Bella took in all the lustful and hateful stares as she walked past dozens of houses in La Push. She had been cat-called at, came onto, and stared at by the Quileutte men. While the other sex...well not so gratifying. She was glared at with either envy, hatred, or anger. But what do you expect Bella, she thought to herself bemused, you are praying on their men.
"Hey! You!"
Bella smirked before turning around to face her least favorite wolf.
Now, being the only female wolf in a group of all male pack must be hard, so adding her ex-lover to the mix must have been hell, but that was no reason for her to be a bitch every minute of everyday. Bella let Leah's eyes roam over her. Her scarred forearm's glistened under Leah's scrutiny. Leah glared at her before laughing maliciously, "I didn't think I'd see the day that the vampire bitch would be coming back. Especially with a boob and ass job! Wow, you really don't quit, do you?!"
Bella nodded appreciatively before saying, "And that, Leah, is obviously why you need an imprint. I mean, who likes a ornery bitch that whines about everything. Oh and another thing," She took a step closer, "I'm all natural honey. I didn't get any work done on these, " She grabbed her boobs, "or this." She turned around to show her ass.
Bella faced Leah. Leah glared with impressed anger before sneering, "What's with all the bite marks? Your human enough, so why all the bites? Is this a new kink thing?"
Bella glared fiercely at Leah before growling, "No, actually. The bite marks are where I almost died against my will on a deserted island. These," Bella took another step closer, leaning down into Leah's shocked face, "are only the marks of my survival." Bella turned around and continued her stroll through La Push. "Hey, I'm not done with you yet!" Leah growled as she walked towards her. Bella kept going, not really bothered by Leah's brash attitude. Leah fell into step beside Bella before saying, "I don't know whether I like the new Bella or not. I'm seeing she can be a real bitch, and I'm not sure how I feel about it."
Bella shifted toward her before asking, "Do I look like I really give a shit?"
Leah grinned before saying, "I'm liking her. I'm liking her a lot." Bella shrugged before furthering her walk. "Question." Leah said confusedly. Bella looked at her. "I'll tell you if I can."
"One," Leah started, "Where the hell did those come from?" Leah pointed at Bella's boobs and butt. Bella shrugged before saying, "Can't tell you that." Leah raised a brow. "Why, exactly, can't you tell me?" Bella sighed before saying, "Ok, you know how you have to keep the pack secret because it's not your secret to tell." Leah smirked wryly before saying, "Well, actual-"
"You know what I mean," Bella stated irritably, "well, that's what it's like for me. I don't have a right to tell you...or at least I don't think so. I haven't checked yet." Leah nodded before saying, "Does this mean you're apart of our little supernatural community?" Bella shrugged. "That why you're so damn tall?" She nodded.
They walked in silence before Leah asked, "Are we friends now?" Bella shrugged carelessly.
"I guess." Leah laughed before giggling out, "I think this is the strangest way I've made friends, ever." Bella smiled before nodding and saying, "Probably. I mean, we were just trying to eat each other's heart out, and now were having a nice little conversation about the supernatural." Leah laughed again. "Wait," Leah cocked her head, "if all you said was true, why didn't you come back to Forks?"
Bella looked at her wistfully before stating, "I didn't think I'd be very welcome, seeing as I practically ripped Jacob's heart into tiny, little, cite-sized pieces." Leah nodded before sighing, "You're probably right. I mean, me and Paul would have tried to rip you to shreds, and everybody else would really hate you, other than Jacob, of course." Bella nodded with a half-smile.
"Exactly."
They walked a little farther before Leah asked, "Well, what have you been up to, these last four years. you know, other than hiding from killer vampires." Bella stared at her blankly, "What," Leah laughed, "I know you're bound to attract some unwanted attention." Bella sighed before answering, "I was training to be a fighter," Leah stared at Bella, disbelieving, "what! I was! Anyway, I was in Olympia training to be a fighter. Made friends, got money from fights, drank my ass off, and had a good time. It was very pleasant." Leah laughed again before saying, "You, Fighting? Drinking? I don't believe it!"
