Chapter Twenty- Eight

While the boys were relaxing, waiting for us girls.  Emily and I had laid out a bunch of different snacks. Popcorn and chocolate brownie cup cookies. We didn't make a whole lot this time since the boys were so tired.

It was only eight something at night.

"Snacks are ready." Emily announced as we entered the living room, carrying bowls of popcorn. I walked over to where Sam and Paul were sitting on the couch and slid beside him. Emily did the same so the boys where the ones in the middle.

Kim was already curled up with Jared.  The tv was paused as they waited for us, the movie tonight was Sam and Emily's pick which meant it was a comedy.

Jared pushed play, starting the movie.

Settling back, I leaned against Paul who just munched on the popcorn we were sharing.

About halfway Paul's head started tipping back, I glanced over at him seeing his eyes closing and opening, almost like he was fighting to stay awake.

I glanced over seeing Kim sleeping in Jared's arms while his head was laid back. Sam had crashed too, as Emily cuddled into him.

I smiled softly at my man, his rolled to the side but I reached over and gently stopped it, bringing him closer and laid his head on my shoulder.

Knowing it was me, he let out a soothing sigh of comfort, relaxing against me and snuggled up to me.

I smiled bigger seeing this side of him, running fingers through his hair and rested my other hand on his cheek, stroking the skin with my thumb.

I could feel his body relax against mine as he fell asleep.

Glancing over I found Sam had fallen asleep on Em's shoulder, the two of us shared a look and laughed softly at our big scary wolves.

We spent most of the movie letting them sleep, Emily and I were the only ones still awake. I couldn't say I was hating this.

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my head, all three of the guys jerked from their deep sleep like they had been shot and stood up ready to kill whatever it was.

I reached up grabbing my head.

"Hey! Whoa!"

Groaning, I shook my head.

"Guys? Lena? Sam?"

'What the Heck is this!'

A hand touched my shoulder, I jumped slightly and looked at Emily.

I frowned looking at Paul, seeing his face and stood up, resting my hand on his shoulder, calming him down.

"What's wrong?" Kim asked seeing the look on our faces.

Sam came back in the house.

"There's a new shifter." I told her glancing over at Sam, pulling from Paul. I stood up. "I'll go get them."

"Are you sure?" Sam asked.

"It's better if I go." I told him crossing my arms. "You three need a second to calm down, let me handle this, I'll go get them and bring them back here, you call Billy and let him know there's a newbie."

"I'll go with you." Paul said standing up with me.

I stared at him, checking to see if he was calm down enough spotting his aura at ease I nodded.

We walked to the door, grabbing my bag on the way. Paul opened the door and we walked out together.

---

"I wonder who it is."

"Jacob?" Paul suggested.

"I don't think so." I said shaking my head. "I've been around him for two days but I haven't sensed anything."

We walked a few houses down, I heard a snap and turned looking at Paul. His eyes were already in focus. He glanced at me for a second, reaching over and grabbed my hand.

Weaving his fingers through mine, he squeezed my hand in the process and walked in front of me. We finally came upon a gray wolf with black spots. It's head turned to us and his eyes stared at us in surprise.

'Lahote? A-Angel?'

I stared back staring into the wolf's mind and my eyes went wide, my mouth dropped open.

"Emmy?... No way.." I muttered running my unused hand through my hair, glancing at Paul. "It's Embry..."

Not my sweet goofy Emmy.  Paul shared my surprise.

'How did this happen?'

'Whoa I can hear you in my head.' I heard him exclaim.

"Yeah it's kind of a long story but I'm witch, I can read minds and stuff."

'Witch? as in cast the spells, flying broom, killed by a falling house witch?'

I laughed out loud at that.

"I've never flown on a broom, though I could probably introduce you to some who have" I retorted in amusement, seeing a light smirk on Paul's face. "And last time I checked houses only fell on wicked witches and I'm a good witch.."

'Is Paul a witch'

'No' I thought before speaking out loud. "Let's get you shifted back, questions can wait until we get back to Sam's.. just follow Paul."

I handed Paul a pair of clothes we snagged from Sam, he kissed my cheek before walking over gesturing for Embry to follow.

The wolf shrugged his shoulders and did what I said.

When he came out, he had a big grin on his face, making me raise my eyebrows. He walked over to me with Paul.

"This is awesome!"

"I think you're the first out of three to be this calm." I muttered earning a bigger grin from Em and an innocent one from Paul. I shook my head in amusement before letting out a small chuckle. "C'mon Billy's waiting."

He nodded.

Paul draped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. I cuddled into him feeling his warmth on my cold skin.

"So what made you so angry that you went wolf?" Paul asked.

Walking back, the three of us fell into conversation easily, talking about the fight he had with his mom, and I told him about being a witch, and how Paul and I started dating after he turned and imprinted.

He had no idea what that meant so I explained that to him too.

That was one of the things I loved about this kid, he took everything really well but it made me feel funny. Embry was a laid back guy and my little goofball. It was going to be hard for him to give up hanging out with Jacob and Quil.

I was a little happy though cause that meant I didn't have to lie to him anymore, that's one less person I had to keep secrets from.

When we got back to Emily's, Billy was there and we all sat down and talked for a long time until around ten.

After it was all over, Paul walked me outside, into the back. We stood in the opening of the woods together.  He gave me a quick kiss. I smiled at him earning a smile back.

"Soo this weekend if nothing goes wrong..." I trailed off staring at him. "How would you feel having dinner at my house? With Charlie?"

He tilted his head at me.

"My temper."

