Bella had completely forgotten about her rental vehicle until the following morning.
To her relief, Paul explained that Quil and Embry had remembered it had to be returned Monday afternoon. They cleaned out the rental (and demolished what groceries were still in the cooler), storing everything but the girl's clothing inside the Clearwaters garage for later sorting. Sam followed Embry to the rental lot to return the SUV for her.
Bella didn't want to think about their lake-water-soaked bathing suits or the mildew scent that had likely taken over by now unless Charlie or Sue did the laundry - which she doubted.
She was beyond grateful Paul had stayed with her since she was most comfortable with him. She suspected it was the reason he was the person chosen to take her to the hospital. He was happy to help her shower and keep her cast dry, and aside from a slight slap on her bare rump, he'd surprisingly behaved himself.
Quil dropped off clean clothing for Bella to wear home since her sleepwear got cut off in the emergency room. Before he left, he blubbered about how proud of her he was and hugged her so tight it hurt.
She remained in the hospital for one more night of observation, mostly because she'd refused to eat - another side effect of the medication, but that mattered little to Dr. Gerandy. Bella suspected the good doctor was finished with tolerating her bullshit. After choking down half her dinner and eating a bowl of cereal the following morning, she got to leave.
Charlie was oddly accommodating with Paul when he took her home, and Bella suspected it was because he'd not left her side. Charlie might not like Paul much, but seeing Paul's loyalty to his daughter made him rethink a few things. He was, however, a little put out about Leah's absence and didn't mind saying so.
"I'm sure I'll see her soon," Bella said, sitting with Paul and Charlie at the kitchen table. "She was pretty upset about this whole thing."
"Understandable," Charlie grumbled suspiciously. "But, where is she?"
When Bella and Paul didn't have an explanation, Charlie stunned them both. "I'm pretty sure she's in the woods out back, Bells…"
"W-what?" Bella glanced toward Paul in alarm.
Charlie snorted. "The new wolf hanging out around our backyard for two days? I'm pretty sure it's Leah, right?"
An odd strangled noise escaped her as she tried to find words and failed. Bella knew Leah was still a wolf, but why didn't Paul tell her she was there when they arrived?
I would have gone to see her first!
Bella stood to head outside and Charlie immediately told her to sit. "You're going to eat something, first. You look like you're about to fall over. Leah can wait a few more minutes… I'll even make something you can give her."
As Bella dropped back into her chair in disbelief, Charlie said, "Shit, Bells. Do you think I was born yesterday?" He went to the fridge and gathered items to assemble sandwiches for their lunch.
"Y-you know ab-bout the"
"The wolves? Yes. Just like I know Paul here is one of 'Em. And I'm guessing Leah's one now, too, huh? I'm assuming that's what always happens when these Quileute kids disappear for a few days. Half show up somewhere out of the fucking blue and butt-ass naked, looking like they've been sleeping in mud for a week. I imagine Sam looked the worst. His ass disappeared for a month."
Charlie wasn't even looking at her, focusing on his one cooking skill as she turned to gape at a slack-jawed Paul. Charlie glanced toward Paul and laughed. "Why do you think your ass keeps getting out of lockup, Lahote? It ain't 'cos yer pretty, and it sure as hell ain't 'cos of Bells. You two weren't even friends yet."
Paul cackled. "Well, thanks, Charlie. I appreciate the lack of indecency charges."
"You know it's only 'cos of Sam, even if he pisses me the hell off. I haven't forgotten him carrying Bells out of the woods that night…"
Bella blushed, shaking her head as Paul reached over to pat her shoulder. He teased, "Don't worry, Duck. I haven't given Charlie a reason to arrest me for a while."
"Shit, I probably couldn't arrest you for fighting now if I wanted to. Like those cuffs could hold your ass if you didn't want them to, anyway…"
"You're right," Paul nodded, still laughing. "Besides, Bella seems to be the only reason I get into fights lately."
"Heard about that…" Charlie grunted. "Don't like it, but I'm glad she's got people to defend her. As long as you quit walking naked across my fucking yard. I got neighbors, kid." Paul cackled as Charlie grinned.
