AN: thanks for all your reviews and for still being there reading :) I'm back and I'm plotting ;)

Enjoy the reading :)

Chapter 25

They got into Jacob's house and found Billy and Old Quil sitting at the kitchen's table.

"Is everything okay dad?" Jacob asked.

Billy looked at them and grimaced. "I'm not sure son. Sam today has started dating Leah Clearwater again, but she isn't his imprint and we're worried that something bad will happen."

Bella was surprised by the news, but at the same time she was happy. "Well, Sam loves Leah; it was just a matter of time before he asked for her forgiveness."

"Bella, this isn't about love. Samuel is the Alpha of the pack and even if it's temporary he has responsibilities towards the tribe and the wolves. You mustn't forget that eventually he will imprint and hurt Leah even more." Billy told her.

She felt anger curse her veins and she replied. "Their love is strong and he won't imprint. It's either Leah or no one else."

Billy shook his head, but it was Old Quil that replied. "His love will last until he meets the eyes of his imprint."

Bella wanted to tell him that she knew that it didn't work that way, that she had seen Sam and Emily together, but she knew from Jacob that Sam still loved Leah just the same. But nothing of this had happened in this life and she couldn't justify her knowledge in any way. She couldn't give away her secret. So she turned away from them and met Jacob's eyes. He looked pained, but it was obvious that he thought as well that there wasn't anything they could do.

"Bells..." He whispered, but she shook her head and then when he pulled her into his arms she just placed her head on his chest without speaking. She didn't want to hear anything else about Sam and Leah's doomed love, deep down she was scared that maybe she should let fate follow its course. Angela was hurt and she didn't know if it was because of her different choices and her meddling with other people's lives, so she sighed and tried to push back the tears that were threatening to fall.

After a while she decided to go and see Leah, so she bid goodbye to Jake, his father and the shaman and she headed to Leah's house. She wanted to know if it was true, she needed to see for herself that her friend was happy and back in the arms of her Sam.

While driving towards the Clearwater's, she noticed Paul walking on the road. She debated whether to stop the truck or not, he was trouble and she didn't want Jacob to be angrier than he already was. With a sigh she resigned to piss Jacob off, she stopped and pulled down the window. "Hey." She whispered.

He smirked at her and got closer. "Hey babe, looking good today." He said while letting his eyes travel on her body.

She blushed. "You're going to get in trouble if you don't stop with this behaviour."

His smirk widened. "Trouble? Are you talking about little not-yet-Alpha Black? Because I could destroy him before phasing, but right now I can turn him into dust…"

Bella shook her head, she knew that Paul had issues that she wasn't privy of, but she didn't want his problems to be brought to their relationship. "Paul, can we just try to be civil with each other? Would it cost you so much to try and be friendly with me like Sam and Jared?"

He laughed. "Friendly with you? Like Jared? You aren't in his head, but believe me when I say that he hasn't got friendly feelings towards you."

"Jared and I talked, and he accepted that I want to be with Jacob. In his head he can think whatever he wants, as long as it stays there." She replied seriously.

He nodded. "I can try that, though I don't see the point in being friend with a woman."

She bit her lip trying not to laugh but at seeing his dubious expression she burst out laughing. "So… you've never had a friend who was a girl."

He shrugged his shoulders. "When I was a kid I spent time with the other guys playing football, now that I'm an adult I play with women." And then he raised his eyebrows suggestively, she knew which kind of games he liked to play.

"What about school, do you like going?" She asked, wanting to understand him better.

His eyes narrowed. "That's none of your business." And then he turned his back and left her there.

She thought about his reaction and wondered if becoming a wolf had in some way interfered with their scholastic career and she resolved to talk with Sam about helping them with their studies if they needed it.

When she parked in front of Leah's house the door opened and a smiling Sam got out. As soon as he saw her he run to open the door of her truck and pulled her into his arms. "I did it Bell, she forgave me. Thanks for being there when I needed it. I leave you two to your gossip. We'll talk later." He whispered and kissed the crown of her hair. And then he disappeared. She looked up and noticed a smiling Leah on the front door.

Bella walked towards her and Leah hugged her. "He's back! And I know I have to thank you for it!" She said laughing.

"I'm happy for you. What did he say?" Bella asked, curious to know which excuse he came up with.

Leah shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't ask for an explanation, he came here telling me that he was sorry and that he still loves me. Honestly Bella I was at my wits' ends. I was missing him far too much and I was getting crazy without him. Whatever happened is behind us."

She frowned. "But you should have asked him why he behaved that way." She said, thinking that if it was her in her place she would have demanded an explanation.

"He's back and that's what is important." Leah whispered.

Bella thought it over, and she still didn't like that Leah had been so accepting. Then she almost stopped breathing, hadn't she behaved the same way with Edward after the Volterra's mess in the previous life? She had opened her arms to him and never even bothered understanding why he had behaved that way. Jacob had tried to make her see that she wasn't being logical, and she had argued that she loved Edward and that was enough.

Now she realized that it wasn't enough, she should have raised the issue and discussed things through with Edward. Missing and loving him wasn't sufficient to forgive someone, if you left things unsaid then they stayed that way and the relationship would never grow healthily. "I think you should ask him why he left you."

Leah shook her head. "Just forget about this Bella, you were a great friend to both of us, but right now I know better how to be with Sam."

She nodded then; it wasn't her battle to fight. Maybe it hurt that she hadn't listened and she had paid the consequences and she had wanted to help Leah not making her own mistakes. But if Leah didn't want to listen then it wasn't her business anymore. "Okay, sorry Leah."

Leah smiled. "It's fine Bella. I know I should ask him, but right now I'm too happy to deal with all of this. When things will settle then I'll try to pry the reasons for his breakdown. On another note, do you know who's coming to visit me next week?"

Dread pulled at her stomach. "Who?" She asked.

"Emily, my cousin from the Maka Reservation. I want to have a party; you and Jacob are invited." Leah said happily.

It was too soon for Sam and Emily to meet. "Why don't you postpone her visit? Sam is back and maybe you want to spend time with him."

"I will spend time with my Sam, but Emily has been curious to meet him since we started dating and right now she's on holiday so I took the chance. Now come on in Bella, I want to plan what to cook for the party and I need your help." Leah replied.

Bella followed her inside, dreading the party and the meeting between Sam and Emily. There was nothing she could do, she had to let destiny follow its course.

Then an idea formed in her mind, and what if she convinced Sam to mark Leah before the party? Well, it was worth a shot, after leaving from Leah's house she would head to Sam's one.