The Truth
Bella Pov
I watched silently out the front windscreen of Sam's truck has we left the Reservation and headed towards Forks. I could hear Sam and Paul both humming different tunes, and I smiled to myself how out of tune they both sounded. Before we hit the town, Sam turned off the main road and down a dirt path. I gasped when I was suddenly bounced out of my seat, Paul shot his arm out and stopped me moving by putting it across my chest.
"Sam, slow down." Paul growled, "Bella nearly went flying then."
"Sorry Bella." Sam chuckled.
I just laughed and tried to squeeze myself further into the seat. Paul kept his arm across my chest, until the cabin came into view.
Sam stopped the truck and climbed out, closing the door behind him and walking into the forest. I looked at Paul confused.
"It's ok, he is just checking out the area." Paul answered my silent question.
I jumped when the driver's door suddenly opened, and Sam was stood in the gap.
"All clear, come on Bella." Sam said, ushering me out through his door. I climbed over the seat and using Sam's raised arm jumped out.
I walked around the truck and stopped when the cabin came into view, the dark brown and moss green building looked almost hidden amongst the trees. The gentle sway of the trees, and the almost musical chirps of the birds, made the whole area feel like paradise.
"It's so peaceful." I whispered, too scared to speak any louder and disturb the silence.
"It is." Sam also whispered.
"Right, are we ready to get started?" Paul called out, causing some birds to leave the trees and chirp louder and myself to jump.
"Paul, doesn't know the meaning of peace and silence." Sam chuckled, has he wrapped his arm across my shoulders and ushered me towards the cabin.
"Fuck off" was Paul's only response has he unlocked the door and opened it.
I laughed again has I stepped through the door, Sam moved his arm away from my shoulders, so I could follow Paul further into the cabin. I stopped in the kitchen door way, and watched has Paul started going through paint tins.
"Let me give you a tour while Paul gets the paint ready." Sam said, coming up behind me.
I nodded and turned around and followed Sam back towards the front door, he stopped and waited for me to join him. "This room is the living room slash den; you know where the kitchen is."
At my nod, he turned down a small, narrow hallway. "the bathroom." He said, has he pointed to a closed door on his left. "Next to it is a closet, and here on the right is the bedroom." Sam said has he opened the door and walked in.
The room wasn't very big, only just big enough for a king sized bed, and a dresser. The window that was facing the front of the cabin was ceiling to floor allowing the daylight in.
"This is one of the rooms that needs painting, Bella I don't want you climb on anything to reach the higher bits. Just do what you can reach, one of us will do the rest." Sam ordered.
"Right, there you go Bella. There is a small brush for you to do the edges, and then the roller to do the main areas on the wall." Paul said, has he walked into the room and put down the tray with everything in.
"Um, I don't think I have a very steady hand for the edges." I whispered, looking down and feeling my face heat up.
"Just give it a go, we can paint over any mistakes." Paul, called out has he left the room.
"Are you going to be ok?" Sam asked, has he stood closer.
"I think so?" I replied making my answer sound more like a question.
"Just call out if you need help, we will both hear you." Sam said, before leaving the room with a smile on his face.
I took a deep breath and bent down to look at the dark cream paint, using the brush to mix it around. I stood back up and nearly tripped when my knee got stuck in the oversized t-shirt, I stepped back to get my balance tugging at the hem to release it. I pulled the bottom of the t-shirt into a bundle at my side and made a knot.
Bending back down I picked up the tray and walked over to the wall on the right side of the window, placing the tray back down I grabbed the paintbrush, dipped it in the paint, making sure that the brush was evenly covered I started to paint the edges. My mind went blank, my thoughts were only on what I was doing and not about them leaving.
I moved from one wall to the other, my arms and legs were beginning to ache from constantly kneeling over and then stretching has high as I could go. It wasn't a bad ache, just something else to take my mind off my thoughts. Sam and Paul both took it in turns to pop into the room to see how I was doing. I was surprised at my steady hand, the edges looked neat and I hadn't accidently got any of the cream paint on the white kick boards.
I put the roller back in the tray and stretched before turning in a complete circle to check all the walls, apart from the tops I was finished. I wanted to take the risk and use a step stool or ladder to paint the tops, the whole time I was painting I didn't have an accident or lose my balance. With that idea, I let the room and went looking for Sam. I found him just down from the bedroom in the bathroom, laying under the bath.
"Hey Bella, what's up?" Sam asked, before I could say anything, sliding out from under the bath.
"The walls are finished; I reckon if I had a ladder or step stool, I could probably do the top of the walls." I suggested.
"No, one of us can do that. Do you fancy doing some more painting?" Sam replied.
"Yes, can do." Deciding not to argue with him, just for him to tell me to go back to Billy's. I wanted to stay and keep busy.
