Like my brother, when I was found almost gone on the forest floor, I thought I was already dead.
My savior looked like an angel, more beautiful than anyone I had ever known.
I wasn't yet ready for death; there was just too much to be left behind.
But then in her warm gold eyes I found a source of comfort, solace in the fate that awaited me.
Then instead of the numbness I'd expected, a piercing pain invaded every fiber of my being.
Esme was the one that spoke to me when I woke up, she figured a familiar face would better ease me into my new life.
Everything shocked me as my mind raced, fully immersed in all of my newly attained senses. My heartbeat was the first thing I noticed, the lack of one, which normally would've rapidly been beating in panic. Every breath I took I realized didn't offer me relief, rather just more new intense tastes and smells that I had never been aware of before. From the detailed fibers of the white lace curtains hanging in the room, to the strong smell of teakwood accompanied with freesia, to the sounds of rustling leaves as the wind passed through just right outside, it was all so much, much more than I've ever experienced before. And to my surprise my mind was able to easily comprehend it all. Though not without a caveat. A severe sharp thirst which distracted me from my racing thoughts burned at my throat.
Carlisle was the next to come in, offering me more detailed explanations, with a kind and careful demeanor. He was gentle in telling me what had happened, what Esme had detailed to him after she found me.
"I remember." Was the first thing I said to him. I remembered all of it.
He took that acknowledgement with a quiet acceptance, perhaps realizing that in the coming years I would eventually recount exactly what lead to my demise. I would do exactly that, relying on my adoptive parents like I had never done with anyone before.
It was never my decision. It was never a choice that I had the liberty to make.
But I would be forever grateful for the second chance at life that I had not known I wanted.
The sounds of teens partying and dancing to whatever palatable modern music Alice had chosen to blare was not quite agonizing, but I was happy to escape after an hour or so of cordial mingling. I relaxed into a lounge chair in Carlisle's office, working on a sketch of an old memory. My thoughts were distracted though, thinking about the upcoming confrontation in Seattle we were soon due to face with. Carlisle himself was at his desk, reading and going over patient notes. He had enlightened me of Bella's revelation. Whatever was going on in Seattle was targeting her directly. I liked Edward's new beau. She had brought life in the morose Edward which I severely appreciated. She was also clever enough to figure out something none of us were able to. Bella did bring some surprising complications to my family's lives, but I shared the same opinion as Esme, she was family now, and even if I had my own reservations about it, we were to do anything for family.
A sharp knock was followed by an anxious Alice and a tense Edward who both materialized next to Carlisle's desk. We looked up from our respective papers and we could see the familiar expression on her face, she had saw something.
"Alice, what did you see?" Carlisle said, getting up and resting a concerned hand on her shoulder.
"We're not going to Seattle. The decision has been made, they're coming here," she answered fearful, knowing that even with our skills and expertise, we were still outnumbered. "I have to tell the others," she said as she exited to inform the other members of the family.
"Carlisle, what do we do?" asked Edward.
"We will protect Bella, we will protect our family."
"Prepare yourselves-they've been holding out on us."
I turned away from my conversation with Rosalie to observe the tree line.
"What do you mean?" questioned Alice.
"Shh," Edward said in response and like me looked to where the trees met the large empty field.
Automatically we diverged from our casual circle to a semi-defensive line. I flocked the left next to Rosalie, and Jasper and Emmett stood at the point as our informal de facto leaders in this situation. Bella's heartbeat quickened as she observed the change in atmosphere.
"Damn," Emmett remarked. "Did you ever see anything like it?"
"They have been busy," I said in return as ten large wolves made their way through the trees and into the clearing, their quick and heavy heartbeats announcing their arrival.
Carlisle cautiously stepped closer to the pack of wolves. "Welcome," he offered a friendly greeting to the tallest wolf, its black fur gleaming in the moonlight.
"Thank you," Edward translated for who I supposed was the Alpha. "We will watch and listen, but no more. That is the most we can ask of our self-control."
Carlisle nodded, "That is more than enough. My son Jasper," he motioned to Jasper who stood upright and in position, "has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style."
"They are different from you?" Edward translated once again for the Alpha.
Carlisle explained to them the nature of our kinds as newborns. Their extreme strength, but in return their lack of strategy and skill. How volatile the newborns can be even to their own coven, that by the time they arrive their numbers would have very much likely dwindled.
The wolves took it as good news and seemed to growl almost enthusiastically. I shared this emotion, as the last thing I wanted was a strong army that would be of any danger to my family.
"We are willing to take more than our share, if necessary," Edward said.
I appreciated their eagerness. Though tensions were obviously high between our two kinds, I was grateful for their help against this shared enemy.
