"Pizza!" Thomas said with a broad smile, reaching for the box. Bella slammed her hand down on the lid with a glare and Thomas sat down heavily, a sour expression on his face. "You're such a bitch."
She grumbled something and Thomas rolled his eyes. "Don't go all Makah Native on me," he said but didn't try again for the pizza. "Hows the whole vampire imprint thing going?"
"Fine," she replied tersely.
"Fine?" he repeated doubtfully. "Imprints either go one of two ways – all the way, or seperate ways. By the looks of things you've gone all the way," he said with a wiggle of his bushy eyebrows, which earned him a punch to the arm as she blushed. He laughed loudly. "I knew it!"
"Shut up!" she hissed as her face flamed.
"I never thought I'd see the day Isabella Swan blushed over a man," he said faintly. "But seriously... it is all good, or do I have to bust some balls?"
"No ball busting needed," she said with a roll of her eyes. They sat in her usual spot just beneath the trees on the other side of the river. "He's been the perfect gentleman, given the circumstances."
Thomas remained sceptical but didn't push it any further. He knew better than to meddle with an imprint. He lay on his back. Neither of them cared that the ground was sodden, or that the drizzle had started up again. "It's good to have you back, Swan," he said with a tired sigh.
"You're lucky I don't march your ass back to Neah Bay and order you across the line," she said but her tone was soft and reprimanding, not biting and nasty. "How did everything get to messed up?"
"The moment you wanted to bone a vampire," Thomas offered and Bella didn't slap him, but just laughed because it was utterly ridiculous. "Honestly, of all the people to imprint on, did it have to be a vampire?"
Edward was struck, remembering that Rosalie had said the same thing to him about Bella. He sat in the house, giving the pair time to talk and catch up. She'd only been gone for two days, but those days had been long and arduous for all of them apparently. "At least he doesn't kill people," she offered with a quiet sigh. "It could have been a lot worse. Imagine if I'd imprinted on a Quileute."
Thomas faked a shudder and shook his head. "It doesn't bear thinking about."
"How's my grandpa?" she asked after a few minutes of watching the rain drop into the water and the rings expand out. Leaving her grandpa had been the hardest part of the whole charade.
"Fine – Margaret from the hairdressers has got him set up in her spare bedroom," Thomas said with a cheeky smile. "But that bed looked a little too tidy if you ask me."
"Margaret?" she repeated with a laugh. Marg was a small woman, standing at less than five foot, with a poofy, curly perm and fast disappearing eyesight and hearing. She still worked as a hairdresser on the reservation, and was one of the best. She could cuss out anyone and when she was wielding those scissors you knew to keep your opinions in kind. "Well done Grandpa," Bella said with an appreciative laugh. He'd been alone for more than fifty years after his wife, and her grandmother had been killed by a vampire.
"You should see them together," Thomas went on with a small laugh. "She dotes on him, calling him Harold all the time and acting like they're just friends."
It lifted a hefty weight from her shoulders to know her grandpa was cared for. She knew Margaret lived with her grand daughter, Lisa, who was a nice enough girl. At least he'd have a hot meal and nice bed to sleep in.
"You should hear the shit they spread to cover your disappearance," Thomas said with a click of his tongue as he stared at the sky. "Apparently a mass murdering vampire has manipulated you, and you chose to abandon your people, and your Pack to be with him."
She should have been angry, should have been furious to think that people were hearing such drivel but she just laughed, because she refused to cry. He could see it though, see the sadness behind the smile and the tears in her eyes. "No-one believes it," he assured her. "Everyone knows what the Council is like."
It had been nice out here on her own, without the Council ordering her around and berating her for her every move, without the responsibility of hundreds of people crushing. She loved it, but it was suffocating at times and the taste of freedom had been beautiful. The reminders of what used to be her home and her people only depressed her.
They went for a run, away from the prying ears and eyes of the vampires. As childish and loud as Thomas could be, she knew he was the best friend she could ever have and had her best interests at heart. There was no-one she would rather have at her side.
Her mind flickered to Edward but she cast the thought away quickly. Thomas snorted beside her and she bumped him with her hip in a playful effort to shut him up.
It's that serious already?
It had been only three days since she'd left Neah Bay but it felt like weeks had flown by. He's a good guy, she found herself saying, defending him, a vampire. Odd.
We'll see.
They hunted together, sharing the kill and bemoaning the horrid stench of vampires that seeped into every tree and blade of grass. Thomas was finding it easier than Bella had but it was still uncomfortable to be so close, so they took advantage of the freedom the forest allowed them. They ran without purpose, without care or worry. Their minds and thoughts ran freely, sparring back and forth.
The Cullen's were not to happy for the reunion. Edward had vouched for Bella, and her imprinting had somewhat ensured that she would keep herself in check. There was nothing stopping this new wolf from attacking any of them and it left them uneasy and angry with Carlisle's decision.
They heard it
Of course they could – even five miles away, the distant screaming argument was crisp and clear to their large ears. They'd been laid out on the river bank further down stream, just enjoying the tweeting birds and moment of peace. Bella's sigh was great and she wondered when anything would ever be easy.
We'll find somewhere else, she said, sitting up and getting to her feet.
I'll just tell them I'm not a savage, Thomas said dismissively as he shook the sand and dirt from his fur. It was so straight forward for him.
It's not normal for us to live with vampires, Bella argued weakly. The thought of leaving Edward unprotected, and alone with Tanya made every fibre of her being protest violently but she was Alpha again, and she was no longer looking out for herself. Thomas was her priority now. He heard her thoughts and wanted to argue but kept his opinion quiet and she didn't pay attention to his minds' mumbling.
Back at the house the arguments raged on, even as Bella and Thomas returned and sat listening just beyond the tree line. From the sound of things, Carlisle, Edward and Esme joined forces with Carmen, Kate and Jasper to defend both the wolves while the others stood protesting adamantly, getting louder and louder. There was a crash of something being thrown against a wall – china, if the tinkling was anything to go by.
Bella fidgeted uneasily as she heard Edward's returning shout, defending her with curses and expletives aimed at his family. She hated it. She wanted to turn and walk away. She wanted to walk in there and scream at them to shut the fuck up. This wasn't something to argue over – it was very simple.
Maybe you're right... Thomas thought warily. He had seen his fair share of imprints, and knew that separating was always difficult even on a small scale. Their Pack mate, Jason had found it almost impossible to let his imprint, Kathy, walk out the room without following her. The sense of attachment and care was bound tightly around the couple and he could see it was similar, though not as strong, for Bella and this vampire.
It doesn't matter, Bella insisted meeting his yellow eyes with a steady gaze. I'm a wolf, and you're my Beta. We go together. Nobody will ever change that.
Not even Edward.
We need to find somewhere else to stay... Bella admitted with a sigh as she stood again. Her mind was set and he could see it. She would sacrifice her relationship with Edward for him and in that moment, he knew why she was his Alpha, why she had been chosen year after year and why every one respected her. They might not have liked her, but she demanded respect and got it from everyone around her.
