The morning dawned gray, drizzly, and chilly despite it being the middle of August. Charlie had already left for the day, so Bella dressed quickly and headed to the market. She wanted to pick up supplies for blueberry pancakes, eggs, sausage, and fried potatoes for breakfast. Knowing the wolf's fast metabolism, they would need snacks, lunch, more snacks, dinner, and snacks again. So she also picked up quite the haul of other groceries.
After loading it all in her truck, she texted Sam to say she was on her way. She turned the key in the ignition, and her vision blurred as a new scene played out before her.
Her truck was going around a curve when a body suddenly appeared on the road in front of her. The glint of disheveled copper hair startled her, causing her to veer into the other lane. Her truck fishtailed and struck a tree. Pain exploded in her head, and she raised her hand to touch her brow, fingers coming away dripping with blood. Glancing down, she could see blood smeared on the steering wheel. Hands shaking, she tentatively reached to touch her head again.
Bella jumped as her door was wrenched open, and she was jerked from the safety of the cab. Topaz eyes peered at her. She shivered as his eyes darkened, danger oozing from him in waves as Topaz turned black.
Dazed and blurry-eyed, she said, "You were in my room."
"Shhh," he whispered. His finger darted out to her forehead, and he wiped the blood away. Bringing it to his nose, he inhaled deeply. "Just one…" he sighed and licked his finger slowly. As he moaned in ecstasy, she could see it in his eyes as he decided. His mouth descended to her neck, and she screamed.
Bolting upright, she gripped the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip, her heart racing in fear. She immediately grabbed her phone and called Sam.
Sounding only slightly less panicked than she felt, Sam answered, "Bella? I can feel your terror. What is happening?"
"I had a vision, Sam. I was on my way to you and th-the…the one from my room was suddenly on the road. I swerved to miss him and crashed. I was bleeding, and he bit me. Sam, I don't know what to do," she cried. Tears tracked down her cheeks as she tried to come to grips with seeing her own death.
"I'm on my way. Where are you?"
"At the grocery store."
"Meet me at your house. I'm bringing Paul."
"Okay, I'm going to wait a few minutes. I don't think I can drive yet." Her breath still came in gasps, and her heart beat so loud she could hear it pounding in her ears.
Sam's voice was low and soothing when he spoke again, "Bella? Baby, listen to me. It's okay. It didn't really happen. You are safe. I will keep you safe. As long as I have breath, I will protect you."
Feeling completely overwhelmed as emotions flooded through her, each fighting for dominance- fear at the possible scenario she'd seen, gratitude to Sam for being so protective and understanding, love for him that came upon her so fast she couldn't fight if she wanted to. Clinging to love, Bella whispered, "Sam?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"I love you."
"Love you, too. I'll see you in five minutes."
Sucking in a deep breath, Bella ended the call and put her truck in gear.
Sam waited on the porch when she arrived. His presence instantly calmed her frazzled nerves. Before Bella could unbuckle herself, he opened the door and reached to free her from the safety belt. He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her neck, inhaling deeply, reassuring himself she was okay.
Paul cleared his throat behind them, reminding them of his presence, and she blushed. She did not let go of Sam, though. Sam only raised his head and looked at Paul with a big smile. "Paul, this is Bella. Bella, Paul's the new wolf."
"It's nice to meet you, Paul."
Paul nodded with a grunt, looking back to Sam. "What now, boss?"
Sighing, Sam rolled his eyes, "Paul, you don't have to call me boss. I might be the alpha, but I will not abuse that responsibility." Looking at Bella, Sam asked, "Are you ready to go? I'll drive the truck if that's okay with you. You can sit in the middle?"
"I think that's a good idea, but give me just a minute. I want to try something."
Bella closed her eyes and gripped tightly to Sam. She felt energy flood her body, and then her head tipped forward, resting on Sam's shoulder. As Bella took a few deep breaths, she prayed silently, "Ancestors, give me wisdom."
Suddenly, another vision slammed her.
Sam's left hand gripped the steering wheel while his right held loosely to hers, his thumb tracing nonsensical patterns on her skin. Jaw clenched with tension, Paul scanned the scenery, looking for any sign of trouble. Bella couldn't help but picture him as a wolf, bristling and foaming at the mouth with anticipation.
They passed a small logging road, and Bella strained to see the road sign. When one didn't appear, she looked for a mile marker or landmark - anything to warn her about where the accident would take place. Seeing a log cabin off the road with a winding drive where a mailbox sat, Bella looked at the numbers and committed them to memory. It was something, at least. At the next curve, the emo teen stepped into the pathway.
This time, Sam and Paul jumped from the cab and erupted into fur and claws. The two wolves attacked and pushed the redhead back, trying to get the upper hand on him. Sam leapt and spun behind him, giving him an opportunity to rip a chunk from his shoulder. The leech managed to get his arms around Paul and squeezed, breaking bones and possibly puncturing lungs.
Bella lifted her head from Sam's shoulder and said, "We have to turn on the logging road before we get to the log cabin with the long driveway–47952 is the number on the mailbox. If we don't, he will be waiting for us, and I don't know if Paul will live."
Arrogantly, Paul said, "What the fuck? Of course I'll live!".
"You might. But there is a possibility that you won't. Better safe than sorry, right?" Bella held his gaze for a long moment before he blinked and looked away.
