A/N: With the previous and this chapter, I want to decicate this chapter to my former collegue and friend at my work place where I sew and do other things like embroidery etc aswell paint and so on. This person passed away a week ago in her sleep, so this chapter is dedicated to her; Anonymous 1970-2024, she would be been 54 years old this year if she was alive still. So this is for her. Sleep well and sweet, my dear friend.

Now onto the story. Shall we and thank you for your patience on this story, other things took my attention and time away from here but now I am back again.

Part 6 - Stories and Freakouts

While she was talking with the others, she still felt jittery and nervous around them, for first time as free woman, mother; she was still that same girl on the inside, scared shitless and didn't know what to do with herself really.

She knew that there was stuff they had been waiting on to tell her, even before all this had happened, they had wanted to talk with her about these things they were probably about to tell and talk with her about, and that made her scared for what was it?

Michael could see her go into herself, and she had this scared look on her face, and he just held his hand out to her, and she seemed to have seen it, for she did flinch first then just look at him, and saw only his smile, and she had to smile back, then she took her smaller hand into his own, and just squeezed it, he smiled and squeezed hers back gently.

"You OK?"

Michael then said in low tone to Bella, who just looked at him with nervous look on her face, and he just smiled then stroked her cheek gently with his free hand, and she relaxed abit from his touch made her feel safe for the moment.

"I know there things you were all waiting on to tell me when I got kidnapped and held away all this time, Michael. Just a feeling that there was things you all were waiting to tell me."

At that he like the others stilled and looked over at her, as if been able to hear her say this, and he just sighed and said

"Well it is truth, Bell, I won't lie now you say it, but there is alot to tell you, that has to do with you aswell."

She looked confused abit scared even, bitting her lip as she always had done when things were strange for her or made her nervous or scared, depending on the situation it was about really. She also noticed that the others were looking over at them, and she flushed red at their looks at her or them.

They all just smiled softly or nervously at her, as Michael then said

"You know we are of Native heritage, Bell?"

At that she nodded abit confused of his wording there, and he said continuing on;

"Well with that came also alot of secrets that we couldn't tell outsiders unless they were part of it in some ways."

"What w-ways?" She nervously said, as Michael said

"Either by being born into our family from a bond that was between the parents' or as in a bond that is so sacred that outsiders are not allowed to know. But you are different, Bell, for not only have you been a family member to my family, aswell the Means' and LaRanche families, but you are also a mate to me."

At that she gasped and looked frighten and he just kept holding her hand, and he said

"I am not saying this to frighten you, Bell, but you need to know why you may have felt a sensation if not a pull that lessens when you have been around me."

At that she looked at him in shock for what he had said, was the thing she always wondered, and she said

"How c-can that be, how can you still feel it despite all these years apart, it mu-must been such a torture to know nothing of where I was, Michael."

At that he did looked pained on his face, and she soften her look at him, despite she felt some kind anger and fear from being told this part.

"I can feel it still, for the bond is not complete, and that part won't happen I promise you until the day you feel ready to make that step. I can wait for however long you need, for you need the time to heal from what you been through, I may not know all of the details yet, Bell, but when you are ready to tell me, I will be there for you no matter what. For I won't hurt you, I can't even do it even if some thinks I should or would do, but it is not how this works. I promise you with all my heart that I will not hurt you intentionally or unintentionally."

Patrick said now;

"While you may fight and all that, Bella, he won't be able to hurt you in any shape or form, for it is a law we all have to follow within our packs, no hurting your mates one way or another, and never let another to harm you either. While another has done so for his own selfish needs were to great to even comphrend and understand of why he would do it to you or other women and girls, as it turns out that he has done so to more than just you, sweetheart. Michael nor any of us will never hurt you in such way, for it is not in our nature to even do so. I know your trust in men and us generally is very low right now, but with time to heal and grow, it will be ok in the end, For I know my sons and only daugther, just like I know you Bella, and that is none of them would ever do what that monster has done to you for years."

Bella was crying now, and Michael wrapped an gentle arm around her, couldn't take to see her so hurt but also some anger he could feel from her, and he just had to hold her, and surprisingly she did so too. She held onto him in a death grip, and cried into his shoulder/chest area.

Others looked at her sadly or emotional as she was at this moment, before she looked up at Michael, and said

"I will accept our imprint, but I -" He interrupted while stroking her cheek gently while saying

"You need time, I know and I will give it to you, baby. For you need it, as I need it too. For we need to start over on a new ball before anything else comes from it all."

At that she nodded and went back to hold onto him, and he just smiled and held her in his arms lovingly. Others smiled to hear her accept it all.