Chapter 3

Song for this Chapter: Day One by Carly Pearce

Mama4dukes, thank you for taking the time out of your "real" life to be my Beta. I really appricate it. Love you, Sister!

I take a deep breath as I start towards where Dad and Sue were talking to one of his deputies. I can see Leah moving in fast, when she saw which direction I'm heading. I've known for a long time that the girl had daddy issues. With her dad dying the night she first transformed, who wouldn't. She's taking this whole Daddy thing to the extreme as far as I'm concerned.

I'd heard through the rumor mill and from my own father's mouth. Since I'd up and left, when I turned down Charlie's offer to help me pay for school that Leah'd jumped all over that.

It's like she was trying to replace her dad with mine, but also, me with her. A stray thought crossed my mind about getting my Psych PHD online.

I'd diagnosed her issues and mine quick enough.

"Mom, why don't you and Charlie go get some cupcakes. Remember they're being served at the reception next weekend," damn bitch beat me to them.

I hung my head but smiled to myself as the happy couple walked in the opposite direction as me. I had to give it to her. She'd done that a lot smoother than I would've. Oh great, now she's headed my way and by the look on her face I'm in for it.

"What do you think you're playing at, Swan?" she sneered. I couldn't help but snicker underneath my breath.

"I was just going to talk to my dad, that's all." I couldn't keep the emphasis in my voice off of the word MY. I knew it would piss her off, but I really don't give a damn about her ego or wants at this moment.

I really needed to get it together and do what I'd come here to do.

"You're ruining everything. You need to go back to wherever you came from. You've been gone all this time. Why come back at all?" She sounded like a three year old about ready to throw a tantrum.

I believe she thought her words were going to hurt my feelings.

If I had any she might have…

Well, she's got another thing coming. My feelings about this whole FUBARed situation starts and ends with Charlie, and his need to know the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

I'd come here to complete my mission and this daddy's-want-to-be is just going to have to deal with it. Shaking my head I looked up towards where my dad and his fiance were standing.

Did he look happy at that moment, yes. Dad looked relaxed, and dare I say, really happy about being the center of attention.

His bride to be though, she looked as nervous as a whore in church. Sue couldn't stop trying to look around for her support system. Her body language was completely off. It was like she needed other people around her as a distraction from living in the moment. Needless to say, she didn't look like a happy go lucky bride to be, not from my view anyway.

Though if I was her, I'd be looking for help too.

She's always had the help of the people of the tribe. She's never had to do it all on her own. Lord knows she stuck by the pack and elders when they needed her to. Now, they were sticking by her.

I wondered what she's been promised if she'd go all the way with this wedding. I knew what Charlie would be getting.

But what would his bride be gaining by marrying my dad?

A house? No, she had her own. Retirement? No, Charlie had a good nest egg, but they wouldn't be living on easy street. Cash money? Sure, dad was always good at having a few thousand to bucks when he or someone else needed it, but millions? No.

She'd have to be getting something from the reservation for doing this. Something that was only given to those who'd earned it, and it seems to me that by marrying my dad, she's going to be earning something.

"You know what Leah, you're right. I'm going to go and tell Dad and Sue good-bye, and then I'll take my leave." I say as I turn and start walking to the happy couple.

As I turned I could see that most of those in attendance were staring and listening to the conversation that Leah and I had just had.

Yeah, listen good mother fuckers. The shits about ready to hit the fan.

I'd never had a sibling. I'd never been part of a pack of wolves either. I don't know if it was the brother-sister thing or the Pack thing but who was talking to the intended couple at the cupcake table? None other than Seth.

As I slowly made my way towards them, my mind drifted to another time and place. Seth had always been one of the good ones. He'd help old people cross the street, kind of good ones. Always a happy smile in greeting, and never a bad word to say about anyone. As I looked at the man standing talking, I recognized that same young man he'd once been, and wondered what he was like now.

Over the last few years when I'd get the courage to randomly call dad.

He'd tell me all about the athlete Seth was in high school. Dad had also talked about how different it was having a teenaged boy in the house compared to teenage girls. I don't know this Seth standing with my dad, but I'd hoped he'd let me talk to Charlie and Sue. I already knew that wasn't going to happen with Leah.

