"Dad. I want to stay in La Push. It feels like I am actually home." I spoke softly across the small space.
Charlie stood up walking towards my side of the boat. He stood before me with his arms wide.
"Welcome home baby girl" Charlie whispered through tears. I dived into his arms holding him tight. For the first time I felt the responsibility of Renee lifted from my shoulders. "Now. lets work on your casting"
Chapter 11: Hooked
As Always Happy Reading.
I stood, overcorrecting the rocking of the boat. Charlie grabbed my elbow, hoisting me back into the safety of the boat.
"Bella, you want the hook to go into the water. Not you." Charlie laughed a typical dad laugh. My heart grew with the sound. It was something I had only heard a few times throughout my life. I wonder if Sam will have the same laugh.
I nudged that thought into a comfortable spot in my mind. I wanted to think about Sam being a dad when I had privacy to truly enjoy it. The image of my wolf stayed forefront in my mind. I have a protector.
Trying again, I flicked the rod. I watched in shock as the hook flew through the air. It plopped into the water. I jumped, proud and shocked. Years of volleyball had jumping being my go-to celebration move. The boat rocked under my feet - until it disappeared.
I looked up from my back at the fog-covered sky. Both dads howled with laughter. I sat up, waiting for both men to be done laughing at my fall. I was not looking forward to the bruises that would surely appear the next day.
Charlie showed me again and again how he flicked his wrist and sent his hook soaring through the fog, plunging deep into the water below. I tried and tried. Each time Charlie had something to correct. Taking it as a challenge, I continued practicing.
Desire bloomed in my heart. I wanted to provide for the pack. If I was useless against the cold ones, I would at least know how to catch a fish.
"We will figure it out with Renee," Charlie smiled. I believed him. Charlie knew Renee almost as well as I did. I could trust him.
Billy pushed one cooler full of fish to the centre of the boat, positioning the empty one so each of us could easily reach it when we caught a fish.
"Dad, I want to tell her in person"
Before Charlie could say anything Billy added "let the girl go Charlie. It's not like the bond would allow her to be gone for long anyway. It will probably be better this way. Then the courts will see it is Bella's choice"
Billy sounded older when he spoke. Almost like the unclearing mist was giving him advice. He seemed to hold power without letting it control him.
"Bella, will you be okay to travel on your own?" Charlie looked concerned.
"Dad" I had to fight against an eye roll "when have I not traveled alone?"
"Well I am just saying, if you want someone to come, I could arrange that." He looked hopeful.
"Thanks Dad, but that will not be necessary." I closed my mouth tight. It was almost like I was fighting against what I wanted to say. Each breath of mist was close to barbs against my throat. What the hell was happening? I focused on my breath, on the pain each one had on my throat. Charlie did not need to know this, he knew too much already. Charlie was getting married, I reminded myself. This is not the time to tell him more. Not the time to tell him that I don't know how to let someone support me. I have never had that support since Grandma died. I felt the beads of sweat gathering on my palms. I gripped the fishing pole harder. My body strained against the truth that was trying and almost winning to break free.
"Well I think Bella has earned herself a beer" Billy smiled.
"No harm in that. Don't tell Renee" Charlie winked.
I took the beer Billy offered. It almost slipped out of my clammy hand. I knew I was too young to drink this legally. Maybe this was a test to see if I had drunk beer before. Cracking the top I took a hesitant sip. I did not know what they had been expecting. As the beer rolled down my throat I felt the pain disperse. Almost like it had been a tangible thing clawing at the truth.
We sat in silence drinking and fishing. If this is what Charlie did every weekend I could understand the appeal. It was a vibe sitting in an old boat, with good friends, cracking open beers. I might be able to do without the squirm of the fish, as it flopped against the bottom of the boat. The men had carefully marked how long a fish would have to be for it to be a legal catch.
We each had those markings in front of our seats. I watched as my largest catch splashed against the floor of the boat. I made my line short enough, that way I could look away from the dying fish, without fear of it hitting the water again. When the splashing finally stopped I placed my beer in the cup holder. Getting off my seat, I bent down to the fish. Carefully removing the hook, I grabbed the fish by its bottom lip, tossing it into the cooler. I cast my line and sat, waiting for the next fish.
