Chapter 234: They Finally Reached Out

Sam smiled, "I'm back. Let's go back to our room."

I nodded and asked, "Can you carry me? I'm pretty worn out."

He replied, "You don't even have to ask."

He scooped me up as I wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head on his shoulder. He took a deep breath of my hair and sighed. He was trembling slightly, but he didn't say anything. Even without him telling me, I already knew he doesn't like the lingering scent of Jacob on me. I closed my eyes as he carried me to our room. I could hear murmurs of people as Sam passed by them. He growled lowly, but I patted his back in comfort and reassurance. I didn't care about the stare from people when they see Sam carrying me to our room. I was simply just too tired to be self-conscious. Once we got to our room, I lifted my head to look at Sam. Sam was carrying me in one arm, and with the other arm, he pushed back my curls with his hand.

He said pleadingly with furrowed eyebrows, "Can I bathe you? Jacob is my pack brother..I know that, but it is rubbing my wolf that you smell like him, and I don't think I would be able to sleep well with you still smelling like him.."

I agreed lightly, "Only if you bathe me..I'm just too tired."

He smiled warmly with relief displayed all over his face. He kissed me passionately in the lips that I couldn't help but smile slightly from it.

He said quietly, "thank you."

I nodded as he quickly went straight to the bathroom. He put me down in the toilet as he got the bath going. I was looking around the bathroom, and it seemed really pretty. I swear I thought we got a one-bedroom room. Did we get a king suite or something? The bathroom was pretty furnished lavishly. There were small traveling bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and soap with stacks of towels at the corner of the sink. I took my shirt and bra off, but I needed some help to take my pants off with the boot in the way. Sam got undressed and he helped me undressed. He lowered both of us in the bathtub. I asked Sam to put behind me, and he complied without any complaint. He scrubbed me down and wash my hair for me. He also bathes himself since he was in the forest, and he smelled like the outdoors. Once he was done, he dried me down and placed back in the toilet seat while he went to pick clothes for me and for himself.

I was running through my long, tangled curly hair when Sam came back inside. He was wearing new shorts that he bought earlier today. I let him put my clothes on for me. Of course, I could've done it myself, but..Sam offered. I never had someone to offer and to ask so willingly as well.

It felt weird…Well, maybe not weird. I wasn't sure what to think or process this..feeling. It's not bad. It feels warm..safe like love..

I heard stories of husbands who would grumble and complain when they had to take care of their sick wife. Or in situations where one of the spouses must take care of the elderly spouse, and then they experienced a caregiver burn out. I know the feeling of a caregiver burn out from my..past life, so I know more than anyone how that feels.

But, with Sam.. I feel like I won't go through that.

His ever giving and unconditional love is like second nature and not something he needs to learn or fix. Well, maybe his wolf spirit is guiding him, but it doesn't feel forced. I feel like I don't have to stress or be anxious that I am overstepping my boundaries or upsetting Sam somehow. I can just be me and he can just be himself. From how we interacted the whole day with buying things for our house and for myself, we looked like we are together naturally. It doesn't feel like we must be together. We just are.

This..what we have, it feels good. Lowkey, I want to cry. I knew Sam felt something was off with me. He gave me a worried look, and I simply kissed him lightly and told him that I was okay. Sam nodded and put my pjs on as I went back into my thoughts.

I feel so undeserving of Sam's love based on my past thoughts and behaviors toward Sam. Even though I knew intellectually that it due to imprinting, it doesn't feel forced or out of Sam's character. It is not like there is a on-off switch when it is the imprinting him or the real Sam. It feels so natural like it's been part of Sam this whole time. Is this how it supposed to be between lovers? Or its unique due to Sam being a shapeshifter? I'm..not sure. Maybe it is something that I can ask Kim later. Maybe imprinting is not that weird like I thought it was. Or maybe this is what imprinting really was.

I don't know, but I do know..conflicts isn't avoidable because we are still human despite the fact that Sam is a shapeshifter. I shouldn't forget that Sam is still human. I am glad we had some conflicts and discussions now that I think about it. It makes what I and Sam have real. If we didn't have conflicts, then I would've feel like we were in a fantasy and not tuned to reality like some fanfictions made it out to be. I remember reading some fanfictions where the imprinted couples had no problems with each other. There were no conflicts, nothing. It was all just passion.

