Chapter 46:

IMPORTANT

I'm sorry for taking so long to update, and part of it is honestly that I wrote this story a couple of years ago. I still like the premise of it, but there are things that make me cringe (mostly writing style), and it makes me lose motivation to post. I'm doing my best to get past that, though, so I can finish this story.

Also, I plan to post more stories soon! So keep an eye out!

I buried my face further into the woman's shoulder when I heard those words and let my lips pull into the slightest smile. I was content just standing in Esme's arms with her purrs of love and content rumbling in her chest so lowly I could feel her body vibrate.

I inhaled her familiar scent. I truly had missed Esme. She was like the mother I never had and had always wanted. Renee was…well, she just had the personality of a child all the time, it seemed. I took care of her while I grew up, and the only time it was reversed was during my cancer. I loved Renee, I truly did, but she did not give me the nurturing I both needed and craved like Esme did.

Really, the same could go for Charlie and Carlisle. While Charlie—unlike Renee—had made up for the years he missed out on in the past few years, there was still the gap I had been missing at the time I met the Cullens. Carlisle was like a father to me, and I loved him in that way.

In all honesty, every Cullen had been the family I wanted.

Jasper and Emmett were my big brothers that protected me and wanted me to be safe while still being stupid in their moments. Rosalie and Alice were my sisters—Alice more at the time than Rosalie—who loved me and were there for me in my times of need. They were my first true and real family, and I missed having that connection with them. I had the Pack and the Denalis now, but before then I had the Cullens.

I gave the woman a squeeze before I took in a breath and pulled away to look at her. My vision was blurred slightly from the tears clustering in my eyes that she flawlessly raised her hand to brush away. I leant into her hand, causing a small smile to paint her lips before she kissed my head lovingly. "I love you, sweetheart," she murmured on my forehead. She pulled away to look me in the eyes, holding my jaw. "We love you and we will never leave you again."

I glanced away from her to the rest of the Cullens to see the determination staring back at me. I smiled and closed my eyes with a nod. "I know," I whispered. "I know."

She kissed my forehead again before pulling away and I opened my eyes to see Carlisle approaching me. He stared at me with caution and a silent request. I gave a small nod, and it was all he needed to sweep forward and wrap me in a sturdy hug that I returned.

He kissed my hair. "Esme is right, Bella," he said. "We all love you—very deeply." He pulled away to stare into my eyes. "You are a part of us—a part of this coven—no matter which family your mate is in, and I promise you that no matter what happens, we will always stand by you."

I smiled at him. "Thank you, Carlisle," I murmured.

He nodded with a smile and kissed my forehead again. "Always, Bella," he replied. "Always."

When he pulled away, I was met with the sight of the remaining Cullens having a stare-off with each other. My guess was to determine who was going to hug me first out of them all. I liked that they were trying to keep the decision silent and as least violent as possible—I could see the longing to hit something in their eyes—but knew they wouldn't settle it.

So, I made their decision and went to the only person in the family I had yet to hug, really hug: Jasper. I moved around the counter to the man whose eyes slowly began to widen when he realized what I was doing while the siblings smiled, accepting my choice of having him go first.

I held my arms open when I was a few feet away from him and the pixie his arms were around. "Can I have a hug?" I asked.

The man stared at me for a second, seeming unsure if he should or not when Alice squeezed his hand to encourage him. Jasper took in a breath and nodded. He took his arms from around Alice and stepped around her towards me in a slow pace to allow me or the others to change our minds. When we didn't, he moved forward and pulled me into a hug.

The hug was awkward for the first few seconds, and it showed his inexperience in the tension of his body and lack of breathing. I didn't push him, but I did give him a slight squeeze of encouragement. Slowly, his body began to relax and he took in a light inhale on my neck soon followed by another. Immediately, his body relaxed fully as he exhaled and his arms around me tightened.

I smiled when Jasper grew comfortable with the hug and began to breathe evenly against my neck. I noticed how his arms were a mixture of Emmett and Edward's. It was muscular and strong, but his arms were not as large or beefy as Emmett's.

