Author's Note: I know I'm awful for making you all wait so long. For some reason I just can't find the inspiration to write this story. I know where it's going, but I just have more fun writing the other stories I have going on. I'll try by hardest to not make you wait another month for the next one. This chapter is a little short, but I didn't want to drag it out unnecessarily just to have a larger word count.
DISCLAIMER: Stephenie Meyer, along with Little, Brown and Company, owns all the rights to the Twilight Saga. I own nothing and profit nothing from this story.
Bella and I hung out at my house for a few hours, until she needed to head back home to fix dinner for Charlie. I went with her, naturally, as she couldn't be left unprotected for even a minute. Bella quickly moved toward the kitchen.
"You want help, babe?"
"No I'll be okay. Why don't you watch television with my dad?"
I fought a shudder. "Uh, sure, I can do that."
Charlie and I got along fine, but I tried to avoid alone time with him. I was the guy sleeping with his daughter, whether he knew it or not, and he owned a vault full of guns and ammunition. Plus I felt like almost every conversation played out like an interrogation.
I watched Bella glide around the kitchen for a minute before walking into the living room. Charlie sat in his recliner watching a baseball game. I took a seat on the couch, closest to the door.
"Jared," Charlie grunted.
"Evening, Chief."
"What did you kids do today?"
"Well, Bella went on a hike with her friends from high school. Then we met up and hung out with some friends in La Push."
"A hike, our Bella?" I didn't miss the 'our' in his sentence. I liked that. He was obviously okay with my relationship with Bella. He realized we shared her, that she was the most important thing in both of our lives. Some father's had trouble letting go of their little girls, and it sounded like Charlie was on his way to acceptance. Not that I planned on proposing anytime soon. We were young and had plenty of time for that stuff. Plus young marriages freaked Bella out.
"Yeah, I know it doesn't sound like her thing. It was actually her idea. With them all leaving, Bella set up the hike as a last time they could all hang out."
"That was good idea. I'm glad to hear she spent time with her old friends before she can't any longer."
"Yep, I think she had a good time."
"She came back in one piece, which I wouldn't have thought possible."
"She did fall and hurt her wrist a bit, but you know Bella, refuses to show weakness if she can help it."
"Now that sounds a bit more like what I'd expect."
We settled into a comfortable silence after that. Charlie and I didn't have too much in common. I enjoyed sports on occasion but not like the chief did. In reality the only thing we shared was our love for Bella. But really that was enough.
"It's ready, you two come and get it," Bella called from the kitchen.
Charlie and I both made our way to the kitchen. We each took our respective seat beside Bella. She already had our plates dished out for us. My plate of course held the most food by a landslide. Quickly we all dug in. It was as always delicious. Though I knew Bella didn't want to get married anytime soon, and I was perfectly okay with that, I couldn't help but hope we'd move in together relatively soon. I wanted to fall asleep to her steady breathing every night, wake up to her strong heartbeat each morning, and eat her amazing, mouthwatering cooking all meals. Of course there was plenty in between those three things that I wanted too. Basically I couldn't wait to start my life with her with or without a piece of paper stating she was mine. Bella already belonged to me and I belonged to her. If she decided to never get married I would be fine.
After dinner Bella and I trailed up to her room, keeping the door open for Charlie's sake. I used her cell to call Embry. Before Bella and I left Sam's, we planned for Embry to patrol around the Swan residence and surrounding area while I left for La Push for a few hours. Sam wanted me to help with Seth and Leah's training since I was still technically beta. I felt reluctant to leave Bella at first, but Sam convinced me it was in her best interest.
"Don't you want the two of them trained the best we can?"
"Yeah, but can't the others handle it. I don't like not being with her, Sam. You've got to understand that."
"Paul fights with muscle and impulsive. Jacob is strong and a natural, but he still doesn't have down all the techniques. The others work hard, but none are as technical of fighters as you are. You need to teach them, Jared. The only way they can help protect your imprint is if they have all the tools they need to fight to the best of their abilities."
So with that I found myself running back to Forks. I sometimes wondered how Charlie never noticed how I appeared and disappeared without the aid of a car. He never questioned it, so I certainly didn't bother with unnecessary lies.
