You are mine, Isabella Swan. Forever.
By LilyAurora
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Chapter 29
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All eyes were focused on the door handle, watching intently as it turned slowly. My hand found Paul's nestled next to my leg, I have him a reassuring squeeze, as Charlie stepped inside the house, closing the door behind him. He was wasn't wearing his uniform so that was something, he seemed less... intimidating in jeans and an old flannel shirt. Paul shifted next to me, even though he and my father were on good terms I knew exactly how he felt. This wasn't us telling him we are dating... no. This was us telling him, my boyfriend turns into a giant wolf. And that Vampires are real. Oh and that 'Gang' well they are also giant Vampire killing wolves.
"Oh god." My head dropped to my knees as I gripped Paul's fingers harder.
"Bells?" Charlie was at my side in an instant. "You ok kiddo?" His large hand touching my shoulder gently.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm good." I waved him off. Paul shifted, his body pressing into me harder trying to comfort me.
I scrubbed my face with my free hand before sitting up.
"Sorry, it's been a long day." I smiled softly at Charlie, his dark brown eyes watching me carefully from across the room where he had taken a free seat.
He held my gaze for a few more moments before turning his attention to Billy.
"So, what was so important that you couldn't tell me over the phone Billy?"
Billy shifted under Charlies gaze. I couldn't help but smile and from the way Paul pressed his face against my shoulder I expect he was smiling as well. Charlie just had this no bullshit aura about him. Don't mix words or sugar coat anything. Just give it to him straight.
"The first thing I need you to do is stay calm Chief."
Charlie's eye brow raised. "Calm? You do know that is the worst thing you can say to someone Billy?"
Billy rolled his eyes, ignoring him.
"Listen old man, I need to talk to you about something important and you staying calm is vital."
"Well this is just getting better and better..." He trailed off eyes snapping to me.
"Who did you run over?"
"What!" I screeched. Paul choked back a snort.
"What happened? I mean I always thought that truck was too damn big for you and since the roads are all slicked up with mud..."
"Charlie... Dad I didn't do anything. I mean it's not... Oh god."
"Charlie..." Billy tried.
"Did you distract her?" Charlie growled at Paul.
"Distract her? No god... Chief Swan, this has nothing to do with Bella."
Billy snorted.
"Ok, it has something to do with her but she hasn't hit anyone with that truck, even though I can totally understand where you're coming from." Paul rattled off.
"Paul!" I yelled slapping at him. Paul just grinned at me rubbing his arm.
Billy looked on amused.
"It's not funny Billy," I hissed.
Billy just chuckled before moving forward in his chair.
"Sit down Charlie. Bella hasn't hit anyone with that truck of hers... well not as far as I know."
"Billy, so not helping," I grumbled.
"Sorry, sorry," he said raising his hands.
Charlie grunted before sitting back in the chair. Arms crossed against his chest as his eyes flicked between us all.
Billy cleared his throat before starting.
" We've been friends a long time haven't we Chief?" Billy spoke gently. Something in his tone must have alerted Charlie to the importance of this conversation.
"Yeah, Billy. For a real long time." He didn't probe or push, just waited patiently.
"There are things I've kept from you. Things we have all kept."
Charlies eye's flicked towards me briefly before focusing back on Billy.
"What things?"
"Our tribal legends."
"I know all about the legends Billy, I remember them from when I was a boy. I don't see what this..."
"They're real." Billy cut him off.
"Excuse me?" Charlie asked sitting up a little straighter.
"They are real. All of them."
I nibbled on my finger watching the interaction between the two men. Paul gently took my gnawed finger from my mouth, wrapping my hand in his larger one, squeezing it softly.
"Real? What do you mean real Billy, what real part are we talking about? Because if my memory serves me right, and it most probably does. Those legends talked a lot about men turning into wolves..." He froze for a moment, forehead furrowing. I glanced quickly at Billy who was watching Charlie steadily. Paul pulled me back further against him.
"The gang? The growth spurt some of the boys have had..." His gaze focused on Paul for a moment before asking. "Jacob?"
