A/N So sorry for the long awaited up date. Hope you all enjoy.

You are mine, Isabella Swan. Forever.

By LilyAurora

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Chapter 26

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Charlie sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee, reading the morning paper, when I stumbled through the door. His eyebrow raised as he chuckled.

"Dad, hey."

"Bells. You ok kiddo?" The humour evident in his tone.

"Huh? Oh yeah, good. Great."

"How's Paul." He smirked then, his moustache twitching from the sheer need to laugh.

"Paul? Oh he's good. Really, good." I replied blushing.

"Uh huh, so when is he coming over for dinner again?" He asked sipping his coffee.

"Oh, I-I don't know. When do you want him too?"

"I'm home tomorrow evening." He answered. Continuing to read the paper.

"Tomorrow? Sure, yeah. Tomorrow is good. I'll ask him later when I see him later."

"So what do you have planned for the rest of the day?" He asked, folding the paper and setting it on the table.

"I have some laundry to do, and other things around the house. Maybe some grocery shopping. Then I'm going back to La Push, Angela's coming with me."

"Angela Weber? Your friend from school?"

I nodded. "Yeah, she um... her and Jake kinda like each other, I guess. A little. Well, Jake more so. But she kinda likes him too, so she's going to get to know him. Slowly."

"Uh huh." He folded his arms across his chest.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing. Are you ok with that?"

"With what? Jake and Angela?"

"Yeah Bells, I thought at one point maybe you two would get together. I wasn't opposed to the idea either."

"I know dad, but I don't think of him like that. Ever. And to even try too be with him in a romantic way would be just wrong." I shivered slightly. "He's like a brother," I shrugged.

He nodded. "Yeah, I can see that. And Paul's not a brother?"

"No, god no. Not a brother." I could feel my cheeks redden. Paul definitely not a brother.

"Well then, all the more reason for me to get to know him better." He said standing, kissing me on the top of my head. As he walked towards the front door.

"I'll see you later or are you staying at Paul's?" Charlie asked, hand on the door handle.

"I'm not sure. I'll let you know?"

"Ok kiddo." He replied picking up his keys. "But make sure that boy is here tomorrow evening."

I nodded. "Yes dad."

"Good, bye Bells see you later."

"Bye dad."

The hours passed quickly with all the housework that needed to be done. The trip to the store was quick since we didn't need that much just a few bits n pieces.

The shrill sound of the house phone pulled my attention from laundry I had been unloading.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe."

"Paul, everything ok?"

"Is Angela there yet?"

"No, not yet. What's going on Paul?"

"As soon as she gets there, come straight over ok, Jake, well he thinks he may have found something."

"What? What is it?"

"I don't know yet, he just rang and said he was running some things by his dad before coming over."

"Do you think it could something to do with mates?"

"Maybe, I hope so."

"Ok I'll see you soon."

"Bye babe."

I hung the phone up, head resting against the wall. Jake might have found something. No wonder he all but ran out of Paul's earlier. Smiling I jumped up eager to finish the laundry, before Angela arrived.

"Paul?"

"In here babe." He called from the kitchen, as we rushed through the front door. Angela just as jumpy as I.

"Where's Jake?" I asked scanning the room.

"He's not back yet."

"Oh, right." Flopping down into the chair next to Paul I felt slightly deflated. I had hoped Jake would have been back by now.

Paul's warm arms wrapped around my shoulder pulling me to him.

"Hey," he purred kissing my head as he breathed in my scent.

"Hey yourself," I smiled softly at him.

"Hey," Angela added. Laughing as we both looked at her.

"Don't mind me," she waved us off.

"Paul?" Jake called as he came barrelling through the front door. The kitchen door opening before Paul could reply.

"Hey," he said looking between us all. "So I think I found something."

"That's why we're all here Jake." Paul added slightly annoyed.

"Right ok, well when we were talking earlier I remembered reading something years ago in one of the journals dad had. It was in Quileute, it took me a while to find which one it was in, but I found it." He beamed triumphantly.

"Ok, as happy as we are that you found the journal Jake, what is in it?"

"Oh yeah. At the time I didn't understand the difference, just thought it was another term for the same thing."

"Jake," Paul snarled.

"Well in the journal it mentioned mate. I thought it was referring to imprint. Nothing really registered until this morning, so when I showed dad he agreed. Not once in the journal does it mention imprint, but he does mention his mate. A lot."

