A/N: Mild swearing alert.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight universe, don't intend to make any profit out it. Unless you count fun as profit...
No one will know…
No one will know…
The words bounce around in my head.
There is a dull roar in my ears, am I on the beach?
No, I'm in the meadow, and Laurent is here, and he's going to kill me, and no one will know.
Shit.
No one will know.
Charlie will wonder where I am when he gets back home.
He will look for me, maybe find my body here, maybe not. Will he realise that I went hiking against his advice? God, why didn't I listen to him? Will they call this another bear-attack? Oh no, has this been the case? Has he been investigating vampire attacks all this time?
Renee will not know until tomorrow. She will be hysterical.
Jake, stupid, stubborn Jake. I didn't realise how much I'll miss him until now. But wait, I'll be dead. I won't miss anyone anymore.
It took only a second for all these thoughts and regrets to whirl in my head. One lone tear burns its way down my cheek.
Laurent waits patiently for me, I'm not going anywhere, he knows it as well as I do.
Finally he leans towards me, takes a deep breath and says,
"Goodbye Bella, it was nice knowing you." His voice is gentle, sympathetic.
I close my eyes, but the expected pain or oblivion doesn't come. My heart keeps on its frantic pounding, blood keeps rushing in my ear.
"Impossible" Laurent breathes, my eyes snap open. He is looking at something beyond my shoulder, I turn my head. A monumental mistake at such proximity of a vampire, but he doesn't notice. I don't see what has his attention at first.
Then I hear the growling, it's low and subdued, then an animal steps out from the underbrush. It's the bear, black and huge.
But no, I correct myself as it steps into the meadow, it's a wolf, only, I have never imagined a wolf can be this large, If you could inflate a wolf to the size of a horse, it would be something like this.
I really have the worst luck in the world, only I would be unlucky enough to stand between a vampire and some kind of freak wolf. Laurent starts backing away, leaving me in the middle. That surprises me, surely a wolf, no matter how big, can be a match for a vampire? But then I see two more wolves coming from either side of the first one. I can't believe something so huge can be so utterly silent, they step into the clearing like ghosts.
Laurent takes off without another word or backward glance. I prepare to get slaughtered by alien wolves instead of a vampire, but two of them pay me no mind, they chase after Laurent with single minded focus. The last one, stops to look at me, I try to back off, but my foot gets caught on my backpack and I topple backwards. The wolf lets out a huff and chases after it's companions.
I don't know how long I sit on the meadow, numb from shock. But a howl in the distance jolts me back to action. I scramble for my backpack and make a mad dash through the woods. I slip and stumble a couple of times, but manage to finally reach my truck in one piece. I lock the doors, pull up the windows and shake.
Charlie has been hunting these wolves, Oh My God. He could get killed. And Laurent, it'll be Child's play for him to outrun or kill the wolves and come after me. What do I do? What do I do?
I drive my truck in aimless circles as I think, hoping to confuse my scent while I am at it. But sooner or later, he will find my house. What then? What will I do? Will he be content to leave Charlie alone, if I don't resist? What about Victoria? I try to fight the helplessness threatening to overwhelm me.
But as I return to my empty house, nothing seems to keep the tears at bay, I fold myself onto the sofa and give in to the urge to cry.
After almost and hour, I'm too exhausted to cry, but the cold and the nervous tremors doesn't go away. I make myself some cocoa to hold onto something warm, when my phone pings with two messages.
One is from Charlie, he says he's held up with work and he'll be late. A fresh round of anxiety threatens to overwhelm me. On one hand he's investigating the accidents in the woods, which is more likely the wolves and every time he goes out there his life is in serious danger. On the other hand the longer he stays out, the less chance there is that Laurent might track down my house and find him here.
The next message is from Jake, 'Hey Bella, are you alright?'
I feel a brief irritation, with the day I have had, I can't deal with Jake and his drama right now. But I remember my regrets back in the meadow when I thought I was going to die, without sorting things out between us. And that prods me to reply.
'Yes, why wouldn't I be?'
'No reason, just asking.'
'Ok, I hope you are feeling better.' There you go, my olive branch, if he doesn't make a move to repair out friendship, it will bother me, actually it'll bother me a lot. But I have had it with begging people to stay in my life.
'Look Bella, there are stuff I can't tell you. It's better for you if we don't hang out.' Wow, that doesn't sound condescending at all. But wait, what stuff…
'Don't tell me you have joined Sam Uley's cult.'
