CH 23 Tanya POV

I let out a growl as I watched from the trees as she kicked the door in just before the helicopter could zoom in on her. The cops yelling at her to stop not sure if they should follow. I could hear the gunshots from inside the warehouse and quickly made my way towards the back of the building, the others following. Lucky the cops that were back here had ran towards the front when the gun went off. I barely made it to the door when it was flung open. There before me was the police Chief covered in blood looking panicked as he held an unconscious Catt, blood seeping through her coat. He looked up at us with wide eyes and took a step back. I could hear the feet running our way, Rosalie stepped forward "Chief Swan hand us Catt so we can help her before they find you guys."

"your-you're a Cullen."

"Technically yes, but were here to help, and she needs help now before she bleeds out."

"she-she-she"

"We know, but we have to take here before they find out and you can't just disappear." He seemed to think it over in his panic and desperately handed her over to Rose, we disappeared just as the other cops flew out the door checking on him. I didn't bother listening to whatever story he told them as we made our way far into the forest to set her down. "the bullet is still inside her, we need to get it out so she will heal." Rosalie thankfully went to med school once with Carlisle and was able to pull the bullet out quickly, but she still wasn't healing. "here Tanya put pressure there." I did as she said as she went to wrap her jacket around her over the wound. "she should be healing, Tanya what is she? I don't know what she needs." I know exactly what she needs, but had no idea how to get it to her "…she needs blood."

"Jasper go find a deer."

"No, she can't feed on animal blood."

"…well we can't exactly feed her a human!"

"no…no but she was drinking human blood at Bella's. Let's go." This time I picked the unconscious woman up and ran as fast as I could without jostling the hole in her shoulder too much. We made it to Forks in record time and circled around until we were in her backyard. Kate was immediately before me "what the hell happened is she ok!" I don't think I have ever seen my sister look so frantic and downright scared. "Kate I get your worried but I need you to move, now." She let out a growl but did as I asked. "what happened?" I didn't bother knocking, I set her down on the table as Bella and Lauren walked in, well rushed in. "what happened?!"

"I don't know but she isn't healing do you have any blood left?" she nodded and went to the fridge pulling out a thermos. I lifted her head slightly so Bella could hold the thermos to her lips, the blood slowly made its way down her throat. She never woke up but I watched the bullet hole close before my eyes. I fell back into the chair with a sigh, now sure she was going to be fine. Bella turned to me with a look in her eyes that I admit scared even me, "what happened?"

"I don't know, your father carried her out unconscious."

"my father? Is he ok?"

"as far as I know yes, but we need to find out what to tell him, I'm not sure what he saw." She let out a relieved breath her watery eyes going back to Catt. "she saved him?"

"looked like it yes." Kate stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder ignoring how much she tensed "is she going to be ok? Now that she has had blood?" she took a deep breath and stepped away from Kate, "she should be but I don't know this close to the full moon." Kates face dropped, as much as she jokes around I know how much finding her mates means to her. She was about try again when Catt started stirring on the table, Bella rushed forward helping her as she tried to sit up, "Catt, Catt can you hear me? Are you ok?" she rubbed her back as she coughed up some blood. Kate grabbed her some water to wash her mouth out with as she caught her breath. "Catt what happened? Is my dad ok?" she nodded, "…I don't know?" she looked around until her eyes landed on me "I killed the last vampire before I was shot, is he ok?"

"As far as I know yes, we took you from him right before the other cops got to him. Who shot you? A vampire wouldn't use a gun."

"no, it was Charlie."

"my dad shot you!"

"well, he didn't exactly know it was me when he pulled the trigger. He got me out of the building?"

"yes he was carrying you out the back when we got to you."

"shit, he is going to want an explanation." She murmured shaking her head. When it looked like Catt was ok and sitting on her own she took a step back crossing her arms and putting a blank look on her face. She however couldn't hide the tears in her eyes no matter how hard she tried.