Maybe this is what life would be like here. Nice and slow. Not having to keep an eye out for people on drugs or gangs with guns. Everyone here that had a gun also had a license. Not like the illegal pistol that I was trained to use at nine years old. Maybe I could make this a regular thing. Hanging out with the Dads, catching fish and a buzz on the lake.
"Bella. You look like you are going to settle into life here perfectly." Billy commented.
"Thanks Billy. I think I will really like it here"
The water began to splash against the boat as Billy headed for another part of the lake. It had been an hour with nothing being caught. The fish must have understood what we are all here to do. Hopefully, we get lucky again in the next place. As we caressed through the water I waited, longing to see the sun. Yet, the fog continued. It feels almost heavy now. Like it was not only blocking the sun, but soundproofing the outside world.
"What do you think you want to do when you move up here, Bells?" Charlie looked buzzed.
"I'm not sure" I admitted
"What about you and Sam?" Billy asked.
"What about Sam and I?" I took a long sip from my beer. The only downside of fishing with the dads was being stuck on a boat with the questions.
"Has the pack informed you of the rules?" Billy asked.
I felt my face go red. Rachel had told me the rules. She had also told me of my expectation to have sex with Sam. I tried to understand. It seemed so natural when I was near Sam. Now, on a boat, I felt unsure. It sounded like all those lines that a boy would say. Yet, it couldn't be like that.
"As an alphas imprint, it is important that he feels secure with you as his imprint. Whatever you choose, you need to define it. It needs to be defined soon." Billy gave me a serious look.
"Bella, I will tell you the same thing I told Leah. If he tries anything nonconsensual, I will shoot him for you. I understand the situation as much as a father can. That being said, your body, your choice. Sam tries shit you did not sign up for, you tell me to shoot. No questions asked '' Charlie stared me down as he spoke.
"Thanks Dad. But I don't think Sam would do anything I wasn't okay with." I told him honestly.
"The imprint would stop him from doing anything that you did not consent to. Though I will pass along Charlie's warning to Sam. Bella, what role do you think the Alphas imprint fills within the pack?" Billy asked
I tried to think. Everything that was coming to my mind was not something I wanted to tell my Dad or Billy. They left me in the hot seat for a while. Neither man rushed my contemplation. Neither letting me out of my anxiety either. It was not like I could tell them that I was going to have sex with Sam. Not that I did not want to do that and so much more with him. The feeling of his strong arms around me last night... I bit my lip to stop myself from speaking, to keep that to myself.
"I guess my role would be whatever the pack needs it to be. I can talk to Sam about what he is expecting when we are done fishing" I told the men.
Both men looked at me with proud smiles on their faces. Billy handed me another beer. I took it from him. Popping the top I took a long deep drink. Focusing on the water and my line, I couldn't shake the desire to see Sam again. Every moment I watched the bobber bounce with the waves, I felt the bond between us grow tighter. The pain would increase, and each sip of alcohol would lessen the strain on the bond. I wonder if Sam feels it the same way I do. When the can was empty I tossed it into the growing pile of cans that scattered around the bottom of the boat.
I pulled in more fish. Each one flopping against the bottom of the boat before I removed the hook. I would love to do this again. Maybe next time I'm packing an audiobook, it would be relaxing to listen as I caught fish. Maybe Sam would come fishing with me.
"Fuck, you win!" Billy's booming voice broke the serene silence.
Looking over at the men, I watched Billy hand Charlie a $100 bill. Charlie smiled, pocketing the money.
"Thanks for the win Bells. Truthfully - " Charlie smiled at Billy "Sue asked me to stop betting with this old man. I knew my Bells could last longer than Rachel did after her imprint. She is strong."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Well, I bet Charlie that you would not last the entire trip." Billy laughed. He started prepping the motor.
"No, you bet me that she would last longer than Rachel did. How long was she on the boat with us? Maybe 2 hours?" Charlie laughed.
"She was newly imprinted" Billy defended Rachel.
"So is Bella." Charlie quipped back.