Billy nodded. "Yes Jacob, as well as, Sam, Paul here." Billy nodded in his direction. "Jared, Quil, Embry, Seth, Leah..."
"Harry's kids." He asked, eyes full of worry.
"Yeah, some of the younger one's too Colin and Brady."
"Jesus Christ Billy, they're just kids." His hands ran through his short hair.
"I know. I didn't want this for them. None of them. I had hoped it would skip another generation, leaving them in peace, but it doesn't seem to have worked that way."
"Why? I mean why did this happen, what caused it."
I shrank back against Paul, this was the part I wasn't looking forward too.
"Remember the 'cold ones' in the legend?"
Charlie nodded.
"Vampires."
"I'm sorry, did you just say Vampires?" Charlie snorted.
"I did. The cold one's are Vampires. We had a treaty with a coven who lived locally. They were not allowed to step foot on our land or drink human blood, in return they could stay in the area."
"You're serious? I mean Vampires Billy, do you know how crazy this sounds?"
"Of course I do. You don't know how many years the truth has been on the tip of my tongue to tell you, to let you know what was living in your town, attending your school but I was forbidden and then I thought I was doing it to keep you safe, keep your family safe but it doesn't matter, you need to know what's going on."
Charlie nodded in understanding before turning his attention on me. "You knew all this Bella?"
"Yes." I answered not looking at him.
"How? Did Jake tell you? How did you find out about all this, did you tell her Paul?"
"No Sir." I could feel Paul shake his head next to me.
"Then how!" He roared. Arms gesturing wildly.
"The Cullen's." Billy cut in.
"The Cullen's, what about them... You are joking me? That's why you lit the bonfires when they left. It's them? They're the... the Vampires?"
"Yes." I added softly.
Charlie sat in his chair heavily, fingers digging into his eyes as he mumbled to himself. I quickly glanced at Billy who shook his head at me.
"Edward." He whispered.
Figures now would be the time he got his name correct.
"You dated him?"
"I did." I squirmed in my seat under my fathers angry gaze.
"Did you know what he was, did you Bella?"
"No, not at first, but I figured it out. He was different."
"Of course he was different." Charlie scoffed. "He was a Vampire Bella."
"I know that dad. I know what he was, but he was different and by the time I figured it out it was already too late. I loved him, or at least thought I did."
Charlie was out of his seat again, pacing the living room, muttering and throwing worried glances towards me.
"Charlie," Billy tried.
"Don't you Charlie me Billy Black. You knew... all this time you knew she was dating a... a Vampire. An honest to god Vampire and you did nothing."
"What could I do, I tried to warn her. I even sent Jacob to her school prom but she's a stubborn thing, wonder who she get's that from."
"I am not stubborn you old fool." Charlie sighed sitting back down. "You should have told me Billy."
"I know, and for that I am truly sorry."
We all sat there in silence, Paul pressing against me so tight I had hardly any room to move, but I didn't mind I knew it was a wolf thing. He was protecting me, making sure I was ok. He wouldn't come between my father and I unless he thought Charlie was a threat to me and that would never happen. Ever.
No matter how upset he was with me, he would never hurt me.
"Dad, I'm so sorry."
"It's ok kiddo. I understand why you kept it from me. I'm not happy about it or the fact that Vampires are real, but as long as you are safe that's the main thing."
Charlie turned his gaze on Paul then.
"So a wolf huh?"
"Yes Sir." Paul shifted in his seat under Charlies gaze, I couldn't help but smile at that.
"Wanna show me?" He asked mustache flicking as he hid a smile.
"What now?" Paul asked looking between Billy and my father.
"Well no time like the present." Billy added.
That was all the go ahead Paul needed.
"Ok then, um we'll have to take this outside," he motioned towards the door. "I kinda get pretty big."
"Enormous, gigantic, huge are a few words I would use to describe you Paul."
"Thanks babe," he winked.
I laughed. "I could use other adjectives, ample, wide and hefty."
"Hey now, no need to be mean." He called over his shoulder as he started undoing his cut offs.
"What the hell is he doing?" Charlie asked as Paul stripped off.
