AN: So this is my first fic in like 5 years (I've only done two others and they were super short) so I'm a little nervous about it. I'm a little rusty in the writing department so I'm hoping my writing will improve along with the story! Thank you so much to the people giving me feedback/favoriting/following. It makes me feel like I don't suck so thanks a whole bunch!
After driving for what felt like hours to my anxiety riddled mind we pulled into a drive way in the forest. If someone had told me someone live this far from town I probably would not have believed them. The drive way was long and led to a majestic house. House wasn't right, it was more of a mansion with many large windows and a modern look, definitely classy and screamed "money".
The Jeep and Volvo both pulled into a large garage while I just parked my moped near the steps to their front door. By the time I was walking up the steps the massive dark-haired guy, Emmett, was pulling the door open with a hesitant smile.
"Carlisle, our dad for all intents and purposes, got off of work at the hospital early today so he is already here. I hope you like our home. Esme, our mom, designed it."
I was shocked. This family must have had money. I guess it made sense if their dad was a doctor and their mom designed houses like these. She probably had some high-class clients. We made our way in the door through a wide-open living room where the rest of the family waited on us. The two members I had not yet met stood in the center of the group, as I assume they were the alphas. They were pale, golden eyed, and beautiful like other others. The male had light blonde hair and looked to be in his late 20s while the female had caramel colored hair and a sweet look of concerned caring genuinely painted across her face.
"I- your house is very lovely. My name is Ripley Beddingfield." I said through a tight throat and racing heart. My nervous were fried and all I wanted to do was run, being faced with a room full of beings that screamed predator. I tried to relax since they hadn't attacked me yet plus I had a feeling if they wanted to hurt me they could with no issue. Running was not going to help me here. I looked at them all, trying to read the room. Most of the Cullens wore cautious and non-expressive looks other than the gorgeous blond who had a scowl and Esme who had a hesitant smile. The blonde alpha spoke up then.
"Welcome to our home, Ms. Beddingfield. I must admit this is a peculiar situation you've put us in. I've been told you know we are not human and yet you do not know what we are.
"Please just call me Ripley. I, um, know you are predators. I can smell it on you. I didn't mean to cause any hassle. I just ask that you let me live. I will not out you to the humans or anyone else. I'm not here to start anything!" I make sure to not make eye contact, looking just to Carlisle's chin and keep my voice soft.
The Cullens seem to soften up at my submissive tone and appearance. That didn't make me any more comfortable though. The elephant in the room was just too big.
"W-what are you? If I may ask, sir?"
"I would like to answer your question but first I must ask my own to make sure you are not a danger to me or my family. What, pray tell, are you, Ripley."
At that question, I decided to show them rather than answer with words. I wouldn't consider myself theatrical or vain but showing them my fox was just easier and might show them how much of a non-threat I was to them. I took off my sweater to reveal a loose grey t-shirt and unbuttoned and unzipped my jeans. That was all I needed to do to shift due to my size. I was able to wiggle out of clothes from there. It wasn't the most graceful thing I did but it saved me some dignity. I couldn't imagine having to undress all the way! I shifted and climbed out clothes and waited on bated breath for them to react.
The room was silent for a moment as the creatures before me took in my new and improved form. I said I'm not vain but I must admit my fox was beautiful with luscious fur and a sleek figure. I sat and let my tongue lick my upper snout anxiously. Their faces were mostly confused and curious. No one looked threatened or angry but I still lowered to my belly submissively just to drive home my point of harmlessness. The caramel haired woman took a couple slow steps forward after sharing a look with the blonde alpha. She knelt in front of me with a compassionate smile.
"Ripley, you are beautiful! I promise you we mean no harm. I can see you are no threat to us."
I stared into her eyes for a moment. I didn't detect any deception and my instincts relaxed slightly. I glanced at the others. They didn't seem to move, still standing at attention but seemed less alarmed. I nodded once and grabbed my clothes in my mouth and tilted my head slightly.
"Oh, yes, the bathroom is just down that hall if you'd like to shift back. I believe we have more to discuss."
I trotted to where she directed me and recollected myself. When I rejoined the Cullens in the living room most of them had sat themselves around the room. They left a comfy looking chair open for me and I took my seat.
