Sam kissed the top of my head. "Yeah, that one is true." Adjusting me in his lap, Sam had me cuddled tight into him. I was surrounded by the warmth of him. Each breath in his arms filled me with the feeling of love.

"I like that. Am I included in the people they protect?" I murmured into his chest. My eyes closed. It was like the past nine months of 2 hours of sleep a night caught up to me in an instant.

"Yes" his voice sounded almost worshiplike. This was the first time I felt safe in a long time. Out on this magical beach, with a boy I just met. He kissed the top of my head as I dreamed of wolf protectors.

Chapter 5: Third Option

Light hit my face. I panicked. Why is it bright in my room? Did Renee light the house on fire again? I shot up in bed. I was standing before I realized what woke me. I looked out the full length windows at the sun. It lit up the ocean, waves acting like highlights amongst the blue beneath.

I stood looking out at the water for a while, waiting until I heard others in the house moving before I left my room. I did not know the rules of the house. Maybe I will be able to sleep in tomorrow.

Keeping my PJ's on I walked out of my room. Sue was happily singing in the kitchen. She was pulling out ingredients I knew. Flower, water, egg, yeast. When Sue turned around she saw me walking in.

"Good Morning Bella. It's nice to have another morning person in this house." Sue smiled.

"Good Morning Sue. Are you making bread?"

"Yes I am. Would you like to help me? I need to make quite a few loaves this morning."

I nodded. Looking at Sue's recipe card. I memorized the bread recipe we were making. It was only slightly different from the bread I made daily back in Phoenix. Sue's bread had all quality ingredients. Stuff I had only seen in my rich school's cafeteria.

"You catch on quick. Do you bake with Renee?" She asked after we pulled out our sixth bread from the oven.

"No. Renee is helpless in the kitchen. I work for a bakery most mornings. It started as a thing to help out the owner. Then I discovered a knack for it." I shrugged.

"You are really good at it. When do you start that job?" Sue asked, her hands covered in dough.

"Typically 3:30am. Sometimes earlier, around the Christmas season we start closer to 12am." I leveled out another scoop of sugar.

"How does that work with school?" I could hear the worry in Sue's voice.

"Oh, 12am is on winter break. Also it means that I get to bring the misshaped treats to the community shelters." I smiled at her.

Sue smiled with her mouth. The smile did not reach her eyes. I tried to ignore it. Mixing my dry ingredients together, I poured the wet to the dry. I mixed the contents with one hand. Once the last part of the wet mix was added, I had a sticky dough. As I rolled it out on the floured counter, Sue reached over, adding more flour for me.

"Thanks" I smiled at her.

"I think after these two go in we should have enough."

"Enough for what?" I had not asked before I offered to help. Last night was so magical that it was nice to do something physical with my hands this morning.

Seth stumbled into the kitchen. His hair looked like it had a life of its own. He sat on the island resting his head in his hands.

"Good morning baby brother." I teased.

"Morning Lil Sis" Seth yawned and stretched.

"Did you have a good night last night Seth?" Sue asked.

"Yup. Embry and I got our fire safety badge" Seth laughed at his own joke.

"Bella, did you also get a fire safety badge yesterday?" Sue asked. We had spent the majority of time baking talking about the recipe.

A knowing smile stretched across Seth's face. "Nah. Bella got the night beach adventure badge"

I flicked a piece of dough at Seth. He laughed, catching it in his mouth. "Gross, this doesn't taste like bread."

"Of course not, it hasn't been baked yet" I laughed.

"You did not go to the beach alone, did you Bella?" I picked up on the motherly worry in Sue's tone. I had heard it in other mothers growing up. This was the first time the tone had been directed at me.

"No," I answered.

"She went with Sam" Seth tilted his head to the side.

Worry rushed through me. Was I supposed to know something about Sam? Was he not someone that the Clearwaters associated with? I doubted it, since Seth worked for him. Wait. Was Sam like some unaging 40 year old? I didn't even ask about our age gap last night. As he held me on the beach.

"I like Sam. He is a good kid." Sue nodded and smiled.

"He seems nice" I tried to downplay what my heart was feeling.

"Nice my butt. You are smitten" Seth blew a kiss at me.

"Smitten?" I laughed "Who says Smitten?"

