Bella's Point of View
We made the drive to Alaska in four long days. With no sign of Charlie. The only time we stopped driving was to stop at a gas station for fuel and snacks. Of course, there were a few bathroom breaks along the way as well. We would usually pull into a parking lot to sleep for a short amount of time, a couple hours, before getting back to the road. By the time we pulled into the wolf pack community of Denali, the front seat of Edward's truck was a mess. Full of empty water bottles, wads of tissues, magazines and several snack wrappers.
My legs felt stiff as I crawled out of the truck. I groaned quietly, stretching my arms above my head. I let my eyes scan over the area. Snow, chilly breezes blew harshly against my face. Trees surrounded us, pristine white, frozen spikes of ice hanging from the branches. It was a tundra of ice, I couldn't think of one positive thing about this place. Thankfully due to my warm body temperature, the cold didn't bother me.
Edward went to the bed of the truck, collecting all our luggage. There were bags under his eyes. He looked awful. He hasn't gotten much sleep these past few days. I felt bad. I had asked him to switch out and let me drive for a while, but he refused.
I moved to his side, helping carry the suitcases. His eyes flickered to me, a frown on his face. "You don't have to do that, I can carry everything."
"I know you can, but please let me help you, we are a team." I muttered gently.
He sighed, before nodding tightly. "Alright, follow me."
We walked down a little plowed path, it led us to a bunch of primitive lodging. There were nearly ten little cabins all in a circle. In the center was a huge fire, glowing red hot. Smoke lingered in the air. Each cabin looked identical, except for the one we were heading in the direction of.
This cabin had a different colored roof than the rest, the others had a simple brown tin roof. But this one had a blue tin roof. And the door was blue as well. Those small changes were staggeringly noticeable against the rest of the cabins. Edward lightly placed a few things down on the little porch. The porch was in rough shape, there were a few missing boards and the ones that were there were broken, loose, or about to snap in half if someone stepped down too hard on them.
He dug in his pocket to retrieve a key. The door unlocked with a creak. He turned to me for a second, a sheepish expression crossing his face. "It isn't much, it's a work in progress, but it will do for the time being…"
I quietly followed him inside, taking in the tight living space. It was nicer on the inside than I had expected. It had a bit of a musky odor, some cobwebs, but it was quant. Old hickory wood floors and simply log walls. There was a very small kitchen, two counters, a sink and fridge. There wasn't enough room for a table.
Edward shifted around, heading down a snug hallway, his shoulders touched both sides of the walls. I felt a little claustrophobic, but followed behind him. We entered a small bedroom. The mattress seemed to take up the entire room. There wasn't even space to put a nightstand next to the bed. Again Edward offered a nervous smile, setting our suitcases down on the bed. "I'm sorry I couldn't offer you a bigger place to stay, I made this shack when I was younger. The original design was really just meant to house one person." He said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You made this cabin?"
He nodded ruefully. "I did, about three years ago. I had a lot of help."
"This is really impressive. It looks like you tried really hard. You should be proud." I smiled at him. Yes, the cabin itself looked a little run-down, but I could see the effort it took in each board, each nail and by the look on Edward's face. I sat my things down next to the bed and hesitantly sat down on the old mattress. It was a little dusty but it felt solid enough.
"I don't plan on being here for very long, maybe a few weeks. The rest of the pack is meeting us up here, once they searched all the surrounding areas. Jasper and Alice will be remaining in La Push, to watch over the reservation. But Emmett and Rose will be making the trip up here." Edward said, sitting next to me, to stroke my leg. "We won't rest until Charlie is found."
I felt a lump in my throat as I nodded. I couldn't cry any more. I've cried so much these past few days, I didn't have anything left. My heart twisted painfully in my chest as I thought of Charlie. What kind of horrors were those bloodsuckers putting him through? Would he even be alive after all of this? I couldn't think of that right now. I needed to keep myself focused on what needs done for the moment. Keep myself distracted. Or the pain would only hold me back from finding my dad..
"What should we do in the meantime?" I looked at him sideways.
"We have been traveling for a long time now, let's just get some reason for the time being. I'll cook us some food. Maybe introduce you to some of my friends." Edward watched me carefully.
"Alright, that sounds good to me. While you're cooking, I could do some cleaning in here." I offered with a tiny smile.
Edward leaned in and pecked my cheek. "Be my guest, although it may take days before this place will be in order again. It looks like some of the others were throwing parties in here." He nodded towards some empty beer cans stacked against the wall.
"Leave it to me." I said getting up with a burst of motivation.
We went our separate ways. Edward marched outside to gather firewood and supplies from the community. While I explored the rest of the cabin. I found a single garbage bag and just started picking up all the trash. I opened all the windows I could find, to let out the musty odor in here. Wiped down the counters and fridge. Changed all the bad light bulbs with new ones that I found in a cabinet. I was surprised that electricity ran to this cabin, apparently there were full hook-ups of water and sewage.
I ended up finding a tiny bathroom just off the kitchen. Wooden floors and tacky fake wood paneling covered the walls. The shower was a little concerning, the shower head was leaky and on the floor, there were two small muddy footprints. I wondered who the last person was that used this shower. I worked my magic on the bathroom until it was spotless.