"Well, I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Carlisle and I am the leader of this coven. This is my wife Esme. The two on the loveseat are Emmett and Rosalie. Our littlest family member is Alice. Then there is Jasper and Edward."
He nodded to each one respectively as he called their names. Esme, Emmett, and Alice all help charming grins while Jasper still looked serious, Rosalie looked hesitant, and Edward just looked frustrated. I duck my head at all the attention. Having seven pairs of golden eyes on me was quite intense. Carlisle continued.
"Our kind has laws against reveling ourselves to humans for obvious reasons and we take it quite seriously. Luckily there are exceptions for other supernatural beings such as yourself. Now, I do not want you to be alarmed. I give you my word that you are completely safe with my family. We are vegetarian vampires, only feeding on the blood of... non-shifter blood."
Vampires. Wow. I mean, I had heard rumors of them being real. My mother used to tell me stories about them as a kit. Her vivid tales describing beings quite different from mainstream media's take on the creatures. How they glitter in the sun and never sleep. I just thought she was being eccentric. Now I find myself in a house whole of them. I find that I am no more scared or anxious than I was before learning of their true nature, having already accepted that they will not harm me. I shrug.
"Okay."
Edward lets out a sudden and harsh laugh before crossing his arms over his chest and frowning at me
"Okay? We are literal monsters, surrounding you. We could destroy you in the blink of an eye and you just say 'Okay'?
"Well, my instincts are telling me to run, yeah, but that is natural for me when encountering anything bigger than a squirrel. I've heard about vampires but the fact that you don't even eat humans makes me less nervous. I, I'm sorry you think you're a monster but I don't."
He just scoffs a little but I can see smiles on the others faces. Carlisle leans forward, eyes alight with interest.
"Instincts. That's how you knew we were different? I know many supernatural beings use scent. Do you have a strong sense of smell or is it comparable to a human's? What about your others senses?"
"My sense of smell is better than a human's but not my strongest sense by any means. My eyes are way better but my hearing is the best by all accounts. Many shifters are stronger than humans but I'm afraid I'm about average but my endurance far exceeds them. I can also heal super quick."
"Aw, so no wrestling with our new pet?" Emmett pouts from the loveseat, crossing his muscular arms and slumping down slightly. Rosalie rolls her eyes at his childish display and responds.
"Look at her. Do you really think the little one could handle one of us? I bet she'd break if you looked at her the wrong way!"
My shoulders slump a little and I feel my face heat up as a blush plagues my cheeks and the tip of my ears, first at being called a pet then at Rosalie's comment. She's not wrong but I don't like my weaknesses being pointed out, I mean who does? Though embarrassed, I can also feel some of my anxiety slipping away like rain rolling off a leaf. This coven of vampires seems friendly enough and I do think I'll be able to stay in Forks. I might even become their friend. I have missed having friends or even just someone I could talk to without having to hide my true nature.
"Does that mean I get to stay? In Forks, I mean. I don't have to move again?"
"Oh honey! Of course not! You can stay. In fact, I insist you must come visit us as much as you'd like. I'd love to cook for you. As you can imagine, I don't get to use the kitchen very often." Esme reached over and gave my forearm a gentle squeeze.
"Yes! You really must hang out with us! You can do homework with us after school and on the weekends, we can go shopping and go running together and play games!" Alice's first words since I'd entered the house where spoken with such joy I had to smile a little. She bounced up and down from her position in Jasper's lap on the chair they were sharing. He smiled softly at her antics and gripped her waist gently. I knew with just one look that they were mated. In fact, it seemed everyone in the room had their mate except for Edward. Now his broodiness made more sense. I couldn't imagine being sounded by such love without having your own. He was still kind of a jerk though.
"I'd love to, if y'all will have me" I respond, letting my southern accent slip into my words comfortably.
"Of course, you are welcome anytime." Carlisle states with a nod. He then tilts his head to the side like he's just had a thought. A look of curiosity takes over his face. "Ripley, I am curious, have you met with the wolf shifters in La Push yet? I'm sure they'll want to know that another shifter is in the area."
I think my heart stops. At least, I don't feel it beat for what feels like eternity. All my fear and anxiety return with a vengeance and I can feel myself start shaking. There can't be wolves here! I didn't smell them on my run yesterday. There can't be wolves. Why does forks have so many supernatural beings?! I can't handle this.
I feel myself shift.