Pack Hierarchy
I opened my eyes and blinked has the sun was hitting my face, I closed my eyes again and just led there trying to remember how I got here. My last conscious thought last night was led on Quil's bed and closing my eyes.
I tried to sit up and stopped before grimacing, I couldn't move any part of my body, everything ached and felt sore. I must have used muscles yesterday I've never used before. Then I realised something, I had slept all night without having a nightmare. Maybe Sam was right, keeping busy until I am exhausted will stop them.
The house phone rang and I tried to get out of bed, I couldn't, no matter what body part I used it still hurt. I gave up and led back down has the phone stopped ringing. Less than a minute later the phone began to ring again, I tried once again to get up and used my elbows to try to lift my body off the bed. My arms shook and the ache got worse before I gave up and relaxed.
Again the phone stopped ringing, and I led there trying not to panic about being alone and stuck. I closed my eyes when the house phone started to ring again, there must be an emergency somewhere if they are constantly calling. I imagine most people that rang would know that Billy was at work.
I was going to be stuck here until Billy got off work, or until one of the pack visited. I breathed a sigh of relief when the front door opened.
"Bella" I heard somebody calling, before my door opened. "What's wrong? Can you not hear the phone ringing." I was relieved, when it was Jared stood in the doorway.
"I cant move, every part of my body hurts." I groaned, just staring up at the ceiling.
Jared started laughing and shaking his head has he left the room, I could hear him in the bathroom and the water running. I groaned again when I suddenly needed to use the toilet.
"Are you just going to leave me here." I called out, trying to sit up again, screwing my face up when the muscles in my stomached hurt.
I heard the phone ringing again and the water turn off before Jared stomped towards the kitchen to pick it up. I could hear him talking but couldn't make out what he was saying.
"Bella, that was your dad, he's been trying to speak to you for the last two days, where is your phone?"
My phone, oh my phone is at home on the sofa. "At home" I told him.
"Charlie is going to call my phone, answer it, he sounds worried." Jared said, putting his phone in my hand and leaving the room.
I jumped when the phone started to vibrate, I took a deep breath before answering and putting the phone up to my ear.
"Bells?" Dad asked before I could say hello.
"Yes, its me."
"I've been calling your phone for the last two days, and its going straight to answer machine.
"I know, I'm sorry dad, I forgot it at home. I will collect it in a few hours and charge it."
He went quiet for a while so I pulled the phone away from my ear to see if it was still connected. I put the phone back to my ear just has he started to speak again.
"Billy told me Bella, about the Cullen's leaving." He spoke gently, and that was all it seemed to take before I burst into tears.
"He doesn't want me anymore, said I was a distraction and not good enough. That he was just pretending to love me and be with me." I sobbed out, rolling on to my side and ignoring the pain in my body. It was nothing compared to the broken pieces of my heart.
I felt the bed dip and the phone taken out of my hand, I pulled the blanket up further to cover my face. Ignoring the pain in my body I wrapped my arms around me, to hold the broken pieces together.
I cried, my heart was in pieces, every part shattering like glass, I felt the blanket being pulled down and my arms softly pulled away before feeling warm arms wrapped around me.
"It's ok Bella, I've got you." I heard Jared whisper.
"My dad." I sobbed.
"He is going to call back later tonight, he wanted to come home tonight."
"He can't." I sniffled, I remembered him saying about having to do a course in Seattle a while a go and guessed that was what he was doing.
"I know, I told him to stay. Come on, I've ran you a bath, go and have a nice long soak."
I nodded, just before Jared picked me up and carried me into the bathroom placing me on the closed toilet seat.
"Can you manage on your own?" he asked.
I blushed and could feel my cheeks heat up before I nodded. I wasn't about to let somebody I didn't really know and a man at that to see me naked. Jared nodded, before leaving the bathroom, and closing the door.
I slowly stood up and lifted the toilet seat, I started to get undressed and then sat back down on the toilet. I looked over at the bath and took a deep breath ready to stand up again. I winced with every step I took has I made my way over to the bath, I climbed in the bath and lowered myself down before relaxing and feeling all the aches and pain disappear. I pulled my legs up and wrapped them around my arms around them unable to stop the tears, it hurt so much.
