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Disclaimer - This is based off of the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. She created the characters and the basic plot, and this is my spin on it. These are my words about her world. Stephenie Meyer has all of the rights to her characters and the parts that were taken from her plot.

Chapter Fifteen

It was almost one o'clock in the morning when Sam slid gracefully through Bella's bedroom window. Bella, seated on her bed, glanced up from her laptop screen as he straightened. He wore his usual apparel – cut-off shorts, a form-fitting T-shirt, and a pair of heavily worn tennis shoes. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets and his shoulders shrugged up to his ears. Bella's heartbeat sped up at the mere sight of him, and it reminded her just how much she really loved him, how much she'd never stop. For a moment, she forgot she was mad at him, overwhelmed with the urge to be in his arms after not seeing him all afternoon. But as he tucked his head sheepishly and frowned down at his toes, Bella realized that while she loved him, she was angry with him.

He blinked twice and cleared his throat.

He was nervous. Good.

Bella took a deep breath and pushed her laptop aside. She hugged her knees to her chest and bit her lip, staring at the cream-colored carpeting that covered her bedroom floor. The dull bedside lamp only lit up one half of the room, leaving the other dark and dreary. Sam's face, however, was perfectly clear as he watched her with contrite eyes.

Sam took her silence as a sign for him to speak first. He swallowed audibly. "I know you're mad," he began.

Bella snorted. "Mad isn't the right word. I'm furious, and I'm disappointed. And humiliated, Sam!" She glared at him. "Do you understand how embarrassing it was to stand there in front of the entire pack and find out you had sex with the girl who a powerful man on the council wants you to date?"

"But I didn't have sex with her!" he blurted, eyes wide.

Bella's mouth dropped open as she froze and her words got caught in her throat. "Excuse me?"

"I didn't have sex with her, Bella," he repeated. "And – not that it matters – but remember that Harry Clearwater still has less authority than I do."

"You're right," she snapped, "that doesn't matter. What does matter is that Jacob told me that you slept with Leah, and you told me you only ever went out on one date with her and it didn't go all that well!" She could feel herself getting worked up. Her breathing accelerated, and her eyes stunk with threatening tears.

"Jacob didn't have all the facts," Sam insisted. "He didn't know what he was talking about. And he definitely wasn't in his place –"

"Oh, don't you dare blame Jacob for your mistakes, Samuel Uley!"

Sam's eyes widened in surprise at her outburst. His shoulders sagged. "I didn't do anything wrong, Bella," he insisted quietly. "I didn't lie to you. I've never had sex with Leah. We only ever went out once – to dinner and a movie. I never felt anything for her – especially not the love I feel for you."

His eyes were so sincere that Bella almost gave in and went to him. But she certainly didn't have enough proof yet. She picked at her bedspread anxiously. "How do I know I can believe you?" she asked skeptically. "How do I know you're not just saying this to get yourself out of trouble?" She wanted to believe him. More than anything. But it would be so easy for him to lie and get Bella to forget about it, and she couldn't stomach the idea of forgetting this ever happened.

Sam's eyes pleaded with her, but he kept a respectful distance. His arms were tense, and Bella knew he wanted to wrap them around her. She also knew that he knew she wouldn't take kindly to that right at the moment, and wisely kept his hands to himself. "I talked to Jacob," he told her. "And not just face-to-face. We talked . . . um, mind-to-mind, you know? Like, wolf-mind and stuff."

The way he stuttered turned Bella on a little. Seeing a man who was always so strong and dominant morph into a nervous mess only when he was around Bella was extremely attractive to her. "You talked to Jacob," she repeated, "and he thinks you didn't sleep with her now?"

Sam nodded innocently.

"You're saying that, if I called him right now, he would tell me that he was wrong and you didn't sleep with Leah Clearwater?" Bella emphasized. "He would tell me you didn't spend night after night at the Clearwater's house all winter long, spending time with her and sleeping in her bed?"

"He would tell you that Leah and I have never been together," he edited. "And that I've never fu – um, had sex with her. But – um, it's true that I spent a lot of nights at their house." Bella glared at him and opened her mouth to speak, but his hands shot up in the air innocently. "Wait, wait, it's not what you think! Bella, I never had sex with her! And I wasn't there to hang out with Leah!"

"Then why?" Bella demanded. "Why would you spend so much time there?"

"Seth had just phased," he explained, "and he's the first member of the pack to have a sister. We weren't sure if Leah would phase, too – if females could carry the gene. It was a big concern, so I watched her for the signs."