With a nod, they ran back into the forest to find a suitable location. It was painfully clear that they were not welcome so close to the Cullen's house and, as they ran, Bella thought that neutral territory would be the best thing. Not on the Cullen's land, not on Makah soil, but marking out their own territory elsewhere. The further from all of them, the better but the further from Edward they settled, the harder it would be. She knew that, but the safety of her Pack was more important to her and she wasn't about to put Thomas in any more danger than needed.
They split after twenty or so miles. Thomas headed east, and Bella west in an effort to find somewhere. She didn't think anything when his mind became silent and he shifted into a human – she knew not everyone felt as comfortable as she did as a wolf.
That wasn't his intention.
Twenty minutes later and he hopped over that river and marched straight up to the Cullen's house, opened the back door and stepped inside. Arguments were silenced immediately, words hung in the air but eyes were on the doorway as Thomas walked into the living room as easily as if he'd been invited. Splinters of an ornate vase crunched beneath his shoes, and there was a fist sized hole in the wall, all of which he took in patiently and with raised eyebrows.
His laughter bubbled up without thought. "And you have the nerve to think I'm volatile and dangerous?" he said indignantly.
"Where's Bella?" Edward asked immediately. Thomas' eyes settled on him, spotting the tear in his shirt and the way his hands were balled into fists. There were twelve vampires crammed into one, admittedly large, living room with eyes of varying shades of black and dark honey. He knew he was being stupid and, if Bella came back right now, she would drag him out by his ass and the resulting fight wouldn't be so soft but this was his gift to her.
"Looking for other places to stay," he said evenly.
There was a snort from a leggy blond with her arms over her head. She had three doppelgänger's stood around her and it was a little odd to see. "Good."
"Get your head out of your ass," he said with a roll of his eyes. Growls rang out throughout the room but Thomas wasn't fazed at all. "What do you hope to achieve exactly? You think I'm going to hunt you down one by one? You think I'm so juvenile that I'd risk our alliance?" he spat at the blond who narrowed her eyes into a glare. "Don't hide behind fucking ridiculous accusations. You're more likely to slit my throat than I am yours."
"Damn right," she spat.
He wished Bella was there. She was the diplomat. She handled things with grace and dignity while his mind swirled with insults and curses. "You want Edward to chose between his family and his mate?"
His words chilled the heat in the room.
"That's not what we're asking-"
"Clearly you haven't got a mate," he said simply.
Her silence was the answer he needed. "We are no threat to you. None of us like it, but Edward and Bella have screwed everything up and we have to deal with it and shut the fuck up for their sake."
Edward wanted to shake this man's hand, but he knew his words came from his love for Bella, and not from any friendliness towards him. Too long had Edward waited for his mate. He had watched his family, one by one, find their mates while he sat by and longed for his own. It was far from perfect but Bella was his, even with all the baggage that came with her. He had his fair share and they were threatening to ruin everything.
"Bella stays," Carlisle said with a tone of finality, slowly crossing the room and approaching the wolf. "And you are more than welcome to stay as well."
"It isn't going to be that easy," Thomas said with a click his tongue as he leaned against the door frame with such casual ease it was astounding. "We heard your arguing. She's gone into Alpha Mode."
"Which means..." the blond said, her words dripping with impatience.
"Which means," he said mockingly. "She's ready and willing to drop his ass to protect her Pack, which at the moment, is me. She wants neutral territory about forty miles away from La Push, Neah Bay and Forks and it pretty set on getting as far from everyone as possible. You forget that she's an Alpha – it's her duty to protect everyone around her."
Edward didn't like the thought of her being so far away, unprotected and alone. If those newborns were to come through again, with just the two of them, would they stand a chance? "That's not going to happen," Edward all but growled.
"My thoughts exactly," Thomas agreed with a sigh. "It's just convincing her."
–
She knew.
She just fucking knew, as she headed back to the Cullen's house after two hours of searching, that Thomas had pulled something. His scent trailed through the woods but was faded and at least an hour old. He hadn't put too much time into searching, if any at all. His shift into human skin suddenly made more sense and she pushed on as her anger boiled up.
Thomas was her best friend and she loved him, but going behind her back, lying to her and taking decisions out of her hands was too much. He'd crossed a line. In her twelve years as Alpha she'd only had to pull rank a handful of times, and most of them were in the first few months of her stepping into the role. The arguments had stopped and Thomas waited for her in his human form, sat on the river bank with his toes in the water, shoes and socks sat beside him.
She could smell the Cullen's on him. Her eyes went to the house. Carlisle and Edward stood on the patio just outside the back door and a growl slipped from between her teeth without intention. He had the nerve to look nervous as she stalked towards him. He knew she wouldn't attack him in his human form, but it wasn't often her fury was directly solely at him. He had meddled but he hoped she saw that it had come from a good place.
"Bella," Carlisle beckoned quietly. It took a few moments for her to relinquish Thomas from her glare, only to set those narrowed eyes on the blond vampire. "If we could talk?"
She didn't want to.
She felt humiliated. This was the Cullen's territory and they were guests – guests that had outstayed their welcome. She was willing to leave Edward behind and move on to safer ground. It wasn't a decision she made lightly, but it was for the best in the end. She was sure of her choice.
Her steps were fluid and she looked every bit the wild wolf half of the coven believed her to be. As she phased into her human form her expression remained flat, her eyes hard and blank as she stood before Carlisle. Gone were the smiles and formalities. Stood before them was an Alpha.
"We think it would be better for you to remain close to our property," Carlisle began, meeting those calculating eyes with ease.
"I bet," she said shortly.
"We don't know if or when more newborns will filter through and, we think it would be safer to stick together than separate. We're stronger together," Carlisle said with sincerity.
"Together we're a sitting target," Bella argued smoothly. "There's already too many of us in one place. One attack would wipe out more than half of the alliance. Distance would make all of our lives easier, and protect against unnecessary bickering."
"You can't just leave," Edward said softly.
"Yes I can," Bella replied, turning her cold eyes on him. "If Thomas is right, more wolves will be on their way. It would be safer for us to be away from your coven."
It had nothing to do with them. Emotions and imprints were removed from the equation.
"No-one will touch your people," Carlisle said with a promise in his eyes. "This is my land and you are welcome, not only as Edwards imprint but as allies. Anyone who has a problem with that arrangement can leave – no-one will stop them," he said to the occupants of the house. Eyebrows were raised. Carlisle had never once pulled rank, but as coven leader he had ever right to. Usually his words were followed without question but this woman was throwing his family into a right state.
Alpha and coven leader stared at one another, and Edward realised the politics that were unfolding in front of him. A new kind of alliance was being formed and he had no say in it.
"More will come," Bella warned.
"And they will be welcomed also."
She wasn't sure. It was a risk. Thus far, she only had Thomas to contend with but what if more arrived? Could this many vampires live alongside a Pack of wolves? She was sceptical. Her Pack was her priority. They all awaited the decision – the final say. She was free to leave and relocate in fact she had been right – it would be much easier for everyone involved. Life would be easier.
