilight or the characters within. I'm just playing with the plot a bit to spice up my boring life. Thank God for Stephanie Meyer.
Chapter 25 – Bella Meets the Pack
Quil's POV
Bella and I had a great afternoon, nice and calm, just being together. It's strange that despite how sore and miserable my body was, her calming presence soothed my soul. All too soon it was time to go meet the pack, and I almost wish she didn't want to go. It seemed fundamentally important, almost like it was my purpose in life to keep Bella, safe, protected, happy. Going to meet the pack, to discuss this threat to her life, the talk with Jake that was sure to risk her emotional well being, and simply putting her in the presence of Paul made me uneasy. It seemed in direct opposition to that purpose. But I knew I had to do it.
"Bella, are you ready to go to Sam's?" I asked around 2:30. Say no, change your mind, I can go take care of it for you.
"Oh, yeah, sorry I lost track of time. Just let me grab a sweater and freshen up. I'll be ready in a few minutes." She answered me softly.
"Take your time beautiful." I said turning off the TV.
I slowly got up off the Swan's sofa, trying not to moan as my aching muscles strained. Apparently I was not successful, because Bella came bounding down the stairs with a look of concern that I knew was for me.
"Quil?" she said my name as a question, but the look in her eyes spoke all of her love and concern.
"I'm fine Bella, just a little sore, don't worry about me. Sam says the aches will pass within a few days, after the werewolf gene is finished speeding up my maturation process. And it will happen faster and less painfully when I'm in wolf form." I answered her unspoken questions.
"When will that be, that you'll be a wolf again I mean?" She asked shyly.
"Tonight, after I bring you home. I'll be on the night patrol." I answered wanting to be as open as I possibly can with this unbelievable existence I have pulled her into.
Bella wrote her Dad a quick note, letting him know she was in La Push with me, grabbed her bag and house keys at the front door. I reached for her hand, waiting for her to lock up. After I opened her car door I pulled her in for a quick kiss. I kept my face close, staring into her beautiful brown eyes, and whispered "I love you Bella, we are going to get past all of this, I'll take care of you. It's all going to be okay."
She nodded but her eyes looked full of worry. As soon as I released her from our embrace, she sank into the car and I shut the door.
Bella's POV
What an absolutely fiction filled life I lead. I finally let go of the vampires in my life, one who along with his family broke my heart and then bam I'm being chased by sadistic vampires intent on killing me because of said vampire ex-boyfriend. It'll be like I never existed, hmph, what a crock.
And now I find love again with an amazing guy, and bam, of course, he is a werewolf, or spirit warrior or whatever. Don't get me wrong Quil is everything I want and need in a boyfriend, wolf or not, he's mine and I'm keeping him, but can't a girl get a supernatural break.
I look over at Quil and he looking at me with such love, a girl could melt.
"How are you doing with all this, Bella?" Quil asks tentatively.
"I'll be fine. It's a lot to take in, but I'll be fine." I answer. Quil sighs in frustration.
We pull into Emily's driveway and I am bewildered by the sight. Jacob, Paul, Jared, and Embry are looking like some kind of Native American weightlifting team or something, sitting on Emily's little front porch. I notice Quil's eyes narrow a bit as he lets out another sigh, though this one seems more irritated than frustrated. I followed his gaze strait to Jacob's face.
Jacob's face is alight with his breathtaking smile. The one that warmed me from the inside out during my depressed post Edward haze. His eyes are twinkling and they are trained on me. Before Quil could get his car off and open his own door Jacob bounded over to us, opened my door, and pulled me out without ever letting my feet touch the ground. He pulled me into the biggest bear hug and spun me around, placing his cheek on my head by my ear. He was murmuring my name over and over, which is why I guess he didn't notice that I was having trouble breathing through his tight embrace.
I finally managed to force out the words, "can't... breathe... Jake" and in response he finally released his tight grip and gently placed me down. I could feel Quil's quiet rigid presence behind me and I saw Jake's eyes fleetingly glance to Quil's choosing to ignore what I'm sure was less than a friendly look in them. He turned his attention back to me, putting one hand lovingly under my chin to lift my gaze directly into his and cupping the other around my face.
"I am so sorry, Bells." Jacob pled. "I never wanted to hurt you. I never would have stayed away, I never would have said those things, if… if … I had a choice. I love you honey, that has never changed." His gaze shifted up to the eyes that I knew would be hard; belong to my boyfriend behind me. "That will never change."
"It's okay Jake, I forgive you. Quil explained everything to me." I said in response to his speech.
"I'll bet he did." Jake mumbled under his breath.
"I love you too Jake, you're the best friend I've ever had."
Jake's face which had been blazing with his smile fell a bit with the word friend. He dropped his hands from my face.
