Chapter 229: Can I Move In?
"Hello Ale"
I turned around, and I saw Alegria. I exclaimed, "Alegria! It's so nice to see you again."
She nodded with a shadow-like smile and said, "you have been doing very well…I'm proud of you."
I shifted my feet awkwardly and replied, "yeah?"
She nodded, "you finally told Sam the truth. Took you long enough, but you did well."
I responded, "thanks.."
She said, "this will be the last you will see me. The spirits have notified me that you won't need me around anymore. You're starting to live your life now."
I replied, "oh, I'm..happy for you. You are going to finally see your family again."
She gave me a genuine smile, "yeah, I was able to thanks to you. If you weren't earnest to start of your life, then it would've taken me much more longer for me to cross over to the spirit world."
I see.
She said, "before I g, there are few things that I need to tell you. Because you attempted suicide and died once, the intensity of the imprinting pull has been weakened. Then with you taking antidepressants, it has disrupt the magic of the imprinting pull."
I said, "oh..…now that you mentioned it, I do remember I was feeling numb after I attempted suicide..I just thought I was simply depressed… I mean Sam told me it has been hard on him to resist the urge to claim me, but because I attempted suicide, he held back his instincts around me to help me be more comfortable around him."
She said, "yes..because you were also severely depressed and with the antidepressants, you were not aware of the decreased intensity of the imprinting pull. Now that you have been slowly getting on your feet and you have told the truth to Sam, more the magic of the imprinting will start to come back. However, antidepressants may disrupt that, and..you'll have to decide whether you want to keep using it and stopped using it, or use it sparingly."
I nodded solemnly. I am little sad that I need to decide what to do with the antidepressants that Dr. River prescribed to me..
Behind her I saw a bright white glow coming in the distance. I said, " I think it's time for you to go now."
She smiled genuinely, "yeah."
She reached out to give me a hug. It took me a surprise, but I responded to her hug by hugging her back well. She whispered, "good luck. Whatever happens, remember that you are truly Sam's mate. You are superior and better than me in so many ways that I don't feel any regret for leaving my life behind. You have helped the pack in ways that I wouldn't be able to help them, so I am glad that the spirits chose you to be Sam's mate.
Don't hold yourself back because of me anymore. Even though you are using my body, this is YOUR life now. Don't be self-conscious of me or my family. Live your life as you please, okay? Never forget that."
I whispered, "okay."
She turned around and started walking toward the light.
I jolted in my sleep. My vision was blurry, but I didn't realize I was crying. I held back a sob, then I felt myself getting pulled closer to a warm body. I instantly realized Sam had slept with me in my arms.
I said softly, "I'm sorry."
He said sleepily, "what's wrong?"
I said hesitantly, "I-I met Alegria again…She..was able to cross over to the spirit world thanks to me. She said the spirits saw that I am doing well, so they let Alegria cross over. I'm..just happy for her, and I couldn't help but feel teary that..when it is time for me to pass, I would be able to meet my family again in the afterlife as well."
I heard him say, "I see.."
I started pulling away, and I felt Sam hesitated for a moment then he eventually let me go. I glanced up and Sam was giving me a confused expression, so I said, "I need..a moment. I be back, okay? I need..to get my head together, then we can talk more."
Sam blinked slowly and said forlornly, "okay."
I leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. I said, "I'll be right back."
I turned over to get up from the bed. I staggered for a moment due to the boot on my leg, but I was able to balance myself on my own. I noticed that the sun hasn't come up, and it was still dark outside, so I guess it is still early morning. I left the bedroom, closed the door behind me. I stepped out to the back porch to sit down by the rocking chair. As I sat down, I closed my eyes to feel the nice morning breeze. I sighed deeply to release the tension on my shoulder and stared off to the distance.
I started thinking about today's dream and everything that happened last night. It feels weird to..not be anxious. I always had this worry of telling Sam the truth, and I lived with it almost every day since I got here, so to finally have a day to not worry about it, it feels nice but also strange. With my dream, Alegria noticed that I wasn't taking full ownership of this life due to using her body. She wants me to live my life as I please...But what does it mean for someone like me? I..was given this position to be Sam's mate and his imprint. I know..the responsibility of being his mate is to care for him and the pack. As someone who knows certain things about this world, I have the responsibility to make sure tragedy won't come true in this life, so I know what my position is for others and who I need to be for others.
However, who do I want to be?
Well…I tried not to think too much about who I used to be before I came here because every time, I get reminded of who I used to be, I just get overwhelmed with grief and loneliness. I miss my old life and my friends. I struggled hard to gain my independence as an individual despite of how emotionally abused I was at home. Hell, I even went through a whole pandemic. I know who I was before I came here, but coming here, I kinda lost myself a bit.
Because the way I died and immediately brought to this life, I guess it caused me to struggle so much to move on from my grief. For me to die the way I did, it just..made me feel like my previous life meant nothing. Like it was insignificant.
Oh, wait..
When Alegria mentioned how much I am 'better and superior' than her, she was trying to say that my old life wasn't insignificant or meaningless. It actually had some meaning, or else I wouldn't be granted second chance of life in this body. I wouldn't have been able to even try to adapt to this world/life.
So..it's time for me to be myself again and make this life more of my own. I already did the first step by telling the truth to Sam. The next thing I need to do is deal with my living situation.
I know I told Sam that I would only stay with him until my leg is healed, then I would like to go back to Alegria's place. Honestly, now that I stayed with him. I really don't want to go back to her place. I consider Sam's house my home now. It was the first home that I made when I first came here, so I want to stay here. If I go back to her place, it would be awkward and strange. It would be like if I am attempting to live Alegria's life instead of mine, so I don't want to go to her place. However, what should I do with her place?
Grandma Eva gave her the house and Grandma Eva gave her money to live comfortably for a long time. Since Alegria said I can do as I please, I can finally actually deal with the house and the money. Grandma Eva worked so hard to give this money and deed to Alegria, so I want to honor Grandma Eva by keeping the house and actually use her money as my own. I could give it to someone in the pack for them to use the house. Maybe Jacob, oh wait what about Paul?
I could give it to Paul and Rachel when Rachel comes back during the summer break. That way, Paul and Rachel can be out of Jacob's way, and they can be a couple comfortably. I can't imagine how awkward and difficult it was for Paul and Rachel to be an imprinted couple but to live with Jacob and Billy.
I don't know how long I was sitting out there, but I noticed the sun was slowly rising up. I was getting a bit chilly, so I decided to go back inside. If I stay any longer out here, I might make Sam worried more about me, so yeah let's not do that.
Once I got back inside, I looked around the house. I honestly looked around, and I noticed something. I need to add me in here because all you see is Sam but not me. Not that I blamed Sam, I kinda made myself like a guest than his mate.
Oh! I could use Alegria's money to buy stuff for myself. I have been using her clothes, but I don't need to borrow her clothes. I can buy my clothes, and if Sam is okay with it, I can buy some furniture and decorations to make this place more like me as well?
I heard a creak, and when I turned my head. Sam was approaching me carefully. He was still wearing nothing but shorts like he usually does. He was looking at me curiously with a frowned expression and a tilted head. I met him half-way and wrapped my arms around him. Sam kissed my temple and he started purring to comfort me.
I asked, "Sam?"
He hummed in response. I said, "Can..I move in with you?"
He sucked in a breath in surprise as his purring came to a full stop. He said immediately, "yes."
He scooped me up below me, and he carried me to sit down on the couch. I was sitting on his lap. When I lifted my head to look at him, he started flooding me with kisses all over my face. He kept saying, "thank you, thank you."
I started giggling lowly from how affectionate he was being with me. Then, he playfully nips me at my neck. I pulled away and squealed softly in response. He then whispered behind my ear, "what's so funny?"
I said, "how you responded. It's cute."
He echoed, "cute?"
I said, "yup."
He hummed, "I have been called many things, but not 'cute'."
I chuckled, "doesn't sit well with your 'big alpha' self?"
He said slightly pouting, "no."
I winked at him and said, "well, I guess you gotta get used to that now that I will be moving in with you. But..you sure you are okay with that?"
He said, "yeah..I always wanted you to move in with me…even after everything you told me yesterday."
I got a little teary eye, and I said without thinking and already knowing the answer, "how..can you trust me that easily?"
He said simply, "because I am your mate."
He pulled away to look at me, and I was looking deeply into his brown eyes. It was filled with love, adoration that I feel like I couldn't look away from his eyes. it was like I didn't want to look away from him. His thick black eyebrows, strong jaw, and his short black hair. Next thing I know, I reached over to go through his short black hair. I wanted to feel his hair, and it seems like Sam didn't mind it at all. Sam closed his eyes and purred softly as I continued to go through his hair.
While I was still playing with his hair, I said, "Sam?"
His eyes still closed, he said lowly, "yes, hon?"
I asked, "..since I want to move in..can we go buy some stuff to make this place my home too?"
His eyes immediately opened back up. He said purring, " of course. Do you want to go after we go visit Jared?"
I said with a bright smile, "I would like that."
I added, "okay, Imma get up to make breakfast for all of us. I will make some for Jared, so I can bring something for him to eat when I see him."
He nodded and said, "I go check on Kim."
I nodded, "sounds like a plan."
I got off from him to go change into normal clothes since I was still in my pajamas. I got dressed and went straight to make loads of bacon, pancakes, and breakfast casseroles. Eventually, Sue came by to check on how Kim has been progressing. She was in a hurry to go back to work, so I didn't have the chance to talk to her regarding the antidepressants. While I was washing the dishes, Sam came behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He took a deep breath from my neck for my scent. He sighed in contentment and said, "let me wash them. You are already did so much."
I said happily, "okay! Here ya go."
I tossed him the towels and walked happily out of the kitchen. I am not a fan of washing dishes, so no dishes? Count me in!
Sam chuckled lowly from my response. I poke my head through Kim's room, and I asked, "are you strong enough to come eat the table, or would you rather eat in bed?"
Kim was brushing her hair with Amelia in her arms. She turned her head to look at me, and she smiled brightly to me. She said, "I think I can try to walk to the table. I am getting tired of being in bed all the time. Sue said I am healing pretty well, so I can start walking around carefully."
I nodded, "okay."
By the time I got to the dining room, Sam had already set up the table. Sam was already sitting at the table, so I sat next to him instinctively. He leaned forward to scoot me closer to him. There was literally no space between us. Might as well sit in his lap at this point, but I am glad he didn't suggest that idea. Sam had his left arm wrapped around my waist as we wait for Kim to sit with us.
Kim sat down close to me. She had Amelia in her arms, but she was looking at the food in the table. She exclaimed loudly, "wow, Ale! This looks amazing. Any special occasion?"
My mouth was twitching to smile, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, so I said, "oh..well, no, but if there is one then I guess it would be because I ,um, from today on I will be officially living with Sam."
Kim gasped, "really?"
She looked back at me and Sam. Sam nodded with a smile on his face, and she was smiling brightly. She put her hand on her mouth and said, "oh, I am so happy for you!"
I said, "yeah" and to redirect her, I said, "let's dig on!"
Kim and Sam both nodded and we ate. Of course, Sam was the first one to finish and he ate two breakfast casseroles all by himself. He kept on filling up my plate with food, and when he sees that I was eating well he would grunt in approval. He had his hand comfortably on my thigh, but I wasn't too off by it. It felt nice to be honest.
Kim ate well until Amelia started crying. Kim looked at me apologetically and I waved at her that it was okay don't worry about it. I did notice that Sam winced when she started crying, but he didn't say anything. Amelia kept on crying and Kim started getting overwhelmed.
Sam suggested thoughtfully, "how about you finish eating? I can handle Amelia."
Kim looked at him with a mixed expression. I saw an expression of embarrassment, hope and relief. I guess she felt embarrassed that she couldn't 'control her baby' and happy that someone is helping her out too. She has nothing to be embarrassed about. She slightly bowed to Sam in gratitude and gave Amelia to him. He carefully cradled Amelia closely to his chest, and man she was so tiny in comparison to his arms. He started rocking her and talking to her quietly in Quileute. When that failed, he put her on his shoulder and softly pat her in the back. Almost a minute later, she was able to calm down.
Sam murmured, "she needs to be with her father. She is seeking her father's embrace, but since I am also a wolf like her father, I am a substitute for him…It is what my wolf spirit is telling me."
Oh, that makes sense. Amelia hasn't met her father yet. Kim sucked in a sob, and I looked at her empathically. She was looking at Amelia and Sam with glassy eyes. I said, "it won't be long until you are able to meet Jared again."
She said thickly, "I know..I just wished I was by his side during this recovery..I..I can still feel his pain. It is not like when the accident first happened, but I still feel this deep desire to be by his side."
I nodded solemnly in understanding. Then, I asked, "Kim..if you are comfortable with it. Are you okay if we bring Amelia to meet Jared? Or do you want to come along with us to visit him?"
Author's Note:
I am going to end the chapter here. This took me a bit to write. How do you guys like Sam and Ale interaction? Is it ok?
Enjoy!