"Come with me, the den is the last room that needs doing." Sam said, standing up and walking around me.
I followed him out of the bathroom, and into the kitchen where Paul was. He looked up from putting the tile on the wall near the counter and smiled.
"Paul, where is the paint for the den?" Sam asked him, picking up the paint pots and turning them around.
"Paint and tray, brush and roller are in the den in the corner by the fire place."
I watched Sam nod before leaving the room, I followed him when Paul started to pick up the next tile. I watched has Sam opened the paint and poured it into the tray, the colour was awful. I must have made a noise when Sam looked up at me and smiled.
"We don't pick the colours." He chuckled, has he continued pouring the paint.
"Orange though?" I laughed.
"It's burnt orange to be more specific."
"Orange is orange, not really a relaxing colour after a day of fishing." I cringed, wondering who would want to chill in this room after being outside all day.
Sam stood up and smiled before looking at me, "not a colour I would pick, so same has last time. Any problems then shout for us."
I nodded, before Sam walked out of the room and back down the hallway. I looked around the room trying to decide where to start. The room only had one plain wall, that being the easiest I went to the wall with the window and front door on. Using the brush, I began the edges, shuddering with the first stroke of the brush on the walls.
"Lunchtime!" Paul shouted, causing me to jump.
I put the roller down and spun around to him glaring. "You are lucky I wasn't doing the edges."
"Wolf hearing, I could hear what you were doing." He laughed.
"Come on Bella, let's eat. Emily packed all of us food." Sam said, walking into the room.
I looked at my hands and seeing the cream and now orange paint all over them, I needed to clean up before eating. I didn't need to know what paint tasted like.
"Can I use the kitchen to clean up?" I called out.
Paul walked back in and handed me some wipes instead. "Those will clean up the paint, the water is switched off here."
"Toilet?" I asked, relieved that I didn't need to go.
"Only natural facilities here, the forest." He chuckled, pointing out towards the trees.
"Lovely" I commented, walking out the door and wiping my hands at the same time.
"If you need to go to the toilet Bella, I can take you to the diner, it's a short drive." Sam offered.
"It's fine, I don't need to go yet."
"Let me know when you do." He offered before pulling an ice box out of the back of the truck along with a picnic blanket.
"We get a blanket today to sit on today?" Paul asked, before taking the blanket from Sam and laying it out flat.
"Emily packed it for Bella." Sam told him before sitting down next to the blanket and opening the ice box. I swallowed the lump in my throat, she didn't even know me, and she was kind enough to make sure I ate in comfort.
"For you princess" Paul chuckled, waving his arm towards the blanket before sitting down opposite Sam.
I rolled my eyes, before stomping over to the blanket and sitting down in the middle of it.
"We have chicken sandwiches; are you ok with that?" Sam asked, has he handed out the food out. I nodded and took the sandwich out of his hands. "chips, muffins and soda." Sam continued.
We all sat silently has we ate, I didn't realise how hungry I was until I had eaten two sandwiches, the chips and was half way through the chocolate chip muffin.
"There are more sandwiches if you are still hungry Bella." Sam said, has he put his hand back in the ice box and pulled out another container filled with sandwiches.
"No, I will be full when I finish this." I replied, after I swallowed my mouthful.
I watched surprised has Sam pulled out three more containers of sandwiches and shared them with Paul.
"My turn to run patrol, relax for a bit Bella. Paul stay out here with Bella." Sam spoke up, before standing up and jogging into the forest. Paul put the icebox back into the truck. I led down and closed my eyes listening to the sounds of the forest and relaxing. I shuffled over when I felt Paul lay down next to me.
Sam Pov
I stripped off my shorts and allowed my wolf to come out.
All clear here Sam, I've been up to the Swan's and back, no leech scents. Embry thought, has he ran a circuit round the pack house.
Go get some food and send Jared out to take over. I thought back at him, feeling him phasing out.
I ran towards the Reservation and towards the cliffs, my wolf liked to stand at the highest peak on the Reservation to have a good look. I felt Jared phase in, and knew he was running towards where I was stood.
I showed him Bella and what she had done, relieved that she hadn't cried or got lost in her thoughts about the leeches.
She looks exhausted, hopefully she will sleep tonight and not have a nightmare. Jared thought.
That was my plan, I will still stay at Billy's just in case.
Sure, Kim had been a pain this morning before going to school, questioning about her place and if Bella will stop you from bonding with her and Emily or if you will no longer want to bond with them now you have your mate. Jared thought, showing me has Kim seemed to get more and more upset.
I didn't think about how the other two girls would feel now that Bella was around, I thought about how to solve this. If only Bella would come to the pack house and spend some time around the girls, we would all probably all feel more relaxed.
Tell her she must come, why not bring after work? Jared thought.
