Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 10:
Over the next hour, Taha does extremely well. So well, in fact, that Will feels it’s safe enough to return to his own home for a long rest. That leads to Zander and Greg having a short whispered conversation before they come to me wearing matching grins. I shake my head at the looks on their faces but wait for them to speak.
Greg offers, “With Taha doing so well, once he has his dinner, we figured we’d give you two time to relax without a pack filled house or a bunch to clean. The house is cleaned and most of the laundry is done. There’s a load finishing in the washer and one in the dryer. The rest have been folded and put away. The kitchen is clean, and any mess the pack has made has been picked up. There’s also a new pallet of blankets for Taha next to your bed. If you need one of us, just call. There will be some of the pack around the property, rotating in shifts. Taha can alert one of them if needed. The rest of us are going home to regroup with our families, as long as you feel comfortable enough with his recovery.”
Knowing now that their grins are for alone time with their imprints, I chuckle, “Go… we’re good. If you have enough boys around the property, one or two of them can handle Taha’s meal when he’s ready. You guys have been amazing, helping me out with him. You deserve some downtime, too.”
Zander lets out a breath, but asks, “You sure, little coyote?”
At my nod, both boys kiss the top of my head before dashing through the yard toward their homes. Taha gives a shake of his big head while chuckling, the feelings I’m getting radiating amusement, so I comment with a grin, “What do you want to bet they don’t even make it to their bedrooms with their imprints? If they -by some miracle- do, there will not be a single salvageable piece of clothing.”
Taha’s eyes sparkle as he lets out a barking laugh, then he nods while nuzzling his head into my side. I kiss between his ears as I get a hunger feeling from him, “Did you ask one of the boys to bring it?”
At his nod, I start us toward my bedroom porch, “Well, then I guess we’d better get going. I could use some dinner, too… then it should be time to check your stitches.”
I get a combination feeling from him that’s calm, but also warm and fuzzy. I smile as I look into the depths of his caramel eyes, “Yeah, that sounds good, too. It’s been a bit hectic around here the last couple of days. Some quiet, cozy time sounds perfect.”
When we reach my bedroom porch a few minutes later, one of Zander’s pups is laying a large elk down for Taha. I smile as I search my mind for his name. “Devon, right?” He grins while nodding, so I offer, “Thanks for bringing his meal. If you need to head back out on patrol right away, I can have Taha call through the link when he’s finished.”
Devon nods, “That would be best, Miss Bella, so I don’t leave the pack short-handed. I can come back when he’s done, take care of the carcass, then hose off the porch again. Just have him let any one of us know.”
I agree as Taha settles easily into his meal, then Devon gives a quick wave before dashing off through my backyard. I hum as I walk up next to the giant wolf, who tilts his head to let me pat the top of it, “While you eat, I think I’m going to see what my kitchen has for food. I’m hoping that since the pack has been cleaning up the gardens, there might be a good amount of fresh fruit in there. I’m not in the mood for anything heavy, but a big bowl of fruit topped with whipped cream sounds amazing right about now.”
His eyes meet mine as I get the feeling of needing to do something else, so I promise while smiling, “And, yes, I’ll call Sam while eating. I should be off the phone by the time you’re done with your meal if I don’t wait too much longer to get moving.”
He lets out a wolfy chuckle, then nudges my side with the top of his head before settling back into his meal.
I laugh, flicking his ear with a chuckle, “Hey, no pushing there, Mr. Alpha. I could make you keep those stitches in longer, just to see you squirm.” I don’t wait to see what must be an epic ‘please, no’ face, but do hear the accompanying whine as I make my way into the house.
I press the buttons on my phone as I open the fridge, happily surprised at the amount of cleaned fruit in the containers on the second shelf. I hum as I pop a blueberry in my mouth, then laugh as I put the phone on speaker, hearing a muffled sound before Sam groans, “Damnit, Jake! My house, my phone. Beta or not, I will put you down. Hand it over!”
Jake hurriedly says, “Hey Bells! Talk soon,” before he grumbles, “Ouch! Shit, Sam, ok!”
I laugh again just as Sam comes on the line, but am able to fill a decent-sized bowl full of fruit without spilling any on the floor. “Hey, Bella. Good timing, since we just finished the meeting. How is everything going? Is your new place being good to you?”
