AN: Trigger warnings to many things are present in this story.
I don't own Twilight.
I just like to play around in different worlds with them :)
Don't like don't read
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The next morning Bella jerked awake as a hand clamped down over her mouth. Laurent stared down at her with a finger over his mouth and she nodded, feeling slightly relieved. She quietly slid out of bed and he was shocked at how silent she was moving. They stood at her window as she raised it slightly and they could hear voices.
"You let Bella have a stranger in her room?" Jacob was standing next to Charlie at the end of the driveway.
Charlie frowned, "No. He's her friend Jacob and I am not going to stop her when she is finally getting back to normal."
Laurent glanced at her and she narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to say something about it. His eyes widened slightly as he shook his head.
"You don't even know him." Jacob shouted as his body shook.
"How exactly do you know who Bella has with her Jacob? She didn't call anyone yesterday otherwise you would have been here." Charlie crossed his arms over his chest angrily.
Laurent leaned towards Bella, "You know that mangy mutt?"
She nodded and whispered as low as she could, "Long story. Stay here."
He caught her arm, "I don't think that is a good idea."
She rolled her eyes at him and shook his hand off before slipping out of the room and outside. "Morning Gents." She said as she approached the two in the street.
Charlie smiled at her, "Morning Bells."
Jacob glared at her, "I hear you have a friend Bella."
She grinned, "Yep. He's a good friend too. Have you been in the woods lately Jake?" she eyed him dangerously, "It's pretty dangerous in there."
He frowned at her, "Only for some."
She grinned, "That's why my friend and I stick together, always." She emphasized the word and he growled uncontrollably.
Charlie glared at Jacob, "I think it's best if you leave now Jacob. I'll be calling Billy about this."
Jacob snarled as he climbed into his small car and sped away. Bella sighed in relief as Charlie said, "So about this friend?"
She grimaced, "Trust me dad. He is just a friend. He's married too so don't even go there."
Charlie grimaced as he watched Bella disappear into the house. He knew he should have the talk with her but it made his skin crawl.
She dashed up to her room and found Laurent chuckling in the rocking chair, "Friend?"
She sat on her bed, "Frenemies?"
He smiled at her, "Frenemies. I can dig it."
She rolled her eyes, "Stuck in the sixties now?"
He growled at her.
She showered and dressed in the bathroom after Charlie left for work then met Laurent downstairs, "So I'll take you to Seattle and from there you should be good."
He nodded and followed her to her truck. After an hour of silence he turned to look at her, "Why did you save me? You know why I was there."
She nodded, "Someone told me something that I truly believe in. I do not relish killing another creature, not even one as sadistic as James."
Laurent frowned at her, "Edward?"
She shook her head not even phased by the word anymore, "Carlisle. Believe it or not I truly love them as a family."
"Do you miss them?" he asked.
She nodded, "Yes and no. I know why they left but I also know that it was the wrong choice. They kept saying I was a part of the family but I was not included in the decision of them leaving. They had to know that Victoria would be back and yet they still left thinking it would make me safer."
He stared out the window until they reached Seattle. She parked in a McDonald's parking lot and turned to him in the truck, "Do you regret what happened with James and Victoria?"
He nodded, "Very much but then I wouldn't have met my mate if I hadn't met you and the Cullen's. They sent me to their cousin's, the Denali's. Irina will want to meet you when she finds out everything that happened. Humans usually aren't tripping over themselves to save us."
She glared at him for a moment the shrugged, "I'd like that unless I'm on the menu that night."
He chuckled, "No. They have the vegetarian diet. I am on it as well, just so you know."
She grinned, "Good luck Laurent."
"You too Bella."
In a blink he was gone and Bella smiled as she bought some food and made her way back towards Forks. She stopped in Port Angeles to get some groceries before finally making it back home by five that evening. Jacob was waiting for her when she parked in the drive and she could hear his loud voice before she even opened the door.
"What the hell Bella? You're helping leeches now." His body shook in anger.
She grabbed the bags of groceries and entered the house with Jacob on her heels. As she put everything away he continued his rant, "They kill people Bella. They don't have souls."
He was getting angrier the longer she went without responding but she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of getting angry. After ten minutes she couldn't take it anymore and turned to him, calmly saying, "Get out."
He frowned, "What?"