There stood Edward, literally and metaphorically, begging her to stay, to take that chance and risk it for him. She was an Alpha first. Behind her, Thomas splashed his feet in the water like a child and she knew it was he who had orchestrated this. "We'll see how it goes," she said warily.
–
Thomas had smartly made his excuses and left Bella to stew in her thoughts after her talk with Carlisle. She had relished the idea of being as far from the house as possible – away from the Denali's, from the acidic comments and nasty blonde's. It seemed her act of heroism the day previous had been long forgotten and she was once again the dirty mutt who needed to be put down and it was wearing thin.
Edward went to speak with her. Things were different between them now. She was Alpha again and her every move and decision would be influenced by that.
She didn't want to talk, not to Edward and not to Thomas. She didn't want to answer questions or explain herself. She wasn't sure her answers would be up to scratch. Still, he sat down opposite her with his legs dangling over the river while she did the same on her side. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No," she responded immediately.
It was frustrating. He could see her thoughts flashing across her eyes, lining her forehead and tightening her jaw but he was clueless. She was still angry, still on edge but he was frustrated as well. He'd stood and watched his family split – screaming and fighting for Bella to leave, fighting for her to stay. He saw coven's at war. He'd never seen his family so torn or so passionate about anything in all of his life. He and Emmett had come to physical blows – a particular low point that neither of them had reconciled yet.
"Do you want to leave?"
She'd wanted silence and peace, just the illusion of it at least but it was too much to ask for. His question was loaded and there was no right answer. No answer seemed to fit.
"I want to do the right thing," she said, her eyes gazing, unseeing at the water flowing between them. It was like her first day here, like they'd regressed all the way back to the beginning, to awkward conversations and silence.
"And staying isn't the right thing to do?"
"Not for my Pack," she said coldly. "Your family," she spat the word, "have made it very clear that we are not welcome here, to the point of hostility. Not for one moment have I judged your family for what you are but you seem so eager to call us monsters. We have done nothing but be respectful..." she stopped herself from going any further and took a deep breath in an effort to clear her mind.
"They will not attack you," Edward said, knowing that his words were true. Not even in the most radical future could he imagine any of his family trying to harm Isabella or Thomas.
She said nothing and they sat quietly for a long time. She sat at a crossroads, though she had verbally already agreed to stay, in her heart she was miles away. She couldn't decide. Twelve potentially hostile vampires were difficult to justify as a risk. Edward was her imprint, her soul mate, her other half. He was who she was born to be next to but at what cost? She wanted to cast off the shackles of Alpha, to be just another wolf but she wouldn't. She could not step down.
Once an Alpha, always an Alpha. It was much more than a title, but a way of thinking, a lifestyle, a whole mind frame.
She had Carlisle's word, and she found that she trusted it. He was a man of integrity and his words came from his heart not a plan. She knew she had Edward's side, but there were still so many others against them. "Nothing is ever simple."
Edward looked up at her sighed words. "It wouldn't be worth it if it was," he said with kind eyes.
She didn't deserve those eyes.
"I'm sorry," she whispered so very quietly, putting her head in her hands. She'd always believed that an imprint would never come between her and her Pack, that she would be strong enough to push it aside but as she stared at Edward she feared the lengths she would go to, to remain at his side. "It's only going to get worse."
"They might surprise you," Edward prompted gently. Carlisle's stand had shaken his family and he had held true to his word. Rosalie, Emmett and even Alice were told to contain themselves or to leave them. The same was said to Tanya and Irina. Carlisle was siding with Edward.
Bella had listened to the ultimatums and didn't believe they would do any good. Forcing them into civility would do nothing to improve things or gain trust, not that Bella or Thomas had earned their distrust. Rain began to heave from the sky in sheets of liquid ice. A flash of lightning lit the sky for a brief moment.
"We'll figure this out," Edward said softly.
–
The day was quiet. Edward returned to his family and exchanged apologies with both Emmett and Rosalie. Bella's mood had sunk to a new low and she sat with her back against a tree, staring off into the distance to the right of the house. She was sodden, with water dripping from her nose and every tendril of hair. Esme wanted to usher her inside and give her a steaming cup of soup.
Thomas' return was met with identical silence. Bella didn't even acknowledge him and he sat at a decent distance away just in case. He believed his actions were justified, if the outcome was a little less than what he was expecting. Still, Bella was still with Edward and he was confident things would make a turn for the better.
Night fell and the air chilled, descending to just above freezing. It wasn't anything they couldn't handle but neither of them slept at all. As wolves, they lay all night with nothing but each others thoughts to occupy them. Agreements and apologies were made on both sides. She was envious of his optimism. They lay together, trying in a vain attempt to stay warm but the rain pelted down on them and the wind was whipping at their fur and ears with a bitter bite. They were lucky to be naturally hotter than humans.
It was five in the morning before the wind died, the clouds passed and the rain abated.
Perhaps a kennel wasn't such a bad idea after all.
As the sun rose, as did the temperature and with cracking bones and shivers, the pair parted and got to their feet. It had been a long, arduous night but it had given them the time to think things over more thoroughly. She'd missed having Thomas there, talking her down from her perches and forcing her to see reality through a different pair of eyes. She needed to calm down, back off and trust that things would work out. She was too present, too in the moment, which was understandable given the past week or so, but it wasn't helping the situation at all.
The Cullen's had allowed them on their land, had been cordial and civil for most part and she should look at that as a step forward. Arguments were a certainty. They were natural enemies that were fighting the normal flow of power; conflict was practically a given but it didn't mean everything had to come crumbling down.
She was tired and hungry, but felt a damn sight better than she had previously.
She stretched, yawned and gave her droopy-eyed friend a shove with her head. He whined but just let her roll him over, too exhausted and not quite as pleased as she was at the nights revelations. But for the first time in too long, she felt like, just maybe, things could work out okay. She nudged him again, her snout pressing against his neck, prodding and pushing him along the ground. She heard his reluctance, his irritation at her play.
Jasper had sensed the shift in her mood, and watched with a small smile as the light brown wolf lunged half heartedly and Bella jumped back, her chocolate brown fur still sodden and clinging to her skin. Even without the fluffy fur, they were still formidable beasts. He watched as Thomas stumbled to his feet, annoyance making him lunge again and the pair collided and tumbled to the ground, kicking and pawing at one another in nothing more than a fun scrap.
Edward sidled up beside him, seeing the pair in Jasper's mind and wanting to see it for himself. He was glad that Bella seemed a little happier. He watched the two face off, tails swishing this way and that as they crouched and feigned left and right. It was ridiculous that these killers, with their razor-like teeth and vampire killing claws were playing on their back lawn.
Esme returned with Carmen, having picked up some foods that might be more acceptable. Tins and packets were preferred – assuming the the air-tight packaging would keep their scent from spoiling the food. They brought pizza too – the same one Bella had ordered before. Edward took it out to them, after a small thank you and a gentle kiss to Esme and Carmen's cheeks. He hadn't thought to feed them.
The pair lay on the ground, with Thomas holding Bella in some sort of headlock. They didn't mind when they heard the door open and close or the approach of a vampire. It was the smell of the pizza that had their ears pricking, their play forgotten as they rushed to their feet. He couldn't help but laugh as he suddenly faced a very muddy, very wet pair of wolves arguing and elbowing their way towards him. Thomas, as tall as he was, snatched the pizza from Edward's hand with a victorious "Ha!" at Bella before running back and hopping across to the other side of the river, before he sat on a dry patch of grass and opened the box.
"You should have ordered two," she said with a smile. "He's a pig."
"You did have four giant omelette's in one sitting," Edward reminded her.
Behind them they heard a scoff as Thomas, with half a pizza slice hanging out of his mouth spluttered, "Only four?"
She looked back to Edward with a familiar light in her eyes, and her beautiful smile lifting her cheeks. "Sorry for yesterday," she said sheepishly, holding his gaze with hers and hoping he could see her sincerity. He did, but it wasn't needed.
"Stop apologising for things you can't control," he said, repeating the advice she'd given to him only a few days earlier. "I think we all got caught up in it," he admitted with a shrug. He wanted to speak more but a loud belch had him remembering the pizza. "Go eat before he has the whole thing," he said jokingly, but she grabbed his hand and pulled him along with her.
She didn't hesitate to sit on the sodden ground and both of them laughed when Edward just stood and looked down at them. "What? Are those your only pants?" Thomas laughed good heartedly and, with a small smile of his own, Edward sat down next to Bella. If Thomas as at all uncomfortable he didn't show it.
"Hey!" he cried as Bells snatched the pizza box from his hands. He still had a mouth full but that didn't seem to put him off trying to grab the box back. "Come on!"
"We can hunt later," she chided him, pulling the box out of reach until his arms fell limply into his lap and Bella tore a slice off and devoured it in three bites. It was equally disgusting and impressive; neither of them had any manners or cared.
"What does this smell like?" Bella asked suddenly, looking to Edward.
"What I imagine drains to smell like," he said pulling a disgusting face. The stench was worse because of the heat and grease, but if he was honest, the smell of Thomas was quickly eclipsing any and all pungency of the food.
"Dude, you have no idea what you're missing," Thomas sighed, patting his belly with a content smile on his face. "I don't suppose blood tastes like pizza?"
"I very much doubt it," Edward said wryly as Bella scoffed.
"Ugh you two are nauseating," Thomas moaned after a few minutes. Bella glowered at him as he covered his eyes with his arm and flopped to the ground.
"There's a whole forest for you to fuck off into," Bella said sweetly. It wasn't like she was kissing Edward, or even touching him. They'd merely shared a sweet smile as he wiped a crumb from her cheek. He'd laughed quietly as she'd blushed and thanked him.
"You are a true poet, Miss Swan," He quipped from the floor without moving his arm. He yawned loudly and Edward could see the red on the back of his throat. He obviously had a sore throat. "I miss central heating," he grumbled before he went right off to sleep.
"It's difficult to imagine he could kill me," Edward said with a small smile to Bella. The pizza was gone and she had a content smile on her face, almost identical to Thomas.
"We can drop pretty much anywhere," she said with a shrug, yawning as she began to warm up with food in her belly. Her hair was a little damp, but her clothes had dried from her body heat. He watched her eyes become sad once again but she dropped her chin to hide them.
"What's wrong?"
She laughed and he smiled, because what wasn't wrong at this point?
"Everything is going to change," she said with a heavy sigh. "It was nice... not having any responsibilities for a while," she said picking grass from the ground. "I mean, I'm glad I'm not on my own anymore but..."
"You're different with him," Edward prompted quietly.
"I know," she admitted with a small nod. "But I'm an Alpha. I'm better at that than I am at this."
Edward thought she was pretty good at everything, but that was probably just the imprint/mating talking. She was more serious with Thomas, more authoritative and stronger. Her soft smiles and laughter were left given sparingly but he could appreciate that Thomas was testing. Already, he'd pushed her anger further than even Tanya had.
He found himself watching her again, as he so often did. She was beautiful, but not in the way Rosalie was, and not even in the way human girls had a certain charm. Everything about her held something for him, from her eyelashes, to the curve of her lips. He was glad to see the lines on her forehead gone and her expression distant but thoughtful. He would have done anything to take a peek in her mind, but he had to be respectful and go the human route.
"We're supposed to be allies," Bella voiced distantly. "But we can barely speak to one another."
"You spoke to Carmen and Eleazar quite well," he praised with a smile.
"Two out of twelve is pitiful," she said as she rubbed her face. "How can we expect to work as a cohesive unit if we don't even communicate?"
"So, let's communicate."
But something held her back, like a chain around her heart and Tanya's beautiful face reared its ugly head in her mind. Edward was so willing, already on his feet and offering a hand to help her up. He saw the reluctance, the guardedness in her eyes and the tightness of her mouth. She had her own reservations.
Another chance, but she had to take it.
–
She had expected raging arguments and a few more fists through plasterboards, but the vampires were silent inside the house. Thomas was looking at her with dubious eyes and doubt spilled from his mouth. "You want to show them how we fight?" he repeated with disbelief, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and getting to his feet. "So you want to show vampires how to kill us in the quickest, most effective way?"
"They're not the enemy," she argued softly. "The more we know, the better chance we have of winning this thing. We know our own pack enough to help them, and it's not like we're going to go ask Sam for tips, but we can learn from these vampires."
"I don't know..." he almost whined, his eyes landing on the huge house. "It's dangerous."
"How do you think they feel?"
She was right – the sentiments voiced by her Beta were echoed through the minds of every single vampire in the house. Carlisle hadn't made it an order. He hadn't even convinced himself that this was a good idea yet. "We need to trust each other," they heard her say.
"Trust them?" Thomas scoffed.
"Yes," she said in a much harder voice that left little room for questions. "Unless you want to get torn apart by an army of newborns, we have to open some sort of relationship with them."
"I'd be happier if the numbers were a bit more balanced," they heard him grumble. "I don't see what their problem is," he bit out suddenly.
"This is their land and their rules," Bella hissed quietly. "We are guests, and we will make the most of it."
They couldn't argue with her word. She was right. Should anything happen, the twelve vampires would be more than capable of immobilising them and killing them. Instincts were strong and prevalent, but if Isabella and Thomas were willing to put themselves out there then they would do the same.
–
It wasn't something any of them had ever thought they'd be doing on a damp Tuesday, at around eight o'clock when all manner of little critters were stirring from their dens. Feet were hesitant and arms were folded and ready – ready for anything that the next minute would throw at them.
No-one wanted to be there and yet there they were, spread over the Cullen's back lawn in tense silence. Even Bella wasn't sure how to proceed. She was used to vampires oozing arrogance and charm, but these golden eyed Cold Ones were awkward and their eyes revealed their caution. At her word, Thomas remained at her side in his human form. He was about as enthusiastic as the Denali's looked, but he had faith in Isabella and her madness.
"This communication thing is going great," Thomas whispered, coughing in a poor attempt to cover his words. She landed an elbow in his ribs and sighed as she looked over at Edward. He was with his family. Like in the the clearing, they had decided to stay separate though Bella had hoped such divides could be dropped. She didn't want to push her luck though.
The Cullen's and Denali's stood on the patio, close to the house there they felt the safest. Thomas had noticed and wanted to shake them. Bella was waiting – waiting for them to either leave or step forward. This was a turning point. She had voiced her willingness loudly, deliberately and with purpose because she wanted to push their boundaries. She wasn't asking for friendship, but a mutual respect of their abilities, not fear.
Her eyes went to each of them, trying to gauge their feelings from their facial expressions. She wasn't used to vampires being so open.
She found Jasper staring right back at her – his golden eyes relaxed but challenging, his body language deliberately laid back. He was her in. She wondered why he was so much more open than the rest of his coven. She felt Thomas stiffen beside her as Jasper stepped from his family and into the centre of the large chasm of space between them.
She smiled, just a little, and left Thomas and joined Jasper. She couldn't help but feel just a little hopeful, and a little proud. With only a few feet between them, the pair eyed each other speculatively. "No teeth," Bella offered quietly.
"No claws," Jasper mirrored immediately.
"Within reason."
He raised his eyebrows but nodded his agreement. She took two steps back before phasing right in front of them all, landing gracefully on four paws and shaking out her fur. It shone beautifully, but that was just Edward's opinion. Jasper was distracted by her claws that were at least five inches long and dagger sharp. He felt her spike of amusement as she followed his gaze and he let it soothe him – it wasn't often he found someone with such straight forward emotions as Isabella.
Poor Alice was left trembling and tittering, clutching Emmett's arm. Eyes were focussed, minds ready and bodies on the verge of battle. They were ready to defend, to attack, to do anything necessary to keep their brother safe. Edward struggled with the thoughts of his family and the way they were sizing Bella up. He equally struggled with watching his brother crouch aggressively at his mate.
Bella didn't crouch but her eyes were unwavering and glued to Jasper. It was unnerving. No-one breathed, no-one dared to stir an inch. Thomas' heart pounded in his chest for his Alpha, for his best friend who stood inches from her death.
Edward knew how fast Bella was but she was no match for Jasper in close combat. With only a few feet between them and less than a second to react, she really didn't stand a chance. His arms were around her neck and they ploughed into the ground, ruining Esme's perfect turf. Edward growl was far more aggressive than anyone had heard of him, and Alice's replying snarl was simply carnal. Thomas was uncomfortable, itching to phase and protect Bella but she was fighting back and her jaws suddenly clamped on his arm and with a flick of her neck he was thrown through the air.
He landed lithely, keeping his balance. He didn't stop. He was propelling himself towards her again and she was running at him. He dodged around her as she lunged for his chest, and he spun and swiped to grab her but she was too low and her sharp teeth were at his ankle and he his the ground with a thud with the smelly, crushing weight of the wolf bearing down on his chest, her teeth bared at his throat.
Her eyes danced with amusement as she clambered off him and sat herself down as he retained his dignity. He smirked at her pride and the gentle swish of her tail. "It's okay," he said to Alice and her black eyes. He knew no words would soothe Edward. His eyes returned to Bella. "You need to be faster."
She coughed up an indignant laugh. They went again.
"Claws," was all Thomas said, his arms folded and his brow furrowed as he watched. He had no intention of helping a vampire become a better killer, but he was all for improving Bella and himself. They had paused again but his critique was met with an eye roll from Bella – it was what he always told her.
She preferred the strength of her jaw and her crushing teeth to the claws, that seemed meagre in comparison. The fight wasn't to be won but Bella felt a little embarrassed that Jasper was thrashing her ass, metaphorically of course. The fourth time she picked herself up from the floor she could feel her annoyance growing with herself, and Thomas saw it too. He knew Bella wasn't letting go, was holding back to pacify the vampires and make them feel safer.
"Stop being a pussy," he commented idly, earning a loud savage snarl from Bella as her yellow eyes glared over at him. It only made the vampires more nervous. "You can kick his ass, no problem."
Perhaps, she thought deflatedly, but that wasn't the point of this particular exercise.
"You wanted us to learn how we all fight," Jasper said quietly to her.
She bowed her head a little and they ran at one another again, but it was different. Bella's paws beat a little harder on the ground, her breathes were shorter and shallower and more controlled and when she leaped at him and he dodged, her claws reached out and gripped him and he found himself grounded within moments.
"Impressive," he commented as he got to his feet. She didn't respond.
They pushed further and further out. Bella was a good long distance runner, but not so good on the quick turn arounds and he could see that. Irina stepped forward, voicing her intentions to take her turn with Bella. The wolf was wary. She knew nothing of this blond, only that she was family with Tanya and that was enough to taint Bella's opinion.
Irina wasn't half as fast as Jasper and lacked the finesse in her blows. Unlike Bella, she preferred to use her hands and damage. Bella found herself on the defensive for most of the time, and wanted to remind the vampire about the within reason part of the claws agreement. It was clear to everyone that Irina was out for blood and Jasper could feel her ire growing every time Bella danced just beyond her reach.
Golden eyes darkened to black but before they could step in Bella struck. Irina had been slow – still facing away from a slash that should have landed Bella with spilled guts. She was too emotional – too caught up in her own head, and when Bella's teeth latched onto her hair and dragged her to the ground, she screamed and thrashed but she would have been dead had a wolf actually gotten to her.
"Do you know how many vampires' we've killed because of their obsession with their hair?" Thomas chortled as the blond stomped back to her family, her hair a wet, slobbery, matted mess that clung to her shoulders. "Tie it back."
Irina had managed to knick Bella in the leg, but it only bled for a few seconds before the wound healed. The grass wiped the blood from her fur before it could dry. Irina was spitting to the others about her hair, her clothes and the disgusting stench Bella had left all over her. It was pathetic and Bella couldn't help but laugh, her choked wolfy laugh at her expense.
She stepped aside. Tanya and Kate were glaring and their wishes and torture plans to one another, and Bella thought it would be prudent to step aside then before all hell broke loose. Instead, Tanya went against Emmett. It was interesting to watch a vampire fight another of its kind and not something Bella or Thomas had ever seen. It was rather like watching two cats fighting – a lot of back and forth and threats but not much action.
One by one they stepped forward. Amongst family, it seemed like just a bit of fun to scrap in the back yard had it not been for the keen eyes watching them. With her still determined to build some sort of bridge, Bella had returned to her human form to stand with Thomas. They watched with quiet whispers and roving eyes. They did the same to one another and the others in the Pack – weeding out the weakness and making them stronger.
The whispers hadn't gone unnoticed but even straining, the words slipped by unknown.
Edward stepped forward and eyes turned to Bella. She didn't react in the slightest. Even Thomas wondered what she would do, but she seemed completely at ease.
She wasn't.
She watched Edward stand in front of Carmen and knew that, as a mind reader, he would be fine but that wasn't the point. Her place was right there between them, protecting him, attacking her, pushing him to safety. Logically she knew they were family, friends and wouldn't harm one another but her instincts told her otherwise.
She understood why Alice had wanted to leap at her.
No-one thought Carmen would even get a touch. She was so small and unassuming, with her doe eyes and kind smile. It was unexpected when, suddenly as Edward lunged left out of her grasp, her hand clamped down on his forearm and she threw him over her like a rag doll. His family roared with laughter as he lay dazed on the ground. Even Thomas chuckled quietly.
Bella waited for him to get to his feet before expelling the breath she'd been holding. His eyes searched for hers and, though his smiled was intended to soothe her worries, he could see the anxiety reflecting back at him. He bowed out quietly and no-one questioned him as Carlisle stepped up as his replacement. His family laughed and whistled as the quiet doctor faced the motherly figure of the Denali coven.
Edward did not return to his family, but chose to stand at Bella's side. Thomas only smirked and kept his eyes on the fighting vampires. Eyes flicked over to watch but the dual between the vampires was too amusing not to pay attention to. No-one tutted as Bella grabbed Edward's hand and laced their fingers together. No-one glared as he raised their entwined hands and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. She blushed and he smiled.
"Honestly," Thomas groaned with a roll of his eyes. He was joking and his smile was of only happiness. It had been too long since Bella had found anything to break her from the role of Alpha. He had hoped she would take up knitting or fishing, but she doubted a hobby could have lit up her face like Edward did.
His thumb stroked the backs of her knuckles as they watched Carlisle take Carmen down, only to catch her at the very last moment from falling flat on her face. He pulled her back to her feet and the pair hugged with laughter bouncing between them.
"It's weird," Thomas whispered, leaning in towards Bella.
"Family, remember?" Bella whispered back.
Even as close as Edward was, the words were barely caught. He saw the annoyed looks from his family, wondering if the wolves were plotting or being nasty and he wished he could convey their words without looking ridiculous.
"She needs to start being a savage," Bella mumbled to her Beta.
"They're so tame," Thomas said looking over all the vampires. "I mean, they can take care of themselves, sure, but these newborns aren't going to be worried about hair and a bit of dirt."
"They'll learn," Bella replied with worried eyes.
"I'm not carrying anyone."
Edward kept his eyes ahead, not revealing that he had heard the exchange or his thoughts on the matter. As shocking as it was, he found himself agreeing with Thomas. Stood with him and Bella as they analysed and criticised, removing the familiarity and protectiveness he felt, they were pitiful excuses for vampires.
"I did the same thing," Bella defended after a few minutes. Emmett stepped forward, cracking his knuckles gleefully as he crouched before a ready Carlisle. The pair collided in a deafening bang that made them all flinch. They fell to the floor where they sprang apart and circled one another.
"You're trying to establish a rapport with them – that's understandable." Thomas dismissed. "They try too hard to be anything but what they are."
"Can you blame us?" Edward said suddenly, unpeeling his eyes from Emmett's fist as it flew at Carlisle's chest. He kept his voice level with theirs, hidden from the others. It was clear from the wide eyes looking back at him, they hadn't been aware that he was listening.
"Yes," Thomas said simply. "You think we want to be giant wolves, stuck in teenage bodies until we inevitably get killed in battle?"
"It's different," Edward argued softly. "We instinctively want to kill humans."
"And we get pissed at the slightest thing and want to rip our own mothers face off," Thomas shrugged. "Yet here we both stand, neither ripping anyone's face off, or killing humans. I don't see your problem."
How could he compare a vampire to a wolf? One was a natural murderer, the other a born protector.
"You've done the best with the hand you've been dealt," Bella said sternly between them. The last thing she needed was her imprint and Beta arguing. "We just don't get why you don't embrace what you are-" she said to Edward from turning to Thomas and hissing. "Back the fuck off," to him.
"Would you embrace being a vampire?" Edward fired back, his own temper rising.
"I would like to think so," Bella answered honestly. "If I had your level of control, lived on a diet of animal blood and had your family, I think I'd be quite-"
She stopped suddenly and Edward felt her hand shake as he held it. Her heartbeat thudded in her chest, faster and harder as her breath pushed out of her like she'd been hit in the stomach. "Bella?" he found himself saying as her eyes slipped shut and she whispered a quiet curse.
Beside her, Thomas shuddered and shook out his shoulders with wide eyes. "What the hell was that?"
Bella opened her eyes again, worry threatening to spill over as she looked, first to Thomas, then to Edward and finally, to Carlisle who, like everyone else, had stopped to see what was going on. "The others are coming."
"So that-" Thomas began curiously.
But then she was pushing away Edward's hand and phasing dangerously close to him. Carlisle and Emmett retreated back to the family but she had no time for them. Thomas phased only a few seconds later and the pair were locked in silent conversations while the vampires could only sit and wait.
Thomas could hear them – the thoughts and emotions swirling as though they were his own. Being a wolf had never been quite as lonely as it had been for the past day or so. His mind had been so empty and void of clutter and noise. He could hear three more voices, all distressed and angry, all furious and agitated and it flowed through them all.
Thomas whined, his ears flattening to his head as he stared off into the forest. Edward expected Bella to snarl or growl, urging him to be quiet but she looked in equal distress. Her ears flat to her head, she reared her head back and howled loud, deep and long up into the sky. Thomas joined her, and the harmony sent shivers down Tanya's spine.
More?
Eyes turned to Carlisle, urging him to banish them, to put an end to all of this. Two was acceptable, at a push, but more? It was too much.
As Bella and Thomas' howls cut off suddenly, they got to their feet, tails swinging nervously left and right as they turned their backs and looked off into the woods. Howls rang out – distant and quiet, around thirty miles away, and suddenly Thomas had taken off, running in the direction of the howls and leaving Bella behind.
Her eyes turned to Carlisle – big, yellow and wild, she was at his mercy.
"They are welcome here," he said without worry, ignoring the outrage that overwhelmed the ranks of his family around him. He kept his eyes on Bella as she bowed her head low, lower than he'd ever seen before before turning to Edward. He had never touched her as a wolf – he'd never dared, always fearing that, in this form, her instincts were stronger.
But they were coming closer – close enough for the vampires to catch their breathes and soft, whispering steps. Her request was a simple one, and she was pleased when, a mile out, all four obliged immediately. They all turned to the forest as they got closer – sixteen steps turning to eight, a huffs turning to curses. In front of them, Bella phased and headed down the garden.
Across the river, to the right of the garden she saw Thomas approach, his face ashen and grave as he shook his head. He, too, had seen what they had been through, and though Bella wanted to cry and weep for her Pack she had to be strong for them too. She nodded to Thomas as he walked past her and back to the Cullen's.
