So sorry for the long wait but I was sick, then school hit hard with exams and such... but here I have another chapter for you!

Enjoy! 3


BELLA POV

I cannot believe the nerve of him!

After everything I have survived, he decides that no! I can't handle Victoria!

It's not that I don't appreciate him being worried, but my friends are dying, and I really don't care about my own safety. I know he'll protect me, so I don't need to worry. He'll always protect me, and there's no chance Victoria is stronger than him.

It's been a couple days since the last homicide, and fortunately there haven't been any more victims, but Jasper still refuses to use me as bait, even after both Emmett and Rosalie said they'd be there as additional protection.

He's so thick-headed.

School has been closed this past two days and today there will be a combined funeral for both Jessica and Mike. My chest aches when I think of my two friends. They could have had a beautiful life, together or not, but now, because of me, they never will.

"Bells, I might not be your empath vamp, but I can basically feel self-hate twirling around you" Jake says, chewing on a sausage.

I decided to finally visit the pack today, after I came to terms with what happened. I thought it might do me good, and I was right. It felt good being around the pack and Emily. They comforted me, and Sam even promised to help capture whoever had committed the murders.

Jake and I decided to take a walk on the beach to talk a bit after I told the pack what had happened in Italy and Mexico. They are all furious about what I went through but insanely proud of me.

After my story, Jake decided to talk to me alone to see if I am really alright. to be honest I don't know the answer, but I'm sure he'll help me find out. He's a great friend—at least, when he doesn't insist with calling Jasper my empath.

"Stop calling him that, Jake, and I'm just thinking about the murders. Do you know that they had just gotten together, Mike and Jessica? They could have had a bright future—I know Jessica wanted to become a psychologist and Mike wanted to have kids and become a teacher" I tell him, "Now because of me they will just rot in the ground without having experienced any of that."

"Hey, no. It's not your fault, Bells. It's the stupid leech's fault. This bitch thinks she can mess with us, but she won't know what will hit her."

"So you were serious when you said you'd like to help the Cullens."

"Well, the pack and I would like to help you, and by helping them we help you. So yeah."

"How gallant" I joke.

"You know me, Gallant is my second name" he winks, before shovelling another enormous bite of meat and eggs in his mouth.

We remain in silence for a few moments, just enjoying our food—my plate infinitely smaller than his—and listening to the calming sound of the waves. This place always calms me. I remember coming here as a child and playing with rocks, and sticks and making mud pies. Sometimes Old Quil would even come and tell me stories or braid my hair.

Speaking of… "How is Old Quil?"

"What?" Jacob says, caught by surprise by my sudden outburst. He viciously chews his food and quickly swallows it. "He's fine, actually. Last year he had some problems with his cholesterol, but now he's as healthy as a horse."

"Does he still live in the same hut in the forest?" I ask. I remember my father bringing me with him to meet Old Quil, only once, but it's a memory ingrained in my head. While the other elders all lived near the forest, he lived in the forest. He claimed it's because there is more tranquillity and he's closer to nature, but now I wonder if it's actually because his house is more easily accessible by the pack like that, if something happens.

"Yep" Jake looks confused, but I know that if I want to get some serious and decent advice, either go to Carlisle, my father or Old Quil. Carlisle already expressed his opinion on my plan, Charlie is a big no—at least, for this particular thing—the only one that remains is Old Quil.

I briefly wander if he remembers me, but of course he does, he told me stories his father told him when he was five… that man has more memory than even a vampire.

I quickly finish my meal under the curious gaze of Jake, then hop on my feet. "I'm going to visit Old Quil. It's been ages since I've last seen him. Eleven years, actually."

He smiles at my enthusiasm, but I can see he's still puzzled by my sudden desire to meet one of the most secretive and lonely elders. "I didn't know you knew where he lived" he says.

I nod, "I do. Dad took me to him once, and I've met him several times on the beach when I was little. The few times we met, he used to play with me with pinecones and braid my hair."

At that, his jaw drops. "For real?"

"Yeah" I say, not lingering any longer. I grab my backpack and start to walk back towards my truck.

I don't know why he's so surprised, but I don't really have time to ponder any possible answers. I have a feeling Old Quil will give me some real advice. After all, he's an elder.

One and a half hour later

Note to self: next time, borrow Emmett's Jeep and do the road with a car instead of on foot.

Finally, after more than one hour of hiking through the woods—I hadn't realized Old Quil's house would be so far in the forest—I spot the tiny and cosy cabin where he lives.

It hasn't changed a bit.

The wood is a little bit more consumed and the white sage around the house is a little bit wilder than I remembered, but everything else is the same down to a T.

Strangely, the door is open and a light smell of incense and burning sage is coming from inside the cabin.

