Home At Last
by Momma2fan
Chapter 7
Paul walked into the house as Bella was finishing putting dinner on the table. He could immediately tell something had changed between the two of them. He wished he had someone like Bella, but the only way that would happen would be if he imprinted on her. That was something that would never happen again, he was sure.
“Sit down, Paul. I’ll get you a beer,” Bella ordered.
Paul sat and looked at his Alpha. “We need to call a meeting, Sam. We need to bring in the pack, the imprints and the elders, probably the whole council. And we need to do it tonight.”
Sam nodded, “I agree. After we eat, I’ll make the calls. You can help me.”
Bella set beers before the pair of them and sat down with her own drink. Sam made her plate and set it in front of her. When she smiled at him in thanks, he and Paul gave themselves heaping portions.
Bella was quiet as they ate, while Sam and Paul talked about anything but the large elephant in the room. When everyone was done, Sam and Paul went to make calls while Bella got everything cleaned up. Without anyone being underfoot, she was done in no time and had the dishwasher humming. She grabbed a Diet Pepsi from the fridge and went out to the porch to sit on the swing. That’s where Sam found her.
“You okay, honey?”
She smiled up at him. “I’m fine. When’s the meeting?”
“In half an hour. We’re going to the tribal center since the council will be involved as well as everyone else. I think it’s a more appropriate setting.”
“I’ll go get changed then.” Bella stood up and walked to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and soaking up his warmth. “We’ll get through this, Sam.”
Sam ran his hands down her back and through her long chestnut locks. “I love you, Bella.”
Looking up at him, she rested her chin on his chest. “I love you, too.”
Sam stroked her cheek and planted a soft kiss to her lips before letting her walk inside the house. He leaned against one of the posts on the porch staring in the direction of the beach. When Paul joined him, he didn’t say anything. He knew his friend would speak when he was ready.
“What are we missing, Sam? There has to be something wrong with Emily that has caused her to become this woman.”
Sam was silent for a while before looking at Paul. Without saying anything, he turned to the door and walked to it. “Bella, Paul and I will be right back.” He heard her yell back and walked off the porch. “Come with me.”
Paul followed his Alpha into the woods and watched as he phased into his black wolf. A bark from Sam indicated that he should phase as well. Once his silver wolf sat before his leader, Sam opened his memories to before he phased and after, but just before Paul imprinted on Emily. He allowed his friend to see that while Emily’s behavior wasn’t new, it had escalated slowly.
When they phased back, Sam finally spoke. “I think Bella coming home and my imprinting on her was the final straw. I fully believe that Emily needs professional help. I worry she will hurt not just my mate, but also you or even me. Hopefully these charges Charlie was talking about will stick and we can work on getting her away from the pack. I don’t think it will be enough though.”
Paul nodded, “I don’t either, Sam. Honestly, I think if she’s in jail for any length of time, it will only give her more time to plot. It could be the calm before the storm.”
“We’ll just have to stay vigilant.”
They arrived back at Sam’s and found Bella locking up the house and turning to wait for them. She had changed into jeans and a flannel shirt, her long hair hung down her back in waves. Despite the bruise on her face and her split lip, she was still the most beautiful woman Sam had ever seen.
“Ready?” She smiled as she joined the two of them, lacing her fingers with Sam’s.
***HaL***
Paul, Bella and Sam were the last to arrive. Gasps sounded from around the room when everyone saw Bella’s face. Sue rushed forward, her nurse's hat in place.
“Bella? Are you okay?”
Smiling, “I’m fine. No broken bones, just a few bumps and bruises. Honestly, I’ve had worse from tripping over air.”
“As long as you’re sure. You know Doc Redfeather wouldn’t mind checking you out.”
“I’m fine, Sue.” She looked at everyone else, “Shall we get started?”
Sam took his place with the rest of the council, as Paul led Bella to a chair beside Jacob.
“The mate of one of our pack is threatening another mated pair,” Billy began. “Tonight she broke into their home and was caught performing an unspeakable act. When she was confronted, the Alpha’s imprint was harmed. This will not be tolerated.”
“Wolf Lahote, we have found a way to sever your imprint on Miss Young. Is this still your wish?” Old Quil spoke from his seat beside Sam.
Paul stood, “Yes. I no longer wish to be tied to someone who would hurt my sister, my pack or myself.”
“So it is not for selfish reasons that you request this?”
“No. I also ask this as a way to protect Emily. My wolf hates her and I fight him everyday not to hurt her. I fear we will kill her if she remains anywhere near us.” Paul was honest with the council, Emily really needed to go.
