Chapter 21:

"You have to be kidding," Bella said. "He's not a wolf, Mia, it's impossible."

"As impossible as Edward being a vampire? As impossible as me being a hybrid?" I demanded, twirling around to face her.

It was 4 A.M. now and ever since Jake left I had told Bella everything, and when I say everything, I mean everything. She knew everything, except for one thing here and there, but apart from that I had told her every little piece of information I had on the wolves.

"So you're telling me that the brown wolf, the one that stared at you, was Jake? Your boyfriend Jake?" Bella asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes."

I sighed and sat down next to her on the bed. Charlie's snores reached us from across the wall but apart from that everything was quiet. In two hours I'd be able to drive down to the reservation and tell Jake that I knew, admit my guilt, and beg him to forget all that and take me back because I loved him. I was praying to God, he'd listen to me after I told him what I had to.

"And what do we do now?" Bella asked again.

"Now, we wait. We wait until is early enough for us to go down and tell him we're not scared… unless you are?" I hesitated in the last moment.

I had been so caught up in my own world I hadn't stopped to think what Bella thought of all this. Was she scared? Repulsed? I didn't know.

"I'm not scared… I just don't know," she said.

We waited until it was a good hour and then left to the reservation. When we reached the small red house it was already seven A.M. I knocked on the door quickly, glancing at Bella every once in a while. Until now, she hadn't run away for the hills but she wore a deep frown on her face. The door opened and we were received by Billy Black on his wheelchair. He looked up at us with a severe expression. He only glanced at Bella for a moment before training his burning gaze on me.

"I thought I told you to leave and never come back," he told me.

"Yes, well, I've never been one to do as told." I shrugged. "Now, may I come in so I can talk to your son?" I asked.

He immediately shook his head. "No, you aren't coming into my house. He's asleep, finally. And you are no good to him."

Bella bit her lip while I searched in his face for a way out, something that would allow him to let me in. I tried to step in but he rolled backwards and stopped me. I frowned but didn't lose my patience. He had to give in eventually.

"Billy, I love him." I confessed. His eyes widened but he still didn't move. I leaned in a bit, seeing he was about to crack, and said the last thing. "And I know what he is and I know what they all are… I think you should know, I've never been prouder of all of you. And I also know word is getting around about a wolf hurting people, they want to hunt this wolf down—I will never let anyone hurt them."

Billy considered me for a moment before rolling backwards and letting a space for us to go in. I smiled at him gratefully and then walked past him, Bella quick behind me, until I reached Jacob's door. I hesitated for a moment before opening the door softly and entering. Jacob was sprawled out in his bed, one of his arms flung out and hanging, his fingertips almost touching the floorboards. I noticed how in said hand was my braided bracelet, the one I had let behind. I allowed myself a small smiled and sat in the edge of the bed; my finger moved on their own accord and brushed the hair away from his forehead.

"Maybe we should let him sleep," Bella said quietly.

"yes," I hummed.

Then some shouts brought our attention to the outside. At the edge of the woods, the same boys from the other day were calling out to Jacob. I was able to recognize Sam and Embry. So that's why he had stopped talking to Jake and Quill. The other's boys remained unknown to me. Bella glared at them and went out of the room quickly. I panicked and followed after her.

"Bella, no, you don't get it!" I called after her.

She didn't listen to me; instead she stared to run outside. I ran after her. The pack was nearing us as well. I shook my head. This was not going to end well. The pack and we ended up meeting halfway to the house. The house to our back, the forest, to theirs. The same tall guy that caught Jake and I was in the middle of the group and stood up a little. That only meant one thing: he was the leader of the pack. This was the infamous Sam Uley. He didn't glare at me but I could tell he was close to. I simply looked at him coldly. To his right were two other guys I did not recognize and to his left was no other that Embry Call. I didn't understand this. When the hell did Embry turned?

"What did you do?" Bella asked Sam as she shoved him back.

"Hey!" the guy right next to Sam complained.

I turned to him and my eyes widened. He wasn't exactly friendly looking. He was almost as tall and fit as Sam but not that much. He was sneering at Bella and, luckily, hadn't noticed me yet. Sam stretched an arm out to stop him from coming forward. Bella didn't even flinch, which proved my theory. She didn't think they were wolves.

"Easy," he ordered.

"He didn't want this."Bella exclaimed.

"What did we do? What did he do, uh? What did he tell you?" the other guy, the angry-looking one, demanded.

