Old Soul Imprint
by Wizardtho
Chapter 06:
After visiting Dad for a couple hours, I started to become tired from the long day. He noticed, smiling as he said before I could mention it, “Go settle in, Bells. You’ve got to be worn out from packing and driving. Levi will follow behind you, and I’ll call you tomorrow to make a plan for your college courses.”
I nodded, stifling a yawn in the process, “That sounds good. We should go while I’m still good to drive. Love you, Dad… and it’s really good to be back. I’ve missed you.”
He beamed while hugging me, then watched Levi and I walk out the door hand in hand.
Pulling into the clearing of the house a short while later, I gasped at how gorgeous it had become. What was a muddy and disheveled construction zone the last time I had visited, was now a beautiful home and garden. The most surprising feeling, though, was the complete sense of home and serenity I received when shutting off the engine of my truck in the drive.
Levi was to me in only a short minute, opening my door for me. “Welcome home, Sweetheart. Now I can finally do this.”
He pulled me up into his arms by the backs of my thighs, causing me to gasp slightly as I wrapped my legs tight around his hips. After cradling one arm under my ass, he wrapped the other hand around the back of my neck, guiding my head to within inches of his. Anticipation zinged through my nerves at our position, but he just stayed like that staring into my eyes.
It could have been only seconds or even minutes, but I finally let out a whimper. That’s when Levi closed the distance between us. His breath fanned across my skin for a split second before his lips caressed mine, causing me to let out a moan of appreciation.
My fingers trailed up his chest to grab hold of his neck, not wanting this feeling to ever end, which prompted Levi to deepen the kiss. His scent and taste consumed me, both fresh and woodsy.
The moment his tongue brushed mine, I was hooked. My arms wrapped tighter around him, my head angled to deepen the kiss even more, and a delicious moan vibrated from Levi directly into me.
The kiss turned more passionate… teeth nipping, tongues tangling deeply. That’s when I felt Levi growl while cupping my ass in his hands. I pressed my chest tightly to his, even as I gasped, “Levi… God, that’s sexy.”
Arousal steadily tangled itself in my lower abdomen, which only intensified as Levi captured my mouth in another intense kiss.
When the kiss broke this time, it was because Levi groaned breathlessly, “I’m going to need a very cold shower if I continue to kiss you like this, Isabella. I know you said you were ready to move forward with me… slowly… but right now my wolf is torn between wanting to make love to you and howling in joy because we can sense the proof of your words.”
When I gave him a questioning look, he actually blushed slightly while whispering into my neck, “You’re aroused, my little firefly. I can smell it pouring out of you. It’s clinging to your skin and filling the air around you. My head knows you aren’t ready yet, but my wolf doesn’t like leaving you unsatisfied when he can smell your need for us. Come… let me show you around the house, now that it’s finished. That should help cool things down a bit.”
I blushed as he slowly set me down, but he cupped my cheek, explaining, “Never be embarrassed by your reactions to me, Bella… please. I will wait, no matter how long it takes for you to be comfortable with intimacy between us. That wait will be easier, knowing that you want me as much as I want you, not harder.”
I nodded, then cupped his cheek in return, offering, “Okay. I won’t let my reactions embarrass me, as long as you won’t let telling me things embarrass you. Deal?”
He pecked my lips lightly before chuckling in response, “Deal, my little firefly. No more embarrassment by either of us, where our relationship is concerned.”
Touring the main floor of the house, I immediately fell in love with the space. The 25 ft x 38 ft central area of the main floor was all two-story to the vaulted tongue-in-groove pine ceiling. The only space where you couldn’t see from floor to ceiling was directly in the center, where the 6 ft wide bridge connected the second-floor spaces from one side to the other. That was open, with a wood railing to make it safe to walk across, but allowed for the amazing views in the home. The rest, comprising of the kitchen, entry, stairs, dining, and living, were completely open.
“Holy, Christ, Levi… this is amazing!”
He chuckled at my unfiltered comment, then asked, “Does this qualify as more headroom?”
I laughed while taking his hand, “I would guess so. I can see how well my suggestion worked out. This is truly incredible. I love it. Show me more, please?”
He hugged me to his side, then walked us to the two spare bedrooms and bathroom on the main floor. I smiled at how cozy everything felt even with the spaciousness, then followed Levi up to the second floor.
“Up here is a bunk room, a game room, and another bathroom. Go take a look. I’ll wait for you here.”
I nodded, then took a look around the entire second floor before returning to him. I asked as I wrapped my arms around him, “Okay, so I have to ask. Why a bunk room? You have two full/full bunk bed sets in that room, then two queens downstairs, plus the master bedroom. Explain your thoughts to me as I fix us a snack in the kitchen. I know you’ve got to be hungry again.”
He chuckled but followed me down to the kitchen. I got to work right away, familiarizing myself with the pantry and fridge as I looked for what to make. Levi sat at a bar stool, smiling as I practically danced around the space.
When I stopped to raise an eyebrow at him, he chuckled, “Sorry, Sweetheart. It just feels amazing to finally have you here… to see you making yourself at home. I thought of seeing this happen a lot while building the place.”
I grinned in response, then pulled out the ingredients for brownies while he explained the room situation. “When the storm originally happened, and I saw how much damage had been done, I knew I wasn’t going to be renovating. I was going to be starting fresh. I thought back to how lonely my house had been, and how I wanted this house to be one full of life. Then the boys started showing signs of phasing. Knowing how difficult it was to control my shift at first, as well as hoping there would be children in our future together, I knew I would need more than only two or three bedrooms.”
I gave him a small smile, then concluded, “So the bunk room is for helping new pack members become adjusted to phasing, the game room is so they have an outlet to release tension, and the main floor bedrooms are for a nursery or two.”
He bit his lip in response but nodded after a second. I didn’t want him second-guessing his decision, so I rounded the bar to stand between his legs, stating surely, “I think it’s perfect, Levi. I have no doubt that when the ancestors deem it time, the pattering of little feet will bless our home. Since we don’t exactly need two nurseries right now, though, I’d like to turn the front bedroom into an office. I’ll need space to work on my college courses.”
He grinned after pecking my lips lightly, “We’ll get to work on it first thing in the morning. It’s a good idea, and will give you a private area to work in.”
I finished mixing up the brownie batter, then got it into the oven. As I cleaned up the mess I made, I asked, “How’s Sam doing with everything?”
He hummed, then replied, “As well as can be expected. It’s a hard adjustment since he didn’t know it was coming, but he’s doing well. That’s why I need to hold a tribe meeting in the council hall, and any male that shows signs of phasing needs to be kept a close eye on. Plus, whatever is going on in the vampire community, it’s spilling over into our sleepy corner of the state. I won’t be able to handle much more of this with just Sam as help. Calling the Cullens to uphold their end of the bargain will ensure that we have the protection we need to keep the reservation safe.”
I placed my hands on his chest, then promised, “You’re doing the right thing, Levi. Never doubt that. How old are the two showing signs? I know Sam is 19.”
He frowned, but explained, “It’s Paul Lahote and Jared Cameron. Jared’s a descendant of the Black line, through Ephraim’s cousin Lorraine. He’s further along than Paul, who is my descendant through my sister Ruth. Both are 17 and still in high school.”
So, two Uley’s and a Black so far. Who will come through for the Atearas?
I rubbed his back in comfort as I thought things through, then asked, “Why not pose the question to anyone willing, who is 16 or older? That way both the parents and the boys in question will know, and all of them will be prepared for the possibility of phasing. You’re planning on exposing anyone with signs to the Cullens, right? Well, what if they happen to bump into the Cullens in town without being prepared? The ones willing can help out with the rez being on lockdown -since you only want those willing boys to be exposed to the Cullen scents in town- and we can have them bunk here from the start, for monitoring purposes. I can be on hand for anyone who needs tutoring when I’m not working on my courses. We can’t have these boys losing out on their education.”
Levi pulled me up to straddle his legs, then kissed me tenderly for several moments. When our lips parted, he kissed both of my cheeks before whispering, “You. Are. Amazing, Isabella. Thank you. I had been torturing myself with how to accomplish what needs to be done, but your idea will work very well, I believe.”
I smiled in reply, “I want to help, Levi, so I hope you’ll talk to me about things like this in the future. I don’t like seeing you stressed.”
Just then, I heard a knock on the front door. I grinned, then went to answer it, Levi turning in his spot at the bar to watch. I looked through the peephole before grinning widely and opening the door. “Sam, hi. Come in. We were just speaking of you.”
He grinned as he walked in, then hugged me, “Bella, Levi said you might be here. How are you?”
I chuckled as I hugged him back, “I’m good. How are you adjusting?”
Sam clapped his alpha on the back, then sat down at the bar next to him, “Good, I guess. It’s definitely taking time to come to terms with it all. Have you settled in yet? Are you staying on the rez or in Forks?”
I looked to Levi, who nodded, so I explained, “Not yet. I’m moving in here, but we haven’t gotten my things from the back of my truck yet. We’ve been here less than an hour from having dinner with Dad. Levi and I have just been discussing a few of the things I needed to know about.”
Sam shook his head at the huge grin on Levi’s face, then chuckled, “Well, mister alpha, you’d better hurry. It’s going to rain soon, so you should hustle on getting your woman’s possessions inside.”
Levi jumped up, giving Sam a light-hearted punch to the arm, “Help me. By the time we’re done, Bella should have the brownies ready to cut.”
Sam hummed as he followed Levi to the front door, “Mmm, I love Bella’s brownies… and her lasagna… and just about everything she makes. I haven’t eaten since before patrol, which was quiet, by the way.”
An hour later, after the entire batch of brownies had been eaten while still hot, Sam stood to say his good nights. “Thanks for the snack, Bella. I hate to eat and run, but I’d better be going. Dad’s waiting for me. He’s been waiting up when I go out on patrol, with what Levi’s been through.”
Levi nodded, then I hugged Sam, saying, “Tell Tiffany to call me or stop by in the next two days, and we’ll plan a cookout for the weekend.”
He grinned widely, “Will do, Bella. It’s great to have you back. See you tomorrow when I check in.”
After locking the door behind Sam, I grabbed my overnight bag from the front entry, which was where all my boxes were staying for the night. Looking at Levi, I knew I didn’t want to be away from him, even to sleep. I didn't want a repeat of those damn dreams. I bit my lip while fiddling with my bag in my hands, then let out a breath.
At his finger gently pulling my chin up to catch my gaze, I bit my lip again. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion before he asked, “What is it, Sweetheart? You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
I nodded, then whispered, “I just… I don’t want to be away from you. The dreams. Will it be more difficult for you if I sleep next to you?”
He shook his head and pecked my lips, assuring me, “I would love to have you fall asleep in my arms, Bella… and honestly, falling asleep wrapped up in your scent sounds really good to both me and my wolf. Why don’t you go on ahead? I’ll wash this pan real quick and turn off the lights, then meet you there.”
I quickly pecked his lips in thanks, then hurried off toward the master bedroom. He hadn’t shown me this room during the tour, but I immediately fell in love with the comfort of the space. Walking through to the bathroom, I was greeted with both a huge corner shower and a large soaking tub, as well as a roomy double vanity. The toilet was tucked behind the larger bedroom closet, which I realized once I turned to close the bathroom door.
Though I was tempted to have a long soak in the tub, I opted for a quick shower. I really didn’t want to be away from Levi right now. I washed the long day away, then dried and dressed in a soft tank and pair of boyshorts, knowing he would end up overheating me if I wore long pajamas.
I re-entered the bedroom just as Levi was climbing under the sheet and light blanket in a pair of boxer briefs. He patted the bed in front of him, offering, “Come here, Beautiful. I can see how sleepy you are from over here. You’ve had a long day.”
I nodded, yawning slightly, then climbed into bed. After cuddling myself against him, twining my legs with his, he kissed the top of my head with a pleased sigh.
“Perfect,” he whispered, “Sweet dreams, my little firefly. I have a patrol at 3, but should be back before you wake.”
I think I might have responded, but I was too tired to remember if I did or not. Sleep claimed me quickly.
After visiting Dad for a couple hours, I started to become tired from the long day. He noticed, smiling as he said before I could mention it, “Go settle in, Bells. You’ve got to be worn out from packing and driving. Levi will follow behind you, and I’ll call you tomorrow to make a plan for your college courses.”
I nodded, stifling a yawn in the process, “That sounds good. We should go while I’m still good to drive. Love you, Dad… and it’s really good to be back. I’ve missed you.”
He beamed while hugging me, then watched Levi and I walk out the door hand in hand.
Pulling into the clearing of the house a short while later, I gasped at how gorgeous it had become. What was a muddy and disheveled construction zone the last time I had visited, was now a beautiful home and garden. The most surprising feeling, though, was the complete sense of home and serenity I received when shutting off the engine of my truck in the drive.
Levi was to me in only a short minute, opening my door for me. “Welcome home, Sweetheart. Now I can finally do this.”
He pulled me up into his arms by the backs of my thighs, causing me to gasp slightly as I wrapped my legs tight around his hips. After cradling one arm under my ass, he wrapped the other hand around the back of my neck, guiding my head to within inches of his. Anticipation zinged through my nerves at our position, but he just stayed like that staring into my eyes.
It could have been only seconds or even minutes, but I finally let out a whimper. That’s when Levi closed the distance between us. His breath fanned across my skin for a split second before his lips caressed mine, causing me to let out a moan of appreciation.
My fingers trailed up his chest to grab hold of his neck, not wanting this feeling to ever end, which prompted Levi to deepen the kiss. His scent and taste consumed me, both fresh and woodsy.
The moment his tongue brushed mine, I was hooked. My arms wrapped tighter around him, my head angled to deepen the kiss even more, and a delicious moan vibrated from Levi directly into me.
The kiss turned more passionate… teeth nipping, tongues tangling deeply. That’s when I felt Levi growl while cupping my ass in his hands. I pressed my chest tightly to his, even as I gasped, “Levi… God, that’s sexy.”
Arousal steadily tangled itself in my lower abdomen, which only intensified as Levi captured my mouth in another intense kiss.
When the kiss broke this time, it was because Levi groaned breathlessly, “I’m going to need a very cold shower if I continue to kiss you like this, Isabella. I know you said you were ready to move forward with me… slowly… but right now my wolf is torn between wanting to make love to you and howling in joy because we can sense the proof of your words.”
When I gave him a questioning look, he actually blushed slightly while whispering into my neck, “You’re aroused, my little firefly. I can smell it pouring out of you. It’s clinging to your skin and filling the air around you. My head knows you aren’t ready yet, but my wolf doesn’t like leaving you unsatisfied when he can smell your need for us. Come… let me show you around the house, now that it’s finished. That should help cool things down a bit.”
I blushed as he slowly set me down, but he cupped my cheek, explaining, “Never be embarrassed by your reactions to me, Bella… please. I will wait, no matter how long it takes for you to be comfortable with intimacy between us. That wait will be easier, knowing that you want me as much as I want you, not harder.”
I nodded, then cupped his cheek in return, offering, “Okay. I won’t let my reactions embarrass me, as long as you won’t let telling me things embarrass you. Deal?”
He pecked my lips lightly before chuckling in response, “Deal, my little firefly. No more embarrassment by either of us, where our relationship is concerned.”
Touring the main floor of the house, I immediately fell in love with the space. The 25 ft x 38 ft central area of the main floor was all two-story to the vaulted tongue-in-groove pine ceiling. The only space where you couldn’t see from floor to ceiling was directly in the center, where the 6 ft wide bridge connected the second-floor spaces from one side to the other. That was open, with a wood railing to make it safe to walk across, but allowed for the amazing views in the home. The rest, comprising of the kitchen, entry, stairs, dining, and living, were completely open.
“Holy, Christ, Levi… this is amazing!”
He chuckled at my unfiltered comment, then asked, “Does this qualify as more headroom?”
I laughed while taking his hand, “I would guess so. I can see how well my suggestion worked out. This is truly incredible. I love it. Show me more, please?”
He hugged me to his side, then walked us to the two spare bedrooms and bathroom on the main floor. I smiled at how cozy everything felt even with the spaciousness, then followed Levi up to the second floor.
“Up here is a bunk room, a game room, and another bathroom. Go take a look. I’ll wait for you here.”
I nodded, then took a look around the entire second floor before returning to him. I asked as I wrapped my arms around him, “Okay, so I have to ask. Why a bunk room? You have two full/full bunk bed sets in that room, then two queens downstairs, plus the master bedroom. Explain your thoughts to me as I fix us a snack in the kitchen. I know you’ve got to be hungry again.”
He chuckled but followed me down to the kitchen. I got to work right away, familiarizing myself with the pantry and fridge as I looked for what to make. Levi sat at a bar stool, smiling as I practically danced around the space.
When I stopped to raise an eyebrow at him, he chuckled, “Sorry, Sweetheart. It just feels amazing to finally have you here… to see you making yourself at home. I thought of seeing this happen a lot while building the place.”
I grinned in response, then pulled out the ingredients for brownies while he explained the room situation. “When the storm originally happened, and I saw how much damage had been done, I knew I wasn’t going to be renovating. I was going to be starting fresh. I thought back to how lonely my house had been, and how I wanted this house to be one full of life. Then the boys started showing signs of phasing. Knowing how difficult it was to control my shift at first, as well as hoping there would be children in our future together, I knew I would need more than only two or three bedrooms.”
I gave him a small smile, then concluded, “So the bunk room is for helping new pack members become adjusted to phasing, the game room is so they have an outlet to release tension, and the main floor bedrooms are for a nursery or two.”
He bit his lip in response but nodded after a second. I didn’t want him second-guessing his decision, so I rounded the bar to stand between his legs, stating surely, “I think it’s perfect, Levi. I have no doubt that when the ancestors deem it time, the pattering of little feet will bless our home. Since we don’t exactly need two nurseries right now, though, I’d like to turn the front bedroom into an office. I’ll need space to work on my college courses.”
He grinned after pecking my lips lightly, “We’ll get to work on it first thing in the morning. It’s a good idea, and will give you a private area to work in.”
I finished mixing up the brownie batter, then got it into the oven. As I cleaned up the mess I made, I asked, “How’s Sam doing with everything?”
He hummed, then replied, “As well as can be expected. It’s a hard adjustment since he didn’t know it was coming, but he’s doing well. That’s why I need to hold a tribe meeting in the council hall, and any male that shows signs of phasing needs to be kept a close eye on. Plus, whatever is going on in the vampire community, it’s spilling over into our sleepy corner of the state. I won’t be able to handle much more of this with just Sam as help. Calling the Cullens to uphold their end of the bargain will ensure that we have the protection we need to keep the reservation safe.”
I placed my hands on his chest, then promised, “You’re doing the right thing, Levi. Never doubt that. How old are the two showing signs? I know Sam is 19.”
He frowned, but explained, “It’s Paul Lahote and Jared Cameron. Jared’s a descendant of the Black line, through Ephraim’s cousin Lorraine. He’s further along than Paul, who is my descendant through my sister Ruth. Both are 17 and still in high school.”
So, two Uley’s and a Black so far. Who will come through for the Atearas?
I rubbed his back in comfort as I thought things through, then asked, “Why not pose the question to anyone willing, who is 16 or older? That way both the parents and the boys in question will know, and all of them will be prepared for the possibility of phasing. You’re planning on exposing anyone with signs to the Cullens, right? Well, what if they happen to bump into the Cullens in town without being prepared? The ones willing can help out with the rez being on lockdown -since you only want those willing boys to be exposed to the Cullen scents in town- and we can have them bunk here from the start, for monitoring purposes. I can be on hand for anyone who needs tutoring when I’m not working on my courses. We can’t have these boys losing out on their education.”
Levi pulled me up to straddle his legs, then kissed me tenderly for several moments. When our lips parted, he kissed both of my cheeks before whispering, “You. Are. Amazing, Isabella. Thank you. I had been torturing myself with how to accomplish what needs to be done, but your idea will work very well, I believe.”
I smiled in reply, “I want to help, Levi, so I hope you’ll talk to me about things like this in the future. I don’t like seeing you stressed.”
Just then, I heard a knock on the front door. I grinned, then went to answer it, Levi turning in his spot at the bar to watch. I looked through the peephole before grinning widely and opening the door. “Sam, hi. Come in. We were just speaking of you.”
He grinned as he walked in, then hugged me, “Bella, Levi said you might be here. How are you?”
I chuckled as I hugged him back, “I’m good. How are you adjusting?”
Sam clapped his alpha on the back, then sat down at the bar next to him, “Good, I guess. It’s definitely taking time to come to terms with it all. Have you settled in yet? Are you staying on the rez or in Forks?”
I looked to Levi, who nodded, so I explained, “Not yet. I’m moving in here, but we haven’t gotten my things from the back of my truck yet. We’ve been here less than an hour from having dinner with Dad. Levi and I have just been discussing a few of the things I needed to know about.”
Sam shook his head at the huge grin on Levi’s face, then chuckled, “Well, mister alpha, you’d better hurry. It’s going to rain soon, so you should hustle on getting your woman’s possessions inside.”
Levi jumped up, giving Sam a light-hearted punch to the arm, “Help me. By the time we’re done, Bella should have the brownies ready to cut.”
Sam hummed as he followed Levi to the front door, “Mmm, I love Bella’s brownies… and her lasagna… and just about everything she makes. I haven’t eaten since before patrol, which was quiet, by the way.”
An hour later, after the entire batch of brownies had been eaten while still hot, Sam stood to say his good nights. “Thanks for the snack, Bella. I hate to eat and run, but I’d better be going. Dad’s waiting for me. He’s been waiting up when I go out on patrol, with what Levi’s been through.”
Levi nodded, then I hugged Sam, saying, “Tell Tiffany to call me or stop by in the next two days, and we’ll plan a cookout for the weekend.”
He grinned widely, “Will do, Bella. It’s great to have you back. See you tomorrow when I check in.”
After locking the door behind Sam, I grabbed my overnight bag from the front entry, which was where all my boxes were staying for the night. Looking at Levi, I knew I didn’t want to be away from him, even to sleep. I didn't want a repeat of those damn dreams. I bit my lip while fiddling with my bag in my hands, then let out a breath.
At his finger gently pulling my chin up to catch my gaze, I bit my lip again. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion before he asked, “What is it, Sweetheart? You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
I nodded, then whispered, “I just… I don’t want to be away from you. The dreams. Will it be more difficult for you if I sleep next to you?”
He shook his head and pecked my lips, assuring me, “I would love to have you fall asleep in my arms, Bella… and honestly, falling asleep wrapped up in your scent sounds really good to both me and my wolf. Why don’t you go on ahead? I’ll wash this pan real quick and turn off the lights, then meet you there.”
I quickly pecked his lips in thanks, then hurried off toward the master bedroom. He hadn’t shown me this room during the tour, but I immediately fell in love with the comfort of the space. Walking through to the bathroom, I was greeted with both a huge corner shower and a large soaking tub, as well as a roomy double vanity. The toilet was tucked behind the larger bedroom closet, which I realized once I turned to close the bathroom door.
Though I was tempted to have a long soak in the tub, I opted for a quick shower. I really didn’t want to be away from Levi right now. I washed the long day away, then dried and dressed in a soft tank and pair of boyshorts, knowing he would end up overheating me if I wore long pajamas.
I re-entered the bedroom just as Levi was climbing under the sheet and light blanket in a pair of boxer briefs. He patted the bed in front of him, offering, “Come here, Beautiful. I can see how sleepy you are from over here. You’ve had a long day.”
I nodded, yawning slightly, then climbed into bed. After cuddling myself against him, twining my legs with his, he kissed the top of my head with a pleased sigh.
“Perfect,” he whispered, “Sweet dreams, my little firefly. I have a patrol at 3, but should be back before you wake.”
I think I might have responded, but I was too tired to remember if I did or not. Sleep claimed me quickly.