I arrived at Sam's and didn't bother phasing back. I just stayed inside the tree line and let out low howl. Within a few minutes, Sam, Paul, Jacob, Quil, Seth and Leah came out of the house. Once in the trees, the guys started to shed their clothes.
"Whoa there, boys. I don't need a free show and I'm certainly not giving one of my own. I'll be down a ways to change. One look from any of you and I'll rip your throats out," she warned, walking away.
"Like we'd want a look, what a bitch," Quil grumbled. Suddenly Quil found himself pushed up against a tree. Paul held him down, shaking greatly.
"You little shit, don't talk about her like that," Paul growled threateningly.
"Hey, man, I'm sorry. Just let up."
"Paul, back off. He meant no real harm. Let's phase and get your girl trained," I said, attempting to calm him down and get him refocused on what we were there to do.
"Fine, but I don't want him anywhere near her."
"Oh please, like I'm interested in the bitter –"
"Quil, I don't think you're helping yourself," Jacob interjected. Paul still had Quil in his grips.
"Fine, whatever, I apologize. I'll keep my distance."
"Why don't you just go help Embry, Quil," Sam suggested.
"What, why?" he whined. Quil hadn't been in the pack long enough to know the extent to which Paul's anger could really go. Paul didn't let up easily and he certainly didn't follow the 'forgive and forget' rule. Once you pissed him off, Paul didn't forget easily and I could only imagine how much worse it would be now that he had an imprint to think of.
One look from Sam sent Quil to Forks with his tail between his legs. Our alpha did not being questioned, that was something Quil should have learned in his small time in the pack. It should have been the first thing he learned if he was smart.
With Quil out of sight, Paul calmed down a few notches. We all finished stripping and each phased at will. Sam had to coax Seth a little, as it could be hard to willingly phase on your own the first few times.
We all traveled to an open field on the opposite edge of La Push as where we left Bella's scent. The next five hours consisted of each of us giving Leah and Seth pointers on fighting. Paul's thoughts seemed to be frazzled, something I'd never heard before. I could help but snicker a little as Paul internally freaked when Jacob attacked Leah full force. It took Sam and me pushing him back to keep him from attacking Jacob.
It's not fucking funny, you ass. That's my soul mate he's going at with razor sharp teeth. You fear for your imprint against the leeches.
Yeah, because they're after her life. You know Jake isn't going to really hurt her.
I can't help it. I see her in danger's way and instinct kicks in, Paul defended.
I can hear you, you twerps. And I'm capable of protecting myself.
Leah, I just can't stand the thought of you hurt.
Oh shut up, you baby. I'll be fine.
Leah, you told Bella you would try, I added.
Are you going to tattle tale on me to your imprint, Jared? You that whipped?
Oh yeah, he most surely is, Quil inserted.
You're supposed to be patrolling around Bella's, not butting your nose where it doesn't belong, I retorted. And I tell Bella everything. There shouldn't be secrets in a relationship.
So you are whipped.
No I love Bella and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for her.
Whatever, can we just get this training finished?
I watched as Jacob, Paul and then Sam showed the two newest wolves different attacks. Last it was my turn to put in my two cents.
All right, top rule to remember. Never take your eyes off your opponent. They're fast, almost as fast as we are. If we loose eye contact, we give them the upper hand. Next, go after the limbs first. If you can disable them, it will make the fight a lot easier on your part. Going straight for the head will get you hurt or killed. You have to immobilize them in some way before going in for the kill.
The training went on for a little while longer. We all took turns attacking them in different ways and combinations. We taught them to work together on a kill and to dual focus, so they knew what they we're seeing and fighting as well as what the other was.
After I made my points, we all disbanded for the night. Paul and Jacob had patrol for the rest of the night, so they stayed phased and headed for the woods. Leah and Seth made their way home. I knew they had to be exhausted; the first week was always the worst for everyone. Sam headed back toward his home and imprint. Quil and Embry stuck around Forks and Bella's until I arrived and then they too headed to their respective homes.
I phased back, pulled on my shorts and scaled up the tree. I soundlessly hopped through my imprint's window. My eyes immediately found her sleeping body. She had wrapped herself in a cocoon of blankets and still she shivered slightly. I climbed into the bed behind her and took her in my arms, instantly warming her up. I would protect her with my life. We had done everything we could to be ready for the redhead. Now it was just a game of wait and see.
