I pulled my trusty red truck up at the Black residences and grinned when I saw three teenagers come racing out of the garage. I switched the engine off and only just managed to get my seat belt off before the driver's seat car door was thrown open and a pair of arms wrapped around my arm.
"Hey," I squealed as I was tugged out of the car and engulfed into a hug, "Good to see you too Em".
"Ha," he cheered and continued to squeeze the life out of me, "The other suckers were too slow so no hugs for them".
"That's because you tripped us," Quil scoffed and wrestled Embry's arms off me, "Run Lottie!". I quickly climbed back into the truck and grabbed my handbag before closing the door. I locked the truck and couldn't stop laughing as Embry and Quil wrestled each other onto the ground.
"Race you too the garage Jake," I yelled and took of running.
"Last one back has to clean the garage down!" I called out over my shoulder to Em and Quil.
'Oh shit,' I thought when I saw how close Jacob was before he easily overtook me. Jacob and I sprinted the reminder of the distance and I almost collapsed afterwards trying to keep up with him. I walked over to the desk dumped my handbag down with the car keys down on top, still out of breathe.
The garage wasn't really a garage. It was a separate extension of the Black household and was really a massive shed. There was a chill out zone to the right of the entry that had four bean bags, a TV and a small coffee table. Quil had recently managed to get a gaming console and so far, I had been completely destroyed at Mario Kart. However, I was determined that with lots of practice (and maybe some sabotage), I would beat them one day. The other side had a small work desk that was only sometimes used if one of us had homework that needed to be done. The reminder of the wall passed the work desk had various tools hanging from it. The other side had several shelves that went from floor to ceiling and housed numerous car parts that we gathered. What however though was the current apple of all our eyes was the beautiful, partly restored car taking up most of the space towards the back of the shed. At present, it had an old bed sheet over it.
"I don't remember you ever being that fast," I panted trying to catch my breath. Jacob laughed as he ruffled my hair.
I scoffed in annoyance and batted his hand away, "Do you know how long I spent doing it this morning?".
Jacob snorted, "Two minutes if that. It's just a ponytail. I have sisters Lottie. You don't fool me".
"…look you're not wrong but it's such a pain trying to redo it in this weather," I laughed as I pulled my hair tie out and redid my ponytail. I never knew how Bella survived with her hair down all the time. While my hair wasn't overly wavy, it was enough that it got annoying real fast hanging in front of my face all the time.
"I don't think I've ever seen them move so fast before," Jake laughed as we both watched Embry and Quil sprint as fast as they could to the garage. Quil stuck his foot out and howled with laughter as Embry took a swan drive into the ground.
Quil danced the reminder of the way into the garage, "Sucker! Embry's on clean up".
Jake pulled Quil into a headlock and ruffled his hair, "That's because Q played dirty".
"Oh," I chirped up, "I completely forgot, because someone pulled me out of the car before I could get them, but I baked those caramel cupcakes that you all seem to love". It was almost comical how the boys snapped their heads to me. Jacob tossed Quil away and grabbed the keys sitting on my bag.
Jacob managed to make it outside before Embry tackled him to the ground, "No way Black! You'll eat them all before any of us get any".
"Whoa! Boys!" I called out as I watched the two teenagers wrestle each other on the way to my car, "There's plenty to go around".
I raised my eyebrow at Quil who didn't seem phased about joining in, "Aren't you going to act like an idiot and join in Q?".
Quil gave me a cheeky grin, "Knowing how organised you are, you probably already have a labelled container for each of us". I felt my face heat up in embarrassment. Being organised was a quality that I prided myself on. Even if the boys would always tease me for it.
"Don't be embarrassed Lottie," Quil said as he made his way over to the covered car and pulled the bed sheet off, "We love you for it". Em's neighbour had a 1967 Chevy Impala laying in his backyard that he no longer used. He was thinking of stripping the car down and selling it for parts but Em was adamant that we had the skills to fix it up. Jacob, Quil, Embry and I combined all our savings to buy the car and Baby's been our pet project ever since.