It was oddly comfortable.

After a few more seconds, we slowly pulled apart. I smiled up at him and he smiled down to me. "That was…surprisingly satisfying," he murmured.

I chuckled and my smile broadened. "Yeah, it was."

The blonde-haired man grinned and kissed my forehead before stepping away to allow his little wife room. I turned to Alice a second before she was on me, holding me as tightly as my port would allow her to and kissed my cheek happily. "I'm glad you're back, Bella," she purred.

I smiled lightly. "Me too, pixie," I breathed honestly. It was wonderful to have them back in my life without any tension or unspoken words between us. It felt like they truly were, for the first time, back in my life.

Alice purred again and nuzzled my cheek with her own to apply her scent and then pulled away with a broad smile. I gave her a soft one in return just before Rosalie rushed over and took the opening her sister had allowed to scoop me into her own arms.

My arms instinctively wrapped around the blonde while she buried her face in my neck and inhaled. A purr rumbled deeply in her chest and her nose nuzzled my neck happily. "Does this mean you're giving us all another chance?"

I nodded and smiled. "Yeah, Rose," I said, giving the blonde a squeeze. "I still don't completely trust you, but I am."

Her purr dissipated for a second, but then came back full swing. She nuzzled me again and kissed my temple. "I understand that, and thank you, Bella."

I smiled with a nod. "I think we all kind of deserve a do over," I said a moment before Emmett was sweeping me into his own arms.

I grunted—mostly from the force, but not in pain—when my feet were suddenly not on the ground, but in the air swinging back and forth. His purr vibrated both his body and my own with its power and I took in a breath—breathing the best I could.

"I love you, Bella-Bear," he purred.

I nodded, patting his shoulder. "You…too, Emmett…" I took in a breath and his purring grew. "Air…"

"Oh, right." The large man set me on the ground and loosened his hold dramatically, but didn't release me. I took in deep breaths while he instead leant forward to nuzzle my head. "Sorry, I'm just so happy!"

"I can tell," I murmured.

He gave me one final squeeze before pulling away and looked down to me with a massive grin plastered. I smiled weakly back up at him and stepped back, looking around the room at the entire coven staring at me with large smiles matching his.

Awkwardly, I glanced into the living room. "So…" I drawled, unsure what to do, "…do you want to watch TV?"

The Cullens and I sat in the living room for nearly two hours just talking. We did nothing else—not even watch TV like I had proposed. Instead, we just sat and talked and talked in the living room for two hours about what had happened in our lives since we last saw each other.

I learned that after they left and came to Denali—and confessed to lying to the Denalis about what happened in Forks from both embarrassment and lack of will to tell the truth—the Cullen coven actually split. While they moved onto Ithaca, Edward traveled around the world to help with his own depression of leaving me. Rosalie and Emmett had stayed with the family for a while, but then went to Africa in hopes of rekindling their relationship through the struggle their family was going through. Alice dug in her past, Jasper studied philosophy, Esme restored an old residence, and Carlisle worked at a hospital for a majority of the time. The family had done everything they could to forget their depression and sadness after leaving me, and it warmed my heart towards them when I realized once again just how much they missed me.

In return for what they told me, I divulged into my own past with more detail than they had heard before. I told them everything from my suicidal stage to my moving up to Alaska. The story was hard for them to hear at times—especially when it came to my suicidal era—but it was also lighthearted and fulfilling when they realized how much of a family I had built for myself in their stead.

By the end of our sharing, both sides felt closer to the other than we had in the past three years, and I didn't doubt we would only become closer as time went on. I just hoped the Pack and Denalis could find the same connection with the Cullens I had.

Speaking of the Pack, we were laughing at Rosalie's story of Emmett's failed bull fight with a bison when the door opened and the six Quileute members burst through the door. Everyone's eyes snapped to them just as Leah called out and they fell into a pile on the floor.

Perfect.

"You know, the door generally works better with a line," I drawled.