"Who's we?"

"Billy and I," he said. "And the pack."

"And Harry?"

Sam shook his head. "Harry didn't believe she would phase. He disagreed that she was ever a threat. And – as much as it pains me to say this – he was right, she's not going to phase."

"How do you know?"

"Because she would have by now if she were going to." He shifted his weight back and forth between his feet, hands still stuffed into his pockets. The muscles in his arms tensed, and Bella imagined he was squeezing his hands into anxious fists as a way to alleviate his anger.

Bella was silent for a moment. "I'm going to talk to Jacob about this," she finally whispered, her tone less accusatory. "But even if he changes his tune and confirms that you've never had sex with her, you're not completely out of the dog house."

"I know," he said quietly. "I should have told you how much time I spent there. I downplayed my involvement with her too much." He gave her an apologetic, loving look. "I knew you were already hesitant about my past with her, and I didn't want you to worry about it. Obviously that didn't work, but Bella, there's nothing there – nothing between Leah and I, and there never was. We were never more than friends, and we never will be. You have to understand that by now."

Bella sucked in a deep breath. "I know you love me, Sam. And I love you, too. But I just . . ." She shook her head. A realization dawned on Bella – the true reason she was so hesitant to believe him. "Sam, I broke every rule I had."

His eyebrows furrowed together. "What do you mean?"

"Two months ago, I was a completely different person," she breathed. "I was . . . tense, and uptight, and . . . very in control all of the time. I didn't do anything or go anywhere that wasn't planned a week in advance. I grocery shopped every Sunday and already knew exactly what I would make for dinner every night." She twisted her fingers in front of her, anxiety rippling through her chest at the memory. "But most importantly, I didn't date. Sam, I was terrified of giving my heart to someone and not receiving his in return. I was afraid of getting my heart broken."

She laughed a little. "Do you know how long it took for me to fall in love with you, Sam? About ten seconds. You creeped me the hell out with all your staring, but I guess I thought it was more romantic than strange because that day – the day of Jacob's barbeque, the first day I met you – I couldn't wait to see you again. I couldn't wait for another excuse to talk to you. When you showed up at my house that night, and I invited you to stay for dinner, I didn't have a panic attack. I was excited to see you, even though you hadn't called before coming over or given me any sort of heads-up. Sam, you changed me. For the better."

She sniffled, suddenly emotional. The words were flowing freely from her mouth as she finally let everything off of her chest. "I so set on the University of Phoenix before I met you. I hadn't even thought of applying anywhere around here. I don't know why I wanted to go down there so bad – maybe because that's where my mom is? It's warm down there and it doesn't rain? I don't know, but . . . Sam, after I found out you can't come with me if I leave Forks . . . suddenly I realized I wanted you more than I wanted that college. Because I love you, Sam. I love you so much." She was crying softly now, the tears burning her cheeks as they slid from her squinting eyes. "You've become such an important part of my life, Sam. You're in every aspect of it, and I wouldn't want it any other way. I just –" She bit her lip. "I just need you to understand that this was a big deal to me – opening my heart up to you. I'd never done that before. I'd never fallen in love. I need you to understand how much of myself I'm putting into this relationship, and I need to know that you're as invested in this as I am."

"I am, Bella," he insisted fervently. "There's no one else I want – no one else I'll ever want. I love you so much, Bella. More than anything in the world."

Bella suddenly couldn't stand the space between them. "I missed you," she whispered.

He dropped to his knees so he wasn't staring down at her but instead looking at her at an even level. "I missed you, too, Bella. God, I felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest."

She hesitantly reached her hand out towards him, inviting him closer. He was entwining his fingers with her before she could blink.

His breath fanned across her face. "I'll never look at another woman, Bella," he promised her. "You know I've been with women, but that was all before I met you. I'll never see another woman the way I see you."

Bella leaned her head back on her pillow and turned onto her side to face him. He kneeled right next to her bed, resting his chin on her mattress. Their faces were two inches apart, and as they stared deeply into each other's eyes, the stress that had been weighing on each of their shoulders slowly lifted. "I'm sorry I left so quickly," she said, thinking about the way she'd bolted for her truck in panic. "I shouldn't have just bailed like that, while you were waiting for me. I should have faced you right away and asked for answers. But when Jake told me – told me that you'd –" She blinked, unwilling to say the words. "I was so humiliated that the entire pack seemed to agree, and I was oblivious. I didn't think that the reason I was so oblivious was because it wasn't true."