"Have we decided on a colour yet?" I ran my hand over the hood of the car, admiring how much work we had completed.
Quil rolled his eyes, "Women and their colours".
"Oi," I picked up an oily rag laying on the ground and tossed it at him, "Don't be sexist! I've heard you and Em drooling over picturing it being red".
"We weren't drooling!" Quil denied as his cheeks turn red in embarrassment.
"Why didn't you mention we had a container each," Jacob complained as he and Em strolled into the garage with several containers of food.
Quil tsked in disappointment, "I'm not mad guys, just disappointed. That's why Lottie loves me the most. I know her well enough that she's too organised not to already have the cupcakes divided". Embry and Jake stared blankly at Quil before they looked at each other.
"Split Quil's cupcakes?" Jake asked.
"Split Quil's cupcakes," Embry confirmed. This is getting beyond ridiculous.
"No one is stealing anyone's cupcakes. Now, put the cupcakes aside and let's get back to working on Baby," I said as I took my jacket off and popped open the hood of the car, "I still think the engine needs some work done on it".
Quil hummed, "I agree the engine needs more work but at the same time, this is La Push. Baby won't have the opportunity to reach her maximum speed".
Jacob groaned, "Not you too Q. We're not calling the car Baby".
"But Jake," I whined, "She loves the name Baby. Don't you Baby?". I lovingly stroked the engine to further annoy him. Jake didn't respond but I could feel him roll his eyes at my behaviour.
"Let me know if you and the car need some alone time Lottie," Embry laughed as he stood beside me and studied the engine with me.
I gasped in mock shock and stroked Baby's hood, "Don't listen to their mean words! They're just jealous they don't have the same relationship we do".
"Alright, alright," Quil intervened, "Let's actually get some work done". We all nodded in agreement and got to work on fixing the engine.
"Oh dear. It appears the human is a bit broken," I heard a soothing voice say as I slowly started to regain consciousness. My body felt like a rock. My head was pounding, my throat was sore, my eyes felt heavy and everything sounded muffled.
A scoff, "Are you sure about this Aro? She appears too damaged to be of any use. How do we know mentally whether she is stable for the transformation?".
I forced my heavy eyes opened and saw that I was no longer in a plane. I was laying on my back, nowhere in the current century by the looks of the white marble ceiling with massive marble pillars towering above me. My vision was going blurry and kept going in and out of focus.
"Ah, it seems that there is still life left in our little swan yet," the soothing voice said again. I saw the outline of a person in front of me but no matter how many times I blinked, my version wasn't focusing. The figure knelt next to me and I felt a hand rest on my forehead. The coldness on my forehead was absolutely divine for my pounding headache and I closed my eyes in delight.
"How fascinating!" the figure cheered, "I hear absolutely nothing!".
"Will she even survive the transformation?" the second voice I heard scowled, "No point wasting a meal, no matter how unappealing it may look".
"Have faith brother! I feel like our little swan isn't done just yet". I felt my body being pulled into a sitting position before someone enclosed, what I think was their arms, around me. My head was being turned to the side and the very last of my survival instincts kicked in as I realised my neck was exposed.
'Vampires!' I thought in horror. I used as much energy as possible to try and escape the arms that surrounded me but despite my best efforts, I couldn't even budge the arms.
"Don't worry my little swan, you'll feel much better soon," the voice cooed, "Your human life was simply just a cocoon, time to pry the butterfly out". I felt something bite my neck and I began to fight even harder. My arms tried hopelessly to push the arms keeping me trapped away. I tried to pull my head from whatever was biting me but to no avail either. It was only then that I felt my insides beginning to burn. My eyes clenched tighter as my pain sensors became overloaded with the burning sensation travelling through my body and my mouth opened in a silent scream. I was in so much pain that I couldn't even make a sound. I imagine this is what people felt like when they were being burned alive.
'My god,' I thought as I could feel myself becoming lightheaded, 'I can't sleep! I won't wake up again if I do'. My desire to live came rushing back, dulling the excoriating pain slightly.