The Pack grunted and Emily tried to shove herself out from under Paul. "Lines through doors are for the simple people," she grumbled. With a heave, she pushed out from under him and yelped when she rolled onto the floor.

I rolled my eyes and watched the Pack slowly stumble to their feet. "Then what are the people who fall through doors?" I asked.

"Us," Sam answered. He stood from the ground and placed his hands on his back. With a push and bend backwards, his spine popped. "Ah, yeah…"

I hummed and then looked the group over. "So," I said, cocking my head, "I thought you were going to be staying in town?"

Seth shrugged. "I mean, we tried, but after we started our fifth coffees and twentieth tray of biscuits, the guy Max made us leave."

"He made you leave?"

"Well, he didn't make us," Leah conceded, "but he did advise it strongly before his managers chased us out with their brooms."

I grinned widely before pursing my lips to hold back my laugh. The Cullens furrowed their brows or bit their cheeks to keep from laughing. "You were cleaning them out?" I asked.

"Not really…"

"I wouldn't say that."

"That's a little too strong."

"No."

"I plead the fifth."

I hummed and smacked my lips before glancing at Emily who had her eyes wide and was giving large nods. She mouthed, Completely.

I smirked. "Uh-huh…"

Leah looked over to her cousin to see her reaction and reached over to smack her arm. "Bloody traitor!" she hissed.

"Ow!" Emily recoiled and rubbed her arm with a scowl. "What? It's not like she didn't know that already."

"But you didn't have to tell her," Paul groaned. "It's better to just leave it on the down low and not the up high."

I rolled my eyes at the shifter. "There is nothing on the down low when it comes to you, Paul," I said. Emily sniggered and the man stuck his tongue out at me.

How mature.

I cocked my head. "So, if you were run out of there," I started, "where have you been this entire time?"

The group shifted, suddenly seeming uncomfortable. "We were, uh…" Jacob tried. He scratched the back of his neck and I arched my brow, folding my arms over my chest. "We were just, um, uh…"

"You were…?" I drawled, leaning forward.

He bit his lip and winced with each word, "At…the…Denali house…"

It took only a few short seconds for me to realize exactly what he meant. My jaw dropped and I shook my head. "Oh my god," I said. The Pack shifted, giving me sheepish smiles. "You threatened them, didn't you?" Behind me, I could hear a few snorts that I was sure were from the Cullen children.

"Well, I wouldn't say threatened…" Paul grumbled.

Sam nodded. "It was more of a, um, firm warning," he said, folding his hands together, "on what could—and would—happen if they were to hurt you in any possible way."

"Or just Tanya…" Jacob grumbled.

I grinned with a small laugh and shot off my seat. "You did threaten them with the sibling speech!" I called, giving a wicked smirk.

Emily gave me an offended huff. "We had to!" she protested. "I'm not a shifter, but I'm the imprint of one and your sister. It's our job to make sure that your significant other and her family understands what would happen if they were to cross you." She shifted in place and ran a hand through her hair while muttering, "Which is ending up in a pile of ash…"

I rolled my eyes. "Wow, guys," I drawled, "just wow."

"Don't hate the player," Leah sniffed, "hate the game."

I rolled my eyes again and punched the she-wolf in her shoulder hard enough to make a point without hurting myself. The Cullens shifted in their seats and finally brought attention onto them. The eyes of the wolves moved creepily at the same time to the vampires sitting around the living room behind me.

The Cullens looked just a little uncomfortable being in the same room as the shifters, and the shifters looked more than a little uncomfortable being in the same room as the Cullens. A small silence filled the room while I stood awkwardly in the middle of the awkward exchange.

Finally, Sam raised his chin and stoically crossed his arms over his chest. "Cullens."

"Sam," Carlisle returned with a polite smile.

Jacob copied his Alpha's position and quirked a brow at them. "Are we going to need to give you the same speech, or are we going to be running you out of the house?" He paused when Rosalie sniffed and quickly added, "The last part wasn't meant as an insult."