"Are you ok in there Bella?" Jared called through the door, causing me to jump and splash my hands into the water. I let my legs fall back down and led back.
"Bella?" Jared called again.
"Yes, I'm fine." I answered him loud enough so he would hear me.
"Ok, I'm going to make a start on breakfast, shout if you need a hand."
I closed my eyes when I could hear him step away from the door, and allowed the heat to soak into my muscles.
"Bella" Jared called through the door again, about ten minutes later.
"What" I snapped; unable to stop myself.
"Breakfast is nearly done." He called out knocking on the door once and walking away.
I quickly washed, before standing up, relieved that my body was not has sore and I could move again has I stepped out of the bath. Once the towel was wrapped around me, I realised that I forgot to bring clean clothes into the bathroom with me.
I opened the door and looked outside, before making a quick dash to the bedroom and closing the door. Once I was dressed, I slowly made my way out to the kitchen to look for Jared.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked, has he walked to the table and pulled a chair out for me.
"Better" I smiled at him, before taking a seat.
"So, I've made eggs, sausage and toast." Jared said, before putting down a plate piled high in front of me.
"I'm never going to be able to eat all that." I moaned.
"Try, anything left over I will finish." He grinned before taking the chair next to me.
We ate in silence, the plate was still almost full when I pushed it away, I was stuffed.
"Bella, you need to eat." Jared said, before pushing the plate back towards me.
Oh, another one trying to force me to eat, "I'm full Jared, you can have the rest."
"A few more bites, then I will finish it."
I picked my fork back up and made a big deal of having a mouthful of egg, a slice of sausage and a bite out of the toast. I smiled at him, before pushing my plate away again and towards him. I heard him growl and shake his head before he pulled the plate closer to him and began eating again.
Once the plates were in the sink and soaking, Jared came back to the table and sat down.
"So what are your plans for today?" he asked.
To be left alone I wanted to say. "I want to finish my school work." I told him.
He nodded, "Good, I have homework to do, we can sit here and do it together if you want." He suggested.
I nodded and stood back up, walking down the hallway towards the bedroom to grab the last bit of work. By the time I got back to the kitchen, Jared has his work laid out on half the table and he was reading through a text book.
I sat down, and smiled when he looked up before finding the work sheets I had left to do. I wanted to get this all done today so I could get lost in my own thoughts. We worked in silence, and it was nice, not having to keep stopping to answer questions. I guess Jared had deadlines for his work also.
I leant back in the chair, shaking my achy hand. I had finished all the work school had sent me. I sigh out load, suddenly regretting it because now my brain had time to thin of them. I turned my head to the window, watching the trees from the forest sway, and going over everything Sam, Paul and Quil Junior had said yesterday.
"Are you all done?" Jared asked, getting my attention.
I nodded, and wrapped my arms around my body while still looking out the window lost in thought. I jumped when my chair was moved and Jared was crouched in front of me pulling my arms away and taking hold of my hands.
"What do you want to do now?" he asked, I shrugged my shoulders. If I told him I wanted to be left alone, he would probably get Sam and I would end up having to deal with him for the rest of the day.
"I don't know" I whispered.
Jared looked behind himself and looked at the clock on the stove, "How about we have some lunch, and then how do you fancy travelling by wolf to your house to get your phone?" he asked.
"Is it safe?" I asked, feeling unsure.
He grinned at me, before letting go of my hands and standing up "I wont go too fast, and just so long has you hold tight, I cant see it being unsafe."
"Ok" I answered him, before nibbling on my bottom lip.
"You will be fine, I wont let anything happen to you, Sam would kill me if you got hurt." He mumbled the last part and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to hear him.
We ate a quick a lunch and we both cleaned up the dishes, Jared then took my hand and led me out the back of the house.
"Stay there, don't move." He ordered, suddenly sounding very serious. He stared at me until I nodded in understanding, then he turned around walked into the forest.
I looked up when I heard a yip sound to see a dark brown wolf stood in the watching me on the edge of the forest. I couldn't stop the smile has I slowly walked towards it, noticing the differences between Jared and Embry's wolves. Jared looked taller and bulkier than Embry, and he seemed to hold himself different. Has I reached him, he turned around and walked further into the forest, I followed him and stopped a short distance away from him has he led down.