"It would be wiser not to fight the darkness", a third unknown voice said. I struggled not to pass out from pain as darkness began to creep up from the corners of my eyes.
'Stay awake, stay awake, stay awake,' I chanted to myself repeatedly. Unfortunately, the burning pain that coursed through my veins became too much for my body to fight and I finally succumbed to the darkness.
"Here you go Billy," I said as I handed him a plate of piping hot lasagna that I had just made, "Thanks again for letting me use your kitchen". Billy smiled as he picked up his fork and took a bite.
He moaned slightly, "As long as I get to eat the fruits of your labour, use the kitchen as much as you want".
I laughed in response, "I can certainly arrange that". I made my way back to the kitchen and caught Jake getting his third serving of my homemade lasagna.
"Jacob Black!" I scowled, "Leave some lasagna for my dad!". Jacob at least had the decently to look guilty but didn't put the slice of lasagna back.
"Yeah Jake! Sharing is caring," Embry laughed as he tackled Jacob to try and get the bowl of lasagna.
Jacob somehow managed to keep the bowl out of Embry's reach and used his free arm to push Embry away, "It's mine!". I watched the two wrestle each other in both disbelief but also slightly impressed as Jake was still somehow managing to hold Embry off from stealing his bowl. They both eventually fell to the ground but kept on wrestling; Jake to keep the food, Embry to steal the food.
I shook my head at their antics and then felt my phone buzz in my back pocket. I fished it out and was surprised by the message I read from Angela, 'OMG! You didn't tell me that Bella and Edward were a thing!'. Angela and I had a bit of a strange relationship. We were chatty during school and had swapped numbers but we weren't close enough that we would hang out outside of school. She was certainly lovely and very polite but we just didn't have enough interests in common. To her credit, she had asked me if I wanted to hang out with her. As horrible as it sounds though, I preferred spending my free time with the boys.
'I didn't even know Bella and Edward were a thing,' I thought as I put my phone back in my back pocket. I would interrogate my twin about this new development later.
Quil chuckled beside me as a mischievous smile appeared on his face, "Watch this". Quil carefully made his way to the two wrestling boys, who were both too focused on each other to see the lurching teenager approaching them. Quil waited another second before he pounced and snatched the plate of lasagna from Jake's hand.
"What the hell Q?" Jacob shouted as he went to stand but Embry quickly sat on him, "Move your fat ass Embry!". Quil grinned like a Cheshire cat as he picked up a spoon and took a bite of the lasagna.
"Mmm," Quil moaned, "This lasagna is amazing Lottie. It's like I always say, the third forbidden serving is so much better".
"You've never say that!" Jake retorted as he squirmed underneath Embry.
"Oi Quil, give me a bite," Embry re-positioned himself so Jacob couldn't escape from underneath.
"Embry," I called out before I tossed a spoon to Embry, which he easily caught. Damn those boys and their athletic ability!
Jacob looked at me in betrayal, "How could you side with the enemy?". Quil passed the plate to Embry and watched in delight as Jacob started pouting over the loss of the third serving of lasagna.
"Note to self, make a larger batch next time. It feels like you guys are eating more every time I see you!" I commented, "Well, I'm going to leave you boys too it. Dad's working late tonight so I'm going to drop the left-over lasagna to him". Embry finally got off Jacob and I suddenly found myself wrapped in Jacob's arms.
"I will only release you and forgive your betrayal if you promise to bring more of those amazing caramel cupcakes tomorrow," Jacob ordered as I laughed trying miserably to free myself.
"Okay! Okay! I'll make a batch of cupcakes up tonight!" Jacob released me and I stumbled away, "Your lucky Mr Black that I happen to have all the ingredients at home".
I pointed him in the chest, "More importantly, how dare you hold me hostage over food". Jacob pulled me into a hug and patted my head…as if I needed a constant reminder about how short I was compared to them.