I thought back over my conversation with Billy this morning, the Ateara's had invited Bella and Billy to theirs for dinner tonight.
Tomorrow night I will stay with Kim at the pack house, you or Paul will have to stay at Billy's. I thought.
I will, I'm not at college tomorrow and you have a meeting with the headmaster at Forks High, before meeting the Mayor at the cabin. He wants to see how the cabin is looking, and how long until it's finished. Jared thought.
Jared was like a walking talking diary, I completely forgot about the meeting at Forks High. That's good timing, if we get the job then Paul and I will be at the school the same time Bella is.
Can you spend the day with Bella tomorrow? I asked him.
Yes of course, we can go to the diner tomorrow and get to know each other better. Jared suggested.
I'm heading back, howl if you come across anything. I told him, walking back into the forest and running back towards the cabin, paying close attention to our scent trails as I went.
I stopped near the edge of the forest and sat down has Bella and Paul came into view. I listened in to their conversation has they were both led on their backs staring up at the sky.
"I know right now your self-confidence and feelings are a bit battered and bruised, but they should never have let you get so emotionally close to them." Paul suddenly said, breaking the silence. I shuffled closer to listen better, Paul could be quite blunt and brutal, and I didn't want him to accidentally upset Bella.
"I didn't think they would hurt me" Bella replied, quietly.
"It was always going to end up with you getting hurt." Paul bluntly told her.
"How, would you know that" Bella asked, sounding confused.
"What was your future plans with them? And be honest, I won't judge you." Paul asked, rolling to his side so he was facing her.
I phased back and stepped closer to the edge, so I could her better and be closer if Bella got upset.
"To be changed and be with them forever." She replied, before she quickly wiped her face has a tear dripped from her left eye.
"So, it wouldn't have hurt to leave your parents and let them think you were dead, what about Billy and Jake?"
"Yes, it would have hurt, I would be sad to begin with." I stepped back when Bella turned her head to the side and looked directly to where I was hidden.
"But eventually, you would be happy" Paul stated, rather than ask.
"I guess, I think so." Bella responded, sounding confused and unsure.
"Now they are gone…" Paul stopped when Bella went to get up, he put his hand on her arm to stop her. "Just hear me out, then we can change the subject."
Bella nodded, and led back down, rolling to her side to face Paul.
"I know you are upset with them being gone, but now you won't ever have to say goodbye to your parents and fake your death. Your dad will there for you and will get to see all your happy memories."
"And my mum, Billy and Jake." Bella finished for him.
"Yes, and us the pack. We want to be your friend Bella; you won't have to change for us. I know we don't drive around in flashy new cars or wear branded clothes."
"It was never about that." Bella interrupted him, "I hated them spending money on me, it made me uncomfortable. I wasn't brought up like that, my parents had just enough to give me what I needed, and I was grateful for that."
"So, it wouldn't bother you that we couldn't ever take you out on expensive trips or to posh restaurants with a dress code?"
Bella was silent for a while, I started to do the sums in my head. Thinking what I could go without, so I could take Bella to nice restaurants and spoil her.
"No, I'm not that type of person, I could never value a person by how much money they have." Bella snapped at him, causing Paul to growl lowly at her.
"Watch it Paul" I whispered low enough so only he would her me.
He acted like he didn't hear me and stopped growling after raising his eyebrows at Bella. I looked at Bella to see if I could see any signs that she was scared or nervous. "Sorry" I heard her whisper.
"All we have is our house, jobs and the pack. We all earn enough money to pay the bills, fill our never-ending appetites and buy cheap clothes." Paul told her being honest.
"why are you saying all of this?" Bella asked, sounding confused and frustrated. "Is this a test to see if I can fit in with the pack?"
"No, you already fit in with us." He told her, causing me to growl lowly in warning to Paul.
"Because I already know of the supernatural world?" She asked.
"Something like that, it definitely helped." I growled again at Pauls answer, it was getting to close to the truth and Bella was not ready for that yet.
"You are confusing me; I don't understand where you are going with all of this?"
"I just wanted you to realise that you may have lost them, but you will keep everything you have always had. You will also gain a pack of shapeshifting wolves and their mates." Paul chuckled, and I could see he was trying to lighten the mood a bit. "You won't ever have to make any sacrifices to be with us, and you will gain friendship and maybe even a family if you want." Paul continued.
Bella hummed, before rolling back on to her back and stared at the sky again. Her hand came up to wipe the tears that were slowly sliding down her face, I took a step forward ready to walk to her to comfort her. I stopped when Paul shuffled closer, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.
"I wish it didn't hurt so much" she mumbled.
Paul didn't say anything, just held her tighter. I fully stepped out of the forest and made my way over to them, sitting down on the grass by their feet. I went to ask if she was ok but stopped when Paul spoke again.
