Disclaimer

All characters and the world depicted in this story belong to Stephanie Meyer. I only own my plot.

Note

A quick update because I was feeling particularly inspired. By the way, this time I decided to take a different approach to characters and dialogue. I hope you like it! I immediately remind you that this story is totally loosely written by me. I just write whatever pops into my crazy head.

Anyway…

Enjoy your reading!

We were scanning the cities

Rocking to pay the dues

But besides the glamour,

All we got was bruised

Mary On A Cross - Ghost

Mary On A Cross · Ghost

Chapter IX

From Now On

Billy and Sue were sitting on the wooden porch outside the driveway. Bella was to live in his house permanently. Emily, Kim, and Sue had spent the entire day frantically rushing around their small kitchen preparing a welcome dinner. Everything was done to make the girl feel at ease. Leah, who could not bear being around her cousin any longer than necessary, refused.

Billy could see how much this affected Sue, who had been trying to hide her depressed mood with faint smiles and flimsy excuses. Since her husband's death, she was no longer the living woman he remembered. Both Harry's death and the completely unexpected transformation of her children completely unnerved her. Seth was still a laughing and energetic fifteen-year-old, but after what Leah had gone through, the once confident young girl became even more bitter and harsh towards those around her.

"Sue?" Billy approached the woman sitting next to him. Her gaze was fixed on the road ahead.

"I hate it when you do that." She started.

"I am not doing anything. I am just worried about you." He answered quietly.

"You know what I am talking about, Billy. You are trying to get something out of me yet again." She said it with pretension in her voice. "I hate this."

"Me too when you keep it all inside and don't want to talk to me." He said it straight. "I know it's not easy for you."

"Do you think I wanted it for her?" Sue peered at him through her lashes.

He was caught off guard. He did not understand anything. "It is all meaningless to me. "I do not understand," she sighed. "Why did she change?" Harry had a heart attack right in front of her. Then Sam revealed the truth about the imprinting. Billy, she did not deserve this pain. She deserved better. But fate had other plans for her. I wanted nothing more than for her to have a normal life. But... that is no longer an option."

"Please do not say that." Billy took a deep breath.

"How? How is this even possible? Leah was content before all of this. She was upset about the breakup, but she was just like any other normal girl her age. She led a normal life, planning for college and the future. She wanted to be a nurse like me. During those months, she was just like any other teenager. But life has shown that she cannot. She does not have a choice. And no matter how hard she tried to avoid it, it always caught up with her. I can see how she is struggling with it. How much it kills her inside, and I cannot do anything about it." She said it calmly and softly. A tear was slowly falling down her cheek.

"Do you have any regrets about staying here with me?"

"This has nothing to do with you, Billy." Her eyes were welling up with tears. "You are the only one who gets it. Not for the first time. This, however, does not alter the fact that our kids are unable to make their own decisions. "Have you ever thought about what would happen if it happened to us?"

"Numerous times." Billy made a shaky move. "But... I never found a solution. "I assumed it was because we lacked the gene... I assumed it was because we lacked the gene. Or that we were not strong enough to bear this burden, this responsibility for the lives of so many people... After all, many wild nomads crossed our border much earlier than the Cullens."

"There must be something to it." She agreed. "Perhaps our children are far stronger than we give them credit for... They give up their lives and those they care about to protect those who are unaware of their existence. It hurts me. The fear that I might lose them one day. But there is nothing I can do about it. Simply try to enjoy each day with them."

"You have my support, Sue," Billy stated emphatically. "I'm afraid of losing my son too." His voice became increasingly helpless. It was still difficult for him to get back on his feet after the twins had left. "I cannot think of anything that scares me more... But we are all in it together. Just like our children. I would like to... I would like to live as normal a life as possible. "With you, with them, and with our grandchildren who are somewhere out there waiting for us," he said, tightly clutching her hand. "This is the truth..."

"You want..." she mumbled.

"Yes. I would like to marry you, Sue," he said softly as he stroked her cheek. "I want you to be my wife. I know you are still grieving over Harry's death, and I do not want to press you, but I genuinely care about you. That is all I wanted you to know."

"Billy!" Sue tried to stop him.

