Chapter 20

Bella POV

As the days progressed and we hadn't heard much out of Carlisle, we went about our daily lives. Kim and I spent most of our time getting the café ready. We were still in the middle of renovations which Sam, Jared and Paul gladly helped with. The rest of the pack spent majority of their time patrolling. Fortunately it was summer so nobody had to worry about school right now.

I was worried about Leah though. She still hadn't told any one who she'd imprinted on. I was worried that if she didn't tell anyone soon, that she'd start to feel the effects of the imprint. This particular day, I'd told Sam to keep everyone away from the house that I was inviting Leah over and I was going to talk some sense into her. He reluctantly agreed, issuing an alpha order when Leah hadn't been phased. After Sam had left that morning, I'd fixed Leah and I all kinds of junk food. I knew that this was going to be a comfort food kind of conversation. When she arrived, I was sitting at the table working on my third cup of coffee. I pointed to the chair next to me, for her to sit. "Bells? What's going on?" She asked me.

"I think that you and I need to talk. Serious talk." I said. The only thing she could do was nod. "How have you been sleeping?" I asked her.

"Not well. I can feel the pull." Leah said.

"I figured you might. How long's it been?"

"Couple months. He knows. He's been blocking his thoughts…as have I." She said.

"I know. You're not going to be able to keep it up much longer." I told her.

"I know but I don't exactly want the entire pack to know about it. They'll think differently about me." She said.

"They won't. They'll be happy for you. They want to see you happy. They know that you've had a rough go of it the last couple of years. They all just want you to be happy. Sam included." I told her.

"So what do I do?" She asked me, tears running down her face.

"First, you need to let go of all of the hurt. Then, you need to find your imprint and tell him that you accept the imprint. Once you do, the pain and exhaustion you feel will dissipate. After you've done all of that, the two of you will come back here and share your news with the back." I told her.

She nodded. "Thanks Bells. I know that I was really upset that first time that I saw you and Sam together, but the more that I've gotten to know you…the more I realize that you're the right person." She said.

"The right person for what?" I asked.

"To be the Alpha's imprint. You take care of everyone. The elders included." Leah said before she got up and left.

That night at dinner we were sitting around when Paul spoke up. "Where's Embry and Leah?" He asked.

"They'll be here soon. Leah called. She needed his help with something." I told them. I'd figured it out shortly after she'd imprinted. I had noticed that they were hovering over each other without the other, or anyone else for that noticing.

It was another forty-five minutes before Leah and Embry came walking in. "Sorry we're late." Leah said. She had a smile on her face from ear to ear.

"It's okay. There's plates for you guys on the stove." I told them from my spot next to Sam on the couch. We were watching a movie with the rest of the pack…enjoying the quietness while it lasted.

"Before Embry and I eat, I have an announcement." She said, causing everyone to look at her. "I imprinted a while ago and thanks to the words from a very wise woman, it took me until today to accept the imprint."

"You and Embry?" Jake questioned.

Leah and Embry both nodded. "When I first imprinted, there was so much going on that I didn't want to think about. Well, that and some misconceptions that I had about imprinting. But it's all okay now. Embry and I talked and we're working through it." Leah said.

"That's good, Le. Congrats to the both of you." I said, before turning back to the movie.

"Thanks Bells." She said, making her way to the kitchen pulling Embry behind her.

It wasn't until we were laying in bed that night that Sam decided to question me. "It was you wasn't it?" He asked me.

"What?" I replied.

"Leah, coming to terms with her imprint. It was you, wasn't it?" He asked.

"I might have…pointed her in the right direction. I might have clear up some misconceptions that she had about the imprint. I also might have been the only one to figure out that she'd imprinted without either of them admitting it. I just left her be and eventually she told me. At first she didn't tell me who she'd imprinted on, but I knew. I'd noticed things. And since neither of them had really been sleeping lately, I decided that it was time to nudge her." I told him.

He pulled me closer to him and he kissed the top of my head. "I don't know what I'd do without you. You seem to always know what everyone needs." He said.

"You know, Le said something to me today about that. She mentioned about how upset that she had been when she'd first seen us together but that she couldn't imagine anyone better fit to be the Alpha's imprint." I told him.

"She's right."

I turned slightly in Sam's arms. "I can't really explain it. I guess part of it goes back to Renee. I was so used to being the grown up around there. Someone had to make sure that the bills got paid, food was on the table. I never got to have normal teenage experiences. So when I moved in with Charlie, it wasn't as bad as with Renee, but I was still pretty much the grown up. Charlie can't cook to save his life." I said.