Jared yipped again, then and nodded his head, I took a deep breath and walked closer to him, holding my hand out has I got closer to him. He moved his head suddenly and my hand was on his muzzle.
"Is this ok?" I whispered.
Jared yipped before turning his head and looking behind him.
I looked up nervous that there was something out there, I stared amongst the tree and tried to listen but all I could hear was the birds chirping. I jumped when Jared yipped and moved his head to me and then towards his back.
Then I realised what he meant, he wanted me to climb on to his back, I took another deep breath and climbed on. I flapped my arms trying to figure out where to put them, I didn't want to hurt him. When Jared suddenly stood up, I automatically bent over and wrapped my arms has much has I could around his neck.
Jared started to walk slowly further into the forest, I got used to his gait and relaxed. He seemed to realise and he sped up, I whooped has the trees flew past us faster and I couldn't stop the giggle that left my mouth. It felt like we were flying through the forest.
Sam pov
I left Paul to finish off the cabin and to make sure all the utilities were switched back on, I parked my truck outside the shop on the Reservation. Emily had given me a list of ingredients she needed for dinner tonight, usually I refused to do this. I hated shopping of any description, but I was hoping that Quil junior was working today so I could visit with Old Quil. I needed to know what was going on with Quil Junior, and how he knew about the pack.
Walking into the shop, I looked at the counter and smiled and waved at Joy. Grabbing a basket, I walked through the aisles picking out the stuff that Emily needed, I grinned when I could feel eyes watching me and quickly turned around, not surprised to see Quil Junior stood at the other end of the aisle stocking shelves.
"Morning Sam" Quil called out with his own grin.
"Morning" I grunted at him before walking around to the next aisle.
By the time I made it to the counter Joy was gone and it was Quil there instead.
I watched silently has he tapped away putting the prices into the cash register and bagging the food.
"How was Bella this morning?" Quil asked, once the shopping was bagged.
"She was still asleep when I left." Bella slept through the night without a single nightmare.
"Chasing those nightmares away for her huh."
I nodded at him, obviously he knew I stayed at Billy's last night.
"I wouldn't let Uncle Charlie know about staying over, he would go bright purple and ban her from the Res." He chuckled.
I couldn't stop the growl, even if I wanted to, the thought of Bella not being allowed here would make my wolf go feral.
"Calm down Sam, I was kidding." Quil whispered.
"Then why say it?" I asked him, after taking a deep breath.
"She is my family Sam, Bella has always had nightmares even when she was a kid. The screaming and fighting, Uncle Charlie was useless at calming her down and getting her back to sleep. He would usually drive down here in the middle of the night, put her in my bed with me and the nightmares would stop."
"So this isn't unusual then?" I asked, coming up with some sort of rota so Bella didn't have to sleep alone again.
"They stopped once she got older unless something was troubling her or something was on her mind. We know what that is right now, maybe in time they will stop." Quil answered looking sad.
"Let's hope, otherwise I'm going hunting and setting fires." I grumbled.
"Wait for me first." Quil whispered before winking at me.
I grinned at him, before grabbing the bag of shopping and walking out the shop without another word.
I needed to see Old Quil, I knew exactly what Quil Junior meant. Considering he wasn't pack yet, he knew far too much.
I put the groceries on the passenger seat and locked the truck back up before walking down past the shop until I got to the next street where the Ateara's lived, knocked on the door and waited for the door to be opened.
"Come in Sam" Old Quil called out, and I grinned the old man knew it was me.
I took a deep breath, opened the door and walked in. Old Quil was sat at the kitchen table, with his eyes closed. I sat down opposite him, and waited for him to say something. When he started to quietly chant and strained to hear what he was saying.
I flinched when he suddenly stopped and chanting and spoke and a normal volume. "I know why you are here, and it wasn't me that told him. The spirits did, he knew before Isabella did."
"You are teaching him to converse with the spirits?" I asked, it was obvious that Quil Junior was going to phase soon. I didn't why Old Quil was allowing him to have two different roles within the tribe.
