Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 22:
I almost don’t want to hear the elders speak, fearing that they may very well choose to exile my mate.
After silently looking at each other for several moments, the elders seem to come to a decision. Old Quil clears his throat before saying, “Though it would be much easier to leave the legend as is, it would be a disservice to our tribe and its spirit warriors. Taha, since I can not live the experience as Sam and Jake did, I would like them to help you rewrite the legend in its entirety. Sam, do you happen to have any thoughts on why the original tale may have been altered?”
Sam runs his fingers through his short hair as he sits back, “You aren’t going to like it… but I agree with what I saw of Bella and Charlie’s thoughts. It’s because of that legend that you tell us not to date… that we won’t find true love until we find our imprint. Taha is proof that we can. We can love someone other than our imprint. It’s a double edged sword, because what happens if we do meet them, but I feel like that should be each wolf’s personal decision. We already know that imprints aren’t just for a romantic connection, because of Paul and Quil.”
He takes a breath, then says, “I think seeing how torn apart Taha was over his wife’s death, yet knowing she wasn’t his imprint, scared the ancestors into trying to protect future wolves. I get why they did it, but I think if I would have had the option to build a life with love in it before Emily, I might have done so. I closed myself off because of the council ruling, but it made me a bit cold when I first met Emily. I had to relearn how to love… how to let her through the walls I had built. It’s still difficult for us sometimes because of that.”
Old Quil nods thoughtfully, then looks to Taha. “Be as detailed as you can be… you had 3 wives before finding Bella. Did your wolf care for each of your wives? Why do you think you grieved differently for your last wife’s death? The new legend will be of your life, how you loved, living with your wolf, and how you -in your grief- made your way here to mourn the loss of your 3rd wife and many of your people.”
Looking into Taha’s eyes, I see tears threatening to fall. I push back my chair, only to place myself on my mate’s lap. Framing his face with my hands, I whisper, “Breathe. Breathe with me. This is better than we hoped for.”
Taha nods, lets out a heavy breath, then kisses my lips lightly. When his eyes leave mine, they meet Old Quil’s. “A tale that long would take a full night to tell, and I don’t want to minimize the other histories you tell. Would it be acceptable for me to write a journal of my experiences, then have the legend be rewritten only where the truth is missing? That way, any future wolves will be told the true story. If they want to know more about me, they have the journal to look through.”
Billy nods, “The legend part of any bonfire is always extensive. Keeping it from becoming longer would be… helpful. I don’t see why your idea wouldn’t work in everyone’s favor.”
Sam is quiet for several minutes, seemingly lost in thought, then his eyes meet mine, “So what do you need from us to help get rid of those Italians?”
I chuckle before offering, “Care to go to war? More precisely, we’re calling all the tribes. We’re telling them our story, and I’m telling them the deal that was made.”
Jake grinned deviously, “Ah. Human’s not human. No need to change or die, because you’re already all jacked-up and supified.”
My eyes never leave Sam’s, so when Jake finishes, I grin, “Exactly. And the other shifter tribes are proof that we will go to war to end this, if they don’t leave us alone… leave the tribes alone. The Italian that Taha killed was not the tracker, so I expect him to be here in the next couple of weeks, tracking their missing member.”
Sue nods, “This isn’t just for you, then. You are standing up for all tribes, all imprints. How many wolves do you need? We can not leave the tribe unprotected.”
I pat Sue’s hand, promising, “No, Sue. My end goal is to have all the tribes protected from them, not just myself. We only want 1 or 2 shifter representatives from each tribe, including the wolves. No more. They are not only witnesses to the threat we face, but will be proof that there are many tribes still shifting… many tribes that will go to war for the right to live without fear for their families.”
Sue nods, then offers, “Jake is practically volunteering as we speak… if another wolf is needed, Embry or Leah would have to agree.”
Sam nods, “I will phase and show both after we conclude, if you are ready for me to loop them in.”
Once breakfast is done and Sam retreats to the back yard, Zander decides on a walk through the gardens with the elders. Taha takes over cleaning the kitchen back up. I hand Jake $200 in cash and my truck keys, telling him to go with Aiden to his mom’s house, because she has a set of full/full bunk beds she’s selling. “She’s only asking $125, but Aiden said they were in excellent condition, so politely decline any cash back. She deserves to be paid properly for the condition they’re in. We’ll need the bunks for the room you’re in, since you’ll be sharing with another wolf… although I need to talk to Taha about what it would take to turn the loft over the dining room into a bunk room.”
Taha stands in the doorway to the kitchen, a soapy pot in his hands, and says confidently, “It honestly wouldn’t take as much work as you think, little coyote. We could do the same to the loft over the master bath. With each space easily able to hold 3 sets of bunks, we could house 14 shifters and your Dad.”
Aiden adds with an appreciative nod, “That would definitely take some pressure off of Zander to find places for them to stay on the rez.”