"I said get out. You can have whatever barbaric thoughts about them all you want but they are my friends now get out." She walked to the front door and held it open.
"Bella-"
She shook her head, "Out."
His body shook with anger as he stomped out of the front door but he quickly turned back, "They are monsters Bella."
She stepped out onto the front porch a few inches from him, "The only monster here Jacob, is you."
She turned to go back inside but he lost control of his temper. She turned at the sound of the ripping of fabric as he shifted right in front of her and as his feet came down to land on the ground, his claws raked across her face.
She fell to her knees as blood dripped onto the porch and a whimper came from Jacob. Howls echoed in the forest around them and suddenly Sam Uley was there, lifting Bella into his arms as he rushed her to her truck. Her body began to feel cold as the blood rushed down her face, covering her shirt. She was aware of the fact that her right eye was blurry and a sharp excruciating pain spread back into her head. She could feel the seat underneath her as her vision began to fade and the roar of her engine was the last thing she heard before everything turned black.
Sam tried to control the bleeding but it just kept gushing. He knew head wounds were bleeders but he was also dealing with the flayed skin on Bella's chest that was laid open. Leah was horrified at the sight of muscle she could see exposed through the blood and torn fabric of the t-shirt. Sam shook his head at her they sped towards the hospital.
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Bella could feel her face throbbing as she tried to open her eyes. Her left eye managed to open slightly but the bright light hurt so she closed them tightly which made her gasp in pain. A nurse rushed to her side and hit the button for a doctor. An hour later the lights were on the lowest setting and Charlie was standing beside her bed as the doctor told her the seriousness of her condition. She was still processing the fact that she had been kept unconscious for a week by medication so her body could heal without her moving and possibly ending up in surgery again.
"We won't know if you still have sight in your right eye until the swelling goes down. Three claw marks have punctured deeply into your face and you're lucky no bones were broken."
Charlie glanced at the doctor, "How long until it goes down or the bandages come off?"
The man shook his head, "Swelling is already diminishing but it'll be a few more days. The dressings will need to be changed twice a day until your healed."
She frowned, "How long is that?"
"Everyone is different Ms. Swan. It could be weeks or it could be months. There was a lot of damage to the right side of your face."
"What about her chest?" Charlie asked.
The doctor nodded, "We were able to repair most of the damage with a skin graft from your calf. As for the muscle it only took minimum damage but we were able to reattach the lose ends with dissolvable sutures. It's up to your body now to finish the rest.
Charlie thanked the doctor as a nurse entered the room, "I have to clean it now dear, I'm sorry."
"May I look at it?" she asked quietly.
The nurse glanced at the doctor but he nodded. When the bandages were off Bella stood slowly, ignoring the pounding in her head. The nurse helped guide her into the bathroom and she looked in the mirror. The right side of her face was swollen beyond recognition but she could clearly see the hundreds of staples that lined the middle claw mark that started at her hair line and ran down over her right eye to the base of her chin. The purple and black bruise around her very swollen eye socket made her slightly nauseous but she took a deep breath to continue. The edges of skin were pink and red, raised and swollen. If she didn't know any better she could have sworn she had her face ripped off. There was a yellowish brown color just visible at the edge of her hair line where the nurses hadn't gotten all of the betadine washed away.
She nodded to the nurse after a moment and was led back to the bed. The pain wasn't too bad since she still had the medication in her system but she knew as it wore off it would become a hell of a lot more painful. She never saw herself as pretty but she never saw herself as ugly either. Now she was trying to figure out what she was. She knew she was a freak, even in the vampire universe since Edward couldn't read her mind. She slept the rest of the day with no dreams and when the nurse woke her again, to take some medication, her mind drifted to Laurent and if he had made it back to his mate safely.
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Two mornings later she was up and sitting in the chair in her hospital room as Charlie entered, "Bella there is someone here to see you."
She frowned, "I don't want to see Jacob right now." In fact she had been turning the boy away since she had awoken.
"Bella." Laurent said as he stepped into the room.
Her left eye widened, "Laurent? What are you doing here?"
He grinned at her as Charlie left to give them some privacy. He blurred to her and frowned, "What happened? I left you for just a week."
She batted his hand away as he reached for her face, "Let's just say," she was clearly aware of the nurses at the nurses' station across the hall and the open door, "Some mongrels need to be trained."
His eyes went black as anger made him clench his jaw, "Can I do anything for you?"
