Bella's wolf
Part 5
REWRITTEN March 2022
A couple of weeks after applying for the position of counselor at the high school, Bella was informed that she had gotten the job, mainly because of all the recommendation letters she had gotten from respected members of the town like the sheriff or Doctor Deaton but also from students (Scott and his friends), who asked that they hired her because it was easy to talk to her and she gave great advises, and some parents (like Lydia's mom, Melissa and Mister Argent). Though she believed the fact that very few people wanted the job in the first place helped her get the position, in any other town, she probably wouldn't have gotten it since she didn't have any experience at all and she hadn't gotten all the diplomas she wanted, though she had the minimum.
She now lived officially with Derek, who had let her decorate his loft the way she wanted, not that she had changed much. He was too happy to have her with him, to have her loving him as much as he loved her, to complain about anything, he'd even let her put up pink curtains with unicorns on it if she wished it but was thankful that it wasn't her style. He had never felt that amount of love before, for anyone. Her name was even on the mailbox next to his and even if it was a small detail, they both liked seeing their names side by side.
In a short amount of time, she had become his everything and he knew that she felt the same way. He knew that the reason she was scared of the depth of their feelings was because of her vampire ex and, sometimes, he wished the vampires would come in his town to look for her, then he'd be able to give them a piece of his mind and make them pay for ever hurting his Bella. Still, they were happy, even when fighting supernatural villains, they managed to remain blissfully happy together.
Derek even caught himself thinking about marrying Bella. He played with her name in his mind. Bella Swan. Bella Hale. Bella Swan Hale...
He planed on waiting a bit before asking her though, because he wanted to do things right and for that, he needed to get a blessing from her father and her mother. They had talked of going to see them during the summer, so he would get the opportunity to do so then. He even had gotten his grandmother's ring out of the family vault for her. He had hesitated between his mother's ring and his grandmother's but thought that his grandmother's ring would fit her best. His mother's ring, on the other side, would be perfect for his sister Cora, so he kept it aside for her.
He dreamt of a small house, with a back yard and a white picket fence around it for them. Something close to the woods, maybe something not so small, with room for lots of children. She made him dream of a beautiful future for the two of them. He was even thinking of rebuilding his old family home, maybe not exactly the same, but in the same place.
.
After Bella's first day, Derek picked her up and took her for ice cream, where the rest of the pack met them, to celebrate a good day. They were all happy to have her around during the day and they knew that they could trust her if anything happened. She'd be there for them, to help them find solutions while staying in school. Maybe none of them would fail any class this year. She had put a note in their files saying that she was seeing them, this way, if anything happened in school, if they lost control, they'd go and get her.
Stiles had tried to skip one of his classes on the pretense that something was going on in the sheriff's radio and that they needed his help. Bella immediately caught him. Being a druid, it was easy for her to catch a student skipping, especially one like Stiles. He had complained that he had something important to do but she forced him back to class with a smile, stating that whatever emergency he heard from his police radio, he'd be able to catch up to it after class, that his father could handle it until then, especially since Derek was in the Sheriff's speed dial in case he found himself face to face with anything supernatural. Plus, if he really needed him, which Bella doubted he ever did, he'd call the school.
Everyday after school, Bella would spend some time with Lydia, helping her learn and control her Banshee powers. She wanted the young woman to be able to use them anytime she needed them and, thanks to a few Banshee's journals she had gathered, Bella was able to do just that. She was also trying to locate older and more experienced Banshees but it wasn't easy, though it didn't stop Bella from looking. Between the contacts she had, the one Derek and Argents had shared with her, she was confident that she'd find better help for Lydia soon enough.
Training Lydia was easy, especially since Aiden, the twin who loved her, agreed to let them experiment on him. He knew that he had done a lot of bad things and he wanted to make up for it and to earn his place in Scott's pack. He and his brother knew how lucky they were to be accepted by the True Alpha and they didn't want to do anything to jeopardize their place in this pack, this family.
Needless to say that Deaton was very impressed with Bella and how well she complimented Scott's pack. It was, without a doubt, one of the strongest pack he had ever heard of, especially since it wasn't made of only wolves. Bella was one of the most powerful druids he had ever met, or even heard of. She controlled her powers and used the forces of nature to the perfection. It was almost like nature was linked to her, responded to her call for help before she could even make it. That, and she had learned, in a short time, how to fight different creatures. She had gathered knowledge of many supernatural creatures, many contacts and skills... He was impressed and glad to know that he was her teacher, the first one who had taught her. It made him proud to know that he had been the mentor not only of this powerful druid but also of the True Alpha.
.
"I overheard Stiles and Scott talking at school today. Apparently, Malia joins Stiles in his bed almost every night and spends the night with him. They spoon. He's a bit annoyed because he's the little spoon and he thinks as the man he should be the big spoon, though he kinds of likes it too because, well, she's a girl and she's hot." Bella told Derek that evening, during their dinner.
