The next morning, I woke to an empty bed and voices downstairs. I made my way to the first floor, and as always, my imprint's eyes immediately focused on me, smiling, making the butterflies ignite in my stomach.
"Mornin' Bells." I heard Charlie say from next to Sam.
"Morning Dad, Sam." I told them, yawning and rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
"What about us, B? Are we just chopped liver?" I heard Paul say from further into the kitchen. I peeked my head around the corner and punched Paul lightly on the shoulder, just enough to not hurt myself.
"I didn't see you two." I told them honestly. "But good morning."
"Between the four of us, I think we managed to make a somewhat edible breakfast for you, Bells." Charlie said, looking embarrassed.
Sure enough, I saw a stack of half-burnt pancakes on the counter, smothered with syrup, and a cup of coffee sitting next to it. I smiled at their attempt.
"You guys must've been up for a while." I mentioned as I attempted to eat the pancakes.
"We wanted to get an early start. By the way, I talked to Sue. She wanted me to tell you that she's giving you the next week off to get settle into the house." Sam told me.
I'd been working as Sue's assistant for the last two months, so that Leah could go off to UCLA. I hoped that we'd gotten her off the reservation quick enough that she wouldn't phase, but only time would tell.
"That's great, but I already had off the last week. Are you sure I should take the whole next week?" I asked, worried that she might need me.
"She told me that she insisted." He replied and I nodded.
"We've already loaded up the boxes you've packed so far. Sam and I are going to take this load while Jared and Paul work on getting your books packed up. There's another box for the clothes you haven't packed yet." Charlie said as I finished my breakfast and washed my dish. "Let's get a move on, son." He said clapping Sam on the back.
"Thanks, Dad." I told him as he and Sam made their way out the door laughing and joking.
I watched with a smile on my face. I still had a hard time believing this was my new reality sometimes. It was so wonderful that Charlie was such a big part of my life, and it truly meant a lot to me that he was so accepting to Sam, even going so far as to call him 'son'. He'd never been that comfortable with Edward in the other timeline. I knew it made Sam happy, too.
I hadn't ever felt such incredible joy in the other timeline. There had always been an undercurrent of fear, no matter how much I'd denied it. Now I felt empowered, equal, truly safe.
I began to pack my clothes while the boys packed my precious books. They knew how much my books meant to me, so I knew they'd be good with them.
"Hey Jared, meet any cute girls?" I asked while they packed away.
"There's some pretty hot chicks on the res, but none of them really seem my type, you know?" He told me and I frowned. He still hadn't imprinted, and it made me wonder if Sam had told him what I'd said.
"And none of them smell as good as you, B." Paul said, causing both of them to laugh at my reddened cheeks. I still hadn't gotten used to the fact that they all thought I smelled 'like a drug' because I was the alpha's mate.
"Fuck if that isn't true, man. It's a good thing we only see you as a sister, because Sam would tear us apart if we didn't." Jared said, making me blush even deeper.
"So that's why you guys like being around me so much, then?" I teased.
"Nah, B, you smell good, but we really stay for your food." Jared replied, jokingly. I laughed sincerely from my stomach.
"I see how it is." I said before I was suddenly engulfed by two very large wolves, hugging me from either side.
"But seriously, B, you take care of us. I mean it's one thing for you to say you love us, but you show it all the time. You didn't even have to do that, especially after how I treated you in the other timeline, but you never give up on me. You gave me a home, and you make sure the both of us know we have a family, blood or not." Paul told me as they broke away, letting me breath again. It made me tear up.
"He's right, Bells, everything you do is for us, even though it's not your responsibility." Jared continued.
I felt a tear drop on my cheeks. I'd never expected this type of gratitude. I didn't do it for gratification, I did it because I wanted to make sure the whole pack was taken care of, especially since they couldn't tell anyone else their monumental secret.
"Aww B, don't cry. Today is a happy day." Paul told me as I wiped the tears from my cheeks.
"I know, and they're happy tears. It just made me think that now that I have all of you guys, I don't know what I'd do without you." I told them honestly.
"Good thing we're not going anywhere." Jared replied with a smile. "Especially since Sam bought that flat screen. You won't be able to get us out of that house."
"Well Paul already lives there, but you know there's always room for you too. And Embry will be phasing soon, too. I'm already starting to stock up the kitchen for when there's more mouths to feed." I told them, laughing.
We finished the packing and both of them brought the boxes downstairs as I took a minute to look at my nearly empty room. I'd left all of my furniture, seeing as I didn't need it in my new house. I'd also left little pieces of myself around the room so that Charlie would know it was always mine.
After saying goodbye, I walked down the stairs, just as Charlie and Sam were walking back in.
"I gotta say, Bells, that new place of yours is pretty great. Hell, I'd buy a place like that for myself if they had any in Forks." Charlie told me as the boys started loading the last of my things.
"You know Sam and the guys could always build you one if you wanted them to. That is what they do, Dad." I told him, wondering if he'd actually go for it.
"Maybe one day, kiddo." He said, clapping me on the back. "So, this is it, huh?"
"Yep, this is the last of it." I told him. I could see the slight sadness in his eyes, but he'd known it had been coming for a long while.
"Well, I'm going to drive the cruiser down so that I can get back later. Sam asked that you ride with him, and Paul and Jared are going to drive your truck down. How'd they get here, anyways?" Charlie asked and I looked over to Sam in panic at what to tell him.
"Oh, my mom dropped us off this morning." Jared replied before I had the chance to say anything. I sighed in relief. I wished I could tell Charlie about the pack, but I knew the rules.
"Alright, well I guess I'll meet you at your new house." Charlie said before walking out to his cruiser. I took a moment to look around. I hadn't really had this chance before, to take in the fact that I was moving out. It had just sort of happened.
This time I savored everything. I memorized every detail, even though I knew I'd be coming back often for dinners, I didn't want to forget a single moment. I walked outside, seeing Sam waiting by the truck. He knew I needed this, to say goodbye to my home.
After a moment of looking at the house, I took a deep breath and turned back to Sam with a new resolve. I was starting my new life with the man I loved and my pack of lovable, idiot, giant wolves.
A/N- I honestly loved writing this chapter. Bella's meaningful conversation with the boys and letting her say goodbye to her home before moving on to a new chapter in her life. I felt like it was important to show that, especially since we never really got that in the movies, even though there was a small bit in the books.