A/N: Set during New Moon when Bella chases Edward through the woods in an attempt to find him after he leaves her.

Chapter 34

Bella's POV-

This universe was weird. We had already deduced that. So, when Billy Black called me over for breakfast first thing in the morning, I did not bat an eyelid. Billy and I hadn't been all chummy in my universe…but maybe in this one…

Wait. Who am I kidding?

It was Billy Black. We weren't chummy in any universe!

It was a laughable probability!

"So, Bella," Tiffany, Billy's wife- yup, the stuck-up coot was married- smiled, offering me another pancake, "how's school going?"

I go to school?

Duh.

Obviously, I do.

I was eighteen; not eighty in this universe!

Why hadn't anyone enquired on this any earlier?

"Um,"

Yeah, words desert me when I need you the most!

"She is topping in all her classes, of course."

Thanks, Billy.

"Our tribe has great expectations from you, Bella."

Okay.

"We know that you will make us proud."

Well.

I wasn't a part of this tribe. With all due respect. I liked these people, but it felt too much to consider myself one of them. I was somewhat content being an outsider. I had grown up like one.

"Billy, um, let's get to the point." I proposed. "You had some work with me?"

"Yes. Yes."

Good.

Go on.

"For that, Sam is important. You know Sam?"

Brownie guy?

Yup.

"I have interacted with him once. Why?"

"Well, it seems like he and you…um…"

"He is your soulmate."

Excuse me?

I stared at Tiffany with my eyes wide. Was she crazy?

Made sense if she were, considering she was married to Billy Black!

"The fates consider you his perfect match."

Okay.

"Did you go up or did they come down to pass this information?"

"Bella!"

What?

The woman was clearly insane.

"Look, I don't believe in this load of crap you just blurted. Besides, I already have a soulmate. His name is Edward."

He may not be a part of this universe…but then neither was I.

"Edward? Edward who?"

"Edward Cullen."

I stared into Billy's eyes, daring him to speak out loud what was on his mind.

"A Cullen?"

He seemed enraged.

"Yes. I am a part of 'their' family."

My voice stayed firm; the finality in my tone unwavering. It was clear. I would choose Edward and the Cullen's any day over anyone in this tribe.

"How do you know them?"

"That is not important to you."

"Do you know who they are?"

"I know more than you think or know."

Bring it on, Billy.

"They are dangerous."

"I can be a judge to that."

He had tried to warn me earlier too, refusing to understand that this was a matter of my personal business. I had rarely spent any time with him growing up, considering you don't make important life decisions based on the connections made when you were five! And hence, his opinion mattered shit to me.

"This is unacceptable."

"To whom? You?"

"Sam."

I frowned in question.

Like I cared what he thought.

"That's it." Billy shook his head in fury. "Sam will have to know of this. All the elders will. I won't tell Charlie. He won't understand. But some action will definitely be taken on this…"

"Billy, please calm down."

He ignored Tiffany's pleas, continuing, "As the chief of this tribe, I order you to not leave our lands."

Excuse me?

"What?"

He can't do that.

"You will not leave La Push. And in case, you must, a chaperone will always accompany you. And you will be confined to crowded places."

"This is bullshit." I shouted at him.

I wasn't accepting this load of crap.

"You are an imprint." He glared at me. "The alpha's imprint. Till Jacob phases, Sam is the alpha. And as his imprint, your safety is of utmost priority to the tribe. We can't risk you."

"Imprint?" I stared at him in confusion.

Alpha? Phases?

What was going on here?

"Billy, I think we need to start from the beginning."

Billy took a deep sigh in, his face drooped down in seriousness, as he began to speak.

.

.

.

"You don't want me as an imprint."

It had been a week since Billy and Tiffany dropped that bomb on my head. Sam was a shape-shifter. He could change into a wolf at will. And he had chosen me as his soulmate. It was a lot to take in. In fact, I had momentarily even forgotten that Billy had passed that ridiculous excuse of an order, keeping me confined to La Push. But he had. And so far, I was forced to follow. I don't know what he had told Charlie, but now Old Quil was living with us, and younger Quil guarded my door at all times. It was like having a pet dog…only dogs aren't as annoying or a pest.

Anyhow, Sam hadn't interacted with me once in all these days. It was as if he did not care.

Which was bothering, to be honest.

Didn't he want me as an imprint?

Not that I wanted to be associated to him in any manner or form.

But still, one conversation was due in the least.

He could have spoken to me, and not have sent Billy to do his dirty work.

Which led me to this point, standing outside his door, demanding an answer as to why he wasn't pining after me.

Didn't you do that when you imprinted?

At least Billy had told me so.

"No."

Wait. Was he shutting the door on my face?

"Um…stop."

"Yes?" he muttered in indifference.

"Why?" I whispered the word out. "Don't get me wrong; I have Edward. We have been dating since the past few months. He is away for now, but I can't imagine my life without him."

"Or so I heard." He hummed. Again, not a hint of emotion in his tone.

Wait. Was he again shutting the door on my face?

What was wrong with this man?

"So?" I demanded. "You are not pining after me?"

"No." he shrugged. "I mean, a pull is there, but I understand that we don't know one another. Plus, I want Leah. And if that isn't happening…"

"Why?" "I mean, you are smart and handsome and…"

"She likes women."

Oh.

"Yup, that would be a hindrance."

He continued to stare at me, expressionless from the start to end.

"So, where do we go with this?" I prompted. "Neither of us is looking for a romantic relationship…"

"I protect you."

And?

"We see one another once in a while to keep the pull in place."

"You are okay with me dating a vampire?"

He hadn't brought that up once.

It was surprising.

He shrugged in response. "I don't love you. I simply feel this intense need to protect you. And to keep you happy. Let's be honest, it is not my favorite thing, but the wolf knows that you are happy and…"

"I was." I admitted. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure."

I took a deep breath in, Sam the first to know about the universe I existed in.