"She told me that she finds it easier to sleep with him mainly because of body heat... To her, they're serious, like animals in nature. Even if they end up breaking up, it doesn't matter. She spends enough energy working on acting like normal people during the day, she doesn't want to do it at night too and since he accepts her the way she is... I kind of get it." Derek nodded.
"I like her, she keeps it real for Stiles. I think that she's exactly what he needs right now. Much better than Lydia, who never considered him this way. It might change later, but for now, it's good for them." Bella smiled.
"I agree." He replied before he kissed her over the table, unable to help himself.
"Did you show her the vault again today? You said you didn't have to time to show her everything last time you took her there." Bella asked a few minutes later.
"No, she had to meet Scott and Stiles so they could help her in math, she's having a hard time keeping up. She'll meet me there tomorrow. I'd like you to be with me when I do." He shook his head.
"I'd love to. I'll wait for you there after my last meeting, it shouldn't be too long after the last class." She agreed, always happy to spend time with the man she loved and eager to see what they'd find in the vault.
.
After her last meeting of the day, Bella made her way to the entrance of the Hale vault, where Derek was already waiting for her. They kissed and waited a while until Malia arrived. She had just left Stiles, who was going to hang out with his dad at the station while Scott went to work at the animal clinic. It had been a long day and there wasn't anybody left in school, which was perfect and allowed them to open the vault without being seen or having to take the way to the basement.
"Only a Hale can open it, Malia. You can come in anytime you want, but you'll need to use your claws in order to do it. If you ever lose control in school and you can't find Scott or Bella, you should come here. It's a safe place. There's a second hidden entrance in the basement of the school, I'll show it to you later. It's marked by a triscallion." Derek informed his cousin before he showed her how to open it.
The teenage girl watched attentively, wanting to remember it in case she ever needed it. Once the entrance was revealed, the three of them made their way inside and Derek started showing everything to Malia, explaining some of the things. There was a lot of relics and family history stored in the vault and Malia was happy to know that Derek was sharing this with her. He made her feel like she truly belonged to the same family, even though she had been adopted away and her birth father was a psychopath. He had even promised to introduce her to Cora this Summer, once his sister came back.
Of course Cora knew about Malia, Derek had told her everything through their weekly phone calls. The younger Hale wolf was eager to meet her cousin. She knew they'd get along well.
"This is the safe where the rest of Peter's money is. Well, your money now. But I don't think you'll need to worry about that now, I put plenty on the bank account I told you about, you'll be fine for the next few years, maybe even more if you're careful with it. Forever if you invest carefully." Derek informed her.
"Thanks, what about you though, don't you or even Cora need some?" She asked him as she grabbed a couple of the bonds and placed them in her pocket, just in case.
"Don't worry, I have my share of the family money and so does Cora, but mine is in the bank or invested in the building I live in. Cora also has a bank account. I didn't want to leave my money just laying around." Derek replied.
"Smart." Bella commented while she looked at the lined up jars filled with ancient herbs and mushrooms.
"See anything you need, Bell?" Derek asked her, placing an arm around her waist, while Malia looked at one of the relics.
"Not right now but a lot of these are rare or very useful, it's good to know that there are some stored here." Bella replied.
"Well, feel free to ask me if there's anything you need here. What's mine is yours." he told her before he kissed her neck, turning back to join Malia.
"I should probably store my rare herbs here, this way they'll be safe." Bella suggested.
"Of course, anytime you want." he smiled, thinking deep down that he should give her his mother's claws, this way she'll be able to open the vault herself.
As he thought that, he grabbed the claws and placed them in his pocket. Mybe he could work on placing them on some sort of glove bella would be able to put on and use whenever she needed to get in the vault.
Suddenly, before they could act or react, there were several smoke grenade exploding around them, filling the air with heavy smoke that was making Derek and Malia dizzy. Bella tried to use her powers to fight back but there was something in the smoke that limited her powers as well, probably the same thing that made Derek and Malia weak.
"Bella!" Derek called out when a gun was fired at her right after she tried to block one of them from leaving.
"I'm fine, they missed me but I can't use my powers." She called back and, this time, she knocked one of them out with her leg but a bullet hit her in the shoulder and she cried out.
"AH! This one didn't miss me." Bella cried out when the bullet entered her flesh.
"They're leaving now." Malia whispered, hearing the heavy footsteps running away.
"Bella?" Derek called out once more, worried because he could smell her blood.
"Here." Bella groaned.
The smoke was starting to clear and Malia got her phone out.
"Should I call Scott and Stiles?" She asked Derek.
"Yes, do it. Tell Stiles to bring his father. I heard them open the safe." Derek nodded when he finally found Bella.
"I hit my head and they shot me in the shoulder, but I'm fine. They seem like normal bullets. Not poisoned. I've had much worst." She replied, thinking back to her clumsy human days.
"Stiles and his father weren't far, they'll be here in a few minutes. Good things Stiles let his father get a snack, he usually prevents him to because he worries for his health." Malia informed them.
"I need to get Bella to the hospital."
