Everything Twilight belongs to Stephanie.
Chapter 17
BELLA'S POV
When I woke up, I noticed that, yet again I was on the couch. These last few days left me completely drained. Glancing around I saw Paul sitting in the chair that dad was sitting in earlier.
"Ugh…what time is it?" I asked sitting up.
"It's a little after five." He said.
" Why the hell didn't anyone wake me? What happened at the meeting? What are we going to do about James? How long have you been here? What about….?"
"Slow down Bella." He said coming and sitting next to me.
"Sorry, But you really shouldn't have let me sleep that long."
"It's okay. Really. You needed it, the last few days have been really hard on you."
"What about you? You look exhausted." I said
"I've been worst." he said smiling.
"What happens now? How did the pack meeting go?" I asked.
"To answer your first question, there's nothing we can do right now. Until he makes an appearance, we don't know what he's doing. To answer your second question, it was decided that one of the members of the pack are going to be with you at all times. Preferably me, but if I'm out on patrol then one of the other guys or Leah will be here."
"You guys really don't need to do all that. I don't need a babysitter."
He brought his hands up and cupped my face with his hands.
"I cant afford to lose you Bella. I just got you." He whispered.
Leaning forward I laid my forehead against his.
"I just don't want the guys to put there life's on hold, or on the line for me for that matter. James is sick. I've been one of his pawns. He wont stop. And I cant handle something happening to one of them." I said.
"Bella we all look out for each other. Your part of this family now whether you realize it or not. Collin and Brady adore you. Leah already loves you as a sister, so does Kim and Emily. Seth is constantly asking about you. Jake, Embry and Quil, well you know what they think of you. And they protect there family."
"And as for me. I cant be away from you Bella. You're my number one priority. Nothing else matters. I have to…no need to make sure your safe."
"No one…and I mean no one will get hurt. We have each others backs. So please don't worry." He said.
"Ugh…..fine." I said pulling away.
"Where is everyone anyways?" I asked.
"Over at Sam's… Emily made dinner for everyone." He said. "Do you want to go?"
I thought about it for a few minutes.
"Is anyone upset with me?"
"Why would anyone be upset with you?"
"Because I knowingly dated a vampire." I said.
"There upset because you were hurt, but not because you were with him." He said.
"Alright." I said standing up and grabbing Paul's hand to help him up. "Lets go."
We walked hand and hand to Sam's house, and when we entered everyone got quiet. I scanned the faces, but stopped at one. Sam. He looked upset. Stepping on my tip toes I gave Paul a quick kiss on his cheek.
"I'll be right back."
"Okay. I'll be here." he said with a small smile.
When I walked up to Sam he was fidgeting and shifting from one leg to the other.
"Is everything okay Sam?" I asked when I reached him.
"Yeah. Do you have a few minutes Bella? I'd like to talk."
I looked around to find Paul and when I caught eyes with him I smiled and turned back to Sam.
"Sure."
"Can you walk with me?"
"Yeah….come on." I said grabbing his arm and dragging him through the front door.
"Lets go down to the beach." He said when we made it outside.
We walked in silence down to the water, both of us gazing out, watching the water hit the cliffs on the right. It was quiet for a while, but not uncomfortable.
"I wanted to apologize Bella."
I snapped my head over to look at him. Why was he apologizing to me?
"What for Sam?"
"I kind of feel like I let you down in a way."
"How did you let me down?" I said, confused.
"I shouldn't have let him get away a few years ago."
"Sam…." I started but he cut me off.
"No let me finish Bella. As alpha of the pack I have a certain responsibility to protect our people. To protect you. I failed in that, because we let him get away. If we would have caught him that night, none of this would be happening now. None of what has happened to you would have happened." He said with a glum expression.
I couldn't believe what he was saying. He was blaming himself.
"Are you finished Sam?" I said a little harsher than I intended.
He nodded, but continued to look out over the water.
"None of this is your fault." I said waving my hands around. "He's a sick fuck. He got through your barriers. There were only three wolves at the time right?" I asked and he nodded again. "Look….. Bad things happen all the time. Yeah, this particular situation isn't heard of that often….in fact ever, but this isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself."
"Please look at me Sam."
He turned his body facing mine, his eyes were still looking down.
"Sam…please look at me." And he raised his eyes to meet mine.
"You need to stop feeling guilt. That fuck is out there somewhere, and we're not going to be able to get through this without you. The guys need you. You need to lead them. I'm here. I'm breathing, so you didn't fail. It's just going to take a little longer to get him." I said, glaring at him.
Then he did something I wasn't expecting.