She shook her head, "You have a mate to get back to. I'm okay, really. Just tired."
He shook his head, "No. I'm not going anywhere."
She smirked at him, "Awe, am I growing on you?"
He scoffed, "As if. You're just too clumsy to be left on your own."
She glared at him, "I'm not the one who stumbled into a wolves den."
He opened his mouth to speak but laughter brought them both up short as Charlie said, "You two definitely bicker like siblings." She and Laurent glared at each other for a moment then sighed in unison.
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She spent the next week in the hospital and was finally released to go home. Charlie had to work which meant Laurent got to drive. She always hated going so fast in vehicles but Laurent seemed to be going slow on purpose and she couldn't help but wonder why. The ride was silent but it was comfortable as they pulled up to her house. He blurred to her door and helped her out of the car.
"We'll take it from here leech." A gruff voice said behind them.
Jacob and Sam stood with their hands at their sides and Bella shook her head as Laurent growled, "Enough. Laurent is here and he is staying. I don't want either of you here so you can leave." She leaned into Laurent and he wrapped his arm around her without taking his eyes off the two men.
Charlie's cruiser parked at the curb and he frowned at the stances everyone had, "Laurent, thank you for bringing Bella home. You are welcome here anytime."
Laurent smiled, "Thank you Chief."
Jacob opened his mouth but Charlie held his hand up, "What are you doing here Jake?"
"Came to see Bella." He stared at the damage he had done to her.
Bella glared at him, "I don't want to see you right now."
Charlie frowned, "Bella he's your friend."
She shook her head, "Not right now he isn't. Laurent, let's go." He nodded with a last quiet growl to the wolves and guided her inside and up to her room.
As the week passed her swelling came down enough for her to take the bandages off at the hospital in Forks. She had been shocked the first time she saw her non swollen face but she couldn't help but grin at it. Laurent had stayed as promised and the bickering was bad enough that Charlie had to 'separate' them multiple times until they said sorry. He watched games at night with Laurent while Bella cooked and then they all ate and talked about the day.
Two weeks after the incident Bella returned to school alone. She felt the familiar stares and by the end of the day she was ready to drop out. Laurent picked her up and laughed at her expression.
"It's funny."
"Fuck you." She glared at him.
That made him laugh harder as they entered the house and in an instant he had her back against the door and was crouched in front of her protectively. Bella gripped the back of his shirt tightly as the light flipped on and a gorgeous blonde stood angrily at the base of the stairs./p
He straightened instantly and smiled, "Irina!"
Bella raised her right eyebrow, "That's Irina?"
He grinned at her and nodded. She smacked him on the back of the head but only managed to hurt herself. He frowned, "What was that for?"
"What the hell are you doing here instead of with her?" she glared at him.
The blonde spoke darkly, "I'm asking myself the same thing."
He blurred to the blonde as Bella entered the kitchen. She knew they were speaking at vampire speed so she focused on getting ice for her hand. When she was done she said, "If your leaving just be careful." She dashed up the stairs as a pain began in her chest and she stared out her window.
In a way she didn't want him to leave. Over the last few weeks she had grown accustomed to their bickering and sarcastic daily routine. He was, in every sense of the word, a friend. One that she hadn't realized she needed at the time. He made her smile and took her mind off the pain that had consumed her entire being for too long. The thought of losing that was hard but she knew now that she would have the strength to get through it.
A cool breeze told her she was no longer alone but she didn't move.
"You saved his life from the shifters, why?"
Bella turned to find Irina sitting on her bed staring at her with curious golden eyes. She grinned, "He saved mine."
She frowned, "He was going to kill you."
Bella nodded and stared out the window again, "After my ex, Edward, did what he did, darkness consumed my very being. I felt nothing and nothing is a lot darker than facing a sadistic vampire. When Laurent arrived I knew I hadn't imagined the whole thing and that what I had felt was very real. He gave me the strength to want to live and in turn I saved his life so he could live."
She turned back to Irina. The vampire was staring at her like she had two heads and was as still as a statue. She frowned at her as she said, "Uh Laurent, I think I broke your mate."
Another breeze shifted the air and he was suddenly beside the blonde. She slowly grinned and looked up at Bella, "We are staying in our cousin's old house if you'd like to come for dinner tonight."
Bella froze, "You're the Denali's they always mentioned?"