"No, I'll be fine, I can wait until they get here. You should look around to see what they took and if anything's broken. Maybe they left some clues." Bella insisted while Malia stepped outside to guide Stiles and his dad in the vault.
Derek reluctantly listened to Bella and got up to look around the room, noticing the safe wide open and empty except for one single bond that must have gotten loose in the action. Aside from this, everything was in place and nothing else was missing.
"They knew what they wanted and where it was. It was a hit and run." Malia told the sheriff a few minutes later when he arrived.
"The only thing missing is Malia's money." Derek added.
"Did you notice anything special?" The sheriff asked them.
"The bullets they used don't seem to be marked or anything. At least not the ones I found on the floor. But they were ready for us, their smoke grenades incapacitated us." Derek replied as he helped Bella up.
"Will Bella be okay?" The sheriff asked, concerned.
"Don't worry, I will be. I've had worst just walking down some stairs." Bella smiled, trying to brush it off.
"I'm taking her to the hospital now. Malia will show you around. Lock up before you leave, Malia." Derek informed them before he took Bella in his arms and carried her outside, to his car.
"I'm fine." She reassured him with a weak smile.
She could see how angry he was that he hadn't been able to protect her and it worried her.
"No, you're not. You got hurt and I couldn't do anything to help you." Derek shook his head.
"I'll be fine." She insisted.
Derek nodded but Bella knew that he was still angry and that he would be until they caught the culprits. He was feeling guilty because she got hurt and he hadn't protected her the way he wanted to.
.
A couple of hours later, everyone was assembled in Bella's hospital room, where she was being kept for observations for the night because of the hit she had gotten to the head.
"Are we sure that Peter is actually dead and that there's no way he could have done this?" Scott asked.
"He is, I saw his beheaded body and even on a worm moon with the help of a banshee, there's no way for anyone to come back from that." Chris replied just as Melissa entered with water and some pain medicine for Bella.
"Sorry it took so long, Bella. We're short staffed again. I can't wait for the new Doctor to arrive, we really do need help." Melissa declared.
"It's okay, don't worry. Thanks." Bella smiled at her aunt.
"What about the bullet they took from out of her shoulder? Was there any sort of mark on it that could clue us in on who did it?" Derek asked.
"Sadly no. My dad still took it for the investigation but he doubts there's anything special about it. It's standard, very common and legal. Not even a trace of wolfsbane inside." Stiles shook his head before Melissa could say anything.
"It could have been anyone, even someone hired by someone else. How did they even open the safe?" Allison asked.
"They broke through it. They must have been well equipped, known exactly what kind of safe this was and how to open it, where to place the explosives to open it without damaging the content..." Stiles replied.
"Maybe Peter told someone before he was killed and that person now is using the money." Melissa suggested.
"With this kind of money, they could do anything." Malia shook her head.
"Peter doesn't seem like the kind of man to have too many friends he could confide in, especially about things that could profite him. He wasn't the kind to share glory or anything good." Bella frowned.
"He had a lot of secrets, always seemed to have a plan for any situation... I mean, when we all thought that he was catatonic, he was actually manipulating a nurse to work for him. What if she wasn't the only one working for him?" Derek suggested, holding Bella's hand protectively.
While they talked, Lydia was absentmindedly writing something down a piece of paper.
"What kind of language is that?" Allison asked, looking at her best friend's work.
"Looks like math, or something just as complicated." Malia commented with a frown.
"I... I don't know... I... I didn't even realize I was doing it until you spoke." Lydia shook her head, showing everyone else what she had written.
"Looks like what the computer did last week when it crashed." Melissa declared thoughtfully.
"What is it?" Scott asked Lydia.
"Looks like code, does someone have a computer?" the red haired banshee asked.
"My laptop is in my bag." Bella nodded and Derek handed it to Lydia who started typing the code down.
"It's still code." Isaac and Aiden declared at the same time.
"It needs a keyword to be broken." Lydia informed them.
"Try 'Peter', see if it works." Derek suggested.
"Nope, not working, but it's the right amount of character." Lydia shook her head.
"Why don't we let Bella rest. I'm sure you'll find the keyword later." Melissa suggested, still into nurse mode.
"Aunt Melissa, please don't call Renee or Charlie, they'll only worry for nothing. Plus, I'm not sure how I would explain this to them." Bella asked her aunt who nodded.
"Maybe a good night of rest will help you find the answer, Lydia." Scott agreed with his mother and they all listened.
"I'll go and see if any of my contacts can tell me anything about the money, the people who stole it or this code." Chris declared.
"It might be all linked." Bella said, making everyone stopped on their way out.
"What do you mean?" Scott asked.
"Lydia started writing this down while we were talking about the break in the vault. This code might the the answer to what the money will do or who took it. Lydia, remember the old banshee journals I gave you? Use them, use the tips inside. It'll help you and if what you need is to scream, then do it." Bella said with a smile.
