Chapter 30

"You are my wolf's mate." I told her. "He adores you. I adore you. I don't know why I didn't imprint on you, and I wish that I did because that connection would let me know what you're feeling and if you are ever in any danger. That said, how I feel about you, and how my wolf feels about you, is exactly the same as an imprint." I lifted her hand in mine and placed it on my bare human chest above my heart. "As cheesy as it is, it beats the same Bella, and it beats for you."

Bella's POV

We stood still, taking each other in for a moment. I understood everything he said to me, and I believed him because Sam is incredible, but how else could I have fallen so head over heels for him so quickly, otherwise? It just wasn't in my nature.

"Sorry to break up the love-fest, but we gotta talk, you good now dog-breath? Also, put on some damn clothes, the hell you doin' out here naked?" Emmett walked out of the woods and interrupted our moment. He winked at me, Rose and Jasper smirked, trying to hold back laughs at his antics. Sam closed his eyes and sighed, trying to be patient with him, then he jogged up to the house to at least put on some pants. I was really happy he was trying for me, I knew that Rose and Emmett, and even Jasper were cold ones, his enemies, but they were also my family.

"Good, good. So we have some ex-family and a deranged redhead, and not in a good way, if you know what I mean, after our Belly Bean." Emmett said as soon as Sam was back. He elbowed at Sam and waggled his eyebrows, which made him chuckle, despite the situation. "Now we need to take them out."

"How long have your wolves been fighting vampires? Also, how long has it been since they last had to fight?" Jasper asked, looking to Sam for answers.

"It has been several years now, I only have one new wolf that will still need some training." He said. I looked between the two men. There was a tension and a sense of silent communication between Sam and Jasper that was a lot more pronounced than between him and Rose or Emmett. I made a mental note to ask Sam about it later. A silence fell, the four of us all in our separate thoughts.

"I've never worked alongside the wolves before." Rosalie mentioned. She didn't sound bitter or anything, she just simply pointed out the elephant in the conversation.

"I've never worked with lee- uh vampires before." Sam replied. "I need to know what you guys think Edward's aim is here. I don't know him, not the way you all do." He admitted, looking between them and me for answers.

"He's an unhinged, spoiled asshole." Rosalie deadpanned.

"I couldn't have said it better myself, babe" Emmett agreed.

"He's dangerous. He's smarter, strategically speaking, than us to be frank... and he's fast, but Rose is fast too, Emmett is stronger, and I am a better fighter. We've got you and your wolves too, so all that helps. That said, he's got Victoria and her power of evasion, not to mention her influence. What we really need to watch out for Edward's ability to read everyone's minds." Jasper thought out loud.

"Except me." I blurted out. Everyone turned to look at me like they had forgotten I was here. Typical. I was used to being the only human in the room. I turned to look at Sam since he was the only one who didn't know. "Edward can read everyone's mind except for mine. No one knows why. Well, Carlisle thought that maybe once I was turned, I would be a shield." Sam growled low in his throat at that. "Which obviously isn't going to happen now… so basically we don't have a clue."

"We also need to consider Alice's ability to see the future…" Rose trailed off, looking at Jasper with a hint of pity that she was trying to hide.

"Actually, we learned this before. Alice has a hard time seeing when the wolves are involved. She said they make her visions cloudy."

We all stood around quiet for a moment just thinking. The wolves being I involved to make Alice's visions less clear was definitely a big help. That didn't mean she wouldn't be able to see anything though, so we had to find a way to keep our decisions different enough that she would struggle to see.

I turned to make my way inside, hoping that they would follow. I was still very sore from last night with Sam and some hot tea sounded perfect right now.

When we had all made it in the house, the vampires all sat gracefully on the two couches and Sam continued following me into the kitchen to put some tea on. It was like he'd read my mind.

"It's okay, baby, go sit down. I've got you." He whispered in my ear and nuzzled into my neck a little.

Once Sam had passed me my tea, then sat down next to me, we were all back in decision mode again. I had an idea, but not everyone was going to like it. I looked around the room at all the supernaturally beautiful, pensive faces, then landed on my favorite one. My wolf.

"Sam is alpha." I stated. I kept my eyes focused on him so that he would know I recognized him as my wolf, my alpha too. His eyes lit up in passionate fire at my admission. His hand reached under the table and gripped my thigh roughly. I felt myself get wet for him again. Jasper cleared his throat which made us turn to look at him. My face burned hot in a blush at having been caught. Emmett just laughed at us and Rose rolled her eyes.