Looking into his eyes, I finished, "I'll never be able to thank you for all that you've done for me. You saved me Jake, and not just from that sadistic vampire in the meadow, but from myself, from allowing my own broken heart to swallow me whole. You helped me, be me again. Thank you."
And I was glad that this conversation took place with Quil standing behind me. I didn't want there to be any secrets between us.
I turned around to look at Quil. His hard eyes softened as he tore them from Jacob's face and looked down into mine. Reaching for his hand I said, "come on baby, let's get this over with."
Quil wrapped his big hand around mine, and I saw his body relax a bit from its rigid pose. I know that was hard for him to witness. I was proud of how he held it together. He is stronger than anyone I know.
We walked into Emily's house following after our porch audience. Introductions were made and I felt fairly comfortable with all of the pack other than Paul. There was something there that felt off, less than accepting.
Everyone was sitting around Emily's living room. I wasn't sure where to sit, because the boys took up so much space, when I felt Quil sit down and give my hand a bit of a tug. I willingly let him pull me onto his lap, and loved the feeling of security and love that washed over me as he wrapped his arms around me.
Quil's POV
I look over at Bella in the car; it's hard to believe how much I love that girl. I was worried about her, I hate having her mixed up in all of this supernatural crap.
"How are you doing with all this, Bella?" I ask.
"I'll be fine. It's a lot to take in, but I'll be fine." She answers.
I can't help but sigh in frustration. Would she tell me if she was frightened, or even worried? I just want to take her home and keep her safe; I could deal with this for her. Too late now, we are here.
We pull into Emily's driveway and waiting for us on the porch are Jacob, Paul, Jared, and Embry. I can tell by the way that Jacob's eyes are focused on Bella that this is not going to be a pleasant reunion for me.
As Jacob looks at my Bella I see his face light up. He is grinning from ear to ear. This irritates me.
Just as I am opening my car door with every intention of helping Bella out of her door, Jacob bounded over to us. Jake opened Bella's door, and pulled her out without ever letting her feet touch the ground. He put his arms around my girl, hugging her and spinning her around, like a rag doll. He was not being careful with her at all. I suppressed a growl as he placed his cheek on her head and started murmuring her name over and over.
I felt my body tense up, I concentrated on my breathing. I could not phase this close to my Isabella, it would be dangerous for her. It was even harder when I heard her breathlessly push out the words "can't... breathe... Jake". But at least he finally released her. The jerk finally acknowledged my presence with a glance. I glared at him, but did not move, I was still trying to keep my focus. He turned his attention back to my Bella. And then I almost lost it. He touched her, and not just a shaking your hand or pat on the back kind of friendly touch but an intimate loving infuriating one. I contemplated tearing offing each one of his fingers one by one as he put one hand lovingly under her chin to lift her gaze directly into his and cupped the other around her beautiful face.
He gave me a look, as if he was irritated that I was there. But I was not about to let this wolf alone with my girl. I would just have to keep my cool and let him say what he wanted to say to her. I know she loves me. But how does she feel about him. She is not bound by the imprint the way I am. My stomach was twisting into knots.
"I am so sorry, Bells." Jacob pled. "I never wanted to hurt you. I never would have stayed away, I never would have said those things, if… if … I had a choice. I love you honey, that has never changed." His gaze shifted up to mine. I was trying very, very hard not to tear his overconfident head off. "That will never change."
Is that a challenge? Is he challenging me over Bella? He may have been my friend, but no one will ever get in between us. No ONE. I was fuming, but then she spoke.
"It's okay Jake, I forgive you. Quil explained everything to me." Bella said in response to his speech.
"I'll bet he did." Jake mumbled under his breath.
"I love you too Jake," my stomach rolled when I heard that.
"you're the best friend I've ever had." An inward sigh of relief.
Jake's face which had been blazing with his smile fell a bit with the word friend. He dropped his hands from her face finally.
Bella finished, "I'll never be able to thank you for all that you've done for me. You saved me Jake, and not just from that sadistic vampire in the meadow, but from myself, from allowing my own broken heart to swallow me whole. You helped me, be me again. Thank you."
And then my girl turned around to look at me. And there it was in her eyes, love, loyalty, devotion; my world.
She reached for my hand said, "come on baby, let's get this over with."
I gladly wrapped my hand around hers. At her touch I could feel my body relax from its rigid pose.
The guys, including Jacob, turned toward the house. And we all walked in. I introduced everyone to my Bella.
As we entered Emily's living room I was still reeling from Jacob's display and was still wondering if he had plans to make a play for my Bella. It was a bit possessive but I couldn't help it I needed to have her in my arms. So, when I sat down and gave her hand a bit of a tug; I was pleased when she willingly let me pull her onto my lap. I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on her beautiful head, taking in her scent, staring with narrowed eyes at the boy who used to be my best friend. I wonder what we are to one another now.