Chapter 3

Blood Ties

Bella

"It's pretty simple really, I'm surprised you didn't expect it."

Jacob and I have phased back, and after an embarrassing moment of having to send Jake to find clothing for the two of us, we had sat down on the couch.

"You know my dad and your dad were half brothers," Jacob begins. "So Charlie was only half Quillete, and then when him and your mom got together and had you we didn't really expect anything to come of it. I mean you've only got the tiniest amount of Quillete blood in you and until Leah we didn't even realize girls could shift."

I nod my head slightly in understanding. I don't really want to talk to about Charlie and Renee right now, the wounds are still fresh. Charlie has only been dead for a year now. Renee was a little different, she'd died in childbirth and that's how I had ended up with the last name Swan instead of Black. Charlie wanted Renee to live on in me and had given me the best thing he could think of, Renee Swans last name.

"So since my dad is your official guardian, even though you live here, the school called and let him know you've been acting strange. Leaving early a lot and looking pretty angry all the time. They mentioned you telling off teachers and students like it was nothing over silly things. So my dad started to wonder and I've been trying my best to keep an eye on you since. We were worried you'd get angry at school and phase right there in front of everyone, we're glad you made it home okay."

"Did they call today when I left early?" I ask.

"Of course, that's why I was here waiting for you." Jacob smiles at me.

It's a lot to wrap my spinning head around, obviously I knew my father and Jacob's father were half brothers but it never really occurred to me that he had Quillete blood. My grandmother wasn't one of them, and my own mother wasn't one of them so that tiny sliver of Quillette in me was never thought of. They didn't live on the rez and Charlie didn't really look the part anyway. I sure as hell didn't look like them with my pale skin, but still there was no denying that I had definitely turned into a giant wolf outside, that seemed like proof enough. I was jerked out of my thoughts as Jacob begins to speak again.

" So now you have a choice Bella, you can stay living here and stay at Forks High or you can come live on the rez with us. The only issue in the long run is if you stay here you won't be considered a full part of the pack. We won't call on you for patrols or fights or anything like that and you can pretty much do your own thing. Of course if something went wrong and you needed help the pack will always fight for you, in all technicalities you're one of us. Kinda like the adopted sister." Jacob lets out with a laugh.

Stay here or go live on the rez? Of course I would stay here, this was the home I had lived in for my entire life. The home Charlie raised me in. If I didn't leave with his death, I sure as hell wasn't going to leave over this. And besides, did I really want to be part of the pack? Having to be responsible for the safety of the whole reservation. Having to follow the pack leaders orders, always no matter what. Having to shift naked in front of all those guys, constantly. Having my every thought heard by the entire pack and in turn having to hear all theirs. No, I would definitely be staying here.

"I don't think so Jake, I think I'll stay here. I'm not ready to leave my home yet." I tell him quietly.

"No worries Bells, my dad figured as much, he told me to ask though. You're always welcome with us." He smiles.

I smile back and gives him a brief hug.

"Thank you Jacob, what would I do without you?"

"Gee Bella you'd probably just stay moping around the house for the rest of your life without me to make things fun."

We laugh together even though there's truth in his statement, I probably wouldn't leave the house. My cousin was my one constant, always there for me when I needed him. He was like the brother I never had and I was eternally grateful to him and my Uncle Billy, they'd both helped me through so much.

" As for school, " Jacob begins after a moment, "You need to be very careful with your emotions, mainly your anger, you cannot allow yourself to shift in front of anyone. It could be very dangerous for you and them, an angry wolf blacks out Bella, there's no telling who you could hurt or worse."

I feel a shiver down my spine at his words, I'll need to be very careful, especially with my emotions being a little put of wack lately. This is gonna take some serious self control. I nod quickly at him anyway.

" I understand Jake, I'll be careful." I tell him with what I hope is a reasuring smile.

He eyeballs me for a moment, like he doesn't really believe me, but continues on anyway.

"If you need to leave early or skip days all together that's okay, my dad will handle it when they call. We need to keep this secret safe, no one can know. Especially now." Jacob ends with a disgusted look.

"Why, what's going on?"

"There's a clan of bloodsuckers back in Forks." Jacob sighs. "They don't hunt humans, they feed off of wild animals, they're the only clan we've ever encountered that does it like that. That's why we have a treaty with them, they stay off the rez and don't harm a soul and we leave them alone. The only problem is that you're on their side of the treaty line, so you'll have to deal with them on your own. They won't bother you, they'll have no reason to. It's best if you just avoid them like the plague to be completely honest."

My head is spinning, this is all too much at the moment. My head still hurts and I'm tired, oh so very tired, but I try my best to retain it all. I feel like I should have more emotions than this, but I can't seem to find the appropriate feelings. I can't seem to find anything at all. Still I smile at Jacob.

"I'll be fine Jake, don't worry about me." I tell him gently.

He grins back

"If you say so Bella, but I think I might keep worrying a little, I mean you are a magnet for trouble."

Once again we laugh together at this, we both know it's true. Maybe the wolf in me will make me less clumsy, that would be something. Less accidents, less broken bones, it was definitely something I could get behind.

"I guess that's all Bells, you're looking pretty beat so I'm gonna head back home. If you have any more questions or anything just call me, I'm never too far away." He laughs.

"Of course, thanks Jake, tell Uncle Billy I send my love." I give him a tight hug.

"Gotcha Bells."

And with that he heads out the front door, closing it lightly behind him. I move over and lock it, better safe than sorry as Charlie used to say. I make my way to the kitchen, search around for food for a moment before settling on the bottle of Jack Daniels that sits on the top shelf of the freezer. The only good thing to come out of my recent growth spurt is that my fake ID was completely passable now, no matter where I went. Some places didn't even card me, I looked the part. I take a couple swigs from the bottle and carry it up to my room. I slip into shorts and a tank top to sleep, take a couple more sips off the bottle, and then fall into my messy bed. The booze seems to be just barely numbing my throbbing brain. It's not enough yet and I just want to sleep so I quickly pound down a few more shots. Drunk at 17 years old in my bedroom on a school night. Charlie would be ashamed, Uncle Billy and Jake would be too if they knew, and who knows, maybe my poor mother would be ashamed too. With those cheery thoughts drifting through my brain I slip off to sleep, dreading tomorrow, and the day after that, really just dreading forever.

xxxx

AN: Hey guys, I appreciate the reviews I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. Things should be speeding up a bit now, just wanted to set the scene and the characters before I got into the good stuff. Alice will definitely be showing up in the next chapter, bear with me guys.