"Where's Jared?" I asked him, noticing my other imprint was missing.
"He's out back starting the bonfire." He replied. "And they're pulling up. You ready?"
I took a deep breath. "No, but I guess it's better to just get it over with."
"It'll be fine. Jared and I will be with you the whole time." Sam said just as Jared was walking in from out back. "I'm going to go help get Billy in here."
He walked out the door and Jared walked over to me, turning me around to kiss me quickly before they all got inside.
I pulled away and waited with bated breath until Charlie walked inside followed by Sam and Billy. Charlie looked around for a moment before his eyes settled on me.
"Hey, dad," I said to him.
"Hey Bells, Jared. This is a nice place you've got here, Sam." Charlie told him with an impressed look.
"Thank you, Charlie. Come on out back, we've got a bonfire going and fish fry waiting." Sam replied to him, motioning for everyone to follow him.
"So Billy here told me that we had a lot to talk about tonight," Charlie mentioned as we made it out back.
"We do. I will warn you now, it'll be a lot of information all at once." Sam warned him truthfully as I waited in anticipation. I was nothing but a ball of nerves and I knew that both Jared and Sam could tell.
"That's what Billy was telling me. Does it have to do with how you found Bella so fast the other night?" Charlie questioned.
"It does. I promise it will explain a lot, but you have to keep an open mind. What we're about to tell you is a tribal secret, only known by myself, Jared, Paul, Bella, and the council. No one else can know." Sam began as we all sat down outside, Jared choosing to sit next to me.
"If it's a tribal secret then why does Bella know and why are you telling me?" Charlie asked first, running his fingers down his mustache.
"Because it involves Bella directly. She's just as much a part of it as Jared, Paul, and I are." Sam explained.
"Well then, son, might as well go ahead and tell me," Charlie responded.
Billy spoke first. "Do you remember the legends of the tribe?"
"You mean the ones about how the members of the tribe are supposedly 'descended from wolves'?"
"That would be it. Those legends were based in truth, Charlie." Billy said to him, making Charlie raise an eyebrow.
"You mean to tell me that your ancestors were actually wolves?" He asked incredulously, clearly not truly believing.
"Not just our ancestors. They weren't exactly descended from wolves, they were able to change into wolves to protect the tribe from any outside threats. They were called spirit warriors." Billy continued.
"What do you mean, change into wolves?" Charlie responded with a confused expression.
"He means literally, Charlie. The gene has been passed down to select members of the tribe and those of us who possess it can transform into wolves." Sam picked up from where Billy left off.
"Hold up. Are you saying you're all werewolves?" Charlie sounded very concerned at this point but all of us just laughed.
"No, we're not werewolves. We're technically shapeshifters, although our form takes that of a wolf." Sam attempted to explain but Charlie didn't look convinced. "Jared." Sam motioned for Jared to go to the woods and I knew it was to show Charlie his wolf form.
It excited me to see one of my wolves again. Charlie seemed to be waiting with an indiscernible look while Jared phased.
As soon as my wolf walked out of the woods toward us, Charlie nearly fell off the log in fright.
"What the hell?!" He yelled.
"Dad, that's Jared," I told him honestly before smiling up at my wolf.
"That's Jared?" He asked, still sounding unbelieving.
"Yeah, dad. Look." I motioned for Jared to walk over to me and he did so, leaning down and rubbing his nose up against me lovingly as I ran my fingers through his fur. "It's really Jared."
"Alright, Jared go phase back," Sam instructed and he ran back into the woods, emerging a few moments later, tying his shorts back.
"So let me get this straight. That giant wolf was you, son?" Charlie asked Jared as he took his place back next to me.
"That was me," Jared replied proudly.
"And there's more of you that can do this?" Charlie questioned.
"There's three of us right now," Sam responded. "Just me, Jared, and Paul."
"Right. We'll come back to how my daughter is connected to this in a minute but first things first, is it you three behind all these animal attacks?" Charlie's hands rested on his belt as he gave them the police stare.
"No, Charlie. In fact, we're trying to protect everyone from what is behind the attacks." Sam said to him. I could almost see the relief in Charlie's features from the knowledge.
"Then what is killing these hikers? Is it an actual bear or whatever? Because those bodies don't look like any bear attacks I've ever seen." I took a deep breath, knowing what was coming next.
"No, it's not bears or any other natural animals for that fact. What's killing the hikers are vampires, Charlie. Before you ask, yes they exist. They aren't like in the books or movies though. They are immortal, but they can be killed by us."
Charlie's eyebrows were raised almost the whole way to his hairline as he tried to process what Sam was telling him.
"Vampires. Right. So do they actually drink blood?" I could tell he was trying to accept what he was being told as fact.
"They do. There are two different types of vampires though. There are ones that only drink the blood of animals, such as the Cullens, and there are the ones who drink from humans." Sam told him and he immediately turned directly to me.
"The Cullens? As in Doctor Cullen? The one who works with blood every day?" He questioned me with wide eyes and I nodded. "Did you know when you were with his kid?"
"Uh, yeah I did," I responded honestly. "I kind of figured it out pretty quick."
"So you knowingly dated a vampire?" He looked kind of angry at me now.
"He didn't drink human blood, dad. None of them did. What does it matter now anyway? They're all gone." I replied to him, trying to get my point across.
"We'll talk more about that later." He pointed at me. "Now who are the vampires that are killing the hikers?"
"They're nomads passing through. Right now the area is clear but we're continuing to do three patrols a day to make sure. If you're planning on going out in the woods, please call me first so that I can send one of us out to scout the area." Sam told him.
"So are you like the leader?" Charlie asked him and we all chuckled.
"Yes, Charlie. I'm the alpha of our pack. Jared is our beta."