Jake kisses my cheek, then walks toward the front door as I say surely, “Lets source out the materials and stuff, so that we can get building. Aiden, put the word out with the pack for anyone who would be willing to sell us building materials or more full beds. I’m sure we can build the bunk platforms to suit, if needed.”
They both exit the house, but before the door closes, I hear Aiden calling, “Yes, Miss Bella. I’m on it.”
As I turn to go help Taha in the kitchen, Dad follows me, offering, “Bells? I can get started on taking measurements and carefully deconstructing the existing railings, if you want. That way, everything’s ready for when the building supplies are bought.”
I turn and hug him, “Dad, that would be a huge help, if you really don’t mind. You weren’t staying to be put to work.”
He shrugs, “It’ll give me something to do, and it’s for a good cause. Plus, I’d rather be the one to take out the railings; that way, I can only be mad at myself if something breaks.”
Kissing his cheek and patting his shoulder, I give him the go ahead, “Have at it, Dad. If you can, please think up a solution for the loft in my room, to make the stairway unusable for now, but able to be opened back up.”
It turns out to be an eventful day. No sooner do I finish drying the last dish and place the kitchen towel on the island, than I get a phone call from Brad. “Miss Bella? Aiden and Jake stopped by to talk to me, and I mentioned the need for bunks to my dad. He’s a metal worker, and builds metal bed frames. Would it be okay for me to bring him by to talk to you? He says he wants to help.”
I reply right away, “Absolutely! Tell him to bring sketches of anything he has, because we’re going to need to make sure adults can use them easily. I’m not planning on hunting until dark, so I’ll be in the house until then.”
Aiden and Jake return as I’m hanging up the phone, Aiden grinning from ear to ear. I chuckle, “You, Sir, deserve a pat on the back for thinking of Brad’s father.”
His grin widens impossibly further, then he looks up at the sound of the tape measure snapping. “Thanks, Miss Bella. Did it help? And can I help the Chief?”
I shrug, “Yes, it did help quite a bit, I think. If you’re not supposed to patrol, you can help set up the bunk beds you just brought in the room that Jake will be staying in. After that, if you want something to do, you can ask the Chief to put you to work.”
He nods, turns to head toward the front door, then stops and says, “Oh. Mom sent a bunch of sheet sets, too. She says not to bother trying to pay her for them, because she was just going to donate them anyway. They’ve only been used a handful of times each. All she asks is that when you’re done, you donate them to the community center.”
I grin, “I believe she has a deal, Aiden.”
I almost don’t want to hear the elders speak, fearing that they may very well choose to exile my mate.
After silently looking at each other for several moments, the elders seem to come to a decision. Old Quil clears his throat before saying, “Though it would be much easier to leave the legend as is, it would be a disservice to our tribe and its spirit warriors. Taha, since I can not live the experience as Sam and Jake did, I would like them to help you rewrite the legend in its entirety. Sam, do you happen to have any thoughts on why the original tale may have been altered?”
Sam runs his fingers through his short hair as he sits back, “You aren’t going to like it… but I agree with what I saw of Bella and Charlie’s thoughts. It’s because of that legend that you tell us not to date… that we won’t find true love until we find our imprint. Taha is proof that we can. We can love someone other than our imprint. It’s a double edged sword, because what happens if we do meet them, but I feel like that should be each wolf’s personal decision. We already know that imprints aren’t just for a romantic connection, because of Paul and Quil.”
He takes a breath, then says, “I think seeing how torn apart Taha was over his wife’s death, yet knowing she wasn’t his imprint, scared the ancestors into trying to protect future wolves. I get why they did it, but I think if I would have had the option to build a life with love in it before Emily, I might have done so. I closed myself off because of the council ruling, but it made me a bit cold when I first met Emily. I had to relearn how to love… how to let her through the walls I had built. It’s still difficult for us sometimes because of that.”
Old Quil nods thoughtfully, then looks to Taha. “Be as detailed as you can be… you had 3 wives before finding Bella. Did your wolf care for each of your wives? Why do you think you grieved differently for your last wife’s death? The new legend will be of your life, how you loved, living with your wolf, and how you -in your grief- made your way here to mourn the loss of your 3rd wife and many of your people.”
Looking into Taha’s eyes, I see tears threatening to fall. I push back my chair, only to place myself on my mate’s lap. Framing his face with my hands, I whisper, “Breathe. Breathe with me. This is better than we hoped for.”
Taha nods, lets out a heavy breath, then kisses my lips lightly. When his eyes leave mine, they meet Old Quil’s. “A tale that long would take a full night to tell, and I don’t want to minimize the other histories you tell. Would it be acceptable for me to write a journal of my experiences, then have the legend be rewritten only where the truth is missing? That way, any future wolves will be told the true story. If they want to know more about me, they have the journal to look through.”
Billy nods, “The legend part of any bonfire is always extensive. Keeping it from becoming longer would be… helpful. I don’t see why your idea wouldn’t work in everyone’s favor.”