"You still love me," Jacob lost his cheery smile, "Drive safe back home though. Are you sure you don't want to crash with us? Dad won't mind. He particularly considers you the third Black daughter". I felt tears come to my eyes. I was so touched by Jake's comment. Sure I knew that Billy and I got along really well and I was very fond of him but it was honestly so touching to hear that he thought the same about me.
"I didn't mean to make you cry," Jacob panicked when he saw my eyes become teary.
"You didn't!" I reassured him, "I was just so touched by that".
"Group hug!" was the only warning I got before Embry and Quil pounced on us. The extra weight caused us to fall to the ground.
'It seems that these boys are always somehow ending up on the ground,' I couldn't help but think as we became a tangled mess in each other's limbs. I burst out laughing as I watched us all try and de-tangle ourselves, only to make it worse. Who knew that moving to Forks to live with dad would end up being the best decision I ever made.
"What are you ratbags doing?" I heard Billy yell.
"Sorry Billy," I called back as I tried to get my laughter under control, "I was just heading off".
I heard Billy grunt, "I expect a goodbye before you go".
"Shall do!" I laughed once more. Myself, Jacob, Embry and Quil stopped struggling and just laid there in content bliss.
"How long have you had a skylight in the kitchen Jake?" Quil suddenly asked. I turned my attention away from the boys and looked up at the night sky that was peering through the skylight.
Jake scoffed, "Since forever! You never come into the kitchen so no surprise there".
"What a beautiful night though," I smiled, "You can even see the moon". The boys and I laid on the ground in a comfortable silence as stared at the moon for what felt like hours.
"I wish I could pause this moment," Quil whispered.
"I knew you loved me," Em cheerily replied.
I reached over from the mess of tangled limbs and hit Embry in the shoulder, "Don't ruin the moment". Em gave a heart-assed apology and we went back to laying there on the ground in a comfortable silence. Nothing needed to be said. We were all just happy in each other's presence. The skylight in the roof had the best view of the stars. It was then an idea came to me.
"What about painting Baby black? Just like the night sky?" I asked.
"That's actually not a bad idea," Jacob hummed.
Quil chuckled and whacked Jake, "You're only saying that because it will match your last name".
"Yep. You caught me Q," Jacob joked, "In all seriousness though, Baby used to be painted that horrible pale blue colour. Black would completely cover the colour and with a few layers, it won't allow any of the old colour to peak through".
I gasped in shock, "Did you just say Baby?".
Embry roared with laughter, "I told you we would wear him down eventually".
"Yeah, yeah," Jacob rolled his eyes in annoyance, "I've accepted that the car's name is Baby".
I sighed, "As happy as that makes me, I better go. Dad is probably wondering where I am". The boys groaned but we did untangle ourselves from the mess of limbs. I got a hug from each of the boys and a quick hug from Billy before I jumped into my red truck and headed towards the Forks Police Station.
I pulled my car up in front, grabbed my bag and quickly made my way inside. With Forks being such a small town, the police was nothing bigger than a trailer. There was a small reception area inside and to the right was the entry to the offices. I made my way inside and stopped when I saw a man with blonde hair and golden eyes talking to my dad.
My dad saw me from the coroner of his eye and waved me over, "Thanks Dr Cullen. I don't believe you've met my eldest, this is my daughter Charlotte". I stuck my hand out and had to resist the urge to flinch when Dr Cullen's hand wrapped around mine. His hand was so cold. It felt like my hand had just been dunked in ice.
"Nice to meet you," I said politely as we shook hands and then released them.
"Pleasure. I believe you and your sister attend class with my son Edward," Dr Cullen replied.
I smiled, "That's correct".
Dr Cullen smiled in return, "It was wonderful to meet you. My apologies Detective Swan but I must be off. It's quite late".
My dad nodded in understanding, "Thanks again for your help Dr Cullen". Dr Cullen nodded in acknowledgment before he left. I looked over at my dad and noticed his eyes were red and slightly puffy, like he had been crying.
