SOOOOO its been a long time. But, im here now, so that's what matters right?
Anyway, I have this chapter along with the next written so review and I'll try to get the next one up soon! Disclaimer-I own nothing.
Bella decided that she really liked the rest of the pack. After the initial run in at Billy's house, everyone had become more comfortable around her and welcomed her into the tribe. Bella liked to cook to begin with, and the boys liked to eat. They had no trouble becoming friends.
And the pack was around a little more lately, a instinct that they internally had to protect the mother of the pack. Even if it was just from the aggravation of said pack mother's Mate.
Jacob wasn't pushing Bella on purpose, but Bella was still stressing. It was time to tell Alice. She knew that.
She just didn't want to burden her sister with such a heavy secret.
But she also couldn't take Jacob stressing about one of his brothers unintentionally blurting the secret in front of her. Whenever they met her. Whenever that was.
Bella didn't want Alice to ask questions about a bunch of shirtless boys in her house until after Bella had a chance to explain herself. Which she was going to do soon. As soon as she found the opportunity.
When exactly was a good opportunity to tell your baby sister who your responsible for that werewolves, something thought to be made up and feared in childhood, were actually real. But that they wernt like the fairy tales, they were actually very nice! Oh, and Jacob was one. And so was Embry. And the other 4 boys.
OH, and your sister is actually the Mate of the Alpha. Which means that the wolves are going to be in your life. Forever.
Yeah. No pressure.
Bella had decided that she would tell Alice at the end of the week. Alice would be out of school after that for an entire week for thanksgiving break, and she wanted her to have plenty of time to process the information.
That wasn't the only thing Bella was worried about though. She wanted to do thanksgiving this year. With her whole family. That included Carlisle and Esme….and the pack. Which wasn't any problem. But Edward and Emmet and their families were coming home for Thanksgiving this year, and Bella was SO not ready to deal with explaining her boyfriend to them. She loved the boys, they were her brothers…well in way at least. But she thought that this year, she was going to break away from them for her holiday. For the first time in her life, she didn't think she would be spending the holiday with her family. No, she would be spending it with family, just a different family. Her new family.
She didn't know how to tell Esme. How do you tell your mother that you don't want to spend a major holiday with her? And you are going to take her granddaughter with you for the holiday. Yeah. No pressure there either.
And Jacob just wasn't helping things either. He was stressed lately, and trying to hide it. Bella didn't want to pry because she figured it was pack business, but his stressed mood was rubbing off on her and making her more irritable than usual.
And she wasn't the only one that noticed his bad mood. Embry had told her that because the Alpha was on edge, the rest of the pack was effected too. Bella had noticed that Embry's voice had been strained the past few times he had been inside. Which wasn't often. The boys patrolling had been spending more time on the front steps of her porch, sometimes pacing and sometimes just sitting, but not coming inside like she had become accustomed to. When Bella asked Embry about it he said that Jacob didn't want any of them to see Alice because he wanted to give Bella plenty of time to explain things to her before Alice started asking questions.
It was Friday. Bella fixed Alice's favorite lasagna and made a few lemon meringue pies that were cooling in the fridge. Jacob was working until 9, and Embry and Sam were outside patrolling. She had already discussed with them her plan for tonight. Tonight was the night Bella was going to tell Alice the secret. She went up to the house to get Alice around 4 and Alice helped her make the salad to have with dinner. They talked about Alice's day and how excited she was to be out of school for the next week. Bella paused after dinner, before they had desert. She sat Alice down in a kitchen chair and placed her hands in between Bella's larger ones.
"Bella, are you going to tell me the secret now?"
Bella swallowed. "Yes Alice, I am. And do you remember what I asked of you when I told you the secret?"
Alice nodded. "Yes ma'am. I have to be a very very big girl and understand how serious of a secret it was."
Bella smiled. "Yes sweetheart, that's right. Now, you have to listen to me very carefully, alright?"
Alice nodded, serious. "I can do that."
Bella took a deep breath and slowly began to tell Alice the story that Jacob had told her, about the spirit wolves. Alice loves stories, and she listened intently to every word that Bella spoke. Bella explained that the stories like Red Riding Hood were not the same as these wolves. These wolves were good, nice, and loving wolves. They were also people though. They were magical.
Alice caught on after the magic part of the story. Her little 10 year old mind understood what Bella was trying to say before Bella could explain it.
"Jacob is magical, isn't he sissy." Alice interrupted.
Bella sighed in relief, smiling. "Yes Alice. Jacob is very magical. So are all of his friends."
Alice looked at Bella, confused. "So is that the secret? That Jacob is magical?"
Bella hesitated. "Yes, Alice, that is the secret. And do you understand why it is SO important to keep it a secret?"
"Yes, because only special people are allowed to know about the magic people like Jacob. The rest of people would not understand. But were special people."
Bella laughed. "Alice, you are the most special little girl there ever was. Now,"
Bella stood. "Would you like to see the one of the wolves?"
Alice gasped and grabbed Bella's hand.
"Oh yes, yes please."
Bella led Alice outside and down the steps. She gripped her hand tightly.
She crouched down so she was at her sisters level. "Now its okay if you get scared, alright? All you have to do is say so and the boys will go back into the woods and we can go inside. And they're not going to hurt us, okay?"
