"I am going to phase in the forest and walk out" Sam informed us all. He kissed the side of my head, breathing me in once more.
He started walking towards the woods. It felt like each step he took, an elastic band stretched between us. It almost hurt as he walked farther away. I rubbed my chest, trying to massage out the feeling.
"That will happen every time you are separating from Sam. It will feel like a rope connecting the both of you together. Sorry to say that most imprints find it harder to separate after they meet the wolf" Seth sounded the most serious I had ever heard him.
I didn't take my eyes off Sam as he disappeared into the trees.
Chapter 7: My Wolf
As Always Happy Reading.
Seth held my hand as we waited for Sam to emerge from the woods. Slowly, like a shadow upon the land, a giant black wolf made its way across the ground. Each step was hesitant as the animal's eyes did not leave me. It was like it was evaluating, trying to understand, as it watched my reaction. I had never seen an animal so beautiful before.
"You good?" Seth asked.
"That's Sam?" I double checked. The odds of it being another wolf was slim, yet, I needed the confirmation.
"Yeah he is the biggest because he is the Alpha wolf." Embry spoke calmly.
I dropped Seth's hand. Starting my walk over to Sam's wolf. My wolf.
The black wolf lowered his head to me. Both men behind me gasped at this show of submission. They probably never saw Sam be anything but dominant. As an Alpha he would need to at least appear in control most of the time.
I reached out, inviting the wolf to close the gap. Sam placed his head against my hand. Slowly, I moved my fingers through his fur. It was softer than it looked. His wolf slowly sat on the lawn. I sat on the lawn with him. He placed his head in my lap. I enjoyed petting his fur. It was a moment that I wished I never had to leave.
"You look so handsome in your wolf form." I smiled as I petted him.
The wolf made a happy noise.
I could have stayed in the yard forever. Each moment with the wolf seemed to slip through my fingers. My mind caught up in the wonder of the being before me.
Slowly, Sam got up off my lap. He walked back to the woods. I stayed sitting, marveling at the pure size of the wolf. Yet the wolf did not scare me. I patiently waited for Sam to come back to me.
Sam walked back into the yard, his eyes cautious. When Sam reached me he offered his hands out to me. I held his hands tight as he pulled me off the ground and into a hug. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his lips to mine.
The boys behind us both let out a 'wooooo!'.
I laughed, not wanting to let go of Sam. He seemed to remember where we were and who was watching us. I would never get enough. He dipped his head back down and caught my lips in a kiss. I bit my lip when he stopped the kiss. It felt like it was zapped with a battery.
"Can I see your wolf like that all the time now?" I asked.
"Wow. She is more comfortable with the wolf thing than any of the other imprints. Maybe equal to Leah." Seth looked so happy.
We walked back towards the boys "Do I get to see your wolves?" I asked.
Sam growled slightly. I smiled at him. "Your wolf wants me all to himself for now?" I could understand the need for him to be the only wolf I knew right now. If I could I would spend hours with Sam's wolf.
"Kinda. Sorry." Sam looked submissive at me again.
"All good. Let me know when everything is comfortable. I would love to meet other wolves when your wolf is comfortable" I pulled Sam into my body. He kissed my forehead.
"What is the plan for tonight?" Embry asked.
"What are you talking about tonight is a pack meal" Seth was never wrong about food.
Embry gave Seth a knowing look.
"Oh shit. Do you want us to do it at a different house tonight?" Seth caught on.
"Why a different house? Is this one not built for pack dinners? Is this about the… Embry, what did you call it? Imprint?" I asked the men.
"Yeah it is kinda about the imprint. I think the pack might have to go for a run before dinner tonight." Sam admitted.
"Well let's see how bad the wolf is right now?" Seth suggested. He held his hand out to me. I looked up at Sam, who gave a small nod. I slowly moved towards Seth. Our hands touched and Sam gave no reaction.
I went in for the hug Seth offered again. No reaction from Sam.
"Maybe because you are the Alpha you are not threatened by us like the others were" Seth seemed to relax. "Bella, it was bad with Paul, he almost killed another wolf that looked at Rachel"
"Does he still?" I asked.
"No, it goes away once the bond is determined." Sam spoke softly.