"Did they ever tell you the treaty they had with the last pack?" Paul asked.
"No, just that they weren't allowed on the Reservation. What was the treaty?"
"Sam tell her about the treaty, I need to get back to work." Paul answered her, releasing Bella, standing up and walking away.
I was going to kick Paul's ass after this, I knew this was going to hurt her. I shuffled closer to Bella, has she sat up, so we were both sat on the blanket. I wanted to be close to her when she would realise her plans were not the same has the leeches.
"So, when the Cullen's first came to Forks" I flinched when Bella suddenly wrapped her arms around her body at the mention of their name. "The previous pack caught them hunting on the Reservation." I finished, deciding to get through this has quickly has possible.
"The previous pack was outnumbered, three of us compared to five of them."
"But there are seven members." Bella interrupted.
"The coven grew, once they left the area."
"The others must have joined after then." Bella whispered, before looking back up to me to finish.
"So, to save the pack from being destroyed, they decided to make a peace treaty with the coven."
"What was the treaty, to stop them killing the wolves?" Bella asked.
I swallowed and looked directly in her eyes. "A boundary line was made between LaPush and Forks, the coven was not allowed to come across the boundary line ever. Once that was agreed upon, the pack made rules for the coven to live in the area. They were not allowed to bite, feed or change a human, or they would be destroyed."
"Oh" Bella exclaimed, pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around them.
I sat in silence watching her face, waiting for her to understand what I meant.
"They were never going to change me?" Bella quietly said.
I shook my head, rather than saying anything.
"They never planned to take me with them, when it was time for them to move on." She stated, sounding so broken.
"Probably not, they were always going to leave you at some point Bella, otherwise they would have broken the treaty. Billy would have ordered us to find you and destroy them."
"Why?" Bella asked, after being silent for a while lost in her own thoughts. I was going to kill Paul; she would have found all this out eventually. I had planned to get Billy to tell her and just be near the house in case.
"What?" I asked, confused at her question.
"Why would they befriend me, welcome me to the family and make me part of it?" Bella asked, her voice changing and her eyes welling up.
I pulled her knees forward and picked her up, placing her on my lap. I pushed her arms away from her legs and pulled her into a hug. "I don't know, none of us can understand why." I whispered, resting my chin on the top of her head.
"I don't know what to think about them now." Bella whispered, and pulling away from me so she was sat back on the blanket.
"Then don't think about them." I told her, I want her to forget about them and that they ever existed. "Do you want to go back to Billy's or stay her and finish painting?" I asked her, wanting to give her the choice. It would also be a good punishment to leave Paul and make him to all the work for the rest of the day.
Bella stood up and looked down at me "painting, I need to do something, to keep busy." She answered before walking back towards the house. I followed Bella back into the house and watched from the doorway has she picked up the roller and continued painting.
I walked into the bathroom, to find Paul who was now putting the tiles on the wall in there. I grabbed him at the back of his neck and dragged him to his knees. "You ever set me up to hurt Bella like that again and I will break every bone in your body, let them heal and rebreak them again." I threatened him, shoving him to the floor.
"She needed to know." He tried to justify, causing me to growl at him.
"Not yet she didn't, they have hurt her enough. Get this room done and leave us here, I don't want to see you or hear you for the rest of the day." I growled at him before stomping out of the room and going to the kitchen to connect the pipes under the sink.
Before I entered the room, I stopped in the door way and watched Bella painting the lower part of the walls. I couldn't smell any tears, and she seemed ok. Deciding to leave the kitchen for another day, I walked into the den and grabbed the paint brush. I stood up and began painting the high parts of the walls Bella couldn't reach. I wanted and needed to be near her, just in case. I slowed down my brush strokes to match hers, so I could stay right by her side.
I heard Paul walk down the hallway and hesitate near the front door an hour later, I growled at him. I didn't want him speaking to Bella either for the rest of the day, he had done enough.
Bella looked at me, then jumped slightly when the front door slammed shut. "Was that Paul leaving?" she asked, standing up.
"Yes" I growled, unable to stop just at hearing his name.
"He made you tell me about the treaty, didn't he?"
"He didn't make me, I'm the Alpha, but he did set me, so I had to tell you now. I didn't want you to know about the treaty for a while." I told her, unable to stop growling.
I looked down when Bella gently laid her hand on my arm and smiled. "I appreciate you trying to stop me from hurting any more than I am now, but I rather know. He would always decide when to tell me things, thinking that I couldn't handle them, please don't do that."
"Ok" I nodded and smiled at her, I was still going to kick Paul's ass, just for being right.
We got back to work; I gave Bella some space so she could get the roller further up the walls. Bella finished the lower part of the wall, and then sat down and watched has I finished the top part. I looked behind and watched has Bella began staring out of the window, looking lost in thought. I quickly finished and sat down next to her, she turned to look at me has her eyes filled with tears and she wrapped her arms around herself.
