PREVIOUSLY-

"Anyways, why don't the two of you sit down and we'll all talk about what happened." Sam told us.

Seth pulled me close to him as we sat down. I was afraid of what they'd all say. I knew that there would be backlash from my actions, I just hoped it wasn't too bad.

"Sam—" Seth tried to say, but Sam held up his hand to stop him.

"We're going to hear Bella's side of the story, Seth." Sam told him, looking directly at me. I took a deep breath to gather my bearings. "Tell us why you did it, Bella."

"I wanted to spare the pack. She already nearly killed Jacob trying to get to Seth. I couldn't just stand on the sidelines and watch as she picked you guys off one by one. I was right about her gift. If I hadn't distracted her with my blood, she would've gotten away again. I didn't know what would happen to Seth if something happened to me, I swear." I told them, begging for them to understand my reasoning.

Sam nodded then turned to Seth. "Why didn't you tell her? I told you to weeks ago."

"I was going to, but I didn't know how. When is a good time to say 'oh by the way, if you die, I die too?' to the person you love the most. I didn't want her to have that burden." Seth replied.

"Dude, if you had told her, B told Leah that she wouldn't ever have done what she did." Paul spoke up.

"But then Victoria wouldn't have been killed." I told them all.

"That's the only good thing that came out of it all." Jared muttered. "Bella, even if it wouldn't have killed Seth, do you know what it would do to us all if you were killed? You're pack. It would have affected us all."

I hadn't thought about that. Just like Seth had told me about Charlie, Sue, and Leah.

"I'm sure all of you guys are mad at me right now, but I can't take it back. I know it's not enough, but I'm sorry." I told them as Seth pulled me close to him. I'd already apologized to Seth, but I knew needed to apologize to the rest of the pack too.

"You're already forgiven, Bella. You just have to promise to never try and be a martyr again. I won't lose two members of our pack." Sam said to me in a commanding tone. I looked up at him and nodded.

"I would never put Seth's life in danger again." I muttered honestly.

"Yours too, B." Paul responded.

"Mine too." I repeated.

"If I ever find you like that again, I'll throw you off that damn cliff myself just to wake your ass up. That shit wasn't funny, B. It was 10x worse than when Cullen left." Paul told me.

So he'd been the one who found me and brought me down to the reservation. I'd wondered who it had been.

"And once Jake finds out…" Jared muttered, shaking his head.

"You're going to be in for it, Swan. It won't be nearly as bad as my baby bro, and definitely won't have the same ending, but he won't be happy." Leah told me as she leaned up against the wall.

I buried my head into Seth's chest, not wanting to deal with Jacob's reaction.

The rest of the meeting went by smoothly now that I'd said my piece, but I'd have to wait until Jake was healed to find out what happened in the pack mind, then berate me for it.

But first, Seth and I had to tell Charlie that we were dating. We'd waited more than a week so that he wouldn't think we'd started dating on his birthday, but I knew it was time. I knew Seth's wolf would be even more protective of me now that I'd been reckless and there was little chance that Charlie wouldn't notice.

"It's time to tell Charlie, Seth." I mumbled into his chest after we'd gone back to his house.

"I know. I can't keep pretending you're not my girlfriend every time we see him. Especially not now." Seth replied, holding onto me.

"It'll be fine, Bella. Charlie is a very understanding man." Sue said as she walked into the living room carrying a hot cup of tea for me. I was so glad that she knew about us and the imprint.

"Can you be there with us when we tell him? I think he'd take it better if he knew you were okay with it all." I asked Sue.

"Of course, dear. He'll be back from his fishing trip tonight, won't he?" She asked. I nodded. "Why don't I invite him over for dinner and you can tell him then?"

"I'm afraid that when he knows, he won't let me stay the night here anymore. I can't do that, Sue, especially since we're mated now." I voiced. It had been the biggest fear of mine nearly all along.

"I have an idea for that, but if he doesn't believe me, you're 18 Bella, he can't legally make you stay at home. I hope we don't have to resort to such lengths, but I feel that would have to be your last resort. I understand how it is. My son can hardly take it when you have to go home." She replied.

I hoped I didn't have to resort to that, but I would if he didn't accept whatever plan Sue had for me.

"We'll tell him tonight at dinner, then." I muttered.

"It'll be okay, starshine. It's not like you'll lose me anyways. You're stuck with me for the long haul. I mean, it's not like I'm going to be asking your dad for his permission to propose to you… yet." Seth said with a smile. "But I will someday."

"Let's try to wait until you're at least 18, Seth." Sue said with a laugh.

"Two years, mom?" He asked as if he were taken aback, "Nah, I don't think I can wait that long. Maybe one." He smirked. "If you're lucky."

"It better be a long engagement then." Sue told us, pointing between us both with narrowed eyes.

"I guess I could do that for you, mom." Seth replied to her with a smirk.

I shook my head at their conversation, smiling to myself.

I was worried about how this day would go, and I certainly didn't expect it to end up like it had, but I was glad it did.

Now we just had to deal with Charlie.

A/N- How do you think Charlie will take the news? How do you think Jacob will respond?