"Are you okay Dad?" I asked as I finished out the container of left-over lasagna from my bag.
"You're too good for me kiddo," Charlie thanked as he took the glass container with the still hot lasagna, "I will be. What I'm about to tell you can't leave this room. Waylon Forge was found dead in a boat near his place. An animal attacked according to Dr Cullen".
"Oh Dad," I whispered as I hugged him around the shoulders, "I'm so sorry!". He patted my arm several times but didn't say anything. Dad never was really one for many words. I didn't even notice my twin enter the room.
"Hey," she said, causing me to jump slightly but I kept my arms around dad's shoulders. He needed all the support in the world right now.
"Bella," I said in surprise, "I thought you were home?". I had the car with me since she had gone to Port Angeles with the girls today so the girls must have dropped her to the station and not home? Which didn't make any sense to me because I'm sure our place was on the way pass their houses.
"It was easier to be dropped off here," Bella explained as she went over and placed a hand on dad's arm, "Dad, I'm really sorry".
"How do you know?" I asked. Not in a mean way, just surprised as to how she found out.
My twin looked at me, "I ran into Dr Cullen on the way out".
Dad let out a heartbreaking sigh, "I've known him going on thirty years". I gave him another hug.
"Don't worry. We're gonna find this thing. Meantime," he reached over and then picked up two canister of pepper spray, "I want you both to carry one of these with you".
Bella and I looked at each other as Bella cringed slightly, "I don't know if you-"
"It'll give your old man some peace of mind," Dad interrupted.
"Sure Dad," I smiled and released him so I could take the pepper spray, "Bella and I will carry these on us". I stared at my twin until she hesitantly took her canister of spray.
"Are you both okay to head home? I was wanting to get a bit more work done before I call it a night," dad asked. My twin and I shared another quick look – aka, Dad couldn't sleep.
"Not a problem Dad. I drove here so Bella and I will head home," I kissed his cheek, "Don't stay up too late and enjoy the lasagna. I had to fight three hungry boys off for you".
Dad grunted, "Let me know if they cause you any grief. I will be more then happy to put them in a holding cell overnight. Creep them out a bit".
"Dad," I scowled, "There's no need for that. They were gentlemen as always". Bella gave dad a small bye and we made our way out of the station.
"Offer's always opened!" he called out. Bella and I laughed as we waved one last time and exited the station.
"You know what concerns me? He would actually do it too. When one of the boys goes missing, remind me to check lock up first," I chuckled. It's what I loved about dad and feared for my future boyfriend. Good luck future boyfriend for you shall need it with Chief Detective Swan! My twin and I paused when the body of Wayne was wheeled in front of us and into the back of the coroner's car.
"Poor thing," I whispered in sorrow. Bella didn't say anything. I looked over at her and she appeared to be deep in thought.
I placed my hand on her arm and her head snapped to me, "Are you okay Bells?".
She gave me a small smile, "Sorry. Just a bit on my mind".
"You know I'm here to talk about anything should you need it," I gave her arm a small squeeze before I pulled away and walked over to our truck. She followed shortly behind me and we jumped into truck.
"So," I began as I put my seat belt and started the truck, "What happened between you and Edward?".
I watched in amusement as Bella blushed and stuttered as she tried to put her seat belt on, "W-What? Nothing". I raised an eyebrow at her and watched in amusement as she briefly struggled with the seat belt before eventually clipping it up. Her innocent 'nothing happened' act many work on dad but not me, not her twin.
"Angela messaged me saying otherwise," I responded as I put the truck in reverse and backed out of the parking lot. I shifted the gear to drive and we began to make the short journey back home.
Even in the dark, I saw Bella's face somehow turn redder, "I ran into him in Port Angeles, we chatted and I knew Charlie was working late so I asked him to drop me off at the police station since it was on his way home".
I hummed, processing the information she told me, "Was that all?".
"Yes," she replied a little too quickly. I glanced over at my sister for a moment before looking back at the road. Call it my spidy twin senses but it felt like she was hiding something from me. I wanted to ask more but I knew Bella well enough that she would retreat into herself and close off from me if I did.