I pulled her arms away from around herself and made her stand up. I got an idea, that would keep her busy and maybe even make her smile. "Stop thinking about them, come and help me paint the rest of the bedroom. I have an idea, so you can help without hurting yourself."
We spent the afternoon with Bella balanced on one of my shoulders while she painted the edges near the wall, and I painted the gap in-between. At first, I thought it was a bad idea has she lost her balance a few times, and I now had cream paint in my hair and on my neck. Once Bella was able to the find the right angle to sit on my shoulder, she managed to balance.
We talked, joked around and laughed. Looking at her face from time to time, she had a small grin on her face and her eyes had some sparkle to them. I could still see the sadness in them, and I hated the leeches even more for taking her sparkle.
Once all the walls were all done, I helped her climb down before covering up the tray with the left-over paint.
"I think we are done for the day." I told her, standing back up and watching her stretch.
Her face suddenly grimaced "I'm going to be so sore tomorrow."
"Probably." I replied, making a note to tell Jared to encourage to have a bath tomorrow morning.
"I'm going to get back to Billy's, have a hot shower and then not move for the rest of the night." She said, rolling her shoulders.
"Sorry, but Billy mentioned this morning that you were both invited to the Ateara's." I told her, feeling sorry for her.
"oh, fantastic." She answered, sarcastically. "Has Old Quil ever set the spirits on anyone before?"
I laughed at her concerned looking face, "not that I know of, but there is always a first." I laughed louder.
"Not funny Sam, they are the closet I have to blood family and I have only visited once since I moved back here. Oh God, uncle Quil is going to slowly kill me." She moaned, causing me to laugh again.
"Stop over reacting, if he was that angry, he would have sought you out by now, or had you moved on to the Reservation months ago."
"That's a point, why didn't he try to get me away from them?" I asked, looking confused.
"You can ask him that later, there is usually a reason for everything Old Quil does or doesn't do." I told her, has we walked through the cabin towards the front door.
"Oh joy." I heard her whisper.
We walked over to the truck and I opened the door for her before walking around the front of the truck and getting in the driver's side. Once Bella shut her door, I started the truck and put it into gear.
"Come sit in the middle and put your seat belt on, I will go slower, but the track is too uneven to stop bouncing around." I said, and then watched has Bella shuffled over and put her seat belt on.
I turned the truck around and started the journey back to the main road, halfway there I had to put my arm over Bella's shoulders and move her closer to me so she wouldn't be thrown around the seats. I smiled when Bella giggled at first, before she started to find it uncomfortable at having to catch herself on the dashboard.
In no time at all we were back at Billy's, I pulled up at the same time Jake and Billy walked out on to the porch. Jake jogged over and opened the passenger door for Bella, helping her to get out. I got out of the truck and walked over to the porch; Bella said a quick hello before walking in. A couple of minutes later I heard the shower switch on and the bathroom door be locked.
"How has she been?" Billy asked, looking behind himself quickly.
"Paul messed up and upset her, other than that she has been fine. I managed to make her laugh earlier, and there is some difference in her eyes."
"What did he do?" Jake growled.
"Told her some truths, then set me up to tell her about the treaty." I told them, not surprised by Jake growling louder and Billy mumbling expletives under his breath.
"You need to rein him in Sam, I won't have her being hurt more than she is." Billy told me, sounding angry.
"Don't worry Billy, that is what I plan on doing once I leave here." I growled at him.
"Who is staying here tonight?" Jake asked, changing the subject.
"I am, Jared is staying tomorrow night, I'm hoping Saturday night Bella will be staying at the house."
"How do you plan to make her stay?" Jake asked grinning, knowing how stubborn Bella can be.
"Don't know yet." I shrugged.
"I will speak to Old Quil and Harry, the weather is supposed to be dry the weekend. Maybe we could have a bonfire and cook out before telling the stories. Bella should get to hear them fully now she knows about the pack." Billy suggested.
"How is that going to make her want to stay at the house dad?" Jake asked.
"Introduce her to the girls and get them to ask her."
"And if that doesn't work?" I asked.
"I will make something up and tell her she has to stay with you." Billy responded. "Give her a chance to make the decision herself first." He finished.
"Sure, I'm just going to shout through and say bye. I will be back later to help with Bella." I told Billy, before walking up the rest of the porch steps and walking the door.
I listened has the shower switched off and could hear Bella drying herself, I stepped back and stood by the front door waiting. A few moments later Bella left the bathroom in clean clothes and a towel wrapped around her hair.
I coughed quietly and still flinched when she jumped, "I'm off now, I will be by later when you come back from the Ateara's."
"You don't have to Sam." She said, stepping out of the hallway and leaning against the wall.