"Hold the fuck up…" Bella grumbled as her astonished mind struggled to fully grasp how utterly calm Charlie seemed, considering the revelation. How long had he known about the wolves? Did he know what the Cullens were?
Oh my god, he knows the Cullens are vampires. Charlie had sworn that Billy's superstitious beliefs about the Cullens were ridiculous when she first moved to Forks.
Until I started dating Edward, that is… That's when his tune had immediately changed and he'd begun acting suspicious, giving Edward nothing but attitude.
At some point, she realized that he'd possibly always known. After a long, strange silence, she said, "Dad, I…"
"Dated a vampire?" Charlie interrupted, "Yeah, I know. After the fact, of course, but still… It was your injuries in Phoenix that confirmed it for me. I grew up around those legends, too, Bells. I heard 'Em my whole life. How do you think I figured out Sam didn't like you because of your association with them?"
Bella blushed. "I was going to say I'm sorry for keeping that from you, but it was necessary… and I knew nothing about the wolves being real until Sunday."
"Yeah, well… Everyone can't be as quick as your old man. After the last year, I'm guessing that was the last straw, eh? Since you went lights out on us for two days.."
"There was a little more to it than that," Paul said cryptically. Charlie didn't ask for the answers he'd have usually demanded, and she had a sneaking suspicion he already knew.
Bella sighed, rubbing her face. "I don't know why I'm surprised."
"I don't either, Bells. Maybe now that you know the truth, you and Jake can at least try to mend shit? I'm pretty sure he only stopped seeing you because he was afraid you'd get hurt like that Emily girl…"
Bella turned to look at Paul, wide-eyed as she realized how Emily's face and arm came to be scarred. Paul merely nodded to her, not saying a word.
She whispered, "Sam?" Paul nodded again, looking away.
Turning to Charlie, she asked, "Do Billy and Jake know you know about the wolves?"
He harrumphed. "What do you think?"
Bella didn't need to ask him to make several sandwiches for Paul. With as much as Quil, Jake, Embry, and Leah could all put away, even before becoming wolves, Bella could only imagine the rest ate just as voraciously. She was glad Charlie assumed the same.
She ate half her sandwich before handing Paul the rest and laughed as he demolished it in three bites. Charlie nodded toward the counter where several others waited on a plate for Leah.
"Paul, will you take her out there just to make sure she doesn't bust her ass and re-break her fucking arm?"
Bella scoffed as Paul laughed and got up to grab the plate for her. "Why don't you come out with us, Dad? Maybe Paul can let us meet his wolf too. You know, so you don't accidentally shoot him?"
Charlie frowned. "Speaking of which… all the missing hikers and shit?"
"Bloodsuckers," Paul said a little harsher than intended. "We can never seem to get there in time to save the victims, but we always pop those ticks, eventually."
"If that Cullen bastard ever comes back…" Charlie said, turning toward Paul, "Don't burn him until I get there."
"Dad!" Bella cried in disbelief. She knew he loathed Edward, but expected nothing so harsh from her laid-back father.
Charlie just chuckled as he stood and shooed Bella toward the door. "Come on. Let's feed Leah. She's probably starving by now."
Bella stumbled off the back porch, was pulled upright by the back belt loop on her jeans, and glared at Paul as she readjusted them afterward.
"Wedgie?"
"Fucker." She carefully walked into the woods, ignoring Charlie and Paul's snickering.
And to think, she'd wanted them to get along. Be careful what you wish for, I guess. Ugh.
Once they were far enough away to lose sight of the house, Bella stopped beside a wide tree trunk where the trail dropped off. Leaning against it, she asked, "Where is she?"
Paul grinned. "Close your eyes, Ducky. See if you can feel her out."
Bella scoffed. "I'm not psychic, Paul."
"You don't have to be. Don't you trust me by now? Just do it."
Grinning ruefully, she closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. Listening to her surroundings, she heard nothing to give Leah's presence away, but something in her could feel she was nearby. Her heart quickened in anticipation as her skin tingled and goosebumps engulfed her as she shivered. Suddenly a subtle pull came from her right, back whence they came. She shoved off the tree and between Paul and Charlie, following the feeling back up the trail.