Bella smirked before saying, "You want to go bar hopping with me tonight?" Leah stared at her for a while. "Are you serious?" Bella's smirk widened, "Serious as a heart-attack. I mean, you could get some of the girls together and we could all go." Leah scoffed before saying, "Who do you mean? Kim? Rachel? Emily?" Bella grinned impishly, "That's exactly who I mean," Leah stared hard at her, "What? I could be fun! You invite them, I'll invite some of my friends, and we'll have a classic girls night out! It'll be perfect!"
Leah stared at her before sighing, "Fine, but you're inviting Emily." Bella rolled her eyes at Leah's childishness. "Really, Leah. Are you serious?" Leah glared at her angrily, "What do you mean, are you serious?!" Bella stared at her hard, "I meant what I said, Leah. It's been what, seven, eight years since the imprint happened? You can't hold all that anger and resentment with you, it'll just make you mean and bitter; it'll make your heart shrivel up and you'll never give anybody the chance to give you something to be happy about."
Leah growled and opened her mouth to speak, but Bella beat her to it, "Don't give me that shit about, 'I don't know what it's like', because I do. I mean, the one person in the world that I thought I loved more than anything left me in the middle of the woods, right after her ripped my heart out and stomped on it right in front of me. The heart he ripped out had to rebuild itself; fix the unfix-able. Then after a few months, that same person gets into trouble and I go after him like an idiot, and almost get myself killed. We come back together, and fight a newborn war that could have gotten everyone I've come to love killed all because that man I loved so much killed the mate of the vampire. Then, I get married to so-called man, and we go on our honeymoon, only to find myself on the brink of death right before we try to have sex. After that, I get stranded by myself with a Mexican maid, not knowing where the hell I was or how the hell I was gonna get home. Then, the father of so-called man comes to the island and picks me up, and takes me to a Florida hospital, where my so-called mother, father, and stepfather visit me. Then, my so-called father takes me to a little apartment out in Olympia, saying that Edward's father gave it to me along with a Lexus LFA and an apology. Then I get visited by Alice, and she begs me to come back to the family, but, obviously, I declined immediately, saying I could never forgive Edward for what he did. After a while of begging and pleading she leaves, and for the next three years I lived life happily until I got the courage to come back to Forks and face my past."
Bella stared hard at the flabbergasted Leah before saying quietly, "The only difference between me and you is that I had someone to lean on before Eddie-boy came back. And personally," Bella glares at her, "you could have had someone to lean on if you would stop being so selfish and trying to keep it all in your chest to become bitter and hateful to Sam and Emily. There ARE people who love you, Leah. If only you would open your eyes to see that." Bella stared limply at the ground, "Emily still loves you and she's still very sorry for what happened, but you won't let her be sorry enough in order for her to get in your good graces. Sam still loves you, but your too damn bitter to swallow your pride and let him apologize. Because, really," Bella threw an arm around Leah's slumped down shoulders, "that's all they can do. All you can ever do, when shit like this happens, is apologize, and really mean it."
Leah and Bella walked a little further in a sad, but understanding silence before Leah croaked, "You want to go see the pups?" Bella raised a brow before saying, "Who the hell are the pups?!"
Leah laughed weakly before saying, "The wolves. Do you want to go see the wolves?"
Suddenly, a nervous tingly feeling overtook her body."You sure that's a good idea?" Leah laughed before saying, "What? You think they're gonna eat you or something?" Bella looked at her with blankness. Leah laughed louder before saying, "Oh well. We're already here." Bella quickly looked up to see Emily's house. "Sam still Alpha?" Leah shook her head. "Jake?" Bella asked. Leah nodded with an air of confidence. Bella smiled, "Good for him." Bella walked with Leah nervously as they came up the porch. "Ready." Leah grinned. "As I'll ever be." muttered Bella lowly.
Leah opened the door and walked inside. Everything looking the same; even the seven men sitting at the table. They all turned their eyes to Bella. "What's up boys?" Bella grinned.
Their faces were hilarious. Paul and Quil was looking at her with an 'o' shaped mouth, Embry and Seth looked at her with a somewhat gaping mouth, Jared and Sam grinned at her. But none of them were better than Jacob's. His eyes looked to be about to pop out of his head as he traveled his eyes traveled her body hungrily.
Emily came out of the kitchen with a platter full of burgers before she saw Bella. She gave a startled 'oh' before quickly putting the platter of burgers in the middle of the table before saying, "Oh, Paul! Why didn't you tell me you were bringing one of your lady friends?"