Lydia smiled back at her, nodded and left the room, followed by everyone else, leaving Bella and Derek alone.
"You're not going home, are you?" Bella asked her boyfriend.
"And leave you here alone? Definitely not." He shook his head.
"I wouldn't be alone, Aunt Melissa is on duty tonight." Bella commented.
"She has to work, I have all the time in the world to take care of your every need." Derek replied with an amused smile.
"I don't need to tell you that this wasn't your fault, do I?" She asked him.
"You can say it all you want, I'm still angry that you got hurt and I'll be angry until you're better." He replied before he kissed her.
"Then it won't last long, as soon as we're back home I'll used the 9 herbs to heal quicker." She assured him.
Derek fell asleep on the chair near Bella's hospital bed and they were woken up in the middle of the night by a lot of noise in the corridor.
"What's going on?" Bella asked her boyfriend in a sleepy voice, knowing that his wolf's abilities allowed him to hear everything.
"There's been an attack, an entire family was found murdered in their house, one of their children managed to escape and ran straight here. Barefoot. He's covered in blood and seems to have been cut in the legs. He's not talking much though. Probably in shock." Derek informed her.
"Do they know who did it?" Bella asked.
"No, not yet. He hasn't said a word. You should go back to sleep, Bella. Get some rest." He replied, soothing her back to sleep and going back to sleep himself.
.
The next day, Bella and Derek were able to go home and she was ordered to take a few days off work, so Derek stayed home with her and they found ways to entertain themselves. Bella used an ancient mix of 9 herbs to heal herself quicker. It worked really well and she decided to give her aunt Melissa the recipe, just in case something happened and it was needed.
The couple was in their own bubble the entire day until, in the early evening, Scott came over with one of his new Lacross team mate, whom he had bitten while trying to save him from a wendigo, the young boy that had been brought to the hospital the previous night.
Scott was panicking, he wasn't sure how to talk to Liam and, with Bella's calm presence and confidence, he managed to calm Liam and explain what was happening, using his own words. Liam was a bit unsure, especially since he already had anger issues but Scott and Derek managed to reassure him.
"What if something happens at school? I've never been good at controlling my anger, that's why I was expelled from my old school. I can't put my parents through that again!" Liam ended up asking and he reminded Scott of a scared little kid, needing his protection.
"Then you come find me. I'll be at school too Liam and I'll always be there for you. I'm your Alpha, you're part of the pack now. Any one of us will be happy to help you. You'll meet them all again tomorrow. You're not alone." Scott told him and the younger wolf, his beta, nodded.
"And if anything happens while you're in class, ask to see me. My office is always open and I'll help you too. I'll add in your file that you're seeing me so if anything happens, they'll call me." Bella told him.
After a while, Liam was calm enough to go home, after having made sure he had everyone's phone number just in case he needed to call them.
"So, how was the boy killed?" Derek asked Scott once Liam had left.
"I'm not sure how it's possible but it was a guy with no mouth." Scott replied.
"No mouth?" Bella asked with a frown.
"No mouth, and a tomahawk. He arrived, killed the boy, put his finger where his mouth should have been while looking at me and left." Scott informed them.
"This town keeps on getting weirder and weirder." Bella shook her head.
"Did you tell Stilinsky?" Derek asked him.
"Yes, right before I left to bring Liam here. I saw him tell my father and he seemed to think it was something important because he called his office right after that." Scott nodded.
"You should go home, Scott, I have a feeling that the next few days are going to be eventful and you'll need to be as rested as possible." Bella advised and Scott nodded and left to go home.
"I'll call Stilinsky, tell him not to hesitate if he needs supernatural help with this." Derek told Bella has he grabbed his cell phone.
"Good idea." She nodded.
.
It took a few days before Lydia found the key to unlock the code she had transcribed. She actually needed three and once she did, she unlocked a dead-pool. Someone was using Peter's stolen money to kill the supernatural beings of this town. Even Liam, who had been turned less than a week ago, was on it. Scott, the True Alpha, was the biggest money but Bella was a very close second, followed by Derek.
"Why are you on it and not Deaton?" Isaac asked, kind of happy to see that his prize money wasn't as high as Scott's, though he'd never say it out loud.
Malia had been honest however, claiming that she was happy that her prize money was lower, because they'd go after the other before they went after her.
"Deaton isn't very powerful and he's not using the powers he has, not anymore. He hasn't been very active in the last 10 years. Maybe whoever made this list doesn't know about him or doesn't think he's powerful enough to be on here. Even his sister isn't on it and she's still in town, working at Eichen House." Bella replied.
"Am I the only one surprised to see Jordan Parrish on this list? Kind of a big hit, too. I mean, 3 Millions... Kind of a lot. Not as much as the three of you but still..." Stiles asked.
"I didn't smell anything supernatural about him when I crossed him the other day." Derek replied, having met the young deputy when the sheriff had asked for his help.
