A/N: Messing around and tearing the tribe apart, why because I can lol xx Alexis
"You know Bella; we've set ourselves quite the scary tasks. My vet dream and your bakery, we're looking at ten years down the line for me and maybe five to seven for you. Unless you want to work for someone else to start with? Damn, but we're masochists!" Paul said laughing,
They were having lunch after Embry had left when the thought just popped into his head.
"Damn! Can we still live here, in the future I mean, our future?" Bella quizzed,
"Hell yes. I was thinking of volunteering in Madras at the shelter there. It's only twenty minutes away from here" He replied sounding her out,
The College of Veterinary Medicine in Corvallis wasn't much further away from Warm Springs than Salem was. But Paul would be in for a long haul with his choices, four years here in Salem and four more there. He would need to be looking for grants and scholarship money to fund this endeavour. Plans were forming in his head, like for instance he could volunteer during the summer at Madras Animal Hospital. That and his own animal shelter would look good on his application. But by all accounts, he was looking at ten years in the future before he could even consider branching out on his own.
"Okay, once I'm finished with college I can do online courses if needed. So I will have to step up my game and sell enough to keep us afloat. Maybe work part-time for a bit too, your Grammie said there is a bakery in Madras. The Eagle Bakery so that's maybe the best route to start with! "Bella mused,
"Grammie! She asked you to call her that, didn't she? She really likes you baby that's for sure" Paul said smiling so big,
"Yeah, she did. Said me and dad were the best thing that could have happened to you. You don't mind do you, I lost both my grandmother's when I was young and she kinda makes me feel good about myself?" Bella told him, slightly embarrassed,
"Hey, what's mine is yours, baby, even my Grammie!" Paul answered laughing,
"But seriously, I don't want you thinking you need to carry us both. Hopefully, I can get some money from grants and stuff. The B.I.A are into all that kind of thing, they like promoting those that do well. I'll call them about it" Paul informed her as he washed up after their meal,
All in all, things were looking alright for their futures and both wanted to keep it that way. So if that meant working hard over the summer break they would. Neither had had what you would call an easy life, so hard work was nothing new to them. They made plans to go to Madras tomorrow to get hopefully him a placement in the Animal Centre and her at least a Saturday job in the bakery. Bella was willing to start anywhere and work her way up. She'd be up-front about it and her plans for the future because honesty is always the best policy. They needed to get as much as possible sorted before college started again and they got busy. Both would only work one day for now and Paul would help Zack on the other, he had told him to leave all the heavy jobs for him.
Basically, they had to get ready for the long haul, because this would be no quick fix. Paul was so thankful he had the backing and support of not only his grandparents but the Wasco tribe. Considering they knew little or nothing about him he was thankful. He was hoping Embry was having as much luck in Neah Bay with the Makah as he was here. They had always been the totally opposite of each other, Embry being calm to Paul's angry attitude. Now it had swung the other way and Paul was the calmer of the two boys. But knowing Embry once he is settled in Neah Bay, he will hopefully revert to the placid kind soul he used to be. But Paul and Bella were ready to take on all the hard work they would need to do because they knew their future was important and in their own hands.
HADDD
"Goddamnit Billy! Will you give it a rest. What's so wrong with those kids bettering their lives? Look around you this place is rundown, depressing and not exactly a great place for youngsters! That's your fault as their Chief, so if they leave then that's also your fault!" Charlie Swan shouts at his once friend,
"They wouldn't have tried to leave if it wasn't for you! You were interfering where you had no right!" Billy Black yelled right back,
It was far easier to blame Charlie for the things that ailed the tribe than admit he was at fault. First with Paul they were sanctioned and warned by the B.I.A. Then they could do nothing to stop Embry because he was right they covered up his mother's wrongdoing. They were all accomplices to child abuse and endangerment. Thank god Charlie didn't know or he would have brought down the might of the law and courts on them.
"Well if you'll excuse me, Billy, I came here to see Sam. He wants my advice; maybe he'll heed it, unlike some folks!" Charlie said walking away from Billy,
"WHAT!" he heard roared behind him, but for once ignored his so-called friend,
Billy was panicking because there were two wolves out there defending other tribes! Then if things weren't bad enough, now Sam Uley has taken control of the pack completely out of the elder's hands. He ransacked the tribal centre and removed everything that belonged and pertained to them alone! Now he has had them build a pack den in the forest and it is guarded day and night by at least one wolf. By all accounts it's bigger, cleaner and nicer than any other building on the rez. He was using funds they always should have had and were never given by the elders. Jacob had moved out of his father's house into the den and refused to speak to Billy, it was all going wrong for the elders and they could do nothing to stop it. But then it wasn't as if they didn't know it could all come back to bite them, literally!
"Sam, you were looking for me? What can I do for you son?" Charlie asked the unknown to him Alpha,
"Hey Chief, first I know you helped Paul and I want to thank you. I did nothing, but let the other elders make all the decisions and I feel so bad. Embry's gone too now, so I'm taking a more hands-on role.
I want to set up online courses for Jared Cameron and myself, any information you can give us would be great. We need to find a way to make money and as you can see we know construction" Sam said and Charlie whistled when he saw the building,
"Okay Sam, I'll look into it and let you know. I'm guessing this is not something you want Billy and Quil to know about, what about Sue?" Charlie asked casually,
"Not her either, turns out she's not as nice as I thought she was! Oh, that reminds me, how do you go about getting a DNA test?" Sam now enquired,
"Damn, that's random! I can do that via the hospital, but whom?" Charlie asked his interest peeked,
"Seth" was all Sam said and Charlie's eyebrows shot up,
"Would this be tribe number three getting to take on a Quileute? Yeah, the boy has a right to know, if he wants to" Charlie said sadly,
"By the way Paul's doing great and has plans to become a vet eventually and he's got himself a girl. She's playing it down, but I'm not daft!" Charlie continues to say,
"A girl, oh a girl as in Bella. Damn, who'd have guessed, but she'll be good for him. That's what he always needed stability and now he's thriving, I'm glad" Sam said happily,
Charlie left after that, thinking about what Sam had said. Hell now he thought about it Seth didn't take after either Sue or Harry and this was why! Since Sam was now an elder, Charlie was guessing the wolves were back, because hell those boys were big. Those fools forgot he had attended the bonfires, along with Billy, Harry and Joshua. So he heard about the wolves and the Cold Ones, back then he, of course, didn't believe it. But slowly things started to make sense and when the Cullens arrived he knew it was true. The fear he felt when Bella dated that boy, no that Cold One, terrified him. But thankfully he left her and although she was devastated, Charlie was elated. So it was more than obvious that Sam, Jared and Paul were wolves, along with Embry, Jake and Quill V. Then the shocker of Leah and young Seth followed after them.
It looked like his daughter was destined to be involved with the supernatural no matter what! But better a wolf than a Cold One! That way she could be semi-normal and he'd still see her and Paul.
HADDD
Time waits for no man or wolf and college resumed once again. They were both thrown into the thick of it, plus their jobs at the weekend, giving them only one day off together and of course as many nights as they could. Paul and Silver were much happier now he had marked her and she smelled more like him than herself. Bella felt no different than before, but since it made them happy she was okay about it. Charlie had been in touch and asked if he could visit them over Spring break and they agreed. He would stay at Paul's place with Bella and Paul. He was aware they were a couple now and well she was almost twenty, no longer a child. He was going to let them know he was aware of their secret, but the Quileutes still didn't know. Though he thought Sam might be aware.
Bella sensed her father was getting more and more disenfranchised with his life in Forks and with his friendship with Billy Black. He really needed to spread his wings or get himself a lady friend! Maybe he should be trying to fish further from home or with other people. Heck maybe a new hobby altogether, he's always helping other people, time to help himself. Anyway, that was happening in March, so they had a few weeks to go first. Bella was enjoying working in the bakery, she was only on the counter for now, but often watched the bakers and asked lots of questions. They could see how seriously she was taking this and often told her to make something and bring it in so they could offer advice and criticism too. Paul was in his element, unfortunately, some of the animals shied away from him at first.
But he could talk to them so that made a huge difference, except for the cats; they had to be bribed with treats, of course! He had no problem cleaning out pens or runs. Paul wasn't put off by anything like that and it gave him time to talk to the ones around him. Even getting things for them before the other volunteers realised they needed something. They all thought he just had an affinity with animals and they weren't wrong. His biggest problem was not being able to phase to really get inside their heads. All in all, he was really enjoying his volunteering and was happy to go home at the end of the day with Bella who always had something for them to eat. She was usually full of all she'd learned and Paul smiled happily at how excited she was.
Paul wasn't sure if he was looking forward to Charlie coming or not. Yes, he was the reason he was free, but he was also Bella's father! Those were two totally different things and no man cares for the guy who takes their daughter. Especially one with Paul's reputation when he lived in La Push. But he wasn't going to worry until he arrived and found out what this surprise visit was really about. That man rarely if ever leaves Forks, so this seems out of character for him. No doubt they'll learn what's going on in March when he arrives. At least his grandparents and the tribe as looking forward to meeting him, since he was the man who freed me from the Quileute's clutches. There isn't a solid reason for him to come here rather than Bella going back to Forks, is there?
