Home At Last
by Momma2fan
Chapter 3
Sam rolled over and looked at the clock beside his bed, groaning at the time. Five in the morning meant he needed to go relieve Paul from patrol and then they had to get to work. He heard a sound in his kitchen and sniffed before rolling his eyes.
Getting out of bed, he pulled on his shorts and a shirt, before walking out of the room. He looked around and couldn’t wait for Bella to start making his place their home. He smiled thinking of his imprint, but grimaced when he walked around the corner. This had to stop.
“Emily,” he growled. “I told you to stop coming over here like this. I don’t need you taking care of me, you should be at home waiting for Paul. How’d you even get in here?”
The dark haired girl smiled up at him, “I wanted to. You need someone to take care of you.” She continued flipping pancakes and plating them, ignoring his question. “It’s not like your imprint is here,” he heard her mutter under her breath.
Sam was taken aback at the way she spoke of Bella. He thought they were friends. “Emily?”
Emily placed her hands on the counter and shook her head. “Sorry. I love Bella, you know I do. I was just shocked that she didn’t jump in with both feet. Kim and I did.”
Sam was immediately suspicious. Emily had been pulling out all the stops to get with him before Paul imprinted on her and lately she seemed to be up to her old tricks. He took the plate she offered him, but refused to eat anything on it. “You and Kim didn’t have your hearts ripped out of your chests like she did either. I’m not upset about her decision, I like that she wants to take it slow. I mean, she and I have our whole lives to be together.”
Sam’s phone buzzed on the counter and he grabbed it, seeing a new text. He smiled when he saw it was from Bella.
Morning, well sort of. I just wanted to tell you to have a good patrol and good day at work. Maybe we can meet for lunch? -B
Morning. You should go back to sleep, though. I’ll text you about lunch, I’m not sure what we have on the schedule today. -S
Okay. Back to sleepy-town. ;) -B
Sam chuckled and put his phone down. “Emily, have a good day.” He dismissed her, but didn’t move until he knew she had left. He put his head in his hands and thought about her recent behavior. Standing, he took the plate she’d made him and tossed it in the trash. He grabbed a couple microwavable breakfast sandwiches, threw them in and thought about calling Leah. She was the only one other person he could talk to about the situation with Emily, but it would have to wait until later.
After scarfing down the sandwiches in a few bites, he locked up his house, walked to the woods and phased. He and Paul exchanged greetings before he phased out and Sam ran the perimeter, stretching out farther than the old treaty line. He made his way through the woods and found himself outside of Bella’s house. He sat down and just breathed in the scent of his imprint. His wolf was content.
He finished his patrol when Embry phased in, went home and got ready for work. Throwing on a pair of old jeans, a t-shirt, and his boots, he was walking into the living room when Paul and Jared walked in.
“Ready?” Jared asked.
“Let me grab my phone and we can go.” Sam picked up his phone off the counter and noticed he had a missed message.
Hey, I’m gonna have to pass on lunch. I just got a call for an interview. Wish me luck. -B
Sam quickly texted her back and then followed Jared and Paul out to his truck.
***HaL***
Bella drove to the clinic in LaPush so she could meet with the doctor on staff and the head of the nursing department, who happened to be Sue, as well as human resources. She hadn’t told Sam her interview was in LaPush because she wanted to surprise him.
She parked her dad’s rarely driven car and went inside the building. She was greeted by Sue’s smiling face.
“Morning, Bella, thanks for coming.” Sue put her arm around her and led her forward. “This is actually all a formality, the job is already yours.”
“What?” Bella was stunned. “I hope you didn’t stick your neck out for me or anything, Sue.”
“Of course not. Doc Redfeather has been on the lookout for a qualified nurse practitioner for a few years. He already spoke with your school, the head of the department gave you a glowing recommendation, as well as the hospital where you worked while finishing your degree. Plus Billy, Old Quil and I have sung your praises.”
She followed Sue into the conference room and smiled at the two people waiting for her.
“Good morning, Miss Swan. I am Doctor Redfeather.”
Bella reached out her hand, “Nice to meet you.”
“Have a seat.” Once Bella was settled he continued, “I’ll be honest, this meeting is simply a formality. You come highly recommended and I know from your school that you have an excellent work ethic. We would like for you to join our staff within the next week. How does that sound?”
“Wow, I...I don’t know what to say. Thank you, Doctor, for this opportunity.”
“The only issue we have is your address. We require all of our staff to live on the reservation.”
“Oh, well, I can understand that. I’ll figure something out as soon as possible.”
“Great,” Doctor Redfeather smiled. “Well, as today is Monday, how about starting next Monday? That will give you a week to make arrangements and get settled.”
Bella smiled, “I look forward to it. Thank you.”
Sue took Bella on a tour and they stopped at the HR office to fill out her paperwork.
“You can use my address until you talk to Sam, Bella.”
Bella looked at Sue gratefully. “How did you know?”
“You’re the imprint of our Alpha, Bella. It’s my duty and privilege to give you a place, even temporarily.”
“Thanks, Sue. I’ll see you later.”