"No, the spirits sought him out, I'm just helping him to understand what they are telling him."
"Will he phase?" I asked, needing to know if he will join the pack.
"Yes, he will be the last one to join the pack when the time is right." Old Quil answered me, smiling.
"When will that be?" I asked, not expecting an answer, he hasn't pre-warned us in the past who was going to phase and when.
"When the newest member accepts her position."
Bella, she wasn't ready to be told to be told that she was my mate. She would run or not believe us, something I was not going to risk happening.
"She is not ready." I stated, folding my arms across my chest so I wouldn't growl.
"She is stronger than you think, but also very stubborn and has one hell of a temper."
"I've seen glimpse of her temper, but the leeches have broken her." I told him.
"Yes, her spirit is rather sensitive right now, you need to push her." Old Quil said, folding his arms across his chest, copying how I was sat.
"How?" He knew Bella better than me.
"She needs to spend time with the whole pack, visit the house where you all live, she needs to start forming bonds with the other two females."
I couldn't help the chuckle that slipped past my lips, "she is refusing to go."
"Make her, you are the Alpha of the pack. Demand that she goes to the house, she may not fully understand your position in the pack, but she will listen to you."
"Will her temper come out?"
He laughed loudly for a few seconds looking at me like he knew a secret about Bella and her temper, it can't be that bad surely. "Yes, probably, it would help her spirit heal."
How would Bella losing her temper help her spirit, if anything she could completely shut us out and go back to Forks. "We could lose her; she might go back to Forks."
"If you think she will, get Billy involved, she adores him like a second father. Then send her here, I've dealt with Isabella's temper more times than I can count." Old Quil grumbled looked annoyed.
I couldn't stop the growl when I thought of Old Quil punishing her with his cane or hand, I had seen from Jake's memories from when Quil Junior would complain to him about his grandfather hitting him when he would misbehave.
"Stop growling at me boy! Get those awful thoughts out of your head. I have never laid a finger on that child and I never will, her Aunts temper was quick and I know just how to calm down Swan females. "Old Quil snapped, smacking his cane against the leg of the table.
"Sorry" I mumbled before standing up.
"Well be off with you now." Old Quil said, before also standing up and walking down the hallway to where I presume his room is.
I let myself out, closing the door behind me and walking back to my truck. I had an idea of how to get Bella to the house and spend time with us. I'm sure my wolf wont like her temper when she does lose it, but I need to trust Old Quil that he knows Bella at the moment better than us.
I dropped the shopping off at the house and said a quick hello to Emily and Jake, checking in where the rest of the pack was before walking into the forest and pulling my shorts down. I tied them to my ankle and brought my wolf forward to phase.
I growled when I noticed that I was not alone and Jared was also phased in with me, he was supposed to be with Bella. I didn't want her left alone at all.
Why are you phased? I asked him.
Charlie called Billy's trying to get a hold of Bella, he had been trying to call her phone but she wasn't answering. She realised that she had left it at the house in Forks.
I couldn't stop the whine when he showed me his memory of Bella getting upset when she spoke to Charlie.
So, you have left her at Billy's alone and ran to Forks. I growled when I felt him start to get nervous, and prepared myself.
I growled and howled when he showed me that Bella was on his back and he was running through the forest. I was pissed, she was my mate, I wanted to be the wolf to take her for a ride. The last time she saw a wolf she passed out.
Sam she is fine, she actually laughed when I sped up on the way to Forks.
Before I could even think of anything to say I felt Paul and Embry phase in, both of them asking what was going on.
Stand down, Embry phase out, go back to what you were doing. Paul meet me where Jared is, Jared stop. I ordered everybody, satisfied when I felt Embry phase out.
Where are you Jared? I thought to him.
Sam she is fine, and she is safe. He thought.
Where are you? I ordered him again.
I watched has he looked around and could see that he was just over the treaty line. I sped up and listened to Bella asking Jared why he had stopped.
Should I phase back? He thought.
No, just stay there and keep Bella on your back. Paul phase back when you get close, and take Bella back to the Black's
I growled as I entered the small clearing Jared had stopped in and looked at Bella, she looked scared and nervous. I walked up to her and rubbed the side of my muzzle against her leg.