"Paul, I think when Dad gets here I'll ask Grammie if I can stay there. Let's not rub it in his face. He knows we're a couple and all that entails, but I'd feel more comfortable not doing that!" Bella mentioned over breakfast the week before Charlie was arriving,
"Yeah maybe best, that way he won't shoot me!" Paul replied laughing,
HADDD
"I've got some information for you Sam, does he know yet?" Charlie asked over the phone,
"No, so far he's unaware, but I can't see it going down well!" Sam replied with a huff,
"Okay, well he's half Quinault. They have been doing a big genealogy project, like where do we come from and who are were linked with kind of affair. So from what I've worked out, it's roughly the Taholah area. But the kicker is he was a distant relation, Sam, he was a Clearwater! She did that on purpose I'm guessing" Charlie explained now,
"I'll come up and get the documents and take it from there! Damn Chief that's a little sick or more like creepy!" Sam said before they cut the call,
The upshot of it all was Seth was Danny Clearwater's son. He lived in Taholah Washington and had two other children twin girls and younger than Seth by six years. Sue had to have known he was a Clearwater, what a slap in the face to Harry, but then he started it by sleeping with Tiffany Call! So it was up to Seth what he wanted to do as he was still only sixteen. They could imagine he would be beyond pissed off at his mother and Leah no doubt will be livid! Her mother acted so high and mighty, being first the wife of an elder and then one herself. Everything she had done was for herself and not the tribe, but this was just beyond the pale. Especially when they find out she did nothing to help Embry a blameless child, she's screwed herself. The tribe and her family suffered from her arrogance.
It was as if the whole of La Push and the surrounding area was holding its breath, they knew there would be an explosion. But not who, maybe Seth, but much more likely Leah!
HADDD
Bella and Paul were minding their own business, happy in the knowledge their future paths were on track. They had heard from Embry and his family accepted him with open arms and his grandfather straight out asked him if he was a protector. It was and never has been the big secret the Quileutes said it was, just a way to keep them under control! Anyway, Embry is now working for his family's business and is extremely happy. So far everyone was happy and now waiting for Spring Break and Bella's father's visit. The rest of their friend group were also working hard on their schoolwork and outside jobs. Zack of course worked with Paul and Alison had picked up a job in a bookstore near the college. Cassie didn't need to work at present as she was going into the family business and will be working there all summer.
Paul's grandfather had asked him to choose the bird her wanted to be bonded to in an upcoming ceremony, they knew he didn't need one like others before him, but every little helps in the fight against evil. He had just the bird in mind it was not afraid of him in either form and had perched on his back several times when in wolf form. This cheeky little devil was a Loggerhead Shrike who he was calling *Shoneah carrying on the Silver theme. It couldn't help his cause to see through the eyes of a bird now and then. They could follow where he could not and well out of range from all without a gun. Paul being Paul spoke to the bird too, asking him for his permission and Shoneah agreed. So the bond was already taking place and should be all the stronger for it.
"Hey Dad, welcome to Oregon, you're staying at Paul's place. I'll be at his grandparent's home, it's not that far away" Bella says and Charlie relaxes almost visibly,
"That's great Bells, you seem to be fitting in real well here" Charlie commented with a hint of resignation,
"I love it here and the bakery in Madras is amazing, they are teaching me so much, Dad!" Bella enthuses,
Charlie nods and sees exactly how the future will be and he's fine with that, it's not like Oregon is that far away from him. After he settled in and Bella fixed some lunch he tells them all that's happening and how much he really knew. Say to keep that to themselves, he didn't want anyone else to know he knew. He laughed saying there were wolves spread all up the coast of Washington now and of course, Paul here in Oregon. But there were only four left in La Push and that was more than enough, Leah had left with her brother to move to the Quinault reservation. She threatened to report her mother and Billy if they tried to stop them and Seth refused to speak to his mother saying she was dead to him! Although Danny had accepted him as his son he was going to live with Leah while they all got to know each other.
Charlie had pulled in a few favours and got Leah taken on as a dispatcher at the QIN Police Department so she could continue her studies. Things were looking good for the two siblings and Leah was beyond happy to be away from Sam and Emily, she got it of course. She did but she didn't like it! This was the freedom she'd always craved and the chance to start anew away from the mistreatment of the Quileutes. Once Charlie had told the young couple everything Paul showed him around and then they headed over to his grandparent's place for dinner. They were so happy to finally be able to thank Charlie properly and told him he was now an honorary member of the tribe for all he'd done. This had the Forks Chief blushing as much as his daughter usually did!
*Shoneah – It is a Native American name that translates to 'silver'.