"Nothing, he tells me nothing because he's afraid of you!" Bella exclaimed loudly.

I grabbed Bella's sleeve and tried to make her step back but she wouldn't let me. This seemed to bring their attention to me. The other three guys turned to look at me and I saw as recognition flashed through their eyes. I thought they were going to yell at me, but all they did was look back at Bella then at each other and burst out laughing, loudly. I almost laughed to. Jacob was obviously not afraid of them. Bella didn't find it funny, though. She walked up to the angry-looking guy, avoiding my hand, and slapped him across the face. I gasped so loudly, Bella turned to me with a confused look. Sam immediately turned to the other guy, trying to calm him down but it was too late now.

"Too late now," another guy I didn't know said, voicing my thoughts.

"Are you out of your mind?" I exclaimed. "Have you really learned nothing? You don't hit a wolf on the face! No, scratch that; you don't hit a wolf, period." I scowled.

This was unbelievable. She was definitely the kind of person who would have offered herself to Anubis and sacrificed herself in a bloody ritual. But then I faltered on my speech because Bella wasn't paying attention to me. Her eyes were stuck to the pack. I turned again to see that Sam hadn't been able to clam the other guy down and he was literally trembling with rage. That only meant one thing: he was about to phase.

"Oh, this is such a great morning." I muttered under my breath as I started to push Bella backwards.

"Marie Antoinette, get her out of here." Sam told me.

"I'm trying," I replied, annoyed.

I knew it was too late, anyway. Right as my words came out of my mouth, the guy transformed into this huge grey wolf that showed its fangs and growled furiously at Bella. Even the hairs at the back of my neck stood up, that's why I didn't complain the moment Bella took off running toward the house. Jake showed up then, fully awake and very aware of the situation going outside.

"Jacob, run!" Bella called out to him.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, while Embry shook his head and muttered: "is she really this dense?" I didn't have time to reply to him because in that moment Bella tripped, typical, and Jacob literally jumped and transformed in the air, right above her, so he could face grumpy over here, who was already a wolf. My jaw hanged open. I had never seen someone transform in the air, Jacob was definitely a Black. Bella's face was one of complete shock. I couldn't help it, I laughed. The guy standing next to Sam heard me and let out a chuckle as well. The two wolves confronted each other, they snapped at each other, launched at each other and, somehow, ended up tumbling down the little slope and into the deep forest.

"Get them to Emily's!" Sam yelled at the other two before running after the two wolves.

"And the wolf's out of the bag!" Embry joked. I laughed.

"About time, don't you think?" I asked him, raising an eyebrow.

The other guy neared us and smiled at me, letting his hand out. "I'm Jared, by the way."

"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm—"

"Antoinette, yeah, we know." He interrupted me as he let go of my hand. Embry and Jared shared a look before looking over at Bella, who look like she was about to throw up.

"Bella, are you okay? Or do you want me to find you a bucket to throw up in?" I asked her slowly, as if talking to a child.

She looked at me before looking at the other two with widened eyes. I waited patiently for her to speak, she didn't. Then laughter filled the air. I turned to Embry with a raised eyebrow; he was laughing openly at Bella's expression.

"That's something you don't see everyday," he commented, looking back at the forest and trying to control his laughter.

"Sure I do, every single day." Jared grumbled.

"Aw, Paul doesn't lose his temper every day." Embry grinned. "Maybe two out of three."

So grumpy's name was Paul. I laughed a little at the joke. But Jared didn't seem to find it funny and neither did Bella. She still looked like she was about to throw up. The boys followed my gaze and seemed to realize Bella was still here.

"You won't faint or anything, will you?" Jared asked her.

"I—I don't think so," Bella said, her eyes widened.

"Oh, man, Jake should've warned us." Embry shook his head.

"Yeah, you don't just bring your best friend and your girlfriend into this. What did he expect?" Jared replied, his eyes going to me.

I blinked at both of them, confused. They thought I didn't know?

"Um… I already knew… I mean before he told me." I corrected. Both boys looked at me like I had grown a second head. I frowned. "Wait, you don't know who I am? Apart from Jake's girlfriend?" they both shook their heads in answer. I rolled my eyes. these people had a serious problem with history.

"No, why?" Embry asked me, suddenly excited.

"Ask Sam when he gets back."

"Can you stop acting like this is great? What if they hurt each other? aren't you worried at all?" Bella asked us, freaked.