"So like, if we were just friends, how would that bond be determined?" I asked Sam.
"Baby sis. Friends don't kiss friends like that. What the hell? If that is friendship in Phoenix, I am moving." Seth laughed.
"If you wanted to be just friends, I guess..." Sam trailed off. I could hear the disappointment in his voice.
"Well, I don't. What would need to happen for us to be more than friends?" I asked.
"Let's see if my wolf lets you touch Embry. If not, then I will tell you later okay?" Sam spoke softly. I could hear the hint of longing for his wolf to not be threatened by the others in the pack.
Embry reached a hand out to me. I took it. Sam didn't react so I went in for the hug. Sam growled. Quickly the hug dropped. I turned to look at Sam. I could tell he was in control. Walking up to him I hugged him tight. He hugged me back. The wolf needed more reassurance, taking a big inhale.
"What about this for a plan, you and the wolves go on a run. I will make food for tonight. I can meet the others from a distance." I smiled at Sam.
"How did I get so lucky?" Sam said to me.
"How long does a run normally take?" I asked
"I will probably need two hours to prevent anyone from getting hurt." Sam admitted.
"Sweet, so we will head out on the run in an hour! Xbox till then!" Seth yelled. Him and Embry pushed each other up the stairs to the house.
"What do you want to do until I leave?" Sam's voice was deep and husky.
"I think planning something to make for dinner would be good."
Sam smiled down at me. Wrapping my arms around his head I pulled him down. Until our lips touched. I had an innate need to have him. I wanted him to take my virginity. Sam broke the kiss with a shock.
"Wow"
"You good?" Sam asked.
"Yeah. Are you good?" I asked
"Better than good. We probably shouldn't kiss in front of the others tonight. If we had been in the house, we might not have been able to stop."
"Who says I wanted to stop?" I winked. Turning to walk towards the house.
"Bella. You are playing with fire" Sam warned.
"Yes. I am."
I found all the ingredients I needed to make 5 huge lasagnas. Sam chopped the onions for me. Onions always made me cry.
I took the chopped onions from him, sautéing them with garlic before combining in the sauce. Sam browned all the meat, piling it in huge chip bowls.
"Come on Sam. It's time" Seth reminded us.
"If you need my help…" Sam started.
I cut him off "go out with your friends. When you get back I will have dinner ready"
Sam pulled me into an unexpected kiss. When it was broken he pulled back. He noticed I had accidentally got pasta sauce on my hoodie. Sam lowered his mouth, sucking and licking pasta sauce off of my hoodie.
"You can go grab one of my hoodies. Just up those stairs." He kissed me again.
"Get undressed in your house. Without you to help me?" I teased
"Bella, he needs to go for a run before tonight" Seth called again.
I kissed him one more time before he turned and started walking towards the door.
I finished assembling all the lasagnas. It still shocked me that after making 8 massive lasagnas, the cupboard still looked like I did not touch it. I reached in and grabbed a peppermint from a container in the cupboard. Trying to tame my need for Sam, I focused on the spice of the peppermint. I covered all the pans with tin foil, and when they were done it was almost the perfect time to pop them in the oven. I placed the first 4 in and set the timer.
Walking up the stairs, I found myself passing a few closed doors. Then the space opened up. It smelled like Sam in here. I loved it. He had a huge bed, bigger than a king, along one wall. The opposite side was a wall of windows. The view was that of the ocean and cliffs. I stood, watching the waves move.
I wonder what it would be like to wake up in this beauty? Shaking my head I let that thought go.
I opened the closet. Hoodie after hoodie hung in front of me. I slipped mine off, tossing it in the laundry basket. I grabbed a random soft hoodie, tossing it on just as the timer downstairs went off.
I unfoiled the lasagnas and popped them back in for 10 minutes. Turning, I started to rummage for some sort of veggies when I heard the front door open. I suddenly felt out of place, wearing Sam's hoodie, cooking alone in his kitchen. It made me feel like a little kid dressing up, pretending to be someone I am not.
"Hey!" Rachel cheered. She ran over and gave me a hug. "Welcome to the group. Oh my God that smell! Did you make it?"
"Hi. Thank you. Yes I did." I tried to respond appropriately.