She nodded, "Yes. Why did they leave? They never said but Alice was angry about it."
Bella felt her chest clench in pain. Alice was angry they left? She didn't want to leave? It left her silent for a moment as a thousand emotions crossed her mind knowing that Alice hadn't want to leave but then, why hadn't she heard from the pixie since they left? She eyed the blonde vampire carefully and decided that maybe she could get an answer if she went to dinner with them.
"Do I have to sit next to him?" she asked glancing at Laurent.
He growled at her, "At least I didn't smell like wet dog for three weeks."
She glared at him, "At least I know how to use a shower Old Man."
He blurred to his feet and the loud arguing began. Irina stared between her mate and the human child in complete shock. She was mated to this three hundred plus year old vampire who was, at the moment, arguing with a child. She couldn't move as she watched the two insult one another like they were six years old. Of course said child was, as far as she could tell, severely injured judging by the bandages on her face and the hint of blood was in the air.
"Enough!" a shout came from downstairs. "Here, Now!"
They glared at one another, the blonde vampire completely forgotten, as they made their way from the room still mumbling insults. She blinked rapidly a few times in utter disbelief before she stood and followed them.
"Unbelievable. You two are worse than children. You go over there and you over there! I don't want to hear another word unless it's an apology."
Irina walked down the stairs and saw a man in a police uniform pointing to two different areas of the living room. Bella sat on the far end of the sofa as she glared at Laurent. Laurent sat on the armchair closest to the TV and continued to glare at Bella. Charlie turned to her.
"Charlie Swan."
Irina nodded once, "Irina Denali."
Charlie grinned, "So you are Laurent's wife. Is he this bad at home?"
She shook her head, "Never have I ever seen this before in my entire existence. Are they always like this?"
Charlie nodded, "Yep. A week ago they sat like they are now for an entire day."
Irina shook her head, "Wow." It was all she could say. She was still too stunned to speak much.
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That night Irina told her family what she had witnessed and they doubted it. At least until Laurent and Bella arrived. The bickering had apparently began in the vehicle on the drive over and was loud as they exited it. They all fell silent as Laurent's voice met their ears.
"You are actually considering this. After everything that happened." His anger could be felt by everyone.
"It's not like I have a choice." Bella said as their footsteps sounded on the porch.
"Yes you do. Tell him no."
A sigh came from the girl, "Billy and Jacob are the closest thing that Charlie has to family besides me."
A growl ripped from her mate, "He did this to you Bella, how can you even consider this. It's too dangerous and I won't let you do it."
"And how the hell are you going to stop me Laurent?"
The door opened and an angry Laurent blurred into the room, "Irina tell her she's a fool."
Bella closed the door behind her, "Tell him to take a shower."
They all noticed the wounds on her face and Irina had to tear her eyes away from Bella's right eye. It was completely a bluish grey, no pupil and no iris, no white. Just the bluish grey.
The shortest of the three blondes chuckled, "Holy shit you weren't kidding."
Irina nodded, "Bella Swan this is my sister Kate."
Kate grinned at her as she blurred to her, "Pleasure." She held her hand out to her.
Bella took it and felt the tickle on her skin, "So what's your gift?"
Kate smiled, "Electricity."
Bella nodded as Irina continued, "This is Carmen and her mate Eleazar."
Carmen smiled, "Nice to meet you Bella."
Eleazar smiled widely, "I've never seen a shield as strong as yours."
"Shield?" she asked confused.
He nodded, "A shield since Edward couldn't read your mind and Kate cannot hurt you."
Laurent grinned then frowned, "Do something about this dumb girl."
A growl echoed around the room and Bella froze as a woman taller than her with strawberry blonde hair walked out from the kitchen. Her long legs were clad in jeans and damn could she pull them off, "Laurent do remember that she is our guest in this home."
He nodded once and Bella knew she was the leader. The woman smiled at her as she walked at a human pace to her and held out her hand, "Tanya, Pleasure to meet you Bella."
Bella stared into the golden eyes that seemed to sparkle brightly as she took the smooth cool hand, "Pleasure is all mine."
She could feel the tingles begin in her hand as their skin touched. This was new to her, never having felt anything like it with Edward or any of the other Cullen's she had touched.
Irina glanced at her family and smiles lit their faces. Laurent grinned as he watched his coven leader and best friend stare at each other then he froze, his eyes widening.
Bella was his best friend. He never felt like this before for anyone, not even James or Victoria. He watched Bella and smiled. He had tried to leave her that day in Seattle but something kept drawing him back towards Forks. He didn't understand at first but now he knew. He was connected to Bella in more ways than one and she was his best friend.
Irina frowned at her mate as he smiled at Tanya and Bella wishing she could read his mind. He looked over at her and blurred to her instantly, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
Carmen cleared her throat and said, "I have dinner ready for everyone."
Bella grinned, "It smells delicious in here."
Tanya took Bella's hand and wrapped it around her arm to lead her into the dining room, "How do you know Laurent?"
They all sat at the table and Bella shook her head as Tanya sat right next to her, "He tried to kill me last year."
Everyone froze and Laurent quickly took a bite of food. Tanya glared at him as she asked, "And you have been alone with him this whole time?"
Bella nodded as she glanced up at the blonde, "Yeah I mean that was a long time ago."
Laurent chuckled, "A few months may be long for us Bella, not you."
Tanya stiffened as a growl began in her chest. Bella placed her hand on Tanya's on top of the table then frowned at them, not understanding why she did that but knowing that she needed to. She shook it off and ignored the fact that Tanya stopped growling the moment their hands touched.
"It feels like a long time ago. Everything that has happened since makes it feel like a lifetime ago."
Laurent smirked at her, "Yeah like nearly getting killed by that mongrel that you plan on visiting this weekend."
Bella glared over at him, "I already told you-"
"One of the wolves did this to you?" Tanya asked, her angry black eyes suddenly on her.
Bella glanced at the smirking Laurent then back to Tanya. She let her hand fall back in her lap as she said, "It's complicated."
"How is your life being in danger complicated?" Tanya nearly snarled at her.
Bella frowned at her, anger rising in her chest, "You don't even know me. Whatever the Cullen's told you is none of your business."
Kate shook her head, "They didn't say much Bella. I promise. Just that Edward thought he had a mate."
"Kate!" Carmen warned as Tanya growled angrily.
Bella's anger boiled over, "Edward is a control freak and none of you have a right to come here and run my life for them."
She stood so fast the chair fell back on the floor as she left the room. Tanya blurred after her and stopped her at the front door, "Bella please."
"No. He broke me and threw me to wolves without a thought. They all did and now you show up here and think you can just enter my life without my permission." She threw the front door open and went straight to her truck.
Tanya blurred out to her, "Bella wait please."
She shook her head, "I'm done with people telling me what they think is best for me." She slammed her truck door and peeled out of the driveway.
How dare they think they can just decide what's best for her? She felt an ache in her chest as she got further away from the house and she frowned. Something about Tanya had been unnerving. Her beautiful golden bright eyes seemed to sparkle in a way that Edward's never did when the vampire looked at her. When their hands touched, both times, she had felt a warm happiness and sense of belonging pass through her body and it had felt wonderful. She couldn't deny that she was very attracted to the vampire but she refused to let it happen again. Fool me once shame on you but fool me twice, shame on me.
She parked in the driveway and stormed up to her room where she found Laurent leaning against the wall next to the window, "We did not mean to make it seem like we were trying to tell you what to do."
She shook her head, "Just go."
He shook his head, "Tanya is down there. She wants to talk to you."
Bella glanced out the window, "Why?"
He grinned, "I know you felt it. I saw it on your face."
She sat on the edge of her bed, "I have a long day tomorrow with school. I'll talk to her after that if she still wants to."
He nodded, "Good night Bella."
She looked up to find him gone as she said, "Good night Laurent." She laid back on her bed and stared at the ceiling thinking about the gorgeous blonde.
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Bella found Laurent waiting in her truck as she exited the house for school the next morning. She slid inside and frowned, "Why are you here?"
He grinned, "Good morning to you too."
She backed out of the driveway, "Morning."
He frowned, "Are you really going down to the reservation this weekend?"
She sighed but nodded, "I know you don't want me too but Charlie is starting to get suspicious and I need answers. I didn't know what they were until that day and now I need answers and maybe I can work something out with them."
"Like what?" he asked.
"Something like the treaty the Cullen's has with them but for you guys. Is Tanya angry?" She didn't know why she cared but she did.
He chuckled, "Only at herself."
She glanced at him, "Why?"
"That isn't exactly how she wanted the first time she met you to be."
She hesitated as she parked in the parking lot, "Why?"
"Try calling Alice. She's the one who wanted to tell you. It's one of the reasons he forced her to leave and cut off contact." With that cryptic message he disappeared.
She shook her head as she exited the truck. She had tried calling Alice so many times but the number had been disconnected for months. Then again Laurent wasn't one to lie to her so she pulled her cell phone out and dialed Alice's number, memorized by heart now.
Before the phone could finish the first ring Alice's musical voice screamed, "Bella!"
A smile split her face at just the sound of it but she couldn't speak.
"I know. Bella I swear I didn't want to leave." Alice pleaded.
"Then why did you?" She snapped harshly.
There was movement over the phone and Jasper's southern drawl spoke, "I needed to. I thought it would be best if I left after what I did."
Bella hesitated then smiled, "I never blamed you Jasper."
"I blamed myself Bella."
She couldn't blame Alice for following Jasper. But she couldn't help but ask, "What about the others?"
More movement and then Alice spoke, "Carlisle and Esme are devastated. They are planning their return as we speak. Carlisle has made the transfer back to Forks hospital. Esme wants me to tell you that she misses you the most."
Bella smiled at the thought, "Emmett and Rosalie?"
Alice yelled but it sounded farther away, "We coming back to you Bella Bear." Emmett's voice soothed her in a way she hadn't realized before.
There was loud smack as Rosalie said in the background, "Hand the phone over." Her voice filtered through perfectly after a moment, "Bella can you do me a favor?"
She hesitated. While she had the knowledge that the blonde ice queen didn't exactly hate her, she was curious to find out why. Of course she also knew that curiosity killed the cat but hey why not, "What would that be?"
"Please hear Tanya out. It's different this time and from what Alice has seen and Laurent told us you know it too." There was a softness in her voice that she had never heard from the blonde before.
"I promise."
Alice's voice quickly appeared again, "Bella we will be back by the end of the week."
She frowned at her truck, "Alice this wouldn't have anything to do with the wolves would it?"
"What do you mean the wolves? Bella have they hurt you in some way?" There was anxiousness in her voice now.
"Nope, no reason. Got to go." She hung up the phone ignoring Alice calling her name.
She slipped her phone into her pocket and followed the throng of students into the school. She was excited to see Alice to say the least. She wasn't sure how they would react once they found out about what Jacob had done and if the Denali's reactions were any indication she really didn't want to be around when they did. Especially since when they did find out her only hope of going to the Rez would be completely lost and she would never get the answers she needed.
Before she made the decision she was in her truck and barreling down the highway to Jacob's house. She had all the intensions of going to class but she had so many questions for Jacob that she needed the answers for. As she pulled up at Jacob's house her cell phone rang.
"Hello Alice."
"Why did your future just disappear?" There was worry in her voice.
Bella frowned, "I don't know."
"Where are you Bella?"
Bella quickly hung up and shut the phone off, tossing it on the seat of the truck as she slid out. Billy sat in his wheelchair as he took in her face and a small sad look crossed his aged features. "He isn't here right now Bella."
"I deserve answers Billy." She snapped angrily, "Look at what he did to me."
Before he could speak she heard a whistle from near the edge of the woods. She spun on her heel and crossed the barren yard to Sam Uley. He winced when he saw her face and it made her angrier, "What did you do to him?"
"Easy Bella." Sam said with his hands raised.
Paul stepped forward, "What we did? Why don't you go ask your precious bloodsuckers." His body shook uncontrollably.
She glared at him for a moment before she slapped him. A growl shook his body as it shook and Sam shouted, "Paul no."
She stumbled backwards quickly as a large grey wolf appeared, pieces of clothing fluttering down above them. It crouched down ready to attack. She fell backwards as a large russet colored wolf jumped over her and crashed into the growling grey wolf. She heard the snarls and growls as they rolled off into the woods and her heart beat faster.
"Take her to Emily." Sam said before he disappeared into the forest after the large beasts.
Ten minutes later she stood outside of a cabin near the forest, as a woman hurried down the stair. She smiled warmly at Bella, "So you're the vampire girl."
Bella nodded, "You're the wolf girl."
She nodded and held her hand out, "I'm Emily, Sam's fiancé."