"Mmm, no?" I shrugged.

"Why would we?" Embry blinked, surprised.

"They could get hurt!"

The two boys started laughing loudly, which made Bella frown in disagreement and made me giggle. Jacob was visibly larger than Paul; I doubted he'd get actually get hurt.

"I hope Paul gets a mouthful of him, teach him a lesson." Embry shrugged. I gasp.

"Hey!" I shoved him a little, knowing he wouldn't even budge.

"Sorry," he flinched.

"Yeah, right." Jared scoffed. "Don't worry, Marie. Jake's a natural, he saw Paul and it took him… what? Ten seconds to react and attack back? Not even Sam can do that."

I smiled, knowing he was right. Jake was a direct descendant from the first Quileute ever to become a wolf, no one could be as powerful as he was. It had only been a matter of time before he phased, I hadn't wanted to admit that. I also noticed the way he said my name. No Marie Antoinette, simply Marie, like we've known each other forever. That made me wonder how much of my and Jacob's relationship had he seen through Jake's mind.

"Paul's been fighting longer. Ten bucks he leaves a mark." Embry replied.

"You're on, Jake's got a gift." They shook hands while I bit my bottom lip.

"I want in too. I bet Jacob leaves him a wound so deep it'll take Paul until sundown to heal."

They looked at me before sharing a glance. They looked back at me and grinned.

"All right. you sure, though? that's a very specific bet, we don't want Jake kicking our asses because his girlfriend made a bet she couldn't afford." Jared teased. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Yes. Now, let's go before Bella really faints." I ordered.

"Right," Jared looked at Bella. She was still sitting dumbly on the floor, but she wasn't as in shock as she was before. "Mind giving us a drive?"

"No problem," she choked.

"Maybe you should drive." Jared suggested to Embry.

"Yeah, where are the keys?" he asked.

"Ignition," Bella said immediately.

The guys hauled her up from the ground and we all started to walk to the truck. Embry opened the door to the passenger seat for Bella and helped her in.

"In you go," he told her. Then, he seemed to realize there wasn't much space left and there were still three people out of the truck. "You'll have to ride in the back." He told us, frowning.

I frowned and looked down at myself. These shoes and my dress were expensive. God, even my tights were. But Embry was huge too and he took a lot of space and, if I was honest, I didn't exactly want Bella to throw up on me. Ugh, how selfish that sounded.

"It's okay, I have a weak stomach and I don't want to be there when she throws up." Jared said, not upset at all.

Embry got in and started the ignition while Jared helped me up in the bed of the truck. He got in beside me and the truck started to move.

"So how did Jacob get around the injunction anyway?" Embry asked Bella but I could hear him perfectly and I knew Jared could as well.

"Er… what?" Bella asked back.

"The order, you know, to not spill the beans." Embry elaborated.

"Oh, that. He didn't, he talked to Mia and she explained things to me." Bella hesitated.

I leaned over and looked at them through the small window in the windshield. "He reminded me of something he had told me eons ago. and said a bunch of stuff about you guys and that it wasn't your fault. I joined the dots. He never disobeyed the order." I explained Embry.

"I suppose that'd work." He shrugged.

I returned to the back and sat down in front of Jared. He smiled at me but I knew the air around us would soon turn to awkward. I didn't know this guy at all.

"So," I started. "Who is Emily?"

"Oh, that's Sam's girlfriend," Jared perched up on his seat. "Well, fiancé now, I guess. The guys will meet us back there… you know, after Sam gives it to them for that scene and finds them some clothes. If Paul has any left."

I felt bad for Paul. That was bad. Sometimes I forgot that the Quileutes were actually humble people that didn't have much; while I had everything. That had to change.

"are you guys okay about the black-haired guy at the meadow? He didn't look friendly but…" Jared changed the subject to one that wasn't that dangerous.

"Are you kidding me? Laurent was an ass; and I literally fell in love with all of you. My God, I had never seen a pack so coordinated." I paused, noticing Jared's grin. "Just to clarify I didn't fall in love with you, it's an expression. What I meant is that you were really cool. I suppose Sam's the black one, right? And Paul is grey and Jake is brown. What color are you?... sorry, I'm ranting." I finished, covering my face with my hands.

"It's all right," He laughed. I looked up to him, laughing too. "I'm brown too, just darker than Jake. And Embry over there is grey with black dots here and there."