He smirked.
"I think you'll be good for everyone Bella." He said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Whatever." I said smirking back, walking down to put my feet in the water.
"Well, we better get back." He said.
When he turned to start walking back up the beach, I kicked my foot out splashing water up his back.
"Oh now you've done it." He said running over to me and throwing me up over his shoulder.
He walked out into the water a few feet. And dropped me. He fucking dropped me. I came out of the water sputtering.
"Oooh I'm telling Paul on you." I said laughing.
"I can take him," he said Laughing out loud.
"Sureeee……" I dragged out.
"Come on before the wolves come out." He said walking out of the water.
We were laughing together all the way back to his house, and when we walked through the door, everyone glared at us. They probably weren't expecting Sam and I to come back laughing, and soaking wet on top of that.
Quil jumped up quickly when he saw the state we were in and ran over to Sam feeling his forehead.
"BELLA?" He screamed "WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO HIM?" He continued to yell.
"What do you mean Quil? I didn't do anything to him." I said looking at Sam to see if there were any scratches or anything that I accidentally gave him when he threw me up over his shoulder.
"He's laughing." He stated.
"And…..?" I said
"What did she do Sam? Are you alright?" He said turning to Sam. Everyone in the room was rolling over laughing by now. I didn't get what the hell was going on.
"Run" Sam said to Quil.
Quil turned quickly and ran out the back door, Sam following closely behind.
"What did I do?" I asked turning to the room, where everyone was still rolling around laughing.
"Nothing Bella dear. Sam tends to be the hard ass. It's not to often we see him laugh." Emily said walking up to me.
"Oh" was my great response.
"Here let me go get you some dry clothes. I'll be right back." she said turning and disappearing somewhere in the house.
"How'd you end up all wet anyways Bells?" Jake said.
"I kicked water up on Sam, so he picked me up and dropped me in the water." I said giggling.
Emily came back a few minutes later with a pair of shorts and a sweatshirt, and told me that she would warm me up a plate of food while I changed. I ran into the bathroom, changed quickly and ran back out to the table where Emily had a plate of spaghetti waiting for me.
"Thanks Emily." I said, shoveling the food in my mouth.
"No problem hun."
A few minutes later Sam came back in smiling and shaking with silent laughter.
"Where's Quil, Sam?" Embry asked.
"He's out back hiding behind a tree." He said.
"Why is he hiding behind a tree?" I asked
"Because when he ran from me, he didn't have time to take his shorts off, and he phased. I told him he was on his own, and he doesn't want to come in here naked." He said.
"Now Sam that's not right. Go get that boy a pair of shorts." Emily said.
Sam looked …. Defeated? He turned and walked down the hall. A few minutes later he came back in, Quil following behind, red as a tomato. Everyone saw him and started laughing hysterically again.
"Its not that funny." He said to the group of oversized kids.
"Yeah it is. We thought Bella could only get that red." Seth said.
Queue the blush.
"See!" Seth said pointing to me.
"Ugh." I groaned, and turned to finish my dinner.
We hung out for a little while longer, and around 10 everyone started breaking up to go home. Paul…deciding to be my own personal bodyguard followed me out after we said our goodnights.
We walked back to my house hand in hand.
Walking through the door I saw Paul yawning.
"Why don't you go home and get some sleep." I said to him.
"Nope. I'm not leaving you here by yourself." He said walking over to the couch, stretching out.
"Well I'm not going to let you sleep on the couch." I said. "Go up and lay in my bed."
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"Yeah. Go on."
He got up off the couch and walked up stairs.
"Bella?" I heard a few minutes later.
"Yeah?" I yelled up the stairs.
"Do you have a cell phone in here somewhere? I hear a beeping."
Shit….with everything going on in the last few days I completely forgot about my phone. Running upstairs and into my room, trying hard, but failing miserably not to look at Paul in my bed, I walked to my desk on the other side of my room.
23 Missed messages it said. Opening my phone I scanned through them quickly. When I got to the last one I froze.
"What's the matter Bella?" Paul said noticing my reaction.
I chanced a quick look at him, then turned and ran out of my bedroom door, down the stairs and out the back door.
"SAM?" I yelled, when I reached the woods.
A few minutes later I saw a huge black wolf coming from the trees. I wasn't nervous though I knew he wouldn't hurt me.
"Sam I need to talk to you." I said.
He turned around and went back into the woods, coming out a few minutes later.
"What's the matter Bella?" He said rushing up to me
"Look". I said handing him my phone.
Looking over his arm. I read the message again.
Bella, I Know where he is….
Let me know what you think…..