"I know, but I want to ok." I told her, smiling. She looked exhausted, I had everything crossed that she would have a peaceful sleep tonight.
Bella Pov
I said bye to Sam and Jake who popped his head in has Sam was leaving, I yawned and stretched I was so tired and really didn't want to visit Uncle Quil today. I know that I have probably disappointed him in my choices, and I really didn't want him telling me about them.
"Bella are you ready?" Billy asked, knocking on the bedroom door.
I walked over to the door and opened it and stepped out.
"You look exhausted." He commented, has I walked passed him.
"I am" I told him before yawning again. "Do we really have to go?"
"Yes, he practically demanded that we go." Billy said has he placed his hand on the bottom of my back and ushered me to the front door.
I went to walk to his truck, but stopped when Billy took my shoulder, "we are walking, I want a drink."
"I can drive us back after" I offered; I really didn't have the energy to walk.
Billy must have seen something in my face before he smiled and pulled his truck keys out of his pocket and walked towards the truck, I imagined doing a fist pump in the air to not having to walk.
The short drive was done in silence, Billy seemed deep in thought. The closer we got, the more nervous I became, Uncle Quil was probably the only person that didn't care for tears and I knew with being so tired and my heart crumbled and in pain. I will probably cry at some point this evening, I also hated disappointing him.
"Bella, it will be fine. Old Quil loves you, he is worried about you." Billy suddenly said, has he parked up outside the Ateara's house.
"You will protect me?" I asked, and I couldn't stop the smile when Billy laughed loudly.
"As if he would ever do or say anything to hurt you." He chuckled.
Has it turned out I was worried about the wrong Quil, when we walked into the house it was Aunt Joy who pulled me into her arms and gave me a hug first? She didn't say anything just stood there hugging me and placing light kisses to the top of my head.
"Stop hogging my niece Joy." Uncle Quil barked out has he came into the room.
Before I could stop him, I was pulled from her arms and pulled straight into Uncle Quil's arms. "I'm sorry" I whispered, while the side of my face was resting against his chest.
"I know" he whispered back, "the spirits were watching you and protecting you, you came back and that is all that matters."
I nodded, and swallowed the lump in my throat, wrapping my arms around him and giving him a gentle squeeze.
I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked around to see Billy there, "Quil is in the den." He said, has I released Uncle Quil and stepped back. I followed Billy's eyes and saw the sofa and the head of dark hair sat there watching the tv.
I'm guessing they wanted to talk about me and wanted me out of the room, not too obvious then. I looked at Billy and considered saying something, I was an adult now and if they wanted to talk about me, I had every right to be there.
"Quil is waiting for you Bella." Billy said, before I could object. I nodded and walked slowing into the den area and sat down at the other end of the sofa to where Quil was sitting. I watched him, has he didn't even look at me and continued watching the tv.
"Hi" I whispered after a while.
Quil turned to look at me with a sneer on his face "Oh look who has remembered me, the distant cousin that makes shit choices. I heard they left you and look at that you come running back to family feeling all sorry for yourself."
I sucked in the sob that wanted to come out, I looked down and pinched my thumb trying not to cry. "I'm sorry" I choked out before standing up and walking out the front door, ignoring Uncle Quil and Billy shouting for me to stop.
I walked around the truck and sat on the other side so they couldn't see me, I pulled my knees up to my chin and wrapped my arms around them, bending my head and sobbing. I jumped when I felt a warm arm wrap around my shoulders.
"Shush, it's ok." I heard, I looked up and recognised Embry.
"No, it's not." I sobbed.
I felt Embry pull me closer into his side and rock me while shushing me, I wanted to pull away and tell him I wasn't a baby but at the same time I needed this. I didn't think Quil would be like that, he has never spoken to me like that or just been plain mean.
I heard footsteps and could feel Embry lowly growling before I elbowed him in the side.
"Do you mind if I speak to my cousin, Embry." I looked up at Quil's voice.
"Depends on how you plan to speak to her."
"Look it's not any of your business how I talk to Bella, we need to talk and sort something out and it would be nice if we could do it in private." Quil spoke beginning to sound angry and unlike how I used to remember him.
"Embry come" I heard Sam's voice has he ordered Embry away. I looked around and saw him on the edge of the forest.
I felt Embry let me go, and stand up, I followed after him and watched has he walked back into the forest. I looked at Sam and he smiled at me before following after Embry.
"Now that your body guards are gone, we need to talk." He grumbled out.
"Oh, that you hate me, and I make shit decisions." I sarcastically replied.
"I'm not going to apologise, I meant what I said."
"Then I don't want to talk to you, I'm hurt, and my heart feels like its crumbling and then you just come and stomp all over it." I told him, turning my back on him so he wouldn't see my tears.
"For fuck sake, stop being so dramatic, come here."