I pop a strawberry in my mouth, then hum at the taste, offering, “I’m frickin’ spoiled here, Sam. Seriously. The pack picked all my ripe fruit, then washed and put it all in containers for me. I love having them here all the time, though. They got Gran Hurit’s garden all cleaned up and properly pruned/plucked, plus all the savable bits are now in the medicine room or my refrigerator. I’m set to meet with Will, the tribe healer, in a couple of days. He’s going to help me make sense of the medicine room and Gran’s recipes. I’ve gotten through some of Gran’s journal, and I keep finding similarities between us. Will even said I held an echo of her soul, as bright as when he saw Gran Hurit as a small boy.”
Sam chuckles, then offers, “Wow… you seem to be settling in well, and it sounds like the pack is a pretty steady presence?”
I nod, not lying in the least when I say, “There’s been rarely a time when at least 2 aren’t within earshot of me. They check and make sure I’m okay and don’t need anything when they are near, and I can hear their distinct footfalls in the woods as I fall asleep. It’s comforting.”
I could hear several relieved breaths being let out, then I ask, “So anything new going on there?”
Jake grumbles in response; I guess Sam had me on speakerphone too, “It’s so booooringgg without you here. And the amount of goodies on tap has been cut in half. Seriously, Bells. You’re going to have to invite us out sometime soon, just so we can get our Bella fix.”
I laugh loudly, “Jesus, Jake, I’m not a drug. Anyway, I’d like to get the house and myself both fully settled before I have nearly 2 full packs in my house to party with,” though Paul is quick to say, “No, but I swear you put some addictive shit in your food. Can you at least send us some of your cookies?”
I snicker, since that’s typical Paul, “I’ll tell you what. I’ll send a goodie box of treats, but Emily is in charge of you boys getting them.”
Just then, Aiden knocks on the kitchen doorway, smiling as I ask him, “Hey, Aiden. All settled?”
He points to the phone, gives me a thumbs up, then offers, “Yep. I just wanted to check in and make sure there’s nothing else you needed before you turned in. Your place is tucked in for the night. Shift change is at midnight, so Greg and Shiloh will be around if you need anything after that.”
I grin and wave, promising, “All good. Thanks for the help. I’ll holler if anything changes, though. Night Aiden.”
With a goodnight from him, he makes his way out the door, and I see Taha settling on his blanket as Sam hums, “Bells, I’m really glad to hear the pack is around so much. I hate to say it, but Dumbass has been trying to breach our borders again, even more desperately than before. Just be aware, please, and let Zander know. As of now, he still doesn’t know where you are, but something feels off.”
I hum in thought as I see Taha’s ears perk up at this news, then say, “Thanks, Sam. I’m sure the word is already spreading through the pack, since Aiden was barely out the door when you said that, but I’ll make sure I personally warn Zander in the morning. I wish he would just stop… stop the bullshit attempts to get to me, and stop the constant ‘but I love you, and we’re meant to be’ pleas. I’m done, and I told him as much before I changed my phone number.”
I push my ¾ eaten bowl of fruit away, my stomach turning sour, but Sam promises, “He’ll eventually stop, Bells, or he’ll need to be stopped. The lot of them have already been put on notice. One way or another, he won’t be bothering you again.”
I let out a heavy breath as Taha goes to stand from his blanket, then raise my hand in a stop motion as I nod that I’m okay. His head tilts to the side for a second, then he lays back down, so I tell Sam, “I know… and thanks for being so good to me, Sam. Listen, I’m pretty beat, since I was up early cleaning, so I’m gonna grab a shower and curl up with Gran’s journal. I’ll call you guys again in a week or so to check in, okay?”
We quickly say our goodnights, with the pack all chiming in with their rest wells, then I push the end button on my phone. I immediately make my way to Taha, promising, “I’m okay, I promise. The only reason I stopped you was because you would have been heard. Your nails would have clicked on the wood floor, and I was on speakerphone. Look… you have your reasons for not telling them you’ve been alive all this time. That’s fine; you’ll tell them in your own time, but they shouldn’t find out by accident like this.”
Recognition sparks in the depths of Taha’s eyes before he gives me a grateful nuzzle. I laugh in response, “No need. Like I said, you’ll tell them when you’re ready. You were already putting the pack on notice about Edward before the call ended, right? Do I still need to warn Zander?”
With Taha’s nod, then shake of his massive head, I know the pack is on full alert for my ex, as well as the Volturi. I kiss the top of his head, then offer, “Time to check your stitches, I think. How are you feeling?”
In reply, I get another nuzzle and the sense that he feels good… stronger… then that same feeling from earlier about the stitches itching. I nod with a chuckle, “Then let's see how you’re wound is doing. Maybe we can finally get you free of the stitches altogether.”