They had tried to track the Mute assassin by scent but had failed, arriving too late. Derek hadn't liked Parrish at first, mainly because he had seen the deputy flirt with Bella. Of course the young woman he loved reassured him but Derek was still on his guards, afraid the young deputy would sweep Bella off her feet, even though she didn't seem interested in him at all.
"Maybe we could talk to him, start by showing him the list and then telling him what's special about everyone on it." Scott suggested.
"I can do it if you want." Lydia offered, willing to help.
"You shouldn't do it alone, just in case he's actually dangerous." Bella shook her head.
"I'll go with her." Malia offered.
"Me too." Allison added.
"Liam and I are going with Kira to meet Sotomi's pack and see if we can work together in this. They're all on it as well and some of them might already be in danger. Isaac, Ethan and Aiden will come with us, in case they're injured and need to be carried. We'll take Stiles' jeep and my mom's car, along with my motorcycle, in case some people need to be transported carefully." Scott declared.
"I convinced my mom to leave town for a while, she's visiting my grandmother, on my father's side. It's safer this way, especially since she sacrificed most of her powers to call the Oni when she hunted the Nogitsune... She'll come back once it's all over." Kira informed them.
"My dad talked to the Calaveras. They received the list as well and were about to call Bella to inform her of it when he called. They won't do it because it's against the code but she's heard that another family was coming. Dad is trying to intercept them, stop them before they get here but he's afraid they'll ignore him. He wants to remind them that they have to obey the code and only hunt those who hunt humans." Allison informed them.
"Is it safe for him?" Scott asked, concerned for the man who had so often helped him.
"Yes, don't worry. Araya sent Cevero with him, as back up. Apparently, she really wants to keep Bella on her side." she nodded.
"Then I guess we all have our to do lists." Derek nodded and they all parted ways, decided to stop the assassins and protect the people on the list before it was too late.
"What's wrong Bella?" Scott asked his cousin, seeing her frown, looking at the list.
"Nothing... It's silly... I just don't like being worth less than my baby cousin." Bella replied, making Scott laugh and everyone chuckle.
"You actually wish you were worth more?" Stiles asked.
"I'm a powerful druid and a bounty hunter, I should be worth more than Scott!" Bella argued.
"I'm the true Alpha though." Scott winked at her.
"You're still worth a lot, Bells. I mean, there's only a 3 millions difference between you two. If I killed you and collected on the money, I'd be set for life." Isaac replied with a small smile.
"You're right... All the things I could buy if I collected on the money that's on Scott's head... And then I'd be number one on the list!" Bella joked.
"A deadpool isn't a list you should want to be first on, honey." Derek laughed.
"And you can't kill me to collect on the money, you love me." Scott joked.
"You're right, we're stuck aren't we," She laughed.
Everyone was laughing with them, about to leave the room when Lydia spoke up:
"Hum, before we part ways, there's something I haven't shown you. The last part of the list you have isn't complete, some names are missing, I wasn't sure if I should show you or not..." Lydia announced, stopping everyone in their tracks.
"What is it?" Bella asked her, wondering why Lydia was staring at her.
"There are 7 names on it that I didn't know were in town... I'm guessing they just arrived to look for you... You'll probably find out anyway so I might as well tell you..." Lydia looked so nervous it made Stiles chuckle before they all realized how serious and angry Bella started to look.
Then, Bella remembered that when she was at the hospital, her aunt Melissa had spoken of a doctor that was supposed to arrive soon. Could it really be them?
"7 names? I swear that if you tell me that these names are the Cullen's, I will go over there and collect the money myself!" Bella growled.
"They're among the smallest hits on the list, though those with abilities are a little higher. I'm sorry, Bella. Whoever it is put their real names on it too, the ones they had before they were changed. Carlisle Cullen, Edward Masen, Rosalie Hale, Jasper Whitlock, Mary-Alice..."
"Stop! Just... Stop. I get it. But that might be a clue as to who made the list." Bella stopped Lydia.
"How is this a clue?" Scott asked.
"Because they knew their real names when few people do." Stiles realized.
"Exactly. Even Malia is on the last under Hale and not Tate, not many people know that she was adopted and that Peter Hale was her father. Alice didn't even know her complete name last time I saw them, she didn't remember and was planning on going to investigate it during the next summer using the informations Edward had seen in James's head. It could be someone who knows them, or someone with abilities similar to Lydia's." Bella nodded.
"What if it's not someone with abilities similar to mine but exactly like mine? It could be another banshee, it would explain how they know the people are really dead without coming to check for the bodies." Lydia suggested and they all nodded.
"Alright, well, you all go back to what we decided, Derek and I will confront the Cullen's." Bella decided.
"I'd feel better if I were with you too." Scott told his beloved cousin with worry.
"You do remember that I am the eldest one, right? You don't have to worry Scott, I'll be fine." She smiled at her cousin.
"Of course I worry, I know how you were when they left you." Scott shook his head.
"That was a long time ago, I was young and much weaker than I am now. Don't worry. I can take care of myself, and I'll have backup." Bella told her cousin who nodded and gave her a big hug.