Bella POV

I was trying so hard, God I was trying hard not to let the tears fall. I saw the pain in her own eyes as I took a few steps back. How could she have lied to me this whole time? How could I have fallen for it? How could I be so stupid? How could I had ever thought this gorgeous amazing woman could be mine? That we were meant to be. She reached for the thermos and finished it on one swallow as the vampire took a step towards her "do you need more?" She really was beautiful, they would make a much better couple, it makes more sense for them to be together. I looked down at the ground clenching my fists, hoping no one saw the tear I wiped away. And then an incredibly warm finger was lifting my chin up until I met her green eyes filled with her own pain. "I did not lie to you." She whispered but I know everyone in the room heard anyways. Thankfully Tanya spoke up, "you clearly need to talk, we will leave you be, but please let us know what happens with her dad." She never looked away from me but she nodded. "Kate where is Alice?"

"…circling the house." With that they filed out of the room, Lauren doing the same. When the door closed behind them I let the tears fall freely. She hesitated for a moment before taking me into her arms, once more whispering the words I wanted so badly to believe "I did not lie to you. We are mates Bella." I clung to her as the tears fell, she held me for what felt like forever as I sobbed into her shoulder. Eventually I pulled away and focused on what was really important, "what happened? At the warehouse." She let out a sigh, "well when I got there the only ones in the warehouse, alive, was your father and one vampire. Your dad was firing at him, and obviously it wasn't doing anything. I distracted him, killed him, then the Chief shot me." I shook my head "I still can't believe my dad shot you."

"…well, as I said he didn't know it was me, until it was to late." I crossed my arms "how are you feeling? With that and the full moon coming up? I wasn't sure you would heal the same."

"I am fine, had I been feeding regularly I would have heeled faster."

"you have been feeding."

"yes but not regularly, not enough for a bullet hole." I nodded taking that in before whispering my question "you didn't lie?" she met my eyes, tears in hers "No Bella, Saphira did imprint on you. And this doesn't take that away. This doesn't change anything."

"how can it not Catt? You imprinted on me, and then you imprinted on her. So which is it? What does it mean?" She looked down at the ground for a minute before meeting my eyes, "It doesn't have to change anything. Basically, a triad formed."

"…a triad?"

"aye, while in most cases there is a mated pair, sometimes, rarely but possible there are three who mate together." I took a deep breath, "so basically, I am your mate, and she is also your mate?"

"yes." I watched as her eyes shifted just about everywhere but me, "and? Your hiding something."

"your right, I am her mate and she is my mate. But with a triad, well, you're her mate to." I admit my mind blanked for a moment, but I didn't have time to reply as the house phone rang. I rushed over to answer it, "hello?"

"Bella? Bella is that you?"

"dad? Yah its me, are you ok? I saw the news." I heard his sigh of relief and locked eyes with Catt. "look Bella I want you to stay inside ok, lock all the doors and just stay inside. Don't let anyone in. Are you alone? Is Lauren with you?"

"uh well yah she's in the other room. And uh, well Catt's here to." I rushed out only for him to pause before quietly, "Catt is with you?"

"…yah dad she is right here."

"…has she been with you all day?" I closed my eyes knowing he was questioning his sanity, and then I met hers. She knew what this would do to me, what it would do to him, so she sent me a small smile and nodded her head. So I took a deep breath "…No dad, she hasn't. But you already know that." He lowered his voice not knowing it wouldn't make a difference "Bella are you safe with her there?" I looked at her in time to catch the offended scowl on her face, "dad, no place is safer." A soft smile lifted her lips. "ok, ok. I still want you staying inside until I get home and we talk."

"ok dad, are you coming home soon?"

"yes, I am just going over reports, trying to, figure things out. What to say."

"…dad…-"

"I know Bella, not like anyone would believe me." With that reassurance we said our goodbye and hung up. Catt stood there with her arms crossed looking more nervous than I have ever seen, maybe even a little scared, the question just slipped out "do you still love me?" She looked up shocked but there was no hesitation "more than anything." I felt my heart beating faster but I kept going "and Saphira? Does she still love me?" Her eyes flashed completely until I knew it was Saphira behind them. "we are still yours Isabella, that has not changed." I couldn't stop the snort, "yah except now I have to share you." Her eyes shifted back "not if you don't want to." Raising a brow "doesn't look like I have much choice Catt."