More information was shared between the three, but I was then distracted as the wind blew from the wolves towards our end of the clearing. Never having shared Rosalie's sentiment in her strong distaste for the wolves' apparent pungent wet dog smell, I only detected the smell of earth and warm fur. Even when Bella came back from a day at the reservation I didn't understand what was so appalling that would warrant my other family members to make remarks about. But then I inhaled it, a dark woodsy, yet fresh scent, addicting. Pine, firewood, the salt of the ocean. It absolutely rushed through me, exhilarating my senses. My curiosity peaked, who was this? It was almost vaguely familiar as I had caught a whiff of it while cleaning the house after the party, but it wasn't human, it couldn't be, and I scanned the wolves trying to identify where this intoxicating scent was coming from.
I was snapped out of my daze when the sounds of Jasper and Emmett sparing echoed throughout the field. I laughed as my brothers fought. Like usual, Jasper's cultivated experience and unconventional strategy quickly outwitted that of Emmett's brute strength. Soon Jasper's sharp teeth hovered over Emmett's neck and Emmett unwilling surrendered already geared up for another fight.
Edward was impatient for his turn, but Jasper instead wanted to make an example of Alice's own skills. Their fighting was much more like dancing as they twisted around each other, every quick and graceful move Alice made was in turn met with adoration and amusement rather than fury, the lovebirds then ended their session with Alice giving Jasper a chaste kiss on the throat.
It was then Edward's turn and inevitably they were almost too evenly matched. Again and again they went after each other. Jasper's expertise and instinct meeting with Edward's speed and ability to read his next move. Like always the fight dragged on and as the growls and snarls sped in repetition Carlisle finally felt the need to break them up.
They both grinned and took a step from each other, Jasper laughing as he did.
"Back to work," he shook his head smiling, "We'll call it a draw."
He then gestured to me, "Come on Vera, your turn."
I smirked and obliged making my way to the center of the field where Jasper remained, passing Edward as I did. He silently raised an eyebrow at me, probably as curious as I was about where that scent that had so preoccupied my mind just before stemmed from. I shrugged in response, rather than focusing on that, I was gearing up for a good fight.
"Let's go," Jasper said, ready to pounce.
I beamed, excited as I had to wait through my other sibling's turns.
He pounced for me first and I dodged, aiming for his ankle to knock him off balance. Jasper saw through this and ducked down and grappled at my own. I spun forward, rotating off his back and re-centered myself, preparing for another strike. I wasn't as fast as Edward, as strong as Emmett, or as lithe as Alice, but I made up for it in strategy. We kept attempting to knock each off our feet, aiming for the throat in a moment of unbalance, but finally Jasper got the best of me as his teeth suspended over my throat.
"Well done, sis," he joked, clapping a hand on my arm.
"Please," I pushed him off, but chuckled in return. I glanced at the wolves before I made my way back to the others. They looked restless, themselves ready to take these techniques and utilize them practically.
After me Carlisle went, then Rosalie, Esme, and Emmett again. Emmett's rematch with Jasper was entertaining as always and ended up with me wishing to join in on the fun. Emmett was prepared to demand for another match but before it could be asked for, Edward reassured an ever drowsy Bella that we were to finish soon.
Jasper agreed, and looked at the wolves, addressing them for the first time, "We'll be doing this tomorrow. Please feel welcome to observe again."
"Yes," Edward answered for the Alpha, "We'll be here."
He then stepped away from Bella and turned to us, "The pack thinks it would be helpful to be familiar with each other our scents so they don't make mistakes later. If we could hold very still, it will make it easier for them."
"Certainly," Carlisle responded, "Whatever you need."
This was met with a lukewarm, almost slightly annoyed reaction and the wolves reluctantly got up on their feet.
The large black Alpha lead his pack over to us and smelled Carlisle first then moved along the line. I peered at Rosalie who grimaced in the face of this situation, but I just relaxed remaining as still as I could as the wolves sniffed at us. They all varied in the pattern and color of their fur, from a dark warm chocolate brown to the color of desert sand that belonged to a more slightly gangly, uncoordinated, and seemingly younger wolf.
I heard a light giggle as Bella was approached by a large russet-colored wolf which I assumed was her friend Jacob, the wolf was only beaten by the Alpha in its size. Edward appeared displeased especially after he licked her face and her reaction was that of laughter rather than disgust.
Turning from the duo I further observed the wolves taking turns as they took in my scent, their expressions cautious and wary of any unexpected movements. Then a sleeker grey wolf appeared in front of me. The early morning sun had begun to rise and the low light highlighted the black spots that dotted randomly throughout its back. It hit me once again, that intoxicating scent of pine, firewood, and ocean. I looked up at the wolf and met its eyes unsure just why this smell drew me in so, and unconsciously I took a step forward reaching my hand out towards it. Immediately, I was met with snarls and growls. The wolf's pack members snapped at me in warning. All I could hear though, was the rapid quickening heartbeat of the grey wolf and then as if it had come out from a trance it howled loudly into the sky. In a flash the wolf bolted away from me, members of the pack trailing behind, taking quick peeks at me as they ran into the dense forest.
"What just happened?" I wondered out loud in bewilderment, not particularly to anyone.
Edward in a confused yet amused tone answered for the vanished pack, "One of Jacob's friends, Embry, just imprinted on Vera."