Since today is the first Advent Sunday and thus the pre-Christmas season begins, I thought that I also post a chapter on each Advent Sunday, so to say as a small early Christmas gift! Verena

Chapter 11

Bella

So, I now know the answer for the unusual dying of the local deer and elk. Nevertheless, I had to continue my work without coming to a conclusion. I could hardly tell my boss that vampires were the cause. However, I would be curious to see his face if I did.

Since my current work hardly challenged me anymore, the day passed slowly.

It only became more exciting again when I came up with a plan that would explain the behavior of the animals. Based on the results it was a bit of a stretch. I found the records of the last ten years for comparison and looked through them. By lunch I had convinced Peter. And by the end of the day we had Mr. Prescott on our side. We would spend tomorrow preparing our final report to submit to the clients in Portland on Wednesday.

I got dinner on the way home, called my best friend Zoey and invited her and her husband over.

As I turned into our street, I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.

School had been over for a long time. My kids were only there for their sports practices. But everyone else who wasn't playing a sport at school had been off for over an hour.

EVERYONE else. Even vampires.

Suspiciously, I peered through the narrow trees and between the houses, expecting to see a pale face everywhere. But I didn't see any.

Get a grip Bella! You're looking for ghosts. No, you don't see. He wouldn't let himself be seen, after all. Why should he come here? I have my life. He has his life. Nothing would change!

A little bolder, I drove the last few feet of our long driveway into the garage and left it open. The kids would be home soon.

I put on some music and began to make dinner.

Jake and Leah's favorite meal. Make-your-own burgers.

Zoey and Alex had had to promise their pre-teen daughter, who was just learning in school how bad Fast Food is, to only eat healthy. That is why I had invited them.

"Hey, Mom," my two greeted me, pausing indecisively in the doorway.

We usually only had burgers for a special reason, since I also paid attention to a healthy diet for my children.

"Did we miss anything? Your birthday isn't until Friday," Leah asked me.

But I waved it off, I should be allowed to spoil my children for no reason, too.

Leah helped me get everything ready while Jake set the table.

"Two more plates," I called after Jake.

With a suspicious look he returned to the kitchen.

"Who else is coming?" Leah questioned.

I became vigilant.

"Who do you fear might come?", I asked, looking them both in the eye in turn.

They hummed and hawed.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest and leaned against the kitchen counter. I waited patiently.

I had an idea what name would come up, but they hadn't said anything yet. I was right.

"Andrew," Leah murmured.

"And his daughter," Jake added.

"And you wouldn't like that at all!" I stated, smiling to myself.

I had actually briefly thought about inviting him as well. But not because I wanted to, more because I felt I had to include him since we had two dates already. But as soon as I had that thought I realized that Andrew and I would never become a WE. Those dates with him had been nice. Nice. Nothing more. I hadn't thought about Andrew one bit the past two weeks until last night when he had invited himself over. I was inwardly grateful to the children yesterday that they had repeatedly come into the house one at a time.

Nevertheless, after explaining my reasoning I scowled at my children.

They gave each other a jubilant high-five and their faces were beaming. It was a little too much.

"Next time, tell me what you think right away!" I asked in conclusion.

They promised to.

Shortly thereafter, the doorbell rang.

I beamed with joy as I hugged Zoey, but Alex got a slap in the face as a greeting. Puzzled, he looked toward me in the frightening silence, while Zoey put her hands over her mouth in shock.

"Jake has his motorcycle license?" I accused him. Alex had a driving school.

"Um ... Yeah?" he played dumb.

But he had already confessed on the phone a few days ago.

Behind me, I heard a sparkling wine cork pop - as an aperitif for us ladies - and I finally pulled Alex through the door, laughing. During the final preparations - Zoey and Alex's mouths were already watering with anticipation and were already nibbling on the crispy bacon - I winked at Alex.

"Hey, Jake. Come with me," Alex whispered to him.

Zoey smiled.

She already knew what was happening.

After some time, I turned to my daughter.

"Tell me, Leah. How would you feel about not having to share the car with Jake soon?" I casually asked.

Puzzled, she looked toward me, just as Jake came rushing in through the front door.

"Mom, you can't be serious," he yelled excitedly at me, jumping into my arms so that I lost my balance and found myself on the floor. "Thank you! But what did I do to deserve it?" he then asked, not being able to stop grinning.

After we explained to Leah that Alex had brought a motorcycle for Jake and that my question to her was therefore not theoretical, she also threw herself into my arms.