"So let me get this straight. You found a journal with reference to mates in there?" Paul asked.

"Yes," Jake smiled brightly.

"I swear I could kiss you," Paul laughed.

"Yeah, I'll pass on that thanks." Jake laughed.

Paul rolled his eyes.

"So who is it? Is it someone from the last pack?" I asked.

"No, we think it was before them, it's old. Here look for yourselves."

Jake placed a small leather bound book onto the kitchen table. It looked fragile, as if it would fall apart any second. Carefully turning the pages Jake pointed out paragraphs here and there where the word mate was mentioned. He read extracts. But so far all we know is the man's names was Enapay and his mate was Nuttah, which literally means my heart. That's how he referred to her. 'His Heart' as well as 'His Mate'.

"Well, that wasn't very informative." Angela sighed.

"But it's a start." I beamed brightly.

"Does Billy know anything else?" Paul asked.

"No," Jake shook his head. "But he's going to start looking through the older journals he was so focused on the last pack he didn't even consider the older ones."

"Well let's hope he can find out more information on Enapay."

They all nodded in agreement.

"Bell's dad asked when will you be going over. Its nearing the end of the month and he wants to make sure you're prepared."

Paul growled at the mention of the up coming ritual.

"I'll give him a ring later and arrange something. I also need to speak to Leah as well."

Paul pulled me in closer his nose dropping to my neck as he breathed me in.

"I still don't want you to do this," he whispered.

"I know but I have to." I kissed him softly, willing him to understand. I knew he wouldn't like it, hell I didn't like it but I had to do this, for us.

He kissed my cheek before turning his attention back to Jake.

"You sticking around for a bit?"

"Nah, I wanna take Angela to meet dad."

Angela looked wide eyed and scared. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Billy's great," I said honestly.

"You want me, to meet your dad... now? Looking like this!" Angela practically screeched.

Jake frowned. "You look beautiful."

Angela gaped at him, looking at me before turning back to Jake. "I have jeans on Jake, with paint splashes."

"So," he shrugged. "I'll tell him you're an artist."

She laughed, slapping at his shoulder. "Funny."

"Come on," he wined rubbing his shoulder feigning injury. "He's going to love you."

Angela sighed before standing, brushing her hands over he paint covered jeans. "Ok, but only if we can go to the beach later."

"Sounds like a plan, I'll make some food?" I looked at Paul, who rolled his eyes before nodding "We'll meet you there in a few hours."

"Awesome," Jake shouted, before jumping to his feet, pulling Angela with him. "See you later," he yelled as he ran out the door, Angela in tow.

"What is with him lately?" I asked.

"Not a clue, he's like a three year old who's had too many E numbers."

"Oh god," I laughed. "Imagine that."

"No thanks," Paul snorted. "He's bad enough when he's not running off chemically enhanced food."

My fingers brushed through his short hair, it always felt so soft.

"Are you nervous about the ritual?"

He was silent for several minutes before finally answering. "Yeah, I am."

"I hate it," I whispered. "Hate that you have to go through this because of me."

"Hey, you listen to me right now. If this is what it takes to get old Quil off our backs then I'll do it happily. I know the pack are not going to enjoy this one bit, as much as I piss them off and vice versa none of us want to inflict pain on the other. We're a family, a unit we should be sticking together and in a way I guess we are."

"But you're going to get hurt."

"I'll heal Bella, trust me. Everything will be ok."

"I hope so."

"Babe, have faith ok." He smiled pulling me in closer, kissing my softly.

"Ok, ok." I buried my face against his chest, just inhaling his scent. "Oh, dad wants you to come to dinner again."

"When?" Paul asked cautiously.

"Tomorrow?" I whispered, smiling as he groaned.

"Babe, I don't have to make anything again do I?"

I laughed, lifting my head to look at him. "No, I'll make everything. Promise." I pushed myself onto my tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his warm mouth.

"What was that for?" He smiled down at me, finger tips brushing against the exposed skin of my stomach.

"I love you." I whispered.

He smiled then, this perfect smile that had me melting, warm arms wrapped around my frame before he pulled me to him, holding me tight as he kissed me. Kissed me so hard I forgot how to breath. His large hands cupped my face gently as he gazed at me, eyes roaming my face, taking in every inch before he rubbed his cheeks against my own. Nose nudging mine as he scented me. His breath hot on my skin as he sighed into my neck, just holding me to him.

"You're my everything Isabella." He purred. "Everything."

"I know." I whispered.