Indian Summer
by SparklingFae
Rated MA for content. 18+ only. Sam/Bella pairing
Chapter 3:
Sam POV
I took a couple steps back from Bella; I didn't want to, but the look in Charlie's eyes meant business. Upon closer inspection of his face however, I saw a minute twitch of his moustache as he fought to keep his poker face. It was in that split second that I knew Billy Black had set me up with Chief Swan.
Finally, after what felt like a five minute stare down with Charlie pointing his shotgun at me, he broke and started laughing.
"You should have seen your face, Son."
He laughed as Bella's gaze flitted between us in confusion. I nudged Chief Swan to alert him of his daughter's confusion.
"So..." he drawled out, turning his attention to Bella, "Something you want to tell me, Bells?"
She looked like a deer caught in headlights when he questioned her and her voice came out in a whisper," I...I was just getting to know Sam?"
Her response sounded more like a question than a direct answer. It was almost amusing, but her discomfort grated on my wolf a little. He was unhappy that his mate was upset.
I swallowed. I knew Billy had played a prank on me, but Chief Swan still had ahold of the shotgun and didn't look like he was setting it down anytime soon. Bella sighed and stepped forward, placing her hand on her dad's arm.
"Dad, Sam was just bringing me home from being over at Jake's", she told him.
His mustached lip twitched again before he answered her. "Oh come on, Bells, I was just having a little bit of fun with Sam here."
Bella frowned and huffed at Charlie. "That wasn't funny, Dad!"
He held his hands up, chuckling and muttering under his breath as he made his way back inside, "I wasn't the only one in on it...Billy's idea."
I knew if she heard him, she would be livid. Thankfully, I was the only one that heard his mumbling.
Bella and I stared after him. I was torn between soothing her and laughing myself at the situation. I decided to explain exactly what had just happened instead.
"Bella, it's okay...Your dad teamed up with Billy Black to play a little prank on me."
She seemed to relax when I told her that and shook her head in amusement.
"Those two really act like an old married couple," she declared.
I nodded in agreement, taking her hand in mine as my wolf perked up. I had to take this at her pace but I wanted to be around her, so I asked her the first thing I could think of.
"Can I take you out on a date Friday night?"
I held my breath a little while I waited for her to answer. She wore an expression of surprise, but nodded in assent eventually.
"I'd like to get to know you, Sam."
I could feel my wolf damn near doing a jig at her acceptance of a date. It was the first step in what I hope to be many nights with her.
The week dragged by minute by minute but at last it was Friday night and I was pacing in my living room, more than eager to go see my mate. Billy had, in an effort to make up for the practical joke he pulled on me, called together a bonfire to help ease Bella into the Pack. I hoped that she would be as accepting of the imprint and the Pack as she had been of the Cullen's. I was thrumming with anticipation as I headed for my truck. It was time to go pick her up. We hadn't really been able to talk since the kiss and my declaration that I liked her, but she knew I was going to be there around 7 pm to pick her up. I drove as fast as I could, within the speed limit since getting a ticket from her father's deputy would not be a good way to start the night, to her house.
I knocked on her door, taking an uncertain step back when Chief Swan answered with a smirk.
"Come in, Son, I want to have a little chat with you while Bella finishes getting ready," he said gruffly.
I had no choice but to follow him into the living room and sit down on the couch under his penetrating stare. He studied me closely before finally speaking. "I want to know just one thing. What are your intentions with my daughter?"
I took a deep breath and replied, "I just plan to get to know her and possibly date her for now Chief, Sir."
He nodded and seemed to muse over my answer. It was a minute before he spoke again, his tone deadly serious, and it made my wolf want to growl and take out the man that was keeping him from his mate.
"You hurt her, Sam Uley, and council member or not, I will kill you and hide your body."
I wiped my hands on my pants, and answered with a certainty that I was not feeling.
"I promise you on my life, Sir, I would never hurt Bella."
He thought over my words before nodding.
"See to it that you don't."
I was not given any time to reply because Bella chose that moment to come down the stairs. She looked so gorgeous even in just her plain blue jeans and simple tee shirt that I couldn't help but admire her for a moment. She looked like she didn't mind what she saw much either; my wolf preened a little over that, too. It wasn't until the Chief cleared his throat behind us that the spell was broken.
We left quickly after that. I wasn't going to tell her where we were going; I wanted to surprise her. I drove back towards La Push as we talked. The conversation between us was easy. She told me about her week and, at her prodding, I told her about the life I had created for myself, other than the part about how I phased into a big furry wolf on a daily basis, of course.
I pulled my truck up to First Beach and saw that the bonfire was already in full swing. Bella looked nervous as I took her hand so I tried to soothe her fears as we walked towards the gathered group by rubbing the back with my thumb. It seemed to help and she looked a little more relaxed by the time we got down the path. Kim smiled over at us and brought us a plate each. I introduced her to Bella as I thanked her and Bella quietly greeted and thanked her, too. We began eating and listening to the idle conversations around us after Kim drifted back to Jared's side. It wouldn't be long before Billy began the traditional tales.
