Chapter 7

SPOV

Jared ran over to Bella as she collapsed backwards.

"She'll be alright," Charlie assured us, seeing the worried looks of the pack and imprints, and near panic of Jared. "The transformation burns up a lot of energy. She was only hulk for a little over an hour, so she should be back up in a few minutes. Jared, can you carry her inside." He gave each and everyone of us a stern look. "We've got a lot to discuss."

Jared picked Bella up, carrying her bridal style, and we all followed the chief into my house. Jared and I went over to my couch, where I picked up the magazines I had lying on the cushions so that Jared could set Bell down.

I gestured for Charlie to take a seat. One thing I admired about the man was that, even when he was angry, he tried to be a good guest and and a gentleman.

Sitting down in my recliner, Charlie rubbed a hand over his chin. We all took up positions around him, with Jared stay close to Bella. "While we wait for Bella to wake up, would one of you please tell me why, when I asked that someone stay at home with her, I find her down at the rez and a hulk?" Charlie asked.

"Hulk?" Emily asked.

Charlie sighed. "It's what we call her and her father's changed form."

"Whoa," Paul said. "Your not her father?"

Charlie's jaw clenched. "Biologically no, I'm her uncle. But legally, and emotionally, I am her father."

"Sorry," Paul apologized. "I didn't mean to offend you."

Sighing again, Charlie waved him off. "I know. But, between the accident and this, it's been a long day. Now will someone answer my question?"

Everyone looked to me. I nodded, before speaking. "Bella was uncomfortable with me and Emily watching her," I began. "Which was something we couldn't understand. We asked her why, out of simple curiosity. The answer was simple, she's friends with Leah Clearwater."

"What's Leah got to do with this?" Charlie asked.

I licked my lips. "Leah and I, we were engaged to be married," I explained. "But due to unforeseen events, I was forced to call things off."

"What makes that worse," Emily continued for me, "is that Leah is my cousin and was my best friend, and now Sam and I are engaged." She looked down in shame for a moment. "Naturally, Bella asked what those unforeseen consequences were, and that necessitated a trip down here to the rez."

I looked over at Paul, "Go change."

Paul gave me a funny look, but did as I instructed.

Once Paul had left, I looked at Charlie. "You should probably come outside for a moment. I don't want Paul ruining my porch."

0000000000

BPOV

I woke up to the sound of Charlie's voice. "So you imprinted on my daughter?"

"Yes sir," Jared answered. "It was after that, that she changed."

I head Charlie sigh.

"It wasn't his fault," I mumbled, a bit groggily as I sat up. "I wouldn't have changed at all if it wasn't for the accident earlier."

I looked over to see Charlie giving Jared a look that said, 'You may be my daughter's soulmate, but hurt her and I will kill you.'

Surprisingly, it was Paul that spoke up. "Bella, welcome back to the land of the living."

I glared at him and said, "Just remember, I can curl upward of a thousand pounds in each hand when I'm not hulk. And when I am hulk my strength is, potentially, limitless."

Paul's eyes widened and he looked a bit sheepish.

"What do you mean by potentially," Kim asked.

Charlie answered for me. "The angrier, or more frustrated she gets, when hulk, the stronger she becomes. We don't know how strong she can get."

The pack stood in silence for several moments.

Smiling, I looked at Charlie. "I think we broke them."

He chuckled.

"Dad, can you toss me that bag of clothes you got, I'd rather not lounge around in my underwear."

Charlie tossed the bag to me, and I turned to Emily. "Where's your bathroom?"

Emily, finally broken out of her shock, smiled sheepishly. "Just down the hall, first door on the left."

"Thanks," I said, before heading to the bathroom to change.

Locking the door behind me, I dug into the bag to find that Charlie had brought me purple tee, a black sip-up hoodie, a pair of blue jeans, and a pair of sneakers. Before putting the clothes on, I examined the fabric of my sports bra and shorts. My honorary uncles, Tony Stark, invention had survived it;s first true test. I would have to remember to send him a thank you e-mail, and maybe a good bottle of cheap whiskey if I can talk Charlie into buying it.

Putting the clothes on, I left the bathroom to find Charlie in a whispered conversation with Jared.

"You're not talking about me, are you?" I asked.

Charlie just smiled, while Jared looked pale.

"No," Charlie said. "I'm just giving Jared a few fishing tips, right?" He asked, looking over at Jared.

"Yes...I mean Yes, Sir," Jared said rather quickly.

I heard Paul snort in the background.

"Well, I better get going," Charlie said with a smile. "And if you want, you can spend the rest of the weekend here Bells. Just make sure your home before eleven Sunday."

I gave Charlie a surprised look. "Really, you're going to let me spend the weekend?"

Charlie smiled. "Yup. Just so long as you aren't staying at Jared's. Emily and Sam have agreed that you can stay here."

0000000000

SPOV

After Charlie left, and Emily showed Bella where the guest bedroom was. We all sat at the table.

After a few moments of silence, Bella spoke. "It was agreed that you'd let me give you guys my opinion about whether or not to tell Leah about the wolves, and the imprinting."

I nodded. "I guess we did," I sighed. "So, what is your opinion?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"While I understand why you did what you did, I have to disagree with you about not telling her. I doubt she'll like it, but by knowing, she'll at least understand."

I licked my lips and looked over at Emily. With tears in her eyes, my imprint nodded.

"I have to call and tell Billy that we've told Charlie tonight. Is alright with you if we tell him why we had to?" I asked Bella.

She thought for a moment, obviously reluctant.

"I promise that he, and the rest of the Elders, will keep it a secret. It's Pack business after-all. And tomorrow, after we've all rested, Emily and I will go over, and explain things to Leah," I said reluctantly. I knew Leah well enough to know that, at least initially, she'd be even angrier at Emily and I for not telling her. But I hopped that, after she calmed down, perhaps, at the very least, Emily and Leah could re-build their relationship and that I could at least be friends with her.

Reluctantly, Bella nodded. "I guess."

"Bella," Emily spoke, "I wonder if you would accompany us? Leah will need someone to talk too afterward, someone who's not part of the problem. And if you're there, she might be more willing to listen to us."

Bella smiled. "Sure. I'll go with you, with the understanding that I might stay with Leah when you leave."

0000000000

I know it's been forever since I updated. But I hope you enjoy. Please review And check out the challenges in my Forum, link on Profile.