"Did he ask you to the prom?" I asked innocently.
That seems to make Bella relax slightly, "No". Unknowingly to Bella, she all but confirmed to me that she was hiding something from me. If prom was what was causing the issue, Bella wouldn't responded to my question.
"Did you want him to ask you to prom?" I followed up.
Bella sighed, "I'm not like you Lottie. I'm not…outgoing, I'm not comfortable going to events like these. Besides, I would probably break my leg trying to dance". I snorted in agreement. While I thought I was clumsy, Bella definitely took the title for most accident-prone hands down.
"What about you?" Bella quickly interrupted my integration, "Have one of the boys asked you?". Boys being Em, Q and Jake.
"I haven't told them about prom yet. Despite what you think Bella, we are very much alike. I'm an introvert extrovert. I can fake it in social events but I would much rather be at home baking or reading or even drawing," I cringed, "Though maybe not drawing. I still need to improve a heck of a lot more".
"Or hang with the boys and work on cars," Bella added, "I'm still surprised you even do that".
I chuckled, "Fixing cars is like baking. You need the exact ingredients at the exact right time to make a perfect creation. When Em first floated the idea about fixing up a car, in true Charlotte fashion, I spent ages reading about cars and car designs to at least have some idea what I was getting myself into. Turns out, cars are actually pretty interesting. You can do a whole bunch of things to-".
"Okay rev-head," Bella joked, "You're into cars".
I ducked my head slightly in embarrassment, "Sorry". I knew that I had a bad habit of talking someone's ear off when I was passionate about something.
"Don't worry about it. How's Baby going?" Bella asked.
I smiled thinking of the beautiful car sitting in Jacob's garage, "We've finally decided to paint her black". Bella hummed but didn't say anything. It was a silent signal that she was done talking for the time being. We sat in a comfortable silence the rest of the drive home but I couldn't shake the feeling that Bella was hiding something from me.
Pain! So much pain! I could hear voices talking around me but my mind was too overwhelmed by the burning sensation that my entire body was experiencing to focus on what was being said.
'My god,' I thought in horror, 'I'm being burned alive'.
I lost consciousness once again.
Edward and Bella stood in the clearing at the border between La Push and Forks. The sky was overcast and dark clouds loomed overhead, signalling that it was going to rain soon.
'How appropriate,' Bella thought.
It was decided that it would be best to meet the wolves in the forest where the Forks and La Push borders met to avoid any unwanted eyes. It was quiet, only the soft rustling of the massive trees branches surrounding the duo could be heard. The wolves were going to arrive any minute. Bella was wrapped in Edward's arms and he continued to rub circles on her back to comfort her.
Edward kissed her head, "We don't have to do this. You don't have to do this. I can pass the message on".
"It's okay," Bella sniffed, "They deserve to hear it from me". The silence was disturbed by several loud growls before the human forms of Sam, Jacob, Embry and Paul emerged from the surrounding trees and approached the duo.
"How are you feeling Jake? Should you be moving yet?" Bella asked in concern as she saw Jacob tentatively favouring one side.
"Good luck telling him that," Embry chuckled but quickly stopped when Sam and Jacob glared at him.
"Are you okay Bella?" Jacob growled at seeing her puffy eyes, evidence that she had been crying for some time, "Did that leech hurt you?".
Edward went to reply but Bella interrupted first, "No! Edward would never. It's not about him".
"Then why did you call us here? I thought all the vampires were dealt with," Sam said getting straight down to business. He stared at the human and vampire in front of him, trying to figure out what the sudden meeting was about. There was still a lot of tension between the pack about their involvement with the Cullens. In Sam's mind, the sooner this meeting was over, the better.
Bella took a deep breath, "Where's Quil?".
A moment of silence.
"He and the others are out on patrol," Jacob answered when Sam said nothing.
Sam shot a glare at Jacob before looking back at the duo, "And you want to know this because?".