Everyone began to gather around and settle down as Billy got ready to speak. He was a gifted storyteller, one of the best in the tribe. While he was speaking, bringing to life the tales of our past, I watched Bella with rapt attention. I wanted to see what she thought as each emotion crossed her face. She was entranced; he paused for a moment, meeting my gaze with a slight nod. It was my cue to tell Bella that it was all true. I sucked in a breath and knelt in front of her.
"Bella, you heard all of the stories tonight. They are all true. I am a spirit warrior. I phase into a wolf."
I waited with baited breath as she processed what I had told her. I didn't have to wait long before she whispered, looking around and then back at me.
"Show me. Who else is a wolf?"
I couldn't believe that she was accepting this so easily. I stood and took her hand, leading her towards the woods, but stopped right before them.
"Wait here and I will show you my wolf. There are only two others right now, but there are some who may phase soon."
She looked confused for a moment, but then nodded. I walked into the woods and, as quickly as I could get my clothes off, phased in. I hesitated and then slowly padded out of the forest, I watched her as I moved towards her, being careful not to alarm her. Her hand trembled as she reached to pet me, but she showed no other sign of fear. She breathed out as her fingers ran through my thick pelt, causing a rumbling purrlike chuff of pleasure within my chest.
"You're so big and beautiful," she murmured, awestruck.
"That's what she said!" Paul thought to me while running the east border of the reservation.
"Fuck off!" I snapped at Paul in my thoughts, irritated I had to share this moment with him watching.
I growled audibly and Bella immediately yanked her hand back.
"Fucking great, you asshole, I scared my imprint because of you!" I yelled at Paul in the pack collective.
With a whine, I licked her hand in apology and darted back into the woods to phase back. I came back out after putting my clothes back on. The look of awe on her face made me grin. Now was the hard part, I had to tell her that I had imprinted on her and of course explain that Paul was an asshole.
"Bella, there is something else I have to tell you. There is this thing we do as wolves when we find our mate...it's called imprinting. I imprinted on you."
I shot the last words out almost before taking a deep breath. She looked shocked and that made my heart seemingly stop.
"I...you...what?" She managed to utter out before swaying and starting to slump towards the ground.
I caught her just as her eyes rolled back and she fainted. Great...
I took a couple steps back from Bella; I didn't want to, but the look in Charlie's eyes meant business. Upon closer inspection of his face however, I saw a minute twitch of his moustache as he fought to keep his poker face. It was in that split second that I knew Billy Black had set me up with Chief Swan.
Finally, after what felt like a five minute stare down with Charlie pointing his shotgun at me, he broke and started laughing.
"You should have seen your face, Son."
He laughed as Bella's gaze flitted between us in confusion. I nudged Chief Swan to alert him of his daughter's confusion.
"So..." he drawled out, turning his attention to Bella, "Something you want to tell me, Bells?"
She looked like a deer caught in headlights when he questioned her and her voice came out in a whisper," I...I was just getting to know Sam?"
Her response sounded more like a question than a direct answer. It was almost amusing, but her discomfort grated on my wolf a little. He was unhappy that his mate was upset.
I swallowed. I knew Billy had played a prank on me, but Chief Swan still had ahold of the shotgun and didn't look like he was setting it down anytime soon. Bella sighed and stepped forward, placing her hand on her dad's arm.
"Dad, Sam was just bringing me home from being over at Jake's", she told him.
His mustached lip twitched again before he answered her. "Oh come on, Bells, I was just having a little bit of fun with Sam here."
Bella frowned and huffed at Charlie. "That wasn't funny, Dad!"
He held his hands up, chuckling and muttering under his breath as he made his way back inside, "I wasn't the only one in on it...Billy's idea."
I knew if she heard him, she would be livid. Thankfully, I was the only one that heard his mumbling.
Bella and I stared after him. I was torn between soothing her and laughing myself at the situation. I decided to explain exactly what had just happened instead.
"Bella, it's okay...Your dad teamed up with Billy Black to play a little prank on me."
She seemed to relax when I told her that and shook her head in amusement.
"Those two really act like an old married couple," she declared.
I nodded in agreement, taking her hand in mine as my wolf perked up. I had to take this at her pace but I wanted to be around her, so I asked her the first thing I could think of.
"Can I take you out on a date Friday night?"
I held my breath a little while I waited for her to answer. She wore an expression of surprise, but nodded in assent eventually.
"I'd like to get to know you, Sam."
I could feel my wolf damn near doing a jig at her acceptance of a date. It was the first step in what I hope to be many nights with her.
