Wolf Boy

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!

Part Thirty-Six

Bella couldn't enjoy the family dinner. It was impossible, especially knowing that Trent was out there somewhere-wild, dangerous and bloodthirsty. As soon as the revelation had hit them that Trent might have been hiding right under their noses all along, she had been living in a permanent state of fear.

Jacob and his brothers had staked out the Cullens old place, almost immediately finding evidence that their worst fears had been realised. Trent's scent was everywhere-both human and vampire. Victoria had turned him and stashed him in the place of her enemy while he transformed into a monster. With Riley's help they had done their best to track him. He wasn't inside the house when they checked, but it was clear he was using the mansion as a base to come back to. They followed his trail, which proved to be erratic, he seemed to have gone around in circles for a while, chasing his own tail until he came upon the unfortunate hikers and killed them in a frenzied attack to slake his thirst.

"Bella, you look very pale." Connie's concerned voice interrupted Bella's silent panic.

"I'm fine." She murmured.

"You don't look fine." Connie reached across the table and touched Bella's forehead gently with the back of her hand. "You're very hot."

"Bells?" Charlie studied his daughter's face anxiously. He hoped this wasn't a delayed reaction to the loss of her baby. She could be suffering with postpartum depression or something. Considering her history, it wouldn't surprise him. "If you feel unwell, we can always cancel dinner and go home."

"Please don't do that!" Bella begged. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin the evening. "I can go home on my own. You stay."

"No, we'll all go. We can have dinner out anytime." Charlie looked over at Connie. "You don't mind, do you?" He asked.

"Of course not." Connie gave him a fond smile.

"I can stay with Bella and look after her." Colin piped up suddenly.

"I can't ask you to do that." Bella said softly. "But thank you for the offer."

"I don't mind, really." Colin insisted. "If I go with you then Mom and Charlie can stay."

Charlie and Connie exchanged a long look. They were only in the diner. It would take minutes to get home if Bella needed them. "I'm not sure…." Charlie hedged.

"I am." Bella tried to sound convincing. "I'll be okay. Colin can come with me if it makes you feel better. I plan to just curl up on the sofa and rest anyway. Please, I don't want to ruin everyone's evening."

Her pleas finally worked. Charlie and Connie finally backed down. "You call if you need us." Charlie reminded her.

"I will." Bella stood up on wobbly legs. She was beginning to wonder whether all the stress she had been under had brought on a chill or something. She smiled gratefully at Colin when she felt his hand on her back, steadying her. He really was such a sweetheart and she was looking forward to having him as a brother when Connie finally proposed to Charlie.

"We won't stay out too late." Connie promised. "Some proper rest will do you the world of good." She reached out and took Bella's hand. "See you soon. And you…." She looked at her son pointedly. "Take care of her, okay."

"Mom!" Colin complained, rolling his eyes.

"Whatever you want me to do, Bella, I'll do it." Colin promised her stoutly.

"Thank you. Just pass me the remote and I'll be fine." Bella gave him a weak smile. She had changed into a comfy pair of sweats and an old t-shirt of Jake's. It smelled like him and helped her to relax. She had sent Jake a quick text, telling him that she was now back home with Colin. He didn't immediately respond which meant he was probably still out with the others. Once he checked his messages, she knew he would send one of the others back to the house to keep an eye on them.

"Here you go." Colin fetched the remote and handed it to her before settling down in Charlie's recliner. Bella was stretched out on the sofa, a comforter draped over her legs. Colin spun around in Charlie's chair. "This is so cool." He said, doing a few more turns.

Bella smiled again at his eager face. No one could be down for long in his company. She was actually feeling a little better now she was in the safe confines of her own home. She used the remote to channel surf before she settled on a cooking show.

Colin grimaced. "Really, Bella?"

"You don't like food?" She laughed.

"Yes…to eat." Colin grimaced. "Not to watch someone else make it. Can we watch a movie or something? Do you have any decent films?" He abruptly dived from the recliner onto his knees on the floor as he began to sort through their small collection of DVD's. "Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Romeo and Juliet, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Rambo? Ugh, is this it?" He said in disgust.

"There's nothing wrong with a good costume drama." Bella teased.

"No freaking way!" Colin pretended to shudder at the thought. "You are so cool, Bella, but your taste in movies is so lame." He sighed dramatically as he shoved the DVD's back into place. "I guess we're stuck with the cooking show." He ended with a gusty sigh.