She stopped in her tracks as the sensation moved, and Charlie nearly plowed into her back. She chuckled as his chest bumped into her, then slowly searched her surroundings. The sensation moved again, getting sharper, coming closer. Bella turned to her right and stepped off the trail toward another drop-off. Looking down, she gasped. Beneath the short, steep incline, laid Leah's white and silver wolf. It was the same place where Sam had gathered Bella into his arms and carried her home to a frantic Charlie. She'd been much closer to home than she'd once thought.
Bella looked for a safe route to get down to Leah and used the trees to keep her balance. Charlie followed, but Paul braced his other hand over the food so it wouldn't fall off the place and jumped, landing quietly on the balls of his feet beside Leah. His sudden appearance startled Leah, and she raised her head to grumble at him.
Paul laughed and sat the plate on the ground beside her. She ignored it, watching as Bella carefully approached her instead. Bella knelt on the ground before her, in awe of her beautiful she-wolf. Leah's eyes appeared lined with black, as if her trademark makeup was transferable, giving her wolf's eyes a slightly winged appearance. Somehow, her many piercings remained, though a few had fallen out. Luckily, her ears had torn nowhere. Still, seeing a wolf with gauges and piercings was odd, and Bella couldn't help but grin.
Leah whined, pressing her face against Bella's shoulder before sniffing at her cast. She reached around Bella's side with one massive paw and tugged, yanking Bella to her. Bella turned and fell onto her butt from the momentum, her back crashing against Leah's side. She grunted but chuckled as Leah curled around her, huffed her content, and closed her eyes.
"Bells? You okay?"
She looked at Charlie and grinned, hoping to soothe his worries. "I'm good Dad. Lee would never hurt me."
Leah huffed again, and Bella could swear she felt the sarcastic remark it represented. She giggled as she turned further into Leah's side and snuggled against her. She reached for Leah's face, brushing her fingertips through the soft fur of her muzzle, then up behind her ears. Leah closed her eyes again and sighed.
Running her fingers through the thick fur of Leah's neck, Bella asked, "Are you okay? Have you tried to phase back today?"
Leah huffed, her large shoulders rising and falling dramatically as she opened her eyes and glanced toward Charlie.
"She might try if it's just you two out here. Probably doesn't want Charlie to see her naked," Paul said.
"Oh." Duh, Bella.
Paul grinned as he pulled off his t-shirt and handed it to Bella. "Here. Hopefully, that'll cover her if she can phase back."
"Thanks, Paul," Bella said, putting his t-shirt into her lap, still stroking Leah's fur.
Charlie cleared his throat. "I, uh… Shit, kid. I can't believe how well you're taking this shit."
"I ran with vampires, Dad. Besides, you seem to handle it pretty well yourself."
"True story," Paul muttered, chuckling. "Come on, Charlie. Let's go back up the trail a bit. I'll let you meet my wolf. Just don't take a shot at me."
"Why would I?" Charlie waved at the girls awkwardly before turning to follow Paul.
"Well, Leah's quite smaller than the rest of us…"
"Understatement," Bella muttered and Leah made a coughing noise she assumed was laughter.
As they walked away, Leah put her face down near the plate of sandwiches and sniffed it. Bella reached for one sandwich and tore it in half, holding one half up for Leah to take it if she wanted.
Leah carefully nipped at it, swiftly yanking it away from Bella's hand before tossing her head back to fit the entire thing in her mouth. Her belly rumbled with awakening hunger against Bella's back, and Bella laughed as she held out the other half. Three more whole sandwiches later, and Bella was toasty warm, yawning into Leah's side.
"Lee? I miss you…" Bella mumbled drowsily. "Don't get me wrong, babe. You're a beautiful wolf, but I think we both could use a long fucking nap in my bed. Don't you?" She leaned over to kiss the side of Leah's nose. Said nose dropped to nudge her shoulder and Leah used her tail to tap Bella's hip twice.
Bella laughed out loud and pulled away to stand, feeling herself gaining a second wind as she anticipated seeing Leah 'phase.' Bella backed away from her, wanting to give her plenty of room since she did not know how it might go.