"I do, because you are." Seth laughed.

I dumped the dough into its resting bowl. Cleaning up the area I had been working in. Sue helped, and soon the kitchen was put back together.

"You have flour in your hair." Seth commented.

"Thanks captain obvious. I was just making bread" I laughed.

"Just saying. You might want to shower before we go to the beach"

"We are going to the beach?" I asked Seth.

"Heard you are a volleyball star. That is the closest net. Unless you are scared."

"Oh it is so on."

Seth picked me up trying to pin me to the floor. I wiggled out from under him. Just gaining a bit of leverage to flip him on his back.

"Not in the kitchen. Go wrestle outside if you must. Gosh, you are just like toddlers" Sue happily complained. We could both see the joy our interactions brought her. Even if we did act like toddlers.

I grabbed a towel and walked into the bathroom. I started taking off my PJ's before I remembered that I did not change into my PJ's last night. Turning on the shower I had a moment of shock. I forgot about the PJ's in my shock. The water was not cold. I let my hands catch the hot water that fell out of the tap. Quickly stripping I got in the shower. The hot water soothed my muscles. I showered fast. Not wanting to run out of this hot water. Turning off the taps I smiled. Daily showers will definitely be happening here.

I changed into a new workout outfit. This one clung to my body. It was a lilac set. The sports bra and pants fit me like a glove. Pulling on a sky blue hoodie I walked to meet Seth at the front door.

Sue walked over with a basket. Seth took it, smiling at his mother. He changed into basketball shorts and a shirt. This outfit made Seth look his age.

"Thanks Mom"

"If you need more than that just come back. I would be happy to fill it for you again" Sue smiled.

"Thanks Sue."

Seth and I took the long way to the court. I did not mind. The beach was beautiful. I slipped on the stones a few times. With each slip, Seth grabbed my arm before I hit the ground. It was like he had supernatural speed.

Pulling out a waterproof picnic blanket, Seth set to making us a spot. We could both see the volleyball net from where we perched slightly down the beach.

"Hungry?" Seth asked.

I nodded. Trying to be cautious about getting used to having food around. Knowing that it will cause me more pain in the long run if I did that.

Seth handed me a croissant sandwich. It was packed with sandwich meat, cheese and veggies. I tried to keep the joy from my face as I ate it. I don't think anything could make me happier. The ocean view and food. What more could a girl ask for? That is when I saw Sam walking up the beach.

"Hey Sam" Seth waved at him.

He came walking up looking hotter than anyone had the right to be. A part of me became self conscious. I came to the beach ready to score points on Seth. I did not plan to look hot for Sam.

"Hey Seth. Hello Bella" Sam spoke as he joined us on our blanket.

"Hi" I squeaked out. All the bravery of last night is gone. I knew I still felt the same about him. Did he also feel the same about me? I could look hotter in the firelight than I do at the beach in the morning with my brother.

Sam smiled widely at me. It started to ease my anxiety.

"Sam whose team are you playing on?" Seth asked.

"It depends. I was not the one to make up the teams. I left Jake and Leah to come up with them." He shrugged.

"Did anyone tell Embry?" Seth asked.

"Not sure. I did not see him this morning." Sam had a knowing look in his eyes.

"Well I will go grab him then" Seth booked it into the woods. Leaving Sam and me alone at the beach.

"How is your morning going?"

"Good. I got to help Sue make bread this morning." I smiled at him.

"Do you like to bake?"

"Yeah. I work at a bakery back home. My dream is to have a kitchen that I can bake in." I paused "Sorry about falling asleep on you last night"

"Nothing to be sorry about. I am simply glad I was deemed a safe person and not a murderer" He winked at me.

I bit my lip. Feeling desire for the man on the blanket across from me. A growl rumbled in his chest. I liked it when he growled.

"I don't think you could hurt me"

"You would be right. I can't hurt you." Sam spoke those words like revenant truths.

"So are you my protector then?" I teased.

"Yes. If you want me to be" Sam held his arms open. Almost like a sign of submission. I didn't like him looking like that. Open and vulnerable. I shifted to my knees reaching for him. Forgetting the ground beneath the blanket was composed of loose stones. I lost my balance. Sam skillfully caught me, pulling me into his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist. Holding him close. He took a deep breath. I felt his need for prof vanish, just as mine had.