"Uh… anyways…" I started to get back to my original point. "Sam is alpha wolf, he's a strong leader. Alice can't clearly see when the wolves are involved. She can see when we make decisions, which will be necessary to make up to the fight against Edward and Victoria. Maybe we need to put our trust in Sam to make the big decisions that will need to be kept hidden from Alice. Maybe we need to put our trust in Sam to lead us."

Sam just continued to look at me, somewhat in wonder, for lack of a better word. Jasper and Rosalie had both stilled and grown stiff. Emmett just looked thoughtful. A few minutes passed without anyone saying a word. My face was heating up again, embarrassed by my idea potentially being a flop. Sam noticed my embarrassment and rubbed at my thigh, where his hand had still rested, soothingly.

"Well, your logic makes sense Belly Bean, so I don't see why not!" Emmett smiled, and I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

"I don't like it." Rosalie came next. "But, your logic does make sense. I will do my best to follow your lead… Alpha." She finished, looking at Sam dead in the eyes. He gave her a slight nod, and she returned it.

"This goes against everything for me, given my past, but I agree, this may be what's best in this fight." Jasper forced out. His eyes closed, but he bowed his head to Sam, just the slightest bit.

"My first concern is Bella's safety, and the safety of my people." Sam said in a deep baritone. "Patrols are a necessity. I will have wolves patrol during the day and weekend nights. You three will patrol the weekday nights since you don't need sleep. One wolf or one of you three will need to be with Bella at all times."

The vampires in the room just nodded in understanding. Sam was really taking the boss role over already. I had to admit that I loved it. I wasn't looking forward to having to be babysat, but hopefully this would allow me to get to know some of the wolves better.

"Bella, I know it's soon, but you are my mate… You will be staying with me while Edward and Victoria are loose. Or I can move here, up to you." Sam turned to me and demanded. Rose and Emmett exchanged suggestive looks, then smirked at me.

"Uh… both?" I stuttered. The idea of living with Sam didn't scare or shake me at all, but I had just moved here, I wasn't ready to give up my little cottage.

"Alright. That's settled. We will have meetings as needed. Listen for three consecutive howls to know when a cold-one is detected other than you." Sam shook each of their hands, then kissed me on the top of my head. "I am going to fill all the guys in, and grab some things from home to bring here."

"Bella… I don't mean to be too forward, but don't let him go. That man loves you." Jasper told me once Sam had gone. I blushed, unsure of what to say.

"Hell, I could have told you all that without the magic empath shit." Emmett added.

"Alright guys, get out, Bella and I need some girl talk time!" Rosalie opened the door for them and raised one eyebrow at Emmett who was now pouting. The guys left and no later than that, Rosalie started drilling me with questions.

"Ok what happened to 'just hanging out'? What does he mean mate? He called you that the other day… Details!" As Rose rattled off her questions it struck me that I needed to introduce her and Kim, they would definitely get along.

"Well I don't know… it just sort of became... more. I love him, Rose. Somehow I am his mate without an imprint, which is the most frustrating thing ever, honestly." I explained to her what the imprint was and how it changed the relationship between the wolf and their partner. She listened patiently as I told her all about what had happened between Sam and I before they had shown up today.

"I can understand why you'd feel insecure, but Jas would have been able to tell if there was something off, but he told us last night after we left that he hasn't ever felt a connection between two people quite like what you and Sam have. And I have to say, it really doesn't take the empathic ability to see it either." She reassured me.

"So onto the fun stuff!" She exclaimed, "Tell me what he's like in bed…" She trailed off waggling her eyebrows at me suggestively.

"Rose! Oh my gosh!" I blushed and put my head in my hands in embarrassment.

"What? Even I have to admit that he is one fine piece of ass…ya know, despite being a dog-boy." She said, cracking up and making me laugh out loud right along with her.

"Oh god, Rose. Sex with him is everything." I told gushed to her, really starting to miss Sam already. "I literally can't get enough of him."

"Oh girl, I know how you feel. Thank god you're finally getting some, because now I have someone I can gossip and brag about Emmett with. Have you guys broken any furniture yet?"

"Uh no… and I do NOT want to know!" We laughed and talked for awhile after that. We put in a movie for background noise and just enjoyed the time we got to spend together. After a while of girl chat and Matt Damon Rose stood to make her way out.

"Well your wolf is home, so I am going to head out. You kids have fun." She winked at me, then passed by Sam on her way out. My heart warmed and I swelled up with pride when she called Sam my wolf.