"Pack, like a real wolf pack. Got it. Alright, now how is my daughter involved?" I took in a deep breath, trying to prepare myself for his reaction.
"As wolves, we have the ability to imprint on someone. That person immediately becomes the center of our universe. It's very similar to the concept of a soulmate, although with more tangible elements. Our very core is connected together with our imprints. There isn't anything we wouldn't do to keep them safe and make them happy. We can feel their emotions and vice versa. It's considered the most precious bond in the world." Sam explained to him, making me almost tear up at his words.
"And I'm assuming one of you boys 'imprinted' on Bella?" Charlie asked him with an eyebrow raised, looking back and forth between Jared and Sam.
I couldn't help myself. "Both of them did!" I shouted out, my cheeks immediately going red.
"Both of them?" He questioned with raised eyebrows as if he didn't hear me right.
"Both of us, Charlie. Jared and I both imprinted on Bella the night we found her." Sam told him as I waited impatiently for his reaction.
"And you said it was like a soulmate?" Charlie ran his fingers down his mustache.
"Essentially," Sam spoke.
"Bella?" Charlie looked over at me. "How do you feel about all of this?"
"I'm okay with it, Dad. Honestly, I'm kinda more than okay with it. I know it's not conventional, but if you could feel the things that I do, the connection between us, you'd understand in a heartbeat. I promise for us it just works." I begged for him to understand.
"Are all three of you, you know, together?" Charlie asked uncomfortably.
Luckily Sam decided to answer for me. "We're both with Bella and that's where it ends. Jared is like a brother to me."
"Alright, so my daughter has two soulmates that turn into giant wolves that kill vampires," Charlie stated as if trying to put it all together. "Is there anything else I need to know about?"
Billy spoke next. "Actually there is." Charlie gave Billy a look that said 'what else could there be?' "You see, Bella's connection to Sam and Jared is the most sensitive of bonds. Her being any distance away from them makes it difficult for all of them. She's part of the tribe now through the imprints, so the council has decided to take over her schooling in an effort to keep her safe on the reservation where the pack will be able to protect her more easily. She'll complete her schooling, take her exams, and graduate in December of this year. Since she's 18, she was able to make the decision herself."
"Schooling? Here on the reservation?" He wiped his hand down his face and I nodded. "And I assume that means you'd be staying here too?"
I held my breath and nodded again.
"Here as in here or somewhere else on the reservation?" Charlie continued.
This time Sam spoke. "She has a home here with us, Charlie. I know this is all so sudden and a lot of information, but what we have with Bella truly is the strongest of bonds. We can promise she'll be well taken care of. Jared and I will do anything to make sure she's safe and happy at all times."
"You're right, this has been a hell of a lot of information, son. The craziest part of it all is that I believe you. I don't know how or why, but I do." Charlie said, completely surprising me. He looked over in my direction. "You're sure this is what you want, Bells?"
"More than anything," I replied without any hesitation.
"Then I guess you'll be moving down here, huh?"
I could feel such powerful emotions from both Jared and Sam that it made my heart swell.
"Yeah, I guess I am," I replied to him proudly as I leaned over into Jared.
He turned his attention to Billy. "So when will this schooling change happen?"
"I'll be speaking with the principal at Forks High tomorrow," Billy said to him and Charlie nodded.
"Alright then. I heard there would be fish fry." Charlie stated, leaving me in complete shock, as well as Sam and Jared.
He'd just accepted all of the information thrown at him like it was normal. I guess I knew where I got my 'good with weird' gene from.
Sam snapped out of it pretty quick and went inside to retrieve the food. As we all sat down to eat around the bonfire, Charlie continued to ask questions about the pack and vampires and the boys answered all of them.
When it was time for Charlie and Billy to leave, Charlie shook both Sam and Jared's hands.
"You two better take care of my girl." He told them adamantly.
"Always." They both replied.
"If I hear differently, it's going to turn into open season for wolves, is that understood?" Charlie threatened and I saw Jared gulp.
"Understood," Sam replied with Jared agreeing.
He turned to me as I walked up to him. "You staying here tonight, Bells?"
"If that's alright with you?" I wanted to make sure.
"You'll be living here anyways…" He responded before giving me a hug. "Just do me a favor and… be safe."
I blushed, knowing what he meant by that statement. I nodded and told him goodbye. Jared pulled me into his embrace while we watched Billy's truck back out of the driveway.
"You live with us now, babe," Jared whispered as he kissed up my neck to behind my ear.
"Yes, I do… which means we'll have to go get my things from Charlie's tomorrow. I still can't believe how well that went." I murmured into his neck as he held me close.
"No kidding. I thought for sure that I would get shot at when I came out as a wolf and then there was the fact that he's totally cool with you being with two of us and living here. I have to admit, your dad is the shit, Bella." Jared replied.
"He is, isn't he?" I giggled. "So you and Sam are going to be my tutors?"
Jared pulled back and licked his lips. "For more things than just school." He then winked at me.
"Where did Sam go?" I asked him curiously, noting that he hadn't come back inside after helping Billy into the truck.
"He went to make sure Paul was going out for his patrol then he was going to follow your dad back up to Forks to make sure he made it safe."
A/N- As several of you stated in the reviews from the last chapter, you all know Charlie is my favorite. I couldn't ever bring myself to write him poorly. All of the other parents in the entire saga, sure. Charlie? Not a chance.
I was going to post this chapter this morning but I ended up having to take my little girl to the ER. She's doing well and we're back at home now.
Just because I'm curious, I want to hear what you guys think or would like to happen in this story. If you're a returning reader, I'm sure you understand where most of my stories end up, and I've already got LOTS written for this one, but I would enjoy hearing your opinions.
I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter!