A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.

Chapter 7-

Bella's POV- A white lie

"Now that we are free of any and all distractions,"

I scoffed audibly at your highness Sam Uley- the Great's words, truly disgusted beyond belief. I mean, how could a man consider himself this superior to others, treating everyone around him like the ants that crawl all around you on the ground, with you kicking them away when they start to annoy you, not an inch of regret or guilt in your actions.

It was…horrible.

Beyond that, indeed.

I wonder how his friends' felt with such obvious display of superiority on his part.

Oh. Wait.

He doesn't have any friends to boast about.

No. He just has a bunch of followers who follow him around like lost puppies, their eyes covered with the blackest cloth ever found.

Or rather, it was their brain and thinking ability that was covered, no longer capable of seeing the reality….

For you tell me, who in their right senses would agree to be in the presence of someone who prided himself as much, refusing to treat another like his equal.

I may have my own flaws, but at least I was not this level of far-gone!

Wow.

Was I actually congratulating myself for that fact?

Eh. Celebrate the small things and all of that.

"So, are we done here?"

I looked up, confused and surprised, meeting the heavily confident eyes of one Sam Uley, waiting for me to respond.

Had he been talking to me for all this while?

Honestly, I had not heard a word of what he just said.

"What time should he come to pick you up?"

"I am sorry…who?"

I felt like an idiot.

Rather a confused idiot.

But seriously, who was coming to pick me up? And where was I even going?

Why hadn't anyone bothered to inform me of this change of plan?

"Bella," Sam sighed loudly, running a hand through his hair in obvious pain.

I resisted the urge to show him the finger; the dramatics the man portrayed!

I had just asked him one freaking question!

What was the big deal?

"Paul, who else but him?" He finally gave in, his answer leaving no doubt in mind…or so he believed.

"Why exactly would he be coming to pick me up?" I whispered, pushing the words out before I lost all the courage that existed in me, the judging eyes of Sam Uley enough to do that to a man…er….woman.

"Because you are moving in with him." he finished with a casual shrug.

"WHAT?" I spat the words out, a laugh threatening to leave my mouth, as I somewhat managed to curb it, covering my mouth with my hand.

God. This was hilarious!

I didn't even know the man.

Why would I want to live with him?

Wasn't that obvious?

"I don't understand what is this funny." Sam commented, sharing a look with Billy, neither of them understanding the joke in the sentence.

Of course.

"Emily and Kim both moved in with their wolves the very same day. They did not assume it to be a joke."

Wow.

Really?

Wait.

Wolves?

"I don't want to live with an animal." I protested, wide-eyed.

Were they all insane?

Had they dropped their brains somewhere on the way?

I was so not joining a wolf pack.

And, honestly, why would they even agree to have a weak, defenseless human amongst them?

I would be food within the first ten minutes itself…

"Did you even hear a word of what I just said?" Sam narrowed his eyes in question, daring me to speak otherwise.

"Umm…of course."

I could not do it.

I did value my life enough to want to preserve it.

And Sam Uley did resemble someone who could easily murder you in your sleep.

Capable enough, too!

And, either way, I had literally zoned out for five whole minutes; what horrible secret could he have even revealed in that less a time?

My bluff would probably not even be caught…

Yeah, fingers crossed!

"Good." He nodded his head in agreement, a small smile on his face…at least it did seem like a smile. "Is 4:00 pm fine with you?"

And, of course, the man being himself, he answered his own question before I could, overly proud and confident of himself.

Jeez.

Was it even humanly possible to detest a man as much as I had come to detest one Sam Uley?

It sure seemed to be…too much to be considered the acceptable amount.

"He will be there. Even if I need to pull him by the tail and drag him."

Why did it feel like he meant this literally, and not just metaphorically?

No.

That was ridiculous.

He probably just had a weird way of talking.

Yup, it had to be that.

"Just a question," I mildly spoke up, "Why can't I continue living with the Ateara's? I mean, I would not be comfortable living with a stranger. Just saying!"

Again, with the glare.

Was the man married?

I pitied his wife.

"They are not family." Billy sighed, breaking his vow of silence, his words holding a sense of finality. "At least not yet. They would not understand, and neither can they be brought into the secret. If you don't want to live with Paul- his mother does live with him, if that is your concern. Anyhow, you can move in with Sam and Emily for the time being, till you feel comfortable enough."

The 'time being' emblazoned in golden letters in that sentence.

It felt like a deadline.

A deadline that simply needed to be complied with.

But what was I even rushing towards?

Where was the fire?

And why was I even in the middle of this bullshit?

I may be confused, but I wasn't about to be treated like a common doormat.

And glaring eyes be damned, I was braver than that.

"Well, Billy, with all due respect," I forced a smile onto my face, "My father has trusted Joy Ateara with my responsibility and safety, and he would definitely not be comfortable with me moving in with some man- and his mother- who I don't even know. And second, I as an adult, disagree with this…whatever this is. So, let's just call it a day and go back to our own work…" I finished with a shrug.

It would have been a laugh-worthy situation, had I not two disbelief laden statues in front of me.

"But. But." Sam protested, throwing his hands in air, frustration evident in his eyes. "All the other imprints have done this before you. They did not complain."

"Well, what can I say? I have a spine."

And am not scared enough to show it.

He scowled, deciding to concentrate on murdering me with his eyes.

"Look, Billy,"

Yes, Bella. Let's talk to the seemingly intelligent man in this room, hoping for a miracle.

"I don't know this Paul and am definitely not moving in with him. This is my final decision. You like it- great. You don't like it, I don't care."

"You are so ungrateful and rude. You should have been thanking your stars at the moment. It is not every day that you find such unconditional love."

I let out a laugh, unable to control myself.

It wasn't a funny statement, per se.

No.

The laughter was all for the man speaking. It just seemed hilarious when it came from his mouth, the double standards simply incomparable.

"Well, I don't believe in bothering my 'stars' for such small matters." I rolled my eyes in response. "Either way, I don't agree with the way you treat Quil, and with him being a somewhat friend…."

"So, this is about him?"

"This is about me." I stated, refusing to look away, meeting Sam's eyes head-on. "I don't find your company pleasant and would rather not force myself with it. As very simple as that."

Though…Paul had been different.

I don't know why and how, but I had found myself relaxed and complete in his presence…

No, I was probably just making this up.

Yeah, it had to be that.

My mind was playing tricks on me and all of that.

"We will talk about this later." Sam growled out. "No imprint has ever rejected her wolf, and under my rule it will certainly not happen for the first time. I will not let it happen. Dinner at my place tonight."

With that, he stormed out, anger and annoyance rolling off him in waves.

I let out a scoff at his retreating form; the audacity of the man!

How dare he? What did he even think of himself?

He was certainly not the king of this entire world.

"I will see you tonight."

I wanted to protest. I wanted to shout. I wanted to flail my arms and legs in air- going the whole nine yards, but before I could do any of that, Billy rolled out of the room, leaving me there behind.

I let out a huff.

So much for wanting to speak your mind!