"That's in the past now," he responded calmly. "It's over. Jacob can explain the misunderstanding from his point of view, and we can move on." He reached out with the hand that wasn't grasping hers to brush her hair out of her face. "God, you're beautiful."

Her cheeks blushed pink. "You're pretty handsome yourself."

He bent down as if intending to kiss her, but hesitated and pulled back a little, his tongue poking out to dampen his lips. When she weaved her fingers into his hair as she always did, he pressed his lips gently against hers. He didn't try to deepen the kiss, probably sensing that she wasn't ready for one of their usual make out sessions.

He rested his head on her pillow and rubbed his thumb over her cheek adoringly, and for a long time, they just delighted in each other's presence. With Bella's being in school and her leaving so soon after arriving at the cliff, the two had basically been separated all day long. While she hadn't completely forgiven him, she had to admit that there had been a Sam-sized hole in her heart all day long.

"You're not punishing Jacob, are you?" she asked hesitantly. "Because of what he said?"

Sam stared into her eyes for a moment before he finally sighed. "I have to, Bella. He betrayed me as his Alpha, and for that, he needs to be punished."

Bella suddenly shot upright, startling him. "What the hell does that mean? What are you doing to him?"

He shushed her, reminding her that her voice needed to remain quiet if she wanted to avoid Charlie bursting into her room with a gun. "He's just running extra patrols," he said softly. His eyes widened in sympathy. "I'm Alpha wolf, Bella. It doesn't matter if his friendship with you has been longer, stronger than his with me. He needs to be loyal to me no matter what." He shook his head. "He spoke negatively about me to my imprint, and threatened my relationship with you. I can't let him get away with that. It's a long-standing law from the packs of the past."

Bella opened her mouth to speak, but decided she didn't have anything to say. She couldn't argue with the rules of the pack – it wasn't her place.

As it turned out, Bella didn't have to formulate a response to him. She never got the chance, because the tell-tale howl that Bella had gotten used to fearing pierced through her ears and sent her heart into overdrive.

This howl wasn't like the one that had erupted during game night a few days earlier. That howl had been merely a warning – a signal that a close eye needed to be kept. A caution sign.

Not this one.

No. This howl wasn't a warning. It was a cry for help. There was danger, and this wolf was desperately calling for backup, demanding that the entire pack join him.

Sam's head shot up, his eyes wide and alert. His hands clenched into fists and his jaw immediately tightened. A growl, furious and menacing, ripped its way up his chest. It was such a savage sound that goose bumps instantly rose on Bella's arms. Sam's teeth lifted to bare his front teeth, a purely animalistic action, and he slowly rose to his feet. He marched determinedly over to the window and peered out with hard, emotionless eyes.

The glow of the moon lit up one side of his face, leaving the other dark and shadowed. The muscles in his arms rippled with tension and anger. His fingers flexed and tightened again. "Damn it," he swore.

"What?" Bella cried softly. "What is it?"

"It's Jared and Seth," he answered. His voice was coarse with rage. "They're calling for help."

"What's wrong?" Bella's entire body was ice cold. Fear ceased her, clutching at her throat as she struggled to breath.

"Leech," he snarled. It was feral and wild and animalistic and made Bella's stomach clench with sudden nausea.

"How many?" she gasped.

He didn't say anything for a moment, and the silence was screaming in Bella's ears. "I'm not sure," he eventually whispered, "but it has to be a lot."

Bella sobbed, feeling her entire torso heave. "Oh, my God," she cried.

Sam didn't appear to have heard her. He was staring outside, out into the forest, squinting as if he were searching for something. Apparently, he found what he was looking for because he straightened. "Quil, Jacob, and Embry are outside," he growled. "They'll protect keep you safe."

Bella's heart dropped. "What do you mean?" Sam was standing right there. Why did she need Jacob and the others?

Sam swallowed loudly and turned to look down at her. His eyes softened when he saw the frightened, panicked expression she wore. Her fingers gripped the bedspread desperately as if she were trying to hold herself together. "Bella," he started.

"Don't say it," she begged. "No, Sam!"

He closed the distance between them in two long strides and sat down on her bed, drawing her into his chest tightly. He rested his chin on the top of her head as she tucked her face into his neck and sobbed. She knew exactly what he was going to say next, but it still felt like a knife was plunged into her heart when he spoke. "I have to go, Bella," he said. "I have to help them fight. I have to keep my tribe safe."

