Chapter Seven:
Unforeseen events and people

''Can you imagine the Elders' faces if we told them anything at all?'' Leah chuckled from her position across the room, glancing a look at Bella who was engrossed in a Quileute legends book.

''Why are you bothering to read that? I thought we covered the fact that this entire life has no guidelines for any of us to follow. I'm a walking contradiction to the legends we grew up listening to'' Leah asked again just as Bella slammed the book shut and threw it on the floor.

Bella threw the book onto the floor with a resounding slam, pressing her fingertips into her forehead as she remarked'' I'm very aware of how you guys have all been screwed over, especially you in regards to this life. I've been thinking about how things ended before and how imprinting is meant to be this 'fantastic opportunity' for you all. Last time, four wolves had imprint..''

''Five imprinted'' Leah interrupted as Bella stared at her in shock. Bella pointed at Leah with a question in her eyes as Leah shook her head and pressed the heel of her palm into her forehead as pain radiated through her head, reminding her about Jake's order.

''Leah, are you okay?'' Bella called, seeing Leah crumple to the floor from the bed as she clutched at her head and began to sob. ''What is it? Leah, tell me'' Bella cried, fear racing through her as she watched the tough she-wolf crumble and sob.

''I'll b..be fine. Th...There's an order. I can… can't get round it and I...I can't te...tell you'' Leah spat out through clenched teeth, rocking herself back and forth as she felt the pain from disobeying Jacob's order fade as quickly as it came.

Once the pain had faded, Leah rose from the floor and turned to face Bella who looked terrified. Taking a seat on Bella's bed, Leah warned'' I can't tell you anything so please don't ask me. You have to trust me that it's nothing bad'' to which Bella nodded.

'' I've been wondering if we changed anything else on the timeline which is why I've been trying to read about imprinting. Do you think it's possible that we might have caused some kind of domino effect and they could imprint sooner?'' Bella questioned, her eyes bright with hope as Leah thought over her question.

''Maybe? There's no way to know for sure'' Leah replied slowly, keeping her reply safe even as guilt hit her when she saw Bella lose some of the hope in her eyes.

''Maybe I can help you with that theory'' a voice drifted out of nowhere as a very large Native American appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, yards from Bella's open door.

Bella fell off the bed, landing with a loud thud as Leah jumped off her bed and began to growl at the man. ''Jeez,Bells. You're a danger to yourself'' the man boomed, smiling warmly at Bella who began to laugh from her spot on the floor as Leah stared at them, wide-eyed.

''Who the hell is Houdini here?'' Leah demanded, glaring at Bella and the now smug-looking man as she placed her hands on her hips and arched an eyebrow. ''Well?''

''I apologize, she-wolf. I am Ephraim Black, Bella's spirit guide. It is a honor to meet the only female shifter in our history, a true honor'' Ephraim introduced as Leah pointed at Bella and then at Ephraim.

''When you said spirit guide Bella, you didn't mentioned he would show up. Have you been here this entire time?'' Leah remarked, holding out a hand to Bella to help her up while keeping her eyes trained on Ephraim.

''He comes and goes as he pleases. Even Spirits are kept busy, apparently'' Bella offered, dusting herself off as Ephraim nodded at her statement and took a seat on her bed.

''So you just show up willy-nilly? Is there some purpose to your visits?'' Leah questioned, crossing her arms and sending a pointed look to Ephraim who chuckled.

''There is always a purpose for my visits. I happen to have hold of some information that may be to your advantage. Spirits talk and I've been hunting down some leads. As you so eloquently put it, she-wolf, there is no guide to this life but I do have contact with the generations past''
Ephraim explained as Bella took a seat next to him on the bed and gestured for Leah to do the same.

''What kind of information can Spirits give that we can't find ourselves?'' Leah asked, slowly sitting down beside Ephraim who laughed at the expression on her face as she did so.

''Would it be helpful if I told you that young Bella here is correct about a domino effect? Every wolf has a soul-mate, an imprint but due to the Cullen's presence and Bella's choices, sadly several would have never met the wolves they were destined if we hadn't changed the timeline'' Ephraim explained, sending a knowing look at Leah as he tilted his head in Bella's direction subtly. Leah sent him a look that spoke a thousand words to which he quickly nodded, too quickly for the human in the room who was fortunately reading a text on her phone.

''Really? Will we meet them soon?'' Bella questioned, a wide smile on her face as she looked between Ephraim and Leah. Ephraim chuckled, looking fondly at his great-grandson's imprint which brought a smile to Leah's face too.

