Everything

21

I woke up in the morning wrapped in Ben's arms and on top of him. He was already awake and looking down at me with a content smile.

"Good morning baby." He said, kissing my forehead.

"Good morning." I sighed sleepily.

"I missed this." Ben said, rubbing my arm.

"I missed waking up wrapped up in your arms, feeling warm and happy. That was the first night I actually slept longer than three hours. The baby keeps me up, even if he doesn't move." I yawned.

"I'm sorry." Ben said, sitting up. He kept me in his lap, and I nuzzled my face into the crook of his neck.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, I already forgave you, and you gave me a back massage, and you helped me sleep through a night." I said, kissing his neck.

I missed you. Xavier thought to me.

"I missed you too, Xavier. Even though I talked to you while I was gone." I giggled.

That doesn't change the fact that I missed holding you. He retorted.

"Technically, you don't hold me. Ben does." I said, feeling like a smart ass.

"What are you guys talking about?" Ben asked. I felt his jealousy flow through me and I laughed.

"Don't be jealous of your wolf, baby. He was just saying that he missed holding me. The same way you missed holding me." I said, kissing his jaw.

"I did miss holding you." He mumbled, kissing my softly.

"You need to shave." I said, running my hand across his stubble.

"I think you like it." He smirked.

"I think you need to shave." I said again, wrapping my arms around him.

"Alright, I'll go shave." He said, kissing me and setting me on the bed. I watched him walk into the bathroom and then threw myself back on the bed.

"Charlotte!" Belle yelled, throwing the door open and standing at the foot of the bed with her arms crossed. I pulled myself back into a sitting position and looked up at the red faced teenager.

"How can I help you?" I asked, folding my hands in my lap.

"How could you not tell me I was Michael's mate?" She growled.

"It wasn't my place to tell you." I stated calmly.

"And why couldn't you just tell me why I was growing like crazy?" She asked, huffing angrily.

"Look, Isabelle. I didn't want to tell you any of this because I didn't want you to get freaked out. And it wasn't my place to tell you any of it. I figured when you were almost old enough, you'd like to hear it from your mate, and not from your adopted mother." I said, looking down at her shaking hands. Ben rushed into the bedroom, freshly shaven, and grabbed Belle by her shoulders.

"Not in the house, and not near your mother." Ben pushed her out of the room, me right on their tails.

"My mother wouldn't hide things from me." She snarled, glaring back at me. I felt tears well up in my eyes, but pushed them back as I followed her and Ben to the backyard.

"You're angry, and your wolf is fighting for control, so I know you don't mean that. Let your wolf take over." Ben said, standing her about fifteen feet from the house. He turned on his heel and met me by the back door. He hugged me to him and kissed my forehead.

"Oh, I mean it." Belle growled, her entire body shaking. Michael appeared behind Ben, trying to comfort his mate.

"Michael, you have to wait for her to shift." Ben said, blocking Michael from running outside. He let out a whimper, but backed away from the door. I turned my attention to Belle, whose shaking intensified.