Nahuel
Ella and I spent most of the night getting to know one another. I could tell she wanted more as did I but that night I just held her in my arms and we both slept. There was still a lot we needed to know about one another and I didn't want to rush into that part of the relationship. We would have all eternity for that.
We had breakfast together as a family and the Cullens began to arrive later in the afternoon. I invited all of them to the house for a family dinner. The Cullens were the first to arrive. Edward was among them. Edwards's gifts always made me uneasy but he welcomed me to his family as soon as he came into our home.
There were only two Cullens missing. Alice and Jasper were flying in with the wolves because they Alice had been visiting Jacob when they got the news. Apparently, Alice met with the wolves and the tribal elders every 6 months to go over their finances and stock options. More and more wolves began trusting her with their finances and many of them were wealthy several times over. I was surprised by this but it only gave me hope that the wolves would accept me into their lives at some point.
When they finally arrived, I was nervous. My nerves kept building from the moment they arrived at the airport to the moment I heart their car in my driveway.
"Don't be nervous. Jacob is a good leader and father. And he's not nearly as unreasonable as I am." Edward told me. I smiled at him. I never minded his dozens of rules when I was courting Renesmee. We both came from a different time so I respected his requests. I wanted to do the same for Jacob but things were so different between Ella and I. I didn't know what I would do if Jacob didn't want his daughter here with me.
Jacob entered the house along with Alice, Jasper and two other wolves. Emma quickly greeted her family and kissed one of the wolves which let me know he was Seth. This meant the other wolf must be his best friend Embry. Ella came over to me with a smile before she took my hand.
"Come on." She told me with a coy smile that made her look very sexy.
Alice was the first in the group to greet me followed by Jasper. I felt a strong wave of calm when I approached them and I was thankful.
"Don't worry. He doesn't bite anymore." Alice told me making Jasper smile. I heard Emmett laugh in the back.
"Jacob." I extended my hand towards him and he took it.
"Welcome to my home. Like I told Renesmee, I really hope that we can put our pasts aside." I told him honestly. He nodded and let go of my hand. He looked at his daughter and smiled at her.
"So this is the man you're home?" He asked her. She nodded. I felt Felipe creep between us and Jacob looked at him with a smile. I could see that he instantly liked him.
"And who's this?" He asked with a smile leaning down to be at eye level with our son.
"My name is Felipe." He said. Jacob extended his hand and my son took it.
"I'm Jake. I'm Ella's dad." Jacob told him. Felipe smiled and looked at Ella. Jacob stood and looked at her too before he looked at me.
"You seem to have turned your life around. I've made mistakes too so as long as you continue to exercise control, you are a welcomed member of our tribe." He told me and then he extended his hand once again. I quickly took it and thanked him.
"Now, what exactly are you intentions with my daughter?" He asked me immediately. I smiled knowing well this routine but once again my son got ahead of me.
"She's going to live with us and be my mommy." Felipe answered on my behalf and a glared at him in mocking disapproval. Jacob instantly smiled at him.
"That would make you my grandson which means that you three should move back home to be with your family." Jacob suggested and he took my son in his arms as if he were already his grandfather. I just looked at him shocked.
"I'm not as old fashioned as my ancient father-in-law." Jacob explained to me and then glared at Edward behind me..
"Watch it mutt!" Edward growled at him. I only smirked at the easy interaction.
"You do know I am older than Edward?" I asked my future father in law.
"You leeches can be so disturbing." Jacob complained and Renesmee smiled and finally came over to him and her new grandson.
Bella was happy that we had put things behind us as was everyone else. I had cooked up a huge meal for the family. The wolves and hybrids all ate while the vampires hunted. This was the first time in our lives that Felipe and I had a big family dinner. He looked so happy talking to his new aunt and uncles. Again, I was surprised by how quickly the wolves took to him. Seth and Embry both took turns playing with Felipe after dinner while Jacob and Renesmee sat on the sofa watching them.
Emma and Ella came to the kitchen to help me put things away. Emma and I were quickly becoming good friends.
"See. I told you our dad wasn't soo scary." Emma teased me. Ella smiled at her sister.
It was strange seeing them both in the same room looking so alike yet so different. Emma was the center of attention. She was cheerful and outspoken whereas Ella was more reserved but also stronger. I could see the strength in her eyes. Emma must have always been sheltered. I could see how Seth would have shielded her from all the bad things in this world. Ella didn't have that but I was glad for it because it made her strong. That was one thing that I always hated about Renesmee. She was too sheltered. I had hoped that she would grow out of it when I was courting her. I didn't have to worry about that with Ella. She was absolutely amazing. She took care of things. She was tough but also gentle. She wasn't shy but she didn't feel the need to be the center for everything like her sister. She reminded me of Bella in that sense.