Over the next hour, Taha does extremely well. So well, in fact, that Will feels it’s safe enough to return to his own home for a long rest. That leads to Zander and Greg having a short whispered conversation before they come to me wearing matching grins. I shake my head at the looks on their faces but wait for them to speak.
Greg offers, “With Taha doing so well, once he has his dinner, we figured we’d give you two time to relax without a pack filled house or a bunch to clean. The house is cleaned and most of the laundry is done. There’s a load finishing in the washer and one in the dryer. The rest have been folded and put away. The kitchen is clean, and any mess the pack has made has been picked up. There’s also a new pallet of blankets for Taha next to your bed. If you need one of us, just call. There will be some of the pack around the property, rotating in shifts. Taha can alert one of them if needed. The rest of us are going home to regroup with our families, as long as you feel comfortable enough with his recovery.”
Knowing now that their grins are for alone time with their imprints, I chuckle, “Go… we’re good. If you have enough boys around the property, one or two of them can handle Taha’s meal when he’s ready. You guys have been amazing, helping me out with him. You deserve some downtime, too.”
Zander lets out a breath, but asks, “You sure, little coyote?”
At my nod, both boys kiss the top of my head before dashing through the yard toward their homes. Taha gives a shake of his big head while chuckling, the feelings I’m getting radiating amusement, so I comment with a grin, “What do you want to bet they don’t even make it to their bedrooms with their imprints? If they -by some miracle- do, there will not be a single salvageable piece of clothing.”
Taha’s eyes sparkle as he lets out a barking laugh, then he nods while nuzzling his head into my side. I kiss between his ears as I get a hunger feeling from him, “Did you ask one of the boys to bring it?”
At his nod, I start us toward my bedroom porch, “Well, then I guess we’d better get going. I could use some dinner, too… then it should be time to check your stitches.”
I get a combination feeling from him that’s calm, but also warm and fuzzy. I smile as I look into the depths of his caramel eyes, “Yeah, that sounds good, too. It’s been a bit hectic around here the last couple of days. Some quiet, cozy time sounds perfect.”
When we reach my bedroom porch a few minutes later, one of Zander’s pups is laying a large elk down for Taha. I smile as I search my mind for his name. “Devon, right?” He grins while nodding, so I offer, “Thanks for bringing his meal. If you need to head back out on patrol right away, I can have Taha call through the link when he’s finished.”
Devon nods, “That would be best, Miss Bella, so I don’t leave the pack short-handed. I can come back when he’s done, take care of the carcass, then hose off the porch again. Just have him let any one of us know.”
I agree as Taha settles easily into his meal, then Devon gives a quick wave before dashing off through my backyard. I hum as I walk up next to the giant wolf, who tilts his head to let me pat the top of it, “While you eat, I think I’m going to see what my kitchen has for food. I’m hoping that since the pack has been cleaning up the gardens, there might be a good amount of fresh fruit in there. I’m not in the mood for anything heavy, but a big bowl of fruit topped with whipped cream sounds amazing right about now.”
His eyes meet mine as I get the feeling of needing to do something else, so I promise while smiling, “And, yes, I’ll call Sam while eating. I should be off the phone by the time you’re done with your meal if I don’t wait too much longer to get moving.”
He lets out a wolfy chuckle, then nudges my side with the top of his head before settling back into his meal.
I laugh, flicking his ear with a chuckle, “Hey, no pushing there, Mr. Alpha. I could make you keep those stitches in longer, just to see you squirm.” I don’t wait to see what must be an epic ‘please, no’ face, but do hear the accompanying whine as I make my way into the house.
I press the buttons on my phone as I open the fridge, happily surprised at the amount of cleaned fruit in the containers on the second shelf. I hum as I pop a blueberry in my mouth, then laugh as I put the phone on speaker, hearing a muffled sound before Sam groans, “Damnit, Jake! My house, my phone. Beta or not, I will put you down. Hand it over!”
Jake hurriedly says, “Hey Bells! Talk soon,” before he grumbles, “Ouch! Shit, Sam, ok!”
I laugh again just as Sam comes on the line, but am able to fill a decent-sized bowl full of fruit without spilling any on the floor. “Hey, Bella. Good timing, since we just finished the meeting. How is everything going? Is your new place being good to you?”
