Resisting Temptation Ch. 2

Waking up, Winter was feeling a little crowded, carefully opening her eyes she found Bella wrapped around her like a snake. Chuckling at the sight, that was something Bells always did with her, perhaps it was because she always so warm.

Taking a second to enjoy the contact, however, she knew that if they didn't start getting their day together that they would be late. As understanding Old Quil was about young people, she would never intentionally do anything to disrespect the elder.

Sitting up, Winter carefully dislodged herself from Bella, knowing that whatever the Elder said was more and likely going to be a physical and mental toll on her. Grabbing her bag that was in the corner of the room, she grabbed some clothes and made her way to the bathroom.

Charlie opened his door, dressed for his day at work, smiling when he saw Winter walking out of Bells room. "Hey, this is the first night in months that she slept so soundly." Placing his hand on her shoulder, "I know you're not a miracle worker, and there is going to be lots of work ahead but thank you."

Smiling up at him, "You're welcome." Looking over at the bathroom, "I'm going to jump in the shower, would make the coffee." She asked him. One of the things that was going to need to change, was his dependency on Bella taking care of the house, while chores were important, her need to always take care of people at her own expense needed to stop, it was important for her to learn that it was OK to take care of herself first.

"Yea, no problem kiddo." Turning on his heels, he made his way downstairs and get something started for them.

It didn't take her long to wash her hair, it took longer to dry and braid. But once she was done, she slipped on her black jeans, and emerald green long sleeve shirt. Stepping out of the bathroom, she found Bella making her way towards the bathroom, "Morning."

Smiling back, she honestly felt rested, for the first time in forever, "Morning." Letting out a bit of a yawn, Bella stretched her back, "How long do I have?" wanting to make sure that she moved.

Chuckling at her, "15 minutes, see you downstairs." With that Winter double timed towards the kitchen, smiling when she saw her uncle making some toast and bacon for them. "Thanks Uncle Charlie."

Putting the last piece of bacon on the plate, he watched her sit down. "No problem Win." Sitting down he could see that she was in deep thought. "Tell me what you're thinking kid."

Looking up at him as she took a sip of coffee, "You need to move forward too," looking around the house, it was exactly the same never changing, even from the pictures that she's seen of her aunt and uncle before Bella was born. "You've stayed in the same house, kept the same everything. She needs to see it's OK to move on."

He could only nod, "That was the first thing that I thought of when you walked up the stairs. There is a construction crew that does good work, I'll call them today, get somethings in the works." Standing, "I'll be back later tonight. Do you need anything?" he asked as he made his way out the door.

Shaking her head, "No, heading up to the Rez, perhaps some ocean air and more tough love would do the trick." Smiling as he shut the door. Looking at her watch, it was time to start rounding up. Making a little breakfast to go, "BELLA, move your ass!" she yelled.

Running down the stairs, Bella could see that she was holding food for her eat. "Ready."

Nodding, the girls locked up the house, and made their way towards La Push. Both with high hopes that the Elder of the tribe would be able to help them figure out what was going on with her, because they both were certain if something wasn't done, Bella wasn't going to survive.

Old Quil looked over his property, he could feel the Alpha approaching, "Come in Sam, we need to speak." Keeping his voice low.

Never taking his eyes off the tree line, he could see the dark shadows of the forest moving, a moment later the human form of the Alpha stepped towards the house.

Sam watched Old Quil, he could see that he was tense, but to be fair, after his cryptic call the night before, he was too. Stepping on the porch, "What was so urgent?" he asked him.

Shaking his head, always so head strong, perhaps that was the wolf in him, or that was just who he was, but either way, it helped him keep the other wolves in line. "Bella Swan is heading this way, her cousin Winter in tow."

Shrugging his shoulders, "OK, why are you telling me this?" He asked, a little confused, unless it had to do with supernatural, he really didn't spend too much time thinking about it.

Giving him a pointed look, "Don't get mouthy." Indicating for him to follow him inside.

Suppressing the urge to growl at the man, he centered himself, and following the man inside. Sitting down on the couch, his eyes looking towards the man, waiting for him to fill him in on why he needed to be here for this.

Throwing some herbs on the fire, "Keeps this private to others," turning his eyes back the Alpha, "Winter Swan, she's blessed with a gift, she's not like normal humans, so she called yesterday, it seems like she was worried about Bella, she thinks there could be something else going on with why Bella is having such a difficult time."

Sitting a little straighter, "What do you mean, she's not like normal humans? Is she a wolf?" Wondering if that was possible.

A deep laugh, "No, she's not a wolf, her gifts, are hers to explain, but if she's calling with the suspicion of something else, you need to be here. Our tribe protects from the cold ones, that doesn't just stop at the end of our land."

Rolling his eyes, while he could agree, she voluntarily spent time with them, "You want me to protect someone that spent her time with them? That makes no sense."

"Samuel, what if she was manipulated?" He questioned him.

Letting out a huff, perhaps it was right, but even if she wasn't it was his job to make sure that no harm came to her, or any other human. Turning his head slightly he could hear a vehicle coming up the drive towards the property. Making a move to stand, "They are coming."

Standing out of the front porch, he kept his eyes on the Jeep that was approaching. He could feel Old Quil standing next to him, "Is the cousin dangerous?" Wanting to know if she posed a threat to his pack and his tribe.

"Yes, she can be. However, that was the reason for her mother moving her away, somewhere that she could learn to control herself. I've kept tabs on them, and from what her mother told me, she has become very in tune with her gift." Smiling when he saw the blonde step out of the car.

Winter looked up at the porch, seeing one of the biggest men in her life, "Who the hell is that?" she asked her cousin, hoping maybe she had an answer.

Swallowing hard, "Sam Uley, he's the one that found me when I got lost." Looking at him now, with fresh eyes, she didn't realize how large he was. "Perhaps I should eat what he does, I could use some meat on my bones." She teased.

Staring straight head of her, she just nodded, but as she looked at him, she could see the smirk on his face, almost like he could here them. Weird. While she was drawn towards the man, she wasn't here to flirt with the locals, she was on a mission. Turning her attention to the Elder, giving him a polite nod, "Thank you for seeing us."

Quil could see what she was talking about, Bella's aura was all over the place. Stepping down, he touched the girl in question, "I see this darkness in you. Let's see if we can rid you of the affliction that the cold ones left."

Gasping at his words, she could feel the guilt rolling off her. But looking at his eyes, she could see that he was not judging her, but willing to help. "Please. I don't want to die." Her voice cracking. Turning her attention to the man that rescued her, "I never got to say thank you for finding me, so, thank you Sam."

Looking into her eyes, he could see the anguish that was swimming there, only nodding at her, "You're welcome." His attention turning back towards the blonde that was watching her cousin. He wanted to speak to her, but Old Quil cut that short by pushing the pair inside. But as she passed by him, he couldn't help but smell her, honeysuckle. He could feel his wolf surge forward wanting to get a better whiff.

Winter could feel the man behind her, he was a giant, if she had to make an educated guess, she'd put him near 6'7, his shoulders were wide, he looked like he could carry the damn world on his shoulder.

She could feel him watching her, it was a little unnerving, but if Old Quil wanted him here, then he must be important to the process or to the tribe. She watched as Quil pointed to Bella and to have her sit down near the fireplace, her natural curiosity got the better of her, "Quil, is there a reason that Sam is here?" hoping for a bit of information.

Sam bristled at her voice, soft, smooth, but held a tone of authority to it. But she did have a valid question. Folding his arms over his chest, he looked at his elder, wondering what exactly he was going to say to them.

Tossing some herbs into the fire, "He's the Alpha of the pack, and what Bella is going through is supernatural, he needs to be here."

Winter just stared at the old man, "Excuse me, the Alpha, like a wolf?" Blinking, trying to process what he said, but it seemed a bit much. Turning towards her cousin, "Did you know about this?"

Bella stared at Quil then Sam. "Oh God." Feeling a bit faint, "It makes sense why you guys have always hated the Cullens." Remember the story that she got Jacob to tell her at First Beach not too long ago.

Winter was feeling a bit lost, but as she thought back to the time she spent with Uncle Billy, and the stories he would tell around the fire, it was like lighting to the brain. Sitting down, she had her hand over her mouth, trying to process it all.

Sam could see that Bella seemed to have an easier time about it, but that was probably from spending time with vampires, but her cousin, well she seemed to be accepting the whole thing, but it was taking a second. Making a move to stand in front of the girl, he watched as her eyes looked up into his.

It was like a freight train hitting him in the chest. Everything else in the world fell away, and she was the only thing that he saw. Like a movie reel, he could see their whole future together. Dropping to his knees, he stared at her, hoping that she was feeling this too.

Winter looked up and felt herself being pulled into him. Seeing the world around them melt away, it was like an old movie, she could see them running in a field together, laughing, him holding her swollen belly. Coming back to the present she found Sam kneeling in front of her, watching her as if she was going to disappear.

Looking down, she could see that he was holding her hand, shaking herself clear, she gently pulled it away, frowning at the loss of contact. "OK, I have so many questions, because what the fuck, but right now, Bella, after this." Shaking her hands in between them.

Her eyes struggling to turn away, but as she looked at Quil, she could see his amusement. "Fix Bella. Please."

Quil watched in fascination as the Alpha imprinted on the Swan girl, he hoped that would be the case, between the two of them, they could bring great strength to the tribe, and pack. Knowing that while this was a happy moment, this was a time for Bella, "Of course Winter," turning his attention to Bella, who was watching Sam stare at her cousin. "Let's get started shall we."

Bella could see something shift between Sam and Win, but what she didn't know. Turning her attention back towards the Elder, "What do you need me to do?" she asked him.

"Let me see the bite mark, please." Holding out his hand.

Rolling up her sleeves, she could see him looking at it with interest, but it was the growl coming from Sam that scared her. Her eyes finding his, he could see the yellow in his eyes. Swallowing hard, she hoped that he wasn't going to hurt her.

Winter turned towards the man that growled at her cousin, giving him a shove, "Stop it. You're freak me and her out." Giving him a glare. No matter what the pull she was feeling, if he so much as made a move to hurt Bells, she was going to fry his ass.

Looking down at the woman to his right, he could see that she was nervous, but more so protective of her cousin. Clearing his throat, "Sorry."

Giving him a pointed look, she just nodded. Getting out of the chair, she moved to the place right next to her cousin, now she was on high alert, and no matter what, she wouldn't let anyone, or anything touch her again.

Quil looked down at the girl who was now holding her hand, "Relax Winter, it's natural for the wolf in him to be disturbed by the sight of a vampire bite." Smiling when she nodded but didn't move from Bella's side.

Turning his attention back to the bite, "How are you not changed young one?" he asked her. From what he understood about the creatures, their bites were venomous.

Turning her eyes away from Win, she looked at the man, "James, he was a nomad that came through, he bit me, and Edward sucked out the venom." That was all she remembered, when she asked any of them what happened, they would always change the subject.

Nodding his head, "I think there must be some of his venom left just under the skin." His eyes finding Sam, "Can you smell anything?"

Taking a step forward, he carefully picked up her arm, instantly turning away, "Yes. It's faint but it's there."

Winter wrapped her arms around her cousin, "OK, so now that we know what it is, how do we get it out?"

Quil made a move to stand, heading straight to the kitchen, grabbing a lot of herbs, and a very sharp knife. Smirking when he saw Winter's face, "Relax, I'm not going to kill the girl." Carefully handing her the knife, "Would you get this red hot for me?"

Winter nodded, taking the knife in her hand, keeping her eye on the old man who was now mixing herbs in a tea. Letting out a sigh, she knew that he was going to cut her arm. Her eyes turning to her cousin, "You don't have to do this, your choice Iz." As much as she wanted this for her, she would never force her into anything.

Sam watched her, he could see that she wanted her to go through with this, but never would push her, she wanted it to be 100% her choice. He could honestly respect that. Sitting down, he needed to be near his imprint, smiling when her eyes turned to him, softening as she looked at him.