Bella hid an amused smile as she watched her soon to be brother flop back onto the recliner with a resigned look on his face. Feeling slightly guilty, she decided to take pity on him and flipped through the channels again until she found something more to his liking. "Is this better?" She asked when she landed on one of the sports channels. A baseball game was in progress.

"Much better!" Colin said with a cheeky grin as he turned to face the flat screen.

The fear that had been lodged in Bella's chest ever since she had woken up that morning slowly began to fade away. It had sat there every time she drew breath, propelling her toward an anxiety she just didn't need. She had to trust that Jacob and the pack could take care of things. It had been a while since she had sent him the text and he still hadn't replied yet. Bella tried not to feel concerned about that. He would check in with her when he had the time. Meanwhile she was enjoying Colin's company. His boyish enthusiasm for one of his favourite sports was infectious. He had spent the last hour patiently explaining the rules to her. He had been horrified to learn how little she knew about the game and was determined to teach her. "You'll love it when you understand what's going on, Bella." He stated confidently. "You'll see."

"Don't count on it." She laughed.

Her fears began to evaporate the more she got involved watching the game. She found herself yelling at the screen along with Colin when one of the players made a mistake. They were rooting for the underdogs, cheering them on and then cursing when they made another stupid error. In the end the team they supported lost, but they agreed they had put up one hell of a fight.

"I feel like some munchies." Colin declared. "I'm going to raid the fridge. Want anything?"

"I'll just have a soda." Bella replied, yawning. She was feeling tired but content. Charlie and Connie would be back soon. She knew her father would be relieved to see her looking less tense.

"K.'" Colin sauntered off to the kitchen.

Bella heard rustling papers and a few thuds and bangs as Colin opened and shut some of the cupboards. Then there was suddenly an abrupt silence. Bella frowned, wondering at the sudden lack of noise. "Colin?" She called out. "You okay?"

He didn't respond.

"Colin!" Bella yelled louder. "This isn't funny!"

All that greeted her was a resounding silence.

Bella shoved the comforter off her legs and pushed herself onto her feet. The intense quiet was shredding her nerves. "Colin?" She said again, her voice shaking slightly. "Stop playing games!"

Stepping slowly out into the hallway she glanced toward the kitchen. The door was shut and she couldn't see inside. With her back pressed to the wall she began to creep toward kitchen. Her hands trembled and her eyes watered as she reached her hand towards the door knob. Something was behind there and somehow, she knew it was anything but good. Her body felt hot and sweat started to trickle down her neck when she realised what an idiot she had been to come home on her own with just Colin. She had promised Jake she wouldn't put herself in harm's way again. He thought she was safely in a public place so no wolf was watching the house like usual. His lack of response meant he still hadn't seen her text. Regret was a bitch. There was nothing she could do now but face what was on the other side of the door for Colin's sake. He was her brother in all but name. She gripped the door knob and twisted it.

With every move she made she got more and more terrified. Her breath quickened as the door creaked when she pushed on it. She stepped into the kitchen to find that Trent had Colin in an arm lock. His black hair was in disarray, his crimson eyes wild and full of bloodlust. Colin whimpered when he saw Bella, his first reaction was to start struggling again.

"Don't, Colin." Bella begged him. "Just stay very still."

Colin breathed raggedly as he obeyed her. Trent's hold on him tightened as his reddened gaze flicked to Bella. His lips pulled back over his teeth in a feral snarl. His expression was crazed, his bloodlust having overtaken his reason.

"Let him go. Take me." Bella pleaded. "Don't hurt him."

"No, Bella." Colin cried. His skin was hot, beads of perspiration coated his forehead. He trembled, his nostrils burning at the sickly-sweet stench coming off of Trent. His vision swam as he tried to focus his gaze on Bella. "Run!" He said hoarsely. "Run!" He yelled louder when she stayed rooted in place. Why didn't she go?

His eyes were watering violently. He couldn't see. He couldn't think. The intense heat which had overtaken his body was becoming painful. He struggled against his captor's tight hold, his body twisting and straining to break free. He heard Bella call his name, he tried to answer her but all that came out was an anguished howl. Then suddenly his captor thrust him away with a pained roar, sending him spinning in Bella's direction.

Colin's world exploded around him.

A/N-thanks for reading!