"Don't worry about that, I've been working on a new and improved calming potion" I told him gently. "If I up the amount of stuff I used to put in the ones I made for Jasper... I could create something amazing."

"And I would be your guinea pig?"

I smiled innocently at that.

"I won't pressure you into anything you don't want to do." I muttered firmly earning a soft look. "If you're not ready then I support it and I'll wait till you are but it would really mean a lot, Charlie is the closest thing you'll ever come to meeting my parents... even though you already know Charlie."

Paul stared at me processing it over before he cupped my face with his hands and pulled me into a comfort kiss.

"I'll do it." He mumbled making me grin happily.

Pulling back I sighed resting my head against his, staring up into his eyes.

"Be safe please... Quinn says there's something in town and if Embry has shifted that can only mean-"

"It's not her." Paul said cutting me off. He gave me a firm meaningful look. "This vampire has a different stench, it's not the woman."

"But she could still-"

"No she won't." He cut me off again, kissing my forehead. "There's four of us now against one, nothing's going to happen to me or us."

He stared back into my eyes, and pulled me into another kiss.

'I promise'  I heard him think.

Leaning back, I tugged him into a tight hug before I stepped away from him a few steps.

"I love you."

I smiled at him.

"I love you too." I murmured just before I teleported out.

I landed in my green house and walked out with a smile on my face. My wrangler was parked in it's normal spot meaning Bella was home. The porch light was on saying Charlie was waiting up for me.

I walked up the stairs, turning the knob and entered my home.

"Hey sweetheart you have a nice time?" Charlie asked from his spot on the couch.

I walked over joining my uncle for a second.

"I did, it was a lot of fun." I told him smiling. "I uh talked to Paul and he's on board. Friday after school he's coming for dinner."

"That sounds good to me." Charlie said dragging his eyes away from the tv for a second. "I don't have to work, and there's a game."

I smiled at him lightly.

"And Bella has to work." I added before realizing what I said and started backtracking. "Sorry I didn't mean for it to come out that way, I love Bells, and I'm glad she's finally getting back on her feet but I don't want."

"You don't want to risk Bella's depression coming back because you have a boyfriend and she doesn't?" Charlie asked knowingly.

I nodded.

"I get it."

I went to say something else when I was cut off as a loud scream cut through the house. I quickly got up, knowing right away what it was, even though it hasn't happened in a long time.

My feet pounded up the stairs, heading for Bella's room and threw her door open.

"Bells, it's okay." I muttered rushing over and shook her awake.

Her eyes shot open so quickly, she looked around seeing she was still in her room and started sobbing.

Sitting beside her, I ran my fingers through her hair calmly. She moved her head laying it in my lap.

After a few she was calming down.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

She nodded but I could sense her aura and saw her shaken and tearful face.

"This thing's not working very well" Charlie mumbled pulling the dreamcatcher Jake gave her from her bedpost.

"It's...not as bad as it was." Bella trailed off,

"Yeah right." Charlie said skipping a beat. "I know what it's like, you know. When your mom left me. I had a hell of a time. Imagined doing all kinds of crazy things, just to stop the pain, got so bad that my sister had to step in."

I looked at him at the mention of mum, Bella avoided his look.

"But hanging out with your cousin and Jacob and their friends. Seems to be helping right?" Charlie asked looking at me for a moment.

Bella stayed silent and just nodded her head.

"That's good." Charlie said nodding.

A sudden comfort fell over both Charlie and I. I guess that if hanging with Jacob, fixing up those motorcycles and stuff was making her feel better and helping her to forget Edward then I would have to let her keep doing it.

"Do you want to sleep in my room tonight?" I asked.

She sat there for a moment thinking it over and nodded her head.

"Can I?"

"Of course." I told her standing up, I held my hand out.

She waited for a minute before reaching up and clasped it, getting to her feet.

The three of us walked out into the hall, Charlie kissed my head and passed Bella on the shoulder before heading into his room.

"Goodnight girls."

Once the door was closed I turned to Bella.

"Go crawl into my bed, I'll make you some calming tea, it'll help you." I told her making her nod.

She turned on her heels, walking into my room and I headed downstairs into the kitchen.

I grabbed my teapot, filled it with water and placed it on the stove. Watching it heat up.

I sighed looking up out the window, into the dark woods.

'Life is getting crazier by the second, Bella's still grieving like Edward has died, from what Alice has told me, Edward's not doing any better, I know where they are, I know why they left and I miss them... I wish I could hug Esme and get advice from Carlisle, go shopping with Alice and Rose... beat Emmett at video games... Jasper and Edward... They were gone in a blink without saying goodbye cause of Bella, I love my cousin and I know it's her fate to be with Edward just like it's mine to be with Paul, I keep having that dream.... What does it mean? Quinn's the one who dreams the future so why am I having them? Will my powers be enough to protect them all?... Daddy, I don't know what to do...'

Feeling a tear roll down my face, I sniffled brushing it away and turned hearing a whistle.

"If there was any time for guidance from the Lovelace clan now would be it.."

Moving over I grabbed a tea bag and mug, slowly making Bella's tea.

Sensing something was watching me I glanced out the window again, seeing a flash of silver pass from behind one tree to the other.  I knew who it was and slowly started to feel my emotions change.

'I love you my hot head'  I thought loudly hearing a howl knowing he had heard me.

'Love you too, sweet dreams Angel.'

I smiled sending a million images into his head and could have sworn I heard a groan from Jared but I didn't care.

Turning I grabbed the calming tea I made, I made one for myself and headed back upstairs to my room.

-------

New Chapter

4/27/2024