Sam was carrying a backpack filled with his things. His shorts were slung low on his hips and he'd opted out of wearing a shirt. He had freshly phased and was sweating the slightest bit. He smelled like the woods and fresh rain and it turned me on immediately. He knew it right away and his eyes flashed dark with desire.

He tossed his backpack onto the couch, his things forgotten as he stalked his way towards me. A predator after his defenseless prey. Knowing he was a wolf, I did the dumbest thing I could have possibly done. I turned tail and ran. Sam let out a deep growl from behind me, but let me have a head start.

This little game only turned me on more. He didn't let me get far, and honestly I don't know where I had even been headed, before he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. The next thing I knew I was tossed onto the bed and my arms were pinned down to the bed by his large hands. Sam had the skin of my neck pulled between his teeth and was biting down.

"Did you really think you could get away from me, little girl?" He growled out quietly in my ear. He'd always been dominant, but he'd never talked to me like that before, and damn if I didn't like it. A shiver went down my spine and all I could do was shake my head 'no.' He started kissing down my neck to my collarbone, to just above where my v-neck shirt ended the expanse of exposed skin.

"Do not ever run from a wolf." He commanded in his rough, alpha baritone. This time I could only nod in response. The things he did to my body when he talked to me like this, who would have thought.

"Do you want me to be gentle, Bella?" Sam asked abruptly, pulling my brain out of the lust fog he'd put it in. I gave him another shake of my head 'no.' He smiled, almost evilly. "Good."

We weren't bothering with foreplay today, the need was too strong. He brushed his fingers down my skin and slid off my leggings. He checked to make sure I was wet enough for him, which was no question, I was. We both moaned at the contact.

"So fucking wet for me baby, that's right." Sam pulled down his own shorts and pushed all the way into me, making my cry out.

It was bliss having him inside me, there was no other time I'd ever felt so complete. He pulled both of my legs over his shoulders and leaned all the way over me. His arm rested behind my head to protect it from hitting the headboard too hard. His mouth was practically attached to my neck as he bit at my throat. He was biting so hard that it hurt, but the pain only added to the ecstasy I was feeling.

He rammed into me over and over again with precision and strength that should have broken me in half, but I loved every second of it. In fact I craved even more of him. I pushed against his chest with my hands to have him sit up. I then wrapped my legs around his hips to pull him deeper into me. His hands moved to grip my hips and he started his brutal pace back up.

"Oh fuck!" I cried.

"This is a fucking perfect view." He admitted as he continued to pound into me, making my tits bounce around. I could tell that I was flushed and sweaty. I couldn't keep my mouth shut as he continually made me moan and cry out.

"Fuck." he muttered as his pace impossibly increased. He used one hand to keep holding me in place, and used the other hand to circle my swollen clit. That was all it took and I came, screaming out my release. He followed me immediately and pulled me in close to him, not quite ready to leave my body.

A few hours later, I had made dinner for us and we were sat at my kitchen table in a companionable silence. I'd stuck with something simple and made some spaghetti. Sam thanked me when we were done eating and took my plate for me.

I turned to watch as he did the dishes, thankful that after cooking I didn't have to clean it up by myself. I walked to where he was by the sink and I dried the dishes as he got done washing them. We moved fluently, like we were working in a rhythm that only the two of us knew. It was nice to feel that type of closeness with someone. That was never how things were with Edward and I, there had always been something off, I realized.

"Thank you for helping me clean up." I told him, breaking the peaceful quiet. We finished what we were doing and Sam used the towel I was holding to dry his hands. He set it down when done and just held my hands together in his.

"Thank you for feeding me, it was delicious." He said sincerely. He leaned down and gave me sweet, gentle kisses on my forehead, nose, cheeks, and lips until I giggled.

"Thank you for protecting me from a crazy stalker vampire and his vengeful, angry vampire friend." I whispered. I was trying my best to hold it all together, but I was scared. I was afraid for myself, but I was even more worried that someone I loved would get hurt.

"I will always protect you, Bella." He breathed out with his hands on either side of my face. His eyes darted between my eyes and my lips until he finally decided to kiss me. The kiss was all consuming and I felt the want blossom within me once again

Sam scooped me up like I weighed nothing, and carried me back to the bedroom. I guess it was time for dessert.

Author's Note:

As always, the characters took over and did whatever they wanted instead of what I had planned for them, but I suppose that's OK. I am still enjoying the ride! I hope you all are too!

If you haven't had a chance to yet, you should check out my new short story Never Let You Go. It is a Quil x Bella story that should be done in the next few days. The first chapter is up now!

Happy Reading!

~Dahlia~