''The two of you actually know one of the imprints already. Madison Wilson. I believe her mother is a friend of both your parents as well as being on the Tribal Council'' Ephraim answered, watching as both Leah and Bella shared a look of complete shock.

''I thought Mads was living on the Makah Reservation with her mom. She moves back here when she's about 25. I don't remember anyone imprinting on her through'' Leah pointed out as Bella's face fell, her eyes betraying her sadness as she processed Leah's words.

''Originally Madison did move back in her twenties after completing her studies. I don't believe the wolf in question told anybody about his imprinting on Madison and for good reason. When wolves imprint, their mate becomes the centre of their world but this never happened with Madison's imprint. A side-effect of the choices of Bella, Madison had found herself pregnant before coming to La Push and her daughter became the centre of her existence. This left no space for the wolf so he remained her friend throughout her life and the god-father of her daughter'' Ephraim recalled sadly.

Bella stood up suddenly, running her hands through her hair agitated as she shouted'' I hate this. How could I have been so selfish? I hurt so many people, people I didn't even realize would be affected by my choices. Who was the wolf? Tell me whose happiness I ruined for nothing. I hadn't seen Madison since we were nine years old and I still managed to screw her life up. I'm a complete fuck-up and this just goes to prove it. Why did Madison end up pregnant?''

''I cannot give you all the answers you need, Isabella. They cannot come from either myself or Leah. I can give you some answers but I will be leaving you with more questions then answers. For example, I can tell you that Madison ended up pregnant as the Spirits tried to correct your mistakes. Unfortunately it backfired which resulted in it hurting Madison, Caitlyn-Marie and Embry'' Ephraim admitted, looking away as his thoughts drifted back to the fatal day that they realized the only way to correct and place Bella Swan on the right path was through rebirth.

It still pained him to think of the young wolf who had paid for the way they had failed them all. The wolf who spent the rest of his life loving a woman who couldn't feel or respond back to her imprint due to the path they were set on. It eased his conscience somewhat to know that this time things would work out as they should have.

''Embry?'' Bella whispered, covering her face with her hands as she began to cry.

''Things will be different now through, right? The spirits don't need to correct Bella's mistakes so Embry and Madison will be left in peace,right?'' Leah asked, her mind working overtime as she processed everything that Ephraim had told them.

Bella stood up straight and dried her eyes as she said'' I don't know about Leah but I am hungry and I'm going to go make some food before I pass out'' before turning and walking out the door. Leah stayed seated, knowing instinctively that Bella wanted time to herself as she turned to face the spirit beside her.

''Will he ever tell her? I hate knowing and keeping her in the dark'' Leah questioned, looking up at Ephraim who sighed and ran a hand over his face before responding.

''He'll tell her soon, young one. Speaking of yourself, I have been speaking to the spirits about you in order to gain some answers for you about why you were chosen. I'm sure you must have your theories about the reasons for your appointment''
Ephraim explained as Leah nodded, her mind running over the only theory she had thought of that would explain things rationally.

''Jake's meant to Alpha,right? With Bella as his im...imprint, it would make sense that there would be times when the needs of the pack or the tribe come before Bella so I thought that perhaps I'm here as Bella's protector'' Leah suggested, slightly stuttering as she said out loud the big secret she was ordered to stay quiet about.

''I do believe that people don't give you as much credit for your intelligence as they should. You are completely correct in your guess, Leah. You were chosen as Bella's protector from the start, the equivalent of whom ever will be Jacob's Beta when he becomes Alpha. You will be the Alpha Female's Beta, answering to only Bella then Jacob. Your first concern will only be Bella as both your leader and blood''
Ephraim praised, smiling at the she-wolf who sat up.

It was clear to see that Leah was more confident in her place in the pack, having the confirmation that she was meant for great things regardless of what the others said of her.

''Why is Jacob's order affecting me through?'' Leah questioned, her mind processing how Jacob could be ordering her silent when he is neither Alpha or Beta.

''I'm afraid that the order is being kept in place by the spirits while Bella finds her place. If Jacob gave any other orders, you would be able to shrug them off literally due to his current position. Your loyalty is first and foremost to Bella so you respond to this order as it is protecting her. I hope you find this insight into your place in this pack useful. Just remember the domino-effect is very much in play''
Ephraim warned before fading out of sight.

''Leah, food's ready'' Bella shouted, her voice travelling up the stairs followed by the smell of delicious home-cooked food.