CH 14

I let out a sigh and send him a strained smile when he sets her down. "hey Catt" he held out his hand, "hey Jake. You got a minute."

"yah of course come on in. everything ok?" we followed him inside. "minor things." I rolled my eyes as Bella snorted. "alright what's up then?"

"as I am sure you have seen in the news people ate going missing in Port Angeles?"

"yah my dad just mentioned it the other day to me, you know something about it?"

"yes I went to investigate today-" "alone-" "right, yes I went alone, and found a building no longer in use. But the scent of wolves and vampires filled the place."

"I see. Non of my wolves would work with vampires willingly without a good reason. Even after everything you have taught us."

"I agree, and I have come to recognize your wolves, these were not of La Push. I want to search the city more, however Bella is not a fan of me going alone again." He sends her a smirk, "of course. When do you plan on going again? I can have Paul and Embry go with you, would that be enough?"

"plenty, and tomorrow evening if possible. I wouldn't ask as I can handle myself but Isabella is- well I do not wish to worry her while I am there."

"no worries, I would feel the same way of it were Leah."

"thank you, I truly appreciate this."

"yah of course. And I don't mean to rush you guys out but I have patrol now." I send the boy a smile, "of course, and if you could use help with anything you know where to find me." we said our good byes and he hugged her before we were back in the car and on the way back to her place.

"are you staying?"

"do you want me to?" she gave me a look that said really? "I'm staying." I followed her up the stairs and didn't have the energy to make it to the bathroom to change so I stripped down and pulled on the shorts and shirt well aware of her eyes on me the entire time. I plopped down with a groan, we still have a few days, you should not be this sore Catt. I know. She went to the bathroom to change and then climbed into my arms where she drifted to sleep quickly. I however could not sleep as my mind went a million miles an hour thinking about what she said earlier. Why would she want this? She wants forever Catt, with us, is that so hard to believe? Yes. He promised her eternity, and then he took it back. So she is with us for immortality? You ask she not think so little of you, do the same for her child. That girl loves you. A sigh escaped me as guilt crashes at the thoughts. Why Saphira? why does she want to turn? Why does she want to spend forever with us? Or why does she love you? I paused at the last question, is that what has been bothering me? I never wanted a mate, I never thought I deserved on. You are not who you use to be child. I'm also not that different Saphira. how could she love me if she knew what I was back then, the monster I had allowed myself to be turned into. I enjoyed it Saphira. We both did Catt, but that is not who we are anymore, and we will never be like that again. How do you know? How do you know one day I won't break again? Because I don't think she would allow it. Believe it or not Catt, who you are now is worth the love you don't think you deserve, and she loves you. I laid there for the rest of the night staring at the ceiling as sleep just wouldn't come thinking of her words. She was right, she usually was, I didn't think I deserved to have a mate, to have someone love me so completely, especially someone as sweet and innocent as Bella. And she did, she loved parts of me that terrified myself, she was willing to endure hell to spend eternity by my side. And I didn't get it, I loved her, I know I did no matter how foreign the feeling was for me, but I did. And I know without a doubt when I wasn't blinded by the moons pull if she asked again I would not be able to deny her. I could deny her nothing.

I was still staring when the human in my arms started to stir, bringing my eyes to hers I catch her brown orbs focused on me. "morning."

"good morning, did you sleep well?"

"better than you from the looks of it." I smile tiredly down at her, "wasn't tired."

"Bull Catt."

"…just couldn't sleep love."

"is it because of the full moon in two day?"

"ehh kind of." Ok so that was only slightly not true, it is definitely making things harder to sleep. "well I suggest you sleep while I am at school then if you plan on going to Port Angeles tonight. I can drive myself and Lauren to school."

"But-"

"No Catt, go to sleep, please, for me. it will be fine." She crawled out of my arms and left the room, I heard the shower turn on a moment later and buried my head in the pillow with a groan as I tried not to think of her in there all wet.

I was starting to drift off buried in the blankets when I felt her enter the room but I didn't have energy left to do anything about it as she pressed a kiss to my cheek and walked out. I drifted into darkness shortly after.

When I woke up again my head was pounding worse than any hangover. With a groan I clutch my head and roll over burying my head back into the pillows and inhaling my mates scent just before my phone went off. Blindly reaching for it I answer without checking the ID with a mumbled hello, "Hey Catt It's Paul, me and Embry are on our way to Bella's, that's where were meeting you right?"

"huh? Paul? Oh yah, yah I'm at Bella's. when will you be here?" running a hand over my face I try to fight back the throbbing in my head, "probably 20 minutes or so with this rain."

"Ok perfect, thanks guys. Il see you soon."

"See ya Catt." I rolled over once again and tried to get up only to fall to my knees at the pain. Saphira? I'm sorry Catt, I have no answers for why it's worse this month so early. With a shake of my head I stumble back to my feet and towards my purse and swallow a few Fentanyl, the only thing I have been able to find to dull any of the pain at all. So far it's the strongest pain killer around. I take the few steps to the door slowly as my vision starts to clear a little and grab some clothes. I pulled them on slowly as every movement hurt, my muscles felt as if I had been working out nonstop for days and every step down took effort. I let out a sigh as I reached the last one and took in my mate sitting watching tv with her dad before she noticed me. A beautiful smile lit up her face before it quickly turned to concern and I tried to send her a reassuring one myself. "your awake."

"I am, how was school?"

"it was school, Catt are you ok? You don't look so good."

"she's right Catt you look like hell." I send the man a smile "why thank you chief" and laugh a little when he blushes "I just mean-"

"I know, don't worry, I am fine. But I am starving, did you already eat?"