"They have to strip before they phase, otherwise they shred their clothes."
"Hence the naked chests?"
"Exactly," I laughed watching Paul. Jesus he looked so good naked.
"Bella should you be watching this?" Charlie nodded to Paul's naked frame.
"Nothing I haven't seen before... oh god. No! Sorry dad. I mean, I've seen them phase before."
"Uh huh." He replied looking at me with a 'yeah right' face.
Paul snorted.
"Ready Chief?" He called out.
"Ready as I'll ever be." He never took his eyes off Paul. Not when his body began to twist or when the sound of bones snapping caused my throat to seize. When they phased like this it was a lot more, painful. They had to think about it more. Concentrate. When they phased on the fly, it was a lot more fluid, a more natural reaction, less time to think.
Charlie took a small step back the only visible sign that he was a little shocked.
"Dad?" I moved towards him slightly, which of course made Paul growl.
"Really?" I asked turning to face my wolf.
"Bells, maybe you shouldn't."
"It's fine, he gets a little territorial is all."
"A little?" Billy called out from the porch.
"Billy." I whined.
"Just calling it like it is Bella. Paul here is what you would call a very territorial wolf, especially when ever his mate is near."
Charlie's head turned so fast, I thought he was going to spin around. "Mate? You're his, mate?"
"Uh kinda." I fidgeted under his intense glare.
"Wolves mate for life Bella."
"Yeah I know."
"Jesus Christ." His hand was running through his hair again. "Right you," he pointed at Paul. "Turn back, you," he pointed towards Billy, "where's your beer and you," he said looking at me. "We are going to have a very long, very serious talk." He glanced over his shoulder at Paul who was tugging on his cut offs. "Yes that means you have to be there as well."
I just looked wide-eyed at Paul who shrugged his shoulders before moving towards me quickly, wrapping me in his arms.
"Everything will be cool babe, trust me. Your dad he just needs to know... more. Seriously though considering everything, he's taken it pretty well."
"Yeah, you're right. He has."
Paul kissed me then, just a quick peck on the lips.
"I'm always right." He teased before guiding me towards the front door.
"So, think you're up for a meeting with the locals?" Billy asked watching Charlie carefully,
"Sure," he shrugged. "What else can happen. I mean in the space of a few hours I find out Vampires and giant wolves are real."
"Dad..."
He waved me off. "I'm teasing Bells, but in all honestly I would appreciate the truth from now on. No matter what Bella, whatever is going on and I know you're leaving a hell of a lot of shit out, which we will get around to discussing; sooner than later. I want to know. How can I protect you if I don't know what's going on?" He took another pull from his beer.
"I promise, no more secrets and I'll tell you everything."
"Right, so now that's sorted how about we make our way towards the community center. I think there are a few people we need to talk to. Tiffany Call being the first." Billy stated wheeling back towards the door.
"What's going on?" Charlie asked.
"Bella here has convinced me it's about time the families of the pack knew about what was going on."
"You mean they didn't know?"
"No, none of them did." I explained.
"How did that work with their parents." Charlie looked between us all.
"It didn't," Billy shook his head. "A mistake on my part, one that I am about to rectify."
"Ok then," Charlie moved forwards taking control of Billy's chair. "Let's get this show on the road." He called out moving towards the door and down the ramp.
"I can push myself you stupid old fart."
"I'm just looking out what's best for you old-timer. Don't want you to have any unnecessary stress." Charlie laughed ducking out of the flailing arm Billy sent towards him.
"They are worse than children," I laughed walking next to Paul.
"Funny though," he chuckled pulling me closer to him by the hand he had a firm grip on.
"Do you think this meetings going to go ok?"
Paul shrugged. "Honestly? I have no idea. I hope it does, especially for Embry, but we won't know until it's all out there in the open."
"Yeah you're right." I wrapped my arms tighter around Paul. Hoping that this revelation goes the way we hope. The idea that it wouldn't, well it wasn't worth thinking of.
If their families rejected them, and there was a possibility it could happen. Then the rest of the pack would make damn sure everyone was looked after.
