Mark of the White Wolf
by Wizardtho
Chapter 10:
It was only a short minute later that Edward's silver Volvo came into the clearing, followed by Emmett's Jeep with Jasper's Ducati strapped to it, Rose's BMW, Esme's Escalade, and finally Alice's Porsche. They all parked in a line near Carlisle's Mercedes, then slowly stepped out of the vehicles. At my low warning growl and slight crouch, they assumed submissive kneeling positions in front of the vehicles, just as Edward and Carlisle had done.
I nudged Carlisle closer to Edward as I stepped away from the door, to make sure Charlie was protected, then slowly stalked down the porch to stop in front of Esme. She smiled tenderly at me, displaying her elegant neck while whispering, “You are stunningly magnificent, My Darling.”
I slowly leaned to take in her scent as well as the emotions in it, making sure to think past the initial bleach burn. When I was satisfied, I stepped back slightly, then said to Edward in my head, “She can join Carlisle, if she wishes. She's missed him terribly today. I can scent it.”
Edward called her to go to Carlisle just as I saw Jasper reveal his neck to me. I stepped to him, nodded once, then leaned in. He smiled widely when I leaned back with another nod, saying, “Your wolf is beautiful, Sugar. She looks quite strong… very sleek. I look forward to helping you hone your skills.”
Alice was next, and like her mate, she didn't speak until after I was satisfied she wasn't a threat. When she did, it was with an excited squeal that she had to have been holding since the phone call from Carlisle. “Oh my God, Bella! I can't tell you how happy I am for you. We have sooo much to talk about.”
She flung her arms around my neck, so I let out a wolfy chuckle as I winked at a slightly worried Jasper. Emmett whined, not satisfied that he couldn't get in on the hug, “Come on, Alice. Let her go, so I can get my hugs, too. It's not fair that you get to play with the puppy and I don't.”
Alice let me go with a giggle, then I winked at Rosalie before pouncing on Emmett with a playful growl. I took in his scent as he laughed, saying, “Hey, Little Bit. You ready to play? You aren't so fragile now, huh?”
I licked the side of his face, making him laugh even harder as I hacked and coughed, then gently backed away, nodding to him. I looked to Rosalie then, who actually had a smile on her face as she presented her neck to me.
After Rosalie was deemed to not be a threat, I looked at her for a long moment, wanting her to know that I never held her treatment of me against her. I wanted our silent communication to be the beginning of a new start between us. When she slowly nodded her head, I could see in her eyes that she clearly understood our unspoken conversation. With that, now that there was no threat, my body instinctively wanted to shift back.
I hurried to warn Edward that Charlie needed to bring my blanket, but he was too late. I was suddenly standing before the entire Cullen family stark naked. I blushed slightly, mumbling, “Sorry... umm... the clothes don't make it if I shift with them on.”
It was surprisingly Emmett that answered without making some sort of innuendo. “No worries, Little Bit. Carlisle warned us... plus, with you in heat, we'll all undoubtedly see you and Charlie at one point or another. It's not something to be embarrassed about. We've all caught each other naked tons of times. Oddly enough, it tends to happen more often when you have an empath, a seer, and a mind reader in one house… not less.”
The others all agreed as Charlie wrapped me tenderly in the blanket with his arms around me. I smiled up at him, then after placing a tender kiss on my lips, he said, “Come on in, everyone. Make yourselves at home. We haven't had the chance to clear my things from my old room, but we can get you settled in as much as possible until then.”
They all smiled and said their thanks, then each grabbed their bags out of their vehicles. Once we got inside, Esme handed me my discarded clothing with a tight hug, then said, “It is so good to see that you're well, Dear. We were quite worried until Carlisle called to inform us of your well-being.”
I smiled, kissing her cheek, “Yes, it came as a bit of a shock, but we're both well. Let me just get dressed, then we'll take you all on a tour of the house. I'm sure you're excited to get started because I can see that gleam in your eyes. You have it every time you start a new project.”
She smiled bashfully, but admitted, “Guilty, Dear. I just can't help myself.”
When I walked back out of the bedroom from dressing, everyone was talking happily with Charlie at the dining room table. I smiled at the sight, saying in relief, “Now this is a sight I can get used to. It feels so good to see you all talking without having the secret who knows what between us.”
They all smiled at me, then Alice rushed up to hug me again. “God, you look incredible, Bella!”
I chuckled, whispering in her ear, “We'll have to do an online shopping spree soon, once we find out the extent of my lingerie wardrobe. Promise me, Ali, because I need serious help.”
She grinned that all-knowing smile at me before nodding without a word.