Sam kissed the top of my head again. "Well I know that the pack enjoys you taking care of them. I love that you want to take care of me even though it's not necessary. You check in with Billy and Sue. I mean even Old Quil has talked about you checking on him, even though Joy makes sure that he has everything." Sam said.

I shrugged. "I guess that's just who I am. I'm a caregiver." I said.

"Well you're the best one I've ever seen." He said.

"Thanks."

As the days progressed and we waited for news. The days turned into weeks and the next thing we know it's been two months. It was late August. I'd woken up feeling sick that morning and Sam had encouraged me to go see Sue. I protested saying that all I needed was some rest and fluids. He told me I was going. As I walked over to the clinic, I kept thinking that I couldn't be sick. I didn't have time for it. The café was finally open in a week and I had so much to prepare. I still hadn't settled on a menu which I needed to do today so I could get food ordered and it would be here on time. I must have been lost in my thoughts cause I hadn't realized that I'd made it to the clinic. I walked in and told the receptionist that I was there to see Sue. She quickly paged Sue to let her know that I was there. She walked out looking surprised to see me before leading me back to her office. "Is everything okay, Bella?" She asked me.

"I don't know. I woke up this morning feeling sick. And I've been really tired lately." I told her.

She nodded. "Okay, it's likely nothing but we can do an exam. I mean if I was trying to open a café and control a pack of wolves I'd be tired too." She said making me smile. "Is it possible you could be pregnant?" She asked.

"I don't think so. I've been on the since I was fifteen, but I mean I guess there is that chance." I said.

She nodded. "We'll start with a pregnancy test." She said handing me a cup. "Bathroom's around the corner."

I walked out of her office and down the hall to the bathroom. While I was trying to pee in the cup, I couldn't help but think. Was I pregnant? I mean, sure I was on the pill but it's not like Sam and I used extra protection. When I came out of the bathroom, I headed back to Sue's office and handed her the cup. I sat down in the chair while she walked over to the counter she had and performed the pregnancy test. She turned to look at me. "You nervous?" She asked me.

I nodded. "Yeah. I mean we weren't trying to get pregnant…if I am." I told her.

She looked back at the counter for a second before she took her gloves off, throwing them in the trash. She walked over and sat in the chair beside me. "Bella…" She said taking my hand, "It happens. Is it ideal for you to be pregnant at eighteen? No. Is it bad timing? Obviously, with everything else going on, but one thing I have learned about you is that you always rise above." Sue said.

"Thanks. It was positive wasn't it?" I asked. She nodded. I let out a sigh. "I'm gonna go tell Sam. Can you bring Dad to the house tonight for dinner? I'd love for the two of you to join us?" I asked.

"You want moral support?" She asked.

"Please." I said.

"Of course." After Sue and I finished talking she led me into an exam room where she did an ultrasound.

When I left the clinic, I made my way over to the café where I knew that Sam was working. When I walked inside, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at me. "Can Sam and I have a minute?" I asked.

Everyone nodded and made their way outside. I waited a few minutes before I said anything. "Can they hear us?" I asked and he shook his head. "Good. I just finished with Sue." I told him.

"How'd it go?" He asked.

I started laughing. I couldn't believe that any of this was happening. He looked at me confused. "Do you remember when we went to pick up Renee and Phil at the airport?" I asked. He nodded. "Do you remember the conversation that we had while we were waiting for them?" I asked.

He looked in thought. He leaned against the counter that he'd previously been working on. "We were talking about how when your mom found out that you were living with me that she'd assume that you were pregnant." He said.

I nodded. "What else?" I asked.

"Umm…I made a comment about my wolf being excited about the thought of you carrying our pups." He said. After a few seconds, he stood up straight. The light bulb went off. "Are you?" He asked.

I nodded. "Sue did a pregnancy test and an ultrasound. Apparently, your wolf decided that he didn't like the idea of me being on birth control." I said with a light laugh. He crossed the room quicker than I'd ever seen him.

He quickly pulled me into his arms and spun me around, kissing me before sitting me back down. "I can't tell you how excited I am right now." Sam said.

"Sue is gonna bring Charlie to the house tonight for dinner. She'll be there for moral support. I wanna go ahead and tell him. Then we can tell the pack and the elders tomorrow." I said, he nodded.

"Of course. I'll issue an alpha order for them to stay away until tomorrow." He said.

"Good." I said, leaning up and kissing him.