Bella took another deep breath to fight off a fresh wave of tears, "I…I have some news about Lottie".
"Is she okay?" Embry demanded as Paul quickly restrained him from charging forward.
"Where is she?" Jacob asked at the same time and had too be restrained by Sam as he started showing the signs that he was about to phase.
"Calm down!" Sam ordered the two of them. A single tear fell from Bella's eye. That was enough for the boys to become even more concerned.
"Damn it! What happened?" Embry yelled as he struggled harder against Paul. Paul grunted but kept his arms tight around Embry, keeping him pinned to his chest. Embry was quickly losing control, his wolf demanded to be released so he could search for his friend.
'Um, Sam?' Jared called out in a private mental link to the pack leader.
'What?' Sam snapped back as he wrapped his arms tighter around Jacob who was fighting back harder. Sam could feel patches of fur starting to develop on Jacob's body.
'Whatever conversation you are having now is open to the whole pack. Quil took off and I think he's heading towards your direction. Seth and I are on his trail but we won't make it. He's seriously upset, and, fuck, I don't know what he's going to do,' Jared panicked.
'Fuck,' Sam thought.
"How badly hurt is she?" Jacob growled as a dark chocolate brown wolf charged into the clearing. Edward quickly picked Bella up and moved back several metres.
"Quil, I order you to stop!" Sam shouted in his alpha voice. The wolf came to a sudden halt just as a brownish coloured wolf raced into the clearing and tackled Quil's wolf form to the ground. The wolves fought for a few moments before the brownish coloured wolf managed to overpower the dark chocolate brown wolf and pinned the wolf to the ground. A coppery coloured wolf arrived moments later and looked to Sam for guidance on what he should do after surveying the scene. Three of his pack brothers were being restrained and three of his pack brothers were struggling to keep them restrained.
"Have you got him pinned Jared?" Sam asked before readjusting his grip as Jacob continued to squirm, "Jacob! Calm down! Your scaring Bella". That seemed to knock a bit of sense into Jacob and he ceased his struggles. The brownish coloured wolf nodded in confirmation to his alpha. At this stage, Jared had a struggling Quil pinned to the ground…for the moment.
"Embry and Quil," he ordered once more in his alpha voice, "Calm down". While they both didn't completely stop struggling, they ceased enough that allowed Paul and Sam a moment to breath and readjust to a better grip.
'Continue your patrol Seth. I get the feeling we may be a while' Sam privately linked to Seth. The coppery wolf nodded in confirmation and dashed away. Sam sighed internally, the burdens of being an alpha.
Sam turned his attention back to the vampire and human, "I would suggest you say whatever it is you want to say quickly". Edward, who had crouched down into a defensive position in front of Bella when the wolf drama unfolded, stood up and took Bella's hand in his when he noticed her shaking slightly. He gave her hand a light squeeze for support as he watched her gather herself. Bella couldn't tell if she was shaking from what had happened in front of her, the adrenaline high she was still on from the confrontation with Victoria or the pain of the news she was about to deliver.
'It's now or never,' Bella thought, 'Rip it off like a band-aid'.
"Charlotte is dead," Bella blurted out.
No one moved a muscle.
'Maybe too blunt,' Bella thought.
"What?" Jacob whispered in horror.
Tears filled Bella's eyes once more, "She's…she's dead".
"No! No! She can't be," Embry roared. Paul tried in vain to keep his hold on Embry but the teenager finally shifted into greyish coloured wolf, freeing himself from Paul's grip. Embry turned around and sprinted away.
"Fuck," Paul cursed before transforming into a dark grey wolf and chased after Embry. Quil managed to buck Jared off him and sprinted into the woods as well, Jared hot on his heels. It was just the two shapeshifters, the vampire and the human left in the clearing.
Tears filled his eyes but Jacob stubbornly refused to let them fall, "How?". Bella opened her mouth to answer but only a choked sob came out. Edward wrapped his arms around Bella's waist and pulled her into his chest.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead, never drawing his eyes away from her, "We don't know the full details-".