'It's not a cult.' Jake's typing…
'Wow Jake, just wow.' The nerve! I suddenly feel irrationally angry. He promised, the stupid shit.
'Look it's not what you think, it's not I thought either. But I can't tell you.'
'You know what, I don't want to know.' My fingers shake as I type.
'It'd be so much better if you knew.' Jake's typing…
But he doesn't write anything else after that. Am I imagining things or does he sound regretful?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Charlie texts that he won't be home for dinner, so I put his share of lasagne in the oven. I don't feel hungry after a couple of bytes. I make some tea and bring it to the living room as I curl up on the sofa.
'Hey Bella.' Jake again, guess he's ready to talk to me for real.
'Yep, still here.'
'Do you remember the story I told you the first time you came over with your classmates?'
'About the cold ones? Yeah.'
'Figures that's the part you'd remember.'
'Hey! I also remember your ancestors being friends with wolves.'
'That's not what I said!'
'Much more believable than being descended from wolves.' But then I remember the giant wolves in the meadow, what if? But no. is it even possible? No, It's not. Pull yourself together Bella, you don't have to go looking for supernatural everywhere.
Jake sends a grimacing emoji back in reply.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I must have fallen asleep on the sofa, one moment I'm texting Jake and the next I'm jolting awake, and it's past twelve, and I'm alone in the house. There is someone on the porch, that must be what woke me up earlier. Laurent has found me at last. But I refuse to go down without a fight. I scramble up and run to the hall cupboard to grab one of the guns Charlie keeps in the house.
Charlie have made sure that I knew how to handle all the guns he owned and gun safety. I have always been a pacifist, but if I am going to die, I will die fighting. So by the time the front door opens, I am ready with the rifle pointed towards the intruder.
"Whoa there! Bella!" Charlie's eyes threaten to bug out of his head. I almost sob in relief. My hands shake as I lock the safety and then I'm flying across the hall to jump into his arms. He has to take a step back as I slam into him and clutch him desperately.
"Bella, honey? What happened?" He sounds thoroughly spooked. I can't blame him, I have been crying ever since I came back from the meadow, my face is swollen and blotchy, I must look like a mess and he has walked into his own house at midnight only to find himself at the wrong end of a rifle.
"I- I was so worried, and- and you weren't coming back…" I try to get my breathing under control as I take a step back from him, looking like a tomato, most probably.
To my surprise, he pulls me close and smooths my hair away from my face, "Well, I'm here now, and everything is fine." He speaks with such tenderness that he soon joins me in the colouring department. We both clear our throats.
"Well I have got some lasagne in the oven if you are hungry."
"I'm famished!" Charlie cries happily and moves to the kitchen.
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I spend the next few days with such a heightened level of anxiety, jumping at every little sound, looking over my shoulder every chance I get, that Charlie starts to notice, I try to play it off but that does make him text me frequently whenever he's late from work, which I'm thankful for.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Angela is in love with the shots I got once we develop them together. She and Eric gush over them at lunch, and we manage finalise our entry for the exhibition.
My insomnia has gotten worse with my anxiety. I have started catching naps here and there to make up for the lack of sleep, but it's difficult to relax enough to close your eyes, when the tapping of the branches on your window sends you into panic attacks and everyday you expect Laurent or Victoria to storm the Newton's store. I constantly feel watched, which doesn't help matters.
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Jake has texted a couple times, but every time he hints that there is a secret I need to figure out and he is not safe for me to hang out with. It gives me such a strong sense of deja vu, that I decide to stop talking to him on principle.
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However, that resolution of mine goes out of the window as I come down for breakfast one weekend morning to find Charlie cleaning his hunting rifles.
"Are we going to war?" I say in leu of good morning.
Charlie rolls his eyes, "We are hunting wolves."
I scald my hand as the coffee sloshes in the mug, "W-wolves." I croak.
Charlie doesn't notice my reaction, "Yeah, people have reported seeing a couple of wolves near the spots where the hikers have been attacked. It may not have been bears after all. We have been asked to help with the hunt."
"Are-are you sure th-that's safe?" I don't want Charlie anywhere near those monstrous wolves, but how do I even tell him? He will never believe me. Yeah dad, don't go near the hybrid alien wolves, they are taller than you and will kill you, by the way, there are vampires around, so better watch out for that too, and while we are on that topic, your great Dr. Cullen was one. Right, that would go over well. Padded room and straitjacket well.
