Chapter 10: I'm coming home to the place where I belong.
Charlie coughed and smiled gratefully as Paul handed him a cup of water. He had been in the hospital for a week, and he was ready to go. He hated hospitals and most of all he hated when someone took care of him. He wasn't used to this.
"Relax." Paul murmured.
"I can't. I hate hospitals." Charlie whined. He knew he sounded like a five-year-old, but he couldn't help it. This was torture for him.
"Have you heard from bells?"
Paul shook his head.
"No. Not yet, but she's with my father. She will be safe."
"I know but it doesn't make it any less irritating. "Charlie huffed.
There was a knock on his door, and Billy rolled in. old quill beside him.
"Hey old man, how are you feeling?" Billy asked him.
"Like crap. How are you?"
"Never better. So, I talked to the doctor, and he said you can leave tomorrow. Just as long as you have someone to stay with you. I was thinking you could crash at my place until you heal up."
Charlie shook his head.
"Thanks, but no thanks chief. Your house is full as it is. You have Rebecca, Sarah, Sam, Jacob, Rachel, and sometimes Leah. That's a lot of people."
"Yeah, but we have the room! Sarah wants you to come. She's making a bed for you now!"
Charlie rolled his eyes and said "Billy I'm not a child. Besides, I have a caretaker already. I'll be staying with Paul."
The room suddenly became ice cold.
"Excuse me?" Billy questioned.
"I will be staying with Paul. He has way more room and he won't mother hen me? Is there something wrong with that?" Charlie challenged.
He was very aware of how the tribe treated his son-in-law. They treated him like a pariah, an outcast. It disappointed him how his friend could look at the young man with distaste. Paul never did anything to hurt anybody and if he did, it was only because they deserved it. Paul only really snapped with people touched him without his permission. Touch was something sacred to Paul and one didn't just touch just because they could. When Paul was growing up the only touches, he had were ones of abuse. If it wasn't him or Bella, then it was hands-off. He didn't even trust Julian that much.
Charlie stared Billy down until the latter sighed.
"Fine. But I will be required to visit."
"No." Charlie was quick to say. "You will not invade my son- I mean Paul's space or privacy like that. I'll call you when I'm ready. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to sleep."
"Very well. Mr. Lahote, may I have a word with you?"
"You can say whatever it is you need to right here Billy. I may not know the details, but I know that supernatural creatures exist. And I know that Paul and some of the others shapeshift. So, if you're going to question Paul about why that thing was after me, then the answer is I don't know. All we do know is that there is another one out there and they have the power to be invisible. So, keep an eye out. I suggest the pack keep their noses to the trees because these things like to hide in the trees. They are above ground where their scent can't linger. "
Billy and Quill were speechless as they looked at their longtime friend.
"How?" Billy demanded.
Charlie shrugged.
"When you see a creature with red eyes. your whole perspective can change."
A knock on the door caused everyone to freeze.
"Come in."
Sue entered shyly with the doctor behind her.
Charlie's eyes lit with excitement and love as he saw his fiancée.
"Sue! Come on in!" He greeted.
Sue blushed and shyly went to Charlie's side.
"Hello everyone." The doctor greeted them as he approached Charlie.
"Well, Chief Swan your healing better than expected. You'll be released into Mr. Lahote's care by tomorrow afternoon."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"No problem, I'll be back tomorrow to check on you and finalize some things."
With that said, the doctor left and Charlie turned his attention back to his guest.
…
Jared shook himself off as he emerged from the trees. He fist-bumped embry as they passed by. Jared had just finished his patrol and Embry was next.
"Any updates?" Embry asked.
"Quiet as a mouse. But the chief sent out a warning. He said one of the leeches can turn invisible, so keep your eyes on the trees."
"Invisible? How are we supposed to fight it if it's invisible?" Embry asked.
"No clue man, be on the lookout. Quill is on the south side, so you can howl if you need him."
"alright" Embry sighed. "don't forget we have a pack meeting tonight."
"Of course, we do," Jared said in annoyance.
"I know... listen I love the pack, You guys are my family but sometimes I feel like I see you guys way too much," Embry said jokingly.
Jared laughed and pushed embry away.
"Go do your patrol man."
Embry winked and jumped into the woods.