"Are you looking for veggies?" She asked looking at the open fridge door.
"Yeah. I can't find any." I admitted.
"Typical boys. I brought some." She smiled.
I noticed for the first time that she carried bags with her. She dumped them out on the counter. I started washing the big bowls that Sam had placed the cooked meat in. Each time I finished scrubbing and drying them, Rachel filled them up with different salads.
"I like the sweater, Uley." Rachel winked at me.
"What?"
"The sweater. Did you borrow it from Sam?"
"Oh yeah. Mine got dirty."
"Turn around" I did as I was told "look at me and think of Sam." Following her instructions, she snapped a photo of me.
When she showed it to me I almost didn't recognize the girl in the photo. She looked ridiculously happy. Printed on the back of the hoodie in big block letters was the word Uley.
"Can you text that to me?" I asked. She nodded. I gave her my number and she sent the photo.
"You are in the midst of the imprint puppy love. It is such a good feeling." Rachel informed me.
"Wait, this feeling goes away?" I felt my spirits drop.
"Yeah. It gets replaced with something way fucking better"
I smiled at that. I couldn't imagine anything better than right now.
"So, you know the ground rules?"
"There are ground rules?" I questioned.
"For you, yes. None of the other guys can touch you yet. It will drive Sam's wolf crazy. Stick beside him and let him choose how close he needs you. I don't know if you have any wolves that Sam isn't jealous about being around you. I was lucky Paul never went after Jacob, so I was still allowed to be around my brother."
"Sam doesn't react to Seth"
"No, hey. Must be because your folks are getting married"
"Does Paul still react to you being around the other wolves?" I asked.
"No. That instinct goes away once sex begins." Rachel smiled. "You look shocked. Do you not want have sex with Sam?"
"No I do. It's just." I didn't know how to say it.
"Oh honey. It is nothing to worry about. Even if it is your first time. He will be so gentle. Just trust." Rachel smiled at me.
She helped me pull out the last of the lasagna as Sam came through the door.
"You got yourself quite the girl Sammy" Rachel smiled at him.
"Don't I know it?" he walked confidently over to me.
Walking over and breathing my scent mixed with his in. His face went needy for a second. Before he focused.
"You smell amazing" Sam hugged me tight.
I responded by kissing him.
"Remind me to give you my clothing more often." Sam whispered in my ear.
Sam grabbed a plate of food for him and a smaller plate for me. I followed him outside. Sam decided upon a bench swing. He handed me my plate. I watched in satisfaction as the rest of the pack ate the food I prepared. Each of the men stayed a distance away. All the other imprints gave me small waves.
"Fuck. Can you please just move here forever?" Seth bounded up to me. "Either that or ship me a lasagna a week. I think it would just be better if you stayed though"
I watched all the other men evaluating the situation. All except Paul, Rachel must have told him about Seth. Everyone seemed ready to save the day.
"Seth, you are so funny. It's not that good" I joked with him.
"You are right. It is not that good." Seth agreed. I watched Sam narrow his eyes at the boy. "It is the best fucking lasagna ever."
I only ate half my plate. Sam looked disappointed that I did not eat more. I offered my leftovers to him.
"Are you sure you are not hungry?" Sam asked.
"I'm full. Thank you." I smiled at him.
Without further questioning he ate the food on my plate. He looked content having the pack over for dinner.
"Seth. Is it normally this quiet?" I whispered to him.
"No," Seth responded.
"It's not because of you. They are all just overanalyzing me." Sam whispered.
I moved closer to him, throwing one leg across his lap. Trying to help him relax. It worked slightly. I enjoyed watching each of the couples interacting with the pack. Soon that could be us. Until then, I will enjoy cuddling into my wolf.
Sam put the plates down on the deck. Scooping me into his arms. We cuddled and watched our pack eat. Then slowly watched them all leave, until Seth was the only one left in the backyard.
Authors Note: Wow! You all blew up the reviews! That was magical opening them this morning and seeing all the love for this story! I need to know what you think about this chapter! What do you think Bella is going to do next? Please share your thoughts, feeling and anything else in the Reviews! (This weekend is a holiday where I live. So if you want a chapter tomorrow, I am going to need the reminders from the reviews!)