Bella walked out of the clinic and drove Charlie’s car to the beach. She parked and walked to a piece of driftwood she found and sat for a little while, letting the breeze wash over her and the heat warm her chilled skin. Finally her hunger got to her and she decided to go to the diner on the res. When she walked in she saw Leah and smiled.
“Hey,” Leah grinned at her as she sat down at a table.
“Hey. Do you have a break any time soon?”
Leah looked around and nodded, “Yeah, I can take my break. You want something?”
“Whatever you’re having is fine.”
Leah came back five minutes later with two plates, each with a burger and fries. Behind her was another waitress who set down two drinks and walked away.
“So, tell me about this guy you met.” Bella started.
“First there’s something else we need to talk about.” Leah put a fry in her mouth. “Sam.”
Bella cocked her head to the side. “What about him?”
“You know he and I used to be together, right?”
She nodded, “Yeah, before he phased if I remember correctly. I never heard what happened though.”
“Emily happened, Bella.”
“What? She’s with Paul. He imprinted on her.”
“Yeah, but that was after she did everything she could to break us up. Sam and I figured out what she was up to pretty quickly, but she had done enough damage and caused enough doubt by that point, we broke up anyway. Once she got what she wanted, she began to pursue Sam, romantically. Sam avoided her as best he could and was lucky she had to go home to her parents in Neah Bay. She came back though and started up again, but Paul had phased by then and imprinted on her.”
“Jesus, Leah. Does Paul know what she was up to?”
Leah shook her head, “Sam is really good at hiding his thoughts and he taught me so I couldn’t reveal anything either.” She took a bite of her burger and looked at Bella thoughtfully. “The imprint hasn’t stopped her, Bella.”
Bella choked on her soda. “What?”
“Have you ever watched her at pack functions? She’s always eyeing Sam, giving him longing looks. Before you guys imprinted, Sam avoided being alone with her. He and I even acted as if we were getting back together just so he had a buffer. Then I met Andrew and imprinted on him.”
“Why are you telling me this, Leah?”
“I want you to watch your back, Bella. Yours and Sam’s. If I’m right, Paul is gonna end up hurt and maybe you and Sam, or worse. I’ll keep an ear out, but you need to be with Sam.”
“Leah...” Bella trailed off.
“I don’t mean like that, I know you’re not ready. Just move in with him, be his roommate and friend for now. Get to know him like you want. But you being there will protect both of you. It will be your house. You can dictate who comes and goes. It will keep her away.”
“From what you’re telling me, it might also make her go a little crazy.”
Leah shrugged, “Maybe a lot, but at least she’ll be found out.”
Sam rolled over and looked at the clock beside his bed, groaning at the time. Five in the morning meant he needed to go relieve Paul from patrol and then they had to get to work. He heard a sound in his kitchen and sniffed before rolling his eyes.
Getting out of bed, he pulled on his shorts and a shirt, before walking out of the room. He looked around and couldn’t wait for Bella to start making his place their home. He smiled thinking of his imprint, but grimaced when he walked around the corner. This had to stop.
“Emily,” he growled. “I told you to stop coming over here like this. I don’t need you taking care of me, you should be at home waiting for Paul. How’d you even get in here?”
The dark haired girl smiled up at him, “I wanted to. You need someone to take care of you.” She continued flipping pancakes and plating them, ignoring his question. “It’s not like your imprint is here,” he heard her mutter under her breath.
Sam was taken aback at the way she spoke of Bella. He thought they were friends. “Emily?”
Emily placed her hands on the counter and shook her head. “Sorry. I love Bella, you know I do. I was just shocked that she didn’t jump in with both feet. Kim and I did.”
Sam was immediately suspicious. Emily had been pulling out all the stops to get with him before Paul imprinted on her and lately she seemed to be up to her old tricks. He took the plate she offered him, but refused to eat anything on it. “You and Kim didn’t have your hearts ripped out of your chests like she did either. I’m not upset about her decision, I like that she wants to take it slow. I mean, she and I have our whole lives to be together.”
Sam’s phone buzzed on the counter and he grabbed it, seeing a new text. He smiled when he saw it was from Bella.
Morning, well sort of. I just wanted to tell you to have a good patrol and good day at work. Maybe we can meet for lunch? -B
Morning. You should go back to sleep, though. I’ll text you about lunch, I’m not sure what we have on the schedule today. -S
Okay. Back to sleepy-town. ;) -B
Sam chuckled and put his phone down. “Emily, have a good day.” He dismissed her, but didn’t move until he knew she had left. He put his head in his hands and thought about her recent behavior. Standing, he took the plate she’d made him and tossed it in the trash. He grabbed a couple microwavable breakfast sandwiches, threw them in and thought about calling Leah. She was the only one other person he could talk to about the situation with Emily, but it would have to wait until later.
After scarfing down the sandwiches in a few bites, he locked up his house, walked to the woods and phased. He and Paul exchanged greetings before he phased out and Sam ran the perimeter, stretching out farther than the old treaty line. He made his way through the woods and found himself outside of Bella’s house. He sat down and just breathed in the scent of his imprint. His wolf was content.