“Very well.” Old Quil motioned him forward and held out a ceremonial cup. It was painted with the forest as the background and shadows of wolves as the foreground. “Drink this, close your eyes and make your request to the spirits. If they believe your words to be true, you will feel the bonds to Emily Young breaking.”
The pack and imprints behind him joined hands, all saying silent prayers to Taha Aki that Paul would be freed from his toxic imprint, thus freeing the pack.
Paul brought the cup to his lips and swallowed down the contents. He gagged once but closed his eyes and lifted his head to the spirits, speaking quietly. “Please release me from my bonds. Help me to find peace.”
No sooner had the words left his lips, did he hit his knees clutching his chest. Jacob and Embry ran forward to their fallen brother.
“Paul?” Jacob looked at him.
Paul met his eyes, “It worked. The bonds tying me to Emily are gone.”
Just as they were helping him to his feet, Charlie walked through the double doors. “Is everything alright in here? The tribal jail just called and said that their current resident is screaming in agony.”
“Bitch deserves more than that,” Leah muttered.
“Paul has broken his imprint, Charlie.” Billy explained to his oldest friend.
“Ah,” Charlie nodded in understanding. “That’ll make for an interesting evening.”
Sam stood up and cleared his throat. “Emily’s ties to this pack are gone. She is no longer welcome on this reservation. Once her time has been served, whatever that may be, she will need to leave and never return.”
“Do you really think that will be the end of it, Sam?” Quil wanted to know.
“I don’t know. Her behavior as of late leads me to believe that no, it will not be.” Sam looked at his pack. “We’ll be on our guard. She knows tribal secrets, she will have to be threatened to keep silent. Given her state of mind, we haven’t heard the end of her.”
“If there is nothing further...” Billy began closing the meeting.
“Actually, Billy,” Bella stood up before the council. “With the council’s permission, I would like to ask that everyone present please check all of your cabinets for any and all teas, herbal or otherwise, and bring them to me at the clinic.”
“For what purpose?”
“I discovered recently that Emily was slowly poisoning two of the imprints and perhaps even Leah with specially brewed tea. She was preventing them from becoming pregnant.”
“What!?” Jared and Jacob roared in unison.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I conducted the tests myself and recently received the results.” Bella explained her findings and Sue was able to corroborate what she was saying was true. “I would also like to respectfully ask for access to the tribal scrolls. Emily was able to make the pack believe that no child would be conceived until the Alpha imprinted. I can’t even comprehend how ridiculous that is, but she had to have gleaned the information from somewhere.”
“When you are not working at the clinic or bonding with your mate, I will be happy to go over the scrolls with you, Isabella.” Old Quil smiled at her. He had a fondness for the young woman as she reminded him of his beloved Molly.
“Thank you, Quilly.” She winked at him.
Billy chuckled at the blush on the old man’s cheeks. “If there is nothing else then I am officially closing the meeting. Have a good night.”
The pack and imprints filed out. Kim, Bella and Angela stood off to the side as the pack horsed around in celebration of Paul’s freedom.
“Do you think he’ll imprint again?” Kim wondered.
“I’m sure there is someone perfect for him out there just waiting for him to notice her.” Angela smiled, before a frown marred her features. “Is what Emily did to us going to cause any problems?”
Bella shook her head, “I see no reason why, you’re both perfectly healthy. When the time comes, I’ll be there every step of the way.”
Sam walked up then and put his arm around her waist. “You ready?”
Smiling up at him, “Yeah. Let’s go home.”
After hugging her friends and promising Leah lunch, she and Sam walked hand in hand back to their house.
***HaL***
Once they walked in the house, Bella ran up the stairs and straight to Sam’s room. She immediately stripped everything off his bed and threw it over the stair railing. She followed it down and separated things to be loaded in the washing machine.
“Honey, can you go in your room and see what else smells like her please.” Bella asked Sam as he followed her with his eyes in confusion.
“Sure,” he went up the stairs two at a time and stopped in the doorway. “Bella, I can’t go in there. Her stink permeates the whole space.”
Bella walked up the stairs and groaned, “That’s what I was afraid of.” Ducking under his arm, she walked in the room, straight to the window and threw it open. “What do you need out of here besides your clothes for work?”
“There are some sleep pants in the second drawer. I guess if I’m bunking on the couch I’ll need those. If we shut the door and leave the window open all night, I should be able to go in there in the morning.”
“You’re not bunking on the couch, Sam. You’re too tall for that. I think we can control ourselves for one night, don’t you?” Bella turned to face him.
“Bella?”
She walked out of his room, pulling the door shut behind them. “You’ll stay with me.”