Before I can say anything back Quil pulls me into his arms and hugs me, I wrap my arms around him and hold on to him for dear life has I cry and hiccup.
"Dinner is ready" I then hear called out, I pull away and wipe my face.
"They will all know that you have been crying, I wouldn't bother trying to dry it." Quil chuckled.
"What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know, I stopped crying years ago. Just walk in and smile, ignore if they ask why." Quil shrugged his shoulder, I pushed him away from me and laughed.
"You are so useful; I could always say you pulled my hair." Going back to the memory of when we were little, and he did pull my hair.
Quil grabbed me and wrapped his arm around me almost pulling me into a head lock, "yeah, yeah, and they will believe you." He laughed, has we walked into the house.
Conversation stopped and all three of them looked at me, I felt my face go red and looked down. "Mom, Bella pulled my hair, so I pulled hers." Quil said, breaking the silence.
This caused all of us to laugh, and change the atmosphere. We all managed to squeeze on to the table and started to dish ourselves up some food. "put more food on your plate Bella, you are not a mouse." I heard Uncle Quil say before his hand reached over and took my plate.
It seemed everybody wanted to add to it, when it came back to me the plate was piled high with food. I was never going to be able to eat all of that.
"Eat what you can." Billy whispered. I nodded and started to eat, joining in with the conversation.
I sat back full; I can't remember the last time I had ever eaten so much. I forgot how good a cook Aunt Joy is, I think also doing all that painting earlier made me more hungry than normal.
"Well you ate more than I thought you would, you are far to skinny Isabella. The spirits make sure we are provided with food; it was show gratefulness if you ate more." Uncle Quil said, staring directly at me. I nodded; this wasn't the first time he had said the same thing.
"Can we be excused please; I need to talk to Bella in private?" Quil asked, before grabbing our plates and putting them near the sink.
"Of course," Aunt Joy said, standing up and helping to clean up the table.
"Leave it Bella, go spend some time with Quil." She ordered, shooing us both out of the room.
Quil grabbed my hand and almost dragged me to his room before dropping my hand, I walked over and sat on his bed has he shut the door.
"We need to talk; well I need to talk, and you need to listen." Quil said has he got on his bed, led down with his head on his pillow. I copied him and led down next to him. I smiled to myself, this is how we used to lie when we were younger, and he wanted me to tell him a story.
"Go on, but please don't say anything about them." I almost begged.
"Fine, stop being so sensitive and dramatic, Bella you need to regrow your backbone." Quil said, like it was a struggle. "You are going to need a strong backbone in the future." He then whispered.
"Pardon?" I asked.
"Don't worry about it for now, I do need to tell you something though. Grandfather told me to keep it a secret, but it's burning me alive."
"And you call me dramatic" I chuckled, unable to stop laughing at him.
"Shut up and listen."
"Ok, what is it?" I asked him.
"I know everything, for the last few years the spirits have been communicating to me. Grandfather has been helping me understand what they are trying to tell me." He spurted out so fast, that I was only just about able to catch what he was saying.
"What do you know?" I asked, worried if he knew about the pack.
"I know what the Cullen's are." He said, I sucked in a deep breath when I heard that name. I heard him swear before he wrapped his arms around me. "Bella breath, I'm sorry, come on." He begged.
I took a deep breath, and let the tears fall. "They really did do a number on you? Come on, I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. Stop crying I have more to tell you." He whispered, pulling me closer so I was resting on his bicep.
I sniffled and wiped my tears before nodding for him to continue.
"I know about the pack, and that Sam is Alpha, I also know that one day soon I will also be joining the pack."
"How?" I asked.
"The spirits they told me that I will be needed, they told me about the pathways that the pack and us will follow." He explained.
"Me?"
"Yes, you Bella, you are important to the pack."
"Why?" I asked, I felt myself relax that the spirits agree with me knowing about the pack.
"You are not ready to know everything yet, and I'm also not the right person to tell you. When the time is right, you will know everything." He told me, making me become confused.
"What else do you know? I wonder if he can see my future."
"They are not coming back Bella, you are part of the pack now." He told me, like he knew what I was thinking.
"Ok" I whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"Right sit up, Grandfather told me I was not supposed to tell anybody, so we need to make a pact like when we were younger."
I sat up and laughed at his guilty looking face, "ok, just know that now we are older this is gross." I shuddered.
"Tough this is our thing Bella; I was going stir crazy keeping it to myself."
"Fine, but Quil, just know that if you ever need someone to talk to I'm round. I know I messed up, and I should of come down to the Reservation to see you more often. I promise I won't let anything, or anyone stop me" I told him, taking his hand in my own.
"I forgive you; we are cousins Bella; you are all I have. I've temporary lost Jake and Embry, and that's fine right now, we are on different paths but Bella we need to be there for each other. One day it will just be us left."