I assume he is performing some kind of cleansing ritual or something—I really know nothing of these things—so I decide to stay outside and wait until he's finished, since I don't know if my presence will somehow taint his ritual.

After a few minutes I can hear his frail tenor voice calling me. "Young one, you can come in now."

I wonder how he managed to sense me—he didn't even look outside—but I suppose he does have some tricks up his sleeve.

I get on my feet, grab my backpack and walk in the tiny cabin.

The remains of burnt sage are in a small ceramic plate in a corner of the table. Old Quil, even more wrinkly and white-haired than I remembered him, smiles at me, gesturing for me to sit in one of the tiny chairs that occupied what should have been the living room, but instead held a fireplace, three chairs, a small sofa and an old, worn out carpet. No television, no pictures, only a dreamcatcher and several pieces of wood—likely sacred wood (or how it's called… I really need to study more about their culture, I know everything about the supernatural but not about the actual tribe).

"Bella, how nice to see you again after so many years" he says, sitting in front of me on the sofa.

"Yes, I thought I'd pass and say hi after all this time" I smile at him.

He smiles back, with a knowing glint in his wise brown eyes. "So this visit has nothing to do with a certain doubt you have, child?"

I smile sheepishly, "I admit that is one of the reasons. Do you know how to help me?"

He laughs outright at that. "I might be able to feel your doubts, but I'm not so wise as to know their nature before you speak them. I'm not a mind reader, unlike your paramour."

I bristle a bit at the last remark. "He's not my paramour anymore."

His eyebrow raises, "I see. Then, who holds your affections now?"

I look at him, "What do you mean?"

"Your aura is happy, despite what happened. That I can only attribute to someone special in your life."

Okay, I didn't expect advice regarding my sentimental life, but I'm not going to refuse it. "Well, I'm not with anyone."

"Maybe not officially, but your soul has already been claimed by one. It already belongs to him, as his soul belongs to you."

I furrow my brow. "Who?"

"You know who."

"If I did I wouldn't be asking you."

"You know, child."

I press my face into my hands and sigh heavily. I don't have time for this. I came here for a reason.

"This is not important. I came here to ask your help for—"

"For the vampire killing your friends, I imagine?"

"Yeah."

"I already helped you with that."

I look at him incredulously. "What do you mean? You didn't!"

"Yes, I did."

"No!"

"Yes. The solution lays in your other half, dear."

Are you fucking kidding me. Seriously?

"And won't you tell me who he is, before Victoria and her secret friend kills any more people?" I plead.

"I don't know who he is, but you do" he tells me.

Great. Fan-fucking-tastic. Couldn't be better.

Two hours later

After hiking back to my truck without a clue as to what I should do, I decide to go back home and prepare dinner for me and Charlie.

As I take out the chicken from the oven, Dad arrives. "Something smells good" he says.

"Thanks, Dad. I just finished preparing dinner."

We eat in companionable silence, as always. This is one of the things I love the most about my father: the lack of constant chatter. My mother was always talking, moving, doing things… it's nice to be able to sit still and in silence for a few minutes. Some semblance of normalcy in my crazy world.

After we finish the chicken and sweet potatoes we start to clean the table. As I start to wash the dishes the doorbell rings. My father goes to check who it is, and he comes back smiling. "Jasper says he wants to speak to you."

My heart skips a beat. If Jasper wants to talk, then something bad happened for sure… or maybe not. There is a small, irrational part of me that wants Jasper to be here just so he can talk to me. It's ridiculous, but that thought makes me happy.

I smile at my father, who takes over washing the dishes, and go to the door. There, I see Jasper with a maroon coat, light wash jeans and butterscotch contact lenses. He has a small bouquet of daisies in his hand, and the flowers look freshly picked up. My cheeks warm at the sight of his gift.

He smiles when he senses my emotions and puts the daisies in my hand, gently caressing my hand.

But something else happens. Something unexpected.

An electric current, not unlike a lightning bolt, runs through my arm from where we touched to my heart, leaving goosebumps in its wake. I gasp, as does Jasper. His eyes must be as wide as mine, but he recovers first, grabbing my hand and squeezing it.

"Bella? are you alright?" he asks, concerned.

"What happened?" I ask him, instead.

"That was… um, I really don't know how to explain that to you, but… maybe you can understand it yourself" he brightens up with a beautiful smile.

"How?"

"What did you do today? Did you find out anything special?" he starts tentatively.

I wonder what he's trying to tell me… wait. Wait.

Wait a fucking… oh dear god.

What Old Quil said… holy hell.

"Bella?" He must have felt my emotions of disbelief, because he was looking at me with wonder.

"Holy fucking shit, you're my mate!"


I did it.

Now she knows.

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