"you will always have a choice with me Bella. I would never force you into anything." I took a deep breath "I don't want to have this conversation right now. I need to think." A pained look was on her face at her next words "do you want me to leave? I do not feel comfortable going far with everything going on, but I will stay outside if you wish? Or I can call Jake. Or-"

"I don't want you to leave Catt." She nodded her head but said nothing, but I saw the relief in her eyes before she covered it up. I fell into the couch now that I knew my father was ok, "what are we going to tell him?" She took a few tentative steps towards me "whatever you want to tell him."

"and you think the Cullen's are going to be ok with that? Telling him the truth?"

"I don't really care what the Cullen's think about it. If it is what you want to do then we will."

"and what about these Kings Jasper mentioned."

"they don't have to know, just as they don't know about you and Lauren. And if they find out I will deal with it. I am not concerned with them. But is that what you want? To tell him the truth?" I really thought about it for a second, he was already questioning his sanity "I can't lie to him."

"then we tell him. And explain the importance of secrecy." I nodded thankful she was so open about it. I finally couldn't take it and got up walking over to her and into her warm arms. She held me without a word, her hand running up and down my back soothingly. I backed away as a throat cleared, turning to Lauren who stood in the hallway, "sorry but I really had to pee." Catt chuckled "it's fine, we decided to just tell Charlie." She nodded to probably already assuming we would. "And about turning us?" Well shit. "we haven't gotten that far yet, perhaps he doesn't need to know that part right away." I nodded "true but Catt my dad I a smart man."

"aye, he may question it anyways, if he doesn't shoot me first." I sent her a smirk, "he already shot you, I think he gets it won't kill you."

"haha. He still might try." I shrugged "it will probably be awhile until he gets home, we should get some food."

"I thought your father said to stay inside?" I turned to Catt and deadpanned "are you suggesting you can't protect us?" Her lips turned up into a snarl but Lauren interrupted before she could snap "maybe we should just order a pizza or something?" We both heard her but continued to stare each other down. I knew I was being unfair, I knew it was hurting her, us. I also knew she had no control over it, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt like hell. "fine, we'll order pizza" I finally said.

For the next 30 minutes while we waited for the pizza, me and Lauren sat in front of the TV, neither of us really paying any attention. Catt stood in front of the window looking out, her hands clenching every now and then. I knew the pizza arrived when she moved for the door, she tipped the boy and closed the door, dropping the food on the table in front of us before going back to the window without a word. "are you not going to eat?" I asked and she never spared me a glance "I'm not hungry."

"Bullshit Catt, I know how you get when it's close to the full moon." She turned to me blinking a couple of times "I'm fine Bella, really." I took a deep breath so I wouldn't snap "Catt, come eat. Please." She blinked a few more times before silently doing as I asked. She sat as far away from me as possible, her face blank, but her eyes were pained as if she was trying to prepare herself. She looked uneasy with each bite she took, as if her stomach was as uneasy as mine. I made the decision then, as I watched her face that I believed her, that we were in fact mates, that she didn't lie to me, that every time I looked into her eyes and saw the love it was real. That I was in now way going to give that up. I got up and moved over until I was sitting right next to her, I felt every inch of her tense as my side slid against hers. She stared down at her pizza as if she was unsure what to do next, when she finally looked over to me I whispered for only her to hear "your still mine. As of right now that's all I know." She nodded and slowly started to relax against me. Eventually one arm wrapped tentatively around me as if she thought I would slap it away at any moment. We sat there in silence for what felt like hours, the only sound was the low volume of the TV that no one was watching. And then we all heard it, the sound of the cruiser pulling up in front of the house. I took a deep breath as I heard the car door shut, all of our eyes going to the front door as it opened slowly.