"But you're still injured where that bullet hit you." Scott argued before he left the room with the others.
"Yeah, what if they attack you? You should have more backup, there's 7 of them..." Ethan added.
Ethan and his brother also felt close to Bella. She was kind of like a big sister to the entire pack and they didn't want to see anything happen to her just like they knew she'd feel the same way for them.
"I'll be fine. I'm almost completely healed thanks to the herbs I took. I was able to do a full work out session yesterday and we trained with Derek today. I'll even be able to fight if we're attacked. Don't worry too much or you'll go prematurely grey, all of you. And if that happens, don't think for one second I won't jump at the opportunity to call you all the Grey Pack. Remember that the Cullen's are peaceful, they don't even drink from humans, even though it would make them stronger." Bella told her cousin, making a few other chuckle.
"Are you sure that you can do this?" Derek asked Bella once they were alone.
"I'm sure." She nodded before she kissed him.
They were going to look for them by using Bella's abilities. They'd follow a little bird to the right house. It took them a while but they eventually arrived, on Bella's motorcycle. The house was large, and close to the woods. It still counted as being in town even though it was slightly isolated.
"I should have known that they'd have one of the biggest house in town. They do like to have their space." She rolled her eyes.
"Looks about the same size as our house was before Kate Argent burnt it down. Will they be able to use their powers on me?" Derek asked her.
"No, my power is shielding you."
"Good." he nodded before they walked to the front door and knocked.
When Esme opened the door, she seemed surprised to see two people standing there.
"Hello there. I know, you must be confused. You couldn't hear us approaching, I prevented you from hearing us until you could see us. Now you should let me in because we have a lot to talk about before you pack everything up and leave my town." Bella said as soon as the woman saw her.
"Bella... We were about to look for you. We came here for you." Esme said, bringing the entire family to meet Bella in the hall.
In a motion of his hand, Carlisle invited them in the living room, where they'd all have more room than in front of the front door. Bella could see that they had moved in recently because there was a few boxes on the side, some empty, others on the way of being emptied.
Bella looked at them all and she saw something she interpreted as recognition in Alice's eyes when she looked at Derek. It made Bella curious but she brushed it off for now. She needed them out of town, or they wouldn't be safe. She doubted they even knew how easy it could be for a competent hunter to kill them. Even after everything, she wanted them safe, though her anger toward the was coming back as well.
"You're a bit too late, you should have come a lot sooner than this in order to be welcomed back in my life. This is Derek, my boyfriend and a werewolf. I'm a powerful druid now, well, I guess I always was, the power was just dormant, and I was able to kill Victoria on my own, meaning without anyone's help at all, just a few months after discovering my powers. I don't care why you came here, you're too late and you don't mean anything to me anymore, any of you. You all left without even saying goodbye! I'm only here because I'm a good person and I want to do the right thing. There's a list going around, a dead pool, filled with names of supernatural beings in this town and there are professional hunters and killers on it because there's a lot of money in the game. You're all on it. You're far from being the biggest hits on the list, but still easy money for the right person. My cousin, who's a True Alpha, and his pack are going to work with me to stop it all but I don't need you here because, honestly, I'm worried I might be tempted to let you die or collect the money placed on your heads myself. Do us all a favor and leave town, we know you're good at that." Bella declared once everyone was in the room.
She had spoken in a strong yet calm tone, keeping her anger and resentment under control the entire time but she knew that they could all feel how powerful she was. Derek's supportive hands on her waist helped her keep her calm and her control in check. Of course she had lied a bit, exaggerated, but she needed them out of town. She needed them safe.
"We've heard of a strong druid who was in the pack of the True Alpha, a pack with not only wolves but other creatures like a banshee." Carlisle nodded.
"Well, I'm that strong druid, there's also a were-coyote, a kitsune, a human and two hunters from the Argent family in the pack, along with five beta wolves, two of them have the ability to become one giant werewolf. Don't cross us, it would end badly for you." Bella replied.
True, the twins still had trouble becoming one big wolf after losing their Alpha power, but Bella was helping them getting it back and, slowly, they were succeeding.
"But we missed you!" Emmett exclaimed.
"Then maybe you should have come to say goodbye, and written afterwards. It's called keeping in touch, someone your age should know about that, you're not that old, mail already existed back when you were human, right?" Bella shook her head.
"Edward said that you didn't want to see us again, that because of Jasper you didn't want anything to do with us anymore. That we scared you." Rosalie growled, defending her mate.
"And the fact that he used his powers to lie to you all and get his way surprises you? Come on Rosalie, you might be a real blond but we both know that you're smarter than that. Don't live up to the clichée. You all believed his lies because you wanted to believe them. As for you, Jasper, I was never angry with you. I always understood why you snapped. It's hard enough for one of your kind to control his own thirst but you felt it times 7. It's not your fault, and for this I've made you an amulet. Here, keep it on you and you will be able to recognize the thirst in others without feeling it adding up with your own. It won't affect you anymore. It won't work only on thirst but on any and all feelings. You'll see them without them affecting you at all." Bella declared, handing a small rock to Jasper.