Bella took a deep breath, it didn't take a genius to know that Quil was going to cut her arm, her eyes found her cousin, then Quils, "This is the only way?"

"I'm afraid so, it will hurt, I'm sorry for that, but it's the only way to remove the poison from your body." Hoping that she would, like Winter, he couldn't force her, it would only work if she wanted to.

Shaking off her nerves, "Let's do it." Her eyes not leaving the shaman. "Get that thing red hot Win. I don't want it to hurt too bad." She teased, needing to do what she could calm her nerves.

Quil handed her the tea, "Drink it all. It will help with the pain, but also put you in a trance, no matter what you see, keep going forward."

Winter could feel Sam tense next to her, but she couldn't be bothered with him at the moment, her only concern was Bella, seeing her down the drink, she watched as it took affect immediately, reaching up to grab her placing her on her lap. "I'm here with you Iz, and I promise you, I'll keep you safe."

Sam watched as she placed Bella in her lap, "She's on a spirit journey." Hoping that would explain what she was going through.

Her eyes finding his dark chocolate ones watching her, not knowing what to the say, she just gave him a small nod. Turning her eyes towards the Elder, "Now?" holding the knife.

"Yes." Moving towards the bathroom, he grabbed several towels, and a bowl of cold water, "When you're ready Winter."

Closing her eyes, she carefully wrapped her hand around the blade. She could feel her body start to tingle, breathing out through her nose, she could feel the heat coming through her hands, soon she could hear the crackling from the lighting that coursed through her body. Opening her eyes, she focused on the blade in her hands; needed to keep it contained so that she didn't hurt anyone near her, but mostly Bella.

Sam watched as her body started to spark, it reminded him of the night storms that he watched over the ocean growing up. So, this is what the Elder meant, she was very dangerous. Keeping a close eye on her, he could see that she had a very good grasp on her gift, to say he was impressed would be an understatement.

He had to fight the urge to pull her into his arms, one she really needed to concentrate on what she was doing, two, he was fairly certain if he touched her, he would be sent flying across the room, even if it wasn't intentional. Letting his eyes drift down to the knife, he could see it was glowing. "It is ready, my angel."

Her eyes turning towards his as he spoke, surprised that he would call her something so sweet, letting out a sigh, she looked down, seeing that it indeed was red. Pulling back, she could feel the crackling recede back, turning toward Quil, carefully handing him the knife, not wanting to burn him.

"Thank you, Winter." Looking down at the sleeping girl in her lap, he tossed more herbs into the fire, his voice chanting to the ancestors to give him the strength to help clean her soul from the darkness that has consumed her.

Instinct told her to protect Bella as he grabbed her arm, but she knew that Quil wasn't doing this to harm her, he was doing what he could to help. Needing to anchor herself, her hands latched onto the man next to her, feeling instantly calm. But as he cut her arm she turned her head, no matter how well intended, seeing her cousin hurt was just too much.

Sam looked down at her hands on his; smiling that even with everything going on, her instinct was to reach out to her mate. Carefully squeezing her hand, he leaned towards her, "She's going to be fine." Hoping that his words put her at ease.

Her eyes could feel his watching her, looking up she felt the urge to crawl into his lap, but the sound of Bella moaning out in pain refocused her attention, turning back, she could see a silvery substance oozing out of the wound. "Is that the venom?"

Growling at the sight, Sam spoke through clenched teeth, "Yes." He prayed that the Cullen's stayed away.

Old Quil chanted, pouring more smoke and herbs over the sleeping girl, his eyes watching the venom fall into the bowl, soon it was stopped, "Sam is her blood clean now?"

Moving just slightly, he took a deep breath on her wound, his wolf not reacting, "She is clean."

"Good," carefully putting some healing herbs on her wound, "Winter, please take the bowl outside and burn it."

Not having to be told twice, she carefully moved Bella into a laying position, seeing that she was no longer in pain, she stood, and taking the bowl outside.

Sam followed closely behind her, not like the idea that his mate was near something so dangerous.