Silence.
Silence.
Boisterous laughter poured out of every mouth other than Bella's and Emily's. Bella stared at her, offended before saying, "No you just didn't, Emily! Really!" Emily's eyes got as wide as saucers as the laughter continued. "Bella?" She nodded, laughing. Emily just walked over and gave her a hug. "I can't believe you just said that. I can't believe it." Bella muttered in disbelief.
"I am so offended."
"Well, vamp-whore, what the fuck do you want," sneered Paul, laughter all but forgotten. Bella's gaze hardened before saying, "I came to visit a few friends, asswipe. I did just get back in town." Paul growled intimidating at Bella, but she stood her ground. She bared her teeth at him as he stood up.
The pit of her stomach swirled angrily. Power began to quake through her body, making her skin sting and sizzle. She feel the power blow up to her head and her skin began to ache. She had the sudden urge to punch herself in the face for not staying at Charlie's and asking him questions.
"How about you shut the hell up and sit the hell down, Paul." snarled Leah. Paul's eyes flashed with surprise before they clouded with anger. "How about you make me, Leah!" he snapped and growled at her. Jacob stood up and began to push Paul outside silently. Everyone followed.
"The last thing you need to worry about is Leah, Paul." threatened Bella as she had the urge to put Paul in his place. Paul laughed at her before he taunted, "Or you'll what, bitch?! What's a weak human like you gonna do to a big bad wolf like me?!"
He didn't see her move. Hell, Bella didn't even feel herself move. The thumps of the hearts around her quickened and she heard the blood that rushed through their veins. The pumping began to seep down into her ears like a forbidden song; a mantra that she wasn't meant to hear. She had the sudden urge to spread bloodshed on the people how dare to disrespect her, starting with Paul Lahote. No! She screamed in her head, I won't kill them! I love them; they're my family!
They're my pack.
Bella's slender fingers wrapped around Paul's throat and she lifted him off the ground with her unknown strength.
Because he's my pack, I'll punish him for such insolence on an Alpha female.
Her fingers tightened as she felt his hands pry at her fingers and his face swell with bright purple color. She heard the voices of others; the voices of panic and fear.
I won't kill this foolish man, but I will make him suffer.
Bella's fingers tightened then loosened as she brought his eye close, "If you ever doubt my strength again; if you ever think that I am as weak as you thought I was, I will give you worse than a mere strangling, do you understand me?" The voice wasn't hers. It was someone how had alarming strength and dominance; enough strength and dominance to get Paul to shake with fear as he nodded quickly.
Bella dropped him and fell to her knees. She groaned out an animal like noise from the bottom of her stomach as her chest swirled with a despairingly horrible pain. She screamed and tears pooled her eyes as the pain got progressively worse. "Bella! Bella, what's wrong?!" She laid her forehead on the ground and got into the fetal position. Her head face the woods as she muttered weakly, "Charlie, call Charlie. He'll know what to do; call Charlie."
She closed her aching eyelids and let the cool grass settle her muscles as everyone else moved with a quickness to do as she said. She could feel someone's hand press softly into the base of her spine to massage softly. Their head settled onto the middle of her back as they murmured, "Oh, Bells. What have you gotten yourself into now?"
Jacob. My Jacob.
Bella smiled softly before letting the coolness of the grass calm her into a soft, light sleep.
Far from them, stood two wolves, watching. One was slender and black with bright topaz eyes, while the other was bulky and reddish brown with auburn eyes. They watched in awed silence as Bella picked Paul up like he was nothing, then dropping him as though he were nothing. How merciful, Black thought wryly, she let him live.
Helio, not everyone is as bloodthirsty as you, growled the auburn one angrily. Helio gave him a malevolent, wolf grin. Oh, Herzio, don't you think I know that? I think we would get along better if you wouldn't be such a peasant sometimes, but, of course, that would be asking too much of you, wouldn't it? Herzio snapped and growled quietly at his brother. They watched a few minutes longer, in order to see the man that comforted their baby sister.
Time to report back to father, Herzio stood, ready to leave, Helio!
Helio grumbled and stood walking silently beside his brother as they went to report to their father, Taroph.