Paul walked into the house as Bella was finishing putting dinner on the table. He could immediately tell something had changed between the two of them. He wished he had someone like Bella, but the only way that would happen would be if he imprinted on her. That was something that would never happen again, he was sure.
“Sit down, Paul. I’ll get you a beer,” Bella ordered.
Paul sat and looked at his Alpha. “We need to call a meeting, Sam. We need to bring in the pack, the imprints and the elders, probably the whole council. And we need to do it tonight.”
Sam nodded, “I agree. After we eat, I’ll make the calls. You can help me.”
Bella set beers before the pair of them and sat down with her own drink. Sam made her plate and set it in front of her. When she smiled at him in thanks, he and Paul gave themselves heaping portions.
Bella was quiet as they ate, while Sam and Paul talked about anything but the large elephant in the room. When everyone was done, Sam and Paul went to make calls while Bella got everything cleaned up. Without anyone being underfoot, she was done in no time and had the dishwasher humming. She grabbed a Diet Pepsi from the fridge and went out to the porch to sit on the swing. That’s where Sam found her.
“You okay, honey?”
She smiled up at him. “I’m fine. When’s the meeting?”
“In half an hour. We’re going to the tribal center since the council will be involved as well as everyone else. I think it’s a more appropriate setting.”
“I’ll go get changed then.” Bella stood up and walked to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and soaking up his warmth. “We’ll get through this, Sam.”
Sam ran his hands down her back and through her long chestnut locks. “I love you, Bella.”
Looking up at him, she rested her chin on his chest. “I love you, too.”
Sam stroked her cheek and planted a soft kiss to her lips before letting her walk inside the house. He leaned against one of the posts on the porch staring in the direction of the beach. When Paul joined him, he didn’t say anything. He knew his friend would speak when he was ready.
“What are we missing, Sam? There has to be something wrong with Emily that has caused her to become this woman.”
Sam was silent for a while before looking at Paul. Without saying anything, he turned to the door and walked to it. “Bella, Paul and I will be right back.” He heard her yell back and walked off the porch. “Come with me.”
Paul followed his Alpha into the woods and watched as he phased into his black wolf. A bark from Sam indicated that he should phase as well. Once his silver wolf sat before his leader, Sam opened his memories to before he phased and after, but just before Paul imprinted on Emily. He allowed his friend to see that while Emily’s behavior wasn’t new, it had escalated slowly.
When they phased back, Sam finally spoke. “I think Bella coming home and my imprinting on her was the final straw. I fully believe that Emily needs professional help. I worry she will hurt not just my mate, but also you or even me. Hopefully these charges Charlie was talking about will stick and we can work on getting her away from the pack. I don’t think it will be enough though.”
Paul nodded, “I don’t either, Sam. Honestly, I think if she’s in jail for any length of time, it will only give her more time to plot. It could be the calm before the storm.”
“We’ll just have to stay vigilant.”
They arrived back at Sam’s and found Bella locking up the house and turning to wait for them. She had changed into jeans and a flannel shirt, her long hair hung down her back in waves. Despite the bruise on her face and her split lip, she was still the most beautiful woman Sam had ever seen.
“Ready?” She smiled as she joined the two of them, lacing her fingers with Sam’s.
***HaL***
Paul, Bella and Sam were the last to arrive. Gasps sounded from around the room when everyone saw Bella’s face. Sue rushed forward, her nurse's hat in place.
“Bella? Are you okay?”
Smiling, “I’m fine. No broken bones, just a few bumps and bruises. Honestly, I’ve had worse from tripping over air.”
“As long as you’re sure. You know Doc Redfeather wouldn’t mind checking you out.”
“I’m fine, Sue.” She looked at everyone else, “Shall we get started?”
Sam took his place with the rest of the council, as Paul led Bella to a chair beside Jacob.
“The mate of one of our pack is threatening another mated pair,” Billy began. “Tonight she broke into their home and was caught performing an unspeakable act. When she was confronted, the Alpha’s imprint was harmed. This will not be tolerated.”
“Wolf Lahote, we have found a way to sever your imprint on Miss Young. Is this still your wish?” Old Quil spoke from his seat beside Sam.
Paul stood, “Yes. I no longer wish to be tied to someone who would hurt my sister, my pack or myself.”
“So it is not for selfish reasons that you request this?”
“No. I also ask this as a way to protect Emily. My wolf hates her and I fight him everyday not to hurt her. I fear we will kill her if she remains anywhere near us.” Paul was honest with the council, Emily really needed to go.