"I love you." And I would walk through fire for you, woman, even if it meant my death. Because I know you are worth it," he said, firm in his convictions, and his eyes spoke louder than his words.

Sue gave him a wide smile. With tears in her eyes, she took his hands in hers.

"I care about you, Billy," she said as she looked into his dark brown eyes. "I just need some time to sort things out," she explained.

"Take as much as you require." Billy smiled from the bottom of his heart. "I will wait. I am not going anywhere."

Jacob looked at the petite brunette sitting next to him, her head resting against the car door. The girl stared out the half-open window, staring unknowingly at the passing trees with her brown, almost chocolate eyes. Her thick, flowing curls cascaded down her shoulders. In his opinion, she was the most beautiful creature that ever walked the earth.

He smiled at the prospect of waking up every morning knowing Bella was right there, safe. For so long, he thought he had lost her forever. That she would never see again that blush on her porcelain skin that appeared every time their eyes met. Their bond was sincere and genuine. Natural, even. They were like two puzzle pieces. They complemented each other perfectly.

He would have been wondering what would have happened if he had not arrived on time and that bloody leech had turned her into a monster as cold and lifeless as himself. He could not stand it any longer. He would die beside her, knowing he would never feel her in his arms again, kiss her, or tell her how much she meant to him. He wondered if her fall would not have caused her to forget the last few months if it had not been for the unfortunate accident during the fight. It was not his fault, was it? Did not even his unintentional error make her fall in love with him?

Jacob shook his head, dismissing his gloomy thoughts. No, he should stop bothering his head with such nonsense and punish himself for it for the rest of his life. He couldn't have foreseen that the leech would pounce on him just then. Even if Bella was different now, he would still love her. It does not matter. She was still the same sweet and selfless girl she had been two years before. Even if her memory returns one day and she decides she doesn't want to be with him, he will not give up and will fight for her.

The police van arrived in the muddy driveway of the Black residence. All three of them started unbuckling their seat belts. Jacob extended his hand to Bella, who accepted it with a smile on her face.

"Ready?" he asked as he opened the car door, helping her out.

"Yeah, I think so," she said quickly, setting her feet on the slick ground.

Charlie was closing the trunk and carrying her belongings to the porch. Billy and Sue were already waiting for them, both smiling as the kids approached.

"Bella! Welcome to La Push, sweetie!" exclaimed the tall native woman as she hugged her tightly.

"Sue!" Do not hug her so tight, or you will strangle her!" Billy joked. He rolled over to them, chuckling.

"Hello, Bella!" He greeted her warmly, nodding his head.

"Hi Billy," Bella said shyly, looking around slightly perplexed.

She unexpectedly remembered the small, cozy red house, and she felt right at home there.

"Bells, we would better go inside. Before the food gets cold," Jacob gently tugged her hand, leading her to the white wooden door where others had just vanished.

"Are we going to eat?" she inquired. "I have not unpacked yet."

"Unpacking can wait," Jacob said, politely allowing her through the door.

"Sue and the girls made us a welcome dinner," he explained.

"Girls?"

"Emily and Kim. They're imp... My friends' girlfriends." He nearly bit his tongue as he corrected himself. "You will meet them soon. Emily is a fantastic cook. Kim is shy but sweet. I am sure you will get along fine."

Bella nodded and followed him down the narrow hallway of the house.

"Then he said... That fish is not even as long as his dick." Charlie, who was a little tipsy, exclaimed, laughing his head off. Billy laughed with him, equally inebriated, looking at Sue, who listened to both men's alcoholic musings with slight amusement, nodding occasionally.

"Do they always act like this?" Bella asked from over her plate, toying with her fork.

"Almost always," Jacob said as he sat down next to her. "As soon as these two meet, they both get drunk."

"Thank goodness old Quil is not here. It would be even more entertaining." Sue added, shaking her head as she saw the two begin loudly singing "We Are the Champions." They behave like teenagers."

"What does Old Quil have to do with this?"

"He always brings his famous herbal tincture, the recipe for which no one knows but him." Jacob sipped on his soda. "After this fine liquor, our old men fly off into a completely different dimension, believe me. This shit is stronger than anything you have ever tried."

"How do you even know what it tastes like?" Bella interrogated him.