Bella shook it, "Bella Swan."
She grinned, "Come on Bella. Let's trade war stories." She motioned to her own face.
It was heavily scarred and her left eye drooped in the corner slightly, the jagged scars looking somewhat like her own. She followed the woman inside and sat at the island counter. Emily smacked a boy's hand as he tried to take a cookie from a tray as she shook her head.
"Boys."
Bella chuckled, "So you know about all of this?"/
The woman chuckled, "I'm Sam's imprint which means he can't keep anything from me."
"So he's your mate?" the woman frowned and Bella smiled, "Vampire's have mates. They will protect that one person with their life. It's the one person they cannot live without. Everything revolves around that person."
Emily smiled, "Yes. So you have a mate then?"
Bella shrugged, not willing to say anything, she didn't want to say she didn't have one because they would take it as reason they should kill her family. She said, "Guess you can understand where I am coming from then."
Emily smiled as she looked outside at Sam, "I can. Only problem is they think we are weak and need to be protected constantly."
Bella nodded as she sighed, "I never thought someone could feel like I do."
She laughed, "You are not alone Bella. Just because mine is a shifter and yours is a vampire doesn't mean it isn't the same. Kim is Jarrod's imprint. Even Quil has one but we won't go into that at the moment."
Bella nodded as she stood, "Paul said I should talk to my friends about why they shift."
The woman rolled her eyes, "They believe that when a vampire moves into town they shift."
"That's not true is it?" She asked curiously.
Emily shook her head, "Vampire's pass through here all the time on their way to Canada. The Cullen's just stayed and are different from what I hear."
She nodded as she smiled, "They are vegetarian technically. They survive on animal blood as do their cousin's. They are in town and Laurent is the one I have been spending time with."
She nodded, "How can you be one hundred percent sure you are safe with them?" She asked, her eyes holding Bella's gaze.
"How can you be one hundred percent sure you are safe with Sam and the others?" Emily frowned and stared down at the cookies. Bella shook her head, "You can never be one hundred percent sure of anything but so far only Jacob has been close to killing me."
Emily frowned, "What about last year?"
"James was a sadistic vampire that enjoyed the games he played. He was not associated with anyone that I have in my life that I call family." Laurent excluding she added silently to herself, but the wolves didn't need to know that.
Emily sighed, "I don't understand why there can't be peace after all this time. The Cullen's have never broken their word."
She smiled, "Carlisle would never unless one of the wolves needed medical attention or his family was at risk."
"Including you?" she asked slowly.
Bella nodded, "I don't know how any of them will react when they find out about what Jake did but I am alive and that is all that matters. I am sure I won't be visiting much."
Emily frowned, "You and I are two people that just happened to be at the right place at the wrong time."
Bella chuckled, "Kind of how my life goes."
They spent the day talking and getting to know one another. It was nice having someone that knew what it was like to be surrounded by all the craziness that went along with the supernatural. She didn't have to watch what she said, didn't have to hide what Edward had done to her. Sam listened to her but still had his reservations about the vampires.
"All I'm asking Sam is that you extend the same treaty to the Denali's. Laurent has done nothing but be my best friend since he arrived." Bella said as she looked him in the eyes.
They were standing beside her truck in front of his house as she was getting ready to leave. The sun was already setting and he had wanted a private word with her. She was curious what the alpha wanted.
He took a deep breath, "We are what we are Bella."
"And they are what they are. Neither side can help that. None of them had a choice in the matter." She pleaded.
He eyed her carefully, taking in her new still healing scars. He glanced back at Emily as she stood laughing with Kim and Jarrod on the porch. She had been the same as Bella one day. She had come to visit Leah and her entire world changed without her having a choice. He hated admitting it but that was the truth. She was his imprint and he would be in her life forever from that point on. She didn't have any more choice than he did when it came to being a shifter.
And neither did Bella.
He looked back at the girl in front of him. She hadn't consciously made the choice to bond with vampires but she did and now just looking at her he could see why the vampires were drawn to her. She treated everyone as equals. Neither were better than the other. He wouldn't have blamed her if she never wanted to step foot on the Rez again after what happened. She would have been safer with her vampires, yet here she was asking for them to leave her family be.
He nodded, "For now."
She grinned, "Thank you Sam."
He nodded and smiled as he watched her drive away before returning to his Emily.