Getting the confirmation from Alice, Bell nodded and whistled into the twilight.
It only took a few moments before Bella felt the ground vibrate slightly with the movement of heavy paws. Alice gasped.
Bella drew her sister closer into the circle of her arms, still crouched down to her level, but Alice didn't cower.
Bella waited to hear more movement, but it seemed only one of the wolves was moving.
Bella became worried. "Alice, tell me what is happening."
"The pretty one wont come any further. The big black one is trying to shove him back into the woods but he wont go. Bella, I don't want the pretty one to go away." She whispered feverishly.
Bella called out, still holding Alice.
"Guys? What's going on?"
A bark. Sam's, she could tell.
Bella straightened and walked a few paces in front of Alice.
"Sam, what's wrong?"
Sam barked twice, softly.
Bella felt Alice move from behind her.
"I want to go pet the pretty one."
Bella hesitated. "Alice-"
"You said they weren't dangerous Sis. If you were telling the truth then it'll be fine if I pet him. He doesn't look mean, he looks scared."
Alice walked on, toward Embry. Bella couldn't see what was happening so she walked forward and snapped her fingers until Sam came forward and put his head under her hand.
"Thankyou." Bella said quietly.
"Sam, what's going on? Alice, where are you sweetie?"
Sam moved out from under her hand and she heard his quick footfalls as he ran away from her, toward the woods. It took only a moment until she heard softer patterns in the dirt and then a human hand grabbed her elbow and pulled her closer, a mouth pressed close to her ear to whisper, but not intimately close. "Alice is petting Embry. They are both okay, Alice is just petting him."
Bella breathed a sigh of relief.
"What was wrong though? It sounded like you guys just froze, you didn't move."
Sam hesitates, and Bella notices. "Sam, I need the truth, please. Don't worry, I'm not as fragile as I'm sure Jacob makes me out to be." She spoke sarcastically.
"Jacob doesn't speak badly-" Sam was quick to reassure
"Don't worry Sam. It's fine. Now just please tell me what's going on."
"I think we should wait until Jacob gets home, and that's not something I'm saying to demean you. May we go inside and wait?"
Bella had a quick retort on her tongue but let it go quickly. "Yes, your always welcome inside. Uhm, Alice-….Alice come inside now please."
"But Bella-"
"Alice, don't make me tell you twice please."
Alice sighed. "Yes ma'am."
Bella held out her hand until she felt the small cool grasp of Alice's. Sam led her to the porch railing and then released her elbow. "You go on. I need to talk to Embry for a moment."
Bella nodded and walked the steps onto the porch where Alice tugged her to a stop.
"Bella, I don't want the pretty one to leave."
"They'll both be inside in a moment Alice."
Alice slowly followed Bella inside, but stood by the crack left open in the door to watch outside.
Bella went to the kitchen but soon heard Sam call for Alice to close the door please and not to worry. Bella then heard the door close. She felt Alice come up behind her and turned around to return her sisters hug.
"Jacob will be here soon, and he'll explain everything. Don't you worry."
Alice looked up at her sister, touching her cheek so she would know she was looking at her. "But you're worried."
Bella laughed and kissed Alice's forehead. "You know me, that's what I do. But that doesn't mean that you need to worry. That's my job."
Alice sighed and moved back from her sister. "May I have some juice please?"
Bella smiled. "Of course you can. I'll get it, you sit."
So Alice sat at the table with crayons and some paper while Bella fixed her a drink. She also put on a pot of coffee, expecting it to be a long night. She had just put the kettle on the stove for tea when the door came open with a thud and Bella instantly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing it was Jacob.
Alice squealed and ran up to hug him.
"I know!" she told him. "I know the secret now! Your magical! And only special people are allowed to know the secret, so that means I'm special like sissy!"
Jacob crouched down so they were eye level and looked Alice deep in the eye.
"Alice, you are more special than you could ever know. And so is your sister." He looked up at Bella meaningfully.
Bella released the kettle and turned toward him. Jacob released Alice's stare and stood up, going to Bella and taking her into his arms. She settled in greedily and accepted his comfort.
Jacob pulled back from her slightly to stroke her face between his hands. "It's okay, everything's okay."
She smiled. "You're here. Of course everything's okay."
Jacob beamed at her, her belief in him making his chest swell.
He put an arm behind her back and led her to the sofa in the living room.
Alice followed, sitting next to her sister.
Jacob went to the door and called spoke to the guys, more voices now than there were before.
Lots of footsteps came into her house, 6 pairs if she had counted right. That meant everyone was here. All the pack. Bella swallowed at that. This was serious.
She heard-and felt- most of them sit on the floor sprawled around the room. All but two.
She felt the couch give as someone sat down next to Alice, Jacob.
He cleared his throat and addressed everyone.
"We have an unusual situation on our hands here, but not a bad one. A member of our pack has imprinted." He paused, gripping Bella's hand behind Alice's back.
"Embry. Embry had imprinted."
There was sound of hands clasping on skin, muffled congratulations'.
And then the fatal question, asked by some unknown voice.
"Who's the lucky lady?"
Jacob took a deep breath and squeezed Bella's hand.
"It seems our little Alice has caught his eye."
Ooooo cliffy! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! The more reviews, the faster the next chapter will be up! As always, criticism and ideas are always welcome! Thanks for reading!