"I should probably explain this to you soon" He whispered in my ear.

"Whenever you are ready. How did you get me in PJ's last night?" I asked. Not remembering going home let alone being dressed in PJ's.

"I didn't, Leah did. The first time I undress you, I want you to be conscious" He placed a kiss on my forehead. What I would do to get those lips on my mouth.

Sam placed me on the blanket beside him. Before I could protest the physical separation I saw the rest of the friends emerging from the forest. This was going to be a good game.

We played 3v3. Most of the girlfriends did not want to play. Instead they spent the time bringing people water and cheering. Rachel was kind enough to bring me a cup after the last set. I was grateful. I needed to be in peak performance for the next game. Leah might have stacked the teams a bit. Not that I minded, it was for our advantage.

The teams broke down to be:

Sam, Paul, Jared

Jake, Quil, Embry

Colin, Brady, Eric

Seth, Bella, Leah

Apparently there were more friends that wanted to play but had something to do instead today. I stretched and tried to get ready for the next game. Our team is currently winning. We had kicked the butts of Colin's team, as well as wiped the floor with Jake's team.

Leah cheered Jake on as his team was trying to set up to spike on Colin's team. I don't know where she got all this energy. After the past two games I needed a moment of rest.

"Good games" Sam sat next to me. He brought another glass of water for me. I downed it before speaking.

"Thanks. Your team is doing great as well"

"I think we have an unfair advantage. The three of us had been on the same teams since childhood." Sam admitted.

"Is that not true about most of the teams playing?"

"Okay, yeah it is. Maybe we need to do some team workouts" Sam smiled as the tired men around us gowned.

I smiled, not fully understanding. It's not like Sam had the men on a workout schedule. From the look of the faces around me, maybe he did. It would explain why they are all so fit.

"Final game!" Kim called out. She was acting as our scorekeeper.

"Are you ready for this?" Sam asked. He stood, reaching his hand down for me.

"I am so ready. You are going down"

Sam laughed. I couldn't take the smile off my face as we set up positions. Once the ball was up I ignored everything else. I would set it and one of my new siblings would go for the score. They both had killer spikes. I asked them to teach that to me before next season.

Sam jumped up for the ball. My eyes noticed his body. The strength in it. He hit the ball, making Seth dive for the set. I spiked it just past Sam's shoulder, gaining us a point. When I met Sam's eyes they were sexually charged. It took my breath away for a moment.

Leah yelled my name and I refocused. Setting the ball for the winning point.

Seth picked me up in one arm and Leah in the other. "WE FUCKING WON BITCHES".

He excitedly ran into the ocean. Ignoring the protests from Leah. I couldn't protest, my laughing prevented any words. He dunked the two of us in the frigid water. When he turned to gloat about tossing his sisters in the water I tackled him. Falling again into the water, this time holding Seth.

We both popped up laughing. Leah looked like she was ready to kill Seth. Seth made a beeline for the shore. Leah was close on his tail. I slowly walked back to the beach. The rocks were slippery under my feet. Sam scooped me up into his arms. He had waded knee deep out into the cold water.

"You didn't have to come save me. I would have struggled back" My teeth chattered as I spoke.

Sam wrapped me in a towel. Holding me firmly against his chest. Again, I was amazed by the warmth there. His body warmed me more than the towel did. By the time I was back on dry land I was almost completely dry. At least comfortable enough to stand with a blanket around my shoulders.

"Feeling better?" Sam asked when he took the towel away replacing it with a warm blanket.

I cuddled into his side. Feeling the best warmth. "Now I am"

Friends broke off into groups. The couples went for a hike to the tide pools. The single men popping open alcoholic beverages, content to talk and watch the waves.

"What do you want to do?" Sam asked.

"It's all couples going to the tide pools" I commented. He nodded. "I guess we should stay here then?" I asked

Sam looked just as confused as I did. I know we both felt something for the other person. Yet, nothing had been said about it.

"Third option" Sam said.

"Third option? I'm listening"

"Do you want to come over to my place?"

Authors Note: Thank you for all the love on this story. You inspired me to write this chapter today! What do you think? Please let me know!