They had no more reason to argue. However, I postponed telling them that that was why I had done it until later.

Zoey and Alex stayed for a while and it was a cozy evening, until I asked Jake and Leah to tell me about their day.

Normally they always told me what was new on their own.

They deliberately left out certain individuals. Inwardly, I was very touched. They knew exactly how close the vampires were to me, but also that I never wanted to see them again. Therefore, they avoided mentioning them. But I actually wanted to know about them.

"What was it like for you to knowingly meet them as wolves? … What is their name now?" I tried to ask as calmly as I could. No, not tried. I was really calm. And I was so calm because of this Samantha. Edward had sought a diversion and apparently found it. He was no longer interested in what had become of me. I had probably never interested him. He had told me back then how much he loved me and I had believed him. However, he had always refused to change me. The love for this Samantha seemed to have nullified his concerns. I should be happy for him. After all, I had also experienced love once again after him, even if Jacob was taken from me too quickly. At least I had my Valentine gifts from him as a consolation, who were now looking at each other seriously before answering me.

"Stone," Leah said, chuckling.

I laughed with her.

Rock-hard vampires calling themselves Stone. Who on earth had come up with that? I guessed Emmett.

After my kids noticed my cheerfulness, they talked a little more candidly.

"Stressfull" Jake began. "Knowing he could hear my thoughts. Anytime. I almost pictured you a few times."

"Yeah, it was the same for me. But all day long I tried to not to even think about vampires being there. After all, I only have bio together with him."

"I've got the whole afternoon together with Edward and sit next to him, too," Jake complained.

"Edward has classes with you?" I now asked in amazement. "And what about the others?"

"Rosalie and Emmett are one grade below us, everyone else two," Leah explained to me.

"Why are you wondering about that?" Jake asked.

"Rose and Emmett are actually always the oldest children, while Alice and Edward are the youngest. They pretend to be as young as they can so they can stay in one place as long as possible," I reflected as I remembered.

"Maybe Edward has other plans," Leah interjected.

Other plans? Without Samantha, who had two more years of high school ahead of her?

Jake suddenly appeared tense and chewed on his lower lip. Leah noticed it too, but he shook his head, barely noticeably. There was a silent conversation going on between siblings. As twins, they had a very special connection to each other. I had noticed this often and now as wolves it seemed to be even more intense. They often understood each other without saying a single word.

"He knows what we are," Jake then said, looking at me carefully.

He expected an outburst of anger, but it would not come. It was clear that Edward must have been listening to me and my son this morning, and in doing so I had told him that my children were not normal people. It had been my protective instinct as a mother that made me refer to Jake as a Quileute wolf. This vampire should know that Jake and Leah were not so easily destroyed, even if they knew his secret.

"I assumed he would," I replied.

"And Edward has guessed who you are," Jake continued.

I breathed deeply in and out.

Of course, he had. He was too observant.

"I assume that too," I mumbled.

My children looked guilty and sat down next to me.

"This is not your fault. Sooner or later, he would have found out anyway ... And I have to admit, sooner is actually preferable to me than to live in this uncertainty ... I don't know what he's going to do with the fact that I'm here. Actually, nothing connects us anymore. He has no reason, not to continue to adhere to his promise ... And if he does come here because maybe he thinks that he owes me a courtesy call or something, then so be it. Nothing will change."

Then the three of us went into the garage.

There it stood. Or there it lay! An old Harley Spitfire.

"So ... Mom. What's this for?" Jake now asked as I stood between my kids and put an arm around each of their waists.

"My babies have grown up. I have slowly come to terms with that. You stand on your own feet. Or paws. Both of you should be able to do and more around without having to worry about other," I somewhat explained my motives. I was just grateful for my kids. They did not condemn me because I had given me up to their natural enemy. They were not even angry with me that there was now a natural enemy for them. They continued to love me even after I separated them from the last La Push wolf. They would protect me if a vampire showed up at my house.

I also had a purely practical reason for why I did what I did: Next year in college, I probably would have had to buy one of them a car. Well, that was now ticked off. The Harley was old and dirty. Jake would have to completely disassemble and clean it first. Alex was sure Jake could do it and if he needed help, he could always go to him.

I walked up to the bike with very sentimental thoughts.

"The reason why it is exactly this old machine ...", I began, wiping the dirty chrome with trembling but reverent fingers. My children squatted down to me when they realized I was crying. "It was your father's."

Thanks for reading!