Moving towards the fire pit, she placed the bowl in the middle, taking a few steps back, her body bumping into his. "I'd step away, I don't want to hurt you." Her eyes never leaving his.

Touching her face, he just nodded, and took 3 steps behind her. Curious to see what she was going to do.

Since she didn't have to be so delicate outside, she her frustration out, raising her hand, a strong bolt of lighting came out, hitting the wood around the fire pit, instantly setting it on fire. It felt good to let it flow through her, but a moment later a plume of purple smoke billowed out. Gasping, "What is that?"

Stunned momentarily by the power that she held, it took him a second for his brain to reboot. Stepping forward, he gently touched her shoulder, "That is what vampires look like when they catch fire. It's the only way to truly kill them."

Turning her body towards his, seeing that she barely came up to his chest, "Why were the Cullen's allowed to stay here?" she asked him. It wasn't an accusatory question, but it did make her curious about the whole thing.

Rubbing her cheek, "The last pack 90 years ago made a treaty with them, because they don't drink from humans, they feed on the wildlife." Seeing her nose scrunch up at that, "I don't like it either, but until they break the treaty, we keep the peace."

She could only nod at the man, moving to sit on the stairs, needing to ask a million questions, hoping that he was OK with playing 20 questions. "How long have you been a wolf?"

"About a year now. I was the first to change, Jared then Paul came about 4 months after I did." His eyes never leaving hers. "What about you, with the lighting?"

"I was four when it started to show, my mom freaked out, brought me to Old Quil, he explained what was happening to me. Told us that we needed to leave, go somewhere there was a lot of snow," clearing her throat, thinking about her mom just made her sad, "so she found Crater Lake, OR, and that's where I've been since." Seeing him smile at her, "I spent a lot of time practicing, I was so afraid to hurt someone, so unless I'm in heightened state of emotion, I can keep it together."

"It's impressive. You're impressive." Leaning back, "It took me about 3 months before I could shift back into my human form, I thought I was going to be a wolf forever."

She couldn't help but chuckle, "That must have been frustrating," wondering what she would have done if that was her. "Stupid question, isn't Jacob the next chief or something, shouldn't he be the Alpha?"

Growling a bit, "Yeah, in theory, but seems like I was chosen to go first, probably because I'm the oldest of the family lines."

Tilting her head, "If he does go wolf, you can step down right?"

"Nope. Now that I'm Alpha, the only way I can step down is if he challenges me for position, but I know Jacob, he'd hate the idea of telling anyone what to do. So, this will be my life." Frustrated that he really didn't have a choice.

Winter couldn't help but agree, Jacob was someone that was full of sunshine, he'd hate being in charge. "Well, if it matters, I think it's pretty awesome that you stepped up, not sure if I'd be so understanding about the whole thing. I'd probably bite him." She teased.

Barking out a laugh, "I thought about it a few times." Wrapping his arm around her, feeling her tense, but relax a moment later.

Leaning into chest, "This is not expected, was it?" Her mind racing to the image of them together with kids.

"No, it really wasn't. It's called imprinting." Figured now was a good time as any to explain it to her. "The scrolls say that it is when a wolf finds his other half of his soul. I will be whatever you want, a friend, a lover, but there is no other woman for me. You're it." Looking down at her as she absorbed his words.

Looking at him, "That's a lot to process." Biting her lip, this was not how she expected all this to go, but one thing she wasn't going to do was freak out, at least not completely. "I don't know if I can be more than friends right now, this feeling is so intense, I just want to come to grips, but I'm willing to take it day to day. You good with that?" Hoping he wasn't going to force her for more.

Smiling down at her, "That's perfectly fine with me, as wonderful as this feels I want to get to know you, and you to know me." Feeling relieved that she was willing to accept the imprint but take her time. Pulling her closer, he felt content for the first time in year.

Old Quil watched as the Alpha bonded with his mate, it was a good sign that they were getting along. His eyes turned towards the sleeping girl, he could see fight that was warring through her head, "Fight young Swan, come back to yourself." Tossing more herbs into the fire, his eyes never leaving the girl, knowing what she was going through was brutal.