"Good," she grumbled.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "The Cullens and I are on good grounds with each other, I think," I said, glancing at the family. The six vampires beamed at me, and all I could offer was a small smile before turning to the Pack. "We were just catching up—properly, this time."

They nodded with hums, all going to cross their arms. I rolled my eyes as Paul said, "That so?"

I snorted. "Yes, Mom," I drawled, earning a few snickers, "and we're all playing nice."

The man's cheeks reddened in embarrassment and he ducked his head. "I'm not a mom…" he grumbled.

The Pack snickered and Carlisle spoke up, "Actually, Bella…" He glanced at me and then nodded towards the Pack. "…we would like to speak with the wolves, if you wouldn't mind."

Sam straightened his shoulders with the others as they suddenly lost the relaxed stances they'd taken up moments before. I almost rolled my eyes again when I saw Jacob puff his chest out.

I chuckled and waved my hand dismissively. "It's alright, Carlisle," I smiled. I turned to Sam. "So, which of you have the keys?"

He tore his eyes from the Cullens to me. He arched his brow in confusion. "Huh?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes and held out my hand. "Keys please."

He frowned and looked down at my hand while I jerked my fingers back and forth in a "come on" motion. Finally, it seemed to dawn on him what I was asking for, because his eyes suddenly widened. "Oh! Right."

Twisting slightly, he grabbed the keys from his back pocket and set them in my hand. I closed my hand and smiled. "Thank you."

He nodded. "Sure," he smiled. I turned on my heel and began walking for the door when he frowned. "Wait. Why do you need them?"

I shrugged when I got to the door and opened it. "Well," I said, "I don't know how long this conversation will take, and I personally don't feel like standing outside while you all converse. So, I'm gonna go up to the Denali house and hear their story about your threats."

The Cullens visibly stiffened at the sound of their cousins' names, however, it was quickly relaxed so that was progress. The wolves just frowned. "But why take our car?"

"Because I have no other car and I would like to drive by myself for the first time in two years," I said simply. I began to step out of the house when Esme seemed to catch on.

"Wait," she called, "you haven't driven in two years?"

I shook my head, glancing over my shoulder at her. "No…Not really. Only with someone hovering over my shoulder once a year." I began walking out towards the car. "I'll see you guys later." I waved over my shoulder.

"But what if you need help?" Rosalie called. "You may be well out of practice having not driven in two years. Don't you think you should have someone with you?"

"Not really!" I called. I unlocked the car and opened the driver's side door to slide in.

"What if we need a ride?!" Seth whined. I glanced back to see Rosalie standing in the doorway with Seth peeking over her shoulder and an adorable pout on his face.

I grinned. "You can run, can't you?" I asked. I got into the seat and put on my seatbelt. Shutting the door, I started the car and forced myself not to grin at the sound. It really was nice to be behind a steering wheel again.

I put the car in gear and turned to the house filled with panicked pale and russet colored faces. I waved with a grin. "Lock up the house when you leave!" I called, and then pulled out to the road.

I grinned as I drove, pleasantly surprised with how well my muscles had remembered driving. Even after two years of not driving, I had a pretty good run with the car. Sure, my turns were a little sloppy and my stops were a little jerky, but I only put a tire in the ditch once when I misjudged a single turn. And I may have almost gotten hit by an old lady, but that was not my fault.

Well, all almost accidents, sloppy turns, jerky stops and swearing aside, I made it to the Denali house all in one piece without a single scratch on the Pack's car. I had just pulled into the Denali driveway when the front door opened and the five vampires poured out.

I put the car in park and turned off the ignition. Stuffing the keys in my pocket, I opened the car door and stepped out only to be scooped up into Tanya's arms. I squeaked and placed my hands on her shoulders while she held me up in the air by my hips and grinned up at me while she spun around in a circle.

I couldn't stop my giggle as I looked down at her during the cheesy movie worthy lift. Tanya chuckled and brought me back to the ground to be wrapped in her arms with a firm kiss. I smiled into the kiss and moved my hands from her shoulders to form a crown behind her neck.