Catt POV

I swear my heart was going to beat right out of my chest as the door slowly opened. All eyes zeroed in on the man who walked through. He closed the door softly behind him before looking up at us. And then his eyes landed on me, my shoulder where the hole in blood stained shirt still sat, and then to Bella who was glued to my side. I give the man credit though at his first words "is my daughter safe with you?" I met his eyes "I would give my life for hers, there is no place safer." He regarded me for a moment before he nodded and walked past us to the kitchen. When he came back out he had a 6 pack of beer with him and he fell into his chair before opening one. "your…healed. Your shoulder, it's better." It was not a question but I answered "yes."

"…I shot you. Hours ago." My lips twitched "yes."

"and you are fine."

"I am." We sat there in silence as he took another couple of drinks, finally he asked "how?" I took a breath as Bella placed a hand on my thigh, stopping the leg from bouncing, I took what strength I could from her touch and simply gave the man the truth "I am not human. I heal faster and better." His eyes landed on my reading everything like the cop he was, and then he downed his beer and cracked open another one. And then he downed that one. "what are you?" I give the man credit for taking this in stride, but lets just see how he takes it all. "I am half witch. And I am half Were." He ran a hand over his face like he didn't want to believe it but was trying "Were, what does that mean."

"think werewolf, but not a wolf."

"…the deaths in Port Angeles and Seattle?"

"Not me." I jumped in before Bella could. "That man at the warehouse?"

"a vampire, and yes very responsible for some of the deaths."

"vampires, werewolves, witches, this is all fucking crazy." My eyes widened with Bella's at the language I never heard him speak. "Ridiculous, impossible, impossible, but… "

"but what dad?" he turned to his daughter, the look on his face haunted "I fired round after round at this man Bella. And all he did was grin." She nodded and placed a hand on his knee, "I know dad, their skin is like, it's like diamonds. Unbreakable." I snorted but she ignored it, "you knew?"

"I knew they existed yes, and I knew about Catt." He nodded before turning to me "the look on his face, it was so, so malicious. You killed him."

"yes, he would have killed you had I not." Another nod, of everything he knew that was the truth. "thank you." He whispered. "of course Chief." And then his head shot up as if he remembered something "the Cullens?! They were there, I handed you to one of them. the blonde, uhh Rosalie!" I frowned not really remembering that "they brought me back here."

"they, they knew, they-"

"aren't human." Bella whispered before turning to me "this isn't our secret to tell Catt." But I didn't need to answer as he did "Vampires." We all turned to him "the paleness, the looks, they were just so similar but the eyes. Oh god I handed you covered in blood to them!" I had to hide my smile "their eyes are gold because they drink animal blood, the red is because of human blood. And while I am sure I taste delicious they have better control then that." I grunted when Bella's hand came back into my stomach, her father's face reddening. And then it paled "people are dying, people are going missing. And it's all because of these vampires?"

"and some yes, but I am dealing with it Chief."

"how?" I hesitated for a moment, while I have no problems telling him the Cullen's secrets I actually like the wolves. Apparently I hesitated long enough for his mind to go somewhere else "Hold on! The Cullen's are Vampires!? As in Edward Cullen? That little prick you dated? You dated a vampire?!" I leaned back with a smile and watched him go off about the little fucker to her. I caught her glare as she tried to calm him down and explain finally she snapped "Hey Catt isn't human either!"

"yah but she doesn't want to drink your blood Bella!" I hummed at the thought as she snorted "wait you don't do you?" I felt my own face redden this time. With a sigh I leaned forward and explained to him about my species, yet again assuring him she was safe with me. which surprisingly seemed to work, he likes me so much better than him, ha. Eventually the conversation turned to Lauren and how she found out, then back to the Cullen's and finally back to the issue at hand as well as how important it was that everything was kept secret. Of course he looked at me like that was obvious but hey you never know, some people. While this was going on I sent a quick text to Jake and let him know what was going on. With his permission I jumped in to explaining about them and how we were all trying to deal with the situation in our neighboring cities, the vampires help included.