Emmett and Rose ended up taking the suite right next to the stairs -which was the largest suite- but it made Alice happy since the other suite had a better closet layout. That made Charlie laugh, and the sight warmed my heart.
Both couples quickly got themselves settled, with Esme and Carlisle placing their bags right outside of Charlie's old suite, then we went through the tour of the first floor. Esme oohed as Edward set his bags down just inside the exercise room, saying, “Oh, this would make a lovely nursery, with its placement near the master.”
I blushed, causing Esme to quickly say, “Oh, Dear. I'm sorry. I didn't think before I spoke.”
Charlie wrapped his arms low on my stomach from behind, allowing me to explain, “You didn't offend us, Esme. We're actually trying. With my heat, my wolf is demanding a den full of cubs. We've decided to let nature have the final say.”
I saw huge grins forming on all of their faces, then Emmett fist-bumped Jasper before saying, “Cool. Pint-sized puppies.”
Rose smacked him upside the head with a scowl, then asked me, “Do you know how it will work with you being a wolf now?”
I shook my head, “We really haven't talked much about that, but Charlie said that I wouldn't be able to see a normal doctor, so I assume female wolf pregnancies are at least slightly different from human ones. That brings me to my next question. Carlisle? Will you be our doctor? I wouldn't trust anyone else, and you've been my only doctor since I moved to Forks.”
He grinned, “Of course, Darling. It would make me very happy to be the one caring for both of you, as well as any of your little ones.”
I nodded, then said, “I don't have a separate study for you, but you are more than welcome to take up residence in the main study. As soon as it's feasible, you should bring any of your materials and books here, so there's less of a chance that something could happen to them. Don't forget your dad's cross or the painting in your study… I know those are truly special to you.”
He nodded seriously, then Esme said, “Before we left, we all made the plan to return within a day or two to finish packing our valuables.”
I nodded, thinking that would be best, then remembered something. As we all made it downstairs so Esme could see the blank slate she was working with, which was practically a mirror image of the first floor, I said, “Rose, as you could tell, we don't have a garage, but I'll be having Esme draw up the plans for one while she's working on this level. One where one side is high enough for a workshop for you, and the rest is a double-sided entry for vehicles with a private suite above.”
Rose looked at me with wide eyes, so I said, “I told Charlie that you all had mentioned wanting time outside of the school system, and what better place to do that than here? I know about your love of vehicles and working on them, so it would make sense to give you the proper space to do that in.”
At Charlie's confused look, I smiled while offering, “Rose is a whiz of a mechanic, Charlie. You'll never have to worry one iota about vehicle trouble with her around. She's got just as much in the brains department as she has in beauty.”
Charlie smiled, but I saw Rose's slightly shocked look as Em kissed the top of her head. “Rose, you just get with Esme while she's drawing up the plans, so you can make sure it has what you need.”
She gave me a serious nod after she composed herself, saying, “Thank you, Bella. That's very generous.”
I smiled, then Esme started asking me little questions about the house and what I would like, all while forming plans in her mind. It was finally set that we would add two guest suites with private baths under the master and exercise room, have another lounge area where Emmett's video game systems could be put, add a theater room under the first-floor game room, put a poker and chess room under the entry, then have a large alcohol bar under where the kitchen was, with another ¾ bath and a cold storage unit near there. It all kept the same cozy feel, but it would give our non-sleeping vampire family enough to keep them occupied.
For the garage, there would be a two-car portion with a higher ceiling, where Rose could work on the vehicles, then a double-sided/four-car section with Carlisle and Esme's private sitting room and bedroom suite above it. Charlie loved the designs as much as I did, so we agreed to go ahead with the plans.
I was actually surprised when Charlie asked about Esme designing a temperature-controlled pool and spa off the stone patio, complete with mini waterfalls and a gazebo. I had always wanted one, but Renee preferred the concrete industrial look for pools. Esme beamed at him, offering, “Of course, Charlie. I'll work up a few sketches, then get your final approval.”
I turned to pull him gently to me, then nuzzled his neck while whispering, “You remembered. Thank you.”
He smiled and kissed my mark, then trailed his fingers along my back as he replied, “Of course I remembered. I just didn't have the know-how to plan it on my own, otherwise, it would already have been done when you got here. I love you, Sweetheart.”
I hummed as I nuzzled deeper into him, “As I love you. Are you almost ready to turn in? I want to spend some time alone with you before we fall asleep.”
He held me closer as he whispered into my hair, “I’ll gladly take you up on the prospect of US time, Sweetheart, anytime you want it. Let’s say our goodnights and turn in.”
It was only a short minute later that Edward's silver Volvo came into the clearing, followed by Emmett's Jeep with Jasper's Ducati strapped to it, Rose's BMW, Esme's Escalade, and finally Alice's Porsche. They all parked in a line near Carlisle's Mercedes, then slowly stepped out of the vehicles. At my low warning growl and slight crouch, they assumed submissive kneeling positions in front of the vehicles, just as Edward and Carlisle had done.
I nudged Carlisle closer to Edward as I stepped away from the door, to make sure Charlie was protected, then slowly stalked down the porch to stop in front of Esme. She smiled tenderly at me, displaying her elegant neck while whispering, “You are stunningly magnificent, My Darling.”
I slowly leaned to take in her scent as well as the emotions in it, making sure to think past the initial bleach burn. When I was satisfied, I stepped back slightly, then said to Edward in my head, “She can join Carlisle, if she wishes. She's missed him terribly today. I can scent it.”
Edward called her to go to Carlisle just as I saw Jasper reveal his neck to me. I stepped to him, nodded once, then leaned in. He smiled widely when I leaned back with another nod, saying, “Your wolf is beautiful, Sugar. She looks quite strong… very sleek. I look forward to helping you hone your skills.”
Alice was next, and like her mate, she didn't speak until after I was satisfied she wasn't a threat. When she did, it was with an excited squeal that she had to have been holding since the phone call from Carlisle. “Oh my God, Bella! I can't tell you how happy I am for you. We have sooo much to talk about.”
She flung her arms around my neck, so I let out a wolfy chuckle as I winked at a slightly worried Jasper. Emmett whined, not satisfied that he couldn't get in on the hug, “Come on, Alice. Let her go, so I can get my hugs, too. It's not fair that you get to play with the puppy and I don't.”
Alice let me go with a giggle, then I winked at Rosalie before pouncing on Emmett with a playful growl. I took in his scent as he laughed, saying, “Hey, Little Bit. You ready to play? You aren't so fragile now, huh?”
I licked the side of his face, making him laugh even harder as I hacked and coughed, then gently backed away, nodding to him. I looked to Rosalie then, who actually had a smile on her face as she presented her neck to me.
After Rosalie was deemed to not be a threat, I looked at her for a long moment, wanting her to know that I never held her treatment of me against her. I wanted our silent communication to be the beginning of a new start between us. When she slowly nodded her head, I could see in her eyes that she clearly understood our unspoken conversation. With that, now that there was no threat, my body instinctively wanted to shift back.
I hurried to warn Edward that Charlie needed to bring my blanket, but he was too late. I was suddenly standing before the entire Cullen family stark naked. I blushed slightly, mumbling, “Sorry... umm... the clothes don't make it if I shift with them on.”
It was surprisingly Emmett that answered without making some sort of innuendo. “No worries, Little Bit. Carlisle warned us... plus, with you in heat, we'll all undoubtedly see you and Charlie at one point or another. It's not something to be embarrassed about. We've all caught each other naked tons of times. Oddly enough, it tends to happen more often when you have an empath, a seer, and a mind reader in one house… not less.”
The others all agreed as Charlie wrapped me tenderly in the blanket with his arms around me. I smiled up at him, then after placing a tender kiss on my lips, he said, “Come on in, everyone. Make yourselves at home. We haven't had the chance to clear my things from my old room, but we can get you settled in as much as possible until then.”
They all smiled and said their thanks, then each grabbed their bags out of their vehicles. Once we got inside, Esme handed me my discarded clothing with a tight hug, then said, “It is so good to see that you're well, Dear. We were quite worried until Carlisle called to inform us of your well-being.”
I smiled, kissing her cheek, “Yes, it came as a bit of a shock, but we're both well. Let me just get dressed, then we'll take you all on a tour of the house. I'm sure you're excited to get started because I can see that gleam in your eyes. You have it every time you start a new project.”
She smiled bashfully, but admitted, “Guilty, Dear. I just can't help myself.”
When I walked back out of the bedroom from dressing, everyone was talking happily with Charlie at the dining room table. I smiled at the sight, saying in relief, “Now this is a sight I can get used to. It feels so good to see you all talking without having the secret who knows what between us.”
They all smiled at me, then Alice rushed up to hug me again. “God, you look incredible, Bella!”
I chuckled, whispering in her ear, “We'll have to do an online shopping spree soon, once we find out the extent of my lingerie wardrobe. Promise me, Ali, because I need serious help.”
She grinned that all-knowing smile at me before nodding without a word.
