Chapter Twenty Eight

Harry

I rang Charlie's number and Bella answered, she could tell from my tone of voice that something was wrong,

"Harry? Dads watching TV, is it important because he's really tired?"

"I'm afraid so Bella and I think he'd want to hear it from me."

There was a long delay then Charlie came on sounding concerned.

"Harry? What's the matter? Bella said it was important."

"I'm very sorry Charlie but I thought you'd want to know Billy was attacked this morning."

"Attacked? By what? Where?"

"He wheeled himself to the edge of the woods, we think he might have heard or seen something. He was attacked like you and dragged from his wheelchair."

"Was it the same animal that attacked me Harry?"

His question seemed loaded with much that he wasn't saying,

"We don't know but your deputies are on their way to secure the scene and Sam went with Billy in the ambulance."

"Sam? What about Jake?"

"He's at Emily's, he's very shaken up."

"I'm coming down. Bella will drive me."

"No Charlie, I'll come to you, just give me a few hours."

He wasn't happy but he knew he wouldn't learn anything any sooner so he reluctantly agreed to wait for me.

Charlie

I waited impatiently Bella sitting beside me holding my hand white-faced, her eyes red with tears. She had always had a soft spot for Billy who was almost an uncle to her when she was little.

"I don't understand, why was Billy in the woods? He couldn't wheel himself into the trees could he?"

"Wait till Harry gets here and well find out some more details."

"Poor Jake he must be devastated. Is Harry bringing him?"

"I don't think so Bella. I guess he'll be at the hospital by now, Sue would have calmed him."

"Was it the same animal that attacked you?"

"It seems that there were two of them out there if it was a bear. Don't forget the boys brought the one in they said attacked me."

"Has it ever happened before dad?"

"Nope, not that I can remember. We've had the odd animal attack but it's usually food or hunting related, They don't just come wandering out of the woods and attack for no reason. I think we'll have to organise a serious search for the animal, bear or wolf. I think I'll ring the station, just see if they've got anything yet."

"OK but don't try helping, the doctor says you aren't ready for work yet, even if it is Billy."

I smiled at her,

"Bella its all I can do to raise a smile at present let alone a gun. I'm not going anywhere I promise."

I was relieved when Jasper appeared before Harry and on hearing the news offered to take her away for a few hours.

"That's a good idea. By the way is your father home today?"

"Yes he is. Why? Did you want to speak to him? You could come with us if you like or I can wait until Harry has been and take you over,"

"Do you think he'd mind if I just turned up?"

"I'm sure he wouldn't but I'll ring and check if you like."

"Thank you Jasper. It would help to put my mind at rest if I could speak to him. Oh here's Harry now, maybe you and Bella could disappear for a while, I know he doesn't like your family very much."

I watched as they went out the back for a walk as Harry mounted the front steps and pushed the unlocked door open,

"You there Charlie?"

"Sure come on in Harry."

He came in looking around and it seemed like he was smelling the air, was I going completely crazy?

"Sit down Harry, Bella just made a pot of fresh coffee would you like some?"

"No thank you. I just got back from the hospital and that's all I did all night, drink coffee, bad coffee at that."

"Billy's pretty bad then? I know you don't like using the hospital with Dr Cullen there."

"We had no choice, Billy was losing blood and needed surgery."

"Did you find the animal? Another bear maybe, it seems we have an epidemic of homicidal bears around Forks Harry seeing as your boys killed the one that attacked me."

"Maybe they were wrong the first time."

"Well lets hope they get it this time then before someone gets killed."

He looked at me and sighed,

"You're right of course. Sam took some of the boys out to see if they could find any tracks but no news so far".

"When can Billy have visitors?"

"They say a couple of days, he's pretty weak."

"Is Jake with him?"

"No he's at my place pretty broken up about it all. Sue's looking after him."

"So he hasn't seen his dad since the attack? Isn't that a little strange Harry?"

He didn't answer me but I got the feeling he knew I was suspicious.

"Well Charlie I'd best be getting back but I'll let you know if there's any change. Maybe I could take you to see him tomorrow evening, if he's well enough."

"Sure Harry. I guess you want to get back to Jake now. Tell him I'm sorry about his dad."

Jasper

I rang Carlisle as soon as we left the house and told him of Charlie's request and he agreed that it would be best for Charlie to come back with Bella and myself,

"Alice already warned me that it might come to this. She didn't see the attack before it happened because it wasn't premeditated but she had a bad feeling all the same. Does Bella know about the Quileutes?"

"No, not yet but I think we'll have to tell her now."

"Very well, we'll see you soon son."

Bella took my arm as we walked among the trees waiting for Harry to leave.

"What am I missing Jasper?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Well Dad wants to talk to Carlisle and its my guess he has some suspicions about your family, What caused that? Do you know something about the attack on dad and Billy? What is it you're going to have to tell me?"

"Yes. It wasn't a bear Bella, in either case. It was a wolf, two different wolves would be my guess although I don't know that for sure and the Quileutes are involved."

"But they're friends, Charlie and Billy grew up together, they fish and hunt together why would they hurt dad?"

"The Quileutes are a guardian tribe Bella, didn't you ever hear the legends of the wolves?"

"The spirit warriors? Yes when I was a little girl, it was exciting but I don't see...you mean they exist? Some of the guys on the Res really change into wolves and protect the tribe? But why attack Charlie? He isn't a threat to them and Billy is one of them. It doesn't make any sense."

"The wolves are very volatile Bella, they are all young men with a lot of testosterone and it makes them dangerously unstable at times. Its my guess that one of them lost control and phased injuring Charlie before they could control themselves. Who was with your dad at the time?"

"Sam and Paul I think."

"Then my money is on Paul. Sam is older and wiser plus he's the Alpha so I'm pretty sure he can control himself now."

"Now? You mean he's done the same thing in his time?"

"Yes, I think you'll find that his fiancées facial scars were made by wolf claws. I really would prefer it if you could keep your distance from them, Jake too because he's about the right age to start the change."

"Jake is going to become a werewolf too?"

"They aren't actually werewolves Bella, technically they are shape shifters not Children of the Moon. They can change more or less at will not just at the full moon and their bite doesn't infect anyone, they don't change, they kill."

"They kill humans? Why haven't there been deaths in Forks before then? Or have they been hushed up?"

"No I'm afraid its our fault they are changing again. They have one job Bella, to keep the tribe safe from the Cold Ones. When we came back to live here they started phasing again so I guess you could blame us for the attacks."

"When you came back? Of course you were here before weren't you?"

"No, the Cullens were here before but not Alice or I. They made a treaty with the Quileutes that if we didn't bite any humans they wouldn't tell anyone what the Cullens really were."

"But its the wolves who are biting the humans not you."

"They will still blame us for it Bella. I think Charlie has worked out at least a part of the story and he's going to talk to Carlisle about it. I hope it doesn't mean trouble for you and I."

"Why should it? You aren't any different from yesterday and he was happy enough then."

"Bella think about it, would you want your daughter going out with a vampire? A blood drinker?"