Still Day 6

Bella's pov

As the day wore on I steadily became more and more nervous. I had very mixed feelings about the impending arrival of Jacobs new pack. On the one hand I was exited to see Seth again, he and I had become friends after the newborn battle and I enjoyed spending time with him. Although mature beyond his years as all the wolves were Seth was also boyish and playful, in many ways he reminded me of the younger more care free Jacob I had know at the beginning of the year.

On the other hand I was unsure about the others. To be honest embry didn't really enter my mind much, I didn't know him well enough to know wether to be concerned about him. I knew he had been one of Jacobs best friends, and Jacob was sure that he would settle well here. I knew too little about him to have an opinion either way.

Truth be told it wasn't the male wolves that were causing my anxiety, it was Leah. I could handle the idea of Seth and embry here, I could see Seth fitting right in from the word go and I could see embry learning to co-exist with my vampire friends, but Leah? She was and always had been openly hostile, towards me and towards all vampires. Now she had volunteered to join a pack that would live with a coven Of them as allies. I couldn't fathom it. I understood that she didn't want to be separated from her brother, I'm sure I would feel the same if I had a brother. and Jacob had explained to me Long ago about Sam and the unfortunate triangle that had been formed by Sam imprinting on Emily. Jacob believed that Leah's true main motivation for joining the new pack was the opportunity to escape from sam, but that did little to dispel my worries.

Jacob claimed that Leah used to be a lovely person and he was sure that here, away from the pain and reminders of what was and, in her opinions, should have been, she could become that person again. I just hoped Jacob was right. And in the meantime, I fretted.

The waiting was getting to me. I couldn't settle to anything. I flitted from one room to another talking briefly to each person I encountered in turn and finding myself unable to settle anywhere, until finally Tanya pulled me to the living room and made me sit with her to watch the television. I was so nervous that I couldn't take in any of the game show now playing out on the screen. I kept glancing at the clock sure that the the hands were moving at least half the speed at which they normally moved. Slowly I found myself beginning to relax. I discovered that Tanya's presence was soothing to me in a way I didn't understand but I appreciated. I curled against her side and she wrapped her arm around my shoulders. Sitting with her in this way I found I was now able to focus on the television and even enjoy the musical that was now playing.

Eventually Tanya, and the others who has one by one joined us, looked as one towards the front of the house. Of course my less developed senses couldn't detect the subtle sounds that had caught their attention.

"What is it" I demanded turning to Tanya "what do you hear"

"Heavy footfalls. The wolves have arrived. They've stopped near the top of the drive.."

Jacob stood and went to the front door. A few minutes later there was a knock. Knowing that Wolves can't knock I realised that the stop at the top of the drive must have been to allow them to phase.

Jacob opened the door. Seth was first through. I rose to greet him, He looked round quickly then spotting me by the sofa he came over and lifted me up into a hug.

"Bella I've missed you"

"I haven't been gone long"

"I've still missed you" he put me down gently "your heavier. And you feel harder than you used to. More like them, at least you do round the middle"

"Yeah that's the baby. The membrane that surrounds it seems to be made of similar stuff to vampire skin"

"Oh yeah I'd forgotten about that for the moment" he looked shyly towards my stomach.

Just then Embry came through the door and seth and I both looked round. Embry was looking intently around him, he seemed fascinated by the Denali's home. Once he had finished examining his surroundings he like Seth came to greet me although in a more reserved fashion. "Good to see you again Bella" he said flashing me a grin.

"And you" i replied smiling slightly.

Leah came in last. The look on her face seemed to me to be similar to the expression a human would wear while walking into a lions den. She looked quickly around, her eyes pausing briefly and suspiciously on each vampire in turn then coming to rest on Jacob. She took in his relaxed stance and peaceful face and relaxed slightly herself.

Tanya was the first of the Denali clan to speak.

"Welcome. I'm Tanya this is my family" she indicated the other vampires behind her. "Kate, Garret, Carmen, and Eleazar" she pointed them out in turn. " we are honestly glad to have you join us. I know you are a very long way from your reservation and your families but I hope you will feel at least somewhat at home here In time. I've prepared the guest house for the three of you, we assumed you would like your own space"

Leah spoke "three of us?" She turned to Jacob "aren't you in the guest house with us"

"No I'm staying in the main house"

"Why" Leah demanded

"I want to stick close to Bella"

Leah rolled her eyes.

"I doubt she's anymore interested in you just cos she's been dumped by her bloodsucker"

"Leah" cautioned Seth glaring at his sister. Leah ignored him.

