We arrive at the camp. I see penny head here setup a tiny tent. I look over at Paul and mine and it looks beautiful. There is even a fire going. Perfect. Embry will definitely get a full tray of brownies with his cookies. I immediately start heating up dinner for the boys knowing they are probably very hungry. I make a couple tacos and gyros for them right away.
"Thanks Lindsey," Jake says taking a couple.
"Thanks, beautiful," Paul says kissing the side of my head then taking a couple for him.
"You're welcome boys," I say as I keep making more.
The boys eat a lot. I hand some that I put aside with no seasonings for Kal-EL. So, even he gets some. He's running around sniffing every tree and then running to Jake and Paul. We all finish eating. I roast a marshmallow.
"You really brought marshmallows, Lindsey?" Jake asks.
"Yes, I fully plan to roast a marshmallow over the body of a burning vampire." I say.
"That's my girl," Paul says giving me a kiss.
"You're okay with that?" Jake asks Paul.
"Hell yeah. She doesn't plan on killing it. Just celebrating its death," he says.
"Man, your imprint is bad ass. I hope my imprint is like that." Jake says.
"Jake, I don't think you will get an imprint right now. You are too consumed by Bella, a taken woman." I say.
"What do you mean?" He asks.
"I have a theory that imprints don't happen unless the wolf is open and ready." I tell him.
"But Leah and Sam," he points out.
"Sam and Leah's relationship was on the rocks before he phased, after it was even worse. He was open to something else, so, he imprinted." I explain to him. "Leah is holding on to something that was over before Emily come along. She just doesn't want to admit it."
"Why do you say she doesn't want to admit it?" Paul asks.
"Well, from what you told me she doesn't want to let Sam go. A lot like Jake and Bella, but once she does that. She will be open for the imprint and probably will imprint," I say.
"Is that what she's been doing at your house?" Jake asks.
"I've been encouraging her that yes, some of the memories with Sam were great but not all of them were. Once she sees that her relationship wasn't as perfect as she's forcing herself to remember, she will be able to move on. I also think it will help her forgive Emily." I explain.
"Wow," is all Jake says sitting back.
Kal runs to him and sits in his lap. Jake starts to pet him. I guess Kal sensed that Jake needed some comfort.
"You okay?" I ask.
"I just never thought I would be the one holding back my perfect mate. Well, that my love for Bella might be," he says.
"Well, that's just my theory. It's not fact." I say.
"You don't think Bella is my imprint?" He asks.
"No, I don't. Love makes you blind, deaf, and dumb. That is a fact." I say. Jake looks offended. "You need a mate who loves you. Understands your duty to the tribe. Will sacrifice for the betterment of the tribe. You need a mate who is selfless. Who loves you all the time, not just when in convenient."
"Bella is selfless." Jake defends.
"Not from what I've seen. I've seen how she drags you into her problems. She holds you around for backup in case Edward leaves again. I've seen her put the tribe in danger for her gain. She has decided to turn into a vampire not out of necessity but because she wants to. She is willing to hurt you and her dad to get what she wants. She has continuously hurt her dad and you for her to get what she wants." I explain.
"Is that really how it looks to others?" Jake asks shocked.
"That's how it looks to everyone else but you. Your pack is trying to keep you away from her. Mot to hurt you or protect her, but to protect you. They would rather you be mad at them and hate them and you not get your heart broken. That's selfless. The wolf pack are selfless. The Cullen's are selfless. Bella is not." I say.
"The pack would rather me hate them, then get my heart broken?" He asks tears welling up in his eyes.
"Yeah, of course we do Jake. We love you. You're our brother." Paul says to him quietly.
"You might not be ready to mate just yet, but you have opened your eyes to her selfish ways." I say with a sad smile.
"You really do care about the pack and want to help us." Jake says.
"Yeah, as Sam said I'm pack. Helping the pack technically helps myself as well." I say with a chuckle.
"Yeah, but you're not doing it for elfish reasons as much as you try to convince me or yourself." Jake says. "You and Paul both hide behind that. You both pretend you don't care about anyone but yourselves. When in fact you care a lot about others."
"Great, thanks Lindsey. Now you've opened his eyes too much." Paul says sarcastically. Jake laughs.
"We should get some sleep. You both have a fight to win. I have marshmallows to roast." I say with a chuckle.
We all head into the tent. Kal follows behind and curls up on the end of Jake's bed. He's probably existed from all the running around. Jake picks him up and cuddles with him. I cuddle up to Paul and fall asleep.
I wake up to teeth chattering. I notice the boys are also awake. I look around. Kal-EL is still sleeping soundly, curled up next to Jake.
"It's Bella," Jake whispers that way Bella doesn't overhear.