"So were is everyone going tonight?" I asked her. Emma smiled.
"Seth and I are staying at El's. Mom and dad are staying at the hotel. Embry is also staying at the hotel but he's not sure if he just wants to go out to explore with the vamps." Emma told me. Embry came over after he heard his name.
"I figured I'd see the sites and maybe find myself someone to keep me company." He told us and then he winked at Emma. Ella rolled her eyes.
"If you want, I can call some of my friends." Ella told him. He smiled at her.
"I think I can manage." He told her with a grin.
"Don't worry, El, we'll keep an eye on him." Emma told her sister.
"I don't need you to keep an I eye on me." He complained. Ella smirked.
"Last time you were out on the town on your own, you ended up naked and you peed on a public statue." Ella told him. I laughed.
"Hey! That only happened once and I have been drink plenty of times after that without being naked." He complained. Seth came over with Felipe and sat on the counter.
"That's because we have someone on Embry duty every time." Seth told him. I chuckled at their antics.
"Why don't we all go out? I can call the babysitter for this little guy and then we can go. If you get too crazy we have a spare room here." I told him.
"But I want to go." Felipe complained.
"Don't worry little guy. In a few years, we are going to take you out on the town. Just us guys and we'll leave your mom and dad behind." Embry told him. Felipe smiled at him and nodded.
We spent most of the night out dancing and drinking. I saw a new side to Ella that I hadn't seen before after she had three shots of tequila. It took everything in my power to restrain myself in front of her family. We got home at around five in the morning and decided to bring Embry with us.
The babysitter was asleep on the couch so I put Embry on the guest bed while Ella woke her.
"Hi Jenny. Do you want to stay over or do you want to head out?" Ella sked her. Jenny looked at eh clock and stretched.
"I think I'll head out. I have a class at 7:30 so I gotta go home and get ready anyway." She told us. I saw her off from the porch and I felt Ella wrap her arms around my waist from behind me.
"How about we head to bed?" She asked me. I knew where this was going.
"I think a I have a better idea." I told her and took her hand pulling her towards the large lot in our front yard. We were surrounded by trees and forest to I knew no one would be able to see us.
"What are you up to?" She asked me giggling. She was still a little tipsy.
"I think we should take advantage of your lower inhibitions and practice releasing your shield." I told her. She frowned.
"That is sooo NOT what I had in mind. She said and crossed her arms. I smiled at her.
"Humor me. Your shield is your own personal protection. It took a moment of great anger, a moment when you were out of control, to be able to release it. Now is another moment when you are not in control. Use it to learn." I told her. She frowned even more.
"I'm in control." She argued.
"Really? The show me. Phase into your wolf." I told her. She frowned and closed her eyes to concentrate.
"I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do." She said after a moment. I laughed and picked up a rock.
"Let's try this a different way." I said before I threw the rock at her. I knew I couldn't hurt her.
"Hey!" She complained startled.
"Don't let rock touch you." I told her before I threw another rock. She evaded it and smirked at me. I then took several rocks and threw them all her way. She held her hand up but all the rocks hit her anyway.
"Stop trying to stop the rock with your mind, silly girl. Push them away instead, like you did your mother." I told her. She looked at me and nodded. I threw the rocks at her. She trembled a pit but the rocks still hit her.
"Maybe it was a onetime thing." She complained.
"It wasn't." I told her and threw another rock. This time she dodged it and I frowned.
"Why do I even need to learn this? I'm invincible. That's way better than phasing." She told me.
"Being a wolf is a part of who you are. Besides, what if your shield could protect someone else. Someone who isn't invincible like our son." I told her. She shook again and nodded.
I threw bunch of rocks I picked up from the gravel and she just glared at them. She began trebling again even more. I took another handful and threw it at her, only this time they didn't make contact with her skin. The rocks hit some invisible barrier at the same moment she transformed into a beautiful golden wolf. I walked over and touched the barrier. It felt like I solid wall for a moment and then it disappeared. I was able to walk straight towards her.
"What's going on? Is the barrier gone?" I asked her but she just shook her head. I petted her behind her ears and she licked me.
"This will definitely take some getting used to." I told her. She gave me her version of a wolf smile and began running around the yard. I wasn't as fast but I ran towards her only to fall back against the invisible wall.
"Darling, would you please?" I asked her waved my hand over the barrier. She did a sort of wolf laugh and a moment later she was back in her human for looking confused.
"What happened?" I asked her pulling my shirt off to cover her.
"I'm not sure. I wanted you near me so the wall was permeable but then when I was running I lost my concentration I think." She said with a frown and then she yawned. I smiled to myself. She was tired. I leaned in and took her in my arms bridal style earning a soft giggle. She then leaned her head into my neck as I carried her into our home.