So with a fake but hopeful smile I approached Charlie and Sue from behind. Sue's left arm was wrapped around my dad's waist, like she was trying to keep him from running away from her. So I run my hand over my dad's shoulder to let him know I'm coming in from his other side.

I noticed several things at once. The band had started a new tune, there were no chocolate cupcakes left, and the table in front of us had several flutes of cheap changion in it. So I quickly grab one up and take a swig. Liquid courage. The conversation that was going on between the three stopped as I stood there.

"So Bella, tell us all about Nashville," Seth says as his eyes move towards where the pack were seated.

I wondered idly if Leah was seated now with the elders or if she was standing where I'd left her?

I already knew every ear with 100 yards of us were listening intently to see how this was going to go down. I also knew that Seth was doing this more for the pack benefit than the sisters.

Ignoring Seth's request completely, I turned my whole body toward my dad.

"Hey Old Man, you think you might have a few minutes to spare alone for your only child?" I'd worded this question carefully. I'd wanted to see how Leah, Seth, and even Sue would handle it.

I watched as Seth's face turned towards me. His eyes showed he had questions to ask. Was it worry or wonder written all over his face?

I also watched as Sue's natural dark face became pale as a sheet, and she was now looking at the ground in front of her.

I'd always wondered what this moment would be like.

What the pack and elders would do to keep me from having a face to face convo with my dad.

How everyone would react.

I imagined so many scenarios about this moment and here I am now living it.

Three this happened at once:

"Sure, kiddo!" Charlie had his Chief of Police face on. I bet he was already forming questions about my living and working arrangements?

"We have guests," came Sues' shocked reply. I saw the hope leave her eyes as looked around herself and saw the only people left were those from the reservation.

"This is another one of the song's Izzy's written," Mitch belted out over the sound system. Yeah, Mitch doesn't have the best timing, but he does play a mean guitar lick when called for.

"Oh, sorry, Char- Dad." I say sheepishly. Hoping my voice could convince Charlie I was upset.

Charlie looks down at Sue, and then over towards where the unused tables are standing. "Looks like only family left, honey. I need to talk to Bella about what happened earlier anyway." Charlie says. He drops the arm that was around Sue's shoulders and turns his eyes my way.

"Hey dad, since there is only family left," I say, "Can you maybe go for a ride with me? I've brought my new car and I'd really like to show it to you." Part of the plan.

"Bells?" Charlie is looking around at his guests. I know that he's feeling torn between them and me, but damn it.

"Come on Dad, we haven't seen each other face to face in almost 4 years. Can't you please just give me a few minutes of privacy with you? I really want to talk to you about my new life, the new car…" I leave the question hanging.

This has to be his decision. His choice! Yes, I have a plan, but the man has his own free will.

Whether I like it or not.

Parents use guilt on us kids all the time. Turn around is fair play. Maybe, puppy eyes would work on him?

Behind my dad, I watch as Seth is almost holding Sue up under her armpits, a look of shock written all over his face. She looks like she's about to pass out. As I turn my head back towards my dad, I also notice out of the corner of my eye that Leah is now making her way over to the cake table.

Before Leah can make it us, my dad huffs and pushes me towards the front of the house. He never noticed Sue, Leah, or Seth. He never noticed the worried looks on the elders and pack faces as we walked away. He just tilted his head down and kept on walking.

"My cars down this way," I pointed as we made our way down the driveway and onto the road. I noticed the for sale by owner sign in dad's yard as we walked.

"I didn't notice everyone leaving earlier. You'd think the Chief of Police would notice when people are leaving his own house," dad walks and shakes his head, thumbling his figure towards the backyard.

I never wanted to run to my car faster than I did right now. I wanted to make it to safety before anyone or anything could separate me from my father.

I click the alarm and the autostart as we approach my ride. Charlie whistled through his teeth when he read the make and model of his daughter's new vehicle. I still didn't talk car and motor, but I'd paid a pretty penny to be able to get the hell out of dodge when/if this moment arrived.

I get into the driver's seat, buckling my seatbelt as Charlie does the same. Before I had my driver's door completely closed I thought I'd heard the sound of a faint cry and a low menacing growl. I couldn't keep the smile off of my face at hearing both.

Dad didn't seem to notice either, and I wasn't in a giving mood. So I quickly put the car into first gear and took off towards town.

I knew we'd be followed, but that's just the way my cookie crumbles.