I nodded, already picturing them in the clearing. Jared had flashed by me in a flash and had been, after Sam, the first to reach Laurent. Embry had been next to Jake when they all appeared at the edge of the forest, while Paul had been next to Jared.

"Can I ask you something? Before you and the vampire noticed us, you had fire in your hand. But that's impossible because you weren't in pain or anything, and now you don't have a wound. I told Sam but he brushed it off like it was nothing." He told me.

My heart beat accelerated. No one had said anything about it so I thought they hadn't noticed. Apparently, Jared had. And he was now questioning me about it. I took a deep breath in, making up my mind. They would know, sooner or later. Sam would have to tell them and I would have to tell Jake now.

"I—all right, all right," I sat up straight and wished this drive would end soon. But Bella's truck was slower than ever and I knew we were at least halfway. "Promise me you will not tell Jacob, at least not yet." I waited until he nodded before continuing. "I'm a witch and a Veela. I can control the elements; that's why I had a flame on my hand and didn't burn."

"Veela? I thought they were extinct." Embry's voice reached us from the inside of the car.

"They are, except for me and my sister." I answered, my tone a little sad. "As I said before, ask Sam. He knows everything and I'm sure he'll be happy to tell you all." I couldn't help the bit of sarcasm that laced to my voice.

Luckily though, we reached Emily's house faster than I thought. It was a tiny house that once was grey. It only had one narrow window next to the weathered door and under it were yellow and orange marigolds that made the sad house a cheerful look. Embry turned the car off and got out, Bella followed him. She hadn't thrown up but she didn't speak at all the entire way here.

"Emily's cooking," Embry said as he inhaled the air deeply.

Jared got out and helped me out as well. They went into the house like it was their own and Bella followed but I hesitated for a moment. This was Sam Uley's home. It wasn't his house but it was definitely home. I didn't like him much, he didn't like me much. I felt like I was crossing an invisible line by entering his home. Bella hesitated when he didn't see me and turned to me. The boys did the same.

"Don't worry, it's okay. Come on in." Jared told me. He then grinned and added: "We won't bite."

"Speak for yourself," Embry joked.

I laughed and shook my head, walking toward them. Bella shot me a look but I couldn't read into it. The main room of the house, like Jake's, was the kitchen. In it, a young woman with coppery skin and long straight black hair was pulling muffins out of the oven. We watched as she put the tray in the counter and pulled a paper plate to put them on.

"Hey, you're home." She told us, or well, she told the boys. She took one muffin very carefully and put it on the plate before continuing to do so.

"Hi, Em." Both of the boys said at the same time before sitting down on the table.

"You guys hungry? Like I have to ask." She turned to face us and it took all of my willpower not to stare.

Emily was gorgeous but three long scars marked her face from her hairline all down to her collarbone where it disappeared under her skin. I had a feeling they didn't end there. She looked straight at me and her smile widened.

"Oh, are you Marie?" she asked me.

"Yes," I smiled. "It's great to meet you."

"Oh, no, dear. It's great to meet you; you've been a common topic around here for some time now." She explained to me and the boys chuckled at some kind of inner joke. "Do you want a muffin?" she offered.

"Please."

She grabbed one big blueberry muffin and handed it to me. Then she seemed to realize Bella was here. Her face morphed into a surprised expression; apparently she didn't expect to see anyone aside from me.

"Who's this?" she asked.

"Bella Swan." Jared replied as he took one muffin from the tray.

"So you're the vampire girl?" Emily asked, her smile gone.

"Yes, are you the werewolf girl?" Bella asked back, a little guarded.

"I guess, I mean I'm engaged to one." She answered excitedly. I smiled brightly at her. "Leave it to Jake to find a way around the gag order." She continued, looking at me.

"I already knew." I repeated for the tenth time.

Emily nodded and then turned to the guys, her entire face warming as she looked at them.

"Where's Sam?" she asked them.

"With Jake and Paul. You should've seen it, Em, Bella slapped Paul on the face and well, you know what happened next." Embry explained. "And suddenly Jacob jumps in the air and phases right in the air, saving Bella from the big bad wolf."

Emily shook her head, as if disappointed. "Ah, Paul." She paused for a moment. "Do you think they'll be long? I was about to start cooking breakfast." She informed us.

"Don't worry, if they get here late, we won't let anything go to waste." Jared said. I laughed and sat down on the table, finishing my muffin. Embry was already finishing his second.