Sam is quiet for several minutes, seemingly lost in thought, then his eyes meet mine, “So what do you need from us to help get rid of those Italians?”
I chuckle before offering, “Care to go to war? More precisely, we’re calling all the tribes. We’re telling them our story, and I’m telling them the deal that was made.”
Jake grinned deviously, “Ah. Human’s not human. No need to change or die, because you’re already all jacked-up and supified.”
My eyes never leave Sam’s, so when Jake finishes, I grin, “Exactly. And the other shifter tribes are proof that we will go to war to end this, if they don’t leave us alone… leave the tribes alone. The Italian that Taha killed was not the tracker, so I expect him to be here in the next couple of weeks, tracking their missing member.”
Sue nods, “This isn’t just for you, then. You are standing up for all tribes, all imprints. How many wolves do you need? We can not leave the tribe unprotected.”
I pat Sue’s hand, promising, “No, Sue. My end goal is to have all the tribes protected from them, not just myself. We only want 1 or 2 shifter representatives from each tribe, including the wolves. No more. They are not only witnesses to the threat we face, but will be proof that there are many tribes still shifting… many tribes that will go to war for the right to live without fear for their families.”
Sue nods, then offers, “Jake is practically volunteering as we speak… if another wolf is needed, Embry or Leah would have to agree.”
Sam nods, “I will phase and show both after we conclude, if you are ready for me to loop them in.”
Once breakfast is done and Sam retreats to the back yard, Zander decides on a walk through the gardens with the elders. Taha takes over cleaning the kitchen back up. I hand Jake $200 in cash and my truck keys, telling him to go with Aiden to his mom’s house, because she has a set of full/full bunk beds she’s selling. “She’s only asking $125, but Aiden said they were in excellent condition, so politely decline any cash back. She deserves to be paid properly for the condition they’re in. We’ll need the bunks for the room you’re in, since you’ll be sharing with another wolf… although I need to talk to Taha about what it would take to turn the loft over the dining room into a bunk room.”
Taha stands in the doorway to the kitchen, a soapy pot in his hands, and says confidently, “It honestly wouldn’t take as much work as you think, little coyote. We could do the same to the loft over the master bath. With each space easily able to hold 3 sets of bunks, we could house 14 shifters and your Dad.”
Aiden adds with an appreciative nod, “That would definitely take some pressure off of Zander to find places for them to stay on the rez.”
Jake kisses my cheek, then walks toward the front door as I say surely, “Lets source out the materials and stuff, so that we can get building. Aiden, put the word out with the pack for anyone who would be willing to sell us building materials or more full beds. I’m sure we can build the bunk platforms to suit, if needed.”
They both exit the house, but before the door closes, I hear Aiden calling, “Yes, Miss Bella. I’m on it.”
As I turn to go help Taha in the kitchen, Dad follows me, offering, “Bells? I can get started on taking measurements and carefully deconstructing the existing railings, if you want. That way, everything’s ready for when the building supplies are bought.”
I turn and hug him, “Dad, that would be a huge help, if you really don’t mind. You weren’t staying to be put to work.”
He shrugs, “It’ll give me something to do, and it’s for a good cause. Plus, I’d rather be the one to take out the railings; that way, I can only be mad at myself if something breaks.”
Kissing his cheek and patting his shoulder, I give him the go ahead, “Have at it, Dad. If you can, please think up a solution for the loft in my room, to make the stairway unusable for now, but able to be opened back up.”
It turns out to be an eventful day. No sooner do I finish drying the last dish and place the kitchen towel on the island, than I get a phone call from Brad. “Miss Bella? Aiden and Jake stopped by to talk to me, and I mentioned the need for bunks to my dad. He’s a metal worker, and builds metal bed frames. Would it be okay for me to bring him by to talk to you? He says he wants to help.”
I reply right away, “Absolutely! Tell him to bring sketches of anything he has, because we’re going to need to make sure adults can use them easily. I’m not planning on hunting until dark, so I’ll be in the house until then.”
Aiden and Jake return as I’m hanging up the phone, Aiden grinning from ear to ear. I chuckle, “You, Sir, deserve a pat on the back for thinking of Brad’s father.”
His grin widens impossibly further, then he looks up at the sound of the tape measure snapping. “Thanks, Miss Bella. Did it help? And can I help the Chief?”
I shrug, “Yes, it did help quite a bit, I think. If you’re not supposed to patrol, you can help set up the bunk beds you just brought in the room that Jake will be staying in. After that, if you want something to do, you can ask the Chief to put you to work.”
He nods, turns to head toward the front door, then stops and says, “Oh. Mom sent a bunch of sheet sets, too. She says not to bother trying to pay her for them, because she was just going to donate them anyway. They’ve only been used a handful of times each. All she asks is that when you’re done, you donate them to the community center.”
I grin, “I believe she has a deal, Aiden.”