"What the hell do you mean you don't know the full details?" Jacob interrupted. Edward could hear Jacob's grieving thoughts loudly in his head.
'Be patient. He just lost someone too,' Edward thought to himself.
Edward turned his attention to the shapeshifters in front of him, "The Volturi, our vampire police for lack of a better term, advised they found her at the nest".
Jacob growled, "Did they kill her?".
Edward nodded in response.
"No!" Jacob howled. Sam quickly released Jacob from his hold. He watched as the Jacob transformed into a burgundy wolf and howl at the duo in front of them before Jacob racing back into the woods towards La Push.
'Heads up, Jacob is heading back to La Push. I can't follow,' he messaged the wolf link.
'Roger,' Seth responded.
'On it,' Leah advised.
Sam stayed silent as he processed the information being told to him. He was mindful to keep the link to the rest of the pack open so everyone could hear what was being said. Last thing he needed was three very emotional wolves to come charging back because they were cut off from what was happening.
'Paul, Jared, report,' Sam snapped.
'Embry and Quil are fighting but…they…they're just grieving,' Jared eventually replied.
'Keep an eye on them. Paul, let Emily know what's happening. Jared, when it's safe to do so, try and herd them to Emily's. Same for you Seth and Leah. Try and herd Jacob to Emily's,' Sam ordered. He received a several acknowledgements in reply.
"Do we need to be concerned?" Edward asked. He had heard the drama unfolding and while he appreciated the support offered by the wolves in keeping Bella safe, he needed to make sure his family was safe as well. Three emotional wolves who weren't thinking reasonably and fueled with a hatred for vampires was a recipe for disaster.
Sam already court onto what Edward was implying, "Your family is safe. They are understandably working through their grief in the best way they know how".
"I meant no offence," Edward apologised. The three remained didn't speak for several moments. Only Bella's light sobbing could be heard.
Sam closed off his link to the pack before he asked, "Do you know anything about what happened to her after the kidnapping?".
"I cannot confirm. From what the Volturi said, and I don't know how much of this is true, she was in bad shape when they found her. A mercy killing they called it," Edward whispered. Low enough that Bella couldn't hear but loud enough that Sam's enhanced hearing could hear it. Sam closed his eyes in sorrow. He had never met Charlotte but knew how important she was to Embry, Quil and Jacob. He had seen how hard it was for them to cut her out of their lives. How much they had grieved over the loss of their friendship. How much it tore them up inside when she kept coming down to La Push demanding answers from them that they couldn't provide.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Sam said to Bella, "It's not much but I offer the pack's support in anyway possible".
"Thank you," Bella sobbed before burying her head in Edward's shirt as she started to cry uncontrollably. Edward nodded to Sam before lifting Bella into his arms and made their way back to the Cullen's residence. They arrived within a matter of minutes.
"I still don't know what I'm going to tell Dad," Bella whispered completely heartbroken as she tried to get her crying under control, "I should have told her everything. I should have told her what was going on. She would still be alive".
Edward quickly cupped Bella's tear stained cheeks and forced her too look at him, "Don't think like that. Nothing you could have done would have protected Charlotte from Victoria's wrath".
"Then why do I feel so guilty?"
First off, thank you for your support everyone!
Based on the feedback, I'm thinking I shall write an Aro/Marcus/Caius romance. It seemed to be the most popular option from the reviews and private messages (which I honestly appreciate by the way!). It seems everyone is wanting the Volturi leaders to get some love, so love they shall receive!
As you probably have already guessed, I'm focusing more on the movies. I have read the books but it's been so long to remember exactly all the details. I'm sure you can appreciate that it's much easier to watch a two-hour movie and keep writing then read the whole of the book again.
I don't want to commit when the next chapter will be released as I've seen may authors do so and don't deliver. I won't jinx myself but I'm writing it up now so I can assure you that it won't be too much of a wait!
Thank you once again for your support!
Stay safe xxx