“Very well.” Old Quil motioned him forward and held out a ceremonial cup. It was painted with the forest as the background and shadows of wolves as the foreground. “Drink this, close your eyes and make your request to the spirits. If they believe your words to be true, you will feel the bonds to Emily Young breaking.”
The pack and imprints behind him joined hands, all saying silent prayers to Taha Aki that Paul would be freed from his toxic imprint, thus freeing the pack.
Paul brought the cup to his lips and swallowed down the contents. He gagged once but closed his eyes and lifted his head to the spirits, speaking quietly. “Please release me from my bonds. Help me to find peace.”
No sooner had the words left his lips, did he hit his knees clutching his chest. Jacob and Embry ran forward to their fallen brother.
“Paul?” Jacob looked at him.
Paul met his eyes, “It worked. The bonds tying me to Emily are gone.”
Just as they were helping him to his feet, Charlie walked through the double doors. “Is everything alright in here? The tribal jail just called and said that their current resident is screaming in agony.”
“Bitch deserves more than that,” Leah muttered.
“Paul has broken his imprint, Charlie.” Billy explained to his oldest friend.
“Ah,” Charlie nodded in understanding. “That’ll make for an interesting evening.”
Sam stood up and cleared his throat. “Emily’s ties to this pack are gone. She is no longer welcome on this reservation. Once her time has been served, whatever that may be, she will need to leave and never return.”
“Do you really think that will be the end of it, Sam?” Quil wanted to know.
“I don’t know. Her behavior as of late leads me to believe that no, it will not be.” Sam looked at his pack. “We’ll be on our guard. She knows tribal secrets, she will have to be threatened to keep silent. Given her state of mind, we haven’t heard the end of her.”
“If there is nothing further...” Billy began closing the meeting.
“Actually, Billy,” Bella stood up before the council. “With the council’s permission, I would like to ask that everyone present please check all of your cabinets for any and all teas, herbal or otherwise, and bring them to me at the clinic.”
“For what purpose?”
“I discovered recently that Emily was slowly poisoning two of the imprints and perhaps even Leah with specially brewed tea. She was preventing them from becoming pregnant.”
“What!?” Jared and Jacob roared in unison.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I conducted the tests myself and recently received the results.” Bella explained her findings and Sue was able to corroborate what she was saying was true. “I would also like to respectfully ask for access to the tribal scrolls. Emily was able to make the pack believe that no child would be conceived until the Alpha imprinted. I can’t even comprehend how ridiculous that is, but she had to have gleaned the information from somewhere.”
“When you are not working at the clinic or bonding with your mate, I will be happy to go over the scrolls with you, Isabella.” Old Quil smiled at her. He had a fondness for the young woman as she reminded him of his beloved Molly.
“Thank you, Quilly.” She winked at him.
Billy chuckled at the blush on the old man’s cheeks. “If there is nothing else then I am officially closing the meeting. Have a good night.”
The pack and imprints filed out. Kim, Bella and Angela stood off to the side as the pack horsed around in celebration of Paul’s freedom.
“Do you think he’ll imprint again?” Kim wondered.
“I’m sure there is someone perfect for him out there just waiting for him to notice her.” Angela smiled, before a frown marred her features. “Is what Emily did to us going to cause any problems?”
Bella shook her head, “I see no reason why, you’re both perfectly healthy. When the time comes, I’ll be there every step of the way.”
Sam walked up then and put his arm around her waist. “You ready?”
Smiling up at him, “Yeah. Let’s go home.”
After hugging her friends and promising Leah lunch, she and Sam walked hand in hand back to their house.
***HaL***
Once they walked in the house, Bella ran up the stairs and straight to Sam’s room. She immediately stripped everything off his bed and threw it over the stair railing. She followed it down and separated things to be loaded in the washing machine.
“Honey, can you go in your room and see what else smells like her please.” Bella asked Sam as he followed her with his eyes in confusion.
“Sure,” he went up the stairs two at a time and stopped in the doorway. “Bella, I can’t go in there. Her stink permeates the whole space.”
Bella walked up the stairs and groaned, “That’s what I was afraid of.” Ducking under his arm, she walked in the room, straight to the window and threw it open. “What do you need out of here besides your clothes for work?”
“There are some sleep pants in the second drawer. I guess if I’m bunking on the couch I’ll need those. If we shut the door and leave the window open all night, I should be able to go in there in the morning.”
“You’re not bunking on the couch, Sam. You’re too tall for that. I think we can control ourselves for one night, don’t you?” Bella turned to face him.
“Bella?”
She walked out of his room, pulling the door shut behind them. “You’ll stay with me.”