Both men laughed as the boat cleared the fog. The men tied the boat up to the dock. I tried to watch the knots they tied. If I was going to go out again I would need to learn these skills. I stopped, momentarily shocked. Before last night I was not planning on staying. It was not until I helped Sue and Seth heal Embry. Maybe it wasn't even until Sam slept next to me that I felt fate click into place. Here in La Push felt like my home, in ways that Phoenix had never. Here I knew I had family I could call, friends that I wouldn't have to lie to. I wouldn't be asked to work underage at the local bar. This was a future full of possibilities, each one full of the magic that surrounded the lives of the people who lived here.
The hours spent on the fog covered lake had flown by. As the men prepared to disembark, the sun was already on the evening side of the sky. Standing, I realized that I had gained my sea legs during the hours on the boat. Picking up a cooler packed full of fish, I carefully placed it on the dock. Maybe one day I will be as stable as Charlie. I watched as he held a cooler in one hand and walked confidently off the boat and back to the truck. Never once seeming to find the shift between standing on water and dry land an issue.
Charlie came back with Billy's chair. Under his arm he had a garbage bag.
"Bella, would you mind gathering all the cans?" Charlie asked.
I collected them all as the men got situated on the dock. Charlie held a hand out for me as I tied off the bag. He must have sensed my worry about the change in footing. The second my feet touched dry land a dread settled over my skin. What did I just do? Charlie will never let me go back to Renee. I felt a motherly bond to her. She might have brought me into the world, but I was the one to take care of her.
As the men traveled towards the vehicles I stood in shock. I had just fucked over my plan. How was I going to go home? Who was going to check if Renee was alive? Who was going to provide for her? One line repeated over and over in my head.
How was I going to live in Phoenix now?
I followed the men off the dock. Tossing the cans into the back of the truck, I felt a wave of worry brush over my skin. It did not feel like I was worried, instead it was almost like a shadow emotion.
Getting into the truck, I focused on the emotion that surrounded me like a second skin. I focused the feeling into the palm on my left hand. Slowly, I stroked the worried feeling with my right hand. I could feel the emotion change and almost become palpable under my touch.
Charlie jumped into the truck, slamming the door closed. I jumped. When I went back to feel the palpable emotion it was no longer in my hand. I couldn't feel it on my skin either. Was this place making me go crazy? First, the fog that felt like it was clawing at the truth. Now, an emotion that covered my skin for a moment before it disappeared.
"So kiddo, where do you want to go?" Charlie asked.
"What are my options?" I looked at Charlie. It was not like I had planned anything for the evening's activities.
"Well, we are having a fish fry tomorrow, so Sue and I will be working at prepping the fish for that. I think you have worked enough for the day. You caught so many fish. I think you catch almost as many as Seth does. Maybe you will need to have a competition next time we go out." Charlie smiled.
"Can I help you and Sue with the fish?"
"Nope, you are a teenager. You need to get out of the house." Charlie interrupted
"Then where do you suggest I go?" I asked.
"What about if I drop you off at Sam's?" Charlie offered.
I looked at Charlie, slightly shocked. From what I knew of dads, I thought they didn't like daughters having boyfriends.
"Sure. Yeah. Please." My brain started a million sentences. Each one concluding the same way, I wanted to see Sam.
Charlie just smiled. Driving the roads that ended at Sam's house. I hesitated only slightly.
"Thanks Dad"
"Anytime Bells. Remember - I will shoot him for you, no questions asked" Charlie smiled.
I tried not to run up the steps to the front door, I didn't want to show the excitement I had coursing through my body. Before I reached the front door, it opened. Sam in all his Adonis handsomeness stepped out into the late afternoon light.
I paused my movements up the porch. I was not uneasy in my movement, but I found myself waiting. Sam smiled at me. It warmed the hesitancy from my body. I closed the gap between us. Sam held out his hand to me. I took it in mine, still marveling at the size difference.
"Sam, keep her safe. I expect to see both of you at the fish fry tomorrow. Be good you two" Charlie yelled out the window at us.
I stood vibrating with anticipation as I watched Charlie drive down the road. When he was out of sight. I pulled Sam's lips to mine.
Authors Note: I re-wrote this chapter so many times. I really hope you like it. I think the next chapter will practically write itself. Please Please Please Review! I need to know what you are thinking! (sorry again about the wait)