"Alright, I'll go give her our extra blankets. She can burn them after she's done with them," I say grabbing a handful of blankets that are unliked. I head over to their tent.
"Knock, Knock." I say feeling like a moron.
"Come in." the vampire, Edward says. I have to remember to use his name as he can hear my thoughts. I unzip the tent go in and zip in up behind me.
"You guys really planned for the weather, eh?" I ask.
"Yes, we prepped as much as we could with Alice's vision." Bella says. I give her the blankets.
"So, I was able to prep better then you and your vampires just using the weather channel? I would depend less on their powers and more on the technology at your disposal. That might help you more." I say. She curls up in the blankets.
"Why didn't Jake come warm me up?" She asks.
"Because one he's asleep and two, you have a boyfriend." I say pointing to Edwards. Edward gives me a grateful look.
"But Jake could warm me up easier and faster." She says.
"Well, he needs his sleep for the fight, so I left him to sleep." I partly lie. Don't tell her I lied. I don't think you will like the results. This is for the good of both of them. I think to Edward. He gives me a small nod.
"I want Jake," she says pouting.
"Your not getting him." I say. I can leave the tent zipping it up behind me. I head back to my tent heading back in. Paul is sleeping again. Jake is staring at the roof of the tent.
"You okay?" I whisper.
"Yeah, I just saw what you meant. I can bet her wanting me hurt Edward." He says.
"I imagine she hurts him more then we realize." I say. "But that's very mature of you to think that way. We night make a good chief outta you yet." I joke. He laughs.
"Night Lindsey," he says.
"Night Jake," I say falling back to sleep in Paul's arms.
This time I wake up to someone coming into our tent. I look and see it's Seth.
"Sorry to wake you." He whispers.
"Hoping for a few more hours of sleep?" I ask.
"Yeah, I didn't want to be late getting here." He says looking hopeful.
"Well, hop in. I'll make breakfast when the sun is fully up." I say.
He smiles crawls in and falls right to sleep. I close my eyes for what feels like a few minutes just enjoying the warmth of my wolf. I open them and get up. Kal follows me and runs to go potty. I head to go as well. I get back quickly and start the fire. I pull the food out. I start making the boys breakfast Edward comes out and sits with me.
"Thank you," he says,
"I didn't do it for you. I just don't like the way she treats others." I say.
"You care a lot about the pack." He says.
"Yeah, I see a future with them, where I never had before." I reply.
"I don't want to change her," he blurts out.
"Not that it's any of my business, but you seem like you need to talk about it. So why not?" I ask.
"I don't want to damn her soul," he says.
"I don't think that's it at all. You may have grown up with strict religious beliefs, but you have seen them come and go. Not just with your own eyes, but with the eyes of others as well." I say. "I think you think she will change her mind and be mad at you."
"No one chooses this life." He says shaking his head. "How are you so insightful yet you are young and have no powers? I mean not to upset you."
"I understand what you're meaning. I grew up in a different world then you did. I grew up having to watch. To see what others do see. To read between the lines. I also grew up learning to accept others as they are only asking for what they can give me nothing more." I say.
"Rose and Jasper taught you that?" He asks shocked.
"Yes, they did. They taught me so much more then that." I say with a smile.
I make some of the sandwiches after making the ingredients. Paul steps out of the tent and stretches. Jake behind him.
"When did we get an extra?" Paul asks giving me a kiss and grabs a few sandwiches. Jake grabs a few as well.
"Few hours ago, I think. I'm uncertain," I say.
"An hour and a half ago." Edwards inputs quietly.
"Thanks," I say.
"Why are you being nice to the leech?" Paul asks starting to shake. Edward puts his hands up in surrender and stands.
"Relax Paul. He was just asking for guidance." I say. Paull sits beside me.
"What could a hundred-year-old leech need guidance about?" He asks.
"Something that you will never have to face," I say. "Edward, I believe you have followed Carlisle's beliefs for a long time. Maybe looking into them you will find your answers."
"I shall do that when I return home." He says with a nod. He heads back to Bella in their tent.
"You're too kind, Lindsey." Paul says.
"No, I just feel that. I don't need to make enemies everywhere." I say.
"I don't make enemies every where," Paul says in fake outrage. "You aren't my enemy."
"That's because I'm your imprint." I say with a laugh.
"You do make a lot of enemies." Jake says. "You tend to punch first as questions later." Jake and I both chuckle.
"Alright, you two keep ganging up against me." He says with a fake laugh.
He starts to shake a little getting upset. So, I give him a kiss. I hear our tent open and see Seth exiting. The rest of the sandwiches are finished. The boys dig in eating quickly. I eat one and a half. Paul finishes my other half.
"Don't eat too much. You won't be able to fight." I warn them.
They slow down eating. I just shake my head and laugh at them.