Charlie of course was unaware of my inner monologue, "Don't worry kiddo, we're not going alone, we have rangers working, our department from all nearby precincts, we even asked help from the Rez, but they don't want to participate, they have their reasons."
"Really? Why not?" I ask, I can already guess the answer.
"Well, according to their myths,, their ancestors were descended from wolves. Billy and Harry used to tell me these stories, so it's a sign of disrespect for them to hunt wolves. We can't really ask it of them."
"Oh, will you be careful? And promise not to go anywhere by yourself?" I ask, a bit more forcefully than I intended.
Charlie only smiles, "I will, don't you worry kiddo. I know how to take care of myself."
I just nod, who knows what will come out if I open my mouth again.
But as he leaves for the hunt, I have a decision to make. And in the end it's not a hard decision. I have grown to care for Jake too much to risk his life on the off chance that my hunch is wrong. I make up my mind as I get ready. I need to see a boy about some wolves.
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I drive to La Push for the first time in weeks, the sky has been overcast since morning, and it starts to rain by the time I reach Billy's house. walking from my truck to the front porch of the Black's has me soaked as I raise my fist to knock. I hear the creaking of Billy's wheelchair within a minute as I fidget.
"Bella! What are you doing here?" Billy sounds surprised.
"You didn't ask that the last few times I was here, Billy." I give him a tight smile. Does he really think I'm that stupid?
"Well, things have changed." He looks down guiltily.
"Look, I need to talk to Jake, it's a bit urgent." I cut to the chase.
"Um, Jake is out, with his friends." Billy chooses his words carefully.
"When will he be back?" I ask, unsure how much Billy knows and how much I should tell him. Does he know about Sam and his cult of bad boys?
"I don't know." He shrugs.
"Well, can I at least come in?" I ask, finally loosing patience.
"Yes, of course, do come in." He says, but he moves away from the door with slow reluctance.
I step into the warm house with relief, the cold and the rain was freezing me. I take off my jacket and sink into the well worn leather couch.
"Would you like some coffee?" He offers politely.
I nod and go into the kitchen to make us both coffee. His face softens at my practised movements as I come back with two mugs and hand him one.
"How are you, Billy?" I ask, I have been treating him a bit rudely, I think, he commands respect from everyone who knows him.
"I'm doing okay, same old." Finally a smile breaks through his somber face. "How're you? How's Charlie?"
"I'm good." I say taking a sip, then on a hunch I go on, "Charlie is out hunting wolves this morning." I watch his face as he tries to mask the worry on his face, although worry for who, I can't tell.
"Yes, he did tell us something about that." He says finally, "We can't help him, it is forbidden for us to hunt or hurt wolves."
"Yes, I know." Billy watches me but doesn't react otherwise.
I finish my coffee and stand up, "Thanks for the coffee, Billy. Please tell Jake I said hi."
"I will." Billy hesitates then adds, "I wish it was simple, Bella. But as things stand now, it is better…"
"I understand, Billy, don't worry about it." I have had enough of that already.
"You do?" Billy looks surprised, and cautious.
"About me needing to keep distance from Jake? Yes I do. Don't worry, I won't bother him again." I pull on my jacket and close the door softly on my way out.
"What are you doing here?" Evidently I'm not destined to keep my promise, I sigh as I turn around to face Jake. He looks taller and bigger than I remember. He is scowling at me in a way I have never seen before, in fact, I have seen him scowling before, period.
"I came to see you." I say simply, calmly. Are you a wolf, Jacob? I clamp down on the urge to scream the question at him.
"I told you I can't see you, I told you we can't hang out." He spits bearing down on me. I try to hold my ground, but it's difficult, he has a dangerous aura he didn't have before, and my instinct tells me to back down. I compromise by climbing into the driving seat.
"I came to tell you that Charlie has joined a hunting party, they are trying to shoot a pack of wolves that have been seen around the accident spots with the hikers." I struggle to keep my voice calm.
"What are you talking about? Why are you telling me this?" Jakes tries to sound confident, but he refuses to meet my eyes now.
"Because you are my friend, and that's what friends do." Jake blanches at that, he opens his mouth, but I shake my head and he swallows his reply.
"I don't know what secrets you are keeping, nor do I want to know, not if you can't tell me. You are my friend and I care about you, and I don't want you to get hurt, in any way. That being said, you better hope Charlie doesn't get hurt in any way either." I give him a hard stare, his eyes widen.
"I do hope you know what you are doing, Jacob Black." With that I drive away from his house, finally letting the tears fall. Jake looks stricken in my rear view mirror.