Disclaimer: still not mine.
School...Homework...Fanfic...Guess what I chose?
Dinner went by uneventfully, progressing through pudding and coffee without any fights at all. Bella remained with the Pack though, forcing Clay and Elena to listen to the Elders for information.
Not that they needed it.
They could already smell the murderers.
Clay was with Charlie in the hall, whilst Elena – the more personable of the two – said thank you and goodbye. Bella was on her way to give some leftovers to Charlie to put in the refrigerator when she heard them talking.
"So, Charlie, I hear there have been some kind animal attacks recently." Clay said straight to the point.
"Yeah." The chief sighed. "We've got traps out, but we're warning people to stay out the woods indefinitely right now. It's been almost impossible to track, only way we seem to know it exists is from the bodies it leaves."
Bella paled. More had died? And why did Dr Danvers care?
"The boys have been a massive help. They grew up in these woods and know it better than most." Bella could hear the story in Charlie's words, and it made her sad to think of how much she had made him suffer.
"I hope you catch it soon, Chief." Clay replied. To Bella it sounded as if there was something more to it than that. She shook her head and moved forward.
"Dad?"
"Hey Bells, whatcha got there?"
"Just some leftovers for you to take home."
"Staying the night here?"
"Yeah, the girls and I are gonna have a sleepover. I'll be home in the morning."
"Okay. You have fun."
"Will do. Nice to see you again Dr Danvers." Bella – always polite.
"You too, Bella." He replied automatically.
Elena joined them and they left.
Bella was only half telling the truth to Charlie.
There was going to be a sleepover. Just the boys would be present.
And she was going to spill the beans about Clay and Elena first.
Everyone was gathered in the living room, bowls of snacks spread out on the floor.
"The Danvers aren't human, are they?"
They turned to look at her.
"I heard him growl at school." She explained quickly "And just now he was asking Charlie about animal attacks. I think Elena was trying to get me to tell her about the pack at dinner too."
She waited expectantly for them to answer, meeting each gaze squarely.
It was Jared who broke first.
"They smelled like wolves."
Sam scowled at him.
"Like you guys?"
"No." this time Sam answered. "It's different."
"So you're saying they could be actual werewolves?"
"Maybe." Sam evaded.
"They think you guys are the murderers."
"Probably." No one looked shocked. Bella frowned at them all.
"But they'll try and catch you."
"They'll fail."
Bella felt her anger swell at their cavalier attitude.
"Fine." She said, getting up. "Fine. Be all cocky. Get killed. Fine."
"So?"
Elena shut the door before turning to answer.
"So what?"
"What do you think they are?" Clay continued. "They aren't mutts. They smell wrong."
Elena thought for a second.
"The legends…might not be bogus."
Clay snorted.
"You asked!" she snapped, stomping over to the dresser.
He prowled after her, snaking his arms round her waist.
"Don't be mad, darling." He murmured into her neck, revelling in the feel of her relaxing against him. "I just don't like the idea of there being something else new out there."
"You took the news of Paige and Adam well."
"I'd heard of witches and demons. I haven't heard of these guys."
"Let's call Jeremy." Elena suggested after a pause. "He might have something we don't. And the fact they aren't mutts changes things."
"Fine." Clay agreed, pulling her backwards towards the bed. "But first…"
Elena shrieked as they fell, and turned to laughter as he tickled her sides.
Eventually the laughter stopped as well, to be replaced with the sounds of sweet sighs and contented moans.
Emily watched as Bella took out her frustration on the dough.
The cookies were cooling on their trays and now Bella had moved on to the bread.
"Feeling better yet?"
"Nope."
"Bells?" Seth crept into the kitchen.
"What?"
"I'm sorry Bella. I didn't mean to upset you."
Her expression softened slightly.
"You can't have any cookies." She said firmly. "None of you."
A chorus of "awwwwwwwws" were heard from the other room and Bella raised her voice.
"And don't think I don't know exactly how many there are. If I find a single crumb missing…" she paused for a second. "Billy will find out exactly how you managed to tie yourselves to a tree."
She turned to meet their eyes.
"Understood?"
They nodded furiously.
"You're saying that there is a pack of wolf shifters that you think are responsible?"
"Possibly." Clay replied. "Elena's going to go to one of the sites to see if she can pick up anything."
"A good idea." Jer paused. "If it isn't them, and they are now aware of our presence, try and talk to them."
"Will do. Bella might be helpful in that."
"Bella?"
"A human." Clay growled slightly. "I don't know if she knows anything but she is close to them."
"I see. Let me know how it goes."
"Will do, Jer."
"Bye."
Elena changed in the woods by the latest site.
The first thing she noticed was the host of smells belonging to the humans and underneath that the smell of wolf. She could smell only a few, so were only a few guilty.
She continued to smell, tracking the progress of their movements.
She sneezed.
If smelled as if someone had mixed together marzipan and bleach and then added icing sugar on top for good measure, combined with marshmallows and vanilla.
It was awful.
And underneath the scent of the wolves.
A vampire had been here before them.
Bella sat with Quil and Embry on the beach, soaking up the rare sun.
Quil was fast asleep, and Embry was busy burying him the sand. Bella smiled slightly before frowning as two figures approached them.
Embry slapped Quil awake, who yelped in shock before struggling to pull his hands out of the sand.
"Bella, hey, how've you been?" Elena asked.
"I've been fine thank you." She replied politely.
"So I was thinking of doing some shopping whilst I was here, know any good places."
"There's the mall at Port Angeles." Bella answered, keeping her eyes on the quiet conversation between Clay and the boys.
"Oh good." Elena lied. "And where's that?"
"Near the cinema." Bella replied vaguely.
Clay's scowl was growing and Bella wanted to make sure she had warning if he attacked.
Not that she could do anything except run to Sam's.
But hey, running's a skill right?
Elena watched her carefully, noting how her answers were vague and not her true focus. It's like she's watching out for them, Elena thought, kinda like a mother bear.
The two women stopped talking and watched as Clay snarled before stalking past them. He waited a little distance away waiting for Elena.
"I think that's my cue." She sighed. "Nice to see you again Bella."
"You too." She relied absently, standing to walk over to the now arguing boys.
Elena walked away, holding onto Clay's hand.
"What happened?" she asked quietly.
"I told them that we wanted to meet with their pack. They wanted to know why. I said it was about the animal attacks and how we think it was a vampire. They said they were dealing with it. Insults were exchanged." He looked at her. "You?"
"Bella is close to them. Almost like they are her family."
"This is gonna be difficult."
"Yep."
There should be an Older Teen rating. I've decided this.
Review and let me know what you think!