"I don't doubt that." Emily smiled, then, noticing that Embry was already starting his third muffin, she hit him lightly in the back of the head. "Save some for your brothers!" she scowled.

Bella's eyes widened at this but the boys didn't seem to be bother about it, and neither was I. They were a pack, a family; it was naturally that they'd call each other brothers. I watched as they all behaved like a real family: Jared and Embry joked around while Emily took everything out of the fridge to make breakfast. It had been a while since I had been in an environment like this and, surprisingly enough, I felt part of it. The guys would fill me in the conversation from time to time and I would laugh at their jokes. Bella, though, had moved to the counter and leaned into it and hadn't said a word. Emily got several eggs out of the fridge and started to cook them. When she rolled up her sleeves so they wouldn't get eggs on them, I saw my prediction had been right: the scars marked her arm and hand as well. Then, the door opened and Sam stepped in. he glanced at me first and my smile dropped. In his eyes was the same judgment I'd find on Billy's eyes. He knew everything. He didn't look at me for long, though.

"Emily," he said and his voice had so much love that I knew Emily wasn't just his fiancée. He had imprinted on her.

He walked up to her in one long stride and took her face in his hands, kissing her scar multiple times before kissing her full on the lips. Bella looked away almost immediately but I smiled at them with nostalgia. That's what I had wanted for them, for the wolves, and, apparently the love potion number 5 had worked perfectly. Sam would never be miserable because he had Emily. She was his world and, as much as I disliked Sam, I was happy for him.

"Hey, none of that," Embry complained. "I'm eating."

"Then shut up and eat." Sam replied before kissing Emily's ruined mouth.

I felt a pang on my chest at the image. I didn't understand it at first but it suddenly clicked into place. Sam kissed her scars more than the rest of her face because he wished he could kiss them away, make them disappear. Sam felt guilty about hurting Emily forever.

Then Paul and Jacob entered the house, laughing good-naturally. Paul shoved him and, in return, Jake elbowed him. They both laughed again. Jacob scanned the room; his eyes fell on Bella for less than a second before he found me. He seemed surprised to see that I was comfortably sitting on the table with the other two. Not feeling out of place, at all. He walked to me and gave a hesitant smile. He walked to stand behind me and leaned on the back of my chair. As he leaned in to grab a muffin, I noticed he still had my braided bracelet on. Luckily and magically, it hadn't been torn to pieces when he phased.

"Hey, are you okay?" he whispered in my ear. "Not freaked out at all? Not repulsed?"

I turned my face to look at him. I hadn't missed the bitterness in his voice, even though he was trying hard to mask it. I wasn't repulsed, I wasn't angry. I was hurt. Hurt because he had been treating me like shit, hurt because he hadn't bothered to call me and explain things, hurt because he hadn't had the balls to at least break up with me the right way and instead waited for me to show up. I was sure that if I hadn't gone down to the reservation, he would've done nothing, he simply would've let me hanging. And just like that, I wasn't relieved that he was here with me, I wasn't happy that I knew his secret or that the pack seemed to take me in like an old friend. I was angry, no, I was livid.

"I'm perfectly fine, thank you." I replied and turned back to the others.

"Oh, no, man!" Embry cried.

He was looking at Paul's arm where a long pink line was. I grinned, knowing I had won the bet.

"Yeah, ten dollars, baby!" Jared cheered but I cleared my throat.

"Excuse me? I said Jake would leave him a mark that wouldn't fade until sundown. That won't fade until sundown, so, actually, you both own me ten dollars." I smiled sweetly at them.

They looked at each other and back to me with a shocked expression. I lifted my eyebrow expectantly. They looked into their pockets and gave me a ten each.

"Thank you very much," I said as I folded the bills and put them in my bra.

"Wait, you bet I'd win?" Jacob asked, surprised, and for a moment I could see the Jacob I fell in love with.

"Yep." I answered.

We looked at each other for a moment. I noticed how everyone in the room turned their attention to us but I didn't mind, no matter what happened they would eventually find out. There were no secrets in a pack, I knew that very well.

"We need to talk," Jacob started.

"Yes… but I think you should explain things to Bella first. The three of us should talk." I retorted.

Bella looked up at the mention of her name. Jake looked at her before nodding and walking to the door, Bella followed him quickly.

"Guys, remember what I said," I told Embry and Jared before getting up and following Jacob and Bella.