I do remember how Jacob and Leah felt about imprinting from Jacob's POV back in Breaking Dawn novel. They were disgusted about how unnatural, forceful, fantasy-like imprinting was. Everyone in the books were in their late teens or early adulthood and with the council shoving imprinting to be from the exaggeration in the legends, I can see how there were misunderstandings regarding imprinting. Either way, I was like Jacob and Leah. I was very suspicious and doubtful of imprinting because the council made it too incredible to believe to be real and Sam and Emily's story made it too incredible for imprinting to be natural. Now that I am experiencing it myself with Sam, it's not exactly like what the legends says nor what Jacob and Leah said to be. It is a mix of both. Then again, I shouldn't rely on Jacob and Leah on their understanding with imprinting. Jacob was fearful of imprinting because he was too stubborn to let go of Bella and Leah suffered the consequences from imprinting. They said it from their perspectives. Maybe Meyers added how Leah got hurt from imprinting to add more drama and tragedy for the packs in the novels. Who knows.

I was startled when I was picked up by Sam and placed on the sink's counter. I looked at him curiously and he asked, "Can I braid your hair? It's so pretty.."

I nodded, and he gave me a big smile as his eyes flashed gold for a second. I giggled softly. It seemed like I made his wolf spirit happy too. He braided my hair, and when I looked myself in the mirror, I was slightly amazed. Not saying that I expected Sam to do a poor job, but I didn't think he would do it so well. Then again, it might be part of their culture, so I shouldn't be too shocked. Sam kissed me at my cheek and brought me to the bedroom. He gently placed me down in the bed as he got on and pulled me close to his chest. I sighed contently as he did the same as we both drift off into deep sleep.

I was woken up with someone rubbing my back lightly. I was laying on my stomach in the bed. The blanket was ripped off of me as well.

I heard Sam saying, "Hon..it's time to go. I need to go back to the reservation and talk with the council before the bonfire tonight."

I grumbled, "five more minutes."

Sam started kissing me on my neck and said behind my ear, "Come on..Imma keep going until you get up."

He proceeds to kiss me all over my neck. I turned my head to look at Sam. He gave me a loop sided grin, so I sighed dramatically and playful, "Fine, but in one condition."

Sam stopped and asked lightly, "and what would that be?"

I said, "if.. you get me tacos from the taco truck, then I will gladly get up from this bed."

Sam froze. He threw his head back and gave a wholehearted laugh. He said laughing, "Fine, fine. I go get you, your tacos."

Yay. I was starting to miss Latino food, so good thing I got my condiments and stuff to make my heritage food when I get cravings like this. Before I got the chance to get up myself, Sam picked me up. Since he picked me up so quickly, an instant headache formed, so I groaned lowly from the surprise pain.

Sam kissed me at my temple and said, "Sorry honey. I got too excited. Let me get you some advil."

I nodded and when I opened my eyes and looked around the room. Our stuff was already gone.

Dang, was I really that deep in my self to the point that I didn't hear Sam moving around the room?

Sam returned the key to the front door as we both walked out of the hotel with our hands locked together. Sam gave me Advil once we got to the truck. Sam was able to find a taco truck and got me barbacoa tacos while we got a dozen of tacos for himself. He enjoyed them thankfully, and he finally left Seattle.

I was still tired from the yesterday adventure. Maybe I over did it, so imma make sure to not do so much in one day until I get this cast off my leg. I was sleeping in Sam's embrace as he drove us back to the reservation. I woke up from the sound of Sam talking on his phone.

I yawned and rubbed my eyes and glanced at Sam. He had a grim expression on his face, so I was slightly curious what set his mood off. Then said something that I didn't expect to hear.

He said tensely, "Carlisle Cullen called."

Oh..

Author's Note:

Hello! I am all done with the first story, so I will be focusing more on this story for now on. I will be updating more frequently. I will try my best to be consistent.

Enjoy!