Jacob simply shrugged. "I had a sneaky drink with Quil," he said, smirking at her gaping mouth.

"Jacob! You are only sixteen!" She reprimanded him.

"Seventeen already." He had reminded her.

"That does not change the fact..."

"Bella, do I appear seventeen to you?" He flexed his muscles with pride. "I dare to refuse."

Bella rolled her eyes and gigglingly replied, "Only by the looks of it."

The happy atmosphere was shattered when the phone rang.

"I will take it," Jacob said quickly, standing up and walking away from the table.

"Hello, this is the Black House. Who am I speaking with?" he asked, grabbing the receiver.

She could not understand what he was saying or who he was speaking to. He spoke too quickly, almost whispering. It had to be something important because his brow furrowed as he listened to the caller on the other end for the next few seconds. Finally, he smacked the receiver so hard that Bella almost jumped in her chair from the shock.

"Bells… I have to go out for a moment, honey, my friends... they need me right now," Jacob began. "Tribal business." He mentioned briefly looking at Sue as he finished his sentence. The woman nodded toward the exit.

He quickly kissed the brunette on the forehead and said, "Sue will take care of you," before he was already out the door. "I will be back soon," he assured her. "But until then, Sue will take care of you."

He exploded as soon as his feet touched the ground. The rusty skin was quickly replaced by a copper-colored, fluffy mass of fur. Thick muscles tensed with each powerful movement of the majestic beast's paws. He heard a sand wolf approaching him as soon as his wolf form took shape.

"Spirits! Jake, how good that you're finally here!" "We tried to stop her, but it is hard," Seth said nervously, running right next to the larger wolf. Paul and Jared try to keep her at bay. She is so incredibly strong; I am not sure how much longer they can go. Quil and Embry keep the vamp from escaping."

He yelled angrily, "Shit! Where is Sam?" Jacob tried to locate the former alpha by searching their mental net, but he was unsuccessful.

Seth quickly picked up on his leader's unease.

"He had no choice but to stay with Emily. Ever since she got pregnant, she's been feeling unwell, fainting, and throwing up all the time," he explained, trying to justify the older guy's reason.

"Cool." Displeased by Uley's actions, Jacob hissed, "Next time, he will cover for you. He was already aware that the issue was not his imprinting's poor health. "I will double patrol both of you for a month the next time he asks you to lie for him," he threatened. He could not believe Sam could be so irresponsible. He had always been considered the most morally upright person on the reservation. It seems that not all is as it seems.

"Jake, I am so sorry. I did it for my sister. You know how hard she takes their breakup," Seth admitted, feeling guilty. That, however, did not adequately express the shame he was now carrying.

"Apology accepted," Jake said as they approached a small clearing in the middle of the woods. "Just don't do that again, pup."

Both of them were surprised to see a scene that resembled a battlefield rather than a meadow with blooming flowers and lush grass. Leah growled menacingly at the young vampire lying on the ground, who, despite her alluring charm, could not have been more than fifteen years old at the time of her transformation. She stared at the glowing she-wolf with blood-red eyes of horror. Never in his life had Jacob witnessed a vampire so terrified. She was flanked by Embry and Quil, who were attentively observing her every move.

For a brief moment, he felt sorry for her. But the truth of who she is quickly brings him back to reality.

Jacob quickly ordered Paul and the others to take the frantic Leah to La Push. Despite her steely resistance and strength, she dutifully bowed under the weight of Aplfa's command. He was concerned about her sudden aggressive outburst. Leah may have been a little impulsive, resentful, and sassy, but she was not reckless enough to attack without cause. Not even a vampire. No, something was not right here, and Jacob needed to explain it right away. He had a feeling there was something else behind the sudden rush of insanity. However, he was currently faced with dealing with a leech that had breached their borders.

Jacob quickly reverted to his human form, pulling on the last pair of shorts he had. Only Seth stayed by his side.

"What do you want, and what are you doing on our land?" He inquired sharply, pointing the words like a razor blade at the vampire. Her foul odor entered his nostrils, irritating him even more.

"Please! Do not kill me!" the girl screamed melodiously, almost pleading. "I can offer you something that might be useful."

"Like what, leech?" Jacob asked.

"The real reason Isabella Swan will never be herself again"