Jared walked away from Embry's house and made his way down the hill to his own house. Most of the pack, even though they had imprints, still lived with their parents. It was just a bit more manageable for them to stay with their parents. It also gave the imprints space when they needed it. The only two imprint couples who lived together were embry and Emily, then Sam and Rebecca. Of course, Embry still lived with his mom, so the three of them stayed together. The rest jumped from each other's houses most of the time. No one would blink if Quill was found asleep on Jacob's couch or Jared crashed on Embry's. Most of the pack had an open-door policy. The only person's house they had ever seen or been to was Paul's. That guy kept everything on lockdown.
As Jared walked down the hill towards his home, a loud truck passed by him. On the truck were the words one truck two men, well move it! Jared frowned as the truck moved past him.
Was someone moving into the res? Well, they had to be native, at least. But if that was so, Chief Black would have told them. Being the noisy person he was, Jared followed the truck discreetly.
The Truck went up the hill and turned a corner. It was then the truck turned into the forest and down a dirt road.
Where the heck did this dirt road come from? Jared thought. He continued to follow but stopped when the truck drove through a giant gate that swung open.
Jared's eyes went huge. How had they not known that this was back here? He wasn't fast enough to sneak through the gates, but he could hear what was behind it.
"Wow! This is Big brothers house!" a child's voice rang out.
"It sure is son. But we have to wait for him to come home. Remember it's a surprise." Another voice said except this voice was deeper and powerful.
Sensing that nothing was wrong, Jared stepped back and walked away. One thing he would be sure to do was tell his alpha.
A new family had moved to La Push.
…
Bella laughed as Henry stared at her in awe.
"Hello, again Henry."
"Big sister Bella!" Henry grinned at her as he launched himself into her arms. Henry was Paul's youngest brother. Henry didn't get to visit often but when he did, he made sure his presence was known. He even managed to squirm his way into Paul's heart.
She was grateful she put the box down before he could bulldoze her. At that moment, she was standing on her porch. The house Paul had built for them was a five-floor green and brown farmhouse. In the back was a back porch with a swing and a garden.
The front of the house had a garden and tire swing, along with a bird bath and an archway entry.
As soon as she unlocked the door, Bella began to cry. The house smelled like pine sol and lavender. Everything was still the same as they had left it. the large leather sectional still sat across from the fireplace. The giant 80-inch TV still bolted to the mantle. Her heart hurt at the thought of her husband being in this house without her. no Christmas, or New Year's.
All of it alone. Henry ducked past her as he took in the living room. Bella was quick to ask him to take off his shoes. One of Paul's biggest pet peeves was mud tracks in the house.
Julian and Teagan entered behind her with boxes in their hands.
"Just set them down guys, we have to get my dad's room together."
"Your dad?" Teagan questioned.
"My dad has a lot of injuries that still need to heal properly. If I know Paul, he going to bring Charlie here and if I know my dad, he's going to agree because he doesn't want other people hovering over him. So since neither of them knows im home, I want to surprise them."
Her family nodded and the four of them got to work.
A couple hours later, they heard the sound of two trucks pulling up.
Bella now changed into a warm sweater and jeans, walked out onto the porch barefoot. The weather still being cold made her shiver.
The occupants outside froze at her entrance.
Sue, her father, and Paul stood as they looked at her. Her father was on crutches and wearing a neck brace. Plus, there was a boot on his foot.
Yep, Paul was going to be needed, especially if her father wanted to bathe.
"Hey…im home…" she said weakly. Tears filled their eyes as she looked at her family.
Two years. Two years away from the warmth of Paul's arms. Two years from the laughs she had with her father. Two years away from Sue and Joy, the woman who had made a big impact on her life.
She wiped the tears away as she stepped down the frost-covered stairs. Her father hobbled over to her.
"Bells…what…how?" was all he could ask as he hugged her tightly with one arm.
"They let me go." She told him softly.
"Why? I mean why now all of a sudden? Are they abandoning you again and leaving you to clean up their messes?" he accused angrily.
Bella shook her head.
"No, Daddy. They bartered my freedom. They are going to serve their masters in exchange for my freedom."
"Why didn't they do that from the beginning!" her father shouted.
It was Sue who approached Charlie's side and calmed him down.
"Charlie, it doesn't matter Bella's home now. Permanently. We have to count our blessings." She said softly as she pulled Bella into a hug.
Bella was crushed between them. When they pulled back, Sue lovingly held her face as she looked into her eyes.
She said something in Quileute and then said "No more beating yourself up over this. You've suffered enough."