Suddenly, Paul's massive silver wolf appeared minus Charlie and Leah turned toward him. Bella could only assume they were communicating in what he'd called the 'pack mind' as Leah seemed to listen intently to whatever he'd returned to say. A moment later, Leah looked toward Bella and closed her eyes. The tension seemed to melt from Leah's body as her shoulders hunched forward and she hung her head in concentration.
At first, Bella was unsure if the attempt would work, but then she recognized the sounds of shifting flesh and bone. She watched in amazement as fur receded and Leah's larger wolfy form seemed to melt back into her human dimensions… mostly. While the woman before her was as beautiful as ever, Leah's human form, like the boys, had changed. Her already fit body had gained muscle and a good two inches in height.
Bella couldn't help but wonder if most of Leah's clothes would still fit. It was as if the joke Leah made about her clothes at Renee's had cruelly manifested.
It doesn't matter. Maybe this shit is why the Cullens saw me needing their stupid money. She'd buy Leah a hundred wardrobes if she had to. Bella almost laughed as she envisioned herself feeding a table overcrowded with wolves, including Sam and Seth.
As if. She shook her head, blinking away the mental image.
As Charlie had warned earlier, Leah's skin was filthy, and there was debris from the forest floor in her hair. Despite that, Bella couldn't help the blush in her cheeks as she lustily appraised Leah's altered form.
Paul's wolf caught Bella's attention as he made a coughing noise, and Bella grinned as she realized he was laughing at her. Leah, however, stared at Bella with an intensity that spurred Bella into action. She rushed toward Leah and threw her good arm around her as Leah buried her nose against Bella's neck, hugging her gently to avoid crushing her broken arm between them.
And as much as Bella loved her, and was happy and grateful to see her… Leah stank to high heaven. Bella giggled as she carefully extracted herself and handed Leah Paul's shirt.
"Let's cover you up and get you inside. We can rinse all the mud off and you can take a long hot bath. How does that sound?"
"Fucking amazing," Leah said. Her voice was raspy from disuse, much like Bella's had been when she woke in the hospital.
As Leah pulled the shirt over her head, looking somewhat awkward and unsteady in her new body, Bella looked for Paul but he was gone. "Where did he go?"
"Sam was bitching at Paul to get home while I was trying to phase back," Leah said before carefully bending down to pick up the plate they'd left on the ground. "He did not want Paul to see my ass naked. Something tells me that conversation won't be pretty…"
As they began climbing back to the trail, Bella cringed over Leah's bare feet digging into the soil beneath them. "Does that hurt? Are your feet okay? I can go get you shoes and bring them back…"
"I barely feel it, Bells. It's fine."
Leah seemed to find her center as she reached the path and held her hand out to help Bella the last few steps. Bella changed their grip, threading their fingers together as they trekked toward the house.
"I'm sorry I wasn't at the hospital."
Bella squeezed Leah's hand, keeping her eyes on the trail at her feet. "S'kay. I understand why you weren't there. I missed you, though."
And now, as Bella thought of it, she remembered how Leah avoided seeing Harry in the hospital. She could only assume that Leah's fear of seeing Bella unconscious had much to do with her inability to phase back. No wonder she'd needed Bella's coherent presence to do so. She had to see that Bella was safe first.
It tugged at Bella's heartstrings. This amazing creature beside her was strong enough to conquer vampires but her heart was so tender that any form of abandonment was pure kryptonite. She was incredible, Leah Clearwater. The most exquisite puzzle of a human being, one that Bella was constantly attempting to solve. She hoped it would never end.
"Thanks for sending Paul to keep me company," Bella said.
"How'd you know I asked him to?"
"Because I know you trust him with me," Bella said and shrugged. "He barely left my side. I had to nag him into eating at one point. His belly was growling so loud it woke me up."
"I know," Leah said. "Every time he left you, he'd call to update Quil, and Quil would phase and tell me everything Paul told him. It helped a lot. He showed me all his memories from the hospital while you were, um, feeding me."
Bella giggled as they stepped out of the woods into her yard.
"That's so weird to say out loud." Leah laughed, and it was music to Bella's ears.
She led Leah into the house, past a stunned but smiling Charlie, and up the stairs. While Leah showered, Bella gathered clothing she thought would fit her best before sitting on the closed toilet lid to keep her company, though neither had much to say. Just the other's presence, for now, was enough.