Her tears soaked his neck, but she couldn't seem to stop them. "No," she pleaded, even though she knew it was useless. He had to go – it was his duty as the Alpha. No matter how much he wanted to stay with her, he just couldn't.

"Why all three of them?" Bella panted into his neck. "That only leaves you with six wolves fighting, including yourself!"

Sam pulled back and looked down into her eyes. He rested his forehead against hers and pressed a small kiss to her nose. "Because you're everything to me, Bella," he said calmly, rationally. "You're my whole life. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I'd die before I let that happen."

Bella smacked him. "Don't you dare say that, Samuel Uley!" she scolded him through her sniffles. "You cannot leave me on this earth by myself!"

"Bella –"

"Take it back!"

He kissed her temple gingerly. "Shh," he hushed, "okay, alright. I take it back." He kissed down her face until his lips pressed against her jaw. "I love you, Bella."

Bella cried harder. "I love you, too." It was a desperate plea full of raw emotion.

And with that, their lips finally met and they were both consumed by an overwhelming passion. They were enveloped in each other's arms, neither willing to let any distance be put between them. Sam's hands slipped from her shoulders to her waist and he lifted her, placing her down on the center of her bed. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and pulled him down on top of her. He settled his body right up against hers as their tongues entwined. They weren't battling for dominance; they were dancing, moving in complete harmony. Their hands wandered all over the other's body, trying to draw every ounce of satisfaction they possibly could, memorizing every curve.

The kisses were rushed and panicked as another ear-splitting howl echoed through the forest. For a moment, Bella worried Charlie would be woken and decide to check on her. That thought, however, was quickly expelled when Sam buried his face in her neck and trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck. She tried to quiet her moan, but it escaped anyway.

The third howl was apparently what it took to tear the two of them apart. Sam catapulted himself off of the bed with a snarl and was five feet away before Bella could protest. She sat up, gasping for breath, and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. She was sure her lips would be swollen for hours, but she would welcome that; it would serve as a reminder of the love that the two of them shared.

"I have to get out there," he said sadly. "I have to phase."

Bella's tears stung her cheeks. "I know."

He reached down to caress his thumb over her cheek, gazing at her adoringly. "I love you more than anything," he promised her.

She clutched his hand softly, holding it to her heart. "I know. I love you, too, Sam."

His eyes roamed over her face for a good minute and a half, and the two stayed frozen in place. A goodbye was coming, and neither wanted to face it. When he finally blinked, his eyes went absolutely lifeless and his hand dropped heavily to his side. His shoulders slumped, as if all of his strength had been sucked out of him. His eyes yellowed and flashed primal as he turned towards the window, his jaw set.

He opened the window and cracked his knuckles, watching the yard outside. Probably looking at Jacob, Quil, and Embry. "What if you need more help?" Bella's whisper was barely audible.

"It doesn't matter. You are the most important."

"What about Kim?"

"They'll go after the Alpha's mate first."

Bella squeezed her eyes closed, but then threw them back open as she decided she wanted to see him leave. She wanted to keep him in her sights as long as she possibly could. "Come back to me," she demanded, tears still rolling down her face. "I wasn't done being mad at you yet."

The smallest smile pulled at his cheeks. "I don't doubt that." He planted his foot on the window seal, ready to leap into the night.

Bella threw herself from the bed and ran towards him. He must have sensed her coming at him, because he spun and caught her as she flung herself into his arms. He lifted her from the ground and she wrapped her legs around his waist, clinging to him for just a moment longer.

"Be safe," she ordered into his throat.

"Always." And then he was gone.

And Bella was left standing alone in the darkness of her bedroom, clutching his last gift to her tightly in her palm – the small, wooden black wolf that dangled proudly around her neck.

So much for her not being ready for a make out session, huh?

Before I get a lot of comments yelling at me because Bella forgave him to easily, I'd like to point out that she hasn't forgiven him yet. She's not angry at him, but that doesn't mean she's forgiven him. Here, Sam's now leaping out into the dark forest to fight evil vampires who want to kill them all. Bella knows there's a small chance she could never see him alive again. She certainly wouldn't want to spend her last moments with Sam before he goes off to battle fighting and arguing with him. OF COURSE she's going to kiss him and tell him she loves him and all that mushy stuff.

And I'd also like to point out that HE DID NOTHING WRONG so it will be easier for her to push past this. Just saying.

Alright, thanks again for all the nice reviews! We're drawing to the end of this story, I'm afraid. A few more chapters left. I'm not sure exactly how many, but when I do, I'll let you know.

See you in Chapter Sixteen.