"Sam?" She asked, I nodded and took a step back has Paul walked out of the trees.
"Come on Bella, I will carry you back to Billy's." Paul said has he walked up to us and pulled her off of Jared's back, and pulling her legs around so he was carrying her bridle style.
"What is happening? Has something happened?"
"Everything is fine, you will see Sam and Jared later."
I didn't look to see if they were out of sight, when I ran straight for Jared and wrapped my mouth around his neck pulling him down to the floor and ignoring his blood has it dripped into my mouth. I flinched when Bella suddenly screamed, I didn't want her to see me like this.
This is your fault, you fucked up. Why did you think that taking her on your wolf was a good idea, you have a car? I thought, has I left go of this throat and bit into his hind leg when he tried to get up.
I just thought she would be ok. Jared thought before he led back down and showed me his torn neck.
You had no right to take her out on your wolf first, she is my mate. I wanted to take her out first and make sure she was ok.
I growled and bit harder into his leg, catching the bone with my teeth when I saw how accepting Bella was of the pack and how Kim was still too scared to see any of us phased in our wolf forms.
You are jealous, because your mate can't and won't accept your wolf, so you took my chance away from me I thought and then I let my wolf take over, putting Jared in his place and making sure he knew what he had done.
When my wolf allowed my thoughts through, I was stood over Jared foaming at the mouth. There was fur and blood nearby, I listened to his heart rate and that was fine. I stepped away from him, and looked into his eyes. I was still angry has I showed him my memory of when Bella first saw Embry and passing out.
She could have passed out at any point, what if running too fast caused her to fall off? None of us have ever taken a mate on our backs you didn't know what could have happened. Stay here and heal, and then go back to the house. Stay out of my way, and hope that Bella is not scared of me. I thought.
I left Jared there and ran towards Billy's house, hoping that Bella would be scared of my wolf. I barked when I approached the tree line, and sat down. Paul stuck his head out before he called for Bella to follow him.
I watched has she walked behind Paul using him to partially hide herself from me, I whined when I couldn't see her face.
I watched has Paul pulled her forward and took her hand, "Bella, it's fine, it's just Sam."
Bella looked up at me straight into my eyes, I watched has she tilted her head to the side before letting go of Paul's hand and slowly walked towards me.
"What was that about Sam?" She asked.
I growled when Paul laughed at her question and stepped closer to her. "He can't answer you in this form, Jared messed up ok. I've told you this just now."
"I know" she snapped, before stepping closer to me and pulling her hand out. I led down and closed my eyes, waiting for Bella to either touch me or recoil from me. I whined when I felt her muzzle run over my muzzle and let out a breath that caused her hair to fly behind her. My eyes sprang open when Bella suddenly giggled.
"She is not afraid Sam, relax." Paul whispered.
Bella took a step back and Paul wrapped his arm across her shoulder, I nodded my head back towards the house and then stood up. I needed to run, my wolf was sated to know his mate was ok and not scared, but I was not ready to phase back. I was still angry with Jared for taking what was mine to do.
Bella Pov
I let Paul guide me back into the house and to the chair in the kitchen, I picked up my now cold coffee cup and took a mouthful has Paul sat down opposite me.
"Is Sam coming back?" I asked.
"Yes, of course he is Bella, he is probably still pissed at Jared for taking you out. He will need to phase back before he can come see you."
"Ok" I whispered.
"Come on let's see what day time crap is on the tv this time of day." Paul said before he stood up and took my hand.
I sat down on the sofa and curled my legs underneath me has Paul sat down next to me and grabbed the remote.
"Do you think Jared is ok?" I asked when Paul has, he flicked through the channels.
"He is fine."
"But it looked like Sam ate his throat." Bella commented, sounding worried
"Bella, look Jared is probably back at the pack house healing, I guarantee by this time tomorrow he will be fully healed."
"Ok"
I sat back at watched some day time soap, that neither of us had any idea what was going on or who the characters were. I relaxed and let my body slump against Paul, allowing his heat to warm me up. I felt has he put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer.