Leah hugged herself and looked at Kagome, "Is there something wrong, Leah? Did something happen between you and Shippou?"
"What? Oh no, things are fine with Shippou and me. It's only that I wanted to apologize to you for being such a bitch to you and never taking the time to get to know you as Sam and Paul did."
Kagome gave Leah a sympathetic look, "I understand, Leah. I was new to the area and dating your enemy; you had every right not to trust me."
"Yeah, but the rest of the pack gave you the benefit of the doubt, and I stubbornly held on to my hatred towards you."
"And why do you think that was?"
"I guess I couldn't stand seeing another couple have what I wanted. And I took it out on you and Emmett. I used to be so happy with Sam. Did you know we were going to get married before he imprinted on my cousin?"
"No, I didn't know that. That must have been difficult for you, losing the man that you love."
"Yes, it was. And seeing Sam every day so happy with Emily made me bitter and resentful toward anyone that had what I couldn't have, but now."
"But now?" Kagome asked.
Leah smiled, "Now I see what everyone else sees. I feel that bond with my imprint that everyone else feels with their imprint. And it's a wonderful feeling. And I owe it all to you, Kagome. If you had never come to Forks if you had never become friends with the pack, I never would have met Shippou; and I will be forever in your debt."
Kagome smiled at Leah, "Kagome, you don't have to thank me, and you are certainly not indebted to me. It was my pleasure to bring you and my son happiness. It is what you both deserve. And as long as Shippou is happy, I'm happy. So, please, don't ever break his heart."
"I could never hurt Shippou. He means everything to me. I would rather die than hurt him," Leah told Kagome.
"I'm glad to hear that," Kagome said with a smile, "Now would it be alright if I hugged you like my new daughter?"
Leah smiled, "I would like that very much."
Kagome and Leah stepped towards each other, and Kagome enveloped Leah in a firm hug. It was a hug that Leah had never felt before. Kagome radiated light and happiness and a soothing presence that made Leah sigh and melt into the younger woman. Leah sniffled a bit, she felt safe in Kagome's arms, and the feeling was overwhelming. When they pulled apart, Leah had tears in her eyes. Kagome smiled and wiped her tears away.
"Come on, let's go inside; our mates are waiting for us."
Leah nodded and followed Kagome inside.
When they walked into the Cullen house, Emmett looked at Kagome, concerned. She smiled at him and shook her head. Emmett nodded in understanding. Shippou, having smelled his mate's tears, immediately rushed to her side to see what was wrong.
"Nothing's wrong, Baby. Kagome and I had a chat, and I've never felt happier."
Shippou hugged Leah to him, and she wrapped her arms around his middle. Shippou looked at Kagome and mouthed, 'Thank you.' and Kagome nodded.
While Kagome and Leah talked, Ginjiro decided that he no longer wanted to wait until Bella's divorce was final with Edward. He asked Bella to go for a walk with him along the river to ask her a crucial question. Bella and Ginjiro held hands as they walked along the river, talking about Renesmee and what exactly Ginjiro would do to claim her as his Kit.
"It's quite simple. I give Renesmee a drop of my blood, and her DNA will be altered. She will lose all of her vampiric traits and become a hanyou. Edward will have no claim on her in any way. If a DNA test were to be performed, it would show that she is mine."
"Wow, I can't believe it," Bella said.
"Yes, well, Youkai blood is much stronger than vampire blood. And she will have some traits of a hanyou though she will not look like one."
Bella nodded her head in understanding. They continued to walk in companionable silence until they reached an area where the river pooled into a small pond. Ginjiro helped Bella sit down on a boulder and stood between her legs. He smiled up at her, "I love you, Bella."
Bella beamed at her mate, "I love you too, Gin."
"You are my mate, and you mean everything to me. I know that you wanted to wait until your divorce was final to get married, but I don't want to wait anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I'd like to claim you as my mate now. I will be more than happy to give you a wedding if that is what you wish, or we can get married at the courthouse. But I would like to may you may mate officially and adopt our daughter. You don't have to decide now. If you want to continue to wait, I will do whatever you want."
Bella grinned at Ginjiro and jumped into his arm, "There is nothing that would make me happier than officially becoming your mate. Everything else can wait; the most important thing is that I am yours and you are mine and that we're a family."
Ginjiro beamed at Bella and kissed her soundly on the mouth. He laughed and twirled her around. "Thank you, my love; you have made me so happy."
"What do we have to do," Bella asked.
Ginjiro grinned at Bella, "All we need to do is make love and let me mark you as mine."
Bella smirked at her mate and started unbuttoning his shirt; his eyes widened, "Here? Now, Bella?"
"Yes, here and now."
"Would you not be more comfortable in a bed at a hotel?"
"Gin, I have wanted you since the first time I saw you, and I don't want to wait anymore. So, please, make me yours forever."
Ginjiro's eyes flashed red, and he picked up Bella and carried her away from the pond. He found a nice dry patch of grass and set her down. The mates began kissing and removing their clothes. Once, they were bare to each other. Bella explored Ginjiro's sculpted body, enjoying the feel of his warm muscles that twitched under her touch. Her mind briefly flashed back to the difference between Edward and her mate. Edward was cold marble. Ginjiro was muscular, warm, and inviting. She felt safe with him.
Ginjiro kissed his mate, then picked her up and lowered her to the soft grass. He kissed down her body and teased her until she was ready for him. Ginjiro slowly entered her womanhood with a groan, giving Bella time to adjust to his girth. Bella sighed at feeling the man she loved deep inside her. She held on to him, enjoying his weight, "Move," Bella commanded.
Slowly, Ginjiro made love to his mate. But after a while, his beast took over, and he flipped Bella onto her stomach and entered her from behind. Ginjiro began to pound into Bella, causing her to scream out in pleasure. Ginjiro could feel her walls begin to flutter, and he leaned into her ear, "Come," He commanded.
And on his command, Bella came hard, squeezing, Ginjiro's cock. Ginjiro continued to rock inside his mate until he felt his release approaching. He moved Bella's hair out of the way, and when he came, Ginjiro's teeth elongated, his eyes flashed red, and he bit down on Bella's shoulder, marking her as his forever. And as Ginjiro shot his load inside his little mate, the base of his manhood swelled, locking him inside her.
Ginjiro caught himself before he collapsed on top of Bella and slowly rolled them over onto their side. They were both out of breath, sweaty but happy. Bella snuggled back into her mate and slowly fell asleep. She would ask him later why he knotted her, but that could wait. While Bella slept, Ginjiro flared his aura, searching for any potential danger and warding off any predators. Feeling more secure, he too drifted off to sleep
When Bella awoke, she and Ginjiro mated several more times before it was time for them to head back to the Cullen house and Ginjiro to adopt his new Kit.