I pop a strawberry in my mouth, then hum at the taste, offering, “I’m frickin’ spoiled here, Sam. Seriously. The pack picked all my ripe fruit, then washed and put it all in containers for me. I love having them here all the time, though. They got Gran Hurit’s garden all cleaned up and properly pruned/plucked, plus all the savable bits are now in the medicine room or my refrigerator. I’m set to meet with Will, the tribe healer, in a couple of days. He’s going to help me make sense of the medicine room and Gran’s recipes. I’ve gotten through some of Gran’s journal, and I keep finding similarities between us. Will even said I held an echo of her soul, as bright as when he saw Gran Hurit as a small boy.”
Sam chuckles, then offers, “Wow… you seem to be settling in well, and it sounds like the pack is a pretty steady presence?”
I nod, not lying in the least when I say, “There’s been rarely a time when at least 2 aren’t within earshot of me. They check and make sure I’m okay and don’t need anything when they are near, and I can hear their distinct footfalls in the woods as I fall asleep. It’s comforting.”
I could hear several relieved breaths being let out, then I ask, “So anything new going on there?”
Jake grumbles in response; I guess Sam had me on speakerphone too, “It’s so booooringgg without you here. And the amount of goodies on tap has been cut in half. Seriously, Bells. You’re going to have to invite us out sometime soon, just so we can get our Bella fix.”
I laugh loudly, “Jesus, Jake, I’m not a drug. Anyway, I’d like to get the house and myself both fully settled before I have nearly 2 full packs in my house to party with,” though Paul is quick to say, “No, but I swear you put some addictive shit in your food. Can you at least send us some of your cookies?”
I snicker, since that’s typical Paul, “I’ll tell you what. I’ll send a goodie box of treats, but Emily is in charge of you boys getting them.”
Just then, Aiden knocks on the kitchen doorway, smiling as I ask him, “Hey, Aiden. All settled?”
He points to the phone, gives me a thumbs up, then offers, “Yep. I just wanted to check in and make sure there’s nothing else you needed before you turned in. Your place is tucked in for the night. Shift change is at midnight, so Greg and Shiloh will be around if you need anything after that.”
I grin and wave, promising, “All good. Thanks for the help. I’ll holler if anything changes, though. Night Aiden.”
With a goodnight from him, he makes his way out the door, and I see Taha settling on his blanket as Sam hums, “Bells, I’m really glad to hear the pack is around so much. I hate to say it, but Dumbass has been trying to breach our borders again, even more desperately than before. Just be aware, please, and let Zander know. As of now, he still doesn’t know where you are, but something feels off.”
I hum in thought as I see Taha’s ears perk up at this news, then say, “Thanks, Sam. I’m sure the word is already spreading through the pack, since Aiden was barely out the door when you said that, but I’ll make sure I personally warn Zander in the morning. I wish he would just stop… stop the bullshit attempts to get to me, and stop the constant ‘but I love you, and we’re meant to be’ pleas. I’m done, and I told him as much before I changed my phone number.”
I push my ¾ eaten bowl of fruit away, my stomach turning sour, but Sam promises, “He’ll eventually stop, Bells, or he’ll need to be stopped. The lot of them have already been put on notice. One way or another, he won’t be bothering you again.”
I let out a heavy breath as Taha goes to stand from his blanket, then raise my hand in a stop motion as I nod that I’m okay. His head tilts to the side for a second, then he lays back down, so I tell Sam, “I know… and thanks for being so good to me, Sam. Listen, I’m pretty beat, since I was up early cleaning, so I’m gonna grab a shower and curl up with Gran’s journal. I’ll call you guys again in a week or so to check in, okay?”
We quickly say our goodnights, with the pack all chiming in with their rest wells, then I push the end button on my phone. I immediately make my way to Taha, promising, “I’m okay, I promise. The only reason I stopped you was because you would have been heard. Your nails would have clicked on the wood floor, and I was on speakerphone. Look… you have your reasons for not telling them you’ve been alive all this time. That’s fine; you’ll tell them in your own time, but they shouldn’t find out by accident like this.”
Recognition sparks in the depths of Taha’s eyes before he gives me a grateful nuzzle. I laugh in response, “No need. Like I said, you’ll tell them when you’re ready. You were already putting the pack on notice about Edward before the call ended, right? Do I still need to warn Zander?”
With Taha’s nod, then shake of his massive head, I know the pack is on full alert for my ex, as well as the Volturi. I kiss the top of his head, then offer, “Time to check your stitches, I think. How are you feeling?”
In reply, I get another nuzzle and the sense that he feels good… stronger… then that same feeling from earlier about the stitches itching. I nod with a chuckle, “Then let's see how you’re wound is doing. Maybe we can finally get you free of the stitches altogether.”