"I know that" Jacob replied "I'm not staying close to Bella because I think she will suddenly decide to date me"

"Then why, why not live in the guest house with the rest of us. ?"

"Because Bella is my friend and she's going through a very difficult and dangerous time right now. I intend to be nearby to support her. And the baby"

"Ah yes little bloodsucker junior. We must take care of the miniature leach"

"Enough Leah." Jacob growled "I will not have you talk that way. I've allowed you to join my pack but I can just as easily send you back to forks. You will be at the very least civil when you talk to and about both the Denalis and the cullens. Do you understand me" .

"Fine" snapped Leah

Tanya stepped in. "Let's get the three of you settled in then, perhaps once you know where your rooms are you will feel a little more relaxed".

Leah huffed but didn't make any more comments. Tanya led the way out of the back door followed by Jacob and his new pack.

I decided to leave them to it and wandered off to the library in search of a book to read.

Day 7,8,9,10,11,

the next few days were quiet, despite my initial worries the wolves settled in well. Seth and embry fitted fairly easily and quickly into the family. Seth and embry spent most of the day in the main house sharing activities with us all and getting to know each of the Denali clan.

To nobody's surprise Leah kept firmly to herself. She stayed mostly outside and in the guest house and made a point to avoid the Denalis and me. she did keep her word to Jacob and was civil whenever her path crossed with anyone else. Which wasn't hard seeing as she flat refused to say a single word to anybody except the other wolves unless asked a direct question which she would answer in as few words as possible before going on her way.

. Tanya enjoyed cooking for us and made all of our meals single handed flat refusing any help. the one time I tried to apologise for the imposition of having to cook she silenced me with a smile telling me that she relished both the chance to use the kitchen and the chance to learn new skills. She was a talented chef and even Leah couldn't resist her cooking.

Now that there were more of us who ate food; meals were held in the dining room rather than at the kitchen table or living room sofa. The dining room was large with a solid oak table that could seat at least 16 comfortably. Meals were sociable Affairs with jacob cracking jokes and Seth being silly

Even embry relaxed quickly and would join in the conversation happily. The first couple of days Leah refused to come to meals but Tanya took a tray of food to the guest house each time and each time when she collected the tray the plates and dishes on it were empty. On the third day Leah appeared in the dining room just as breakfast was being served, she sat silently and left as soon and she was done but after that she joined Jacob, embry, Seth, and I at every meal. After the fourth day he would talk a little although when she did it was only to the boys.

All in all Jacob seemed happy to have wolves around again. He had set up a patrol across the Denali land that the pack took turns to run in pairs twice a day and, once a day he took his whole pack out running in the area, they would make a wide loop around the outer edge of the Denali's main range, Keeping an eye out for anything or anyone unknown.

I asked him on the second day why he was running patrols of the estate and checking the range when there was no obvious threat. he answered that the wolves were used to patrolling their land and that he felt better when he knew for sure that nothing was coming.

When the wolves weren't out patrolling Jacob had taken to playing with Garret, they would play fight on the tundra outside testing their own strength and each other's. Embry would sometimes join in these games tho he didn't have the same passion for them as Jacob and garret.

The rest of the time embry would hang out in one room or another of the main house, sometimes retreating to the guest house.

Jacob, when he wasn't playing outside, and Seth, who when Not patrolling was content to remain quietly inside the main house, could nearly always be found in whatever room I was in. since finding out more about the baby Seth had steadily become almost as protective of me as Jacob was. Like Jacob He would make sure I was comfortable and entertained and like tanya he would bring me blood when I needed it.

All three male wolves occupied themselves in much the same way as I and the Denalis did; reading, playing games, watching tv, or chatting quietly. Both Seth and embry were soon comfortable around the Denalis, happy to interact with them and keen to get to know them.

I wasn't sure what Leah did with her time but I assumed she read a lot as from the third day onward, after an invitation from Tanya, a couple of times a day she would come into the house heading straight for the library then leave just as quickly. Jacob saw this acceptance of the library as one small step towards Leah accepting the vampires and was pleased.

I spent a lot of my time reading and watching films. When I wasn't doing that I hung out with Seth and Jacob or spent time talking with the assorted vampires who made this house home. They all had many fascinating stories to tell and insights to share. I got to know them all quickly, Tanya especially. I found myself curiously drawn to Tanya. I was Keen to spend time with her and to get to know her more so than the other Denali vampires.

All together the time began to pass quite quickly and before I knew it I had been in Denali over a week.