The week dragged by minute by minute but at last it was Friday night and I was pacing in my living room, more than eager to go see my mate. Billy had, in an effort to make up for the practical joke he pulled on me, called together a bonfire to help ease Bella into the Pack. I hoped that she would be as accepting of the imprint and the Pack as she had been of the Cullen's. I was thrumming with anticipation as I headed for my truck. It was time to go pick her up. We hadn't really been able to talk since the kiss and my declaration that I liked her, but she knew I was going to be there around 7 pm to pick her up. I drove as fast as I could, within the speed limit since getting a ticket from her father's deputy would not be a good way to start the night, to her house.
I knocked on her door, taking an uncertain step back when Chief Swan answered with a smirk.
"Come in, Son, I want to have a little chat with you while Bella finishes getting ready," he said gruffly.
I had no choice but to follow him into the living room and sit down on the couch under his penetrating stare. He studied me closely before finally speaking. "I want to know just one thing. What are your intentions with my daughter?"
I took a deep breath and replied, "I just plan to get to know her and possibly date her for now Chief, Sir."
He nodded and seemed to muse over my answer. It was a minute before he spoke again, his tone deadly serious, and it made my wolf want to growl and take out the man that was keeping him from his mate.
"You hurt her, Sam Uley, and council member or not, I will kill you and hide your body."
I wiped my hands on my pants, and answered with a certainty that I was not feeling.
"I promise you on my life, Sir, I would never hurt Bella."
He thought over my words before nodding.
"See to it that you don't."
I was not given any time to reply because Bella chose that moment to come down the stairs. She looked so gorgeous even in just her plain blue jeans and simple tee shirt that I couldn't help but admire her for a moment. She looked like she didn't mind what she saw much either; my wolf preened a little over that, too. It wasn't until the Chief cleared his throat behind us that the spell was broken.
We left quickly after that. I wasn't going to tell her where we were going; I wanted to surprise her. I drove back towards La Push as we talked. The conversation between us was easy. She told me about her week and, at her prodding, I told her about the life I had created for myself, other than the part about how I phased into a big furry wolf on a daily basis, of course.
I pulled my truck up to First Beach and saw that the bonfire was already in full swing. Bella looked nervous as I took her hand so I tried to soothe her fears as we walked towards the gathered group by rubbing the back with my thumb. It seemed to help and she looked a little more relaxed by the time we got down the path. Kim smiled over at us and brought us a plate each. I introduced her to Bella as I thanked her and Bella quietly greeted and thanked her, too. We began eating and listening to the idle conversations around us after Kim drifted back to Jared's side. It wouldn't be long before Billy began the traditional tales.
Everyone began to gather around and settle down as Billy got ready to speak. He was a gifted storyteller, one of the best in the tribe. While he was speaking, bringing to life the tales of our past, I watched Bella with rapt attention. I wanted to see what she thought as each emotion crossed her face. She was entranced; he paused for a moment, meeting my gaze with a slight nod. It was my cue to tell Bella that it was all true. I sucked in a breath and knelt in front of her.
"Bella, you heard all of the stories tonight. They are all true. I am a spirit warrior. I phase into a wolf."
I waited with baited breath as she processed what I had told her. I didn't have to wait long before she whispered, looking around and then back at me.
"Show me. Who else is a wolf?"
I couldn't believe that she was accepting this so easily. I stood and took her hand, leading her towards the woods, but stopped right before them.
"Wait here and I will show you my wolf. There are only two others right now, but there are some who may phase soon."
She looked confused for a moment, but then nodded. I walked into the woods and, as quickly as I could get my clothes off, phased in. I hesitated and then slowly padded out of the forest, I watched her as I moved towards her, being careful not to alarm her. Her hand trembled as she reached to pet me, but she showed no other sign of fear. She breathed out as her fingers ran through my thick pelt, causing a rumbling purrlike chuff of pleasure within my chest.
"You're so big and beautiful," she murmured, awestruck.
"That's what she said!" Paul thought to me while running the east border of the reservation.
"Fuck off!" I snapped at Paul in my thoughts, irritated I had to share this moment with him watching.
I growled audibly and Bella immediately yanked her hand back.
"Fucking great, you asshole, I scared my imprint because of you!" I yelled at Paul in the pack collective.
With a whine, I licked her hand in apology and darted back into the woods to phase back. I came back out after putting my clothes back on. The look of awe on her face made me grin. Now was the hard part, I had to tell her that I had imprinted on her and of course explain that Paul was an asshole.
"Bella, there is something else I have to tell you. There is this thing we do as wolves when we find our mate...it's called imprinting. I imprinted on you."
I shot the last words out almost before taking a deep breath. She looked shocked and that made my heart seemingly stop.
"I...you...what?" She managed to utter out before swaying and starting to slump towards the ground.
I caught her just as her eyes rolled back and she fainted. Great...