"yah but I saved you a plate it's in the microwave." I place a kiss to her cheek, "your amazing thanks." I head for the kitchen as she followed me, she gently pushed me toward the chair at the table before heating up the food. "Catt maybe-"

"they are already on their way. I will be fine." I closed my eyes at my short response and try again, "really babe, I will be fine, I'll have two big bad wolves with me." she placed the food in front of me as I send her a smile. "will you be coming back after?" I take my time chewing as I think of a way to respond, "I think it would be best if I went home instead, tomorrow is the full moon."

"but you said I wouldn't be In danger?"

"and you won't, but that doesn't mean anyone else won't be." I tired to explain, but this girl had an argument for everything, "then wouldn't the forest be safer than a city like port Angeles?" I thought on her words, she is right. "perhaps during the actual change yes, but during the day, I would rather not put you through my-unpleasantness any more then needed." I stop up short on her next words "your not going to scare me away Catt." My reply was cut off by the nocks at the door though. "I will see." Getting up I hold in my groan and place a lingering kiss on her lips, "I love you."

"I love you to." And I headed through the house towards where the boys waited talking to Charlie, "see you later chief."

"see ya Catt, you guys be careful out in this rain please."

"Always Chief, bye babe!"

"bye." I threw up the hoot to my leather trench coat and trudged through the pouring rain to a truck that looked just as beat up as Bella's. "will this thing make it or should we take my car?"

"I say the truck, it brings less attention, no offence."

"non taken" as I jump into the middle seat and Paul takes the driver's side with Embry on my right.

With that he took off down the road, and surprisingly the thig ran pretty good, and was able to go over 60 which was nice. "so how is this going to go?"

"well Port Angeles is bigger than Forks, but it's not big. We could split up to cover more ground, you and Embry take one side I take the other an meet in the middle. But the second we catch anything call the others?"

"normally I would agree, especially because I have seen what you can do and know you can take care of yourself…"

"but?"

"but you look like shit Catt." My eyes widened at his blunt ness but my sharp reply died as I saw the concern in his eyes. Most of them see you as a friend Catt, they care. With a flinch, "I am- the full moon is tomorrow."

"it affects you this much?" tilting my head to Embry, "it's not supposed to, at least not until tomorrow. This would be normal tomorrow."

"why are you-sick-today then?" good question. "I have no idea. But were here, so let's get to work. That's my garage you can pull in there, we will have to take it by foot."

"at least you live by the harbor and we just have to make our way inland."

We decided to separate by only a few blocks as we made our way down the streets and they still sent me worried glances, it was weird, the only time o was ever use to those looks was because people were worried I'd snap. Shaking my head I continued walking the empty street trying to catch any scents as the rain pounded down on me. we made it about 2 miles before I had an idea and hopped up to the top pf the building and traveled from up there. Leaping from building to building I scanned the city for anything suspicious and let out a growl when nothing came up. Or so I thought, as soon as the growl left me it was echoed by another, spinning on my heels I crouched low just as vampire came flying at me. It hit me with a hard thud the heel of my boot catching on the edge of the building, next thing I knew I was mid-air trying to keep his arms from getting around me as we plummeted 5 stories down. With a solid kick to his torso I managed to push him away and flip around as I shifted into my half form to catch the ladder on the side of the building with my claws. I managed to slow my-self down enough to push off and land on my feet as he hit the ground like thunder. With a snarl I launched myself at him before he could pull himself up with a hand on his throat.

Looking into his feral eyes and the snarl on his face as well as the strength he was using to break free I could tell already he was a newborn. Two sets of footprints ran up behind me the loud noise informing me it was my two wolves. "fucking leech. You alright Catt? We saw you fall."

"Cats land on their feet." Embry let out a snicker as I looked back down "who created you and why?" his only response was a pathetic growl. Which was again interrupted by Embry "Catt you have a tail!" and I froze, shit, I only showed Bella this part of me. "Can we focus please?"

"right right. Alright leech, tell us what we want to know or Catt here is gona set your sparkly ass on fire." I send a smirk down at him as fire leaps in my eyes and I finally spot real fear on his face. "he'll kill me." he uttered. "it's not him who has you by the neck, who is he?"

"he'll kiss us all."

"the Volturi will kill you all with the messes you have been leaving behind. No give me a fucking name!" I roared. roared. All he did was shake his head and close his eyes waiting for the inevitable. With a sigh, "then tell me what he wants." Eyes open wide, "a girl."

"a girl?"

"yes, a human girl that got away or something. He said he's a hunter." My entire world froze, "a name, give me a name and I'll let you go, I'll give you a chance to disappear."

"Catt-"

"I give you my word." He swallowed unnecessarily a couple times as he thought over my words, "you promise?" Ignoring the wolves arguments, "I do."

"James, his name is James."

My mind blanked for a moment before spinning, he's dead, she said he was dead. Why lie about something like that? I stumbled off of the vampire who sat still for a moment before flashing off and down the street. My back hit the wall of the building as the boys came to check on me. "Catt what is it. do you know this vampire?" my breathing became shallow as I tried to retain some control of myself, "no, but Bella does." They went from shocked to confused to understanding in seconds. "are you going to go talk to her?"

"I'm not sure that's wise right now."

"Catt, you need to talk to her, but after you are in control."

They are right, as much as it pains me to think she may have lied, it is necessary. "aye. We have all we are going to get, you guys head home, I'm going to go home for a moment."

"you sure?"

"yes." With that they were headed back toward the truck as I stood there soaking wet being pelted by the rain. I didn't bother going home, I didn't bother shifting back, I headed right for the forest.