CHAPTER 2

Once we had run back to the house Bella and I burst through the front door, panting for breath we raced to the kitchen where Charlie and Harry Clearwater were washing their fishing gear. Charlie gave us a concerned look.

"Bella? Cece? What's wrong?"

"T-they're not giant bear–"

Bella was stuttering over her words, trying to get the words out but was taking too long so I finished for her.

"We saw them! Up in a meadow!"

Charlie slammed his fist on the table as he got up. He was clearly angry that we went into the woods.

"Damn it. I told you not to go into the woods!"

Harry put a hand on Charlie's shoulders.

"What did you two see?"

"Wolves! They're wolves, dad!"

Bella waved her arms around to emphasize how big they were. Charlie sighed with frustration as he turned to Harry.

"Harry, can you get some men from the rez?"

"Sure. Yeah. I'll just–"

Harry doesn't finish as he leaves the house. Charlie picks up the phone and starts making calls as Bella and I stand awkwardly by as Charlie puts on his jacket.

"I've gotta go to the station. Are you two okay here? Do you two want to come with me?"

"Actually, I– we are going to stay here."

There was no way I was letting Bella leave, I needed answers and I need them now. Charlie finishes getting ready before he is out the door, I watch from the door until his car disappears down the street. I turn to Bella.

"You owe me answers."

"I know, it's complicated but vampires exist and Edwad and his family are vampires and Laurent is a vampire and Victoria is an evil red-head vampire out to kill me because Edward killed her vampire mate James because he tried to kill me."

I was stunned, I was expecting a mafia boyfriend, not a vampire boyfriend.

"I-um… I think I need time to understand all of this so I'm gonna go to my room."

I slowly went up the stairs to my room, closing the door behind me before falling face first onto my bed. I remained in bed the rest of the night, too stressed and overwhelmed to leave.

The next morning Bella comes storming into my room, waking me up.

"We are going to Jacobs house. I pieced it together!"

"O-okay."

I rub the sleep from my eyes. I was hoping to sleep in but I was up and getting dressed before following Bella to her truck.

I apologized to Billy as Bella pushed past him into Jacob's room. I stood in the doorway as Bella tenderly pushed some of Jacobs' hair back as he slept. The faint sound of yelling drew my attention as I looked out the window and saw a group of boys coming out of the woods. Bella heard them too as she stormed out of the room. I ran to catch up to her, pulling on her arm to get her to stop.

"Bella, I think you should leave them alone."

Bella didn't listen as she pulled her arm loose, marching forward as she started hurling accusations at the boys. I tried to pull her back again but she only pushed me away before slapping one of the boys across the face. The boy started to growl as his body shook, the other boys were telling us to back up but I was too stunned to move. It felt like everything was in slow motion, the boy's body lurched forward as I darted in front of Bella to protect her, leaving my back exposed as the boy turned into a giant wolf. His giant paw came down across my back. I screamed in pain as chaos exploded around me, people were yelling Bella was crying, I was now facedown in mud. I could vaguely hear someone talking to me but their voice was distorted, my vision started to get fuzzy as I felt someone lift me. I soon passed out, the pain was too much.

I was lucky. That is what the group of mutts told me as the lady with the scarred-up face stitched me up and dressed my wounds. I remained quiet as the boy who maimed me came into my line of view; he had a remorseful look on his face as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jean shorts.

"I'm sorry about what happened."

I was seething with rage. I'm sorry, that was all I got. Tears came pouring out, I started hyperventilating with how hard I was crying. I should have never came back to this stupid town! I force myself to get up, careful of my wounds, I leave the house.

Once outside I go straight to Bella's truck. I just want to go home. Bella had followed me outside.

"Come back inside, Cece."

"NO! Take me home. NOW!"

I didn't give Bella the chance to lead me back to the house as I made my way to the truck. I struggled to climb in the car without putting pressure on my back. The drive back to the house was quiet.

Charlie was already home when we pulled up. He was waiting for us. Billy had called him and told him I was attacked in the woods but it was minor so Emily patched me up. Charlie helped me inside, careful of my back but once we were inside Charlie started to yell at us.

"I told you two to stay out of the woods! I warned you two that the woods were not safe right now!"

"I-I was alone in the woods. Bella was with Jacob, and I told her I was going to the truck but went into the woods instead. If it weren't for Bella and Jacob, I would have been killed by the wolf."

Half truths and full lies. I wasn't alone, I wasn't in the woods. If it wasn't for Bella and Jacob I wouldn't have gotten maimed. Charlie let out a heavy sigh, I felt terrible for lying to him.

"So, you're grounded. I hope you understand why I have to do this."

"Yeah. I expected that."

Charlie looked like he wanted to help me upstairs but Bella said she would help me so he went to the kitchen to get a beer. I was physically and mentally exhausted so by the time I made it to my room I kicked off my shoes and laid on my bed, face down, and went straight to sleep.