There was one more room that I hadn't noticed at first. If you went back down the narrow hallway, to the very back was the bedroom, but right in the middle of the hall was another doorway to a small living room. It was probably the biggest room in this entire cabin. And it seemed to be in the best shape. A rustic fireplace leaned against the far wall, unlit and covered in cobwebs. There was an old television that I wasn't sure would actually work. It looked like it came from the nineties, huge, thick and had antennas sitting at the top of it. There was a small couch sitting in the middle of the room, with a flannel design. It looked old, but was relatively clean. This was the only room I didn't have a chance to clean, before Edward called me to come outside.
There was a raging fire going outside, where three people stood next to Edward, they bowed their heads as I approached them. All but one. She stubbornly held her head up, staring at me with contempt.
The other girl next to her elbowed her hard in the side. "She is a luna, you will show respect." She snarled at the girl quietly.
I shook my head. "I'm not, not yet. It's alright."
Edward sighed, resting his arm around my waist. "Erza, is that really how you are going to treat my imprint? I thought you said you couldn't wait to meet her."
The girl huffed, turning away from all of us. "I didn't think she was the one." Her tone was full of malice.
I raised a brow, not liking her attitude one bit. "I don't even know you, so why do you already have a problem with me?"
Tension was building in the air around us. She shrugged her shoulders, leaving out an aggressive sigh. She ran her hands through her dark mahogany hair, which looked identical to mine. Our eyes were the same color as well. The only difference between the two of us really, was her skin was much darker. She had the sun-kissed skin, like Edward, just like all the others in La Push.
"Of course, you wouldn't know a thing about me. Of course he would keep me a secret." She fumed, her shoulders trembling. It was clear she was getting really annoyed. I instinctively took a step back away from her. She noticed, and frowned deeply, taking a few breaths to calm herself down.
"My name is Zoey Swan. I'm your sister." She said with a cold look in my direction.
Charlie's Point of View
I haven't eaten in a really long time. I was starving. Maybe that wasn't the right word. I was thirsty. My throat felt like it was engulfed in flames. I couldn't cool them down. No matter what I did. The only thing that gave me any relief was blood. I couldn't even recognize myself anymore. I couldn't transform back into my human form. All I could do was run aimlessly through this barren wasteland. Attacking anything and everyone that had blood coursing through their body. I wanted to stop. I wanted to return to my human form. But the bloodlust was too strong. I couldn't stop hunting. Worse yet, this leech that bit me, was in complete control over me, while I was in this form. He kept me chained up to his side. Only letting me off the leash to hunt, or kill, on his command. I became his guard dog.
I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold onto myself. I could feel myself slipping more and more into the frame of mind of just a mindless animal. I needed to turn human, before I forgot that I was one.
My skin was like steel. Unbreakable, if I did sustain a scratch, I healthed almost immediately. The bloodsucker broke a few bones, just to see how fast I could heal from it. Two minutes. But the pain was still there. I had enhanced speed and strength, I bet if I could gain control over myself, I could easily kill this leech, along with the followers at his side.
Come on. Focus. Run away. Someone… Help… I reached out through the wolf link, hoping someone was in the area. But no one answered. My legs were moving, my eyes shifting around the area. My mouth was watering. I wanted blood. I couldn't focus. I didn't want to run away. I didn't need help. I just wanted blood.
"Let's leave another hint for them," The bloodsucker smirked evilly, shoving a piece of paper into the hole of a tree. He shifted the chains around my neck, forcing me back to rub up against it. "Leave your scent behind for them."
As if I had absolutely no will of my own, my body responded, I lifted my hind leg and began to release my bladder right up against the tree. It was embarrassing, humiliating. But I couldn't disobey him. Not for a second. As if he had somehow become my alpha. But it was deeper than that. He created me. He turned me into this creature. It felt like he was my master, my god. I hated the feeling.
The only thing that has been keeping my mind at ease, was thinking of Bella. I wished so desperately to see her again. Something always seems to happen, I always intend to be a great father, but I end up falling short each time. First with Rene, we almost got it right. She was pregnant with Bella, when I found my imprint Rita. I broke our vows of marriage, I had an affair. Leaving Rita pregnant as well. Of course, I didn't know that at the time. I loved Rene and Rita both, dearly. But not equally. Even though it pained me… to my very core. I had to stay with Rene and Bella. I made my commitment to that marriage. I couldn't break my vows a second time. But it didn't take long for Rene to catch on, that there was someone else. Someone that I loved even more than her. She couldn't accept it, I didn't blame her for it. Didn't change the fact that it was a painful divorce.
Rita didn't welcome me back with open arms either. She was just as hurt that I had picked Rene over her. She never allowed me contact with her, or our daughter. It's been nearly four years now, since I've even seen them. I'd been able to sneak quick peeks at them, while I was out on patrol. I even managed to leave them some gifts around the holidays. But I have been so busy since I joined the elder council, I've neglected them. All I knew of my other daughter was that she was nearly the same age as Bella and Rita had named her Zoey.
I wanted to fix things with them as well. I wanted to unite my family. Once and for all. I may even find a way to bring Rene back into the mix. Obviously not in a romantic way, but she should have a family as well. She is a part of my life, even though she doesn't like to admit that. We had a child together, it should mean something. It should for Rita as well. If I was to somehow make it back to my human form, I would bring my family together one day. I swear it.
A/N: Let me know what you think of this chapter. I really enjoyed writing this one. It feels like a lot is going on. Anyway, thanks for reading! Leave a review to show some support! Will update as soon as I can.