"What is she? A psychic?"
Bella snorted and rolled her eyes before replying, "Hardly. I am, however, a descendent of the Ateara family and the tribe's future healer. I'm apprenticing with Quil, Sr, and he has some kind of premonition ability, too. In this case, the ancestors showed me the path."
Without hesitation, Sam finished, "You will respect my mate, Paul. The ancestors give her wisdom, and we will honor it." Looking back at Bella, Sam lightly kissed her cheek before helping her slide to the middle of the truck, sandwiching her between the over-warm shapeshifters.
After only five minutes, Bella could feel sweat trickling down her temple and asked Sam to roll down the window. As soon as cool air flooded the cab, both wolves started growling. Paul shook violently, ready to attack as Sam's white-knuckled fists gripped hard to the steering wheel.
Drawing close to the logging road, Bella said, "Slow down, Sam. The road is just ahead." At his nod, Bella prayed yet again, Please, ancestors, let this be enough of a change in our course for both of these wolves–my pack–to be okay.
A sense of peace flooded her body as Sam turned onto the rutted gravel. As the engine chugged along, Bella curled herself into Sam's side, thanking the spirits for helping her keep them safe.
Arriving at Sam's house, Bella had Sam hand her two grocery bags and carried them inside..
Paul came in with both arms as full as he could get them, muttering, "Sheesh, Swan. Did ya buy the whole fucking store out?"
Putting items away, she said, "I'd watch it if I were you… I won't share the bounty I brought if you can't be nice."
Hearing his stomach growl in protest, Bella giggled. When Sam came in with his arms loaded as well, Paul went to gather more.
"What's all this for, Babe?" Sam asked, quirking his brow.
"Knowing your appetite, I figured Paul would be the same and thought I should plan accordingly. You are always hungry." Bella smiled up at Sam, and he bent his head to kiss her chastely, but it quickly grew heated as tongues delved and hands roamed.
"Oh, hell. I did not sign up for this show. I'll just run a perimeter check or something. Let me know when I'm needed." Paul's grousing made Bella laugh and Sam scowl.
"Paul?" Sam waited until the younger man looked at him. "Be careful. There's no guarantee that the bloodsucker isn't circling. You're strong, but he's fast. And he reads minds. He will know what you're gonna do before you do it."
"Do you think he likes Metallica? Or maybe Buck Cherry? Maybe some lyrics screamed over in my head will keep him out?"
Laughing, Sam replied, "It might. It could be worth a shot anyway."
"I'll have food ready in a half hour or so. I'll make enough for two wolfy appetites." She smiled at Paul, and he couldn't help but smile back at her.
Without wasting another second, Paul was out the door.
"You only gave yourself thirty minutes?"
Looking at Sam, Bella's brow furrowed in confusion. "It won't take long to make a big breakfast. I bought instant pancake mix."
He smiled and kissed her again before replying, only separating from her when they were both panting for air. "Maybe I wanted some time to explore our new bond…" Sam said with a wink.
Bella couldn't help the blush that flooded her cheeks, and her eyes flared wide, "Sam! What?!" She giggled as he waggled his eyebrows and said, "I'm just… well, uhm, still a little sore."
"Babe, it's okay. That's not all I want from you, anyway. I was just teasing. I knew you would be sore. But I do love kissing you." Seeing her embarrassment still staining her cheeks, he changed the subject, "What can I do to help you with breakfast?"
"Start by helping me put everything away? Then you can chop potatoes while I mix batter?"
"Perfect." He leaned over and kissed her nose, then set to work.
Bella was flipping the last pancakes when the spatula slipped from her fingers to clatter on the floor. Startled, Sam quickly stepped to her side and caught her as her body went slack.
Paul was running the perimeter, his paws thudding heavily on the ground. Suddenly, a bronze-haired body landed in a crouch before him. His claws dug deeply into the earth as he skid to a stop, barely avoiding collision with the figure.
The bronze leech tilted his head to the side, glaring at Paul as he stood still - like an unblinking statue..
"Okay." Paul huffed to himself. "Now, that's just fucking creepy.'
"You are such a vile and demented being," it said, the tinkling of the voice like nails on a chalkboard to the wolf's sensitive ears.
Knowing this must be the mind-reading vampire, Paul thought, "Why's that? I didn't invite you into my mind. Fucker."
"Your words are vile. And you were screaming about your latest conquest being a crazy… I cannot repeat it." The vampire straightened to his full height and stared Paul in the eyes, trying to intimidate him.
Paul's only thoughts were to scream the song louder, so he did. "Hey! You're a crazy bitch! But ya fu-"
"Enough! I've half a mind to put you out of your misery, you cretin. But I have been instructed to honor the treaty."
Paul would have smirked if he could. "What treaty?"
The leech raised an eyebrow, "Ask your alpha. I'm sure he will tell you about it."
Knowing that Buck Cherry was keeping him out of his other thoughts, he screamed the song even louder in his mind, rumbling a warning growl deep in his throat.
The bronze statue-man spun on his heel and fled through the trees, Paul hot on his heels.
Gasping, Bella sat up in Sam's arms. "Paul is chasing the redhead."
"I'll be back. Don't leave this house, whatever you do. I will come back to you, I promise." Dropping a quick kiss on her lips, Sam bolted from the house, exploding into his wolf as soon as his feet left the back step.