Chapter 13:
Two months later:
"Wolf, what are you doing? I have told you not to go around sniffing my neck!" I yell angrily and he whines. The last month Wolf has been very annoying, taking over Paul more often and all he does is wanting to cuddle with me, sniff my neck and lick my hair like he's grooming me or something. That is very annoying since I have started taking online classes because he doesn't want me to leave his presence. Victoria is still out there and he needs to protect me.
"But my imprint, you smell amazing." He whines and I take a deep breath.
"More so than usual?" I ask annoyed and he hums as he buries his face in my hair again.
"The others in the pack think so as well, that's why they have been over so much." He whispers, sounding pleased and I groan.
"Well, do you know why that is?" I ask and he shakes his head, pulling me closer on the bed. He kisses my neck gently before he nips at my mark.
"Something has changed, my imprint, and I don't know what. I only know that I can not keep away from you and that you have pleased me greatly." He hums and I sigh deeply.
"Let me out of bed." I mutter and he groans but lets go of me. I get out of bed and pull one of his large T-shirts on, walking out into the kitchen. "What date is it?" I ask and Wolf lays his arms around my waist as I stop by the sink to get a glass of water.
"The sixteenth." He murmurs as he sniffs my neck again. I freeze and drop my glass. "Oh, my imprint, don't be mad. You just smell so heavenly." He groans and I shake my head as I turn around to face him. He meets me eyes and sees how shocked and scared I am. His hands instantly start roaming my body, searching for any kind of injury. "What happened, my imprint? Do you feel badly? Did you injure yourself? I don't smell blood-" I press my hand over his mouth.
"Wolf I think I might be…. um…" I begin and he pulls me closely, nuzzling me to try to get me to continue.
"What, my imprint?" He presses and I gulp.
"Pregnant." I whisper and he stills, pulls away slightly and meets my eyes. His eyes are calculating. I tense slightly because he always looks like that when he thinks.
"You think you might be bearing my cubs?" He clarifies and I stop myself from rolling my eyes. I nod. He smiles widely and kisses me passionately. I gasp surprised and he smiles even wider against my lips, holding me tightly in his arms. "My imprint is bearing cubs. It will be strong cubs." He murmurs as he starts liking my neck. I groan and nod a little.
"I think I might be bearing your cubs." I say and he grins as he caresses my cheek instead.
"But my imprint, I am sure. I did not think about it before, but that is why you smell so heavenly and why the pack is so pushy. We want to protect our unborn cub and we can sense that you need our protection, that you bear my cubs." He explains happily and I smile a little to him, then I sigh deeply and rest my forehead against his chest.
"Then I do bear your cubs." I whisper, he hums pleased and scoops me up in his arms.
"We need to gather our pack, we are having cubs." He exclaims proudly as he carries me out through the front door.
"Um Wolf?" I ask and he hums. "You do know I'm not dressed?" I ask. He stills and looks down at me, frowning.
"I am sorry, my imprint. I am just so excited." He smiles sheepishly and carries me back inside.
"I know. Call Sam and tell him to gather the pack for a meeting."
"Are you not pleased, my imprint?" He asks worriedly at my lack of happiness and I sigh.
"I'm just thinking about all the responsibility it comes with, but I do want our cubs, Wolf. I promise you that." I whisper as I kiss his cheek, then I smile widely. "You're going to be a dad soon, you know." I say and then I walk away to get dressed.
When I'm dressed I walk out to Wolf and he gathers me in his arms with a wide smile.
"I called Samuel and he will gather the pack." He says as he nuzzles my neck, carrying me out the door. He distracts me by kissing and cuddling with me the whole way over, then right outside Sam and Emily's house he lets me down on my feet. As we walk around to the back I'm instantly scooped up in warm hugs as they scent my neck and hum pleased. I sigh but let them all do it, then Wolf finally gets annoyed at them and growls quietly. They instantly give me back and I cuddle into his arms.
"Well our pack… We have news." Wolf begins and everyone nods for him to continue, but he just looks down on me with a wide smile as he places his hands protectively over my stomach.
"We're having cubs." I say, already giving in and calling them cubs. Everyone breaks out in wide grins and comes forward, hugging both me and Wolf, causing Wolf to hum pleased.
"That's why your scent has changed." Sam realises and Wolf purrs pleased as he gathers me in his arms again.
"My strong imprint is bearing my cubs." He nuzzles my neck. I lean my head against him with an amused smile.
"Are you keeping them?" Sam asks and Wolf growls loudly, giving him a death glare.
"Yes." He growls clearly and Sam nods, but looks hesitantly at me.
"Bella?" Sam asks and Wolf growls even louder.
"My imprint will give birth to our cubs." He growls threateningly and carries me a few steps away from Sam, protectively. Sam gulps, but keeps eye contact with me.
"Wolf, it's Bella's decision." He tries and Wolf growls louder, putting me down gently in the corner and crouching in front of me as if to protect me. "Bella, do you want to-?" He begins but Wolf roars at him.
"YOU WILL NOT COME CLOSE TO MY IMPRINT. I WILL NOT TOLERATE HER OR MY CUBS BEING HARMED!" He roars and I sigh, wrapping my arms around Wolf's chest.
"I'm here my wolf and we are safe. You do not need to worry. I want to keep our cubs." I rub my cheek against his back and he takes a deep breath, then he turns around and wraps me in his arms, nuzzling my hair to calm himself down. "And Sam would never hurt me, Wolf. It is just custom in the human world to have the choice of abortion because some aren't ready…" Wolf falls down to his knees and nuzzles my stomach desperately. "... but we are ready and I want to give birth to our cubs." I calm him down and he finally relaxes, resting his ear against my stomach as he hums softly.
"Are you sure Bella?" Sam asks and I nod as I drag my fingers through Wolf's hair.
"I'm sure." I whisper, then I pull Wolf up to standing and he envelops me in a hug as he hums pleased.
"You please me, my imprint." He hums and I nod with a smile.
"I know, now give me Paul back." I swat him gently and he grins, burying his head in my neck, inhaling deeply as I feel him change back to Paul again.
"Pregnant?" He breathes surprised and I grin, nodding.
"Surprise?" I say and he smiles, kissing me passionately.
"It's a good surprise." He assures me and pulls me down on the couch with me. "And I have never felt Wolf so pleased." He adds and I roll my eyes.
"I know, I can feel it too." I say and curl up in his arms.
"Now however we need to speak about a threat." Sam declares, effectively killing the mood as Paul growls at him. "Jacob caught the scent of the red headed leech today-"
"Victoria?" I gasp and the pack nods. It's the first time in a long time that he has been close.
Wolf stills before letting out a roar in anger, his eyes turning grey.
"My mate and our cubs will not be harmed! The cold one is to be killed today! We can not have that thing threatening us now!" He commands and Sam backs away as if he was hit. The pack are all looking down at the ground and baring their necks slightly. "Samuel, Jared, Jacob you will track her scent. The rest of you are on patrol. I am going to bring my mate and our cubs home and keep them safe." He orders and they instantly move out of the house. He lifts me up in a bridal carry and sprints back to our house.
"Wolf?" I question as he lays me down on the bed, nuzzling my belly worriedly.
"Mine, safe." He growls and purrs at the same time.
"Wolf?" I ask again and he just purrs for me. "WOLF!" I yell at him and he jumps up, looking around for threats.
"Where is the threat, my mate? Can not see one, our cubs must be safe."
"There is no threat here, wolf. Come here." I open my arms for him and he slips into them, covering my body protectively with his. "Now, explain what happened back at Sam and Emilie's house."
"You are in danger, I commanded the pack to do what I find necessary to protect you." He states and I hum quietly, trying to calm him down a little.
"How could you order them to do something?" I ask and he stills for a few seconds.
"I took over the alpha position." He finally exhales. "I managed to command Samuel and, therefore, became alpha. I could not let him continue to disrespect our bond and make bad decisions for the tribe. I am the only one who is strong enough for the alpha position. Samuel and Jacob are weak but with my dominant nature and Paul's acceptance of me, we will be able to keep everyone safe. From now on you are not only my mate but also the pack mother. You will fit well into the role." He states surely and I lay there completely stunned. Alpha? Pack mother? What the…?
"What will happen now?" I ask a little confused and he sighs deeply, holding me a little tighter.
"The cold one that is threatening you will cease to exist today, I will take over all of the responsibility for the pack and you will naturally fall into whatever roll the pack needs. You need to figure that out on your own." He explains and I nod a little. "I will keep you safe, my mate. I promise to keep you safe." He whispers in my ear. I start massaging his tense shoulders and back until he relaxes some. He keeps his weight off me but purrs for me to comfort me.
After a few hours, Wolf has let Paul come back and I am cooking us some food. He constantly stays between me and the door, keeping me safe.
"Princess." He whispers in my ear as he wraps his arms around me. I hum as I flip the steak over. "The pack is on the way." He whispers and I nod a little just as the door opens and everyone except Sam and Jacob comes inside.
"Hi everyone, if one of you gets the rest of the steaks from the freezer I can cook some for you." I say as they hug me and Paul, breathing in my scent. I resist the urge to roll my eyes at them when I see them relax and then hurry towards the freezer.
"Here, Bella." Seth puts the meat beside me and I smile gratefully.
"Any progress?" Paul asks, authority in his voice again.
"Yes, Jacob and Sam are following a lead. They are in Seattle and found a lot of scents from leeches there. They told us to take a break and ask you for our new schedule." Jared reports and Paul nods, taking the plate I offer him.
"Three will patrol at all times as well as two hunting the red head." Paul commands and they nod in sync. He relaxes a little and starts inhaling the food without moving away from me.
"After you have eaten, the two of you who won't patrol can sleep in the guest bedroom." I add and Paul raises an eyebrow at me before nodding a little when he meets my glare.
"Yes, pack mother." Leah grins teasingly and I freeze.
"Oh, so that is what you meant by falling into the role naturally?" I ask Paul and he hums with a pleased smile. I smile as I continue cooking, content with taking care of our pack. When they all have eaten, Paul kisses me gently before pushing me towards Jared and Leah.
"You two, protect my mate while I check in with Samuel and Jacob." Wolf comes out in the command and we all nod in response. He nuzzles my neck gently, licking my mark firmly before running out the door and phasing.