"Thank you, Bella." Jasper nodded, already planning on turning it into a necklace he'd be able to have around his neck.
"Why did you bring him?" Edward asked, spitting the last word while looking at Derek who flashed his wolf eyes and started growling.
"Because he's my boyfriend, we live together and we have a lot to do after we leave this house. We took time from a very busy day to come here. As I said before, there's a lot going on in town at the moment and we're busy." Bella snapped.
"His eyes are blue, do you even know what it means?" Edward insisted and Bella could see Jasper and Emmett rolling their eyes at their brother's back.
"I do, and I know how he got them. I also know that he's killed a lot less than you did. Now, as I said when I arrived, you should leave town before one of the assassins decides to come after you. I'm not sure I'll be able to convince my cousin to help defend you, especially since we have an entire pack of peaceful and defenseless Buddhist werewolves to help."
"We don't need to be defended." Emmett smirked.
"These are professional assassins, Emmett. Not all of them are humans and most of them know well the creatures they're hunting. If I could kill a Vampire like Victoria when I was only discovering my powers, surely these professional hunters can do it as well. There's a cocktail of herbs that could be used to weaken you enough so you'd stay in one place, it could be used to burn you, or pierce your flesh and poison you from within. Any good hunter knows this. You're not as indestructible as you think." Bella snapped.
"Bella, we know that we've hurt you and we're here to make it up to you. They're already registered in high school. We're not running away. We'll stay here as long as it takes for us to somehow make it up to you for leaving the way we did. Edward only told us the truth recently about your breakup and the fact that he's the one who left you, all alone. We all missed you terribly, it was hard for us to stay away, back when we believed this was what you wanted from us." Carlisle explained kindly.
Bella had to admit that the very fact that they were willing to stay, face her anger, and make it up to her touched her. Wasn't this what she had advised her Uncle Rafe to do with Scott? Of course she wanted to give them a chance to be her friends again, but it wouldn't be too easy.
"Why did he come clean all of the sudden?" Derek asked, already knowing the answer.
"I want her back!" Edward declared, looking at Bella.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Bella laughed.
"Bella?" Esme asked.
"You can't expect me to go back to you, Edward! It's been too long, I've moved on and grown up. I am an independent and powerful woman and I don't love you anymore. What you want is a weak girl you can manipulate and that can depend on you for everything. I'm not that person anymore, I actually never was." Bella chuckled.
She could see in the look Rosalie and Jasper gave Edward that they had warned him about this.
"There's more though, isn't it? How did you find out Bella was here in the first place?" Derek asked and Alice suddenly looked down.
"Alice saw you, we thought you were in danger." Emmett informed Bella, willing to be as honest as possible to make it up to her for leaving.
"What did you see? With my powers now, you can't have seen much." Bella shook her head.
"I... It was very short and I was so happy to see you... The last vision I had of you was when you decided to move in with your aunt and it was very short too... I saw you, and a shifted werewolf. You were in your underwear, I couldn't see the kind of room it was but it was dark. It looked like you were being attacked... It was a short vision... You know, just a few seconds but I thought you were in danger..." Alice explained and Bella knew that if she was human, Alice would be blushing now.
That's why Bella had seen recognition in Alice's eyes when she saw Derek. She had seen him in a vision.
"It's called foreplay, I'm sure you're familiar with it." Bella replied with a smirk that was very unlike the Bella they used to know but made Jasper and Emmett chuckle.
"Very familiar." Jasper nodded with a smirk, ignoring Esme faint protest.
"You've given yourself to him? How could you? You're not even married! Aren't you afraid of losing your soul?" Edward exclaimed.
"Oh come on! Not that again." Rosalie complained as she rolled her eyes.
"You've got to be kidding me. I won't even answer this. It's too ridiculous." Bella shook her head, lifting an hand to place it between them.
"Our little Bella grew up, looks like you're more fun now." Emmett chuckled with Jasper.
"Bella..." Edward tried, stepping closer to her.
"No, Edward. You and I are over. Done. You're still a teenage boy, stuck in your century. You haven't evolved. I'm a grown, modern, woman, with a life of my own. I'm not the same Bella you knew." Bella insisted.
"What about us?" Alice asked in a small voice.
"I've moved on. You have no idea what you all leaving did to me. After Edward left me, in the woods, I tried to run after him and ended up getting lost. It's only in the early morning that the shapeshifters from La Push found me and brought me home. I don't know if you remember it but the weather was very cold that night. I was broken. In a catatonic state for days. It was so bad that Charlie considered putting me in the hospital, he considered having me committed. Then I was in what Charlie called my Zombie phase. No, I don't mean that I was into zombie movies, I acted like a zombie. I ate, I drank, I did my homework and my chores around the house but nothing else. I barely talked if I wasn't asked a direct question first, I didn't react. I didn't watch TV, I didn't read if I didn't have to do it for school, I didn't listen to music... It came to a point where I couldn't stay in Forks anymore so my father sent me here, to be with my aunt. I finished my senior year here, learned who I was, became strong. I found myself here, I found my heart. You left, broke me and I managed to build myself up again. I don't need you anymore, not like this." Bella explained in a calm voice while Derek had his arm around her waist, supporting her.