"Thanks…... mom…" Bella said affectionately. Sue blushed and hugged her tightly. Growing up, besides Mrs. Atera, Sue was a constant person in her life. She was there for all of Bella's first. Sue let her go and helped Charlie up the stairs.
The front door flew open, and Henry stood their a giant smile on his face.
"Papa cop!" he greeted.
"Hey! It's King Henry!" Charlie greeted him with a smile.
Julian and Tegan appeared as well.
"Charlie! You old fool!" Julian greeted him as he helped him up the last step.
"Me? a fool? You need a mirror J!" her father teased.
The two continued their friendly banter as Teagan ushed her everyone in the house. She looked back, giving Bella a soft smile. Her eyes looked up to where her estranged and quiet brother stood. She gave him a tight smile and went into the house.
When it was time to take down an enemy, Paul and Teagn worked like a well-oiled machine. But when it came to a sibling relationship, the connection wasn't there. They trusted each other that was for sure, but it was awkward sometimes. It was like that with all five of Paul's siblings. Paul was Julian's second-born son. Julian's family was very strict on tradition and arranged a marriage for him by the time he was fifteen. When Julian turned eighteen, he was forced to go through with the marriage. He did but neither he nor his blushing bride liked the idea. They agreed to pretend to be a happy couple but both of them knew love was not involved with each other. At eighteen, Julian was married, expecting a child, and training to lead the head of his family. It was way too much pressure, so he went out for a drink, slept with nameless women and the rest was history. Or so he thought. Years later, came Paul. Of course, Paul's older brother Julian Jr., felt threatened by his very existence. Paul could phase and Julian could not. It was only a matter of time before Junior did something stupid.
Bella shook her head. Right now, she couldn't think about Paul's family drama or even her own. All she could do was thank Jesus that she was free. She was home and for now, she was safe.
"Give me strength lord." She whispered as she took a few hesitant steps towards her husband.
This wasn't like back in her cottage where he was her rescuer and had to have some self-control. She was home now. There were no restrictions.
Paul growled at her and she froze. She was careful to move slowly, and bare her neck towards him.
Right now, even with his eyes covered, she knew he was feral. He was battling between two beasts and one man.
His mate who had been gone for two years was now back and it was overwhelming.
She knew that when she disappeared, it had almost killed him. He had sealed the house off, only going in it when he needed to. It was bad enough that he was ostracized by the pack but to have the girl he loved, the only girl he loved, disappear on him, only to find out that she was in the clutches of the leeches was devastating. But she had no choice. She told him not to come, fearing for his safety. It was bad enough that the Volturi knew of shapeshifters, she didn't need them coming to forks and causing them to shift even more. The presence of vampires was detrimental to the pack.
They had talked on the phone every day, video chatted and texted. But nothing compared to having him by her side. Nothing compared to the laughs and conversations. Nothing to compare to the debates that turned into petty fights and arguments that eventually led to apologies and make-up sex.
On the sex…she really couldn't explain the benefits of married sex. Having that one person who knew you so intimately. And someone you trusted the most.
"I am….so sorry, babe. I didn't want to leave. But you know I had to, and I know these two years have been rough and then I call you and ask for your help when I-"
Bella's apology to Paul was cut short when he loomed over her. His muscled 6'8 frame encased her in his warmth.
Paul leaned down and rubbed his cheek against her own, his eyes closed. A rumble vibrating her body.
"SSH, kitten. You owe us no apology. We are yours and you are ours."
Bella gasped, this was Paul's tiger. She had met the wolf plenty of times but the tiger stayed quiet. And now, he was making himself known.
"But-"
He cut her off.
"No," he told her. "No one is to blame but the darkness."
This was completely different from Paul's wolf. Wolf was protective but harsh and wild., not that she minded.
But his tiger was the complete opposite. He was…calm.
"We will end its reign in our lives and your guilt will be no more."
And then he kissed her. passionate on fire kissed her. Bella moaned.
She felt her husband's arms wrap around her and hoist her around his waist.
Her legs locked behind him.
Before she knew it, Paul was carrying her through the woods behind their house.
"Welcome home. You here to stay this time?" He asked as he discarded his shades on the forest floor. His eyes were now a mixture of yellow and violet, the prettiest color she had ever seen.
"If you'll have me? " she asked bashfully.
Her husband was quick, to rip her clothes off, not caring for the fact that they wouldn't have any to change into later.
"Always." He murmured before their souls collided.