Ryan and Kyle came first – two brothers, only two years apart. They were both ridiculously tall and wide, with thick black hair and brown, tanned skin. They looked like a pair of line backers, with muscles that threatening to burst the seems on their shirts with every movement. Their faces were grim – lips pressed into hard lines, and red eyes from tears they refused to shed now.
"It's good to see you," Kyle said, his voice breaking as he wrapped her in a tight hug that lifted her off the floor. She'd never been overly touchy with her Pack, but had made it clear that she was there for them no matter what. Kyle was younger than her by eleven years, and looked to her like an older sister, so she didn't care when her shirt rode up, or when she felt his hot tears on her neck. Her arms wrapped around him easily.
Ryan sidled up beside them, eyes heavy and dark with exhaustion and tears. The eldest of the pair, he carried a large rucksack on his back and, when Kyle finally released Bella back to her feet, the pair shared a brief, but tight embrace while Kyle wiped his eyes. "Good to be back," he said with a ghost of a smile. "Kim's just behind us," he said, his expression dropping as his eyes filled with tears yet again. "She tried to get back on the Res, but they chased her off..."
Bella felt a stab of pity for the girl. Kim was still a mile and a half out and taking her time, so Bella smiled as much as she could and said, "You want to sleep?" Both of them shook their heads. "We're..." Bella began, wondering how to explain the circle of vampires further up the lawn. "Attempting a bonding exercise."
Ryan barked out a laugh and, despite his deflated spirits looked at her with a familiar amusement. "We have missed you, Bells."
It made her smile. "I'll find Kim – Thomas will explain everything to you..." she said with a small nod, before the pair walked past her and towards Thomas, who lingered between them and the vampires.
As much as she didn't want to leave them alone with the vampires, Bella had to find Kim. The looks from her brothers had given her reason to worry. She was a mile away from the house – crouched underneath a large tree, her head in her hands as she sobbed. Bella wasn't so good with feelings and what not, but she understood the pain of leaving a family behind and Kim was so young.
"Hey," Bella said from a distance, giving the girl a chance to collect herself. Instead, Kim peered at her through swollen red eyes and just kept crying. Bella remembered what her brother had said – that she'd tried to get back on the Reservation, tried to return to Lana.
"I'm sorry," she stuttered as she got to her feet and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. It made no difference and tears fell relentlessly. Bella went to her and pulled her into a tight, bone breaking hug. She remembered when she'd first left the Reservation – how she'd lay in the woods and cried until Edward had found her, how she'd felt so ashamed and lost. Neah Bay was all they knew.
"You have nothing to apologise for," Bella found herself saying.
"I just..." Kim said with a small hiccup. Her face was mottled and wet with he tears, her usually beautiful complexion marred by her crippling sadness. "I didn't get to say goodbye to him."
Her imprint.
Not only was she the one of the youngest, but she had also Imprinted only a week after becoming a wolf. Her imprint was still fresh and being apart was going to be difficult. "He will understand," she tried to soothe her, but she shook her head, sending drops of tears to the grass.
"You didn't hear what they said about you and Thomas – if they believe it..." she cut off with another sob.
"James loves you," Bella said strongly, taking Kim by the arms. She tried to be a little softer. "He knows you wouldn't abandon him. People aren't stupid..." she finished quietly. "We'll be back home soon."
Her words soothed her a little, but Bella knew nothing less than James himself would make her feel any better. Her tears slowed and she sniffed as she suddenly blushed. "Are we really staying with the vampires?"
"Yeah," Bella replied quietly. "It's okay though."
"Do you mind if I..." Kim said sheepishly.
"Do what you have to-" Bella nodded with a kind smile. "Stay within range though. We had a few newborns track through a few days ago."
Bella returned to the Cullen's with the shoulder of her shirt dampened by Kim' salty tears. She kept an eye on the thudding of her pack mate, making sure she was okay and not in trouble. She felt the responsibility and worry increase three fold. As worried as she'd been, when she arrived back at the house she was pleased to see that Kyle and Ryan had joined Thomas beside Edward and that the sparring had resumed as normal.
"Keep an eye on her," she said to Thomas as she stepped between the gap he'd left between himself and Edward. Thomas nodded but kept his eyes on Esme and Tanya as they danced around one another.
"It's getting worse over there," he commented quietly. "More will come."
Bella didn't want to think about it.
"Is everything okay?" Edward muttered, seeing the distant look in her eyes and worry lines on her forehead. He could smell the salty tears of another wolf on her – a fourth addition to her growing Pack. He thought she'd be happy to get her pack back.
"Some struggle more than others," she said simply with a shrug of her shoulders.
The vampires were seeing the benefits of the exercise, and though they remained wary of the wolves keen eyes, were learning more than they'd expected. With Bella and her wolves quiet in the wake of their reunion, the vampires began to point out mistakes and faults to correct. It was easier to take from family than a supposed enemy.
Half an hour later, Bella stiffened suddenly. "I'm going," Thomas said before taking off down the lawn in the direction Kim had faded from, phasing as he leaped over the river and darting through the trees.
Edward's eyes spoke the question behind his lips. "I told her to stay within range," she explained shortly. "After the newborns the other day, I don't think we should be roaming on our own."
"You've had newborns?" Kyle asked suddenly, his eyes still red but clearly this was news to him.
"I thought they'd have hit everyone," Bella said with a frown. "You didn't get anything?"
"Not a peep – and we've been on patrol for four days straight," he said with a nasty glower.
Bella remembered what Thomas had said – patrols were punishments.
"Was everyone okay?" he asked his eyes going to the ranks of the vampires.
"A few injuries but we were fine," she said with a shrug.
"And you're not patrolling?" he asked with a sudden grin. "But you love patrols."
She rolled her eyes as his playful stab, because it was true. Whenever anything happened, the first thing she did was tighten patrols. Christmas? Double patrols. It was snowing? Join patrols. "It's not my land to control."
Ryan snorted, his smirk so similar to his brother. "I can't imagine that ever stopping you."
"You should have said something," Edward said, grabbing her hand again as it rested at her side and giving it a squeeze. He saw her cheeks stain red and smiled, ignoring the eye roll he caught from Emmett. "It's a good idea."
Of course it is, Bella thought. As a protector of not only a Pack, but an entire reservation she was hard wired to spot weaknesses and plug them. "It's not my place-" she argued with a scowl. She didn't want to discuss her lacking safety precautions with a newborn army on the way. It wasn't as if she had enough wolves to put together a patrol anyway, but now with the additions of Kim, Ryan and Kyle they might have to make some arrangements. It was political dance she was playing with the vampires – wanting to keep the peace while pushing her side was not easy.
Edward said nothing more of it. Ryan and Kyle had no intention of joining in the sparring and Bella was pleased. She was sure that Tanya and the others would have surely collapsed at the very idea.
Slowly, they wound down and when Alice and Kate returned to their family no-one else stepped forward. Ryan yawned, loudly and widely and Bella smiled and shook her head. What a way to introduce them. "This is Ryan and Kyle – their sister Kim has also joined them."