The kiss lasted for only a few seconds, but it was perfect. I disconnected our lips and pulled back enough for her to see my quirked brow. "Miss me much?" I teased.

The blonde shrugged with a smirk. "Every minute." She pecked my lips and then pulled away to take my hand.

Irina took the window to jog forward with a shit eating grin. "We didn't know you were coming up here," she beamed. "I thought you were staying with the wolves for the rest of the day."

I gave a small shrug. "I was, but I got a chance to come up here, so I did."

"And you drove," Eleazer added. He, Carmen and Kate were moving just a few paces behind the dirty blonde with similar smiles of their own—my guess is they were excited to have a moment alone with me again. And, it seemed, they didn't miss the fact how rare of an occasion it was.

I nodded gleefully. "I did!" I called. "It was awesome." I held out an arm to pull Irina into a one-armed hug, but of course that wasn't needed as Irina practically lunged into my embrace.

The blonde gently squeezed me and swayed back and forth until she suddenly stopped. Her body stiffened and her arms around me tightened just a fraction. I frowned and tried to pull away to see what the issue was, but I found myself being embraced by a solid, strong statue.

Irina buried her face in my neck and sniffed furiously along my shoulder. My jaw ticked as soon as I realized just what she was smelling when a low growl rumbled in her chest. "Bella," she frowned, pulling away from my neck. Her dark eyes fixed on me; not completely black, but close to it.

"Yes?" I asked carefully.

Her grip just barely tightened again. "Why do you smell like them?"

It didn't take a genius to know exactly who she was referring to as "them". It took less than half a second for the Denalis to figure out who she meant and they were clearly not happy about it.

Kate's eyes darkened a shade and deep scowls pulled on Carmen and Eleazer's features. Tanya tightened her grip on me hand while I bit the inside of my cheek and then sighed. I should've known this would have been their reaction to realizing I had been alone with the "competition" behind their backs.

"They came to my house, Irina," I said. "Rosalie and I arranged the whole thing the other day so we could talk."

"Talk about what?" Kate scowled. She walked forward to stand next to Irina.

I shrugged. "Everything," I said. "We talked about when they left and how it affected me. We talked about Victoria and Laurent; about the Pack. We just talked."

"And why weren't we in on this little thing?" Irina asked, narrowing her eyes. "I'm assuming the wolves knew about."

I sighed. "Because if you had known, you would've wanted to be there, and honestly I didn't want you to know."

"Why not?" Kate barked. Despite her harsh tone, I could see the small amount of hurt in her eyes from not being informed. "We're your coven and family."

"I know that," I said, "but this was really just between me and the Cullens. I know you want to be involved with my life—everything from it—but this was something I needed to deal with alone."

"But the Pack knew," Irina argued.

"Only to get them to leave the house along with Sue and Charlie," I said. "I needed to be alone with the Cullens, and this was the best way to do it." I squeezed Tanya's hand. "I know you guys wouldn't have come if I told you not to, but I do know you would have pushed to come, and would worry and freight until it had happened. It was just easier to have it this way."

The Denalis pondered the idea, letting it roll over in their minds before Tanya finally sighed next to me. She took her hand from mine to wrap it around my waist and said, "I take it that it went well. I'm guessing they've been with you for the past several hours they were supposed to be hunting."

I nodded, smiling up at my mate. "It did, actually. I think we both came to understand each other better and are on good terms now."

She smiled—less for the truce between the Cullens and myself, but more for my own smile—and nodded. "I'm glad," she said. Kissing my hair, she pulled us towards the house. "Let's get inside, and then you can tell us about it."

I nodded and then smirked. "I will, but first you need to tell me how it went with the Pack."

Kate groaned. Her eyes looked ready to disappear into her skull with how hard she rolled them. "Oh my god it was awful! I have never in my entire existence ever felt so—I don't know—tired, scared and angry. Oh, and don't even get me…"

And, as Kate went into her tirade, things were snapped back into place.