Emmett and Rose ended up taking the suite right next to the stairs -which was the largest suite- but it made Alice happy since the other suite had a better closet layout. That made Charlie laugh, and the sight warmed my heart.
Both couples quickly got themselves settled, with Esme and Carlisle placing their bags right outside of Charlie's old suite, then we went through the tour of the first floor. Esme oohed as Edward set his bags down just inside the exercise room, saying, “Oh, this would make a lovely nursery, with its placement near the master.”
I blushed, causing Esme to quickly say, “Oh, Dear. I'm sorry. I didn't think before I spoke.”
Charlie wrapped his arms low on my stomach from behind, allowing me to explain, “You didn't offend us, Esme. We're actually trying. With my heat, my wolf is demanding a den full of cubs. We've decided to let nature have the final say.”
I saw huge grins forming on all of their faces, then Emmett fist-bumped Jasper before saying, “Cool. Pint-sized puppies.”
Rose smacked him upside the head with a scowl, then asked me, “Do you know how it will work with you being a wolf now?”
I shook my head, “We really haven't talked much about that, but Charlie said that I wouldn't be able to see a normal doctor, so I assume female wolf pregnancies are at least slightly different from human ones. That brings me to my next question. Carlisle? Will you be our doctor? I wouldn't trust anyone else, and you've been my only doctor since I moved to Forks.”
He grinned, “Of course, Darling. It would make me very happy to be the one caring for both of you, as well as any of your little ones.”
I nodded, then said, “I don't have a separate study for you, but you are more than welcome to take up residence in the main study. As soon as it's feasible, you should bring any of your materials and books here, so there's less of a chance that something could happen to them. Don't forget your dad's cross or the painting in your study… I know those are truly special to you.”
He nodded seriously, then Esme said, “Before we left, we all made the plan to return within a day or two to finish packing our valuables.”
I nodded, thinking that would be best, then remembered something. As we all made it downstairs so Esme could see the blank slate she was working with, which was practically a mirror image of the first floor, I said, “Rose, as you could tell, we don't have a garage, but I'll be having Esme draw up the plans for one while she's working on this level. One where one side is high enough for a workshop for you, and the rest is a double-sided entry for vehicles with a private suite above.”
Rose looked at me with wide eyes, so I said, “I told Charlie that you all had mentioned wanting time outside of the school system, and what better place to do that than here? I know about your love of vehicles and working on them, so it would make sense to give you the proper space to do that in.”
At Charlie's confused look, I smiled while offering, “Rose is a whiz of a mechanic, Charlie. You'll never have to worry one iota about vehicle trouble with her around. She's got just as much in the brains department as she has in beauty.”
Charlie smiled, but I saw Rose's slightly shocked look as Em kissed the top of her head. “Rose, you just get with Esme while she's drawing up the plans, so you can make sure it has what you need.”
She gave me a serious nod after she composed herself, saying, “Thank you, Bella. That's very generous.”
I smiled, then Esme started asking me little questions about the house and what I would like, all while forming plans in her mind. It was finally set that we would add two guest suites with private baths under the master and exercise room, have another lounge area where Emmett's video game systems could be put, add a theater room under the first-floor game room, put a poker and chess room under the entry, then have a large alcohol bar under where the kitchen was, with another ¾ bath and a cold storage unit near there. It all kept the same cozy feel, but it would give our non-sleeping vampire family enough to keep them occupied.
For the garage, there would be a two-car portion with a higher ceiling, where Rose could work on the vehicles, then a double-sided/four-car section with Carlisle and Esme's private sitting room and bedroom suite above it. Charlie loved the designs as much as I did, so we agreed to go ahead with the plans.
I was actually surprised when Charlie asked about Esme designing a temperature-controlled pool and spa off the stone patio, complete with mini waterfalls and a gazebo. I had always wanted one, but Renee preferred the concrete industrial look for pools. Esme beamed at him, offering, “Of course, Charlie. I'll work up a few sketches, then get your final approval.”
I turned to pull him gently to me, then nuzzled his neck while whispering, “You remembered. Thank you.”
He smiled and kissed my mark, then trailed his fingers along my back as he replied, “Of course I remembered. I just didn't have the know-how to plan it on my own, otherwise, it would already have been done when you got here. I love you, Sweetheart.”
I hummed as I nuzzled deeper into him, “As I love you. Are you almost ready to turn in? I want to spend some time alone with you before we fall asleep.”
He held me closer as he whispered into my hair, “I’ll gladly take you up on the prospect of US time, Sweetheart, anytime you want it. Let’s say our goodnights and turn in.”