He finished his patrol when Embry phased in, went home and got ready for work. Throwing on a pair of old jeans, a t-shirt, and his boots, he was walking into the living room when Paul and Jared walked in.
“Ready?” Jared asked.
“Let me grab my phone and we can go.” Sam picked up his phone off the counter and noticed he had a missed message.
Hey, I’m gonna have to pass on lunch. I just got a call for an interview. Wish me luck. -B
Sam quickly texted her back and then followed Jared and Paul out to his truck.
***HaL***
Bella drove to the clinic in LaPush so she could meet with the doctor on staff and the head of the nursing department, who happened to be Sue, as well as human resources. She hadn’t told Sam her interview was in LaPush because she wanted to surprise him.
She parked her dad’s rarely driven car and went inside the building. She was greeted by Sue’s smiling face.
“Morning, Bella, thanks for coming.” Sue put her arm around her and led her forward. “This is actually all a formality, the job is already yours.”
“What?” Bella was stunned. “I hope you didn’t stick your neck out for me or anything, Sue.”
“Of course not. Doc Redfeather has been on the lookout for a qualified nurse practitioner for a few years. He already spoke with your school, the head of the department gave you a glowing recommendation, as well as the hospital where you worked while finishing your degree. Plus Billy, Old Quil and I have sung your praises.”
She followed Sue into the conference room and smiled at the two people waiting for her.
“Good morning, Miss Swan. I am Doctor Redfeather.”
Bella reached out her hand, “Nice to meet you.”
“Have a seat.” Once Bella was settled he continued, “I’ll be honest, this meeting is simply a formality. You come highly recommended and I know from your school that you have an excellent work ethic. We would like for you to join our staff within the next week. How does that sound?”
“Wow, I...I don’t know what to say. Thank you, Doctor, for this opportunity.”
“The only issue we have is your address. We require all of our staff to live on the reservation.”
“Oh, well, I can understand that. I’ll figure something out as soon as possible.”
“Great,” Doctor Redfeather smiled. “Well, as today is Monday, how about starting next Monday? That will give you a week to make arrangements and get settled.”
Bella smiled, “I look forward to it. Thank you.”
Sue took Bella on a tour and they stopped at the HR office to fill out her paperwork.
“You can use my address until you talk to Sam, Bella.”
Bella looked at Sue gratefully. “How did you know?”
“You’re the imprint of our Alpha, Bella. It’s my duty and privilege to give you a place, even temporarily.”
“Thanks, Sue. I’ll see you later.”
Bella walked out of the clinic and drove Charlie’s car to the beach. She parked and walked to a piece of driftwood she found and sat for a little while, letting the breeze wash over her and the heat warm her chilled skin. Finally her hunger got to her and she decided to go to the diner on the res. When she walked in she saw Leah and smiled.
“Hey,” Leah grinned at her as she sat down at a table.
“Hey. Do you have a break any time soon?”
Leah looked around and nodded, “Yeah, I can take my break. You want something?”
“Whatever you’re having is fine.”
Leah came back five minutes later with two plates, each with a burger and fries. Behind her was another waitress who set down two drinks and walked away.
“So, tell me about this guy you met.” Bella started.
“First there’s something else we need to talk about.” Leah put a fry in her mouth. “Sam.”
Bella cocked her head to the side. “What about him?”
“You know he and I used to be together, right?”
She nodded, “Yeah, before he phased if I remember correctly. I never heard what happened though.”
“Emily happened, Bella.”
“What? She’s with Paul. He imprinted on her.”
“Yeah, but that was after she did everything she could to break us up. Sam and I figured out what she was up to pretty quickly, but she had done enough damage and caused enough doubt by that point, we broke up anyway. Once she got what she wanted, she began to pursue Sam, romantically. Sam avoided her as best he could and was lucky she had to go home to her parents in Neah Bay. She came back though and started up again, but Paul had phased by then and imprinted on her.”
“Jesus, Leah. Does Paul know what she was up to?”
Leah shook her head, “Sam is really good at hiding his thoughts and he taught me so I couldn’t reveal anything either.” She took a bite of her burger and looked at Bella thoughtfully. “The imprint hasn’t stopped her, Bella.”
Bella choked on her soda. “What?”
“Have you ever watched her at pack functions? She’s always eyeing Sam, giving him longing looks. Before you guys imprinted, Sam avoided being alone with her. He and I even acted as if we were getting back together just so he had a buffer. Then I met Andrew and imprinted on him.”
“Why are you telling me this, Leah?”
“I want you to watch your back, Bella. Yours and Sam’s. If I’m right, Paul is gonna end up hurt and maybe you and Sam, or worse. I’ll keep an ear out, but you need to be with Sam.”
“Leah...” Bella trailed off.
“I don’t mean like that, I know you’re not ready. Just move in with him, be his roommate and friend for now. Get to know him like you want. But you being there will protect both of you. It will be your house. You can dictate who comes and goes. It will keep her away.”
“From what you’re telling me, it might also make her go a little crazy.”
Leah shrugged, “Maybe a lot, but at least she’ll be found out.”