Chapter Nine
The rush of wind on my face isn't as cold as it normally would be, and my legs are moving so quickly that I'm almost flying.
Running through the forest like this is unreal, and I can't believe I feel no ache from my muscles as I make it at least a mile ahead of my two wolf escort. We managed to get off the Res fairly quickly and now I'm just enjoying all of the sensations I didn't have before.
The trees, the grass, all of the incredible colors I had seen but not really seen before; it's all just so enchanting! Then, I smell it:
It's sweet yet gamy, and if my mouth could still water, it would be. I head in the direction of the smell, letting my nose guide me. I stop short of a clearing, and catch sight of my prey: a black bear. It has to be, at the very least, 250 pounds. I ready myself, and I can hear the patting of the wolves feet on the hard dirt just behind me.
I hope they know to keep it down, or they'll spook my meal.
The bear looks up suddenly, and I know it's heard my escort. I waste no time and leap from my hiding space and land on the bears back. A feral growl escapes me as the black bear attempts to throw me off, but I just dig in my heels and put my head to its throat. Blood comes quickly, and I lap up every bit of it. It's not until I'm finished that I notice the two wolves eyeing me.
"I know, I probably look a hot mess." I say as I climb off of the now deceased bear and wipe my mouth on my arm. It comes back bloody and I glance down at my clothes and notice just how tattered and ripped they are. My hair is probably wild looking and sticking out in random places. I instinctively attempt to flatten it, and the wolves come closer.
"I feel better though, so that's a plus. Sam wanted us to head back when I was finished, right?" As I finish speaking, I notice Leah lick her lips.
The knot that I hadn't noticed growing in my stomach until now tightens and releases as she lunges for my throat.
I sweep my arm upwards and it hits Leah mid air.
She fly's into a tree and lands in a heap at its roots. Paul lets out a howl before slowly starting towards me.
"You didn't intend on me returning with you." I say as it all clicks into place. "Does Sam know you're doing this?" Paul's ears fold back as if to say no, and he doesn't care. Leah makes it to her feet again and they both charge.
I take off in the opposite direction, the sounds of their paws hitting the dirt floor of the forest a little to close to my liking. I run as fast as I can, and they begin to fall back, but I know they probably have my scent. An idea pops into my head, and I make a b-line.
My feet hit sticks and stones and even a rabbit at one point, but I don't trip and I don't stop. I knew Paul and Leah didn't like me, but it seems like they were just waiting for an excuse to get rid of me. Me being bitten has given them that opportunity.
I reach the Res and I can hear how angered the two wolves become. One, I'm not sure which lets out a howl. I hope against hope that they haven't figured out my plan, or worse, just called for more of their pack.
Something hard bumps against my leg and I feel for the object. My pants had been torn at some point, and my pocket is left exposed. The object is square and I can feel buttons.
Jake must have put my phone back into my pocket when I was unconscious!
Thank God for that wolf boy! I dig out my phone while still running and hold it up to my face. I look for the charge at the top right of the screen and notice it's just enough to make a short call. My fingers type blindly on the dial pad, and when I'm finished I hold the small device up to my ear.
"Bells?" Charlie answers on the second ring.
"Dad, I don't have a lot of time, but I need you to know." I explain what happened in the woods, and my plan to him. I tell him that if it works out how I think it will, I will not be back for a while.
Some sputtering from the other line before Charlie regains himself.
"Bells, wait! You don't have to do this, Jake is standing right here, he can call them off." The phone becomes muffled and I know Charlie's holding it to his chest when he says, "you can call them off, right?"
"Call who off of what? What's going on?" Jake's voice is distant but clear in the background.
"Dad, by that point it will be too late. I love you." I hold the phone away from my face, knowing that if I could cry anymore, I would be.
I hear Charlie say that he loves me too, and then he begins to protest again. I crush the phone in my hand, and scatter the small pieces as I reach La Push beach.
I scramble to the shore line and stop briefly. I look behind me to see two wolf bodies in the distance.
I hope this works.
Diving into the water, I can feel that it's wet but the temperature doesn't bother me. I continue swimming as fast as I can to the middle of the water and take another pause. I'm just far enough away to see the two wolves skidding to a halt on the beach.
Even from here they look frustrated!
I laugh as they sniff the water. I know they won't even attempt to follow me, and even if they did, by this point they've already lost my scent. I stick my middle finger in the air, making sure they see it before sinking beneath the surface and swimming as far and as fast as my new strength will allow.
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