The boy men nodded their greetings but said nothing. She felt an elbow in her side and Edward was smiling down at her. Sighing deeply, she looked at Carlisle and said, "I think we should start patrolling the area."
His face dropped into a frown and his family shifted uncomfortably around him. "After the incident with the newborns a few days ago, I think we should keep our eyes open. We can rotate-" she said, meaning her pack. "Three on, two off."
There was no way three wolves could patrol the Cullen's territory, never mind two. They'd be exhausted. "We'll make up the numbers."
Bella couldn't hide her surprise but was quick to bounce back. "With a four mile radius we'd need seven to eight to be sure."
"Okay," he said with a nod, ignoring the glares from those around him. Edward watched with a proud smirk as his father took control for one of the first times.
"We can take the east and south-"
Carlisle's smile was broad as he said, "I'm sure we can mingle without issue."
There were plenty of issues, and they stood all around him spitting with rage and indignant ignorance. But between the two of them, they nodded and parted ways with a mutual understanding. A few minutes later and Kim and Thomas broke through the tree line. It was obvious to everyone that the small sandy coloured wolf was upset if not from her low head, to her red, bloodshot eyes that she kept on the ground.
Bella didn't ask her to phase, and knew that a wolf exterior was easier to hide behind. The vampires broke off and Ryan and Kyle went to their sister as fresh tears began to fall. Thomas took them across the river while Bella lingered with Edward closer to the house.
"We used to love this," Ryan said as Thomas explained their living arrangements. Bella was glad they weren't too upset about sleeping outside – not that she thought any of them would prefer to step inside the Cullen's house. In the summer, when the only relief from the smothering heat was the damp sand of the beach that sat at the bottom of Neah Bay, the wolves would sleep on the smooth sand underneath the stars.
"Are you coming?" Bella asked Edward, looking up at him.
"To patrol?" he asked, saying the word oddly. "I can't say I've ever patrolled before."
"Well boy, are you in for some fun," Thomas said as he walked towards them. "Bella loves them, especially when you do it day after day, year after year," he said sarcastically as Kyle and Ryan sniggered as they sat on the floor with their sister.
"Will you shut up," Bella snapped with a smile. "You make me sound like a tyrant. Patrols keep our people safe."
"Yeah," Thomas said with a roll of his eyes. Clearly this was an old conversation. "I guess you're dragging me along too."
"They need to get some sleep," Bella said quietly, her eyes going to the three siblings laid beneath the trees, already halfway to unconsciousness. "And we need to get the lay of the land."
"And how exactly are we going to do this... together," Thomas said with raised eyebrows as he motioned to Edward. "It's not like we can communicate with one another."
"Then we'll just have to trust each other, won't we?"
Thomas scoffed but didn't dare argue. Half an hour later and Bella stood alone four miles North of the Cullen's house. To her left ran Jasper, around five miles away and to her left, Kate. None had spoken a word but each had gone their separate ways without any difficulty. They had to navigate the very public, very open and flat land of Forks as the four mile radius encapsulated most of the town as well. Thomas had gone South with Edward and Rosalie and his mind had given an amusing commentary of the snappy exchange between the siblings.
I think I might have to split these two up at this rate, Thomas said wryly as Rosalie hissed and swore endlessly at Edward as they ran the four miles out. Bella told him to let them deal with it themselves and stay firmly out of it. The last thing they needed was any of them accusing a wolf of attacking one of their family.
Hours passed as Bella ran back and forth, overlapping with Kate and Jasper every now and again. The rain began to fall, heavy and icy cold but they held their ground firmly. She could hear Thomas' mind cataloguing the terrain, from the small slip of a stream to the sudden drop that fell thirty feet to further forest. Morning gave way to afternoon and the sun began to fall in the sky.
She darted across a narrow road and bounded back into the woods. It was unnerving knowing that people didn't know what she was, would be terrified of her huge, hulking form. In Neah Bay she was a hero, a symbol of protection. They weren't used to hiding like this, keeping out of sight like they were dirty beasts.
Thomas echoed her thoughts and was glad he had only thick, tense trees to navigate.
But suddenly his mind switched, and she smelled the scent as if she were stood next to him. The stench of vampire was impossible to ignore. Off he went, darting through the woods but it was Bella who let loose a loud, gutteral howl to alert everyone else. Thomas had to remember that only she could hear him.
Drop back, she told him sharply. Wait for the others.
They're too far away, He argued as he powered on towards the scent. He could hear the vampires steps. We can't let them through.
Bella wanted to set her teeth into him. You're going to get yourself killed! She cried in fury as she tore through the woods after him. Kate and Jasper ran only a few steps behind her but she was too fast and quickly pulled ahead. They went passed the house – and the three wolves were waiting and joined their Alpha.
Back down -they all chorused but Thomas was being an ass.
They were upon them within moments. Thomas stood snarling and baring his teeth at a lone vampire – a tall male with a black leather jacket and tatty jeans, dirty, long brown hair that fell around his shoulders and one of the more rugged vampiric faces she'd seen. It was his blazing crimson eyes that had her stomach uneasy. His body language was relaxed and none threatening but Thomas was channelling too much anger, too much bitterness over the past few days.
She snapped her jaws and narrowly missed his ear as he stepped back. Her glare was heated as he backed away and joined Kyle, Kim and Ryan behind her. The vampire looked curious and even smiled as he watched the small brown wolf dominate the much larger one who had been on the verge of ripping his throat out.
Only a second later, Jasper and Kate were upon them and the vampire's face broke out into a wide grin and let out a loud laugh as he stepped forward and embraced Jasper with a hard slap on the back. The pair laughed and smiled and mumbled their greetings and wishes of keeping in touch more.
"Guard dogs?" the vampire said, tilting his head towards Bella.
"Werewolves," Jasper corrected lightly. "We're allied with them."
"Shit," the vampire hissed with a small laugh. "Werewolves," he repeated with disbelief.
"This is Garret," Jasper said to Bella and Kate. "He's an old friend of mine, and not an enemy."
Bella phased, there and then and Garret laughed because it was too ridiculous. The wolf was just a small teenage girl. "Bella is the Alpha of the Pack," Jasper added, hoping his friend would play nice. They were all dripping wet but Garret didn't seem to mind.
"Bella," he said as she approached him. He stood a foot taller than her and twice her width. He could snap her like a twig. "Well aren't you the cutest."
She said nothing but the wolves behind her growled warningly. "You plan on helping us?" Bella asked flatly.
"At your service ma'am," he said with a mock bow that made Bella's lips twitch just a little.
"Then I won't kill you," she said before phasing and suddenly towering over him, with fiery yellow eyes and bore through him. She had met vampires like him before and knew he meant no harm, if not just a little too arrogant for her liking. Her words made him laugh yet again, but his eyes revealed his worry as she padded back to her pack and took off back towards the house.
Jasper punched him hard in the arm. "Don't be a bastard – it's been difficult enough without your smart ass."
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