"What do you know?" I began to panic, thinking that something bad was going to happen to the rest of our family.
"Old age" was his simple answer, I took a deep breath and relaxed.
"Ok"
"So, are you ready?" he asked, pulling his hand out of mine.
I nodded before raising my hand and spitting into the palm of it, at the same time Quil done the same to his hand. I ignored the urge to shudder when we clasped hands and shook them.
"Do you promise not to tell anybody what I have just told you." Quil spoke, gripping my hand harder.
I nodded and gripped his hand harder. "I promise that our secrets are our own, not to be told to anyone."
At his nod, we both let go and wiped our hands on our thighs. "We need to find a new way of doing that." I commented, as I led back down on his bed.
"I would say we could do a blood oath, but you would probably pass out and then Grandfather and the pack will want to kill me." He replied, before laying back down next to me. I led there and closed my eyes has Quil began talking about the legends of the tribe.
Sam Pov
I hung up the house phone and got ready to leave. Billy had rung to tell me that Bella had fallen asleep at the Ateara's and he had been drinking and not able to drive his truck back.
I looked over at Jared and Jake who were doing the overnight patrols "I'm staying at Billy's, howl if you come across anything." I told them before walking out the house and jogging down to the Ateara's.
I knocked once before the door opened and Billy answered the door, "Bella fell asleep in Quil's bed" he said, before I could stop myself, I growled at the thought of her in a non-pack members bed.
"Hush boy, Quil is her cousin." Old Quil came to the door.
"Where is he?" I asked, looking around the room and unable to see him.
"He is just getting Bella now; I will wait for you both in the truck." Billy said.
I looked up when I could hear footsteps walking down their hallway, Quil was there with Bella in his arms and her head resting on his shoulder. I stepped forward but was stopped by Old Quil.
"I'm off to bed, Junior lock up when they go." Old Quil ordered, before walking around Quil and down the hallway.
Quil stopped in front of me and stared into my eye, I took a deep breath when I saw some understanding in them. He knew, he knew what I could change into. I looked at Bella, angry that she would even tell him.
"Not her" Quil whispered.
"Who?" I asked.
"I want you to promise me Sam that you will look after my cousin, she is my blood and she is my priority from now on. I'm not saying about making sure she is not physically hurt but emotionally too. The Bella you are getting to know now, is not the real Bella. Those assholes have almost destroyed her, we will get her back. I don't ever want to see her like this ever again, and not by your hand or your friends." Quil whispered, looking directly into my eyes, just like old Quil does.
"I promise Quil, I don't know what you know, but I swear to you I will always protect every part of Bella. If you want a blood oath, name the time and place and I will be there." I told him, holding in my growl.
"Ok" he said, before handing her over to me gently. I walked out the house and listened has he closed the door behind me.
I walked round to the driver's side and opened the door, I put Bella on the seat and gently shuffled her over has I got in, Billy wrapped his arm around her shoulders and let her head roll on to his shoulder. I spun the truck around and head back towards his house.
"Quil knows about the pack." I told him breaking the silence.
"Bella wouldn't have told him."
"I know, he said the same. How does he know?" I asked.
"Go see Old Quil tomorrow, he will tell you what you need to know." Billy answered.
"You know?"
Not for sure, but I have an idea how he knows." Billy explained.
I grabbed Bella's hand, and raised it to my face. I growled and almost dropped it when I could smell Quil strongly on it.
"Why does she smell like Quil?" I growled. "Her hand is covered in his scent."
Billy laughed quietly, turning and placing a soft kiss on Bella's head. "Her and Quil have made a pact or are keeping a secret. They used to do this when they were younger, I lost count the amount of times Jake would come home crying because they wouldn't involve him."
"What does it involve?" I asked, almost guessing the answer.
"They spit on their hands and shake, I thought they would have outgrown that by now." Billy shuddered.
"Gross" I commented.
I stopped the truck outside Billy's and climbed out, I ran around to the other side of the truck and pick up Bella once Billy was out and walking towards the front door. I followed him, with Bella in my arms, she was knocked out cold. I walked passed the sofa, and briefly wondered if I should sleep on it tonight.
"Don't bother Sam, stay with Bella she needs a full night's sleep. Just don't tell Charlie, he would kill me if he knew." Billy mumbled before walking into his room and closing the door. I took Bella into the other bedroom, once I removed her shoes and socks, I tucked her into bed and walked back out the room to lock up the house.
I rushed around the house making sure everything was locked up, before walking back into the bedroom. Bella hadn't moved, I shuffled her over and climbed on to the bed. Laying down on top of the blankets. Bella rolled over and put her face on my chest mumbling something I couldn't hear before she started to lightly snore, I closed my eyes and let sleep claim me.