"I know that I did you wrong, Bella, and I understand now that my actions were wrong and have hurt not only my family but you as well but please, give my family a chance to make it up to you." Edward pleaded, finally understanding that he'd be lucky if she agreed to be even just his friend and that she wouldn't be his anymore.
"Why would I do that?" Bella asked, already convinced that she'd give them a chance as long as they tried.
"Maybe we can help you with those assassins." Emmett suggested while Jasper nodded.
"With Sotomi's pack to protect as well, we could use a few more fighting arms. Most of them seem strong enough and Sotomi's pack isn't really used to fight. I know that Sotomi knows how to fight but she's not so young anymore and most of her wolves have always been Buddhists, peaceful. Liam is too new to this to be much help, no matter how much he wants to help, he doesn't have enough control. Most of the ones we'll have to protect are too old or too young. Some of them might be injured or recovering from poisoning by the time Scott and Kira finds them, we don't know what kind of assassin is after them." Derek told Bella.
"You're right... I've crossed or heard of some twisted supernatural bounty hunters when I was on the road... The Scientist who works with poisoned... He might have helped me learn what I needed to learn but he did so because I paid him. He'd definitely go after the list." Bella replied.
"Supernatural Bounty hunter?" Carlisle asked.
"Yes, after graduation, when I left town, I started taking online classes and I traveled, to learn more. After a few months I stopped my first supernatural bounty, by accident, but I realised that I had the ability to do so and it was a way to get some easy cash. I've stopped quite a few killers who wouldn't have been stopped by the law otherwise." Bella replied.
"Hey Bell, did you even think that maybe your uncle Rafe might have heard about you at the FBI? I mean, you did catch a woman his team was looking for once." Derek chuckled.
"I might have to let him know eventually that I'm The Druid. I'll wait for Scott to be ready to tell him everything." Bella smiled back.
Edward realized even more how much Bella had changed. She had killed Victoria, maybe even other supernatural beings. Sure, they were killers, but she wasn't the same girl he had fallen in love with.
"We want to help you, Bella." Jasper insisted.
"Fine. You can stay, but if you want to help, it's my cousin you'll have to convince. The True Alpha." Bella stated.
"And it won't be easy, he loves Bella and is very protective of her. The entire pack is." Derek smiled.
"Before we leave, a word of warning for you. I work as a counselor at Beacon hill's High school. Once there, if you call me by anything other than Miss Swan, I'll have to put you in detention for disrespect to one of your elders. And I'll do so very happily." Bella told them with a playful smirk before she turned around and prepared to leave.
"I'm sure this new you will be even more fun, Bells." Emmett exclaimed with a chuckle.
"How much are we worth on this list?" Alice asked curiously.
"Just 250 000 dollars for Esme, Carlisle, Emmett and Rosalie and 300 000 for you, Edward and Jasper. You're all among the lowest." Bella replied with a frown.
"Oh come on bella, you're not seriously upset that you're only second highest and that your cousin is higher than you?" Derek asked Bella with a chuckle.
"I know it's ridiculous but yes, I am. I know, he's worth 25 millions and me 23 millions, but still... I'm older... He's my baby cousin." Bella replied and even the Cullens chuckled.
"You're more powerful now, but as a True Alpha he has more potential, that's even unlocked." Derek replied.
"You're right. Anyway, if anyone comes after you guys in the mean time, you can easily offer to pay them more money. It's a temporary solution but we're trying to stop this as fast as possible." bella replied, looking at the Cullens.
"If you want to help, meet us at my loft tonight at 6PM. You should be able to follow our scents there." Derek told them before he and Bella left, climbing on Bella's motorcycle and driving away.
.
Once Bella and Derek had left, the Cullen family started talking about this meeting.
"I can't believe that not only Bella is a powerful Druid, but she's also a bounty Hunter. BELLA!" Emmett exclaimed.
"You guys were right, she's not my Bella anymore. She's not the same girl I fell in love with." Edward shook his head.
"Is this amulet really working, Jasper?" Esme asked the soldier.
"It is. It's quite amazing actually. I can read all of your emotions, but I dont feel them adding on my own. Even, the thirst... It's incredible. Just for this, I'll owe Bella forever." Jasper declared.
"Edward is right when he said that Bella's changed, but not so much. You know? In a way, she's still the same." Rosalie commented thoughtfully.
"She's just more Bella." Carlisle smiled.
"I think we should go and hunt before we meet them. if we have to fight someone that can hurt us, we should be as strong as we can be." Jasper suggested.
"You're right, let's go." Carlisle nodded and they all headed out.
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Lorelei Candice Black