Before I had even opened my eyes, the house was already full. Aunt Hulien had returned with Bella and Edward. They took care of Felipe and breakfast before I had the chance to wake up. It was nice to sleep in for once, especially with my beautiful Ella at my side.
"Good morning." She whispered with a contented sigh. I smiled at her.
"Buenos Dias, mi hermosa." I told her and kissed her head. She looked into my eyes and I realized that all the shadows were finally gone. Her eyes sparkled now more than ever before.
"What?" She asked me as I stared at her. I just stroked her cheek. It was odd how natural it felt to have her on my side. I felt the same way before but every time I felt guilty because I thought I was betraying my son. Now, nothing felt more right than to have her in my arms. She felt like a part of me, like an extension of my very soul.
"Come. Let's have breakfast." I told her and pulled her out of the bed with me.
We went downstairs and Felipe was already at the breakfast table having breakfast with Embry.
"Buenos dias!" Felipe told us and came over to me.
"Papa, uncle Embry said that if you gave me permission, he would take me out on a ride through the forest." He said excitedly. I looked unsure at Ella unsure.
"I can go with them as well." Edward told me. I thanked him mentally and nodded my head. Felipe was excited.
"You don't have to worry. I'm totally sober now." Embry told me and then he winked at Felipe.
"If he had one scratch on him, I will bite you." Ella warned Embry. He just laughed.
"You'll have to catch me first. JElly Bean." Embry teased her. I chuckled at his nickname.
"Jelly Bean?" I asked her. She frowned.
"That's what the wolves call me." She said annoyed just as Edward put a plate of food in front of her. He kissed the top of her head before he returned to Bella who was serving me a plate of eggs bacon toast and cheeses.
"Thank you, Edward." I told him when he served me my breakfast. He smiled at me. I realized then how much I missed them. Bella and Edward were always so kind to me. It was strange because, even though I was much older than them, they always treated me as a son. At first I found it annoying but I grew to be amused by them until one day I realized how much I appreciated their treatment. Hulien was a good aunt and mother but Bella and Edward were both parents. Edward was the only example of a father that I had. Embry and Edward left with Felipe just as Emma and Seth arrived.
"Is there any breakfast left?" Emma asked as soon as she walked in.
"No hello? Really?" Bella said feigning annoyance. Emma quickly went to her grandmother and kissed her cheek.
"Morning grams and good morning everyone." She told us. Bella then handed her a plate and she smiled.
"Thank you!" Emma said quickly and sat. I noticed she was almost child-like in her demeanor. Bella also handed a plate to Seth and he joined us at the table.
"Where's the squirt?" Emma asked me referring to my son.
"He's getting a wolf ride from Embry." Ella told her. Seth laughed when I huffed.
"He's in good hands. Embry is a little bit like a kid but he's a good uncle." Seth told me. I nodded.
"This will all take some getting used to." I told them. Ella smiled at me and took my hand.
"That's what I'm here for." Ella told me with a smile.
"Are you guys thinking about moving back home? It be nice to see you guys more often." Emma asked us. Ella and I looked at each other.
"We haven't really talked about it." Ella told her sister in a tone that indicated that she wanted her to drop the subject.
"Well?" Emma insisted, not taking the hint.
"We wont be able to leave until Ella finished her semester, but once she is done, we can definitely consider out options." I answered her insistent sister.
"Really?! Oh please do move back. I miss you so much and Felipe is my very fist nephew." Emma said with a pout. Ella laughed at her and Seth smiled as she pouted at me. Emma looked straight into my eyes and I could feel the pull of them. I found myself suddenly unable to say no.
"I would be fine with it but your sister has final decision." I told them. Ella looked at me.
"What about your business?" She asked me. I shrugged.
"I already had a contingency plan for when I had to leave. I've already set it in motion so I was just planning to stay at home and take care of Felipe until you finished school. That way I can open up a new restaurant anywhere you want to go." I told her. Bella and Hulien sat at the tabe with us.
"That would be wonderful Nahuel. Felipe would benefit so much from having the wolves and the pack children to share this secret with." Bella told us. I nodded.
"I agree. I have always been concerned of him having to carry this burden. It would be nice for him to be exposed to other children like himself." I told her. Aunt Hulien smiled at me in approval.
"I think that would be an excellent plan." She told me and took Ella's other hand as she was sitting next to her.
"Then its settled. We'll move back to California this summer to be closer to the family." Ella said. Emma grinned at her widely trying to contain her excitement. Seth touched her hand. She looked at him and instantly relaxed. They shared a loving look. I could tell he was happy for her. She would finally get her sister back. I looked at my own Ella and she was giving me a grateful expression. I kissed her hand and we all continued to make plans for the rest of the morning.